Communist Party of the Soviet Union

About

The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) was the dominant political party in the Soviet Union from its inception in 1917 until its dissolution in 1991. Emerging from the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, it was led by Vladimir Lenin and later by Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, and Mikhail Gorbachev. The CPSU's ideology was rooted in Marxism-Leninism, emphasizing democratic centralism and a highly centralized state. The CPSU played a pivotal role in shaping Soviet history, including the Russian Civil War, World War II, and the Cold War. It implemented policies like rapid industrialization and collectivization under Stalin and reform efforts under Gorbachev. The party's influence waned after a failed coup in 1991, leading to its eventual ban and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Despite its demise, the CPSU's legacy continues to impact Russian politics and society.