The Khrushchev Thaw is deservedly considered one of the most controversial periods in Soviet history. Khrushchev's initiative was quite clear: to help the state take an intensive step into a brighter future, to improve the quality of life with the help of innovative and unexpected solutions. Alas, this did not work out due to the mass of reasons, about which more than one volume of scientific works has been written.
If we try to generalize all the actions of the then leader of the state and find the main thing in them, then the main reason for the failure of the reforms can be considered conservatism. It manifested itself both in Nikita Sergeevich himself and in his entourage.
Khrushchev conceived a lot of changes: he planned to reorganize the economy, make the economic system a step closer to the market one, pour fresh blood into the party apparatus and improve the living standards of the population. However, liberal goals came into sharp conflict with the totalitarian methods of implementing reforms.
The reshuffle in the national economy is an excellent example of this. Trying to get away from the clumsy administrative economic model, Khrushchev only changed the appearance of the system, without touching its essence in any way. “From above” all the same “production plans” were done, which had to be fulfilled regardless of the conditions. Not a single market mechanism actually emerged.
Any good initiative was taken instantly and radically. This not only introduced confusion and confusion, but also caused rejection among the ordinary population, accustomed to the established order of things. After several decades of totalitarianism, people were not ready for the imposed drastic changes.
Trying to affect all spheres of life, Khrushchev actually touched and irritated all segments of the population. The state apparatus feared a reshuffle of personnel, business leaders feared constant economic rework, the intelligentsia feared ideological frameworks, and the working class feared higher prices and restrictions on private households. Thus, by the mid-60s, the leader managed to completely lose anyone's support.
Perhaps this would not have happened if Nikita Sergeevich had not been so quick. The ideas that he tried to implement were essentially necessary for the state (like the already mentioned economic reform). But they began to be implemented even before they had time to think carefully. If changes were introduced gradually, there would be much more room for their timely change and improvement.
