Stalin's Purges, 1935
This document gives very interesting insight into the control Stalin had over the USSR. Pay special attention to the italicized introduction before the document begins. Note that this is from a textbook!
Choose one or two of the arguments in this document and comment on the nature of them. What was Stalin's purpose in this? How is this an example of propaganda? How does this represent the control that Stalin and the Communist Party had over the USSR? What, if any, is the bias/POV here?
Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, March 1.
Choose one or two of the arguments in this document and comment on the nature of them. What was Stalin's purpose in this? How is this an example of propaganda? How does this represent the control that Stalin and the Communist Party had over the USSR? What, if any, is the bias/POV here?
Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, March 1.
posted by RJS at
10:03 AM
6 Comments:
It seems as though the writers of this textbook had thoroughly been assimilated into Stalin's mindset and were determined to spead the gospel. From the condemnation of "Trotskyites" to the hatred of facists, the doubtless justification and glorification of the purges to the "matter-of-fact" tonality, this is Stalin's propaganda if I ever saw it. Just note the sharp contrast between our AP Euro textbook and this. Ours uses facts, not adjectives. There are so many instances within the document that use an adjective such as "foul", "despicable", "putrid" etc. to reinforce hatred for the imperialist, the counter-Soviet gangs, the murderers...
By investigating the affiliations of the Kirov assassin, the members of the "Leningrad center" were caught and sentenced to be shot, providing an example: These men had been "receiving funds from capitalist states" to work against the Party, killing a "widely beloved" member. If such vehement opponents were allowed to flourish (or live), more terror would be instilled upon the Soviet people, hindering their glorious efforts. If, by this arguement, support for the purges could be gathered, this would allow Stalin to eliminate his opposition entirely. All he needed was the spark to begin it, and he obviously took advantage of this assassination.
At the time this textbook had been written, the Party was in control enough to directly edit the state textbooks, probably as a result of the purges themselves, with the goal of producing a generation of school children just as under control as their parents, perhaps even more so.
By
Victoria, at Thursday, March 01, 2007 6:45:00 PM
The terminology used in the reading is so silly. The "traitors" are somehow still called "counter-revolutionaries" almost twenty years after the USSR has finished their revolution, and even become more and more connected with fascists as the reading goes on. It was this throwing around of the word "fascist" by Stalin that makes us call anyone but Italy fascists today. Stalin made it so that any paternal autocrat system existing around WWII is immediately fascist somehow. Anyway, this is an example of propaganda because it is a clearly politically motivated version of very recent, uncertain history presented as fact with adjectives and opinions and lies thrown in to make sure you're "thinking correctly". Clearly, the communist party could edit state textbooks however they liked, even if the writers were stupid enough to write them incorrectly. Histories are usually biased inadvertently, either by automatically sympathizing with democracies or just portaying democratic states as much more fortunate and prosperous, "Poland and Romania lapsed into more dictatorial systems of government". This obviously isn't as big of a deal as what we've read here, as this is clearly conscious of its own bias given the fierce adjectives tossed at the "traitors".
By
Unknown, at Thursday, March 01, 2007 7:58:00 PM
Whoowee. The whole document had the tone of a children's textbook or a biblical story found in those Beginner's Bibles. I also loved the adjectives describing political opponents- nauseating, uneasy, unclean, putrid, puny, underhand, subversive. Fun stuff.
So. Stalin's justification (in what I sincerely hope was not a college level book) included removing dangerous rebels from Soviet society, justice for the murder of Kirov, and a nationalistic reaction against German "spies." I find it rather funny that the document claims that the rebels were receiving funds from fascists AND capitalist countries. I can just see Churchill and Hitler cooperating on that. Hitler and Chamberlain maybe.
I note that this document was published in 1948- right after the war was over. Now that the Soviet Union is safe from invasion, Stalin is attempting to consolidate popular support for his regime through the educational system. The government so tightly controlled everything that schools had no choice in the matter- they were told how to teach and therefore told how to think.
I hardly think POV statement is necessary at this point, but nonetheless, the document is slanted in favor of Stalin's regime. If you hadn't figured that out by now, read the paper again. All in all, kind of a boring document with predictable pro-Stalin stuff. I want to read something by Winston Churchill next. "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
By
ThomasBatson, at Thursday, March 01, 2007 8:49:00 PM
Well. Stalin was quite the character wasn't he?
One argument for the good intentions of the Union was that it was to be classless. The Union's creation was for the good of everyone in the nation and the nation itself, though the cause could also appear to be the government wanting to be able to have absolute power over everything and everyone within its boundaries. Stalin also argued that Stamping out those against workers and peasants was just to the cause. He said the Union is for the majority, and the majority is workers. Some eulogized the Union and the Party but either they nothing to help the cause or they worked to destory it through its workers. It's probably stretching it a bit, but it could be considered a legitimate reason to think everyone's out to get you. Stalin's purpose in the document was to defend the purges. His purpose for the Purges was to knock out any opposition; anyone that ever stood against him, questioned his judgemnt, or told him they didn't like his new hair cut. He uses small factors to tell the Union that everyone outside of the Union is out to destroy it. He said those for Trotsky and other powerful political figures opposed the Union and would take it out by the foundations. He said the Gentry was out to get the workers, which would make the workers go to the party and Stalin for support. Anything that tells a group something is out to get them to get the group in their favor is propaganda. The party had control of everything in its boundaries, and anyone opposing Stalin was in quite the perdicament. The party could control the people of the Union with bribes, propaganda, or fear.
By
TeganLove, at Thursday, March 01, 2007 9:19:00 PM
Wow. That wasn't harsh at all...
Obviusly, the author favored Stalin, probably because he was afraid of getting shot, which I can completely understand. But the words used to describe the Socialists-puny, wretched, putrid, nauseating, and foul-were pretty straightforward and the control Stalin had over the USSR was pretty intense.
So basically the purpose of this document was to pin Kirov's murder and the unrest that followed on the Socialists, mainly Trotsky and Bukharin. Now if that's not propaganda, I don't know what is. Stalin deliberately spreads the rumor that a group of Trotsky supporters murdered Sergei Kirov and therefore caused the social unrest the Soviets are experiencing. By doing this, Stalin can convince the people that the Socialists are the bad guys and the Communists are just trying to make things better for everyone...ha yeah that's what they're doing.
Because this textbook excerpt bashes the Socialists and makes Stalin look like a little, innocent boy who's just trying to make a difference in the world, it proves that Stalin had the Soviets wrapped around his finger. But of course, I would not want to oppose this guy.
I was feeling sarcastic this evening=)
By
taylor, at Thursday, March 01, 2007 10:31:00 PM
And so the kind and benevolent Soviet Government/defender of humanity protected the good little peasants and workers from those evil fascists and capitalists. Nice.
The first argument were the paragraphs basically saying those who oppose the party are horribly evil people sitting in the corner sneering and thinking how they might contribute to the downfall of the country. The document also makes sure to note the reason why the dissenters from the party are so evil is due in no part to the party itself, but however to the dissenters own failings. The discriptions used are not merely trying to say those against the party are wrong, but are wretched, plutrid, nauseating, and generally the absolute scum of the earth.
The passage also made sure that the terms fascist and capitalist were basically the same, and pretty much covered anybody outside the party. Obviously reading material for good little soviets, Stalin is made seem as benevolent as possible.
By
laura, at Monday, March 05, 2007 9:02:00 PM
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