Methods to maintain power

USSR

The Great Terror

The Great Terror of 1937 was a brutal political campaign led by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin to eliminate dissenting members of the Communist Party and anyone else he considered a threat. Although estimates vary, most experts believe at least 750,000 people were executed during the Great Terror, which started around 1936 and ended in 1938. More than a million survivors were sent to Gulags. This ruthless and bloody operation caused rampant terror throughout the Soviet Union and impacted the country for many years.

Was it Sucsefull?

During Stalin's reign, the great terror eliminated nearly all oposition and insured Stalin stayed in power. After the death of Stalin, Krushchev's secreat speach denounced the great terror as evil, and krushchev's leadership moved away from the old Stalinist ideals.

China

Cultural revolution

The Cultural Revolution had multiple stated purposes. Including the goal of preserving communist ideology and purging elements considered to be counter-revolutionary or bourgeois from Chinese society. The revolution aimed to reassert Mao’s dominance within the communist party and to reinvigorate revolutionary fervour among the population.

Was it sucsesfull?

The Cultural Revolution was achieved to a certain extent by 1970. By that time there were several significant outcomes of the Cultural Revolution which had been achieved. These outcomes were the Consolidation of Mao’s power, redistribution of power, and mobilisation of the masses. The reason why it did not fully succeed by 1970 is because the full impact on Chinese society and politics continued to unfold beyond 1970, and this period was plagued by in-fighting between splintered groups. So while significant progress had been made towards its goal by 1970, the Cultural Revolution was an ongoing process with lasting consequences.

Spain

Treatment of oppositions

In the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Franco's regime employed brutal tactics to eliminate opposition. This included the use of secret police forces like the notorious "Gestapo Española" (Spanish Gestapo) and "Brigada Político-Social" (Political-Social Brigade), which were tasked with identifying, arresting, and punishing perceived enemies of the regime. According to historical estimates, over 100,000 people were executed during Franco's dictatorship, with tens of thousands more imprisoned or forced into exile for their political beliefs. The repression extended to all facets of society, with intellectuals, artists, and academics also targeted for their perceived opposition to Franco's regime.

Was it sucsefull?

Franco's use of force and repression was effective in suppressing immediate opposition during his dictatorship. The brutal tactics employed by his regime, including executions, imprisonments, censorship, and intimidation, created a climate of fear that stifled dissent and resistance.

USSR

Five year plan

China

Land reform

Spain

Treatment of women and minorities

USSR

Control media

The state-controlled media served as a tool of propaganda, disseminating official propaganda while suppressing alternative viewpoints.

Propaganda played a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and maintaining the hegemony of the Communist Party.

Pravda ("Truth") was the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and served as a mouthpiece for party propaganda, disseminating official party policies and narratives.

Propaganda campains

USSR implemented many different propagandas to promote USSR and implemented the idea of the "evil" western

The Soviet regime consistently depicted capitalism as exploitative and morally bankrupt. Propaganda posters and films often portrayed capitalists as greedy oppressors who exploited the working class for their own gain. For example, posters depicted fat capitalists lounging in luxury while emaciated workers toiled in factories.

Propaganda campaigns highlighted the achievements of the Soviet Union in various fields, including industry, science, and culture.

Soviet propaganda often distorted or falsified historical events to fit the party's narrative. For example, the role of the Soviet Union in World War II was exaggerated, while the atrocities committed by the regime, such as the Holodomor famine in Ukraine or the purges of the Great Terror, were downplayed or denied altogether.

China

Little red book

The "Little Red Book" is a book of quotations and statements from Mao Zedong. It was first published in 1964 during the Cultural Revolution, a tumultuous period in China's history marked by intense political and social upheaval. It was intended to promote Mao Zedong Thought and cultivate loyalty to the Communist Party and its leader

It played a crucial role in promoting Mao's cult of personality and fostering loyalty to the Communist Party. The book was over distributed in schools, workplaces, and public spaces, and its quotations were often recited in political meetings and rallies.

the Communist Party aimed to indoctrinate the population with Maoist ideology and consolidate its hold on power. The simplicity of its language and the passionate tone of its messages helped inspire support for Mao's leadership and his vision of China's socialist transformation.

