...Joseph Stalin was one of the most important leaders that was at the head of the USSR. He established the political and economic structure that remained in place until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. As Bruce Pawley states, “The Politburo, the Party’s leading organ, had become his rubber stamp. Now, at last, he no longer had to play the role of a moderate”[1], Stalin was very sly and gained his position by “stabbing in the back” his rivals, of any type. Historians all agree that the conditions that enabled Stalin’s rise to power were mainly three; Stalin and Lenin’s relationship combined to Lenin’s death (1924), the unpopularity of Trotsky and ultimately his ability as persuader. Stalin success in rising to power could be mostly attributed to Lenin’s decision and to his death in 1924. In 1917, Stalin – not yet a full member of the Communist party leadership – was appointed Commissar for Nationalities. Stalin had supported the idea of gaining control in October and had been an old member of the Bolshevik Party. However, Stalin started to disagree with Lenin when he gained the title of National Commissar. Lenin alleged that republics of Russian Empire were able to clasp a communist revolution and could be trusted in joining the Soviet Union. However, Stalin had a more pragmatic view. He wanted to be sure that all republics would bind tightly to the Bolshevik Party. Lenin mainly considered the idea of having a federation of “autonomous states”. However, Stalin was confident...
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...How far do you agree with the view that the development of the Cold War between the USA and the Soviet Union in the years 1945-53 was primarily due to traditional great power rivalry? The development of the Cold War can be viewed as being caused for several different reasons. The great power rivalry, ideological differences and personality traits cited as the main causes for the war, but ideology and personality also contain flaws that prove the great power rivalry was the primary cause. The main argument for the development of the Cold War is that it was created by the traditional great power rivalry. Source 7 argues Russia was the “most ruthless of world-conquering ideologies.” Added to by another point in Source 7 that contests Russia suffered from insecurity “who saw ‘security’ only in the total destruction of rival power.” Both of these points proving Russia were determined to destroy their rivals and can be viewed as a dangerous force when faced with opposition. This is supported by Source 7 where it claims “the USA would have to ‘contain’ its pressure by uncompromising resistance, even if Russia had not been communist” This point arguing ideology was irrelevant to the start of the Cold War, also shown by Source 8 where it claims “Leaders and citizens saw their countries acting for much broader purposes than the mere advancement of national interests.” However, the great power rivalry was even more apparent in conferences towards the end of the...
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...of achieving communism, and during many occasions they disagreed with each other. However the most significant factor causing the split was their conflicting national interests, as although without the existing personal rivalries and ideological disputes the split would not have happened, they emphasised the sheer differences between both sides. Due to these interests, there was a deterioration in Sino-Soviet relations and from then on they could never be allies. Some historians argue that the deterioration in Sino-Soviet relations between 1958-1969 was due to personal rivalries. This is because before 1953, Mao (after taking over China following the revolution in 1949) saw Stalin as the leader of the World communist movement, and promised to follow the decisions of the Soviet Union in a letter to Stalin. However when Khrushchev took over the Soviet Union in 1954, Mao believed himself to be above Khrushchev and this caused initial tension, and upon Khrushchev's first visit to China, he stated that "conflict with the Chinese is inevitable." This was fueled by Mao's determination to form alliances within the Third World, where the USSR was already prominent, as both Khrushchev and Mao battled to be the leader of the World communist movement, and due to that there was an initial deterioration in Sino-Soviet relations, from this it is clear that...
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...DOCUMENT ANALYSIS Joseph Stalin: Industrialization of the country, 1928 Prepared by: Yulia Kirillova ID: 10095380 The Soviet Union was founded in 1922, when the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia. After the death of its first leader, Vladimir Lenin, there was a power struggle from which Joseph Stalin emerged as winner for the control of the Communist party. By the day of Lenin’s death there were five candidates with the potential to emerge as the new leader of the U.S.S.R: Stalin, Trotsky, Bukharin, Zinoviev, and Kamenev; Bukharin belonged to the “Rightists” and wished to continue Lenin’s economic policy, which gave more economic freedom for the peasants and promoted agriculture, Zinoviev and Kamenev wanted state control of economic life, Trotsky believed in the importance of a worldwide communist revolution, and Stalin filled the room for interpretation in Marxist though with the concept that he called “socialism in one country”. That was a significant shift from the previously held Marxist position that socialism must be established globally, and was in sharp opposition to Leon Trotsky’s theory of permanent revolution. In contrast to what Trotsky thought and envisioned for Russia, Stalin believed that the success of Marxism in Russia was dependent on the construction of a successful soviet union, rather than a multitude of communist revolutions throughout the world. One step towards building a successful Soviet Union, as Stalin saw it, was the introduction...
