Under Brezhnev in the 1980s, the Soviet Union devoted a quarter of its economy to the military. While poorer than the US, the USSR spent over twice as much of its wealth on defense. This was due to humiliation from the Cuban Missile Crisis and not wanting a similar occurrence. However, the large military spending was seriously endangering the Soviet economy through overstretch. Most historians view Brezhnev negatively as incapable of giving ideology meaning and symbolizing the decline of the USSR due to economic problems that were embedded within the communist system.

1. Task Complete Activity on p.122

2. The costs of the arms race By 1980’s, a quarter of the Soviet economy was devoted to military. Under Brezhnev, USSR had become the greatest nuclear power. Whilst USSR was poorer than the USA, wt was spending over twice as much of its wealth on defence – the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1963 had been a humiliating defeat for USSR and they did not want a similar occurrence. However, the USSR was in serious danger of overstretching its economy.

3. Task Examine how there was prospects for greater peace under Brezhnev using p.122 Examine how defence remained a high priority for USSR using 1 st paragraph on p.123.

4. Assessment of Brezhnev (negative) Most interpretations of Brezhnev’s rule tend to be negative. Russians in particular have little respect for him. Dmitri Volkogonov says Brezhnev symbolises the decline of USSR because he was incapable of giving the ideology any meaning.

5. Task Read through the negative assessment of Brezhnev using the bullet points on p.123-124. Decide in their order of importance and summarise them.

6. Assessment of Brezhnev (positive) The problems with the economy were embedded within the system. Many Western and Soviet observers during the 1970’s did not believe there was an imminent crisis. Therefore even would-be reformers within the USSR did not want to overhaul the whole sustem. Gorbachev, the most liberal of Communist leaders, believed reform could be implemented while the Party maintained a monopoly on power. Gorbachev

7. Task Read through 1 st paragraph under bullet points on p.124. List all the positive changes under Brezhnev. Summarise the final paragraph into your own words on p.124.

8. Developed Socialism This is am important concept when examining Brezhnev rule. This is particularly true when asked such questions as, “Brezhnev’s regime was merely Stalinism with a human face”. Whilst the aspirations of developed Socialism were very different to Stalinism, often the realities were quite similar.

9. Task Create a table of “Realities” and “Aspirations” of Developed Socialism. Use p.125-126 to complete he table.

10. Evaluation of the regime under Brezhnev

11. Task Explain the significance of the following: The change in Soviet military and defence policy following Khrushchev's fall – the causes and results. The motivation, and results of, arms control initiatives like SALT. The impact of major foreign policy issues such as Afghanistan. The success or failure of Brezhnev’s relations with the satellite states.

12. Debate - “Brezhnev’s regime was simply Stalinism with a human face” Write down your discussion points for BOTH sides of the argument for and against the above statement.

13. Essay – “Neither Brezhnev nor Khrushchev successfully addressed the fundamental economic problems which increasingly doffed the USSR after the Second World War” Write an essay plan for the above question. You can use the following points to help you: Agree Target based system – quantity over quality. No manager initiative. Lack of consumer goods – emphasis on capital goods and military. Technologically backward and labour intensive. Corruption, dishonesty, bottle neck of resources. Lack of opportunity to discuss alternatives. Disagree Did improve agriculture. Did improve housing. Debate