Final answer:
Mikhail Gorbachev was most responsible for the fall of the Soviet Union due to his implementation of political and economic reforms, inadvertently weakening the Communist Party's grip on power and opening the door for nationalist movements. The case of the Baltic states seeking independence from the Soviet Union illustrates this. Gorbachev's inability to address economic problems further contributed to the country's decline.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fall of the Soviet Union was a complex event influenced by various factors. However, one person who played a significant role in its downfall was the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev implemented political and economic reforms known as perestroika and glasnost, which aimed to modernize the Soviet Union and increase transparency. However, these reforms inadvertently weakened the Communist Party's grip on power and opened the door for the rise of nationalist and independence movements in the republics.
One specific example is the case of the Baltic states, such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which had long sought independence from the Soviet Union. Gorbachev's policies of openness allowed these movements to gain momentum, ultimately leading to the Baltic states declaring independence in 1990-1991.
Furthermore, Gorbachev's inability to effectively address the economic problems facing the Soviet Union, such as food shortages and inflation, also contributed to the country's decline. These economic challenges, combined with growing political unrest and a desire for greater autonomy, eventually led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
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