How Influence Worked in the Soviet Union

by Donald Gorassini, howinfluenceworks.com

February 24, 2025

This blog delves into the highly effective behavior control methods used by the communist government in the Soviet Union. Despite the immense hardships it inflicted on its citizens, the government managed to endure for most of the 20th century (1917-1991) without any decisive internal resistance. So, why did the people comply? The answer lay in the fact that being a good communist citizen was the only viable option made available. 

The blog is structured into three sections: an overview of the Soviet communist government, an analysis of the population control mechanisms deriving from its policies, and an examination of the psychological effects on citizens that led to compliance as the only feasible response. This blog serves as a cautionary tale, shedding light on the dangers of totalitarian regimes and the necessity of resisting the encroachment of similar governing structures now.

Features of the Soviet Government

The nature of the communist government made compliance a certainty. The Soviet system’s basic features were:¹For a useful historical overview of the Soviet period, see Soviet Union at Britannica Academic, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Mar. 2024.

1. One-party rule: A single party governs the country.
2. Communism: A specific set of governing policies derived from Marxism.
3. One-person rule: A single individual holds absolute authority within the party.
4. Dictatorial rule: The leader exerts control without interference.
5. Domination: The government intrudes into citizens’ lives.

One-Party Rule

In 1917, the Bolsheviks, a communist party led by Vladimir Lenin, overthrew by revolution the existing Russian governing structure. This marked the commencement of a period of communist rule, during which all other political parties were outlawed. Russia and non Russian borderland countries of the former Russian Empire were amalgamated as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR or “Soviet Union”) in 1922. The USSR came to an end in 1991.

The Soviet Union, unlike a democratic system, lacked a genuine mechanism for citizens to select its leaders. Elections were conducted, but the outcome was predetermined. The Communist Party chose the candidate, who was usually the sole person on the ballot. Voters had the option to vote for or against. Any voter who chose against had to use a separate polling booth, making them identifiable by the secret police and subject to arrest for expressing political dissent.²Gilison J. M. (1968). Soviet Elections as a Measure of Dissent: The Missing One Percent. American Political Science Review. 62(3), 814-826. doi:10.2307/1953432

Swearer, H. R. (1961). The Functions of Soviet Local Elections. Midwest Journal of Political Science, 5(2), 129–149. doi:10.2307/2109266  

Communism

The policies of communism (outlined below) required radical and unwanted changes to society and put a tremendous strain on the population. The only way to implement the changes was by force.

One-Person Rule

Power within the communist party was concentrated under individual leaders, starting in 1917 with Vladimir Lenin (born 1870-died 1924). Joseph Stalin (born 1878-died 1953), succeeded Lenin in 1924 and ruled with an iron fist until 1953, longer than any other Soviet leader. After this, the government gradually became less and less totalitarian and collapsed in 1991.³Leaders of the USSR after Stalin and the years they governed: Nikita Khrushchev (1953-1964); Leonid Brezhnev (1964-1982); Yuri Andropov (1982-1984); Konstantin Chernenko (1984-1985), and Mikhail Gorbachev (1985-1991). The latter implemented major reforms of a non-Stalinist nature, such as glasnost (transparency) and perestroika (restructuring), which brought about the ultimate dissolution of the USSR. I will direct most of my attention to Stalin because his methods of social influence were the most effective at controlling the citizenry and represent best what to avoid.⁴The accumulation of power in the hands of a single individual, particularly in a nuclear-armed state, poses grave risks. Nikita Khrushchev’s ominous speech in 1954 suggested he believed that nuclear war would eradicate capitalism but not communism. As the commander of a nuclear power, he risked making unchecked judgments that could lead to humanity’s annihilation. His actions during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 brought the USSR and the United States perilously close to a nuclear war, potentially resulting in the extinction of all life on Earth.

Dictatorial Rule

The party leader operated as a dictator. Policies came from the leader in the absence of interference from any citizens, including members of the communist party. In the Stalin regime especially, the leader possessed absolute authority and made all crucial decisions, leaving no room for unsolicited consultation or participation from the citizenry. Once decisions were made, Stalin wielded immense power through Soviet state institutions, enabling him to execute his policies effectively.

Domination

Lenin is credited with saying, “We must be the engineers of the human soul.”⁵Lifton, R. J. (1961) Thought reform and the psychology of totalism: A study of ‘brainwashing’ in China. W. W. Norton. On the basis of policy precedents set by Lenin in his short time in office, Stalin ruthlessly set out implementing communist policies using methods that profoundly impacted citizens’ lives, causing considerable discomfort for most and extreme suffering or death for many. The situation was catastrophic for the people.

