Party Reforms and Political Participation under Khrushchev Regime

This article deals with Khrushchevs attempts to reform the CPSU structure and its mode of operation. Its specific focus is on the introduction of public principle' into the party during the 1953"-'64 period. The background, development and contents of the reform efforts are analysed, discussed and evaluated. The major finding of this article is that emphasis on public principle was largely limited to the areas in support to local party organization while leaving basically untouched areas where the status of the party vis-a-vis Soviet society and rank-and-files of the party were virtually left unaffected. Even such limited reforms were rebuffed under Brezhnev regime. The policy of full trust in cards" did not leave any room for expansion of mass participation in discussion of political matters