Stalin’s Rise and Totalitarian Rule in the USSR
The Rise of Stalin
With Lenin’s death in 1924, a period of internal power struggles began within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). Stalin eventually prevailed, establishing a personal dictatorship through intense propaganda and terror.
Power Consolidation
Initially, a small group of leaders exercised party control, but conflicts persisted among them, including differing viewpoints from Stalin. Gradually, Stalin, appointed General Secretary of the CPSU in 1922, consolidated his power. He advocated for “Socialism in One Country,” concentrating efforts on strengthening the revolution within the USSR. Consequently, the Third International became a tool for Soviet interests.
Stalin’s Totalitarian Dictatorship
By 1929, Stalin monopolized all powers, establishing a personal dictatorship enforced through three primary means:
- Cult of Personality: Propaganda extolled Stalin as a great benefactor and father of the people. Any positive portrayal of his enemies was eliminated, and historical narratives were distorted.
- Reinforcement of the Communist Party: Participation in political life through the Soviets required CPSU membership, with imposed candidates. The Soviets ceased to be free and popular assemblies.
- The Terror: The NKVD, with the collaboration of much of the population, silenced any opposition within the party and society, creating an atmosphere of suspicion and accusation.
The most intense purges occurred between 1933 and 1939, marked by the Moscow Trials, which condemned former party leaders. Thousands were sent to Gulags, concentration camps mostly in Siberia, enduring inhumane conditions and forced labor. Stalin also controlled culture, with the CPSU dictating art forms to serve communist ideals and propaganda. Avant-garde artists were persecuted as counter-revolutionaries, and Socialist Realism became the official artistic style, extolling the revolution and its leaders.
A Planned Economy
From 1927, Stalin promoted a state-planned economy, overseen by the Gosplan. Five-year plans set economic goals and resource allocation. These plans aimed to modernize the Soviet Union, achieve industrial development, and ensure agricultural and military self-sufficiency. All economic activity was state-controlled, eliminating private property.
Agricultural Collectivization
The first five-year plan established agricultural collectivization. Landowners were forced to relinquish their plots to collectives. Kulaks, wealthy peasants who prospered under the New Economic Policy (NEP), resisted and faced harsh repression. This terror led to declining agricultural productivity and widespread famine. Collectivization was organized through collective farms (cooperative) and state farms (wage labor), both emphasizing mechanization and advanced techniques.
Industrial Development
Stalinist economic policy prioritized heavy industry and energy production. Coal, oil, and electricity output doubled. Propaganda encouraged productivity, including working on rest days and maximizing individual performance. The first three five-year plans yielded impressive results, transforming the USSR into an industrial power. However, this created imbalances, overemphasizing capital goods production and neglecting consumer goods, resulting in a low standard of living.