Each figure was also influential in the development of his own system that questions of personality have always arisen. With Hitler, both his intense personal magnetism and his obsessional racism have been considered key to explaining the course of the Third Reich. With Stalin, theoretical options are given a larger role, but Stalin s departure from so much in the European socialist tradition have often posed the question of the effect of his personality on the development of the Soviet system. De Gaulle's character has always been seen as key to his politics. Readings will be from the writings of Hitler, Stalin and de Gaulle, biographies of all three figures and a short general text for background.
Values are beliefs, principles, and ideals that guide behavior.
Societies tend to maintain the status quo when there is at least marginal consensus on values and truth. When there is dissonance between what we reason or perceive as truth and what we value, a condition for a social movement is met.