Lenin Flashcards
Lenin and Marxist Ideology - Proletariat Revolution
Marxist Ideology (Communist Manifesto 1848)- The bourgeois would overthrow autocracy (feudal stage) in a bourgeois-democratic revolution to establish the capitalist stage where they would maintain their position by exploiting workers. As the workers became politically aware they would develop a revolutionary consciousness rising up to overthrow bourgeois government.
Lenin’s Interpretation (Marxist-Leninism)- The revolution would be accomplished by a small group of dedicated revolutionaries who would lead workers in (What is to be done? 1902). He developed this idea further when after the 1905 revolution he determined that the bourgeois in Russia were too weak to carry through the bourgeois revolution so this stage could be skipped.
Lenin and Marxist Ideology - World Revolution
Marxist Ideology (Communist Manifesto 1848)- Marx believed that the world-wide socialist revolution would start in a highly industrialised country. He predicted this would be Germany. In his Communist Manifesto he called for proletarian action: ‘Working men of all countries, unite!
Lenin’s Interpretation (Marxist-Leninism)- World-wide socialist revolution would occur during a period of conflict between capitalist powers (eg WWI) and it would start in a backward country where capitalism was just developing. He believed that the success of socialism in Russia was dependent on a world-wide revolution. (Imperialism: the Highest Stage of Capitalism 1916)
Lenin and Marxist Ideology - Securing Revolution
Marxist Ideology (Communist Manifesto 1848)- In the socialist stage, followingrevolution, Marx saidthere would need to be a ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’. Workers would govern with strict control to remove any enemies of the revolution (non-socialists)
Lenin’s Interpretation (Marxist-Leninism)- Agreed ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ necessary to secure rev. Yet, once in power claimed that in Russia’s precarious circumstances strict control of one-party (the Bolsheviks) was necessary, other socialists were treated as enemies.
Lenin and Marxist Ideology - Socialist Government
Marxist Ideology (Communist Manifesto 1848)- Marx believed that government should be in the hands of ‘the people’. He said that democracy with the introduction of universal suffrage was ‘one of the first and most important tasks of the militant proletariat’
Lenin’s Interpretation (Marxist-Leninism)- The principle of democratic-centralism was established early on. (What is to be done? 1902) From the party’s formation it was the role of Bolshevik leaders to fulfill the wishes of the party and party obedience would ensure this was achieved. Once in power they would serve the people’s needs and the people would obey the party to achieve this.
Lenin and Marxist Ideology - Economy
Marxist Ideology (Communist Manifesto 1848)- The means of production should be owned equally by the whole community. Individuals should not own the means of production.No private ownership or control.
Lenin’s Interpretation (Marxist-Leninism)- Lenin agreed that the economy would be transformed with people managing their own affairs. (The State and Revolution 1917)
Lenin and Marxist Ideology - Society
Marxist Ideology (Communist Manifesto 1848)- Class should be destroyed and replaced by a society of equals. Once the enemies of socialism were defeated and there were no competing classes there would be no need for government and Communism would be achieved.
Lenin’s Interpretation (Marxist-Leninism)- Lenin agreed that society would be transformed with a classless society of equals. (The State and Revolution 1917)
How did the Bolsheviks End the War? - What the Bolsheviks believed would happen and Trotsky Role
Following the October Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks priority was to consolidate control. Marxist ideology became less important. Later Soviet historians tried to explain the Bolsheviks actions in terms of Marxist theory, but at the time, policies and decisions were often dictated by circumstances…
The Bolsheviks were sure that other countries in Europe would follow the lead set by the decree on peace (Oct 1917) - an immediate truce and a just peace with ‘no annexations, no indemnities’. They believed that the war would collapse into a series of civil wars in European countries as the working class fought with the bourgeoisie following the example of the workers’ revolution in Russia. They also believed that revolution in Russia could not survive without the support of workers’ revolutions in advanced capitalist societies.
