The Rise of Joseph Stalin: A Fascinating Look into the Making of a Dictator

Dwayne Wong (Omowale)
4 min readFeb 14, 2023

Joseph Stalin was one of the most powerful and influential figures in Soviet history. He was born Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili in Gori, Georgia, on 18 December 1878. He was the third of four children born to Vissarion Dzhugashvili, a cobbler, and his wife Yekaterina. As a child, Stalin was often ill and was forced to drop out of school due to his poor health. Despite his lack of education, Stalin was an avid reader and was able to teach himself a range of subjects.

In 1898, Stalin was arrested for being a member of a revolutionary organization and was exiled to Siberia. He remained in exile for almost five years before being allowed to return to Georgia. During this time, Stalin became acquainted with the writings of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin and developed a strong political ideology that was heavily influenced by the two.

In 1912, Stalin moved to St. Petersburg and joined the Bolshevik Party, a revolutionary organization led by Lenin. He quickly rose through the ranks of the party and was appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1922. From this position, Stalin was able to consolidate his power and influence over the Soviet Union, and he would remain in this role until his death in 1953.

Throughout his life, Stalin was known for his ruthless tactics and oppressive rule. He was responsible for the deaths of millions of people, and his legacy is still controversial to this day.

Joseph Stalin rose to power through a combination of cunning tactics, manipulation, and brute force. He was able to gain a foothold within the Bolshevik Party by aligning himself with Lenin and by exploiting the weaknesses of his rivals. By the time Lenin died in 1924, Stalin had already secured a powerful position within the party and was able to use his influence to become the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union.

Once in power, Stalin was able to consolidate his control over the country through a series of oppressive measures. He created a one-party state and purged anyone who opposed his rule. He also implemented a series of economic policies, known as the Five-Year Plans, which aimed to modernize the Soviet Union’s industry and agriculture.

Stalin also used propaganda to his advantage. He was able to manipulate public opinion by controlling the media and by creating a cult of personality around himself. By the late 1930s, Stalin had become an absolute dictator and had complete control over the Soviet Union.

Joseph Stalin’s political ideology was heavily influenced by the writings of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. He was a Marxist-Leninist, which meant that he believed in the principles of socialism, the nationalization of industry, and the creation of a one-party state.

Stalin was also an authoritarian leader. He believed that the state should have absolute control over the economy, society, and all aspects of life. He also believed that the Soviet Union should be governed by a single leader who had absolute power.

Stalin’s political ideology had a major influence on the Soviet Union. He was responsible for the creation of a one-party state and the implementation of oppressive measures to maintain his rule. He also implemented a series of economic policies, known as the Five-Year Plans, which aimed to modernize the Soviet Union’s industry and agriculture.

Joseph Stalin was the undisputed leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. During this time, he was responsible for the creation of a one-party state and the implementation of oppressive measures to maintain his rule. He also implemented a series of economic policies, known as the Five-Year Plans, which aimed to modernize the Soviet Union’s industry and agriculture.

Stalin was also responsible for the deaths of millions of people. He used brutal tactics to eliminate anyone who opposed his rule, and he was responsible for the Great Purge of the 1930s, during which millions of people were arrested, tortured, and executed.

Despite his oppressive rule, Stalin was also responsible for a number of positive changes in the Soviet Union. He modernized the country’s industry and agriculture, increased life expectancy, and improved literacy rates. He also increased the Soviet Union’s international influence and played an important role in the Allied victory in World War II.

Joseph Stalin’s legacy is still a topic of debate and discussion to this day. While his oppressive rule and brutal tactics are widely condemned, his economic policies and contribution to the Allied victory in World War II are often praised.

Stalin was responsible for the deaths of millions of people and is widely viewed as one of the most oppressive rulers of the 20th century. However, it is important to remember that he also modernized the Soviet Union’s industry and agriculture, increased life expectancy, and improved literacy rates.

Stalin’s legacy is complicated and controversial. While he was responsible for horrendous atrocities, he also played an important role in the Allied victory in World War II and improved the lives of millions of people.

Dwayne is the author of several books on the history and experiences of African people, both on the continent and in the diaspora. His books are available through Amazon. You can also follow Dwayne on Facebook and Twitter.

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Dwayne Wong (Omowale)
Dwayne Wong (Omowale)

Written by Dwayne Wong (Omowale)

I am a Pan-Africanist activist, historian, and author. I am also certified in CompTIA Security +

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