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