glasnost

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History & Society

glasnost

Soviet government policy

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 20, 2024 • Article History

Category: History & Society

Russian:: “openness”

Key People:: Mikhail Gorbachev

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glasnost, Soviet policy of open discussion of political and social issues. It was instituted by Mikhail Gorbachev in the late 1980s and began the democratization of the Soviet Union. Ultimately, fundamental changes to the political structure of the Soviet Union occurred: the power of the Communist Party was reduced, and multicandidate elections took place. Glasnost also permitted criticism of government officials and allowed the media freer dissemination of news and information. (See also perestroika.)

This article was most recently revised and updated by Heather Campbell.