Course Resources Archive

This module examines the history of the Soviet Union in the period following Stalin’s death in 1953 until its collapse in 1991. Case studies are made of political, economic and socio-cultural developments in the Soviet Union in this period. The module draws on contemporary documents, humour and visual materials.

The module begins with an examination of the structures of the Soviet system. It then explores the various characteristics of the Soviet system, attempts to reform it and the policy initiatives of each of the post-Stalin leaders of the Soviet Union in turn. The module examines the consequences of Khrushchev’s directives outlined at the XX Communist Party Congress in 1956. Specific case studies deal mostly with issues relating to Soviet domestic policy, such as reforms to the structures of governance, policy shifts in the management of the economy, and developments in the socio-cultural sphere. A number of policy threads run throughout the module, such as the changing status of women, environmental issues, the nationalities question and the role of religion in the Soviet system. The module also looks at examples of the changing nature of the Soviet Union’s relationship with the outside world during the Cold War.

Historiographical questions are addressed throughout the module and include a critical assessment of the various explanations put forward to account for the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Throughout the module, use is made of visual materials, particularly posters, and jokes to explore the Soviet sense of humour in relation to specific policy initiatives.

A student passing this module should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the chronology of Soviet history in the period 1953-1991
2. Critically engage with the historiographical debates central to an understanding of the Soviet Union in the post-Stalin period
3. Demonstrate and awareness of the contemporary relevance of the historical developments in the Soviet Union after 1953
4. Evaluate primary source materials (including texts and visual materials)
5. Critically analyse a wide range of historical documents
6. Deliver clear exposition and argument in written form and orally

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.