To What Extent are Stalin's Methods Effective Than Other Leaders?

Although, to some extent other tsars and communists use of the army, censorship and propaganda proved effective in removing opposition compared to Stalin’s methods as their methods ceased opposition rapidly, while Stalin had to resort to violence to maintain stability in his regime. The continuation of the military throughout tsarism and communism differs as tsarism used the military to suppress opposition by halting demonstrations and strikes, whereas, with the communists there is continuity as both Lenin and Stalin used the military to implement economic policy. For instance, Lenin reinforced his policies of war communism and grain requisitioning which Stalin continued with collectivisation demonstrating that by using force the masses had to respond positively for economic success that was guaranteed in Stalin’s regime with economic stability, the best Russia had ever progressed. However, the failure of Nicholas 2nd’s use of the army embarks unprecedented change as the military questioned if they were to fight for the tsar or join the people. Alongside this, there was more unprecedented change as general Khabalov’s army were to restore control by force, but could not stop the situation getting out of control, which was humiliating because either tsar or communist had used the army as a force.

For instance, Alexander 3rd used the army to use force in the countryside if the emancipation edict was not diminished. This led to a number of reforms, which had improved the army greatly, since the failure of the Crimea war making the army better trained. Figes argues that the downfall of the regime was because of the ‘breakdown of communications’ leading on to saying that it is inevitable that the situation was getting out of contr...

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...ds demonstrated that 1,023,093 commissioned officers were killed and also implemented a lot of Lenin’s policies to remove opposition effectively. Therefore, with such continuity it is evident that Stalin had implemented his polices because they were effective in removing opposition to the extent that Stalin increased them further for general success. Therefore, Lenin to an extent had better control of the army compared to Stalin because of his control of the military with as a revolutionary and as a leader indicates that unlike any other communist or Tsar Lenin had ultimate control of the military.

Works Cited

Russia and its Rulers, 1855-1964, Holland

Stalin and Stalinism, Alan Wood

Rethinking the Russian Revolution, Action

Russia Under The Old Regime, Pipes

A People's Tragedy, Orlando Figes

The Modernization of Russia, Service

The Great Terror, Robert Conquest