The history of the 20th century is full of events of world significance. This century can rightfully be called a turning point due to the concentration of events that completely changed the course of events in the political, economic, national, and cultural development of states.
The 20th century is the time of the collapse of all empires in the world, the fall of the colonial system, the emergence of new, original cultural movements, and great revolutions. It is impossible not to note two world wars, which became a factor in the formation of the most powerful blocs in the international arena. During the changes in the political and economic system in many countries, new political trends, cultural and social norms. The view of the world and understanding of the essence of power, religion, and the role of man in the world order changed.
One cannot underestimate the importance of outstanding, charismatic personalities who changed the course of events with their actions and decisions. We are talking about rulers of states, leaders of revolutions, cultural figures, military men, creators of well-known ideological movements. There were such personalities in many countries, and history will not forget their contribution and development of society.
Adenauer Konrad | Federal Chancellor of Germany (1949-1963), one of the founders (1946) and in 1950-1966. Chairman of the CDU, made a significant contribution to the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany and the restoration of the German economy after World War II |
Arafat Yasser | Head of the Palestinian National Authority (since 1996), Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (since 1969) |
Brandt Willy | Federal Chancellor of Germany (1969-1974), Chairman of the SPD (1964-1987), Chairman of the Socialist International since 1976, played a prominent role in normalizing relations with the socialist. European countries, laureate Nobel Prize peace (1971) |
Walesa Lech | President of Poland (1990-1995), one of the founders (1980) and leader of the Solidarity trade union, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1983) |
Wilson Woodrow | President of the United States (1913-1921), passed a number of liberal laws, put forward the idea of creating a union of states after World War I (“Fourteen Points”), Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1920) |
Havel Vaclav | President of Czechoslovakia (1989-1992), President of the Czech Republic since 1993, playwright, human rights activist |
Gandhi Mohandas (Mahatma) | Leader and ideologist of the Indian national liberation movement, developed tactics of non-violent struggle in the form of civil disobedience, killed by a member of a Hindu extremist organization |
Hindenburg Paul | President of Germany since 1925, Field Marshal General, in 1914 he commanded the troops of the Eastern Front, since 1916 - Chief of the General Staff, in 1933 he transferred power to the National Socialists |
Hitler (Schicklgruber) Adolf | Fuhrer of the NSDAP from 1921, head of the German state from 1933 (Reich Chancellor), recognized at the Nuremberg trials as the main Nazi war criminal, committed suicide |
de Gaulle Charles | President of France (1959-1969), in 1940 he founded the patriotic movement "Free France", in 1944-1946. - head of the Provisional Government of France, on his initiative the Constitution of 1958 was created, which made France a presidential republic |
Dawes Charles | Vice President of the United States (1925-1929), banker, headed the international committee of experts that developed the so-called. Dawes plan |
Dubcek Alexander | First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (1968-1969), one of the initiators of the Prague Spring, expelled from the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, since 1989 Chairman of the Federal Assembly of Czechoslovakia |
Deng Xiaoping | Chairman of the Central Commission of Advisors of the Communist Party of China CPC (1982-1987), Chairman of the Central Military Council of the People's Republic of China (1983-1990); one of the founders of the Chinese Red Army, in 1956-1966. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, persecuted after the start of the Cultural Revolution, returned to leadership in 1977, initiator of economic reform in China |
John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) | Pope from 1978 to 2005 |
Carter James (Jimmy) | President of the United States (1977-1981), signed the SALT II treaty with the USSR, organizer of the Camp David Agreement |
Castro Fidel | Chairman of the State Council and Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba since 1976, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba since 1965; in 1953 he led an armed uprising against the dictatorial regime of Batista, in 1959 he came to power, Prime Minister of the Revolutionary Government of Cuba (1959-1976), declared his goal to build socialism |
Kennedy John | US President (1961-1963), leaned towards a more realistic course in relations with the USSR; killed in Dallas |
Clemenceau Georges | Prime Minister of France (1906-1909, 1917-1920), chairman of the Paris Peace Conference (1919-1920), sought to establish French military-political dominance in Europe |
Kohl Helmut | Federal Chancellor of Germany (1982-1998), Chairman of the CDU (1973-1998), achieved the modernization of the German economy and the unification of Germany (1990) |
Lloyd George David | Prime Minister of Great Britain (1916-1922), held a number of ministerial posts (1905-1915), introduced a number of social laws into parliament |
Mandela Nelson | President of South Africa (1994-1999), active fighter against apartheid, sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964, released in 1990, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1993), President of the African National Congress |
Mao Zedong | Chairman of the CPC Central Committee since 1943, one of the founders of the CPC, under his leadership the “Great Leap Forward” policy and the so-called were carried out. cultural revolution, which caused great damage to the development of China |
Marshall George | General, state US Secretary (1947-1949), Secretary of Defense, initiator of the program (Marshall Plan) for the restoration and development of Europe after World War II, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1953) |
Milosevic Slobodan | President of Serbia (1992-1997), President of Yugoslavia since 1997, Chairman of the Main Committee of the Socialist Party of Serbia since 1990. |
Mitterrand Francois | President of France (1981-1995), participant in World War II and the Resistance movement, First Secretary of the French Socialist Party (1971-1981) |
Mussolini Benito | Fascist dictator of Italy (1922-1943), began his political career in the Socialist Party, founded and led the Fascist Party (1919), executed |
Nehru Jawaharlal | Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of India since 1947, “builder of a new independent India”, associate of Mahatma Gandhi |
Pinochet Augusto | General, seized power as a result of a military coup (1973), President of Chile (1974-1989), Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces (1973-1974, 1989-1998) |
Reagan Ronald | President of the United States (1981-1989), Hollywood film actor, governor of California (1967-1975), pursued a monetarist course of cost reduction and a balanced budget, and in relations with the USSR moved from confrontation to a policy of détente |
