Stephen Kotkin is an American historian and academic, renowned for his expertise in Russian history and Soviet affairs. He is a professor of history and international affairs at Princeton University. Kotkin is particularly known for his comprehensive biography of Joseph Stalin, which is divided into multiple volumes, with the first volume, "Stalin: Waiting for Hitler, 1929-1941," published in 2014. He has also written extensively on the political, social, and economic aspects of Russia and the Soviet Union, as well as making contributions to contemporary discussions on geopolitics and authoritarian regimes. In addition to his academic work, he has been involved in public intellectual discourse through articles, lectures, and analysis of current events related to Russia and Eastern Europe.
