History Extra podcast Back in the USSR: the Soviet Sixties
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Mar 31, 2024 Author Robert Hornsby discusses the optimistic era of the Soviet Union in the 60s, marked by space exploration and social changes, before the Prague Spring of 1968. Topics include Khrushchev's leadership post-Stalin, the impact of the 20th Party Congress, cultural shifts, and evolving women's rights in the USSR.
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The Sixties As A Distinct Era
- The Soviet '60s function as an era from 1953 to 1968 marked by dramatic change after Stalin's death.
- Repression declined, living standards rose, and a different model of the Soviet system emerged.
Khrushchev: Cunning, Impulsive, Authoritarian
- Nikita Khrushchev combined populist impulsiveness with political cunning and authoritarian bullying.
- He pushed reforms yet could be ruthless and intolerant of dissent in his leadership style.
Secret Speech Opened A Lasting Fault Line
- The 20th Party Congress and Khrushchev's 'secret speech' exposed Stalin's crimes and introduced new policy directions.
- That disclosure created social shock and a lasting fault line about exposing versus hiding past abuses.