The end of the Cold War was marked by several key events and factors:
1. Rise of Mikhail Gorbachev in the USSR in 1985:
- Gorbachev's policies of Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) aimed to reform the Soviet Union politically and economically.
- Glasnost allowed for greater freedom of speech and press, fostering transparency and discussion of social and political issues.
- Perestroika sought to modernize and revitalize the Soviet economy by introducing elements of market mechanisms.
2. Weakening Soviet economy and internal dissent in Eastern Europe:
- The Soviet Union faced economic challenges and stagnation, leading to a decline in its power and influence.
- Internal dissent in Eastern European countries, such as the Solidarity movement in Poland, challenged communist regimes and sought democratic reforms.
3. Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989:
- The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolized the end of the division between East and West Germany, serving as a pivotal moment in the Cold War.
- This event triggered a domino effect, leading to the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe as countries embraced democracy and sought independence from Soviet influence.
Overall, the combination of Gorbachev's reforms, economic struggles in the Soviet Union, internal dissent in Eastern Europe, and the fall of the Berlin Wall contributed to the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of communist regimes in the region.
