The Soviet Union and the Stalin Question
- Compiled by M. Rodsky –

Is it true that millions of people were murdered by the Bolsheviks? Was Stalin really an ally of Hitler at one time? Did Stalin betray the revolution? Was Stalin a butcher? What is the difference between Trotskyism and Marxism-Leninism? What is Revisionism? What about the Bolsheviks like Bukharin & Zinoviev?

If you struggle with any of these question, or if you want to debate these issues, you are going to want to participate in this study course.

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1.) Lies Concerning the History of the Soviet Union - Saturday January 31st, 2004 @ 3:00 PM

Is it true that millions were executed in the Soviet Union by the Stalinist regime? What about the Ukrainian Famine, collectivisation, and the purges? What actually caused these deaths? Where are the numbers coming from? What are the factual statistics? Who are the people perpetuating these false myths? What role did fascism and sympathizers of fascism play in these myths? This study deals with these issues and more....

Main reading:

• Lies Concerning the History of the Soviet Union by Mario Sousa

Extra readings:

• Exaggerations against Stalin

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2.) 100,000,000 People killed by Communism: Fact or Fiction? - Saturday Febuary 7th, 2004 @ 3:00 PM
In 1999, a book compiled by several authors entitled 'The Black Book of Communism' was published charging that Communism has caused the death of 100 Million people the world over.

This article is an exploration and critique of those numbers, why they are mathematically incorrect, and how many of the deaths were caused by other factors, not the fault of Communism.

Reading:

• Maoist Internationalist Movement's Review of the 'Black Book of Communism'

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3.) The Famine in Ukraine: What is the Truth? - Saturday Febuary 14th, 2004 @ 3:00 PM
Was there really a man made famine in the Ukraine, or has this been exaggerated to the point of myth? What role did fascism play in creating this myth? Who are the people still perpetuating this myth today?

Main readings (Choose one or more from the following):

• In Search of a SOVIET HOLOCAUST (short reading)
• The Hoax of the Man-Made Ukraine Famine of 1932-33 (longer reading)

Extra readings (optional; if attended the first two studies disregard):

• Lies Concerning the History of the Soviet Union by Mario Sousa (scroll down and read 'The myth concerning the famine in the Ukraine')
• Maoist Internationalist Movement's Review of the 'Black Book of Communism' (scroll down and read 'The Ukrainian famine')
• Fraud Famine & Fascism by Douglas Tottle, International Publishers (Can be purchased from the Communist Party of Canada, 190A Danforth Ave.)

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4.) Stalin Vs. Trotsky Pt. I: Trotskyism or Leninism? - Saturday Febuary 21st, 2004 @ 3:00 PM
What is the other side of the story Trotsky told? What are the differences between Trotsky's and Stalin's theories? Did Trotsky or Stalin in fact follow Lenin's theories? Is Trotskyism a form of revisionist Marxism?

Main reading:

• Trotskyism or Leninism By Harpal Brar (Preface to the book)

Extra readings:

• Trotskyism or Leninism by J. V. Stalin
• WHAT IS TROTSKYISM? (Communist Party Alliance)
• The Problem With Trotsky by MIM

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5.) Stalin Vs. Trotsky Pt. II: Slander and Truth - Saturday Febuary 28th, 2004 @ 3:00 PM
Did Lenin really call for the removal of Stalin before he died? Did Stalin purge members of the Bolshevik party just to retain power?

Main reading:

• Stalin: Slander and Truth by C. Allen (a review of 'Stalin, A Political Biography, by Isaac Deutscher')
• Lies Concerning the History of the Soviet Union by Mario Sousa (scroll down and read 'More numerous liars')

Extra readings:

• The Myth of the 'Lenin Testament' (Northstar Compass) (can be purchased @280 Queen St. W., 2nd Flr. [map])
• Another view of Stalin by Ludo Martens

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6.) Stalin Vs. Trotsky Pt. III: Trotskyism and Marxism-Leninism now - Saturday March 6th, 2004 @ 3:00 PM
What about Trotkyism and Stalinism in practice? Which theory is the correct one? Why is Trotskyism damaging to the Communist Movement?

