perestroika
UK: ˌpɛrɪˈstrɔɪkə | US: ˌpɛrəˈstrɔɪkə
n. a political and economic reform movement in the Soviet Union during the 1980s, aimed at restructuring and democratizing the system.
The word perestroika originates from Russian (перестройка), combining "pere-" (re-) and "stroika" (building). It metaphorically represents the "rebuilding" or "restructuring" of Soviet political and economic systems under Mikhail Gorbachev. The term gained global prominence in the 1980s as a symbol of reform, reflecting its literal meaning of "reconstruction" applied to societal change.
Gorbachev's perestroika policies aimed to modernize the Soviet economy.
The term perestroika became synonymous with political openness in the late 20th century.
Critics argued that perestroika accelerated the USSR's dissolution.
Western media closely followed the effects of perestroika on Eastern Europe.
The spirit of perestroika inspired similar reforms in other socialist states.