interpretations Flashcards
Robert Service on significance of the events of the Second Congress of Soviets
Service argues this left no opposition to the Bolsheviks… Now the soviet completely under control of Bols.
Lynch on the Bolsheviks preparedness initially to rule?
Bolsheviks had been focussed on Revolution and gave little thought to how things would be organised
Reed on the Bolsheviks preparedness initially to rule?
the [Bols were the] only people in Russia who had a definitive programme of action while the others had talked for eight months
Robert Service on the Bolshevik’s Early Decrees:
“They were designed to inspire, to excite and instigate”
Lenin on the Bolshevik Early Decrees:
“The purpose of a decree is to teach practical steps to the hundreds, thousands and millions of people who heed the voice of the soviet government. This is a trial in practical action”
Lenin on how the Early Bolshevik decrees would build a new society:
“We shall destroy everything and on the ruins we shall build our temple”
Pipes on the Bolshevik’s Early Decrees:
“For all [the new legislation’s] revolutionary rhetoric, [it] marked a reversion to the autocratic practises of Tsarist Russia”
“They simply wiped out the eleven years [since 1905] of constitutionalism”
Litvin on the new Bolshevik judicial system:
“extreme situation [The Bolshevik solution was] a powerful punitive institution, capable of terrifying the population”
Pipes on the impact of the forced dissolution of the CA:
“the machine gun became for [Bolsheviks] the principle instrument of political persuasion.” “the unrestrained brutality with which they ruled Russia stemmed from the knowledge gained on January 5th, they could use it with impunity”
Ryan on the long-term effect of the treaty of Brest-Litvosk on the party:
“Lenin insistence to accept the humiliating treaty had paid off and his reputation as the Party’s wise and eminent leader grew”
Pipes on why Trotsky was important in winning civil war:
“[trotsky] provided political linkage and political oversight, the lack of which was a major shortcoming of the White armies”.
Lynch on the Civil War impact:
“Their attempts at governance took place during a period of conflict in which their very survival was at stake… No regime could have survived between 1917 and 1921 without resort to authoritarian measures”
Robert Tucker on Civil War impact on the party:
“[the civil war] militarised the revolutionary political culture of the Bolsheviks … readiness to resort to coercion”
Taylor on impact of civil war after defeat of Soviet-Polish war?
“soviet leaders abandoned the cause of international revolution”.
Pipes on the origins Red Terror:
“the red terror was not a reluctant response to the actions of others but a measure designed to nip in the bud any thoughts of resistance to the dictatorship”