The Influence Aspects of Government Initiatives

Emerging from the communist government were several policies. Given the subject matter of this website, I am particularly interested in how these policies ensured a compliant citizenry. One issue that stands out is why so many people living under such difficult conditions as existed in the Soviet Union did not put more effort into reforming their government. The Soviet population was completely controlled.

The Soviet Union’s approach to influencing its people involved eliminating individuals and groups perceived as threats while maintaining control over the remaining population. Threats to the regime were removed through various means such as execution, imprisonment, exile, and starvation. The remaining population, the majority of over 100 million, faced the other forms of control that will be discussed below. Under Stalin’s rule, the strict enforcement of these policies sustained the regime. However, after Stalin’s death, a lax enforcement of these policies led to instability and ultimately contributed to the collapse of the USSR.

Below are the specific government policies. They worked to bifurcate the population into the loyal and the defiant, remove the defiant, and control the loyal.

Promoting Soviet Citizenship

From the very beginning of communism in the Soviet Union, the method of influence upon which all other methods depended was the promotion of Soviet citizenship. The existing population (i.e., that not removed) was educated about the nature, merit, and imperative of being a good communist and the consequences of deviating from these expectations. Stalin utilized every available tool of government, physical and informational, to mold society in accordance with this ideal.

Citizens faced a clear choice under Stalin’s regime. They could either fully embrace communism to gain rewards and avoid punishment, or dissent and face the consequences.

Making Laws

The dictator wielded absolute authority during the legislative process, leading to radical changes that directly and indirectly influenced citizen behavior. Private property was abolished. Banks and industry were nationalized. People’s Courts and Revolutionary Tribunals were instituted, prioritizing revolutionary conscience over established laws. The Decree on Party Unity of 1921 prohibited unauthorized factions, thus giving the government considerable leeway to prosecute opponents. Job placement, hiring, firing, and career advancement were controlled by the state and commonly based on political loyalty and economic planning rather than personal choice. All these changes were implemented during the Lenin regime, consolidated the leader’s power, established a communist government, and restricted individual freedoms.⁶Glaza, H. M. (2009). Lenin’s New Economic Policy: What it was and how it Changed the Soviet Union. Inquiries Journal, 1(11).

Juviler, P. H. Lenin and Problems of Law. https://pages.law.illinois.edu/p-maggs/pch2.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Controlling Information

The government exerted absolute control over all information sources within the country, including the media, education, academia, science, and the arts. Only content that promoted Soviet communism was permitted, with truth subordinated to this objective. Criticism of the government was strictly prohibited across all mediums. Newspapers and radio programs, for instance, portrayed Stalin as infallible, benevolent, and a powerful protector against all Enemies of the State, and Soviet communism as the path to utopia. Academic publishing had to align with government doctrine; as a striking example, any mention of genetics was prohibited. History was revised to reflect favorably on the government. Statistics were manipulated to inflate figures related to industrial output, agricultural production, and military strength. Art and literature were expected to be pro-Soviet. Accessing unapproved information from outside the country was illegal.⁷Fitzpatrick, S. (1992). The Cultural Front: Power and Culture in Revolutionary Russia. Cornell University Press.

Gershenson, D. & Grossman, G. (2008). Coercion and Censorship in the Soviet Union. Comparative Economic Studies, 50(1), 103–127.

Hollander, P. (2017). Political pilgrims: Western intellectuals in search of the good society. Routledge.

Providing Supports for a Meaningful Life

Living in the Soviet Union, even during Stalin’s tumultuous era, was generally tolerable for most people because they found sources of life meaning in their environment. However, this varied significantly over time and place, and even at its best, life also faced many stressors. The fact that life could be endured with some pleasures likely contributed to the population’s compliance.⁸Davies, S. (1997). Popular Opinion in Stalin’s Russia: Terror, Propaganda and Dissent, 1934-1941. Cambridge University Press.

Fitzpatrick, S. (1999). Everyday Stalinism: Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times: Soviet Russia in the 1930s. Oxford University Press.

Hellbeck, J. (2006). Revolution on My Mind: Writing a Diary under Stalin. Harvard University Press.

