perestroika

[per-uh-stroi-kuh, pyi-ryi-stroi-kuh]

noun

1. Russian.,  the program of economic and political reform in the Soviet Union initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1986.

perestroika

/ ˌpɛrəˈstrɔɪkə /

noun

1. the policy of reconstructing the economy, etc, of the former Soviet Union under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachov

Word History and Origins

Origin of perestroika¹

From the Russian word perestróĭka literally, rebuilding, reorganization

Word History and Origins

Origin of perestroika¹

C20: Russian, literally: reconstruction

Example Sentences

It was the era of glasnost and perestroika.

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Rather than reconstructing lives, Mikhail Gorbachev’s perestroika had undermined many of them; economic “shock therapy” was therapeutic only for some.

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His restructuring and openness — perestroika and glasnost — of the late 1980s led to the dismantling of the Soviet Union and, peacefully and fleetingly, brought a divided Europe together in liberty.

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And after perestroika everything changed: Girls became dolls.”

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As Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev began the fateful era of “perestroika,” or restructuring, in the late 1980s, Mr. Strougal followed suit with efforts to lessen state controls on the Czechoslovak economy.

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