Considering Stalin’s Genocides

Norman M. Naimark is a Professor in Eastern European Studies at Stanford University. His latest book is “Stalin’s Genocides”.

Lenin as Social Architect

It is perhaps significant that Lenin’s biggest contribution to modern Russian life is a monument to death. It was, after all, his characteristic answer to most problems. Lenin’s period of control over Russia (1917-1924) was dominated by war, conflict and the “Red Terror”. It is the thesis of this essay that he considered that conflict [...]

Assessing the Character of Nicholas II

“The daily work of a monarch he found intolerably boring. He could not stand listening long or seriously to ministers’ reports, or reading them.” Written by Kerensky, the leader of the government which took over from the Tsar in 1917, in his memoirs in 1934. “His ancestors did not pass on to him one quality [...]

Stalin’s Five Year Plans: Conversation with Szpakowski

Professor Michal Spakowski (Jastrӗbie Droj, Poland) was speaking to Rev Dr Kenneth Baker (Roscommon, Republic of Ireland)

Stalin and the Salvation of the USSR

Nicholas II v Stalin?

As we approach the centennial anniversary of the murder of Tsar Nicholas II and his family, it was interesting –a little while back- to notice that Nicholas II was leading in an internet poll, in which millions voted, for the title Greatest Russian of All Time, narrowly ahead of Stalin! What does that tell us [...]

How did the Bolsheviks gain power in October 1917?

The Bolshevik victory was by no means a foregone conclusion, and in some ways just as unexpected as the Tsar’s abdication earlier in the year. There were many inter-connected factors in their path to success.