2N Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953

This option provides for the study in depth of the coming and practice of communism in Russia. Itexplores concepts such as Marxism, communism, Leninism, and Stalinism, ideological control anddictatorship. It also enables students to consider issues of political authority, the power of individualsand the inter-relationship of governmental and economic and social change.

2017 paper

Specimen Paper.

Additional Specimen Paper

In other textbook

In revision guide

Part one: The Russian Revolution and the Rise of Stalin, 1917–1929

Dissent and Revolution, 1917

  • The condition of Russia before the revolution of February/March 1917: the Tsar and politicalauthority; the war effort; the economic and social state of Russia; discontent.
  • The February/March revolution of 1917: causes and course of revolution; issues of leadership andthe Tsar's abdication; the establishment of Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet; theworkings of the Dual authority.
  • Developments between the revolutions including: the return of Lenin; Lenin's ideology and the AprilTheses; the July Days; the Kornilov coup and the roles of both the Provisional Government andTrotsky; Lenin and the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party.
  • The October/November 1917 revolution: causes, course and extent of revolution; leadership and theestablishment of Bolshevik authority; Sovnarkom and decrees and actions toDecember.

How significant was economic distress in the revolution of February 1917?

To what extent can the Dual Authority arrangement be held responsible for the failure of the Provisional Government to consolidate & maintain its power in Russia between February & October 1917?

‘By the end of 1917, it was already clear that the Bolshevik state would be oppressive & authoritarian.’ Assess the validity of this view.

To what extent was the failure of the Provisional Government the key reasons in the Bolshevik seizure of power?

‘Lenin’s political skill as leader of the Bolsheviks was chiefly responsible for the seizure & consolidation of power in the period October 1917 to April 1918.’ Assess the validity of this view.

Bolshevik consolidation, 1918–1924

  • The consolidation of the Communist dictatorship: the establishment of one-party control; theremoval of the Constituent Assembly; the ending of involvement in the First World War.
  • The Civil War: causes and course; the role of Trotsky; the murder of the Tsar; the reasons for the Redvictory; government and control in wartime.
  • Economic and social developments: state capitalism; social change; conditions in cities andcountryside during the Civil War; war communism; the Red Terror: revolts of 1920–1921 including theTambov revolt and Kronstadt rising; the NEP and its political and economic impact.
  • Foreign relations and attitudes of foreign powers: foreign intervention in the Civil War; Comintern;the Russo-Polish War; discussions leading to the Rapallo Treaty; official recognition and therepercussions of the 'Zinoviev letter'; Lenin's rule by 1924.

With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying the Bolshevik Revolution between 1917 and 1921.

To what extent was the communist victory in the Civil War dependant on the skilful leadership of Trotsky?

‘The introduction of the NEP was a betrayal of all the Bolsheviks had fought for since October 1917.’ Assess the validity of this view.

To what extent had Lenin achieved his aims both at home & abroad by 1924?

‘Lenin had maintained power in Russia 1917 – 1924 because of his insistence on using repression as a tool of government.’ Assess the validity of this view.

To what extent was Lenin a successful leader of USSR in the years after the Bolsheviks seized power?

Stalin’s rise to power, 1924–1929

  • The power vacuum and power struggle: ideology and the nature of leadership; Lenin's testament;divisions and contenders for power: character, strengths and weaknesses of Stalin, Trotsky,Bukharin, Kamenev, Rykov, Tomsky and Zinoviev.
  • Ideological debates and issues in the leadership struggle: NEP and industrialisation; 'permanentrevolution' versus 'Socialism in One Country'; how and why Stalin became party leader and theoutcome for the other contenders.
  • Economic developments: reasons for and impact of the 'Great Turn'; the economic shift; the launchof the first Five Year Plan and the decision to collectivise.
  • Government, propaganda and the beginning of the Stalinist cult; Stalin's attitude to foreign powers:China; Germany and the Treaty of Berlin; changes in the Comintern.

‘Stalin’s victory in the power struggle between 1922 and 1929 was due to the popularity of his policies.’ Assess the validity of this view.

Why was there no outright successor to Lenin as leader of the USSR on Lenin’s death in 1924?

With reference to these sources and your understanding of the historical context, assess the value of these three sources to an historian studying the First Five-Year Plan.

‘Stalin’s success in the power struggle by 1929 was due more to his ruthless ambition than to his policies.’ Assess the validity of this view.

To what extent was Stalin’s attitude to foreign powers before 1929 driven by ideology?

‘Stalin came to power as a result of the weaknesses of his opponents.’ Assess the validity of this view.

‘The international position of USSR had greatly improved by 1929.’ Assess the validity of this view.

