To what extent did the nature of government of the USSR change between 1917-1953?
Introduction
The nature of govt. under Lenin and Stalin changed to a… extent because the Soviet Union went
from a collective leadership under Lenin to a totalitarian dictatorship under Stalin. However, there
were still aspects of continuity in both regimes for example, the ideological principles which
underpinned the exercise of government, the use of terror and the subordination of the state to the
Party.
Section A: Change
Paragraph 1:
Initially, the nature of govt. in the USSR was more pluralistic under Lenin because, he
tolerated different views at the top of his govt. (see pages 17-18)
This changed under Stalin who wanted a more authoritarian and centralised style of
leadership, due to the fact that he saw a pluralistic form of govt. at the top (POLITBURO) as a
threat to his leadership and he subsequently removed those who challenged his authority as
leader. (See page 18) where he removed everybody and established a new ideological
orthodoxy granting his opponents as enemies of Leninism.
How he got rid of the right and continued getting rid of his enemies in the 1930s (see pages
20) show trials etc.
REMEMBER TO EVALUATE AND LINK TO THE QUESTION!!!!
(Stalin was the only source of authority in the Soviet Union while Lenin allowed for genuine
debate within the Party with several senior figures at the top)
Paragraph 2:
Another major change in this period was the role of the General Secretary which had
become more prominent in the years after 1922. Even though, this trend had begun under
Lenin during the Civil War when Lenin preferred to use Senior Party officials or the
nomenklatura to implement his policies, the position of General Secretary increased its role
-the Lenin Enrollment (see page 18) as well as circulars, approved party lists (see page 18)
SEE HANDOUT!
Judgement/evaluation thus there was a great deal of change because the rise in prominence
of the general secretary allowed Stalin to control the Party bureaucracy giving Stalin a tight
grip on his key personnel and functions which his predecessor did not have.
Paragraph 3:
The role of Sovnarkom changed as did the principle of Party democracy. Under Lenin
according to the 1918 Constitution Sovnarkom was responsible for the Congress of Soviets
which contained, until 1921 representatives from many political parties including the
Bolsheviks. Nonetheless, during AND after the Civil War Lenin preferred to use party officials
to implement his policies in order to exclude other revolutionary groups. Thus, a significant
change had occurred in the way the Soviet Union was governed under Lenin and the role of
Sovnarkom was further demoted under Stalin (see page 10 – emergence of the Party State
Introduction
The nature of govt. under Lenin and Stalin changed to a… extent because the Soviet Union went
from a collective leadership under Lenin to a totalitarian dictatorship under Stalin. However, there
were still aspects of continuity in both regimes for example, the ideological principles which
underpinned the exercise of government, the use of terror and the subordination of the state to the
Party.
Section A: Change
Paragraph 1:
Initially, the nature of govt. in the USSR was more pluralistic under Lenin because, he
tolerated different views at the top of his govt. (see pages 17-18)
This changed under Stalin who wanted a more authoritarian and centralised style of
leadership, due to the fact that he saw a pluralistic form of govt. at the top (POLITBURO) as a
threat to his leadership and he subsequently removed those who challenged his authority as
leader. (See page 18) where he removed everybody and established a new ideological
orthodoxy granting his opponents as enemies of Leninism.
How he got rid of the right and continued getting rid of his enemies in the 1930s (see pages
20) show trials etc.
REMEMBER TO EVALUATE AND LINK TO THE QUESTION!!!!
(Stalin was the only source of authority in the Soviet Union while Lenin allowed for genuine
debate within the Party with several senior figures at the top)
Paragraph 2:
Another major change in this period was the role of the General Secretary which had
become more prominent in the years after 1922. Even though, this trend had begun under
Lenin during the Civil War when Lenin preferred to use Senior Party officials or the
nomenklatura to implement his policies, the position of General Secretary increased its role
-the Lenin Enrollment (see page 18) as well as circulars, approved party lists (see page 18)
SEE HANDOUT!
Judgement/evaluation thus there was a great deal of change because the rise in prominence
of the general secretary allowed Stalin to control the Party bureaucracy giving Stalin a tight
grip on his key personnel and functions which his predecessor did not have.
Paragraph 3:
The role of Sovnarkom changed as did the principle of Party democracy. Under Lenin
according to the 1918 Constitution Sovnarkom was responsible for the Congress of Soviets
which contained, until 1921 representatives from many political parties including the
Bolsheviks. Nonetheless, during AND after the Civil War Lenin preferred to use party officials
to implement his policies in order to exclude other revolutionary groups. Thus, a significant
change had occurred in the way the Soviet Union was governed under Lenin and the role of
Sovnarkom was further demoted under Stalin (see page 10 – emergence of the Party State
