Question

What was the unexpected result of Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms?

Answer 1

The unexpected result of Mikhail Gorbachev’s reforms was the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. The reforms, including perestroika (economic restructuring) and glasnost (openness and transparency), led to greater freedom and democracy in the Soviet bloc countries, which in turn, sparked anti-Soviet movements, particularly in Eastern Europe. The Soviet Union was unable to maintain control over its satellite states, leading to the collapse of the communist bloc in 1989-1991, and the dissolution of the USSR in December 1991.