The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 was caused by a combination of economic, political, and social factors. The Soviet economy was stagnating, marked by inefficiencies and shortages, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among its citizens. Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) were intended to reform the system, but they inadvertently weakened the central authority and fueled nationalist movements within various Soviet republics. As these republics sought independence, the attempted coup in August 1991 accelerated the collapse. The formal dissolution on December 26, 1991, marked the end of the Cold War and led to the emergence of 15 independent nations.