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How far was the Soviet government transformed in the years 1953 – 1980? -…
How far was the Soviet government transformed in the years 1953 – 1980?
How far? Can be nuanced
Transformation: BIG change, permanent
1953 - 1980, end of Stalin's rule -> Brezhnev
Soviet government transformed
After Stalin, Khrushchev and Brezhnev did not carry out terror to the same extent
Khrushchev and Brezhnev's leadership differed from Stalin's absolute authority
Denunciation of Stalin's leadership at the 20th Party Congress, 25th February 1965
Aim to make Communist party more humane
Laventiy Beria, the head of the NKVD, the secret police -> denounced, arrested and executed on 25th December 1953 -> result of conspiracy orchestrated by rivals (including Khrushchev) who feared he held too much power.
Stalin's leadership was heavily centralised -> high control over the Communist party with terror used to purge his rivals
Khrushchev and Brezhnev did not rely on the cult of personality to the same extent
Ideology
"Peaceful co-existence" with the West under Khrushchev -> improved relations
De-Stalinisation under Khrushchev
Brezhnev opted for stability
Soviet government not transformed
Brezhnev's government was highly centralised like Lenin's and Stalin's -> Khrushchev's attempt to decentralise did not last
Many of Khrushchev's changes reverted, split between agriculture and industrial wings ended
One party state, economy planned by one department
Khrushchev split agriculture and industry, but Brezhnev reverted this