Brezhnev Reconsidered (Studies in Russian and East European History and Society)

Leonid Brezhnev was leader of the Soviet Union for almost two decades when it was at the height of its powers. This book is a long overdue reappraisal of Brezhnev the man and the system over which he ruled. By incorporating much of the new material available in Russian, it challenges the received wisdom about the Brezhnev years, and provides a fascinating insight into the life and times of one of the twentieth century's most neglected political leaders. "Leonid Brezhnev was the leader of the Soviet Union for almost two decades when it was at the height of its powers. It provides insight into the life and times of one of the twentieth century's most neglected political leaders at a crucial time in the history of both the Soviet Union and the Cold War. The topics covered include: Brezhnev's leadership style; superpower relations; the nationalities question; the economic performance of the USSR; intellectual life; and the origins of perestroika. By incorporating much of the new material available in Russian, and revisiting the existing literature in the West, the book challenges the received wisdom about the Brezhnev years as a time of stagnation and decay"--Jacket Front Matter....Pages i-viii Reconsidering Brezhnev....Pages 1-21 Brezhnev as Leader....Pages 22-37 Economic Growth and Slowdown....Pages 38-67 The National Question in the Soviet Union under Leonid Brezhnev: Policy and Response....Pages 68-89 Brezhnev and Superpower Relations....Pages 90-109 ‘Out of Area’ Operations: The Third World....Pages 110-134 A Triumph of Ideological Hairdressing? Intellectual Life in the Brezhnev Era Reconsidered....Pages 135-164 Brezhnev and Developed Socialism: The Ideology of Zastoi?....Pages 165-187 The Roots of Perestroika....Pages 188-202 Brezhnev Reconsidered....Pages 203-217 Back Matter....Pages 218-233 Annotation 'Brezhnev Reconsidered' examines the legacy of the Soviet Union's ruler from 1964 to 1982. With contributions from leading scholars this book assesses whether they were stagnant years or a period of prestige and prosperity for the Soviet Empire