How Did The Differing Approaches To Land Reform In The Aftermath Of The Russian Revolution Of 1917, As Embodied By The Policies Of The Bolsheviks And The Socialist Revolutionaries, Reflect The Broader Ideological Tensions Between The Two Parties Regarding The Role Of The Peasantry In The Revolutionary Process?

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The differing approaches to land reform between the Bolsheviks and the Socialist Revolutionaries (SRs) after the 1917 Russian Revolution were rooted in their distinct ideological perspectives on the peasantry's role in the revolutionary process.

  1. Bolshevik Approach: The Bolsheviks, under Lenin's leadership, initially aligned with the SRs by implementing the Decree on Land, which abolished private land ownership and redistributed land to peasants. However, their long-term vision, influenced by Marxist ideology, emphasized centralized control and eventual collectivization of agriculture. This approach reflected their belief in the primacy of the proletariat, with the peasantry serving as allies rather than the main revolutionary force. The Bolsheviks sought to integrate the peasantry into a broader socialist economic structure, which later led to policies like forced collectivization under Stalin.

  2. Socialist Revolutionary Approach: The SRs, in contrast, viewed the peasantry as the central revolutionary force. They advocated for immediate and permanent land redistribution to individual peasants, believing that land ownership would empower them and secure their support for the revolution. The SRs' focus was on radical agrarian reform to address peasant grievances directly, without the centralized control envisioned by the Bolsheviks.

  3. Ideological Tensions: The Bolsheviks' centralized, proletariat-led approach clashed with the SRs' emphasis on peasant empowerment and spontaneous revolutionary action. The SRs' focus on land ownership as a means to mobilize the peasantry stood in contrast to the Bolsheviks' broader strategy of economic restructuring and centralized control. These differences ultimately led to political conflicts, with the Bolsheviks suppressing the SRs as they consolidated power.

In summary, the land reform policies of the Bolsheviks and SRs reflected their broader ideological differences: the Bolsheviks prioritized centralized control and the leadership of the proletariat, while the SRs focused on empowering the peasantry through direct land redistribution.