28-44 Kronstad Debate Final

7/30/2019 28-44 Kronstad Debate Final

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page 28 / permaerevlui

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The KronsTadT blli it uppi by t Bl-vik gvmt i Mc 1921 lg b ucf gumt t lft, pcilly btw Liit cit. T fm v juti t uppi

cy ct f lf-fc by gvmt i xtmcii. T ltt t t it pf tt t Blvik

w itt tbliig pty ul v t wkigcl uppig t vit.

Ktt ctily w ig mmt f t ru-i vluti. By 1920 t civil w w ll but v. T

w wit Pl i filu f t svit ttbut tt tt uviv tc itlf uigt w y. I 1921 t mbiliti f tp cm-

bi wit t cmic ilcti ult f t lty f w cmmuim t puc vy xpliv mix.F tg, pt vlt git gi quiiti wt Li cib wip bity i tcutyi puc m iffcti wit t gim.ev wk i titil Blvik ct lik Pt-

g wt tik git t gvmt.

The Tenth Congress

Ti cii w t bckgu t t 10t Cgf t rui Cmmuit Pty (rCP), cg wicw t jcti f t Wk oppiti pltfm t implmtti f b fcti i t pty.

T cg cici wit t Ktt blli. Itictly pc t itucti f t nw ecmicPlicy (neP). Ti plicy t cpitlim i t cmy iitilly i t cutyi vtully i iuty ctig tt cpitlim, Li cll it.

T cii f t cg t cqucf t Ktt blli cclt t plicy f t

pliticl pi f ppt f Blvim witit city t pty itlf.

T b fct i, ciciig xctly wit t

In Permanent Revolution 17 we opened a

debate about the degeneration of the RussianRevolution. In this articleBill Jefferies

re-evaluates the nature and signicance of

the Kronstadt rebellion against the

Bolshevik government in 1921

deBaTe

KronstadtThermidor

Section / Kronstadt


2/17

Autumn 2010 / page 29

Ktt vlt, wt Ttky lt cll tic pi f t rui vluti cl t

wy f t ci f t pty pptu t pliticlpw. stli iv f blut ctl f tt pptu

w giv ug imptu by t 10t Pty cg ci-i. Tmi, t pliticl cut-vluti fm

witi t vluti itlf, bgu.Ttky, w vtully cm t cgi tt t

stliit mci w t gt f Tmi (tug t it bgiig fm 1924, t 1921), w lik

btw t Ktt vt, t 10t pty cgcii t i f t pptu. It w lft t Mi-ikv, p-w Blvik vt lft cmmuit,t pp t uppi f Ktt witi t pty.F i pi w xpll fm t pty titlly xil i 1923 (w fm t WkPty). h t Ussr i 1929 w wt t Fc.h w tick it tuig t t svit Ui ftt Wl W Tw w t ipp.

Miikv xpuli w ci tug wit L-i ppvl. It cm ft lg pi f i cllg-ig t Blvik lip v g f iu. But it

w i p t Ktt tt l i ft. Wilmy ppitiit t t tim g t uc tblli Miikv i t.

supptig t uppi f Ktt bcm byw f pty lylty. n it ti quticul b tlt v t w ctully i-cit tmlv fm Ktt w b wit itmk if ty ctiu t pp t lip. a lt Mc 1922, t t 11t cg f t rCP, Ttkyu Ktt t itimit alx Kllti tmt f t ft Wk oppiti, itify-ig tm mit pplu, wit t b f Ktt

ly Ktt.1T cquc f Ktt w tt mctic

igt w fut uc, gi fcti witi

t pty w utlw, lttiv pliticl pti tLft scil rvlutii (sr), t rigt sr, cit Mvik w pibit v if ty g tf vit pw. Fm f t p w utlw t pw f t pptu t itibut pt

vt lcti bcm ucck. T pty pptuctll t tt pptu. s t ui wicpt it tt pptu ctll by it.

T lmt f t tt mci tt stli w t ut gum ffct lt w i plc i 1921 ti

w w Li Ttky mi t t lm ft tt.

Wy i ti pp t t pit w pc t

pttil f cmic ctucti cul v pvi pptuity t buil t cil b f t vlu-ti, -gi t wkig cl, tgt mcticigt, viv t vit, llw fcti witi t Bl-

vik Pty, lgli ppiti pti tt ccpt vitlglity -tbli fm f t p? Wy it ppit pp wy w Ktt b cut-vluti tt mut b cu t ll ct?

o wy f wig ti i t -vlut Ttkylt fc f Ktt i t ligt f gl -mt f t pc f t gti f t ru-i rvluti.

Trotsky and his critics in 1938

a bt Ktt -mg uig t stliitw til i 1938. T til w t l lugtf t Blvik l gu by stli. Ttky, by w itigt vlutiy ppt f stli, wt cif tgt f t Kmli fm up. h w tllg vil cimil mt-mi guilty f vytigfm puttig gl i t wk b tug t big fully pi up gt f bt hitl t Mik.

Ttky w i xil mit t bbu i f wl liig tw w w tyig t gt ig f

t tut. h gi t Ittil Cmmii fIvtigti it t Mcw Til, t dwy Cmmi-i, t fut stli utli, but t t tim, wily

bliv clim. I t cu f ti t uppi fKtt -mg iu, t pl f quiyugt t tbli wt stli w t cy c-quc f Li Ttky. T ig l cici

wit t pticipti f t cit giti, tFaI, i t Ppul Ft gvmt i spi.

Ttky xpli i viw tt t timig f ti btw ccit. T uppt f Ktt ugt timplict t Fut Ittil i t gti f

and

A debate on Kronstadt re-emerged during

the Stalinist show trials in 1938. These

trials saw the nal slaughter of the

Bolshevik old guard by Stalin


3/17


1t rui rvluti. Ty wt t ct pi-

bility f t buuctic tyy t f t pp-tu fm stli, wil pviig cv f t ty ft cit it t cpitlit ppul ft gv-mt i spi.

Ttky w igt but t timig f t bt. sup-pt f t ty f t cit it t ppul ft

gvmt i spi w ky mtivti f i pp-t. emm Glm i citicim f Ttky K-tt uciticlly uppt t ctuctiv wk ft spi cit.

But t iu i by i citic w till imp-tt . I 1921 Li ummiz t m f tKtt vit vit witut cmmuit. I fctti v w lg i by t vit itlf. T K-tt svit m t -lcti f vit. Tycll f cvti f -pty wk t b-

liti f pivilg f y pty, m ictt t rui Cmmuit Pty (rCP) pticullyt it ulig fcil, w b Ktt imm-itly it p ppitil pltfm. But c trCP ilt t vl b, pvtig it ctct

wit Ptg m it u t pit fm, Li ummy ctily bcm t lgicl c-quc f t Ktt vlt.

I t spi Civil W Ttky cm t cgi wt cll t cut-vlutiy cct f stli-im t ittil . h xpli tt:

I t Ktt pi i t tuggl witMk, w f t plti vluti fmt pt cut-vluti. T spi citf ctiu t f bugi cut-v-

luti fm t plti vluti. n pitywill lt fm t l f ity t fct tt -cim stliim i t spi vluti w i f t bic wil t wkig m witt vlutiy Mxit w t t.2 I

Ttky wt t y tt mi f t vlutiicluig t mquig cilit, mct,public cit, mut b mcilly ivut f t my.3

It fllw tt Ttky fvu vit v-lutiy my tt wul b f f t iuc ft spi Cmmuit Pty if t vluti w ttiump. It f -vlutig t vt f 1921 it ligt f ti px Ttky clug t t fc ft gim uppi f Ktt. h imi t

ctmpy c cumt, uc t t-cipt f tKronstadt Isvestia, t ily pp puc

by t il, ccut f alx Bkm

emm Glm w w i Ptg t t tim, fl lbl. I Ttky viw it w cy t t tkuc cumty c t fc vlu but t pvitm wit cil ctxt.

Ti ful t -xmi t vt f t ly 1920 if cy citici t l tt Li plyi blig t i f stli w wk tt wvl i t bt wit i citic.

Ttky witig Ktt w p t qu-ti fm Wli Tm, mmb f t It-til Cmmii ivtigtig t Mcw Til f 1938.

Ty cit f jut t ticl: ltt t WliTm, mi ticl hu Cy ov Ktt

ptcipt.T ltt t Wli Tm i wic Ttky ktci iitil p, pk uy f ctibuti tt bt tbly fm I Mtt, w 1938 pmplt Ktt ipi Pul avic, t Us cit it-i, t puc f t mt utittiv ccut ft icit i t 1970. Vict sg, t ppitiitly ctly l fm t stliit gulg, w ww ympttic t t spi PoUM, l pt Ttky ccut f t vt i i f ticl ltt. I tm cll f -xmiti fKtt igicc.

at Cilig, Yuglvi Cmmuit ppiti-it lig wit t f lft f t ti-stliit cmpu t fm Wk oppiti Miikv,

g wit sg. Cilig pic utbigpy,The RussianEnigma, cib t bt u t gti ft rui vluti fm witi t stliit ilt gulg it w cll.4 h cclu tt Li wt Cmwll f t rui rvluti, bt t lf it i t citct f it fll.

