tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316085735333046394.post3431078421484950600..comments2024-02-19T02:37:02.312-06:00Comments on Always Judged Guilty: Happy Birthday...Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02490045924214723301noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316085735333046394.post-77078351439574002242010-04-03T12:54:17.617-05:002010-04-03T12:54:17.617-05:00Fair enough. If I might split hairs though, to tr...Fair enough. If I might split hairs though, to try to defend myself, the Stalinist show-trials were a "pro-active" attempt to undercut any possible dissent. These trials, by Salih, are a panicky reaction to changing conditions, an attempt to stop a leak from becoming a flood. In this they more resemble the decadence of, say, East Germany or Romania, or any number of African countries. I think that is how they are different than the Stalin regime, but you make a good point. <br /><br />Whoever you are.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02490045924214723301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7316085735333046394.post-47409365810919097982010-04-02T22:36:24.393-05:002010-04-02T22:36:24.393-05:00I can't agree that these type of show trials a...I can't agree that these type of show trials are, as you said, "usually the beginning of the end for a regime." The Bolsheviks solidified their hold on Russia and Stalin eliminated all the potentially "troubling" Old Bolsheviks. This isn't to say that the purges weren't damaging in the long-term (see: reaction to Operation Barbarosa) but they did not spell the end of the regime.oneilluiuchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06204549925120570006noreply@blogger.com