AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
Khrushchev and East-West relations: impact of risings in Poland and…
Full specification wording
2R The Cold War, c1945–1991 – The Global War, 1955–1963: Khrushchev and East-West relations: impact of risings in Poland and Hungary and Soviet intervention; the degree of 'peaceful coexistence', including exchange of visits and Paris summit
Khrushchev’s policy of 'peaceful coexistence' aimed to reduce East-West tensions while maintaining Soviet security, yet it was severely tested by Eastern Bloc instability.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 3
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Khrushchev’s policy of 'peaceful coexistence' aimed to reduce East-West tensions while maintaining Soviet security, yet it was severely tested by Eastern Bloc instability. In 1956, demands for reform led to risings in Poland and Hungary. While Poland secured minor concessions under Gomulka, the Hungarian Uprising was brutally crushed by Soviet intervention to prevent withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, demonstrating the limits of Soviet tolerance. Despite this, diplomatic engagement continued through high-profile exchanges of visits, notably Khrushchev’s 1959 tour of the USA and talks at Camp David. However, the degree of peaceful coexistence remained fragile, collapsing dramatically at the 1960 Paris Summit following the U-2 spy plane crisis.
What earns the marks
- Evaluate the motivations behind Khrushchev's 'peaceful coexistence' and how it differed from Stalinist foreign policy.
- Analyse the causes and outcomes of the 1956 crises in Poland and Hungary, contrasting the Soviet responses to Gomulka and Nagy.
- Assess the impact of the Soviet intervention in Hungary on East-West relations and Western perceptions of Soviet aggression.
- Examine the significance of diplomatic visits, such as Khrushchev's 1959 US tour, in temporarily thawing Cold War tensions.
- Explain the collapse of the 1960 Paris Summit, focusing on the U-2 crisis and its role in renewing East-West hostility.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the outcomes in Poland and Hungary.
Put it right by noting Poland achieved a compromise under Gomulka, whereas Hungary faced full Soviet military intervention after Nagy threatened to leave the Warsaw Pact.
Assuming 'peaceful coexistence' meant an end to Cold War rivalry.
Put it right by explaining it meant avoiding nuclear war while continuing ideological and economic competition.
Stating the Paris Summit was a success.
Put it right by detailing its collapse due to the U-2 spy plane incident before substantive talks could begin.
Exam tips
- Use the contrasting Soviet responses to Poland and Hungary to evaluate the limits of Khrushchev's de-Stalinisation policy.
- When discussing 'peaceful coexistence', provide specific examples of both cooperation (Camp David) and conflict (Hungarian intervention) to show nuance.
- Link the failure of the 1960 Paris Summit to the subsequent escalation of tensions that culminated in the Berlin and Cuban crises.
Try the lesson
The start of the 2R The Cold War, c1945–1991 – The Global War, 1955–1963: Khrushchev and East-West relations: impact of risings in Poland and Hungary and Soviet intervention; the degree of 'peaceful coexistence', including exchange of visits and Paris summit lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which event directly led to the collapse of the 1960 Paris Summit between Nikita Khrushchev and Dwight D. Eisenhower?
Listen
Khrushchev’s policy of 'peaceful coexistence' aimed to reduce East-West tensions while maintaining Soviet security, yet it was severely tested by Eastern Bloc instability. In 1956, demands for reform led to risings in Poland and Hungary. While Poland secured minor concessions under Gomulka, the Hungarian Uprising was brutally crushed by Soviet intervention to prevent withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, demonstrating the limits of Soviet tolerance. Despite this, diplomatic engagement continued through high-profile exchanges of visits, notably Khrushchev’s 1959 tour of the USA and talks at Camp David. However, the degree of peaceful coexistence remained fragile, collapsing dramatically at the 1960 Paris Summit following the U-2 spy plane crisis. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Evaluate the motivations behind Khrushchev's 'peaceful coexistence' and how it differed from Stalinist foreign policy. Analyse the causes and outcomes of the 1956 crises in Poland and Hungary, contrasting the Soviet responses to Gomulka and Nagy. Assess the impact of the Soviet intervention in Hungary on East-West relations and Western perceptions of Soviet aggression. Examine the significance of diplomatic visits, such as Khrushchev's 1959 US tour, in temporarily thawing Cold War tensions. A common slip: Confusing the outcomes in Poland and Hungary. Instead, noting Poland achieved a compromise under Gomulka, whereas Hungary faced full Soviet military intervention after Nagy threatened to leave the Warsaw Pact. Exam tip: Use the contrasting Soviet responses to Poland and Hungary to evaluate the limits of Khrushchev's de-Stalinisation policy.
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