Totalitarianism Case Study: Stalinist Russia PDF

Page 1 of 6 2 Totalitarianism CASE STUDY: Stalinist Russia MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW...

Page 1 of 6 2 Totalitarianism CASE STUDY: Stalinist Russia MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES POWER AND AUTHORITY After More recent dictators have used totalitarianism Five-Year Plan Lenin died, Stalin seized power Stalin’s tactics for seizing total Great Purge collective farm and transformed the Soviet control over individuals and the command Union into a totalitarian state. state. economy SETTING THE STAGE Stalin, Lenin’s successor, dramatically transformed the government of the Soviet Union. Stalin was determined that the Soviet Union should find its place both politically and economically among the most powerful of nations in the world. Using tactics designed to rid himself of opposition, Stalin worked to establish total control of all aspects of life in the Soviet Union. He con- trolled not only the government, but also the economy and many aspects of citi- zens’ private lives. TAKING NOTES A Government of Total Control Categorizing Create a chart listing examples of The term totalitarianism describes a government that takes total, centralized, methods of control used state control over every aspect of public and private life. Totalitarian leaders in the Soviet Union. appear to provide a sense of security and to give a direction for the future. In the 20th century, the widespread use of mass communication made it possible to Methods Example reach into all aspects of citizens’ lives. of control A dynamic leader who can build support for his policies and justify his 1. actions heads most totalitarian governments. Often the leader utilizes secret 2. 3. police to crush opposition and create a sense of fear among the people. No one 4. is exempt from suspicion or accusations that he or she is an enemy of the state. Totalitarianism challenges the highest values prized by Western democra- cies—reason, freedom, human dignity, and the worth of the individual. As the chart on the next page shows, all totalitarian states share basic characteristics. To dominate an entire nation, totalitarian leaders devised methods of control and persuasion. These included the use of terror, indoctrination, propaganda, censorship, and religious or ethnic persecution. Police Terror Dictators of totalitarian states use terror and violence to force obe- dience and to crush opposition. Normally, the police are expected to respond to criminal activity and protect the citizens. In a totalitarian state, the police serve to enforce the central government’s policies. They may do this by spying on the citizens or by intimidating them. Sometimes they use brutal force and even mur- der to achieve their goals. Indoctrination Totalitarian states rely on indoctrination—instruction in the gov- ernment’s beliefs—to mold people’s minds. Control of education is absolutely essential to glorify the leader and his policies and to convince all citizens that their 874 Chapter 30  Page 2 of 6 Totalitarianism Totalitarian leaders in the 20th century Totalitarianism is a form of government in which the national government takes control of all aspects of both public and private life. Thus, totalitarianism Adolf Hitler (Germany) 1933–1945 seeks to erase the line between government and society. It has an ideology, or set of beliefs, that all citizens are expected to approve. It is often led by a Benito Mussolini (Italy) 1925–1943 dynamic leader and a single political party. Mass communication technology helps a totalitarian government spread its Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union) 1929–1953 aims and support its policies. Also, surveillance technology makes it possible to keep track of the activities of many people. Finally, violence, such as police Kim IL Sung (North Korea) 1948–1994 terror, discourages those who disagree with the goals of the government. Saddam Hussein (Iraq) 1979–2003 Key Traits of Totalitarianism State Terror The two most infamous State Control examples of state terror in Ideology of Individuals the 20th century were in sets goals of the state demands loyalty Nazi Germany and Stalinist denies basic liberties Russia. glorifies aims of the state justifies government expects personal An estimated12.5–20 actions sacrifice for the good million people were killed of the state in Nazi Germany. Methods of Dynamic Leader unites people Enforcement An estimated 8–20 million police terror people were killed in symbolizes government indoctrination Stalinist Russia. encourages popular support censorship through force of will TOTALITARIANISM Totalitarianism Today persecution There are many authoritarian regimes in the Dictatorship and world, but there are very Modern Technology One-Party Rule few actual totalitarian mass communication to exercises absolute