Also, the six characteristics of totalitarianism, and how Stalin
took power
 A system of government where
the state has complete power
over all aspects of a person’s
life
 Examples:
 Nazi Germany under Hitler
 Soviet Union under Stalin
 Italy under Mussolini
 Unites the people
 Encourages people to devote
themselves to the state
 Dominates the face of the
government
 Charismatic – attracts
people’s respect
 State uses force to crush all
opposition
 Targets certain segments of
the population
 Ethnic minorities
 Political opponents
 Intellectuals (i.e., the people
who might challenge the
regime)
 Ideology = system of
In your notes: What do you think
was Stalin’s ideology?
 Justifies government
 Communism – state ownership of
fixed beliefs
actions
 Glorifies the state
 Citizens are taught to
uncritically accept the
ideology
the means of production
 Criticized opponents as ‘enemies
of the proletariat’ (working class)
 The state controls all parts of life
 Business, labor, the economy
 Family life
 Youth groups
 Religion
 Education and the arts
 The interests of the state are
placed above the interests of
the individual
 Total lack of freedom and civil
liberties
 No concept of human rights or
protection for minorities
 Reliance on mass
communication to convey
propaganda
 Radio
 Television
 Continual bombardment with
propaganda
 Manipulation/control of the
media – government bans
criticism of the press
VLADIMIR LENIN
 Bolshevik revolutionary
 Leader of Russia, 1917-
1922
 Leader of USSR, 1922-1924
 Died 1924
 Pragmatic leader – focused
on restoring economy
before establishing
communism
JOSEPH STALIN
 Considered unrefined and rude
 Became Secretary-General of the
Communist Party in 1922
 Maneuvered into power after
Lenin’s death
 Dictator of USSR from 1928 until
his death in 1953