No Left SR uprising of 1918.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_SR_Uprising
In short: Left Socialist-Revolutionaries were left wing of non-Marxist Socialist-Revolutionary Party. They joined Bolsheviks in almost unconditional alliance leading to October revolution, but grew unhappy with Brest-Litovsk and attempted to overthrow Bolsheviks. Their attempt had been half-assed and failed. Now, obvious POD is: WI Left SR did not revolt?

Some remarks to start a discussion: Left SRs weren't liberal "good guys" who fought Bolshevik "bad guys". They were radical socialists, who waged ruthless urban guerilla war against Tsarist administration. In fact, it were Bolsheviks who were considered "soft sissies", SRs (split between left and right wings happened in 1917) were real tough fighters, who wholeheartedly embraced terrorism. Maoism owes much more to SRs than to Marx. So their survival would not mean turning revolution into some kind of "market democracy Russia". But what would it mean? They were junior partners in Soviet coalition, but partners nonetheless (all in all, they controlled about 1/3 of Soviets). However, they didn't have either leader or organization structure comparable to that of Bolsheviks, so their survival as "junior brother" isn't too likely. But mere fact of their existence could prevent Russian Socialism from growing into rigid one-party state of OTL. And wouldn't "socialism is result of left-wing alliance" mindset butterfly Nazi victory away (KPD allying with SPD to stop NSDAP rise to power)? Also, would Mao consider himself "marxist" or "socialist revolutionary" ITTL?
 
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How could the SRs be Maoist if Maoism didn't exist as an ideology yet?
They were "maoists before Mao", so to speak. Socialists who saw wast masses of poor peasants as drivers of socialist revolution. As I said, ITTL Maoism is very likely to be considered offspring of SR teachings, not classical Marxism (by the way, there were no shortages of former SRs among Communist advisors in China in 1920s).
 
I always wondered how you could have a "multiparty" USSR - whether there are actual doctrinal differences in practice or not.

I know it's unlikely, but the early years are comples with any amount of PODs possible.

So if you have any thoughts I'd love to know.
 
So if you have any thoughts I'd love to know.
I kinda got carried away (some of alternatives I came up with are too good to be true) and decided to ask folks on FAI for their advice. Unfortunately, there's pre-moderation there for new registrants, so it would take some time for me to get their opinion and trash that POD with them.
 
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