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Modern History

Home > Modern History > National Studies > G Russia and the Soviet Union 1917-1941 > Concept

 

Outcomes:

• Explains forces and ideas and assesses their significance in contributing to change and continuity during the twentieth century (H2.1)
• Uses historical terms and concepts appropriately (H4.1)

Contents

• Revolution
• Counter revolution
• Changes in society
• Role of the party and state
• Stalinism and totalitarianism
• Ideology in theory and practice
• Collectivisation

Revolution

There are two connected meanings of the word 'revolution'. The first refers to the violent overthrow of a government and its replacement by another government. The second concerns the relatively sudden and radical change to remove major sources of discontent.

Counter revolution

This occurs when followers of the old government attempt to overthrow the revolutionary government and restore the old order. A counter revolution may be very violent since the counter revolution threatens the survival of the revolution. The Communists in Russia resorted to Terror as a weapon against their enemies. Counter revolutionaries may also come from the ranks of the revolutionaries by people hoping to take advantage of a chaotic situation. Later in the history of the Soviet Union, the term 'counter revolutionary' was applied to anyone who was a potential internal enemy.

Changes in society

This refers to a series of developments which follow industrialisation and mechanisation; such changes are sometimes referred to as 'modernisation'. These changes include the loosening of the boundaries between social classes to allow more mobility, an increase in social mobility, together with a growth in education, social services and a widening of the franchise.

Role of the party and state

The party refers to the Bolshevik Party which increasingly ruled through its Central Executive Committee. Technically, the main government was the All-Russian Congress of Soviets and various associated institutions. The state functions were to control the economy and the armed forces. However, its bureaucrats were increasingly, but not always, members of the party. Those who held key positions in government, the economy, universities, newspapers, the police and the army were known as the nomenklatura. Such people were among the strongest supporters of the Stalinist system.

Stalinism and totalitarianism

Essentially the meaning of the word 'totalitarianism' is in the word itself. A totalitarian political system is one which seeks total control over the society and its people, especially over the way people think and feel. Key factors in this are the development of modern technology, especially mass communications and transport. There is a strong secret police to enforce, through fear, the wishes of the leaders.

Ideology in theory and practice

This issue relates to the theoretical basis of Marxism-Leninism and considers the extent to which reality matched the theories. The Bolsheviks attempted to achieve Utopian social, political and economic goals in a period of low level political support and in a country with undeveloped social and economic institutions. Inevitably the Party found it almost impossible to stick to the theory.

Collectivisation

A long-held communist theory relied on the generation of agricultural wealth to provide the money to finance all the other desirable social and economic improvements sought by the Bolsheviks, especially to fund the modernisation of industry. To ensure that all food supplies were accessible to the government, the decision was taken to end private ownership of farms and join farms together in large collective units. This policy met with large-scale opposition, as well as huge famines, but was essentially completed by 1938. Later assessments have described the plan as a humanitarian and economic disaster.