Kronstadt a peasant city

Ttky lbl Ktt t t tim f t 1921 vlt pt city. h gu tt t iucti t K-tt w ly pi i t ity f t l-ti btw t plti city ptit bugi

vil lg, tt Ktt ppulti w m up fctly pt pt tt t ctt f ti

pgmm i pticul ti m f f t w cti f tt.

By fcuig ti Ttky, cig Li li i 1921,i lyig t bi f t gumt tt Ktt w ptit bugi vlt git t wk gitcilim. h impli t pgmm vc by tKtt vit w ubiti f cilim t tm f t ptit bugi pty f t t-ti f cpitlim i t cutyi.

T w i ti gumt i tt Ttky i mlycibig mtig tt w typicl f ll rui ubct t t tim. all f tm cti lg ppu-lti f ctly iv pt wit ltiv tilli t cutyi. Ktt w ctully vl b,

wit tg iutil ccti itic lik wit

Ptg wll. T lik btw t il twk w ciiv i t vt f 1917. Ty tmtilly cg by 1921. Wy t igl ut Ktt

Trotsky implies the programme

advanced by the Kronstadt soviet was

a subordination of socialism to thedemands of the petit bourgeois peasantry

Section / Kronstadt


4/17


pticul xmpl f ti pblm f cuty v-u city i 1921?

Ttky i igt tt ky mtivti f t pgmmput fw by t Ktt bl w cc butt pti f t f quiiti giti ttxit pi t neP big ituc. But t cc

w lgitimt bcu t giti ft tluppli fm p pt f ti w cumpti.

T filu t gt t uppli t t citi w cuf gli ut mgt wk i bt Ptg Mcw t t tim. But t uggt tt t Kttbl w ubitig t itt f t wk tt f t ptit bugii ig t fct tt l-

mt f uc ubiti b ky cmptf t Blvik pgmm i 1917 w Li ptt gi pgmm f t Lft sr.

T pc f Bt-Litvk i 1918, l vct byLi, w t cci t t w wi ft mily pt my. It ubit t militcyf t wkig cl citi wic i gl pp ttty. T neP, pt by t Blvik i Fbuy1921, iclu fw limitti t igt f cpitli t cutyi citi t t m i tKtt pgmm. s Ktt m f t lift-ig f t ticti t pt w tig w w t uiqu xmpl f t cict btwtw cuty miftig itlf i rui.

T Blvik ctully pt t m f t

bliti f ticti f t tmlv ptlyu t imptu f t Ktt vlt ptly

bcu f t t cvic t pt r amytt t Blvik w ti i. Ti igi m-tig tt b gul lmt f t cmbi pmt tu f t rui rvluti, wicfu t luti f mctic cilit tk i vy bckw cuty wit pt mjity. s wy

b t Ktt bl wit cut-vlutiylbl f ig t m?

aft ll t w gwig pu i Ktt my t plc t plc t w cmmuit ytmf gi quiiti wit tx gi pucti. Tt-ky i igilly pp jut ti i 1919,

wl y bf neP w vtully implmt. T

quiitiig pgmm pvt fm fm ll-ig ti uplu i t citi mt tt ty littl ictiv t puc y uplu t ll. o if tyi ty wul it.

T quiitiig ytm l t pty t g pltig tik. Lvl f utput cllp fm lyw ug t f ti w fmili. T citi

w tt wit tvti. a t citi tv iutil pucti lump. Ti uc t tck fg tt cul b xcg f gi. Futm,t ytm f gi quiiti ty pt vit.It cul ly b implmt by buuctic cmmfm t uti pt cucil wul v gt t izu f it w gi.

It w l p t buuctic bu w ky

fct i t cti f t pptu t g-ti f t Blvik Pty. I egv publi ti ccutf gi quiiti dcmb 1920:

W I wt bck t t villg wk t t l ft big mbili, I cc t y wpp t ly Cmmuit I w w t

w l it v u i m v bf pmit-t t y xcpt t villg plicm f Tit y . .. t Cmmuit wt t t ti ltig

bi t w quiiti bb vy f wt-

v tk ti fcy, but p t pcult ti w bviu.5

Ttky xplti tt t Ktt w bw-ig t t m f t cutyi cul, jut -bly, b ict t t Blvik Pty itlf. Yt ifc i tt t iffc btw Ktt tvlt w it gt xtl ffct. Tt i, it pt-til t bcm mitim ft ttig Ptgt t ptctig it.

Ti i vli citi i utig t imp-

tc f t vlt. But it ct b u jutictif iglig it ut f mility pi. suly it wul

b igl t y gim tt w tyig t b itlf vit mccy tt pcful luti f cict

btw t tw t cuty, t gi tcity, t -pty m t pty w w t lif mc if t gim w t vi gti.

Kronstadt denuded of revolutionaries

Ttky y tt, aft t liquiti f Yuic(i t wit f 1919) t Bltic t t Kttgi w u f ll vlutiy fc. all tlmt mg tm tt w f y u t ll wtw git diki i t sut tt t v-

lutiy miity w plc by pt tug tcu f t civil w t civil w bg ytmticppulti f Ktt f t wl Bltic t.h ctiu:

T w till t Ktt cti umb f quli- wk tcici t tk c f t mci-y. But v ty w c by mt f gtivlcti ulibl pliticlly f littl u f tcivil w.6

Ktt i mg ltivly uct fm tvg f t civil w. dpit cut mbiliti

wic i t vl b t ft f tu- f it il li, t vcuti f1919, wic uc it civili ppulti, i Juy1921 t w till v 50,000 ppl, mility

civili, livig i Ktt. Ctmpy pt c-tt t pliticlly mtivt il f Ktt witt f t il i Ptg wl:

The NEP of 1921 included fewer

limitations on the rights of capital in

the countryside and cities than thosedemanded in the Kronstadt programme


5/17


1I sptmb octb 1920 t wit pty

lctu Iymu Yiky viit Ktt t tc l t xmi vl cuit ti pliticl litcy. . . Ktt il pp t im iu libl, ft g tu lwy cutu, fcy fm t wggig y il wit gl bc-lt ti wit wm millig u i

Ptg t nvky Ppct, i t alxvkpk i t cim.7

T ltiv bity f Ktt il t itk ctt t t tgly um liftyl tt wjy by Fi rklikv, Ktt vt Bl-vik, w w i Ju 1920 ppit cif cmmf t Bltic Flt. accig t vl ccut i pt Li ri jy cmftbl livig,g f vt, ulik t il u i cm-m.8 It w t utig f rklikv i Fbuy 1921

ft it-buuctic fcti gt btw Ziviv Ttky f ctl f Ptg, wic iitt Blvik pptu i t immit wk bft vlt.

Ykiky impi tt t vt plitici ril till pmit i Ktt t t f 1920i b ut by t ttiticl t vilbl gig tcw f t tw mj bttlip, t Ptpvlvk t svtpl, bt w ic 1917 f ti v-lutiy zl Blvik llgic. of 2,028 il

w y f litmt kw, l t 1,904 93.9% w cuit it t vy bf u-ig t 1917 vluti, t lgt gup, 1,195, vig

ji i t y 1914-16. oly 127 il 6.8% wcuit i t y 1918-21. Ti uggt tt t city

w f fm big u f t vlutiit w liv wk t i 1917.

n, ft b clim, i w cuit, m400 f wm Ykiky itviw, iv i umblg ug t ilut v mli Kttr il. ev Mwly fu tt, ly 1,313 f pl ttl f 10,384 cuit iv by 1 dcm-

b 1920 v ty m t v b tti i tbck f t sc Bltic Cw i Ptg.9

Ttky clim tt t il b u fti vlutiy c i wg, wit xcpti,tt f t Blvik Pty itlf. T Blvik Pty lwy b ky but miity pt f t vlutiylip f t Ktt il uig t vlutif 1917. Uubtly t l f vlutiy militt

fm mg Blvik il uig t civil w wvy iu i uc t qulity f t vluti-y fc i Ktt.

