The Soviet Union Under Brezhnev, 1964-82

Seminar Studies in History

by William Tompson

The Soviet Union Under Brezhnev provides an accessible post-Soviet perspective on the history of the USSR from the mid-1960’s to the mid-1980’s. It challenges both the ‘evil empire’ image of the USSR that was widespread in the early 1980’s and the ‘stagnation’ label attached to the period by Soviet reformers under Gorbachev. The book makes use of a range of memoirs, interviews, archival documents and other sources not available before 1990 to place Brezhnev and his epoch in a broader historical context. The examines high politics, foreign policy and policy making
explores broader social, cultural and demographic trends
presents a picture of Soviet society in the crucial decades prior to the upheavals and crises of the late 1980’s While stopping well short of a full-scale rehabilitation of Brezhnev, Tompson rejects the prevailing image of the Soviet leader as a colourless non-entity, drawing attention to Brezhnev’s real political skills, as well as his faults, and to the systemic roots of many of the problems he faced.

Genres: History

Paperback

First published June 2, 2003

Reviews

[Collin]

Another academic and fact oriented book, not much to offer in terms of a rich or engaging narrative. Brezhnev-era USSR is the stereotypical depiction of the country, and rightfully so. Brezhnev did not help improve matters domestically. I found it quite remarkable how the champion of WWII, and one of the most rapid industrializers of the century, could stagnate so quickly.