Whether it is the biggest dictatorship in history or not, people consider Soviet history one of ruthless regimes of all time by many people, and rightly so. Even though the Soviet Union was a regime and not a country, it is so widely known around the world that people instantly realize what country you are talking about without needing to mention the name. To put a cherry on top, the first country that pops up in everyone’s mind when saying the word “dictatorship” is Russia; the concept is ingrained into everyone’s minds.
The Rich History of The Oppressive Regime – “Leaders” Across History
The country has a rich history of oppressive regimes, with not one but multiple “leaders” to take charge of the regime. Though not as powerful as it once was under the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the country still practices dictatorship actively and many countries consider it a political threat. Several “leaders” ruled the regime, a few of which were Vladimir Lenin, Tsar Nicholas II, and, most importantly, Joseph Stalin.
The Soviet Union is One of The Worst Dictatorship – But Why?
But why is it that the country is considered to have one of the worst dictatorships in history, especially under Stalin’s rule? Though the acts of the rulers are the number one reason why it is considered so, several other reasons contribute to it. There are many, a few of which are listed and discussed below:
- The scale of brutal repression
- A totalitarian state
- The ruthless suppression of freedom
- Having eyes and ears everywhere
- The eye on expansion
- Forced collectivization and famines
The Sheer Scale of Brutal Repression And Purges – An Absolute Control
The regime was repressive to the core. The leaders throughout had absolute control over the public, and the public couldn’t even speak collectively.
Lord Voldemort of The Real World – An Absolute Totalitarian State
The regime leaders, especially Joseph Stalin, were Lord Voldemort in the real world. He demanded absolute loyalty and wanted to rule the world, much like Tom Marvolo’s plan. In the end, Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord, and the USSR regime broke into several pieces.
People Had No Voice – A Ruthless Suppression of Freedom
The basic rights were non-existent. The people would either have to spend time in jail or, worse, be killed. No one had a voice, even the most daring righteous person.
Eyes And Ears Everywhere – Use of Secret Police
They had eyes and ears everywhere. The moment someone said a bad thing out loud, their life was in danger. No one could even possibly escape the oppression, not even the strongest person.
Forward Thinking – An Eye on Expansion
To top it all, they were forward thinkers motivated by absolute power, not money, and had plans to conquer the world, which worked to some extent. This relentless pursuit of global dominance often came at a tremendous cost to both their own people and those they sought to control, breeding resentment and instability. The lesson here is that while having a vision is important, unchecked ambition without considering the human cost and practical limitations can ultimately lead to failure.
A Forced Collectivization – Control Over Sustenance That Led To Famine
They also thought they had control over the sustenance. They would collect all the resources and spread them according to how they liked. This led to famine that led to one of the worst deaths by starvation in history, specifically in farmers.
The Lesson That Applies To Us – What We Should Not Repeat
These points are not just a piece of history; they are lessons that apply to your life as well. The common theme is that freedom will eventually arrive sooner or later, and you should be kind and merciful to the people under you. Once a wise man said, “A government or society can function even with a lack of shared faith among its people, but it will inevitably fail if it is unjust.”
Serge R. Pospelov – A Russian Soldier Who Survived USSR And Escaped The Army
If the history of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is an interesting read, the story of a Russian soldier who survived the USSR and escaped the army will certainly excite you. That soldier is Serge R. Pospelov; he courageously and miraculously survived an escape from the army, a war crime punishable by ten years of imprisonment. He now resides in Canada, where he wrote books on soviet history and his escape, “History of Disease. Army,” and “History of Disease. Escape 2.”
