The head of the Russia program at INSS, Arkady Mil-Man, writes:
On August 30, 2022, Mikhail Gorbachev passed away, the last Soviet leader who led the Soviet Union from 1985 until its dissolution in late 1991. Gorbachev was the father of the perestroika and glasnost reforms – terms that became famous all over the world. During only six years in office, the world changed dramatically as a result of his activities: the Cold War ended, Europe was united, the Warsaw Pact dissolved, and hundreds of millions of people became free. Gorbachev, the person who was the second, and to date the last person from the Soviet and post-Soviet space to receive a Nobel Peace Prize, preferred to resign from his position and liberate the Soviet republics instead of forcefully suppressing their aspirations for independence, thus preventing a bloody civil war. This is the complete opposite of the current ruler of Russia, who is still not ready to come to terms with Ukraine's right to choose its own path.
At the same time, in Russia Gorbachev is a controversial figure, and many Russian citizens accuse him of harming the country's greatness. Indeed, when he ran in Russia’s presidential elections in 1996, he received only 0.51% of the votes.
Gorbachev's policies during the six years of his tenure significantly influenced the character and makeup of the State of Israel, but this multidimensional influence has not received sufficient attention. Gorbachev's policy prompted three main changes: the renewal of diplomatic relations between Russia and Israel and their significant development in many areas; a change in the Middle East balance of power in favor of Israel; and a wave of immigration that transformed the face of Israeli society. The new immigrants who arrived in Israel in the late 1980s and early 1990s changed Israel’s economy, Israel’s culture, and Israeli sports. Tens of thousands served in the IDF, many became officers, and some paid with their lives during Israel's wars and military operations.
The wave of immigration made possible by Gorbachev's policy was one of the largest in Israel's history and was characterized by the fact that many immigrants came from the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. As such, Israel gained a large, trained workforce that integrated into Israeli industry and contributed greatly to its success. Israeli hi-tech was infused with incredible momentum and reached tremendous achievements thanks to engineers and technicians who came from the former Soviet Union and formed the backbone of this industry.
Gorbachev's policies contributed significantly to Israel’s prosperity and and helped it flourish, and he should be recognized for this.
The head of the Russia program at INSS, Arkady Mil-Man, writes:
On August 30, 2022, Mikhail Gorbachev passed away, the last Soviet leader who led the Soviet Union from 1985 until its dissolution in late 1991. Gorbachev was the father of the perestroika and glasnost reforms – terms that became famous all over the world. During only six years in office, the world changed dramatically as a result of his activities: the Cold War ended, Europe was united, the Warsaw Pact dissolved, and hundreds of millions of people became free. Gorbachev, the person who was the second, and to date the last person from the Soviet and post-Soviet space to receive a Nobel Peace Prize, preferred to resign from his position and liberate the Soviet republics instead of forcefully suppressing their aspirations for independence, thus preventing a bloody civil war. This is the complete opposite of the current ruler of Russia, who is still not ready to come to terms with Ukraine's right to choose its own path.
At the same time, in Russia Gorbachev is a controversial figure, and many Russian citizens accuse him of harming the country's greatness. Indeed, when he ran in Russia’s presidential elections in 1996, he received only 0.51% of the votes.
Gorbachev's policies during the six years of his tenure significantly influenced the character and makeup of the State of Israel, but this multidimensional influence has not received sufficient attention. Gorbachev's policy prompted three main changes: the renewal of diplomatic relations between Russia and Israel and their significant development in many areas; a change in the Middle East balance of power in favor of Israel; and a wave of immigration that transformed the face of Israeli society. The new immigrants who arrived in Israel in the late 1980s and early 1990s changed Israel’s economy, Israel’s culture, and Israeli sports. Tens of thousands served in the IDF, many became officers, and some paid with their lives during Israel's wars and military operations.
The wave of immigration made possible by Gorbachev's policy was one of the largest in Israel's history and was characterized by the fact that many immigrants came from the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. As such, Israel gained a large, trained workforce that integrated into Israeli industry and contributed greatly to its success. Israeli hi-tech was infused with incredible momentum and reached tremendous achievements thanks to engineers and technicians who came from the former Soviet Union and formed the backbone of this industry.
Gorbachev's policies contributed significantly to Israel’s prosperity and and helped it flourish, and he should be recognized for this.