I dunno maybe I’m reading this way too ungenerously but this always felt to me more like political theater than genuine attempts at resignation. I mean if he really wanted to resign what were they going to do force him at gunpoint to lead the country?
He likely felt a strong sense of duty to the USSR. And if the politburo felt he was the best to lead it, even if he disagreed (not just with him doing it, but also with the existence of a leadership position in general), he couldn’t just “leave”.
He also talks about how he understands why he was the chosen one at the time. He was indeed a great war leader. He was objective, cold and calculating. The USSR likely needed someone like him during that period. They were in their most position vulnerable against the western powers since the revolution. The west almost aligned with the Nazis against the Soviets. It was very likely that a new invasion of the USSR by imperial powers could happen again.
Idk. No person should be idolised, and their faults and mistakes brushed over. But I mean, leftists are rarely ones to uncritically support anyone or anything…
but this always felt to me more like political theater than genuine attempts at resignation
Note that if you live in the capitalist country, you are conditioned to never believe politicians (and in those countries, for a good reason!), but it can be different in socialism, for example super high support for CPC or the new family code passed in Cuba etc.
Stalin agreed. And he also thought the Secretary-General position shouldn’t exist: https://socialistmlmusings.wordpress.com/2017/02/23/stalins-four-attempts-at-resignation/
I dunno maybe I’m reading this way too ungenerously but this always felt to me more like political theater than genuine attempts at resignation. I mean if he really wanted to resign what were they going to do force him at gunpoint to lead the country?
He likely felt a strong sense of duty to the USSR. And if the politburo felt he was the best to lead it, even if he disagreed (not just with him doing it, but also with the existence of a leadership position in general), he couldn’t just “leave”.
He also talks about how he understands why he was the chosen one at the time. He was indeed a great war leader. He was objective, cold and calculating. The USSR likely needed someone like him during that period. They were in their most position vulnerable against the western powers since the revolution. The west almost aligned with the Nazis against the Soviets. It was very likely that a new invasion of the USSR by imperial powers could happen again.
Idk. No person should be idolised, and their faults and mistakes brushed over. But I mean, leftists are rarely ones to uncritically support anyone or anything…
Note that if you live in the capitalist country, you are conditioned to never believe politicians (and in those countries, for a good reason!), but it can be different in socialism, for example super high support for CPC or the new family code passed in Cuba etc.