In the annals of history, few leaders have faced the monumental challenges that Mikhail Gorbachev encountered when he rose to power in the Soviet Union in 1985.

His ascent came at a time when the nation was grappling with stagnation, disillusionment, and an economy on the brink of collapse. Gorbachev, the youngest General Secretary in Soviet history, was thrust into a leadership role that demanded not only a vision for reform but also the courage to confront an entrenched bureaucracy resistant to change.

In a new format I explore the life of Mikhail Gorbachev without a guest.

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Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode406/

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00:00:00 Introduction

0:01:10 The Man from Stavropol

0:06:35 Acceleration and the Mirage of Momentum

0:13:15 The Opening to the West

0:20:26 Opening the Gates

0:28:08 Signing Away the Missiles

0:34:37 Nations within a Nation

0:40:36 The Centre Cannot Hold

0:46:51 The Coup that Failed

0:58:00 The Weight of Legacy

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