18: political, economic and social condition USSR by 1941 Flashcards
How can Stalin’s state be described by 1941
Highly centralised and authoritarian
How can some of the foundations of Stalin’s state by 1941 be seen in the Leninist years
- Lenin always favoured single party rule
- fought against coalition gov 1917 and forced closure of constituent assembly
What did Marxist doctrine speak of the state doing
Withering away
How did Stalin go further than Lenin in upholding the state
Extended one oarty domination and redefined centralisation
Examples of democratic structures that Stalin’s 1936 constitution included
Universal suffrage
What was made clear that reinforced Stalin’s intent to preserve the one party state
It was made clear that the communist oarty and its institutions were the only bodies that could put candidates up for election
What did the structure of government still provide for
Parallel appointments in both government and party hierarchy
What was the nomenklatura system of propellers used to do
Reward loyal officials
What effect did the nomenklatura system of price levels have
Concentrated decision making into a much smaller number of hands
Where was the ultimate source of all authority concentrated in the hands of
Stalin
What policy meant that all power emanated from Stalin himself
Centralisation
What did Stalin add to his own mystique by doing
Restricting those who he had direct access with
What has it been suggested that the Soviet Union changed from
A one party state with a powerful leader to a personal dictatorship
Who did Stalin attack within the communist oarty
Those who he saw as potential enemies and rivals
What evidence is there that Stalin could not exert perfect control
Rural hostility and the welcome which some soviet citizens gave to the invading Germans in 1941
