Of SRs and Anarchists Flashcards
Summarize Anarchism as told by Kropotkin and Bakunin, also explain their motivations for terror.
Takes on Marx and Constitutionalism? (Anarchism as third way)
NOT Marxist because: terror (individualism) AND spontaneous uprising of masses as opposed to Heroic scenario
Bakunin:
- Landed gentry, emigre, contacts w/ Herzen -> on French barricades in 1848
- WORRIED about Marxism -> thinks state will just replace absolutism -> Bureaucracy would become new Bourgeoisie (correct) and state property would become owned by state officials
- objects to historical laws/forces theory -> mankind not compelled to wait patiently, ACT NOW (tie back to PW/TTP)
- THEREFORE -> individualism/free will vs history/determinism
- INSTEAD -> wants big class war. Intellectuals would have ROLE in sparking but not long term -> hand over reigns to disenfranchised. Don’t need to wait, no need for advanced/special proles
Kropotkin theory:
- Main components: NO NEED FOR PARTY STRUCTURE
- 1.Negation of state structures with free federation of communes (village, etc) and production associations (for factories)
- Social revolution is coming -> expropriating capitalism spontaneously from the people (as in people will spontaneously rise up and seize capital). Can’t come from outside. , expropriations spontaneous by people and not organized by parties.
- PROPAGANDA OF THE DEED -> anarchist violence disorganizes state, ordinary people see that it doesn’t work / is fallible -> NO NEED FOR COMBAT ORGANIZATION OR PARTY DIRECTION / specific targets(more random)
- Part of the ROLE of the party to suggest revolution is possible to masses
On democracy:
Democracy doesn’t work -> DOESN’T like constitutions/parliaments. Once you become a bureaucrat -> would protect middle class and property rights.
- NO participation in Duma
On SPONTANEOUS expropriations and LAND
- no more legal system, education, police. NO MORE PROPERTY LAWS / private property. People would get education when/if they wanted it.
- Expropriation of factories BY workers (NOT GIVEN TO THEM BY STATE) People would inherently share food
- Tenets would seize landlord property -> buildings (apts) SUBDIVIDED to get “acceptable” level of shelter lmao -> how do you enforce this?
- OVERALL: NOT IMPOSED FROM ABOVE BY PARTY -> SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN NATURALLY AND DECIDED AMONG PEOPLE
Explain some of the B R O A D forces behind the rise of anarchism as an ideology in Russia and what the general theory was
Modernity:
- Ordinary people now have more contact with the state -> ANARCHISM RESPONSE TO INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION WHICH CAUSES THIS
- Urban expansion (RR, etc) -> govts become MORE INVOLVED in people’s lives -> education, voter registration, municipal polices.
- WAY DIFFERENT from 100 years before
- 1905 -> springs up in INDUSTRIAL CENTRES -> Baku (workers in oil fields), Sevastopol (naval bases, Odessa (industrial/trade/exports) -> Potemkin
- NO rural presence -> no peasant activities. ONLY working class.
Nationalisms:
- Groups like mushrooms in the rain (peak 1905-07)
- 255 “groups” (loose) -> various ethnic backgrounds. MOSTLY WESTWARD
- When overlapped on map -> shows high concentration in younger pops AND industrial areas of west.
- JEWISH -> oppressed them and MORE INVOLVED STATE LIFE
- Dies down in 1905 -> by WW1 after state suppression
GENERAL THEORY:
- Most positivists who love humanity -> think humans naturally altruistic
- Obviously don’t like centralized govt -> includes ALL authority (Church, morality, education
- Like Nihilism: reject “compulsory” institutions
- MOST violent rev branch
- (1901-16) 17,000 casualties from terrorism -> MOST by anarchists and MOST collateral / bystanders.
What are the varying justifications/takes on terror by Russian anarchists?
Official Justifications
PROPAGANDA OF THE DEED -> anarchist violence disorganizes state, ordinary people see that it doesn’t work / is fallible -> NO NEED FOR COMBAT ORGANIZATION / specific targets / more random
MANY CONTRADICTIONS IN THEORY VS PRACTICE: Bread and Liberty -> officially sanction DEFENSIVE (anti state/capitalist) violence against “brutal” officials and exploiters -> who decides this? No parameters defined.
