Stalin and Stalinism

One of the most successful dictators of the twentieth century, Stalin transformed the Communist Party of the Soviet Union into one of the world?s leading political parties. Stalin and Stalinism explores how he ammassed, retained and deployed power to dominate, not only his close associates, but the population of the Soviet Union and Soviet Empire.

Moving from leader to autocrat and finally despot, Stalin played a key role in shaping the first half of the twentieth century with, at one time, around one-third of the planet adopting his system. His influence lives on ? despite turning their backs on Stalin?s anti-capitalism in the later twentieth century, countries such as China and Vietnam retain his political model ? the unbridled power of the Communist Party. First published in 1983, Stalin and Stalinism has established itself as one of the most popular textbooks for those who want to understand the Stalin phenomenon. This updated fourth edition draws on a wealth of new publications, and includes increased discussion on culture, religion and the new society that Stalin fashioned as well as more on spying, Stalin's legacy, and his character as well as his actions.

Supported by a chronology of key events, Who?s Who and Guide to Further Reading, this concise assessment of one of the major figures of the twentieth-century world history remains an essential read for students of the subject.

'McCauley?s work is indispensable for courses in modern Russian history. It not only provides primary sources that make clear the oppression of the Stalin era, but also explains the historiography of this period, and provides an assessment of Stalin?s legacy, which resonates to this very day.'

Patricia Kollander, Florida Atlantic University, USA

"Stalin and Stalinism has long been a work critical to the introduction of the Stalinist history of the Soviet Union. Part of the Seminar Series published by Routledge Press, it is now in its fourth edition. In this new edition (revised third edition published in 2013), McCauley continues to show his broad-based knowledge of the history of Stalin and Stalinism. In addition to some physical rearrangement, he has added three new chapters of analysis, focusing on the years before Stalin came to power. He has also added a new chapter on the legacy of Stalinism, which includes a discussion of the differences between Stalin and Putin. One of the most helpful sections of this title in all editions has been the inclusion of the translation of several critical documents. The fourth edition has them all and includes Khrushchev?s secret speech to the XXth Party Congress in 1956. McCauley has also expanded and updated the additional readings, creating another great edition of a foundational volume in the study of Stalin and Stalinism."

J. C. Sandstrom, New Mexico State University Library