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Russia, Theme 1 - Russian Government 1855-1964 > Ideology 1855-1964 > Flashcards

Ideology 1855-1964 Flashcards

1
Q

What is autocracy?

A

Government through one individual with absolute authority.

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2
Q

What are the Three Pillars of Tsarism?

A
  • Orthodoxy
  • Autocracy
  • Nationality
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3
Q

How was autocracy justified by the Tsars?

A

It was seen as beneficial for both the Tsars and the peoples of the Russian Empire.

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4
Q

What does Orthodoxy represent in the context of Tsarism?

A

A form of Christianity that legitimised the Tsar’s authority as appointed by God.

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5
Q

What is the principle of paternalism in Tsarist autocracy?

A

The Tsar acts as a ‘little father’ making decisions for the benefit of his people.

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6
Q

What was the significance of the phrase ‘liberté, égalité, fraternité’?

A

It represented the liberal values that contrasted with Tsarism.

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7
Q

What is the concept of Russianism under the Three Pillars?

A

The idea that Russia is unique and must be promoted throughout the empire.

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8
Q

Who was Konstantin Pobedonostsev?

A

An influential tutor to the last two Tsars, advocating for autocracy.

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9
Q

What did Pobedonostsev argue about democracy?

A

He claimed democracy was a ‘biggest lie’ and would lead to mob rule.

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10
Q

What major reforms did Alexander II introduce?

A
  • Emancipation of the serfs
  • Legal reforms
  • Education reforms
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11
Q

What was the outcome of Nicholas II’s ‘Senseless Dreams Speech’?

A

He rejected democratic reform ideas in Russia.

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12
Q

What characterized the Provisional Government’s rule in 1917?

A

It introduced liberalisation policies contrasting with Tsarist autocracy.

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13
Q

What was one of the key liberal policies adopted by the Provisional Government?

A
  • Freedom of speech, association, and the press.
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14
Q

What are the key principles of Marxism?

A
  • History as class conflict
  • Anti-capitalism
  • Economic determinism
  • Superstructure
  • False class consciousness
  • Importance of revolution
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15
Q

What does ‘false class consciousness’ mean?

A

The idea that the working class is unaware of their exploitation.

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16
Q

What is meant by the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ in Marx’s theory?

A

A transitional state where the working class holds political power.

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17
Q

Fill in the blank: The ideology underpinning Tsarism was known as the _______.

A

Three Pillars

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18
Q

True or False: The Three Pillars were designed to promote change in Russia.

A

False

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19
Q

What was the Tsar’s duty according to the Orthodox Church?

A

To protect Orthodox Christians.

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20
Q

What historical events influenced the development of the Three Pillars?

A
  • French Revolution (1789)
  • American Revolution (1775)
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21
Q

What did the Provisional Government abolish?

A

The Okhrana.

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22
Q

What was the ultimate goal of Marxism according to Marx’s theory?

A

To achieve a classless society with no ownership or state.

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23
Q

What did Marx believe would inevitably lead to a class-conscious working class?

A

The overthrow of the capitalist classes

This reflects Marx’s belief in the historical progression of society through class struggle.

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24
Q

List the stages of history according to Marx’s version.

A
  • Feudalism
  • Capitalism
  • Dictatorship of the Proletariat
  • Communism
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25
Q

Who are the ruling and subordinated classes in Marxist theory?

A
  • Ruling class: bourgeoisie
  • Subordinated class: proletariat
26
Q

What is the primary belief of Marxism regarding class structure?

A

No ownership, no classes, no state – equality!

27
Q

Define Marxism-Leninism.

A

A development of Marxist theory by Lenin focusing on how to implement Marxism in practice.

28
Q

What was Lenin’s main contribution to Marxism?

A

Analysis of how to implement Marxism and achieve a revolution, specifically in Russia.

29
Q

What is the Vanguard Party in Lenin’s theory?

A

A small group of intellectuals leading the revolution and controlling the post-revolutionary state.

30
Q

True or False: Lenin believed the working class could lead a revolution on their own.

A

False

Lenin believed they needed guidance from an elite group.

31
Q

What theory did Lenin propose regarding the conditions for revolution?

A

The weakest link theory.

32
Q

In the context of Lenin’s theory, what is the weakest link?

A

A country beginning to industrialise and lacking a powerful state to protect bourgeois interests.

33
Q

What two factions emerged from the split in the Russian Communist movement in 1903?

A
  • Bolshevik (Marxist-Leninist)
  • Menshevik (Marxist)
34
Q

What was the Bolshevik perspective on future revolution?

