Stalin’s “Revolution from Above” or the Radical Etatization of the Early Soviet Rural Society? To Rethink Approaches
https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2025-24-1-144-155
Abstract
The concept “revolution from above” as a large-scale socio-political experiment demands a nuanced theoretical understanding. This article examines a model that provides a comprehensive analysis of this experience through the lens of social and humanities sciences. The “revolution from above” was an ambitious project that was realized from a “seeing like a state” perspective. However, it led to destructive consequences for both society and the system as a whole. The study highlights several “traps” encountered during the implementation of “socialist transformations”, such as limited transformations, lack of necessary financial resources, normalization of emergency measures, limited potential, unintended consequences. These factors played a pivotal role in the negative effects observed. To explore the transformation of rural Soviet society at the turn of the 1920s – 1930s, the article proposes a model of radical etatization. It concludes that the “revolution from above” was a natural culmination of the comprehensive process of etatization that had been underway since 1917. The forced and etatization of society during this period was executed by the party state through radical measures in both the political and socio-economic spheres. Consequently, this provoked a corresponding radicalization of positions and actions from rural society. The radical etatization project in rural areas was characterized by significant social conflict between the interests of the party state and those of early Soviet society.This article, which incorporates regional examples, delineates the destructive consequences of such societal transformations.
About the Author
E. A. Ignatieva
Novosibirsk State University
Russian Federation
Evgeniya A. Ignatieva RSCIAuthor ID 1077217
Russian Federation
Evgeniya A. Ignatieva RSCIAuthor ID 1077217
Novosibirsk
References
1. Bordyugov G. A. Politika chrezvychainykh mer v resheniyakh Politbyuro TsK VKP(b) mezhdu “revolyutsiei sverkhu” i bol’shim terrorom. 1930–1936 gg. [The Emergency Policies in Decisions of the Communist Central Committee Politburo between “Revolution from above” and the Great Terror, 1930–1936]. Vestnik RUDN. Seriya: Istoriya Rossii [RUDN Journal of Russian History], 2011, no. 2, pp. 62–72. (in Russ.)
2. Bordyugov G. A., Kozlov V. A. Istoriya i kon’yunktura: sub’ektivnye zametki ob istorii sovetskogo obshchestva [History and Conjuncture: Subjective Notes on the History of Soviet Society]. Moscow, Gospolitizdat Publ., 1992, 352 p. (in Russ.)
3. Danilov V. P. K probleme al’ternativ 20-kh godov [On the Alternatives of the 1920s]. In: Danilov V. P. Istoriya krest’yanstva Rossii v XX veke. Izbrannye trudy [History of Russian Peasantry in the 20th Century. Selected Works]. In 2 parts. Moscow, 2011, pt. 2, pp. 724–741. (in Russ.)
4. Danilov V. P. Padenie sovetskogo obshchestva: kollaps, institutsional’nyi krizis ili termidorianskii perevorot? [The Fall of Soviet Society: Collapse, Institutional Crisis or Thermidorian Reaction?]. In: Kuda idet Rossiya?.. Krizis institutsional’nykh sistem: Vek, desyatiletie, god. (Shestoi) Mezhdunarodnyi simpozium, 15–16 yanvarya 1999 g. [Where is Russia Going?.. Crisis of Institutional Systems: Century, Decade, Year. (Sixth) International Symposium, January 15–16, 1999]. Moscow, 1999, pp. 11–27. (in Russ.)
5. David-Fox M. Peresekaya granitsy: modernost’, ideologiya i kul’tura v Rossii i Sovetskom Soyuze [Crossing Borders: Modernity, Ideology and Culture in Russia and the Soviet Union]. Moscow, NLO Publ., 2020, 456 p. (in Russ.)
6. Dudnik S. I. Stalinskaya modernizatsiya kak istoricheskii opyt [Stalin’s Modernization as a Historical Experience]. Vestnik Sankt-Peterburgskogo universiteta. Filosofiya i konfliktologiya [Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Philosophy and Conflict Studies], 2019, vol. 35, iss. 3, pp. 394–405. (in Russ.)
7. Fitzpatrick Sh. Stalinskie krest’yane. Sotsial’naya istoriya Sovetskoi Rossii v 30-e gody: derevnya [Stalin’s Peasants: Resistance and Survival in the Russian Village after Collectivization]. Moscow, ROSSPEN Publ., 2001, 422 p. (in Russ.)
8. Ignatieva E. A. Deyatel’nost’ v mobilizatsionnom rezhime: agenty vlasti v sibirskoi derevne v 1929–1930-kh godakh [Activity in the Mobilization Regime: Agents of Power in the Siberian Village in 1929–1930]. Istoricheskii kur’er [Historical Courier], 2023, no. 1 (27), pp. 105–115. (in Russ.)
9. Ivnitsky N. A. Kollektivizatsiya i raskulachivanie (nachalo 30-kh gg.) [Collectivization and Dispossession in the Early 1930s]. Moscow, Interpraks Publ., 1994, 267 p. (in Russ.)
10. Ivnitsky N. A. Repressivnaya politika sovetskoi vlasti v derevne (1928–1933 gg.) [The Repressive Policy of the Soviet Government in the Countryside (1928–1933)], Moscow, IRI RAN, Uni. of Toronto, 2000, 350 p. (in Russ.)
