Transitional Character of Khrushchev's Line

Studies in the Communitist System

Abstract

Khrushchev's administration declared a new line in domestic and foreign policies based on anti-Stalinism. It is peaceful co-existence and peaceful economic competition in the diplomatic field, and construction of a communist society by betterment of national welfare in the domestic area.
He advocated compromise of both sides, East and West, and resolution of conflicts by negotiation as important factors of peaceful co-existence. But, as a prerequisite to it, he gives great weight to the maximum strengthening of Soviet military forces for avoiding war. Thus he tries to solve problems between both blocs in his advantage by power diplomacy. But Khrushchev's approach to co-existence has not solved the cold war, nor reduced the tension between the two blocs, nor weakned the two their mutual distrust. Power diplomacy, which is the antithesis of peaceful co-existence, is the main obstacle to the agreement against nuclear test, and is the basis of the obstinate attitude of the Soviet Union against international investigation.
Though he advocates peaceful co-existence, he also promotes development of revolutional struggles by all possible means within the safe limits of avoiding war. This policy results in the continuous collapse of peaceful co-existence among nations and the negation of all conditions for peace.
Such diplomacy which is based on continuous strengthening of the armed forces, gives serious effects on its domestic policy and results in heavy burden on people's life. But some policies of the Khrushchev administration such as the developing process to managerize activists of the party and the attempt to introduce renaissance into the party seem to be giving some favourable effects on people's life and on pluralization of the Soviet society. Nevertheless, the administration still adheres to such policies as to control everything by the party, to confine the anti-Stalinist drive to the limits from above and to surpress people's desire for liberalization. These Khrushchev's domestic and foreign policies show its transitional characteristics and they are to be changed and developed somehow. But this change does not seem to be made in near future.