But the revolutions in other countries failed to materialise. As the Russian army became incapable of fighting on successfully, Trotsky was dispatched to negotiate a peace settlement with Germany at Brest-Litovsk in December 1917. The terms the Germans proposed were harsh, involving loss of territory and people. Trotsky kept negotiations going as long as he could, hoping that revolution would break out in Germany and Austria. When the Germans grew impatient, he withdrew from the negotiations saying there would be ‘neither war nor peace.
How did the Bolsheviks End the War? - Lenins Ideology
Lenin believed that peace was essential to ensure the survival of the regime. There was no army to fight the Germans and when they began to advance into the Ukraine, Lenin feared that they might move on to Petrograd and throw the Bolsheviks out. ‘Germany is only pregnant with revolution and we have already given birth to a healthy child in Russia’, he continued, ‘we must make sure of throttling the bourgeoisie, and for this we need both hands free.’ He also knew he had to uphold the promise he made to end the war in order to maintain the support of the people.
Yet, the party was divided: some party members agreed with Trotsky’s stance of no war, peace and more agreed with Bukharin and the Left Communists, who sticking to the ideological position, wanted to turn the war into a revolutionary war to encourage a European socialist revolution. So, Lenin’s pleas for a separate peace with Germany were vigorously opposed. One of the few in the Party who agreed with Lenin was Stalin.
The Germans resumed their advance. In five days they progressed 150 miles further than in the previous three years of fighting. Harsher peace terms than originally put forward had to be accepted but only after further debate and Lenin threatening resignation twice. Trotsky resigned as Foreign Commissar. On 3rd March the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed. This set a precedent: in future, ‘socialism at home’ would take priority over spreading international revolution.
Lenin had not necessarily completely abandoned his ideology of world revolution in 1918 but he recognised the need to put survival first. In March 1919, Comintern was set up to guide, co-ordinate and promote the communist parties of the world, although it had little effect.
Establishing a Communist Dictatorship - Early Decrees Oct- Dec 1917
In some ways, his early decrees, appear to support Marxist ideology and Lenin’s own interpretation of it (State and revolution 1917) that people should manage their own affairs rather than be subject to government control. Following the creation of the Sovnarkom in October 1917 Lenin announced, ‘We shall now proceed to construct the socialist order’ and proceeded to introduce a series of decrees:
27 October: Decree on land abolished private ownership of land and legitimised peasant seizures without compensation to landlords.
November: Workers’ control decree gave workers the right to ‘supervise management’.
However it is equally likely that he had little choice in this regard, since peasants were already seizing land and workers taking over factories. Furthermore he needed to secure the support of the people and the land decree in particular reduced peasant support for the SRs providing a breathing space for consolidation of Bolshevik rule.
Establishing a Communist Dictatorship - Avoiding Socialist Coalition
The Petrograd Soviet, which had shared power with the Provisional Government in 1917 and in whose name the Bolsheviks had taken control, contained non-Bolshevik socialists, so Lenin sidelined it and formed the Bolshevik-only Sovnarkom. In doing so, Lenin showed that he had no intention of sharing power with other socialists: particularly, the Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries, despite their shared Marxist heritage.
Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets - The Bolsheviks had seized power in the name of the Congress of Soviets but at the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets the Mensheviks and right-wing Social Revolutionaries condemned the Bolshevik action as an ‘illegal coup’ and only left-wing SRs congratulated Lenin. Lenin announced a new socialist government was to be created by a new executive committee made up of Bolsheviks and more extreme left-wing SRs. In protest, the ‘moderate’ Mensheviks and SRs walked out of the congress, leaving a Bolshevik and left-wing SR coalition in control. The executive committee established the Sovnarkom as the new government. This was comprised exclusively of Bolsheviks.
Workers went on strike protesting against the exclusion of the moderate socialists. This forced Lenin to agree to inter-party talks but this amounted to little. He only allowed left wing SRs to join Sovnarkom in December and it was made clear they had to follow the Bolshevik lead. Meanwhile leading Kadets, right SRs and Mensheviks were imprisoned. The planned elections for the Constituent Assembly did go ahead in November but it was closed down in Jan 1918. Lenin declared it a remnant of bourgeois parliamentary democracy and said to accept its rulings would be to take a step back in Russia’s historical development. Lenin was so hostile to any further suggestions of ‘power-sharing’ that Kamenev and Zinoviev (who favoured a broad socialist government) temporarily resigned.