11. Kara-Murza S. G. Sovetskaya tsivilizatsiya ot nachala do Velikoi Pobedy [The Soviet Civilization from the Beginning to the Great Victory]. Moscow, Eksmo Publ., 2004, 637 p. (in Russ.)
12. Kessler H. Kollektivizatsiya i begstvo iz derevni – sotsial’no-ekonomicheskie pokazateli [Collectivization and Fleeing from Countryside – Socio-Economic Indicators, 1929–1939]. In: Ekonomicheskaya istoriya. Obozrenie [Economic History Review]. Moscow, 2003, vol. 9, pp. 77–79. (in Russ.)
13. Khanin G. I. Tri varianta pervogo pyatiletnego plana: ot realizma k utopii [From Realism to Utopia: The Three Versions of the Soviet Union’s First Five-year Plan]. Terra Economicus, 2022, no. 20 (3), pp. 52–71. (in Russ.)
14. Kozer L. Funktsii sotsial’nogo konflikta [The Functions of Social Conflict]. Moscow, Ideya-Press, Dom intellektual’noi knigi, 2000, 205 p. (in Russ.)
15. Krasilnikov S. A. Krizisy vlasti i trudovye konflikty v period nepa [Power Crises and Labor Conflicts during the NEP Period]. ЕСО, 2021, no. 4 (562), pp. 45–70. (in Russ.) DOI 10.30680/ ECO01317652-2021-4-45-70
16. Merton R. K. Neprednamerennye posledstviya prednamerennogo sotsial’nogo deistviya [The Unanticipated Consequences of Purposive Social Action]. Sotsiologicheskii zhurnal [Sociological Journal], 2009, no. 2, pp. 5–17. (in Russ.)
17. Ozerova O. A. Vnutripartiinoe soprotivlenie chrezvychainoi politike v Zapadnoi Sibiri (1928–1930 gg.) [Internal Party Resistance to Extraordinary Policy in Western Siberia (1928–1930)]. Cand. Hist. Sci. Diss. Omsk, 2004, 231 p. (in Russ.)
18. Schmid A. P. Radicalisation, De-Radicalisation, Counter-Radicalisation: A Conceptual Discussion and Literature Review. The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague Research Paper. March 2013, vol. 4, no. 2, 97 p. DOI 10.19165/2013.1.02
19. Scott J. Blagimi namereniyami gosudarstva [Paved with Good Intentions of State]. Moscow, Universitetskaya kniga Publ., 2005, 566 p. (in Russ.)
20. Senyavsky A. S. Sotsial’naya dinamika Rossii v XX veke [Social Dynamics of Russia in the 20th Century] In: Etot protivorechivyi XX vek: k 80-letiyu so dnya rozhdeniya akademika Yu. A. Polyakova [This Controversial 20th Century: To the 80th Anniversary of the Birth of Academician Yu. A. Polyakov]. Moscow, 2001, pp. 283–297. (in Russ.)
21. Shikhardin N. V. Kontseptsiya etatizatsii: A. Lefevr i L. Al’tyusser [Conception of Etatisation: H. Lefebvre and L. Althusser]. Vestnik NSU. Series: Philosophy], 2008, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 166– 171. (in Russ.)
22. Teplyakov A. G. OGPU–NKVD protiv krest’yanstva: obshchee i osobennoe v “massovykh operatsiyakh” nachala 1930-kh gg. i “kulatskoi operatsii” 1937–1938 gg. [Joint State Political Directorate (OGPU) – People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD) against the Peasantry: General and Special in the “Mass Operations” of the Early 1930s and the “Kulak operation” of 1937–1938]. In: 1929: “Velikii perelom” i ego posledstviya: Materialy XII Mezhdunarodnoi nauchnoi konferentsii (Ekaterinburg, 26–28 sentyabrya 2019 g.). [1929: “Great break” and its Consequences: Proceedings of the 12th International Scientific Conference (Yekaterinburg, September 26–28, 2019)]. Moscow, 2020, pp. 221–230. (in Russ.)
23. Trotsenko N. D. Dvadtsatipyatitysyachniki v Sibiri (1929–1933 gg.) [The 25-thouthenders in Siberia (1929–1933)] In: Sotsial’naya mobilizatsiya v stalinskom obshchestve (konets 1920-kh – 1930-e gg.) [Social Mobilization in Stalinist Society (Late 1920s – 1930s)]. Novosibirsk, 2013, pp. 109–177. (in Russ.)
24. Viola L. Krest’yanskii bunt v epokhu Stalina: kollektivizatsiya i kul’tura krest’yanskogo soprotivleniya [Peasant Rebels under Stalin: Collectivization and the Culture of Peasant Resistance]. Moscow, ROSSPEN Publ., 2010, 366 p. (in Russ.)
25. Vishnevsky A. G. Serp i rubl’: konservativnaya modernizatsiya v SSSR [Sickle and Ruble: Conservative Modernization in the USSR]. Moscow, OGI Publ., 1998, 429 p. (in Russ.)
Review
For citations:
Ignatieva E.A. Stalin’s “Revolution from Above” or the Radical Etatization of the Early Soviet Rural Society? To Rethink Approaches. Vestnik NSU. Series: History and Philology. 2025;24(1):144-155. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2025-24-1-144-155
Views:
133
Email this article 