Монголоведение (Dec 2019)
Kalmyk Oblast Party Organization: Membership Growth and Structure Regulation (1920s - Early to Mid-1930s)
Abstract
Introduction. In the 1920s and early to mid-1930s, membership growth and structure regulation became a primary issue of party construction. From year to year there appeared new party cells. Small groups were being replaced by party organizations with better quality members. To rationalize the balance of power and develop strict record keeping of party members, cadre purges were held on a regular basis. Goals. The paper seeks to analyze Kalmykia’s party membership dynamics during the period under consideration. Materials. The work examines a range of related documents housed by the National Archive of the Republic of Kalmykia, including ones newly introduced into scientific discourse. Methods. The study employs the method of analysis which proved instrumental in investigating the membership growth of Kalmyk Party Organization. The degree of credibility of the results obtained is secured by that the historical research method complies with the goals of the study, and by that a significant number of documentary archival sources have been involved. Conclusions. The research concludes the activities conducted by Kalmykia’s party organization under heaviest conditions did facilitate the strengthening of the Party’s structures, improvement of the latter, and elaboration of new operational forms and methods. The educational level of Communists was raised, certain changes in social and national composition of the party organization occurred, e.g., numbers of worker Communists increased, basically through employing advanced fishery workers. Local party commissions would be established to conduct the cadre purges. So, between 1921 and 1936, a total of 2 049 Communists were ‘cleansed’ out of Kalmyk Party Organization.
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