spread propaganda governments. In 2000, one authority State Control of Society advanced military monitoring agency dominates the weapons business religion identified five totalitarian government labor the arts regimes—Afghanistan, Cuba, housing personal life North Korea, Laos, and education youth groups Vietnam. Fear of Totalitarianism George Orwell illustrated the horrors of a totalitarian government in his novel, 1984. The novel depicts a world in which personal freedom and privacy have vanished. It is a world made possible through modern technology. Even citizens’ homes have television cameras that 1. Synthesizing How does a totalitarian state attempt to make citizens obey constantly survey their behavior. its rules? See Skillbuilder Handbook, page R21. 2. Hypothesizing How would your life RESEARCH LINKS For more on totalitarianism, go to classzone.com change if you lived in a totalitarian state? 875 875  Page 3 of 6 unconditional loyalty and support are required. Indoctrination begins with very young children, is encouraged by youth groups, and is strongly enforced by schools. Propaganda and Censorship Totalitarian states spread propaganda, biased or incom- plete information used to sway people to accept certain beliefs or actions. Control of all mass media allows this to happen. No publication, film, art, or music is allowed to exist without the permission of the state. Citizens are surrounded with false informa- tion that appears to be true. Suggesting that the information is incorrect is considered an act of treason and severely punished. Individuals who dissent must retract their work or they are imprisoned or killed. ▲ Members of a Religious or Ethnic Persecution Totali- Evaluating Russian youth tarian leaders often create “enemies of the state” to blame for things that go wrong. Courses of Action group called Young Frequently these enemies are members of religious or ethnic groups. Often these Of the weapons Communists line of totalitarianism, groups are easily identified and are subjected to campaigns of terror and violence. which allows the up for a parade. They may be forced to live in certain areas or are subjected to rules that apply only most long-term Notice the picture of Stalin in the to them. control? background. CASE STUDY: Stalinist Russia Stalin Builds a Totalitarian State Stalin aimed to create a perfect Communist state in Russia. To realize his vision, Stalin planned to transform the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state. He began building his totalitarian state by destroying his enemies—real and imagined. Police State Stalin built a police state to maintain his power. Stalin’s secret police used tanks and armored cars to stop riots. They monitored telephone lines, read mail, and planted informers everywhere. Even children told authorities about dis- loyal remarks they heard at home. Every family came to fear the knock on the door in the early morning hours, which usually meant the arrest of a family member. The secret police arrested and executed millions of so-called traitors. In 1934, Stalin turned against members of the Communist Party. In 1937, he launched the Great Purge, a campaign of terror directed at eliminating anyone who threatened his power. Thousands of old Bolsheviks who helped stage the Revolution in 1917 stood trial. They were executed or sent to labor camps for “crimes against the Soviet state.” When the Great Purge ended in 1938, Stalin had gained total con- Recognizing trol of the Soviet government and the Communist Party. Historians estimate that Effects during this time he was responsible for 8 million to 13 million deaths. How would the actions of the Great Russian Propaganda and Censorship Stalin’s government controlled all news- Purge increase papers, motion pictures, radio, and other sources of information. Many Soviet writ- Stalin’s power? ers, composers, and other artists also fell victim to official censorship. Stalin would not tolerate individual creativity that did not conform to the views of the state. Soviet newspapers and radio broadcasts glorified the achievements of commu- nism, Stalin, and his economic programs. Under Stalin, the arts also were used for propaganda. In 1930, an editorial in the Communist Party newspaper Pravda explained the purpose of art: “Literature, the 876 Chapter 30  Page 4 of 6 cinema, the arts are levers in the hands of the proletariat which must be used to show the masses positive models of initiative and heroic labor.” Education and Indoctrination Under Stalin, the govern- ment controlled all education from nursery schools through the universities. Schoolchildren learned the virtues of the Communist Party. College professors and students who questioned the Communist Party’s interpretations of history or science risked losing their jobs or faced imprisonment. Party leaders in the Soviet Union lectured workers and