Lenin's ideology

Question 1

1887

Answer 1

Brother executed for plotting to kill tsar
Father dies
Lenin leaves Simbirsk for the first time

Question 2

1891

Answer 2

Great Famine - Lenin indifferent to the suffering of the peasants (believes they will be more susceptible to agitation)

Question 3

1893 - New Economic Trends in Peasant life

Answer 3

peasants already demonstrate capitalist tendencies and this justifies revolution

Question 4

1895 - Union of struggle for the emancipation of the working class

Answer 4

5 man committee including Lenin and Martov who believe in agitation and immediate involvement of the working class

Question 5

1897

Answer 5

Exiled in ‘Siberian Italy’ - fears losing control of Union of Struggle

Question 6

1899 - Development of Capitalism in Russia

Answer 6

Capitalism has developed in rural life
Leads to social hierarchy and industrialisation
Provides justification for revolution

Question 7

1900 - Lenin complaints

Answer 7

Growth of Economism - characterised by Credo which advocates proletariat focusing on economic and cultural development
Angered by evolutionary socialism

Question 8

1900 - ISKRA

Answer 8

Acted as mouthpiece of Lenin organisation

5 CC members - Lenin believes Plekhanov wants control

Question 9

1902 - What is to be done?

Answer 9

Professional vanguard necessary - believes proletariat lack revolutionary zeal and would be reconciled to capitalism
Democratic centralism - tight central control
Rejects revolutionary spontaneity

Question 10

1903 - Second RSDLP conference disagreements

Answer 10

Lenin believed in limited and active membership, Martov believed in broad membership to prevent exclusion of workers

Question 11

1903 - Second RSDLP conference key facts

Answer 11

33/43 are ISKRA members
2 Economists, 3 neutrals, 5 Jewish Labour Bund members
Defeated 28-22 but 7 Bundists and Economists walk out

Question 12

1905 Revolution contradictions

Answer 12

Tells Bolsheviks to take advantage of mass movement
Increases party membership - signs up students and workers
Bogdanov and Lenin amendment - increase working class membership of Bolshevik committees
Argues for one-stage Marxism as believes bourgeoisie will be sated by constitutionalism

Question 13

April 1906 - 4th Party conference

Answer 13

Advocates participation in Duma - vs many Bolsheviks (Bogdanov)
Passed with Menshevik support
Lenin doesn’t want to work with Kadets to undermine the government

Question 14

1908-9

Answer 14

Split with Bogdanov over Duma, relativism and proletariat cultural revolution
1909 Materialism and Empiriocriticism - Bogdanov and anti-Duma faction expelled

Question 15

1912 - 1917 Lenin relevant?

Answer 15

16/18 are Bolsheviks at 6th Congress (Menshevik boycott)
Only 2/7 CC members would be emigres
Moves to Krakow to be closer to Russia
Had to get consent of Duma representatives before acting
Pravda - 47/331 articles rejected
Many leading Bolshveiks killed - 3 members elected in 1912 not apprehended
During war - 26 names in address book, 16 still active (Okhrana take a tougher stance)

Question 16

Ideology of War

Answer 16

Pacifist and defeat of Russia - called for active campaign against war effort
European Civil war - workers vs bourgeoisie - dismayed when German SDs vote for War Credits (Karl Kautsky)
Takes advantage of destability of empire

Question 17

1917 - Imperialism the highest stage of capitalism

Answer 17

Dwindling resources and the changing nature of capitalism would lead to colonisation, leading to the Great War in Europe