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...communist Soviet Russia, the evil leader Stalin, President Truman, mistrust, misunderstanding, and misconceptions. Some say all these theories are true and some say all these theories are false. However, I believe it was not just one specific even that started the Cold War, but a series of unfortunate events. In my opinion, the Cold War was the fault of Communist Soviet Russia and its evil leader, Stalin, who wanted to make the whole world Communist. The West was scared of this and was forced to resist in attempt to preserve their social and political culture. USSR had a role to play in starting the Cold War because they were not trust-worthy. Due to the sneaky behavior of USSR suspicion was created and hence the cold war started. There was a quote related to the USSR that is very true regarding this issue. "When it opens its mouth you cannot tell whether it is trying to smile, or preparing to eat you up." Regarding the USSR, the United States could not tell if the USSR was smiling at them, allies, or if they were going to eat them up, go to war. The Cold War was also based on Joe Stalin's paranoia and xenophobia. He killed millions of his own countrymen during the most terrible war in History for imagined disloyalty. He had the Army ring a city with artillery to destroy a whole city and all of its inhabitants due to suspected activity that really didn't exist. When Harry Truman ordered the dropping of the atomic bombs, it shocked Stalin. All countries claim to have a 'super-weapon'...
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...was seen as arrogant, unpredictable, indecisive and inconsistent. During the Civil war it was a great victory for Trotsky as he lead the Red Army and won the war however he also fell out with Stalin. Therefore Stalin objected to Trotsky's employment of ex-tsarists officers and he disobeyed his orders. This made Stalin able to control Trotsky and get an advantage on his to become Soviet leader. Also he made no attempt to build a base of support within the party which was a big mistake when the party were fighting after Lenin’s death and it made it very difficult for Trotsky when confronting the Party Congress which was was filled with Stalin’s supporters. Another reason was that other Bolsheviks feared Trotsky, as he has links in the Red Army and may use them to form a military. They also feared him because he was foreseen as a dictator and was worried that he wanted a revolution thought the world and everyone to rule by ‘socialism’. However Russia wasn't as complete socialist country and may wanted to focus on Russia to begin with, such as Lenin famous quote- ‘Socialism in One Country’ which proved very popular in 1925, with party member and attracting the right wing of the party because it seemed to fit in with the NEP. Stalin was Trotsky’s main opposition, and Stalin had many advantages to...
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...There is a lot of debate of which factor played the largest role in initiating the Cold War during the period of 1945-50. Mostly sources 7 and 9 argue that various ideological differences between the two superpowers were responsible for the origins of the Cold War; while sources 8 and also 9 differ and state that it could have been down to other factors, such as conflicting personalities of the leaders and general national interests. On the one hand source 7 supports the argument that it was political ideological differences that caused the Cold War, arguing that the USSR was seen as a “unique and unbending armed ideology threatening to expand” which resulted in an “ideological crusade” between the two superpowers. Source 9 provides support, stating one of USA’s capitalist strategies was “containment” of communism to ensure successful free markets could be established. It is easy to see how the conflicting ideologies between the two countries – USA supporting free market capitalism and a liberal democracy, while USSR had a controlled economy and a one party state. This evidence clearly shows that the two superpowers were essentially on the opposite sides of the spectrum to each other and were constantly trying to hinder one another, which would cause a rise in tension between them. However the interpretation that the political ideological disagreement is entirely responsible for the beginning of the Cold War can be considered too simplistic. As Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 did...
