Why Is Joseph Stalin More Powerful Than Communism

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Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, inspired by Victor d'Hupay (a French philosopher and founder of early communism), wrote The Communist Manifesto in 1848, intending to fuel a society with a liberated working class and complete equality between all people. Nearly 70 years later, Vladimir Lenin used the principals found in The Communist Manifesto to overthrow the Tzar and bourgeoisie and turn the U.S.S.R. into a communist superpower. While Communism may have worked for a time, the easily corruptible and paranoia-causing position of Soviet dictator caused the leader after Lenin, Joseph Stalin, to create a totalitarian state, rather an a communist one. The U.S.S.R. became a country with extremely depleted resources, an unstable economy, and a hierarchical …show more content…

In his speech, the 144 times Khrushchev talks about Vladimir Lenin or Leninism, it is always about his the communist ideology, a positive way Lenin ruled, or a negative quote Lenin said about Stalin having power. In the beginning of his speech he reminds the audience about their feelings toward Lenin and his ability to rule: “The great modesty of the genius of the Revolution, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, is known. Lenin always stressed the role of the people”, “Lenin never imposed his views upon his co-workers by force.”, “Lenin resolutely stood against every attempt aimed at belittling or weakening the directing role of the Party”. These quotes emphasize to the audience how Vladimir Lenin was a true communist who believed in equality, liberation, and classlessness; but, they were also used because Khrushchev understood how highly his audience thought of Lenin. His audience’s thoughts about Lenin, combined with repeating and stressing his name near positive words, creates positive memories of a better time and a sense of patriotism for the communist party and communist ideology. This is important because it catches the audience’s attention, making them want to …show more content…

Khrushchev briefly mentions how Stalin thought about himself in the beginning of his speech in a neither positive or negative way before speaking inspiring words about Lenin. He simply reminds the audience that they saw Stalin as a godlike figure and Stalin encouraged this behavior. While being a godlike leader is the opposite of being a communist leader, Khrushchev doesn’t put a negative or positive spin on it, which effectively places Stalin in his speech before praising Lenin for doing the exact opposite. This helps Stalin’s name not seem out of place when he brings him back up to demolish the Stalin legacy and helps Khrushchev distance himself from Stalin because not everything was a criticism, making him seem like an unbiased third-party. When Khrushchev finally brings up de-Stalinizing the U.S.S.R. and the communist party, he does so by explaining the “glaring violations of revolutionary legality” (Khrushchev) when Stalin had his followers and high-ranking party members purged. He also explained the “grave perversions of party principles” (Khrushchev), the ways he destroyed the economy, and his dangerous mistakes of military tactics in World War II. He listed several specific examples of ways he personally witnessed Stalin order terrible military and economic plans and

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