The Origins of the Stalinist Political System

New and challenging perspectives on Soviet political development from 1917 to 1941.

Graeme Gill (Author)

9780521529365, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 18 July 2002

472 pages
22.9 x 15.3 x 3 cm, 0.752 kg

The Origins of the Stalinist Political System offers new and challenging perspectives on Soviet political development from October 1917 until the outbreak of war in June 1941. Explanations of the emergence of a Stalinist political system have hitherto concentrated upon either impersonal factors, such as economic backwardness and the process of bureaucratisation, or Stalin the political actor and the intricacies of elite conflict. Graeme Gill examines the relationship between institutional structures and the conventions, which are created to shape the activities of individuals and considers centre/periphery relations. He divides this period into four sequential but distinct political systems and examines how the patterns of these relationships shaped the course of development to 1941. This book incorporates a great deal of new material. It will become essential reading for specialists in, and students of Soviet history with special reference to politics under Stalin, the 1920s and the 1930s.

Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction: what is Stalinism?
Part I. Cohesive Oligarchy, 1917–1922: 1. The structure of sub-national politics
2. The structure of elite politics
Part II. The Fractured Oligarchy 1922–1929: 3. A strong party structure?
4. The divided elite
Part III. The Re-Formed Oligarchy 1930–1934: 5. Regions under pressure
6. The Stalinist elite?
Part IV. The Oligarchy Subdued 1935–1941: 7. The enduring structures of sub-national politics
8. Elite ravaged
Conclusion: why Stalinism?
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], European history [HBJD]