Comparative analysis of the social policy of the USSR and Germany in the Khrushchev period (1953–1964)

The study of Soviet social policy is important on the basis of a number of aspects, the main one being the fact that social welfare in historical scholarship and public opinion is generally regarded as the most successful period of Soviet society. Moreover, the period under analysis is of particular interest, as it covers the period of reconstruction after World War II and the early stages of the Cold War. This comparative analysis considers the social policy pursued by the USSR, and in West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany), since East Germany was strongly influenced by Soviet policy during this period. The experience of the USSR and FRG during this period can be useful for research and development of modern approaches to social policy and its adaptation to current conditions.