Lenin's efforts to build socialism in Russia were impeded by the Russian Civil War (1918–1920) and his death in 1924. Nevertheless, he laid the groundwork for a number of the institutions that will forever be associated with communism. His most important contribution was to develop the idea of the hybrid party-state. Almost immediately after taking charge, the Bolsheviks began asserting their authority over the soviets (local councils), factory committees, trade unions, co-operatives, professional associations, and other bodies that had been providing local government since the tsar's fall. In time, the Communist Party emerged as the real power behind government.

Lenin created a secret police force to deal harshly with the enemies of socialism. Known as the Cheka, this force was modeled on the tsarist police and eventually transformed into the KGB, a political police and security agency. It was comparable in terms of its power and duties...