1. The Russian Revolution
Unlikely revolution?

2. Marx’s theory of revolution
Revolution as the product of class struggle
State is the instrument of the ruling class
Revolution to occur at the highest phases of capitalism
Polarization between owners of property – bourgeoisie and a proletariat (underclass), increasingly conscious of its exploitation
Proletariat seizes power, violently or otherwise, uses its control of the state to establish socialism and create eventual conditions for communism

3. Lenin’s modification
Revolution in a backward country can serve as a catalyst for revolution elsewhere
Analogy: Chain breaks at its weakest link
Revolution does not depend on inevitable class consciousness
Instead, can be brought about by a small conspiratorial organization – a vanguard party

4. The situation in Russia
Capitalism at its incipient rather than advanced stages
Country more agrarian than industrial
Peasantry barely removed from feudalism
Industrial working class only in certain cities such as Petrograd (St. Petersburg)

5. Bases for revolution in Russia
Tsarist regime thoroughly autocratic
Minimal concessions made – then reversed – to allow participation of newer classes or groups
Russia exhausted by participation in war
Prosecution of war increasingly erratic

6. Events February 1917 Revolution Bolsheviks seize power in October 1917
Tsar overthrown, Provisional Government established
Provisional government tries to continue war
Troops rebel, power shifts to Soviets (councils) in different cities
Bolsheviks gain ascendancy over other groups
Bolsheviks seize power in October 1917

7. Problems confronting the new regime
Establishing control
What to do about the war
How to proceed with the revolution

8. Solutions Sue for peace Fight civil war against
Accept Brest-Litovsk Treaty, including ceding substantial territory to Germany
Fight civil war against
Other socialist parties
White Russian forces – rump of nobility
Neighbouring countries (over borders)
Allied armies
Suspend Constituent Assembly, elected in 1918
Implement ‘war communism’ – seize food, material needed for war effort
Consolidate power circa 1920

9. The revolutionary project
What to do when revolution elsewhere fails to materialize as expected?
Options:
Continue to promote world revolution?
Try to build socialism in one country?

10. Lenin’s interim solution:
New Economic Policy (NEP) -- a temporary reversion to capitalism (one step backward, two steps forward) in order to get the economy going again ( )
Ultimate direction: determined by Lenin’s impairment (1922) and death, 1924, and Stalin’s succession to power

11. Stalin’s succession Stalin
A lesser figure in Bolshevik hierarchy
However, as general secretary of the Communist Party, well placed
Uses control of the administrative apparatus to advance supporters
1925: Moves against left --Trotsky, Kamenev, Zinoviev in defense of NEP
1927/28: Moves against Bukharin and moderates to promote socialism in one country

12. Socialism in one country
Use of party and state apparatus, including terror, in order to industrialize USSR, lay the conditions for socialism and communism
Via series of five year plans
Justification
Bourgeoisie in Russia had failed to industrialize the country and establish the conditions for socialism
Therefore the party and state would do it instead

13. Consequences Agriculture collectivized, opponents liquidated
Russia industrialized
Decline in individual consumption
Stalin uses purges (1930s) in order to consolidate power
USSR substantially isolated from other countries