Reforms by Sorcerer’s Apprentice: Gorbachev, Deng, Trump and the Risks of Transforming a Nation

In his 2021 book Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union, historian Vladislav M. Zubok argues that Mikhail Gorbachev’s well-intentioned but misguided reforms were the primary cause of the Soviet Union’s dissolution. 



Rather than stabilizing the economy, strengthening political structures, and improving living conditions, Gorbachev’s twin policies of Perestroika (economic restructuring) and Glasnost (political openness) acted like the fabled Sorcerer’s Apprentice—unleashing forces he could not control.

Instead of fostering a more resilient Soviet state, these reforms ignited long-suppressed nationalist and ethnic grievances, while also raising expectations for democracy. The unintended consequences of Gorbachev’s reforms accelerated the unraveling of the Soviet system, culminating in its collapse in 1991.

Contrast this with China, where Deng Xiaoping faced a similar challenge in 1989. The Tiananmen Square protests, driven by demands for political freedoms and ethnic autonomy, presented a direct threat to the Communist Party’s control. But unlike Gorbachev, Deng took decisive and brutal action—deploying tanks and troops to crush the uprising. This show of force ensured the survival of China’s one-party system and its continued economic rise. 

China’s rise as a global superpower was not merely the result of economic reforms but also of ruthless political control. Had Deng Xiaoping not ordered the military to suppress the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, China could have faced prolonged political unrest, potential regime instability, or even fragmentation—similar to what befell the Soviet Union.

By crushing the pro-democracy movement, Deng ensured the Communist Party’s unchallenged authority, creating the political stability necessary for China’s rapid economic growth. This brutal decision was arguably the linchpin that preserved the centralized power structure essential for China’s transformation into the world’s second-largest economy.

The lesson is clear: Reforming a nation is a perilous undertaking. Like the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, leaders who attempt transformation without fully grasping the consequences risk unleashing forces that may ultimately destroy the very state they seek to strengthen.

Now, as Donald Trump once again attempts to reshape the United States with sweeping proposals on immigration, government institutions, and the economy, one must ask: what happens if his reforms destabilize American society? If social and political forces spiral out of control, will Trump—if given the opportunity—have the will to act decisively, as Deng Xiaoping did? Or will he, like Gorbachev, preside over a nation fracturing beyond repair?

I believe Trump is more likely to follow Gorbachev’s path, overseeing a rapid decline in America's military and economic dominance rather than strengthening it.