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  "authors": [
    "Thomas de Waal"
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    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
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Source: Getty

In The Media
Carnegie Europe

Why Stalin Remains Popular in Parts of Former Soviet Union

Stalin is a figure not just of the past, but of the present.

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By Thomas de Waal
Published on Mar 5, 2013
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Russia and Eurasia

The Russia and Eurasia Program continues Carnegie’s long tradition of independent research on major political, societal, and security trends in and U.S. policy toward a region that has been upended by Russia’s war against Ukraine.  Leaders regularly turn to our work for clear-eyed, relevant analyses on the region to inform their policy decisions.

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Source: PRI’s The World

Speaking on PRI’s The World, Carnegie’s Thomas de Waal said Stalin is a figure not just of the past, but of the present.

“He’s very much there in the heads of the people all across what’s the former Soviet Union,” de Waal explained, adding that this presence is why the Carnegie Endowment commissioned its recently released survey on attitudes toward Stalin. He explained that support for Stalin has increased since hte end of the Soviet Union, based on the perception that he saved the Soviet Union from Nazi Germany.

About the Author

Thomas de Waal

Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe

Thomas de Waal is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

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Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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