On the ideological front : the Russian intelligentsia and the making of the Soviet public sphere

Having emerged, exhausted but triumphant, from the bloody and divisive Russian Civil War, V. I. Lenin and his colleagues turned to eliminating perceived ideological foes from within. In __On the Ideological Front__, Stuart Finkel tells the story of the1922 expulsion from Soviet Russia of almost one hundred prominent intellectuals, including professors and journalists, philosophers and engineers, writers and agronomists. Finkel’s meticulously researched and persuasively argued study sets this compelling human drama within the context of the Bolsheviks’ determined efforts to impose ideological conformity, redefine the role of the intelligentsia, and establish a distinctly Soviet public sphere. The book demonstrates that the NEP period was not a time of intellectual pluralism and ideological retreat on the part of the Bolsheviks. On the contrary, from its formative years, the Soviet regime zealously policed the ideological front and laid the institutional and discursive foundations for the Stalinist state. Having Emerged, Exhausted But Triumphant, From The Bloody And Divisive Russian Civil War, V. I. Lenin And His Colleagues Turned To Eliminating Perceived Ideological Foes From Within. In On The Ideological Front, Stuart Finkel Tells The Story Of The 1922 Expulsion From Soviet Russia Of Almost One Hundred Prominent Intellectuals, Including Professors And Journalists, Philosophers And Engineers, Writers And Agronomists. Finkel's Researched And Persuasively Argued Study Sets This Compelling Human Drama Within The Context Of The Bolsheviks' Determined Efforts To Impose Ideological Conformity, Redefine The Role Of The Intelligentsia, And Establish A Distinctly Soviet Public Sphere. The Book Demonstrates That The Nep Period Was Not A Time Of Intellectual Pluralism And Ideological Retreat On The Part Of The Bolsheviks. On The Contrary, From Its Formative Years, The Soviet Regime Zealously Policed The Ideological Front And Laid The Institutional And Discursive Foundations For The Stalinist State.--book Jacket. The Russian Intelligentsia And The Bolsheviks At The End Of The Civil War -- Bolsheviks And Professors : The Struggle Over University Autonomy -- Exposing The Caste Spirit In Professional And Scientific Organizations -- Cultural, Literary, Philosophical, And Spiritual Societies -- Publishing, Censorship, And Ideological Struggles -- The Deportations, Part I : Precedents And Planning -- The Deportations, Part Ii : Arrest, Negotiation, And Expulsion -- Epilogue : The Deportees In Emigration -- Conclusion : The Intelligentsia In Soviet Russia. Stuart Finkel. Published With Assistance From The Louis Stern Memorial Fund. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 239-320) And Index.

Having emerged, exhausted but triumphant, from the bloody and divisive Russian Civil War, V. I. Lenin and his colleagues turned to eliminating perceived ideological foes from within. In On the Ideological Front, Stuart Finkel tells the story of the1922 expulsion from Soviet Russia of almost one hundred prominent intellectuals, including professors and journalists, philosophers and engineers, writers and agronomists. Finkel’s meticulously researched and persuasively argued study sets this compelling human drama within the context of the Bolsheviks’ determined efforts to impose ideological conformity, redefine the role of the intelligentsia, and establish a distinctly Soviet public sphere. The book demonstrates that the NEP period was not a time of intellectual pluralism and ideological retreat on the part of the Bolsheviks. On the contrary, from its formative years, the Soviet regime zealously policed the ideological front and laid the institutional and discursive foundations for the Stalinist state.

Stuart Finkel is assistant professor of history, University of Florida. He lives in Gainesville.

Contents 5 Acknowledgments 7 Introduction 9 1 The Russian Intelligentsia and the Bolsheviks at the End of the Civil War 21 2 Bolsheviks and Professors: The Struggle over University Autonomy 48 3 Exposing the Caste Spirit in Professional and Scientific Organizations 75 4 Cultural, Literary, Philosophical, and Spiritual Societies 97 5 Publishing, Censorship, and Ideological Struggles 123 6 The Deportations, Part I: Precedents and Planning 159 7 The Deportations, Part II: Arrest, Negotiation, and Expulsion 190 Epilogue: The Deportees in Emigration 223 Conclusion: The Intelligentsia in Soviet Russia 231 Appendix Intellectuals Expelled from Soviet Russia, 1922–1923 237 Glossary 243 Notes 247 Index 329 'On the Ideological Front' centres on the 1922-23 expulsion from Soviet Russia of some 100 prominent intellectuals. Finkel's account is a scholarly examination of this which sets it in the context of Bolshevik curbs, prohibitions, and punishment of intellectuals who resisted ideological conformity