The period directly before the fall of the Soviet Union was one of liberalization and opening up. If any thing, the history of the Soviet Union was on of decreasing repression (in fits and with some set backs) after Stalin's death. You also have to be really careful of historical predictions. Lots of people make lots of predictions. Most of them are wrong, and most of them aren't remembered.
Liberalization was blamed both before the Soviet Union was established, and again when it was dissolved. You should be thinking of the former usage of both "liberals" and "liberalization".
