Joseph Stalin is one of those historical figures who we aren't entirely sure how to categorize. Unarguably, he is one of the most influential and significant leaders of the 20th century. But is it possible to categorize him as either a hero or a villain?
There are valid points from both sides of the debate. Some regard Stalin as a political hero who helped lead the Soviet Union out of the dark ages and into the modern world. Others regard him as a ruthless, evil dictator who is worthy of no title other than mass murderer.
When Stalin came to power in the Soviet Union – the entire Soviet system was a mess. After a disastrous combination of war, revolution, and famine – there was little foundation to build on. The USSR was a disorganized, under-developed, and largely agricultural expanse. The economy was stagnant and broken. Stalin instituted a whole slew of reforms – coming down with a heavy hand in order to motive change. He was absolutely ruthless in his aim to industrialize the USSR.
Stalin was the one who instituted the Gulag labor camp system – a system he ingrained so deeply into the new Soviet system that it was impossible for the system to be ended immediately despite attempts to do so. The system was gradually phased out until the collapse of the Soviet Union. Due to the massive arrests in the 1930s, populations in the Gulag camps soared making prisoner-slave labor the preferred means of industrialization. His political philosophy eventually came to be known as Stalinism. Stalinism came to be characterized by propaganda, brutal political coercion, secret police, totalitaria
nism and terror.
Stalin and the Soviet Union ended up joining the Allied forces in World War II – a turning point that helped the Allies win the war in Europe. However, it is important to remember that Stalin helped the Axis powers (more specifically, Hitler's Nazi Germany) in the beginning stages of the world. The Soviets were directly involved with the invasion of Poland – having agreed to then-secret terms with Germany dividing up Poland and other Eastern European nations. Stalin even attempted to become one of the Axis powers, but was betrayed by Hitler in 1941.
It was only than that Stalin launched a massive offensive against Hitler and the Nazis. It was this campaign that earned him the title of Time Magazine's "Person of the Year" twice. After helping to win the war he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize not once, but twice. At this point, the American public largely regarded Stalin's actions as heroic. Why? Because he was on our side. That perception did a complete 180 following the war.
During the Cold War Era communism in the USSR thrived. Since Stalin was such an effective wartime leader – leading the Soviets to victory – it was easy to maintain control of and support from the masses via propaganda. The USSR maintained control of most of the Eastern Bloc and also held a close relationship with both China and North Korea. Stalin was the one who provided the arms necessary for the North Koreans to initiate the Korean War. During this time the Western World perceived the USSR as the greatest threat to the free world both militarily and idealistically, and undoubtedly looked at Stalin as a villain.
The Soviet Union that Stalin helped to build undoubtedly great, for it was the only other political society that attained the status of €˜superpower' in the Cold War Era. He expanded the Soviet Union's sphere of influence, and helped the Soviet economy to see growth of nearly 15%. Stalin transformed the USSR into an industrial superpower. Overall, conditions in the USSR were vastly improved under Stalin's socialist government€¦but at what cost?
Between famine, gulags, executions and other policies, the death toll resulting from Stalin's policies falls in the ballpark of nearly 20 million lives. Stalin's influence on the USSR was so profound, his successor Nikita Khrushchev had to institute a policy called "de-Stalinization" following his death. Stalin and the legacy he left behind had to be, quite literally, purged from the Soviet system.
In a way, the classification of Stalin as a hero or a villain comes down to cost-benefit analysis. Is it possible to justify Stalin's ruthlessness?
Personally, I believe Stalin fully deserves the title of villain. This could be my cultural bias speaking, but the foundation for nearly all of his accomplishments are built on the grounds of human suffering and totalitarian rule. Not to mention that 20 million lives is not an easy number to overlook. Despite his successes, Stalin's brutal policies have earned him the title of villain.
Stalin might be a good example of an important figure whose level of heroism/villainy is based on perspective. We have looked at morality this way as well. While Stalin was on the USA’s side fighting the Nazi’s, he was a hero. While he was a symbol of evil communism during the Cold War, he was a villain. In Stalin’s case, his status is controlled by perspective.