AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
Russia, 1917–1953 – Stalinism, politics and control, 1929–1941 (A-level…
Full specification wording
2N Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953 – Stalinism, politics and control, 1929–1941 (A-level only): Culture and society: church; women, young people and working men; urban and rural differences; 'socialist man' and the impact of cultural change; similarities and differences between Lenin's and Stalin's USSR
Under Stalin, Soviet society underwent profound cultural shifts aimed at creating the ideal 'socialist man'—a disciplined worker devoted to the state.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Under Stalin, Soviet society underwent profound cultural shifts aimed at creating the ideal 'socialist man'—a disciplined worker devoted to the state. The Church faced severe persecution to enforce state atheism. The 'Great Retreat' reversed progressive policies on women, promoting traditional family values, while young people were indoctrinated through the Komsomol. Working men faced strict labour discipline but were incentivised by the Stakhanovite movement. A stark urban-rural divide persisted, as industrialisation favoured cities while collectivisation devastated the countryside. Comparing Lenin and Stalin reveals continuity in authoritarian control but differences, such as Stalin's cultural conservatism versus Lenin's early radicalism.
What earns the marks
- Evaluate the impact of the 'Great Retreat' on women's lives, noting the shift from early Bolshevik emancipation to Stalinist pro-family policies.
- Assess the methods used to cultivate the 'socialist man', including education, the Komsomol, and socialist realism in culture.
- Analyse the differing experiences of urban and rural populations, highlighting the exploitation of the peasantry to fund urban industrialisation.
- Compare the social and cultural policies of Lenin and Stalin, identifying both ideological continuities and practical divergences.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming that Stalin completely eradicated religion.
Put it right: While severely repressed, religious belief persisted underground and the Church was later partially rehabilitated during the Second World War.
Assuming women were forced out of the workplace during the Great Retreat.
Put it right: Women were expected to fulfil a dual burden of both industrial labour and traditional domestic duties.
Stating that Lenin and Stalin had identical cultural policies.
Put it right: Lenin tolerated some avant-garde experimentation, whereas Stalin strictly enforced socialist realism.
Exam tips
- Use the concept of the 'Great Retreat' to structure arguments about social changes under Stalin compared to the 1920s.
- When discussing the 'socialist man', provide specific examples of propaganda, such as the Stakhanovite movement, to illustrate state expectations of working men.
- Explicitly compare Lenin and Stalin when evaluating the extent to which Stalinism was a continuation of Leninism in the cultural sphere.
Try the lesson
The start of the 2N Revolution and dictatorship: Russia, 1917–1953 – Stalinism, politics and control, 1929–1941 (A-level only): Culture and society: church; women, young people and working men; urban and rural differences; 'socialist man' and the impact of cultural change; similarities and differences between Lenin's and Stalin's USSR lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of the following best describes the shift in Soviet policy towards women and the family during the 1930s, often referred to as the 'Great Retreat'?
Listen
Under Stalin, Soviet society underwent profound cultural shifts aimed at creating the ideal 'socialist man'—a disciplined worker devoted to the state. The Church faced severe persecution to enforce state atheism. The 'Great Retreat' reversed progressive policies on women, promoting traditional family values, while young people were indoctrinated through the Komsomol. Working men faced strict labour discipline but were incentivised by the Stakhanovite movement. A stark urban-rural divide persisted, as industrialisation favoured cities while collectivisation devastated the countryside. Comparing Lenin and Stalin reveals continuity in authoritarian control but differences, such as Stalin's cultural conservatism versus Lenin's early radicalism. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Evaluate the impact of the 'Great Retreat' on women's lives, noting the shift from early Bolshevik emancipation to Stalinist pro-family policies. Assess the methods used to cultivate the 'socialist man', including education, the Komsomol, and socialist realism in culture. Analyse the differing experiences of urban and rural populations, highlighting the exploitation of the peasantry to fund urban industrialisation. Compare the social and cultural policies of Lenin and Stalin, identifying both ideological continuities and practical divergences. A common slip: Claiming that Stalin completely eradicated religion. Instead, while severely repressed, religious belief persisted underground and the Church was later partially rehabilitated during the Second World War. Exam tip: Use the concept of the 'Great Retreat' to structure arguments about social changes under Stalin compared to the 1920s.
See it
Key words
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Social control and indoctrination
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The urban-rural divide
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Ideological shifts and continuities
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The role of propaganda and culture
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See every definition
- Social control and indoctrination
- The state's moulding of young people and working men into the ideal 'socialist man', a disciplined worker devoted to the state, through education, the Komsomol and socialist realism.
- The urban-rural divide
- A stark divide in which industrialisation favoured cities while collectivisation devastated the countryside, exploiting the peasantry to fund urban industrialisation.
- Ideological shifts and continuities
- Comparing Lenin and Stalin reveals continuity in authoritarian control but differences, such as Stalin's cultural conservatism versus Lenin's early radicalism.
- The role of propaganda and culture
- The use of propaganda and culture, such as the Stakhanovite movement and socialist realism, to illustrate state expectations and cultivate the 'socialist man'.
Label the diagram
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