Stalin & the USSR
The other important totalitarian state in Europe in the 1920s was the Soviet Union under the leadership of Joseph Stalin. 1917, the Communists in Russia overthrew the Czar and established a government under Vladimir Lenin. Stalin succeeded Lenin after his death in 1924.
The other important totalitarian state in Europe in the 1920s was the Soviet Union under the leadership of Joseph Stalin. 1917, the Communists in Russia overthrew the Czar and established a government under Vladimir Lenin. Stalin succeeded Lenin after his death in 1924.
Key Characteristics of Stalinism
Stalin believed in strengthening the power of the Communist government in Russia first rather than spreading the revolution across the world. The means he adopted to realize his goal of “socialism in one country” were rapid modernization of industries and agricultural production. In 1928, Stalin introduced the first of what would be a series of Five-Year Plans. These were detailed roadmaps designed to industrialize the country with particular focus on the coal and steel sectors, and the production of industrial equipment, such as tractors.
Stalin believed in strengthening the power of the Communist government in Russia first rather than spreading the revolution across the world. The means he adopted to realize his goal of “socialism in one country” were rapid modernization of industries and agricultural production. In 1928, Stalin introduced the first of what would be a series of Five-Year Plans. These were detailed roadmaps designed to industrialize the country with particular focus on the coal and steel sectors, and the production of industrial equipment, such as tractors.
To improve agricultural production, Stalin enforced collectivization, a process where small farms were consolidated into larger, state-run farms where peasants had to work a certain number of days annually to meet state-set production quotas. Collectivization caused much anger among affluent farmers. Many unwilling landowners were either killed or imprisoned at Gulag while many more migrated. The disruption and dislocation caused by the collectivization process, in addition to high production target set from each collective, caused severe famine in the USSR. An estimated seven million people died from the famine in the period between 1930-1933.
Stalin emerged as a cult figure in Soviet Russia though the communist ideology strongly discourages development of any form of a “cult of personality”. He maintained his power through extensive use of terror and also by developing a vast bureaucracy. The extensive officialdom enabled the Stalinist state to regulate all aspects of Soviet life. Concerned that there may be potential political challenges to his rule, Stalin used state officials to isolate opponents and rally support from common people.
Stalin emerged as a cult figure in Soviet Russia though the communist ideology strongly discourages development of any form of a “cult of personality”. He maintained his power through extensive use of terror and also by developing a vast bureaucracy. The extensive officialdom enabled the Stalinist state to regulate all aspects of Soviet life. Concerned that there may be potential political challenges to his rule, Stalin used state officials to isolate opponents and rally support from common people.