Stalinism

American  

[stah-luh-niz-uhm] / ˈstɑ ləˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. the principles of communism associated with Joseph Stalin, characterized especially by the extreme suppression of dissident political or ideological views, the concentration of power in one person, and an aggressive international policy.

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Stalinism British  

/ ˈstɑːlɪˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. the theory and form of government associated with Stalin: a variant of Marxism-Leninism characterized by totalitarianism, rigid bureaucracy, and loyalty to the state

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Stalinism Cultural  

1. The form of Marxism associated with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Stalinism emphasizes the repression of all dissent, often by brutal means; a rigid adherence to government management of economic life; and the domination of all communist movements worldwide by the Soviet Union. In holding to these beliefs, Stalin opposed Leon Trotsky. (See Trotskyism.)

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Other Word Forms

• Stalinist noun

Etymology

Origin of Stalinism

First recorded in 1925–30; Stalin + -ism

Compare meaning

How does stalinism compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Stalinism vs. Marxism
• Stalinism vs. Leninism

Example Sentences

Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s documentation of Stalinism strikes the same note: the elimination of a private existence away from politics, with the regime constantly forcing itself upon one’s attention, feeding each individual’s growing atomization and learned helplessness.

From Salon • May 24, 2025

"We have one more -ism in our history: Stalinism," says Andrei Kolesnikov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Eurasia Russia Centre.

From BBC • May 6, 2024

"But this is not a firing squad. This is not Stalinism," he said.

From Reuters • Aug. 27, 2023

Albanian communists under Enver Hoxha soon established a regime that styled itself as a bastion of true Stalinism.

From Washington Post • Jan. 21, 2022

As the world descended into anxiety, paranoia and financial meltdown, not to mention Fascism and Stalinism, increasingly it was composers embracing popular forms who became the voice of conscience.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall