How did Mikhail Gorbachev differ from previous Soviet leaders?

Gorbachev differed from earlier Soviet leaders by recognizing that the Soviet Union’s political and economic system needed reform to address its problems. His policies of perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (greater openness) reflected that need to adapt. He did seek cooperation with the United States, but the broader distinction emphasized here was his willingness to reform the Soviet system, not that he rejected communism altogether.

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