Communist government in the USSR: Lenin

Question 1

What was and what did Sovnarkom control?

Answer 1

• A cabinet of top government ministers that ultimately came from the All-Russian Congress of Soviets
• Trade unions, Soviets and factory committees
• Controlled by the Communist party and its interests

Question 2

What was the structure of the Communist party?

Answer 2

• Politburo was a group of 7-9 members at the top of all power in Russia, members included Stalin, Lenin and Trotsky
• Underneath the Politburo was the Central committee elected by the party congress, however had limited power after 1919 as the Politburo took over
• Underneath this was the party congress made up of local party representatives who met often in the time of Lenin and debated issues - however influenced waned as the Politburo became more dominant
• The party controlled the state while the Sovnarkom and those below it were effectively administrators and puppets to present an air of democracy
• Secret police directly answered to the Politburo instead of the Sovnarkom for instance

Question 3

What was democratic centralism?

Answer 3

• The idea in Russia that every soviet and non-party element of government answered to and was controlled by the party or a representative

Question 4

What was the Civil war’s affect on government?

Answer 4

• Power was given to the Sovnarkom who could make quick decisions, however the Sovnarkom was controlled by the party
• This quickly centralised power into the hands of the party, and then the Politburo

Question 5

What was the personal power of Lenin?

Answer 5

• Chairman of the Sovnarkom
• Politburo member
• Highly respected as an intellectual and leading communist, many looked up to him and classified him as the leader

Question 6

How was Lenin not a dictator?

Answer 6

• Preferred discussing issues among the Politburo instead of just ruling by himself, despite having the power to do so
• Local representatives in far away provinces from Moscow still exercised their own will
• Throughout such instances as the Civil war many were favourable to greater intervention and direction from above, so centralisation could be seen as a positive thing whereas a dictator is usually negative
• From 1922 onward Lenin was less active within the party and decision making due to his own declining personal health

Question 7

What was the Nomenklatura system?

Answer 7

• By 1924 party membership had increased to around a million, many being communists and many just wanting to further their own political careers
• Nomenklatura system was a list that displayed suitability to higher up roles for members in the party, and position on the list depended heavily on loyalties, corruption and favour
• Controlled by the General Secretary (Stalin)
• This system could be displayed as distracting heavily from the interests of the proletariat and prioritising personal gain
• Assured centralisation of power and loyalty to the party

Question 8

How and when was the USSR created?

Answer 8

• Established in 1922 when the Red army began to move into old territories of the Russian Empire and implementing the communist government and system of centralisation into these regions
• Now had control over 4 states including Russia
• In theory was a Federal state, however the central party structure was applied to all governments
• Russia dominated as it held 90% of land area, 72% of population and almost 75% representation within the Communist party

Question 9

How was Cheka formed and used?

Answer 9

• Cheka was made in 1917 to deal with counter-revolution, sabotage and speculation while operating outside the law
• Carried out the executions of over 200,000 people, planned arrests and tortured people
• Responsible for the Red terror and centralised control for the party further

Question 10

What was the OGPU and how was it used?

Answer 10

• Replaced the Cheka in 1922 after the civil war and made the terror implemented more bureaucratic and discreet, while focusing less on outward issues but on party dissent
• Purges carried out in 1918 and in the early 1920s known as Chistka (cleaning) where members had their party memberships and privileges revoked. This happened to around a third of the party under Lenin

Question 11

Why was terror used?

Answer 11

• Bolsheviks were a minority party who had to establish centralisation and authority through intimidation, discipline and order
• Directed at drunkards, hooligans and anyone who didn’t match the perfect communist ideal
• Continued use of terror after the civil war indicates a lack of confidence by the party, and at the end of his life Lenin abused his power in terror to kill many priests and people against his personal agenda