Fool Or Wise?
The Divided Legacy Of Mikhail Gorbachev
by Eric Elkin
Former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev died this week. His name disappeared from the news long before his death. Few remember his impact on the world, but Mikhail Gorbachev was a brilliant star for those who watched the Berlin Wall fall. While in Russia, many still consider him a fool.
In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Almost immediately, he started a mission to reform the political, economic, and foreign policies of the Soviet Union. The reforms were intended to move an old failing system into the modern age.
Unlike other Soviet leaders, Gorbachev embraced persuasion over brute force. He and US President Ronald Reagan worked together to sign a nuclear arms treaty. They significantly reduced the threat of nuclear war. Under Gorbachev's leadership, several territories controlled by the Soviet Union regained freedom without bloodshed. The Berlin Wall collapsed, and Germany was reunified. Mikhail Gorbachev essentially ended the Cold War.
Unfortunately, Russian citizens did not see all these moves as positive. Gorbachev was an embarrassment to them, and many considered him a traitor. The Soviet Union ceased to exist, and the nation spiraled down into worse economic conditions. Dissenting voices long held silent by the Soviet Union were set free. Unfortunately, they all spoke out against him.
Gorbachev’s legacy remains deeply divided. One thing cannot be debated, his short six years in leadership radically altered the political climate of the world. Because of this, he will remain one of the most influential leaders of the 20th Century. But the question will remain, was he wise or a fool?
In terms of the world’s wisdom, Mikhail Gorbachev was a fool. He thought persuasion would be more embraced than force. The longer there is bloodshed in Ukraine, I wonder if any Russians will change their mind about the use of force to make political points. Without a leader to make treaties with the world seems to be embracing the wisdom of arms expansion. Could Russia have experienced the economic prosperity they discovered under Putin without the foolishness of perestroika? I don’t think so.
The death of Mikhail Gorbachev and the end of his reforms should give us all a pause to consider wisdom and foolishness. His death reminded me of how the world considers those who work for peace a fool. Those who seek persuasion over a punch are weak. We are taught these things despite the prosperity both bring to the world around us. So today, I feel like being foolish.
Click to read I Corinthians 3:18-23