RUSSIA:

Vladimir Lenin

Who Is Vladimir Lenin?

• (1870–1924)

• Founder of the Russian Communist Party

• First head of the Soviet State

• Greatest revolutionary leader and thinker since Marx.

• Widely considered one of most influential figures of the 20th century.

• formed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

• He was born Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov on April 22, 1870, in Simbirsk, Russia, which was later renamed Ulyanovsk in his honor.

  • He was the third from six siblings

  • Well educated family

  • Was close to his siblings

What Was His Power Like?

Exhausted by World War One, Russia was ripe for change. Assisted by the Germans, who hoped that he would undermine the Russian war effort, Lenin returned home and started working against the provisional government that had overthrown the tsarist regime.

• He eventually led what was soon to be known as the October Revolution, but was effectively a coup d'etat.

• Almost three years of civil war followed, The Bolsheviks were victorious and assumed total control of the country. During this period of revolution, war and famine, Lenin demonstrated a chilling disregard for the sufferings of his fellow countrymen and mercilessly crushed any opposition.

• Although Lenin was ruthless he was also pragmatic. When his efforts to transform the Russian economy to a socialist model stalled, he introduced the New Economic Policy, where a measure of private enterprise was again permitted, a policy that continued for several years after his death.

Foreign Policy Of The Russian Revolution

Along with the revolution came the Ideology of the Bolsheviks under Vladimir Lenin.

• Lenin believed that once rooted in Soviet/Bolshevik Orthodoxy, the revolution should be exported to industrialized Europe.

  • He believed that once it had spread all over Europe, it would then spread worldwide on it’s own.

• Believed international worker’s support necessary to preserve revolution in Russia

  • Believed Germany was key

• The only flaw with Lenin’s Foreign Policy & Relations was the strong fear of invasion.

  • The invasion in it’s many forms such as Geographical, Historical, Ideological.

Lenin's Secret Police

• In December, 1917, Felix Dzerzhinsky was appointed by Lenin to be the Commissar for International Affairs and head of All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage (Cheka).

• Empowered to investigate counterrevolutionary crimes.

• It basically served to those who were against Bolshevism.

• Many Bolsheviks viewed the Cheka with repugnance and didn’t like it’s excess in power.

  • It still continued and was crucial to be able to survive the new regime.

• Once the Civil War ended, Cheka was disbanded.

• It was transferred to the State Political Directorate.

Lenin On The Future Of Russia

• Lenin’s Last Testament:

  • First two letters focus on reducing bureaucratism in the State Planning Commission and the Central Committee.

  • Third letter deals with the necessity of ensuring minority cultures in Russia have national self-determination.

  • All these works suggested the removal of Stalin.

  • Education

    • Jan 2, 1923 he wanted more teacher to get involved like in countries in Europe. He wanted teachers to have new teaching methods, and to pay special attention to bring up levels of literacy.

    • To make this work he suggested education in the countryside.

    • Combating bureaucratism in the educational system.

The Future Of Russia (Cont.)

• “Civilized cooperators” is the system of socialism.

  • Lenin said that cooperatives can be achieved through government support and through a Cultural Revolution.

  • This would lead to a reorganization of the machinery, education of the peasants and necessary material basis.

• “Our Revolution”

  • Lenin stated that Russia did not follow the general path of all countries towards socialism and it would have been a capitulation to the bourgeoisie to not use the revolutionary opportunity caused by WW1.

  • He said that the first task of the Soviet system is to establish those prerequisites (requirements) necessary to build socialism.

The Russian Revolution

The Future Of Russia (Cont.)

• How we should organise the Workers and Peasants Inspection

  • Lenin stated that the bureaucratic apparatus of the Soviet Union is about the same to the czarist government.

  • Lenin wants to combine the Workers and Peasants inspection with the central control commission.  This will decrease efficiency while increasing the latter’s (Final) membership with more Peasants and Workers.

• Better Fewer, But Better

  • He wanted a Cultural Revolution in the Soviet Union and governing Politburo with the Workers and Peasants inspection.

  • In order to have a better state apparatus the workers need to be better educated

The Future Of Russia (Cont.)

• Education should increase and get better as time goes by. He wanted this to happen slowly and cautiously.

• He ends his letter stating that the survival is based on reducing the government bureaucracy “to the utmost everything that is not absolutely essential in it.”

  • He stressed that then the small government dedicated itself to Electrification, large-scale industry and education.