A

Russia was ready for a revolution.

35
Q

What was the Menshevik perspective on future revolution?

A

Russia was not ready for a revolution in 1903 because the proletariat was too small.

36
Q

Fill in the blank: Lenin believed that policies enacted by a post-revolutionary government were merely a means to an _______.

A

[end].

37
Q

What was the primary ideology influencing Communist policies in Russia from 1917 to 1964?

A

Marxism-Leninism.

38
Q

What was a key continuity in the implementation of ideology during the Communist period?

A

Establishing a one-party dictatorship.

39
Q

What happened to the Constituent Assembly in January 1918?

A

It was dissolved by Lenin despite winning a significant number of votes.

40
Q

What did Lenin argue justified the creation of a one-party state?

A

Soviets represented a higher form of democracy than the Constituent Assembly.

41
Q

What economic policies did the Communist regime implement?

A
  • War Communism
  • Five Year Plans
  • Collectivisation
42
Q

What was the guiding principle of Soviet social policy?

A

The notion of equality.

43
Q

What does totalitarianism refer to in the context of Stalinism?

A

An extreme form of dictatorship emphasizing total control by one individual.

44
Q

What was the main ideological conflict after Lenin’s death?

A

Debate over achieving Communism through permanent revolution or socialism in one country.

45
Q

What is ‘Socialism in one Country’?

A

The idea that socialism could be developed within Russia alone.

46
Q

What did Stalin emphasize about the relationship between the superstructure and the base?

A

The state can shape the economy after the dictatorship of the proletariat is achieved.

47
Q

What was a significant feature of the Stalin era’s economy?

A

Command Economy.

48
Q

True or False: Stalin created a system focused on the dictatorship of the Party.

A

False

Stalin focused on the total control of one individual.

49
Q

What was Khrushchev’s Secret Speech primarily about?

A

Criticism of Stalin and a call to return to Leninist principles.

50
Q

List two main criticisms Khrushchev made of Stalin.

A
  • Cult of personality
  • Systematic violence for personal benefit
51
Q

What did Khrushchev criticize in his Secret Speech?

A

Khrushchev criticized Stalin’s abandonment of Leninist principles and established a cult of personality

He argued that Stalin perverted the Leninist vision through systematic violence for personal gain.

52
Q

What were the two main criticisms Khrushchev made of Stalin?

A
  • Creation of a cult of personality ‘alien to Leninism’
  • Establishment of systematic violence for personal benefit

These criticisms highlighted the divergence from Lenin’s original goals.

53
Q

What were some key reversals of Stalinist policies introduced during De-Stalinisation?

A
  • Release of approximately 6 million political prisoners from gulags
  • Destruction of the cult of personality, including tearing down Stalin’s statues
  • Renaming cities like Stalingrad to Volgograd

These changes aimed to distance the Soviet Union from Stalin’s legacy.

54
Q

Did Khrushchev intend to move far from Marxist-Leninist ideology?

A

No, he intended to return to Leninist principles without criticizing the core correctness of Marxism-Leninism

Khrushchev maintained essential components of the Stalinist system.

55
Q

What aspects of the Stalinist system did Khrushchev maintain?

A
  • Stalin’s economic model
  • Policies of planning and collectivisation

Despite reforms, core elements of Stalinism were preserved.

56
Q

What similarities exist between Tsarist Autocracy and Marxism-Leninist dictatorship?

A
  • Justification of rule by a small non-democratic elite
  • Use of repression to maintain control
  • Resistance to meaningful political change

Both regimes believed their systems were inherently ‘right’ and justified their actions against opposition.

57
Q

What was the fundamental difference in ideology between Tsars and Communists?

A

Tsarist ideology was one of changelessness, while Communist ideology aimed for change towards a classless society

The Tsars sought preservation, contrasting with the Communists’ socio-economic reforms.

58
Q

How did the justification for authority differ between Tsars and Communists?

A

Tsars believed in ‘top down’ authority, while Communists asserted ‘bottom up’ authority

Tsars claimed divine right, whereas Communists claimed to represent the working class and the inevitable outcome of Marxist theories.

59
Q

To what extent was there ideological continuity between 1855-1964?

A

There were more ideological continuities than changes

This suggests that despite reforms, core ideologies remained similar throughout the period.

60
Q

Fill in the blank: Khrushchev’s Secret Speech called for a return to _______.

A

[Leninist principles]

61
Q

True or False: Khrushchev completely rejected Stalin’s economic model.

A

False

He maintained Stalin’s economic model during his leadership.

Russia, Theme 1 - Russian Government 1855-1964 (2 decks)

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