The leader of the Soviet Union during the Great Depression was Joseph Stalin. He rose to power in the 1920s and implemented wide-ranging economic policies that anticipated the effects of global economic downturns. Stalin's regime focused on rapid industrialization and collectivization of agriculture, often at an immense human cost. While the Soviet Union was somewhat insulated from the worst effects of the Great Depression compared to capitalist countries, his leadership style fostered oppression and repression of dissent. Stalin's policies not only aimed at maintaining economic stability but also involved strict control over the populace, leading to significant sociopolitical transformation in Soviet society.