Comparison between Joseph Stalin and Fidel Castro Throughout history there have been many dictators who have shaped the way we look at them today. Sometimes it is how dictators came to power that people judge them. Sometimes it matters how long they stayed in power, but it's not just how long they stayed in power. That's what they did to stay in power. These two men are some of the most infamous dictators for these reasons alone. These men are Joseph Stalin and Fidel Castro, and they played a major role in shaping the way we look at dictators today. Joseph Stalin and Fidel Castro had very similar traits at the beginning of their rise to power. But unlike Castro, Stalin was not the leader of the revolutionary party. After graduating from the University of Havana, Castro practiced law for two years before deciding to run for a position in the Cuban parliament. However, during elections to see if Castro would be voted into a position in parliament, another party led by Felgencio Batista overthrew the corrupt government led by Carlos Prio Sacarras. It wasn't long before Castro attempted to take legal action against Batista charging him with subverting the constitution, the petition failed. Castro was frustrated with the lack of legal action, so he decided to take matters into his own hands and resorted to violence. Castro led an attack on the Mancada barracks and lost. He was later captured by Batista's men and put on trial. While Castro was on trial he gave his now famous “History will absolve me” speech. Castro was sentenced to 15 years in prison but went into voluntary exile after serving only two years. He spent time in parts of the United States and Mexico before returning to Cuba in 1956. Wh... middle of paper... we won't stop them the enemy, not even some they called allies. Is this why the world looks at dictators and sees only senseless, cruel madmen who will stop at nothing and kill anyone who stands in their way, or were they just men who strived for excellence and did what was necessary to survive and remain in positions of power, even if it meant killing. Regardless, these actions shaped the way we look at dictators today. Works Cited "Fidel Castro (a)". Encyclopedia of World Biography. Detroit: Gale, 1998. Student Resources in Context. Network. April 7, 2014. "Fidel Castro(b)." DiscoverTheNetworks.com, 2005. Network. February 2, 2014. The guide to history. Steven Kreis, April 13, 2012. Web. April 6, 2014. "Joseph Stalin." UXL Biographies. Detroit: U*X*L, 2003. Student Resources in Context. Network. March 27. 2014.