Joseph Stalin was a Soviet politician and dictator who ruled the Soviet Union from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953. He played a key role in the Russian Revolution and the establishment of the Soviet Union. Stalin's rule was characterized by authoritarianism, political repression, and the implementation of a command economy. He also led the Soviet Union through World War II and played a significant role in shaping the post-war world order. Stalin's policies and actions resulted in the deaths of millions of people, both through deliberate purges and through the consequences of his economic and agricultural policies. His legacy is controversial, with some viewing him as a strong leader who modernized the Soviet Union, while others see him as a brutal dictator responsible for widespread suffering and human rights abuses.