Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was born on the 2nd of March 1931 in Privolnoye, a small village in the North Caucasus region of what is now Russia. His parents were poor peasants who lived in an adobe-walled hut before they could build their own home. The Soviet Union operated under Joseph Stalin during these early years, and his family faced the harsh realities of that era. Two of Gorbachev's paternal uncles and an aunt died in the famine between 1930 and 1933. Both of his grandfathers served time in labor camps after being accused of being enemies of the people. Maria's father discussed having been tortured by the secret police following his release from camp in December 1938. This account deeply influenced young Mikhail's worldview.
During World War II, German forces occupied Privolnoye for four and a half months starting in June 1941. His father fought on the frontlines and was wrongly declared dead during the war before returning injured from the Battle of Kursk in 1943. After the war ended, the couple had their second son Aleksandr in 1947. Gorbachev excelled academically when school reopened in autumn 1944 despite initial reluctance to return. He read voraciously, moving from Western novels by Thomas Mayne Reid to works by Russian literary giants like Alexander Pushkin and Nikolai Gogol. From primary school through high school, he walked five kilometers home each weekend while staying at boarding school during the week.
Over five consecutive summers beginning in 1946, Gorbachev returned home to help operate a combine harvester alongside his father. They sometimes worked twenty hours per day during those summers. In 1948, they harvested over one thousand tons of grain, a feat that earned Sergey the Order of Lenin and Mikhail the Order of the Red Banner of Labour. These early experiences shaped his understanding of agricultural life and hard work within the Soviet system.
In August 1955, Gorbachev began working at the Stavropol regional procurator's office but disliked it and transferred to work for Komsomol, becoming deputy director of its agitation and propaganda department. He visited villages in the area trying to improve inhabitants' lives and established discussion circles to help peasant residents gain social contacts. His wife Raisa gave birth to their daughter Irina in January 1957, and they moved into two rooms in a communal apartment in 1958. By September 1966, he became First Secretary of the Stavropol City Party Organization after serving as personnel chief for the regional party's agricultural committee since January 1963.
Gorbachev rose steadily through local administration ranks while authorities regarded him as politically reliable. He flattered superiors like prominent politician Fyodor Kulakov and outmaneuvered rivals who resented his success. In March 1961, he became First Secretary of the regional Komsomol and went out of his way to appoint women as city and district leaders. That October, he attended the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in Moscow. By 1968, he was frustrated with stalled reforms and contemplated leaving politics for academia before being named Second Secretary of the Stavropol Kraikom in August 1968.
In April 1970, Gorbachev succeeded Leonid Yefremov as First Secretary of the Stavropol kraikom at age thirty-nine, considerably younger than previous holders of the position. This granted him significant power over the region and automatically made him a member of the Central Committee in 1971. As regional leader, he oversaw construction of the Great Stavropol Canal to expand irrigation systems during severe droughts in 1975 and 1976. For overseeing record grain harvests in Ipatovsky district, Brezhnev awarded him the Order of the October Revolution in March 1972. He developed good relationships with senior figures including Prime Minister Alexei Kosygin and longtime party member Mikhail Suslov.
On the 11th of March 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev was elected eighth general secretary of the Communist Party after Konstantin Chernenko's death. While committed to preserving the Soviet state, he recognized the need for significant reforms. He withdrew troops from the Soviet-Afghan War and met United States president Ronald Reagan at the Reykjavik Summit to discuss limiting nuclear weapons production and ending the Cold War. Domestically, his policy of glasnost allowed improved freedom of speech and free press while perestroika sought to decentralize economic decision-making.
When various Warsaw Pact countries abandoned Marxist-Leninist governance in 1989, Gorbachev declined to intervene militarily. In November 1989, the East German government allowed citizens to cross the Berlin Wall, a decision he praised. Over following years, much of the wall was demolished. Neither Gorbachev nor Margaret Thatcher or François Mitterrand wanted swift German reunification aware it would likely become dominant European power. With German reunification in 1990, many observers declared the Cold War over. His negotiations with the US helped bring an end to decades of tension and reduced threat of nuclear conflict.
In August 1990, Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government invaded Kuwait, and Gorbachev endorsed President Bush's condemnation despite criticism from Soviet state apparatus who saw Hussein as key ally. The Soviets endorsed UN Resolution permitting force to expel Iraqi Army from Kuwait in November. Gorbachev later called this watershed moment first time superpowers acted together in regional crisis. In October 1990, he received Nobel Peace Prize though polls indicated 90% of Soviet citizens disapproved widely seeing award as anti-Soviet accolade.
In August, Gorbachev holidayed at his dacha in Foros, Crimea when senior Communist Party figures known as Gang of Eight launched coup d'état two weeks into his vacation. Coup leaders demanded he declare state of emergency but he refused and remained under house arrest. Vice President Yanayev publicly announced Gorbachev was ill and would take charge of country. Boris Yeltsin entered Moscow White House where protesters prevented troops from storming building to arrest him. Yeltsin gave memorable speech atop tank condemning coup before plotters realized they lacked sufficient support and ended efforts.
Gorbachev returned to Moscow and thanked Yeltsin before resigning as general secretary two days later. After coup, Supreme Soviet indefinitely suspended all Communist Party activity effectively ending communist rule. Without Gorbachev's knowledge, Yeltsin met with Ukrainian president Leonid Kravchuk and Belarusian president Stanislav Shushkevich in Belovezha Forest near Brest on the 8th of December signing Belavezha Accords declaring Soviet Union ceased to exist. Gorbachev only learned when Shushkevich phoned him and became furious. He issued statement calling agreement illegal and dangerous on the 9th of December.
