Life and Terror in Stalin's Russia 1934-1941

by Robert W. Thurston

Release Date: April, 1996

Edition: Hardcover

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Deserves recognition- groundbreaking

What generally has dominated the conversation about Stalin's regime has been recognized as a "Totalitarian Paradigm" by Philip Marsh, outstanding non-Marxist scientist in his essay "Stalin And Yezhov- An Extra-Paradigmatic View". His definition of this paradigm is that when researching this historical period, Western historician always proceeds from the assumption that Stalin was a dictator and his rule was monolithic and tyrannic, thus always negating new evidence that would suggest otherwise. A good example of this is Robert Conquest and the case of Kovalev. Conquest's standard accusations against Stalinist regime have traditionally been that it was elitist, bureucratic and priviledged, suppressed workers and peasants with ruthless force, was only interested with fabricated harvest records etc. When Conquest then found that these people who practiced this were the main targets of the purges and were considered as unbearable burdons for Leninist party (demonstrated in the case Kovalev who was purged for exploiting toilers) he simply whitewashed these people as "victims of lynching mood" while not grasping that he was himself protecting tyrannical strata which was the remnant of Czarist rule. He was later espoused for this- but still remains among the most respected scholars on Stalin, while more responsible research- based on archival data rather than rumors and gossip, basic sources for information respected in mainstream - has been simply downplayed as an attempt to "absolve Stalin from his crimes" while these critics themselves suffer from all-too-typical paradigm blindness. They don't understand that this new research questions whether we can even talk about "crimes", which is useless term and out of historical context. This work contains good deal of original material and is thus very respectable and reliable- but still, those who simply consider "Stalin The Tyrant" as absolute dogma won't accept new evidence that conradicts their beliefs- not because this evidence would be invalid- but because it CONTRADICTS this almost religious belief.

I, personally, have a story to tell: One of my friends- Russian emigre whose parents had to flee so that Khrusthev would not execute them- as he did to all those who he considered "Stalinists"- had a relative who is actually here in (United States of America) right now, who was unemployeed in the Soviet Union in the 40's. He found that there was a building work going on in Vorkutta, Siberia, examined and found it was GULAG. The only way to get there was to get arrested by NKVD. So, he went to NKVD and ASKED them to sent him there. They asked, "did you do a crime?", he replied "no, I'm looking for a work". In the camp, there were hundreds like him. You wouldn't even know who was a prisoner and who was a guard, and ordinary workers would form relations with prisoners and have children with them. They even had strike -guards, prisoners and everyone- when Khrustchev pulled coup de'tat and murdered Beria!

Thurston's work is as good and responsible than bourgeois one can be- and he deserves full recognition for it. The so-called "Getty-Ritterspon-phenomenon" throws new light to this period, during which Russians achieved more than probably any other nation in history.

Getty is proud, I'm sure

The new strain of "history from below" is on us, and it is truly postmodern in its attempts to fight retreating battles against the clear lineage of destruction in the Soviet State.

This book is horrible. I was hoping to find some good Left Revisionist histry to give students, but I will not find it here.

And that's the problem. I can't seem to find good left revisionist history. Anywhwere. It took two pages to see it in this book.

Left Revisionism is seen here in its pure and pathetic form. Looking hard to find some kind of scholarship to work some kind of sophisticated view of the disgusting events that took place in Stalin's Russia, I will have to go back to general Volkogonov to find anything worth reading on Stalin.

I always suspect I should give two chances to anyone who disagreees with me ideologically. And I am always leery of events which reinforce my political views, as I suspect that they are leading me down the same type of path that Believers hold everywhere.

But here I shouldn't worry. This is leftist tripe. You might want to read this book if only to confirm how bad the revisionist school has fared up against the Conquestian and Pipean view of the Soviet world. It is instructive to note how good the Anti-Soviet crowd was and how much of a vomiting rercord the crowd of Revisionists has accumulated.

Want some lively and plausibe history? Read "Stalin, Tragedies and Triumphs" by Volkogonov. This book is only good as a high seat for Junoir.