STALINISM AND THE SOVIET UNION Unit 7 Interwar

STALINISM AND THE SOVIET UNION Unit 7: Interwar Period

WHAT IS COMMUNISM? Communism: The end goal of human existence as described by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. A classless, stateless, moneyless society where the means of production are held by all and production is done on the basis of human need rather than profit. Can only be reached after a revolution led by the proletariat. Socialism: The transitional stage between capitalism and communism. This is the period of time when the proletariat have overthrown the bourgeoisie and begin the steps needed to end class-based society.

MAJOR PLAYERS IN COMMUNISM? Proletariat = Working class / lower classes of society Bourgeoisie = Upper classes / the ones who gain wealth off the proletariat

RUSSIA TO USSR After Vladimir Lenin’s successful revolution in 1917, he established his government: the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR One political party = Communist Party Lenin called the USSR communist Lenin’s theory differed from Marx; called Leninism Lenin suffers a series of strokes and dies in 1924 Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin compete for power

WHAT IS COMMUNISM? Communism: The end goal of human existence as described by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. A classless, stateless, moneyless society where the means of production are held by all and production is done on the basis of human need rather than profit. Can only be reached after a revolution led by the proletariat. Socialism: The transitional stage between capitalism and communism. This is the period of time when the proletariat have overthrown the bourgeoisie through a violent revolution and begin the steps needed to end class-based society. Leninism: Communism cannot be attained through a proletariat revolution. Instead, a group of intellectual elite (vanguard) will start the revolution on the proletariat’s behalf. The vanguard will then manage the socialist period until communism is achieved.

“Comrade Stalin, having become Secretary-General, has unlimited authority concentrated in his hands, and I am not sure whether he will always be capable of using that authority with sufficient caution. Comrade Trotsky, on the other hand, as his struggle against the C. C. on the question of the People's Commissariat of Communications has already proved, is distinguished not only by outstanding ability. He is personally perhaps the most capable man in the present C. C. , but he has displayed excessive self-assurance and shown excessive preoccupation with the purely administrative side of the work. These two qualities of the two outstanding leaders of the present C. C. can inadvertently lead to a split, and if our Party does not take steps to avert this, the split may come unexpectedly. ” • What does Lenin think of Stalin? • What does Lenin think of Trotsky? • Who do you think Lenin likes better?

“Stalin is too crude, and this defect which is entirely acceptable in our milieu and in relationships among us as communists, becomes unacceptable in the position of General Secretary. I therefore propose to comrades that they should devise a means of removing him from this job and should appoint to this job someone else who is distinguished from comrade Stalin in all other respects only by the single superior aspect that he should be more tolerant, more polite and more attentive towards comrades, less capricious, etc. ” • What does Lenin want to happen in regards to Stalin? • Why?

HOW DID STALIN TAKE POWER? Stalin made a secret anti-Trotsky alliance with other prominent Party members Also made friends with secret police Once Trotsky lost favor, Stalin turned on his allies Trotsky and many former allies exiled With no more opposition, Stalin becomes totalitarian dictator Head of both USSR and Communist Party (1924 -1953)

STALIN’S EARLY POLICIES 5 -Year Plans Industrialize USSR quickly Many left farms for factories, created food shortage Collectivization: private farms eliminated; farmland instead owned by USSR Goal was to fix food shortage; unsuccessful 10 million die in famine

STALIN’S MASS TERROR Great Purge: People who stood in Stalin’s way or opposed him were sent to gulags, executed, or exiled Gulag- forced labor camps 1936 -1938 ~8, 000 people never seen again

STALIN’S MASS TERROR Targets: Members of Lenin’s government What do you think Intelligentsia (writers, poets, philosophers)are the short/long Ethnic groups term effects of Wealthy elites Stalin’s Great Purge? Wealthy farmers Military officers Etc. etc.

STALIN’S MASS TERROR Holodomor: A man-made famine in Ukraine between 1932 -1933 ~7, 000 died of starvation USSR rejected foreign aid, confiscated food, restricted movement Soviet authorities banned discussion of the famine; covered up involvement Still debate over how to classify it: genocide or not?

STALINISM Stalinism: Under Stalin, the state controlled production and appointed managers. The goal was to eventually transition into socialism, but Stalin instead ruled as totalitarian dictator. Emphasized increased industrial production and a form of communism that could be built within Soviet territory despite being surrounded by capitalist societies.

Create a Venn diagram like what is pictured here. Compare and contrast Stalinism, Leninism, and communism as defined by Marx. Use your notes and knowledge from the lecture. Stalinism: [definition] Stalinism Write the definitions for each of these outside the diagram. Communi sm (Marx) Communism: [definition] Leninism: [definition]