The seventy-four years of the Soviet Union’s experiment with communism created various social, economic, and political standards within society that were not easily put aside. During the political generations of Lenin and Stalin, the Soviet leader’s cult of power was both consolidated and highlighted in connection to the Russian Empire’s historical figures, legitimizing the ruler’s leadership and government. Likewise, the process of centralization not only emphasized Moscow and the successes of the Soviet’s socialist plan, but also established a manageable country under Stalin’s amassed authority and repressive hand. Although Stalin’s Great Purge instilled fear into the Soviet Union’s citizens, the populace tolerated the terrors of Stalin’s
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The Stalin era saw remarkable growth, as the First Year Plan’s industrial movement largely eradicated unemployment and created a period of prosperity for the Soviet Union in the face of the Western world’s Great Depression. In this way, Stalin’s authoritarian and socialist system saw a fairly tolerated reign of terror due to the economic benefits the system provided; ultimately, the population was willing to be temporarily limited in freedoms in exchange for the resulting socialist experience of real liberty. During the Brezhnev era of stagnation, Soviet citizens enjoyed the termination of Stalin’s terror, however, they were concurrently pessimistic and discontent with the economy’s sluggish growth. The consumerist and Western influences within the USSR were, as historian John Bushnell describes, “to the Soviet mind, the apple of temptation, succulent but fearful.” While the capitalist West had its charms, the Soviet population was largely inclined to the socialist economy established and centrally managed by an authoritarian government. The repressive reign of Stalin provided a sense of prosperity that Russians were predisposed to accept over the liberal but more stagnant eras of the Soviet …show more content…
In 1934, the connections made between Lenin and Stalin’s agenda and the Russian Empire’s achievements under despotic rule created for the populace a history of success through autocratic leadership. Similarly, the economic growth during Stalin’s reign of terror saw the population largely accepting the repressive governing system as an exchange for Stalin’s promise of true liberty and order through socialism. Meanwhile, the centralization of power in the Soviet Union further consolidated Stain’s authority, as well as highlighted the USSR’s industrial progress and reinforced the nation’s borders. The Soviet era created a legacy of success through autocracy, and though some elements of democracy have been introduced to Russia, the overall political, economic, and social trends of the USSR have condemned the country to an authoritarian
The Stalin era saw remarkable growth, as the First Year Plan’s industrial movement largely eradicated unemployment and created a period of prosperity for the Soviet Union in the face of the Western world’s Great Depression. In this way, Stalin’s authoritarian and socialist system saw a fairly tolerated reign of terror due to the economic benefits the system provided; ultimately, the population was willing to be temporarily limited in freedoms in exchange for the resulting socialist experience of real liberty. During the Brezhnev era of stagnation, Soviet citizens enjoyed the termination of Stalin’s terror, however, they were concurrently pessimistic and discontent with the economy’s sluggish growth. The consumerist and Western influences within the USSR were, as historian John Bushnell describes, “to the Soviet mind, the apple of temptation, succulent but fearful.” While the capitalist West had its charms, the Soviet population was largely inclined to the socialist economy established and centrally managed by an authoritarian government. The repressive reign of Stalin provided a sense of prosperity that Russians were predisposed to accept over the liberal but more stagnant eras of the Soviet …show more content…
In 1934, the connections made between Lenin and Stalin’s agenda and the Russian Empire’s achievements under despotic rule created for the populace a history of success through autocratic leadership. Similarly, the economic growth during Stalin’s reign of terror saw the population largely accepting the repressive governing system as an exchange for Stalin’s promise of true liberty and order through socialism. Meanwhile, the centralization of power in the Soviet Union further consolidated Stain’s authority, as well as highlighted the USSR’s industrial progress and reinforced the nation’s borders. The Soviet era created a legacy of success through autocracy, and though some elements of democracy have been introduced to Russia, the overall political, economic, and social trends of the USSR have condemned the country to an authoritarian