Bloomsbury Academic Revisioning Stalin and Stalinism: Complexities, Contradictions, and Controversies

This thought-provoking collection of essays, assembled in honour of renowned historian Geoffrey Roberts, analyses the complex, multi-faceted, and even contradictory nature of Stalinism and its representations. Stalinism was an extraordinarily repressive and violent political model, and yet it was led by ideologues committed to a vision of socialism and international harmony. This volume revisions Stalin in his various guises despot and diplomat, soldier and statesman, rational bureaucrat and paranoid politician and explores the complex picture that this created in Russia during the period. Broadly speaking, three important areas of debate are examined, united by a focus on political leadership: * The key controversies surrounding Stalins leadership role * A reconsideration of Stalin and the Cold War * New perspectives on the cult of personality Revisioning Stalin and Stalinism is a crucial volume for all students and scholars of Stalins Russia and Cold War Europe.