The rise of Russia as a socialist, totalitarian nation under Josef Stalin would not have been possible without Vladimir Lenin’s economic and social policies. After the revolution in 1917, Lenin led the communist, Bolshevik party that controlled Russia. It will be argued that Lenin’s New Economic Policy (NEP) was an instrumental step in the foundation of totalitarian Russia. It will be shown through the increased economic stability, the introduction of laws to gain further dictatorial control of the economy and decreased political freedoms within the state.
In order to examine how the New Economic Policy was a foundation step towards totalitarian Russia, it is required to understand the pre-existing economic structure within the state. Before …show more content…
Small factories had also been returned to their original owners and the era saw greater freedom in society in terms of religion and social policy. However, the coal, steel, iron and railway industries continued to be nationalised, though expert workers, namely the proletariat, middle class, were employed on higher wages to increase production (Clare, 2014). Foreign trade was also allowed under the policy; however, it was controlled and regulated by the state (U.S Library of Congress, …show more content…
In 1921 to 1922, Communist power greatly increased, with non-Communist parties, the Mensheviks and the Social Revolutionaries eradicated (Milner-Gulland & Dejevsky, 1998). Internal party control became more rigid and party members whose views greatly differed from Lenin’s could be charged with ideological treachery and party policing was extended to thought policing (Milner-Gulland & Dejevsky, 1998). Though inter-party debates were permitted, party members had to adhere to party decisions once they had been adopted. Factions were also banned, which would later allow Stalin to silence and eliminate his political opponents (Perfect, Ryan, & Sweeney, 2008). As historian Orlando Figes wrote in his book, A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution, 1891-1924, “On one hand it seems clear that the basic elements of the Stalinist regime, the one-party state, the system of terror and the cult of personality – were all in place by 1924.” This restricting of political freedoms and prohibiting political opposition allowed absolute power for the Communists and laid the foundation for a tyranny to arise (U.S Library of Congress,
In order to examine how the New Economic Policy was a foundation step towards totalitarian Russia, it is required to understand the pre-existing economic structure within the state. Before …show more content…
Small factories had also been returned to their original owners and the era saw greater freedom in society in terms of religion and social policy. However, the coal, steel, iron and railway industries continued to be nationalised, though expert workers, namely the proletariat, middle class, were employed on higher wages to increase production (Clare, 2014). Foreign trade was also allowed under the policy; however, it was controlled and regulated by the state (U.S Library of Congress, …show more content…
In 1921 to 1922, Communist power greatly increased, with non-Communist parties, the Mensheviks and the Social Revolutionaries eradicated (Milner-Gulland & Dejevsky, 1998). Internal party control became more rigid and party members whose views greatly differed from Lenin’s could be charged with ideological treachery and party policing was extended to thought policing (Milner-Gulland & Dejevsky, 1998). Though inter-party debates were permitted, party members had to adhere to party decisions once they had been adopted. Factions were also banned, which would later allow Stalin to silence and eliminate his political opponents (Perfect, Ryan, & Sweeney, 2008). As historian Orlando Figes wrote in his book, A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution, 1891-1924, “On one hand it seems clear that the basic elements of the Stalinist regime, the one-party state, the system of terror and the cult of personality – were all in place by 1924.” This restricting of political freedoms and prohibiting political opposition allowed absolute power for the Communists and laid the foundation for a tyranny to arise (U.S Library of Congress,