Final answer:
Perestroika and Glasnost were policies introduced by Soviet leaders Yuri Andropov and Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s that aimed to address the economic and political issues within the Soviet Union. These reforms ultimately created conditions that led to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Step-by-step explanation:
Perestroika and Glasnost were policies introduced by Soviet leaders Yuri Andropov and Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s that aimed to address the economic and political issues within the Soviet Union. Perestroika focused on restructuring the economy with market-like reforms, while Glasnost promoted political openness and transparency. However, these reforms ultimately created conditions that led to the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. The relaxation of strict controls allowed for increased criticism of the government and exposed fundamental problems in the economy, weakening the Soviet system and leading to demands for greater change and independence from the Soviet republics. These factors, combined with external pressures and geopolitical changes, ultimately resulted in the dissolution of the Soviet Union.