1C: Reform, Stability and Stagnation, 1953-85.

Question 1

Who were the main contenders for Power following Stalin’s death in 1953?

Answer 1

• Georgy Malenkov: Stalin’s rumoured favourite and Premier after his death; held power in the State.
• Lavrentiy Beria: Head of Political Police (MVD) and deputy Premier under Stalin, implemented terror.
• Nikita Khrushchev: Secretary of Central Committee after Stalin’s death, held power within the Party where he was popular.

Question 2

Outline the early Government reforms following Stalin’s death.

Answer 2

• Restrict the power of the MVD: Rehabilitated 4620 people who had been falsely executed and terminated industrial projects based on slave-labour, decrease gulag population fron 2.4 mill in 1953 to 1.6 mill in 1956.
• Encouraged the representation of Soviet Republics, requiring the speaking of and publication in their languages.
• Eventually, Beria was arrested and executed, symbolising the end of political terror on the scale seen under Stalin.

Question 3

Describe Khrushchev’s early government reforms.

Answer 3

• The replacement of Stalin’s supporters with his own.
• Cutting bureaucracy, thereby weakening the State, by devolving power to Republican Governments.
• De-Stalinisation: a shift of focus from personal leadership to a more humane, honest version of communism which would better and enrich people’s lives. Presented criticisms of Stalin at s Secret Speech in 1956.
• Terror was minimised, all but ended; those in gulags often had their cases reviewed.
• Party membership was expanded from 6.9 mill in 1954 to 11 mill in 1964, and members were given fixed terms so as to prevent them becoming a new elite.
• The Party was divided into Industrial and Agricultural Bureaus.

Question 4

What were the problems of De-Stalinisation?

Answer 4

• Communist Parties in Satellite States began to take advantage, pushing for independence.
• The exposure of Stalin’s crimes undermined faith in the Soviet system.
• Khrushchev’s indecision, sparked by concerns over the speed of DS, undermined faith in him.
• Decentralisation cause resentment amongst Party officials, eventually leading to the formation of the Anti-Party Group, whom Khrushchev evaded by claiming only the Central Committee held power over his position.
• Stalin’s legacy was never truly eradicated, meaning his personality cult could be revived under Brezhnev.

Question 5

What were the important features of Brezhnev’s Government?

Answer 5

• Focused on Restoration and Stability, keen to undo Khrushchev’s reforms; initially ensured top positions were shared equally between Brezhnev, Kosygin and their respective supporters and that such roles could be kept for a long time to limit patronage (stability of cadres).
• Centralisation through the re-establishment of all-union ministries abandoned by Khrushchev, rejoining industrial and agricultural wings of Party and recognising Party’s leading role through Article 6 of the 1977 Constitution.
• Eventually became a Gerontocracy.
• Corruption.

Question 6

What were the important features of Andropov’s Government?

Answer 6

• Advocated discipline.
• Abandoned Stability of Cadres policy.
• Introduced small-scale economic reforms focused on discipline in the workplace.
• Anti-corruption campaigns: exposed corrupt officials and attacked senior figures.

Question 7

What were the important features of Chernenko’s Government?

Answer 7

• Unwilling/unable to enact major reform due to illness.