Today is Mikhail Gorbachev’s 80th birthday. The last Soviet premier, still active in charity circles and surrounded by an active PR team, has managed to get loads of coverage for it. In any case, it’s a good excuse to read up on your Collapse of the Soviet Union history, especially considering that this year marks the 20th year anniversary of said collapse.

In Foreign Policy, David Hoffman remembers how Gorbachev came to power.

The New York Times looks at Gorbachev in the context of the current unrest in the Arab world in an essay titled “How to Lose a Country Gracefully.”

The Moscow Times looks at Gorbachev’s legacy.

For a view closer to what most Russians think, take a look at The Moscow News, for a less flattering portrait.