This is an exam-style essay exploring the two main tactics: terror and propaganda, that were evident in Stalin's plan to establish control over the USSR. There is a conclusion, but the general question as which one is more important may be perceived in any which way.
Stalin used the purge and terror instil fear and control over his people. While the Purge
originally was aimed at Stalin’s key opponents like Kamenev and Zinoviev through show
trials which publicly humiliated those who stood against him, by focusing his terror on the
army and then civilians (most of whom were probably innocent), people became more
scared of the fait which could become them. People like teachers, miners, officers and
managers were all disappearing, which would leave questions hanging about what they
had done and perhaps making people feel uneasy if they had spent time in the presence
of the person. Yet the biggest fear from the terror came from its unpredictability. Arrests
would happen in the middle of the night and the reasons were rarely ever declared.
Torture would be carried out in the hope of gaining a confession, which if failed, the NKVD
would move on the threaten the families. Those who were not killed as a result of their
actions would have been sent to gulag camps, where they would spend years working
with little food, warmth or luxury and where rules were so strict that the slightest thing
wrong could end you up with more years to serve. Because the terror showed civilians the
consequences of stepping even a toe out of line with Stalin’s wishes, everyone who
remained alive knew that their lives thus depended on the thoughts and impulses of Stalin
- which increased the predictability, but increased the control he had over his citizen’s
actions.
In accordance with the control through violence, was the control Stalin had through
propaganda. He made sure that the censorship in the USSR was harsh and strong
against any mention of thought against him. He only wanted people to see him as a god
and a great leader - which as a result of his propaganda, a lot of people did. There were
posters and pictures of him everywhere, literature and entertainment was always aimed at
praising him and him only, and socialist realism was created as a style to praise Stalin’s
rule (often involving heroic figures like him). While the terror was abundant across the
USSR, many civilians did not see Stalin as personally connected with it, and most actually
preferred his style of government. The education system, like all else was aimed at Stalin
and Lenin’s successes, and censorship even continued through school textbooks and
classroom - controlling what the students learnt, to make them more likely to become a
supporter of Stalin, as they were growing up. The prevention of any form of media that
opposed him, stopped citizen’s from seeing the bad side of their leader and thus making
them more malleable to his own wishes, should they support him and not cause
problems. The brainwashing caused by the propaganda was powerful and an effective
way in which Stalin was able to retain control.
While both forms of control were effective, and one could not have worked without the
other - for example, without propaganda to make Stalin look heroic and saviour-like, the
terror would have opened citizens up to Stalin’s faults and mistakes, and the un-censored
media most likely attacking his actions would have further encouraged people to become
angry and agitated which their leader - it could be perceived that the terror was slightly
more effective at keeping the USSR under control. Because his actions became so
unpredictable, people knew they had to be careful and they knew that should they step
out of line, they would without a doubt suffer the consequence. Additionally, civilians
became more worried about the people around them than with Stalin - some would snitch
on neighbours or even family if they suspected anything at all - the cautiousness drew
attention away from Stalin himself. This allowed him to have control without much
response.
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