Brezhnev Stability

Question 1

What was the duumvirate?

Answer 1

Brezhnev and Koygin have power in the state and formed Duumvirate deal.

Question 2

Why did Brezhnev make sure no two jobs in the government were occupied by the same person?

Answer 2

To stop the emergence of an all powerful leader like Stalin again. Brezhnev led the party as general society, with Koygin leading with the most important job in Soviet State.

Question 3

Why were State and Party jobs kept for long times?

Answer 3

It limited the opportunities for positions of power being given to favoured people.

Question 4

Why were key government posts divided equally between Brezhnev and Koygin?

Answer 4

Provided equal amounts of support within powerful positions.

Question 5

How did Brezhnev aim to reform the party?

Answer 5

He had to reverse some of Khrushchev’s policies.

• Discouraged promotion and demotion in the party - ‘stability of cadres’.
• Re-established the all-union ministries Khrushchev had abolished.
• Ended the split between agriculture and industry.
• Established the superiority of Party over State.

Question 6

What were the successes of the Stability of Cadres?

Answer 6

• Popular with bureaucrats who disliked constant change of officials under Khrushchev.
• Clearer and more stable party policy
• Less internal power struggle or division.

Question 7

What were the failures of the Stability of Cadres?

Answer 7

• Led to growth of bureaucracy
• Irremovability of cadres/party officials
• Less or no incentive to perform better
• USSR turned into a gerontocracy - don’t understand current affairs.
• Corruption
• Brezhnev kept incompetent cadres.
• Stops young politicians progressing.