Charisma and propaganda in Joseph Stalin's rise to power

Charisma leader-Joseph Stalin

Joseph Stalin was one of the most atrocious personalities of the world's history. His desire for power led to the destruction and death of millions of people and families.

His rise to power is the result of the convergence of a series of factors, such as the social environment in post tsarist Russia, the difficult economic situation and the sudden political transition to socialism. At the same time, Stalin's political career was the outcome of a well-established propaganda apparatus, which allowed him to promote his image, increase popular suggestions, and go on with constant political persecutions of his adversaries.

Explanation of the Philosophy

Stalin's rise to power was achieved by promoting a charismatic allure. Charisma implies a deep attention to the needs of those around, and an unusual capacity to perceive the current circumstances. (Changing Minds.org 2007)

Charisma is also established by making appeal to the historical traditions of a people and a charismatic person becomes a leader when he succeeds in rallying the community around a common national symbol or ideology. (Changing Minds.org 2007) the situation in the Russian society following the defeat in World War I demanded a rebirth of the national identity and pride. Stalin in his quest for power achieved that.

Conditions for Stalin's political career rise

The framework that determined Stalin's rise was the poor social situation in Russia, after the ousting of the Tsar. There was major discontent among the population, as they saw the ruling family enjoying luxury during the War, while soldiers were dying on the front. (Van Ree 2002) This led to the Bolshevik Revolution, which promoted equal right to all citizens

The sudden political shift from an empire to a republic created confusion among the population and the political elites as well. This in turn, favored the rise of Stalin, at first in Lenin's shadow, to gradually retain the entire political control.

The economic situation was as well an important factor in Stalin's constant ascent to power. Lenin's approach to the dramatic situation facing post war Russia was, in Stalin's perception, too mild, and therefore, a failing one. Thus, he appealed to the discontented masses and proposed a full industrialization of the country as a solution for the growing economic problems facing the country. He advanced the NEP as the new economic strategy. (Tucker 1990)

Conclusion

Joseph Stalin was the result of the era he lived in. The social, political, and economic background of his time were favorable for a drastic change in regime. Socially, the population was disappointed by the tsarist rule and the moderate Bolsheviks, politically, the change in regime from monarchy to republicanism proved to be too sudden, and in economic terms, the post war situation had created a large segment in the society that opposed the current economic strategy, demanding firmer action.

Stalin's means to reach power involved propaganda, manipulation, and political persecutions. Propaganda was aimed at advertising his image as a messianic leader, manipulation involved actions meant to influence the collective mentality of the population, while political persecutions tried to eliminate any democratic opposition.

Stalin's rise to power came on the background of the population's various disappointments, but, although he promised the population a better future, he only brought them and the world drama and destruction.