()'s the Russian term (now used in English) for the political and economic reforms introduced in June 1987 by the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Its literal meaning's "restructuring", referring to the restructuring of the Soviet economy. Perestroika's often argued to be one reason for the fall of communist political forces in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and for the end of the Cold War. Political reforms Right after Mikhail Gorbachev took the office of the General Secretary of the C… (More on Perestroika)