1. To what extent does Stalin and Mao’s foreign policy contribute to their maintenance of power?

2. Stalin
Focuses on his internal affairs, using propaganda to suppress outside perspectives influencing his own people
Neutral until 1939
Works to get nuclear weapons in order to be competitive with the US
Violent in approach of communism
Less about equality, more about whatever he says goes
Not true communism, his own type: Stalinism
Head of the comminterm
Controlling relationship
Doesn’t impact maintenance of power

3. Mao Differences in implementation of Communism cause split with USSR
Maoism similar to Stalinism
Bullied neighboring countries to submit to cooperation
Independent as long as they pleased Mao
Warmed relations with the United States
Mao ill and sharing leadership responsibility with others
Mostly US submitting to Chinese demands
Little impact on maintenance of power

4. Compare and Contrast Similarities: Communists
Isolationist with little communication with the West
Controlled the media and thus their outwards perception
Both put aside ideological differences to ally with capitalist forces to stop the tide of fascism

5. Differences Stalin was “self-made”, Mao had help rising to power
Stalin sought to avoid an open war with the West while Mao did not share all the same reluctances
Stalin could use nuclear weapons in his foreign policy, Mao for a long time couldn’t
USSR had more international leverage than the Chinese

6. Perspective
“A revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture, or doing embroidery; it cannot be so refined, so leisurely and gentle, so temperate, kind, courteous, restrained and magnanimous. A revolution is an insurrection, an act of violence by which one class overthrows another.” -Mao
“The only power comes from a long rifle” -Stalin

7. Strengths and Limitations:
Initially, Stalin’s foreign policy almost caused his loss of power
After World War Two, Stalin shifted his foreign policy as he became more aggressive
Once this shift was consolidated Stalin’s foreign policy had negligible effect on his maintenance of power, however it laid an unstable foundation that led to his successors to be forced into precarious situations with former allies
Mao had his threats to power caused by domestic policy
Dissenting views on the Great Leap Forward
Foreign policy of non-reliance on the USSR let Mao’s power not be in the shadow of the Soviets