Sovnarkom ruled by decree. Lenin claimed that Sovnarkom must be able to pass decrees independent of the Central Executive Committee. Lenin justified this on the grounds of urgent necessity and doing away with ‘bourgeois formalism’ (to rid the country of unnecessary bureaucracy which slowed the promotion of socialist values), it effectively gave Lenin the power once enjoyed by the Tsar. While Sovnarkom met daily, the CEC and Soviet met increasingly less frequently. In March 1918 the left-wing SRs walked out of Sovnarkom in protest at the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The Bolsheviks formally adopted the title of ‘Communist Party’ and from then on governed alone.
Thus, the concept of the one-party state, with a ruling party incapable of sharing power with anyone outside the party, was established during the early months of Lenin’s rule. It remains uncertain whether this concept was the product of the difficult situation in Russia in early 1918 or of Lenin’s own stubborn belief that he alone could make a utopian Marxist state become a reality. Regardless of his motivation Lenin’s resolution to avoid a socialist coalition government seems to fly in the face of Marxist ideology as he sidelined his fellow socialists.
Establishing a Communist Dictatorship - The People
Following the creation of the Sovnarkom railway and communications workers went on strike in protest against the emergence of a one-party government. When civilians demonstrated against Lenin’s dismissal of the Constituent Assembly they were fired on and 12 were killed. There was clearly popular support for shared socialist power rather than Bolshevik government but Lenin ignored the strength of feeling from the people.
Such action appears to contradict the Marxist ideological principle of power to the people. Although it could arguably be justified as strong rule required in a ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ after the revolution in this case instead of a dictatorship of the working classes over the middle classes there seemed to be a dictatorship of the Bolsheviks over the working classes.
In July 1918 the Constitution of the RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic ) was proclaimed and it appeared to give power to the people. This stated that supreme power rested with the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, which was made up of deputies from elected local soviets across Russia. The central executive committee of that congress was to be the ‘supreme organ of power’ - acting like a president. The congress was also made responsible for electing Sovnarkom.
On the surface, the new constitution looked highly democratic. However, there were limitations:
The Sovnarkom in practice was chosen by the Communist Party’s Central Committee not the Congress of Soviets.
The Congress was only to meet infrequently so executive authority remained in the hands of Sovnarkom.
The real focus of power was the Party.
Although Marx may have been in agreement with prioritising the vote of the workers over others. Members of the former ‘exploiting classes’ (which included businessmen, clergy and tsarist officials) were excluded from voting or holding public office and the workers’ vote was weighted five to one against that of the peasants.
Establishing a Communist Dictatorship - Increased Party Control
March 1918, Country enters Civil War, argument they needed more centralised control - needed war communism + terror (war based economy) as no time to vote, have to be centralised. Have to nationalise industry as seen as necessary in war effort.
Arguably seen as ideological, removing private ownership, although for pragmatic reasons. War communism removes opposition which preserves ideas and helps to survive revolution.
In 1921 introduced new economic policy - very capitalist.
Capitalism goes against ideology which suggests Lenin was not interested in ideology and instead was pragmatic.
Politburo set up in 1919, group of 7-9 people who became main decision making body - decide policy. Took Precedent over the Sovnarkom as key decision making body, meant small inner ruling group at top of party.
Ogburo set up in 1919, decide how to implement this policy.
Secretarials, already exist, oversee the implementation of policy, make sure carried out on a local level, have secretaries on a regional level. Kept files on all party members and appointed and dismissed party members at all levels, those undedicated to the Bolsheviks would be dismissed.
1920- to be in a local soviet (council) and have a vote you had to be a member of the communist party.
Establishing a Communist Dictatorship - Party Increasingly Bureaucratic
Democratic- Centralism more central than democratic, top dominate, those below ignored (lower votes). Politburo tell ogburo what to do and the secretarial tell those below to do it. Democracy starts to go.
1920- workers opposition led by Kollontai argue party needs to do more for workers who have been left in horrendous condition during the war. 1921- at 10th party congress- Ban on Factions. If you disagree with the central party line then expelled from the party- as a resut Kollontai silenced.
