De-Stalinization
Definition
De-Stalinization was a process initiated by Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union after Stalin's death in 1953. It involved discrediting Stalin's image and reforming policies associated with his regime.
Analogy
Imagine if you had an old house that was painted entirely black (Stalin's rule). You decide to repaint it white (Khrushchev's rule) - this is de-Stalinization. But even though you've changed its appearance, some remnants of black paint might still be visible underneath or in hard-to-reach corners - these represent lingering elements of Stalinism.
Related terms
Nikita Khrushchev: Leader of Soviet Union during part of Cold War who initiated policy of de-Stalinization.
Joseph Stalin: Dictator who ruled Soviet Union from mid-1920s until his death in 1953, known for his totalitarian rule.
Cult of Personality: When a country's leader uses mass media to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise.
"De-Stalinization" appears in:
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Practice Questions (8)
Who was the Russian leader that began the process of 'de-Stalinization'?
Which event marked the end of de-Stalinization in Soviet Russia?
Who initiated De-Stalinization in the Soviet Union during the post-WWII era?
What might have been the result if de-Stalinization had not occurred in the USSR after Stalin's death?
Which leader first introduced the policy of "de-Stalinization" during the Cold War era?
Who initiated the policy of de-Stalinization in USSR?
Who started the process of de-Stalinization in the Soviet Union?
What Soviet policy resulted in a period known as "de-Stalinization" after Joseph Stalin's death?
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