Khrushchev and Brezhnev Notes

Khrushchev's Foreign Policy: A New Approach

1. De-Stalinization: Khrushchev's 1956 Secret Speech denounced Stalin's policies, signaling a shift in Soviet foreign relations.
2. Peaceful Coexistence: Khrushchev aimed to reduce tensions with the West, believing communism and capitalism could coexist without war.

Key Events and Strategies

1. Geneva Summit (1955): Khrushchev met with Western leaders, promoting dialogue and reducing nuclear tensions.
2. Hungarian Uprising (1956): Despite peaceful rhetoric, Khrushchev crushed the revolt, reaffirming Soviet control in Eastern Europe.
3. Sino-Soviet Split: Khrushchev's peaceful coexistence policy angered Mao Zedong, leading to a rift between the USSR and China.

The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)

1. Background: Khrushchev placed nuclear missiles in Cuba to counter U.S. missiles in Turkey and protect a communist ally.
2. Outcome: The crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war but ended with a negotiated withdrawal of missiles from both Cuba and Turkey.

Brezhnev's Foreign Policy: Stability and Expansion

1. Definition: The Brezhnev Doctrine justified Soviet intervention in socialist countries to maintain communist rule.
2. Application: This policy was evident in the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia to suppress the Prague Spring reforms.
3. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I, 1972): Brezhnev negotiated arms control agreements with the United States, reducing the risk of nuclear conflict.
4. Helsinki Accords (1975): These agreements improved East-West relations by recognizing European borders and promoting human rights.

The Invasion of Afghanistan (1979)