Several dictators throughout history have controlled their nations with an iron hand and retained total power. Although dictators may not be as common in today’s society there are still places where these dictators exist. Within Russian history there have been many leaders, one of the most memorable ones being Joseph Stalin. Strong leadership, industrialization and development, as well as violent repression and violations of human rights, were characteristics of Stalin's rule. Since Stalin’s rule Russia has gone through many leaders until Vladimir Putin came into power in 1999. Putin’s tactics resemble Stalin’s very well as they have both used oppression of rights and censorship as ways to keep power and control over Russia. Although there have been many similarities between the two there are also differences as Putin has been more concerned with establishing his control through governmental and institutional methods than did Stalin, who was known for his harsh purges and persecution. Throughout its time Russia has adapted politically, …show more content…
Deportations were a harsh and cruel method adopted by Stalin to crush political opposition and keep control of the Soviet Union. Stalin ordered the forcible deportation of millions of individuals in the 1930s and 1940s, frequently on the basis of their race, religion, or political views ("Joseph Stalin Deports”). Stalin's deportation program was enacted to put down political uprising and rebellion. In 1936 Stalin introduced a new constitution. The 1936 Constitution strengthened the Communist Party's hold over the nation's government and people. Stalin used the Constitution to support his oppressive policies and use it as a tool to secure and legitimize his rule. Stalin’s political reforms were all targeted to strengthen the power of the communist party and to crush any
One major factor that contributed to these differences was the historical and cultural context in which each leader operated. Ieyasu lived in a time of great upheaval and change in Japan, and he relied on a combination of military force and political maneuverings, such as establishing a centralized government and a feudal system, to establish his authority and maintain control. On the other hand, Putin came to power in Russia at a time when the country was undergoing significant economic and political changes, and he has relied on military force and political repression to establish his authority and maintain control. These differences demonstrate the complex factors that can influence the methods used by leaders to establish and maintain their authority, and highlight the importance of considering the unique historical and cultural context in which a leader
Stalin did not tolerate anyone who opposed him, and this is where his cruel methods come into play. He utilized a harsh forced famine in Ukraine, with 4.5 to 7 million victimes. “Stalin used the forced famine as part of a political strategy..” to oppress his people. Another cruel method of his were public trials of his “great purges”, purging anyone opposing him. In these trials, “[defendants] confessed...to a number of crimes.
Although Russia won, many Russian civilians and soldiers died (“Joseph Stalin – Powerful Communist Ruler”). After World War 2, Stalin continued to dictate. Various examples of this were the initiation of purges, executions and exiles to labour camps to rid him of any opposition or other influences (“Joseph
By suppressing his opposition and taking advantage of others, Vladmir Putin has weakened the citizens of Russia. It is said that, “He manipulates the public consciousness like a talented conductor…” (Gromenko). Putin has dehumanized residents of Russia in countless ways, including his harassment of activists, censorship of the media, assassinations of journalists, etc. While Russia has been sufficiently prosperous over the years, its society lacks individuality and basic freedoms due to the conformity Putin encourages. Russians’ hopes and aspirations are crushed if they do not fit Putin’s
This is an example of how he removed freedom of speech. The men were not allowed to speak or act poorly towards Stalin. He also ran a totalitarianism government. Totalitarianism is a strict form of government with no means of privacy. People had to be careful of what they said and did because they never knew if they were being watched.
Joseph Stalin instilled a totalitarian government into Ukraine’s society. Moreover, Stalin tried to cut any threats that would affect his plan in making Russia a communist utopia, by using the secret police. (document 1) But, the Ukrainians were independent, rebellious people who believed strongly in their culture and
As seen in document 8, this poster of Joseph Stalin makes him appear as a dignified leader with the people of Russia in peace and order. However this is clearly synthesized to make him appear like a good leader because the truth of his rule can been seen in the high death toll and immediately after his death began the de-Stalinization process throughout Soviet society showing that Russia wished to be rid of his presence in history. The Great Purge was to remove dissenters from Stalin's rule and the public trails show that Stalin wished to be viewed as a justified leader. In document 7, a French ambassador to the Soviet Union describing the public trails states, “ I personally attended the second and third Moscow trials, those of 1937 and 1938…. Pyatakov arose… confessed to a number of crimes.
