Leonid Brezhnev

Rise to power

• He had a role in WW2 (political commissars, local leader) boosting his political capital

• Post Stalin era: benefited from the political shifts following Stalin's death in 1953. Gained favour after Khrushchev's policies.

• Role in Khrushchev downfall: Allied with other party officials, discontent with Khrushchev.

• Consolidation of power: became the first secretary of the communist party (later he restored the title of general secretary).

• Leadership: focused on stability and gradual reform :)

economic policies

• Reversal of Khrushchev’s reforms: reversed most economic policies that Khrushchev did.

• Focused on stability: he emphasized economic stability and continuity over radical reforms, avoiding disruptive changes in economic system.

• Priority on heavy industry: investment in industrial sectors

• increased military spending: significant resources allocated to the defense sector to sustain the arms race with the US and maintain the USSR superpower status.

Kosygin reforms

intorduced modest economic reforms proposed by prime minister Alexei Kosygin aimed at improving efficiency through greater autonomy for enterprise managers and profit incentives. these reforms had limited succes and were eventuslly curtailed.

agricultural sector

• continued collectivization: increased subsides and investments in agricultural technology to boost productivity.