Policies Of Stalin And Gorbachev

The political and economic policies of Joseph Stalin in the period before World War 11 and those of Mikhail Gorbachev were similar in some ways, yet different in others. The economic situation of the country at the time of the two men’s administration was similar, so their policies were parallel. A differing aspect of the policies of the two leaders is their political outlook. Finally, the foreign policies of Stalin and Gorbachev varied greatly.

The economic situation of the country at the time of the two men’s administration was similar, so their policies were parallel. Stalin’s policy was centered on his “5 year plans” to restructure the economy of the country. His goal was to use every resource for the progress of the nation. A similar concept of reform in Gorbachev’s administration dealt with perestroika, which was also restructuring the market so that the country could be at its best.

A differing aspect of the policies of the two leaders is their political outlook. While Stalin was gaining power, he used violence towards any person who disagreed with him. Leon Trotsky, the leader of the Red Army, was competition for power when Lenin died. To triumph over him, Stalin exiled Trotsky and anyone who agreed with him. Gorbachev believed in a policy of glasnost, greater openness. He used the idea in when some of the East European nations began to request that Soviet troops leave their territory and then began to replace their Communist regimes. Gorbachev simply accepted the changes, although he lost power.

Finally, the policies of Stalin and Gorbachev, dealing with the countries of Europe, varied greatly. Stalin declared that the Soviet Revolution must survive alone, “a revolution in one country”. Therefore, he was only focused on the progress of the Soviet Union and left other countries alone for the most part. On the other hand, Gorbachev was very involved with his foreign policy. He campaigned against the threat of nuclear war; helped to restructure Eastern Europe after his troops ended occupation; and knew he had to end the war in Afghanistan after troops had gone there in 1979 to support a Communist government entangled in a bloody guerrilla war against rebels heavily supported by the United States.

The political and economic policies of Joseph Stalin in the period before World War 11 and those of Mikhail Gorbachev were similar in some ways, yet different in others. The economic situation of the country at the time of the two men’s administration was similar, so their policies were parallel. A differing aspect of the policies of the two leaders is their political outlook. Finally, the foreign policies of Stalin and Gorbachev varied greatly.