Brezhnev was aware that Khrushchev had promised Communism by 1980’s. Therefore, Brezhnev wished to define a the era of “developed” Socialism with a new constitution in 1977.

The final Constitution declared the USSR as a ‘mature socialist society’.

A number of freedoms were guaranteed:◦ Speech◦ Assembly (e.g. Trade unions)◦ Religion◦ Press

However, all these individual rights ‘must not injure the interests of society’.

In practice, the State could always quesh any appeal to individual rights on the basis that such an appeal was against the national or some other interest.

However, some have argued that it laid the foundations for later amedments to be made (J. Keep, 1996).

Urban population grew from 53% to 64%. Life expectancy fell due to:

1. Alcoholism2. Environmental pollution

Falling birth rates were attributed to the lack of men – a legacy from WW2.

You are to research a particular area of social change and make a presentation next lesson:◦ Education and social mobility, p.96-7 ◦ Cultural developments, p.98◦ Women’s roles and opportunities, 98-99◦ Living and working conditions, p.97-8