Stephen Kotkin on Stalin, Power, and the Art of Biography
Dec 4, 2024
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Stephen Kotkin, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and a prominent historian of Russian and Soviet history, dives deep into the mechanics of totalitarian power. He discusses the enduring influence of Buddhism and shamanism in Siberia, and how the landscape shaped its residents. Kotkin shares personal anecdotes from his time in Magnitogorsk and explores Stalin’s complex relationship with artistic genius. He also navigates the intricacies of researching WWII, revealing the moral dilemmas faced in studying such a controversial figure.
Stephen Kotkin's biography of Stalin reveals how totalitarian power is exercised through both elite terror and everyday societal choices.
The podcast highlights the current complexities of Buddhism in Russia and the cultural persistence of shamanism amidst geopolitical challenges.
Kotkin discusses the profound challenges of accurately interpreting historical narratives related to Stalin and the intricacies of power dynamics in totalitarian regimes.
Deep dives
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The State of Russian Buddhism
The discussion explores the current status of Buddhism in Russia, noting a previously vibrant yet now uncertain presence influenced by geopolitical factors. Despite the historical roots of Buddhism in the region, complexities like the pandemic and conflict have made contemporary understanding difficult. The speaker reflects on personal experiences in Siberia, where remnants of cultural practices, including Buddhism and shamanism, continue to exist. This highlights the intricate relationship between cultural heritage and modern challenges in preserving spiritual practices.
Siberian Geography and Climate
Siberian geography is characterized by significant diversity between Western and Eastern Siberia, with differences in climate, landscapes, and ecological patterns. The critical role of Siberian rivers, such as the Ob and Irtish, is highlighted as they shape the region's history and living conditions. The unique environmental conditions, including temperature variations, have influenced human settlement and resource use throughout history. Moreover, these geographical features underscore the strategic importance of Siberian water resources in a changing global context, especially as climate issues arise.
Reflections on Historical Research
The struggles and complexities of historical research are examined, particularly regarding the interpretation of events during Stalin's rule and the understanding of power dynamics in totalitarian regimes. The speaker discusses the challenges of ensuring historical accuracy while navigating the vast breadth of evidence available, especially concerning the Cold War. An emphasis is placed on the importance of examining narratives critically, especially when considering lesser-known aspects of the global order and its implications today. This reflection reinforces the necessity of rigorous scholarship in comprehending historical legacies and contemporary issues.
In his landmark multi-volume biography of Stalin, Stephen Kotkin shows how totalitarian power worked not just through terror from above, but through millions of everyday decisions from below. Currently a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution after 33 years at Princeton, Kotkin brings both deep archival work and personal experience to his understanding of Soviet life, having lived in Magnitogorsk during the 1980s and seen firsthand how power operates in closed societies.
Tyler sat down with Stephen to discuss the state of Russian Buddhism today, how shamanism persists in modern Siberia, whether Siberia might ever break away from Russia, what happened to the science city Akademgorodok, why Soviet obsession with cybernetics wasn't just a mistake, what life was really like in 1980s Magnitogorsk, how modernist urban planning failed there, why Prokofiev returned to the USSR in 1936, what Stalin actually understood about artistic genius, how Stalin's Georgian background influenced him (or not), what Michel Foucault taught him about power, why he risked his tenure case to study Japanese, how his wife's work as a curator opened his eyes to Korean folk art, how he's progressing on the next Stalin volume, and much more.