Post WWl, Russia was still not industrialized, suffering economically and politically and in no doubt in need of a leader after Lenin’s death. “His successor, Joseph Stalin, a ruthless dictator, seized power and turned Russia into a totalitarian state where the government controls all aspects of private and public life.” Stalin showed these traits by using methods of enforcement, state control of individuals and state control of society. The journey of Stalin begins now.
Process of Findings The first part of this report will discuss the evidence pertaining to the “genuinely concerned, pragmatic” side to Joseph Stalin’s leadership. Stalin was a leader who was honoured and praised by many of his people in the USSR for various reasons. He was portrayed on propaganda posters as a kind, caring and genuinely concerned leader particularly towards children who were the future of the USSR (Source A). By Stalin being portrayed as a leader who shows genuine concern and care for the children of his country, it propagates the message that children and the entire population of the USSR will have an “enlightened future” under his leadership13 (Source A), and would in turn help Stalin gain more support for himself.
Stalin and Hitler: Similarities and Differences Stalin and Hitler emerged at the time when political and economic instability had crippled the USSR and Germany. They began making improvements which encouraged their people to believe that prosperous times await them. This notion would unfortunately turn out as an illusion. Both figures would eventually rule by decree. Despite treading on different paths of ruling, both figures still find some commonalities.
Joseph Stalin and Fidel Castro were dictators famous for their communist ideology and violent reigns while totalitarian dictators. Defined by Dictionary.com, Totalitarianism is “absolute control by the state or a governing branch of a highly centralized institution” and a dictator is “a person exercising absolute power, especially a ruler who has absolute, unrestricted control in a government without hereditary succession.” Dictators are usually stern, but passionate in front of the public. Joseph Stalin and Fidel Castro both came to rise in environments that were challenging politically, economically, socially or all of the above. They offered another light that people were desperate to see.
However, this only scratches the surface of what Stalin put the Soviet Union through. Stalin was a very persuasive man, his writings make it seem as if he is in the right and is innocent. To support this statement, two pieces of Stalin's writings were
I covered how Putin’s visionary leadership traits ignored key aspects of diversimilarity and show how he was methodical in planning and executing is objectives. I also demonstrated how his drive for success and a lack of open-mindedness made him an unethical leader. Finally, I reflected on my own leadership as it pertains to these lesson principles, and my pursuit to continue growing as a self-aware leader. Perhaps there would be no Russia, as we currently know it, without Putin”, certainly he has shaped his country and has effected countless lives and treasure. Influential Russian author, Fyodor Dostoevsky might have foreshadowed such a leader as Putin in his book The Brothers Karamazov: “He understood very well that for the meek soul of a simple Russian, exhausted by grief and hardship and, above all, by constant injustice and sin, there was no stronger need than to find a holy shrine or a saint to prostrate himself before to worship”.
Russia has had numerous rulers throughout history. Two of the rulers stick out in particular. They used similar strategies to get their ways. They used their power to control others. These two rulers did similar things to get their way.
Through his role model of a true leader and his great charisma he influenced the Russian citizens to contribute towards his vision of a greater Russia. Vladimir Putin is seen, as a strong leader with brilliant psychological skills that had the power and will to make the decisions and take crazy risks, which he thought, was right for Russian citizens. He was highly people oriented since he new the culture and came from the same background as many Russian individuals and he new what they exactly needed and wanted in a president. But on the contrary his management background helped him to direct and control the Russian citizens by coordinating and harmonizing them to accomplish a mutual goal that was based on their needs and wants. Vladimir Putin created strategies, policies based on the Russian culture, values and views.