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Re-emergence of public opinion in the Soviet Union: Khrushchev and responses to the secret speech

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  • Karl Loewenstein

Abstract

This contribution examines the way that the surprise of Khrushchev's secret speech forced the Soviet party leadership to acknowledge public opinion. Before 1956, the Soviet state paid lip service to the idea of public opinion, but paid no attention to it. The outpouring of emotion and argument after the twentieth party congress made policy makers take notice. In meetings throughout the country, Soviet citizens asked hard questions and raised criticisms of the regime. By the end of 1956 however, the party authorities reasserted themselves and denied the legitimacy of outside input in public debates. Khrushchev and the others realised that the emerging public opinion was incompatible with their belief in the leading role of the Communist party.

Suggested Citation

  • Karl Loewenstein, 2006. "Re-emergence of public opinion in the Soviet Union: Khrushchev and responses to the secret speech," Europe-Asia Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(8), pages 1329-1345.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ceasxx:v:58:y:2006:i:8:p:1329-1345
    DOI: 10.1080/09668130600996572
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    Cited by:

    1. Kemal Kivanc Akoz & Arseniy Samsonov, 2023. "Bargaining over information structures," Discussion Papers 2301, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Quantitative Social and Management Sciences.

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