• Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    We were talking about them both. You chose to focus on only one of them, despite both making the claim about Stalin being a dictator.

    • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      Because I didn’t bother with the second after realizing you believe a fascist-written opinion piece to be worthy of respect.

      • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        I was under the impression it was the claims we were discussing, which Khlevniuk’s book seem to support, not what or who deserves our respect. For that reason it might be worthwhile to check that out too. Totally up to you of course.

        • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
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          2 months ago

          Respect, as in accept the opinions. Nothing you have shown has supported the idea that Stalin could not be opposed, and was not opposed, nor that he was all-powerful.

          • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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            2 months ago

            We were talking about whether Stalin was a dictator or not. Khlevniuk’s Stalin: A New Biography of a Dictator makes that case.

            Stalin could not be opposed, and was not opposed, nor that he was all-powerful.

            Even Hitler wasn’t a dictator on those grounds. And I think he is considered the epitome of a modern day dictator.

                • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
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                  2 months ago

                  What level of power? Like, is it just a vibe? If the vibes are off, or if they’re alright? By your definition linked, the idea of Absolute Power, Stalin was not a dictator as we have shown.

                  • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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                    2 months ago

                    If you take it literally, neither was Hitler. And at that point you might need to reconsider how you define it. But as commonly defined and used, most seem to consider them both dictators for similar sort of merits.