Ultimately, the reforms initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev led to

Answer: An effort to inculcate more liberal political principles.

Explanation:

The story does not portray Gorbachev as a Democrat. However, he is undoubtedly a person with broader and more liberal views on society and politics than his predecessors. He wanted to liberalize a stubborn Communist ideology and bring the Soviet Union closer to Western democratic movements.

Thus, he did not intend to democratize Soviet society through his actions, only to break away from rigid communist principles. Through his reforms, he sought to give more space to freedom of thought, to the press, and to make room for different political actors.

Answer: the downfall of the Soviet Union.

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