Chapter 16-Leninist/Stalinist society Flashcards
What did Lenin do to try and create a classless society?
There was a campaign against the ‘class’ enemies of the proletariat, who were known as the burzhui. The abolition of the class hierarchy meant that titles and privileges disappeared, making everyone citizens. Those identified as former nobility were not allowed to work and had their houses taken to be transformed into a kommunalka. a communal dwelling shared by families. Rations were allocated during the civil war based on work value, with soldiers receiving the most and the burzhui barely enough to survive on.
What was a ‘socialist man’?
The communists wanted to create a man who was publicly engaged and committed to the community. This socialist man would have a sense of social responsibility and would willingly give service to the state by working in factories or in fields. Lenin and Stalin wanted an environment where the ‘socialist man’ could flourish and where community was most important.
What happened to the Proletariat under Lenin?
Proletarianisation turned the mass of population into urban workers and this was an important step in turning Russia into a more communist state. During the civil was internal passports were issued to stop workers leaving employment and workers could be imprisoned or shot for failing to meet targets.
What happened to the Proletariat under Stalin?
Peasants were herded into collectives and more emigrated into towns. The drive for industrialisation brought a 7 day working week and longer working hours. From 1931 the introduction of wage differentials, bonuses, payment by the piece and opportunities for better housing produced a more diverse proletariat. More peasants moved to towns and more workers became managers and this increased educational opportunities for children. Stalin’s purges increased the opportunity for good jobs but living conditions were still poor and shortages were accepted as a way of life.
What propoganda was used to increase production?
The Stakhanovite movement increased socialist competition and produced a new proletariat elite. Stakhanov was a miner who extracted in less than 6 hours the amount of coal expected from a miner in 14x the length of time. He was hailed as an example and others tried to emulate his achievement.
What were the effects of Lenin’s policies on women?
In 1917 the government decreed against sex discrimination and gave women the right to own property. Divorce was made easier and less expensive, abortion was legalised and free contraception advice was given. Women were expected to work but also had to look after the household and family.
What were the effects of Stalin’s policies on women?
Stalin reverted to more traditional policies and introduced large fees to deter divorce. Adultery was criminalised and contraception was banned. Financial incentives were offered for large families as there were bonus payments for additional children. Numbers of women in work increased from 3 million in 1928 to 13 million in 1940 and there was an increase in female education.
What was education like for children under Lenin?
Lenin set up the Commissariat of the Enlightenments which provided free education at all levels. Traditional learning was combined with physical work and most schools abolished the textbook. There was quite a lot of freedom and individualism was permitted.
What was education for children like under Stalin?
There was a lot of practical work and schools became responsible for collective farms. Selection for secondary school reappeared and a rigid curriculum was used. Nationalism was promoted and military training was introduced in schools. The Stakhonovite movement was extended to teaching and if students failed to do well, they could be purged. Teachers and university lecturers were closely watched and could be arrested for failing to live up to principles. By 1941 94% of 9-49 year olds were literate.
What were Youth organisations like?
The RKSM was formed for those 14-21 and this was later renamed the Komsomol as the age range extended from 10-28 years. This taught communist values and smoking, drinking and religion were discouraged. Young Pioneer palaces were built and served as community centres for children. Not all youths were involved as some were more interested in Western Culture. There were also secret oppositional youth organisations.
What happened to Orthodox Churches?
Churchlands were seized in 1917 and private ownership of land was declared illegal. There was an official separation of the church and state and the teaching of religion in schools was forbidden. Churches became the property of those who worshipped in them and monastries became state property and were turned into hospitals, schools and prisons. Deprived of rations, hundreds of priests lost their lives and desecration during the civil war meant that bells were taken to be melted down and metal was sold. Christian festivals disappeared and religious propaganda was criminalised.
What happened to people of Muslims?
Muslims were treated leniently in the early years of the Bolshevik rule but during and after the Civil War Muslim property and institutions were abolished. The New Mosque movement took a pro-Soviet stance and this created a division as some traditionalists murdered those who obeyed Soviet injunctions.
What happened to National Minorities?
Finland opted to become an independent state and an elected rada was set up in Ukraine. Jews were given separate representation within the Communist Party and Jews were given a settlement. Stalinist policies veered towards centralisation and nationalism. Russian became compulsory to learn and Stalin began deportations of non-Russians.
What was propoganda like?
Lenin used posters, films and the arts to convert people to socialism and Stalin also used propaganda to reinforce Socialist messages and heroes. Marx, Lenin and Stalin were on pictures and posters and a cult of personality developed as Lenin was treated like a god.
What cultural change was there?
Lenin encouraged freedom of expression and there was a silver age as creativity was promoted. However, Stalin only allowed art that promoted Communism. From 1932, all writers had to belong to the Union of Soviet Writers and similar bodies were created for musicians and painters. Writers had to adhere to social realism where writers had to show the future of Russia.
