Dwarkesh Podcast Stephen Kotkin — How Stalin Became the Most Powerful Dictator in History
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Jul 10, 2025 
Stephen Kotkin, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and acclaimed biographer of Joseph Stalin, delves into the complexities of authoritarian regimes. He discusses Stalin's paradoxical relationship with revolutionary ideals, the psychological factors that drove cruelty under his rule, and the implications of autocratic governance on modernization. Kotkin raises thought-provoking questions about why people accepted Stalin's tyranny and the contemporary challenges faced by ideologically driven governments. His insights provide a compelling lens on the dynamics of power and legitimacy.
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Tsarist Modernization Dilemma
- The Tsarist regime modernized militarily and industrially but repressed workers and intellectuals to protect its autocratic rule.
- This created a fundamental dilemma of needing modernity's benefits while suppressing its political threats.
Peasant Land Hunger Fuels Revolution
- Leftist revolution in Russia was inevitable because peasants lacked land, creating radical demands.
- Peasant land hunger made political stability impossible without substantial reform or revolution.
Belief Enabled Soviet Repression
- Many officials believed in communist ideology, thinking ending capitalism would create peace and abundance.
- Those implementing repression often saw it as necessary to purge enemies obstructing the revolution’s goals.
