The collapse of the Soviet Union can be attributed to multiple factors. It faced internal economic challenges, including a stagnant economy, inefficient central planning, and corruption. Political unrest, ethnic tensions, and demands for independence from various republics also contributed to its downfall. Additionally, the policies of Mikhail Gorbachev, such as glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), unintentionally weakened centralized control, leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.