As a political science expert with a keen interest in the history of the Soviet Union, I can provide an in-depth analysis of the dissolution of the USSR and the number of countries that emerged as a result.

The Soviet Union, officially known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991. It was one of the world's most influential and powerful nations during its existence, covering more than one-sixth of the Earth's land area and spanning across 11 time zones. The USSR was a federal union of multiple nationalities, with a complex political and administrative structure.

Politically, the USSR was divided into 15 constituent republics, each with its own government and administrative apparatus. These republics were Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (formerly known as Belorussia), Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan (formerly known as Kirghizia), Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova (formerly known as Moldavia), Russia, Tajikistan (formerly known as Tadzhikistan), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

However, the dissolution of the Soviet Union did not result in the creation of exactly 15 independent countries. The process was complex and involved various political, economic, and social factors. It is important to note that the USSR was a federal state with a centralized government, and the constituent republics had varying degrees of autonomy.

The breakup of the Soviet Union began in the late 1980s with the rise of Mikhail Gorbachev, who became the General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1985. Gorbachev introduced policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), which aimed to reform the Soviet political and economic system. These policies, coupled with a growing desire for independence among the republics, led to a weakening of the central government's control.

In 1991, the situation reached a critical point. On August 19, a group of hardline Communist Party members attempted a coup against Gorbachev, which ultimately failed. This event marked a turning point, as it further weakened the central government and accelerated the process of disintegration.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union was formalized with the Belavezha Accords, signed on December 8, 1991, by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. This agreement declared the Soviet Union extinct and established the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which was intended to be a loose political and economic alliance of the former Soviet republics.

The number of countries that emerged from the Soviet Union is often cited as 15, which corresponds to the number of constituent republics. However, the reality is slightly more nuanced. While all 15 republics did gain independence, the process was not uniform, and some areas experienced additional changes.

For example, the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—had been forcibly incorporated into the USSR during World War II and had maintained a strong desire for independence throughout the Soviet era. Their independence was recognized relatively quickly after the dissolution.

Other republics, such as Georgia and Moldova, faced internal conflicts and territorial disputes, which led to the de facto independence of regions within their borders, such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria.

Furthermore, the Russian Federation itself is a vast country with numerous ethnic republics and autonomous regions. While these entities are part of Russia, they have varying degrees of autonomy and could be considered as distinct political entities in their own right.

In conclusion, while the Soviet Union was divided into 15 constituent republics, the number of countries that emerged from its dissolution is often cited as 15, but the actual situation is more complex due to the varying degrees of autonomy and the subsequent political developments in some of the republics. The dissolution of the Soviet Union marked a significant turning point in world history, leading to the emergence of several new nations and the reconfiguration of global politics.

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Politically the USSR was divided (from 1940 to 1991) into 15 constituent or union republics--Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belorussia (see Belarus), Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia (see Kyrgyzstan), Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia (see Moldova), Russia, Tadzhikistan (see Tajikistan), Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan-- ...read more >>