Roosevelt Theodore | President of the United States (1901-1909), pursued a policy of government regulation in the economy and an expansionist course in Latin America |
Roosevelt Franklin | President of the United States (1933-1945), led the United States out of the economic crisis (“New Deal”), made a significant contribution to the creation of the anti-Hitler coalition and the UN |
Zapata Emiliano | Leader of the peasant movement in the Mexican Revolution (1910-1917), general, treacherously killed |
Sun Yat-sen | Chinese politician, created the Tongmenghui organization in 1905, leader of the revolution of 1911-1912, first president of the Republic of China (1912), founder of the Kuomintang party (1912) |
Tito Josip Broz | Head of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (Communist League) since 1937, Supreme Commander of the People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia (1941-1945), head of the government of Yugoslavia since 1945, President of Yugoslavia since 1953, marshal, one of the leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement, put forward his model of socialism |
Thatcher Margret | Prime Minister of Great Britain (1979-1990), leader of the Conservative Party (1975-1990), pursued a tough monetarist policy |
Franco Bahamonde Francisco | Leader of the Spanish phalanx (1937-1975), head of the Spanish state (caudillo) (1939-1975), dictator, led a rebellion against the Spanish Republic in 1936 |
Khomeini Ruhollah | The leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979, Ayatollah (the highest spiritual rank of Shiites), led the 1979 revolution. |
Hussein Saddam | President of the Republic of Iraq, head of government and supreme commander, marshal since 1979. |
Chiang Kai-shek | Head of the Kuomintang government since 1927, Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army since 1935, Generalissimo, after the overthrow of his government in China (1949) headed the government in Taiwan |
Churchill Winston | Prime Minister of Great Britain (1940-1945 and 1951-1955), several times minister since 1908, one of the initiators of the creation of the anti-Hitler coalition, a resolute opponent of totalitarianism, Nobel Prize laureate in literature (1953) |
Eisenhower Dwight | President of the United States (1953-1961), general, supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in the West. Europe (1943-1945) |
Man is the original and permanent object and actor politicians. In essence, politics exists for this purpose: to remove obstacles on people’s path to freedom and to satisfy growing needs. As the degree of freedom of personality development, the breadth of its choice to satisfy needs largely depends on politics. It is the awareness of this that encourages people to make their own political choices, to participate in politics with meaningful political goals. But the person who is the primary actor in politics acts in it effectively only together with others. The masses play a decisive role in politics.
Therefore, ways to influence their political behavior are of particular importance. Political activity is a wide field in which there are significant opportunities for personal development. The pinnacle of this seems to be political leadership. Becoming a political leader is a complex process. Typologies of leaders are of significant interest. To varying degrees, political leaders influence the development of society, the nature and extent of which is not always easy to assess.
Political leadership is as old as humanity. It is universal and inevitable. It exists everywhere.
Leadership is a type of power, the specificity of which is its top-down direction, as well as the fact that its bearer is not the majority, but one person or group of people.
Consider Stalin.
After the split between the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks in 1903, the cautious and slow Koba waited a year and a half on the sidelines, but then joined the Bolsheviks. By 1905, He was already becoming an influential figure, though not in general party affairs, but among the Bolsheviks at the local level.
In 1912, Stalin, who proved his firmness and loyalty to the party during the years of reaction, was transferred from the provincial arena to the national one.
Lenin doubted that Stalin would be able to use the immense power of the Secretary General carefully enough. But Stalin began to slowly but decisively “take” power into his hands.
Already by the beginning of 1930, the Stalin faction reigned supreme
in Soviet Union.
“Since power is in my hands,” Stalin said in a private conversation, “I am a gradualist.”
Bolshevik Fyodor Raskolnikov wrote about him: “The main psychological property of Stalin, which gave him a decisive advantage, just as strength makes a lion the king of the desert, is extraordinary, superhuman willpower. He always knows what he wants, and with steady, inexorable methodicality he gradually achieves his goal.”
It was not only the Bolsheviks who recognized Stalin’s exceptional will. Winston Churchill remembered him: “Stalin made the greatest impression on us. His influence on people is irresistible. When he entered the hall at the Yalta conference, everyone stood up, as if on command, and - a strange thing - for some reason they kept their hands at their sides.” Once Churchill decided in advance not to stand up when the Soviet leader appeared. But Stalin entered - and in addition of one's own will The English Prime Minister rose from his seat.
The year 1929 is the most important milestone in Stalin’s biography. Pompous celebration of the 50th anniversary Secretary General Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (b),
It can be said that the transformation of the party leader into the sole leader of the country has been recorded.
Stalin was a supporter of an extremely hard line on all issues that came to the attention of the country's top leadership.
In 1933, Stalin declared: life has become better, life has become more fun. In reality, this was far from the case.
Now everyone is still concerned with the question, what was Stalin’s role in the Second World War, what was the significance of his leadership of the country during that period, what would have happened if Stalin had not existed at all? There is a lot of debate on this topic. Some, focusing on the fact that Stalin destroyed millions of people, that through his actions he brought only evil to his country. Others argue that, although this is true, we still won in that big war mainly because it was Stalin who led us, and if not for Stalin, it is unknown whether we would have been able to cope with the enemy and defeat him.
But still they are inclined to believe that it was not Stalin, but our heroic army, its talented commanders and valiant warriors, our entire people, who ensured victory in the Great Patriotic War. All the more shameful and unworthy was the fact when, after the great victory over the enemy, which was given to us at a very heavy price, Stalin began to destroy many of those commanders who made a significant contribution to the victory over the enemy, since Stalin excluded any possibility that merit, those won at the fronts were attributed to anyone other than him.
Considering Stalin from the point of view of his claim to power, he is a charismatic leader - they stand apart, their power is based not on external force, but on some unusual personal quality, which M. Weber called “charisma”. This quality does not have a clearly defined content, but it is sufficient for a charismatic leader to have followers who want to entrust him with political power.
