From surviving and superseding Hitler Europe to racing against the technological advances of the USA, the Soviet Union constantly maintained its position as a great power in the world throughout the twentieth century. Under Stalin’s dictatorship, nationalistic propaganda and anti-capitalist sentiments inundated the people, spurring the country into the cold war. As World War II ended and the new cold war began, Stalin’s tightening grip on the government was felt across the Soviet nation as labor camps reopened, artists denounced, and social well being ignored. Through his efforts to control the Soviet Union, Stalin himself began the collapse from within that would destroy his government. Following his death, de-Stalinization occurred as foreign
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Nikita Khrushchev emerged as the savior of the Soviet Union, portraying himself as all that Stalin was not. In a session at the Twentieth Party Congress of 1956, Khrushchev attacked Joseph Stalin’s persona and interests when he controlled the country. By lessening political control over workers, emphasizing agriculture, allowing artistic expression, and lessening the intensity of foreign policy, Khrushchev fulfilled his promises to positively alter the country, Through this liberalization, the standard of living increased greatly, appeasing the demands of the people. After living under such a progressive rule, the Soviet citizens inherently detested the re-Stalinization of Leonid …show more content…
Focused much on his foreign policy of involving the Soviets in the affairs of other socialist countries, important changes within the citizens of the Soviet Union occurred, unbeknownst to Brezhnev. Firstly, the population in urban areas increased, while citizens simultaneously acquired better quality of education. These two factors provided a group of Soviet people who now held an opinion on the government. Though the government censored freedom of expression, the freedom of thought grew; as the freedom of thought grew, uninhibited by the government, a unanimous belief that the citizens deserved a voice in politics rose. When compared to the communist revolution of 1917 that occurred in Russia as opposed to capitalist Britain- in direction conflict with Marx’s theory- a theme appears. In oppressed countries, such as the Russia of 1917 or the China of 1949, support for the communist party increases, while in countries exposed to freedom, such as the Soviet Union of late twentieth century, the desire for a form of democracy rises. In accord to this trend, the increased well-being of the Soviet citizens caused them to search for representation in their government, leading to the collapse of the Soviet
Nikita Khrushchev emerged as the savior of the Soviet Union, portraying himself as all that Stalin was not. In a session at the Twentieth Party Congress of 1956, Khrushchev attacked Joseph Stalin’s persona and interests when he controlled the country. By lessening political control over workers, emphasizing agriculture, allowing artistic expression, and lessening the intensity of foreign policy, Khrushchev fulfilled his promises to positively alter the country, Through this liberalization, the standard of living increased greatly, appeasing the demands of the people. After living under such a progressive rule, the Soviet citizens inherently detested the re-Stalinization of Leonid …show more content…
Focused much on his foreign policy of involving the Soviets in the affairs of other socialist countries, important changes within the citizens of the Soviet Union occurred, unbeknownst to Brezhnev. Firstly, the population in urban areas increased, while citizens simultaneously acquired better quality of education. These two factors provided a group of Soviet people who now held an opinion on the government. Though the government censored freedom of expression, the freedom of thought grew; as the freedom of thought grew, uninhibited by the government, a unanimous belief that the citizens deserved a voice in politics rose. When compared to the communist revolution of 1917 that occurred in Russia as opposed to capitalist Britain- in direction conflict with Marx’s theory- a theme appears. In oppressed countries, such as the Russia of 1917 or the China of 1949, support for the communist party increases, while in countries exposed to freedom, such as the Soviet Union of late twentieth century, the desire for a form of democracy rises. In accord to this trend, the increased well-being of the Soviet citizens caused them to search for representation in their government, leading to the collapse of the Soviet