- Allow workers to spontaneously “expropriate” factory property
Expropriations:
Broadening targets: Post 1905
- Black Banner group violence justified against ANY representative of state (postal workers, etc).
Justify collateral
- Also collateral -> theatres and cafes -> RITZY people like Proust targets. If you could AFFORD this -> you’re an economic exploiter. (lol NO REGARD FOR STAFF -> ACCEPTABLE COLLATERAL)
- 60% of anarchists convicted in Tsarist courts -> for ARMED ASSAULTS (thugs or freedom fighters) (NOT tried under terrorist statutes -> state decides NOT political crime like Bobby Sands)
- SHIFT AWAY FROM IDEOLOGICAL MEANING OF TARGETS (PEOPLE’S WILL, MORAL JUSTIFICATION) -> SHIFT TOWARDS EXPORPRIATIONS AND JUST GETTING FUNDS/CAPITAL Justification of personal robbery post 1905
RESULTS IN: most expropriations not helping the people (only targeting lower downs like banks and post offices where cash is kept -> so contradictions)
Explain the relationship between Anarchists and Bolsheviks
1917: WORKING PARTNERSHIP
- Want workers to take control of factories -> encourage and propagate them to do so alongside Bols
- Anarchist communists: want transfer of land and food to workers for common use
- INFORMAL ALLIANCE EMERGES -> Bols extending social support to consolidate power -> FOCUS ON MOST IMPATIENT REV GROUPS TO STOKE, EXPLOIT, AND GAIN SUPPORT OF
- Manipulation -> Lenin admits he never agrees with them on principles
- 1917
- Approach to war aligns -> defeatist to grant peace
Crisis of 1917:- Align with Left Boles -> overthrow prov govt
- Bols help anarchists take control of Russian Freedom newspaper plant,
- Later anarchist commies help Bols overthrow prov govt and storm Winter Palace
- Boles DISARM BLACK GUARDS as consolidate power in 1917 and 18
- BUT consolidate alliance by saying no IDEOLOGICAL beef w/ anarchists
Explain the difference between SR and Anarachist violence
- MOST violent rev branch
- (1901-16) 17,000 casualties from terrorism -> MOST by anarchists and MOST collateral / bystanders.
- Even tho SRs were well known -> BETTER AT PROPAGANDA (had structure, press releases, etc. Anarchist groups did act to act p much)
(In theory) consolidated central org)
Explain the role of women in the SR movement, what was their overall main use?
Overall: manipulation of gender norms/public image in order to cultivate propaganda and agitate for sympathy / funding:
Spiridonova/Shesterika 6:
- Assassinates general in 1906 -> Was a revenge attack (fired upon peasants)
- Arrested and roughed up
- Spiridonova myth -> letter detailing brutality of police. Suggests sexual assault.
- Sends letter from jail -> LIBERAL newspaper prints it God damn (Rech)
- Uh oh -> translation published abroad. Journalists and photographers join her. POSTCARDS CIRCULATE
- Erase mentions of past boyfriends -> virginal figure -> Spiridonova active in promoting this. Sickly.
- International outcry
- WHEN THEY’RE sent to Nerchinsk
- After propaganda -> pose for photos with banners in exile -> shows commitment (Shesterika 6 other revolutionary women -> propagandzie 100,000 people at every train station along the journey to Nerchinsk) -> if women must be doing, must be shite state of affairs.
