Why Does Joseph Stalin Matter?

The script introduces a discussion on Joseph Stalin's role as the Soviet dictator who both shaped a great power and caused the death of millions. Historian Stephen Kotkin, an expert on Stalin's life, is welcomed as a guest. The conversation takes place at Stanford University, where Kotkin shares his background and academic journey. His work, a three-volume biography of Stalin, is highlighted, with the first volume covering Stalin's early life and rise to power, and the second volume discussing the period leading up to World War II. The importance of studying Stalin is emphasized for understanding the dynamics of power and dictatorship.

This section delves into the policy of collectivization in the Soviet Union, which involved forcing peasants onto collective farms and effectively reintroducing serfdom. Kotkin explains that collectivization was seen as a means to modernize the country through coercion, despite the immense human cost. The discussion explores the ideological underpinnings of collectivization in Marxism-Leninism and the belief that it was essential for building socialism and ultimately communism. The conversation also touches on the practical challenges and consequences of implementing such a policy on a massive scale.

The script discusses Stalin's drive for industrialization and the methods he employed to finance it. After repudiating the international debts of Imperial Russia, the Soviet regime sought to generate internal financing through agricultural surpluses. The plan involved increasing harvests, controlling the disposition of grain, and exporting it for hard currency to purchase foreign technology and machinery. This strategy was part of a broader effort to build a military capable of withstanding 'imperialist antagonism' and to establish the Soviet Union as a superpower.

This paragraph describes the coercive tactics used by Stalin to implement collectivization, despite initial resistance and the enormous challenges of scale. Stalin employed a combination of urban activists, secret police, and instigated class warfare to force collectivization upon the peasantry. The use of quotas for 'kulaks', or wealthier peasants, led to widespread violence and upheaval, as villagers were pressured to identify and turn against their neighbors. This strategy created chaos, which was then exploited to enforce collectivization.

The script outlines the transformation of Russian agriculture under collectivization, moving from individual household farming to collective ownership and labor. It explains the historical context of the mir, a communal system of land redistribution, and contrasts it with the new collective farms. The collectivization process led to the nationalization of land, tools, and animals, fundamentally changing the way agriculture was conducted and the relationship between peasants and their work.

This section details the devastating human impact of collectivization, including widespread famine and death. The script describes how the policy led to a series of poor harvests and the subsequent starvation of millions. It also discusses the internal dynamics within the Politburo, where some members criticized Stalin's approach, fearing for the fate of communism. Despite these warnings, Stalin managed to maintain control and suppress dissent.

The script explores Stalin's reaction to criticism of his policies, particularly from within his own inner circle. It describes how Stalin's obsession with eliminating dissent and criticism led to a deep-seated anger that would affect him for the rest of his life. Despite the catastrophe of collectivization, his inner circle ultimately closed ranks around him, recognizing that none could lead the country and that they were all complicit in the regime's actions.

The discussion turns to the period following collectivization, when the Soviet Union appeared stable and without immediate crises. However, this stability was shattered by the onset of the Great Terror, a period of extreme political repression during which hundreds of thousands were executed and millions more were arrested and sent to labor camps. The script questions the rationale behind this purge, especially given the loyalty of those targeted.

This section delves into the motivations behind the Great Terror, highlighting Stalin's obsession with Trotsky and his desire to break the will of his inner circle. The script discusses how Stalin used the terror to transform his dictatorship into a despotism, replacing the elite with new, loyal individuals trained in Marxism-Leninism. It also touches on the international context, particularly the Spanish Civil War, and how it influenced Stalin's actions.

The final paragraph examines the importance of forced confessions in the Great Terror, explaining their role in justifying arrests and executions, and in implicating others. The script describes how Stalin personally drove this process, editing confessions and using them to convince others within the regime of the guilt of the accused. It also reflects on the unique nature of the Great Terror, which, while made possible by the regime, was driven by Stalin's personal obsessions and anger.