Left Opposition (Ukraine)

The term "Left Opposition (Ukraine)" is complex and can refer to several distinct but related phenomena within the history of Ukrainian politics and the broader Soviet context. Generally, it designates various groups and individuals who opposed the policies and leadership of the ruling Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) within the Soviet system from a leftist perspective. These oppositions, often emerging in the 1920s and 1930s, criticized the perceived bureaucratization, national policies, and economic strategies of the CPU and the Soviet government.

Several distinct strands can be identified within the "Left Opposition (Ukraine)":

• Trotskyist Opposition: This current aligned itself with Leon Trotsky and his critiques of Stalinism. They generally opposed the "socialism in one country" doctrine and advocated for world revolution, criticized the slowing of industrialization, and expressed concerns about the growing power of the party bureaucracy. Within Ukraine, they might also have criticized the CPU's handling of national questions.

• Nationalist Communist Oppositions: Some Ukrainian communists, while committed to socialist ideals, also advocated for greater autonomy and cultural development for Ukraine within the Soviet Union. Figures like Oleksandr Shumsky and Mykola Khvylovy represent this tendency. They often criticized the Russification policies and economic exploitation of Ukraine by Moscow. These figures are also sometimes described as belonging to "National Communism". The policies they advocated for are sometimes labelled as "Ukrainization".

• Other Left Dissidents: Beyond Trotskyists and nationalist communists, other left-leaning individuals and groups might have criticized specific policies or practices of the CPU from a socialist perspective. These might include proponents of more decentralized economic planning or advocates for greater worker control.

Key Issues of Contention:

The Left Opposition in Ukraine challenged the Communist Party on several key issues:

• Industrialization and Collectivization: Critics questioned the speed and methods of forced collectivization in agriculture, which led to the Holodomor. They may have advocated for a more gradual and voluntary approach.
• National Policy: The degree of autonomy granted to Ukraine within the Soviet Union and the promotion of Ukrainian language and culture were constant points of contention. Oppositions criticized perceived Russification efforts.
• Party Bureaucracy: The growing power and privilege of the party apparatus were criticized as a departure from socialist ideals.
• Internationalism: The focus on "socialism in one country" was seen by some as a betrayal of the internationalist goals of the revolution.

Repression:

The Left Opposition in Ukraine faced severe repression under Stalin. Many of its members were expelled from the Communist Party, arrested, imprisoned in labor camps, or executed during the Great Purge of the 1930s. Their ideas were officially condemned as anti-Soviet and counter-revolutionary. The physical elimination of this political opposition was a key factor in establishing Stalin's absolute control.

The term "Left Opposition (Ukraine)" thus encompasses a diverse range of individuals and groups who challenged the dominant political line within the Ukrainian SSR from a socialist or communist, but often nationalist-inflected, perspective.