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Gorbachev identified the condition in which Soviet Union found itself by mid-1980s as "stagnation". In fact, it was much worse than that, anf Gorbachev probably realized that.

The USSR economy was being bancrupted by the escalating arms race with the US. Afghan war increaing political Soviet isolation and internal strife. The standard of living and public health were dropping. The Communist ideology appeared moraly bankrput. Corruption and "shadow economy" were rampant, and public trust low. This contributed to increased Alcoholism and apathy, which in turn, lowered productivity and public health. The USSR appeared to be in a death spiral. It was hard to tell whether the failings of the economy were the cause or the result of the failing ideology. Wisely, Gorbachev decided to revamp both.

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15y ago

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