Elizabeth Hartney

4-24-10
Brezhnev: Domestic and Foreign Policies Study Guide

Summary:
One of the most important issues for Russia during Brezhnev’s rule had to do
with all of the revolutions occurring outside the country. While Brezhnev wanted to intervene
in Socialist Hungary when the Communist leader János Kádár requested reform in the country,
his peers were able to dissuade him from doing so. This went against the USSR’s strict anti-
reformist stance. Something similar happened in Socialist Poland as well. Brezhnev’s rule was
plagued by a lack of economic growth and his economic policies did little to change it. He would
sporadically try to help the country’s economy but there was a decline in productivity and labor
shortage in the 60s and 70s that made it difficult. One example of an attempt was his
reorganization of the Council of Ministries, which failed completely due to low employment,
productivity, and technological advancement. Brezhnev very much encouraged industrial
growth, which was fairly effective from ‘66-‘70 but soon there were too few workers and the
industrialism did not improve the country’s economy. By the late 70s, the USSR’s economy was
as lacking as ever, very behind those of the West. The remnants of the Cold War were still
costing the country, which influenced Brezhnev to encourage peace with the West. It was felt
that this was the key to solving the country’s economic problems.

Key Terms:

1. Brezhnev Stagnation- The period in the late 1970s of extreme economic stagnation in
the USSR. It was presented to the people as a purposeful and useful tactic by the
government but actually kept many citizens in economic peril. More emphasis was
placed on trade and foreign exports in order to keep détente strong but all of the money
went to government institutions and space development.
2. The Ninth Five-Years Plan- Placed an emphasis on consumer products instead of industrial
products. Brezhnev hoped this would improve the standards of living in the USSR but it did not
and had little economic effect.
3. Brezhnev Doctrine- "When forces that are hostile to socialism try to turn the development
of some socialist country towards capitalism, it becomes not only a problem of the
country concerned, but a common problem and concern of all socialist countries." This
doctrine tried to validate the Soviet invasion in Czechoslovakia of 1968. It argued that
Soviet Russia was allowed to intervene in any situation in which a country was trying to
democratize itself. It also limited the independence of any Communist power.
Furthermore, it also stated that the USSR was allowed to define the terms “capitalism”
and “socialism” as it saw fit.
4. Warsaw Pact- Also known as the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual
Assistance. Signed May 1955 in Poland by: People’s Republic of Albania, People’s
Republic of Bulgaria, Czechoslovak Republic, German Democratic Republic, People’s
 Republic of Hungary, People’s Republic of Poland, People’s Republic of Romania, and
the USSR. This was the Soviet’s response to West Germany entering NATO.
5. Eastern Bloc- A name for the group of countries that were aligned with Communist
Russia, mostly the ones who signed the Warsaw Pact. It also referred to East Germany.
Some feel that Yugoslavia was a member while some do not. It is only used for countries
in Eastern and Central Europe. A member of this bloc was under always indirectly under
Russia’s immediate control, in accordance with the Brezhnev Doctrine.
6. Brezhnev- Fourth General Secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR. Had the
second longest rule out of all the secretaries (18 years), right after Stalin. Preceded by
Khrushchev and succeeded by Andropov. Was in office from 1964 to 1982 (his death).
Had lots of hair. Was either Russian or Ukrainian, no one really knows.
7. Collective Leadership- Was reformed under Brezhnev. Then kept any person from being
Secretary General and Premier of the USSR at the same time. This was greatly opposed
by the head of the KGB, Shelepin. Khrushchev was removed from office because he
refused to go along with collective leadership and wanted to rule all by himself.
8. The Order of Lenin: Highest honor to be bestowed in the USSR. Established in 1930 and
could be awarded to anyone who rendered excellent service to the country. Last one
was given in 1991. Over 431,418 were awarded over the course of the honor. Given to
Brezhnev towards the end of his rule and near his death.

In what ways did Brezhnev’s foreign policies encourage relations with the West and in what
ways did they discourage it?

Brezhnev’s push for foreign trade definitely strengthened the USSR’s relations with
foreign countries and kind of helped the USSR’s economic status. His push towards
industrialization and consumer products made the USSR seem less involved in the arms and
the space races which made them seem less aggressive towards the democratic countries.
But the Brezhnev Doctrine and the Warsaw Pact showed that the USSR was still very
concerned with the spread of Communism and the West’s desire to halt it. The USSR was
trying to improve relations with the West but the only way to do that was to abolish the
spread of Communism. The USSR was doing the opposite, instead declaring itself the leader
of the Eastern Bloc and keeping all of the Eastern Communist countries aligned. Brezhnev
also pushed to establish his country as the official decider when it came to other countries’
reforms in the surrounding area. Brezhnev’s unwillingness to reform his lacking economy
and his unwillingness to negotiate with the West in terms of the Iron Curtain therefore kept
the USSR’s relations with the West at a virtual stand-still. It really wasn’t until the fall of
Communism that Russia’s relations with the West could improve.