Alexander Shlyapnikov, 1885-1937: Life of an Old Bolshevik (Historical Materialism Book)

Based on extensive research in the archives of the Soviet Communist Party, and the Russian secret police, __Alexander Shlyapnikov, 1885-1937: Life of an Old Bolshevik__ stirringly recounts the political life of Alexander Shlyapnikov. Though little known to today’s radicals, Shlyapnikov was a leading member of the Workers’ Opposition (1919-21), and the most prominent of their ranks to call for the trade unions—as distinct from the Communist Party—to play a direct role in realizing workers’ control over the economy. Despite the defeat of this position, Shlyapnikov continued to advocate views on the Soviet socialist project that provided a counterpoint to Stalin’s vision. Arrested during the Great Terror, Shlyapnikov refused to confess to his alleged crimes against the party, openly declaring the charges illogical and unsubstantiated. What emerges from Allen’s political portrait is an Old Bolshevik who stands in striking contrast to Stalin’s and the NKVD’s image of the ideal party member. In Alexander Shlyapnikov, 1885-1937: Life of an Old Bolshevik, Barbara Allen recounts the political formation and positions of Russian Communist and trade unionist, Alexander Shlyapnikov. As leader of the Workers'Opposition (1919–21), Shlyapnikov called for trade unions to realise workers'mastery over the economy. Despite defeat, he continued to advocate distinct views on the Soviet socialist project that provide a counterpoint to Stalin's vision. Arrested during the Great Terror, he refused to confess to charges he thought illogical and unsupported by evidence. Unlike the standard historical and literary depiction of the Old Bolshevik, Shlyapnikov contested Stalin's and the NKVD's construct of the ideal party member. Allen conducted extensive research in archives of the Soviet Communist party and secret police. Listen to SRB Podcast's episode on Alexander Shlyapnikov: An Old Working Class Bolshevik featuring Barbara Allen. In Alexander Shlyapnikov, 1885-1937: Life of an Old Bolshevik , Barbara Allen recounts the political formation and positions of Russian Communist and trade unionist, Alexander Shlyapnikov. As leader of the Workers' Opposition (1919-21), Shlyapnikov called for trade unions to realise workers' mastery over the economy. Despite defeat, he continued to advocate distinct views on the Soviet socialist project that provide a counterpoint to Stalin's vision. Arrested during the Great Terror, he refused to confess to charges he thought illogical and unsupported by evidence. Unlike the standard historical and literary depiction of the Old Bolshevik, Shlyapnikov contested Stalin's and the NKVD's construct of the ideal party member. Allen conducted extensive research in archives of the Soviet Communist party and secret police In Alexander Shlyapnikov, 1885-1937: Life of an Old Bolshevik , Barbara Allen recounts the political formation and positions of Russian Communist, trade unionist, and Workers' Opposition leader, Alexander Shlyapnikov. Allen's compelling account draws on extensive research in Soviet Communist party and secret police archives.