The communist party regime (single party rule) for around 70 years turned authoritarian.
There was widespread corruption, nepotism and lack of transparency.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall represented the ending of an era.
Communist regimes around the world suffered from a lack of support.
The weakness of the economy was the major cause of dissatisfaction among the people in USSR
People in many east European countries started protest against their own governments and USSR.
Many communist leaders in USSR opposed reforms initiated by Gorbachev, encouraging a coup in 1991.
Gorbachev identified the economic and political problems of USSR, and started a series of reforms
The emergence of new countries and new alliances.
Independence movements appeared.
There was a rise of the free-market economy.
Gorbachev’s decision to allow elections with a multi-party system and create a presidency for the Soviet Union began a slow process of democratization destabilizing the Communist party.
Change in world power, leaving the United States to be a world leader.
An ideological battle came to an end.
Nations within the Soviet Union became stronger empowering their nationalism.
Was the end of arms race, end of ideological confrontations; the Cold War was over.