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Years of Stagnation, 1964–1985

Crisis in the Soviet Union, 1953–2000: Years of Stagnation, 1964–1985

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AqaA LevelHistory2T The Crisis of Communism: The USSR and the Soviet

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Years of Stagnation, 1964–19854 objectives

Brezhnev as leader: reasons for Khrushchev's removal from power and Brezhnev's ascendancy; character, views and aims of Brezhnev and his associates in government; the nomenklatura system and corruption.
Economic and social policies and problems under Brezhnev: attempted reforms of Kosygin; the 10th Five Year Plan; agriculture; defence spending; consumer goods, living standards and life-styles for the elite and the workers.
Foreign and international policies: détente with the West; the invasion of Afghanistan and the impact on USSR; the Second Cold War.
Pressures for change and the reaction of the regime: political dissidents and protest, including Andrei Sakharov and Alexander Solzhenitsyn; the effect of the Helsinki accords; nationalist unrest; new leaders and political developments: Andropov; limited political and economic reform; Chernenko as leader and stagnation; the reformers and position of Gorbachev.

StagnationCorruptionDefence SpendingSALT IGorbachev's reformsDissidentsPerestroika

Use specific examples: When discussing Brezhnev's policies, always include specific examples to support your arguments.
Use specific examples: When answering questions about economic policies, always include specific examples and data to support your arguments.

Overgeneralizing Brezhnev's policies: It's important to balance critiques of stagnation and corruption with recognition of stability and international diplomacy during his leadership.
Overgeneralizing Brezhnev's policies: It's important to evaluate both the successes and failures of Brezhnev's policies, considering the context and specific outcomes.

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