Short Answer 
Communism aims for common ownership and a classless society, where resources are shared equally among citizens. However, Stalin’s approach diverged from these ideals through centralized economic control and the establishment of puppet regimes in Eastern Europe to strengthen Soviet interests, focusing more on state authority than on promoting equality.
Step 1: Understanding Communism
Communism is a socio-economic ideology focused on achieving common ownership of resources and the absence of social classes. The fundamental goal is to ensure that all members of society share equally in the wealth generated by their labor, leading to a classless and stateless system. Key principles include communal control over production and distribution of goods, fostering equality among citizens.
Step 2: Stalin’s Economic Control
Unlike true communist ideals, Stalin’s approach prioritized centralized control over economic activities to maintain his power. This meant implementing policies that allowed him to exert significant influence over production and allocation of resources. His focus was on consolidating authority rather than promoting equality, utilizing state interventions to achieve his goals, including forced collectivization and industrialization.
Step 3: Exploitation of Eastern European Regimes
Stalin aimed to establish puppet regimes across Eastern Europe, which were designed to serve the interests of the Soviet Union. These regimes were used to:
- Provide essential resources to bolster Soviet economic strength.
- Ensure political control and spread Soviet influence in the region.
- Exploit local economies for the benefit of the Soviet Union.