Brezhnev GOVERNMENT

Question 1

Why did Brezhnev try to outmanoeuvre his opponents in the collective leadership?

Answer 1

He saw how Khrushchev lost the trust of his colleagues, leading to his downfall, he was cautious to avoid this.

Question 2

Who were Brezhnev’s politburo rivals? What did he do to them?

Answer 2

They were side-lined:

• Podgorny was given ceremonial position as Head of State
• Shelepin was put incharge of foreign affairs

Question 3

How did Brezhnev rise through the politburo and reduce conflict within it?

Answer 3

• he had an affable personality - get his way easily and with no conflict
• he was an organisation mad, able to give the politburo unity

Question 4

What were Khrushchevs policies called now?

Answer 4

‘Hare-brained schemes’

Question 5

What was Brezhnev first port of call?

Answer 5

Reverse most extreme destalinisation measures.

Question 6

Brezhnev early reforms: (5)

Answer 6

• reunite industrial and agricultural sectors of the party
• 3 year tenures removed
• introduction of collective leadership and ‘trust in cadres’ as guiding leadership principles
• first amongst equals
• criticism of ineffective party officials allowed

Question 7

Trust in cadres

Answer 7

• officials (especially at the top) enjoyed unbroken tenures
• Brezhnev preferred to trust th epartyy cadres to carry out their jobs - he didn’t like menial govt. tasks

Question 8

What did trust in cadres do to party membership and why?

Answer 8

Increased it hugely - party became the main instrument for upwards mobility in society:

6.9 million in 1953 - 17 million by 1980

Question 9

Smoothing out decisions in the politburo

Answer 9

Brezhnev was FIRST AMONGST EQUALS so discussed issues with the politburo - he fed them information to get his own way (general secretary was able to do this)

Question 10

Was Stalins 100th birthday recognised in 1979?

Answer 10

Limitedly - under Khrushchev this would not have happened

Question 11

Third party congress of 1966

Answer 11

The CONGRESS of Silences: only changes was to rename to politburo and general secretary. = stagnation

Question 12

Brezhnev medals:

Answer 12

Awarded himself awards: (part of cult of personality)

• Lenin Peace Prize
• Lenin Prize for Literature

Question 13

Why was Brezhnev unbolshevik?

Answer 13

Enjoyed luxuries if life:

• collected western limos
• liked hunting

Question 14

1970s - emergence of the oligarchy

Answer 14

• Stalins party structures so entrench = so difficult to change
• developed into an oligarchy - rule by appointed elites/nepotism
• Brezhnev appointed old colleagues from time as party boss in Ukraine - Dnetpropetrovsk mafia
• they were self-serving

Question 15

What did the oligarchy mean for corruption?

Answer 15

It went unnoticed so it built up - even Brezhnev own daughter was involved in a diamond smuggling ring

Question 16

1980s - emergence of the GERENTOCRACY

Answer 16

Rule by the elderly:

• 1984 - 7/11 politburo members 70+
• due to no limits on tenures - only way out was to die
• disillusioned with the regular people, too old to know what regular life was like

Question 17

Changes from Stalins death to 1982 Brezhnevs death

Answer 17

Under Stalin = personal dictatorship, endemic terror

Khrushchev = complete decentralisation - relaxation of terror, too much unpopular change

Brezhnev = return to stability but bled into stagnation - system became preserved for the benefit of the people within it