How far was political centralisation the main consequence of Communist government in the
Soviet Union in the years 1918-28?
Throughout the period 1918 to 1928, the Soviet Union saw an immense amount of change,
primarily between Lenin and Stalin but also within both of their governing’s. Starting with
Lenin’s initial democratic stance and not particularly centralised, clearly seen by decrees such as
land, workers and peace. However, as he grasped an elevated amount of control, he made the
Soviet Union more centralised subsequently. Although his increasing centralisation was halted
by the civil war and NEP. After Lenin’s death and the power struggle that followed, the Soviet
Union obviously had some issues in terms of staying centralised. But by 1928 Stalin had seized
power and recentralised the party. Moreover, this was just one aspect that emerged from this
period, other than centralisation, authoritarism, bureaucracy and changes to government had
emerged. Therefore, it is highly debatable how accurate it is to say that political centralisation
was the main consequence of the Communist government in the Soviet Union 1918-28.
Political centralisation was a major aspect to emerge from the period 1918-28, with Lenin’s
campaign of ‘Peace, Land and Bread’ he gained enough support to overthrow the provisional
government. When implementing his new government and the Sovnarkom there was a level of
uncertainty about securing full control, people even thought it would become a coalition
government. Lenin seized the opportunity of the Civil War to create a centralised party state. He
was arguably successful in this, due to the need to make quick decisions to quickly achieve a
victory, the reliance of the Politburo began. Though the use of the Politburo, the decisions came
from a central group in government resulting in high centralisation. The civil war played a large
part in increasing the centralisation of government. Through war communism for instance, the
nationalisation of all industry with 10 or more workers, the use of hierarchical structures and
harsh punishments, all enabled another level of centralisation. Another area centralisation was
abundant was in the creation of a one-party state. Through the removal of the Mensheviks and
the SR’s it meant Lenin could fully grasp control, creating a increasingly centralised
government.
Conversely, some would argue the main consequence of the period would be the use of terror
and repression. The Cheka was implemented in December 1917 headed by Felix Dzerzhinsky to
deal with counter revolution, sabotage, and speculation, based in the Lubyanka building.
Between 1917 and 1923, the Cheka was responsible for the executions of up to 200,000 people
and the secret police grew enormously, from 40,000 in December 1918 to 250,000 by 1921. And
their was a purge known as Christka where 1/3 of the party were purged. Therefore, these
statistics indicate that this was a major aspect of the period and could arguably be the main
consequence of the period. Especially because this all links to authoritarianism, two major
uprisings, the Tambov rising and the Krondstadt mutiny where an anti-communism movement
began, this was dealt with through authoritarianism. Lenin responded to the unrest by
Soviet Union in the years 1918-28?
Throughout the period 1918 to 1928, the Soviet Union saw an immense amount of change,
primarily between Lenin and Stalin but also within both of their governing’s. Starting with
Lenin’s initial democratic stance and not particularly centralised, clearly seen by decrees such as
land, workers and peace. However, as he grasped an elevated amount of control, he made the
Soviet Union more centralised subsequently. Although his increasing centralisation was halted
by the civil war and NEP. After Lenin’s death and the power struggle that followed, the Soviet
Union obviously had some issues in terms of staying centralised. But by 1928 Stalin had seized
power and recentralised the party. Moreover, this was just one aspect that emerged from this
period, other than centralisation, authoritarism, bureaucracy and changes to government had
emerged. Therefore, it is highly debatable how accurate it is to say that political centralisation
was the main consequence of the Communist government in the Soviet Union 1918-28.
Political centralisation was a major aspect to emerge from the period 1918-28, with Lenin’s
campaign of ‘Peace, Land and Bread’ he gained enough support to overthrow the provisional
government. When implementing his new government and the Sovnarkom there was a level of
uncertainty about securing full control, people even thought it would become a coalition
government. Lenin seized the opportunity of the Civil War to create a centralised party state. He
was arguably successful in this, due to the need to make quick decisions to quickly achieve a
victory, the reliance of the Politburo began. Though the use of the Politburo, the decisions came
from a central group in government resulting in high centralisation. The civil war played a large
part in increasing the centralisation of government. Through war communism for instance, the
nationalisation of all industry with 10 or more workers, the use of hierarchical structures and
harsh punishments, all enabled another level of centralisation. Another area centralisation was
abundant was in the creation of a one-party state. Through the removal of the Mensheviks and
the SR’s it meant Lenin could fully grasp control, creating a increasingly centralised
government.
Conversely, some would argue the main consequence of the period would be the use of terror
and repression. The Cheka was implemented in December 1917 headed by Felix Dzerzhinsky to
deal with counter revolution, sabotage, and speculation, based in the Lubyanka building.
Between 1917 and 1923, the Cheka was responsible for the executions of up to 200,000 people
and the secret police grew enormously, from 40,000 in December 1918 to 250,000 by 1921. And
their was a purge known as Christka where 1/3 of the party were purged. Therefore, these
statistics indicate that this was a major aspect of the period and could arguably be the main
consequence of the period. Especially because this all links to authoritarianism, two major
uprisings, the Tambov rising and the Krondstadt mutiny where an anti-communism movement
began, this was dealt with through authoritarianism. Lenin responded to the unrest by
