After the death of Vladimir Lenin began an era of socialist construction that would put Stalin’s vision of Russia would be shown to all of its citizens. During this time in Soviet history is where we truly see Stalinism and the collectivization of agriculture and building a modern industrialized economy at its peak. Human capitalism was its most precious commodity to build socialism in his vision of Russia, processing his citizens to become products of his socialist society.
The Stalin Constitution could be seen as revisionism in policy to secure the operational status of Russia’s main economic pillar, agriculture. Issues that rest in policy are a product of the reaction of its citizens, being that the constitution made it clear how consolidated power was within the government (Qian, 4). Change in the governments policy in regard to agriculture, led to social consequences of fear by the lower class. This resulted in a lack of confidence in productivity that would make agricultural supply sources short. Resistance and rebellion by the lower class were large in commonality to avoid further repression by the government, furthering the gap between government and citizens.
Famine and harsh working conditions were not merely undertones in the early to mid 1930s, they were catalysts that enabled the political intervention by the government. Essentially, implementing policy such as the Stalin Constitution are political examples of mending communism and socialist capitalism into one gigantic failure. The harsh reality sinks with the peasantry, as this era is garnered as a “war on class,” (Freeze, 343.) The effects of the Great Purges and Stalin Constitution rested its demise on the peasantry leaving the intelligentsia and nobility in a state of comfort. Stalin’s regime was a totalitarian force that used repressiveness as a manifestation to act on the collectivization of agriculture, and ultimately all of society. Labour camps affected millions of lower class citizens, the use of their small plots of land were consequentially bartered for equipment and profits made were rendered back to the government (Freeze, 347.) Resistance became a commonality signifying a calculated intensification on the war of survival under Stalin’s regime, and most of the time being defeated by their ruler.
Qian, Jingyuan. A Brief Research on 1936 Soviet Constitution under Joseph … 2 Feb. 2012, digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&context=macreview.
Freeze, Gregory L. Russia: A History Third Edition . Oxford University Press, 2009.
Max Ellis' Blog 
Hey, Max! Your article really makes me think whether its okay to essentially have a gigantic part of your population suffer to ensure the needs for all… I personally don’t think its okay but its still thought-provoking to understand Stalin’s motives. Also, this is the best post title I’ve ever seen.
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Hey Joy! Stalin utilized his citizens with utmost brutality to collectivize farmlands, and I felt like it was important to highlight this matter under his policy with the constitution. It’s a shame when looking at history knowing leaders of major countries would commit atrocities such as this. Glad you like the title!
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Thanks for this, Max! I agree with Joy — you are raising a really important issue about the use of coercion and the regime’s willingness to inflict massive suffering on the populace in the name of progress. What was it about the Stalin constitution that put agriculture on a more secure footing?
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Afternoon Dr. Nelson! Based on my research I found that Stalin used his military to ensure that the lower class was fulfilling his requirements in terms of maximizing the full capacity of growing food supplies. The use of military oversight created resistance by the lower class, and the confidence to keep up with Stalin’s demands diminished.
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First I really like the title, defiantly one of the best I have seen. Also, your post highlighted a crucial time after the death of Lenin. The manipulation used to control the lower class was made clear by your post and how this time was extremely difficult for the lower classes. Great read.
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Paul you really hit the nail on the head there. I’m glad you recognize how manipulative Stalin was able to control the lower class. Collectivizing farmlands and industrializing the country may have seemed great on paper, however the expense of the lower class was not worth it. Glad you like the title as well, thank you!
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Your post does a good job at giving an overview to Stalin’s consolidation of power and the targeting of the lower class. You begin to touch on some of the important impacts of the regimes “class warfare” and manipulation tactics.
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When I was researching information on this topic, putting together that this was basically a form of class warfare on the peasantry really struck my attention. The further I dug into it, the clearer it became that the Stalin’s regime would do anything to create their ‘vision’ of Russia. I appreciate your feedback!
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Hi Max!
I loved your post (and the title)! It’s interesting to reflect on Stalin’s willingness to let the Soviet people progress at the expense of an entire class, and a disadvantaged class at that. As you noted, any sign of a fight from the lower class was met with total repression, or in many cases, something worse.
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Hi Max. This blog showed the brutality of the Soviet Union. Due to the harshness of Stalin’s rule with the labor camps and purges, would people not resist him? I know that you mentioned that people did resist but were defeated but did the continued resistance force Stalin to make some changes in order to appease the citizens?
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Max, I enjoyed your post. It amazes me how long the tension lasted between the government and the peasants. Ever since we started the class in the late 19th century there has been chaos and mistrust between the two. I wonder why there wasn’t a second revolution in the 30s.
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