How Far Do You Agree That Important Changes During The Russian Revolution
Worksheet 3
1) Firstly they agreed that important changes brought about by revolution had to be preserved. Secondly, at a fundamental level, all of the contenders believed that history was moving towards a socialist and then a communist society. Thirdly, the contenders were passionate believers of that one day the revolution would spread to Europe and then to the whole world.
2) ‘Leninism’ meant the ideas of Lenin. The first form of Leninism focused on Lenin’s policies during the civil war of 1918-1921. The second form of Leninism took inspiration from the ‘New economic policy’ introduced in 1921.
3) The left wing party was represented by Trotsky throughout the 1920’s. The right wing by Bukharin. Zinoviev and Kamenev switched between the right and left in 1925, …show more content…
and as a result they lost credibility with many within the party. Stalin avoided taking extreme positions on any of the most divisive issues and was therefore considered to be in the ideological centre of the party.
The Great Industrialisation Debate
1) In 1921, Lenin tried to solve the problem of Russia’s economic backwardness by introducing the semi-capitalist policy, the NEP, and he planned for it to last a very long time.
2) By 1923, the economy had stabilised. This led Trotsky to call for radical change in policy. The left wing party argued that the NEP was both ideologically and economically misguided.
3) The NEP favoured the peasants and returned power to the capitalists at the expense of the working class, whereas the communist principles gave power to the industrial workers.
4) Preobrazhensky proposed squeezing the peasants through heavy taxes. The profits raised from this taxation would be invested in heavy industry.
5) The right wing of the party emphasised that the Soviet government was based on an alliance of the workers and the peasants. They believed that this alliance would be threatened by increasing taxes on the peasants.
6) Bukharin suggested that the NEP should last for a period of twenty years. He summed up this position by stating that the socialism in Russia would be achieved at a snail’s pace- industry would grow but slowly.
World Revolution
1) Trotsky’s theory of a ‘permanent revolution’ suggested that no socialist society could exist alone. He did not believe that Russia had the economic resources or technological sophistication to complete the transition to socialism alone. Trotsky was hoping that a revolution in western Europe would provide Russia with the resources needed to build socialism.
2) Stalin and Bukharin developed the idea of ‘Socialism in one country’(Opposite of Trotsky’s idea).
They claimed that the unique character of the Russian revolution would allow the general victory of socialism in Russia. They believed that the revolution would be successful because of the alliance between the workers and peasants. This alliance made Russia economically self-sufficient therefore foreign aid was unnecessary.
The future of the revolution
1) A bureaucracy is a system of administration or management where administration or management where administrative work is delegated to a large number of officials.
2) Lenin was worried that Trotsky may take over as dictator.
3) The left wing feared that the bureaucrats who had joined the party for the main purpose of getting well-paid jobs lacked the revolutionary spirit and commitment necessary to fight capitalism.
4) The Lenin enrolment admitted poorly educated workers into party membership.
5) Napoleon Bonaparte was the leader of a revolutionary army. Many said that was similar to Trotsky as they thought that he could use his position as head of the red army to become a military dictator, which would mean the end of the communist party.
Conclusion
1) ‘The foundations of Leninism’ 1924 by Stalin, ‘ An introduction to the study of Leninism’ 1925 by Zinoviev and ‘Lenin’ 1925 by Trotsky.
2) As Stalin was positioned at the centre of the party, he could make alliances with any of the other contenders, which strengthened his position.
1) Firstly they agreed that important changes brought about by revolution had to be preserved. Secondly, at a fundamental level, all of the contenders believed that history was moving towards a socialist and then a communist society. Thirdly, the contenders were passionate believers of that one day the revolution would spread to Europe and then to the whole world.
2) ‘Leninism’ meant the ideas of Lenin. The first form of Leninism focused on Lenin’s policies during the civil war of 1918-1921. The second form of Leninism took inspiration from the ‘New economic policy’ introduced in 1921.
3) The left wing party was represented by Trotsky throughout the 1920’s. The right wing by Bukharin. Zinoviev and Kamenev switched between the right and left in 1925, …show more content…
and as a result they lost credibility with many within the party. Stalin avoided taking extreme positions on any of the most divisive issues and was therefore considered to be in the ideological centre of the party.
The Great Industrialisation Debate
1) In 1921, Lenin tried to solve the problem of Russia’s economic backwardness by introducing the semi-capitalist policy, the NEP, and he planned for it to last a very long time.
2) By 1923, the economy had stabilised. This led Trotsky to call for radical change in policy. The left wing party argued that the NEP was both ideologically and economically misguided.
3) The NEP favoured the peasants and returned power to the capitalists at the expense of the working class, whereas the communist principles gave power to the industrial workers.
4) Preobrazhensky proposed squeezing the peasants through heavy taxes. The profits raised from this taxation would be invested in heavy industry.
5) The right wing of the party emphasised that the Soviet government was based on an alliance of the workers and the peasants. They believed that this alliance would be threatened by increasing taxes on the peasants.
6) Bukharin suggested that the NEP should last for a period of twenty years. He summed up this position by stating that the socialism in Russia would be achieved at a snail’s pace- industry would grow but slowly.
World Revolution
1) Trotsky’s theory of a ‘permanent revolution’ suggested that no socialist society could exist alone. He did not believe that Russia had the economic resources or technological sophistication to complete the transition to socialism alone. Trotsky was hoping that a revolution in western Europe would provide Russia with the resources needed to build socialism.
2) Stalin and Bukharin developed the idea of ‘Socialism in one country’(Opposite of Trotsky’s idea).
They claimed that the unique character of the Russian revolution would allow the general victory of socialism in Russia. They believed that the revolution would be successful because of the alliance between the workers and peasants. This alliance made Russia economically self-sufficient therefore foreign aid was unnecessary.
The future of the revolution
1) A bureaucracy is a system of administration or management where administration or management where administrative work is delegated to a large number of officials.
2) Lenin was worried that Trotsky may take over as dictator.
3) The left wing feared that the bureaucrats who had joined the party for the main purpose of getting well-paid jobs lacked the revolutionary spirit and commitment necessary to fight capitalism.
4) The Lenin enrolment admitted poorly educated workers into party membership.
5) Napoleon Bonaparte was the leader of a revolutionary army. Many said that was similar to Trotsky as they thought that he could use his position as head of the red army to become a military dictator, which would mean the end of the communist party.
Conclusion
1) ‘The foundations of Leninism’ 1924 by Stalin, ‘ An introduction to the study of Leninism’ 1925 by Zinoviev and ‘Lenin’ 1925 by Trotsky.
2) As Stalin was positioned at the centre of the party, he could make alliances with any of the other contenders, which strengthened his position.