The Validation of the Totalitarian Theory

Paper Summary:

This paper examines whether totalitarianism is a reality or a concept which is purely fictional. The author discusses the concept and development of totalitarianism in Soviet society and the state, the development of totalitarian ideology, the power of the Communist Party, NKVD and their effects on society, political infrastructure and daily life. Stalin's reign is the most oft-cited example of totalitarianism and is extensively analyzed.

From the Paper:

"From 1928 to 1945, a system of government developed in the Soviet Union which many scholars have termed totalitarian. Josef Stalin, the General Secretary of the Communist Party, initiated policies and campaigns throughout this period which provided him with an unprecedented amount of control over such a large nation as the USSR. The first step was taken in 1928, when the forced collectivization of the countryside was begun. Rapid industrialization followed, mobilizing the urban population, so that the entire nation was put to the task of building a socialist utopia. In December of 1934, the Leningrad Party leader, Sergei Kirov, was assassinated. Whether Stalin was involved in his death or not, it is undisputable that he took advantage of his comrades death by initiating a purge which affected all levels of society, from the poor to the privileged, those in and out of the government, the military, and even the secret police, which was the main tool of carrying out the purges. Purging continued to some extent in 1939 and afterward when the Soviet Union went to war with Poland, Finland in 1940, and Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1945. In this time Stalin's control over the government bureaucracy and the people came to a climax, at which it remained until his death in 1953."

More papers on The Validation of the Totalitarian Theory:

• Argumentative Essay # 6528 : "Theories and Constants - A New Dawning in the Politics of the World"
• Analytical Essay # 27121 : "The Trajectory of the Novel: 1719-1960"
• Analytical Essay # 67756 : "The Movie Version of "The Turn of the Screw"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: