Verschwörungsdenken und Machtkalkül: Herrschaft in Russland, 1866–1953

The study examines the connection between assertions of power and the fear of losing power. Even if we do not generally associate Stalinism with weakness, it was precisely the ongoing expansion of Stalin’s power that made resistance ever more probable, thus fueling his fear of conspiracy. The Kremlin ruler became totally wedded to his claim to power, thus systematically fuelling the escalation of conspiratorial thinking and terror.