This masks the fact that the Soviet authorities' committment to opening up to the public sphere after Stalinism was genuine/radical. The quantity and quality of popular communication with the regime significantly increased, owing to the "freer atmosphere" often noted by foreign visitors. Also, people were more willing to call out criticism on local party authorities, childcare and housing.
This served a variety of aims for the leadership:
- It exposed the local defects of the economic and political system
- Quickened their solutions to re-engaging popular energies
- Underscored the new leadership's commitment t the people - central aim to legitimacy
There was also populist appeal
- Induced many more Soviet citizens to write to authorities than had dared during the Stalinist era. Criticism in the pages of the Soviet press, and even in the body of policy documents.
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