Georgi Malenkov
Definition
Georgi Malenkov was a Soviet politician who briefly succeeded Joseph Stalin as the leader of the Soviet Union. However, his party rivals, led by Nikita Khrushchev, soon removed him from power.
Analogy
Think about Malenkov like a substitute teacher who takes over when your regular teacher (Stalin) suddenly leaves. He tries to keep things running smoothly but doesn't have enough support or authority and is quickly replaced by another teacher (Khrushchev).
Related terms
Thaw Period: This refers to the period from 1953-1964 when repression and censorship in the Soviet Union were partially reversed and millions of Soviet political prisoners were released from Gulags due to policies enacted by Malenkov and later Khrushchev.
Nuclear Arms Race: A competition for supremacy in nuclear warfare between United States, USSR and their allies during Cold War. Malenkov advocated for peaceful coexistence with West which indirectly influenced this race.
Collective Leadership: A form of leadership where responsibilities are shared among members rather than concentrated on one individual. After Stalin’s death, there was brief period where collective leadership including Malenkov tried to govern USSR before Khrushchev took over.
"Georgi Malenkov" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.