Order 501203 Propaganda in Soviet Union after World War II
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
University of Nairobi *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
4
Subject
History
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
5
Uploaded by jephter
Running head: PROPAGANDA IN SOVIET UNION AFTER WORLD WAR II
1
Propaganda in the Soviet Union after World War II
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
PROPAGANDA IN SOVIET UNION AFTER WORLD WAR II
2
Propaganda in the Soviet Union after World War II
Propaganda has been used in politics, mainly to influence the citizens and propagate an
agenda that may not be objective and could be spreading facts selectively to inspire a particular
perception or synthesis. Most propaganda posts made for political reasons are meant to create an
emotional and not a rational reaction to the post being presented. During the twentieth century,
the phrase propaganda was often linked with a manipulative approach that most politicians used
to influence their crowds. This essay offers a commentary on the propaganda poster about Stalin
“Beloved Stalin-People’s Happiness.”
Stalin is recognized for his use of propaganda to influence many Russian crowds. He
usually made posters that depicted him as a person who is loved by the people. One of his
propaganda posters includes that which read “Beloved Stalin-People’s Happiness” (Shaheen,
2015). In this post, Stalin shows himself addressing a huge crowd. This was one way of trying to
prove to the people that he had significant influence across the Soviet Union and usually
attracted many crowds during his meetings. However, this is propaganda since the people did not
love Stalin, and thus he could not draw such a large group of people. Besides, in the post, Stalin
is shown clapping to the large crowd, which seems happy. The crowd is also shown clapping
back at him. Stalin, in this case, wanted to create an emotional rather than a rational reaction
from the Russian groups (Barghoorn, 2015). If people saw this post, they would be convinced
that many people across the Soviet Union love Stalin, and his meetings were crowded. Therefore,
this post would convince a lot of people to overlook their hatred for Stalin and start loving him.
The post “Beloved Stalin-People’s Happiness,” Stalin portrays how his interaction with
the crowds creates happy moments (Shaheen, 2015). Every person on the post can be seen
PROPAGANDA IN SOVIET UNION AFTER WORLD WAR II
3
applauding him. This was propaganda of the highest level. Stalin did not treat his people right.
He did not have respect for them. Most of the citizens in the Soviet Union suffered under Stalin’s
reign. Therefore, there was no reason for these people to love him and to applaud him in a
manner that the post depicts. Stalin was feared and disliked by the crowds, and not many people
would attend his political rallies. And if they did, not many could go to the extent of smiling as
they clapped for him when he addressed them. What Stalin’s post does is to give false
information to the crowds so that he could create emotional responses upon them. If people saw
this post, they would wonder why such a large crowd chose to interact with Stalin happily and
applaud him as he addressed them (Liu, 2019). This would then push them towards changing
their perceptions for Stalin. People who previously hated Stalin would begin to love him as a
result of the false facts presented by the post.
A close analysis of Stalin's post also shows people lifting their children to celebrate him.
The children are depicted as happy together with their parents. The crowds are also demonstrated
as raising the Soviet Union’s flags in the air as they cheer their leader. The post depicts a lovely
reception for the President by the people. Everyone is happy to see him. Even the children are
delighted to see their "Beloved" leader. However, the reality of the matter was not as it had been
depicted on the post. The post shows people worshiping Stalin (Shaheen, 2015). However, Stalin
did not treat his people right. Not a single person would worship Stalin based on the way he
handled them. Therefore, Stalin wanted to use this post to reconstruct his name upon the people.
After the Soviet Union had been defeated in the Second World War, Stalin chose to use
propaganda to convince his people that they were living happily. He misuses the public funds to
make weapons that could protect him against Americans (Liu, 2019). To win the trust and change
the perceptions of the people towards him, he had to create this propaganda post that depicted
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
PROPAGANDA IN SOVIET UNION AFTER WORLD WAR II
4
him as an individual who was applauded by his citizens, a person who was liked by children due
to his fatherhood properties, and a president who had positive receptions from his crowd.
In conclusion, Joseph Stalin was one of the earliest politicians who used propaganda to
change the perceptions of his people and convince them that they were leading happy lives. In
the post “Beloved Stalin-People’s Happiness,” Stalin is portrayed as a person who is loved by the
crowds. The post shows how the President gets a positive reception from his crowds and how
these crowds enjoy their moments with him. The post shows people lifting Stalin’s photos and
the Soviet Union’s flag as they cheer Stalin during what looks like a political rally. Parents are
portrayed raising their children in the air to see their leader. However, this post was propaganda
to convince the people that they are living happily with their President when that is not the case.
References
Barghoorn, F. C. (2015).
Soviet Foreign Propaganda
. Princeton University Press.
Liu, C. (2019). Stalin’s “New Soviet Woman”.
Sociology Mind
,
9
(4), 247-257.
PROPAGANDA IN SOVIET UNION AFTER WORLD WAR II
5
Shaheen, H. I. A. (2015).
ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM AS PROPAGANDA
INSTIGATED THROUGH REVOLUTIONS AND POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES
(Doctoral
dissertation).