The Revolution Betrayed

Key Takeaways

1. Revolution's Promise vs. Bureaucratic Reality

The process of economic and cultural development in the Soviet Union has already passed through several stages, but has by no means arrived at an inner equilibrium.

Unfulfilled ideals. The Soviet Union, born from the ideals of a classless society, has yet to achieve its fundamental goals. The revolution, while overthrowing the old order, has not eliminated social contradictions, material inequalities, and political repressions. The initial vision of a society based on solidarity and harmonious satisfaction of needs remains distant.

Contradictions abound. The Soviet system is marked by deep contradictions. Material and cultural inequalities persist, governmental repressions stifle political expression, and factions struggle for power. Police repression, while suppressing open political conflict, cannot eliminate the underlying tensions and discontent. The gap between the revolution's promise and the reality of Soviet life is vast and undeniable.

Critical analysis needed. A scientific appraisal of the Soviet Union requires a critical approach, not blind worship of the accomplished fact. The focus should be on understanding what is, in order to better understand what is coming to be. The past is relevant only insofar as it helps illuminate the future. The Soviet state is not a static entity, but a dynamic process, and its future is not predetermined.

2. Economic Zigzags and the Struggle for Productivity

The line of development of the Soviet economy is far from an uninterrupted and evenly rising curve.

Turbulent economic history. The Soviet economy has experienced a series of sharp crises and policy shifts, from "military communism" to the New Economic Policy (NEP), and then to forced collectivization and industrialization. These zigzags reflect not only objective contradictions but also the leadership's inability to foresee and proactively address these challenges.

Forced industrialization. The Soviet Union achieved remarkable industrial growth, especially in heavy industries, but this was often at the expense of quality, efficiency, and consumer goods. The focus on quantity over quality, and the neglect of certain sectors, led to significant disproportions in the economy. The struggle to raise productivity of labor remains a central challenge.

Productivity lags. Despite the impressive growth rates, the Soviet Union still lags behind the capitalist West in terms of labor productivity, production costs, and the quality of goods. The bureaucracy's inability to effectively utilize labor power and its tendency to manipulate statistics further hinder economic progress. The Soviet economy is still in a preparatory stage, importing and assimilating Western technology and culture.

3. The Dual Nature of the Soviet State

Insofar as the state which assumes the task of socialist transformation is compelled to defend inequality – that is, the material privileges of a minority – by methods of compulsion, insofar does it also remain a “bourgeois” state, even though without a bourgeoisie.

Transitional regime. The Soviet Union is not yet a socialist society, but a transitional regime between capitalism and socialism. It is characterized by a dual nature: socialist in its defense of social property, but bourgeois in its distribution of goods according to capitalist norms. This contradiction is the source of many of the regime's problems.

State as a tool of inequality. The state, which was supposed to wither away under socialism, has instead grown into a powerful apparatus of compulsion. This is because the state is compelled to defend the material privileges of a minority, using methods of compulsion that are inherently "bourgeois." The bureaucracy, in its role as the guardian of inequality, has become an uncontrolled force dominating the masses.

Bureaucracy's rise. The rise of the bureaucracy is not due to psychological relics of the past, but to the material conditions of want and cultural backwardness. The need to defend inequality has led to the creation of a privileged minority, which in turn has strengthened the bureaucratic apparatus. The state, therefore, has not begun to die away, but has become more despotic.

4. The Rise of Inequality and Social Antagonisms

On the historic basis of destitution, aggravated by the destructions of the imperialist and civil wars, the “struggle for individual existence” not only did not disappear the day after the overthrow of the bourgeoisie, and not only did not abate in the succeeding years, but, on the contrary, assumed at times an unheard-of ferocity.

Want breeds conflict. The "struggle for individual existence," far from disappearing after the revolution, has intensified due to material want and low productivity. This struggle manifests itself in material and cultural inequalities, governmental repressions, and the struggle of factions. The lack of sufficient goods creates conflicts between city and country, collectives and individual peasants, and between the masses and the bureaucracy.

Privileged strata. A privileged minority has emerged, enjoying a disproportionate share of the national income and access to luxuries. This new aristocracy, with its automobiles, fine apartments, and special stores, stands in stark contrast to the poverty and hardship experienced by the majority. The bureaucracy, in its pursuit of self-interest, has become a major source of social inequality.

Speculation and corruption. The scarcity of goods and the arbitrary nature of prices have created fertile ground for speculation, theft, and corruption. The bureaucracy, in its attempt to control the economy, has also created opportunities for its own enrichment. The struggle for a share of the national income has become a political struggle, with the masses increasingly resentful of the privileges enjoyed by the ruling stratum.

5. Family, Youth, and Culture Under Thermidor

The October revolution honestly fulfilled its obligations in relation to woman.

Family's retreat. The revolution's initial attempt to replace the traditional family with social institutions has failed due to material and cultural limitations. The return to the family hearth, with its emphasis on home cooking and domestic chores, has placed a double burden on women. The state's inability to provide adequate childcare and social services has further exacerbated the situation.

