1. Rejecting Liberalism
Chapter 5

2. We’ve already looked at responses to classical liberalism (Classical conservatism, Marxism, socialism, and welfare capitalism).
Now we will look at ideologies that completely rejected liberalism in favour of totalitarian systems of government.

3. Why did totalitarianism emerge?
Communism and Fascism were the two most influential ideologies to reject liberalism and both used totalitarian forms of government.
Totalitarianism means complete control of the government over the public and private lives of its citizens.
“Everything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.”
-Benito Mussolini

4. The nature of totalitarian regimes
Totalitarian regimes are responding to what they see as dangerous and destabilizing changes. They consider the existing society in need of a complete transformation.
These transformations may be...

5. radical reactionary As in the USSR
The change desired is a move toward the far left side of the economic spectrum and a complete rejection of political and economic traditions of the past
As in Nazi Germany
The change desired is a move toward an idealized past and an acceptance of economic inequality (accepting the belief that some people are naturally better than others.)

6. Political Freedom
United States
Anarchy
Canada
Economic Control
Economic
Freedom
USSR
Totalitarianism
Nazi Germany
Refer to page 168 of your text
Political Control

7. Totalitarianism
Like most ideologies, totalitarian regimes provide an account of the past, and explanation of the present, and a vision for the future.
However, the extensive use of propaganda, coercive power, and communications technologies ensure the totalitarian governments maintain strict control over their citizens.

8. Totalitarian Control
Extensive local, regional, and national organization
Youth, professional, cultural, and athletic groups (often forced participation)
A secret police using terror
Indoctrination through education
The censorship of the media
Redirecting popular discontent (using scapegoats)

9. The Russian Revolution
Tsar Nicholas II
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin vs

10. Russian Revolution

11. Bloody Sunday Anniversary Poster
1905 Rehearsal
Tsarist government won’t accept liberal ideologies
Russo-Japanese war leads to hardships and embarrassing defeat
Liberal and radical groups press for change
January 22, 1905, workers gather to peacefully protest economic hardships
Tsar’s troops fire on the crowd
Bloody Sunday Anniversary Poster

12. Bloody Sunday (1905)

13. Outcome Demands for reforms
General strike paralyzes country in October
Army is occupied with Russo-Japanese war
Government falters
Nicholas II promises civil liberties, a popularly elected Duma (parliament), legalization of unions
Troops return, repression restores the old order by 1907

14. Countdown to Revolution
1914 World War One begins
August 1915, Nicolas II leaves to supervise WWI troops personally
People blame the Tsar for heavy losses from the war

15. Nicholas II Congratulating Soldiers

16. Countdown to Revolution
Tsarina Alexandra comes under the sway of Rasputin (who claims to be able to heal her son)
Even aristocratic supporters rebel at his access to the royal families, influence on policies
Rasputin has a “hold” on the royal family

17. 1917 Revolution Begins Cities face severe hardships due to WWI
Women strike in March 1917, demand an end to high prices and the rule of Nicholas II
Troops reluctant to fire on the crowd because of the presence of women
Government falls
March 12 – 1st Provisional Government organized, Nicholas II abdicates

18. Russian Revolution – Part II

19. Provisional Government (March-May)
Initial plan is for a modern constitutional parliamentary democracy, politicians from the upper classes
Must share power with workers’ groups (soviets), which want socialist self-rule
Government continues unpopular involvement in WWI
Neither group can control the peasants, who hoard food, seize land, make shortages worse

20. Provisional Government (May-November)
Initial leaders resign, moderate socialists (led by Kerensky) head the new government
Bolshevik minority agitates for radical change
Kerensky stays in WWI, throws Bolsheviks in prison or forces them to flee
Alexander Kerensky

21. Russian Revolution – Part III

22. Petrograd Street Fighting (1917)

23. Lenin Sweeps Away Workers’ Enemies
Nov. Revolution
Lenin Sweeps Away Workers’ Enemies
Threat of military coup forced Kerensky to release Bolsheviks to defend the capital
Provisional government discredited
Demonstrations on Nov. 6/7 cause Kerensky to flee
Lenin takes control to “defend” the state

24. Bolsheviks Fulfill Promises (1918)
March – Sign Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany, despite harsh terms
Russia loses Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, and Georgia
Much of the population no longer in Russia, ¾ of iron, 9/10 of Russia’s coal
Begin to give power to the workers

25. Russian and German Diplomats at Brest-Litovsk

26. Civil War Begins
, Civil War between Whites (aristocracy, supported by Allied Powers) and Reds (anticapitalist Bolshevik government)
Reds see betrayal everywhere and try to spread revolution to Central Europe (where post-war instability makes it possible)

27. Red Army Soldier brandishing a sword over White Generals (1920)

28. Consolidation of the Russian Revolution: The USSR

29. Revolutionary Social Changes
Abolish private property, nationalize factories, legalize universal suffrage
Attempt to centralize agricultural production (seize grain to feed army and workforce)- War Communism
Not successful: industrial production at 13% of pre-WWI levels
Famine strikes, peasants revolt, workers strike, sailors mutiny

30. NEP (1921)
NEP (New Economic Plan) attempts to solve the problems with its “compromise with capitalism)
Small amounts of private ownership are allowed
Peasants manage and sell their own crops
Other countries become less threatened by Bolshevism and recognize Russia (except USA, which doesn’t recognize the USSR until 1933)

31. New Political Structures
Communist Party becomes formalized (and all candidates must belong to the CPSU)
Cheka (secret police, precursor to KGB)
New structures promote totalitarian state, brutally suppress opposition.

32. Then Lenin made his biggest mistake...
he died

34. Lenin’s Tomb

36. Yes, that’s really him

37. Struggle for Power post-Lenin
Lenin dies in 1924 – who is his heir?
Most assume Trotsky (brilliant leader of the Red Army)
Stalin posed as Lenin’s heir, led movement to deify Lenin
Stalin brings new people into the Party
Stalin uses control over Central Committee to seize power in 1928
Joseph Stalin

38. Clip from: The Rise & Fall of The Soviet Union, Part 1
Approximately 8 mins