Theme 3 - Control of the people, 1917-85

How did the Soviet Government exercise control over the media, propaganda and religion?

State control of mass media and propaganda

Newspapers

• November 1917 - All non-socialist papers banned. By 1920s, non-Bolshevik papers banned
• Printing press nationalised. All editors and journalists members of the party
• Approval from Glavlit (cencorship office) needed
• Pravda and Izvestiya daily newspapers - basically propaganda
• Instilled party values and highlighted Soviet achievements
• Prohibited topics included government failure and natural disasters
• Local papers criticised local officials but never party leaders

Magazines

• Targeted specific audiences - farmers, soldiers, teachers etc.
• Sex, crime, religion all prohibited
• Gave accurate coverage of sport

Radio

• New development so easy to manipulate - no history of independance
• They mainly featured news and propaganda material, not music
• Too expensive so loudspeakers installed in public places. Allowed for mass participation
• Helped indoctrinate illiterate population
• Was a quick way of communication
• New apartment blocks wired up to government stations only
• Until 1964 there was only 1 Soviet radio station. Brezhnev made it 3
• Tried to stop foreign stations as theyt threatened compliance - limited range on radios

Television

• The number of televisions increased from the 1950s - became a key method
• Highlighted achievements of socialism and were mainly news, documentaries etc.
• Life under socialism presented as joyous, but under capitalism life was terrible
• Failed to excite population - only 2 channels by 1985
• Broadcast programmes in local languages - made it accessible

Results

• Helped conformity and indoctrination 
• People began to read between the lines - could detect when party officials in favour
• Hard to keep up censorship with the advances of technology

The personality cults of Stalin, Khrushchev and Brezhnev

Why was a cult of personality used?

• Used to reinforce the power of an individual leader to encourage conformity
• Also used to raise them above the collective leadership
• Lenin portrayed as hero of regime
• Following leaders used this cult to support their claim to be the legitamate heir of Lenin

The cult of Stalin

• Attempts made to link Stalin to Lenin - presented as Lenin's closest friend and a hero of the civil war - Trotsky removed from pictures
• 1925 - town of Tsaritsyn renamed Stalingard
• Slogan 'Stalin is the Lenin of today' circulated after Lenin's death
• 1930s - images of Stalin used to reinforce his power - impression of him being God-like
• Images portrayed Stalin as a father figure and defender of socialism
• Posters of him in military uniform common. Also photos of him that portrayed him as a worker, down-to-earth etc. common to make him more accessible
• Official biographies revinvented his early life and portrayed his role as essential in revolution
• Gathered title and honours ('Brilliant Genius of Humanity')
• Poets praised Stalin in poetry
• Records of Stalin's speeches distributed widely
• Statues erected that portrayed Stalin as huge
• Films made to exxaggerate Stalin's achievements
• By 1940s, his cult differed from his real personality greatly
• By 1950s, many towns had been named after Stalin
• Stalin's cult was not entirely fake - people saw him as a benefactor…