Social and cultural change from Stalin to Khrushchev Flashcards
What Social change happened under Stalin in 1945-53?
(wages)
Peasant income was less than 20% of the industrial workers
wage differentials meant higher rations for party officials
there was poor housing and consumer goods were in short supply
the working week remained at wartime levels of 12 hours per day
in 1947, a 90% devaluation of the rouble wiped out savings
What social changes did Khrushchev make?
Khrushchev wanted to improve the living standards of the Soviet people.
Through de-Stalinisation and economic reforms, he accomplished a lot
40hr working week + 40% increase in wages
Khrushchev Increased consumer goods such as radios and televisions
Education improved and was made more widely available
What changes did Khrushchev make to wages?
working hours were reduced to a 40-hour working week
40% increase in wages
wage equalisation campaigns saw an increase in the wages of the lowest paid
this helped create greater social equality
the USSR had the lowest wage differentials than any other highly industrialized country
What were the limitations of Khrushchev’s changes?
(wages)
privileges still remain in the form of non-wage payments such as health care and holidays for the political elite
this undermined any claim that the USSR was an equal Society
Although living standards were better than before, they were still significantly lower than in most industrial estates
the quality of consumer goods was also poor
What was the quality of life under Stalin? 1945-53
Zhdanovshchina increased censorship + NM suffered
Freedom of cultural expression was non-existent
Ppl lived in fear and secrecy
What social changes did Khrushchev make?
(the thaw)
De-Stalinisation was accompanied by a thaw which brought greater freedom for Soviet citizens
Foreign literature and foreign broadcasts was now allowed
there was greater contact with the West which had a transformative experience on Soviet citizens
What did Khrushchev do with the victims of Zhdanovshchina?
Khrushchev rehabilitated those persecuted in the Zhdanovshchina
How was art affected?
Artistic endeavour was measured by its commitment to social responsibility
artists and writers enjoyed more freedom
although they were allowed to criticise the Stalinist system, challenging the basis of communism was firmly outlawed
How was religion affected?
Khrushchev revived the Socialist campaign against Christianity and Islam
atheism was brought into the school curriculum
in 1961 it was forbidden for parents to teach religion to their children
there was a mass closure of religious buildings, which were reduced from 22,000 in 1959 to under 8,000 by 1965
Pilgrimages were banned and religious individuals were imprisoned
How were ethnic minorities affected?
Khrushchev wanted all ethnic distinctions to disappear and Russia to be the common language
