How Did Stalin Influence The Soviet Union

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In the words of John C. Maxwell, “Leadership is influence”. Stalin was a strict dictator who ruled the Soviet Union for over two decades. He was able to obtain more power by gaining popular support from the citizens of the Soviet Union. Although Stalin forced industrialization on the Soviet Union and caused the worst man-made famine in history, he gained many supporters throughout his time as dictator. Stalin won the support of the Soviets through relentless propaganda, strict censorship, and the imposition of Russian culture unto the Soviet Union. Stalin was able to gain the support of the citizens of the Soviet Union through constant propaganda. He used propaganda to make himself “a god-like figure (Ellis and Esler 2052)” in order to boost morale and faith in Stalin and the communist government. Propaganda was a tool used to build up a “cult of personality” around Stalin, which created him as an ideal leader and hero. With the use of technology, “the party bombarded the public with relentless propaganda (2052)”. The government used several types of propaganda to spread Stalin’s message and beliefs. Radios …show more content…

He controlled what art was seen, what music was heard, and what books were accessible. Artists in the Soviet Union were required to create their work in a specific style, called social realism. Social realism is an artistic style whose goal was to promote socialism by showing Soviet life in a positive light. Writers were also required to write in the style of social realism, which usually included a hero battling against obstacles to accomplish a goal. Despite the restrictions put on their work, several Soviet writers were able to produce magnificent works. Composers were constantly compromised by Stalin and the idea of socialist realism. Artists, writers, and composers who refused to conform to the government’s rules faced harsh government persecution and lived in

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