why did Mikhail Gorbachev institute the policy of glasnost?

Question

~To gain acceptance for free political elections
~To reform the soviet unions politically and economiclly
~to reinforce he basic economic principles of communism
~to bring the soviet unioninto the european economic community....

Answer 1

all of the above and to quell growing unrest by the proletariat, robotnics (workers) ruble was fluctuating in markets and unstable etc. Also Solidarity in Poland, Pocrepa (sp) in Bulgaria etc. forcing reforms by offering a vocal political opposition to the party hegemony. many underground newspapers were filling the streets with stories that the party had suppressed and so Glasnost was really an opportunity to advance the party by openly addressing some of the stories that were being put forth by the opposition and get their spin on them.

Answer 2

glasnost , Soviet cultural and social policy of the late 1980s. Following his ascension to the leadership of the USSR in 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev began to promote a policy of openness in public discussions about current and historical problems. The policy was termed glasnost [openness]. The brutality of the Stalin era, such as the great purges and the Katyn massacre, were acknowledged, and the corruption and stagnation of the Brezhnev era were sharply criticized. Soviet leaders became more receptive both to the media and to foreign leaders as a new period of detente opened between East and West. Gorbachev hoped that a candidness about the state of the country would accelerate his perestroika program.

Answer 3

He understood that communism in Russia was slip-slidin away, and it was time to make nice with the neighbors

Answer 4

the second one is the closest to the real reason