Stalin S Rule Essay

Submitted By lexiemg
Words: 1905
Pages: 8
Open Document
Alexandra Gardner
Professor David Shearer
History 359
May 5, 2015

Question 2: Phases of Stalin’s Rule

Socialism in One Country is the theory that strayed away from from Lenin’s goal of international socialist reach, to Stalin’s regime of national Communism. Up until Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953, his rule can be followed through different phases. While Major figures such as Leon Trotsky and the deceased Vladimir Lenin were not on good terms with Stalin or his ideals, believing them to be against Marxist theory. Stalin’s rule from the beginning was harsh and a return to traditional values along with a goal of industrialization and increasing internal strength. Though in time he became paranoid and through his self-aggrandizing personality his regime became extremely cruel leading to several deaths. Then to make matters worse World War II bought about massive tragedy in Russia and questionable decisions from Stalin. After World War II, the Soviet Union began on a path that would eventually lead to the Cold War, one of distrust and continued paranoia of invasion from the west. Stalin’s intent compared to Stalin’s regime is hard to distinguish, but importance of intent and character is lost in the atrocities committed by the Soviet Union’s leader. Joseph Stalin changed in his style of rule from his early idealism, to the purges, and to World War II and after, though there is cruelty and totalitarianism weaved within his entire leadership of the Soviet Union.
Joseph Stalin took power of the Soviet Union after Lenin’s death and began to dismantle the system of the NEP (New Economic Policy), including the Elimination of the Kulak class of capitalist farmers (Lecture, April 7). This regime was still anti-capitalist but used violence and fear to control its people. The Kulaks were corporate farmers who were a reflection of capitalism and the NEP; therefore Stalin sought to eliminate it as a social class. As seen in John Scott’s Beyond The Urals punishment for being a Kulak could lead to forced industrial labor. This industrial labor, voluntary or not, is an important aspect of Stalin’s early rule. Its reflection of the internal strengthening of nation that Stalin had ideally wanted, and while hasty it served to bring about a collective desire to build a better nation. Though peasants did not have it easy during this time and famine had erupted in the Ukraine and “Stalin turned a deaf ear to stories of famine, and the press printed nothing of starvation” (Suny, 246). In the midst of this tragedy Stalin had ignored the starving population, which reveals a bit about his character, the industrialization was more important than lives of peasants. With Stalin’s collapse of the NEP he installs a centralized planned economy, though its plans were not well though out. War communism remerged in a way with the use of black markets and government rations (Lecture, April 7). Workers were not getting paid and inflation devalued money, this economy was a disaster that socially dislocated workers. The strain on the nation was against Stalin’s intentions of strengthening internally. Already there is a discrepancy in intent and action, but Stalin decides to break from his plans of industrialization. By 1933 a consumerist economy was encouraged and in 1934, the 17th Party Congress decided normalcy needed to be returned and that the foundations of socialism had been laid (Lecture, April 7). In the next few years there was stability, and a strict moral code. Women were supposed to take a domestic role again and leave the work force; this is a very common occurrence in times of peace for women to be pushed in the background after a time of crisis. This time of Stalin’s rule was called Reactionary Totalitarianism that represented the return to traditional values and the intent to destroy private life; all of this was done through either loyalty or fear. Art of kinds was restricted and changed to the style of Socialist Realism-“A depiction of life
Show More

Related Documents: Stalin S Rule Essay

Joseph Stalin Dbq

Great Purge of the 1930’s Joseph Stalin once said “A death solves all problems no man no problem,” this way of thinking led to the Great Purge of the 1930’s. Joseph Stalin executed people that he thought were traitors The Purge of the the 1930’s began with Stalin becoming the leader of Russia, ended in executions of so called traitors, and George Orwell’s Animal Farm symbolizes this with the executions of the animals. Before Stalin became the leader of Russia he was on the first Central Committee…

Words 436 - Pages 2

Essay on Utopia Gone Wrong

Utopia Gone Wrong “Hard to be a god,” by Arkadi and Boris Strugatski, exemplifies the Stalinist era during the Soviet Union in the 1950’s. In this book, the authors used fictitious characters to illustrate the social inequalities of the 1950’s Russia. The title of the novel refers to the main character, Rumata, and his perception of the society he was observing. It was hard to be a model of a perfect idea, and he saw how the majority of the population in Arkanar struggled and how others did not…