By 1921 t buuctic gti f t BlvikPty w vlpig pc. accig t Miikv wtyp f Cmmuit w mgig, t tyig c-it w kw w t pl i upi. Miikvttibut t iig t t gim witi t pty. hi if m t v t cug f i cvic-ti, i uc :

. . . it lf-k , w, cut-vluti-y, Mvik sr . . . Wt i Ktt? a fwu Cmmuit gtig git u . . . Wt ti m? W i t blm if t ulig cicl v cmm lgug t ly wit t -pty m

but wit k -l Cmmuit? s muc ty mi-

ut t tt ty c f ti wp.Wt t i ti? It i t bik, t by.10

T Blvik Pty f 1921 i Ktt w vy if-ft fm wt it b i t 1917 vluti Gtzl pit ut:

T cli i pty ml w clly ct it tp p i mmbip, fm 5,630 pty mm-

b i Mc 1920 t 2,228 by t f t y, myf tm pug, but t vig imply pp ut .. . Mv t vwlmig mjity (88.1%) f ptymmb w f ct vitg, vig b cuitit t pty ly ic octb 1919, wit 64% jiig

btw octb 1919 Juy 1920, i.. i t ft-mt f t victy v Yuic nt Wt amy,

w t pty ptig i i t cu f

t ltl Pty Wk. a m ful ly wp-1917 ol Blvik, 87 88 (3.9%) vig ji tpty uig t pi f t pviil gvmt m 180 (8.1%) btw octb 1917 Juy1919. eticlly, 89.4% w rui, 2.8% Ltvi, 2.6%eti, 2% Ukii, 1.1% Pl, wil 2.1% blgt twlv t tiliti.11

T Ktt Blvik Pty f 1921 w lgt vlutiy fc f 1917. T Blvik vluti-y gt w l t iucti git Tim b plc wit cit, miitt

buuct. But ti i t m, Ttky Ligu t t tim, tt t Ktt bl w mup f wit gu vlutii ctly ivpt. T w till l vlutiy ctiuity

wit 1917 mgt t c f t il. a my ft vlutiy il w t i f t K-tt blli.

Kronstadt was privileged

Ttky clim tt t Ktt il w pivilg:T cuty w tvig. T Ktt mpivilg. T upiig w ictt by i t gt pivi-lg f ti. Ti i i pt tu. Gtzl xplitt Ktt w wll u it ppulti quitpivilg btt uppli t t t f rui, c-tily f btt t i t igbuig Ptg.12But l pit ut: By dcmb 1920 f tck

w u w tt t cif f t pliticl cti

f t vl b pt ictt mg t cwbut pvii.13

hw f t blli w mtivt by i t cu

The Bolshevik revolutionary ghters who

lead the insurrection against Tsarism

had been replaced with careerists,administrators and bureaucrats

Section / Kronstadt


6/17


pivilg ti i f l cl. T upiig bgfllwig ivtigti by Blvik il it tcu f tik wv i Juy Fbuy 1921 iPtg City itlf, w wk w tvig u tt cii i f pvii. T Ktt vit lvt fct-ig pty f 32 il 27 Fb-uy t xmi t cu f t tik t fft uppt liity f t ft t t wkf Ptg.

But v t ltiv pivilg f t Ktt il- i t mk tm m igt wig t t glppulti. rt it xpli wy ty w m lft

wig. Ti ltiv pivilg mt tt ty l i

rui t pyicl cpcity t miti t ti-ti f vit mccy fg i t vluti f 1917.Ti pgmm [see reprint in box below] w t fu-mtlly but mitiig ti w pivilg, vtug lf itt uubtly v ptil mti-

vti. T pgmm w im t ig mgl pblm f t cmy f mccy it wk tt.

Kronstadt was separate fromPetrograd City

Ttky ctt t ttitu f t vl b witt City f Ptg:

It i xtmly imptt t ctt t bviuf Ktt t tt f Ptg i t citicl y .. . T Ktt upiig i t ttct t Ptg

wk. It pll tm. T tticti pclg cl li. T wk immitly flt tt tKtt muti t t ppit i f t b-ic ty uppt t svit pw.14

Ti ctt t i cticti t t fct ttbf t iig il viit Ptg t ffliity t tikig wk. T impul f t ilt bl cm iitilly fm i f tik p-tt c Ptg i ly 1921. T tik w c-it t xtt by t Mvik w wctiv i t t ui. T Mvik, pit fcigiu pi, cmpig f t fc f vit

1haVInG heard t pt ft pttiv t by tgl mtig f ip

cw t Ptg t ivtigtt ituti t, w lv:

1. I viw f t fct tt tpt vit t xpt will f t wk pt, immitly t lw lcti by ct bllt,

wit fm t cy gitti bf f ll

wk pt.

2. T giv fm f pc p t wk pt,t cit lft cilitpti.

3. T cu fm f mblyf t ui ptgiti.

4. T cll -Pty cfcf t wk, r amyli il fPtg, Ktt Ptg pvic, ltt 10 Mc 1921.

5. T libt ll pliticl pif cilit pti, wll

wk, pt, li il impi iccti wit t lbu pt mvmt.

6. T lct cmmii t viwt c f t big l ipi cctticmp.

7. T bli ll pliticlptmt, ic ptyul b giv pcilpivilg i t ppgti fit i civ t cil

uppt f t tt f ucpup. It, cultul uctil cmmiiul b tbli, lcllylct c by tstt.

8. T mv ll blcktcmt immitly.

9. T quli t ti f llwkig ppl, wit txcpti f t mply it timtl t lt.

10. T bli t Cmmuitgtig tcmt i ll

bc f t my, wll t Cmmuit gu kpt

uty i fcti mill.sul uc gu ttcmt

b fu cy, ty tb ppit i t my fmt k i t fcti mill t t icti ft wk.

11. T giv pt full fmf cti i g t t l, l t igt t kp cttl, citi tt t ptmg wit ti w m,tt i, witut mplyigi lbu.

12. T qut ll bc f tmy, wll u cmt mility ct, t u luti.

13. T m tt t p givll u luti wipublicity.

14. T ppit itit buuf ctl.

15. T pmit f icftpucti by w lbu.

Pertichenko, Chairman of the

Squadron MeetingPerepelkin, Secretary

DemanDs of the KronstaDt soviet, passeD 1 march 1921

The Petropavlovsk resolution


7/17


1pw, t ccptc f vit lglity, t ituctif tx i ki lig f mctic igt.of cu t w tg lmt f cit i tippc by t Mvik. Fmlly ty gu fuc tig but i pctic ti gl w t vtwf t gim. nvtl, t ictt ty g-i tlt it cti w l. T Blvik b lig uppt mgt t Ptg wkigcl. T tik ct tt.

sm f t tik w f t bliti f t tti-cti f wg, m w f t mitc xt-i f t tticti f wg. Wt uit tm w wip ictt wit t ptly b livig

citi f t m. T Ktt fct ig tmpt bck 28 Fbuy, ti pt ipi t15 pit luti p by t Ktt svit.

Klii Cim f t all rui Ctl excu-tiv Cmmitt f svit Kuzmi cim f tKtt vit w t t gtit blf ft Blvik Mc 1t. a w gtitig tylit ifcult t imgi. Klii cmpli lti vic lft t gtiti up t Kuzmi, w m mtig f 15,000 il quicklylt ctl. I p t ctcll fm t uic cm W t t w bty t wk cu t tm w ll. a f yu, yu wul v tvy ft t vy tt.15

a ult f ti luti big p, i pit f t

tt, by f t lt miig guily mcticvit i t cuty, t Blvik l Ptg fffm t vl b. emm Glm cut t if t Ptg svit w t cii w tk tupp t upiig. amit pmium Zivivluti mig t u f Ktt pif mility uppi w p. a ppl fm t

cit Glm, Bkm, Pku, Ptvky, f tvit t ci w jct t y it w witt 5 Mc 16 ultimtum witt by Ttky wiu t t Ktt.

T Ck ititut mtil lw. Cci t tm f impv ti w m but t t mtim t Ktt w uc blck u wit gu l by Tit gl.

accig t Miikv r Ptg w Ptmkivillg. T ati htl w my ig fcil livw t c f bucy, wil iy citiz wtwitut t b citi. Miikv w ig t

pty uit til t fg f f. h fu tt icllgu w t b-gt but b-t.If Ptg i uppt vit pw git Ktt

it i cuty f t gwig my f cmmuit f-cil t t t plt my f cmmuit k l wk.

Bolsheviks honest and upstanding

Ttky clim:I t pi w t vluti fugt f t lib-

ti f t pp m it cll vytig byit igt m w i f fm-up. T y-tm f flicti w fm t fct tt t stliit

buuccy gt f t pivilg f t miity i cmpll t ccl mk it l im.17

Uftutly, it i cl tt t Blvik lt bl wit gu ipi l by Titgl w ty w wll w tt ty w t.o 2 Mc Li Ttky ig f tCucil f Lbu dfc wic uc t tmutiy f t fm gl Kzlvky, cl im utlw b t Ptpvlvk m, tm p by t Ktt vit ut by bv il t t Ptg svit mtig, Blckhu-sr luti. T mlgm w b lt pfct by stli i i Ttkyit-Fcit l- cmpig.

