gladnost

Glasnost was a policy initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union in the mid-1980s. The term, meaning "openness" or "publicity" in Russian, aimed to increase transparency and reduce censorship within the Soviet system. Gorbachev believed that greater openness in government and media would help to identify and address inefficiencies and corruption, thereby strengthening the Soviet Union.

This policy encouraged more open discussion of political and social issues, allowed for greater freedom of the press, and led to the release of political prisoners. Glasnost also permitted a more critical examination of Soviet history and the shortcomings of the communist regime. While intended to reform and revitalize the Soviet Union, the increased openness inadvertently fueled public discontent and nationalist sentiments in various Soviet republics.

The policy played a significant role in the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. By allowing for greater criticism and dissent, glasnost contributed to the weakening of the Communist Party's control and empowered movements advocating for independence and democratic reforms. It is considered a pivotal element of Gorbachev's broader reform agenda, which also included perestroika (economic restructuring).