Stability & Stagnation, 1964-85

Stability under Brezhnev

Brezhnev believed a period of stability was necessary. He thought the revolution had already been completed by previous leaders.

Restoration

Brezhnev decided that some of Khrushchev's reforms had not worked.
Under a policy of 'restoration', he rolled back some reforms.
Decentralisation came to an end.
All-Union, centralised ministries returned.
Agricultural and Industrial sections of the Party were reunited.
There was no return to the terror of the Stalin years.

Stability of cadres

The policy of 'stability of cadres' discouraged too many changes within the government.
It was difficult to fire government workers or move them around departments.
This meant that Party members' jobs were very secure.

Political Stagnation

Brezhnev's policy of restoration led to political stagnation.

Gerontocracy

Government officials stayed in their jobs for many years, sometimes for life.
- Young people did not take on government jobs, so the average age of state employees went up.
1964-71: Only two new members of the Politburo. Its average was 75 in 1982.
People joked that the government had become a 'gerontocracy' - a ruling class of old people.

Aging and inefficiency

Older officials became increasingly inefficient.
There were few opportunities for promotion. This was bad for motivating workers.
There was no incentive to work hard.

Corruption

With little opportunity to progress, some public officials turned to corruption.
One way to do this was by selling goods.
Brezhnev himself was involved in corruption with luxury goods.
- His daughter Galina Brezhneva was able to get hold of diamonds. Her lover smuggled the diamonds out of the Soviet Union.

No more revolution

The government no longer had a utopian vision as it had done under the USSR's previous leaders.
Brezhnev no longer persuaded people to work hard to reach socialism.
- He only encouraged revolution in other countries.
People were angry that corruption was such a big problem, even after socialism had supposedly been reached.

Andropov and Chernenko

From 1982 to 1985, Andropov and Chernenko led the USSR.

Yuri Andropov

After Brezhnev's death, Yuri Andropov became the leader of the Soviet Union alongside Konstantin Chernenko.
Both men were close allies of Brezhnev.
There was little attempt at reform during the period.
Andropov tried to bring corruption to an end.

Anti-corruption campaign

'Stability of cadres' was ended.
- Andropov replaced many senior officials.
Red Army generals were the main target of the campaign.
Minister of the Interior Nikolai Shchelokov was also attacked.

Chernenko

Chernenko was also against reform.
He ruled for such a short time that he did very little as the leader.

1Communist Government in the USSR, 1917-85

1.1Establishing Communist Party Control, 1917-24

1.1.1The Creation of a One-Party State

1.1.2Government under Lenin

1.1.3Centralisation of Power

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Establishing Control

1.1.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Establishing Control

1.2Stalin in Power, 1928-53

1.2.1The Elimination of Opponents

1.2.2The Purges of the 1930s

1.2.3End of Topic Test - The Elimination of Opponents

1.2.4Stalin's Power Over the Communist Party

1.2.5Stalin's Power During & After the Communist Party

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Power Over the Communist Party

1.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Stalin in Power

1.3Government, 1953-85

1.3.1Changes in Leaders' Control of the State

1.3.2Khrushchev's Attempts to Reform Government

1.3.3End of Topic Test - Government 1953-85

1.3.4Stability & Stagnation, 1964-85

1.3.5End of Topic Test - Stability & Stagnation

1.3.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Government 1953 - 85

2Industrial & Agricultural Changes

2.1Towards a Command Economy

2.1.1Nationalisation of Industry, Communism & the NEP

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Towards a Command Economy

2.2Industry & Agriculture in the Stalin Era

2.2.1Five Year Plans & Industrial Change

2.2.2Five Year Plans & Industrial Change 2

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Five Year Plans

2.2.4Agricultural Collectivisation & its Impact

2.2.5Recovery from War after 1945

2.2.6End of Topic Test - Collectivisation & Recovery

2.3Changes in Industry & Agriculture, 1953-85

2.3.1Light Industry, Chemicals & Consumer Goods

2.3.2Investment in Agriculture & Virgin Lands

2.3.3Attempts at Reform after 1964

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Industry & Agriculture

2.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Industry & Agriculture

3Control of the People, 1917-85

3.1Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.1.1State Control of Mass Media & Propaganda

3.1.2Attacks on Religious Beliefs & Practices

3.1.3Attacks on Religious Beliefs & Practices 2

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.1.5Cults: Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev

3.1.6A-A*/ - Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.2The Secret Police

3.2.1Attacks on Opponents of the Government

3.2.2The Roles of Yagoda, Yezhov & Beria

3.2.3Andropov & Late Opposition to Soviet Rule

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Secret Police

3.3The State & Cultural Change

3.3.1Proletkult, Avant-Garde & Socialist Realism

3.3.2Nonconformity from the 1950s

3.3.3End of Topic Test - State & Cultural Change

3.3.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Control of the People

4Social Developments, 1917-35

4.1Social Security

4.1.1Full Employment Benefits

4.1.2Housing & Social Benefits

4.1.3Khrushchev, Brezhnev & Stable Society

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Social Security

4.2Women & Family

4.2.1Changing Status of Different Groups

4.2.2Changing Attitudes to Family

4.2.3Changing Attitudes to Family 2

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Women & Family

4.3Education & Young People

4.3.1Growth of Primary, Secondary & Higher Education

4.3.2Reduction of Illiteracy

4.3.3State Control of the Curriculum

4.3.4End of Topic Test - Education & Young People

4.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Social Developments

5Historical Interpretations

5.1What Explains the Fall of the USSR, 1985-91?

5.1.1Economic Weakness

5.1.2Attempts at Economic Reform

5.1.3Failure To Reform The Communist Party & Soviet Gov

5.1.4Impact of Reforms

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Economic Reform

5.1.6Impact of the Nationalist Resurgence

5.1.7Impact of the Nationalist Resurgence 2

5.1.8End of the USSR

5.1.9Gorbachev & Yeltsin's Responsibility

5.1.10End of Topic Test - Nationalist Resurgence

5.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Explaining the Fall of the USSR

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