Commentary
Thomas de Waal
{
"authors": [
"Thomas de Waal"
],
"type": "legacyinthemedia",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"Carnegie Europe"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Europe",
"programAffiliation": "russia",
"programs": [
"Russia and Eurasia"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"Caucasus",
"Russia",
"Azerbaijan",
"Armenia",
"Georgia"
],
"topics": [
"Political Reform"
]
}
Source: Getty
In The Media
Remembering Stalin
The figure of Stalin still provokes many positive reactions in the former Soviet Union.
Published on Mar 5, 2013
Source: BBC World News
Surveys commissioned by the Carnegie Endowment for The Stalin Puzzle have revealed that the figure of Stalin provokes more positive reactions than one might have expected in several countries of the former Soviet Union. Carnegie's Thomas de Waal, editor of the project, spoke to BBC World News to discuss some of the reasons behind these results. He concentrated on the two most startling facts found in the surveys: support for Stalin has risen in Russia since the first election of President Vladimir Putin, while, in Stalin’s native Georgia, approval ratings are even higher.
De Waal explained that de-Stalinization campaigns were only tried halfheartedly until many years after Stalin’s death, when Mikhail Gorbachev came to power. He added that the Soviet victory in World War Two also made Stalin the great unifier, on a par with the victorious leaders of the UK and the United States. This is accentuated by a lack of alternative hero figures. While current Russian leaders do not glorify Stalin, it remains difficult for them to criticize a figure who is seen to have built a strong state, de Waal suggested.About the Author
Thomas de Waal
Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe
De Waal is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.
- Europolis, Where Europe Ends
- Taking the Pulse: Is It Time for Europe to Reengage With Belarus?Commentary
Thomas de Waal, ed.
Recent Work
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.
More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
- After Ilia II: What Will a New Patriarch Mean for Georgia?Commentary
The front-runner to succeed Ilia II, Metropolitan Shio, is prone to harsh anti-Western rhetoric and frequent criticism of “liberal ideologies” that he claims threaten the Georgian state. This raises fears that under his leadership the Georgian Orthodox Church will lose its unifying role and become an instrument of ultraconservative ideology.
Bashir Kitachaev
- What the Russian Energy Sector Stands to Gain From War in the Middle EastCommentary
The future trajectory of the U.S.-Iran war remains uncertain, but its impact on global energy trade flows and ties will be far-reaching. Moscow is likely to become a key beneficiary of these changes; the crisis in the Gulf also strengthens Russia’s hand in its relationships with China and India, where advantages might prove more durable.
Sergey Vakulenko
- Beyond Oil: Hormuz Closure Puts Russia in the Lead in the Fertilizer MarketCommentary
The Kremlin expects to not only profit from rising fertilizer prices but also exact revenge for the collapse of the 2023 grain deal.
Alexandra Prokopenko
- “Mr. Nobody Against Putin”: A Deep Dive Into Russian PropagandaCommentary
Talankin and Borenstein’s documentary is a unique inside look at a regime that threatens the world and has killed thousands of people in its neighboring country. And many critics and general viewers alike draw parallels between the Putin regime and their own governments.
Ekaterina Barabash
- A Tight Spot: Challenges Facing the Russian Oil Sector Through 2035Paper
Russian oil production is remarkably resilient to significant price changes, but significant political headwinds may lead to a drop regardless of economics.
Sergey Vakulenko
