Similarity: Both Mao and Stalin were heinous dictators, but they were also strategic communist leaders. During their tenure as leaders, they demonstrated who was in charge and the might of communism to their people (Communism and Ideology). Dissimilarity: Under Stalin, Stalinism is Marxism-Leninism. Maoism, on the whole, is less centralized, more democratic, and more bottom-up, with a stronger emphasis on rehabilitating class foes (Communism and Ideology).• The ideologies of Stalin had affected the environment of the Soviet Union in negative ways. For example, Stalin introduced the ‘Great Stalin Plan’ due to which afforestation was projected to transform great steppes into farmland in the Soviet Union (Communism and Ideology, Part 1).