The Sickle and the Hammer: A Socialist History of the Soviet Union Episode 7 - The People and the Party
Mar 24, 2025
Discover the undercurrents that shaped the Bolshevik party and its relationship with the Russian peasantry and urban workers. Explore the significance of the mir system and why land ownership reforms led to class strife. Delve into why ordinary people, not just leaders, are crucial to understanding the revolution. Examine the Bolsheviks' rapid rise as a true workers' party amidst chaos and logistical challenges. Plus, witness the growing disillusionment of peasants and workers, setting the stage for the tumultuous events to come.
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Peasants Dominated The Population
- The peasantry still made up about 95% of Russia and shaped the revolution's course.
- Longstanding land inequalities and inefficient commune plots kept rural grievances central to 1917 politics.
Stolipin Reforms Created Rural Stratification
- Stolipin's reforms shifted land toward private ownership and concentrated holdings.
- This produced kulaks and rural class stratification that mirrored industrial capitalism.
Kulaks Became A Rural Petty Bourgeoisie
- Kulaks emerged as an upper peasant stratum owning best land and hiring poor peasants.
- Their interests aligned them more with defending property than with ending capitalist relations.
