Nonconformity from the 1950s

Thaw and Nonconformity, 1954-64

Khrushchev was more liberal in his approach to culture than Stalin. He introduced cultural 'thaws' under his policy of de-Stalinisation. Brezhnev was, again, more traditional.

Building alliances

Khrushchev wanted to build bridges between the Party and intellectuals.
This led to more creative freedom.

Examples of more freedom

1953-4: Publication of works of literature, such as Ilya Ehrenburg's 'The Thaw', which criticised Stalin's rule.
1956-7: There was another wave of liberalisation after the Secret Speech.
- Vladimir Dudintsev was able to publish the novel 'Not by Bread Alone'. This again criticised Stalin.
1962: Alexander Solzhenitsyn was able to publish 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich', about a prisoner in the gulag.
When artists went too far, Khrushchev imposed sanctions once again.

Nonconformity from the 1950s

Khrushchev was not able to accept any widespread nonconformity in Soviet society.
He wanted to challenge lazy bureaucrats and alcoholics in society too.
He created poster campaigns known as 'popular oversight'.
This included 'The Lazy Bureaucrat' (1961) and 'The Alcoholic' (1959).

Nonconformist women

Khrushchev seemed to particularly hate nonconformist women.
A campaign was launched against 'stilyaga'.
- These were women who wore western clothes.
- These clothes were associated with sexual promiscuity.

Clashes Between Artists and Government to 1985

Brezhnev proved once again to be very hard line. He fought back against cultural liberalisation.

Trials

-1966: The trial of Andrei Sinyavsky and Yuli Daniel was an example of Brezhnev's more authoritarian approach to culture.

The writers were tried together in a show trial.
Daniel and Sinyavsky were sent to the gulag.

Secret art shows

There were secret art shows which dissident artists took part in.
1968: Nonna Goriunova performed Forest Ritual. This was an experimental theatre piece performed in a wood.
Samzidat literature often emphasised how boring life under Communism had become.

Mitki Collective

The Mitki Collective was a group that played secret shows in Leningrad.
- Fans of the shows wore rebellious, shabby clothes.
The authorities were suspicious of dissident artistic groups. Some, not all, were stopped by the government.

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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