The Party how did Stalin exercise political control?Phillips p92-961. Describe Lenins ideas on the nature of the Soviet State Stalin saw himself as the continuer of Lenins work; someone who would ensure the achievements of Lenin were safeguarded from the attacks of counter-revolutionaries. This theme is evident in much of Stalins work and was used to justify the nature of the Stalinist state (collectivisation, the Five-Year Plans and the use of terror) Lenin had made it clear that the move from capitalism to socialism would need to involve the creation of a Dictatorship of the Proletariat This would be a temporary stage where the Bolsheviks would take over political and economic power on behalf of the proletariat After counter-revolutionaries were dealt with, the State would no longer be needed As society becomes based on cooperation, the govt would wither away This is the true Communist view envisioned by Marx.

2. Construct a diagram to explain how Stalin exercised absolute political control over the Soviet Union