Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
The emergence of communist dictatorship 1917-1941 - Coggle Diagram
The emergence of communist dictatorship 1917-1941
Was Lenin's society socialist
Minorities
Socialist
The bolsheviks came into power with the support of ethnic minorities, However this led to separatist movements. Jews were given a separate state which was considered a special 'national homeland' anti-Semitic laws were abolished in 1917.
Peasants
Socialist
The October 1917 decree on land, Abolished private land ownership and legitimised peasant seizures on land. Kulaks were treated as enemies of the state, this brought misery to rural areas.
Not socialist
Lenin introduced food requisitioning in order to supply workers ad soldiers during war communism. The treatment was the same as it was under the Tsar
Workers
Socialist
Decrees gave workers: maximum 8 hour working days and worker control of factories. Workers controlled railways.
Not socialst
During civil war, there was tighter control over workers. Internal passports were issued, by 1921 workers could be shot if they failed to meet targets. Overall there was no socialist society for workers as they didn't get they power they should have. The civil war stopped the creation of a socialist state for workers
Nobility
Socialist
They were subjected to rough treatment. Abolition of class hierarchy, titles and privileges were removed. They had to complete menial tasks. They were also apart of the burzhui. They were targeted by the terror and many had to sell their possessions. some were imprisoned. The Class was ended Lenin ended the class which also ended the feudal system. MARXIST
Women
Socialist
Lenin helped end sexual discrimination by giving them the right to own property. Divorce was made easier and in 1920 abortion was legalised with free contraceptives. Women were given the right to work in employment and were expected to do so. They were also given equal education rights. This was socialist as it was given people more freedom. MARXIST. But it was still very limited as they were still expected to do home work.
Religion
Socialist
Church lands were seized in 1917. Many priests starved under war communism due to lack of rations, this was intentional. Church bells were melted during the civil war
Not Socialist
Lenin decided to initially tolerate a religion as he realised Bolshevik atheists were a minority. Marxism doesn't believe that religion should exist
Culture
Socialist
Although Lenin was a traditionalist, freedom of expression was encouraged as long as it was not counter revolutionary.
Middle class
Socialist
Middle class were part of the Burzhui, They were not allowed to work and forced to complete menial tasks such as road sweeping. Their houses were turned into communal dwellings for workers. Rationing was used against the middle classes they were given barely enough to survive on. This was socIalist as class warfare was a concept of marxism.
Overall
Lenin had created a society that was not fully marxist but a more equal society was formed. The middle class and upper classes were eliminated and lots of prejudice, sexual and religious, was stopped. The civil war had stopped the creation of a socialist state for groups like the workers. During NEP the middle class had grown but they still faced class warfare. The ties between state and church were separated.
Youth
Socialist
The Russian young communist league was formed in 1918 this became the youth division of the communist party. Textbook teaching was abandoned as there were not enough communist approved textbooks.
Was Stalins society Socialist
Women
Not socialist
Stalin was concerned by declining population numbers and pushed women more into a traditional role. Stalin introduced fees for divorce and adultery was criminalised. Pragmatic policy. despite Stalin's attempt it did not work.
Religion
Socialist
Religious festival days disappeared and secular days became more important. The introduction of the working week removed the opportunities to worship on Sundays. This is an example of a new society being created.
Culture
Not socialist
Writers were controlled by the Union of soviet writers. Folk culture was revived, focusing on national culture.
Socialist
Stalin believed in culture and only had value if it supported the creation of a socialist state.
Nobility
Socialist
They did not exist under stalin
Peasants
Not socialist
Ukrainian genocide (it can be argued that this was class warfare which is marxist)
Socialist
Stalin bought agriculture under state control, collectivisation was considered a way to force peasants into communism. Those who opposed collective farms were branded as kulaks and punished,
Minorities
Not socialist
Stalin because less tolerant towards ethnic groups as he wanted a single 'soviet identity'. Stalin began deportations in the 1930s to prevent nationalism and anti semitism was revived. Stalin wanted to prevent Nationalism and example of this was the Holodomor in Ukraine
Workers
Not Socialist
He bought back a 7 day week and longer hours due to 1938 and 1940 decrees. Arriving late could lead to dismissal and more town workers became managers. For the workers the conditions remain the same as under the Tsar
Middle class
Not Socialist
Middle class who were kept as managers were put under lots of pressure to meet targets.
Overall
While Stalin did eliminate the middle class. He had still not created a socialist society as he returned to lots of tsarist policies. Stalin also censored culture which is conservative. When it came to women a socialist society had occurred but that was due to Lenin and continued under Stalin. Workers were still oppressed. Stalin also bought back lots of Russification policies.
Youth
Socialist.
In 1926 Komosol was set up. Komosol taught communist values. Drinking, smoking and religion were discouraged. by 1941 there were lots of educational improvements 94% literacy aged between 9-49
Not socialist
Stalin reversed liberal education. less able students were encouraged to complete practical work, teaching was focused on industrial society and improving the economy.