Stalin's power over Party and State

Question 1

Totalitarianism

Answer 1

Many historians argue that Stalin constructed a new kind of dictatorship based on:
- complete control over the economy
- use of widespread political terror
- complete control over the media
- use of extensive propaganda
Stalin demanded heartfelt enthusiasm from his people.
Stalin did not want only obedience, he wanted the full commitment of his people.

Question 2

The relationship between Party and state

Answer 2

Stalin used the vagueness of the relationship between the Party and the state to his advantage by encouraging competition between the two.

Question 3

Rivalry

Answer 3

Stalin promoted rivals to similar positions in the Party and state.
For example, he placed Andrei Zhdanov, Beria’s key rival, in charge of Party supervision of Beria’s political police.
Encouraging competition meant that senior officials in the Soviet government would compete with each other and not with Stalin.

Question 4

Shifting powerbases

Answer 4

Stalin shifted the power from the Party to state.
In 1938, the politburo was the most senior committee in government.
By 1942, the State Defence Committee was the most powerful committee in the government.
After WW2, the council of Ministers became more powerful.
By shifting power within the government, Stalin was able to ensure that none of these senior committees grew to rival him.
He also ensured that he was the only person involved with all these committees - he was the only leader with an overview of the entire government.

Question 5

Renewed terror

Answer 5

The Leningrad Affair of 1949 - a purge of the Leningrad Party. Stalin was concerned that Zhdanov had created an independent powerbase, following his death , 100 of his supporters were shot and 2000 were arrested.
Stalin used persecution to test the loyalty of his senior ministers. In 1949 Stalin ordered the imprisonment of Molotov’s wife. Molotov demonstrated his loyalty by doing nothing to win his wife’s freedom.

Question 6

Stalin’s legacy

Answer 6

The Soviet state and the Communist Party had been completely subordinated to Stalin.
Neither Party not state had any independent authority.