Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin became the most powerful dictator in history
Dwarkesh Podcast
Jul 10
Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin became the most powerful dictator in history
Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin became the most powerful dictator in history
Dwarkesh Podcast
Jul 10
In this episode, historian Stephen Kotkin delves into the complexities of Stalin’s rule and its broader implications for understanding authoritarian regimes. Drawing from his extensive research on Soviet history, Kotkin explores how autocratic systems struggle to modernize without political reform, how ideology fuels mass repression, and why communist regimes have persisted despite catastrophic failures. The conversation also touches on contemporary parallels with China and the enduring allure of revolutionary ideologies.
The discussion begins by analyzing the Tsarist regime’s failure to reconcile modernization with political openness, a dilemma that ultimately fueled revolutionary movements. Kotkin explains how peasant unrest propelled Lenin to power, only for the new regime to enslave them through collectivization. He then explores how ideology compels individuals to support brutal systems, as seen in the Great Terror and enforced famines. The episode contrasts Soviet and Chinese communism, noting how market reforms allowed China’s economic rise while maintaining party control. Despite systemic flaws, communist failures are often blamed on individuals rather than structures. Kotkin also examines why Stalin was never assassinated, attributing it to systemic paranoia and elite loyalty. Finally, he considers whether technology can mitigate authoritarian pathologies, concluding that political legitimacy requires more than economic growth—it demands genuine freedom.
07:02
07:02
Stalin spent 20 years without job or income, repeatedly imprisoned and exiled, before rising to power.
34:38
34:38
Stalin's secret police were built to enslave peasants through terror
50:40
50:40
Under Marxism-Leninism, intellectuals gain power through the state, drawing young people into its fold.
1:09:42
1:09:42
Failures in communist systems are blamed on leaders like Stalin rather than the ideology itself.
1:27:00
1:27:00
Deng Xiaoping redirected China's economic focus from the Soviet Union to the U.S. after visiting Japan.
1:48:43
1:48:43
Stalin's regime had high-level surveillance and internal distrust that discouraged conspiracies.
1:52:49
1:52:49
Political reform in communist systems often leads to self-liquidation.