T Ptg Izvtii f 2 Mc cib Kzlvky t fllw f Yuic, Klcck t m-cit gl. o 4 Mc Ziviv dfc Cmmitt

f Ptg uc Ktt rvlutiy Cm-mitt puppt w c t t bt f t titgl Kzlvky t tiu wit gu m t Ktt ucitil u l yu will b t w lik ptig.18

alx Kzlvky w fm Tit fc t Ktt cif f tilly. aft t Fbuy v-luti Kzlvky w Ktt lct cif f tff.I octb 1920 Fi rklikv t cmm icif f t Bltic Flt, w im wtc f cu-g ft f m i t bttl git Yuic. hicim w t tt w fm Tit fc. Tr amy w full f uc ppl, cuit by Ttkyi t tt f ppiti fm t lik f stli tMility oppiti i t pcig y. hi cim w

tt w pt f ppiti t fmti fim t bl w l pu impl.

T i vic t uggt tt t blliw ictly cct t y wit gu, blck u t pci f gi cut-vlutiy pp-iti. n t ll v b puc. T Blvikc t t fct tt bugi wpp ut blli xmpl f w t Blvik wlig uppt.

Tt i tu, but wy mlgmt t ivitbl u fppg f ti t wit t bl tmlv? Wy

b tm wit gu w t w m tuti ti clim t i t clim tt Li w Gmgt bcu tvll t rui i 1917 i lti uppli by t Gm mility?

Li, bv ll, vig fc tt pticul lcmpig ul v kw btt, but i i pc t ttt cg, witut btig wit t fct, i:

It is clear that the Bolsheviks slandered

the rebels as white guards inspired and

led by Tsarist generals when they were

well aware that they were not

Section / Kronstadt


8/17


I v ubt tt ti mutiy, wic vy quicklyvl t u t fmili gu f wit gu g-l, will b put w witi t xt fw y, if tu.19

I pli egli tt w li.

Trotskys involvement in crushingthe rebellion

Ttky clim i ticl i July 1938 tt ply pt plly i t mility uppi f K-tt it ftmt f xcuti, wil big cl

w pt f t pliticl cii t u fc if Ktt

fu t u. But ft t cii w tk Ictiu t mi i Mcw tk pt ict iict i t mility pti. Ccig tubqut pi, ty w cmpltly t ffif t Ck.20

Ttky ig t 2 Mc clti wit Li , W Cmmi Cim f t rvlutiy

W Cucil, xci gl pibility f t up-pi f Ktt. h viit Ptg, oibum Ky Gk 5 Mc vw Blvikmility ppti.

h will v b fully ifm f t pl f tuppi f t upiig utk by Tuccvky.

a f t kwig but t umb f victim ub-qutly xcut i t Ck cck w, Ttky

ctily cul v fu ut t ifmti if wt t w ctily fully w f t Ckgim f mtil lw.

But pttig tt l ivlvmt i tpi it uily wit t Ultimtum iu 5 Mc 1921 ttig, I m iuig itucti ttll ppti b m t upp t blli t iuctiit by fc f m . . . Ti i t lt

wig.21

Fily umbiguu ivlvmt by y t.accig t sg t Ck xcut u f

Ktt bl i t ubqut mt. Li Ttky w fully w f wt w gig bycitig t bl wit wit gu juti tipi i t m f cilim. excpt tt cil-

im i t fllw t tgic vt.I i ltt t Wli Tm i 1937, Ttky um-

mi i piti tu:T cuty w tvig. T Ktt m

pivilg. T upiig w ictt by i t gtpivilg f ti. T il c bt-tlip. all t ctiy lmt i rui wll b, immitly iz up ti upiig. T

wit mig m i f t iuctiit. Tvicty f ti upiig cul big tig but victyf cut-vluti, tily ipt f t it il i ti . But t i tmlv

w ply ctiy. Ty ct t tility ft bckw pty t t wk, t ccit f tli il i lti t t civili Ptbug,

t t f t ptit bugi f vlutiy ici-pli. T mvmt tf cut-vluti-y cct ic t iugt tk pi

f t m i t ft ty cul ly b cu witt i f m.22

Tk wl w v tt t til l-mt f Ttky lyi t t up t cutiy.Ctily t wit gu i ttmpt t lly upptf Ktt. But t Ktt tu w ti i.

Ti i i tm f ti gi pgmm w l p-cpitlit vi f t fm tt t Bl-

vik tmlv implmt t t m tim.

Kronstadt, the Workers Oppositionand the Bolshevik Party

T itic igicc f t uppi f Kttw tt ti cti cici wit t ftl umiigf t Blvik Pty itlf mctic itumtf wkig cl ul.

I t u up t tt Cg t b bittitl iput v ppl iitilly jitly pt

by Li Ttky f t milititi f lbu. Ti w tt t gvity f t cmic cii mt ttlbu t b llct fm bv tt it cul

b u i t mt timly fcit m. Liplit fm Ttky uig t cu f t icui,

but t g f tt ctl ticipt i Ttkyt t lgti f t l f t ui tuctil bi vct by Li, l t t if t Wk oppiti.

T Wk oppiti pp tt t t uiul xci ctl v iutil pucti

b vig i t Blvik pgmm lt 1920. B t t ui cti f t BlvikPty l by slypikv Kllti, t Wk- oppiti pit ut tt t i f tt cpitl-im uig cpitlit tt fm t buil cilim w

titticl t t i f t lf-mcipti f twkig cl.

Kllti pmplt, The Platform of the Workers Opposi-tion, gu tt Li vccy f t u f cpitlitpcilit t mg iuty t ituc wt Licll tt cpitlim ffctivly b t Mx-it piti f t mig f t cpitlit tt it plcmt by mi-tt tt w titil tcilim.

sylpikv xpli:T bi f t ctvy, vlv u t

quti by wt m uig ti pi f tf-

mti c u Cmmuit Pty cy ut it cmicplicy wt by m f wk giz it ticl ui, v ti by buuctic m,

The signicance of Kronstadt was that

it coincided with the undermining of

the Bolshevik Party as a democratic

instrument of working class rule


9/17


1tug ci fuctii f t tt.23

By 1921 Li cm lg wy fm t piti vct i The State and Revolution, publi i Mc1918, i wic xpli tt vy ck ll ul.nw i C vy wk kw w t miitt tt? Pcticl ppl kw tt ti i fiy tl . . .

T t ui cl f cmmuim mi-

itti. W ty v pt my y t cl,ty will l, but it pg lwly.24

I t w by 1921 Li puit t itt t wk l w t gv by gvig. rtty wul b ti w t gv by t t ui,

wil i t mtim t tt w t witig wybut big tgt, u by Cmmuit miit-t uig bugi pcilit t t pucti t bi f tt cpitlim.

Ti my my t v b cy giv t

cllp f iuty by 1921, but it i t ifcult t w it cul, i i, mp it t ul f tmiitti, lbit cmmuit miitti, vt wkig cl. T lf-mcipti f t wkigcl by ti w cti w plc by t pptuctig wt ty tugt w ti blf.

T ctily my wk i t Wkoppiti pltfm, but it lyi f t i f t

buuccy, t cuig f iutil mccy, wll t cu f tt vlpmt t ilti ft vluti, t pvty f t m, t mf t civil w, t bckw f t cuty tgwt f t buuctim witi t tt fm tc f Ttky w lt lyi f t buucticgti f t vluti utli i i 1936

bk, The Revolution Betrayed.ntl it i t p f Li Ttky

t pptu t t Wk oppiti i glwic i mt vlig, twittig t ucf t bt. Ulik t bt v Bt-Litvk wic

w ut ply, icluig i ivl publicti, tWk oppiti w tigmti fm t utt.

It uppt w buucticlly blck fm lc-ti t cfc; it uppt i t k l f tpty t ui w t pt i t igcl f t pty pptu.

Li pc t t tt cg f t rCP c-t mlgm btw t oppiti itlf, Ktt t wit gu. Li y:

Wt it m? It w ttmpt t iz pliticl

pw fm t Blvik by mtly cw llicf ill-t lmt, pptly jut t t igt ft Blvik, pp v t ti lft yu ct

lly tll, mpu i t cmbiti f pliticlgupig tt ti t tk pw i Ktt. Yull kw, uubtly, tt t t m tim witgugl w vy ctiv v t. T i mpl pff ti.25

h t g t y tt t Ktt il wk wt t cct t Blvik i g tticti i t ti lk lik mll ift,

wic lv t m lg f svit pw wit v ligt cg ccti. Yt i ctul fct t

wit gu ly u t -pty lmt tp-pig t t gt i.26

Wy tik v mll ift i plicy i tp-

pig t t cut-vluti? Bcu by ti pitLi ci tt vit pw w Blvik pw, m ccutly t pw f t Blvik pp-tu. Li w m tlt tw ppiti fm

witi t Blvik Pty itlf. Lik t Ktt xpli t Wk oppiti ly wt t cctt gim littl but cl Li:

t tlk slypikv . . . Wy i slyp-ikv t pcut f mkig uc ttmt? a wiuly icuig icipli uity i giPty, w t mtig f t Ktt typ? Fi i Ktt, cit typ f ttmt, t wict p i gu.27

I, Li lt plgi f uig uc lgug28but t mg w . Ttky , T Wk

oppiti cm ut wit gu lg, ftii-ig t picipl f mccy. Ty m t v plct wk vtig igt bv t pty, if t ptyi t v t igt t f it icttip, v iftt icttip w t clli f tim wit t t-ity m f t wk mccy.29

Ti ppc w t bcm t llmk f stlitfmti f t pty t tt ll ppitiqul cut-vluti. Li Ttky ppct Ktt pv t wy f ti.

