How did Brezhnev's leadership consolidate the Soviet stance during the Cold War?

Brezhnev's leadership consolidated the Soviet stance during the Cold War through military expansion and the Brezhnev Doctrine.

Leonid Brezhnev, who led the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982, played a significant role in shaping the Soviet Union's stance during the Cold War. His leadership was marked by a significant expansion of the Soviet military, a policy that was aimed at maintaining parity with the United States. Brezhnev believed that a strong military was essential for the Soviet Union to assert its influence globally and to deter potential threats from the West. This led to an arms race with the United States, with both superpowers investing heavily in their military capabilities.

Brezhnev also introduced the Brezhnev Doctrine, which stated that the Soviet Union had the right to intervene in the affairs of other socialist countries if their actions threatened the socialist system. This doctrine was used to justify the Soviet Union's invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, following the Prague Spring, a period of political liberalisation in the country. The Brezhnev Doctrine effectively consolidated the Soviet Union's control over its satellite states in Eastern Europe, reinforcing its position as a global superpower.

Under Brezhnev's leadership, the Soviet Union also pursued a policy of détente with the West. This was a period of eased tensions and increased dialogue between the Soviet Union and the United States, marked by several significant agreements on arms control. While this policy was aimed at reducing the risk of nuclear war, it also served to legitimise the Soviet Union's status as a global superpower.

In addition, Brezhnev's leadership was characterised by a focus on ideological purity within the Soviet Union. He sought to suppress dissent and maintain the dominance of the Communist Party, reinforcing the Soviet Union's commitment to its socialist ideals. This ideological rigidity, combined with the military expansion and the Brezhnev Doctrine, helped to consolidate the Soviet Union's stance during the Cold War.