What did perestroika mean economically and politically?

Question by stupid biology sucks: What did perestroika mean politically and economically?
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bonus question: What did glasnost mean? Why did it eventually prove disastrous?

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Answer by Camille
Perestroika- a restructuring of Soviet society. Less gov’t control of the economy, the introduction of some private enterprise, and steps toward est. a democratic gov’t.
Glasnost- “Openness”. Gorbachev allowed open criticism of the Soviet gov’t and took steps toward freedom of the press. Failed because his democratic ideal led to a dramatic increase in nationalism on the part of the Soviet Union’s non-Russian republics. They then (in 1991) declared their independence from the Soviet Union. Gorbachev later resigned on Dec. 8th, ’87.
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