Brezhnev Flashcards
1
Q
How did Brezhnev use the media?
A
- Kept tight control of footage of the Afghanistan war and so kept the truth hidden.
- Was in the center of domestic media coverage
- Western magazines were increasingly available in the Soviet Union
2
Q
How did Brezhnev use Personality Cults?
A
- A great Leninist: claimed to be continuing the work of Lenin
- A military hero: stressed his military prowess in WWII, received 60 medals
- Dedicated to ensuring world peace: stressed his foreign policy successes in developing detente with the US.
- A true man of the people: highlight his humble origins and how he worked as an engineer in the steel industry.
3
Q
How did Brezhnev reduce the persecution of religion? Why?
A
- Church closures stopped and so did the poster campaigns
- Brezhnev advocated spreading the philosophy of atheism rather than attacking religious organisations or practices.
- Opened the institute for scientific atheism which published articles in newspapers and advised teachers how to spread atheism in the classroom.
- Brezhnev’s foreign policy of seeking allies in the Middle East led to a change in policy towards Islam.
4
Q
What was Brezhnev’s impact on Islam?
A
- Government supported anti-American Islamic groups so Islam was labeled as compatible with socialism.
- Established the Spirital Board on Muslims of Central Asia and Kazakhstan which allowed contact with Muslims in other countries.
5
Q
How did Andropov change the tactics of the secret police and deal with dissidents?
A
- Achieve maximum control with minimum violence.
- Increased surveillance of and action against dissidents.
- Well known dissidents were allowed to emigrate
- Lesser known dissidents were sent to psychiatric institutions.
6
Q
How did artists clash with the government before 1985?
A
- They criticised the government through their art.
- Sinyavsky and and Daniel were known for producing anti-soviet agitation and propaganda. This led to their trial in 1966.
7
Q
What was the impacts of international pressure / Prague Spring?
A
- Trials and imprisonment became rare
- Well known dissidents were allowed to emigrate
- The Prague Spring created increasing pressure for artists to conform.
