How far was Stalin's personality responsible for the purges?

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How far was Stalin's personality responsible for the purges? - Amy Condliffe

It can be suggested that it was Stalin's personality that was responsible for the purges that began in full swing in 1936, as it is often described that he was a deeply suspicious man with an inferiority complex. The purges was a period in the 1930s, peaking in 1937 -1938, known as Yezhovshchina, where it was used in order to rid political opponents from the right and left, leading on to all types of people being persecuted, including many of the army forces and the people of Russia. Although Stalin's personality was a key factor that affected the purges, there is also key evidence to suggest that there are several other contributory factors, such as the economic problems at the time of the purges, and also including the responsibility of NKVD and ordinary Russian people and the reasons and motives behind Stalin's position in the purges. 

    Stalin's personality can be seen as being the predominant reason behind the great purges of the 1930s, and there is the evidence that this was the driving force behind the terror. Stalin was deeply suspicious of others, which verged on paranoia, and was particularly vindictive and vengeful, proven by his 1936 expulsion, and execution, of 14 members of opposition groups within the party, including leading members Kamenev and Zinoviev, who as old Bolsheviks, had treated him in a condescending manner. Due to his paranoid nature, he believed there were many who were against his position in the party and he wanted to rid the party of anyone that could rival him. These features of his personality may prove why his former comrades were killed, rather than exiled, which would have most likely been the case under Lenin. By also ridding the party of Old Bolshevik members, he was able to get rid of those who knew his limitations, which fed his inferiority complex. Stalin also had an idealized view of himself, believing he was the genius who could take Russia forward through socialism. This also explains why he rid of those who knew his limitations under Lenin. In turn, through his personality defects and traits, it is often explained that Stalin was the sole culprit behind the purges, as through them, he was able to secure his grip on power.  There is proof that he played a leading role in terror, as his finger marks have been placed on the archives. Although this is the case, Stain cannot be seen as, and unlike the totalitarian view stresses, the master planner behind the purges, as a lot of momentum came from below, such as the NKVD's role, and Stalin had several motives behind the purges.

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     Another key factor which can be seen to influence the purges more than Stalin's personality, were his motives behind the terror. There is the suggestion that Stalin believed he was acting in the interest of the party, by ridding of any likely opposition, as opposition did seem to be growing. This was because it can be said that he genuinely believed that someone else in his posistion of power would lead to the downfall of Russia, and the removal or reversal of his policies could lead to a disaster. There is some basis is this motive, as an ...

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