Marx and the Russian Revolutions

Collectivist principles

● Economic Equality● Co-operation● Public Property● Collective Interest● Collective Responsibility● Adherence to Collective Norms

Marxism

● Socialism would be achieved by class warfare● Theory of Surplus Value

○ Capitalists control the surplus

○ Worker created the surplus

■ Why isn’t the worker given it back?

■ Can’t create surplus without labour

○ Worker always exploited in capitalism

■ Will always be paid less than then is produced

Marxist - Dialectic

● Every thesis has an Anti-thesis

● This would help to form the synthesis

● Largely inspired by Hegel’s ● Marx believed that the

conflict between Bourgeois and Proletariat would lead to a communist state (via revolution)

Pre-Revolution Russia

● Absolute Monarchy - Romanov Dynasty○ Nicholas II is last Tsar

● Despotic political system(autocracy)○ Very few rights granted to people

○ Serfdom was only recently abolished(1861)

○ 80% of pop. is peasants

● Mostly agrarian society○ Limited industry

○ Workers in industry grossly mistreated in comparison to Europe

● Russian Christian Orthodoxy

Lenin (Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov)

● Middle class Russian● Developed Marxist values in Russia but developed them

in exile in Europe● Thought revolution was possible in a non-industrialized

country● Believed an elite few(Vanguard) was needed to lead the

revolution● Disagreed with Marx, thought communism would rise

where capitalism is weakest

1905 Revolution

● Liberals tried to gain reform○ Worker strikes

○ Peasant unrest

○ Military mutiny (recent loss to Japan)

● Violently put down by Nicholas II on ‘Bloody Sunday’● Lead Nicholas to create the ‘Duma’ (State Legislature)

○ Filled with liberal Democrats

1917 - February Revolution (in March)● Happened in Petrograd (St. Petersburg)● Political and Social unrest for 8 days

○ Bread rioters

○ Industrial workers

○ Dissatisfied soldiers

● 1300 killed in the revolution● Lead to the collapse of the Tsarist regime

○ Nicholas II would abdicate

○ Duma established ‘Provisional Government’

○ Creates Russia as a Democracy

Provisional Government

● Sets out to form a constitution● Largely classic liberal● Support for gov’t wanes as it fails to solve social issues● Releases political prisoners

○ Bolsheviks were released (Russian Communists)

■ Bolsheviks start to plan overthrow of democracy

Lead up to October Revolution

● Lenin forms Soviets(Workers Councils)● Petrograd Soviet lead by key marxists● April Theses published by Lenin

○ An attempt to align Bolsheviks who were in exile

○ Believed Bourgeoisie were taking power from the proletariat

○ Democracy = Bourgeoisie rule

○ “All power to the soviets”

● July Days○ Bolshevik demonstrations in Petrograd and Moscow

● Lenin forms the Bolshevik Red Guard○ Paramilitary thugs

■ Radicalized soldiers/army deserters/factory workers

October Revolution (in November)● Revolution was lead by the Bolsheviks● Red Guard seized control of government buildings

○ Infiltrated and gained control of the winter palace

○ Little resistance

■ Although soviets propagate that they fought a mighty battle

● Power handed over to the Soviets, Soldiers and Peasant deputies

Russian Civil War (1917-22)

● Red Army Vs. White Russians● The Reds - Soviet Communists/Bolsheviks● The Whites

○ Classical Conservatives(monarchists)

○ Capitalism

○ Alternate forms of Socialism

● Due to the White russians having multiple factions it was difficult to organize

● Red Army is successful in gaining control