Ep 77 - The Stalin Eras: Part 5 Criticisms and Contradictions

The much anticipated criticisms and contradictions episode of The Stalin Eras! In this episode we wrestle with the following controversies during Stalin’s leadership of the USSR: the Gulag, anti-homosexuality laws, anti-abortion Laws, the “Final” Contradiction, and more! You don’t want to miss this one!  The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective,  mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.  Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod Recommended Supplemental Listening Was the Soviet Union Totalitarian w/ Robert Thurston Stalin's Constitution & Life in 1930s Soviet Union w/ Samantha Lomb Understanding Siege Socialim w/ Gabriel Rockhill  Recommended Supplemental Reading  Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo  For a Few Canards More: Counter Inquiry on Stalin and the Soviet Union by Aymeric Monville Episode Sources Love - Family Life - Career: Behind the Soviet Law Limiting Abortions and Increasing Aid to Mothers 1936 Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics, and Theory of LGBT Liberation by Sherry Wolf Lavender and Red by Leslie Feinberg  Criminal Proesecution of Homosexuals in the Soviet Union (1946-1991) - Numbers and Discourses by Uladzmir Valodzin  Homosexual Desire in Revolutionary Russia: The Regulation of Sexual and Gender Dissent by Dan Healey  The Gulag: A Very Short Introduction by Alan Barenberg  Belomor: Criminality and Creativity in Stalin’s Gulag by Julie S. Draskoczy   Stalin: History and Critique of a Black Legend by Domenico Losurdo The Gulag - Espresso Stalinist Collection of Qoutes About Gulag  ‘Factory of invalids’: Mortality, disability and early release on medical grounds in GULAG, 1930-1955

As "The Stalin Eras” draws to a close, we discuss, in more granular detail, Joseph Stalin’s placement within the context of Soviet history, focusing on the years 1939 up to his death in 1953. Our host for this episode is (also) Jeremy, from Intervenciones Gringas! We talk accusations of imperialism, the final results of Stalin's theory of Socialism in One Country, and the contradiction of "orthodox" Marxism.  The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective,  mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.  Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod   Recommended Supplemental Listening East Germany: Stasi State or Socialist Paradise? w/Bruni de la Motte The Rise of, Life In, and Fall of the German Democratic Republic The Subversion of East Germany (1945-1961) The American Soldier Who Defected to East Germany (Part 1) w/ Victor Grossman The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1948-1990) w/ Julia Mead Critiquing Stalin's Black Legend w/ Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engel-Di Mauro Class Based Affirmative Action in Socialist Poland w/ Agata Zysiak  Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic 101: Pre-history to World War II w/ Iskolat Was the Soviet Union Totalitarian w/ Robert Thurston Understanding Siege Socialim w/ Gabriel Rockhill  Latvia's Red Partisans of World War II Romania and Ceaușescu Stalin Was a Mensch - A Look at the "Antisemitism" of the USSR   Recommended Supplemental Reading Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo  For a Few Canards More: Counter Inquiry on Stalin and the Soviet Union by Aymeric Monville   Sources Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939-1953 by Geoffrey Roberts Stalin: History and Critique of a Black Legend by Domenico Losurdo The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, 1941-45: A Documentary Reader by Alexander Hill World War II: Myths and the Realities by Oleg Rzheshevsky The Soviets Expected It by Anna Louise Strong Stalin: From the Caucasus to the Kremlin by Christopher Read

In this final narrative of "The Stalin Eras”, we detail Joseph Stalin’s life within the context of Soviet history through the years 1943-1953. This narrative, titled “Long Live Comrade Stalin!" covers viscerally the experience of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War as well as the key ingredients to their victory, the early days of the cold war, and Stalin's final years.  The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective,  mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.  Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod   Recommended Supplemental Listening East Germany: Stasi State or Socialist Paradise? w/Bruni de la Motte The Rise of, Life In, and Fall of the German Democratic Republic The Subversion of East Germany (1945-1961) The American Soldier Who Defected to East Germany (Part 1) w/ Victor Grossman The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (1948-1990) w/ Julia Mead Critiquing Stalin's Black Legend w/ Henry Hakamäki & Salvatore Engel-Di Mauro Class Based Affirmative Action in Socialist Poland w/ Agata Zysiak  Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic 101: Pre-history to World War II w/ Iskolat Was the Soviet Union Totalitarian w/ Robert Thurston Understanding Siege Socialim w/ Gabriel Rockhill  Latvia's Red Partisans of World War II Romania and Ceaușescu Stalin Was a Mensch - A Look at the "Antisemitism" of the USSR   Recommended Supplemental Reading Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo  For a Few Canards More: Counter Inquiry on Stalin and the Soviet Union by Aymeric Monville   Sources Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939-1953 by Geoffrey Roberts Stalin: History and Critique of a Black Legend by Domenico Losurdo The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, 1941-45: A Documentary Reader by Alexander Hill World War II: Myths and the Realities by Oleg Rzheshevsky The Soviets Expected It by Anna Louise Strong Stalin: From the Caucasus to the Kremlin by Christopher Read  

