Part 1: The Russian Revolution and the Rise of Stalin, 1917-1929
Dissent and Revolution, 1917
Condition of Russia before the revolution of February/March 1917: the Tsar and political
authority; the war effort; the economic and social state of Russia; discontent
February/March revolution of 1917: causes + course of rev; issues of leadership & Tsar's
abdication; establishment of Provisional Gov + Petrograd Soviet; workings of Dual authority
Developments between revs: return of Lenin; Lenin's ideology/ April Theses; the July Days;
Kornilov coup + roles of both Provisional Gov & Trotsky; Lenin + CC of the Bolshevik Party
The October/November 1917 revolution: causes, course and extent of revolution; leadership
and the establishment of Bolshevik authority; Sovnarkom and decrees and actions to Dec
Bolshevik consolidation, 1918–1924
The consolidation of the Communist dictatorship: the establishment of one-party control; the
removal of the Constituent Assembly; the ending of involvement in the First World War
The Civil War: causes and course; the role of Trotsky; the murder of the Tsar; the reasons for
the Red victory; government and control in wartime
Economic and social developments: state capitalism; social change; conditions in cities and
countryside during the Civil War; war communism; Red Terror: revolts of 1920–1921 including
the Tambov revolt and Kronstadt rising; the NEP and its political and economic impact
Foreign relations and attitudes of foreign powers: foreign intervention in the Civil War;
Comintern; the Russo-Polish War; discussions leading to the Rapallo Treaty; official
recognition and the repercussions of the 'Zinoviev letter'; Lenin's rule by 1924
Stalin’s rise to power, 1924–1929
The power vacuum and power struggle: ideology and the nature of leadership; Lenin's
testament; divisions and contenders for power: character, strengths and weaknesses of
Stalin, Trotsky, Bukharin, Kamenev, Rykov, Tomsky and Zinoviev
Ideological debates and issues in the leadership struggle: NEP and industrialisation;
'permanent revolution' versus 'Socialism in One Country'; how and why Stalin became party
leader and the outcome for the other contenders
Economic developments: reasons for and impact of the 'Great Turn'; the economic shift; the
launch of the first Five Year Plan and the decision to collectivise
Government, propaganda and the beginning of the Stalinist cult; Stalin's attitude to foreign
powers: China; Germany and the Treaty of Berlin; changes in the Comintern
© 2024 Grades Express