Part 5/8:
Perestroika sought to pivot the Soviet economy from a command structure toward a mixed economy, gradually allowing for market mechanisms and the ownership of smaller enterprises. However, the transition generated economic turmoil, leading to widespread shortages and a government deficit, ultimately exacerbating citizens' discontent.
At the same time, Glasnost ushered in an era of openness, allowing for greater freedom of speech and press. This new freedom revealed the stark contrasts between the Soviet Union’s ideological propaganda and the everyday realities of its citizens’ lives.
The Fracturing of Soviet Control: The Emergence of Nationalist Movements