T uppi f Ktt my my t vb cy f t mitc f Blvik ul.T my v b pibiliti f cmpmi witit i timt ti f t lgt lct tt Ktt svit w cmmuit, tt i rCP mm-

b, w w cgi plipttiy lgtf uit giti p wit t [-pty]mmb30, but c t tt b m gitit uppli cut ff fm t city, t xt tp wivitbl. T Blvik my v f gicut-vluti, but i fct ty tmlv tcpitlim i t cutyi tug neP.

T uppi f Ktt w pt f Tmi t bgiig f t buuctic cut-vluti.

Ttky filu t - t pibility bt Li b f t vt, t pt tt ti plyi t i f t pptu buuctic cut-v-luti i t 1930 pfu cquc.

It mt tt t cc w mi t ci bk wit t buuctic pctic tt t vt f 1921

tu fm xcpti it m tt w tmb i t Fut Ittil v bcmt vyy pctic f t ti lft ult.

The suppression of the Kronstadt

rebellion in 1921 may or may not have

been necessary for the maintenance ofBolshevik rule

Section / Kronstadt


10/17


T tigmtiig f ppiti, t it p-tti f ppt, t muv iggig f

vt, t u f mlgm t pt igmt bjctivly ptig mtig ty t, tulct uccutbl buuct/pptu,t ubiti f t mmbip t t pty li

ll f ti w fm t gti f t BlvikPty ft 1921 i ict lgcy f Ktt it uppi.

a -vluti f ll ti c ly bgi wit -vluti f t uc f t igi f t mt it t plc.

End notEs1. Il Gtzl,Kronstadt 1917-1921: The fate of Soviet Democracy,

Cmbig, 1983, p257

2. L Ttky, The Spanish Revolution (1931-39), Pt 1973,

p317

3. Ibi p3214. at Cilig, The Russian Enigma, Ik Lik, 1979, Bk 3, Cp.

9

5. Qut i Gtzl p cit p209

6. Ttky, Writings (1937-38), p138

7. Gtzl p cit p206

8. Gtzl p cit p210

9. ev Mwly, The Baltic Fleet and the Kronstadt Mutiny, 1973,

p518

10. Pul avic,Bolshevik Opposition to Lenin: G. T. Miikv

t Wk Gup,Russian Review, Vl. 43, 1984 pp. 1-29. al t:libcom.org/library/bolshevik-opposition-lenin-paul-avrich

11. Gtzl p cit p210

12. Gtzl p cit p208

13. Gtzl p cit p211

14. Ttky, Writings (1937-38), p142

15. Gtzl p cit p216

16. emm Glm,Living My Life, Pgui, 2006, p50317. TtkyWritings (1936-37), p360

18. Gtzl p cit p220

19.Kronstadt, By VI Li L Ttky, Pt P,

1979, p44

20. Ttky, Writings (1937-38), p377

21.Kronstadt, Li Ttky, p cit p67

22. TtkyWritings (1936-37), p35923. alx Kllti, The Workers Opposition in the Russian

Communist Party, r Blck, 2009, p43

24. Li cit e h C, The Bolshevik Revolution 1917-21Vlum

1, 1950, p247

25. Li, opig pc t 10t Cg, Collected Works

Vlum 32, Pg Publi 1965, p184 actully i pit f t

ti uc f t GPU, ti ticl m cl, t

w v y lik tbli btw t Ktt vlt

t wit gu.

26. Ibi. al vilbl t:www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/

works/1921/10thcong/ch01.htm

27. Li, summig-up spc t rpt f t rCP(B),

Collected WorksVlum 32, Pg Publi 1965, p206

28. Li, Cllct Wk Vlum 42, Pg Publi

1977, p281c-284. al t:www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/

works/1921/mar/08.htm

29. Ic dutc, The Prophet Armed, oUP, 1954, p50830. Gtzl p cit p218


11/17


1

MarK hosKIssons ticl i Pr17, The Red Jacobins: Ther-midor and the Russian Revolution in 1921, i m it-

tig gumt but w Ttky icct u-tig f Tmi mp t ppiti tugglgit stli.

hwv t umb f iu wk it ticl wic mut t u viw f tvluti i t ly 1920. Ty vlv u tfllwig pit:

1. I tyig t mv bck t t f Tmi (pliti-cl cut-vluti i rui) t 1921, Mk t xg-gt big fw t pit t wic mccyi t pty i cu.

2. I guig ti Mk cg t iti f T-mi itlf cfu it ttig pit wit it pit, t fil t it pc, cut-v-luti i itlmt Ttky cctly cib t

pm.3. a ult f ti iti f Tmi, Li

(t stli) bcm t iitit f cut-vluti irui, Ttky bcm i cllbt.

4. Filly t i upv lik m btw tbuuctic ctlim f t Ttkyit lft ty it filu t cft t igil i f 1921.

Thermidor in France, Thermidor inRussia

T Blvik icu t lgy wit Tmii t Fc rvluti f g : it w vlu-ti tt gt fm witi. T fc tt tuckt t m it ic vlutiy p

w cti f t l f t vluti itlf.T Tmii, mmb f t Cmmitt f Pub-

lic sfty Cmmitt f Gl scuity, l ti

cup f 9t Tmi (27 July 1794) git rbpi,t l f t Jcbi i uppt.

Tmi p up pi f cliti f tpw f t bugii, cliti wic ivlv i f piv mu git t plbi m(-cultt) btw July 1794 - augut 1795. Tmu iclu t bliti f pic ctl, t

big f t ppul citi t vlutiycmmitt, clu f t Jcbi Club, t u f witt t itimit t cti, t itucti f pp-ty qulicti f t ntil ambly mv-ig t ntil Gu fm t ctl f t cti.

Tmi cut-vlutiy pc w lylly cmplt i 1799 wit t itllig f nplBpt icttil l.

ev bf 27 July, rbpi tk if mu git t gwig m f t -

cultt. I t utum f 1793 mu w ituct ty tict cti mtig t pvt tgiti f ppul citi uti t ctl ft Jcbi Club.

Jcqu rux, ppul l f t -cll gwig f t -cultt w t. I ly 1794 thbtit w pug f ti cmpig git tCuc hbt w guillti, rux ly cp tm ft by cmmittig uici. T cti git tm ptly xpli t lck f uppt f rbpi- w t Tmii tuck, t mitkcmplicity f m fm t lft i t cup.1

o c wy t Blvik w t lvc ft lgy wit Tmi. Ty igtly cit it

wit y tci witi t vluti imig t

tw bck t wkig m, puttig t tfw mvmt f t vluti. Ty iti it

wit fc mkig cmpmi wit cpitlim, ic

Did Lenin and Trotsky lead a counter-revolution in 1921? Stuart King

says this is misreading both of the French and Russian revolutions.

deBaTe rUssIa

The real meaningof Thermidor in the

Russian Revolution

Debate / Thermidor


12/17


pt, ittil impilim. Tmi it pty/tt w pc tt wul p t t t tti f cpitlim t cuig ft wk mvmt.

Mk cctly pit ut tt t Ttkyit ppitifllw ti lyi f t uc f t cut-vlutiutil 1935 w Ttky vi i utig:

Tu t pt y miti f stli i wymbl svit ul uig t iitil y f t vlu-ti. T ubtituti f gim f t t ccut t igl tk but tug i f mu, bym f umb f civil w wg by t buuccygit t plti vgu . . . T mig f t

lft ppiti impli i t mt ict immit t tf f pw fm t f t vlu-tiy vgu it t f t m cvtivlmt mg t buuccy t upp cut ft wkig cl. T y 1924 tt w t bgiigf svit Tmi.2

Ttky l li tt jut t Tmiici ut cut-vluti wil clitig tgi f t bugi vluti, t stliit buuc-cy cul cy tug cut-vluti (git

wk pliticl pw) witut vtwig t wktt. Bltly cgi tt t tt cmfm t pty ct, wit it t i t buuccy, wll fm t igt, wit it lik wit t Kulk(ic pt) neP-m (t).

T quti i w i ti buuctic cut-vluti tk plc, w w it, w l it?Mk uggt it pp i 1921 t t Ttkyuggt pc ttig i 1924.

