>>23028
>>Beria was a pretty liberal person (in original sense of course) and may do many different reforms to USSR
>Even decades prior to his death?

It is hard to say. In 1937 he stopped mass scale repressions. In 1953 he released million of prisoners, banned prisoners torture, had an initiative to remove passport controls etc. Maybe it was only a way to survive in post-Stalin world (and looks like it was only this).

It didn't help him and he was shot though.

Considering possibility of death of Stalin - yes, it is pretty complex question, who would be leader and how history would turn. Pre-purge and pre-war commie party was pretty much different compared to post-war.

It is common concept that person couldn't shape history, and turning points of historical process is inevitable (especially in Soviet historiographical paradigm), but I don't think so (although can't prove this of course). Maybe even miss of that guy in 1914 could prevent the war and change history completely.