Repression in Russia in the period 1900-1929 Essay

Why did the rulers of Russia so often resort to repression in the period 1900-1929?Repression was aimd infra twain Nicholas 2 and the Bolshevistics to run the Russian population. The liberal methods employed preceding two governments (Alexander 2 and the Provisional establishment respectively) failed completely and discouraged any differentwise form of liberal or democratic controls. The strict extremist ideologies of some(prenominal) the czarist and Bolshevik regimes as well as necessitated violent repression to ensure total compliance. This was mandatory due to the major political upheavals taking place the decline of tzarism despite Nicholas determination to continue his autocratic rule and the rise of Bolshevism to set back it meant that some(prenominal) parties pauperisationed to take a very harsh line. This was exacerbated by the fact that neither party came to bureau with the legitimate vote of the habitual and so faced strong ambition that they wished to eliminate.Conflict, in the form of civilised state of war and the long War, was an apparent complication in both regimes. This make waterd extra economic disarray and companionable disruption, hindering the plans of the 2 major governments of this era. so this encouraged the use of repression in an attempt to resurrect the country and step-up their power. Further difficulties during this period were caused by Russias spacious term long problems, particularly the vast land land and a high role of distinct heathenish minorities causing a lack of cohesion and common sense of national identity. Bad communications and retardation of industrialisation meant poor social conditions which led to vocal rebellious groups requiring violent put downs i.e. repression. Russia, at this time, appeared contrary without resorting to repression and dictation.Repression was seeded by the lack of an alternative available to Russian rulers at this time. The Bolsheviks were further discourage d from democracy by the tribulation of the Provincial political relation after simply 6 months in 1917. The refusal of this government to use repression was highlighted by some of the reforms they underas wellk abolition of capital punishment and closure of the Okhrana (secret police) and the Cossacks. Lack of host support due to the Petrograd Soviet agreement made control harder as the problems left by the Tsar (economic collapse and rebellious minorities) could not be dealt with.The public began to realise that authority could be easily flouted without the threat of punishment. Consequently, Lenin earn that coercion was required to rule Russia and that repression through the Army could be achieved when his slogan All power to the Soviet was realised. Alexander 2, grandfather to Nicholas 2, was seen as the reforming Tsar- mainly due to his emancipation of the serfs in 1861. He was assassinated by a party representing these very people at the 7th much(prenominal) attempt. Ni cholas 2 realised (as the failure of the Provincial Government was to do for the Bolsheviks) that power was questi id when repression was not implemented.Although Lenin as well as used repression, the similarity in personalities between Nicholas 2 and Stalin meant that both used similar methods. both(prenominal) were intensely paranoid intimately the publics perception that they were weak. To disprove this, both resorted to violent restrictive tactics. Repression under Lenin was more(prenominal) calculated he talked of the coercion needed for the passing from capitalism to socialism.Both governments were autocratic and wished to impose extreme ideologies and thereof required total support which they believed was only achievable by quashing any emulation. Total control was to be achieved by the Tsars prophesy right to stupefy this and by the Bolsheviks through their classless, one party state. This was shown when Lenin forcibly disbanded the constitution in 1918, because th e Bolsheviks would not have had the mass vote they needed for the total control they sought. As a allow for Lenin became the leader of the only powerful party- the Communists. Later, Stalin increase his control through purges within his own government ensuring his role as the absolute leader reflecting the Tsars goal of omnipotence following the Fundamental Laws.The Tsar required repression of the peasantry (80% of the population) whereas the Bolsheviks faced opposition from the middle and upper classes. Tsarism relied heavily on religion (the Russian Orthodox Church/ROC) to control the people whereas the Bolsheviks saw this as a threat. The ROC taught that the Tsar was God on earth in an attempt to indoctrinate the peasantry to such an extent that they would do as he commanded. Important ministers were often associated with the Church e.g. Pobiedonotstev. After the downfall of Tsarism, Lenin proclaimed the red theory that religion was the opium of the people and proceeded to turn repression onto the church to rid Russia of this sensed powerful opponent to the communist system. Stalin continued the destruction of religion in Russia through the assassination of any cleric he felt had too much influence.The Tsar and the Bolsheviks both faced threatening opposition. The Tsars opponents ranged from the peasant-based Social Revolutionaries (who would later become the Bolsheviks opponents) to the Bolsheviks themselves supported by the working class. The failure of the 1905 revolution after the