Essay topic on Russian anarchists

[Dolerite]

Sorry if this is the wrong area for this kind of question, but could anyone suggest an essay topic for my free-choice history essay? I am particularly interested in the history of the Russian anarchists prior to the 1917 revolution and I've been reading some of Peter Kropotkin's works. However, I'm stuck at picking out an essay question that can follow an argument. Could anyone help me choose one? Cheers.

[Communist Theory]

Animal Farm
Communism is defined as “a socioeconomic structure and political ideology that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless society based on common ownership and control of the means of mass production and property in general” (“Communism”). In the book Animal Farm the owner of the farm, Jones, is ousted by his starving and overworked animals that are inspired by Old Major. After the animal revolution the animals establish Animalism which follows the basic idea of Communism. Animal Farm is by no means a simple children’s story, it is a very complex tale woven by George Orwell that represents the beginnings of the Russian Revolution and the events that followed after.
Animal Farm was written to reflect the events of the Russian Revolution. The animals revolting and running Jones off the farm and the rise of Animalism is used to represent the overthrowing of Tsar Alexander in Russia and the rise of Communism.
With the animals representing people involved in the Russian Revolution.
Boxer is viewed as the Proletariat or the workers, Mollie being Bourgeois or the upper and middle class. Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin, and Snowball represents Leon Trotsky. In Russia, Stalin and Trotsky were both trying to inherit Lenin’s position after he died with Stalin having Trotsky exiled. The leaders of Animal Farm become increasingly cruel and corrupt as the story progresses, with Napoleon running Snowball out of Animal Farm because he was winning the other animals support. The pigs, near the very end of the story, learn to walk and hold whips.
The animals view all humans as lazy and greedy, so they create seven commandments that are so they do not become like the humans. But over time Napoleon orders the commandments changed to benefit himself and the other pigs. Napoleon in the beginning works for the good of the animals but he becomes lazy and corrupt, breaking all commandments set forth at the rise Animalism, and eventually dealing with and socializing with the humans. Animal Farm is a far cry from a simple child’s story but a very intricate tale meant to be interpreted and enjoyed by “filthy” humans. Power has been known to corrupt people, just like it corrupted Napoleon in this story. While not all humans become corrupt with power, it does happen.

[InTheMatterOfBoots]

To what extent did anarcho-syndicalism represent a historical influence on the Soviet model of workers organisation?

[ComradeOm]

Sorry if this is the wrong area for this kind of question, but could anyone suggest an essay topic for my free-choice history essay? I am particularly interested in the history of the Russian anarchists prior to the 1917 revolution and I've been reading some of Peter Kropotkin's works. However, I'm stuck at picking out an essay question that can follow an argument. Could anyone help me choose one? Cheers.Are you looking for 'anarchism in Russia' or 'Russian anarchists' prior to 1917? Keep in mind that the most prominent Russian revolutionaries, of any creed, would have spent the vast majority of their revolutionary lives in exile abroad

One angle that you might look at is the very strong Russian traditions of political terrorism and radicalism and how this impacted anarchism (and vice versa)


To what extent did anarcho-syndicalism represent a historical influence on the Soviet model of workers organisation? I would say very limited. I'm no expert so feel free to correct the below but I feel that there are two good reasons as to say this

In the first place the most obvious reason is that the soviets, while obviously unprecedented expressions of worker conciousness, were not particularly syndicalist in character. Most obviously they were not union based an existed separately from union structures but, more subtly, the soviets were never intended to be organs of governance (of industry or otherwise), instead being designed to be political bodies

Secondly, there is the historic weakness of anarchism in Russia. While it was certainly present in both 1905 and 1917 it was never a mass movement comparable to Social Democracy. Those anarchist organisations that did exist tended to be scattered and isolated. Many anarchists did enter the Bolshevik party but I've seen no evidence that they had any real influence on the latter. A good essay on this, and the relation between anarchism and Communism in general, is Hobsbawm's Bolshevikism and the Anarchists

[InTheMatterOfBoots]

I would say very limited. I'm no expert so feel free to correct the below but I feel that there are two good reasons as to say this

In the first place the most obvious reason is that the soviets, while obviously unprecedented expressions of worker conciousness, were not particularly syndicalist in character. Most obviously they were not union based an existed separately from union structures but, more subtly, the soviets were never intended to be organs of governance (of industry or otherwise), instead being designed to be political bodies

Secondly, there is the historic weakness of anarchism in Russia. While it was certainly present in both 1905 and 1917 it was never a mass movement comparable to Social Democracy. Those anarchist organisations that did exist tended to be scattered and isolated. Many anarchists did enter the Bolshevik party but I've seen no evidence that they had any real influence on the latter. A good essay on this, and the relation between anarchism and Communism in general, is Hobsbawm's Bolshevikism and the Anarchists

I'm aware of this through Avrich et al. I only mentioned it because since the Soviet collapse academics have been given greater access to archives and there are a couple of works that have suggested that anarcho-syndicalism was far more influential (as an idea not as an organised entity) than history suggests.

