SHIFTING STRATEGIES: THE EVOLUTION OF COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL POLICY FROM 1923 TO 1925

Abstract

The aftermath of World War I in Europe fostered optimism within the Bolshevik ranks, as they believed that the flames of revolution were poised to spread to other nations. The Communist International, initiated by Vladimir Lenin in March 1919, assumed a pivotal role as the epicenter of the global communist movement and a means to advance this revolutionary agenda. While the Communist International's primary mission was the promotion of communism and the mobilization of the working class to champion their rights, it also undertook covert, less formal responsibilities. Between the post-war years and 1923, it maintained close collaboration with the military and political intelligence apparatus of the Soviet state. Informally from 1920 and formally from 1921, the Executive Committee established the International Liaison Department, later known as the OMS (Otdel Mezhdunarodnykh Svyazi) (G.M. Adibekov, E.N. Shakhnazarova, K.K. Shirinia, 1997), in response to the resolution of the Communist International Congress in July 1921.

The primary objective of the OMS was to provide support, guidance, and financial resources to communist parties worldwide. This support encompassed not only financial aid but also the provision of weaponry, personnel, and technical expertise. Effectively, the OMS emerged as the nerve center for intelligence operations conducted by communist parties across the globe, serving as a convergence point for both civilian and military intelligence efforts. Within the Communist International, this entity naturally harnessed the infrastructure of local communist organizations to gather crucial information for the Soviet state, which was the progenitor of the global communist movement.

In addition to the cadre of communists who willingly undertook intelligence assignments during this era, the OMS also leveraged the unwitting participation of local communists in covert activities aimed at undermining their respective governments (Ch. Andrew, O. Gordievsky, 1990; G.M. Adibekov, E.N. Shakhnazarova, K.K. Shirinia, 1997; N.S. Lebedeva, 2019). This abstract delves into the multifaceted role played by the Communist International's OMS during the early post-World War I years, shedding light on its pivotal role in both advancing communism and advancing the intelligence interests of the Soviet state.