1. Family: Family life was central in Soviet society. An emphasis on family was reflected in government policies, particularly in Russian cities. Encouragement to have children, financial support for families with children, maternity leave for working mothers, and state-run childcare and healthcare services were all implemented. Consequently, people were indeed having and raising children. Under Stalin’s rule, the Russian population grew from 92.7 million in 1926 to 108 million in 1939 to 111 million in 1950. Similarly, the population of the USSR grew from 147 million in 1926 to 170 million in 1939 to 180 million in 1950. These growth rates are remarkable, considering the substantial population losses during a similar period due to exile, famines, premature deaths in labor camps, widespread executions, and the fatalities of World War II.
2. Employment: Employment held immense value in the USSR. The rapid industrialization that commenced in the 1920s, particularly in major Russian cities such as Moscow, Leningrad, and Magnitogorsk, created a substantial surge in job opportunities within these regions. While other republics and agricultural areas also offered employment, the standard of living in Russian cities was generally higher due to the availability of employment in factories and services. Since government control was the practice, jobs assigned to many workers often did not align with their skills. Nevertheless, some workers, engineers, and scientists had the opportunity to advance through the ranks based on their merit.
3. Education: An important concern of government was the education of the citizenry. Primary education, from grades 1 to 4, became mandatory. Secondary and university institutions were expanded. A standardized curriculum was introduced, emphasizing science, technology, engineering, mathematics, communist ideology, and a curated version of Soviet history. Schools were instrumental in fostering communist citizenship. Literacy and academic performance significantly improved under Stalin’s rule.
4. Housing: Citizens had shelter, but the conditions were far from ideal. Cities were plagued by a persistent housing shortage, forcing many people to reside in densely packed communal apartments where multiple families shared kitchens and bathrooms.
5. Food: There was sufficient food to sustain most of the population, but the quantity varied greatly over time and place. Long lineups were common. Scarcity and rationing were widespread during the collectivization of agriculture in the 1930s and persisted throughout and immediately after World War II. The situation was different in certain Soviet republics, particularly Ukraine and Kazakhstan, where massive famines occurred, resulting in the deaths of millions.
6. Consumer goods: Consumer goods were scarce across the USSR. Citizens often had to endure long lineups when items like clothing, shoes, and household articles were available.
7. Culture and sport: Artistic and athletic pursuits were integral to Soviet society. In Russian cities, citizens had easy access to libraries for literature, theaters for performing arts, and cinemas for films. Sports such as soccer, gymnastics, and ice hockey were actively promoted, with events like the Spartakiad showcasing athletic prowess.
8. The Soviet response to the German invasion: The people of the Soviet Union experienced a sense of national pride and unity during and after their heroic victory over the invading German army. Stalin’s leadership during World War II significantly contributed to his popularity and enhanced his reputation as a leader among his own people.

The preceding factors alone would not have maintained societal cohesion without the other discussed elements. The government’s widespread use of severe punishment for political dissent was also essential.

Imposing Punishment for Defiance

In the Soviet Union, especially during Stalin’s rule, the justice system was used much more to suppress political dissent than to punish and deter crime. Millions faced severe punishments. These typically involved removal from the population. Punishment of these people served also to intimidate the remainder of the population, who would learn about dissenters’ fates from government propaganda (e.g., show trials), gossip, observation, and direct experience. This credible threat of punishment served as a powerful tool of control. The punishments were many and varied:⁹Alexopoulos, G. (2008). Stalin and the Politics of Kinship: Practices of Collective Punishment, 1920s–1940s. Comparative Studies in Society and History, 50(1), 91–117. doi:10.1017/S0010417508000066

Guins, G. C. (1950). Penalties and Rewards in Soviet Law. Wash. L. Rev. & St. BJ, 25, 206.

Van den Berg, G. P. (1983). The Soviet Union and the Death Penalty. Soviet Studies, 35(2), 154–174. http://www.jstor.org/stable/151776

