Soviet Union
,2023
Section A (Depth)
How accurate is it to say that, in the years 1917-28, Bolshevik control of the mass media and
propaganda was the main reason for the consolidation of the Soviet regime? (20 marks), 2024
Criteria: ‘main reason’. Was not the main reason, despite control of propaganda being a feature of Lenin’s
government. Controlling propaganda was arguably a by-product of the control of the regime, something
done to support the more important policies that were responsible for the regime’s consolidation, such as
being pragmatic in using NEP and War Communism to solidify economic control, and using terror to silence
the masses into submission
1st paragraph: Agree
- Lenin’s use of avant-garde and abstract art made fairly understandable images that people could
align with, particularly early on (Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge, 1918)
- Proletkult produced propaganda that instilled communist values
- Radio broadcasts benefited the largely illiterate population
- 575 printing presses closed and 2000 newspapers stopped circulating by 1921, which were mainly
Tsarist papers. Pravda dominated
- Lenin’s personality cult spread like wildfire, establishing him as a ‘Modern-Day Christ’ and making
it easy for people to follow him. His birthday quickly became a holiday
Development: however, Bolshevik control of the propaganda resulted in communist media supporting
Lenin’s policies, which were more successful in consolidating power. The media and propaganda simply
helped uplift policies that were already consolidating power
2nd paragraph: Disagree
- Economic control consolidated the regime due to its success
- War Communism during the Civil War (expand) saw forced grain requisitioning and ensured a Red
Army victory: without this economic policy, soldiers wouldn’t have been fed and a military victory
would not have been achieved. Was also an ideological victory
- NEP was a concession to the more capitalist members of the Party (Trotsky was unhappy), but it
returned the economy to its pre-war levels and consolidated power. Began in 1921, the
electrification campaign saw significant successes, ending the famine. Gave farmers incentives to
grow crops, so pleased both factory workers and agricultural labourers
3rd paragraph: Disagree
- Lenin’s use of terror as a ‘necessary evil’ ensured communist consolidation
- Cheka’s ‘Red Terror’. Felix Dzerzhinsky (the Iron Felix) was in charge. Death penalty reintroduced,
triggered after Lenin’s assassination attempt
- Suppression of the Tambov rebellion and the Kronstadt sailor mutiny were part of the Red Terror
- Religious beliefs and practices were persecuted: priests were burned alive in boiling tar, bodies of
saints were exhumed, members of the clergy killed. Religion: ‘opium of the masses’
, 2023
How accurate is it to say that the failure of central planning played a significant role in
the decline of the Soviet economy in the years 1964–85?, 2024
Criteria: ‘significant role’. While it did heavily contribute to the problems Brezhnev’s economy faced, it
didn’t play as significant a role as Brezhnev’s ‘social contract’ did, and his refusal to change his
priorities and continue overfunding the military budget, using rising oil prices as a way to mask the
economic struggles of the USSR
1st paragraph: Agree
- Command economy created a bureaucratic system of conservatism
- Stalin’s centralised planning economy was not suited for Brezhnev’s era, as no significant
modernisation was required
- Gosplan set quotas for goods without knowing what consumers wanted = fashion trends were
largely ignored, mass production of items without changing with the times
- Command economy was always plagued with flaws, and not introducing incentives or
changing the system inherently led to stagnation
Development: while it was fairly significant, Brezhnev’s choice what to do with the economy was
considerably more significant. Rather than reforming the failing command economy, he chose
stagnation
2nd paragraph: Disagree
- Brezhnev’s ‘social contract’ did lead to stability, but ultimately led to stagnation as workers
had no incentives to actually work
- ‘We pretend to work, they pretend to pay us’: the system was highly inefficient
- Cynicism and apathy towards work were bred: no incentive to go above and beyond, or to
change the factory environment. Alcoholism rose
- Andropov’s attempts at curbing this were ineffective as they weren’t implemented for long
enough, and they were ultimately a tool of control. Operation Trawl: KGB officers patrolled
parks, looking for absent workers. Had little effect due to Andropov’s illness
3rd paragraph: Disagree
- Brezhnev tried to prioritise consumer good spending, but ultimately his priorities lied in the
military sphere
- Around 25% of the Soviet GDP was spent on defence, which was over-inflated and did not
benefit the people
- The agricultural sector remained short of new technology, storage facilities and reliable
machinery
- Rising oil prices allowed the USSR to have more money, but this only masked the economic
problems - gave a temporary boost to the economy, while dispelling the need for immediate
reform (which was nevertheless much needed)
