3.1: how did USSR exercise control over media, propaganda and religion

Question 1

state control of mass media and propaganda - newspapers

Answer 1

• Lenin moved quick to stamp out any freedom
• November 1917- banned all non-socialist newspapers
• printing press nationalised
• all journalists worked for the gov
• Pravada = truth
• Izvestiya = news
• used as propaganda
• cheap to buy to ensure high readership
• endless details of achievements of socialism- fake production figures
• some topics were prohibited to talk about

Question 2

state control of mass media and propaganda- magazines

Answer 2

• aimed at specific groups of workers like farmers or teachers, young children, sports teams
• crime and religion were not encouraged.

Question 3

state control of mass media and propaganda- radio

Answer 3

• easy for the Bolsheviks to influence
• featured propaganda material
• allowed the message to be put across on 65%.
• allowed info to be spread quickly.

Question 4

state control of mass media and propaganda- television

Answer 4

• By 80’s most of the rural population had access to television,
• mix of things shown to show the benefits of socialism

Question 5

results of state control of mass media and propaganda

Answer 5

• censorship heavily used.
• able to distract realities of socialism

Question 6

why were personality cults used?

Answer 6

• reinforce power of individual and their status

Question 7

personality cults of stalin

Answer 7

• used to highlight links between him and Lenin
• slogans of Stalin is the new Lenin were a regular occurrence
• images to reinforce his power and status were used- portraying hum as a hero, defender of Russia
• gathered titles and honours
• had statues
• differed from the real Stalin
• towns renamed after him

Question 8

cult of khrushchev

Answer 8

-used to criticise Stalin
- able to push forward his policies more
- allowed him to be seen as the better leader than Malenkov

Question 9

cult of Brezhnev

Answer 9

• less a method of securring power and more a substitute for real power
• gave him symbols of power without having to excersise it
• took a practical element when his health deteriorated

Question 10

what were the advantages of the cult of the party

Answer 10

• political interests of the leader
• for party- helpful to have a focusfor unity and loyalty
• provided human face for socialism

Question 11

attacks on religious belief and practices- The Russian Orthadox church

Answer 11

• threat to socialism with its power
  to limit its power the Bolshevik’s:
• seperated church from state in 1918 so they lost all influence
• churches were destroyedand gov closed all monateries by end of 1918
• attacks on churches during famine
• propaganda campaigns against religion
• religious rituals were attacked

Question 12

attacks on religious beliefs and practices- Khrushchev’s anti-religious campaign

Answer 12

• he was anti-religious
• church placed under control of gov
• within 4 years, 10,000 of the existing churches were closed
• priests harassed

Question 13

attacks on religious belief and practices- changes to religious policy under Stalin

Answer 13

• religious repression
• many attacks on them followed during great purge
• slight ease as long as church supported war effort

Question 14

attacks on religious beliefs and practices- brezhnevs policies towards the church

Answer 14

• active persecution declined
• monitored religious happenings.

Question 15

attacks on religious beliefs and practices- the influence of islam

Answer 15

• most mosques were closed down
• sharia courts were [phased out
• ramadam was condemned

Question 16

attacks on religious beliefs and practices- what were the results of the religious policy

Answer 16

significantly reduced numbers of those who engaed in worship