Mk gu tt Tmi tk plc wit t ttck t r Jcbi, t Wk oppiti (Wo) t dmctic Ctlit (dC), i 1921. Tmi, Mkgu, cit f: t big f fcti t t ttcg, t uppi f Ktt t tbli-ig f mlitic pty (t iig t ctl pp-tu t piti f blut ctl f ll pty mtt).h w t cclui tt:

T pliticl cut-vluti tk plc ii tBlvik Pty. It w l by Li, uppt by Ttky xcut by stli. T pibility f vc tug

t Blvik Pty w limit.3T umb f . Fit Mk T-

mi tk t t pc. F xmpl it it tu tt t ctl pptu w lvt t vblut ctl f ll pty mtt i 1921, ti tkvl y f tuggl ivlv mig vlppiti. It w ly li i 1928 t t FifttPty Cg w t ppiti, Zivivit, Ttky-it dmctic Ctlit, w xpll ivugu.

I Mk t vmpi t impct f t b fcti i 1921 t blt i gumt y fcti

w b but gupig pltfm wt. Iw rizv mv (ft) mmt t t ttcg ppig b gupig tig f t

Ctl Cmmitt (CC) t bi f pltfm.,Lipp it yig:

W ct piv t pty t mmb f t

CC f t igt t tu t t pty, if bic qutipvk ii . . . W vt t pw t uppti.4

I v ft t b, wic w pbbly c-civ f tmpy, t Wo t dC ci muc bf. Ctily m miittiv mu

w tk git iiviul, mtig t ucmmic 1919, but Li l ugt t cmp m f t

Wo citicim. h u tt tw mmb f t Wow tk t t CC ji wit tm i puigtug pug f cit ptit bugi lmt

wic ji t rui Cmmuit Pty ic tvluti, mtig t Wo m 200,000

pty mmb w mv i 1921. n f ti ug-gt mlitic pty w tbli i 1921, tt cut-vlutiy cup b ci ut.

If w wt m ccut lgy wit t Fcrvluti, t cii f 1921 w m lik t utumf 1793 w t Jcbi tuck git t lft tppul mvmt, wkig tmlv pvigt wy f lt Tmii tiump. Ttky ltw t big f fcti i ti wy:

It i pibl t g t cii f t Tt Cg gv city. But i t ligt f lt vt, tig i blutly cl: t big f fcti bugtt ic ity f Blvim t m wyf it buuctic gti.5

Mk, I tik, cfu t bgiig f pc wit

it pit.

Lenin as a counter-revolutionary?

It i muc m fumtlly wg t uggt ttTmi w l by Li, tt Li, uig t l-gy wit Fc, l cut-vluti t cu t

wk mvmt i 1921. n f t l f tBlvik w pfct i t 1921 cii ll f tm

m mitk t big f fcti w vybig . But i it i y tu tt Li Tt-ky t ut t ty t pw f wk t ctlt vluti? Bcu ti w t cciu plicy ft Tmii f Ct/B, it bcm tplicy f t stli/Mltv gup.

Lkig t Li plicy cti i t 1920-23pi ipv Mk ti. Li i clly plyfutt wit t pty by 1920; v f t it ick t pit, w wit fv. h t

t ui bt f 1920-21 lgly ilvt t tpblm fcig t wk tt, wic bliv g bckw ic 1919. h t l pblm

It is fundamentally wrong to suggest

that Thermidor was led by Lenin, that

Lenin, using the analogy with France, leda counter-revolution


13/17


1t itu cmic ituti lig t pliticlcii, t iitgti f t wkig cl tgwig buuctiti f pty tt.6

By 1920 t cmy w i tt f cllp, tpt w i vlt git t gvmt tgi ccipti, t civil w w t v, t wk-ig cl bcm cl i Li w wxut. hu f tu f t mt militt g t t ft, ug umb wit lik t tl tu t t villg t uviv, wil tmi tuggl t kp t fcti gig uti w uvivl, ft tug pucig ti wpuct f bt.7

T tt pptu wll wit u f tu- kig wk w xit uti f it ytti pptu w icmptt, buuctic l byt by fm bugi Tit buuct. Ti

w t cii tt cm t i ly 1921.T tckl t gwig cmic cii Li put f-

w t Tx i Ki t nw ecmic Plicy (neP)wic w pt vlp fm t tt cg.8Fc wit t gwig buuctiti tu lkig f w; tik but ptigt pty fm t tt, g t pug f pty c-it buuct i 1921 pp t rbki,t Wk Pt Ipcti. T i f ti

by w t big i wk p pt t c-tl pug t buuccy.

n f t ti-buuctic mu wk, Li icigly li i t l y f i ctivpliticl lif. T pt f t pty gti, stli l i it, i bugt m t im i i tug-gl t f t lip f t Ggi Cmmu-it Pty git buuctic pi by stli ozikiz.9 h pp i f fm t tpty tuctu im t ucig t pw f t sc-tit xpig t iz f t CC, cmbiig t

rbki wit t Ctl Ctl Cmmii mk-ig it ictly pibl t t Cg.

Li w t pup f ti by fmig ttt pptu tig ut buuccy, wll tiig wk i uig t tt. I dcmb1922 uggt t Ttky tt ty ul fm blcgit buuccy cll t pty t wyf mvig stli Gl scty i iti ti Ttmt i Juy 1923.

n f ti uggt l w i tyig t p-

vt t wk fm ivig t vluti fw, gt f t buuccy, cut-vlutiy

Tmii.

Factions and democracy

Mk mi vic f Li Tmii ii ppl t b fcti, i ivctiv git t Wo dC, t miittiv mu tk gittm t Wk Gup f Miikv. Yt v -i pictu i pt. Ivctiv xgg-t plmic w cmm i t Blvik pty (it it t Biti f lft?). Li im muc ivctiv tBuki i t t ui bt cllig im y-iclit ccuig im f bk fm cmmuim.

Ti w ll p f t cu. I Li c it cti futti wit t bt i f tt it wul

plit t pty i pi f cii.T big f fcti, ( gup wit p-t pltfm, tivig t cti g t ggt ct ti w gup icipli)10b it w, i tivlv big gupig gi icui i tpty. at viu pit i 1921 Li pi t lf t Wo, mit tm f t CC, ivit tm tlp t pty cmbt buuccy w m wk- it pty/tt ctivity. hi yc w tt tyfil t put fw pcticl ppl ctiu

wt w ti mpty ppiti.11

agi, t miti t i tt Tmi tk plci 1921 t t lt, Mk t xggt

big fw clgiclly t g f miittiv plic mu tk git ppitiit witi

t pty. h f t t miig tuctitug ytm f xpuli itl xil f tlft Blvik, t Wk oppiti t dm-ctic Ctlit i 1921 t i 1923 tug tict itvti f t GPU . . . it pty pliticliput wit t plic ttck Miikv WkGup.12

Ctily -llctig cm t pty uti wyfm ti pliticl b w u t iupt ppiti it w cmpli but ly t it cg i1920. But it w ft tmpy it pp t Tmky

w fll ut wit t CC v t t ui qutif xmpl. Ti w t t m t itl xilu i 1927-28, Mk i cfuig t tw.

It ul l b mmb tt t Wo pltfm

w t ly pit i Pv, but 250,000 cpi wpit i 1921 pcil pmplt. It w cicult tt Ti Cg f t Cmmuit Ittil (CI)

w t Wo put ti gumt. Fut i 1922 tWo put fw t appl f t 22 t Cmitcfc tt w icuig t uit ft, ppl-ig t t Cmit t itv bcu t ruipty w igig t cii f pty cg

wk mccy cmmii w t up t i-cu t cg. at t lvt cg f t ru-i Cmmuit Pty (rCP) i 1922, cmmii wt up t ivtigt t ctiu ctiviti f t Wo t l w tt wit xpuli if tyctiu ti ppitil ctiviti, but gi ty

w t xpll.

Miikv (t mmb f t Wo), w w cm-pigig i t city f Pm f f p, w xpll

bcu fu t fllw pty icipli, pit

None of this suggests a leader who is

trying to prevent the workers from

driving the revolution forward, an agentof the Thermidorian bureaucracy

Debate / Thermidor


14/17


pl ppl fm Li. h wt t gi ugu gup uti t pty, wic pumblyl t t plic cti tt Mk f t. T ruiiti rbt V dil mk t pit tt Ti wt ly icit ft t Blvik bcm pty i

wic Li ctully xpll pmit mmb.13

France and Russia: the contrasts

Ti migt v b ifcult pi f t lft it rCP t gi but it w t pi f Tmi-i cut-vluti. By ctt i t mt ftFc Tmi t -cultt w big t-

i ttck by t ylit ju wit tcugmt f t gvmt. I jut icitt Jcbi Club mtig i Pi w tm, t m

blug l t wm wipp.I rui, v ft t big f fcti i 1921,

bt witi t pty ctiu ubt. Ic dut-c cib t lvt cg w Ttky Li fu tmlv ttck fm ll i v neP t jut by t Wo.14 By t utum f 1923 f-ml pltfm w cl t gt f w cu, tPltfm f t 46.

at ctt wit t Fc Tmi i i tcmic . aft Tmi i Fc t cmicituti f t -cultt tit mkly t cut-vluti ttck t limit tt b

plc pic f tpl uc b u. Irui ft 1921 it w t ppit. Wit neP t ci-ti f t wk impv f uppli ic iuty viv. Kvi Mupy til tuy f Mcw mtl fcty w tt tik i t lypi f neP w ffiv tuggl f btt wg,

but by 1928 t gim mbk pgmm fci wg cut t lp py f t pi iuti-liti f t Fit Fiv Y Pl.15

o wul xpct tt cut-vluti wul bccmpi by ttck wkig cl livig t ti pp i t lt 1920 t i 1921. It i tupiig tf tt bt t dC, t Ttkyitppiti, t Tmi fm t lt 1920.

n f ti i t uply t imptc f t mi-

tk f 1921 i big fcti, tgtig t ptypptu (ctl cmmii, ctit, gbuu tc) t imptc f t mitk i f cu cl

wit iigt. of qul imptc w t cii tutlw ll t pliticl pti i 1921.

