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Stalin and Stalinism in Russian History

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Course Summary

This course examines the political, economic and social impact of Stalinism on the Soviet Union and beyond.

Key Learning Points

Gain a deep understanding of the Stalinist era and its impact on modern history.
Analyze primary sources to evaluate the policies and practices of Stalin and his regime.
Explore the historical context of Stalinism and its relevance to contemporary politics and society.

Learning Outcomes

Ability to analyze primary sources and evaluate Stalinist policies and practices
Deep understanding of the historical context of Stalinism and its impact on modern history
Knowledge of the relevance of Stalinism to contemporary politics and society

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Familiarity with basic historical concepts and terminology
Ability to read and analyze primary sources

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online self-paced course
Video lectures
Reading materials
Quizzes and assignments

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The History of the Soviet Union
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Notable People in This Field

Anne Applebaum
Timothy Snyder

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Description

The course presents the life and deeds of Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 till 1953. It analyses the reasons for his actions and their results, as well as the causes of his popularity in Russia today. It offers an analysis of the phenomenon of Stalinism and of its significance for Russia and beyond.

In the late 1920s – early 1930s Stalin directed the massive and rapid industrialisation of the country and the forced collectivisation of its agriculture. The industrialisation was based on forced labour, and collectivisation on repression, but both helped to create the material base for the Soviet defence industry. In the late 1930s Stalin unleashed mass terror against the Soviet people, in which millions perished. In his view this helped to rid the country of any potential internal enemies on the eve of the coming war. The USSR, together with its allies, won the Second World War, but at the cost of dozens of millions of lives. Stalin was instrumental in creating the post-war order. The system which he created in the 1930s shaped the USSR as it was during his lifetime and for decades after his death. It also influenced the lives of millions of people beyond the Soviet borders. The course will enable those who take it to develop an informed understanding of the Stalin era and of the phenomenon of Stalinism. Do you have technical problems? Write to us: coursera@hse.ru

Outline

Stalin and Stalinism in Russian History. About this Course.
About the University
About the course
1.1. Introduction
1.2.The Structure of this Course
1.2.1. The Russian Empire: the society, part 1.
1.2.2. The Russian Empire: the society, part 2
1.2.3. The Russian Empire: regional differences
1.2.4.Revolutionary Movements in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century
1.3.1.Stalin’s Childhood
1.3.2. Becoming a Revolutionary
About University
Rules on the academic integrity in the course
Glossaries

Between the Two Revolutions
2.4.1. Bloody Sunday and the 17th October Manifesto
2.4.2. The Aftermath of the Revolution
2.5.1. Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. Stalin Meets Lenin. Stalin’s First Marriage
2.5.2. Stalin’s Revolutionary Activities. In Prison and in Exile
2.6.1. The 1917 February Revolution
2.6.2. Stalin in the February Revolution
2.6.3. The Bolsheviks’ Push for Power
Glossaries

The Leader
3.7.1. The First Steps of Soviet Power
3.7.2. The Intervention and the Civil War
3.7.3. Stalin in the Civil War
3.7.4. The New Economic Policy (NEP) and the 10th Party Congress
3.8.1. Lenin against Stalin
3.8.2. Stalin’s Triumph
Glossaries

Stalin's Revolution from Above
4.9.1. Stalin’s Abrupt Turn to Collectivisation
4.9.2. Collectivisation Begins
4.10.1. Industrialisation: the advance
4.10.2. Industrialisation: the retreat
Creative Art during the Stalin Era
Glossaries

The Dictator
5.11.1. The First Show Trials
5.11.2. The Horror Years: the beginning
5.11.3. The Horror Years: the end
5.12.1. The New Elite
5.13.1.The External Danger
Everyday life in the Gulag
Glossaries

Stalin's War
6.14.1.The Nazi-Soviet Pact, Poland and the Baltics
6.15.1. The Winter War. The Last Months before the German Invasion
6.16.1.The War Begins
6.16.2. Soviet Early Losses. Stalin’s Reaction to the Defeats
6.16.3.The Siege of Leningrad and the German Advance to Moscow
6.17.1.The Battle of Moscow
6.18.1. The German Summer Offensive, 1942
Glossaries

Stalin's Victory
7.19.1.From Stalingrad to Leningrad
7.19.2.The 1943 Offensive and Relations with the Western Allies
7.20.1. The Home Front
7. 21. 1. Stalin’s Army Abroad
7.22.1.The Warsaw Uprisings and the Polish Question. The Yalta Conference
7.22.2.The Dash to Berlin and the Potsdam Conference
7.22.3. Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe and Berlin. The Final Split
Glossaries

The Last Years of the Dictatorship
8.23.1. The Shake-up Begins
8.23.2. The Leningrad Affair
8.23.3. The Shake-up Continues
8.24.1. The Post-War Soviet Economy
8.24.2. The Cold War
8. 24.3. The New Mobilisation
8.25.1.The End and the Heirs
Glossaries
Soviet Architecture during the Stalin Era

Stalin and Stalinism
9.26.1. Is there a Definition of Stalinism? The Roots of Stalinism
9.27.1. Why Did the Soviet People Tolerate this System? Why Did They Participate in It?
9.28.1. A Long History of Writing about Stalinism.
9.28.2. The Archival Revolution
9.29.1. Interview with Professor Oleg Khlevniuk
Glossaries

Stalinism after Stalin
10.30.1. The Beginning of De-Stalinisation. The 20th Party Congress
10.30.2. ‘The Anti-Party Group’
10.30.3. Khrushchev’s Retreat
10.31.1. Kosygin’s Reform
10.32.1. Perestroika and the End of the USSR
10.33.1. The Early Projects
10.33.2. The Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution
10.34.1. The De-Stalinisation of the Early 1990s and the Reasons for the Revival of Stalin’s Cult in the 2000s.
10.34.2. Russian Society and Re-Stalinisation
Glossaries

Summary of User Reviews

Read reviews of Stalinism course on Coursera. Students say this course is informative and well-structured. However, some users find it too focused on Soviet Union and not enough on Stalin himself.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Informative and well-structured

Pros from User Reviews

Great course for history buffs
Engaging lectures and coursework
Provides a deep understanding of Stalinism
Professors are knowledgeable and passionate
Course is well-organized and easy to follow

Cons from User Reviews

Course is too focused on the Soviet Union rather than Stalin himself
Some users find the course material too dense
Not suitable for those with little background knowledge of Soviet history
Some assignments are time-consuming
Course is not very interactive

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