'The people of Russia benefitted greatly from Stalin's rule.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer.

The main benefits from Stalin's rule were his economic reforms, which were successful in industrialising the Soviet Union. With his Five-Year Plans, there was rapid expansion of the Soviet Union's heavy industries. For example, steel production increased from 4 million tonnes in 1928 to 17.7 million tonnes in 1937. The coal production also jumped from 35.4 million tonnes to 128 million tonnes during the same period. The Soviet Union also improved on its transport and communication networks. In addition, industries were no longer concentrated in the Western part of the country, as more factories were built on the Eastern part. All these were important for a huge country like the Soviet Union. On the whole, the Soviet Union became the second most industrialised country in the world by 1940. There was an increase in the production of consumer goods as well, especially after 1935. In agriculture, farming became modernised as the introduction of collective farms allowed the government to introduce modern farming tools to all peasants, such as tractors.

However, Stalin's period of rule also meant a great deal of fear for the people. Stalin used a lot of methods to control his people. The secret police and the informers were used to monitor the people's loyalty to him. Purges, execution and deportation to labour camps were regular events to remove opposition and rivals from the Soviet Union. That was how many of the Kulaks were removed. All these created a lot of fear, distrust and absolute obedience in the Soviet society. The Soviet people were also constantly exposed to propaganda through the use of censorship, social realism and Stalin's personality cult. In school, young people were taught pro-communist and pro-Stalin information. All media and artistic expressions had to promote communism and Stalin. All these prevented creativity and truth from prevailing in society. To survive, conformity was the only way.