4.1.3

Khrushchev, Brezhnev & Stable Society

Test yourself

Welfare Under Khrushchev

Khrushchev tried to improve health care in the Soviet Union. Evidence shows that he was successful.

Illustrative background for Stalin's legacyIllustrative background for Stalin's legacy ?? "content

Stalin's legacy

  • Khrushchev wanted to improve upon Stalin’s success in improving welfare amongst Soviet workers.
Illustrative background for Khrushchev's reformsIllustrative background for Khrushchev's reforms ?? "content

Khrushchev's reforms

  • Khrushchev doubled welfare spending in nine years and quadrupled pension spending from 1950-59.
  • 1961: Introduction of free school, factory and office lunches, free public transport and free health care for farmers.
Illustrative background for Life expectancyIllustrative background for Life expectancy ?? "content

Life expectancy

  • Life expectancy went up.
    • The death rate fell from 9.7/1000 people to 7.3/1000 from 1950-65.
    • Infant mortality (per 1000 live births) fell from 81 to 27 in the same period.

Housing Under Khrushchev

Khrushchev was committed to improving the housing problems in the USSR. He developed a new design called K-7.

Illustrative background for New housing initiativesIllustrative background for New housing initiatives ?? "content

New housing initiatives

  • Housing was a flagship policy of Khrushchev's.
  • He found a new way to build social housing.
Illustrative background for The K-7 designIllustrative background for The K-7 design ?? "content

The K-7 design

  • This was Khrushchev's new design:
    • The design became known as the K-7 - the Khrushchyovka.
    • The housing blocks could be built very quickly. They used standardised prefabricated pieces, rather than bricks.
    • Families had an apartment to themselves, with heating and running water.
    • K-7 blocks were built right into the 1980s.

Brezhnev's New Social Contract

Brezhnev believed the provision of welfare was part of a contract between the people and the state.

Illustrative background for Khrushchev's legacyIllustrative background for Khrushchev's legacy ?? "content

Khrushchev's legacy

  • Khrushchev had aimed to reach a state of pure communism by 1980.
  • Brezhnev abandoned this, but he did carry on investing in welfare.
Illustrative background for Brezhnev's view of welfareIllustrative background for Brezhnev's view of welfare ?? "content

Brezhnev's view of welfare

  • He saw welfare as part of a contract, entered into by citizens and the state.
  • This social contract required people to support the government.
  • In return, the state promised to work towards improving living standards.
Illustrative background for Guarantees in the social contractIllustrative background for Guarantees in the social contract ?? "content

Guarantees in the social contract

  • Guaranteed full employment.
  • Price controls on goods.
  • Some free market forces, allowing some black market trading.
  • Free healthcare.
  • Brezhnev also introduced subsidised rent, and utilities, as well as some paid leave.
Illustrative background for Impact of the social contractIllustrative background for Impact of the social contract ?? "content

Impact of the social contract

  • The contract was successful in providing stability.
  • The cities experienced their highest living standards under Soviet rule. Most could enjoy a secure life.
Illustrative background for Social issuesIllustrative background for Social issues ?? "content

Social issues

  • Women were discriminated against under Brezhnev, so female unemployment stood at 10%. Men were prioritised for jobs in industry.
  • Life expectancy actually went down by four years to 64 for men. Alcoholism was a principal cause.

Jump to other topics

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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Housing & Social Benefits

End of Topic Test - Social Security