Our Course: Peace and Socialism

by Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev

40 pages, pamphlet

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Soviet leader Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, instrumental in removing Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev from power in 1964, served as general secretary of the Communist party of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from 1964; the invasions of Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Afghanistan in 1979 evidenced adherence to his doctrine, which, enunciated in 1968, asserted ability to intervene in any country of Warsaw pact in which people threatened the government.

Brezhnev often overshadowed Aleksei Nikolayevich Kosygin.

From the central committee, he presided over the country until his death. His eighteen-year term ranked as second lengthiest only to that of Joseph Stalin. The expansion of the military during this time of his rule in part caused the dramatic global influence. Some countries in the west condemned his move to support the fragile local Marxist government. People often criticized his tenure as leader for marking the beginning of a period of economic stagnation, overlooking serious problems that eventually led to the dissolution in 1991.

Reviews

[Tentatively, Convenience · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having grown up in the Cold War era, it seemed important to read texts like this to counterbalance all the proaganda that I'd been assaulted by my whole life. Of course, I realized that this wd be just more propaganda from yet-another politician (or his speech writers). Still, I have fond memories of going to the Communist Bookstore (not its actual name) in Baltimore & seeking out things like this. As for what it sd? "Peace and Socialism" We shd be so lucky, right? PEACE? What the fuck is that? This country that I live in has been at war for my entire life. Nation-States MUST be at war to maintain themselves. It seems that even the countries who were at war against each other in so-called WWI were really just collectively at war against their own peoples & 'WWI' was just an excuse to suppress them & kill them off even further. How about just "Peace & No Further Political Agenda"? Dream on..