Key topic 4: Economic and social changes, 1924–41 - 4 The position of…

The idea

Under Stalin, the persecution of ethnic minorities was driven by the desire for centralisation, Russification, and fear of anti-Soviet nationalism, especially in border regions. Reasons included the need to secure borders against foreign invasion and to enforce collectivisation, which faced fierce resistance in areas like Ukraine. Features of this persecution included mass deportations of entire nationalities, the suppression of local languages and cultures, and the Holodomor (the man-made famine in Ukraine). Religious persecution also heavily impacted ethnic minorities, such as Muslims in Central Asia, whose mosques and Sharia courts were closed to enforce Soviet ideology.

What earns the marks

• Identify Stalin's fear of nationalism as a primary reason for persecuting ethnic minorities.
• Explain how resistance to collectivisation in regions like Ukraine led to targeted persecution, such as the Holodomor.
• Describe features of persecution, including mass deportations and the suppression of native languages in schools.
• Detail the religious persecution that accompanied ethnic suppression, such as the closure of mosques in Central Asia.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing Soviet persecution with Nazi racial policies.

  Put it right: Focus on Stalin's political and economic motives, such as anti-nationalism and collectivisation, rather than biological racism.

• Assuming persecution only meant execution.

  Put it right: Include cultural suppression, such as banning local languages and closing religious institutions.

• Ignoring the geographical aspect.

  Put it right: Specify that border regions and areas resisting collectivisation, like Ukraine, were targeted most heavily.

Exam tips

• Use the Holodomor in Ukraine as a specific, detailed example of how economic policies were used to persecute ethnic minorities.
• Link the persecution of ethnic minorities to Stalin's broader goals of Russification and securing his totalitarian dictatorship.
• When discussing features, ensure you cover both physical persecution, such as deportations, and cultural persecution, such as banning languages.