Key Debate 3: Khrushchev. Flashcards
Before Stalin, what were the main aims of the communist party?
Develop ideology and oversee the government.
How did that change under Stalin?
Under Stalin the government lost all freedoms.
Became an organ which put into operation Stalins policies.
How did Khrushchev change the communist party
Move away from a highly centralised and personalised mode of government established by Stalin.
In what ways was Khruschevs policies towards minorities, satellite states and Asia a success
-Khruschev gained support from Tito on the hungarian uprising
-Khruschev got the backing of other communists states including China over the Hungarian Crisis
-West failed to intervene in hungary scoring a propaganda victory
-Khruschevs stance on Germany prevented West taking control of Berlin
-Mao failed to manipulate Khruschev with him taking a strong position against China eg denying China support against Taiwan 1958
How could Khruschev’s policies be considered a failure towards minorities, satellite states and Asia
-Khruschev easing with relations with tito encouraged eastern european countries to follow the Yugoslavian model creating instability in the Bloc which may have led to its eventual collapse
-Hungarian crisis alienated communists in the west and deviated from destalinisation setbacking liberal reforms
-Berlin wall suggests Khruschev’s willingness to repression
-Destalinisation would result in the Sino Soviet Split
What successes did Khruschev have in dealing with the cold war
-Independence of Austria demonstrates Khruschevs cooperation with the West
-Death of stalin and the end of the Korean war and Indo China War seemed to ease relations in the Cold War
-Hungarian uprising gained support inside the party
-Berlin Wall strengthened relations with communist leaders in East Germany
-Cuban missile crisis would result in an eventual relaxation of tensions
How can Khrushchev’s cold war policy be considered too risky and heightening tensions
-Peaceful coexistence hurt relations with the Chinese
-1956 Hungarian crisis hurt relations abroad
-Berlin Wall considered an oppressive measure worsening relations with the West
-Nearly provoked a nuclear war in cuban missile crisis however his withdraw of middles from Cuba would be a major factor in his demise
In what ways can Khrushchev’s economic and social reforms be considered a failure
-Virgin land scheme programme was badly planned due to a lack of fertilisers and poor quality land
-Highly bureaucratic soviet system to cumbersome to allow for quick reforms
-Communist leaders felt threatened by reform
-Reforms not radical enough to cope with the backwardness of industry and agriculture from the stalinist regime
In what ways were Khrushchev’s economic and social reform a success
-Only a fall in grain production in 1963 due to poor weather
-Khrushchev made radical changes to industry by focusing on light industry (1955-1966 washing machines per thousand increased 1 to 77)
-Russian leader had to prioritise political problems eg end of stalinist gulags and NKVD controlled by the party and state
