Russian History (Essay Sample)

Russian History Student Name Institutional Affiliation Course Number, Name Instructor Due Date 1 Principles of the Soviet Nationality Policies The Soviet Union had a significant role in shaping history, global politics, ideology, and culture in the 20th Century. Its nationality policies during the first decade after the October Revolution were driven by several major principles. One of the key principles was the right to self-determination. Led by Lenin, the Bolsheviks advocated for the right of nations to freely secede politically. He did not immediately champion the exercise because he believed that political and economic advantages in a socialist state would persuade minority nations to remain a part of the large state. Practically, the right to self-determination only served as a tool to gather support for the revolution of socialism, but it did not have much impact on Soviet states. It is evident that Lenin’s ideas were popularly embraced in Russia. Vertrov’s Three Songs About Lenin is a film that shows admiration for Lenin and how his ideas transformed Russia. It skillfully blends visuals, music, and ideology to create an outstanding cinematic experience. The songs encourage viewers to revere his ideas and the Bolshevik Revolution’s ideals. The songs show that his ideas continued to guide the Soviet Union even after Lenin passed. The film inspired commitment and loyalty to the socialist cause (Prunes 2003). The policy decisions of Stalin shaped Soviet nationality policies during his reign. The Soviets initially promoted local languages and native cultures. Stalin revised the policy and emphasized centralization and nationalist sentiments suppressed because he thought that non-Russian nationalities were becoming self-confident. Stalin also decided to collectivize agriculture. His party forced peasants to surrender their property and land. They forcefully deported any person who did not cooperate in the collectivization process. The people included the wealthy peasants that were also called Kulaks. As a result, there was a decrease in agricultural production due to the destabilization of rural economies, therefore leading to food shortages. It also led to rebellion by peasants, including uprisings in some parts of Ukraine (Rossoliński 2011). The nationalist movement in Ukraine emerged to resist the totalitarian rule of Moscow. Soviet decided to launch a hunt against nationalist sentiments. It led to orchestrated trials of nationalists to stop political opposition, especially during the famine (Mace 1984). Some groups benefited from Stalin’s national policies. These include the urban working class, who got new employment opportunities due to urbanization and industrialization under Stalin’s regime. Minorities benefited politically and economically by remaining as part of a larger group. The women also benefitted from the regime. As men were in labor camps or the military, women had to step into roles like factory workers, administrators, and nurses. Common experiences of resistance, survival, and persistence led to strong bonds among Soviet minorities. However, smaller groups faced the pressure to assimilate. The dominance of the Russian language disadvantaged marginalized cultures. As much as Stalin’s policies led to unbearable suffering and difficulties, they also produced unintended benefits for specific groups in Soviet society. Patriotism and service obligation are other principles that drove the Soviet nationality policies. Malakhova, a front-line physician during the war, shares her experiences and gives a different perspective on the nationality policies. She was obligated to provide service in the war like other physicians. Her willingness was a reflection of the patriotism that was present among the Soviets. The dedication to be on the frontline showed the dedication of the Soviets to defend their motherland. Despite her heroic service, her narrative points out systemic issues like supply shortages, insufficient medical resources, and bureaucratic inefficiencies (Malakhova 2019). She was a first-hand witness to the challenges the medical personnel face and the impact war has on families and individuals. Malakhova’s anger at situations of suicide (Stalin strikes) shows her moral standpoint. She believed it was a sin according to the Russian Orthodox faith. She also features love, emotional experiences, and personal struggles during the war. Her experiences reveal the complex nature of the Soviet identity. Her first-hand account paints a picture of the human dimensions of the nationality policies, going beyond official rhetoric and showing the realities that those on the frontline faced. Inclusivity of Soviet citizenship was a major principle within the Soviet nationality policies. Generally, the Soviet citizenship law was inclusive compared to other European countries. There was no requirement for language proficiency, historical knowledge, political system, constitution, minimum income, etc. Any person was eligible to be a Soviet citizen with minimal prerequisites. This approach ensured that anyone unable to prove foreign citizenship was subject to surveillance just like other citizens, thus avoiding statelessness. By so doing, the Soviet Union had a large pool to draw military power from. The inclusivity was a distinct feature that emphasized universal access and connectedness across different Soviet peoples. The minorities were included, which provided them with a sense of identity as the Soviet People. However, the same policy was used to punish rebels by revoking citizenship, sometimes for the whole ethnic group. The Soviets founded a constitutional framework that focused on promoting economic, cultural, and national advancement of non-Russian nationals. It prioritized local languages as Stalin believed that the discontented minorities would soon be content if they were allowed to use their languages. There was an increase in schools that taught in native languages. The schools helped in providing literacy and protecting cultural heritage among the nationalities. There was an intentional effort to strengthen national cultures by allowing local minorities to hold key positions. The Soviets supported music, national theaters, visual arts, and dance. Celebration of folklore, indigenous art, and traditions preserved cultures. Resources and funding were availed to the national cultural institutions. Artists, poets, and writers from diverse nationalities were motivated to create in their languages. The development of cultures was an intentional effort to promote linguistic diversity and appreciate the heritage of the different peoples in the USSR. In conclusion, the principles that drove Soviet nationality policies were diverse. The policies shaped the realities of the population under the USSR, both positively and negatively. Despite their complexity and contradictory nature, these principles helped the Soviet Union to manage the multi-ethnic population.  2 Compare the stance of Lev Kopelev and Lydia Chukovskaya on political violence under Stalin, and their own involvement in it Soviet literature contributed in portraying the violent political era and the state of the human condition. Lev Kopelev was a Soviet writer whose views on political violence under Stalin significantly evolved. He was a Marxist who believed that Soviet rule would transform society, hence, he supported the implementation of Stalin’s policies. During the Ukrainian famine, Kopelev thought that the end goal of communism would justify the extreme conditions the people were going through. The regime’s brutality continued, and he found himself a victim of repression. These personal experiences changed him, and he eventually became a dissident. His writings reveal the realities encountered by the victims of political violence (Corin 2011). Lydia Chukovskaya was a Soviet writer, editor, poet, dissident, and memoirist whose writings show the human cost of the repression during the Great Purge. Her husband, a physicist, became a victim of Stain’s violence and was later tried and executed. Chukovskaya spent most of her career defending dissidents. Her book, Sofia Petrovna, borrows heavily from her personal experiences. Through Sofia, she reveals the agony ordinary people underwent under Stalin’s violence. The work is a witness to her commitment to truth, resilience, and empathy. Her authenticity inspired by personal experiences made her a significant voice against political repression....