Why might Stalin have feared capitalist countries?

Stalin feared capitalist countries primarily because he viewed them as ideological adversaries that could threaten the existence of the Soviet state. He believed that capitalism was inherently imperialistic and would seek to undermine or overthrow communism. Additionally, the history of interventions by capitalist nations in revolutionary movements, such as the Allied intervention during the Russian Civil War, reinforced his paranoia about potential invasions or sabotage. This fear drove his policies of militarization and expansionism to secure the Soviet Union against perceived external threats.