A LONG-TIME BOLSHEVIK, HE EMERGED FROM THE POWER STRUGGLE FOLLOWING LENIN'S DEATH AS THE NEW LEADER OF THE SOVIET UNION, CONTRARY TO LENIN'S WISHES. HE QUICKLY IMPLEMENTED PLANS FOR THE FORCED COLLECTIVIZATION OF AGRICULTURE, RAPID INDUSTRIALIZATION, AND A HUGE MILITARY BUILDUP. THESE POLICIES WERE MADE POSSIBLE BY A REIGN OF STATE TERROR THAT LED TO MILLIONS OF DEATHS. AFTER REPELLING THE NAZI INVASION OF WORLD WAR II, WHICH KILLED 20 MILLION MORE RUSSIANS, STALIN WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH A HEGEMONY OVER MOST OF EASTERN EUROPE THAT LASTED NEARLY HALF A CENTURY BEFORE DISINTEGRATING.
THREAT REPORT
THE RUSSIANS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS UNDER STALIN (5/6). THEY ARE CAPABLE OF AGGRESSIVE EXPANSION, BUT MAY FALL BEHIND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CITIES AND TECHNOLOGY.
A LONG-TIME BOLSHEVIK, HE EMERGED FROM THE POWER STRUGGLE FOLLOWING LENIN'S DEATH AS THE NEW LEADER OF THE SOVIET UNION, CONTRARY TO LENIN'S WISHES. HE QUICKLY IMPLEMENTED PLANS FOR THE FORCED COLLECTIVIZATION OF AGRICULTURE, RAPID INDUSTRIALIZATION, AND A HUGE MILITARY BUILDUP. THESE POLICIES WERE MADE POSSIBLE BY A REIGN OF STATE TERROR THAT LED TO MILLIONS OF DEATHS. AFTER REPELLING THE NAZI INVASION OF WORLD WAR II, WHICH KILLED 20 MILLION MORE RUSSIANS, STALIN WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH A HEGEMONY OVER MOST OF EASTERN EUROPE THAT LASTED NEARLY HALF A CENTURY BEFORE DISINTEGRATING.