In the narrative for Part 4.0 of "The Stalin Eras”, we detail Joseph Stalin’s life within the context of Soviet history through the years 1939-1942. This narrative, titled “Enemy at the Gates" highlights the pivotal years leading to the Nazi invasion of the USSR: the invasion of Poland, Soviet influence over the Baltics, the death of Leon Trotsky, and the start of Operation Barbarossa!  Stay tuned for the next episode which will continue the narrative through from 1943-1953, Stalin's final years.  The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective,  mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.  Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod   Recommended Supplemental Reading Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo  For a Few Canards More: Counter Inquiry on Stalin and the Soviet Union by Aymeric Monville   Recommended Supplemental Listening Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic 101: Pre-history to World War II w/ Iskolat How Stalin Tried to Prevent World War II w/ Michael Jabara Carley Was the Soviet Union Totalitarian w/ Robert Thurston Understanding Siege Socialim w/ Gabriel Rockhill  The American Ambassador Who Supported Stalin w/ Dominique Petit-Wagner Stalin's Constitution & Life in 1930s Soviet Union w/ Samantha Lomb   Sources Stalin's Wars: From World War to Cold War, 1939-1953 by Geoffrey Roberts Stalin: History and Critique of a Black Legend by Domenico Losurdo The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, 1941-45: A Documentary Reader by Alexander Hill Stalin: From the Caucasus to the Kremlin by Christopher Read The Boy in the Woods: A True Story of Survival During the Second World War by Maxwell Smart Soviet Russia and the Baltic Republics by Philip Farr The Baltic Riddle: Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania—Key Points of European Peace by Gregory Meiksins Russia, Finland and the Baltic W.P. and Zelda K. Coates  

In this episode, we switched it up a bit to discuss some of the wild events that have been happening and analyze their impact, what we think about them etc. From the "Roman Salute" to the California wildfires, we got it all here. With silliness throughout. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever.   Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Midroll written and read by Rae Midroll music "Bidenika"  by DJ DTA Outro music "Eastern Bloc Beats" by DJ DTA

Ameed and Cody from Good Shepherd Collective join Rae and Jeremy in a Q&A on the conditions and complications related to the struggle of the Palestinian people. Questions were collected from you, the listener. We did our best to condense similar questions together but also to give a solid variety, across multiple topics. Some are covered in the main feed episode. Some in the Patreon bonus. You can sign up at Patreon where you get access to early release episodes, study guides, the aforementioned bonus episodes, TheoryBeats, and MORE! YOU CAN DO SO FOR FREE, which will get you the study guides, merch, and other random drops. Please subscribe on your favorite podcast catcher and rate or review to help extend our reach. Like and rate us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @prolespod and Tiktok @proles.pod. If you have any questions or comments, email us at [email protected]. May the spectre haunt your streets, and solidarity forever. Sources: Gaza Mutual Aid Solidarity Ahel Gaza Palestine Action Gaza Funds Workshops 4 Gaza Defund Racism Intro Music:  "ProlesPod Theme" by Ransom Notes Midroll written and read by Rae Midroll music "Profit Meets Precarity"  by DJ DTA

Our longest and most controversial episode. This narrative, titled “War Is Already Here” (using the latest archival scholarship) details the legitimacy of the controversial Moscow Trials, the origins of the “Great Terror”,  the climax of the Spanish Civil War, war with Japan and apocalyptically - the beginning of a second globe spanning conflict!  The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective",  mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.  Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod   Recommended Supplemental Reading Stalin History & Critique of a Black Legend  by Domenico Losurdo Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo  For a Few Canards More: Counter Inquiry on Stalin and the Soviet Union by Aymeric Monville   Recommended Supplemental Listening How Stalin Tried to Prevent World War II w/ Michael Jabara Carley Was the Soviet Union Totalitarian w/ Robert Thurston Understanding Siege Socialim w/ Gabriel Rockhill  The American Ambassador Who Supported Stalin w/ Dominique Petit-Wagner Stalin's Constitution & Life in 1930s Soviet Union w/ Samantha Lomb   Sources Stalin's Failed Alliance: The Struggle for Collective Security, 1936-1939 by Michael Jabara Carley Nomonhan, 1939: The Red Army's Victory That Shapped World War II by Stuart D. Goldman Stalin and War, 1918-1953: Patterns of Repression, Mobilization, and External Threat by David Shearer  International Communism and the Origins of World War II by Jonathan Haslam Marshal of Victory: The Autobiography of General Georgy Zhukov The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Spanish Civil War ed. Antonio Cazorla-Sanchez, Alison Ribeiro De Menezes, Adrian Shubert Reflections on Stalinism ed. J.Arch Getty, Lewis Siegelbaum  How Russia Blasted Hitler's Spy Machine by Joseph E. Davies Soviet Archives 

