In 1953, unrest caused by consumer austerity measures had created rebellions in Czechoslovakia and East Germany, which were only able to be stopped after using military force. The 1956 revolution in Hungary resulted in a partial market system allowing for increases in private consumerism. In 1957, Poland was able to introduce a similar system after an outbreak of a number of protests. In 1959, Soviet Premiere Khrushchev was publically humiliated at the American National Exhibition in Moscow, by a display showing the state of American households, and how inadequate the Russian household was becoming. Following the embarrassing event the Soviets created the Seven-Year Plan, pledging to match the US’s housing and consumer goods output. According to Castillo, it proved to be somewhat successful as “During the 1960’s, most East Bloc governments were able to supply the minimum requirements of a fledgling consumer society: one small apartment per nuclear family, a selection of basic foods and a fairly dependable supply of essential household products.” (286) It appears that the soviets were fighting an uphill battle. The more they tried to provide their citizenry with the goods they desired, most of which were commonplace to the western world, the more evident it was that their economy was unsuited to do so. Their system had been created to provide the basics
In 1953, unrest caused by consumer austerity measures had created rebellions in Czechoslovakia and East Germany, which were only able to be stopped after using military force. The 1956 revolution in Hungary resulted in a partial market system allowing for increases in private consumerism. In 1957, Poland was able to introduce a similar system after an outbreak of a number of protests. In 1959, Soviet Premiere Khrushchev was publically humiliated at the American National Exhibition in Moscow, by a display showing the state of American households, and how inadequate the Russian household was becoming. Following the embarrassing event the Soviets created the Seven-Year Plan, pledging to match the US’s housing and consumer goods output. According to Castillo, it proved to be somewhat successful as “During the 1960’s, most East Bloc governments were able to supply the minimum requirements of a fledgling consumer society: one small apartment per nuclear family, a selection of basic foods and a fairly dependable supply of essential household products.” (286) It appears that the soviets were fighting an uphill battle. The more they tried to provide their citizenry with the goods they desired, most of which were commonplace to the western world, the more evident it was that their economy was unsuited to do so. Their system had been created to provide the basics