It certainly played a large part, his use of terror made everyone in the party step into line and no one would try to contradict what Stalin said. With no opponents, Stalin was the sole ruler of the state with nobody having any power to stop him. However Stalin also used propaganda to keep himself in power - in Soviet Russia his face was everywhere: in magazines, banners, billboards, television and his voice on the radio. The positive messages around them made many believe that Stalin was right and shouldn't be defied. Additionally Stalin also set up a cult of personality around both himself and Lenin - the much loved Bolshevik leader who took power in the 1917 October Revolution. He promoted the idea that he was Lenin's chosen successor although this wasn't actually the case. However many people believed it and so Stalin became an all-knowing, all-powerful leader who could do nothing wrong. All of these factors kept Stalin in power and prevented opposition to his rule.