Joseph Stalin was a politician.
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin ( [ ˈstɑːlɪn ] 18 December 1878 -- 5 March 1953 ) was a Soviet revolutionary , politician and political theorist . Despite Lenin 's objection , power consolidated around Stalin and opposition removed following Lenin 's death in 1924 . Joseph Stalin was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union 's Central Committee from 1922 until his death in 1953 . Stalinism is the means of governing and related policies implemented by Joseph Stalin .