Notes for Consolidation and maintenance: Stalin's legal methods - IB | RevisionDojo
Consolidation and maintenance: Stalin's legal methods Notes
Consolidation and Maintenance: Legal methods
Stalin
Official structure:
The USSR was a socialist state guided by Marxist-Leninist principles, with a federal constitution (1922, revised 1936).
In theory, power flowed through Soviets up to Sovnarkom.
Reality:
Authority rested with the Communist Party, especially the Politburo. Party membership was required for state office, ensuring Party dominance.
Centralization:
By the late 1930s, decision-making had narrowed to Stalin and a small inner circle (Molotov, Mikoyan, Beria, Malenkov).
Even the Politburo functioned as a rubber stamp.
Key feature:
Instead of workers’ democracy, Stalin’s regime became a highly centralized dictatorship, with power concentrated in Stalin’s hands.
Note
General Secretary (1922–1953): Stalin never stepped down, transforming the role from administrative to the central post of authority by controlling Party membership and appointments.
Head of Government (from 1941): As Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars, he oversaw the executive branch and directed the war effort.
Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces: Took personal command of the Red Army during WWII, adding military power to his political dominance.
Result: Stalin centralized political, governmental, and military control around himself, creating an unparalleled concentration of power.
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What was the official structure of the USSR?
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Note
The Soviet Union under Stalin was officially structured as a federal socialist state guided by Marxist-Leninist principles. The 1922 Constitution, later revised in 1936, established a system where power theoretically flowed from local Soviets up to the central government.
The highest legislative body was the Supreme Soviet, while the executive branch was the Council of People's Commissars (Sovnarkom).
In theory, this structure was meant to represent a workers' democracy where power originated from the people.
DefinitionSovietsLocal councils theoretically representing workers, peasants, and soldiers in the Soviet political system.
AnalogyThink of the official structure like a company where employees elect managers, who then elect executives - in theory, power flows from the bottom up.
