The concept of war, conflict and struggle was a governing metaphor in the society which developed after 1917. It was also a major part of twentieth-century Russian reality. The Soviet state originated in conflict and confrontation, in revolution and civil war, and continued to define itself in confrontational terms, beset by enemies beyond its borders, as well as those within. As hopes for world revolution receded, and as a new world war approached, sentiments of class solidarity with the international proletariat became overlaid with Russian nationalist attitudes. Increasing emphasis was placed on the unity of the Soviet people, standing proudly isolated in a world of hostile capitalist powers. The revolutionary state became a totalitarian state which required utmost clarity in defining its friends and, particularly, its enemies. The actual identity of the enemy changed with circumstances. During the civil war it was the White Army and foreign interventionists. During the 1930s, failures in industry and agriculture were blamed on ‘wreckers’, allegedly inspired by foreign powers, whose goal was to destroy all the achievements of the new society. The most rapid about-turn was performed in 1939 with the signing of the non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, when yesterday's fascist enemy became an ally overnight. This preoccupation with enemies, although often used for domestic political manipulation, was far from being a groundless invention. The Soviet Union had few foreign friends. From the late 1920s, Soviet writers warned of a new, inevitable war against fascism; a generation grew up convinced that they were destined to take part in this war.