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...To what extent was the development of the post-Stalin thaw in superpower relations between 1953-62 the result of Khrushchev’s policy of peaceful coexistence? 1953 saw the death of Stalin and thus a change in leadership from a one-man dictatorship to a collective leadership composed of Malenkov, Khrushchev, Molotov, Bulganin and Beria. This occurred shortly after Eisenhower won the US presidential election in 1952. As a result, there was a change in leadership on both sides, which naturally had a large effect on the progress and course of the Cold War. The period that followed the death of Stalin and the election of Eisenhower was one of general improvement of superpower relations and therefore the period is named the ‘Thaw’. Some believe that this was due to Khrushchev’s policy of peaceful coexistence, which he brought about due to various factors such as mutual nuclear destruction and the fact that each superpower’s sphere of influence had effectively been officially consolidated giving relations a new degree of stability. Others say that it was Eisenhower’s New Look policy that brought about this development, while some simply believe that it was the general change in leadership on both sides that caused the newfound stability in superpower relations. Khrushchev’s policy of peaceful coexistence can be seen to result in several developments that gave hope to the West that accommodation and agreement could be reached between the two superpowers and thus allowed for more...
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...External events that took place in Asia is an important factor of the rise of SEA nationalism as they were a source of inspiration for a modernist reform. External event in Asia refers to event that arise out of the colonial and indigenous situation in the region itself. With the opening up of their colonies to international events, people became increasingly aware of nationalist movements taking place worldwide, and thus, were encouraged to do the same. It also exerted a direct influence on contemporary nationalists in Southeast Asia who were seeking to free their countries from colonial domination, as it increased self-confidence of Southeast Asia’s people. External events such as the Japanese victory in the Russo-Japanese War from 1904-1905 helped to destroy the myth of European invincibility, thus increasing confidence among the nationalist leaders, leading them to believe that they had to ability to overcome their colonial powers. It was the first time an Asian power had defeated a Western power and it boosted the confidence of the nationalist leaders in Southeast Asia. For example, Phan Boi Chau started a movement called “Dong Du” in 1908, which meant ‘eastern travel’ where he went to Japan with the aim of analysing the secrets of Japanese power. He had also as a result managed to smuggle Cuong De out of the Vietnamese court to Japan to provide royal leadership for the Vietnamese resistance against the French. Another example will be the struggle for freedom in British...
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...Charcerisation Roy Cohn In the play Tony Kushner-Angels in America_ A Gay Fantasia on Nationthe character Ron Cohn is presented at as a homosexual lawyer. Rohn Cohn also creates the impression that he is a man of great influence. He owns an office and impressive furniture. He highly values the father- son relationship whereas he points out that he considers that the mother-son relationship is not of great importance for a grown man. He listens to chaotic music , usually speaks in a load voice and feels rather confident of himself. He had many different male sexual partners but does not describe himself as homosexual. However, he lies about the fact that he is infected with AIDS and states that the has a liver disorder . This is one example why his character is demonstrated ambiguous. Another example is that Ron is not religious and does not believe that the world is a good place, yet he says that he loves god and that god loves him. Moreover he hates communism but admires the relationship of Marx and Engels He is also characterized by his impudent attitude towards his doctor Henry whom he threatens because due to Ron’s illnesses he considers Ron to be homosexual. His ambiguity is also presented in his private life. One the one hand he only visits selected restaurants but on the other hand he borrows money from a client. He is aware of the fact that this was illegal but does not really care about it. During the play is character gets more and more besotted by this power and...
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...today. Unfortunately, in regards to the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933, people were the sacrifices. Investigating archives that have been made available since the collapse of the U.S.S.R in 1991, eyewitness accounts, and other sources evidence suggest that three main causes lead to the Ukrainian Famine. Joseph Stalins’ implementation of his proposed five year plan, beginning in 1927-1932, laid the foundation for what become known as the Ukrainian Famine. The implementation of the five year plan caused a ripple effect that was felt throughout Russia, especially in the Ukraine. The Ukrainian Famine took place prior to World War II happening. Another factor that led to the famine was the collectivization of farms and agriculture. Policies were implemented to ensure that Russia could produce and provide enough grain, crops, and meat to supply the urban areas. Finally the third factor is the human factor. Desperate times call for desperate matters. People will do what they need to do to survive. However, when those desperate matters contradict what the law states then there will once again be a ripple effect with second and third order effects. Five Year Plan Joseph Stalin was the architect of the Five Year Plan. The plane was a set...
