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Abstract. The problem of the Soviet system adaptation to the changed conditions after the Stalin’s death is going to be analyzed. The adaptational energy model with crisis stress ranks and peaks of adaptive voltage have been applied during the process of article writing. It is concluded that the redistribution of adaptational resources increased the resistance to the one type of factors, but at the same time, reduced the resistance to the other ones. Three main phases of adaptational syndrome were distinguished – “shock phase” (1953), “stability search phase” (1954–1955), “faith crisis phase” (till the end of 1957), which was marked by the reduction of resistance energy, weakening Soviet protective capabilities and limitation of reserves. It was shown, that adaptation was largely based on mytho-symbolic resources of political establishment. The substantiation of modificational and pathological adaptation was presented and the main features of both were described (including the description of such ideologemes as “cult of personality” and “collectivity of governance”). It is noted the relationship of adaptational processes with the process of legitimization model changing. There was a specific factor of constant oscillation between two polar tendencies: adaptation to the challenges of time and preservation of traditions. Variability as the ability to acquire new features is linked to this factor (factor of constant oscillation). It was shown that changes in the Soviet system of the 1950s could be related either to the influence of internal and external environment on the dynamics of the party and state structures, or with changes affecting the essence of the key processes in their Leninist-Stalinist incarnation. Depending on these factors, one can allocate modificational variability and hereditary variability of the Soviet system.
Keywords: USSR, political culture, stress, eustress, distress, shock, adaptation, adaptive system, symbol, ritual, evolution, modification, changeableness, tradition.