Khrushchev and the Thaw

Russia – The Rule of Khrushchev, 1953-64

In this course, Dr Miriam Dobson (University of Sheffield) explores Russia under the rule of Nikita Khrushchev, 1953-64. In the first module, we think about the usefulness of the concept of 'Khrushchev's Thaw' in describing the political climate in Russia in this period, as well as tracing Khrushchev's extraordinary journey to become supreme leader of the Soviet Union in 1953. After that, we focus on events in the period 1945-53 to understand the kinds of problems that Soviet Russia was facing when Khrushchev came to power. In the final three modules, we focus on three of Khrushchev's most important reforms: (1) his changes to the prison-camp system that led to the release of millions of prisoners (both political and otherwise); (2) his criticism of the excesses of Stalinism (and of Stalin himself) in his so-called 'Secret Speech' of February 1956; and (3) his extensive building-programme that creating new housing for millions of ordinary Russians.

Khrushchev and the Thaw

In this module, we provide an outline of the life and reign of Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971), focusing in particular on the extraordinary path by which he became supreme leader of the Soviet Union after Stalin's death in 1953, before considering the usefulness of the concept of 'the Thaw' in describing Khrushchev's time in power.