Abstract

Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin were those Soviet leaders who wanted to establish a progressive society and liberal economic development, unlike the Stalinist system that prevailed in USSR for decades. However, Gorbachev was still deeply communist but Yeltsin wanted to replace the communist system with democratic and capitalist ideals. This study also highlights the dynamics which restricts both the leaders in fulfilling their goals. It also put a critique on their leadership style while considering the volatile nature of Russian society at home and agitations abroad. Both of these leaders failed in their aspirations due to the deep-rooted conservative social structure. The article also discusses the impact of the policies and leadership styles of the two on Russian society and politics. The research concluded that the period of Gorbachev and Yeltsin was just an episode in Russian history which did not bring any fruitful development. The succeeding years after Yeltsin somehow continued the same policies as were before Gorbachev.

Highlights

  • Nature and style of political leadership play a major role in determining the destiny of a state

  • The same has been found during the tenures of Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin when they steered the politics and economy of the USSR and Russian Federation, respectively

  • Disapproved and disliked in today’s Russia (Masci 2017; Nikolskyi 2013; Taylor 2017) hailed in the West, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is very unique in the field of leadership styles and personalities

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Summary

Introduction

Nature and style of political leadership play a major role in determining the destiny of a state. One of the most unique and significant aspects of both leaders was that they both were willing to restructure USSR from age-old complex bureaucratic and rustic economic institutions which were no longer serving the needs and requirements of Russian society and its satellite states They both differed in their methods, techniques, strategies, and policies. This study has been designed to identify and analyze the factors which prevented Gorbachev and Yeltsin to accomplish their vision For this purpose, the section highlights the Gorbachev era, his personality as a reformist, his leadership style, domestic and foreign policies, the major challenges he faced during his reform journey, and why he failed to yield successful results out of them. His approach towards foreign policy in terms of near-east the newly independent states from USSR and his deep inclination towards West, especially US, have critically evaluated

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev
Understanding the Failure of Gorbachev’s Reform Agenda
Boris Yeltsin
Discussion & Conclusion
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