- SRS have BOOK STORES to buy these postcards -> BOLES DON’T DO THIS
- BOLES LOSE OUT ON PROPAGANDA TRAIN -> DON’T EMPHASIZE BORING LEADERS
Breshkovskaya:
- Breshkovskaya’s long friendships with American feminists and gentlemen (yuppie) socialists -> becomes “Babushka” and adopts grandmotherly persona
- USES AND ABUSES MEDIA LIKE PHOTOS TO DO THIS
- Evidence of central role women played in TRANSNATIONAL elements of rev movements
- punishments she got were CENTRAL to status -> living martyr because her ONGOING harsh treatment used as propaganda (like Bobby Sands)
- Trips to US -> international notoriety and celebrity
Tours of US:
Kennan (journalist?/writer)
1904-05 speaking tour funded by American Friends of Russian Freedom -> VP os Kennan
- Breshkovskaya downplays support for political violence to these people -> courting American liberals (as opposed to socialists) -> could be potential donors
- SO TRYING TO INFLUENCE IMAGE TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT MOVEMENT VIA FUNDING
Arrest:
- TURNING point in propaganda
- Injustice -> looks like 1905 reforms weak / unpromised
- 1913 tries to ESCAPE -> punished by 18 mo in solitary -> full embracement of Grandmother Russia Washington Post uses it in main text
- INFLUENCES THIS -> correspondance with friends in America -> Kennan, Poole -> USING FAMILIAL LANGUAGE -> cultivates grandmotherly image
- NYT, etc underscore advanced age
- Instead, sends photos SHE LIKES to Blackwell -> with floral tribute
- KNOWS THESE WILL BE LEAKED TO PRESS IN STATES
- IN STATES: Photographed by peeps portrairs in 1905 -> (ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN PROCESS THEN) (Bain photographer) appears on contemporary Russian postcards
- APPEARS AS BENIGN FORCE AGAINST AGRESSOR AUTOCRACY WHEN 18 MONTH PUNISHMENT/ADVANCED AGE
Give a high level overview of the SR platform
Overall:
- Theory SECOND for SRs consistantly -> OPPOSED TO SDs (arguing about Marxism) SRs just want ACTION / progress towards revolution and more individual involvement
1st congress not held until 1905 - party founded and terror started BEFORE first congress -> evidence of getting stuff done over theory
The program: Mass movement over party
- mass revolution using THREE groups
1. Int : radicalized (slight leaders, NOT central)
2. Proles -> MASS vanguard -> would influence
3. Peasants -> ARMY of revolution - Want MASS numbers of people -> NOT as conspiratorial as other groups -> blatantly trying to get a mass movement. Easy to infiltrate -> 20 spies by 1914.
- Work with legal AND illegal institutions (Duma vs Za Narod/navy and terror)
- populist and marxist influence, no concrete theoryWorkers: (pretty Marxist)
- Minimum wages, right to unionize, workers CONTROL workplaces through councils
- > Bols steal this later because of how appealing it is to workers. Pulls a TrudeauPeasants: (pretty populist)
- Land will be taken from nobles WITHOUT COMPENSATION -> peasants can farm as much as they want -> organized under communes
- Again, appealing to peasants -> HUGE rural following -> spark and direct peasant revolts from 1902 on (especially 1904-06)
- BOLS ALSO STEAL THIS
Explain the role of Emigres in the SR community
Kropotkin as propagandist:
-Absolute highest nobility -> personal assistant to emperor as boy. (Alex II)
- ALSO emigre -> promoting image abroad
FOUNDED IN GENEVA AND ABROAD -> groups like Bread and Freedom/Kropotkin (early attempts)
Bread and Freedom congress held in LONDON 1906
- Right wingers post Alex II (reaction)
- Why banned from Switzerland (attracting violence from this and Russian state agents) -> WOULD PUBLICIZE ATTACKS ON HIM -> LEADS TO EMBARESSMENT OF GOVT (Kropotkin)
- SPEAKING TOUR OF US AND CANADA -> early 20th century to raise funds for anarchists.
- SOUGHT OUT by anarchists like Zasulich -> Marx.
Breshkovskaya:
- Tours of US:
Kennan (journalist?/writer)
1904-05 speaking tour funded by American Friends of Russian Freedom -> VP os Kennan
- Breshkovskaya downplays support for political violence to these people -> courting American liberals (as opposed to socialists) -> could be potential donors
- SO TRYING TO INFLUENCE IMAGE TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT MOVEMENT VIA FUNDING
- INFLUENCING WHICH PHOTOS OF HER ARE TAKEN AND WHICH SHE PROVIDES TO HER AMERICAN FRIENDS -> cultivate “Babushka” image to gain funds for SR cause
-HELPS INTERNATIONALIZE THE CONFLICT BY ABROAD MESSAGE
- 1913 punishments following attempted escape from captivity > WP/NYT highlight advanced age- > Tsar as aggressor and SRs as benign force
Explain the role of terror in SR ideology. How did they justify it?
