Stalin’s Purges: The Political and Social Impact of the Great Terror

Abstract

This article examines Joseph Stalin’s purges during the Great Terror (1936-1938) and their profound political and social impact on the Soviet Union. The paper analyzes the political motivations behind Stalin’s campaign of repression, focusing on the elimination of perceived enemies within the Communist Party, military leadership, and the broader Soviet society. It explores the methods used by Stalin, including forced confessions, show trials, and mass executions. The study also addresses the social consequences of the purges, such as the breakdown of trust within communities, the psychological toll on the population, and the displacement of individuals from power and influence. Through archival research and contemporary accounts, the paper assesses the effects of the purges on Soviet governance and the political atmosphere in the years leading up to World War II. The research concludes by reflecting on the lasting legacy of Stalin’s purges on Soviet political culture and its impact on the subsequent development of the USSR.