Was Alexander Yakovlev the real force behind perestroika and glasnost?
This debate is now closed. Thank you for your comments. For all the openness and democratisation of the Gorbachev era, the enduring impact on the society of the former Soviet Union can hardly be described as positive. Almost all of the former Soviet republics are now engaged in some sort of civil war; living standards have plummeted with an immense human cost running to millions of lives (15 million according to the United Nations); and even those democratic freedoms that were won have all but disappeared. It is important to distinguish between glasnost and perestroika. Perestroika, which Yakovlev was most closely associated with, was more about free market reforms and privatisation than about openness and democratic rights. The social impact of perestroika – which continues to this day – has been overwhelmingly negative. Paul Levy, Aarhus, Denmark As an avid follower of events in those heady days of Perestroika and Glasnost, I am saddened to hear of the passing of this fine man. Indee
