Stalin

Definition

Joseph Stalin was a Soviet political leader who governed the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953, implementing policies of industrialization and collectivization that significantly transformed the country into a superpower but at great human cost. Under his rule, Stalin enforced a regime of terror, using purges and show trials to eliminate opposition, making his leadership synonymous with totalitarianism, characterized by extreme authoritarianism and nationalism.

Related terms

Totalitarianism: A system of government where the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life wherever possible.

Collectivization: The policy of consolidating individual landholdings and labor into collective farms as part of an effort to increase agricultural production and ensure state control over agriculture.

Purge: The political process of removing dissenters or perceived enemies from an organization or group, often involving repression or execution; widely used during Stalin's regime to eliminate opposition