What does the Russian term perestroika mean?

The Russian term "perestroika" translates to "restructuring" in English. It refers to a series of political and economic reforms initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev in the mid-1980s aimed at revitalizing the Soviet Union's stagnant economy and increasing transparency in governance. Perestroika sought to decentralize the economy, introduce market-like reforms, and encourage greater openness, ultimately leading to significant changes in Soviet society and contributing to the end of the Cold War.