1. Execution: Executions, usually by gunshot to the back of the head, were applied to political opponents from across society during the Stalin era. An estimated 700,000 to 1.2 million individuals had their lives ended in this manner. Political executions made up the vast majority of such killings in the USSR. It is estimated that executions of criminals amounted to about 3,000 per year. The Great Purge from 1936 to 1938 resulted in an estimated one million Soviet citizens executed, including party officials who had replaced party officials executed previously. Over the same 3-year period, the United States with its slightly smaller population carried out 535 executions.¹⁰https://time.com/82375/every-execution-in-u-s-history-in-a-single-chart/
2. Imprisonment: The Soviet Union, under the rule of Stalin, subjected individuals deemed political dissidents to forced labor in brutal conditions within Gulags. These camps featured harsh labor, inadequate food supplies, exposure to extreme weather, and widespread suffering, leading to high mortality rates among the inmates, which included intellectuals, political opponents, and ordinary citizens accused of dissent. The death estimate is 1.7 million over the Stalin era. At a given time, the prisons housed about two million inmates. An estimated 18 million persons passed through the Gulag system. A typical sentence was in the 5 to 10 year range.¹¹Incarceration of dissidents in psychiatric institutions after sham diagnoses was practiced during Stalin, but was not common or preferred. The practice became much more common under Brezhnev.
3. Forced population transfers: Stalin eliminated entire populations that he considered threats to his power by forcing them to move to distant inhospitable places, where many died due to a lack of basic life necessities and exposure to harsh weather. It is estimated that 6 to 10 million people were forcibly moved during the Stalin era.¹²Population Transfer in the Soviet Union. Wikipedia. /// Martin, T. (2001). Stalinist forced relocation policies: Patterns, causes, consequences. Demography and national security, 305-339. /// Polano, M. (2017). The Great Terror: Violence, Ideology, And The Building Of Stalin’s Soviet Empire. Wayne State University. /// Zhukov, Y. M., & Talibova, R. (2018). Stalin’s terror and the long-term political effects of mass repression. Journal of Peace Research, 55(2), 267–283. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48596170
4. Torture: The secret police subjected suspects to torture in order to extract confessions, which were subsequently presented as evidence against them in a fraudulent trial.
5. Termination of employment: From the very beginning of communist rule, the government assigned jobs to citizens. Termination of employment or threat thereof was used as a political tool. During Stalin’s rule, workers who dared to express opposition to the regime, whether through strikes, protests, or criticism, faced consequences, whether firing or something worse.
6. Taking of children: During the Stalin regime, citizens deemed Enemies of the People could have their children removed to state run orphanages.
7. Food as a weapon: During the Lenin and Stalin regimes, several famines occurred primarily due to the government’s takeover of farms, a policy that proved impractical for managing agriculture. Under Stalin, an estimated 5 to 7 million people died from starvation, with incompetence and Stalin’s cold-bloodedness contributing to the crisis. The 1932-1933 famine, known as the Holodomor, led to 3 to 4 million deaths in Ukraine, where Stalin chose to export grain rather than provide aid, using the famine to punish resistance and suppress Ukrainian nationalism.¹³Applebaum, Anne. Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine. Doubleday, 2017. /// Conquest, R. (1986). The harvest of sorrow: Soviet collectivization and the terror-famine. Oxford University Press, USA. /// Davies, R., & Wheatcroft, S. (2016). The years of hunger: Soviet agriculture, 1931–1933. Springer. /// Mace, J. E. (1981). Communism and the Dilemmas of National Liberation: National Communism in Soviet Ukraine, 1918-1933. University of Michigan. /// Snyder, T. (2011). Bloodlands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin. Random House. /// Wheatcroft, S. G., Stephen, G., Tauger, M. B., Davies, R. W., & Wheatcroft, S. G. (2004). The Years of Hunger: Soviet Agriculture, 1931-1933 (pp. 448-9). Basingstoke.

It is understandable that the vast majority of the Soviet population, living in difficult yet manageable conditions, continued to obey their government. They were terrified of the repercussions of disobedience.

Suppressing Religion

Marxist philosophy advocates for the elimination of religion, deeming it superstition, a means of bourgeois control, and an obstacle to communist thought. During communism in the USSR, particularly under Lenin and Stalin, clergy members faced imprisonment or execution, church properties were confiscated, and churches were demolished.¹⁴Curtis, G. E. (Ed.). (1998). Russia: A country study (Vol. 115). DIANE Publishing Inc.

Froese, P. (2008). The plot to kill God: Findings from the Soviet experiment in secularization. Univ of California Press.

Peris, D. (1998). Storming the heavens: the Soviet League of the Militant Godless. Cornell University Press.

The Psychology of Soviet Citizens’ Compliance

This last section explores the psychological dynamics of living in the Soviet milieu. Soviet government policies, especially during Stalin’s era, led to unwavering compliance and a lack of genuine attempts to alter the regime. After outlining the range of the specific psychological effects that government policies had, I will offer my explanation for the compliance that occurred.

