Contemporary Issues in Historical Perspective The Demise of the Soviet Bloc.

The article discusses the downfall of the Soviet Union and the Communist regimes in 1989 in Eastern European satellite states. The author argues that this collapse and the subsequent end of the Cold War mainly came about because of foreign policy reforms instituted by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, as opposed to increased public opposition to Communist rule in these countries. The relationship between policy, protest, and a lack of dedication among Communist leaders within the Warsaw Pact countries is explored.