Perestroika Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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perestroika
[pษหrษstษหkษษชkษ ]
Definition
historical reform
Perestroika was a political movement for reform within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during the 1980s. It is commonly associated with Mikhail Gorbachev, who introduced this program to revitalize the Soviet economy and foster more openness in government. The term translates to 'restructuring' in English and aimed to dismantle the bureaucratic structure of the Soviet system to promote efficiency and transparency. Perestroika radically changed many aspects of Soviet life and contributed to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Synonyms
reform, restructuring, revitalization.
Examples of usage
- Perestroika changed the political landscape of the USSR.
- Many historians cite perestroika as a turning point in Eastern Europe.
- The concept of perestroika encompassed economic reforms.
Translations
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Origin of 'perestroika'
The term 'perestroika' comes from the Russian word 'ะฟะตัะตัััะพะนะบะฐ', which means 'restructuring'. Its usage began to gain prominence in the mid-1980s during the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev, who took office in 1985. Gorbachev introduced perestroika as part of a broader policy aimed at reforming the Soviet Union's economy and political system in response to internal and external pressures. By the late 1980s, the term became synonymous with the series of reforms aimed at modernizing Soviet society, promoting greater economic freedoms, and encouraging political transparency through the policy known as glasnost. The introduction of perestroika marked a significant shift in Soviet policies, aiming to address economic stagnation and the inefficiencies of the state-controlled economy while ultimately leading to significant socio-political changes, illustrated by the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.