brezhnev SOCIAL

Question 1

what of Khrushchev’s goals did Brezhnev abandon?

Answer 1

achieving communism by 1980 - however he still continued to invest in welfare as he viewed the provision of this as a ‘social contract’ between the government and the people

Question 2

what was provided to the people under the ‘social contract’?

Answer 2

• job security
• low prices for essential goods
• a second economy
• social benefits (e.g. free healthcare)
• some social mobility

Question 3

how did Brezhnev extend welfare provision?

Answer 3

• subsidised rent
• subsidised electricity and water
• subsidised holidays
• increasing spending on healthcare and pensions each year

Question 4

did the ‘social contract’ succeed?

Answer 4

during the late 1960’s and 70’s soviet citizens experienced the highest standard of living ever in the USSR. citizens were guaranteed a secure and comfortable life; overall Brezhnev policies created a stable society

Question 5

what social problems were there under Brezhnev?

Answer 5

• his policies were based on traditional ideas of the roles of women causing women to often be refused roles in industry (female unemployment reached 10%)
• life expectancy declined in men from 68-64 years

Question 6

what were Brezhnev’s views on youth groups?

Answer 6

Brezhnev was suspicious of Komsomol’s leadership as young and ambitious and potentially dangerous - he believed it should keep young people disciplined and obidient

Question 7

what were Brezhnev’s educational reforms?

Answer 7

Brezhnev reversed Khrushchev’s reforms:
- a more traditional curriculum was reinstalled
- vocational training of 16-19 year old students in factories and farms ended
- textbooks were updated in 1970’s to reflect the latest scientific discoveries
- the curriculum remained largely unchanged through the 1970’s and 80’s