Reform, stability and stagnation 1953-85

What did Andropov do in party leadership to address economic concerns?

Promoted younger, more reformists whose experience was more intertwined with common people. A notable name he promoted was Mikhail Gorbachev

What was the hierarchy of The Soviet Government?

1) Sovnarkom

2) Central Executive Committee

3) All-Russian Congress of Soviets

What was the hierarchy of The Communist Party?

1) Politburo

2) Central Committee

3) Party Congress

What was the politburo renamed to and when?

The presidium in 1952

When did Khrushchev become leader of the Communist Party?

September 1953

How did Khrushchev outmanoeuvre almost all political opponents by 1956?

Replacing half those elected into the Central Committee in 1952 with his own supporters

"When was the ""Secret Speech""?"

The Twentieth Party Congress in 1956

What did Khrushchev say at his Secret Speech?

The announcement his policy of ‘de-Stalinisation’, accusing Stalin of being a tyrant, using unnecessary terror, condemning his both his economic policy and cult of personality

What were the key features of de-Stalinisation?

Regular meetings of the presidium - Decentralise decision making, giving more power to organisations - Secret police were firmly under party control - Secret police lost control over labour camps - 2 million political prisoners released between 1953-60

What aspects of de-Stalinisation negatively affected Khrushchev? How?

Decentralisation of decision making. Threatened to reduce powers of Party leaders, resulting in an attempt to remove Khrushchev from power in 1957 from an ‘Anti-Party Group’, headed by Malenkob and Molotov.

How was Khrushchev able to defeat the ‘Anti-Party Group’ in 1957?

He put the topic of resignation to the decision of the Central Committee, (who were full of his supporters) who rejected it immediately

How did Khrushchev enhance his own power? When?

He became prime minister as well as First Secretary in March 1958

When did Khrushchev attempt to reform the party?

Twenty-Second Party Congress in 1961

How did Khrushchev reform the party following 1961?

Removed Stalin's body from Lenin's mauseleum in Red Square - 1962, divided party in Agricultural and Industrial departments - Introduce limit to length Party official could serve in post to three years

What caused growing unpopularity of Khrushchev?

Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 - Numerous economic mistakes mainly leading to a disastrous harvest

When was Khrushchev removed from power?

1964

How was Khrushchevs removal significant of his impact?

As he himself remarked Stalin woudl have had them shot."" Indicative of his removal of terror and tyranny from the Communist Party

Who was Khrushchevs successor?

Leonid Brezhnev

When was the Presidium changed back to the Politburo?

1966

How did Brezhnev feel with regards to de-Stalinisation?

He was quick to revert many of its aspects as it had upset the Party

What did Brezhnev revert from de-Stalinisation?

Divisions between agricultural and industry sections within Party was dropped - Limits on tenure of office were removed

How did Brezhenv promote collective leadership?

Trust in cadres: the Party became main instrument of upward mobility

How much did party membership increase between 1953 - 1980?

6.9 million - 17 million

How did Brezhnev emerge as the ‘first among equals’?

Removal of ‘subjectivism’. Leaders could no longer make decisions without consulting the Party.

What did the Soviet Constitution of 1977 do?

Enshrined the right of the citizens to criticise incompetant and ineffective party secretaries

What did Brezhnev find appealling about his position?

His power trappings. He would award himself with numerous medals

What made Brezhnev so popular?

He excersised less power than Stalin or Khrushchev, but this also led to stagnation

What did stagnation under Brezhenv result in in terms of party leadership

"It had developed into an oligarchy, ruled by small elites (""Brezhnevs cronies"" noted many)"

How did stagnation under Brezhnev result in corruption?

The cotton affair resulted in million of roubles being claimed for non-existant cotton as official fiddled figures. Nepotism was also rifle as party officials ensured jobs for family members"

How did Membeship of the Central Committee indicated Brezhnevs government was becoming a gerontocracy?

At Stalins last Part congress on 56% of central committee retained office, in 1976 it was 79% and those not ‘retained’ had died from old age. in 1984, 11 members of politburo were over age 70

When did Brezhnev die?

1982

Who was Brezhnev's successor?

Andropov

What happened to Andropov?

He was in power for 2 years but was reliant on a dialysis machine and died in 1984