In the annals of history, few leaders have faced the monumental challenges that Mikhail Gorbachev encountered when he rose to power in the Soviet Union in 1985.
His ascent came at a time when the nation was grappling with stagnation, disillusionment, and an economy on the brink of collapse. Gorbachev, the youngest General Secretary in Soviet history, was thrust into a leadership role that demanded not only a vision for reform but also the courage to confront an entrenched bureaucracy resistant to change.
In a new format I explore the life of Mikhail Gorbachev without a guest.
Recommended episodes
- Face to face with the Soviets at the Cold War Reykjavik Summit between President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev https://pod.fo/e/244e66
- On the Streets of Cold War Estonia fighting for Independence https://pod.fo/e/222e82
- Eyewitness to the 1991 Soviet Coup https://pod.fo/e/f7f7
Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode406/
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00:00:00 Introduction
0:01:10 The Man from Stavropol
0:06:35 Acceleration and the Mirage of Momentum
0:13:15 The Opening to the West
0:20:26 Opening the Gates
0:28:08 Signing Away the Missiles
0:34:37 Nations within a Nation
0:40:36 The Centre Cannot Hold
0:46:51 The Coup that Failed
0:58:00 The Weight of Legacy
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