Stephen Kotkin, born on February seventeenth, nineteen fifty-nine, is a distinguished American historian, author, and university educator. Currently, he serves as the Kleinheinz Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and holds a senior fellowship at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University.
For over three decades, Kotkin was a faculty member at Princeton University, where he achieved the esteemed title of John P. Birkelund '52 Professor in History and International Affairs. In two thousand twenty-two, he transitioned to emeritus status, leaving behind a legacy of academic excellence.
During his tenure at Princeton, he directed the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies and co-directed a certificate-granting program focused on History and the Practice of Diplomacy. His scholarly contributions have significantly shaped the understanding of international relations and historical narratives.
Among his notable works, Kotkin is best known for his ambitious three-volume biography of Joseph Stalin. The first two volumes, titled 'Stalin: Paradoxes of Power, 1878–1928' (two thousand fourteen) and 'Stalin: Waiting for Hitler, 1929–1941' (two thousand seventeen), have garnered critical acclaim. The final volume is anticipated for release in July two thousand twenty-six.