The Conscience of the Revolution: Communist Opposition in Soviet Russia

by Robert V. Daniels

TABLE OF 1.) The Formation of the Bolshevik Party -- 2.) The Bolshevik Factions in the Revolution of 1917 -- 3.) The Brest-Litovsk Controversy and the Left Communist -- 4.) War Communism and the Centralization Controversies -- 5.) The Trade-Union Controversy -- 6.) The Crisis of 1921 -- 7.) Leninism Restored -- 8.) The Interregnum -- 9.) The New Course Controversy -- 10.) The Party After Lenin -- 11.) The Zinoview Opposition -- 12.) The United Opposition -- 13.) The Right Opposition -- 14.) Enemies of the People -- 15.) Why Opposition Failed ------ * A.) Chronology of Important Events in the History of the CPSU -- B.) Composition of the Chief Party Organs -- C.) The Graphic Analysis of Left and Right -- * BIBLIOGRAPHY -- * NOTES -- * INDEX

Genres: History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Robert Vincent Daniels studied at Harvard, received his AB degree in 1945, and PhD. degree in 1951. He has done research at the Russian Research Center at Harvard, taught Russian history at Indiana University, Bennington College, and the University of Vermont, and traveled in Russia.

Daniels published articles in the leading scholarly journals dealing with the history of Russian and communism. He was well known as the author of "The Conscience of the Revolution" and "The Nature of Communism."

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A scholarly but fascinating look at the way that Stalin outmanoeuvred the various opposition groups within the Communist Party leading to their defeat, expulsion and ultimately, in many cases, their execution.

It highlights how Lenin’s call for unity and intolerance of factions was used by his successor to outlaw disagreement within and without the Central Committee and led the party to regard any deviation from the party line as treason.

Tragically even the opposition groups themselves were not prepared to take their case to the people at large as they believed that only the party could lead Russia to Socialism and any undermining of its authority could lead to counter revolution.

Ultimately they would even admit to crimes they had not committed in order to maintain the illusion of certainty in the political route of travel the party proclaimed. For many of the old Bolsheviks who had taken part in the revolution this led to their execution and disgrace but having served and believed in the party for many years even death was preferable to spreading doubt in the institution and cause they had served all their lives.

This story of manipulation, ambition and sacrifice is told in painstaking detail. At the end Russia’s revolutionaries have been purged and Stalin reigns supreme. Whatever Russia had become it was certainly not a socialist republic.

[loitering outside 711 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want Alexandra kollontai to impregnate me