Soviet Political Conduct Of The Soviet Union Summary

Kerman argues in 1947 that the key to understanding Soviet political conduct lies in the combination of Soviet ideology and the space for interaction which the circumstances faced by the Soviet Union gave it. As such, due to the circumstances of the immediate post-Revolution period, which involved civil war and foreign intervention, the construction of a Soviet dictatorial power which was necessary first in order to gain control and establish order soon became an integral part of the Soviet political personality despite its conflict with Communist ideology. According to Kerman, the reason for this was that the Soviet process of political consolidation was never completed. He argues that institutions such as the secret police were thus augmented, contributing to the dictatorial conduct of the Soviet Union.

Soviet ideology encouraged a view of the outside world as hostile and that opposition could only come from the dying forces of capitalism. Whilst Russia struggled internally with the remnants of capitalism, the dictatorial structuring of society could be justified. However, once capitalism had officially been declared defeated within Russia, this justification disappeared and any opposition to the Kremlin could not be admitted to; ideology therefore once again interacted with circumstance, encouraging a Soviet hostile view towards the outside world.

In the next section of the article, Kerman goes on to suggest that the political personality of the Soviet Union resulted in an inherent conflict between capitalism and Socialism. As a result, Kerman makes it clear that in his opinion there could never be an easy coexistence between the interests of Russia and those of the United States since Socialism could not be perceived to share aims with a capitalist country as this would go against its very ideological