Boris Yeltsin
Definition
Boris Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation, serving from 1991 to 1999. He played a key role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union and attempted to transform Russia into a democratic state with a market economy.
Analogy
Think of Boris Yeltsin as a chef who's taken over an old, failing restaurant (the Soviet Union). He decides to completely revamp it, changing its menu and style (political system and economy) entirely. The process is messy, difficult, and not everyone likes the new dishes (reforms), but he's determined to make it work.
Related terms
Perestroika: This term refers to Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of economic restructuring in the Soviet Union during the late 1980s. It aimed at modernizing the Soviet economy by introducing elements of free-market capitalism.
Glasnost: Another policy introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev that aimed at increasing transparency and openness in government institutions and activities within the Soviet Union.
Russian Federation: The official name for Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It is a semi-presidential republic where power is divided between the president, prime minister, and parliament.
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