How would the USSR of developed if Gorbachev managed to hold on his power? Was it even possible for him to remain in power? Plus, have any good tls been made about this?
Enormously better, Gorbachev was an honest social democrat who believed in equality and democracy. I believe it was very possible and I could see the USSR, which would most likely still be under his rule today 20 years later, developing into the closest thing to a real ideological socialist/communist state the world has ever seen. Rivalries between the USSR and USA would likely have simmered down and Gorbachevism (Lenin and Stalin get their own ism's so why not) would be a popular ideology throughout Eastern Europe, Africa, and south and central Asia. The reformed USSR would be a much better place to live the Russia today, that much is safe to say.Would you regard that as better than the current Russian Federation? Gorbachev was not universally loved, but surely he is better than semi-fascist Putin.
Very possible.
The USSR would likely have become an EU-like confederation (though closer to being a single state) whose political ideology would be something like that of OTL Sweden. The Baltic states were going to be cut loose no matter what though.
There's an ASB-ish one by LacheyS that's pretty cool