Essay, Research Paper: Lenin 2

In the beginning Communism seemed to the people of Russia as a utopian
ideal. The promise of the elimination of classes, of guaranteed employment ,The creation
of a comprehensive social security and welfare system for all citizens that would end the
misery of workers once and for all. Lenin's own interpretation of the Marxian critique
was that to achieve Communism there would first have to be a socialist dictatorship to
first suppress any dissent or protest. Through coercive tactics this new government seized
power and in 1917 Lenin came to power. Under his rule the Soviet Union underwent
radical changes in it's economic doctrines adopting a mixed economy which was termed
the New Economic Policy also referred to as NEP, this economy called for some private
ownership of the means of production, but the majority of industry was made property of
the people, which meant the majority of the means of production was controlled by the
government. Lenin's government made many achievements. It ended a long civil war
against the remnants of the old Czarist military system and established institutions in
government. During this period, and in fact throughout the majority of the Communist
rule, censorship and the subordination of interest groups such as trade unions was
imposed to stop dissension and increase conformity to the new governments policies.
Lenin died in 1924, and was quickly followed by Joseph Stalin as head of the Soviet
Communist Party, the oppressive reforms started by Lenin were continued and at length
became completely totalitarian.