The "Little Red Book" played a significant role in shaping political consciousness in China during Mao's rule, although its influence has diminished considerably since then. Nonetheless, it remains a symbol of Maoist ideology and a historical artifact of China's revolutionary past.

This widespread dissemination ensured that Maoist ideology permeated all levels of Chinese society, shaping the political consciousness of generations of Chinese citizens.

Quotations from the book were used to inspire mass mobilization campaigns, such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, which aimed to rapidly transform China's economy and society according to Maoist principles.

100 Flowers campaign

The 100 Flowers campaign was a movement launched in 1956 by the CP under the leadership of Mao Zedong. The campaign was initially presented as a means to promote intellectual diversity and encourage criticism of the party's policies.

At the beginning The campaign was met with well-founded suspicion, and in the early stages, intellectuals were careful not to point blame at the central government for fear of retribution. People were reluctant to raise concerns as they were not clear on what 'forms' of free speech were permissible. The first months of the 100 flowers campaign brought some discussion but it was not enough to prompt further discussion.

Classrooms were emptied as students expressed their criticisms in the form of big-character posters pasted on university buildings and in classrooms; [...] they put particular emphasis on reducing the power of Party committees in the universities and eliminating Soviet influences in education. (Meisner pg 179)

At the end In the summer of 1957, the 100 flowers campaign was terminated due to increased dissent and criticism of the party as well as alternative models that urged the CP to share its power. A stark 180 was taken leading to a crackdown on those who had spoken out during the campaign. This led to the Anti-Rights Movement.

Spain

Fascist symbole

Francoist propaganda often employed fascist aesthetics, including nationalist symbols such as the Spanish flag and the Falangist emblem (yoke and arrows). These symbols were used to evoke a sense of national unity and pride among the population.

By tightly controlling the media and censoring dissenting voices, the regime effectively limited the spread of alternative narratives and maintained a monopoly on information dissemination. This allowed Francoist propaganda to dominate public discourse and shape popular perceptions of the regime.

Newspapers and publication

Newspapers and Publications: The regime heavily censored newspapers and magazines, ensuring that only content supportive of Franco and his regime was published. Criticism of the government or advocacy for political ideologies opposed to Francoism, such as communism or anarchism, was strictly forbidden

the use of fascist aesthetics and nationalist symbols in Francoist propaganda was largely successful in evoking a sense of national unity and pride among certain segments of the population.

Symbols such as the Spanish flag and the Falangist emblem (yoke and arrows) carried powerful connotations of Spanish nationalism, strength, and tradition. These symbols were deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of the Spanish people and were associated with notions of national identity and pride.
The use of nationalist symbols appealed to people's emotions and sense of belonging to a greater community. By associating the regime with these symbols, Francoist propaganda tapped into feelings of patriotism and loyalty to the Spanish nation, fostering a sense of unity and solidarity among supporters of the regime.

USSR

Staline CL

Stalin's image was elevated to almost god-like status through the creation of a cult of personality. Propaganda depicted him as a wise and benevolent leader, with posters, statues, and artwork portraying him as a strong and fatherly figure guiding the Soviet people.

talin was portrayed as a man of the people, often depicted engaging in activities that emphasized his connection to the working class, such as visiting factories, farms, and construction sites. This helped to cultivate an image of him as a leader who understood and cared for the needs of ordinary citizens.

Stalinist Propaganda

Stalinist propaganda refers to the propaganda methods and materials employed during the rule of Joseph Stalin, who was the leader of the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. Stalinist propaganda was a tool used by the Soviet regime to shape public opinion, control the narrative, and maintain Stalin's cult of personality.

China

Mao CL

Mao Zedong's charismatic leadership was indeed extensively used in propaganda during his tenure as the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Republic of China.

Mao was portrayed as a larger-than-life figure, often depicted as a heroic leader who embodied the aspirations of the Chinese people. His image was widely circulated in posters, paintings, and other forms of visual propaganda, portraying him as a visionary leader and the father of the nation.

Spain

Franco CL

Franco cultivated a strong cult of personality around himself, portraying himself as the savior of Spain from communism and anarchy during the Civil War. He was often depicted as a strong, paternalistic figure who brought stability and order to the country.

Franco, as a general, relied heavily on the support of the military to maintain power. He purged potential rivals within the military and promoted loyalists to key positions, ensuring that the armed forces remained firmly under his control.