The Stalin Regime: 1928-1941
Course Code: HEH99
Duration: 5 sessions (over 5 weeks)
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What is the course about?
This course is about the regime which prevailed in the Soviet Union from Stalin’s rise to power in 1928 to the coming of war in 1941. This era was a transformative time for the USSR and cast a long shadow over the societies that experienced it. Yet understanding of the Stalin regime and how it was built are sorely lacking today.This course aims to fill that gap and enable students not only to understand Stalinism, but to discuss both it and its legacies.
What will we cover?
The course will begin by introducing Stalin as a person, exploring his background and career up to the early 1920s.
We will then explore the circumstances in which Stalin came to power, and discuss the ‘Revolution From Above’ in the Soviet economy. The course will also consider the impact of Stalinism on Soviet culture in the 1930s,
and conclude with a discussion of violence and terror in Soviet politics prior to the start of war in 1941.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Discuss how far Stalinism was a product of Stalin personally
- Identify the major changes to Soviet society, economy, and culture during the 1930s
- Understand how the Soviet regime used violence and how this changed over time
- Analyse and discuss primary sources.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is introductory and requires no prior knowledge. A general familiarity with modern European history will
be useful for the sake of comparison.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will taught by a series of short lectures followed by class discussion. You will be expected to complete some
preparatory reading before each class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You are advised to bring a pen and some paper, and to approach the course with an open mind towards studying
ideas you may not agree with.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
HEH100 The Soviet Union and the Second World War.
