Economy and Politics Under
Brezhnev
Introduction to Economy
• By 1976, Soviet model
already showing signed
of crisis
• Had been masked by
things like Sputnik, first
man in space, aid to
allies, development of
high-tech weaponry
Planned Economy
• 1928, Stalin first Five-Year
Plan for ‘socialism in one
country’
– Had not been the worldwide revolution Lenin had
predicted
– Gosplan
• 1955, Khrushchev
reformed with
modernization
– Didn’t really work, hardliners skeptical
– Overthrown in 1964
Soviet Economy From 1964-70
• Brezhnev first secretary, Alexei
Kosygin prime minister
• Time characterized by stagnation
• Some attempts at industrial
reform by Kosygin
– Revived Khrushchev’s push for
autonomy in factories
– Took control from party, received
opposition
– Brezhnev obstructed him, argued
for agricultural buildup over
industry, actually led to increases
– Kosygin’s plan worked for a while,
but then returned to centralization
Brezhnev’s Policies 1970-76
• Early 70s, Soviets seemed
strong, militarily and
industrially
• Brezhnev maintained
kolkhozy collectives
• 9th Five-Year Plan 197175, expanded production
of light consumer goods
• 1973, oil crisis, boom in
raw materials,
opportunity to reform
Soviet economy, did not
10th Five-Year Plan (1976-80)
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Gold, oil and gas producer
1976, called for further consolidation
of kolkhozy, but many operating at a
loss due to costs
– Brezhnev raised wages, kept workers
happy
– Still problems, 1979 have to buy from N.
America
– Brezhnev just increased state
investment, not a solution
•
Showed real signs of industrial
slowdown, less production then
planned
– 1979, decree on industry, still decline
– Little fresh thinking, did create
‘associations’
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Still problems with workers
Brezhnev continued movement
toward consumer goods, but slowed
again in 1976
Social Developments and
Developed Socialism
• Many aspects of life
improved under Brezhnev
– Social wages improved
– Trade unions opened
opportunities
• Social mobility slowed
– Other social problems
• Despite problems in 1966,
Soviets thought they
were in a second phase
called “developed
socialism”
Economic Reforms 1982-85
• Brezhnev died in 1982,
second-longest tenure
– Admitted in 1981 there were
economic difficulties
– Had considered becoming
closer to China to improve
security
– Sec. of Ideology Yuri
Andropov had been posturing
• Supported by Minister of
Defence, rather than
Konstantin Chernenko who
had support of PM Tikhanov
• Military coup?
Andropov and Reform
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Had been Hungarian ambassador in
1956, seen attempts at reform
Was KGB, had accurate info on what
was working
Did not want to end Soviet system,
just modify it
Campaigns against absenteeism,
alcoholism
Tried to make his camp younger,
avoid Brezhnev’s ‘drift’
– Protégé Gorbachev
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More power to managers, rewards
for production, similar to Kosygin
1983, contradicted ‘developed
socialism’
Died in Feb. 1984, not enough time
Chernenko and ‘Drift’
• Andropov hoped for Gorbachev
to replace him
• Those opposed to reforms,
Brezhnevites, decided on
Konstantin Chernenko, 72, old
– Probably due to his weaknesses
• ‘Look before you leap’
– Limited changes
• Increased defense budget
– Against corruption
• Chernenko ill in 1984
– Govt. run by defense minister
Dimitri Ustinov and Gorbachev
– Gorbachev taking ideological
control
– Became general-secretary in 1985
Impact of Cold War on Economy
• Impact of arms race
meant limited industrial
and agricultural reforms
– Spent twice as much
proportionally to the US
– Arms industry known as
‘steel eaters’
• May have been the point
of ending détente
– Threat of US meant limited
reforms until Gorbachev
Introduction to Politics
• After 1976, somewhere
in transition between
socialism and capitalism
• Battle between party
control and economic
control
• Failure to recognize
problems during
Brezhnev meant
problems later
Brezhnev’s Early Consolidation
• After Khrushchev, cant be
