Yiannis Kokosalakis is a Research Fellow in the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology at Bielefeld University. His research focuses on the history of the socialist states of the twentieth century and the experience of revolutionary movements in government and has published a number of articles on Soviet labour relations, ideological instruction, and political reform. He has held a European Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship and received a National University of Ireland Early Career Award for his work.

'A seminal work that significantly contributes to our understanding of the Soviet Union. It offers a fresh perspective on the Communist Party's role in Soviet society, emphasising the importance of grassroots activism and challenging conventional narratives about the nature of Soviet governance. Kokosalakis' thorough research, insightful analysis and compelling narrative make this book an invaluable resource for scholars and students of Soviet history and socialism …' Giannis Lainas, Europe-Asia Studies

• Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations and Russian terms; Introduction: the Communist Party in Leninist theory, Soviet practice and historical scholarship; 1. Building a workers' party; 2. Which way to socialism? NEP and the struggle for power; 3. Laying the foundations: the rank-and-file and rapid industrialisation; 4. Marxism and clean canteens: cultural activism between ideology and practice; 5. Democratisation and repression; 6. Party activism on the road to war; 7. Conclusion: the vanguard concept as a promising category for historical research; Bibliography.

Yiannis Kokosalakis is a Research Fellow in the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology at Bielefeld University. His research focuses on the history of the socialist states of the twentieth century and the experience of revolutionary movements in government and has published a number of articles on Soviet labour relations, ideological instruction, and political reform. He has held a European Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship and received a National University of Ireland Early Career Award for his work.

'A seminal work that significantly contributes to our understanding of the Soviet Union. It offers a fresh perspective on the Communist Party's role in Soviet society, emphasising the importance of grassroots activism and challenging conventional narratives about the nature of Soviet governance. Kokosalakis' thorough research, insightful analysis and compelling narrative make this book an invaluable resource for scholars and students of Soviet history and socialism …' Giannis Lainas, Europe-Asia Studies

• Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations and Russian terms; Introduction: the Communist Party in Leninist theory, Soviet practice and historical scholarship; 1. Building a workers' party; 2. Which way to socialism? NEP and the struggle for power; 3. Laying the foundations: the rank-and-file and rapid industrialisation; 4. Marxism and clean canteens: cultural activism between ideology and practice; 5. Democratisation and repression; 6. Party activism on the road to war; 7. Conclusion: the vanguard concept as a promising category for historical research; Bibliography.

Yiannis Kokosalakis is a Research Fellow in the Faculty of History, Philosophy and Theology at Bielefeld University. His research focuses on the history of the socialist states of the twentieth century and the experience of revolutionary movements in government and has published a number of articles on Soviet labour relations, ideological instruction, and political reform. He has held a European Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowship and received a National University of Ireland Early Career Award for his work.

'A seminal work that significantly contributes to our understanding of the Soviet Union. It offers a fresh perspective on the Communist Party's role in Soviet society, emphasising the importance of grassroots activism and challenging conventional narratives about the nature of Soviet governance. Kokosalakis' thorough research, insightful analysis and compelling narrative make this book an invaluable resource for scholars and students of Soviet history and socialism …' Giannis Lainas, Europe-Asia Studies

• Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations and Russian terms; Introduction: the Communist Party in Leninist theory, Soviet practice and historical scholarship; 1. Building a workers' party; 2. Which way to socialism? NEP and the struggle for power; 3. Laying the foundations: the rank-and-file and rapid industrialisation; 4. Marxism and clean canteens: cultural activism between ideology and practice; 5. Democratisation and repression; 6. Party activism on the road to war; 7. Conclusion: the vanguard concept as a promising category for historical research; Bibliography.