Stalinism intentionally misrepresents what the phrase “dictatorship of the proletariat” means. It was never meant to imply that an actual dictatorship would rule over the working class during the transition to communism, even though normal laws would have to be suspended while an entirely new set of societal conditions was implemented.

The “dictatorship of the proletariat” was the idea that the working class would be free to dictate the rules of society for themselves…ideally through democratic processes…not authoritarian rule. It was meant to stand in contrast to the concept of the “dictatorship of the bourgeoisie”, where the wealthy elites dictated the living conditions for the working class by means of coercion and exploitation.

Replacing the bourgeoisie with a new ruling class of political elites, was never part of the plan.