Official Deconstruction of Stalin

Stalin left behind a non-existent state structure and a highly subservient party structure after his death. To ensure autocratic rule, Stalin made himself synonymous with and indispensable to the Soviet Union. The rule by fear and leader worship simply could not continue after his death. In order to be effective, Khrushchev had to dispose of Stalin's myth.

The death of Stalin brought the Khrushchev thaw. In regards to Stalin, increased openness began with Khrushchev's secret speech to the 20th Party Congress on 25 February 1956.

Khrushchev began his speech highlighting the Marxist ethic which doesn't allow f or leader worship. The cult of Stalin is presented as being destructive to the state and the party. The Central Committee of the Party is supposed to act as a collegiate, comments Khrushchev. The position of General Secretary does not give one powers above the Central Committee, and assuming such powers undermines the party.

Stalin is more directly attacked by Khrushchev when comments warning party members of Stalin's power made by Lenin are distributed to the Party Congress. Khrushchev directly quotes Lenin calling for the removal of Stalin from the position of General Secretary.

I Propose that the comrades consider the method by which Stalin would be removed from this position and by which another man would be selected for it, a man, who above all, would differ from Stalin in only one quality, namely, greater tolerance, greater loyalty, greater kindness and more considerate attitude toward the comrades, a less capricious temper, etc.
-V. I. Lenin

Khrushchev does give Stalin some credit. His actions against enemies of Leninism, namely the Trotskyites, Zinovievites and Bukharinites, is lauded. Khrushchev does, however, criticize the actions taken against innocent Soviet citizens (in reality, Trotsky, Zinoviev and Bukharin ought to have been included as "innocent" citizens).

Khrushchev did not completely destroy Stalin. He opened the door for criticism from the rest of society, while warning the party of future despotism. A full examination of Stalin would not begin in the Soviet Union until glasnost. Most of the leaders immediately following Stalin's death (including Khrushchev) owed their careers to Stalin. The policies of Gorbachev would allow the archives to be opened and a more thorough debate of the Stalin question to commence. This sparked a flurry of materials on Stali n being published in the late 1980s.

Visual Deconstruction

Literary Deconstruction

Cinematic Deconstruction

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Jake Fey

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