What was a key factor in the breakup of the Soviet Union?

The emergence of the Baltic republics declaring independence was a pivotal factor in the breakup of the Soviet Union. In the late 1980s, countries such as Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia pushed for sovereignty and began peacefully declaring their independence from Soviet rule. This movement was fueled by growing nationalism and the desire for self-determination among the various ethnic groups within the USSR. The success of these republics inspired other regions within the Soviet Union to seek their own independence, leading to a domino effect that weakened the central authority of the Soviet government.

Additionally, the lessening grip of the Communist Party under Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) contributed to this desire for independence. As political and economic reforms took effect, the Baltic states and others realized the opportunity to pursue autonomy more actively. The situation escalated, ultimately culminating in a series of independence declarations that significantly weakened the legitimacy and control of the Soviet leadership, thus heralding the downfall of the Soviet Union by the end of 1991.