Did Soviet-style Communism fail because of Joseph Stalin?

A 1922 treaty between Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Transcaucasia (modern Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The newly established Communist Party, led by Marxist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, took control of the government. read more

It would be more accurate to say the Soviet Communism failed because of the deeply flawed political system that resulted from Stalin's policies and action--largely unintentionally. When I say "unintentionally," I don't mean to deny Stalin's cruelty and indifference to human life. read more

In 1924, Trotsky published his pamphlet Lessons of October in which he stated that socialism in the Soviet Union would fail because of the backward state of economic development unless a world revolution began. Stalin responded to Trotsky's pamphlet with his article, "October and Comrade Trotsky's Theory of Permanent Revolution". read more

Joseph Stalin was one of the most powerful leaders of the Soviet Union. He terrorized his people and got rid of all his political enemies. read more