The Political Structure Of The Bolshevik Regime And The Problems Faced Therein
Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2006
by Bunchuk
James Maddison
Before the revolution, Lenin had reasoned that once the revolutionary upheaval had finished the party would wither away. As the proletariat would then be able to govern themselves, only a small group of armed specialists would be needed to deal with those who “waver" in their approach to communism. He reasoned that:
“Once the proletariat have destroyed the bourgeoisie state.... no state machinery is necessary, where no class division exists"
“The dictatorship of the proletariat as the continuation of the class struggle"
The Bolshevik party would have to shape the minds of the proletariat and peasantry until they were ready to rule themselves. In the meantime nothing could jeopardise the continuation of the Bolshevik party rule.
During the civil war, all disputes inside the party were put aside in view of the more pressing matter of the war time logistics. Once the war had finished though, disagreement began about the direction the party was undertaking.
Two camps of opposition appeared in the Bolshevik party. The first was amongst the trade union communists. They opposed Lenin’s approval of non communist experts and specialist in the industry, as it warranted concessions to the class enemy.
The second reason that the trade unionist opposed was the growing habit of central party organs to disregard party democracy in matters such as local union committees.
The second camp of opposition was from the democratic centralists, who made up the majority of the Bolshevik membership. They objected to the increasing authoritarian practices of the central party. They also wanted more power's in the hands of executive committees of the local soviets.
High up in central committee there was also a split in ideology about where the party was heading. It was divided into two factions, those who wanted to continue the process of the transition from capitalism to communism, headed by Trotsky. And those who advocated some capitalist concessions, in view of the unreadiness and unrest of the russian people at the transition to direct communism. This was championed by Lenin.
It was this bitter infighting that was one of the reasons for the cause of the Kronstadt revolt. Zimoniev frequently attacked Trotsky position and consequently undermined his authority in the Baltic which as a result helped bring about the revolution. The revolution in Kronstadt had no political bearing behind it, it was not the work of white sympathisers or monarchists. It was simply a uprising of the people who felt that:
“ That the existing soviets do not represent the will of the workers or the peasantry"
Fifteen days later the uprising was brutally crushed. It did, however opens Lenin’s eye to the damage of the bitter in fighting inside the party, And of the unpopularity of the War Communism policy. Faced with the immediate revolution of both the proletariat and the peasantry Lenin had to make amends if his party was to survive and remain in power.
This he did. The New Economic Policy (NEP) was introduced, much to the outrage of the the hardline communists who saw it as a reversion back to capitalism. Lenin saw the need however of winning over the peasantry that was on the brink of revolt. He argued that the direct transition to communism had been a grave mistake and the part would have to refashion the peasantry to accept the ideology of direct communism/
The NEP would solve the pressing problem of the revolt of the peasantry and once introduced to industry would help placate the proletariat. Now Lenin only had to deal with the pressing problem of the division inside his own party. He did this on the last day of the Tenth Party Congress.
Lenin passed to resolutions that would solve the problems of rivalry inside the party. The first called for:
“The immediate dissolution of all groups with a separate platform, 0n pain of immediate expulsion from the party"
This would ensure that all opposition factions would have to tow the line and obey the central committee in all matters. there could not be any more opposition from the democratic centralists or callings for a new socialist (rather than communist) state.
Lenin’s second resolution was aimed at the trade union communists. It condemned the views of the Workers Opposition and began about the “restructure form the top" of the trade unions. The aim was to bring this dissident factor under the control of the central party organs.
This concluded, Lenin had retained and centralised his control over the Bolshevik party. It may have retained this way if it were not for Lenin's failing health and the large ignorable of advice to his immediate followers during his last days.
During the Lenin’s rule the political structure of the Bolshevik party looked as thus:
Political Bureau (Politburo): This was a small cabinet of high ranking officials (In 1919 it consisted of Lenin, Trotsky, Stalin, Kamenev and Krestinskii) Its official designation was decide on things in time of emergency. However Lenin used it as to decided policy superseding the the Central Committee.
Orgburo: Establish March 1919, was officially a sub committee of the central committee. But unofficially handled the allocation of forces.
Secretariat: Another sub committee of the Central Committee. It dealt with matter not important enough for the Orgburo. Had the Orgburo full backing.
Central Committee: The central governing tool of the Bolshevik party. Official decider of policy and governing the people. However often superseded by the Politburo and Orgburo.
Regional Committee (oblast’)
Provincial Committee (guberniia’)
District Committee (uezd’)
Rural Committee (volost’)
(Each committee of the four above dealt with the issues relating to the prefix of the name)
There was also a number of specialised side committees such as:
Department of Agitation and Propaganda of the Central Committee (Agitprop’) This specialised in the production of propaganda for the Central committee.
Organisation and Instruction Department and the Records Assignment Department: (Orgotdel): Answered enquiries and issued direction on aspects such as party work propaganda, women in the party and National minorities in the party.
(Uchraspred): Assigned party members to positions inside the party. collected data on part members also. (In 1922 merged with orgotdel)
(Cheka): Secret police, aimed at finding “counter-revolutionaries"
All source of information were derived from Chapter XI ‘The Communist Rule under Threat( pg201-216)’ & Chapter XIII ‘Party Composition and Machinery’ 1917-1922 (pg 235-255)“ Shapiro, Leonard, (1963) The Communist Party Of the Soviet Union" Cambridge
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