Stalin's Great Terror and International Espionage

摘要

No political leader lives without espionage. While astute political leaders know well the traps inherent in the mutual deception game of espionage, Stalin's Great Terror of 1937-38 illustrates the extraordinary reach of espionage. In this particular case, Stalin set traps for the world in order to prepare for a forthcoming showdown with his mortal enemies, Germany in particular. He took nearly a million lives of men and women of his own country in the process. Although the Terror still remains an enigma, it appears that Stalin's traps still ensnare people. This offers lessons to be learned about politics in general.