My Disillusionment in Russia · Chapter
XXIX: Travelling Salesmen of the Revolution explained
The chapter describes the preparations for the Third Congress of the Third International and the First Congress of the Red Trade Union International in Moscow in July 1921.
What happens
The chapter describes the preparations for the Third Congress of the Third International and the First Congress of the Red Trade Union International in Moscow in July 1921. It categorizes foreign visitors into three groups: earnest idealists who become disillusioned, superficial journalists and adventurers, and delegates who become propagandists for the Bolshevik regime. The narrative criticizes the staged Potemkin villages shown to delegates, the suppression of dissenting voices, and the hypocrisy of Bolshevik leaders who imprison revolutionists while sending greetings to 'capitalist prisoners.' The plight of Maria Spiridonova is highlighted, as well as Angelica Balabanova's disdain for sensationalist visitors like Mrs. Clare Sheridan.
Themes in this chapter
Disillusionment with Revolution
Many earnest idealists and anarchist deportees became bitterly disappointed after realizing the deception of the Bolshevik regime.
Betrayal of Revolutionary Ideals
The Bolsheviks used foreign delegates to spread lies, suppressed dissent, and imprisoned revolutionists while claiming solidarity with political prisoners.
Myth vs. Reality
The chapter contrasts the staged Potemkin villages shown to delegates with the actual suffering of workers and the Cheka's executions.
Characters to notice
- Maria Spiridonova
Friends circulated a manifesto demanding her release for medical treatment; Trotsky deemed her 'still too dangerous to be liberated'; she was released only after European Socialist press coverage, on condition she return to prison.
- Angelica Balabanova
Resented superficial visitors; rebuffed Mrs. Clare Sheridan's request to sculpt her, stating Lenin did not make the Revolution—the Russian people did.
- Lenin
Received delegates and 'talked to' them; referred to as 'pope' of the Communist Church during the Congress.
- Trotsky
Reportedly said Spiridonova was 'still too dangerous to be liberated'; received delegates and spoke to them.
- Zinoviev
Delegates became echoes of Zinoviev and other leaders at the Congress.
Key passages
“The Bolsheviki realized the value of such champions and appreciated their services. They sent them forth into the world generously equipped in every sense, to perpetuate the monstrous delusion that the Bolsheviki and the Revolution are identical and that the workers have come into their own 'under the proletarian dictatorship.'”
The Bolsheviks recognized the usefulness of these foreign supporters and sent them abroad well-supplied to spread the false idea that the Bolsheviks and the Revolution were the same, and that workers had achieved freedom under the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Critique of Bolshevik propaganda using foreign delegates.
“It was only after accounts of her condition had appeared in the European Socialist press that she was released, on condition that she return to prison on her recovery.”
Spiridonova was freed only after European socialist newspapers reported on her plight, but she had to agree to go back to jail once she recovered.
Maria Spiridonova's conditional release due to international pressure.
“Angelica, who hated sensationalism in any form, resented the presence in Russia of these superficial visitors. 'I asked her,' she afterward related, 'if she would have thought of "sculping" Lenin three years ago when the English Government denounced him as a German spy. Lenin did not make the Revolution. The Russian people made it.'”
Balabanova disliked superficial visitors; she asked Mrs. Sheridan whether she would have wanted to sculpt Lenin when he was called a German spy, and insisted that the Russian people, not Lenin, made the Revolution.
Angelica Balabanova's rebuke of Mrs. Clare Sheridan's sensationalism.
