Ideologies

• Nature of autocracy/dictatorship:

  Similarities between Tsars and the Communists

  • Belief in the need for absolute control
  • Personalised power
• Nature of autocracy/dictatorship: 


  Differences between Tsars and the Communists

  • Tsars justification for autocratic control (god). Communists maintain control as inexperience of proletariat & historical inevitability.
  • Views of representative gov – Tsar fear dilution of power, communist fear parliament were bourgeoisie
  • Tsars weaknesses were inherited such as social issues of previous Tsar, communists were determined by social class & environmental.
• Methods of maintaining position

  Similarities

  • The use of repression to maintain control.
  • Use of reform to maintain control
• Methods of maintaining position

  Differences:

  • Use of church & religion for Tsar to maintain power of god. Communists pushed away religion.
• Attitude to reform:

  Similarities

  • Reluctant to allow openness & proliferation of freedoms. No political freedom.
• Attitude to reform:

  Differences

  • Reluctant to allow openness & proliferation of freedoms. No political freedom.
  • Communists not welcome as they maintained Bourgeoisie system.
• Alex II: 

  • Generally opted for a string of reforms which appeared to represent a dilution of autocracy
  • However, after an assassination attempt was made on him in 1866, he adhered very strongly to the concept of autocracy
• All the Tsars and Communists believed in the need for absolute control, however the intensity of this depended on each leader 
• Alex III:

  • 1881: Manifesto on Unshakeable Autocracy
  • More repressive form of autocracy, with opposition being ruthlessly suppressed
  • Heavily influenced by Pobedonovstsev
• Nich II:

  • 1905: Constitutional reforms were implemented, but these were forced on the Tsar following economic issues and the Russo-Japanese War. But, the effect of these reforms were diluted by the Fundamental Laws of 1906
• Under the Communists, Russia was governed by  dictatorship (or totalitarianism)
• Lenin:

  • Marxism-Leninism: Tsarist ‘superstructure had to be destroyed and replaced with bodies to ensure egalitarianism
  • Marx’s ‘Labour Theory of Value’ was used as justification for Lenin’s overthrowing of Tsarist rule
• Stalin:

  • 1928: Stalin moved Russia towards totalitarianism through a centralised economy and personalisation of the system (Stalin would be in sole control of the economy, society and politics)
  • Stalin was a megalomaniac - he did whatever was needed to gain and maintain absolute control, building a culture of fear
  • Totalitarianism is what Stalin believed Lenin was moving towards before his death
• Khrushchev:

  • Secret Speech (1956): revealed Lenin never wanted Stalin in power; Stalin had had not adequately prepared the USSR for WW2; Stalin had committed crimes against the Russian people; possible allies (e.g. Hungary) had been alienated by Stalin
  • Destalinisation: political prisoners released from the gulags; censorship was relaxed; Stalin’s Cult of personality was removed; policy of coexistence
• Synthesis:

  • All the Tsars and Communists believed in the need for absolute control, however the intensity of this depended on each leader 
  • Both Alex II and Nich II appeared to be more liberal and democratic, however this wasn’t completely true
  • Under the Communists, Russia was governed by a dictatorship (or by totalitarianism)