Destalinization (Noun)
Meaning
Social process of neutralizing the influence of Joseph Stalin by revising his policies and removing monuments dedicated to him and renaming places named in his honor; "his statue was demolished as part of destalinization".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The destalinization process in the Soviet Union began with the 20th Congress of the Communist Party in 1956, where Nikita Khrushchev delivered a speech condemning Stalin's policies.
- During the destalinization campaign, many of Stalin's former associates were either arrested or executed for their roles in his regime.
- As part of the destalinization efforts, the city of Stalingrad was renamed Volgograd in 1961 to distance itself from the former Soviet leader.
- The destalinization process was not limited to the Soviet Union, as many Eastern European countries also began to dismantle the cult of personality surrounding Stalin.
- The destalinization movement led to a significant shift in the Soviet Union's approach to politics, economy, and culture, marking a clear departure from Stalin's authoritarian rule.