Communism: Similarities Between Tsarism And Stalinism

The December of 1991 marked the end of the Soviet Union—and with it, an entire era. Like the February Revolution of 1917 that ended tsardom, the events leading up to August 1991 took place in rapid succession, with both spontaneity and, to some degree, retrospective inevitability. To understand the demise of Soviet Union is to understand the communist party-state system itself. Although the particular happenings of the Gorbachev years undoubtedly accelerated its ruin, there existed fundamental flaws within the Soviet system that would be had been proven ultimately fatal. The USSR became a past chapter of history because it was impossible to significantly reform the administrative

They had to rely on the nobles in the areas to act in the interest of

Lenin and Stalin had opposing ways on what the Communist government should look like. Lenin gave the power to the Communist party, and Stalin gave most of the power to himself. Both Lenin and Stalin used a secret police force that kept the power. Lenin's new economic policy allowed for some peasants to have their own land, while Stalin made a Command economy were the government owns everything. Under Lenin, the standard of living rose for many peasant and workers. Under Stalin the standard of living fell and peasants were struggling. Lenin and Stalin had differents views on Russian politics, but Stalin's way contributed to more suffering of people.

A key factor to why Stalin can be considered a ‘Red Tsar’ is that their was similarities of Stalinism to the three key features that made up Tsarism, autocracy, nationalism and orthodoxy as well as economic policy. The system of personalized control in Stalin’s dictatorship was very similar to that of a Tsar. As mentioned before Stalin was considered a ‘God-like’ leader much like Tsars were considered to be, as well as a ‘chief benefactor and

Communism is a political and social act where everything was controlled by the Government and the citizens having no say. Life in Russia has forever been different than that of Canada. Although Russia claims to be a democracy, its citizens do not fully know the idea of freedom. Joseph Stalin had a plan to make Russia the super power of the world but ultimately failed because communism never works. Stalin released new ideas that he thought would help improve the economy but never actually did. From the time that Stalin came into power in 1924, up until his death in 1953 he transformed Russia’s previously more week society into an active military and industrial superpower striking fear and terror into its citizens. Stalin did play a huge role in defeating the Axis power in WWII but is seen as a communist who was a ruthless ruler responsible for the deaths of over 20 million people. Although some people believe that Joseph Stalin’s plan for communism was good, in reality many horrors affected his people, the economy, and the future of Russia.

It is plausible to suggest that Joseph Stalin was essentially a Red Tsar. Whilst Stalin was committed to communism, his ideology and authoritarian reign was reminiscent of the Tsarist autocratic rule that proceeded him. For nearly six centuries Russia was ruled under a Tsarist autocratic government until it was overthrown during the 1917 revolution that led to the introduction of the first communist government in Russia and the leadership of Joseph Stalin. During his reign, Stalin enacted a ‘cult of personality’ in which he was worshipped as a god-like being similar to that of the autocratic Tsars who ruled before him. Likewise, there were immense similarities in the social structures and quality of life for Russia’s people under the reign of the last Tsar, Nicholas II, and Joseph Stalin. There is considerable evidence therefore to support the idea that Joseph Stalin was essentially a Red Tsar.

Josef Stalin and Mao Zedong were both very similar and still quite different. Each of these great leaders wished to transform his country into something new and powerful. Though their methods of rule were not the same, they each were extremely effective leaders and had enormous impacts on his own country. Russia, before Stalin, could absolutely be considered as being a weak and peasant country. China, before Mao Zedong, was attempting, but failing, to modernize efficiently under Nationalism. These two countries under Stalin and Mao Zedong advanced quickly and went from being smaller and mostly powerless countries to global powers. These advances, however, did not come without sacrifice. Both countries suffered an astronomical number

China and Russia are seen as two of the most powerful nations in the world. Their strong military, economy, and large amount of land and population. These two nations have many similarities and differences that effect their relationship and how other nations see them across the globe. One major trait they have in common in their governments political view, communism. Communism was seen as one of the biggest threats to the world once it swallowed China and Russia.