intervention of the Okhrana and phalanx showed that the Tsar could not have retained power without repression. The Okhrana were also used to rid Russia of revolutionaries such as Lenin himself.The Bolsheviks shared the problems caused by the ethnic minorities and their wish for independence. However, The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk weakened this opposition for the Bolsheviks after it eradicated 25% of Russian land mainly that trapping the minorities. Both regimes fac ed a wide range of opposition, prompting repression to remove the greatest threats such as the dissolution of the SR-dominated constitution in 1918. Lenin trim down the power of the elite by taking their property and institutions from them. Stalin continued and elongated the use of repression eliminating any minor threat, including members of the Communist Party in his Great PurgesConflict encouraged the rulers during this period to resort to repression. The Tsar faced the Russo-Japanese struggle and the Great War during his reign. The Bolsheviks had to contend with a Civil War. In both cases, repression was used to evoke loyalty and force unification. The Cossacks and Ohkrana were fundamental to the suppression of objectors to the Tsar, as were the Bolshevik equivalents, the Cheka.The Cheka aided Bolshevik victory in the Civil War and were then used by Lenin to forcibly take grain for the soldiers under the Grain Requisition Act despite the distress caused to the peasants. The Tsar also used repression to keep Russia fighting in the Great War including the silencing of anti-war parties and also opposition to the mandatory food rationing by a peckish people. Despite these efforts, war finally brought the downfall of Tsarism after mass desertion from the army effectively took away the last prop of the old regime. The Bolsheviks however, emerged successfully from the Civil War allowing them to consolidate their new-found power with the use of additional repression. decelerate Industrialisation was a long-term problem that is still felt by Russia today. The Tsar attempted to improve Russias industrial affluence whilst maintaining control by repressing the working classes to prevent them revolting. To do this, he prohibited trade unions and imprisoned the leaders. The Communists also attempted to improve Russias industrial situation- through the conversion from capitalism to communism. The Tsar sought support from other European countries whereas the Comm unists violently rejected this policy.This meant that the Communists required a greater take of forced force (i.e. repression) in order to cope without this aid. Stalin hoped to develop Russia into a superpower in his 5-year plans. This involved the use of the forced free labour of non-conformists who were imprisoned in labour campsites. The Kulaks (wealthy peasants) were among those sent to such a camp. collectivization was a re-introduction of the Grain Requisition and an attempt to revolutionise agriculture along Communist lines and resulted in starvation of the rural population. This repression of the peasantry was also evident in the Tsarist regime to prevent unrest.The long-term problems experienced by Russia at this time encouraged the use of repression as a means of control. The grand population spread over a vast land area meant that in addition to the communication problems caused by sheer size and the teemingness of minority groups, it was impossible for any governmen t to meet the demands made by all of the people. The Tsar attempted to deal with this through the administerment of Russfication and sending the army to eliminate any protesters e.g. in Uzbekistan. The Bolsheviks also faced the minority opposition with violent repression one thousand millions of Ukrainians were sent to forced labour camps by Stalin. Prejudice against ethnic groups was rife anti-Semitism caused repression of Jews under both Tsarist and Bolshevic regimes.Although it can be said that the governments of Nicholas 2, Stalin and to a lesser extent Lenin were repressive by nature, the need for control via repression was inherent within the set up of Russia. Until the fall of communism in Russia in the late 20th century, it was clearly evident that the more lenient governments, such as that of Alexander 2 and Provisional Government were less successful than the more repressive ones although they were hardly given peril to do well, so quick were some to take their place a t the first sign of weakness. This acted as an encouragement for the major governments between 1900-1929 to use the secret police, army and threat of imprisonment to deter opposition, repress the peasantry and enforce the ideologies of the government.Repression was imperative for both governments the Tsarist to cling to power and the Communists to snatch it from them. Both had many unpopular economic, political and social reforms to pass. War highlighted the problems of the country and the forepart of strong opposition against both governments. In the view of both it increased the need for repression to realign the economic and social structure. Under both regimes the cause and the effect of repression was the same it resulted in the death or displacement of many. Unfortunately, it was just a prelude to the terror that was to be experienced during the High-Stalinism of the 1930s. During this decade, 7 million died, mostly after being sent to a labour camp for failing to conform to the Communist ideal of collectivisation.