İhtiyatlı talip: Leonid Ilyiç Brejnev ve Kremlin'de siyaset sanatı

This study investigates the role of Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev in the 1964 Coup and his consolidation of power after the ouster of Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev. Mostly under the influence of the stagnation interpretation of his rule, Brezhnev's role in the Khrushchev's removal was underestimated, and he was depicted as a mediocre politician who could not take any important decision without consulting his colleagues. However, it is necessary to make a division between the "early" and "late" Brezhnevs. He was in power for eighteen years and suffered serious health problems; thus it is very natural that his deteriorated health affected his performance and policy-making role in his last nine years in power. Hence, I analyze the "early" Brezhnev to understand how he overthrew his patron in 1964 and consolidated his power by eliminating his rivals over almost one decade. Contrary to the general view depicting Brezhnev as a vain and weak figure, he was one of the main initiators of the 1964 coup and able to keep power skillfully almost until his death.