On the 25th of December, Gorbachev announced discontinuation of activities as President of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in Kremlin speech broadcast internationally. He expressed regret for breakup citing achievements including political freedom, end of totalitarianism, introduction of democracy and market economy, plus end to arms race and Cold War. Following day, the 26th of December, Soviet of Republics voted country out of existence. As of the 31st of December 1991, all Soviet institutions not taken over by Russia ceased functioning.
Out of office, Gorbachev and Raisa initially lived in dilapidated dacha on Rublevskoe Shosse before privatizing smaller apartment on Kosygin Street. He focused establishing foundation launched March 1992 with Yakovlev and Revenko as first vice presidents analyzing history of perestroika while defending policy. To finance foundation he began lecturing internationally charging large fees. On visit to Japan he received multiple honorary degrees. In 1992 he toured US in Forbes private jet raising money meeting Reagans for social visit then went to Spain where met friend Prime Minister Felipe González.
In 1993, Gorbachev launched Green Cross International focusing encouraging sustainable futures followed by World Political Forum. In 1995 initiated World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. His wife Raisa founded sub-division known as Raisa Maksimovna's Club improving women's welfare in Russia in 1997. Foundation initially housed former Social Science Institute building until Yeltsin introduced limits rooms usable there. American philanthropist Ted Turner donated over one million dollars enabling new premises construction on Leningradsky Prospekt. In July 1999, Raisa diagnosed with leukemia transferred to cancer center in Münster Germany undergoing chemotherapy before dying September.
Russian presidential elections scheduled June 1996 saw Gorbachev decide run despite urged not do so. Never expected win outright but thought centrist bloc could form around himself or candidates like Grigory Yavlinsky. After securing necessary one million signatures announced candidacy March traveling across Russia giving rallies twenty cities. Faced anti-Gorbachev protesters while pro-Yeltsin officials tried hamper campaign banning local media coverage refusing venue access. Election resulted seventh place with approximately 386,000 votes representing around 0.5% total.
Opinions on Gorbachev remain deeply divided according to 2017 survey by independent institute Levada Center showing 46% Russian citizens negative opinion 30% indifferent only 15% positive. Many particularly Western countries see him greatest statesman second half twentieth century. US press referred presence Gorbymania Western countries late 1980s early 1990s represented large crowds greeting visits Time naming Man of Decade 1980s. Soviet Union itself during his time as General Secretary opinion polls indicated most popular politician from 1985 through late 1989.
Gorbachev's negotiations with US helped bring end Cold War reducing threat nuclear conflict. Decision allowing Eastern Bloc break apart prevented significant bloodshed Central and Eastern Europe. Under Gorbachev Soviet Union broke apart without falling civil war happening breakup Yugoslavia same time. Facilitating merger East West Germany made co-father German unification assuring long-term popularity among German people. Historian Mark Galeotti stressed connection between Gorbachev predecessor Andropov viewing latter godfather Gorbachev revolution former head KGB able put forward case reform without having loyalty questioned.
Domestic criticism faced rule included admiration some colleagues others came hate inability reverse decline Soviet economy brought discontent. Liberals thought lacked radicalism breaking Marxism-Leninism establishing free market liberal democracy. Conversely many Communist Party critics thought reforms reckless threatening survival Soviet socialism believing should follow example China restricting governmental rather economic reforms. Many Russians saw emphasis persuasion force sign weakness. Communist Party nomenklatura saw dissolution disastrous resulting loss power widely despised role collapse Soviet Union ensuing economic collapse 1990s.
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Common questions
When was Mikhail Gorbachev born and where?
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was born on the 2nd of March 1931 in Privolnoye, a small village in the North Caucasus region of what is now Russia. His parents were poor peasants who lived in an adobe-walled hut before they could build their own home.
What major political reforms did Mikhail Gorbachev implement during his leadership?
Gorbachev implemented glasnost to allow improved freedom of speech and free press while perestroika sought to decentralize economic decision-making. He withdrew troops from the Soviet-Afghan War and met United States president Ronald Reagan at the Reykjavik Summit to discuss limiting nuclear weapons production and ending the Cold War.
How did Mikhail Gorbachev respond to the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989?
In November 1989, the East German government allowed citizens to cross the Berlin Wall, a decision he praised. Over following years, much of the wall was demolished without military intervention from him despite various Warsaw Pact countries abandoning Marxist-Leninist governance in 1989.
When did Mikhail Gorbachev receive the Nobel Peace Prize and why was it controversial?
He received the Nobel Peace Prize in October 1990 though polls indicated 90% of Soviet citizens disapproved widely seeing award as anti-Soviet accolade. His negotiations with the US helped bring an end to decades of tension and reduced threat of nuclear conflict which led to this recognition.
What happened during the August 1991 coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev?
Senior Communist Party figures known as Gang of Eight launched coup d'état two weeks into his vacation while he holidayed at his dacha in Foros, Crimea. Coup leaders demanded he declare state of emergency but he refused and remained under house arrest until Vice President Yanayev publicly announced Gorbachev was ill and would take charge of country.
How and when did the Soviet Union officially cease to exist under Mikhail Gorbachev's presidency?
On the 25th of December, Gorbachev announced discontinuation of activities as President of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in Kremlin speech broadcast internationally. Following day, the 26th of December, Soviet of Republics voted country out of existence and As of the 31st of December 1991, all Soviet institutions not taken over by Russia ceased functioning.