Brezhnev dies in 1977: does this change anything?

In OTL, Brezhnev died November 1982, by which time KGB chief Yuri Andropov had been the Kremlin eminence grise for the better part of a decade. In many respects, Brezhnev's death simply formalized Andropov's rule. That being said, if Andropov had controlled all the levers of power 5 years earlier (Nov 1977) would he have been able to better "capitalize" on the high oil prices of 1979/80 or implement enough reform to give the USSR a few more years?
 
In OTL, Brezhnev died November 1982, by which time KGB chief Yuri Andropov had been the Kremlin eminence grise for the better part of a decade. In many respects, Brezhnev's death simply formalized Andropov's rule. That being said, if Andropov had controlled all the levers of power 5 years earlier (Nov 1977) would he have been able to better "capitalize" on the high oil prices of 1979/80 or implement enough reform to give the USSR a few more years?

Unlikely. By the late 1970's the USSR's infrastructure was stagnating fast under a facade of lies and miscommunication. The biggest problem is that although Andropov knew that things had to change, he didn't know how to change them. You need a complete shift in his mentality and for that you'd need a bigger - or perhaps earlier - POD.
 
Not sure of the year but while he was visting a factory a worker accidently dropped a brick from a height which narrowly missed him, but came dangerously close to smahing him. I wonder what punishment/torture that innocent member of the proletariat was subjected to!
 
Any POD in 1970s is too late to save Soviet Union. Economic policies of Brezhnev already deteriorate the infrastructure of the Soviet Union. I suggest a POD of 1964 (Khrushchev stays in power) or 1953 (Beria takes over).
 
Unlikely. By the late 1970's the USSR's infrastructure was stagnating fast under a facade of lies and miscommunication. The biggest problem is that although Andropov knew that things had to change, he didn't know how to change them. You need a complete shift in his mentality and for that you'd need a bigger - or perhaps earlier - POD.


not only that.. but Andropov was not exactly keen on the reforms that would be needed.. ask the Czech's and Hungarians on that that...

Alexi Kosygin made attempts .. only problem is that the system was so far gone into corruption and bureaucratic malaise that not much was going to save it at that time..

Gorbachev was not a solution at that point either since his star really didnt start rising until Andropov took over. and besides.. would Gorbachev have acted the same in 77 as he did in 85? I doubt it since a man acts according to his time and surroundings.

Best thing to save Soviet Union would be curtail military spending.. IE. cut back on the arms race. stay out of Afghanistan, stop supporting all the failing third world countries that they were and concentrate on economic and political reforms that could save the nation.

Short of that you will need a pod before Stalin or have Khrushchev do a better job at selling his vision.
 
Any POD in 1970s is too late to save Soviet Union. Economic policies of Brezhnev already deteriorate the infrastructure of the Soviet Union. I suggest a POD of 1964 (Khrushchev stays in power) or 1953 (Beria takes over).

If Khrushchev stays in power, I could see greater economic reform and Kosygin flourishing, which can only mean good for the Soviet Union, but I'm curious as to how Beria in 1953 would be good. From what I can imagine, it would lead to continued Stalinism and corruption within the system. At best, he would curtail excessive spending but set back the economic structure so far that it would be disastrous.

Beria may have been more "liberal" than Stalin, but in no way does that mean he was less ruthless or corrupt. At least Stalin had principles and ideology. Beria always struck me as the secretive rightist in the bureaucracy, the kind of person that would truly establish the Soviet identity and disregard the revolution for the nation.

Maybe that's what could have preserved the Soviets, but I doubt it.
 
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