Revolution and dictatorship in Russia 1917-1953 - Key terms

Includes: Key terms for groups of people, political/economic systems + ideas, Political processes/organisations and the economy

Dissidents

People who work in schools and universities, teaching or undertaking research

Agrarian

People involved in producing crops and livestock through farming

Aristocracy

People who posses noble titles and privileges, often with wealth or noble power

Bourgeoisie

People who own capital, such as land, factories and raw materials

Capitalists

As for bourgeoisie, people who own capital and the means of production

Clergy

People ordained by the church to carry out its functions (e.g. priests, nuns, monks)

Commercial

People involved in trade (e.g importing, exporting, buying, selling)

Establishment

The political, social and economic elites who wield power in a society

Industrial

The mass production of wants and needs, specifically on a large scale

Intelligentsia

The people who develop ideas, theories and policies in a society

Middle class

A social class of people who own some property, enjoying safe and stable standards of living

Military

A state’s defence forces (e.g army, navy and air force)

Monarchy

The institution of hereditary royalty led by a King, Queen or emperor

Nobility

People who posses noble titles, either from birth, royal grant or venality

Peasantry

People who work for the land, usually as tenant farmers and often in impoverished conditions

Proletariat

People who work for wages in a society, particularly in the industrial sector

Provincial

The areas of a nation outside major cities, (e.g lesser towns, rural areas, colonies)

Upper-Class

The upper levels to society (e.g royalty, aristocracy and the very wealthy)

Urban

The people, actions and conditions in large cities

Village

A small agricultural community, usually in a rural area

Working class

The lower levels of society, whose members must work to survive

Absolutism

Any political system where the ruler/government has absolute power

Anarchism

A political system that seeks to abolish the state and create a communal society

Autocracy

A system where political power is concentrated in the hands of a singular person.

Auto = Self Cracy = Rule

Capitalism

An economic system where most companies, land and resources are privately owned

Colonialism

A system of claiming, settling, ruling one or more countries

Communism

A political-economic class system with few to none class differences and economic equality

Constitutional monarchy

A political system where the monarch’s power is limited and shared

Democracy

A political system where the government or parts of it are elected by the people

Demo = People Cracy = Rule

Direct Democracy

Everybody (or those allowed) vote/decide on everything

Representative Democracy

Everybody (or those allowed) vote for representatives who then rule on their behalf

Dictatorship

A government without the consent of the governed

Divine Right

A form of political authority where power is said to be ordained by God

Facism

A right wing political system marketed by authoritarian rule, nationalism, state and military power

Feudalism

A medieval socio-political system with a hierarchy of kings, lords, knights and peasants

Imperialism

A system where a powerful state conquers territories (colonies) for it’s own gain

Marxism

A system or view based on the inequalities of wealth and class struggle (Based from Karl Marx)

Militarianism

A system where military needs are prioritised and the military exerts political influence

Nationalism

An ideology urging loyalty and idolisation to one’s own country; putting your nation first

Socialism

A system where the government rules in the interests of the workers or common people

Totalitarianism

A political system where the power of the state often overrides the rights of the individuals

Assembly

A body of people, elected or appointed to form government or make decisions

Constitution

A document defining the systems of government and the limits of government power

Elections

A process of voting to select others, usually to form a representative government

Executive

The government responsible for day to day leadership (e.g leader and ministers)

Government

A system responsible for leadership, making decisions and the laws of society

Ideology

A system of ideas and beliefs which shape one’s views about politics and government

Legislature

An assembly that exists to pass new laws or review, amend, or abolish existing laws

Parliament

An elected legislature from which an executive government is also formed

Participation

The involvement of ordinary people in selecting government and in political discourse

Representation

Where those in power act, speak or make decisions on the behalf of others

Sovereignty

Where power/authority lies in a government, it’s the basis for it’s power and autonomy

State

‘The state’ describes an organised society and the political system which governs it

Reform

Making changes in something especially in an institution or practice in order to improve it

Reform from above

A process of political or social change imposed by an elite or ruling power

Capital

The resources needed to produce things (e.g land, raw materials, equipment)

Commerce

The business of buying and selling, on a large scale

Debt

Money owed to another party, usually because it has been previously borrowed

Deficit

The shortfall that exists when the spending is greater than income

Exports

Resources or goods sold and shipped to another country, boosting national income

Finance

Describes the sections of the economy concerned with managing money (e.g banking)

Imports

Resources or goods brought and shipped in from another country, depleting national income

Industry

The production of raw materials and manufactured goods within an economy

Inflation

An increase in prices for goods and services, reducing the purchasing powers of a currency

Labour

The people who work to enable production or delivery of services; the workers

Laissez-Faire

French for ‘let it be’; and economy free of trade regulations, tariffs or costs

Manufacturing

The process of making and producing goods, particularly on a large scale

Production

The process of making things, particularly things that have additional value

Profit

Financial reward obtained from business or investment, where income exceeds costs

Revenue

Money received from normal activities (e.g sales/business or taxation/government)

Taxation

Money collected from individuals and groups by the government to fund the state

Trade

The buying or selling of goods, usually in exchange for money