peas- ants on the ideals of communism. They also stressed the importance of sacrifice and hard work to build the Joseph Stalin Communist state. State-supported youth groups trained 1879–1953 future party members. Stalin was born in bitter poverty in Religious Persecution Communists aimed to replace reli- Georgia, a region in southern Russia. gious teachings with the ideals of communism. Under Unlike the well-educated and cultured Lenin, Stalin was rough and crude. Vocabulary Stalin, the government and the League of the Militant Stalin tried to create a myth that he atheists: people Godless, an officially sponsored group of atheists, spread was the country’s father and savior. who do not think propaganda attacking religion. “Museums of atheism” dis- Stalin glorified himself as the symbol there is a god played exhibits to show that religious beliefs were mere of the nation. He encouraged people superstitions. Yet many people in the Soviet Union still to think of him as “The Greatest clung to their faiths. Genius of All Times and Peoples.” Many towns, factories, and streets The Russian Orthodox Church was the main target of in the Soviet Union were named for persecution. Other religious groups also suffered greatly. Stalin. A new metal was called The police destroyed magnificent churches and syna- Stalinite. An orchid was named gogues, and many religious leaders were killed or sent to Stalinchid. Children standing before labor camps. their desks every morning said, “Thank Comrade Stalin for this happy life.” Achieving the perfect Communist state came at a tremendous cost to Soviet citizens. Stalin’s total control of society eliminated personal rights and freedoms in favor of INTERNET ACTIVITY Create a Web page the power of the state. on Joseph Stalin. Include pictures and a time line of his rule in the USSR. Go to Stalin Seizes Control of classzone.com for your research. the Economy As Stalin began to gain complete control of society, he was setting plans in motion to overhaul the economy. He announced, “We are fifty or a hundred years behind the advanced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years.” In 1928 Stalin’s plans called for a command economy, a system in which the government made all economic decisions. Under this system, political leaders identify the country’s economic needs and determine how to fulfill them. An Industrial Revolution Stalin outlined the first of several Five-Year Plans for the development of the Soviet Union’s economy. The Five-Year Plans set impossi- bly high quotas, or numerical goals, to increase the output of steel, coal, oil, and electricity. To reach these targets, the government limited production of consumer goods. As a result, people faced severe shortages of housing, food, clothing, and other necessary goods. Stalin’s tough methods produced impressive economic results. Although most of the targets of the first Five-Year Plan fell short, the Soviets made substantial gains. (See the graphs on page 878 for coal and steel production.) A second plan, launched in 1933, proved equally successful. From 1928 to 1937, industrial pro- duction of steel increased more than 25 percent. CASE STUDY 877  Page 5 of 6 An Agricultural Revolution In 1928, the government began to seize over 25 mil- lion privately owned farms in the USSR. It combined them into large, government- owned farms, called collective farms. Hundreds of families worked on these farms, called collectives, producing food for the state. The government expected that the modern machinery on the collective farms would boost food production and reduce the number of workers. Resistance was especially strong among kulaks, a class of wealthy peasants. The Soviet government decided to eliminate them. Peasants actively fought the government’s attempt to take their land. Many killed livestock and destroyed crops in protest. Soviet secret police herded peasants onto collective farms at the point of a bayonet. Between 5 million and 10 million peas- ants died as a direct result of Stalin’s agricultural revolution. By 1938, more than 90 percent of all peasants lived on collective farms. As you see in the charts below, agricultural production was on the upswing. That year the country produced almost Clarifying twice the wheat than it had in 1928 before collective farming. What methods In areas where farming was more difficult, the government set up state farms. did Stalin use to bring agriculture These state farms operated like factories. The workers received wages instead of a under state control? share of the profits. These farms were much larger than collectives and mostly produced wheat. Daily Life Under Stalin Stalin’s totalitarian rule revolutionized Soviet society. Women’s roles greatly expanded. People became better educated and mastered new technical skills. The dramatic changes in people’s lives, came at great cost. Soviet citizens