CSS Breakdown: Book by Book

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Welcome to CSS Breakdown: Book by Book — your go-to podcast for mastering Pakistan’s Central Superior Services (CSS) exam, one book at a time. Each season focuses on a single CSS-recommended book, unpacking chapters, key theories, historical context, and exam-focused insights. Whether you're reviewing Political Science, Criminology, Gender Studies, or Pakistan Affairs, this podcast simplifies the complex and helps you prepare smarter. Perfect for busy aspirants, revision on the go, or deep conceptual learning.

  1. S09 E18: Russia’s Transformation | From Stalin’s Shadow to Putin’s Power – Norman Lowe

    02/08/2025

    S09 E18: Russia’s Transformation | From Stalin’s Shadow to Putin’s Power – Norman Lowe

    How did the Soviet Union evolve from Stalin’s iron-fisted rule to Putin’s era of “managed democracy”? In Season 9, Episode 18 of CSS Breakdown: Book by Book, we explore Chapter 18 of Norman Lowe’s Mastering Modern World History to trace Russia’s turbulent journey from 1953 to 2012. We break this dramatic era into four phases: Khrushchev’s De-Stalinization: Political “thaw,” ambitious reforms, and Cold War challenges. Brezhnev’s Stagnation: Economic slowdown, suppression of freedoms, and the Brezhnev Doctrine. Gorbachev’s Reforms: Glasnost, Perestroika, and the unintended collapse of the Soviet Union. Yeltsin to Putin: Economic “shock therapy,” Chechen conflicts, and Russia’s transformation into a centralized, stable—but controversial—state. This episode is a must-listen for CSS aspirants, history enthusiasts, and anyone studying the fall of communism, Cold War politics, and the foundations of modern Russia. Soviet Union history, Russia history podcast, fall of USSR, Khrushchev de-Stalinization, Brezhnev era, Gorbachev glasnost perestroika, collapse of the Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin history, Vladimir Putin rise, Cold War history, Norman Lowe history, Mastering Modern World History, CSS exam preparation, modern world history podcast, Russia 20th century, Stalin to Putin, managed democracy Russia, Russian political history, end of communism, post-Soviet Russia

    31 min

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Welcome to CSS Breakdown: Book by Book — your go-to podcast for mastering Pakistan’s Central Superior Services (CSS) exam, one book at a time. Each season focuses on a single CSS-recommended book, unpacking chapters, key theories, historical context, and exam-focused insights. Whether you're reviewing Political Science, Criminology, Gender Studies, or Pakistan Affairs, this podcast simplifies the complex and helps you prepare smarter. Perfect for busy aspirants, revision on the go, or deep conceptual learning.