Perestroika was a political movement in the Soviet Union during the 1980s, initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev. It aimed to reform the stagnant economy and promote openness in government. The term translates to "restructuring," reflecting efforts to decentralize economic control and encourage private enterprise. The reforms included reducing the state's role in the economy and allowing more freedom of expression. Perestroika was closely linked to glasnost, which means "openness," and together they sought to modernize the Soviet system. These changes ultimately contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.