Stalin and Stalinism

Module overview

This module begins with an assessment of the legacy of Lenin and goes on to investigate Stalin's rise to power and his methods in modernising economy and society. We will engage with historical debates concerning his role in the purges of the 1930s and the impact of the Great Patriotic War on his rule. We go on to evaluate the first effort at reforming the Stalinist system under his successor Khrushchev, whether there was a (partial) return to Stalinism under Brezhnev, and why the attempts to reform eventually failed under Gorbachev. We conclude by addressing Stalin's continuing popularity as a historical figure in post-communist Russia.

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

The basis of Stalin’s personal autocracy
The role of the state bureaucracy within the Stalinist system
The social and cultural as well as political characteristics of Stalinism

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Handle a range of primary and secondary sources (in translation) with an appropriate degree of sophistication
Show increasing confidence in group discussion
Demonstrate your ability to communicate under pressure of a timed unseen examination
Explain your ideas effectively in written exercises

Cognitive Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

Explain the role of a key individual in shaping history
Assess the links between ideology and society
Evaluate interpretations of a deeply contentious subject

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include: • Lectures (one hour, twice a week) • Complementary seminars (one hour, once a week) • Informal essay tutorials Learning activities include: • Preparation for weekly seminars by reading and interpreting a variety of sources, both primary and secondary • Enhancement of your organisational and analytical skills through the two modes of formal assessment

Study time
Type	Hours
Teaching	36
Independent Study	264
Total study time	300

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Chubarov, A (2001). Russia’s Bitter Path to Modernity: A History of the Soviet and Post-Soviet Eras. New York: Continuum.

McCauley, M (2008). The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union. Harlow: Pearson Longman.

McLoughlin, B. & McDermott, K. (eds) (2004). Stalin’s Terror: High Politics and Repression in the Soviet Union. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Ree, E. van (2002). The Political Thought of Joseph Stalin: A Study in Twentieth-century Revolutionary Patriotism. London: Routledge.

Fitzpatrick, S (2004). Stalinism: New Directions. London: Routledge.

Edele, M (2011). Stalinist Society 1928-1953. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Khlevniuk, O. V (2004). Master of the House: Stalin and his Inner Circle. New York & London: Yale University Press.

Davies, S. & Harris, J. (eds) (2005). Stalin: A New History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Hoffmann, D.L (2011). Cultivating the Masses: Modern State Practices and Soviet Socialism 1914-1939. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

Brown, A (2007). Seven Years that Changed the World: Perestroika in Perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Rees, E.A. (ed.) (2004). The Nature of Stalin’s Dictatorship: The Politburo 1924-1953. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Service, R (2003). A History of Modern Russia: from Nicholas ll to Putin. London: Penguin.

McCauley, M (2008). Stalin and Stalinism. Harlow: Pearson Longman.

McDermott, K (2006). Stalin: Revolutionary in an Era of War. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Assessment

Assessment strategy

Assessments designed to provide informal feedback: • You will engage in structured seminars based on set reading of both primary sources and extracts from secondary works, with occasional presentations of short papers which will be reviewed in class • You will be encouraged to discuss preparation for your formal assessment with your tutor • You will have the opportunity to seek individual advice on your work in progress from your tutor • Guidance and advice in class on preparation, completion and presentation of assignments will be available to you The formal assessments set out below will promote skills of analysis and critical thinking and also reinforce organisational, planning and writing skills.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Essay	60%
Written assignment	40%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Resubmit assessments	100%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External