The October Revolution in 1922
Following the Bolshevik accession to power in the October Revolution
many obstacles stood in the way to Bolshevik absolutism. The external
and internal enemies of Communist Bolshevism actively threatened to
topple Lenin and his Party. However it was the ability of the Party to
suppress or negotiate with its enemies, that helped the Bolsheviks
consolidate power by 1922, and do away with their enemies.
Though the Party in 1917 ruled with a degree of popular support,
institutions of coercion were quickly established to consolidate the
power of the Bolsheviks. The first step to Bolshevik absolutism was
political streamlining. The nation was turned into an effective one
party state with the closure of all anti Bolshevik newspapers, the
dissolution of the democratically elected Constituent Assembly and the
establishment of the Cheka- a new form of secret police. By dividing
and disbanding their political opponents, the Bolsheviks were able to
nullify the threat of internal enemies. The Constituent Assembly did
not represent a Bolshevik majority. The CA was made up of 1/4
Bolsheviks and 3/4 moderate socialist parties such as the SR’s.
Lenin’s ability to suppress these opponents underlines the theme of
Bolshevik ruthlessness between 1917 and 1921 to consolidate the
Party’s power.
The Civil War between the Red Bolsheviks and the Whites- the
collective group of opponents to the Leftist methods of the Bolshevik
was a major threat to Bolshevik power. The Bolsheviks willingness to
use any force “the ends justifies the means” is best represented in
War Communism- the radical policies used by the Party to sustain the
Red Army. Under War Communism the resented food requisitioning was
established to feed the Army. Despite the suffering and food shortages
amongst the civilian population, the food requisitioning detachments
confiscated grain at gunpoint from the farmers. Thus the Red Army was
well fed, and had high morale. The Red’s control of the railways and
the central highlands gave them a huge tactical advantage. They were
unified, and quickly mobilized to the different fronts to defend