'A seminal work that significantly contributes to our understanding of the Soviet Union. It offers a fresh perspective on the Communist Party's role in Soviet society, emphasising the importance of grassroots activism and challenging conventional narratives about the nature of Soviet governance. Kokosalakis' thorough research, insightful analysis and compelling narrative make this book an invaluable resource for scholars and students of Soviet history and socialism …' Giannis Lainas, Europe-Asia Studies

'… the thesis is novel and well argued.' Jonathan Daly, SEER

By placing the party grassroots at the centre of its focus, Building Socialism presents an original account of the formative first two decades of the Soviet system. Assembled in a large network of primary party organisations (PPO), the Bolshevik rank-and-file was an army of activists made up of ordinary people. While far removed from the levers of power, they were nevertheless charged with promoting the Party's programme of revolutionary social transformation in their workplaces, neighbourhoods, and households. Their regular meetings, conferences and campaigns have generated a voluminous source base. This rich material provides a unique view of the practical manifestation of the Party's revolutionary mission and forms the basis of this insightful new narrative of how the Soviet republic functioned in the period from the end of the Russian Civil War in 1921 to its invasion by Nazi Germany in 1941.
Les mer
Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations and Russian terms; Introduction: the Communist Party in Leninist theory, Soviet practice and historical scholarship; 1. Building a workers' party; 2. Which way to socialism? NEP and the struggle for power; 3. Laying the foundations: the rank-and-file and rapid industrialisation; 4. Marxism and clean canteens: cultural activism between ideology and practice; 5. Democratisation and repression; 6. Party activism on the road to war; 7. Conclusion: the vanguard concept as a promising category for historical research; Bibliography.
Les mer
Provides the first detailed examination of rank-and-file communist party activism as an element of governance in the Soviet system.

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781009218849
Publisert
2025-04-10
Utgiver
Vendor
Cambridge University Press
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
294

Biografisk notat

Yiannis Kokosalakis is a Research Fellow in the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology at Bielefeld University. His research focuses on the history of the socialist states of the twentieth century and the experience of revolutionary movements in government and has published a number of articles on Soviet labour relations, ideological instruction, and political reform. He has held a European Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship and received a National University of Ireland Early Career Award for his work.