Words 2443 - Pages 10

Stalins Rise to Power Essay example

9, 2013 Euro. History Essay Questions Joseph Stalin was the de facto leader of the Soviet Union from the 1920’s-1953. After the death of Vladimir Lenin he took power by having any of his opposition assassinated therefore leaving nobody to rule but him. He was a very paranoid man that trusted almost no one and if you ever did something better than him or not good enough he would have you killed. Stalin ruled the Soviet Union through communism bringing everything under government…

Words 353 - Pages 2

Essay about Totalitarian Regimes

Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany were considered to be totalitarian states; these shared a number of similarities despite the rivalry that existed between them. Dictators who were glorified as heroes ruled these three countries; Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin came to power in their countries in a moment of social unrest. People all over Europe were suffering from hunger, and many at that time were dying, these people were looking for a ruler that would help them solve their problems and that would bring…

Words 1212 - Pages 5

George Orwell's Allegory: Animal Farm And The Russian Revolution

Both Stalin and Napoleon were unconcerned about debates and ideas. Stalin used power for his own sake and by 1927 had taken over the Communist Party by brutal means. Napoleon’s dogs reflect Stalin’s KGB, the secret police that he used to execute all people opposing his plans. Napoleon gains control over Animal Farm while pretending to improve Animal’s lives. Stalin used a lot of propaganda (represented by Squealer in the novel) to show…

Words 827 - Pages 4

Effects Of Joseph Stalin On 1984 By George Orwell

throughout history. One such dictator was Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union who kept the people under his rule in an iron fisted regime. Under this regime millions of people were negatively affected. Stalin’s dictatorship lasted from 1929 to 1953; during this time he turned the Soviet Union into an industrial and military superpower. However, he reigned by terror and millions of his own people died (“Joseph Stalin”). In the late 1920’s Joseph Stalin wanted to change the Soviet Union from a peasant…

Words 619 - Pages 3

Comparing Napoleon And Snowball's Animal Farm

responsibility of the farm, he accepts the role of a despot that advantages himself much like Stalin did. During Stalin`s rule, 1929-1953, he used fear to implement his laws, and permitted nobody to contradict his choices. In the event that somebody did contradict him, he would punish him or her brutally. In Animal Farm, Napoleon additionally applies vicious power to implement his laws. It is his ironic manner, may be the effect is otherwise; leaders of revolution are “pig headed”! Both Napoleon…

Words 346 - Pages 2

How Did Joseph Stalin Abuse To Power

“His thirst for power was unquenchable” (Historic Figures) begins and article about the life and role of Joseph Stalin in the history of Russia, Joseph Stalin was one of the most corrupt dictators that communist Russia had seen. Stalin became famous for helping to defeat Nazi Germany in WWII and contributing to the rapid industrialization of Russia (Joseph Stalin’s Biography). Joseph Stalin was one of the most evil dictators in the world, he murdered his own people, robbed his own country, assassinated…

Words 1306 - Pages 6

Cold War and East Germany Essay

adopted by Winston Churchill in his iron curtain speech on March 5th, 1946. This referred to the military political and ideological barrier set up by Stalin’s rule of communist Russia. No trading or communication was allowed between Eastern Russian countries in the U.S.S.R. and the rest of Eastern Europe. Started after the end of WWII when Stalin had a different idea for a post war world. After 1953 the curtain slowly faded away and was completely lifted around 1989-90. Ran from East Germany to the Mediterranean…

Words 935 - Pages 4

Cold War Research Paper

War”. Nonetheless, Stalin had fallen into a trap with the announcement of the European Recovery Program by US Secretary of State, George Marshall. Caught off guard by the altruistic proposal, Stalin was forced into responding in the manner that Kennan had anticipated; tightening his grip on the on the satellite states even further. In September 1947 he announced the formation of Cominform, which was the “latter day version of the old pre-war Comintern”. In February 1948 Stalin approved a plan to…

Words 5441 - Pages 22