Under Stalin's leadership Russia became an industrial society and one of two superpowers in a bipolar post-war world. We will begin by examining the 'big picture' of the entire period, and then focus on themes such as Stalin's rise to power, his role in Soviet politics, industrialization under the five-year plans, collectivization, social change, the Great Purges, interwar foreign policy, World War II, postwar political trends, and the Cold War. The module will conclude with a discussion of whether Stalin's Russia can be accurately described as 'totalitarian.' The module will use a variety of primary and secondary sources, including diaries, memoirs, fiction, songs, and film. Students are encouraged to make use of electronic materials on the web.