The name given to Gorbachev's policy of political openness was called "glasnost." This usually meant a sort of openness or transparency for politics, such as that the press and the public could attend court hearings and that the sentence would be read out in public.
It's really complex, and you will have to understand it to answer properly. Can I suggest that you google it?
It created tension between the colonies and Great Britain. Early in the American Revolution colonist considered this a grievance. I don't know if this answer helps, sorry if it doesn't. :)