Stalin belonged to this type of leader, which can be designated by the term “master” (paranoid political style). Such a person is characterized by suspicion, distrust of others, hypersensitivity to hidden threats and motives, and a constant thirst for power and control over other people. His behavior and actions are often unpredictable. A politician of the paranoid style does not accept any point of view other than his own, rejects any information that does not confirm his theories, attitudes and beliefs. The type of thinking of such a politician is inverse, when reality is viewed through the extremes of “black” - “white”, and people are divided into “enemies” and “friends”.
Thus, if we approach his assessment objectively, Stalin was neither a great reformer nor a great commander; but nevertheless, he really was great - a great totalitarian leader who made himself a deity for his subjects, and destroyed those who disagreed with this.
The second prominent representative of political leadership is Franklin Roosevelt.
From the very beginning of his political activity, he discovered an extraordinary understanding of socio-political realities. Both supporters and opponents noticed his tenacity, courage, and ability to guess and formulate the needs and aspirations of broad sections of the population.
In 1921 After swimming in cold water Roosevelt was paralyzed, and for the rest of his life he was confined to a wheelchair. However, this did not stop him from winning the New York gubernatorial elections in 1928, and the presidential elections in 1932.
Upon taking office, Roosevelt proclaimed the beginning of the New Deal, the main component of which was state intervention in the economy, unprecedented for America.
In 1943 in Tehran, Franklin Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill discussed mainly the problem of achieving victory over the Third Reich, while in Yalta in 1945 the main decisions were made on the future division of the world between the victorious countries.
His name is also associated with one of the most significant pages in the history of US foreign policy and diplomacy, and in particular the establishment and normalization of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, and US participation in the anti-Hitler coalition. Roosevelt’s role was exceptionally great in the formation and implementation of the so-called “New Deal” within the country, a course of democratic orientation that played an outstanding role in stabilizing the economic and social situation in the country in the period after the deep economic crisis of 1929-1934, a course that made it possible to avoid severe socio-political upheavals.
In terms of how leaders fulfilled their political roles, Roosevelt had a style focused on effective and efficient activity, which can be called active-positive. He was also a charismatic leader. Such leadership is maintained not because of the exceptional qualities of the leader, but because of faith in him.
Roosevelt proved himself to be an extraordinary, flexible politician, sensitive to the situation, capable of correctly guessing trends and promptly and accurately responding to changing moods of all segments of society. Remaining a loyal son of his class, Roosevelt did everything to preserve and develop the existing socio-economic system in the country and strengthen the dominant position of the United States throughout the world.
Roosevelt always remained a sober and pragmatic politician. He was re-elected to the post of president of the country four times (which is a record in US history) and held it until his death.
The third person I considered was Nikita Khrushchev.
Politicians are all the same: they promise to build a bridge even where there are no rivers
In 1918, Khrushchev was accepted into the Bolshevik Party. He participates in the Civil War, and after its end he is engaged in economic and party work.
in 1932-1934 he worked first as second, then first secretary of the Moscow City Committee and second secretary of the Moscow Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks.
In 1938, he became the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (b) of Ukraine and a candidate member of the Politburo, and a year later a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (b).
As soon as he came to power, Khrushchev authorized the work of special commissions to review the cases of political prisoners. Soon, mass rehabilitation of Gulag prisoners began. A few years later the huge concentration camps were empty. But Khrushchev did not want to limit himself to half measures. - he decided not only to destroy the dark consequences Stalinist system, but also to condemn the phenomenon itself. Speaking at a closed meeting of the 20th Congress, Khrushchev read the historical report “On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences,” which contained a list of Stalin’s terrible atrocities. The report had the effect of an exploding bomb. The old idea of the genius Stalin, which had developed over decades, was destroyed in an instant. Many former illusions, carefully cultivated by the Stalinist ideological machine, were ended forever.
Despite his many mistakes and delusions, it should be recognized that he sincerely wished all kinds of good things for the Soviet people. He said: “The desire of the working people to live better and better every day - this not only does not contradict the aspirations of our party and government, but is the main task of the activities of the Soviet government and the Communist Party.” Khrushchev was the first to see in the working people not only “material” for building communism, but living people.
Khrushchev is an extremely controversial figure Soviet history. On the one hand, it belongs entirely to the Stalin era and is undoubtedly one of the purveyors of the policy of purges and mass repressions. On the other hand, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the world was on the brink of nuclear war and global catastrophe, Khrushchev managed to heed the voice of reason and stop the escalation of hostilities and prevent the outbreak of a third world war. It is to Khrushchev that the post-war generation owes the beginning of the process of liberation from the deadening ideological schemes of the “restructuring” of society and the restoration of human rights on “one-sixth” of the Earth.
Khrushchev's character was very little like Stalin: there was no arrogant aloofness and no military leadership in him. He had a peasant face with a completely undignified upturned nose and an open smile. His leadership style was also completely different: unlike Stalin, he did not sit in the capital, but traveled around the country all the time, communicating with people. He willingly spoke at rallies and meetings. However, at the same time, he was characterized by stubbornness and aplomb. He did not like objections and disagreement.
And yet, being the Leader of the Soviet state for ten years, he was removed from power by his own comrades-in-arms and remained in semi-isolation from the world until the end of his life. Having debunked Stalin's personality cult, he failed to prevent the creation of his own cult. A bold reformer in politics and economics, he did not achieve irreversibility of reforms, which after his resignation led to stagnation in the country.
The ability to govern a country is quite rare. Some achieve their goals by bleeding the whole country, while others carry out smart reforms. There are many people in history who, through their activities, were able to significantly change the appearance of the country in the time allotted to them. As a result, their contemporaries remember them, honor them, and learn from their activities.
Any actions of great politicians affected millions of people, changing the destinies and appearance of the state. In addition, we often had to fight not only with internal enemies, but also with external ones. One thing is for sure - a politician must be charismatic in order to lead.
