Soviet Union - Past Questions
2024
How accurate is it to say that, in the years 1917–28, Bolshevik control of the mass media
and propaganda was the main reason for the consolidation of the Soviet regime?
Mass media and Economic policies Terror/dealing with
propaganda opposition
- Printing press was - Economic policies were an - Lenin dissolved the
nationalised and opposition incredibly vital part of the constituent assembly after
parties’ papers were banned consolidation of the regime. one meeting following the
- Trud, Izvestya and Pravda - The Civil War victory can SR’s landslide victory (½ the
were all given out extremely almost be single handedly popular vote)
cheaply/free, ensuring high attributed to the - In 1921, 5000 mensheviks
readership effectiveness of War were arrested, effectively
- These contained the Communism: with the soviet putting an end to their party
successes of socialism, state as a whole being and unifying marxist
glorifying achievements etc. physically attacked by communists under one party
- 65% illiteracy in 1918 numerous armed (the Bolsheviks)
meant the Bolsheviks used opponents, even Western - Moreover, the use of terror
radio as a tool of nations, drastic measures through Felix Dzerzhinsky
propaganda - loudspeakers were required. and the Cheka ensured that
were placed in public - The requisition squads throughout the tough
places, factories etc. which ensured the 5m strong red economic conditions,
allowed for a constant, army was sufficiently fed, dissidence was limited.
mandated stream of whilst the bans on striking, - This continued throughout
propaganda - by 1921, labour armies and and after the civil war, eg.
Moscow had a ‘communist saturdays’ Red Terror 1921-22,
well-equipped broadcasting enabled the army to be 200,000 killed by Cheka
station consistently supplied with
munitions and equipment. On balance, it is apparent
On balance, control of the - Similarly, NEP played an that Terror was a crucial
mass media and equally important role in the factor in dealing with the
propaganda was stabilisation of the regime regime, particularly as it
undoubtedly a majorly following the suffering seen underpinned other ways
useful tool, particularly under WC/the Civil War. which consolidated the
radio. However, the chaos of - It generated an agricultural regime, especially economic
the formative years of the surplus, and allowed for a policies. Therefore, it is a
USSR meant other, more more mixed economy, which very important reason.
intensive methods of the was appropriate for the
control were more conditions following the civil
important. war.
Therefore, there is strong
weight to the argument that
economic policies were the
main reason for the
consolidation of the regime.
They acted as reactionary
forces to mould to the
rapidly changing nature of
2024
How accurate is it to say that, in the years 1917–28, Bolshevik control of the mass media
and propaganda was the main reason for the consolidation of the Soviet regime?
Mass media and Economic policies Terror/dealing with
propaganda opposition
- Printing press was - Economic policies were an - Lenin dissolved the
nationalised and opposition incredibly vital part of the constituent assembly after
parties’ papers were banned consolidation of the regime. one meeting following the
- Trud, Izvestya and Pravda - The Civil War victory can SR’s landslide victory (½ the
were all given out extremely almost be single handedly popular vote)
cheaply/free, ensuring high attributed to the - In 1921, 5000 mensheviks
readership effectiveness of War were arrested, effectively
- These contained the Communism: with the soviet putting an end to their party
successes of socialism, state as a whole being and unifying marxist
glorifying achievements etc. physically attacked by communists under one party
- 65% illiteracy in 1918 numerous armed (the Bolsheviks)
meant the Bolsheviks used opponents, even Western - Moreover, the use of terror
radio as a tool of nations, drastic measures through Felix Dzerzhinsky
propaganda - loudspeakers were required. and the Cheka ensured that
were placed in public - The requisition squads throughout the tough
places, factories etc. which ensured the 5m strong red economic conditions,
allowed for a constant, army was sufficiently fed, dissidence was limited.
mandated stream of whilst the bans on striking, - This continued throughout
propaganda - by 1921, labour armies and and after the civil war, eg.
Moscow had a ‘communist saturdays’ Red Terror 1921-22,
well-equipped broadcasting enabled the army to be 200,000 killed by Cheka
station consistently supplied with
munitions and equipment. On balance, it is apparent
On balance, control of the - Similarly, NEP played an that Terror was a crucial
mass media and equally important role in the factor in dealing with the
propaganda was stabilisation of the regime regime, particularly as it
undoubtedly a majorly following the suffering seen underpinned other ways
useful tool, particularly under WC/the Civil War. which consolidated the
radio. However, the chaos of - It generated an agricultural regime, especially economic
the formative years of the surplus, and allowed for a policies. Therefore, it is a
USSR meant other, more more mixed economy, which very important reason.
intensive methods of the was appropriate for the
control were more conditions following the civil
important. war.
Therefore, there is strong
weight to the argument that
economic policies were the
main reason for the
consolidation of the regime.
They acted as reactionary
forces to mould to the
rapidly changing nature of
