24.3 Social condition of the Soviet Union

Question 1

What did David Christian say about the soviet society and the government?

Answer 1

‘The less coercive government that emerged in the 1950’s negotiated a new ‘social contract’ with Soviet Society… the government was very sensitive to popular demands and keen to prevent popular discontent’ This let the government to retain all control, but they raised living standards increasing social services and access to consumer goods.

Question 2

Who said that the government had formed a social contract leading to an improvement in living conditions in return for control?

Answer 2

David Christian

Question 3

What was the overall social condition of Russia by 1964?

Answer 3

+ Soviet living standards increased rapidly in the 1950’s with consumers being able to benefit from industrialisation. This improved morale in USSR methods and created an optimism for the future.

• YET, there were still ‘massive problems’ that had not been resolved…