And in order to influence society, it is not necessary to be at the very top of power. Sometimes even while in opposition, the politician did a lot for the country. The most famous politicians in the history of civilization will be discussed below. At the same time, it would be useful to recall their most famous phrases.
Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi (1869-1948) Largely thanks to this man, India was able to rid itself of centuries-old British rule. Gandhi's work was based on his philosophy of non-violence, or satyagraha. The politician abandoned the armed struggle, as many others would have done in his place, in favor of a peaceful one. As a result, a powerful movement of supporters of non-violent change emerged in the country. The struggle for independence was carried out through peaceful resistance. Gandhi called on Indians to boycott English institutions and goods; citizens of the country even defiantly violated some laws. Caste inequality, which became the scourge of Indian society, became the subject of Gandhi's struggle. He spoke about the need to get rid of untouchability not only from temples, but also from other spheres of life. Today the name of this politician is revered in India no less than some saints. Gandhi became the spiritual leader of the nation; he devoted his entire life to reconciling the religious strife that was tearing the country apart. Sadly, it was the violence against which the politician fought that became the cause of his death. Gandhi is credited the following words: “The world is big enough to satisfy the needs of any person, but too small to satisfy human greed” and “If you want a change in the future, be that change in the present.”
Alexander the Great (356-323 BC). This king of Macedonia and creator great empire better known as one of the most successful commanders in world history. But his political activities are often forgotten. But it was he who created a new great state, which was located on three continents, covering an area of more than two million square miles. The empire stretched from Greece in the West to the Danube in the north, with its southern border in Egypt and its eastern border in the Indian Punjab. The entire country was united by a single trade and transport network. At the same time, the emperor managed to found more than 70 new cities. Alexander brought a common and common Greek culture and language to his empire, and he himself did not hesitate to study the customs and morals of other peoples in order to more easily manage them. For his own army, the emperor was an unsurpassed genius and strategist. He set an example of behavior for the soldiers, instilling in them an invincible spirit. Even in his time, in antiquity, no one doubted that Alexander the Great was the greatest commander. Even then he was nicknamed the Great. But Napoleon Bonaparte admired the emperor’s government talents more than his military exploits. For example, in Egypt, Alexander paid a visit to the sacred oracle of the country, Amon, which endeared him to the inhabitants. In addition, he left the former governors to govern the country, expelling the hated Persians and organizing festivities. Alexander, essentially an invader of Egypt, was able to become an idol there. The following phrases are attributed to the great politician and commander: “There cannot be two suns in the sky and two rulers on earth,” “Wars depend on glory, and often a lie that is believed becomes the truth,” “There is nothing more slavish than luxury and bliss.” , and nothing more royal than labor.”
Mao Zedong (1893-1976). This Chinese politician of the last century also became the main theoretician of Maoism. Mao joined the Chinese Communist Party in his youth, and in the 1930s he headed one of the regions in Jiangxi province. During the Long March, Mao managed to become one of the leaders of the country's party. In 1949, China was proclaimed People's Republic, Mao Zedong became its de facto leader until the very end of his life. The rule of a leader is considered to be contradictory. On the one hand, he was able to industrialize the country, raising the standard of living of the poorest segments of the population. Mao managed to unify China, including Inner Mongolia, Tibet and East Turkestan. But these lands had the right to self-determination even after the collapse of the Qing Empire. But we must not forget about the numerous repressions that were condemned not only in capitalist countries, but also in socialist ones. Even a cult of the leader’s personality arose in the country. The most difficult legacy of the politician's rule should be considered the crippled fate of millions of people who suffered from cruel and sometimes senseless campaigns. The Cultural Revolution alone claimed the lives of up to 20 million Chinese, and affected another 100 million. In 1949, Mao came to power in a fragmented, underdeveloped and corrupt country. And he left China powerfully independent and possessing atomic weapons. Illiteracy in the country dropped from 80% to 7%, and the population and life expectancy doubled. The most famous phrases of Mao Zedong are: “The enemy will not disappear on its own,” “It is necessary to work with exceptional diligence. Carelessness is unacceptable, it often leads to mistakes”, “What is thinkable is feasible”, “A person who felt the wind of change should not build a shield from the wind, but a windmill.”
Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965). This statesman and politician determined the life of Great Britain and much of the world during difficult times. Churchill was the prime minister of this country in 1940-1945 and 1951-1955. He is also known as a journalist and writer. The Englishman became one of the “Big Three”, which determined the fate of the world after the end of the Second World War. It was he who largely made the world the way we know it today. Churchill became the most prominent British politician of the last century; he managed to remain in power under six monarchs - from Queen Victoria to her great-great-granddaughter Elizabeth II. There is simply no point in listing Churchill's life achievements - he managed to become talented in everything. For his political activities he was made an honorary citizen of the United States, and literary works were awarded the Nobel Prize. Churchill's political career began before the First World War. The Englishman had already fought in the war by that time. And at the end of his career, Churchill managed to visit the tests of the atomic bomb, the weapons of the New World. The politician's appearance remained unchanged - a bowler hat, a cane and a cigar. He was also an excellent diplomat, artist and even a gardener on his own estate. A 2002 BBC poll found that the British voted Churchill the greatest Briton in history. In 1955, he left big politics, living out the rest of his days in peace. The basis of Churchill's political portrait was his commitment to democracy and total hatred of dictatorship. It is no coincidence that he said that “Democracy is the most terrible form of government, but humanity has not come up with anything better.” That is why Churchill’s attitude towards the USSR was extremely restrained; this politician coined the term “Iron Curtain” and stood at the origins of the Cold War. Churchill’s other great phrases are: “If the truth is many-sided, then the lie is many-voiced”, “Every medal not only glitters, but also casts a shadow”, “Man has expanded his power over everything except himself”, “First you need to be honest, and then then - noble”, “To improve means to change, to be perfect means to change often.”
