Borot'bism: A Chapter in the History of the Ukrainian Revolution

Description

Much has been written on the 1917-1920 revolution in Ukraine, on the national movement, the Makhnovists and the Bolsheviks. Yet there were others with a mass following whose role has faded from history books. One such party was the Borot'bisty, the heirs of the mass Ukrainian Party of Socialist-Revolutionaries, an independent party seeking to achieve national liberation and social emancipation. Though widely known in revolutionary Europe in their day, the Borot'bisty were decimated during the Stalinist holocaust in Ukraine. Out of print for over half a century, this lost text by Ivan Maistrenko, the last survivor of the Borotbisty, provides a unique account on this party and its historical role. Part memoir and part history, this is a thought-provoking book which challenges previous approaches to the revolution and shows how events in Ukraine decided the fate not only of the Russian Revolution but the upheavals in Europe at the time. Contents Acknowledgements Foreword Editors Note Introduction by Christopher Ford 1. The Ukrainian Revolution from today’s vantage point. 2. The Colonial Terrain and Social Forces of the Revolution 3. Problems of the Ukrainian Revolution 4. The Tragedy of the Russo-Ukrainian War 5. The War within the Ukrainian Peoples Republic 6. What might have been and legacy of the Borotbisty Illustrations Biographical Sketch of Ivan Maistrenko Introduction to the 1954 edition by Ivan Maistrenko 1 Historical Antecedents A. Components of Ukrainian Political Thought 1. The Russian Influence 2. The Cult of the Peasant 3. Romantic Nationalism: The Search for Self-Existence B. Ideological Precursors of Borotbism 1. Drahomanov: The Father of Ukrainian Political Parties 2. Marxism Enters Ukraine C. The Experience of the Revolutionary Ukrainian Party (RUP) 1. The Problem of National Liberation 2. Formulation of the National Program 3. Nationalism Splits the RUP 4. The Lesson of the Spilka 2 Origins of the Ukrainian Party of Socialist Revolutionaries (UPSR), Predecessor of Borotbism A. Ideological Background of the UPSR B. The First Attempts at Formation of Ukrainian SR Groups Before 1917 C. The First SR Groups and Party Program 3 Ukrainian Party of Socialist Revolutionaries in 1917 A. From the First to the Second Congress of the UPSR 1. The First Congress of the UPSR 2. The Growth and Influence of the UPSR B. From the Second to the Third Congress of the UPSR 1. The Second Congress of the UPSR and its Turn to the Left 2. Influence of Bolshevik Ideas on the Ukrainian Revolution and on the UPSR C. From the Third Congress of the UPSR to the Liquidation of Ukrainian Revolutionary Democracy 1. The Third Congress of the UPSR and the Party’s movement toward the Soviet position 2. The Impact of the Russo-Ukrainian War 3. Failure of a Left SR Coup and of a Right SR Government 4 The Borotbisty Under the Hetmanate A. Worker and Peasant Opposition to the Hetman Coup 1. The Second All-Ukrainian Peasants’ Congress 2. The Second All-Ukrainian Workers’ Congress B. The Fourth Congress of the UPSR and the Split 1. The Fourth Congress 2. Aftermath of the Congress C. The Program of the Borotbisty 1. The Platform of the New Central Committee 2. The Weapon of Terror 3. The National Question D. Movement of the Borotbisty Toward a Non-Bolshevik Soviet Platform 1. The Kharkiv Province Party Conference 2. The August Conference of Party Emissaries 5 The Borotbisty in Revolt Against the Hetmanate and the Directory A. The General Uprising Against the Hetmanate B. Disaffection with the Directory 1. Failure of the Directory’s Military and Foreign Policy 2. Peasants’ Congresses Under Borotbist Influence C. Final Attempts to Reunite the UPSR D. Borotbist Ties With Pro-Soviet Parties E. Inherent Weakness of the Borotbisty 6 The Second Period of Bolshevik Rule in Ukraine A. The Bolshevik Approach to the Ukrainian Problem B. Borotbist Efforts to Form a Government 1. The Borotbist Central Revolutionary Committee 2 Attempted Use of Hryhoryiv’s Army C. Implementation of Bolshevik Occupation Policy D. Borotbism in Crisis 1. Internal Party Differences 2. Rejection by the CP(b)U E. Joint Action Against Hryhoryiv 1. Bolshevik Detente with the Borotbisty 2. Hryhoryiv’s revolt against the Bolsheviks 7 Borotbisty in the Denikin Underground A. Formation of the Ukrainian Communist Party (Borotbisty): UCP(B) B. Two Views on the Formation of the UCP(B) 1. The “Dual Roots” Theory 2. The Bolshevik Argument C. Borotbist Opposition to the Denikin Regime 1 The Borotbist Underground in Kyiv 2. Borotbist Activity Among the Partisans 8 The third Period of Bolshevik Rule in Ukraine A. Bolshevik Re-Examination of the Ukrainian Problem 1. Bolsheviks Face To Face with the Ukrainian Problem 2. The Guiding Hand of Lenin B. Bolshevik Resolutions 1. The Russian Bolsheviks 2. The Ukrainian Bolsheviks 3. The Borotbist-Ukrainian Bolshevik Agreement C. Final Borotbist Attempt To Organize A Ukrainian Red Army 1. Interlude with Makhno 2. Alliance With Ataman Volokh 3. The Trotsky Order D. The Growth and Dissolution of the UCP(B) 1. The Spread of Borot’bism Among the Masses 2. The Bolshevik Ring Around the Borotbisty 3. Dissolution of the UCP(B) E. Divers Views on the Dissolution of the Borotbisty 9 The Borotbisty in the CP(b)U A. The CP(b)U and the UCP(b) Compared 1 Composition of the CP(b)U 2. Composition of the UCP(b) B. A Letter From a Ukrainian SR Emigre C. Borotbism Versus Philistinism in the CP(b)U D Shumskism Appendix 1 Reminiscences of the Borotbist Organization in the District of Kobeliaky Appendix 2 Biographical Sketches of Individual Borotbisty Appendix 3 Platform of the Central Committee of the Ukrainian Party of Socialist Revolutionaries: The Present State of Affairs and Party Tactics (approved by Central Committee on June 3, 1918) Appendix 4 Draft Decree on Encouraging the Development of Culture of the Ukrainian People Explanatory Note to the Decree Text of the Decree Appendix 5 Memorandum of the Ukrainian Communist Party (Borotbisty) to the Executive Committeeof the Third Communist International I II IV [sic] SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT Soviet Responses to Maistrenko’s Borotbism Bibliography A. General Works B. Congresses and Conferences 1. Communist International 2. CP(b)U 3. RSDRP(b) and RCP(b) C. Articles D. Letters, Speeches, Draft Projects, Resolutions Index of Names Index of Subjects Notes