I don't read Hobsbawm anymore. His analysis of anarchism is essentially Stalinist and probably the most consistently inaccurate rubbish I have ever encountered (partiularly his "history" of the Spanish anarchists in the revolution).

[Dolerite]

Thanks for the pointers. I think I am slanting towards the history of anarchy rather than the anarchists, I had the idea of "to what extent did the anarchist movement in Russia have an effect on the Bolshevik revolution", but I think I am getting confused between the anarchists and populists/terrorists. Another idea I had was something along the lines of "The Russian Revolution of 1917 was an example of Bakunin's predictions of the failings of a socialist state". That was worded really badly, but nevermind. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

[Sasha]

what influence did the pre revolution anarchists/nihilists have on the revolutionary movement both in russia and abroad?

might be intresting, i know for sure that the likes of emma goldman where heavy influnced by the strugle and repression of russian nihilists and the exhiled anarchists.

[ComradeOm]

Another idea I had was something along the lines of "The Russian Revolution of 1917 was an example of Bakunin's predictions of the failings of a socialist state". That was worded really badly, but nevermind. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.Depends on the level you're writing for. There should be plenty of internet sources out there that reference Bakunin in criticising the Soviet state. It is however primarily a discussion of political theory rather than history per se

[Dolerite]

Ah, true, I hadn't thought of that. It's only at a year 12 level.

[Communist Theory]

So your only 12 and doing a paper on Anarchy

[Dolerite]

I'm not sure how it works in other countries, but I am 17 and in year twelve (the final year of education before university in Australia).

[ZeroNowhere]

"The Russian Revolution of 1917 was an example of Bakunin's predictions of the failings of a socialist state". That was worded really badly, but nevermind. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.'
Don't.
No, really, don't.


So your only 12 and doing a paper on Anarchy
Firstly... And?
Secondly, I think he meant 'year 12' as in 'grade 12', as opposed to '12 years old', though I could be wrong. Still, quite a few schools around here use the word 'year' rather than 'grade'.
As for a history of anarchism in Russia, I don't think I know of any that don't focus on the Makhnovists. Sorry about that. :(
Still, how free choice is the history essay (as in, does it have to be about Russia, or can it be about pretty much anything)?

[Dolerite]

The choice is anything past 1500AD to do with history. I think a kid did it on the history Led Zeppelin a few years ago. I guess I am interested in anarchism and Russia so I thought I could combine the two. Actually Makhno could be interesting, I don't know much about him other than he had a cool moustache though.

[Communist Theory]

Oh I didn't see the year before the 12.
I get it now that I look at that post again.
Sorry I don't know anything about the subject or I would gladly have some input.

[ComradeOm]

If you're determined to write about anarchism in Russia then I'd go with Makhno in the Ukraine. He'll present his own challenges (not least finding an impartial bio) but this is probably the only example of anarchists organising in any real numbers during the Russian Revolution. For the rest of country anarchism was disorganised and localised; not impossible to write on but probably requiring more research and effort than you'll be expected to produce. Its not like Spain where you can talk about broad organisations such as the CNT

Alternatives that spring to mind would be individual biographies of 19th or 20th anarchists; the employment of terrorist tactics by Russian anarchists and populists; or a case study of anarchism in a certain city/province (Petrograd being the obvious one). I'll have a look through my bibliographies later tonight and see if there's any relevant recommendations

[Invariance]

The best book I have seen on anarchist history/theory as an overall topic, is Marshall's Demanding the Impossible - A History of Anarchism. In it, he covers many of the main anarchist thinkers, as well as the anarchists 'in action.' I can't post links but here: megaupload.com/?d=RM7WJC4E is a copy of it (you have to enter in the www). Its 835 pages, so its really comprehensive (and hence, its large- 36 megabytes). I hope you find it useful.


There should be plenty of internet sources out there that reference Bakunin in criticising the Soviet state. It is however primarily a discussion of political theory rather than history per seI hope it would be primarily a political discussion versus a historical one - Bakunin was rotting long before even the first Soviets were formed. :-p

Vinnie.

[Dolerite]

Thanks! You've all been a great help. I'm tossing up between the Populists and Makhno now, I think it'd be hard to present an argumentitive essay question from a more biographical view, non?
Edit: What would be a good question for Makhnovism? I was thinking something like "what effect did contemporary anarchist movements have on the policy of the Bolsheviks". Sorry if that is a really bad question again, I guess I don't really know enough about the topic yet.

[Dolerite]

Am I allowed to bump this thread? I hope so, you people wouldn't be into oppressing anyone. Anyway, I've narrowed it down to "What effect did the Makhnovists have on the Russian Revolution" or "What effect did Bolshevik policy have on the Makhnovist uprising". Any thoughts on which would have more to write about would be muchly appreciated.

[Jack]

Conflict between the Red and Black armies?