The USSR without Brezhnev

Most people assume that Brezhnev was one of the causes of the Soviet stagnation and eventuel collapse. Let's say Brezhnev dies earlier, in 1962. After the Anti-Kruschev Coup, who would be leader? Kosygin? Would the Union still stagnate and collapse? Or will it survive? Who would be leader(s) after Kosygin's death in 1980? Would the Cold War still be going on?

there two POD

Stalin's Great Purge of 1937-39
on false word and Brezhney is execute

on january 20, 1969
Second Lieutenant Viktor Ilyin try to assassinate Leonid Brezhnev
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Ilyin

So wat If Victor Ilyin is successful ?
after deadt of Leonid Brezhnev
Alexey Kosygin become the new Soviet leader
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexey_Kosygin

Kosygin attempted to implement economic reforms to shift the emphasis in the Soviet economy
from heavy industry and military production to light industry and the production of consumer goods.
Brezhnev did not support this policy and stymied Kosygin's reforms.

Click to expand...

from wiki

no Brezhnev in way, Kosygin makes his economic reforms
after the dead of Kosygin in december 1980, become Yuri Andropov the new Soviet leader.
he makes further political reforms.

USSR will not collapse if Brezhnev didn't become Secretary-general of the CPSU. USSR may survive until now. Kosygin would be the Secretary-general of CPSU. Kosygin makes his economic reforms similar to Deng Xiaoping of China in 1978 in OTL. Kosygin dies in 1980 Andropov would become a Soviet leader and he will make a further political reforms. The result is by 2000 in ATL, the economy of Soviet Union is the same to the United States.

I go for underlying factors in this case and say that it goes more or less the same way unless a real nutjob get the job and start playing with nukes.

With Alexei Kosygin as Secretary General of the Communist Party, how would the Cold War have been different? Would Kosygin have followed the "Brezhnev Doctrine" in foreign policy? Would Kosygin have threatened military intervention on the side of Egypt during the Yom Kippur War? Would Kosygin have invaded Afghanistan?

Would Kosygin have had a more amiable attitude toward the West? Would have mended relations with the Peoples' Republic of China and mended the "Sino-Soviet Split"?

Would Yuri Andropov have remained head of the KGB under Kosygin? Would Kosygin have permitted the persecution of dissidents such as Sakharov?