How did Yeltsin's policies differ from Gorbachev's?

Yeltsin's policies were more radical and market-oriented, focusing on rapid privatisation, unlike Gorbachev's gradualist approach to reform.

Boris Yeltsin and Mikhail Gorbachev were two key figures in the history of Russia, each with their own distinct approach to economic and political reform. Gorbachev, who served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991, pursued a policy of gradual reform. His two main policies were 'glasnost' (openness) and 'perestroika' (restructuring). Glasnost aimed to increase transparency and freedom of speech in the Soviet Union, while perestroika sought to reform the Soviet economic system by introducing elements of the market economy.

Yeltsin, on the other hand, who served as the President of Russia from 1991 to 1999, pursued a more radical approach to reform. His policies were characterised by a rapid transition to a market economy, known as 'shock therapy'. This involved the swift privatisation of state-owned enterprises and the liberalisation of prices. Yeltsin's policies were aimed at dismantling the old Soviet system as quickly as possible and replacing it with a capitalist economy.

While Gorbachev's policies were aimed at reforming the existing system, Yeltsin's policies were aimed at completely transforming it. Gorbachev sought to maintain the socialist system while introducing elements of the market economy, whereas Yeltsin sought to replace the socialist system with a capitalist one. This fundamental difference in their approach to reform is reflected in the outcomes of their policies. Gorbachev's gradualist approach led to a slow and often painful transition, with many of the old structures remaining in place. Yeltsin's radical approach, on the other hand, led to a rapid but chaotic transition, with many of the new structures being poorly implemented.

In terms of political reform, both leaders pursued policies of democratisation. However, Yeltsin's approach was again more radical. He introduced a new constitution that established a presidential system with strong executive powers, whereas Gorbachev sought to reform the existing Soviet political system by introducing elements of democracy.

In conclusion, while both leaders pursued policies of economic and political reform, their approaches were fundamentally different. Gorbachev's policies were characterised by a gradualist approach, while Yeltsin's policies were characterised by a radical and rapid transition to a market