Part two: Stalin’s Rule, 1929–1953 (A-level only)

Economy and society, 1929–1941 (A-level only)

  • Agricultural and social developments in the countryside: voluntary and forced collectivisation; statefarms; mechanisation; the impact of collectivisation on the kulaks and other peasants; the famine of1932–1934; the success of collectivisation.
  • Industrial and social developments in towns and cities: Gosplan; the organisation, aims and resultsof the first three Five Year Plans; new industrial centres and projects; the involvement of foreigncompanies; the working and living conditions of managers, workers and women; Stakhanovites; thesuccess of the Five Year Plans.
  • The development of the Stalin cult: literature, the arts and other propaganda; Socialist Realism.
  • The social and economic condition of the Soviet Union by 1941: strengths and weaknesses.

To what extent was the First Five Year Plan more successful that the New Economic Policy in improving Soviet Industrial performance?

‘The USSR experienced a social revolution during Stalin’s regime in the 1930s.’ Assess the validity of this view.

How successful was the Communist regime in modernising Russian agriculture in the years 1928 to 1941?

‘Collectivisation in the USSR, in the years 1929 – 1941, was a success.’ Assess the validity of this view.

How successful was Stalin in creating a ‘socialist economy’ in the years 1929 to 1941?

To what extent had the Five Year Plans fulfilled Stalin’s aims by 1941?

‘The USSR was in a weak economic condition when war broke out in 1941.’ Assess the validity of this view.

To what extent did the proletariat benefit from Stalinist rule in the 1930s?

How far were changes in Soviet agricultural policy in the years 1929 – 1941 driven by Communist ideology?

‘Collectivisation was a political success but a social & economic failure.’ Assess the validity of this view.

‘Stalin’s policy of industrialising Russia achieved its objectives.’ Assess the validity of this view.

How successful were Stalin’s economic policies in the 1930s?

Stalinism, politics and control, 1929–1941 (A-level only)

  • Dictatorship and Stalinism: the machinery of state terror; the NKVD; the early purges; Kirov's murder;the show trials; the Stalin constitution.
  • The Yezhovshchina: mass terror and repression at central and local levels; treatment of nationalminorities; the gulags; the end of the purges; the death of Trotsky; responsibility for and impact of theTerror and purges.
  • Culture and society: church; women, young people and working men; urban and rural differences;'socialist man' and the impact of cultural change; similarities and differences between Lenin's andStalin's USSR.
  • Stalin and international relations: cooperation with Germany; entry into the League of Nations;pacts with France and Czechoslovakia; intervention in the Spanish Civil War; reaction to Westernappeasement and Japanese aggression; the Nazi-Soviet Pact and its outcome.

‘There was a revolution in culture in the USSR between 1929 and 1941.’ Assess the validity of this view.

‘There was no such thing as freedom of expression in the arts in Russia in the 1930s’. Assess the validity of this view.

How significant was the murder of Kirov in 1934 for the Stalinist government in the USSR in the years 1934 to 1936?

‘The most significant outcome of the Terror & purges of the Yezhovshchina was an increase in Stalin’s political dominance.’ Assess the validity of this view.

‘In his social & cultural policies, Stalin was less interested in Marxist theory than in the strength of USSR.’ Assess the validity of this view.

‘Stalin’s use of terror was the most important reasons for his success in establishing dominance over USSR 1934 – 1941.’ Assess the validity of this view.

‘Stalin’s Great Terror ensured that USSR was well prepared for war in 1941.’ Assess the validity of this view.

The Great Patriotic War and Stalin’s Dictatorship, 1941–1953 (A-level only)

  • The impact of the war on the Soviet Union: Operation Barbarossa and the Stalinist reaction; thecourse of the war; the USSR under occupation and the fight-back; the Soviet economy; mobilisationand evacuation of industry; foreign aid.
  • The defeat of the Germans: reasons and results; post-war reconstruction; industry and agriculture.
  • High Stalinism: dictatorship and totalitarianism; renewed Terror; the NKVD under Beria; Zhdanovismand the cultural purge; Stalin's cult of personality; the Leningrad affair; purges and the Doctors' Plot.
  • The transformation of the Soviet Union’s international position: the emergence of a 'superpower';the formation of a soviet bloc; conflict with USA and the capitalist West; death of Stalin and Stalin'slegacy at home and abroad.

How far was Stalin’s creation of a Soviet bloc in Eastern Europe after the Second World War the result of his obsession with ensuring international security for the USSR?

‘By 1953 the USSR had become a world power.’ Assess the validity of this view.

What was the importance of terror in keeping Stalin in power between 1945 and his death in 1953?

‘The signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939 reflected the total failure of Stalin’s foreign policy.’ Assess the validity of this view.

To what extent does Stalin deserve the title ‘the Great War Hero’ for his leadership of the USSR between 1941 & 1945?

‘Stalin’s victory in the Great Patriotic War owed more to luck than to his good leadership.’ Assess the validity of this view.

To what extent did Stalin lead a totalitarian regime in the years 1945 to 1953?

‘The USSR was far from being a superpower in 1953.’ Assess the validity of this view.

‘The biggest effect of the Great Patriotic War on USSR was the increase in patriotism.’ Assess the validity of this view.

To what extend did the beginnings of the Cold War arise from Soviet fears of the USA?

‘By 1953 the USSR had become a world power.’ Assess the validity of this view.