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The Russian Revolution: From War Impacts to the Rise of Bolshevism (1904-1920)

This analysis examines the Russian Revolution's roots, emphasizing the effects of the Russo-Japanese War and World War I. It explores the state's failure, societal tensions, and the inadequacy of reforms under the Tsarist regime. As dissatisfaction grew, demands for change intensified, leading to the 1917 upheaval. The dual power struggle between the Provisional Government and the Soviets culminated in the Bolshevik coup, establishing a revolutionary dictatorship. Key events and underlying socio-economic conditions shaped this transformative period and the ensuing Civil War.

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The Russian Revolution: From War Impacts to the Rise of Bolshevism (1904-1920)

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  1. The Russian Revolution

  2. The impact of war • 1904-1905: Russo-Japanese war • 1914-1917: The Great War • The state fails in its most important function • Impulse for reform • Impulse for a revolution

  3. What’s wrong with the system • Inefficiency • Backwardness: Russia has not modernized • The economy is underdeveloped • The political system is archaic, rigid and corrupt • Society is torn by tensions and conflicts • Fire in the minds of men

  4. Since 1905 – a contest between reform and revolution • The inadequacy of reforms • The Tsar is reactionary • The nobility is stuck in the old order • The capitalist class is too dependent on the state, too afraid to show initiative • Reforms don’t prevent revolution • Revolution drives reforms • Reforms: • Political (liberalization) • Economic (development of capitalism)

  5. The gap between the rulers and the ruled • Liberal reforms only stimulate radical protest: • THE ATTRACTIONS OF SOCIALISM • No consensus emerges • When the state resorts to repression, that only makes the gap even wider • Russia’s options: • A liberal-capitalist path: what it would require • An authoritarian-capitalist path: what it would require • A non-capitalist path

  6. Russian Communists • Russian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Bolsheviks) • Lenin: Russia as the weakest link in the world capitalist system • Russian capitalism is unviable • Therefore, Russia may have to move directly to socialism • Overthrow of the old ruling classes • Establishing a state run by workers and peasants • This will be followed by other revolutions

  7. Few took this analysis seriously until the fall of 1917 • 8 months between the fall of the Tsar and the October Coup • Dual Power: • The Provisional Government • The Soviets • The Provisional Government loses its grip • What about the Soviets? • The Bolsheviks make their move: • Stage a coup • Proclaim a Soviet Republic

  8. How is this Republic organized? • As a revolutionary dictatorship • What it does: • Decree on Peace • Decree on Land • Worker control of industry • How it maintains itself • The inevitability of a civil war • The challenges • Old ruling classes fight back • Opponents of dictatorship (including many leftists) resist • Foreign powers

  9. The Civil War (1918-1920): Reds vs. Whites • Why the Bolsheviks won: • Their policy goals received wide support in society • Their dictatorship was strong enough • The Red Army • The Cheka • The Party • Lenin • The mass base

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