Up util ti tim, t Mvik, sr, Lft-sr wupp tict piiclly, i.. w tyctivly ugt t vtw t gvmt cyut titic ct. I 1920 f xmpl t Mvikply ctiv l i t t ui bt ii tCg f T Ui, citiciig Ttky piti t milititi f lbu guig f mtigimil t neP.16

Fm 1921 t pti w b cmpltly. Timt t w citicim f rCP plicy cmig fm

uti t pty, i t vit t ui. Tufm f citicim giti bcm m tl imptt ii t pty.

But ft 1921, ppiti pltfm cul lly lyb gut ig if ty ct ivii i tlip f t pty, t CC Plitbu tticti piv t k l f t pty f tbility t gi t cct t mitk f t l.

a v w t gumt cm fm t CC, witt 1923 ppiti, t stliit ti t kp tm utf t pty. dbt w ly xt t t pty

bcu f cmic ci bcu f t ppulflig mgt t k l mmb.

Tactical and programmatic implications

Mk t clly w ut y pcticl implic-ti f vlutiy tctic by mvig t t f T-mi bck t 1921. But ty ul b cl Ttky wp but tm i i bt wit t dC w tugt

Tmi tk plc by 1926 it wul v mtbig i fvu f w pty w (pliticl) v-luti. Ttky t t tt f Tmi fm 1924,t ft f t Lft oppiti, but Tmi cut-vluti by itlmt, wit 1928 bigt pit. a Mk pit ut, Ttky till put fft cll f w pty util 1933.

Mk citici Ttky f vig fm ppc-tiv igt up till 1928, It f puig p militt tuggl git stli, icluig tug t

builig f w m giti, Ttky limit i

ttgy t fm.17 T b ccut Ttky, f ll iwk i t tuggl btw 1923-28, i luc militt tuggl git stli but i t cll f w pty.

W ti bcu w mtug by i illuitt t stliit ct, t pty c, wul cm vt t lft i t tuggl git kulk cut-vlu-ti? Ti w ly pt f t I tik Mklv ut qully imptt but lt .

Ti lt t w yu b vlutiy ptylik t Blvik/rCP. at wtv pit vlutiyppiti ci t ti it wul v tpt mi-lglly wul v cut itlf ff fm pty wit u f tu f mmb. rmm-

b t vit ivll, t cilit pti willgl, t GPU w gwig pwful fc, t wkig cl itlf w wk. I ti ituti it it cl wt Mk m by builig w m gi-ti w vit, w t ui, w pty?

o t t t rCP w wck wit ci, tPltfm f t 46 gi ympttic ig st-li t tt pt t nw Cu. T plit i

None of this is to underplay the

importance of the mistakes of 1921 in

banning faction and strengthening theparty apparatus


15/17


1t Tiumvit (Ziviv, Kmv, stli) i 1925, c-t t pptuity. 1926 w t Uit oppitifm pit t vcillti cpitulti ft Zivivit, t ppiti cuit u, ift tu, f w t i 1926-27.

Ttky cib ti pc i My Lif: T bck-b f t ppiti w gup f l vlutii.But w w lg l. hu tuf vlutii f t w gti w gup

but u.18 h g t cut w upw f 20,000militt tt illgl mtig f t ppiti iLig Mcw i 1927. o mtig i Tci-cl hig cl 2,000 wit u m vw-ig it t tt. oly ft stli t GPU tpyiclly bk up t mtig u t gui fgup f utg wk w uc mtig u-p. T mtig w fllw by p ppiti

mtti i octb 1927 t tt ivyf t vluti.

h t lft b t pty i 1921 u flppctiv f Tmi vig ccu it wul vm iu mitk. Tmi tk plc btw1924-28 ti w uly tim t tuggl i t rCPt lly t c f w pty, bcu by 1928 ttuggl f wk pw cul ly v b c-uct by fc, git t rCP lip it GPUpptu. Ttky i t v ti ppctiv, wic

w gv , but i y c t iticl c wtck git pitiv utcm. T ft f t Ci- vluti i 1927, Ttky i, bt ck tpty it pliticl lif i t t tm, but cmt ftit t f scilim i o Cuty i t

lg tm.

Trotskyisms fatal aw

T i t tm i t ticl tt i uc-vicig tt t cti pctic buucticctlim tt ifct ty Ttkyit mvmt c

b tc bck t Tmi i 1921. a Mk put itTtkyim fumtl ti f pty gitiicpt t Tmii iitc f 1921.

W kw tt i tpct Ttky gu tt tbig f fcti w mitk tt ft igt f fcti t xit i t Fut Ittil.19I T rvluti Bty Ttky g fut, likigt b fcti t t b t pti:

T pibiti f ppitil pti bugt ftit t pibiti f fcti. T pibiti f fcti i pibiti t tik twi t t ifl-

libl l. T plic mufctu mlitim ft pty ult i buuctic impuity wic bcm t uc f ll ki f wt cupti.20

Mk ticl giv ifft viw f Ttky tiquti pp -i . h qut Ttkyfm 1924 pptly fig t b fcti.21

Yt uly it i igly lvt tt Ttky i figimlf i ft f t titt cg, pck witstliit Zivivit pptcik fllwig lg vituptiv cmpig git Ttkyim fti ppiti i clly ft i t pty. h w v-ig t mk iu cmpmi, uc ucig i

ittil c-tik, t vi xpuli.Myb w wg t cmpmi, but w cttk t piti fly giv. a if yu tt f t pc Ttky clly plc t blm ft fmti f fcti fctil tuggl t

buuctiti f t pty, wic tu piic i-gmt it mtig m ltig.22

Pp w ul mi ulv tt fcti t pitiv tig i vlutiy giti ty cy vil. epiic gupig, tci, plt-fm luti f cfc t ig f lty giti t fcilitt f lty bt gumt, t mi-pmt fcti wit tiw icipli.

Wk Pw/LrCI wt my c witut i-

u fcti gt but my fuitful iu pliticlicui, gupig iffc. W it i v iu fcti gt it plit i lf! Fcti, pcilly imll giti, ft pg plit bcu ty fm i t cuct iu gt t cg lip t icti f pty gup. Li

w vy cciu f ti, wic migt xpli i -tility t t Wo i t cii f 1921.

Lenin and Trotskys errors

It i t Tmii iitc tt i t pb-lm but t filu t gt t t t f t

btw 1918 1923 f v tw f t gtt v-lutii Li Ttky.

altug Ttky m m lf-citicim v tbig f fcti t cilit pti vm fumtl citiqu f wy t mitk p-p by t ty w mgcy mu fcup u, ty w mt t b ly tmpy typ fxplti.

Ti migt b tu w migt v y, i tt itu-ti, t tt tim w wul v t. But w, Ttky i t 1930, v iticl iigt wkw w t mitk l, w kw w t lt l i t t pt tm i futu vlu-ti. My f t xcptil cicumtc civil

w, m itvti, ittil blck willfc vy cilit vluti tt tk plc, umigt will v b imultu ittil wl

vluti. hw cilit l wit tm, t lw w fm t xpic f t rui rvluti, vitlly imptt quti f vlutii ty.

Had the left abandoned the party in 1921

under a false perspective of Thermidorhaving occurred it would have made a

serious mistake

Debate / Thermidor


16/17


T i ubt tt uig t pi btw1918 1923 bt Li Ttky pt -u piti wit g t t imptc f multi-ptymccy u cilim t t fuctiig f

vgu pty. Ttky v vlp tugg-ig lf-citicim ti quti, lvig mbiguupliticl lgcy t Ttkyim. Bt Li Ttky,uig ti pi, bliv it w pibl t buil t

bi f cilim witut multi-pty vit, vt tict mccy i t pty itlf, lg tupp c f t vgu pty mi cmmit-t t t cilit gl.