,2023
Section A (Depth)
How accurate is it to say that, in the years 1917-28, Bolshevik control of the mass media and
propaganda was the main reason for the consolidation of the Soviet regime? (20 marks), 2024
Criteria: ‘main reason’. Was not the main reason, despite control of propaganda being a feature of Lenin’s
government. Controlling propaganda was arguably a by-product of the control of the regime, something
done to support the more important policies that were responsible for the regime’s consolidation, such as
being pragmatic in using NEP and War Communism to solidify economic control, and using terror to silence
the masses into submission
1st paragraph: Agree
- Lenin’s use of avant-garde and abstract art made fairly understandable images that people could
align with, particularly early on (Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge, 1918)
- Proletkult produced propaganda that instilled communist values
- Radio broadcasts benefited the largely illiterate population
- 575 printing presses closed and 2000 newspapers stopped circulating by 1921, which were mainly
Tsarist papers. Pravda dominated
- Lenin’s personality cult spread like wildfire, establishing him as a ‘Modern-Day Christ’ and making
it easy for people to follow him. His birthday quickly became a holiday
Development: however, Bolshevik control of the propaganda resulted in communist media supporting
Lenin’s policies, which were more successful in consolidating power. The media and propaganda simply
helped uplift policies that were already consolidating power
2nd paragraph: Disagree
- Economic control consolidated the regime due to its success
- War Communism during the Civil War (expand) saw forced grain requisitioning and ensured a Red
Army victory: without this economic policy, soldiers wouldn’t have been fed and a military victory
would not have been achieved. Was also an ideological victory
- NEP was a concession to the more capitalist members of the Party (Trotsky was unhappy), but it
returned the economy to its pre-war levels and consolidated power. Began in 1921, the
electrification campaign saw significant successes, ending the famine. Gave farmers incentives to
grow crops, so pleased both factory workers and agricultural labourers
3rd paragraph: Disagree
- Lenin’s use of terror as a ‘necessary evil’ ensured communist consolidation
- Cheka’s ‘Red Terror’. Felix Dzerzhinsky (the Iron Felix) was in charge. Death penalty reintroduced,
triggered after Lenin’s assassination attempt
- Suppression of the Tambov rebellion and the Kronstadt sailor mutiny were part of the Red Terror
- Religious beliefs and practices were persecuted: priests were burned alive in boiling tar, bodies of
saints were exhumed, members of the clergy killed. Religion: ‘opium of the masses’
, 2023
How accurate is it to say that the failure of central planning played a significant role in
the decline of the Soviet economy in the years 1964–85?, 2024
Criteria: ‘significant role’. While it did heavily contribute to the problems Brezhnev’s economy faced, it
didn’t play as significant a role as Brezhnev’s ‘social contract’ did, and his refusal to change his
priorities and continue overfunding the military budget, using rising oil prices as a way to mask the
economic struggles of the USSR
1st paragraph: Agree
- Command economy created a bureaucratic system of conservatism
- Stalin’s centralised planning economy was not suited for Brezhnev’s era, as no significant
modernisation was required
- Gosplan set quotas for goods without knowing what consumers wanted = fashion trends were
largely ignored, mass production of items without changing with the times
- Command economy was always plagued with flaws, and not introducing incentives or
changing the system inherently led to stagnation
Development: while it was fairly significant, Brezhnev’s choice what to do with the economy was
considerably more significant. Rather than reforming the failing command economy, he chose
stagnation
2nd paragraph: Disagree
- Brezhnev’s ‘social contract’ did lead to stability, but ultimately led to stagnation as workers
had no incentives to actually work
- ‘We pretend to work, they pretend to pay us’: the system was highly inefficient
- Cynicism and apathy towards work were bred: no incentive to go above and beyond, or to
change the factory environment. Alcoholism rose
- Andropov’s attempts at curbing this were ineffective as they weren’t implemented for long
enough, and they were ultimately a tool of control. Operation Trawl: KGB officers patrolled
parks, looking for absent workers. Had little effect due to Andropov’s illness
3rd paragraph: Disagree
- Brezhnev tried to prioritise consumer good spending, but ultimately his priorities lied in the
military sphere
- Around 25% of the Soviet GDP was spent on defence, which was over-inflated and did not
benefit the people
- The agricultural sector remained short of new technology, storage facilities and reliable
machinery
- Rising oil prices allowed the USSR to have more money, but this only masked the economic
problems - gave a temporary boost to the economy, while dispelling the need for immediate
reform (which was nevertheless much needed)
