I’m not even sure the collapse of the Soviet Union was a net gain.
People tend to conflate two different things by that phrase.
1) The fall of Communism.
2) The break up of the Soviet Union into 15 republics.
Which one are you asking about.
There is yet a third interpretation: the loss of control by the USSR over the other states of the Warsaw Pact. This is the aspect that is most clearly a good development. Added: In fact, I think that is the most common use (cf Viliam).
People tend to conflate two different things by that phrase.
1) The fall of Communism.
2) The break up of the Soviet Union into 15 republics.
Which one are you asking about.
There is yet a third interpretation: the loss of control by the USSR over the other states of the Warsaw Pact. This is the aspect that is most clearly a good development. Added: In fact, I think that is the most common use (cf Viliam).