To what extent was Stalin anything more than a brutal dictator?

Yes Stalin was brutal few would deny that. Many might think that was an understatement. Whether he was anything more than brutal asks the question did Stalin cause anything of worth or success that was valuable to Russia or beyond. If you take that further the word 'more' suggests this theoretical value or worth of Stalin would have to be above or excel beyond his brutality. Where the successes of Stalin separate/more than a …

…of the workers and idealists etc. Wasn't industrialization brought about through destroying the peasantry, the Soviet Empire through the suppression of cultures and nationality and wasn't Russia in any fit state to fight Germany because of the brutal industrial reforms. Remember whether this was necessary, good or bad is irrelevant. Stalin's successes were a knock on result of his brutal policies and were not much more. Success and brutality go hand in hand for Stalin.