From Opposition to Loyalty: Alexandra Kollontai's Political Metamorphosis in the 1920s

This article examines the evolution of A.M. Kollontai's political views and activities in the 1920s, following the defeat in 1921, at the 10th Congress of the RCP(b) of the Workers' Opposition, of which she was one of the leaders and ideologists. It demonstrates that after the 10th Congress, Kollontai did not immediately abandon her opposition views and continued to criticize the established party regime, which, she believed, was developing along an authoritarian-bureaucratic path. In 1922, she narrowly avoided expulsion from the party for her opposition activities, after that she decided to leave public politics and was appointed to a diplomatic post abroad. The article devotes particular attention to the events of 1923, when party authorities and political police learned of Kollontai's meetings with representatives of an illegal opposition organization, the "Workers Group of the RCP(b)," which emerged from the radical wing of the "Workers' Opposition." Based on the investigation into the case of the arrested members of this organization and Kollontai's testimony, the Central Control Commission of the RCP(b) concluded that she had to be punished, including removing her from high office. However, the Politburo, where J.V. Stalin oversaw Kollontai's case, chose not to make such a decision. An analysis of documents from the RGASPI, Kollontai's diary, and memoir sources suggests that compromising materials collected and held by the Politburo against Kollontai could have been used to pressure her into siding with the RCP(b) leadership in the intra-party struggle. After 1923, Kollontai not only ceased to oppose the party leaders but actually supported them in their struggle against the opposition. The article presents evidence that this support was not entirely sincere, but was rooted in both a sense of personal vulnerability and disillusionment with the struggle, recognizing the resistance’s lack of perspectives.