A Concise History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

The History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union has been one long struggle for power - a struggle marked by duplicity, opportunism, and ruthlessness. Here is an objective account of this struggle, covering the early formative days of the Party, its rise to power through revolution, its subsequent rule, and the politics and actions of the men who have molded and led it. This revised edition brings the story completely up to date with an analysis of the policies and problems of the Khrushchev era. Dr. Reshetar traces the Party's origins an growth prior to 1918; the evolution of Bolshevism under Lenin's leadership, and the conflicts with the Mensheviks and other factions. The emphasis is on ideological developments and shifts in the Party line, organizational and personnel changes, and the elements of contradiction as well as of continuity in the Party's history. After the Revolution, the history of the Party becomes essentially the history of he Soviet Union's leaders and policies. Dr, Reshetar analyzes the principles and practices of both Leninism and Stalinism, their similarities and differences, and the heritage left by each. The final chapter deals with Khrushchev's rise to power, the de-Stalinization campaign, the split with the Communist parties of Albania and China; the attempt at a detente with the West, and current cultural and economic policies.