Q. How did Stalin build on Lenin’s legacy of Bolshevik Revolution and introduce new elements of totalitarianism to transform USSR as a superpower? [UPSC- 2020]

Ans:

The Bolshevik Revolution led by Vladimir Lenin in 1917 marked a significant turning point in Russian history, establishing a communist regime and laying the foundations for the Soviet Union. Lenin’s leadership emphasised party unity, revolutionary ideals, and a vision of a socialist state.

However, following Lenin’s death in 1924, Joseph Stalin emerged as the leader of the Soviet Union, ushering in a new era of governance characterised by both continuity and divergence from Lenin’s principles. He sought to consolidate the legacy of the Bolshevik Revolution by introducing new elements for implementing complete totalitarianism and fast forward USSR’s rise as a superpower.©selfstudyhistory.com

(1) Consolidation of Lenin’s Legacy:

Stalin sought to consolidate and extend Lenin’s revolutionary principles in several key areas. This was done through following ways:

• Stalin emphasised the importance of maintaining Lenin’s ideological purity and ensuring the loyalty of party members. He propagated the concept of “Marxism-Leninism,” merging Marxist principles with Leninist tactics, to strengthen the unity of the Communist Party and its control over Soviet society.
  • For example, Stalin’s 1936 Constitution included Lenin’s principles of democratic centralism, which ensured that decisions were made collectively within the party but strictly adhered to once made. This centralised decision-making process helped consolidate power in the hands of the party leadership.
• Stalin accelerated the industrialisation of the Soviet Union, building upon Lenin’s New Economic Policy (NEP). While Lenin’s NEP allowed for limited capitalism to revive the economy after the Russian Civil War, Stalin shifted towards rapid industrialisation through Five-Year Plans. These plans set ambitious targets for industrial output, focusing on heavy industries such as steel, machinery, and energy production.
  • For instance, the First Five-Year Plan (1928-1932) aimed to increase industrial production by 250%. Under Stalin’s leadership, massive industrial complexes, such as Magnitogorsk and Dnieper Hydroelectric Station, were constructed, transforming the Soviet Union into a major industrial power.
• Stalin centralised power even further, surpassing Lenin’s level of control. He eliminated potential rivals and consolidated power through purges in the 1930s, ensuring his dominance over the party apparatus and the state. The Great Purge targeted perceived political opponents and resulted in the imprisonment, execution, or exile of millions of people.

(2) Totalitarianism and State Control:

Stalin introduced new elements of totalitarianism that exerted extensive control over Soviet society.

• He replaced Lenin’s limited market-oriented policies with a command economy. Under Stalin’s command economy, the state tightly controlled production, distribution, and resource allocation, aiming to maximise industrial output and achieve rapid economic growth.
  • For example, Stalin implemented the policy of collectivisation in agriculture, forcibly consolidating individual farms into collective farms. This policy aimed to increase agricultural production and facilitate the transfer of labor from the countryside to industrial centres. However, collectivisation led to widespread resistance, agricultural inefficiency, and the devastating famine of 1932-1933, resulting in millions of deaths.
• Stalin developed a cult of personality to consolidate his authority and maintain control over the population. Propaganda campaigns glorified him as the infallible leader, presenting him as the embodiment of the revolution and the defender of socialist ideals. This cult of personality stifled dissent and discouraged opposition, cementing Stalin’s position as the unquestioned leader.
  • For instance, statues, portraits, and posters of Stalin were displayed throughout the Soviet Union, and his image was featured prominently in newspapers, films, and literature. The media and arts were tightly controlled, with censorship and state control of information suppressing dissent and limiting access to alternative perspectives.

(3). Transformation into a Superpower:

Stalin’s policies and practices contributed to the transformation of the USSR into a global superpower.

• He focused on strengthening the Soviet military to defend the revolution and expand Soviet influence. The Red Army underwent significant modernisation, and Stalin implemented policies to develop a powerful military-industrial complex.
  • For example, the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II was due, in part, to Stalin’s military buildup. The Red Army’s capabilities and size were significantly expanded, and Soviet military technology, such as tanks and aircraft, improved under Stalin’s leadership.
• Under Stalin’s rule, the USSR expanded its territorial reach. The Soviet Union annexed several countries in Eastern Europe following World War II, establishing satellite states under Soviet influence. This expansion not only increased the USSR’s global footprint but also acted as a buffer zone against potential Western aggression.
  • For instance, the establishment of Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe, such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, allowed Stalin to exert political control over these nations, expanding the Soviet Union’s sphere of influence and consolidating its power.
• Stalin also initiated a nuclear weapons program, leading to the successful development of atomic weapons in 1949. This achievement marked the USSR’s entry into the nuclear arms race and established it as a formidable adversary to the United States. The Soviet Union’s nuclear capabilities significantly enhanced its status as a superpower.

However, these achievements came at the cost of widespread repression, purges, and the suppression of individual liberties. The consequences of Stalin’s rule reverberated through Soviet society for decades to come, leaving a complex legacy that encompasses both the USSR’s rise as a global power and the human costs incurred in the process.

It is also important to note that while Stalin’s policies played an important role in shaping the Soviet Union’s trajectory, the external factors such as the aftermath of World War II and the emerging Cold War dynamics, and historical context cannot be disregarded in understanding the USSR’s rise as a superpower. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the Soviet Union’s path to superpower status requires critical examination of Stalin’s departure from Lenin’s principles and an acknowledgment of the multifaceted factors at play. ©selfstudyhistory.com