1918-24: Consolidation of a Communist Dictatorship
‘From the revolution of October/November 1917 to the new
constitution of July 1918, Lenin’s only aim was to establish a one-
party state.’ Assess the validity of this view.
How was a one-party state established? The first way in which a one-party state
was established was through the removal of the Constituent Assembly – the socialist
revolutionaries only just had a majority, and therefore, this was leading towards a
democracy rather than a one-party state – he claimed this was a “dictatorship of the
proletariat”.
What other aims were there? Another aim was the improvement of life for
workers. This can be seen in the 8-hour working day, which was introduced in October
1917, alongside social insurance. Additionally, one of Lenin’s aims was to end Russian
involvement in WW1. This can be seen through the harsh nature of the Treaty of Brest-
Litovsk, highlighting the urgency of Russia to withdraw from the war.
How successfully was a one-party state established? Rather successfully –
the Party ended support for the Church and the Soviet Constitution of July 1918 appeared
democratic, despite it actually being a dictatorship. This meant that Lenin and the
Sovnarkom could effectively make decisions without any real outside influence, and other
parties had already been banned. No-one could disagree with Stalin from outside the
Party.
Factors Within Theme
Political challenges – Constituent Assembly
Foreign Policy – Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
Social Policy – 8 hour working day, social insurance, abolition of the justice system
Historiography
‘From the revolution of October/November 1917 to the new
constitution of July 1918, Lenin’s only aim was to establish a one-
party state.’ Assess the validity of this view.
Conclusion: To conclude, the view is largely valid that Lenin’s only aim was to “establish
a one-party state”. When considering his social policies and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk,
it’s clear that these were just methods by which he further consolidated Bolshevik power
by meeting the needs of the workers. Additionally, his disregard of the Constituent
Assembly and aggressive manner in which he seized the machinery of government
suggests that he had no intention of establishing anything other than a one-party state.
It can also be suggested that, within this time frame, a one-party state hadn’t been fully
“established” as other political parties hadn’t been officially banned yet, but it’s clear
that this was his end-goal, based on his actions in this short time frame.
Points
One-Party State
Yes
o Constituent Assembly disregarded
, Bolsheviks had only 24% of the votes
Forcibly closed – 12 civilians killed when they protested against this
o Seizing machinery of government
Red Army established Jan 1918 – professional
Threats used to take State Banks (took 10 days and armed force)
Workers given control of railways
Purged civil servants
o Remove oppostion
October 1917 – banned opposition press (Decree on the Press)
Cheka set up – 7th December
Kadets denounced – leading members arrested
No
o Not all opposition removed
Other political parties banned 1921
Social Policy
Yes
o Oct 1917
8 hour work day
Social insurance
Decree on Land
o Nov 1917
Abolition of titles and class distinctions
Workers control the factories
Right of self-determination for all parts of the former Russian
Empire
Women declared equal to men (can own their own property)
o Church
Jan 1918 – separation of Church and state
Dec 1917 – church land nationalised
Marriage and divorce become civil matters
No
o Right to self-determination
Only paper measure – Russia didn’t have control of these areas
anymore
o Nov 1917 – abolition of justice system
End Involvement in WW1
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
o “peace, bread and land”
1917 Decree on Peace with 'with no annexations, no
indemnities'
Signed 3rd March 1918
3 billion roubles – war reparations
Lost 1/6 Russia’s population
2 million square km land – including area that produced 1/3 of
Russia’s agricultural produce
¼ Russia’s railway lines
¾ Russia’s iron and coal supplies
o Ultimately, this was a promise that the Provisonal Government couldn’t
keep
Helped to consolidate the one-party state through promise of policy
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