A dictatorship is a system of government where the power is centralized. There are four techniques dictators use to be successful; indoctrination, controlled participation, scapegoating and force. Using these four techniques, dictators can achieve their goals.

The purpose of indoctrination is to create a like minded society that believes in the government's policies. When Stalin was the dictator of the Soviet Union, he used indoctrination in the area of religion. He strongly discouraged religion and closed down nearly 40,000 Christian churches and 25,000 mosques. Church leaders were arrested and imprisoned. People who avoided getting arrested were forbidden to organize any religious activity in public. Stalin wanted everyone to believe in Atheism, so the Communist Party set up a League of Militant Atheists whose job it was to turn people away from their religious beliefs. They burnt religious icons, set up anti-religious museums and organized anti-religious propaganda campaigns. The League of Militant Atheists had over 5.5 million members, thus creating a lot of people who thought the same way about religion.

Stalin also used indoctrination in the area of culture.

Stalin also demonstrated the use of force by having a Secret Police (NKBD) to instill fear in the people. If you were any kind of opposition, real or potential, the NKBD would come into your home and arrest you, usually in the middle of the night. Knowing they would be arrested for disagreeing with Stalin made people conform to what he wanted. The Constitution of 1936 is an example of where the Soviet people had no choice but to agree with it. The secret police would also torture people into confessing to crimes that they didn't commit. They used beatings, water torture and electric shock to interrogate people. Those people who managed not to break down were sent off to the labor camps.

Stalin was an effective dictator using these techniques. Many people suffered under his ruling, but he also built the USSR up to be a world power. He used these techniques to maintain his power over the Soviet people. He used fear, propaganda and lies to stay in power, eliminating any and all opposition. He was a true dictator.

In the Soviet government, all of the members who are elected have token power. This includes the Soviet Supreme, Soviet of the Unions and Soviet of the Nationalists. The local Soviets elect these people, thinking their views will be heard, but really these group have no power in government. Stalin has these aspects of government so that the people feel like they have a sense of belonging and are being represented in government. The reality is that these elected groups rubber stamp decisions put before them, and have no real power in the government in the Soviet Union.

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Approximate Word count = 1109
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)