Industrialization: Stalin implemented rapid industrialization to transform the Soviet Union from an agrarian society into an industrial superpower. He enacted the Five-Year Plans, pushing for rapid economic growth and heavy industrialization, regardless of the human cost or the environmental impact.
Collectivization: Stalin believed that collectivizing agriculture was essential for the transformation of the Soviet Union. He forcibly collectivized peasant farms into large, state-run collectives, eliminating private property and leading to widespread famine and resistance.
Personality Cult: Stalin cultivated a cult of personality, portraying himself as an infallible leader and manipulating the media and propaganda to maintain control and inspire loyalty.
Control and Repression: Stalin used state terror and political repression to maintain his grip on power. He purged his political enemies, eliminated dissenting intellectuals and artists, and carried out mass arrests, executions, and imprisonments through the secret police (NKVD).
Militarization and Imperial Expansion: Stalin prioritized the military and strengthened the Soviet Union's armed forces. He believed in a strong military as a means of securing the state and pursuing expansionist policies.
Ideological Orthodoxy: Stalin enforced a strict adherence to Marxist-Leninist ideology, suppressing any deviations or interpretations that challenged his authority or the official party line.
Isolationism and International Expansion: Stalin pursued policies of relative isolation from the West, focusing on domestic development and building a self-sufficient economy. However, he also sought to expand Soviet influence in Eastern Europe and beyond, resulting in the formation of the Eastern Bloc and increasing tensions with the Western powers.
Centralized Decision-Making: Stalin concentrated decision-making power in his hands and the Politburo, controlling key aspects of the state, economy, and cultural policies.
Cult of Victory: Following the Soviet victory in World War II, Stalin promoted the cult of victory and glorification of the Red Army, solidifying his image as the heroic leader who had led the nation to triumph.