Only consolidated leftist party that FORMALLY included terrorism as part of its program. Organized 1901, 1902 leadership affirms intent to begin “unavoidable and expedient t” terrorism
Ideology and Justification:
- UNLIKE anarchists -> need official justification for crimes
- ADAPT Lavrov/Populist theory of PW to accomodate marxism and ensure no contradictions
- Result: ASSASSINATION INSEPARABLE FROM GENERAL CLASS STRUGGLE
> SUPPORTS TOIL OF WORKERS
1: Incite revolution
- Tool to HELP REVOLUTIONIZE / INCITE REVOLUTION IN THE MASSES -> seen as another party organ like Iskra kinda
- in line with what PW wanted, but tailored to fit definition of Marxist goals/historical perspective
2: state targets
- ALSO: brings fear and destabilization to state, self defence of rev movement/underground
- Thought striking at SPECIFIC govt officials would force it to repeal harsh laws, protect revs, advance movement.
- Last point ALREADY contradicts Marx: killing one man doesn’t replace the “ultimate evil” of Russian state and capitalism -> contradiction of Marxist approach (elaborate upon) / Mass movements and timeline of revolution
3: Propaganda for support
- Success of Plehve and Sergei attacks in 1904/05 bring increased funding and support
- When first Duma starts 1906, Central Committee renounce terror because NOT VIABLE for propaganda purposes -> dissolved and reformed combat organization was LESS EFFECTIVE AND THEREFORE LESS BENEFICIAL
- 1906 DIVISION -> Maximalists still want terror following collapse of CO -> not elaborate plans, bank robberies and such -> “Maximum” pressure against state
- Begin again after 2nd Duma resolved -> starts again when new channels perceived as inadequate
- Now, publicly target Stolypin for revenge purposes -> blatantly anti-marxist
Conclusion:
- Regardless: MOST SR TERRORIST ATTACKS DIDN’T ACTUALLY FALL INTO THESE CATEGORIES -> MORE TO DO WITH REVENGE AGAINST INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE LIKE ZASULICH. Only want for propaganda purposes
- SR central committee tolerates Combat Organization breaking with this justification because of positive publicity it brings to the movement
- Allocation of significant party funds, allowed them control of funds
Explain the role of the Combat Organization within the SR party. How did it fit in with SR notions of terror?
Overall:
- Combat Org does own thing. Constantly contradicts SR policy and yet is tolerated by SR Central Committee because of the publicity it brings
- EVIDENCES that SRs as a whole were less committed to theory and more individual/revolution in lifetime focused.
Combat Organization:
- Despite SRs not being conspiratorial -> these guys ARE
- “Golden era” 1901-1904
- Party declares responsibility for acts AFTER they happen, and often didn’t know in advance when they would
- Evidenced by ONLY PUBLICLY DECLARES C.O. AS OFFICIAL PART OF ORG AFTER INITIAL SUCCESS
- Plehve and Sergei actually DID frighten govt ANNOUNCEMENT OF POLITICAL REFORM AFTER SERGEI IN 1905 -> brings popularity/money/recruits to movement (no peasant outpouring of support like Shrines set up for Alex II)
- 205 attacks between 1902-11
- POST SERGEI / 1905 -> state infiltrates and arrests 11 members. Cripples and less effective -> renounce violence in 1906 BECAUSE not bringing in the dough anymore (so not committed to the theory)
Sophistication:
- “sole function”, specific individuals to track movements of targets
- Expand reach outside of govt. EXACTLY LIKE PIRA -> postal workers, etc -> any govt / state worker
- kill 3000 people between 1900-1914 -> deadliest group by far
- Target high profile individuals like Sergei
- Attacks at Church services/etc -> mass casualty events
Leaders: Not idealists because…
- All have independent control of allocated party funds, use to fuel luxurious lifestyles under guise of terror. Need fancy clothes to go undercover
- NONE have interest in theory
1. Savinkov, Azef, Gershuni all share personal disdain for theory, target high profile individuals like Sergei in direct opposition to outlined theory
2. Org attracts anarchists like Nazarov who explicitly did not align themselves with SR theory
3. 1903 Gershuni ARRESTED -> WILLING TO SACRIFICE IDEOLOGY TO BEG FOR LIFE WHEN FACED WITH EXECUTION -> appeals to Nick II for pardon - EVIDENCE THAT: group comprised of social flux individuals instead of hardcore idealists. Want action and violence
- UNLIKE People’s Will and Aleksander Ulyanov who committed till the end when arrested.
