Mikhail Gorbachev

Real World Example

Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Union, serving from 1988 to 1991. He introduced major reforms like glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) to make the Soviet Union more transparent and economically efficient. These changes helped end the Cold War and allowed Eastern European countries to gain independence from Soviet control. Gorbachev's actions matter because they shifted global politics toward more openness and cooperation, leading to a more connected world. Today, his legacy inspires people to value transparency and political freedom, as seen in modern movements that demand government accountability and freedom of speech worldwide.