Title: Soviet Ideology and Its Influence on Society in the 1950s-1960s
Authors: Mutallibjonov Boburmirzo ¹
Volume: 9
Issue: 8
Pages: 139-144
Publication Date: 2025/08/28
Abstract:
This study examines the role of Soviet ideology and its influence on society in the 1950s-1960s, a period marked by de-Stalinization, the rise of Khrushchev's reforms, and the adaptation of socialist discourse to new political and social realities. The introduction situates the research within the broader framework of Cold War tensions and highlights how ideology functioned as both a mechanism of state power and a framework of social identity. The literature review evaluates previous scholarship on Soviet political culture, propaganda, education, and everyday practices, while also identifying gaps concerning how ideology was simultaneously internalized and contested in daily life. The methodology employs a qualitative historical approach, integrating archival materials, official speeches, policy documents, and cultural texts, analyzed through discourse and content analysis to capture the multifaceted ways ideology was constructed and received. The findings reveal that ideology in this period remained a central instrument of governance, though it shifted in tone from Stalinist rigidity to Khrushchev's narrative of optimism, progress, and peaceful coexistence. It permeated education, cultural production, public rituals, and international relations, reinforcing loyalty while also encountering subtle resistance from citizens whose lived experiences often contradicted official promises. The discussion highlights the adaptability of ideology, its global projection through the socialist camp, and the growing contradictions between rhetoric and reality, particularly regarding economic development and social expectations. The study concludes that Soviet ideology during the 1950s-1960s was both resilient-maintaining cohesion and legitimacy-and fragile, as dissonance between ideals and realities gradually weakened its authority.