Nelson Mandela (1918-2013). This man went down in history as the first black president of South Africa. He held this post from 1994 to 1999. Mandela was one of the most famous human rights activists during the apartheid period in the country. He began his political activities for the equality of white and black people in college. In 1944, Mandela became one of the founders of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League. In South Africa, the politician pursued his line by organizing acts of sabotage and armed resistance to the authorities. For this, Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment. At the trial he said brilliant speech, where he stated that he was being tried for his desire to build in South Africa Democratic state with equal rights for all citizens. Mandela gained worldwide fame while in solitary confinement in prison. A campaign in defense of the democratic politician swept across the world; demands for his release grew into a struggle against the entire policy of apartheid. After the legalization of the ANC in 1990, Mandela was released. In 1993 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Today the elder is no longer involved in active affairs. Mandela managed to peacefully, simply by his irreconcilable position, destroy one of the most monstrous regimes on the planet. At the same time, revolutions, wars, and social upheavals were not needed. Everything happened through fair parliamentary elections. The politician's birthday is celebrated all over the world as International Nelson Mandela Day. Mandela's reign was short but brilliant. Under him, free medical care was introduced for children, 2 million people received electricity, 3 million had access to water, he increased spending on education and social needs. Mandela owns such famous phrases: “To be free means not just to throw off one’s shackles, but to live, respecting and enhancing the freedom of others,” “When you climb a high mountain, a huge number of mountains open before you that have yet to be climbed,” “ One of the highest achievements for a person is to do his duty, regardless of the consequences."
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865). This American statesman was the 16th President of the United States. He held this post from 1861 until his death. Lincoln became the first Republican president. He is considered to be a national hero in America, because this man went down in the history of the country as a liberator of slaves. Lincoln occupies an important place in the American consciousness. He was able to prevent the collapse of the United States, and under him the formation of American nation. And slavery, as a crutch preventing the further normal development of the United States, was abolished. Lincoln laid the foundation for the modernization of the southern states of the country, previously backward and agricultural. Under him, the emancipation of slaves began. Lincoln came up with the basic formulation of democratic goals: “To create a government by the people, of the people, and for the people.” Lincoln was able to build a railroad across the entire continent, connecting the coasts of two oceans. He expanded the state infrastructure, created a new banking system, and was able to solve the agrarian problem. After the end of the Civil War, the government faced many problems. It was necessary to unite the nation and equalize the rights of the population. Lincoln began to do this, but some problems still remain. The President was able to lay the foundations for the future of America; after his death, the United States became the fastest growing country in the world. This determined its current world dominance, which has lasted for a century. Lincoln's strict moral principles allowed him to mobilize all the forces of a divided country and reunite it. Lincoln's most famous phrases: “Whoever denies the freedom of another deserves no freedom himself,” “People who have no faults have very few virtues,” “You can fool a whole people some of the time, you can fool a part of the people all the time, but you cannot deceive everyone all the time”, “Sheep and wolf understand the word “freedom” differently. This is the essence of the disagreements that dominate human society”, “A politician reminds me of a man who killed his father and mother, and then, when he is sentenced, asks for his life on the grounds that he is an orphan”, “Character is like a tree, and reputation is its shadow. We care about the shade, but what we really have to think about is the tree.”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945). This is the only president in US history who was elected to this high post as many as 4 times. Roosevelt became the country's 32nd ruler, serving at the pinnacle of power from 1933 to 1945. The main phrase of the politician: “we have nothing to fear except fear itself.” Roosevelt repeated these words often when talking about the Great Depression and its consequences. The politician was not afraid to experiment at that difficult time; he was constantly looking for new methods of solving problems. These were public works, social security, fair competition codes, assistance to the unemployed and farmers, and price controls. It was Roosevelt who was at the heart of the creation of the UN. The President, through his activities, significantly influenced world history- after all, under him, the United States relatively successfully passed through the Second World War. The politician had a very great influence on the socio-economic life of the country, because he had to deal with the consequences of the Great Depression that hit the United States in the 30s. Biographers of the politician recalled that he was a rather secretive person who was difficult to understand. A mask of complacency and secrecy walked on his face, with which Roosevelt was content. The president’s most famous words were: “I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made,” “I’m not the smartest guy in the world, but I know how to select smart employees,” “Rules are not always sacred, but principles are,” “ Hungry unemployed people are cadres for dictatorship”, “Don’t go into politics if your skin is a little thinner than that of a rhinoceros.”
Akbar the Great (1542-1605). This padishah belonged to the Great Mughal dynasty, his distant ancestor was Tamerlane himself. Akbar was nicknamed "Indian Solomon for his wisdom." This padishah was able to significantly expand the borders of his country. He conquered northern Hindustan, including Gujerat, Kashmir and the Indus lands. As a commander, he was a successful and valiant warrior, who was distinguished by his generosity towards the vanquished. But Akbar also went down in history as a wise politician. He avoided unnecessary bloodshed, often achieving his goals through peaceful negotiations, dynastic marriages and alliances. Akbar went down in history as a connoisseur of science and art; people constantly visited his palace with him. the best poets, musicians, scientists and artists. The ruler was able to create a painting school and a valuable library, which contained 24 thousand volumes. Akbar introduced a uniform system of taxation, and in case of crop failure, no funds were levied. The tax on non-Muslims was also abolished. A unified system of weights and measures, a unified calendar appeared in the empire, and much attention was paid to trade. The main task of Akbar the Great was the reconciliation of all numerous peoples, inhabiting his expanded state. The padishah remained in power for almost 50 years, becoming ruler at the age of 14. Under him, a huge empire, under the supervision and care of its padishah, reached a peak that had never been seen before or since. Akbar went down in history as the Great. This wise ruler was able to unite various peoples. His ideas of the unity of all religions are still relevant today.
Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013). This woman is the most famous among politicians. She was the only one who was Prime Minister of Great Britain. She held this post from 1979 to 1990. All this time she was the most powerful woman in the world. As a politician, Thatcher was a strong personality, but honest. She was not afraid to be stubborn, but she could put herself in the position of her opponent. This woman was ambitious, she was distinguished by equanimity and composure in all situations. In the male-oriented political elite, Thatcher was able to reach the very pinnacle of power. To achieve this, she dedicated her entire life to the struggle and pursuit of this goal. Margaret's career progressed in small steps, because she came from a low-income class. It seemed impossible for a person from that environment, and even a woman, to achieve high goals. Thatcher accomplished the impossible - the daughter of a small shop owner, who grew up in a house without running water, was able to break into male politics and take the post of Prime Minister of Great Britain. Thatcher came to power when the country was in dire need of reform. During her reign, GDP grew by 23%, employment by 33%, and spending on law and order by 53%. She reduced unemployment and introduced tax reforms. Thatcher's foreign policy focused on the United States. The prime minister supported Reagan's initiatives regarding the USSR. The woman was not afraid to start a war for the Falkland Islands, defending the positions and prestige of Great Britain. It is no coincidence that Thatcher was nicknamed the “Iron Lady” for her firmness and integrity. She is credited with the following words: “Any woman who understands the problems that arise in running a home can understand the problems that arise in running a country,” “I am extremely patient, provided that in the end it turns out my way,” “Women are much more better than men they know how to say “no”, “It is not at all necessary to agree with the interlocutor in order to find a relationship with him mutual language", "Free cheese only comes in a mousetrap."
Qin Shi Huang (259-210 BC). This great ruler of the Qin kingdom. The virtue of Shi Huang is called his activity in ending the centuries-old history of the warring Chinese kingdoms. In 221 BC. he was able to create in Inner China centralized state, becoming its sole ruler. During the massive campaign to unify the country, important reforms were introduced to consolidate the gains achieved. The emperor proclaimed that all chariots should have an axle of the same length, and all hieroglyphs should be written in a standard way. As a result of such positions, a unified road system was created in the country, and the disparate writing system was replaced by a unified one. The Emperor also introduced a unified monetary system, a system of weights and measures. To suppress local trends toward sovereignty, Qin Shi Huang divided his empire into 36 military regions. The walls surrounding the former kingdoms were demolished. Only their northern part remained, having strengthened them, the Great Wall of China was erected, which protected the country from the attacks of nomads. Shi Huangdi was rarely in the capital, constantly traveling around the country. The authority of the emperor was so great that a huge funeral complex was built in his honor during his lifetime. It was built by 700 thousand people, and the burial perimeter was 6 kilometers. It is curious that, unlike his predecessors, the emperor abandoned human sacrifices. The tomb was found only in 1974, and is still being studied. There turned out to be a whole terracotta army of 8099 soldiers.
Charles de Gaulle (1890-1970). This French general managed to transform from a brilliant military man into an equally talented politician. Charles de Gaulle founded the Fifth Republic, becoming its first president in 1959. The general gained fame from his leadership of the French Resistance during World War II. During his life, he managed to become a real symbol of the freedom of France, as Joan of Arc once was. In fact, Charles de Gaulle took control of the country twice. Each time she was on the verge of disaster, and the politician returned her international prestige and put the economy in order. In foreign policy, France has become an independent player, abruptly leaving the influence of the United States. There is a lot of talk not only about the merits of de Gaulle as a politician, but also about his mistakes. Surprisingly, this talented military theorist did not participate in any historical important battle. Nevertheless, he managed to save France from defeat. The military man, not familiar with the economy, was able to effectively govern the country during two presidential terms and lead it out of the crisis. The whole point is that de Gaulle knew how to effectively manage the affairs entrusted to him - be it a rebel committee or the government of a large country. De Gaulle’s most famous words were: “Politics is too serious a matter to be entrusted to politicians”, “Always choose the most difficult path - there you will not meet competitors”, “The deepest motivation for the activity of the best and strongest people is their desire for power” .
Those who left their mark on history are remembered for centuries. Undoubtedly, all of these outstanding individuals were ambitious, self-confident and purposeful.
At the same time, they are people just like the rest of us - with hidden fears, childhood grievances and a desire to express themselves to the world. So let's remember once again what they were like...
1. Vladimir Lenin (04/22/1870-01/21/1924)
Country RussiaVladimir Ulyanov (Lenin) is a Russian revolutionary who dreamed of leading the country to communism. His childhood was spent in Simbirsk. When Vladimir was 17 years old, his older brother was hanged, proving his involvement in a conspiracy against the Tsar. Alexandra III. This made a painful impression on the child and influenced the formation of his worldview. After finishing school, Ulyanov ( real name Vladimir) studied abroad, and upon his return founded the Union of Struggle for the Liberation of the Proletariat. It was created by him printed edition"Iskra", from whose pages communist ideology emanated.
I was in exile. After the revolution in February 1917, he returned to his homeland, where he headed the new government. He is the founder of the Red Army, replacing War Communism with the less onerous New Economic Policy.
2. Adolf Hitler (04/20/1889 – 04/30/1945)
Country: GermanyAdolf Hitler is perhaps one of the most terrible people in history. He was Austrian by origin; his direct ancestors were peasants. Only his father managed to become an official.
During the First World War he was in the service. He was distinguished by frailty and sycophancy, but masterfully mastered the art of oratory. In the post-war period he worked as a spy, infiltrating gang formations of communists and leftist forces.
He was a participant in a meeting of the German Workers' Party, where he became imbued with the ideas of National Socialism and identified the main enemy - the Jews. The way of thinking of one person subsequently led to millions of casualties and broken destinies of people of various nationalities.
In 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. After the death of the German President, he was given the powers of government, which, as we know, ended in terrible, bloody events for the whole world. It is believed that Hitler committed suicide, although there is a theory about the death of his double.
3. Joseph Stalin (12/18/1878-03/05/1953)
Country: USSRJoseph Stalin is a cult figure for an entire era, surrounded by an aura of mystery. 30 variants of pseudonyms, changing the date of birth, hiding one’s noble roots - these are not all the secrets of the great leader.
