civil war

• New Soviet state


  Forged by the war and profoundly influenced its policies
• Politburo


  • 7-9 members
  • Became the primary decision-making body, not the Party Central Committee (around 40 members)
• Significance of Politburo

  • Allowed for rapid decisions, similar to UK War Cabinets
• Hierarchical military discipline

  • Reinforced within the Party due to the urgency of war
• Significance of hierarchical military discipline

  Set the tone for the Party's character post-war
• Party membership changes

  • Many new recruits from peasant backgrounds joined the Party
• Significance of new Party recruits

  Lacked Marxist knowledge but were loyal to the Party line for upward social mobility
• Extreme economic policies

  • Nearly cost the Bolsheviks the support of the people
• Significance of extreme economic policies

  Showed the challenges faced in maintaining control
• Red Empire creation

  1. Led to the creation of the Red Empire

  2. Abandonment of self-determination and internationalism
• Significance of Red Empire creation

  Marked a shift from earlier revolutionary ideals