The Russian Revolution in Retreat, 1920-24: Soviet Workers and the New Communist Elite (Basees Routledtge Series on Russian and East European Studies)

The Russian revolution of 1917 was a defining event of the twentieth century, and its achievements and failures remain controversial in the twenty-first. This book focuses on the retreat from the revolution’s aims in 1920–24, after the civil war and at the start of the New Economic Policy – and specifically, on the turbulent relationship between the working class and the Communist Party in those years. It is based on extensive original research of the actions and reactions of the party leadership and ranks, of dissidents and members of other parties, and of trade union activists and ordinary factory workers. It discusses working-class collective action before, during and after the crisis of 1921, when the Bolsheviks were confronted by the revolt at the Kronshtadt naval base and other protest movements. This book argues that the working class was politically expropriated by the Bolshevik party, as democratic bodies such as soviets and factory committees were deprived of decision-making power; it examines how the new Soviet ruling class began to take shape. It shows how some worker activists concluded that the principles of 1917 had been betrayed, while others accepted a social contract, under which workers were assured of improvements in living standards in exchange for increased labour discipline and productivity, and a surrender of political power to the party. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 8 Copyright......Page 9 Contents......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Abbreviations, acronyms and Russian words used......Page 14 Note on names and biographical information......Page 17 Introduction: Workers and the Soviet state......Page 18 1 Struggling to survive: Workers in July–December 1920......Page 36 2 Sweet visions and bitter clashes: The party in July–December 1920......Page 61 3 The revolution that wasn’t: Workers and the party in January–March 1921......Page 89 4 The NEP and non-partyism: Workers in 1921......Page 107 5 Renegades, oppositionists, suicides and administrators: The party in 1921......Page 132 6 Mass mobilization versus mass participation: Workers in 1922......Page 155 7 The party elite, industrial managers and the cells: The party in 1922......Page 183 8 The social contract in practice: Workers in 1923......Page 209 9 The elite takes charge: The party in 1923–24......Page 228 Conclusions: The impact on socialism......Page 250 Appendix 1: Biographical information......Page 259 Appendix 2: Districts and workplaces......Page 270 Appendix 3: Wages and currency rates......Page 274 Appendix 4: Party membership......Page 276 Appendix 5: Communists’ occupations......Page 278 Bibliography......Page 281 Index......Page 299 Humanities Book Cover 1 Title 8 Copyright 9 Contents 10 Acknowledgements 12 Abbreviations, acronyms and Russian words used 14 Note on names and biographical information 17 Introduction: Workers and the Soviet state 18 1 Struggling to survive: Workers in July–December 1920 36 2 Sweet visions and bitter clashes: The party in July–December 1920 61 3 The revolution that wasn’t: Workers and the party in January–March 1921 89 4 The NEP and non-partyism: Workers in 1921 107 5 Renegades, oppositionists, suicides and administrators: The party in 1921 132 6 Mass mobilization versus mass participation: Workers in 1922 155 7 The party elite, industrial managers and the cells: The party in 1922 183 8 The social contract in practice: Workers in 1923 209 9 The elite takes charge: The party in 1923–24 228 Conclusions: The impact on socialism 250 Appendix 1: Biographical information 259 Appendix 2: Districts and workplaces 270 Appendix 3: Wages and currency rates 274 Appendix 4: Party membership 276 Appendix 5: Communists’ occupations 278 Bibliography 281 Index 299 This book examines the relationship between the Russian Communist Party and working class in the years after the revolution and civil war. It shows that the working class was politically expropriated by the Bolshevik party, as democratic bodies such as soviets and factory committees were deprived of decision-making power