Re: On the problem of nature of the USSR

fractal wrote:
> It seems that the main theoretical problem, in discussing wars like
> the recent one between Russia and Georgia, is the social nature of the
> USSR.
>
> I wonder if we can work towards a solution of this problem if we
> compile a list of authors who have really studied the history of the
> USSR, its economic history, its social problems, etc.
>
> For example, I am currently reading G. Boffa, “History of the USSR”. I
> recommend it as a well researched book on the topic from an Italian
> communist who lived for a number of years in the USSR, and has
> remained committed to the problem, after the break up of the country.
>
> What have others read or researched on the problem? Please, don’t give
> me “State capitalism in the USSR” by Tony Cliff, as a book I have read
> and find it without much new facts, outside those mentioned by Trotsky
> and misinterpreted badly.
>
Might I then suggest Mike Haynes: "Russia - Class & Power in the
Twntieth Century" (Bookmarks 2002)

Incidentally Cliff's book is called "State capitalism in RUSSIA". I must
say that your memory is somewhat defective - there is quite a lot about
the Soviet labour code that isn't in Trotsky - partly because it refers
to things that happened after Trotsky's last major analytical work,
Revoltuion Betrayed. There is also a lot of statistical material that
isn't to be found in Trotsky - indeed there isn't any statistical
material in "Revolution Betrayed" at all. IIRC the "companion work" to
RB and also published by the ICL was Victor Serge's "Twenty Years After".

Or can you point me to any of Trotsky's works on the Soviet Union that
contain any statistical material?

I suspect taht you are suffering from selective memory syndrome. You
disagree with Cliff's analyseis, therefore Cliff must have interpreted
teh same information as Trotsky falsely. Such things often happen wehn
people have closed minds

Einde O'Callaghan
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