Dawn in the East

Abstract

Deliberate in his ideals, an advocator of new ways of thinking, Mikail Gorbachev came to power in 1985. His perseverance in attempting to get rid of Brezhnev and post­ Brezhnev ideology enabled him to make his mark not only as an idealist, but as a realist. An indication of rapid change came in February 1986 when seventeen out of twenty-four of one of the most senior policy makers, the Politburo, were replaced by younger, more progressive thinkers'. In rejuvenating leaderships, the energetic Gorbachev, in his prudent yet pragmatic style, had rapidly reshuffled his personnel. Loyalty thus consolidated his power base.