Mental Responses to the Situation

1. Fear: During the Stalin period, particularly during the Great Purge (1936-1938), fear was widespread among citizens due to the constant threat of arrest. Any hint of anti-government speech or other conduct could draw the attention of the secret police and bring a life-changing punishment.
2. Distrust: Citizens were reluctant to share their thoughts. The government had an extensive network of informants. Something said at an event, in the workplace, or to members of one’s family might get back to the secret police. This situation effectively stymied anti-government collective action.
3. Love of team: Human beings display a patterned love response when it comes to the teams they join. It consists of affect (deep attachment) and behavior (protection and promotion). This is most evident in marriage and the family, where love manifests as deep feelings of attachment and in behaviors that protect and promote spouses and children. The love of a team is a powerful motivator and easily applied to any team situation. We see this love expressed in the form of patriotism and the trademark attachment and selfless service displayed in the realm of country.¹⁵Bar-Tal, D. (1993). Patriotism as fundamental beliefs of group members. Politics and the Individual, 3(2), 45-62. The Soviet government capitalized on this human tendency by providing citizens with the opportunity to join the Soviet team while simultaneously making it impossible for them to join an opposition. Consequently, a large number of Soviet people displayed patriotic fervor for their country. This was epitomized by their heroic actions during World War II. Other citizens, if they did not feel an attachment to their country, would be able to give a convincing simulation.
4. Life meaning: Human beings excel at finding meaning in life. We are adept at pursuing activities that bring us a sense of purpose, even in challenging circumstances. If we have the basic necessities of life (such as food, water, shelter, waste management, and physical health), the opportunity to set goals, experience the beauty of nature, love and be loved, earn a living, send our children to school, engage in recreational activities, appreciate the arts, and serve on our teams, then we persist if not thrive.¹⁶Emmons, R. A. (2003). Personal goals, life meaning, and virtue: Wellsprings of a positive life . In C. L. M. Keyes & J. Haidt ( Eds.), Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived (pp. 105 – 128 ). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Life becomes truly worthwhile. A substantial portion of Soviet citizens experienced this for extended periods.
5. Coherent world view: The Soviet Union’s extensive control over information presented a single, pro-Soviet narrative that helped shape people’s understanding and behavior toward the state. Anti-Soviet narratives were entirely absent from the culture. Distrust prevented word-of-mouth. There was no opposition political party. Religion, as a source of alternative views, was restrained. The borders were sealed to information coming from outside the country. The fact everyone seemed to be going along created the illusion that all was well.¹⁷Sargent, R. H., & Newman, L. S. (2021). Pluralistic Ignorance Research in Psychology: A Scoping Review of Topic and Method Variation and Directions for Future Research. Review of General Psychology, 25(2), 163-184. https://doi.org/10.1177/1089268021995168 Even questionable actions of the dictator were accommodated within the Soviet narrative, as he was seen as protecting the state and facilitating its utopian march. This was helped by the fact that, due to information control, no one knew the extent of his brutality.

Why People Complied

Stalin’s methods ensured that the Soviet Union’s population during his time would adhere to government policies. He eliminated individuals deemed threats and exercised control over the remaining population.

Stalin altered the very composition of Soviet society in an effort to make it more compliant. He did this by eliminating the people who might resist his policies, including ethnic groups with differing loyalties, the clergy, dissenters in academia and the arts, those with grievances against him, ambitious Party members, and anyone who might not conform. It is likely that he would not have had the buy-in that he did from the rest of the population if he did not eliminate the potential resisters.

The remaining population, the majority, had to be controlled. For a considerable period, especially in certain regions, even during the Stalin era, life in the Soviet Union was considered tolerable. While livable, it was not necessarily comfortable. An uncomfortable existence could potentially lead to rebellion against the government in power. So, why was life deemed of sufficient quality to warrant continued tolerance? What thought process would lead to such a conclusion amidst the hardships prevalent in Soviet everyday life? Both what citizens experienced in their daily lives and what they expected of the future were important.

Despite the challenges, daily life was fulfilling enough. Humans have an extraordinary ability to find meaning in their lives as long as their environment provides basic supports and opportunities. They had employment, housing, food, consumer goods, culture, sports, team memberships, and loved ones.

Human beings ponder the future, contemplating the consequences of maintaining the current lifestyle versus exploring alternative paths. While maintaining the status quo demanded hardships, it provided existing support systems for a fulfilling life and the promise of an ever-improving communist lifestyle. Indeed, a communist utopia was promised. Maintaining the present lifestyle was necessary for achieving these objectives. Any change in one’s behavior that might be interpreted as subversive was simply not feasible. In Stalin’s USSR, any perceived dissent could swiftly lead to severe repercussions.

For most people, this line of reasoning led to a single answer. Make the best of the situation and continue to behave loyally toward the USSR.

Conclusion

This blog delved into the Soviet government’s strategies for controlling its citizens. Stalin ruthlessly eliminated millions of individuals he deemed enemies. For the surviving citizens, his strict control over outcomes and information severely restricted their behavior. Becoming a devoted communist was the sole path to acceptable conduct. When these methods were strictly enforced, as during Stalin’s rule, the people unquestioningly adhered to the communist agenda. However, when the methods were relaxed, post-Stalin, the USSR ultimately collapsed.