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
Cognitive Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Assess the links between ideology and society
- Explain the role of a key individual in shaping history
- Evaluate interpretations of a deeply contentious subject
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
Syllabus
You will examine both the rule of Joseph Stalin and the development of the ideology associated with him. You will consider Stalin’s rise to and consolidation of power; the various attempts after his death to reform the system he established; and the causes of its ultimate failure. You will also analyse the relationship between Stalinism and Leninism; assess the possibility of alternatives to Stalinism within the Soviet system; and evaluate the debates among western historians, focusing on the totalitarian/revisionist arguments, especially in the light of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
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
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 36 |
| Independent Study | 264 |
| Total study time | 300 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
McLoughlin, B. & McDermott, K. (eds) (2004). Stalin’s Terror: High Politics and Repression in the Soviet Union. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Chubarov, A (2001). Russia’s Bitter Path to Modernity: A History of the Soviet and Post-Soviet Eras. New York: Continuum.
Rees, E.A. (ed.) (2004). The Nature of Stalin’s Dictatorship: The Politburo 1924-1953. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Ree, E. van (2002). The Political Thought of Joseph Stalin: A Study in Twentieth-century Revolutionary Patriotism. London: Routledge.
Davies, S. & Harris, J. (eds) (2005). Stalin: A New History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
McCauley, M (2008). The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union. Harlow: Pearson Longman.
Khlevniuk, O. V (2004). Master of the House: Stalin and his Inner Circle. New York & London: Yale University Press.
Service, R (2003). A History of Modern Russia: from Nicholas ll to Putin. London: Penguin.
McCauley, M (2008). Stalin and Stalinism. Harlow: Pearson Longman.
Hoffmann, D.L (2011). Cultivating the Masses: Modern State Practices and Soviet Socialism 1914-1939. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Edele, M (2011). Stalinist Society 1928-1953. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
McDermott, K (2006). Stalin: Revolutionary in an Era of War. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Brown, A (2007). Seven Years that Changed the World: Perestroika in Perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Fitzpatrick, S (2004). Stalinism: New Directions. London: Routledge.
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.
| 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.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Resubmit assessments | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External