During his power, a different opinion was equated to a crime - many executions were carried out, the camps were overcrowded. On the other hand, the totalitarian leadership made it possible to raise the USSR from the ruins in record time civil war and win the Great Patriotic War.
4. Mahatma Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948)
Country: IndiaMahatma Gandhi is one of the most outstanding people, a peacemaker who fought aggression with the help of his “aimed” words. He became the father of the entire nation, the “pious soul” of the whole world, and ardently defended human rights.
His personality and ideology were formed under the influence of the Mahabharata, books and correspondence with Leo Tolstoy, and the philosophical teachings of G.D. Thoreau. He fought against caste inequality, organized the movement “Independence of India from Britain,” and tried to resolve the conflict that arose between Muslims and Hindus living in Pakistan using non-violent principles.
5. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (05/19/1881 – 11/10/1938)
Country: TürkiyeMustafa Kemal is considered the father of Turkey, where his personality is honored, remembered and monuments are erected in almost every city. He organized secret societies to combat the corruption of military officials, was the initiator of the liberation movement against the Anglo-Greek intervention, and also abolished the sultanate, introducing a republican form of government.
Kemal is a supporter of moderate dictatorship. He tried to reform the state along the lines of Western countries. Thanks to his efforts, women's rights were equalized with men's.
6. Konrad Adenauer (01/05/1876 – 04/19/1967)
Country: West Germany (Germany)Konrad Adenauer - the first Federal Chancellor of Germany, a ruler with positive traits in new history Germany. During the Nazis' rise to power, Adenauer resigned from his positions due to his personal dislike of Hitler. Since he was an opponent of the regime, he was arrested by the Gestapo. After the end of World War II, he headed the Christian Democratic Union and was Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1963.
An energetic and strong-willed politician, a supporter of an authoritarian management style with the simultaneous presence of tough and flexible leadership methods, he was able to raise the country from ruins. The pace of development of the Federal Republic of Germany was far ahead of the GDR. Konrad Adenauer was loved by the people and had the nickname “Der Alte” (“The Old Man” or “The Master”).
7. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (11/30/1874 – 01/24/1965)
Country: UKOne of the most prominent people in Great Britain, a long-liver in the political arena. Churchill twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
His activities were not limited to politics. Winston, the son of the Duke of Marlborough, was a versatile personality: a historian, artist and writer (awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature). Churchill was the first to be made an honorary US citizen.
8. Charles de Gaulle (11/22/1890 – 11/9/1970)
Country: FranceFamous French politician, first president of the Fifth Republic. He headed the anti-Hitler coalition, and in 1944-1946 he was the head of the provisional government of France. On his initiative, a new constitution was prepared in 1958, which expanded the rights of the president.
Special meaning has exit from NATO and French-Soviet cooperation. Supported the creation of our own nuclear forces.
9. Mikhail Gorbachev (03/02/1931)
Country: USSRMikhail Gorbachev is the first and only president of the USSR, a politician who wanted to make the country more open and democratic. The restructuring of the state, which was started by Mikhail Gorbachev, became a difficult period for all people of the post-Soviet space. The collapse of the USSR, the decline of the economy, unemployment - all this is well remembered by people who lived at the end of the 20th century.
The undoubted success of Mikhail Sergeevich was his meetings with Ronald Reagan and the first steps towards ending the Cold War with the United States. In 1991, Gorbachev announced that he was leaving the post of President, transferring powers to Boris Yeltsin.
10. Vladimir Putin (07.10.1952)
Country RussiaVladimir Putin - an outstanding politician Russian Federation, successor of Boris Yeltsin. Today, Vladimir Putin leads the country for the third time. Coming from a simple working-class family, he was in the service of the KGB. He worked in the state security agencies of Dresden in the GDR. In 1991, he returned to his homeland, St. Petersburg, where he headed the external relations committee of the mayor's office.
Putin managed to stabilize the situation in Chechnya and adhere to social priorities during the economic crisis of 2008. The third term of the president was crowned with active actions to return Crimea to Russia in connection with the refusal of the population to obey the new illegitimate government in Ukraine. This situation was not accepted by the heads of European countries.
The editors of the site recommend that you read the article about the highest paid professions in our country.
Subscribe to our channel in Yandex.Zen
Who are politicians? These are the people involved political activity on a professional level. They hold colossal power in their hands. Many of them fall into this field by accident or due to certain circumstances. Over time, such figures begin to occupy a certain niche in the governance of the country. However, there are also people who are politicians from God. They are endowed with a special set of personal characteristics, as well as charisma, so the masses themselves choose them as their leaders, entrust their destinies into their hands and are ready to follow them to the end. Further in the article we will present several lists that will include Russian political figures who have gone down in history.
XVI-XVII centuries
Until the 16th century, Rus' was fragmented between princes, and each of them can safely be called a political and state leader of his time. In addition, the country was under the yoke of foreign invaders for quite a long time. At the beginning of the 17th century, individuals emerged from among the people who decided to rouse the people to fight the “occupiers.” And so, the leaders of these national liberation movements are the first political figures of Russia. Let's give the names of some of them.
- Unfortunately, there is no exact date of his birth in the chronicles, but it was in the second half of the 16th century. He is folk hero and organizer of the national liberation struggle.
- Prince Dmitry Pozharsky (1578-1642) - Minin’s comrade-in-arms in organizing the zemstvo militia. A monument to these two figures adorns Red Square.
- But the leader of the Peasant War of 1670-1671, Stepan Razin (1630-1671), a Cossack ataman, raised the masses against the tsarist government. Here is an example of a medieval Russian oppositionist.
Political figures of 19th century Russia
During the reign of Peter the Great, his daughter Elizabeth and niece Anna Ioannovna, as well as Catherine the Second and her son Paul the First, many prominent people appeared in the state. All these Russian political figures contributed to the development of their country.
The first on the list of the most significant persons, perhaps, should be the name of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov. Being one of the largest commanders in the country, he did not lose a single battle.
