The beginning of significant reform in the Soviet Union during the 1980s is marked by the policies of Mikhail Gorbachev, particularly "glasnost" (openness) and "perestroika" (restructuring). Introduced in the mid-1980s, these policies aimed to address the stagnation of the Soviet economy and promote more transparency in government. Glasnost allowed for increased freedom of expression, leading to political liberalization and public discourse. Perestroika sought to reform the economy by introducing some market-like reforms and decentralizing economic decision-making. These changes ultimately contributed to the weakening of Soviet control and paved the way for significant political and social transformations within the country and its satellite states.