PM and CPSU leader
• Brezhnev first secretary,
Kosygin PM, Nikolai
Podgorny became head of
state
• Khrushchev’s reforms
reversed
• Brezhnev asserted
dominance, title to
general-secretary
– Sought stability
Nomenklatura and Brezhnev Mafia
• Nomenklatura a long list of
reliable members
– Also helped to have a sponsor
– Top-heavy with aging
hardliners
– Brezhnev Mafia, men working
with him since 40s
• 1978, average age was 68
• Favored continuation
– Did remove potential threats
like Podgorny, took presidency
• Able to block Kosygin’s
reforms
• Supporters appreciated
stability after Stalin and
Khrushchev
Cult of Personality
• 1976, ‘universally
acclaimed leader’
• 1980, gave himself
Second Order
• Evidence were 1982
elections, right before
his death, no changes
Party Stagnation and Corruption
• Conservatism had an
impact on membership
• Brezhnev also made
stricter requirements
• KGB noted increasing
corruption
• Younger members
appalled, public had
less respect
Developed Socialism
• Khrushchev had sought
true classless society
– Had even envisioned multiparty state
• Brezhnev reversed mass
political involvement
– The educated became
frustrated
• 1971, ‘Developed
socialism’ meant
construction stage was
over, became spoken of
less and less
Brezhnev Constitution
• 1977, 60th Anniversary
of 1936 Constitution
– Declared developed
status
– CPSU the leading force
– Had been intended to
introduce socialist
democracy, contained
various freedoms
• Not really present
Dissidents
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Some pushed limits as Soviets would
not go back to harshness of Stalin
Brezhnev tightened some controls,
treated dissidents as spies or
psychologically disturbed
1966, limits on ‘false information’,
attitudes further hardened after
Prague Spring in 68
Standards of living meant some
acceptance so opposition may have
been limited
– Some underground material
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1975 Helsinki Accords were a boost
Many saw progress was being halted
Nationalism
• Dissent in Eastern
Europe – Ukraine,
Georgia, Estonia, Latvia,
Afghanistan
– Brezhnev uses media to
dismiss them
– Gorbachev will not be
able to handle these
movements
Brezhnev’s Foreign Policies
• Economic pressures meant
Brezhnev sought improved
relations with the West
– Also playing against China
– Czech invasion of 68 initially
made détente difficult
– Kosygin tried to improve West
relations
• Brezhnev needed bargaining
power, continued buildup
while opening talks
– SALT in 1970
• 1976 US decided to begin
ending détente
Eastern Europe and Afghanistan
• Brezhnev needed buffer of
Eastern Europe
– Motivated response to Hungarian
Uprising and Prague Spring
– Brezhnev Doctrine in Comecon
allies
• Poland borrowed from Western
banks
– Solidarity formed in 1980 by Lech
Walesa
– Revolution in government
– Solidarity sent away
• Other Eastern European states
began relationships with West
• Soviet invasion of Afghanistan an
example of Brezhnev Doctrine in
1979
Andropov and Politics
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Made changes on lower levels to
push through reforms
Tough stance on corruption to
weaken Brezhnev appointees
Had no plans for fundamental
changes though, arrested the
‘Russian New Left’
Had experience with dissenters as
former head of KGB
Did encourage normal citizens to
voice concerns, less arbitrary arrests
Conservative approach to foreign
policy, did not withdraw from
Afghanistan
Reduced space program and
suggested further arms control
Chernenko and Politics
• Brezhnevite, won out over
Gorbachev
• Maintained his conservatism,
limited personnel changes
• Continued countering
corruption, hard line on
dissent
• Tried to resume détente,
Reagan’s Star Wars made it
impossible
• Gorbachev made himself a
champion of reform and
military reduction, takes
power when Chernenko died
in 85
Paper 1 Practice, Question 1 A
How successful were economic reforms under Brezhnev?
Paper 2 Outline Practice
• How did Brezhnev’s style of rule contribute to
the developing political crisis of the Soviet
Union up to 1982?