What led to the split between SRs and Maximalists in 1906? What does this evidence?
Maximalists:
- Aim for expropriations and “maximum impact” against state by targeting postal workers and bankers (where cash is kept)
- Seen as forced donations to the movement
- 1906 SR CC HAD APPROVED EXPROPRIATION under specific conditions (belonged to state not privates)
- SR-Maximalists -> NO restrictions on targets-> mean more “common” crimes like bank robberies -> INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM ANARCHISTS
- BREAK AWAY 1906 over this
- ATTITUDE of maximalists: also target private property -> no work -> no salary -> therefore econ for struggle against exploiters terrorism
Purification of mankind:
- here outline man divided into 2 races -> those with power/capital and those w/o. Former morally inferior -> need to erase entire population (including kids)
OVERALL evidence that Maximalists, other terrorists less interested in theory and more about that money and personal action.
Give a high level timeline of SR sophistication/activity in the period prior to WWI. What does their approach evidence?
OVERALL:
- No ideological consistency: working with regime channels (running in Duma) while also consistently platforming underground unions/orgs of workers illegally.
- This causes SPLIT in party following liquidation of first Duma
First Duma (1906)
- Founded and oversaw many unions and labour orgs WHICH BECAUSE OF FUNDAMENTAL LAWS WERE KINDA LEGAL -> Working WITH regime / new channels -> only partially “underground” despite not participating in First Duma.
- When can’t work WITH channels -> encourage establishment of ILLEGAL / underground unions
- DIDN’T participate in First Duma (like Boles)
2nd Duma: Working with regime and Bols
- 2nd -> runs and does well -> forms a leftist bloc w/ Bols to form to deny conservatives (WORKING WITH REGIME LIKE SF)
- Build underground orgs in NAVY AND COAST GUARD -> Za Narod newspaper specifically here. SOPHISTICATION
END of First Duma: split in party -> underground vs state channels conflict L/R
- UNITES left of SDs and SRs (1906)
- Multiparty military organizations proof in Vladivostok
- NEEDED TO ADAPT UNDER NEW REALITY THOUGH
- New “right” of SRs emerge who want to liquidate underground
- LEFT srs want terrorism still (combat org) -> chernov, etc
- Peak influence in 1909
- in organized labour movement -> dominant positions of important metal and textile unions
- TRY NEW UPRISINGS IN 1910 AND 13 THROUGH BALTIC AND BLACK SEA SAILOR ORGS
- 1912 Lena -> strikers rise up, use papers to propagate workers
Leadup to WWI:
- 1913-14 -> mass resurgance ->
- Strike wave influenced by SRs
- NOT sophisticated / downside of mass movement -> 20 police informers by 1914
Give some examples of how SRs utilized propaganda
Print/media
- build underground orgs in NAVY AND COAST GUARD -> Za Narod newspaper specifically here. SOPHISTICATION
- 1912 Lena -> strikes rise up, all socialist groups publishing in the papers -> make rev propaganda widespread for workers
Women:
- Breshkovskaya and Spiridonova influence press/public image to get support for party. Breshkovskaya on speaking tours, Spiridonova by selling postcards (SRs have bookstores to buy them)
Propaganda by Deed:
- Sergei and Plehve assassinations bring more recruits -> publicly announce / claim responsibility for CO’s actions AFTER acts to reap benefits -> sacrifice control and ideology to reap rewards
How did non CO branches of SR terror evidence the party’s ideology around the practice?
LOCAL branches outside of CO:
- Less sophisticated, smaller -> MORE INDISCRIMINATE -> BLATANT INCORPORATION OF CRIMINALS WHO AREN’T SOCIALIST
- PSR Northern Flying Combat Detachment 1906 -> 80% weren’t members of the PSR
- Specialized in planning mass killings -> plan on wiping out entire military council 1907
Expropriations:
1906 DIVISION -> Maximalists still want terror following collapse of CO -> not elaborate plans, bank robberies and such -> “Maximum” pressure against state so target banks and Postal Workers for expropriations like anarchists
