Bolshevik Consoldiation of Power.1 Flashcards
an overview of Bolshevik ideology, the October coup 1917 and early Soviet government
Early soviet government - Lenin/Bolshevik views
Lenin was wary of of “constitutional illusions”, as placing too much faith in the elected parliment posed the risk of a liberal-bourgeois counter-revolution.
“The Constituent Assembly is the highest expression of the political ideals of bourgeois society, which are no longer necessary in a socialist state.”
Bolshevik Ideology - problems faced
Marxist-Lenism: application of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’ Communist Manifesto to Russia
* 1902: What is to be done
* 1916: Imperialism: Highest Form of Capitalism
* 1917: The State and Revolution, April Theses
The state of Russia: still transitioning from the feudal stage
* Was not industrialised enough to create a sizeable proletariat
* The peasants could not supplement the “revolutionary class” - did not experience the negative grievances of capitalism.
* Did not possess the material abundance needed for a socialist society.
* Proletariat were not ready - no ideologically unified (SR, Menshevik, National groups), could not organise under repressive Tsar, not high enough literacy to raise awareness of their position.
Applying Bolshevik Ideology - Dictatorship of the Proletariat
Deemed necessary by Lenin to defend their revolution, and violence and terror would be used if necessary. Democracies were deemed “dictatorships of the bourgeoise”
* Oppress bourgeoise counter-revolution
* Instil socialist values through propaganda+censorship and redistributing private property.
* State-take over of the economy to progress towards communism.
Lenin believed that the state would wither away once counter-revolution threats were removed. The lack of bureaucratism would allow communism to develop naturally.
Applying Bolshevik Ideology - Worker’s State
Aimed to create a state where workers were truly valued and had access to meaningful employment and social services. This view was highly revolutionary as it involved reconstructing society, and removing all historical structures and norms (exploitation of workers)
Applying Bolshevik Ideology - Revolution
Revolution did not need to occur after the development of capitalism - instead, a Russian Revolution would catalyse other revolutions across Europe that would create a socialist community (of industrialised countries, such as Germany) to aid Russia industrialise towards socialism.
This would occur with the Party as the vanguard of revolution:
* Effective organisation, theoreticians, intellectuals, professional revolutionaries.
* Lenin believed a centralised and disciplined vanguard would be able to speed up historical change, overcoming the limitations of the Russian proletariat. It is this reason that Oct 1917 is often referred to as a coup, not a revolution. Deviates from Marxism as the revolution was not led by proletariat efforts.
Applying Bolshevik Ideology - The Revolutionary Class
Smaller support base was attempted to be reinforced by the peasantry - smychka alliance between the workers and peasants to unite under their grievances.
* E.g. Peace, Land, Bread - Summer 1917, Bolshevik propaganda targeted peasants when their interests aligned with industrial workers.
* If support was not gained, and the revolution succeeded, this would result in a regime that was not supported by the majority - further obstacles to socialism.
Applying Bolshevik Ideology - Internationism
World revolution was core to Bolshevik ideology, and depended on ensuing revolutions in neighbouring nations to ensure the longevity of socialist Russia. Seen as the catalyst for the natural historical progression to a communist state.
Underlying Problems in Russia pre-Revolution
Crisis of Dual Authority: Provisional Govt. (authority) and the Soviet (power), especially in Petrograd.
* G: Formed from the old Duma with the intention to form democracy.
* S: Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, Socialist Revolutionaries → Order No. 1 (1 Mar 1917): sway over military, control on train networ, post office and food supply.
* Therefore, decisions passed through the P. Soviet.
Key Events of Oct 1917 Coup
16 Oct 1917: Military Revolutionary Committee under Trotsky - an organisational genius, central to the coup’s success.
25 Oct 1917: Red Guards under Leon Trotsky take control of railways, bridges, communication centres (post offices, telephone exchanges)
26 Oct 1917: Bolsheviks take over the Winter Palace while the Provisional Govt. was in power.
25 - 26 Oct 1917: Second Congress of Soviets met in Petrograd.
* Menshevik and moderate SR delegates famously walked out of the hall, in protest of the Bolshevik’s coup. * Trotsky: “Go where you belong from now on – into the dustbin of history!”
* This gave the Bolsheviks a voting majority in the Congress of Soviets → almost complete control of the Soviets. The new society wore the mask of a popular Soviet revolution, but behind it was the face of Bolshevism.
Early Soviet Government
26 Oct 1917: Sovnarkom rules in the name of the Soviet movement - to appear democratic and representative of the population.
* Dominated by Bolsheviks (support in cities), but countyside influenced by other parties (SRs) → tension between Sovnarkom and other socialist parties that wanted a broader coalition.
* Revolutionary socialists were allowed to join, but never held influential positions.
* Needed to secure: global revolution (trade between socialist states), rapid economic recovery (food, modernise), increased support for the Bolshevik party (out of major cities).