found their personal freedoms limited, consumer goods in short supply, and dissent prohibited. Stalin’s economic plans created a high demand for many skilled workers. University and technical training became the key to a better life. As one young man explained, “If a person does not want to become a collective farmer or just a clean- ing woman, the only means you have to get something is through education.” Women Gain Rights The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 declared men and women equal. Laws were passed to grant women equal rights. After Stalin became dictator, women helped the state-controlled economy prosper. Under his Five-Year The Buildup of the Soviet Economy, 1928–1938 Industry Agriculture 250 50 150 Metric Tons (in thousands) Coal Metric Tons (in millions) Livestock (in millions) Production 40 Wheat 30 Livestock 20 Steel Production 50 10 1928 1933 1938 1928 1933 1938 1928 1933 1938 1st Five-Year 2nd Five-Year 1st Five-Year 2nd Five-Year 1st Five-Year 2nd Five-Year Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan Plan Source: European Historical Statistics SKILLBUILDER: Interpreting Graphs 1. Clarifying How many more metric tons of coal were produced in 1938 than in 1928? 2. Drawing Conclusions What do the graphs show about the contrast between the progress of industry and agriculture production under Stalin’s first Five-Year Plan? 878 Chapter 30  Page 6 of 6 Plans, they had no choice but to join the labor force. The state provided child care for all working mothers. Some young women performed the same jobs as men. Millions of women worked in factories and in construction. However, men continued to hold the best jobs. Given new educational opportunities, women prepared for careers in engineering and science. Medicine, in partic- ular, attracted many women. By 1950, they made up 75 per- cent of Soviet doctors. Soviet women paid a heavy price for their rising status in Summarizing society. Besides having full-time jobs, they were responsi- How did daily ble for housework and child care. Motherhood is considered life under Stalin’s Ukrainian Kulaks rule change the a patriotic duty in totalitarian regimes. Soviet women were The kulaks in Ukraine (shown above) lives of women in expected to provide the state with future generations of fiercely resisted collectivization. They the Soviet Union? loyal, obedient citizens. murdered officials, torched the property of the collectives, and Total Control Achieved burned their own crops and grain in protest. By the mid-1930s, Stalin had forcibly transformed the Recognizing the threat kulaks posed Soviet Union into a totalitarian regime and an industrial and to his policies, Stalin declared that political power. He stood unopposed as dictator and main- they should “liquidate kulaks as a tained his authority over the Communist Party. Stalin would class.” The state took control of kulak not tolerate individual creativity. He saw it as a threat to the land and equipment, and confiscated stores of food and grain. More than 3 conformity and obedience required of citizens in a totalitar- million Ukrainians were shot, exiled, ian state. He ushered in a period of total social control and or imprisoned. Some 6 million people rule by terror, rather than constitutional government. died in the government-engineered Like Russia, China would fall under the influence of Karl famine that resulted from the Marx’s theories and Communist beliefs. The dynamic destruction of crops and animals. By leader Mao Zedong would pave the way for transforming 1935, the kulaks had been eliminated. China into a totalitarian Communist state, as you will read in Section 3. SECTION 2 ASSESSMENT TERMS & NAMES 1. For each term or name, write a sentence explaining its significance. totalitarianism Great Purge command economy Five-Year Plans collective farm USING YOUR NOTES MAIN IDEAS CRITICAL THINKING & WRITING 2. Which of the methods of 3. What are the key traits of a 6. CONTRASTING How do totalitarian states and control do you think was most totalitarian state? constitutional governments differ? influential in maintaining 4. What are some ways 7. SUMMARIZING Summarize Joseph Stalin’s rise to power Stalin’s power? Why? totalitarian rulers keep their and how his control expanded. power? 8. EVALUATING COURSES OF ACTION Were the Five-Year Methods Example of control 5. How did the Soviet economy plans the best way to move the Soviet economy forward? 1. change under the direction of Explain. 2. Stalin? 9. WRITING ACTIVITY POWER AND AUTHORITY As an industrial 3. worker, a female doctor, a Russian Orthodox priest, or a 4. Communist Party member, write a journal entry about your life under Stalin. CONNECT TO TODAY Graphing Russia’s Economy Research Russia’s industrial and agricultural production in the last 10 years. Create a series of graphs similar to those found on page 878. CASE STUDY 879