Prince Dmitry Golitsyn (1734-1803), a famous diplomat and scientist, defended the interests of Russia in France and Holland. He made friends with French educators, for example Voltaire.
Favorites of Catherine II
It's no secret that Catherine the Great came to power as a result of a palace coup. One of its organizers was an associate of the future empress, Alexei Orlov (1737-1807). Besides him, during the reign of this queen there were other political figures of Russia who became such thanks to the favor of the ruler of the state. Their names: Sergei Saltykov, Mikhail Miloradovich, Grigory Orlov, Alexander Ermolov, Alexander Lanskoy, Ivan Rimsky-Korsakov, Pyotr Zavodovsky, etc. It is difficult to list all the favorites of Catherine the Second, but almost each of them had some influence on the country’s politics at a certain time period of time.
The first revolutionaries
During the reign of the above-mentioned queen, one of the most enlightened minds of that time was Alexander Nikolaevich Radishchev (1749-1802). With progressive and revolutionary thinking, he was ahead of his time, advocating the abolition of serfdom in the country. The followers of his ideas were: Russian revolutionary Nikolai Ogarev (1813-1877), poet and publicist, as well as his closest friend Herzen and Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876) - anarchist theorist who was a participant in the French, German and Czech revolutions of 1848-1849 .
Their “opponent” can be called Alexei Arakcheev (1769-1834) - the all-powerful temporary worker of Tsar Alexander I.
In the list of outstanding political figures of the 19th century one cannot fail to mention Sergei Witte (1849-1915). His contribution to the development of the state cannot be compared with anything. It can be said that thanks to his innovative ideas, the country made a great leap forward.
Early 20th century (pre-revolutionary period)
With the advent of the twentieth century in Russia, many parties entered the political field: Mensheviks, Bolsheviks, Octobrists, Socialist Revolutionaries, Social Democrats, Narodniks, etc. Naturally, the leaders of each of them can be safely included in the list of “Political figures of Russia of the 20th century (beginning)” "
Among them, the most outstanding personality was Georgy Plekhanov (1856-1918) - one of the leaders of Menshevism. During the revolution of 1905-1907. he led an active struggle against the tactics and strategy of the Bolsheviks. Alexander Kerensky (1881-1970), who is famous for being chosen as the head of the provisional government after the bourgeois revolution, was a Socialist Revolutionary in his political views. Another prominent Russian political figure was Pavel Milyukov (1859-1943). He was the chairman of the CDPR, which was one of the leading ones in the country. The prominent landowner and politician Pyotr Stolypin was also an ardent monarchist. Admiral Kolchak (1873-1920) - commander of the Black Sea Fleet during the First World War in the post-revolutionary period, stood out for his counter-revolutionary views. The same can be said about Baron Wrangel (1878-1928) and Anton Denikin. During the war years they led the White Guard army. But in the south of Russia, the counter-revolutionary forces were controlled by Nestor Makhno (1889-1934), or, as he was popularly called, Old Man Makhno. He has committed more than one terrorist attack. It adjoined
These famous Russian political figures were considered heroes for 73 years. Legends were formed about their lives, novels were written, cities, factories and schools, Komsomol and pioneer detachments were named after them. These are the leaders of the Bolsheviks, and later - the Communist
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (Ulyanov). Born in 1870, died in 1924 as a result of a terrorist attack. Scientist, revolutionary, famous political figure. Afterwards he was recognized as the leader of the peoples who were part of the USSR - a country created on his recommendation.
Lenin's associate and one of the outstanding Bolshevik revolutionaries was Mikhail Kalinin (1875-1946). In 1923 he was elected chairman of the Central Executive Committee Soviet Union.
Iron Felix is the famous security officer Dzerzhinsky, about whose cruelty many have recently heard. He was one of the most ideological revolutionaries, although he came from noble family. Almost from the very first days of the creation of the USSR, he became the head of the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs.
(real name Bronstein) is also an outstanding revolutionary figure in the Soviet Union. However, after that he began to criticize the Soviet leadership, especially Stalin, for which he was expelled from the country. After long wanderings around Europe, he settled in Mexico, where he began writing a book about Joseph Dzhugashvili, the new leader Soviet people. It was Stalin who gave the order to liquidate Trotsky. He died in 1940 as a result of an assassination attempt.
General Secretaries of the CPSU Central Committee
Who could be more famous in the Land of Soviets than political figures of the USSR and Russia (after the collapse of the Union). Among them, the first secretaries of the pariah occupy a leading position. Below is their complete list.
Political figures of modern Russia
At the beginning of this list, of course, are the names of the people who were at the origins of the creation of the new Russian state. And the first among them is Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin. He was a former communist figure, but also became the leader of an independent Russian state and the first popularly elected president of the Russian Federation. In 2000, he was forced to resign due to health reasons.
After Yeltsin left the political arena, his duties were temporarily entrusted to an unknown young Petersburger, V. Putin. However, today no political figures in Russia of the 21st century can compete with him in popularity among the people. He was twice elected president of a great power and, at the end of his second term, handed over the reins of power to his compatriot Dmitry Medvedev, taking over the post of prime minister. However, after the end of his first term, Medvedev returned the “presidential baton” to Putin, and he himself took the position of prime minister. In a word, Vladimir Vladimirovich took the post of president of the largest state in the world for the third time.
Leaders of political parties in the Russian Federation
As at the end of the 19th century, in the 90s of the 20th century in Russian state many appeared political parties, among which the largest are “ United Russia”, “Yabloko”, LDPR, Communist Party of the Russian Federation, etc. Their leaders are V. Putin and D. Medvedev, G. Yavlinsky, V. Zhirinovsky, G. Zyuganov, respectively.
Instead of a conclusion
The above lists of outstanding political figures in Russia, of course, cannot be called complete. Over the centuries-old history there have been many more of them. However, the names of politicians who are included in them can be called the most significant.