Mikhail Gorbachev

About

Mikhail Gorbachev was a pivotal Soviet politician, serving as the last General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. Born on March 2, 1931, in Privolnoye, Russia, he rose through the ranks of the Soviet hierarchy, becoming a key figure in the Politburo. Gorbachev's leadership marked a significant shift in Soviet politics with his policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), which aimed to reform the Soviet economy and increase transparency. Gorbachev's diplomatic efforts were instrumental in ending the Cold War. He fostered closer relations with Western leaders, notably signing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1987. His decision not to intervene in Eastern European affairs led to the fall of communist regimes and the eventual reunification of Germany. Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his contributions to international peace. His legacy remains complex, with some viewing him as a visionary and others criticizing his inability to prevent the Soviet Union's dissolution.