ABSTRACT
We shall start this summary section by digressing briefly from the chronological perspective that has dominated the three previous chapters. The reason for this digression is directly connected with the issue of continuity versus change in Soviet development and is thus central to the main thrust of our presentation. In contrast to the rather commonly held belief, that the Khrushchev era represented a radical break with the previous Stalinist period, we have indicated at various points above that the manifestations of continuity between these two periods may be more important than those of change. In particular, we have shown good reasons to argue that the period of de-Stalinization in some important senses was begun already before the death of Stalin as a physical person.
