One of the unexpected results of Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms, known as perestroika and glasnost, was the gradual collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of independent states. Gorbachev intended to revive the socialist system by introducing political and economic reforms, opening up the political system, and allowing greater freedom of speech and press. However, these changes led to a loosening of state control, which ultimately undermined the centralized authority of the Soviet government. The people's desire for greater autonomy and independence, combined with economic struggles and nationalist movements, resulted in the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
