To begin with, the cult of Stalin grew with the people’s psychological want for a leader. Considering the Russian people as ‘Tsaristic’, he was seen to be a worshipped character that was dearly idolised by his people. Tsaristicness’ justified the cult in a way, as the Russian people had been exploited to a way of life which required loyalty and devotion to the cause found in a leader. However it went against the principle of Marxism. Although some records suggest that Stalin encouraged the cult, his daughter said that her father was particularly ‘embarrassed’ by the attention of the cult. To add to this, Stalin’s own hand in making Lenin a God like figure after his death saw the maturing of the cult as Stalin himself was considered the ‘Lenin of today’. Here he was exploited to the masses and gained popularity from wide areas of the USSR. Whilst the purges forced Russian people to act in the same way as their neighbours. By acting like their neighbours, they didnt seem under threat of doing something wrong and the ‘people had invested commitment in Stalin’ by realising what he was really like would have made ‘their commitment worthless’. In the suffering economic times faith in Stalin aided people to work through their lives in the hope of a better future.
Also, media was used to develop Stalin’s cult of personality. Heroic public imagery was used for propaganda purposes to help assist the betrayal of Stalin’s actual outlook. As, I am sure the public would not have regarded Stalin in the same way had they known of his domestic methods used in Georgia. However the propaganda created here to praise Stalin and make him a people loving person. Such methods called the cult of personality could be seen through the methods of cultural diversity and social realism-while they were used to honour Stalin.
Stalin oppressed the nation. Through the means of collectivisation and industrialisation he forced people into the state of oppression as they independently battled famine due to Stalin’s methods to modernise the state. Whilst he eliminated competition politically by purging his opponents. However this in the eyes of the Russian public was seen as a force for good, as
Stalin did not allow diversity economically; this is shown through Industrialisation and Collectivisation. He did not allow diversity politically or diversity culturally. Economically and politically Stalin wanted to crush diversity. Stalin thought that if there was a economic and political revolution then a cultural revolution should take place. He believed that culture should have a social or political form. Paintings, novels, operas, films etc all had to perform to the standard of Stalin. Terror did not just relate to politicians or workers, it was also artists and authors who deemed to be a danger to Stalin were purged, thus the beginning of Social Realism.
Social Realism was that when it came to art it should be understandable by everyone and should tell a story. Socialist Realism meant seeing life as it was becoming and as it was ought to be rather than what it was. Stalin saw artists as the industrial system because, they could products that benefit Stalin. Therefore, books, articles, paintings and theatre productions all idolised Stalin. This led to Stalin’s cult of personality and resulted in the people’s desire for a leader to worship. For example, newspapers were strictly controlled and were used to spread the Communist Party. Radio Stations were controlled by the government. Any new novels had to be conformed to Socialist Realism. All new films had to be personally approved by Stalin, lots of films promoted Stain and the Bolshevik party as being right. All these factors led to Stalin being worshipped.
However, for some people life did improve for them and they needed or wanted someone to thank. They believed policies such as education, great order, and Stalin’s work in rooting out enemies and fighting for victory in the Second World War were all works of genius and he should be rewarded.
