Stalinism: The Essential Readings(8 Blackwell Essential Readings in History)

This book comprises 11 essays on Stalinism by both eminent historians and younger scholars who have conducted research in the newly opened Russian archives. They discuss both the origins and consequences of Stalinism, and illustrate recent scholarly trends in the field of Soviet history. A collection of essays on Stalinism by both eminent and younger scholars. Discusses both the origins and consequences of Stalinism. Provides an overview of the debates for students new to the subject. Includes the results of research in the newly opened Russian archives.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments ix Glossary xi Introduction: Interpretations of Stalinism 1 David L. Hoffmann Part I The Origins of Stalinism 9 1 Stalin's Role 11 Stalin and his Stalinism: Power and Authority in the Soviet Union, 1930–1953 13 Ronald Grigor Suny 2 Social Origins 37 Grappling with Stalinism 39 Moshe Lewin 3 Socialist Ideology 63 The Soviet Tragedy: A History of Socialism in Russia 65 Martin Malia 4 The Foreign Threat 81 The Objectives of the Great Terror, 1937–1938 83 Oleg Khlevnyuk 5 The Welfare State 105 Magnetic Mountain: Stalinism as a Civilization 107 Stephen Kotkin 6 State Violence 127 State Violence as Technique: The Logic of Violence in Soviet Totalitarianism 129 Peter Holquist Part II The Consequences of Stalinism 157 7 Resistance and Conformity 159 Everyday Stalinism: Ordinary Life in Extraordinary Times 161 Sheila Fitzpatrick 8 Stalinist Subjectivity 179 Working, Struggling, Becoming: Stalin-Era Autobiographical Texts 181 Jochen Hellbeck 9 Women and Gender 211 Women in Soviet Society: Equality, Development, and Social Change 213 Gail Warshofsky Lapidus 10 Ethnicity and Nationality 237 Nature and Nurture in a Socialist Utopia: Delineating the Soviet Socio-Ethnic Body in the Age of Socialism 239 Amir Weiner 11 The Postwar Years 275 Russia after the War: Hopes, Illusions, and Disappointments 277 Elena Zubkova Index 302

About the Author :
David L. Hoffmann is Professor of History at Ohio State University where he teaches Russian History, including an upper-level course on Stalinism. His research focuses on the political, social, and cultural history of the Stalin era. He is author of Peasant Metropolis: Social Identities in Moscow, 1929–1941 (1994); Stalinist Values: The Cultural Norms of Soviet Modernity, 1917-1941 (2003). He is also the co-editor of Russian Modernity: Politics, Knowledge, Practices (2000), and the co-author of Cultivating the Masses: The Modern Social State in Russia, 1914–1941 (forthcoming).

Review :
"The often contentious scholarly arguments about the character of Stalinism are fully represented in this important volume assembled and introduced by Ohio State’s David Hoffmann. Perfect for the classroom, the essays in this book contain some of the best recent research and thinking about Stalin’s key role in Russian History."Norman Naimark, Stanford University "This is a collection of enormous value to anyone seeking to understand the causes and consequences of Stalin’s despotic transformation of Soviet society. It brings together some of the finest historical writing, including more recent scholarship, to reflect the diversity of interpretation of this grim but vitally important episode in twentieth-century history." Steve Smith, University of Essex "Soviet historical studies have been reanimated ... Students and teachers oof this period confront a proliferation of authorities and viewpoints. The strength of David Hoffmann's collection is in its attempt to replect this variety of views." Continuity and Change "Brilliant and illuminating analyses. Hoffman provides a range of first-rate critiques of the regime from various angles." Journal of Genocide Research