Stalin Historiography

Structuralism

Structures in society will determine the actions of history

Liberal

People play a major role in society. Intentionalist - Stalin had the intention to take power

Determinist

“Laws” determining the historical way events will take. If certain factors are present, then they will lead to a certain event.

Intentionalist

willingness and desires of different persons or factors in society had. Likely to have a liberal perspective too 

Revisionist

 a historian who has revised the history out of any reason, different opinion than most other active historians by revising the facts instead of own school 

Normative approach

should use history as a warning example; there are dos and don’ts 

Stalin’s rise to power: Liberal

The liberal school focused on his personality as a cruel, manipulative, and determined dictator. All actions were planned to become the leader of the USSR, and his opponents are viewed as weak and easily fooled. Trotsky's mistakes are attributed to his arrogance.

Stalin’s rise to power: Soviet 1930-1953

• Strong, wise leader who saved the revolution against enemy attacks

Stalin’s rise to power: 1953-1964 Khrushchev

• criticism of Stalin's leadership, but with a larger focus on his personality

Stalin’s rise to power: 1964-1980 Brezhnev

erased from history books

Stalin’s rise to power: Russian writers since 1985:

Gorbachev encouraged journalists to share their experiences with the great terror. The focus on structural problems and Lenin is quieter.

Stalin’s rise to power: Trotskyist

Russia wasn't ready for socialist state alone. The growth of bureaucracy caused problems after the revolution; state inside the state

Stalin’s rise to power: Structuaralist/Party History

Stalin as a practical politician who carefully weighed decisions to make the one that was likely to win; rise to power was due to beaurocracy and the triumph of the Party and General Secretary; old Tsarist values were also in focus

Stalin’s rise to power: Ideological:

focus on the importance of the political struggle concerning the NEP. It was an ideological struggle instead of Stalin's personal struggle for power. He was prepared to keep the NEP as long as it served him but removed it when it no longer did. He was opposed to the permanent revolution since he knew the USSR was ill-equipped to fight a war with Europe. Criticised by liberals for putting Stalin in a good light and not focusing enough on his personality

Stalin’s rise to power: Revisionist

followed up on the ideological perspective. Why were the party members willing to carry out heinous orders? Revolution as a generator of social change within society. Lenin enrolment of 1924 led to a gap between ordinary party members and the leaders. Focus on rivalry between farmers and workers.

Role of Stalin: During Stalin

• compulsory book was published in 1938 that Stalin was solely carrying out Lenin's will

Role of Stalin: Trotsky

• Stalin ruined the revolution by allowing the bureaucracy to grow stronger and taking away the workers' power and underlying values of the revolution

Role of Stalin: Khrushchev 1953-64

• Stalin was used as a scapegoat and blamed, saying he ministerpreted Lenin's will.

Role of Stalin: Brezhnev to Gorbachev 1964-1985

• erased Stalin due to not wanting to criticise or denounce him

Role of Stalin: Gorbachev

• "Back to Lenin" policy; criticised the period as a whole stating it was not what Lenin wanted. Similar policy to Brezhnev.

Role of Stalin: After USSR fell

• criticised the whole period and considered Stalin as part of a bigger wrong

Role of Stalin: western reporters who actually visited Stalin's Russia

• positive, Stalin as a future saviour from Hitler's Germany. Muggeridge is a notable British exception who visited Ukraine but was not believed.

Role of Stalin: western liberalist intentionalist

• Same as reporters. Focused on Stalin's intention to make a totalitarian state. Stalin as an inheritor of Lenin was occasionally pointed out.

Role of Stalin: western Determinist

• The revolution would've run into the sand if Stalin hadn't done what he'd done. The period of time he was active was more important than Stalin himself. Similar to structuaralists and criticised liberals for believing his role was less important.

Role of Stalin: Western revisionist

• Similar to structuralist. Role played by actual people of USSR, many supported collectivisation, especially workers. Believe there was an actual Trotskyite consupiracy against his regime.

Was Stalinism necessary for the modernization of Russia? Liberalist

No, human cost was too large. Focus on the horrible lives in camps, injustice of trials, counting death toll after the famine.

Was Stalinism necessary for the modernization of Russia? Determinist

Depends on what the goals were; id they were to industrialize, then yes. Doesn't mean Stalinism is desireable, though, without it, the USSR would've lost the war. Non-normative, doesn't matter if it should've been done.

Was Stalinism necessary for the modernization of Russia? Revisionist

Irrelevant to them, since they focus on the social aspects of Stalinism and and the way social structures played in explaining society. Would say workers supported industrialization but farmers did not, so hypothetically yes, but practically irrelevant.

Was Stalinism necessary for the modernization of Russia? Soviet

depends on who's in charge

How popular was Stalin? Soviet

depends on who's leading

How popular was Stalin? Liberal

very unpopular. negative sides of Stalinism, lack of freedom especially during the Cold War

How popular was Stalin? Revisionist

very popular among certain groups. Critics say this renders Stalin as a puppet acting under social pressure.