Totalitarianism in the Soviet Union

Focus Question

  • How did the Soviet Union become a totalitarian state?

Key Concepts and Details

1. The New Economic Policy (NEP)
  • Problem: Near economic collapse in 1921
  • Response: Lenin's NEP allowed limited capitalist activities.
    • Peasants could sell food for profit.
    • Aimed to boost agricultural production.
  • Results: Moderately successful recovery by 1928; Russia's economy improved post-civil war.
2. Collectivization
  • Problem: Inefficient agricultural structure; low production.
  • What is it?: Combining small farms into larger, mechanized collective farms.
    • Initiated by Stalin in 1928, targeting 25 million privately owned farms.
  • Goals: Increase agricultural input and efficiency.
  • Results: Over 90% of peasants on collective farms by 1938; agricultural production increased significantly, but led to mass famine in some areas (e.g., Ukraine).
3. Political Structure of the U.S.S.R.
  • Totalitarian State: Central authority controls all aspects of life.
  • Key Bodies:
    • Supreme Soviet: Meets twice a year; primarily symbolic.
    • Politburo: Actual governing body with real power, controlled by Stalin.
  • The Comintern: Founded by Lenin (1919) to promote worldwide communism; encouraged revolution in capitalist countries.
4. The Rise of Stalin's Power
  • Power Struggle: After Lenin's death in 1924, Stalin fought against Leon Trotsky.
    • Trotsky advocated for global communism; Stalin emphasized 'socialism in one country'.
  • Years of Purges: The Great Purge (mid-1930s) targeted perceived opposition, leading to 8-13 million deaths.
5. Economic Changes: Five-Year Plans
  • First Five-Year Plan (1928-1932): Aimed to boost industrial output through state-controlled economy.
  • Results: Significant increases in production of oil, coal, and steel despite failures in consumer goods.
6. Daily Life Under Stalin
  • Education and Indoctrination: Strict government control of education to promote loyalty to the Communist Party.
  • Women in Society: Women's roles expanded as they joined the workforce as part of the economic strategy, yet maintained traditional family responsibilities.
7. Tools of Totalitarian Control
  • Police State: Use of secret police (NKVD) for surveillance and suppression of dissent; culture of fear prevalent.
  • Censorship: All sources of media controlled by the state to glorify the regime and suppress opposition.
  • Terror and Indoctrination: Police terror used to enforce compliance; indoctrination via education promoted loyalty to Stalin.
8. Religious and Ethnic Persecution
  • Targeting of Religious Groups: Suppression of religious practices; destruction of churches, targeting Orthodox Church primarily.

Review Questions

  • What were the goals of the NEP and the Five-Year Plans? How successful were they?
  • Describe collectivization under Lenin and Stalin.
  • Explain the political structure and organizations of the U.S.S.R.
  • What was the Comintern and what were its goals?
  • How did Stalin create a totalitarian state in the 1920s and 1930s?