The rise and rule of The rise and rule of Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin

A background to George A background to George Orwell’s workOrwell’s work

Karl Marx Karl Marx (May 1818-March 1883)(May 1818-March 1883)

MarxismMarxism

Marx – father of socialist ideas; sees the Marx – father of socialist ideas; sees the world through purely economic lensworld through purely economic lens

1848, 1848, The Communist Manifesto The Communist Manifesto Capitalism is oppressing the common workerCapitalism is oppressing the common worker Goal is to make $ and grows uncheckedGoal is to make $ and grows unchecked Industry will eventually become a large Industry will eventually become a large

conglomerate, further oppressing the workerconglomerate, further oppressing the worker

Marxism, cont.Marxism, cont.

As a result of unchecked capitalism:As a result of unchecked capitalism: Workers will revolt, est. a TEMPORARY Workers will revolt, est. a TEMPORARY

dictatorshipdictatorship Dictatorship dissolve businesses, return Dictatorship dissolve businesses, return

assets to the workersassets to the workers Once worker has control, needs Once worker has control, needs

addressed, dictatorship dissolve as no addressed, dictatorship dissolve as no longer need gov’t structureslonger need gov’t structures

The problem with MarxismThe problem with Marxism

Marx does not account for the Marx does not account for the dramatic change in the change in dramatic change in the change in working conditions, etc. as a result of working conditions, etc. as a result of advocacy (trust busting, unionization, advocacy (trust busting, unionization, labor reform, etc.)labor reform, etc.)

Also does not account for the human Also does not account for the human desire for power, controldesire for power, control When you are a dictator, why would you When you are a dictator, why would you

give up the power???give up the power???

Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin(April 1870 – January 1924)(April 1870 – January 1924)

The rise of LeninThe rise of Lenin

Lenin takes the theoretical ideas of Marx and Lenin takes the theoretical ideas of Marx and turns them into a political movementturns them into a political movement

Exiled by Tsar Nicholas for political activism Exiled by Tsar Nicholas for political activism – returns to Russia after 1917 Revolution– returns to Russia after 1917 Revolution

Leader of the Bolshevik Party which takes Leader of the Bolshevik Party which takes over after Revolution, creating socialist stateover after Revolution, creating socialist state Social reforms include: nationalizing industry, Social reforms include: nationalizing industry,

providing healthcare, providing educationproviding healthcare, providing education

Trotsky vs. StalinTrotsky vs. Stalin

The beginningThe beginning

Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin were both Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin were both protégés of Leninprotégés of Lenin

Trotsky was leader of the military and Trotsky was leader of the military and Stalin was Bolshevik Party SecretaryStalin was Bolshevik Party Secretary

Trotsky, more moderate. Saw duty to Trotsky, more moderate. Saw duty to spread communism to the worldspread communism to the world

Stalin wanted strong communist state, Stalin wanted strong communist state, which included the limitation of freedoms, which included the limitation of freedoms, rights – too Westernrights – too Western

Death of Lenin, rise of StalinDeath of Lenin, rise of Stalin

Lenin dies in 1924Lenin dies in 1924 Secretly selected Trotsky as his successor Secretly selected Trotsky as his successor

as Lenin felt Stalin was too violentas Lenin felt Stalin was too violent Stalin raises the party against Trotsky and Stalin raises the party against Trotsky and

has Trotsky exiled to Mexico in 1927has Trotsky exiled to Mexico in 1927 During the Great Purges of 1936-1938, During the Great Purges of 1936-1938,

Trotsky publicly spoke out against StalinTrotsky publicly spoke out against Stalin

Murder of Trotsky:Murder of Trotsky:Ice pick through skullIce pick through skull

Stalin: DictatorStalin: Dictator

Stalin takes over as leader of Russia Stalin takes over as leader of Russia from late 1924 to his death in March, from late 1924 to his death in March, 19531953

Begins his rule by overhauling the basic Begins his rule by overhauling the basic structures, sets unrealistic goals:structures, sets unrealistic goals: Collectivization of lands for agriculture Collectivization of lands for agriculture

results in massive famine, esp. in Ukraineresults in massive famine, esp. in Ukraine Public works projects (roads, canals) cost Public works projects (roads, canals) cost

hundreds of thousands of liveshundreds of thousands of lives

Stalin: Total controlStalin: Total control

Fear – use of torture and gulagsFear – use of torture and gulags Under Stalin, state controls:Under Stalin, state controls:

