Joseph Stalin

Type:

Book Chapter

Author:

Hiroaki Kuromiya

Published:

2021

Stalin was the epitome of a modern autocrat. He believed in the Law of History as explained by Marxism and acted accordingly. Certain of the ultimate victory of socialism and the demise of capitalism, he teleologically justified the destruction of everything that stood in the way of the execution of the Law. He believed he was the executioner of historical progress, equated his personal, autocratic power with progress, and exercised his unrestrained power at the cost of millions of lives of Soviet citizens. Largely free of vanity and sentimentality, he was a consummate politician who lived by politics alone. He was a “steely” autocrat who understood human relations well and used his understanding effectively for politics. As a politician, this terroristic autocrat appeared even “charming” to many of his observers. His dictatorial rule was emulated and developed by his followers, and Stalin’s impact on world politics is felt even today.

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