been reading Barbara Allen’s biography of Shlyapnikov. Very well written and sourced almost entirely by archival stuff. But depressing because the workers’ opposition gets run roughshod over by basically everyone in power (Lenin, Bukharin, Stalin, Trotsky, Molotov, etcetc). Been wondering what others’ have read on the workers’ opposition and what your takes are.
The 1930s have been by far the most depressing
But even the late 10s and early 20s have some “dude wtf” moments from leadership imo
Somewhat relatedly, what do folks think of the Democratic Centralists? I’ve actually never heard of that faction in the 1919-21 debates before
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I don’t think I’ve heard much about them before but it does seem like an interesting book. What were the demands/agenda of the Worker’s Opposition in general?
Their theses are on Marxist Internet Archive https://www.marxists.org/archive/shliapnikov/1921/workers-opposition.htm
But basically their main demands were:
a) demilitarization of the party’s style of work by permiting debate within the party, not appointing people to positions and moving them around without elections, not treating the suggestions of higher ranked party members as orders, and not accusing people of factionalism for literally just meeting with fellow parties members and discussing policy. They wanted a return to the comradely atmosphere and democratic culture of the underground period and revolutionary period to be clear, not western liberal democracy where all opinions are shouted publically from the rooftops.
b) workerization/proletarianization of the party. Non-proletarian elements (experts etc) that joined during the civil war to have memberships re-evaluated. Non-proletarians to be scrutinized more before joining party, including requiring a recomendation from a party member, which proletarian applicants wouldnt require. All party members required to do at least 3 months manual labour a year.
c) Promotion of worker-centred initiatives to fix the economy rather than NEP. Massive investments into heavy industry and increased production of agricultural tools. Pay raises for workers, and begin providing housing, food, etc for free. Encourage collectivisation so rural workers can afford new tools by pooling funds. Solicit investment from workers abroad instead of capitalists. Create state supports for workers to buy out their factories, particularly if the owner shuts them down.
d) increased role in economic planning/management for unions. Allow unions to strike, particularly in capitalist ownwed businesses. Stop intervening in union elections.
Interesting, I think the internal left critiques of the USSR give important lessons. The Soviets at the time faced immense danger of course: foreign invasions, the German military, disarray in food distribution, and White terror/reaction. How do you consolidate a revolutionary situation into something that can resist imperial power, without creating an ossified layer and a new abstraction from worker democracy?
