‘The Leftward Turn Is Inevitable’: In Lenin’s Hometown, Russian Communists Strive for Soviet Revival – The Moscow Times
ULYANOVSK - When Airat Gibatdinov was born in 1986, Mikhail Gorbachevs Perestroika had already set the Soviet Union on its path to oblivion.
But now, the local lawmaker and deputy head of Russias revived communist party in Ulyanovsk the Volga riverside hometown of the U.S.S.R.s founding father Vladimir Lenin has dedicated his life to resurrecting a Soviet socialism he barely remembers.
We are the only party that fights for the working class, said Gibatdinov in an interview at the Russian Communist Partys Ulyanovsk headquarters, an unassuming warren of offices decked with red flags and Lenin portraits sandwiched between a high-end coffee joint and a hookah bar.
I hope well see a new Russian socialism in my lifetime.
Though widely considered part of the tame, Kremlin-loyal systemic opposition, the Communist Party (KPRF) still the countrys second largest political organization has seen a modest uptick in its support ahead of parliamentary elections in September.
With the pro-Kremlins United Russia blocs polling sinking to historic lows ahead of the vote for the Duma lower house of parliament, the Communists are hoping to turn popular discontent over falling living standards into a strong showing at the polls, including in cities like Ulyanovsk.
Once the leading opposition to Boris Yeltsins free market reforms in the 1990s, the KPRF has long since become part of Russias political establishment.
Though the partys first, and so far only leader, Gennady Zyuganov only narrowly lost to Yeltsin in the 1996 presidential election, over the past two decades he has taken a more loyalist direction, offering rhetorical opposition to the Kremlin while remaining broadly supportive of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Its a shift that has been accompanied by a steady decline in the partys national standing.
Once the countrys largest single political force with broad nationwide support, the Communists now rely on an aging, Soviet nostalgic voter base of between 10 and 15%, concentrated in a handful of strongholds.
Ulyanovsk, a city of 600,000 that spans a picturesque bend in the Volga river 400 miles east of Moscow, is one of them.
Previously known as Simbirsk, Ulyanovsk has for almost a century borne the name of its most famous son, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov better known as Lenin.
Even though this increasingly prosperous provincial center today bears little resemblance to the quiet backwater where Lenin was born in 1870, and left, never to return, at seventeen, the Bolshevik leader remains a ubiquitous presence in Ulyanovsk.
In the city center, a string of sprawling museum complexes commemorate the life and achievements of Lenin, and his steely-eyed visage adorns craft beer bars catering to Ulyanovsks student population.
On the main square, Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University bears the name of Lenins father Ilya Ulyanov, a provincial school inspector who died when the future revolutionary leader was sixteen.
For Ulyanovsks communists, their citys link with the revered Soviet founder is a source of continued pride.
The one thing everyone knows about Ulyanovsk is that its where Vladimir Iliych Lenin was born, said Gibatdinov, using Lenins patronymic as a sign of respect.
Even though they dont teach the history of Lenin and the revolution properly anymore, something has remained in our mentality. People here have a very strong sense of fairness.
Its a revolutionary heritage that lives on even three decades after the Soviet Union collapsed. At the last parliamentary election in 2016, Ulyanovsk was one of a handful of cities where the KPRF defeated United Russia to win the local Duma district.
But Ulyanovsk is also a microcosm of the wider dilemmas facing Russias modern communists, who must reconcile a revolutionary ideology with their status as a systemic pillar of the political establishment.
The citys State Duma deputy Alexei Kurinny is a relative radical within the KPRF who publicly praised jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalnys personal bravery on his return to Russia in January.
By contrast, the regions communist governor, Alexei Russkikh appointed by Putin in April after his unpopular United Russia predecessor was fired is widely seen as Kremlin-loyal, and his nomination a reward for the party leaderships continued cooperation with the authorities.
The communists are a very complex, divided party, said Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of R.Politik, a political consultancy. The senior cadres understand what they have to lose and play by the Kremlins rules.
But many of the younger officials in the regions want a more confrontational approach to the authorities.
