Stalin and the Marxist Theory

Paper Summary:

Joseph Stalin was not a theorist, but he was a consummate politician. In the 1920s, Marxist-Leninist theoretical grounding was a primary mode of legitimation for those who aspired to leadership of the Russian Communist Party. The paper shows that Stalin was, therefore, always able to elucidate an appropriate theoretical pedigree for whatever he believed was the best course for the new nation or, not incidentally, for his own political ends. The paper shows that Stalin's first Five Year Plan -- adopted, modified and approved between September 1928 and April 1929 -- was just such a course of action. It explains how he changed his previously stated intentions and ideologies in order to develop the Five Year Plan and remain in power as the leader of Communist Russia.

From the Paper:

"From his earliest study of Marxist theory Stalin was attracted to dialectical materialism as a world view that provided "a coherent overall philosophical image of the world" and conceived of society past and present "as a great battleground whereon two hostile forces -- bourgeoisie and proletariat -- are locked in mortal combat" (Tucker 118, 119). Socialism flowed inevitably, logically from Marx's systematic thought and justified the revolutionary extremism that had a special appeal for Stalin. In his early political incarnation Stalin sided with the so-called "hards" who were opposed to the moderation of the left. He became a leading proponent of Lenin's militant interpretation of Marx and, as a leading advocate of Bolshevism, Stalin "found himself in his spiritual element" (121)."

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