7. Despite all this, death could have important effects in the longer Stalin’s term. If, in the future, the unifying forces between the two countries were to be weakened, or if stresses and strains developed in the alliance, the absence of prestige and experience might make a major difference. Two possibilities Stalin’s come to mind. without authority, political skill and immense First, Stalin’s internal difficulties and dissensions inside the Soviet Union may be aggravated. In that case the feeling of weakness and uncertainly which could result would have far-reaching effects on the relations with its satellites Kremlin’s and China as well as with the outside world. though it seems unlikely Second, that Mao should have any idea of succeeding to position in the world Stalin’s Communist movement, he may on doctrinal matters be less ready to accept the authority or successors than he was to accept that of Stalin himself. Stalin’s [TNA, PREM 11/540] Keywords: post-war order, post-war USSR, death, China, Post-Stalin Stalin’s leadership
7. Despite all this, Stalin’s death could have important effects in the longer term. If, in the future, the unifying forces between the two countries were to be weakened, or if stresses and strains developed in the alliance, the absence of Stalin’s prestige and experience might make a major difference. Two possibilities come to mind. First, without Stalin’s authority, political skill and immense internal difficulties and dissensions inside the Soviet Union may be aggravated. In that case the feeling of weakness and uncertainly which could result would have far-reaching effects on the Kremlin’s relations with its satellites and China as well as with the outside world. Second, though it seems unlikely that Mao should have any idea of succeeding to Stalin’s position in the world Communist movement, he may on doctrinal matters be less ready to accept the authority or Stalin’s successors than he was to accept that of Stalin himself. [TNA, PREM 11/540] Keywords: post-war order, post-war USSR, Stalin’s death, China, Post-Stalin leadership