Youth under control. The Soviet youth, while active in economic and cultural spheres, are denied political freedom and independent thought. They are subjected to a regime of obedience and conformity, with all questions decided for them from above. The bureaucracy fears the youth's potential for dissent and has taken measures to suppress any signs of independent thinking.

Culture under pressure. The bureaucracy's control extends to all spheres of culture, including science, literature, and art. Creative freedom is stifled, and mediocrity is promoted. The official doctrine of "socialist culture" is used to justify the suppression of independent thought and the promotion of bureaucratic interests. The Soviet Union is still far from creating a new socialist culture.

6. Foreign Policy: From Revolution to Status Quo

The Soviet bureaucracy became more self-confident, the heavier blows dealt to the working class.

Betrayal of internationalism. The Soviet bureaucracy has abandoned the goal of world revolution in favor of a policy of "socialism in one country" and the pursuit of a status quo. The Communist International, once a tool for world revolution, has been transformed into an instrument of Soviet foreign policy. The bureaucracy values the friendship of bourgeois radicals and reformist parliamentarians more than the support of the international proletariat.

Pacifist illusions. The Soviet Union's participation in the League of Nations and its embrace of pacifist slogans like "collective security" and "disarmament" are a betrayal of the revolutionary principles of the past. These policies serve to lull the toiling masses and to strengthen the position of the bureaucracy in the eyes of the capitalist world. The Soviet Union's alliances are based on temporary expediency, not on revolutionary solidarity.

Stalin's "comic misunderstanding." Stalin's assertion that the idea of exporting revolution is "nonsense" is a complete repudiation of the Bolshevik past. The Soviet Union, once a beacon of international revolution, has become a defender of national interests and a partner in the imperialist game. The bureaucracy's fear of revolution has led it to abandon its internationalist principles.

7. The Red Army: A Mirror of Soviet Society

The army is only a copy of the social relations.

Red Army's transformation. The Red Army, initially a revolutionary force, has become increasingly bureaucratized and hierarchical. The restoration of officers' ranks and the suppression of democratic principles within the army reflect the degeneration of the Soviet regime. The army, like the rest of Soviet society, is now characterized by inequality and privilege.

Militia system abandoned. The shift from a militia system to a regular army, with its emphasis on professional officers, is a further sign of the bureaucracy's retreat from revolutionary principles. The militia, which was supposed to be a tool of the people, has been replaced by a standing army that is increasingly separated from the masses. The restoration of the Cossack troops, a privileged and conservative force, is a particularly telling example of this trend.

Military doctrine. The Red Army's military doctrine has also undergone a transformation, from a focus on revolutionary warfare to a more conventional approach. The emphasis is now on technical proficiency and military power, rather than on the revolutionary spirit of the masses. The Red Army, once a symbol of proletarian revolution, has become a tool of the bureaucratic state.

8. The New Constitution: A Façade of Democracy

The new constitution wants to dissolve this class in “the nation” politically, long before it is economically dissolved in society.

Undemocratic process. The new Soviet constitution, hailed as the "most democratic in the world," was drafted and adopted in a completely undemocratic manner. The people were given no real opportunity to participate in its creation, and the entire process was controlled by the ruling bureaucracy. The constitution is a façade, designed to conceal the reality of bureaucratic rule.

Fictitious freedoms. The constitution's guarantees of freedom of speech, press, and assembly are meaningless in practice. These freedoms are severely restricted by censorship, police repression, and the monopoly of the ruling party. The secret ballot, while seemingly democratic, is designed to protect the bureaucracy from popular discontent, not to empower the people.

Party's monopoly. The new constitution enshrines the monopoly of the Communist Party, which is in reality the political machine of the bureaucracy. The party is declared to be the "guiding nucleus" of all organizations, both social and governmental. The constitution thus formalizes the bureaucracy's control over all aspects of Soviet life. The new constitution is a step back from socialist principles.

9. The Soviet Union: A Society in Transition

The Soviet Union is a contradictory society halfway between capitalism and socialism.

Unfinished process. The Soviet Union is a society in transition, caught between the ideals of socialism and the realities of a backward economy and a powerful bureaucracy. The contradictions within the system are growing, and the future of the Soviet Union is far from certain. The struggle between socialist and bourgeois tendencies is ongoing.

Bureaucracy's role. The bureaucracy, while playing a progressive role in developing the productive forces, is also a major obstacle to the achievement of socialism. It is a privileged and uncontrolled caste that is increasingly alienated from the masses. The bureaucracy's self-interest is in direct conflict with the goals of a classless society.

Future uncertain. The future of the Soviet Union will be determined by the struggle of living social forces, both within the country and on the world stage. The outcome of this struggle is not predetermined. The Soviet Union could move toward socialism, or it could slide back into capitalism. The key factor will be the role of the proletariat and its ability to overthrow the bureaucracy.

Last updated: January 25, 2025

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