Today, there are signs that the Communists comfortable coexistence with the Kremlin may be coming to an end.
Even as polls show the KPRF set to almost double its 2016 vote share amid anxieties around sliding incomes and an eroding social safety net, the authorities have denied a string of high-profile communists registration as candidates.
In July, Pavel Grudinin an agribusiness magnate who came second to Putin in the 2018 presidential election was barred from running for parliament in September.
Though Grudinin was formally banned for having failed to properly disclose overseas investments, many communists, including Grudinin himself, saw it as a politically-motivated move against a popular and independent-minded candidate.
It was a story repeated throughout the lead-up to the polls, with would-be communist candidates including Saratov regional deputy and popular videoblogger Nikolai Bondarenko and influential Moscow party boss Valery Rashkin threatened with exclusions of their own.
For many in the party, the wave of bans is aimed at quashing a defiant atmosphere in parts of the KPRF increasingly unwilling to toe the Kremlins line.
The mood in the party is getting more radical, said Yevgeny Stupin, a Communist Moscow City Duma deputy who has been facing efforts to strip him of his office after he attended protests in support of Navalny in the winter.
United Russias ratings are low enough that they need to disqualify us to have a chance of winning.
Though critics say Russian elections have rarely been free or fair in recent years, systemic opposition parties have at least been able to win from time to time.
But with controversial new electronic and early voting schemes that some fear will make falsification easier than ever, opposition-minded communists increasingly doubt that victory is possible, regardless of public opinion.
Given whats happening at the federal level, with early voting, electronic voting, its becoming more difficult for us, said Gibatdinov, who is running for the Duma in an Ulyanovsk region district.
Of course, they can just rig it.
But above all, candidates of all stripes must contend with deep-seated apathy among the Russian electorate.
A recent survey by Kremlin-linked pollster VTsIOM put interest in politics at a seventeen-year low only six weeks from election day.
At Ulyanovsks various Lenin shrines, there is a steady stream of visitors but little evidence of revolutionary zeal ahead of the polls.
Were very far from politics here, said Olga Shaleva, a tour guide at the citys Lenin House-Museum, the restored mansion in which the young Vladimir Ulyanov spent his early years.
People visit our museum out of interest in history, not political beliefs.
According to some experts, a low turnout in September could play into United Russias hands.
Though the ruling partys polling remains mired below 30% amid corruption scandals and fallout from an unpopular 2018 pension reform, it is still much higher than any other party, with the second place KPRF attracting only 16%.
If turnout is as low as expected, United Russia is likely to retain its two-thirds majority in the State Duma, even with a much reduced vote.
The Kremlin wants the elections to be as boring as possible, said political analyst Stanovaya.
Its in their interests that turnout is low, and that opposition-minded voters stay at home.
But for the citys communist stalwarts, despite voter apathy, fraudulent elections and the Kremlins screw tightening, elections are still worth contesting, even in an ever more undemocratic Russia.
The people have been brainwashed against us for years. said Gibatdinov. It may be difficult, but we can still win.
The leftward turn is inevitable.
