Stalin’s Crimes and Russia’s Future

Published: August 10, 2021

To legitimize his authoritarian agenda, Vladimir Putin is attempting to improve Josef Stalin’s image. However, history cannot be rewritten, nor can it forget the millions who perished in waves of Stalin’s political repression. Stalin’s crimes against humanity demonstrate an inherent danger that comes with totalitarian leaders who have no regard for the rule of law or individual rights.

Discussion Questions

1. Why is Vladimir Putin trying to rehabilitate Josef Stalin’s image?
2. Can Vladimir Putin succeed in improving Stalin’s image?

 Additional Resources

• Read “Russia’s Re-Stalinization,” by Paul R. Gregory. Available here.
• Read “A Green Light for Russian Hegemony,” by Paul R. Gregory. Available here.
• Read “Women of the Gulag: Portraits of Five Remarkable Lives,” by Paul R. Gregory. Available here.