Kerensky Uprising
Examples of Microagressions late 1917
- Director of state banks refused to release national funds
- Postal telegraph workers were uncooperative
- Railway worker’s union had to be disbanded and replaced
Many Russian citizens did not understand the political implications of the Bolshevik party - only the catchphrase “Peace, Land, Bread”
Decree on Peace
26 Oct 1917 Precursor to negotiation and a formal treaty. Increased public support for 2-3 months.
Major Reform for Peasants
26 Oct 1917: Decree on Land
* Formalised peasant seizing land - transferring control of land from landlords, church, state to villagers and their soviets. Obstructing this was deemed a crime.
* Popular announcement
Major Reform for soldiers and sailors
- Reforms demobilising the old imperial army
- Democratise the remaining armed forces: Soldier’s councils organise units, even elect officers in some instances.
- Strict military discipline was relaxed - mirroring the shifting values to a socialist from tsarist society.
Major reform for the Proletariat
Major factories began to be nationalised and placed under control of worker councils.
* Sovnarkom even requisitioned old mansions as worker’s housing - destruction of upper classes.
- Decree on Work (Nov 1917): an eight-hour day and a maximum 48-hour week.
- Decree on Unemployment (Dec 1917) introduced insurance for all workers against illness, unemployment or injury.
- The Decree on Workers’ Control (Nov 1917): handed over the running of all factories to the workers.
Economic Reform
15 December 1917: “Supreme Councol of National Economy (Vesenkha)
* Planned a socialist economy - Marxist ideas and efficiency.
* Included: confiscating resources to rebuild national economy, coordinate nationalising of industries.
Other Major Reforms
- Sovnarkom formally abolished all “classes and ranks” - everyone would be referred to as “comrade”
- Transformed the tsarist legal system - removing bureacracy + allowing for oppressive measures.
- Women declared equal to men
- Jan 1918: Red Army created
Emerging problems with the Sovnarkom’s reforms
- Lishenets “deprived ones”: “bourgeois elements” of the old tsarist society suffered, losing status, privileges and property. Removed from government institutions, unis, banks, factories.
- Revolutionary enthusiasm never arrived. Lenin complained of the Russian people’s work ethic - Many proletarians became lazy once conditions had relaxed, partly due to years of exhaustion from war and instability.
- Therefore, Lenin called for “iron discipline” → “bourgeois specialists” (criticised as captialist tactics)
- New peasant farms were not more efficient - also caused bitter disagreement among the villagers.
- Sovnarkom relied more and more on coercion than support.
Censorship and Propaganda of the emerging bolshevik dictatorship
Decree on Press (27 Oct 1917): Sovnarkom had power to close newspapers of alternative political parties.
* Greatly impacted Kadets, SRs, Mensheviks, and reduced political alternatives.
Propaganda+censorship campaigns: promote new govt., socialist ideals, prevent alternatives
* Speeches at factories, public viewings of political films, pamphlets, posters
* Agit-trains: travelled through the country displaying propaganda on its side. Some stopped to watch a film, listen to a speech.
Terror and Repression in the emerging Bolshevik Dictatorship
20 December 1917: All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combatting Counter Revolution and Sabotage (Cheka). HQ in Moscow.
* To root out any “counter-revolutionary” elements in the new society, and anyone suspected of sabotaging Sovnarkom’s progress was a target
* 1920: 200,000 people employed in administrative and policing roles.
* Under Sovnarkom control, the Cheka gradually expanded from Petrograd to villages, towns etc. Also policed desertion and food hoarding.
* 142 “counter-revolutionaries arrested” in 1918.
Early days violence:
16 July 1918: execution of the Russian imperial Romanov family
3 September 1918: 500 hostages executed after assassination attempt on Lenin.
Constituent Assembly
12 Nov 1917 an election was held - had to for public image + showcase Bolshevik support.
* 24% Bolshevik, 40% SRs → Humiliating, and showed that although the Bolsheviks dominated Sovnarkom, they did not have public support.
5 Jan 1918: First Constituent Assembly meeting, with a SR Chairman.
6 Jan 1918: Palace was locked
* “The Constituent Assembly is the highest expression of the politial ideals of bourgeois society, which are no longer necessary in a socialist state” - Lenin
* Prevented radical land reform, a law making Russia a republic, and foreign diplomacy appeals.
7 Jan 1918: Decree on the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly.
This dismantled political parties:
* Polarised oppostion into Tsarist (monarchy) and Provisional Government (democracy).
* This increased support for Bolsheviks from left-leaning - no range within hte left, only Bolshevik.
Emergence of a one party state
- Closing of the Constituent Assembly (7 Jan 1918)
Dec 1917: Mensheviks, Kadets, SRs had been banned, several members imprisoned. - SRs tried to regain power in the soviet movement by gaining majorities in smaller countryside soviets - these were just shut down, SR banned from larger councils - first act of a “totalitarian” regime
