Romancing the revolution : the myth of Soviet democracy and the British Left / Ian Bullock.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bullock, Ian, 1941- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Socialist parties--Great Britain--History--20th century.

Socialist parties.

Socialism--Great Britain--History--20th century.

Socialism.

Soviet Union--Foreign public opinion, British.

Soviet Union.

Soviet Union--Politics and government--1917-1936.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (417 pages)

Place of Publication:

Athabasca University Press 2011

Edmonton, Alberta : AU Press, 2011.

Language Note:

English

System Details:

text file

Summary:

Over two decades have passed since the collapse of the USSR, yet the words ""Soviet Union"" still carry significant weight in the collective memory of millions. But how often do we consider the true meaning of the term ""Soviet""? Drawing extensively on left-wing press archives, Romancing the Revolution traces the reactions of the British Left to the idealized concept of Soviet democracy. Focusing on the turbulent period after the 1917 Russian Revolution, author Ian Bullock examines the impact of the myth of Soviet democracy: the belief that Russia was embarking on a brave experiment in a form

Contents:

Introduction

Well-prepared ground: the British left on the eve of the Russian Revolution

Intitial responses to the Russian revolution: the British left in 1917 and the Leeds "Soviet" convention

The Bolsheviks and the British left: the October revolution and the suppression of the constituent assembly

The myth established: the positive view of Soviet Democracy

Polarized Social-Democrats: denunciation and debate

Equivocal reformists: the independent Labour Party, the guild Socialists and the reaction to Kautsky

The dictatorship of the Proletariat

The independent Labour Party and the third international

"An infantile disorder": Communist unity and the brief life of the Communist party (British section of the third international)

British Bolsheviks": the Socialist Labour Party

Pankhurst's dreadnought and the (original) fourth internationals: "Left Communism" and Soviet Democracy

The early British Communist party: Soviet Democracy deferred and redefined

Endings and conclusions.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9786613370303

9781926836379

1926836375

9781283370301

1283370301

9781926836133

1926836138

OCLC:

816878096

Publisher Number:

heb40012 hdl