View original post here:
'The Leftward Turn Is Inevitable': In Lenin's Hometown, Russian Communists Strive for Soviet Revival - The Moscow Times
- Inclusion of socialism, secularism into Preamble didnt reflect the will of the people - India Legal - November 21st, 2024 [November 21st, 2024]
- The Fight for Palestine and the Fight for Socialism is The Same - CounterPunch - November 17th, 2024 [November 17th, 2024]
- Students for Socialism hold press conference near the Arch - Red and Black - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- No Evidence Obama Suggested Gradually Bringing Socialism to US 'Without the People Realizing' - Snopes.com - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Sounding the Alarm: Socialism Against War: Foreword to the German edition - WSWS - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Hotbed of socialism in Kipnuk? The village voters who went wild for Cornel West - Must Read Alaska - November 16th, 2024 [November 16th, 2024]
- Book presentation in Nuremberg: Leon Trotsky and the Struggle for Socialism in the 21st Century by David North attracts great interest - WSWS - November 8th, 2024 [November 8th, 2024]
- Lukashenko: The world is increasingly starting to talk about socialism - BYU News - November 8th, 2024 [November 8th, 2024]
- Senator Rick Scott after electoral victory: "There is no place for socialism in the United States." - CiberCuba - November 8th, 2024 [November 8th, 2024]
- Election Day, Rebuttal of Socialism and More on The Brett Winterble Show - WBT - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- Americans dont understand the Difference between Socialism and Communism How Confusion about Socialism shapes U.S. Elections - Sarajevo Times - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- Nehru-era legacy of socialism is still an obstacle to progress, but Im an optimist - The Times of India - November 5th, 2024 [November 5th, 2024]
- Socialism has never worked, wouldnt work for Harris admin - Washington Times - October 26th, 2024 [October 26th, 2024]
- Socialism and the fight against war and genocide - WSWS - October 12th, 2024 [October 12th, 2024]
- No one expected socialism, but unless wealth is challenged, whats the point of Labour? - The Guardian - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- See all the bike paths around the Tri-Cities? Thats socialism coming for us all | Opinion - Tri-City Herald - September 24th, 2024 [September 24th, 2024]
- Socialism means never having to say youre sorry - The Telegraph - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Interview | Wrong to Say Kulgam is a Fight Between Islamism and Socialism: CPI(M) Candidate Tarigami - The Wire - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- LUCIAN DAVIDS: The ANC must be clear socialism or neoliberalism? - EWN - September 19th, 2024 [September 19th, 2024]
- Sitaram Yechury: A champion of socialism and coalition-building - The Tribune India - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- 10 years on Scottish independence, the British state and the struggle for socialism - Socialist Worker - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- LETTER: Starmer is a real dud. We face a cost of socialism crisis - Basingstoke Gazette - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- Party for Socialism and Liberation, Green Party discuss priorities for 2024 election - WABE 90.1 FM - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Celebrating 75 years of Chinese Socialism - Workers World - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- The SEP intervention in the UAW election and the fight for socialism among autoworkers - WSWS - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- Will the 2024 election be a referendum on socialism? - The Christian Post - September 3rd, 2024 [September 3rd, 2024]
- The Unsung History of Heartland Socialism - In These Times - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- LETTER: There's a big difference between neighboring and socialism - Midland Daily News - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- Kamalas Plan to Address Root Cause of Migration: Expand Socialism to U.S. - California Globe - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- Op-Ed: The conservatism of Gov. Kim Reynolds vs the socialism of Gov. Tim Walz - The Center Square - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- How China moved from a command to a free market economy and is now restoring socialism - Pearls and Irritations - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- Cattle futures dont like the prospect of socialism - Beef Magazine - August 20th, 2024 [August 20th, 2024]
- Trump: Democrats Are Party of Socialism - Newsmax - August 20th, 2024 [August 20th, 2024]
- The Crown Jewel of American Socialism - The Future of Freedom Foundation - August 18th, 2024 [August 18th, 2024]
- Kamala Harris's Economic Plan: The Road to Socialism - MacIverInstitute - August 18th, 2024 [August 18th, 2024]
- Democrats are pushing for a radical redistribution of socialism: Rep. Andy Barr - Fox Business - August 16th, 2024 [August 16th, 2024]
- Economic Growth Myth & Why Socialism Is Rising - Real Investment Advice - August 16th, 2024 [August 16th, 2024]
- Adopting free market socialism, a just thing to do - The African - August 16th, 2024 [August 16th, 2024]
- Maybe a little socialism isnt all that bad. We may get legislation that benefits everyone! - Daily Kos - August 16th, 2024 [August 16th, 2024]
- Florida Democrats try to flip the script on socialism attacks with Venezuela - POLITICO - August 14th, 2024 [August 14th, 2024]
