History
The Collapse of the Soviet Union Explained
An explainer on the 1991 dissolution of the USSR, the key factors that led to its collapse, and its lasting impact on the world and its people.
What is it?
The dissolution of the Soviet Union was the formal end of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), which officially ceased to exist on December 26, 1991. This event marked the conclusion of the 74-year history of the world's first communist state and brought an end to the Cold War. The collapse resulted in its 15 constituent republics, from the Baltics to Central Asia, gaining full independence. Following the resignation of President Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin for the last time.
Why is it trending?
This event remains a pivotal moment in modern history. The collapse was not sudden but the result of deepening internal crises. The economy faced severe stagnation, with huge military spending and critical shortages of consumer goods. Leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced reforms—'glasnost' (openness) and 'perestroika' (restructuring)—to revitalize the system. However, these policies inadvertently unleashed long-suppressed nationalist sentiments and widespread criticism of the government. An unsuccessful coup by Communist hardliners in August 1991 fatally weakened central control, accelerating the inevitable breakup.
How does it affect people?
The dissolution dramatically reshaped the global order, leaving the United States as the world's sole superpower. For the citizens of the former USSR, the transition was tumultuous, leading to severe economic hardship, hyperinflation, and high unemployment. While it brought newfound political freedoms and national sovereignty, it also sparked new ethnic conflicts and geopolitical instability. Many of the newly independent states would go on to forge new alliances, with several joining institutions like NATO and the European Union.