In 1986, aware of the term's historical and more recent resonance, Mikhail Gorbachev and his advisers adopted "glasnost" as a political slogan, together with the obscure "perestroika". Glasnost was taken to mean increased openness and transparency in government institutions and activities in the Soviet Union. Gorbachev's reforms helped to move the Soviet Union closer towards democracy. He helped move the soviet union closer towards democracy by passing polices such as glasnost that encouraged openness and many other things. I think thats it or something like that.