State control and Politics
Date @March 27, 2023
Topic Ideology Society
Leader Khrushchev
Type Homework
The Thaw:
What is the ‘thaw’?
- The end of the great tyrant Joseph Stalin ushered a period commonly dubbed as the
‘thaw’.
- It indicated the end of Stalinism and the period of de-Stalinisation
In Kershaw’s view, what is the issue with ‘the thaw’ thesis?
- Stalinist system had not been ‘frozen’ as ‘thaw’ implies, instead it was modified over
a period of time to deal with the pressures in the Stalinist regime
- Ehrenburg interpreted ‘thaw’ to imply impermanence, instability and mere
uncertainty about what the weather would bring
- Although changes imposed by Khrushchev were real and substantial it did not
dissolve the Stalinist regime into a completely different form
- More of a clamp that can be loosened or tightened (i.e. K loosened S’s grip)
In Kershaw’s view, how similar is Khrushchev’s rise to power to Stalin’s?
- Pretty similar
- Link to page:
Why did Khrushchev focus his critique solely on Stalin?
- He blames Stalin for all the destruction that had occurred in Russia as he was the
one who gave the order to join the Second World War
- Resulted in even more paranoia after he further consolidated his power
How widespread was de-Stalinisation in society?
- Khrushchev wanted Russia to resemble more the Western powers, particularly
Britain and France with the whole industrialisation process (e.g. increasing
production)
State control and Politics 1
Date @March 27, 2023
Topic Ideology Society
Leader Khrushchev
Type Homework
The Thaw:
What is the ‘thaw’?
- The end of the great tyrant Joseph Stalin ushered a period commonly dubbed as the
‘thaw’.
- It indicated the end of Stalinism and the period of de-Stalinisation
In Kershaw’s view, what is the issue with ‘the thaw’ thesis?
- Stalinist system had not been ‘frozen’ as ‘thaw’ implies, instead it was modified over
a period of time to deal with the pressures in the Stalinist regime
- Ehrenburg interpreted ‘thaw’ to imply impermanence, instability and mere
uncertainty about what the weather would bring
- Although changes imposed by Khrushchev were real and substantial it did not
dissolve the Stalinist regime into a completely different form
- More of a clamp that can be loosened or tightened (i.e. K loosened S’s grip)
In Kershaw’s view, how similar is Khrushchev’s rise to power to Stalin’s?
- Pretty similar
- Link to page:
Why did Khrushchev focus his critique solely on Stalin?
- He blames Stalin for all the destruction that had occurred in Russia as he was the
one who gave the order to join the Second World War
- Resulted in even more paranoia after he further consolidated his power
How widespread was de-Stalinisation in society?
- Khrushchev wanted Russia to resemble more the Western powers, particularly
Britain and France with the whole industrialisation process (e.g. increasing
production)
State control and Politics 1
