History A-Level
Gorbachev’s reform programme
What Gorbachev’s reform programme means in History A-Level, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definition of Gorbachev’s reform programme
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Gorbachev’s reform programme in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: Pearson Edexcel
Glasnost, perestroika and democratisation were attempts to reform the Communist Party and Soviet government and to revitalise the party.
Topics that use Gorbachev’s reform programme
- What explains the fall of the USSR, c1985–91? (Pearson Edexcel A-Level)
Related terms
- Collapse of Soviet authority
- Economic stagnation and systemic inefficiency
- Impact on Soviet society and legitimacy
- Nationalism and the end of the Union
- Reform attempts and their limitations
- Revolution and democratisation in Eastern Europe
- Unintended consequences of reform
- Contribution to the USSR's collapse
Using Gorbachev’s reform programme in the exam
Check the command word and mark scheme for your exact question. After comparing your explanation with the reference, use the term in an answer on the linked topic. This practice does not predict an exam mark.
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