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Rethinking the Significance of Workers' Control in the Russian Revolution

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  • Carmen J. Sirianni

    (Northeastern University, Boston)

Abstract

Drawing upon recent Western and Soviet research, this paper reevaluates workers' control during and after the Russian Revolution. The old dichotomies of anarchic organization from below and authoritarian centralization from above are much too simplistic to capture the complex dynamic that characterized the movement and the tasks of institution-building. Workers' control, while hardly ideal, displayed many very positive characteristics of organization, co-ordination, discipline, maintaining production, as well as democratic control, representation, bargaining and dignity. In addition, although the conditions of revolution and civil war limited democratic possibilities, the potential of workers' control for medium-term development were considerably greater than recognized by Bolshevik ideology, and presented one element in a realistic nonStalinist industrialization strategy in the 1920s and beyond.

Suggested Citation

  • Carmen J. Sirianni, 1985. "Rethinking the Significance of Workers' Control in the Russian Revolution," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 6(1), pages 65-91, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:6:y:1985:i:1:p:65-91
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X8561004
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