Definition - disagreement, especially about an official suggestion or plan or a popular belief.

While dissent under Stalin was too dangerous, once Khrushchev had destroyed the infallibility of Communist leadership, people were more willing to express their opinions.

There is no evidence of widespread public dissatisfaction, though may have grumbled about everyday problems like food shortages.

Political dissent was rare.

There was a dilemma which existed since Stalin’s death. How far to suppress dissent.

Under Stalin, this had been absolute and with stifling repression. However, whilst this was clearly not favoured by Brezhnev, he did not wish for an open society either.

This dilemma had existed under Khrushchev, who had been inconsistent in his approach towards dissent.

Brezhnev allowed art that reflected the views of the most dominant class in society, i.e the working class, but did not allow “art for art’s sake”.

Brezhnev is said to have allowed some expression of differing views, but did not return to the very partial liberalisation of the arts attempted by Khrushchev.

Those that became known as dissidents were not political, but often artistic or intellectual.

Artistic expression under Stalinism had been limited to

Social Realism

Stick in the pictures of Sinyavsky and Daniel.

Use p.104 to explain what happened to them both.

Underneath, explain the outcome of this affair using the information under “Sinyavsky and Daniel” and also “The spread of dissidence” on p.104-5.