stalism

Stalism refers to the political and economic system implemented in the Soviet Union and other socialist states during the leadership of Joseph Stalin and his successors. It is characterized by a highly centralized planned economy, with the state controlling all major industries and agricultural production. Politically, Stalism is marked by a totalitarian regime, where the Communist Party holds absolute power, suppressing dissent through censorship, secret police, and widespread surveillance.

Key features of Stalism include the cult of personality surrounding Stalin, the use of forced labor camps (gulags) to punish political opponents and to exploit labor, and rapid industrialization through collectivization of agriculture and ambitious five-year plans. While the system aimed to achieve rapid economic development and create a classless society, it came at a tremendous human cost, including widespread famine, purges, and the deaths of millions.

After Stalin's death in 1953, there were efforts to de-Stalinize, notably under Nikita Khrushchev, who denounced Stalin's excesses. However, elements of the Stalinist system persisted in the Soviet Union and in other communist states for decades, influencing their political and economic structures until the eventual collapse of many of these regimes in the late 20th century. The legacy of Stalism remains a subject of historical debate, with discussions focusing on its effectiveness in achieving its stated goals versus its devastating human impact.