Episode #88
Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin became the most powerful dictator in history
The most consequential figure of the 20th century
July 10, 20252h 12m7 chapters
People
What this episode covers
The most consequential figure of the 20th century
Where to start
Why did so many go along with enforced famine and the Great Terror?
Why did so many go along with enforced famine and the Great Terror?
Start at 37:38
Overcoming the pathologies of communism with tech: USSR vs China
Overcoming the pathologies of communism with tech: USSR vs China
Start at 1:52:45
The peasants brought Lenin to power, then he enslaved them
The peasants brought Lenin to power, then he enslaved them
Start at 23:45
People and topics
People
Key takeaways
- Was the tsarist regime the lesser of 2 evils?
- The peasants brought Lenin to power, then he enslaved them
- Why did so many go along with enforced famine and the Great Terror?
- Today’s leftist civil war
- Doesn’t CCP deserve credit for China's growth?