Socialism in Russia

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • John Gooding

   Pages 1-18

3. Before Lenin

   • John Gooding

   Pages 19-33

4. The Vision, 1890–1917

   • John Gooding

   Pages 34-61

5. The Realization, 1917–24

   • John Gooding

   Pages 62-96

6. After Lenin, 1924–9

   • John Gooding

   Pages 97-117

7. Stalin’s Socialism, 1929–53

   • John Gooding

   Pages 118-144

8. Onward to Communism, 1953–64

   • John Gooding

   Pages 145-170

9. A Problem of Credibility, 1964–85

   • John Gooding

   Pages 171-186

10. The Alternative Tradition

    • John Gooding

    Pages 187-209

11. A New Socialism, 1985–91

    • John Gooding

    Pages 210-245

12. Conclusion

    • John Gooding

    Pages 246-253

13. Back Matter

    Pages 254-287

    PDF

This book asks three fundamental questions about the socialist experiment in twentieth-century Russia: How did Marxist ideas come to be implemented in Russia, a country entirely unsuited to them? Why did the experiment lead to such suffering and upheaval and prove so fruitless? And why did the attempt to return to a proper Marxism/Leninism bring about the rapid collapse of the experiment. In its answers, this book pays special attention to the shadow cast by Lenin throughout the entire Soviet era.

• communism
• Russia
• socialism
• Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)
• Vladimir Lenin

'Gooding has written a lucid and cogent commentary on the Soviet experiment in socialism, evaluating the various leaders and their policies in the light of how they contributed or detracted from the socialist project. It is an ideal introduction to Soviet history for those who are taking up the subject, and a stimulating interpretation for those who are already familiar with the subject of Gooding's book.' - James D. White, University of Glasgow, EHR

JOHN GOODING is Reader in History at the University of Edinburgh, and the author of Rulers and Subjects: Government and People in Russia, 1801-1991.

Policies and ethics