Main readings:

• Why We Oppose Trotskyism (Communist Party Alliance)
• History of Trotskyism
  
• Trotskyism: The ideology and practice of betrayal

Extra readings:

• An outline of Trotskyism's anti-Marxist theories (part one) by Joseph Green
• ON TROTSKYISM: Problems of theory and history by Kostas Mavrakis
• Lu Xun on Stalin and Trotsky

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7.) The Real Stalin Pt. I: What Was Stalin Really Like? - Saturday March 13th, 2004 @ 3:00 PM
Was Stalin a power hungry ego-maniac like people say? Is Stalinism a `Cult of the Individual'? Did the people love or fear Stalin? Why is Stalin important today? What about the so-called 'Hitler-Stalin' pact?

Main readings:

• The `Cult of the Individual' by Bill Bland
• Marking 50 years since death of Stalin: What it means to defend Stalin today
• Maoist Internationalist Movement's Review of the 'Black Book of Communism' (scroll down and read 'Fascism' & 'Anti-semitism and genocide more generally')

Extra Reading:

• Next to Stalin: Notes of a Bodyguard (Northstar Compass) (can be purchased @ 280 Queen St. W., 2nd Flr. [map])
• To You Beloved Comrade by Paul Robeson
• W.E.B. Du Bois on Stalin
• El Nuevo Diario Interview with Fidel Castro: Blaming Stalin for everything would be historical simplism

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8.) The Real Stalin Pt. II: 'Koba the Dread' or 'Uncle Joe'? - March 20th, 2004 @ 3:00 PM
What was life like for people under Stalin? Was Stalin a butcher who killed millions?

Main reading:

• Review of PBS Series 'Stalin'
• Women in The Stalin Era by Anna Louise Strong (extract from the book)

Extra readings:

• The Stalin Era by Anna Louise Strong (PDF)
• Secret Documents (Northstar Compass) (can be purchased @ 280 Queen St. W., 2nd Flr. [map])
• Life expectancy for Russian males lower now than under Stalin despite medical technology progress
• USSR progress on mortality under socialism
• Deaths under Stalin exaggerated

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9.)The Traitors Pt. I: Trotsky, Bukharin, Zinoviev, etc. - March 27th, 2004 @ 3:00 PM

Main readings:

• What about Bukharin instead of Stalin?
• Lies Concerning the History of the Soviet Union by Mario Sousa (Scroll down to read 'The kulaks and the counter-revolution', 'The purges of 1937', 'Industrial sabotage', 'Theft and corruption' & 'Plans for a coup')

Extra reading:

• "We told you so" page with quotes from Stalin and Trotsky

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10.)The Traitors Pt. II: Trotsky, Bukharin, Zinoviev, etc. - April 3rd, 2004 @ 3:00 PM

Main readings:

• Reply to a typical contemporary Trotskyist
• Reply II to a typical contemporary Trotskyist

Extra readings:

• Stalin: Slander and Truth by C. Allen (focus on section pertaining to the 'Moscow trials')
• Trotskyism or Leninism By Harpal Brar(scroll down and read 'Lenin's death and Trotsky's attempt to substitute Trotskyism for Leninism', 'Trotskyism – a rallying point for counter-revolution', 'Emergence of the New Opposition', 'Formation of an illegal party', & as much more of the work as you can read...)

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11.)The Traitors Pt. III: Trotsky, Bukharin, Zinoviev, etc. - April 10th, 2004 @ 3:00 PM

Main readings:

• Some notes from Kostas Mavrakis's book On Trotskyism
• Jean-Paul Sartre on Trotskyism's idealism

Extra readings:

• Trotsky's phony defense of the USSR
• Trotsky & Hitler: For the independence of the Ukraine!
• Trotsky admits aid to Japanese imperialism

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12.) Revisionism Pt. I: Krushchov's Revisionism - April 17th, 2004 @ 3:00 PM

Main reading:

• THE PROLETARIAN REVOLUTION AND KHRUSHCHOV'S REVISIONISM by Mao Zedong

Extra reading:

• Stalin And Khruschev: A Dialectical Contrast

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13.) Revisionism Pt. II: The Question of 'Peaceful Coexistence' and the reversal of Stalinism - April 24th, 2004 @ 3:00 PM

Main reading:

• Peaceful Coexistence: Two Diametrically Opposed Policies

Extra reading:

• THE RESTORATION OF CAPITALISM IN THE SOVIET UNION," By W.B.Bland, For the Communist League (UK)

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