An Ideology in Power - Bertram D. Wolfe

Kirja Neuvostoliitosta, vallankumouksesta ja kommunismista. 1969, 406 sivua.

An Ideology in Power: Reflections on the Russian Revolution is a 1969 collection of essays by Bertram D. Wolfe, a leading American scholar of Soviet affairs. It examines how Marxist revolutionary theory was transformed and utilized once the Bolsheviks seized control, analyzing totalitarianism, Soviet state-building, and the mechanics of the Soviet regime. [1, 2, 3]

The volume compiles 25 years of the author's work. Key themes and historical analyses from the book include: [1]

• The Theory of Totalitarianism: Wolfe argues that the essence of a "total state" is not just terror, but its aspiration to absorb society completely. By asserting that the state's purposes are identical to society's, it seeks to eliminate all independent, autonomous institutions. [1]

• The Evolution of Marxism: The book traces how Lenin and his successors adapted revolutionary Marxism to justify authoritarian state-building and maintain absolute power. [1, 2]

• Policy Implications: Alongside his historical critique, Wolfe used these reflections to advise Western policymakers on how to navigate the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

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