Even the top echelons of party not allowed to voice opinions.
1923- Nomentilatures- 5500 key posts appointed by central committee- not elected, chosen on loyalty. Given bonuses, Dacha (summer houses) and best accommodation so do as told and dont want to loose roles.
Establishing a Communist Dictatorship - Nationalities
The Nationality decree of November 1917 promised self-determination to the peoples of the former Russian Empire. (In December, Finland became an independent state, and an elected rada (parliament) was set up in the Ukraine.) This decree gave more autonomy to nationalities and was in line with Marxist principles.
Yet, the civil war years saw an abandonment of this early support for ‘national self-determination’. Although displays of national culture and native languages were permitted, independence movements were denounced as ‘counter-revolutionary’. The demands for greater independence in Georgia were brutally crushed on the orders of the People’s Commissar for Nationalities, Josef Stalin.
Georgia was in the hands of Mensheviks during the civil war. When the Red Army advanced to establish control in 1922, Lenin was assured by Stalin that a Bolshevik uprising had occurred and the Mensheviks had already been virtually overthrown. However, Lenin was appalled when he heard the people were supporting the Mensheviks and ‘independence; the Bolsheviks were therefore engaged in overthrowing an independent socialist regime by force.
In Dec 1922 the constitution was changed and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was established replacing the RSFSR. The governments of the republics were regarded as regional branches of Sovnarkom which could, when necessary, be ‘coerced’ from the centre.
Establishing a Dictatorship- Other socialists and the people during and after the Civil War
No political views were tolerated from other socialists or the people. Once the Civil War started other socialists were attacked as traitors and any opposition from the people to the one-party state was crushed.
From June 1918 onwards, Socialist Revolutionaries had been arrested in large numbers, along with anarchists and members of other extreme
left groups. Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries were excluded from taking part in soviets. Many Kadets were already in prison, others had fled to the south.
No mercy was shown to political rivals once the years of civil war cooperation were over.In the early months of 19215000 Mensheviks were arrested ‘for
counter-revolutionary activities’ destroying this group as a political force. In 1922, a group of imprisoned Social Revolutionaries was given a ‘show trial’ and
accused of plotting to assassinate Lenin. This resulted in 34 leaders being condemned, 11 executed and the party outlawed.
By 1921, following the hardships of the Civil War there were calls from the people for ‘soviets without communists’ and there was a revival in support for other
socialist parties. Martial law had to be imposed in Moscow and Petrograd. The strikers in Petrograd were supported by the sailors at the nearby Kronstadt naval
base who were in close contact with workers. In March 1921, they mutinied in the hope of starting a general revolt against the Bolsheviks. They demanded an
end to terror, to dictatorship and to one-party rule. In 1917 Trotsky had called the Kronstadt sailors the ‘pride and glory of the Russian revolution’ as they had
supported the Bolshevik take over. However, Kronstadt had always had a large number of SRsand anarchists and was not always as Bolshevik as has been
claimed. Many of the sailors were ex-peasants who had connections with the countryside and supported thepeasants. They were determined, too, to assist the
strikers in Petrograd. The Kronstadt uprising was condemned by Lenin and Trotsky as a White (tsarist) plot, though in fact the rebels were by and large the same
sailors who had fought for the revolution.
Extracts from the manifesto of the Kronstadt revolt of March 1921.
-‘in view of the fact that the present Soviets do not express the will of the workers and peasants, new elections by secret ballot be held immediately’
-‘freedom of speech and press for workers and peasants, anarchists and left socialist parties’
-‘the liberation of all political prisoners of socialist parties, as well as all workers and peasants’
-‘the ending of the right of Communists to be the only permitted socialist political party’
The first Red Army assault on Kronstadt failed and then Marshal Tukhachevsky was sent in with 50,000 crack troops. The rebels fought tooth and nail to defend
their base, and 10,000 were killed. In the following weeks 2,500 were shot by Cheka execution squads. Hundreds of others were sent to Solovetsky, the first big
labour camp, on the White Sea.