- Salazar Mocks Walz's 'Socialism' Comment, Says Latinos 'Cringe' at the Word - The Floridian - August 14th, 2024 [August 14th, 2024]
- Milwaukee, the city hosting the Republican National Convention, has roots in socialism - Madison.com - July 15th, 2024 [July 15th, 2024]
- Why I joined the Socialist Party - Socialist Party - July 15th, 2024 [July 15th, 2024]
- Milwaukee, the city hosting the Republican National Convention, has roots in socialism - Lake Geneva Regional News - July 15th, 2024 [July 15th, 2024]
- Tubeworker/Off The Rails online meeting, 1 August, 3pm: Fighting the far right, fighting for socialism: a discussion with French transport worker... - July 15th, 2024 [July 15th, 2024]
- Party and Class the politics of revolutionary socialism - Socialist Worker - July 15th, 2024 [July 15th, 2024]
- Build the socialist opposition to Starmer's right-wing government! - WSWS - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Democratic Socialism Simulator is a reminder of the DNCs weaknesses - Polygon - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Sri Lankan workers and youth support public meeting to demand release of Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk - WSWS - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- France's Problem Is Not The 'Far Right': It Is Socialism, A Warning For All OpEd - Eurasia Review - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Socialist America, state capitalist China - Pearls and Irritations - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Socialism And Communism Are Weasel Words For Slavery - The Federalist - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- UK Socialist Equality Party election rally advances socialist and internationalist opposition to war - WSWS - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Cuban Leader Daz-Canel Reminds Business Owners: "We're All Here to Save the Revolution and Socialism" - Cuba Headlines - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Tories smashed - build the socialist opposition - Socialist Party - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Is Keir Starmer a socialist? - The Conversation Indonesia - June 20th, 2024 [June 20th, 2024]
- Assassinations, socialism and conspirators dens: Inside Berlins Rote Insel - The Berliner - June 20th, 2024 [June 20th, 2024]
- Socialist Equality Party candidate Tom Scripps speaks at London hustings - WSWS - June 20th, 2024 [June 20th, 2024]
- UK risks generation of socialism if you vote Reform, Tories say as they warn Labour will change rules to... - The US Sun - June 20th, 2024 [June 20th, 2024]
- Its OK to be angry about socialism | Johnny Leavesley - The Critic - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- U.K.'s Keir Starmer tones down the socialism in 'changed Labour Party' - The Washington Post - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- Socialist Equality Party election campaign wins support in Holborn and St Pancras, London - WSWS - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- Black voters at odds with Jamaal Bowman could help sink him - New York Post - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- After Macron's snap election call, which way forward against neofascism and war? - WSWS - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- No to Gaza genocide and NATO war against Russia! Fight for a socialist alternative to Starmer's Labour Party! Build a ... - WSWS - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- Statements from Japan and Australia demand freedom for Bogdan Syrotiuk - WSWS - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- Why Kautsky Was Wrong (and Why You Should Care) - Left Voice - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Campaign to free anti-war Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk is gaining international support - WSWS - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Interested in socialism? Read our book - Socialist Worker - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Sri Lanka: Statements demanding the immediate release of Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk - WSWS - May 31st, 2024 [May 31st, 2024]
- Understanding what Democratic Socialists of America are and how they differ from social Democrats - Fullerton Observer - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Australia: Gold Coast Gaza rally hears socialist anti-war perspective - WSWS - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- The Marxists Come Out at George Washington University - Daily Signal - May 1st, 2024 [May 1st, 2024]
- Communists and the party: a contribution to the debate with the Socialist Movement - In Defence of Marxism - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Leipzig Book Fair: David North to present his book Leon Trotsky and the Struggle for Socialism in the Twenty-First ... - WSWS - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Portugal's Socialists Highlight the Rot Within the European Left - The European Conservative - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Global temperatures increasing fight for socialism - Socialist Party - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- SEP candidates Joseph Kishore and Jerry White discuss war, inequality and the COVID-19 pandemic on the - WSWS - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Veteran of 1984-5 UK Miners' Strike Malcolm Bray speaks on its lessons and the fight to build a socialist leadership in ... - WSWS - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Why is the Chron so freaked out about Socialism? - 48 hills - 48 Hills - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]