Joseph Stalin was a politician.
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin ( [ ˈstɑːlɪn ] 18 December 1878 -- 5 March 1953 ) was a Soviet revolutionary , politician and political theorist . In this capacity , he served as the Premier of the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1953 and as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1952 . In 1922 Stalin became General Secretary and established the Soviet Union . Stalinism is the means of governing and related policies implemented by Joseph Stalin .