Origins of the Great Purges: The Soviet Communist Party Reconsidered, 1933–1938 (Cambridge Russian, Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies, Series Number 43)

This is a study of the structure of the Soviet Communist Party in the 1930s. Based upon archival and published sources, the work describes the events in the Bolshevik Party leading up to the Great Purges of 1937–1938. Professor Getty concludes that the party bureaucracy was chaotic rather than totalitarian, and that local officials had relative autonomy within a considerably fragmented political system. The Moscow leadership, of which Stalin was the most authoritarian actor, reacted to social and political processes as much as instigating them. Because of disputes, confusion, and inefficiency, they often promoted contradictory policies. Avoiding the usual concentration on Stalin's personality, the author puts forward the controversial hypothesis that the Great Purges occurred not as the end product of a careful Stalin plan, but rather as the bloody but ad hoc result of Moscow's incremental attempts to centralise political power.

this Is A Study Of The Structure Of The Soviet Communist Party In The 1930s. Based Upon Archival And Published Sources, The Work Describes The Events In The Bolshevik Party Leading Up To The Great Purges Of 1937-38. Professor Getty Concludes That The Party Bureaucracy Was Chaotic Rather Than Totalitarian, And That Local Officials Had Relative Autonomy Within A Considerably Fragmented Political System. The Moscow Leadership, Of Which Stalin Was The Most Authoritarian Actor, Reacted To Social And Political Processes As Much As Instigating Them. Because Of Disputes, Confusion, And Inefficiency, They Often Promoted Contradictory Policies. Avoiding The Usual Concentration On Stalin's Personality, The Author Puts Forward The Controversial Hypothesis That The Great Purges Occurred Not As The End Product Of A Careful Stalin Plan, But Rather As The Bloody But Ad Hoc Result Of Moscow's Incremental Attempts To Centralise Political Power.

Introduction: The Great Purges As History -- The Communist Party In The Thirties -- What Was A Purge? -- The Verification Of Party Documents Of 1935: A Case Study In Bureaucratic Ineptitude -- Radicalism And Party Revival -- Radicalism And Enemies Of The People -- The Crisis Matures: 1937 -- Epilogue: The Ezhovshchina -- Conclusion: Some Observations On Politics In The Thirties. J. Arch Getty. Bibliography: P. 221-269. This is a study of the structure of the Soviet Communist Party, from the events in the Bolshevik Party leading up to the Great Purges of 1937–1938. Professor Getty assesses the party bureaucracy and claims that the Great Purges occurred as the bloody but ad hoc result of Moscow's incremental attempts to centralise political power. Reflection on the Soviet Communist Party in the 1930s has often produced the image of a closed, monolithic, disciplined organization that functioned without dissent and with a high level of centralized control.