Welcome to Stories About Stalin.
My name is Dr. Peter Kabachnik. I am an Associate Professor of Geography in the Department of Political Science and Global Affairs at the College of Staten Island-The City University of New York. Some of my current research projects include exploring contemporary Georgian perspectives about Stalin and examining how personality cults function as mechanisms of social control in authoritarian states.
It is now more than 60 years since Stalin died, and there are many stories - real or imagined - that are attributed to Stalin, that were told about Stalin, that helped to build people's perceptions of Stalin. Many of these stories are being forgotten, particularly as people who lived during and immediately after Stalin's reign, are passing away. Often, these tales were transmitted orally and have not been written down or gathered in any way for posterity and historical and analytical reasons. This site will help to capture some of these anecdotes - and store them in one place - before they are lost.
Regardless of the perspectives and disagreements about how to judge Stalin as a person and his actions, Stalin was an extremely important figure that shaped - not only major world events - but millions of people's lives. Thus it is important to study a variety of aspects of figures like Stalin - from the way personality cults are constructed and how they are successful - or not - in building admiration and/or fear among the public; how political leaders sustain power and control; the multiple meanings attributed to rulers; and so on. And the collecting of these stories can help in understanding the Stalin phenomenon.
Please note that Stalin was a highly contentious figure - and remains so today. This site is not designed to be a ideological space - either in close-mindedly bashing Stalin, or else in recapitulating the reverence many afforded him. Instead, it is to document the range of discourses and responses, both glowing accolades, to vociferous criticism, and everything in between. Therefore visitors of all political persuasions are welcome to sift through the material here, and to offer commentary and submissions. However, please do not project your own politicized vision onto this site.
My name is Dr. Peter Kabachnik. I am an Associate Professor of Geography in the Department of Political Science and Global Affairs at the College of Staten Island-The City University of New York. Some of my current research projects include exploring contemporary Georgian perspectives about Stalin and examining how personality cults function as mechanisms of social control in authoritarian states.
It is now more than 60 years since Stalin died, and there are many stories - real or imagined - that are attributed to Stalin, that were told about Stalin, that helped to build people's perceptions of Stalin. Many of these stories are being forgotten, particularly as people who lived during and immediately after Stalin's reign, are passing away. Often, these tales were transmitted orally and have not been written down or gathered in any way for posterity and historical and analytical reasons. This site will help to capture some of these anecdotes - and store them in one place - before they are lost.
Regardless of the perspectives and disagreements about how to judge Stalin as a person and his actions, Stalin was an extremely important figure that shaped - not only major world events - but millions of people's lives. Thus it is important to study a variety of aspects of figures like Stalin - from the way personality cults are constructed and how they are successful - or not - in building admiration and/or fear among the public; how political leaders sustain power and control; the multiple meanings attributed to rulers; and so on. And the collecting of these stories can help in understanding the Stalin phenomenon.
Please note that Stalin was a highly contentious figure - and remains so today. This site is not designed to be a ideological space - either in close-mindedly bashing Stalin, or else in recapitulating the reverence many afforded him. Instead, it is to document the range of discourses and responses, both glowing accolades, to vociferous criticism, and everything in between. Therefore visitors of all political persuasions are welcome to sift through the material here, and to offer commentary and submissions. However, please do not project your own politicized vision onto this site.