The end of the Cold War in Europe was marked by the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, following a series of pivotal events in the late 1980s. This period saw the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which symbolized the end of the division between East and West Germany and showcased the failure of communist regimes across Eastern Europe. The policies of Mikhail Gorbachev, particularly glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), helped facilitate political reforms and greater openness. The collapse of the Soviet Union signified the collapse of communist authority, leading to democratization in several countries and a redefinition of international relations, emphasizing cooperation over confrontation.