Gorbachev's twin policies of openness and restructuring were primarily intended to
A) bring a slow but definite breakup of the Soviet Union.
B) disorient the population as the ruling elites regrouped.
C) generate genuine civic cooperation with the Communist government to revitalize the Soviet system.
D) defuse the growing grass-roots discontent in Eastern Europe embodied in Poland's Solidarity movement.
E) revitalize the stagnating economy without changing the Soviet political system.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gorbachev's policy of openness (glasnost) and restructuring (perestroika) were aimed at generating genuine civic cooperation with the Communist government to revitalize the Soviet system, rather than simply revitalizing the economy without changing the political system. He believed that greater political openness and economic restructuring were necessary for the long-term sustainability of the Soviet Union. However, the policies ultimately led to the dismantling of the Soviet Union as they generated widespread political and social transformations beyond the government's control.

Gorbachev's Twin Policies of Openness and Restructuring Were Primarily Intended