ABSTRACT
The heroic period in Soviet history was over, replaced by a universal mood of apathy and cynicism. At worst it was an inconvenience that posed no threat to the regime. This is why Chernenko believed that dramatic appeals and exhortations to the people–a la Andropov–were superfluous. The social philosophy of Chernenko could be encapsulated in a formula: the Soviet system is not ideal, but it is the best there is. Such a formula obviated the need to subject the system to deep or radical change. In contrast to Andropov, who had relied on administrative measures such as tightening up labor discipline, assigning personal responsibility for each task performance, and severely penalizing absenteeism, tardiness, and disruptions of work routines, Chernenko preferred to rely on incentives. Unattractive as Chernenko’s strategy was in terms of “national pride,” it was economical and it gave him time to try small variations on the old theme of the “extensive” development of society.