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...The Irreversible Damage Caused By Joseph Stalin “Death is the solution to all problems. No man - no problem.” -Joseph Stalin. In the early 1900’s Russia was on the verge of a revolution. For decades the country had been in an immense struggle between the Czars (otherwise known as the rulers of Russia) and the people. Corrupt leadership and inequalities throughout the Russian society eventually lead to a revolution. Nevertheless when Russia started fighting in World War One it was evident that the spark had been ignited and the insurgency had begun. And as Europe approached the end of the war, Russia further advanced into chaos. Vladimir Lenin, a revolutionary leader, lead the Russians into a rebellion to seize the Russian government. Lenin...
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...The Cold War era was a time of extreme tension and paranoia around the world. The Soviet Union and the U.S. were both preparing for war, although trying to avoid it, and used their intelligence agencies to gather information about the enemy and their intentions. By virtue of experience, the Soviets were simply better at some things than the U.S were, but the U.S. had its own areas of expertise as well. Both countries had its successes and failures, from disinformation campaigns to the use of SIGINT, but in the end, only the U.S. was left standing. Although the two great superpowers were trying to avoid a mass conflict, which many feared would involve mass destruction, both countries intelligence activities were aimed at preparing for a potential war with each other. As a result, intelligence sought to support these efforts by providing their leaders with updates on each other’s intentions, military capabilities and technological developments (especially in regards to nuclear weapons), convincing other citizens of the world they were in the right (trying to gain support throughout the world in case of a war breaking out) and trying to sabotage their opponent’s efforts. The two countries used both military and civilian agencies to gather this intelligence, but the two most common organizations noted are typically the U.S.’ CIA and the Soviets’ KGB. Although there was use of surveillance technology, these agencies still often implemented spies to help gather this information, along...
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...opposition, in comparison to his previous/succeeding rulers, in this instance, comparing Stalin to the Tsars Alexander II,III and Nicholas II, and Communist Leaders Lenin and Khrushchev, over a decade of Russian history. Under Stalin, the campaign to crush opposition began almost instantaneously. Initially, this came in the form of political opponents such as Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamanev and the left. Beginning with Trotsky, Stalin seized opportunity and dominated the 12th Party Conference in 1923, after Trotsky failed to capitalise on the chance to make the principal speech, which would arguably have enabled him to emerge as the next leader of Russia. Fraught with half truths and lies was Stalin’s speech, which diminished the position of Trotsky and subsequently enhanced his own profile. A fathom of mistakes from Trotsky would follow, including accusations of factionalism, absence in various Central Committee meetings and missing Lenin’s funeral, all provided Stalin to emerge as the loyal discipline of Lenin. Subsequently, a vicious campaign from Zinoviev and Kamanev was launched against Trotsky, questioning his loyalty and raising the issue of his opposition towards Lenin prior to 1917. In response, Trotsky published ‘The Lessons of October’ in which he attacked Zinoviev and Kamanev, branding them as the instigators, belittling any responsibility from Stalin, which in hindsight was a huge mistake. Stalin merely sat back and watched the political left tear themselves apart, whilst subtly...
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...need to secure the USSR’s boarders, the focus of Source 9, also l,aged s key role in the development of the Cold War. Perhaps one can argue that all three aims of both superpowers acted as catalysts and contributed to the development of the Cold War. In essence, Source 7 argues that the USSR had an “ambitious aim” of insuring Communist control in its sphere of influence. This is true in the sense that Stalin aimed to take advantage of the military situation in Europe and strengthen Soviet influence which resulted in occupying as much of Eastern Europe as possible. Following the Yalta and Potsdam conferences of 1945, Pro-Communist governments were set up in Poland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. As well as this, the Soviet Union allowed Communist politicians to hold key positions in Coalition governments before elections were held meaning that elections could be manipulated to ensure communists controlled the levers of power. As a result of such measures, by the end of 1947 every state in Eastern Europe, except from Czechoslovakia, was controlled by a Communist government. Stalin had also failed to keep the promise made at the Yalta conference to hold free elections in Eastern Europe. In this respect, Source 7 is entirely correct in supporting the view that the development of the Cold War owed more to Soviet expansionism. Moreover, Source 7’s reference to Western attitudes hardening as the USSR “tightened its grip” over countries, which...
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