Stalin and Stalinism in the Works of Zinoviev

Abstract

Zinoviev’s most extensive treatment of Stalin and Stalinism is contained in his book Nashei yunosti polet (NYP), published in 1983. Clearly any discussion of Zinoviev’s views will have to take it into account. Yet it would be erroneous, in my opinion, to regard it as Zinoviev’s only word on the subject or to assume that Zinoviev, to the extent that he is expressing views which contradict views he has already published, is thereby dissociating himself from those earlier views. Apart from any other consideration, it is important to determine whose views are being expressed. Zinoviev has warned against confusing his views with the views of his characters on more than one occasion.¹ As is the case in many of his other works, there is a multiplicity of narrative voices in NYP and it is not always clear who is speaking at any one time. Technically, however, Zinoviev could dissociate himself from any utterance in the book, since he does not appear explicitly as a narrator or character. I intend therefore to begin this discussion by summarising what Zinoviev himself has said about Stalin and Stalinism in an article with that title which was published some time before publication of NYP.²