Economic and social policies and problems under Brezhnev: attempted reforms of Kosygin; the 10th Five Year Plan; agriculture; defence spending; consumer goods, living standards and life-styles for the elite and the workers
Under Brezhnev, the Soviet economy slowly stopped working. Reforms failed, military spending soared, and ordinary workers fell further behind the privileged elite.
Real World
The failure of the Kosygin reforms mirrored what happens when a company's board approves a new strategy but middle managers block it: factory directors who tried to act on market incentives were overruled by party officials who feared losing control, leaving the reforms dead on paper by 1968.
Exam Focus
Avoid simply listing problems; for 'explain' questions, link each economic failure to a specific political cause such as party conservatism or defence priorities.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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