Andropov & Late Opposition to Soviet Rule

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Suppression of Dissidents, 1967-82

After Khrushchev had reduced terror, Brezhnev and later Andropov put greater emphasis again on controlling opponents.

Continuity from Brezhnev to Andropov

Both Brezhnev and Andropov had conservative instincts.
Neither had been in favour of Khrushchev's liberalisation.
But they rejected terror and violence.
- Instead, they targeted specific people who they knew were against the regime.

Strategies of control

Andropov did not want to draw too much attention to the work of the secret police.
- During his tenure, their work was carried out behind the scenes.
- He allowed political dissidents and artists to leave the country.
- Some opponents were sent to mental asylums for re-education.
- Andropov used surveillance and formal warning letters to try to target and influence specific individuals.
- 1970s: 70,000 citizens received a police warning.
Intellectuals and dissidents were fired from their jobs.

Andropov's success

Andropov did not deal effectively with opposition.
Dissent newspapers, for example, continued to publish throughout the period.
Self-published journals were known as a 'samizdat' magazines.
When an opponent was known in the West, Andropov had to act cautiously under pressure from Western governments.
- Andrei Sakharov and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, for example, were allowed to remain free.

Popular Discontent, 1982-5

Andropov was both leader of the Soviet Union and head of the secret police. As such, tackling opponents was a significant portion of his work.

People's grievances

Secret police reports revealed a number of grievances held by Soviet citizens. These included:
- Anxiety about poor living standards.
- Unhappiness with consumer products and the availability of food.
- Anger about corruption in the Party and government.

Tackling discontent

Andropov tried to tackle corruption.
- This included investigating former Minister of the Interior Nikolai Shchelokov.
Andropov campaigned to end drunkenness in the workplace.
- This included 'Operation Trawl'. The KGB went to parks and other public spaces to try to find those who were skipping work.
Andropov's illness made him unable to continue these efforts.

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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