postStalinism

Post-Stalinism refers to the period in Soviet and international communist history following the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953 and the subsequent de-Stalinization process. This era is characterized by a rejection of many of Stalin's policies and personality cult, but not necessarily a complete abandonment of communist ideology or the Soviet system.

Key features of Post-Stalinism include a move towards a more collective leadership, a relaxation of the intense political repression that marked the Stalin era, and a shift in economic policy away from prioritizing heavy industry at all costs. Nikita Khrushchev's "Secret Speech" at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1956 is often seen as a defining moment, denouncing Stalin's crimes and initiating reforms.

However, Post-Stalinism was not a monolithic period. Different interpretations and implementations of de-Stalinization emerged, leading to divergences within the communist world. For example, the Sino-Soviet split can be partly attributed to differing views on how to proceed after Stalin. While some sought to reform and humanize the communist system, others, like the hardliners in China, viewed these changes as a betrayal of true Marxism-Leninism.

The term Post-Stalinism is also used to describe the ongoing evolution of communist states and parties after Stalin's death, encompassing various attempts to adapt communist theory and practice to changing domestic and international circumstances, even as the fundamental tenets of one-party rule and state control over the economy often remained.