Stalin's Dominance and Legacy The period from 1953 to 1964 marked a crucial time in Soviet history following Stalin's death. Stalin's rule for over 30 years shaped the country and led it through WWII, emphasizing his harsh leadership style.
Power Struggle Post-Stalin After Stalin's death in March 1953, a power struggle ensued among top officials like Malenkov and Beria. Khrushchev emerged as the leader after orchestrating Beria's downfall with military support.
'Destalinization' Era Begins Khrushchev initiated 'Destalinization' by easing political repression, releasing prisoners, and criticizing Stalin at the closed-door session of the Party Congress in 1956. This marked a significant shift towards liberalizing Soviet society post-Stalin era.
Destalinization and Impact on Relations Khrushchev's personal grievances towards Stalin played a significant role in his attempt to destalinize the Soviet Union. This led to Khrushchev exposing Stalin's system during the 20th Congress of the Communist Party, negatively impacting relations with China.
Decolonization Efforts and Cuban Revolution The reform under Khrushchev weakened colonial systems globally by supporting independence movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The Cuban Revolution of 1959 marked a shift as Cuba gained freedom from US influence with Soviet support until 1991.
Shift in Foreign Policy & Cuban Missile Crisis Khrushchev altered foreign policy by seeking compromise between socialism and capitalism instead of confrontation like Stalin. His visit to the USA showcased strategic missile capabilities leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis in response to US missiles placed near Turkey.
Economic Policies & Worker Protests Economic policies under Khrushchev aimed at improving living conditions but resulted in food shortages due to mismanagement causing worker protests like Novocherkassk massacre where harsh suppression occurred leading ultimately to his removal from power.