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The Soviet Union collapsed due to
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Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
The Soviet Union collapsed for multiple, interacting reasons. Key causes:

- Deep economic stagnation and chronic shortages (inefficient central planning, falling productivity, huge military spending).
- Gorbachev’s reforms (perestroika and glasnost) intended to revive the system instead loosened central control and exposed its failures.
- Rising nationalism and independence movements in the Soviet republics weakened unity and made central rule unsustainable.
- Political crisis and loss of legitimacy after the failed August 1991 coup by hardliners accelerated disintegration.
- Changing international environment (end of the Cold War, reduced external support and pressure) removed incentives to maintain the union.

In short: it collapsed because economic failure + reform-driven political opening + nationalist breakaway movements + a final political crisis combined to end the USSR.