Europe was rabid after the WW II, and its devastation led to serious political consequences. Russians were taking advantages of the deplorable conditions of Europe. Communist party’s propaganda was based on the idea that capitalism generates wars and devastation of the nations, and by joining communist party, European nations would rebuild their economy. The number of members of communist party rose dramatically after the WW2. In Belgium, Italy and France, communist party gained support. The main argument used to attract members was that all of the harsh circumstances of the Europe, food and coal shortages, devastation and misery were done by capitalist system, but communism comes to save those nation from starvation and misery.

The question of whether or not Stalinism was a logical continuation of Leninism is a difficult one. Stalinism did take significantly more drastic measures than Leninism did. There were differences in policy. But in spite of these, Stalinism still found its basis in Leninism. Even Trotsky, a friend of Lenin and a staunch opponent of Stalin, grudgingly admits that "Stalinism did issue from Bolshevism" (Trotsky). Stalin's policy of socialism in one country, his use of terror to eliminate opposition, and his suppression of democracy and the soviets were all characteristics of Lenin well before they were characteristic of Stalin. Although some of Stalin's policies were different from those of Lenin, what difference Stalinism did

After World War II the Soviet Union led by Stalin maintained a strong presence and influence in Central and Eastern Europe, specifically, Poland through the communist Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR). In this paper I aim to address the reason why communism and Marxist ideologies were unsuccessfully received in post war Poland. I will be arguing *that Marxism was made into a tool of oppression by the Soviet Union, and therefore became illegitimate in itself. I intend on arguing this theory by investigating the goal of the Soviet Union. In addition to this I will identifying instances where the Soviets and communist puppet parties in Poland had strayed from traditional Marxist ideologies. Finally I will recognize the opposition groups and parties that had formed against the Soviet oppression and instillment of inequality.

During the Communist regime in the former Soviet Union, life was very difficult. The people who lived within the countries controlled by the Soviet government experienced levels of oppression akin to slavery. They could not express themselves through any means and had to conform both body and soul to the views of the Communist Party. People could be arrested, imprisoned, shipped off to exile or executed often without trial. Some twenty million people died while Joseph Stalin led the USSR and for many years after his death it was still dangerous to dare criticize his regime, although some scholars put that number closer to forty million people who died. Now that the Soviet Union has broken up and Russia is its own country there is more freedom, but the people still live under the yoke of an oppressive leader who does not tolerate political or social challenges. The people do nothing to stand up to this government because they have all been scarred by the decades they lived under Stalin. In the book The Unquiet Ghost: Russians Remember Stalin, author Adam Hochschild entered Russia an interviewed people who had survived Stalinism. What he found was that despite the fact that Stalin has been dead for decades, he still lives as a tangible presence within the country. His memory functions as a reminder to all those who dare to criticize President Putin or other members of the current government about how bad things could be and this fear pushes them into

The United State’s was not subtle in their distain for communism and the Soviet Union; they fanned the ideological flames between capitalism and communism rather than putting them out. Directly after the war the US created the Marshall Plan, where they gave $13 billion to European states. In President Truman’s speech ‘The Truman Doctrine’ he talks about Greece and Turkey and threatens if aid is not given, Greece’s democracy will be under threat by armed men supported by communists. This was a strategic ploy to prevent communism, by allowing capitalism to flourish. Full-employment leaves people happy, and accepting of capitalism and less likely to turn to radical communism. However the Soviet Union was not impressed with this because they believed that capitalism was the root of fascism, and their allied states declined the funding.

Compare and contrast the ideologies and the political and economic practice of Lenin and Stalin.

The two economic systems of Capitalism and Communism differ a lot when trying to answer the 3 basic questions of economics. The questions are universally asked when talking about types of economies. The first question is what does the economy produce, such as goods and services. The second question is how will the said products being produced. This question pertains to what techniques will be used to produce the products. The third and last question is who is the product being produced for. In more general terms, who is the customer? These questions are answered differently by all economic system, that is especially the case for these two systems. In Capitalism the answer to the question of what goods and services will be produced is the consumer and the producer. This answer Is influenced by some government regulations. The Firms decided on what to produce based off how much of the product the consumer demands and how much they are willing to pay for the good. The second question of who decides the techniques of production is also answered by the producers of the goods and services. The government does hold regulations such child labor laws and minimum wage among other things. Capitalism is a user-choice system that empowers the people and businesses to choose what they get to buy. In the Communist system, the answers to these three basic questions are overtly different. In stark contrast to Capitalism, Communism’s system is not free, there is no choice within