Origins of Stalinism: From Leninist Revolution to Stalinist Society

198 Pages·1985·22.145 MB·English

by  Pavel Campeanu, Michel Vale

THE ORIGINS
OF STALINISM
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Pavel Campeanu
The origins of
FROM LENINIST REVOLUTION TO STALINIST SOCIETY
Translated by Michel Vale
I
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LONDON AND NEW YORK
First published 1986 by M.E. Sharpe
Published 2015 by Routledge
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Copyright © 1986 Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Campeanu, Pavel.
The origins of Stalinism.
"Published simultaneously as International journal of sociology,
vol. XV, no 3-4"-Verso of Lp.
1. Communism-Soviet Union-History-20th century.
2. Stalin, Joseph, 1879-1953. I. Title.
HX313.C26 1985 335.43'0947 85-18410
ISBN 0-87332-363-7
ISBN 13: 9780873323635 (hbk)
In memory of my close friend, Jerry Kline
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CONTENTS
Author's Note ix
Introduction 3
Univocal necessity 6
Antinomic necessity 8
The relationship between possibility and necessity 16
I. Methodological Questions 21
II. The Antifeudal Character of the Revolution 29
Hypotheses 29
Definition 30
Implications of this definition 30
Russian feudalism 31
The feudal nobility and the autocracy 32
The feudal nobility and the bourgeoisie 33
The peasant movement and the proletariat 35
The peasant movement and the Bolshevik Party 35
The anti feudal movement of the peasantry 36
Connections between the antifeudal and the antibourgeois
characters of the revolution 38
Other connections 39
The antifeudal movement and the October insurrection 40
The land 42
Incomplete real ization 45
The alliance with the peasantry 47
From anti feudal revolution to the emergence of Stalinism 49
III. The Antibourgeois Character of the Revolution 53
Hypotheses 53
Similarities 55
Definition 55
Predominance 58
The structure of the conflict 60
The bourgeoisie: economic positions 63
The bourgeoisie: political positions 64
The socialist parties and the Provisional Government 65
The Provisional Government 69
The soviets 72
Dual power 79
The army 80
The proletariat 83
The Bolshevik party 95
The seizure of power 114
Power 119
Anticipation 122
Incomplete realization 127
The possibility of Stalinism 130
IV. The Anti-imperialist Character of the Revolution 141
Hypotheses 141
Definition 143
Russia's dual articulation with the imperialist system 145
The war 149
Connections 151
The revolutionary forces 153
Realization 163
From isolation to internationalization 175
About the Author 187
AUTHOR'S NOTE
A few years ago I sent some American academic colleagues a thesis I was
working on. I hoped to obtain their critical comments. To my surprise, they
arranged, in my absence, to have it published as The Syncretic Society (M. E.
Sharpe, 1980).
At the time they were arranging for publication, they were cautious in
trying to correctly determine my official position in Romania as well as my past
affiliations and relationships. Additionally, the same caution led them to choose a
pseudonym instead of identifying me by name as the author of The Syncretic
Society.
The present volume offers me the opportunity to express to them my sincere
thanks and gratitude. Their positive reaction to my theoretical formulations
surprised and pleased me.
The information about the author that appears in the present volume was,
like the text, given to the publisher by me and I take full responsibility for its
accuracy.
PAVEL CAMPEANU
ix