1. Case Study: Stalinist Russia 14.2
Totalitarianism
Case Study: Stalinist Russia
14.2

2. The Death of Lenin
After Lenin died two members of his party emerge as potential leaders
Leon Trotsky
Joseph Stalin
They become bitter rivals during the struggle to control the communist party
Stalin wins out and tries to control every aspect of life

3. Stalin Becomes Dictator
Joseph Stalin hide in the background during Lenin’s reign
Stalin mean “man of steel” in Russian
Fitting name for him
He was cold, hard and impersonal
Lenin distrusted Stalin as his end neared
“(Stalin has) enormous power in his hands, I am not sure if he knows how to use that power with sufficient caution” -Lenin

4. Stalin Becomes Dictator
he begins his ruthless climb to the top of government
1922: He worked behind the scenes (gov), moving allies into positions of power (gov.)
1924: All his allies are in the right place
1928: Has total control of the government and forces Trotsky into exile

5. Stalin and the Totalitarian State
Stalin did not care for the people but the growth of USSR
To do this he needs absolute control
Totalitarianism – centralized power takes control of all aspects of life
People lose all individual rights in a totalitarian state, but gain the sense of security (completely the opposite of the West)

6. Stalin and the Totalitarian State

7. Other Totalitarian States
In the early 20th century this whole totalitarian thing was catching on:
Hitler (Germany)
Mussolini (Italy)
Mao Zedong (China)
Kim Il Sung (North Korea)

8. Stalin and the Economy
Lenin had the NEP that had state and private owned business (remember 14.1)
Stalin wanted total control of the economy
Command Economy – the government made all economic decisions
The government looked at what was needed and how to do it. (Factory X you make Y)
Stalin started revolutions in industry and agriculture

9. Industrial Revolution
1928 (kind of late try 200+ years) Stalin introduced his first five year plan
“We are 50 to 100 years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years. Either we do it or we shall be crushed.” -Stalin
Stalin set quotas – numerical goals of production for:
Steel
Coal
Oil

10. Industrial Revolution
However, many areas suffered, shortages occurred
The gov. told who could work, where they could work and for how long
The secret police gave you permission to do everything
If you did not do as told…dead
Through the destruction of the individual Stalin’s plan worked, really well

11. Agricultural Revolution
Also a success for Stalin, but somehow more brutal
1928 the USSR seized over 25 million private farms
Collective Farms - government run farms
Hundreds of families worked the farm to produce food for “the state.”
Machinery would (hopefully) reduce the number of people needed

12. Agricultural Revolution
Many peasants resisted Stalin’s plan
However, the secret police dealt with them
Between 5-10 MILLION people died as a result
Millions more were sent to Siberia
Kulaks – wealthy peasants, resisted so Stalin had them all killed
Once again, it worked, production way up

13. Weapons of Totalitarianism
Control and persuasion
Terror and violence
Police Terror – Neutralized any of Stalin’s enemies (real or not)
Great Purge – 1934 Stalin turns on his own party. The people that helped to win the revolution stood trial.
NO ONE IS SAFE

14. Indoctrination and Propaganda
You need the people to “believe” in the gov
Constant reminder the party is good
Propaganda – bias or incomplete information
News – talked about the greatness of the state
Stalin used the arts to get his message out as well
Socialist Realism – new art form in USSR

15. Other Forms of “Control”
Censorship
Religious Persecution – the religion… atheism
If you compare the Russia Revolution to The French and American, it was closer related to the French
Concept of destroying the old way

16. Daily Life Under Stalin
People are better educated and women gain more rights, but at great cost
Soviet Women:
after 1917 they won equal rights
Many became educated, by % of doctors are female
Women are not only to work but also raise a family

17. Education The government controlled education (big surprise)
School are not only for indoctrination, they also created the skilled workers Stalin needs

18. 1930’s USSR Stalin has complete control He reigns with terror
There is no individual