Yes, you're right, and it's worth not forgetting that he came at a time of heightened tension because of the renewed belligerance (or at least remilitarisation) of the US under the Reagan regime (consolidating the end of detente), which made his achievements even more impressive.
Unfortunatey however with the rise of putin, it seems that his reforms, which were intended to be consolidated during the transitory period after the fall of the union, are in reverse. Hopefully temporarily.
I certainly have great respect for Gorbachev. But he did not exist in a vacuum. Much of what happened in the 80s and early 90s was because the world had Reagan, Thatcher, Gorbachev, and Pope John-Paul II.
Well those who manage the decline of empire or superpower status are rarely popular. There is also an argument that Russians have always prior to the fall of the Soviet Union had strong leadership (either under a tsarist monarchy or under the Soviet leaders). It may be that they prefer the current regime because it fits their political culture and expectations of their country better.
RIP
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This is a perfect topic, given such a world audience on chess.com. In my life, I can think of no person who has so transformed the world like Mikhail Gorbachev. He brought so many millions into more freedom and more prosperity it is unbelievable. Whether he fully intended it or not, it doesn't matter. He definitely set the course that led to the outcome. He made decisions along the way that didn't lead towards violence, or stop the progress.
This week is 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. He didn't intervene. It wasn't Reagan who ended the Cold War, it was Gorbachev. And from the western side of East Germany to Vietnam, the people living a better life today should thank him. And to go against such overwhelmingly powerful forces to lead a course of radical change that led to such a world change for the better was inspired.
When he dies, people will recognize what a world hero he truly he is. It is such a shame that the Russian people don't give him the recognition that he deserves. The man, singlehandedly, transformed the world.