The Evolution of Soviet Policy: Real Change or more of the Same

The evolution of Soviet policy under Mikhail Gorbachev has caused continuing controversy in the West. His supporters believe that he is truly opening up glasnost and re-structuring perestroika the Soviet Union, whereas his detractors claim that he is just another communist, changing his means, but implacable about the goal of Soviet domination. The purpose of this paper is to compare Gorbachevs key policies with those of previous Soviet leaders, to analyze these comparisons, and to formulate conclusions on the evolution of Soviet policy--to answer the question Is Gorbachev merely devising new and more clever means for continuing the October Revolution and expanding Soviet hegemony, or is he making real changes in both the means and ends of Soviet policy The conclusions of this paper answer this question in the key Soviet policy areas of glasnost, economics, defense, and foreign affairs, with special emphasis on the German Question. Keywords Foreign governments USSR leadership policies.