Was terror the main method by which the Bolshevik leadership exercised control over the Party

between 1917 and 1924? Explain your answer.

During the years 1917-1924, Lenin’s government was in a very precarious situation. They had just won a
civil war which many considered a Pyrrhic victory. They also dealt with many revolts, namely the
Tambov Uprising in 1920 and the Kronshtadt Mutiny in 1921. Therefore, we can deduce that Lenin
wanted to limit his problems and not create more, and he did this by exercising fierce control over the
Bolshevik Party. He did this in many ways the most known one being terror, but he also centralized
power and ensured party loyalty through rewards and privileges. To assess which method was the main
method, we must analyse which method was the most effective, widespread and far-reaching.

Many people argue that terror was the main method of control and there is certainly much evidence for
that claim. For example, the Cheka (Lenin’s secret police) was used to intimidate, imprison and
ruthlessly kill any opposition. The Cheka purged 1/3 of the Bolshevik party which shows how any
opposition to Lenin was removed almost instantly. This also created an atmosphere of fear in the
members of the Bolshevik party who feared the consequences of any sign of discontent with Lenin’s
policies. It is estimated that the Cheka killed over 200,000 people during the years of the civil war. It is
important to note, however, that these people were also common people not just members of the
Bolshevik party which suggests that terror as a method of control was very far-reaching as a method of
removing opposition. The brutal put down of the Tambov Uprising where the Cheka sent thousands to
labour camps and their families killed created fear in the hearts of the members of the Bolshevik party
as they were worried of the reprisals should they dissent. However, the use of terror was not very
widespread as only a 1/3 of the party was purged - so it didn’t affect all members – compared to Stalin
who purged almost the entire party. Therefore, it is safe to say that while terror kept the members of
the Bolshevik party in line and was highly effective its effects were not very widespread implying that it
was perhaps not Lenin’s main method of control.

On the other hand, it could be argued that centralisation was Lenin’s main method of control. This is
because Lenin reduced the Sovnarkom to a mere rubber stamp in favour of the Politburo – a council of 7
of Lenin’s yes men. This shows how Lenin reduced opposition to his policies as many members of the
Bolshevik party were not consulted on policies and those that were happened to be those who agreed
with Lenin. This reduction of the Sovnarkom to a puppet institution was very effective at reducing
dissent as Lenin could decide on policies faster (seen in the civil war) without consultation and he had
full power over all decision making. This was very widespread and far-reaching as it effected the entirety
of the Bolshevik party most of which were not asked their opinions but simply commanded to agree lest
their families be sent to the gulags. During the civil war, Lenin also introduced the policy of War
communism. This allowed Lenin to take all resources from the public and use and redistribute them to
his pleasing. His seizure of all the grain from the peasants was the main cause of the Tambov Uprising.
This centralisation of economic resources demonstrates how Lenin not only had control over the party
(as this policy was unchallenged by the members of the Bolshevik Party) but also over the Russian
people. This policy could have been the reason he won the civil war demonstrating the effectiveness of
his overall goal of centralisation. Overall, the centralisation of power removed the ability of the
members of the Bolshevik party to challenge Lenin (seen as he enacted unfavourable policies without
opposition). Therefore, centralisation was very effective, and its impacts were far-reaching and
widespread hence many believe it was Lenin’s main method of control.

However, some say that Lenin’s main method of control was the loyalty he instilled into the members of
the Bolshevik party. For example, the infamous reward system known as nomenklatura kept all the
members of the party on their toes wanting to please Lenin more than other to win his favour. Lenin
decided to give privileges, positions and rewards to those who pleased him the most. Like Elizabeth I
who granted monopolies and rewards to those who supported her the most (patronage), Lenin did the
same which made everyone strive to show utmost loyalty. He also threatned to resign over arguments
and as Lenin was well-liked no one wished for him to leave and therefore the arguments stopped. He
also introduced the law On Party Unity in 1921 which banned factions within the Bolshevik party.
Overall, this was very effective as people want promotions and all they had to do was be loyal to Lenin
to get it.

To conclude, although all the above methods were the effective the most effective was terror and not
party loyalty because the party would fear the Cheka more than they would want to be promoted.
Terror also acted as a deterrent to the members which the nomenklatura system did not offer. In the
case of centralisation, it was used more to exert control over the nation rather than the party. While
terror did do both as well, it heavily focused on the Party hence 1/3 of it was purged. Therefore, I agree
that terror was the main method of control over the Bolshevik party as it was the most effective and had
the greatest impacts.