The Dictatorship of Joseph Stalin: The Power of Propaganda

The Total Rule of Joseph Stalin

Russia is one of the leading powers of the world today, but during World War 1, they abandoned the war because of their losses. Somehow, Russia was able to recover from the losses and industrialize, because of Joseph Stalin. During the 1930’s, people of Russia regarded Stalin as a marvelous successor of Lenin, the successful communist leader, guiding them to the power they have today. The Russians supported Stalin, because defiance met death, while Stalin’s propaganda moved people to trust him. In order to help Russia, Stalin used communism and advertising tactics such as putting Russia first, and acting as a god, to reinforce his authority while ruling as a dictator in Russia.

One way that Stalin reinforced his authority was through using the concept of communism. Stalin made a speech in November 3, 1929, where he speaks to Russians about industrialization, and how they, as a nation, need to industrialize. The speech talks about how they need to leave the old, primitive Russia, for a modern, better Russia, while treading the socialism path. Stalin makes a wise choice in industrialization for Russia, and he promotes it through his speech. He also advocates Marx’s communist ideas, like socialism, where capitalism is soon replaced with communism. Stalin has influence with his speeches only because of his way of relating him with Lenin, who Stalin made a cult for.

Lenin was an important man because he replaced the dictator czars who misled the country, while Stalin wanted to emphasize that he is similar to Lenin. In Russia, posters of Stalin were common, and one of them shows Stalin with Lenin in the background over a war scene. Lenin’s banner on the poster brings out the emotions in Russians who the czars oppressed, because Lenin is their savior from the evil dictators. When Lenin is on a poster with Stalin, Stalin seems trustable as well, and the two lead soldiers together, showing their teamwork. To not like Stalin on the poster would mean not supporting Lenin as well, who is the hero of the Russians. Stalin now emphasizes through these two propaganda techniques that he is a godlike figure, but this instills a fear, so Stalin also puts himself closer to the people becoming friends with them.

To remove fear from the population, Stalin becomes friendly with them. A picture that advocates Stalin in a friendly way with the people, shows Stalin talking to people on a similar level. He motivationally speaks to them, while everybody is smiling like he is a friend who they can trust and support. Because of this friendliness Stalin displays on the picture, Russian citizens are more eager to support him, because he does not seem like a dictator. Stalin acts as a motivational speaker who instills inspiration, not fear, and this allows him to lead a productive communist Russia.

With Stalin’s propaganda and communist leadership, Russia obtained a leader that put them into the top global powers of today. Through advocating communism, supporting lenin, and befriending the people, Stalin united the Russians and acted as a godlike leader. The posters and speeches he made turned himself to the second Lenin in the eyes of Russians. This proves Stalin’s propaganda plans were beneficial and function well enough to allow Russia to become powerful. The reason Russia industrialized and came back from their losses in World War 1, is Joseph Stalin, the second Lenin and a communist Dictator.