EmploymentEmployment HousingHousing Faith (there is none)Faith (there is none) EntertainmentEntertainment CommunicationCommunication

The Great PurgeThe Great Purge1936-19381936-1938

During this period, Stalin was During this period, Stalin was determined to rid Russia of all determined to rid Russia of all “enemies”“enemies”

More than 2 million of his own people More than 2 million of his own people were tried and executed by the were tried and executed by the state, often admitting to false crimes state, often admitting to false crimes under tortureunder torture

Millions more sent to gulags (work Millions more sent to gulags (work camps) in Siberia to work to deathcamps) in Siberia to work to death

GulagGulag

Stalin: Above the horrorStalin: Above the horror

Even though Stalin Even though Stalin was the cause of was the cause of the horror in the horror in Russia, through Russia, through carefully crafted carefully crafted propaganda, he propaganda, he remained the remained the adored leader of adored leader of RussiaRussia

Death of StalinDeath of Stalin

Stalin died on Stalin died on March 7, 1953March 7, 1953

Millions came to Millions came to pay their respectspay their respects

Under his rule, Under his rule, approximately 10 approximately 10 million people died, million people died, not including the not including the 20 million killed 20 million killed during WWIIduring WWII

Post-StalinismPost-Stalinism

Nikita Khrushchev, Stalin’s Nikita Khrushchev, Stalin’s successor, spoke out against the successor, spoke out against the tactics used by Stalin to harm the tactics used by Stalin to harm the Russian people; considered it a Russian people; considered it a violation of Lenin’s plan for Russiaviolation of Lenin’s plan for Russia

Russia remained a communist state Russia remained a communist state until 1991until 1991

George OrwellGeorge Orwell(June 1903 – January 1950)(June 1903 – January 1950)

Orwell: the early yearsOrwell: the early years

Born Eric Blair to aristocratic parents in IndiaBorn Eric Blair to aristocratic parents in India Attended school in the UK but failed out of Attended school in the UK but failed out of

college; joined the Indian Imperial Police and college; joined the Indian Imperial Police and was sent to Burma (modern day Myanmar)was sent to Burma (modern day Myanmar)

Felt the British were oppressing the Burmese by Felt the British were oppressing the Burmese by not allowing them to develop economicallynot allowing them to develop economically

Returned to UK on leave in 1927 and decided to Returned to UK on leave in 1927 and decided to resign from policeresign from police

Began writing and teachingBegan writing and teaching

Orwell: the socialistOrwell: the socialist

While conducting research for a novel The While conducting research for a novel The Road to Wigan Pier, Orwell was exposed to Road to Wigan Pier, Orwell was exposed to the depressed working-class of Englandthe depressed working-class of England

This experience crystallized his feelings This experience crystallized his feelings towards socialismtowards socialism

In 1936 when the Spanish Civil War broke In 1936 when the Spanish Civil War broke out, Orwell went to Spain to fight against out, Orwell went to Spain to fight against Franco’s forces and support the socialist Franco’s forces and support the socialist efforts in Spainefforts in Spain

Orwell allied himself with the Workers Orwell allied himself with the Workers Party of Marxist UnificationParty of Marxist Unification

Orwell in actionOrwell in action

Orwell saw action in Orwell saw action in numerous places, numerous places, including the street including the street fights of Barcelonafights of Barcelona

In May, 1937, Orwell In May, 1937, Orwell was shot in the throat was shot in the throat by a sniper, which just by a sniper, which just missed his main missed his main artery. His voice is artery. His voice is damaged and he is damaged and he is declared medically declared medically unfit for serviceunfit for service

Orwell: the political writerOrwell: the political writer

Orwell returned from Spain in 1938 just as the UK Orwell returned from Spain in 1938 just as the UK was entering into warwas entering into war

Orwell found a job at the BBC where her reported Orwell found a job at the BBC where her reported and put together programming for India to combat and put together programming for India to combat the Nazi propaganda designed to rip the British the Nazi propaganda designed to rip the British empire apartempire apart

He also was a member of the Home Guard, which He also was a member of the Home Guard, which he saw as a “People’s militia”he saw as a “People’s militia”

He quit after two years, in part to finish He quit after two years, in part to finish Animal Animal FarmFarm, which was published in Britain in August, , which was published in Britain in August, 19451945

Nineteen Eighty-fourNineteen Eighty-four was published in 1949 was published in 1949