In my continued exposure to leftist spaces and a leftist view on history it has become clear that all I understand about Stalin is the reactionary rhetoric I've been fed my whole life. I have only just started on reading theory and exposing myself to a leftist view, so Stalin as a topic isn't something I've reached yet.
But I have to ask, and I think this is the place to ask it, what is the deal with Stalin?
The vibe I get is that people at a minimum don't hate Stalin, but also maybe at most appricate Stalin. I'm aware that the efforts of the USSR during WW2, especially in regards to Nazi aggression are a credit to his administration and leadership, but is that really where the vibe starts and stops?
I'm not looking for a dissertation on the guy, but just the notes or primary points. I'll take reading suggestions too.
Thanks comrades.
at least as cool as FDR if not cooler for working for the more correct politics. both did cringe re: ethnic minorities and homophobia was rampant in both governments/populations at the time, but they also did major positive things with lasting impact. i would obviously hope a modern socialist leader would be much better on lgbt and minority issues, but stalin was decent for the time period when compared to his peers, a less hateful person than someone like churchill for example. if you (or a normal person at least) would idolize someone like george washington or julius caesar or marcus aurelius or alexander the great or shaka zulu or king tutankhamun or ghandi or napoleon or oda nobunaga, or anyone else who has more or less successfully presided over a major world power, you should have no problem idolizing someone like stalin, who was at least democratically elected and tried to do things for the average person while resisting the industrialized ethnic annihilation of his people by the nazis, though in reality none of them should really be idolized in an unironic sense, its just misinformation that needs pushback and theres a lot of it for any socialist historical figure.
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FDR saved capitalism, Stalin destroyed it. Read this fascinating interview of Stalin by H. G, Wells to learn more.
FDR was a lot worse than he appears, I highly suggest reading the Sakai - Settlers chapter on the new deal.
i agree, just pointing out that its very very common for history dorks and normies both to idolize people that are objectively much worse than stalin, to point out the double standards and propaganda around socialist leaders.