T b t pti tt tt tmpy

w-tim mu w xt juti f wlpi i t ctucti f cilim wit t ituc-ti f neP ly t juticti cg. nw wit titucti f t mkt g f cpitlimit bcm v m imptt t pvt t vlp-mt f ppiti pti tt t neP-m kulk

wul u vicl t uppt ti cpitlit itt.Li w quit xplicit:

Witut cpitlim, t pty c it liv puc, but it c , w bliv witut ig tppg f t scil rvlutii Mvik.. . . W pmi it fm mccy.23

Ttky, w t t tim f Ktt juti tbig f ppiti pti pt f mgcy,w juti t rCP pliticl mply by it it-

til ilti. Witig i Pv y ft Ktt cibig t cmic uptu, k wtit i tim t t igl pty ytm. h w

wit uig n! a lg rui w bigft ppiti, t v fbl , cul btlt.24

T pblm tt t Blvik/rCP fc w ttt viu pit btw 1918 1921 t bf lcti t t svit, t pti bllw t fm t gi, t Blvik wulv fu tmlv miity pty i t wktt. T Ktt vlt w ymptm f ti wkwfct. Ttky juticti f t pty mitcf it pliticl mply w tt it pt t p-ltit wtv tt cl pig m.

T Wk oppiti cm ut wit g-u lg. Ty v m fti f mctic pi-cipl. Ty v plc t wk igt t lct p-ttiv bv t pty, it w, if t pty

w t titl t t it icttip v if tticttip tmpily cl wit t pig mf t wk mccy . . . it i cy t ctmg u t w f t iticl bitigt ft pty.25

a tgt f t vlutiy pty i t pi ftuggl f pw, it bility t it tit m

witi t wkig cl, b ty vtuit cv-tiv, w tu it it ppit uig t pi fttmpt cilit ctucti. T pty, i fct fwtu mmb f it ol Gu by 1921, ub-

titut itlf f t pltit, clig tt it lmbi t pltit itic mii.

It i gt lp t t ccti btw ti

ppc t t wk pt pti i tly 1920 t wy t f lft gupig ty viwc t. nt lli i t tuggl f cilim,

wit ifft pit f viw, tctic ttgi, but mi cmptit w t b ilt muv git.

Ttk y fi lu t fully ti pblm fcilit mccy t f t rCP i tyigt pvi pliticl fmwk f t titi fm

cpitlim t cilim gtly wk t Ttkyitmvmt lft it p t bt ctiim ubtitutiim.26

The narrowness of the FourthInternational

Mk ticl l mti t bjctiv cicum-

tc i wic t Ttkyit fu tmlv ftti xpuli fm t Cmit. T IttilLft oppiti (ILo), Mvmt f Fut Ittil Fut Ittil w built i f migtytuggl but l f p ft t Biti G-l stik, t Ci ft f 1927, t victy f f-cim i Gmy, t ft i t spi Civil W,

Wl W Tw t mti ly fw. T Ttkyitmvmt w fu ptimitic ppctiv fpily builig w Ittil bcmig tlip f milli.

ev bf Wl W Tw ti ppctiv i tt wit lity. smll gup pti tt tick wit

wg ppctiv ily fll it buuctim, l-ip bcm itlt f citicim. Filu bcm t

fult f t ppitiit, v t mmb. T m-ctic pct f ctlim i icigly ip wit, fbck fm t tuggl t t t ppctiv.It i ubt l tu tt m f t mt f tgt Cmit w ci v it t FutIttil C ctily kw w t gt gi i Zivivit fi.

But t wt xtt i t w ppc t tgup/pty t ittil l ctibutigfct t cti ppc t f lft? T TiIttil w built t Blvik ml pliti-clly mgu, tigtly gi, built f cmbt izig pw. Ti lt t t pi, t pcf w vluti, pi f t p cii fcpitlim ft t Fit Wl W. But i it pppit

t pi f cpitlit tbility?ev by 1921 t Blvik cgi t tbiliti

f cpitlim, pt t uit ft tk tttiv

A strength of the revolutionary party

in the period of struggle for power, itsability to resist transient moods within

the working class


17/17


1

EndnotEs1. Uful ccut f t vt c b fu i albt

sbul,A Short History of the French Revolution 1789-1799,Uivity f Clifi 1977, Cp 2, dil Gui, Class

Struggle in the First French Republic, Plut P, 1977 , Cp 11,

12.

2. Ttky, T Wk stt, Tmi Bptim,

Writings 1934/35, Pt, 1971, p172 p174.

3. o t quti f Ktt, it i wt tig tt ll

cti f t pty, t Wk oppiti iclu,

cm t Ktt vlt. I Wo lgt ji

t 300 lgt w lft t Tt Cg t l t ult

t ft. s i ti Mk wul v t iclu t

Wo t dC Tmii wll! s r.V dil, T

Conscience of the Revolution: Communist Opposition in Soviet Russia,

sim scut, 1969, p 145

4. dil, p cit, p 150

5. Ttky, Fcti t Fut Ittil, Writings

1935-36, Pt, 1977 p1846. a lyi f Li tuggl ttgy i t y

1921-23 v ticl i itlf. Uful ttig pit :

M Libm,Leninism Under Lenin, Mli, 1980, p318-325: n

hig,Lenins Political Thought, Vl. 2, McMill 1981, C 15:

M Lwi,Lenins Last Struggle, Wilw hu 1969.

7. F til ccut f t ituti f wkig cl f

Mcw i ti pi tt gu git t ti f t

cmplt iitgti f t pltit sim Pii, The

Russian revolution in Retreat, 1920-24, rutlg, 2009.

8. W Mk y t neP w ituc fm bv t

v ubjct t pty vit vt ti i ly tu if yu ty

pt t luti t Tx i Ki pt t t

tt cg fm neP. Ti i -icl t Tx i Ki

w t iitil fm f neP tt w wlcm by ll cti

f t pty, pt fm t Wo, bcu w cmmuim by

1921 w clly itu plicy.

9. s Lwi, p cit, Cp 4 5.10. Libm, p302

11. It i wt tig tt w Li ti t mv

slypikv (t Wo picipl l) fm t CC i utum1921 f ccuig t pty cmic plicy (neP) f big

ti-wk t lip f big imt by

buuctic bugi tility tw t m

fil t mut t tw-ti mjity cy t CC. s

muc f t mlitic pty!

12. r Jcbi,PR17, p38

13. r.V. dil p160. dpit ti dil l put fw t

viw tt t Bvik ci ut ti w nit Tmi

i 1921 Cp 7.

14. Ic dutc, The Prophet Unarmed: Trotsky 1921-29, oUP,

1959, p31.

15. Kvi Mupy,Revolution and Counterrevolution: class struggle in

a Moscow metal factory, hymkt, 2005, p82.

16. Ic dutc, The Prophet Armed: Trotsky 1879-1921, oUP

1954,p500.

17. r Jcbi, p cit, p3418. Ttky,My Life, Tt Buttwt, 1930, C 52 T lt

pi f tuggl witi t pty, p452.

19. Ttky, Fcti t Fut Ittil, p cit, p184

20. Ttky,Revolution Betrayed, Pt, 1972, p104-105.

21. r Jcbi, Pr 17 p35

22. Ttky, Challenge of the Left Oppositon 1923-25, Pt,

1975, p 155 (t ftt 13 i Pr17 giv t wg pg

umb f t qut, it ul b p153-154).

23. Li qut i Lvi, p cit, p41

24. dutc, p cit, p29.

25. Ttky pc t t tt cg, Mc 1921, qut i

dutc, The Prophet Armed 1879-1921, p508.

26. a v bigg t bc pblm t by

Ttkyim i t quti f t bmt by Li f t

pgmm f t titi utli i stt rvluti

i 1917. F fm t icttip f t pltit bcmig

mi-tt it bcm mticlly ctli tt mcibig my f t llmk f it Tit pc.

tp t c-pt wit t sc Tw--hlfIttil.

Ttky iitil Blck f Fu tctic l cgit t ttct b fc t jut t ILo. Butt pi f t 1930 wit it vlutiy ituti,civil w ci pp t t t f w, tigtly kit ittil tcy t p-gmmtic p x w mpi v bpliticl fmti.

Ti ppc, lg wit Ttky vwlmig pliti-cl mic i tm f xpic tticlbility, uubtly cctut my f t pblmtict tt w fm uc w pty ppctiv

p ivii wit ppt, til plmic, pliti-

cl itlc t littl gc ll quliti,tt i mll gupig ilt fm t wkig cl,t i t icti f buuctim, cult-lik l-ip umctic pctic.

T xpic f t rui rvluti t Cm-muit Ittil, t gti f t pty i ru-i ittilly ul v l t t bc-tik f vlutiy ttgy f t Ttkyit.

It wt pp, w ttmpt t tu t tBlvik mt f 1905-19, t plict t pty t ittil ly miitu cl. If t Tt-kyit it ti quti i t 1930 ( tyctily it ft Wl W Tw) t w ugtly

t t quti ty.

Debate / Thermidor

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28-44 Kronstad Debate Final

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