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Key Points: 1) Highlight the extent to which interpretations of the Russian Revolution remain ideologically loaded and hotly contested.
Key Points: 1) Highlight the extent to which interpretations of the Russian Revolution remain ideologically loaded and hotly contested. 2) Provide a brief descriptive account of the Russian Revolution. 3) Critique the depiction of the October Revolution as a 'Bolshevik Coup'. 4) Highlight the significance of the Russian Revolution in reviving participatory forms of democracy. 5) Identify the positive achievements of the Revolution. Introduction : the enduring significance of 1917 i) conservative and liberal defenders of the status quo; ii) social democrats who accept the status quo but push for reforms within the system; and iii) revolutionary socialists who reject the status quo altogether. - historical accuracy and truth casualty of war 1) Brief overview of major events -
1903 split between Bolshevik and Menshevik factions of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSLDP). -
1905 Revolution : the 'Great Dress Rehearsal'. -
the Petrograd Soviet (Workers' Council) emerged as an alternative form of government. -
lasted 50 days, from 13 October to 3 December 1905. -
an all embracing organization of the proletariat. -
direct and participatory form of democracy based on elected delegates from the factories and workplaces. -
“The crushing of the 1905 Revolution pushed the soviet into the background, but it remained in the memory of Russian workers.†Gluckstein, p.18. -
1914 WWI breaks out : major socialist parties affiliated to the Second International back their own ruling classes. -
23 February 1917 : spontaneous revolution erupts on International Women's Day -
28 February Tsar abdicates. -
re-emergence of soviets, but now throughout Russia, and combining workers, soldiers and peasants. -
Provisional Government formed out of Duma. -
'dual power': Provisional Government vs. Soviets. -
3 April Lenin returns to Russia, 4 April presents April Theses to Bolshevik party : “Lenin's theses produced the impression of an exploding bomb.†HRR, p.312. - adopts Trotsky's theory of permanent revolution, successfully pushes for fundamental change in party policy. -
slogans: "Peace, Bread, Land" & "All Power to the Soviets". -
the 'June Days' : 500,000 march in Petrograd in response to failed military offensive. - Lenin: "More than a demonstration and less than a revolution". - Bolsheviks playing leading role, restrain movement to prevent premature insurrection. -
the 'July Days' : Provisional Government moves to suppress Bolsheviks (H.Q. sacked, Trotsky imprisoned, Lenin goes into hiding to avoid assassination). -
increasingly political choice becomes 'revolution or counter-revolution'. -
August 28-31 : attempted counter-revolutionary coup by General Kornilov. - fails, resistance successfully led by Bolsheviks. -
massive increase in popular support for the Bolsheviks. -
September - Bolsheviks win majorities in Petrograd and Moscow Soviets, Trotsky elected as President of Petrograd Soviet. -
October 24-25th Military Revolutionary Committee coordinates insurrection which disperses Provisional Government as gives 'all power to the soviets'. -
October 26th Second All-Russia Congress of Soviets meets. 2) Was the Russian Revolution a 'Bolshevik Coup'? - Bolsheviks portrayed as a ruthless, violent, evil conspiratorial minority taking power illegitimately through military means. -Lenin's 27-9-1917 letter to Central Committee: The Bolsheviks, having obtained a majority in the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies of both capitals, can and must take power into their own hands. …The majority of people are on our side. This was proved by the long and painful course of events from May 6 to August 31 and September 12. The majority gained in the Soviets of the metropolitan cities resulted from the people coming over to our side.†CW, vol.26, p.19. - Bolshevik's role during the 'June Days'. -
growing popularity of Bolshevik's because of their commitment to 'Peace, Bread, Land'. -
lack of democratic mandate for the Provisional Government. -
insurrection coordinated and led by the Military Revolutionary Committee & the Red Guard of Petrograd Soviet -
looming insurrection openly announced, strongly supported and weakly opposed. -
active involvement of masses. -
objective of insurrection : All Power to the Soviets. -
Soviets composed of delegates from Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, Left SRs, Right SRs. -
post-facto endorsement: 505 out of 670 delegates to Second All-Russia Congress of Soviets are for “All Power to the Sovietsâ€. 3) Soviet democracy -
“In 1917 the Soviet went from disorganising the enemy to organizing its own state power, not just in Petrograd but right across Russia. By 17 March 49 cities had soviets; five days later the number was 77 and by June 519.†Gluckstein, p21. -
features of the soviet: - direct participatory form of democracy based on workplaces, units of army and navy, and peasant communities. - decentralisation and centralisation of power and decision-making - multi-party form of democracy (Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, Social Revolutionaries) - right of recall - frequent elections - army and navy under popular control - class composition of Soviet assemblies, 'the poor, being in the majority, rule'. 4) The world's first working class and socialist government: Progressive measures -
Peace: peace treaty with Germany signed at Brest-Litovsk March 3 1918 -
Land: abolition of private property in land and right of peasants to appropriate estates of nobility without compensation. -
Bread -
Workers' control of industry -
Women’s rights: -enfranchisement - equal pay - universal paid maternity leave - divorce made freely available - eliminated legal distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children - legalisation of abortion, available on demand - communal kitchens, laundry facilities, childcare centres. - homosexuality removed from criminal code -
right of nations to self-determination -
internationalism : Third International of socialist parties -
freedom of religious belief -
education -
festival of the oppressed: art, music, culture |
