Stalin was a fundamentalist of a different type. His religion of choice was authoritarian centralized Communism, with himself as the divine and infallible Earthly authority of that "ISM".

Fundamentalism is simply this: Any authoritarian system which denies and forbids all ideas and practices that do not fall within its own chosen orthodoxy. He was the very antithesis of a liberal, in the true meaning of the term. He was the capital "C" in Conservative, within the Communist world-view.

You can easily be a conservative quite regardless of whether you are socialist or capitalist...just fight like hell against any progressive change that would liberalize your society, that's all...emphasize militarism and make sure that your government helps the rich and powerful to become more rich and powerful, at the expense of everyone else. And never be afraid to use ruthless force to keep people towing the line.

- LH