<P> Stalinism was a development of Leninism, and while Stalin avoided using the term "Marxism - Leninism - Stalinism", he allowed others to do so . Following Lenin's death, Stalin contributed to the theoretical debates within the Communist Party, namely by developing the idea of "Socialism in One Country". This concept was intricately linked to factional struggles within the party, particularly against Trotsky . He first developed the idea in December 1924 and elaborated upon in his writings of 1925--26 . Stalin's doctrine held that socialism could be completed in Russia but that its final victory there could not be guaranteed because of the threat from capitalist intervention . For this reason, he retained the Leninist view that world revolution was still a necessity to ensure the ultimate victory of socialism . Although retaining the Marxist belief that the state would wither away as socialism transformed into pure communism, he believed that the Soviet state would remain until the final defeat of international capitalism . This concept synthesised Marxist and Leninist ideas with nationalist ideals, and served to discredit Trotsky--who promoted the idea of "permanent revolution"--by presenting the latter as a defeatist with little faith in Russian workers' abilities to construct socialism . </P> <P> Stalin viewed nations as contingent entities which were formed by capitalism and could merge into others . Ultimately he believed that all nations would merge into a single, global human community, and regarded all nations as inherently equal . Stalin argued that the Jews possessed a "national character" but were not a "nation" and were thus unassimilable . He argued that Jewish nationalism, particularly Zionism, was hostile to socialism . In his work, he stated that "the right of secession" should be offered to the ethnic - minorities of the Russian Empire, but that they should not be encouraged to take that option . He was of the view that if they became fully autonomous, then they would end up being controlled by the most reactionary elements of their community; as an example he cited the largely illiterate Tatars, whom he claimed would end up dominated by their mullahs . Khlevniuk therefore argued that Stalin reconciled Marxism with imperialism . According to Service, Stalin's Marxism was imbued with a great deal of Russian nationalism . According to Montefiore, Stalin's embrace of the Russian nation was pragmatic, as the Russians were the core of the population of the USSR; it was not a rejection of his Georgian origins . Stalin's push for Soviet westward expansion into eastern Europe resulted in accusations of Russian imperialism . </P> <P>--Robert Service </P> <P> In adulthood, Stalin measured 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) tall . To give the impression that he was taller, he wore stacked shoes, and stood on a small wooden platform during parades . His mustached face was pock - marked from smallpox during childhood . He was born with a webbed left foot, and his left arm had been permanently injured in childhood which left it shorter than his right and lacking in flexibility, which was probably the result of being hit, at the age of 12, by a horse - drawn carriage . </P>

Who was the ruthless dictator who was intent on spreading communism in the soviet union and abroad