Speaking of Russian governments, and USSR governments in the extension of that, I always thought Gorbachev was sort of doing a decent job, or at least moving things in the right direction with glasnost, perestroika and the nuclear disarmament agreements. Though I was only 15 y.o. when the USSR was dissolved, so my understanding of world events was limited. I was also impressed with the USSR space program (did you know they had a small space shuttle?!) and the Mir space station, the USSR ice-hockey team as well as their other sports teams. There was also the fact that USSR and Soviet people were often the "bad guys" in US action movies of that era (Rocky, Karate Kid, Rambo ...), which made me suspicious. Though there was also Red Heat with Arnold Schwarzenegger which painted a somewhat less black-and-white picture.
I'm now reading that some argue the dissolution of the Soviet Union happened much as a result of Gorbachev's policies: His campaign against alcohol and drunkenness lead to diminished tax revenues, so was bad for the economy. And it was Gorbachev's idea, initially, to bring Yeltsin into the the higher echelons of power, though it looks like he later regretted it. (And Yeltsin of course played a leading role in bringing about the end of the USSR.) And Gorbachev's liberalization policies lead to nationalist movements and ethnic disputes, and indirectly lead to the 1989 revolutions in the Warsaw Pact countries.
Anyway, much of the turbulence we've seen in international relations over the past couple of decades stems from the dissolution of the USSR. There was a balance of power during the cold war which no longer exists.
I'm now reading that some argue the dissolution of the Soviet Union happened much as a result of Gorbachev's policies: His campaign against alcohol and drunkenness lead to diminished tax revenues, so was bad for the economy. And it was Gorbachev's idea, initially, to bring Yeltsin into the the higher echelons of power, though it looks like he later regretted it. (And Yeltsin of course played a leading role in bringing about the end of the USSR.) And Gorbachev's liberalization policies lead to nationalist movements and ethnic disputes, and indirectly lead to the 1989 revolutions in the Warsaw Pact countries.
Anyway, much of the turbulence we've seen in international relations over the past couple of decades stems from the dissolution of the USSR. There was a balance of power during the cold war which no longer exists.
