State Control of Mass Media and Propaganda

Question 1

4 Censorship methods under the Bolsheviks

Answer 1

Decree on Press, 1917: banned opposition newspapers
Censorship through Revolutionary Tribunal of the Press, 1918
All Russia Telegraph Agency (ROSTA) distribute news, 1918
Closed down 2000 newspapers and 575 printing presses, 1921

Question 2

Pravda

Answer 2

Pravda (truth) - daily issue with circulation of over 10m by 1985

Question 3

Partiinost

Answer 3

Pravda Stories demonstrated partiinost (party-mindedness) – show off achievements of Communism
Covered up sputnik kyshtym with stalins 5 year plan celebrations

Question 4

Pro and Con of radio

Answer 4

65% of the population illiterate

Receiving foreign broadcasts

Question 5

Radio control under bolsheviks

Answer 5

Foreign radio signals were jammed and those caught listening to the BBC were arrested
Also mass produced cheap radios with limited signal range

Question 6

TVs stats

Answer 6

10,000 TVs in USSR in 1950s
Almost 3m by 1950 – mass produced cheap TVs
By 1980s even most of the rural population had TVs
News, documentaries and cultural programmes
Depict life in Russia as joyous and prosperous

Question 7

TVs 1980

Answer 7

Pressure build for TV to be more entertaining
Under Brezhnev, introduction of light entertainment
Musicals, folk dancing and even local programming

Question 8

What was the purpose of the Cult of Personality? 4

Answer 8

Reinforce leaders’ personal authority
Stable figure in turbulent periods
Filled void left by repression of religious worship
Provide popular face of Communism

Question 9

The Emerging Cult of Stalin

Answer 9

Presented himself as Lenin’s successor and disciple
Cult focused on Stalin as the Vozhd – ‘the boss’
After 1941 Stalin presented as defender of Mother Russia
Statues erected, towns renamed and poems written in his honour

Question 10

hagiography

Answer 10

Publication of books and editing of new books to favour Stalin
History of the All-Union Communist Party (1938)
Praise Stalin’s role since 1917 and denounce others, i.e. Trotsky

Question 11

Khrushchev’s Cult

Answer 11

De-Stalinisation meant disassociating Revolution with Stalin
Khrushchev showed that his policies a continuation of Lenin’s
Popular slogan under Khrushchev was ‘Lenin Lives!’
Building his cult on success of Virgin Lands Scheme and Cuban foreign policy backfired on him when they failed!

Question 12

The Cult of Brezhnev

Answer 12

As created a powerful Politburo, promoted himself as ‘First among equals’
Military medals, paintings and parades
Obsessed with trappings of power as had no real power

Question 13

The 4 Roles of Religion in Russia

Answer 13

Provided an alternative ideology to socialism
Represent backward Russia – not new industrial nation
Form of social control
Closely tied to the old Tsarist regime

Question 14

1918 Decree on Freedom of Conscience

Bolshevik Repression

Answer 14

All religious education banned
Church lost its wealth and status
Could no longer publish literature

Question 15

Bolshevik Repression of religion 6 ways

Answer 15

1918 arrest of Patriarch Tikhon – head of the Church
By 1923 almost 30 bishops and 1,000 priests killed
Churches looted of wealth and stripped of icons
Replacement of Baptisms with ‘Octoberisms’
By 1930s approx. 4/5ths of all church villages destroyed
Nonetheless, survey taken in mid-1920s revealed that 55% of Russians still practiced Christianity

Question 16

repression of religion continued under Stalin

Answer 16

Collectivisation almost eradicated rural religion
Churches not built on kolkhoz and priests labelled ‘kulaks’
Only 12% of bishops left after the Great Terror 1936-38

Question 17

Khrushchev’s religious policy

Answer 17

Reflected Lenin’s, and continued repression of religion
Launch of anti-religious campaign in 1958
Role of priest limited to spiritual advice only
Parish councils placed under CP control
By 1962, 10,000 more churches were closed

Question 18

Religion under Brezhnev

Answer 18

Generations of repression left Church weak
Submissive to CP policies and no longer a threat
Council of Religious Affairs monitor Church loyalty
Christian Committee for Defence of Believers’ Rights. Leader, Father Yakunin, imprisoned for 5 years 1979

Question 19

How successful were anti-religious policies between 1917-1985?

Answer 19

Overwhelmingly succeeded in reducing the influence of religion in Russia
From Decree of Freedom and Conscience in 1918 to persecution of Father Yakunin in 1979
Orthodox Church stripped of influence, wealth, power and size
Nonetheless, persistence of worshippers, even after persecution in 1920s, and return of mainstream religion in 1970s, suggest that Communists never totally destroyed religion in Russia