Government propaganda and the beginning of the Stalinist cult Flashcards
Stalin's attitude to foreign powers: China; Germany and the Treaty of Berlin; changes in the Comintern
what was Stalin’s style of government
Bureaucratic centralism - government controlled from the centre with central appointment of district and party officials
factionalism a crime - once policy/ decision made you could not oppose it
fear - officials intimidated, OGPU and labour camps
examples of propaganda for the Stalinist cult - industrialisation and collectivisation
images of happy productive workers to reinforce socialist message
FYP sold as the inspiration of the all-knowing great leader
examples of propaganda for the Stalinist cult - Socialist leader Lenin’s successor
presented Stalin alongside Lenin or Marx
slogans such as “Stalin is the Lenin of today”
Stalin’s aim for foreign affairs
keep Russia safe while concentrating on domestic affairs to build socialism in one country
why was there instability in China
GMD and CCP were communist parties in China
they was conflict and the GMD was violent and established a military dictatorship
who did Stalin support in China and why
GMD as he thought they were more likely to bring stability to more strategic areas of Russia Eastern borders
he was suspicious of the CCPs interpretation of Marxist ideology
how did Stalin respond to the instability in China
gave financial backing and military help to the GMD
accepted the GMD as a member of Comintern
effect of Stalin’s response to China
links between the CCP and the USSR became weaker
what did the treaty of Berlin do
Re-stated the importance of Rapallo for friendly relations
if either country was attacked the other would remain neutral
promise to not join any economic boycott against either country
Comintern 1924-1929
very little importance
concerned with socialism in one country not world revoltion
Comintern change 1928
6th Comintern congress Stalin put forward view that world situation was changing (great depression = capitalist crisis)
time for attack on anti-communist parties in Europe
pushed comintern to purge weak elements and prepare for return to fight to spread revolution around the world
how did control over Comintern become tighter
Stalin put his loyal men in place to run the Comintern
strict discipline imposed on communist parties in places like France, Germany and Italy
Soviet agents sent abroad to infiltrate foreign communist parties
foreign communist leader encourage to come to the USSR to sharpen ideology - actually to control them