In the Part 3 Discussion, we cover evidence for the Moscow Trials (more to come in the Part 3.5 Narrative), The Spanish Civil War, Molotov-Ribbentrop, and more. Our host is Legacy Prole, Taylor! The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective,  mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.  Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod Recommended Additional Reading Stalin History & Critique of a Black Legend  by Domenico Losurdo Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo  Recommended Additional Listening  Stalin's Constitution & Life in 1930s Soviet Union w/ Samantha Lomb How Stalin Tried to Prevent World War II w/ Michael Jabara Carley Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective  Foundations of Leninism  Sources Stalin’s Constitution: Soviet Participatory Politics and the Discussion of the 1936 Draft Constituion by Samantha Lomb The New Soviet Constitution: A Study in Socialist Democracy by Anna Louise Strong Stalinist Values: The Cultural Norms of Soviet Modernity, 1917–1941 The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Spanish Civil War Broué, P. (1990). Party opposition to Stalin (1930-1932) and the first Moscow trial. In J. W. Strong (Ed.), Essays on revolutionary culture and Stalinism. Selected papers from the Third World Congress for Soviet and East European studies. Craig, G. A. (1951). Documents on German Foreign Policy 1918–1945. Series D (1937–1945). Volume III. Germany and the Spanish Civil War 1936–1939. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. Volodarsky, B. (2015). Stalin's agent. The life and death of Alexander Orlov. London and New York: Oxford University Press.

In the narrative for Part Three of "The Stalin Eras”, Tony and Jeremy detail Joseph Stalin’s life within the context of Soviet history through the years 1935-1936. This narrative, titled “Triumph and Tribulations” highlights the USSR as a rising star to both the global proletariat and colonized peoples, the utter triumph of socialist construction during the Great Depression, the highly progressive 1936 Soviet Constitution, and finally the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War! Stay tuned for the next episode which will continue the narrative through from 1936-1939 focusing mostly on the controversial Moscow Trials, the Great Purge, the climax of the Spanish Civil War, and apocalyptically - the beginning of World War II.  The Stalin Eras, inspired by the classic RevLeft Radio episode “Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective,  mixes both narrative history (ala Blowback) and discussion (like classic Prolespod) to provide the most comprehensive English overview of the life and impact of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in podcast format. Whether you’re a socialist history enthusiast, someone who’s just curious to learn more than what you got in school about the Soviet Union, or even a total hater who just wants to rage, this series has something for everyone.  Support the show at www.patreon.com/prolespod Recommended Additional Reading Stalin History & Critique of a Black Legend  by Domenico Losurdo Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn by Domenico Losurdo  Recommended Additional Listening  Stalin's Constitution & Life in 1930s Soviet Union w/ Samantha Lomb How Stalin Tried to Prevent World War II w/ Michael Jabara Carley Stalin: A Marxist-Leninist Perspective  Foundations of Leninism  Sources Stalin’s Constitution: Soviet Participatory Politics and the Discussion of the 1936 Draft Constituion by Samantha Lomb The New Soviet Constitution: A Study in Socialist Democracy by Anna Louise Strong Stalinist Values: The Cultural Norms of Soviet Modernity, 1917–1941 The Bloomsbury Handbook of the Spanish Civil War Broué, P. (1990). Party opposition to Stalin (1930-1932) and the first Moscow trial. In J. W. Strong (Ed.), Essays on revolutionary culture and Stalinism. Selected papers from the Third World Congress for Soviet and East European studies. Craig, G. A. (1951). Documents on German Foreign Policy 1918–1945. Series D (1937–1945). Volume III. Germany and the Spanish Civil War 1936–1939. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. Volodarsky, B. (2015). Stalin's agent. The life and death of Alexander Orlov. London and New York: Oxford University Press.  

Comrades! We are hard at work on the Stalin Eras, as you all know. Part 3 in particular, given the Moscow Trials, The Military Trial, Ezhovchina, and other major topics, this episode in particular has taken a LOT of work. We have also uncovered a bunch of archival material that we hope will create context that we believe has never been presented in the English language.  On top of that, a few listeners have given us feedback that, particularly given the very dense nature of the material, that they feel like they are falling behind and thus unable to engage with the discussion online and participate in the live-listens we do for every new Stalin Eras episode on the Patreon.  As such, we are taking an intermission of sorts (still slaving away in the podcast mines) to give people time to catch up and to give us the time to properly represent our vision in Part 3 as the DEFINITIVE collection of materialist analysis and historiography on the Stalin Era of Soviet History.  We didn't want to leave you hanging, so, here is a peek behind the Iron Curtain of the paywall, featuring our two most recent Q & Rae episodes. We hope you enjoy. Please consider subscribing so that we may continue to put the effort that we have put into the Stalin Eras into all of our future episodes. We hope you're enjoying it, and solidarity forever.