Was Lenin a Totalitarian Leader?
A totalitarian state, is a where the central government of a state does not tolerate any parties
with opposing views and exercises complete dictatorial rule over all or most aspects of life.
Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, took many measures in an attempt to create a totalitarian
state, including the dissolution of Constituent Assembly, the use of decrees and the
establishment of a secret police group called the Cheka. However there were also some ways in
which he failed to achieve full totalitarianism.
The creation of the secret police and the establishment of the gulags and labour camps, are
signs that Lenin had created a successful totalitarian state, and could assert physical control
over the people.
The introduction of War Communism during the Russian Civil War, is evidence of Russian
moving towards a Totalitarian State. Many aspects of War communism were totalitarian in
nature. For instance the creation of a Supreme Economic Council, formed to take complete
control over the Russian highlights the central control over the most vital aspect of the state,
that the Bolsheviks enforced. Other measures include the requisitioning of excess grain from
the Peasants. Many of these policies were met with opposition, particularly among the
agricultural peasants. This opposition was in turn met with brutal force, which was another
example of the nature of complete state authority. War communism continued on until the end
of the Civil war, by which time the Bolshevik forces had succeeded in crushing all opposition.
The success of the red forces meant that Russia was a step closer in becoming a Totalitarian
state, as they were now the most powerful party in Russia, with complete control over all its
territory.
-Yes:
It was single-party and all other parties were banned.
There was a secret police force in the form of the Cheka who implicated terror and
repressed those against the regime.
The army were firmly in the pocket of the Bolsheviks which meant that they could
successfully implicate repressive tools in order to prevent the Bolsheviks being
overthrown.
There were great censorship rules which meant that only the Bolshevik newspapers
could be published.
There was only one state ideology which meant that it was the only ideals that were
allowed in the country and were thus promoted above any other ideas.
-No:
The state did not have full control over all economic aspects in Russia after the NEP;
there was a proportion of private businesses that existed.
Lenin was a influential leader but he was not in the same league as someone like
Stalin; he needed help to make big decisions.
Freedom of expression was not completely overridden.
A totalitarian state, is a where the central government of a state does not tolerate any parties
with opposing views and exercises complete dictatorial rule over all or most aspects of life.
Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, took many measures in an attempt to create a totalitarian
state, including the dissolution of Constituent Assembly, the use of decrees and the
establishment of a secret police group called the Cheka. However there were also some ways in
which he failed to achieve full totalitarianism.
The creation of the secret police and the establishment of the gulags and labour camps, are
signs that Lenin had created a successful totalitarian state, and could assert physical control
over the people.
The introduction of War Communism during the Russian Civil War, is evidence of Russian
moving towards a Totalitarian State. Many aspects of War communism were totalitarian in
nature. For instance the creation of a Supreme Economic Council, formed to take complete
control over the Russian highlights the central control over the most vital aspect of the state,
that the Bolsheviks enforced. Other measures include the requisitioning of excess grain from
the Peasants. Many of these policies were met with opposition, particularly among the
agricultural peasants. This opposition was in turn met with brutal force, which was another
example of the nature of complete state authority. War communism continued on until the end
of the Civil war, by which time the Bolshevik forces had succeeded in crushing all opposition.
The success of the red forces meant that Russia was a step closer in becoming a Totalitarian
state, as they were now the most powerful party in Russia, with complete control over all its
territory.
-Yes:
It was single-party and all other parties were banned.
There was a secret police force in the form of the Cheka who implicated terror and
repressed those against the regime.
The army were firmly in the pocket of the Bolsheviks which meant that they could
successfully implicate repressive tools in order to prevent the Bolsheviks being
overthrown.
There were great censorship rules which meant that only the Bolshevik newspapers
could be published.
There was only one state ideology which meant that it was the only ideals that were
allowed in the country and were thus promoted above any other ideas.
-No:
The state did not have full control over all economic aspects in Russia after the NEP;
there was a proportion of private businesses that existed.
Lenin was a influential leader but he was not in the same league as someone like
Stalin; he needed help to make big decisions.
Freedom of expression was not completely overridden.
