Nature of Government
Ideologies
● Totalitarianism
● There is a debate over the extent to which Stalin introduced a centralised form of
dictatorial government, that controlled every aspect of the behaviour of the citizens of
the state.
● He appeared to form his ideology based on Marxism Leninism.
The death of Lenin in 1924 resulted in a power struggle within the party over how Russia
would be governed. By 1927, Stalin had gained leadership of the Soviet Union through
skillful manipulation of individuals and factions. He quickly promoted a refined version of
Marxism Leninism. There were two parts of Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism:
1. Stalin argued that the base of society could only be permanently changed by utilising
a particular type of superstructure. He went on to implement this through a command
economy centred on five-year plans and collectivization.
2. The superstructure had to be highly personalised under the total control of one
individual. This would prevent damaging infighting. Disagreement would be labelled
bourgeois and dealt with quickly. The use of propaganda centering on the cult of
personality and repression would enforce Stalin's ideology.
Historians have explained this shift from a Lenin style dictatorship to totalitarianism in a
number of different ways:
● Some argue that Stalin's ideology provided a practical solution to the Soviet Union's
problems through the implementation of Five-Year Plans and collectivization.
● Others believe that Stalin manipulated Marxism Leninism to serve his own
megalomania, as shown by his repressive policies and the imposition of a cult of
personality.
● A recent view argues that Stalin was continuing the work of Lenin, who had already
made the most significant and decisive reinterpretation of Marxism by establishing
the party Central Committee and other institutions designed to control the
superstructure. Lenin had also used the Cheka to deal with opposition and
destabilised central control of the economy.
Although Stalin's motives are unclear, it is evident that his version of absolute rule was taken
to a new level. The result was wide scale terror.
Central administration
Stalin wished to continue with democratic centralism, since this was essential to the
implementation of his economic policies and to dealing with internal enemies. Additionally,
Stalin introduced a new constitution in 1936, which built on the earlier constitutions of 1918
and 1924, but also suggested that there would be more freedom for the peoples of the
USSR. Note that the Constitution of 1918 created by RSFSR and that of 1924 the USSR.
, The Supreme Soviet met twice a year. Delegates were given the opportunity to find out
about government policies, debate their implications and give them a stamp of approval.
Additionally, republics were given the right to administer their own education systems and
the power to break away from the Soviet Union.
The role of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU):
Even so, the Communist Party still dominated the Union and Republican governments.
Dissent from the party line was never tolerated, and the new constitution was similar to that
which had been in existence since 1918. This was made clear in Article 126 of the Stalin
Constitution, which stated that the party was the ‘nucleus of all the public and state
organisations of the working people.
The structure of the USSR post 1936
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR: This elected the Council of People's Commissars
(Sovnarkom) headed by a Presidium and was given sole power to make laws for the whole
of the Union. It was divided into two houses, partly to give the impression that a genuine
federal form of government had been created.
The first of which was the Soviet Union.
● Members were to be elected by electoral districts. 1 member per 30,000 people.
● Elections were to take place every four years.
● The Soviets of the Union therefore contained representatives of the peoples of the
whole of the USSR.
The second of which was the Soviets of Nationalities which consisted of:
● 25 members per union Republic.
● 11 members per autonomous Republic.
● 5 members per autonomous region.
● 1 member per national area.
● These regional categories simply reflected the different importance given to particular
national groups.
Further additions to the USSR
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova were joined to the USSR from 1939 to 1940.
Methods of repression and enforcement
To combat opposition to Stalin's personal dictatorship, the NKVD (the People's Commissariat
for Internal Affairs) was formed in 1934. Headed by Yagoda, (later Yezhov), the NKVD
created a permanent form of terror. It was crucial to the imposition of purges , and was
Ideologies
● Totalitarianism
● There is a debate over the extent to which Stalin introduced a centralised form of
dictatorial government, that controlled every aspect of the behaviour of the citizens of
the state.
● He appeared to form his ideology based on Marxism Leninism.
The death of Lenin in 1924 resulted in a power struggle within the party over how Russia
would be governed. By 1927, Stalin had gained leadership of the Soviet Union through
skillful manipulation of individuals and factions. He quickly promoted a refined version of
Marxism Leninism. There were two parts of Marxism, Leninism, Stalinism:
1. Stalin argued that the base of society could only be permanently changed by utilising
a particular type of superstructure. He went on to implement this through a command
economy centred on five-year plans and collectivization.
2. The superstructure had to be highly personalised under the total control of one
individual. This would prevent damaging infighting. Disagreement would be labelled
bourgeois and dealt with quickly. The use of propaganda centering on the cult of
personality and repression would enforce Stalin's ideology.
Historians have explained this shift from a Lenin style dictatorship to totalitarianism in a
number of different ways:
● Some argue that Stalin's ideology provided a practical solution to the Soviet Union's
problems through the implementation of Five-Year Plans and collectivization.
● Others believe that Stalin manipulated Marxism Leninism to serve his own
megalomania, as shown by his repressive policies and the imposition of a cult of
personality.
● A recent view argues that Stalin was continuing the work of Lenin, who had already
made the most significant and decisive reinterpretation of Marxism by establishing
the party Central Committee and other institutions designed to control the
superstructure. Lenin had also used the Cheka to deal with opposition and
destabilised central control of the economy.
Although Stalin's motives are unclear, it is evident that his version of absolute rule was taken
to a new level. The result was wide scale terror.
Central administration
Stalin wished to continue with democratic centralism, since this was essential to the
implementation of his economic policies and to dealing with internal enemies. Additionally,
Stalin introduced a new constitution in 1936, which built on the earlier constitutions of 1918
and 1924, but also suggested that there would be more freedom for the peoples of the
USSR. Note that the Constitution of 1918 created by RSFSR and that of 1924 the USSR.
, The Supreme Soviet met twice a year. Delegates were given the opportunity to find out
about government policies, debate their implications and give them a stamp of approval.
Additionally, republics were given the right to administer their own education systems and
the power to break away from the Soviet Union.
The role of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU):
Even so, the Communist Party still dominated the Union and Republican governments.
Dissent from the party line was never tolerated, and the new constitution was similar to that
which had been in existence since 1918. This was made clear in Article 126 of the Stalin
Constitution, which stated that the party was the ‘nucleus of all the public and state
organisations of the working people.
The structure of the USSR post 1936
The Supreme Soviet of the USSR: This elected the Council of People's Commissars
(Sovnarkom) headed by a Presidium and was given sole power to make laws for the whole
of the Union. It was divided into two houses, partly to give the impression that a genuine
federal form of government had been created.
The first of which was the Soviet Union.
● Members were to be elected by electoral districts. 1 member per 30,000 people.
● Elections were to take place every four years.
● The Soviets of the Union therefore contained representatives of the peoples of the
whole of the USSR.
The second of which was the Soviets of Nationalities which consisted of:
● 25 members per union Republic.
● 11 members per autonomous Republic.
● 5 members per autonomous region.
● 1 member per national area.
● These regional categories simply reflected the different importance given to particular
national groups.
Further additions to the USSR
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova were joined to the USSR from 1939 to 1940.
Methods of repression and enforcement
To combat opposition to Stalin's personal dictatorship, the NKVD (the People's Commissariat
for Internal Affairs) was formed in 1934. Headed by Yagoda, (later Yezhov), the NKVD
created a permanent form of terror. It was crucial to the imposition of purges , and was
