Control of the people under Krushchev

Question 1

Mass media?

Answer 1

• Promote development of consumer society + achieve broader aim of de-stalinisation, Krushcehv slightly relaxed control
• E.g. allowed publication of popular magazines - many which contained letters from the public. Letters often highlighted social problems i.e. letters complaining about domestic violence common in The Women Worker
• Television ownership began to increase in Krushchev’s last years. Able use new form of media to support his broader aims i.e. used promote successes of ordinary people + society as whole, rather than greatness of certain individuals
• E.g. broadcast about Valentina Tereshkova (first women in space) highlighted her normal upbringing on collective farm
• Krushchev not totally relinquish control of media i.e. political publications still controlled by KGB, foreign publications were still banned + the gov used media promote its own agenda.

Question 2

Propoganda?

Answer 2

• Openly critical of cult of personality created by Stalin. Promoting hero worship of particular indivi anti-communist
• Despite this, Khrushchev took steps revive a cult. Lenin appeared frequently in propaganda + presented as approachable ordinary hard working man who enjoyed simple life. Idea distance Khrushchev’s gov from Stalins and remind communism built on Lenin’s revolution, not Stalin’s terror
• By 1958 - Khrushchev also developed cult i.e. depicted as being disciple of Lenin, hero WW2, great reformer, cultural authority, internationally respected politician and man responsible for USSR’s successes e.g. space programme
• 1960s - began undermine own cult. Heavily based on idea he successful political innovator. However, abject failure of Virgin Land scheme + corn campaign undermined this image + made cult seem laughable.

Question 3

Religion?

Answer 3

• Similar Lenin, ideologically opposed to religion - took hardline approach to remove it from society
• 1958 = anti-religion campaign: closed down churches reopened during WW2 and released anti-religious prop. 1959, Catholic monasteries closed. 1960, anti-religious magazine Science and Religion regularly published + access holy sites prohibited
• Used space programmes undermine religious belief. Yuri Gargarin, first man in space, said found no God in the heavens. First women - visiting space confirmed her atheism.
• Campaign particularly targeted women e.g. gov figures showed religious belief more common amongst women. 66% Orthodox and 80% protestant goers were female.
• Krushchev encouraged men take lead in religious education for child, prop criticised nuns as unnatural women and churches banned holding events for women.
  Campaign successful damaging organised religion e.g. no.
• Russian Orthodox churches decreased by 3,000 between 1958-1964. However, did little undermine religious belief. Pamphlets promoting religion circulated, private prayers groups set up + some women home educated child to avoid anti-religious propaganda.

Question 4

Terror?

Answer 4

• Highly critical of Stalin’s extreme use + conscious decision end as de-stalinisation
• Completley ended use of terror amongst communist party members e.g. 1953-1960, 2 mil polticial prisoners released. Debate permitted + few new arrests made.
• Kruschev challenged by rivals during leadership and way he responded i.e. 1960 central committee demand his resignation which he accepted - ‘Stalin would of had them shot’
• However, not abandoned completely, secret police still existed. Serious threats against the gov still monitored + some arrested. Also forced some party members opposed to him to receive treatment at psychiatric hospitals.
  Essentially a way of imprisoning people for their political beliefs.

Question 5

Culture?

Answer 5

• Wanted allow greater freedom express, but realised too much threaten com power. Went through serious of ‘thaws’ and ‘freezes’ so to say.
• Belivided intellectuals + artists shld be natural supporters of com, tried culturally liberate them. However, did not think ordinary people had intelligence to be trusted with such freedom, so restricted their access to culture
  E.g. of ‘thaw’ is permitted intellectuals criticise Stalin. Ehrenburg’s ‘The Thaw’, Dudinstev’s ‘Not by bread alone’ and Solzhenitsyin’s ‘One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich’ all critical
• Also allowed Jazz and African music at world youth festival held in Moscow 1957. Permitted works of American + European classical composers be taught in schools
  Quick action when expression went beyond boundaries e.g. Pasternak’s ‘Doctor Zhivago’, critical of Lenin, banned it.
• Less cultural freedom for women i.e. were discouraged from following western fashions + being sexually promicious in propoganda campaigns called ‘Style Hunters’ and ‘Loose women’. Increasing options for consumers, women also encouraged make fashion choices in line with semi-official standard beauty. However, policies failed as they became increasingly influenced by Western fashions.