Account for the development of totalitarianism under Stalin between 1928-1945

Totalitarianism is best defined as participatory despotism; a tyranny exercised in the name of the people with an active participation (voluntary or coerced) of the people. Meyer believes totalitarianism develops most frequently because of perceived or real inequality, this was certainly the case in Russia, the Bolshevik revolution occurred because of the feudalism practiced by the tsar. Totalitarianism grew gradually in the soviet state from 1917 however, Stalinism proved a huge catalyst in the development of …

…certainly the case, Stalin was able to purge the army, the bureaucracy, the workplace and force collectivisation onto the peasant (the group whom threatened the Bolsheviks the most.) Stalin, unlike any other leader managed to use all the tools of totalitarianism, terror, the media and communication, the army, ideology but most importantly of all the party mechanism membership. Stalinism was totalitarianism with intermittent madness, Stalin's collectivisation and use of purges was proof enough of this.