Socialism

Yeah, I feel the same towards Stalin as I feel towards most figures and places that have been relentlessly smeared by Cold War and Red Scare propaganda.

And that is that the entire reason these figures are so viscously demonized is because capitalism cannot survive the threat of a good example. The ruling class needs the most radical allowable criticism of their system to be, "Sure, we have many faults, but all of the alternatives are far worse so you better not dare even thinking about fighting for positive change."

That narrative can only function if every victory of the global proletariat is smeared as a dystopian hellscape ruled by cartoon villains. And I don't think it's to our benefit to cede that rhetorical ground wholesale out of fear that challenging it might be unpopular among Cold Warriors.