Definition

Noun: 1. A policy of openness and increased transparency in government and public institutions: Specifically, the policy introduced in the former Soviet Union in the 1980s under Mikhail Gorbachev, which allowed for greater freedom of information, public discussion, and criticism of social and political issues.

Usage

• Glasnost is a historical term, most commonly used when discussing the political reforms and the final years of the Soviet Union.
• It is typically used as an uncountable noun.
• It is often discussed in conjunction with perestroika (restructuring), the companion policy of economic reform.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "The spirit of glasnost": Used to describe an atmosphere or era of new openness, sometimes applied to other contexts beyond Soviet history.
  • The investigation was conducted with a new spirit of glasnost.

Variants and Related Words

• Perestroika (n): The policy or practice of restructuring or reforming the economic and political system. This was the key companion reform to glasnost.

Synonyms

• Openness
• Transparency
• Frankness

Antonyms

• Secrecy
• Censorship
• Repression

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "The winds of glasnost": A phrase describing the force or effect of the new policy of openness.
  • The winds of glasnost swept through the state-controlled press.

Noun

1. a policy of the Soviet government allowing freer discussion of social problems