Andropov and Chernenko: communist governments in the USSR

Question 1

Andropov

Answer 1

• Appointed as soviet leader in 1982
• He believed that the soviet system was stable but needed a few minor reforms in order to become disciplined
• He introduced 3 main reforms:
• Abandoned the “stability of cadres”, replacing a quarter
• Small scale economic reforms, focusing on labour discipline
• “Anti-corruption campaign” focused on attacking senior officials, included media exposes of corrupt officials

Question 2

End of Andropov

Answer 2

• Died just over a year after his appointment as soviet leader
• Biggest achievement, replacing senior officials and allowing a younger generation to represent the soviet union
• Recommended Gorbachev as his successor, but politburo appointed Chernenko

Question 3

Chernenko V Gorbachev

Answer 3

• Appointed 1983, he was very old
• The politburo appointed him because they felt they could control him, self preservation
• Rather than Gorbachev who was young and would likely introduce radical reforms, probably replacing the rest of the senior officials in the government