Consolidation of Bolshevik authority and development of Stalinist dictatorship
After seizing power in 1917, the Bolsheviks fought to keep control of Russia. Over the following decades, Stalin turned that one-party state into his own personal dictatorship.
Real World
Stalin's show trials of the 1930s, in which senior Bolsheviks publicly confessed to invented crimes before being executed, parallel modern authoritarian purges where legal processes are staged to legitimise the elimination of political rivals.
Exam Focus
For 'how far' questions, weigh methods of consolidation against each other — don't just describe them; reach a supported judgement.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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