Khrushchevian Adjustments, 1953–64

Abstract The death of Stalin led to a reworking of some of the rules as they had applied in earlier years. Particularly important was the re-emphasis on collectivism and the removal of terror. The restoration of a politics that looked more like the factional conflict of the 1920s was brought to an end in 1957 when Khrushchev was able to defeat the anti-party group and establish his predominant leadership. However, once having done so, he proceeded to act in a way that contradicted many of the rules as they had been reworked in 1953, ultimately leading to his overthrow in 1964.