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Did the CIA Conclude That Stalin WASN'T a Dictator? (www.youtube.com)
submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by sadschmuck@hexbear.net to c/history@hexbear.net
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No.

According to a claim circulating online, there is a CIA document or internal communication from the 1950s asserting that Joseph Stalin was not a dictator. The existence of this document is cited as proof either that Stalin was not a dictator after all, or at least that even the CIA didn't think he was. However, looking at the document in question, we see it is not a pronouncement of fact by the CIA whatsoever, but an anecdotal information report submitted to CIA information gatherers. As such, the document is a primary source representing the perspective of one anonymous informant, not the opinion of the CIA as a whole. Additionally, the document is contradicted by dozens of more reliable or detailed documents obtained or created by the CIA in the same period, indicating that they did not believe Stalin was non-dictatorial as claimed.

The transcript is in the comments.

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[-] Awoo@hexbear.net 16 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Trots wake up one day and be like "Today I will make a video attacking my own side's propaganda to help the capitalists." thonk

[-] Erika3sis@hexbear.net 14 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I like what RedWizard had to say elsewhere in this thread.

One of the things that does make this item of agitprop so effective is that it takes a 'trusted source' in the minds of liberals and turns it on them. They have no real pre-programmed response to this kind of message. This, however, will begin to fail to be effective and rightfully paint those who parriot [sic] it as shallow agents peddeling [sic] in simple misinformation that they themselves cannot even identify. Sources like the ones presented in this video, which effectively state, "The CIA was stairing [sic] at a black box, unable to expose it's inner workings, and deriving its function purly [sic] from its form," could be more persuasive. It would need to be followed up, however, with more current Soviet archive research.

[-] Awoo@hexbear.net 12 points 7 months ago

I don't see why that should be done if not confronted with corrections and arguments. Pre-emptively turning a highly effective one line argument into a significantly less effective wall of text on the possibility that it might be refuted with this argument when I have never seen a single person counter it this way not even once in decades of using it seems like breaking your own kneecaps.

[-] Cowbee@hexbear.net 8 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Agreed, it's an imperfect source that can be used in addition to better sources at best. Doing good persuasion and agitprop requires a realistic and grounded view, not just dogmatically upholding the flattering and dogmatically dismissing the unflattering. The flattering can be twisted into hurting more than good, contextual but unflattering pieces in the right circumstances.

[-] sadschmuck@hexbear.net 6 points 7 months ago

Seems like bad agitprop to me

[-] Awoo@hexbear.net 11 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Bad why? Because it might not be wholly truthful? The goal of propaganda is not to tell the truth but to achieve a goal. The goal of this particular propaganda is to help in creating more socialists by softening views of the USSR. This explanation against the propaganda has existed for decades and yet I have never seen libs make it, not once, not a single fucking time.

The propaganda achieves the goal of helping to create more communists. Therefore I will continue to use it. Especially when it is exceptionally effective. If that ever changes, then I will move on from it.

this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2025
52 points (98.1% liked)

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