To What Extent Was The Russian Revolution An Unqualified Success For Lenin And The Bolsheviks

To What Extent was the Russian Revolution an Unqualified Success for Lenin and the

Bolsheviks

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Table of contents .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Section 1: Identification and selection of sources...................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Source 1: Lenin: A Study on the Unity of His Thought by Georg Lukacs and Gyorgy Lukacs .. 3

Source 2: The Bolsheviks come to Power the Revolution of 1917 in Petrograd by Alexander

Rabinowitch. ............................................................................................................................... 4

Section 2: Investigation................................................................................................................. 5

Section 3: Reflection ................................................................................................................... 10

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 10

Section 1: Identification and selection of sources

The analysis explores the question “To what extent was the Russian Revolution an

unqualified success for Lenin and the Bolsheviks. The issue calls for an investigation of the

Russian revolution in Lenin and the Bolshevik’s perspectives. The research focuses on Lenin’s

rise to leadership with particular detail on his aspirations. The investigation concentrates on the

year 1917 when the revolution took place in addition to several years after the uprising to trace

the success of the Russian revolution. As such, Lenin: A Study on the Unity of His Thought by

Georg Lukacs and Gyorgy Lukacs and The Bolsheviks come to Power the Revolution of 1917 in

Petrograd by Alexander Rabinowitch are valuable sources. The books correlate with the

investigation since they provide insight on the aspirations of Lenin and the Bolsheviks and their

achievement during and after the revolution.

Source 1: Lenin: A Study on the Unity of His Thought by Georg Lukacs and Gyorgy Lukacs

The book is an important source in the investigation of the extent of the success of the

Russian revolution in the eyes of Lenin and the Bolsheviks as it provides insight on the thoughts

of Lenin. The original version of the book was written in 1924. The authors hold Lenin in high

regard considering him the most important Marxist philosopher and politician of the 20th

century. Unlike other entities, the authorship of the book during a period of extreme bureaucratic

reaction in the Communist movement illustrates the societal perception on Lenin and as such

provides in-depth inquiry.

Additionally, to some extent, the book provides a first-hand account of the event distinct

from other history books that are written decades after an incident. Lukacs wrote on what they

had witnessed in addition to employing other sources such as newspapers. Georg Lukacs in his

book paints Lenin as an actual intellectual and political figure, compared the modern books that

often characterize Lenin as either an opportunist or a lucky cynical favored by ready-made

philosophies. The book analyzes the techniques that Lenin employed in his bid to establish a

revolutionary alliance of the proletariat and peasantry. Indeed, Lukacs reflects on the imperialism

and national liberation movements and the use of the state as a weapon in the struggle to enforce

change and eventual unification of the Soviets.

Despite the extensiveness of the book on the thoughts that fueled Lenin actions years

before, during and after the revolution the book regards Lenin as a consummate dialectician

which is not the holistic picture of the Lenin’s perception and role of the Russian Revolution.

Indeed, Georg Lukacs admired Lenin which provides a biased view of the situation.

Source 2: The Bolsheviks come to Power the Revolution of 1917 in Petrograd by Alexander

Rabinowitch.

This source is an essential account in the establishment of the extent of the success of the

revolution in the Bolshevik’s perception. The book was published in 2017, and unlike a

multitude of other publications on Bolsheviks, the book provides accounts of ignored parts of the

Russian revolution. In many cases, historians often narrate events based on the perspective of

their political views rather than accounting for the facts as they occurred. Indeed, numerous

publications analyze the revolution and the Bolsheviks from workers and soldiers’ viewpoints

ignoring the Bolsheviks, their ambitions, and role in the revolution. In many ways, the book

concentrates on Bolsheviks as a party rather than as followers of Lenin in efforts to determine the

real reasons for the success of Bolsheviks.

However, it is essential to acknowledge the book was written a century after the event

and the picture that Rabinowitch presents is borne out of the need to provide a different

perception of the Russian revolution. The book’s publication date illustrates the author did not

have the first account of events as it was the case in Lukacs. Indeed, the author extensively uses

other books but intentionally focus on Bolsheviks. Despite its limitations, Rabinowitch focus on

the Bolsheviks is the reason the source was selected.

Section 2: Investigation

Historians often profile Lenin differently depending on the individual perception of

Russia as a country during the First World War. However, irrespective of the personal opinion

regarding Lenin and the Bolsheviks, it is apparent the Russian revolution was a success since

Lenin ascended to power as the first leader of the Soviet Union. However, the extent of the

success of the uprising is a matter of contention among historians.

The Russian revolution took place in October 1917. However, the simplistic idea of a

two-day uprising does not provide the picture of the preamble as a consolidation period for

Vladimir Illich Lenin and his followers particularly the Bolsheviks. It is important to recognize

while Lenin aspirations for a revolution were not practical until February 1917 upon his return

from exile, the preamble was a much longer duration.

Indeed, Lenin’s involvement in

opposition parties is primarily documented from the 19th century.

He was involved in several

revolutionary attempts and was exiled together with several revolutionaries.

The 19th century marked the birth of the notion of the intelligentsia in Russia. The

Russian intellectuals were often split into two groups; some preferred to maintain the Russian

Leon Trotsky. The History of the Russian revolution: Volume One. (Chris Russell for Marxist Internet

Archive, 1930), 67.

Georg Lukacs and Gyorgy Lukacs. Lenin: A Study on the Unity of His Thought. (Verso Books, 2009),

13.

culture with the idea that Russia was unique while others were keen to embrace the western

lifestyle perceiving the westerners as an inspiration and source of emulation. The emergence of

the Bolsheviks in many ways combined both ideologies. The Bolshevik’s came into existence in

1903 when the Social Democratic Party split into two.

In February 1917, when Tsar was forced

to abdicate his title and left the monarchy to his brother who immediately resigned the

Bolsheviks refused to take a stand in the political dominance battle that followed.

Since his arrival in Russia, Lenin orchestrated strategies that aimed to garner the attention

of other revolutionaries and the public at large. Lenin believed that in organizing the working

class into a political force, he could stir the country to socialism without process of the liberal

government and the capitalist industrialization.

Lenin and the Bolshevik were mainly invested

in creating unrest and demonstrations. When the provincial government which had taken

leadership from the monarchy continued to support Russia’s position in the First World War,

Lenin was openly against the war with the intention of appealing to the soldiers at the forefront

who were more than ready to return home. Additionally, the Bolshevik’s decision to refuse to

participate in the political games coupled with the slogan “All Power to the Soviets” enticed

many urban proletarians and the Soviets alike.

Moreover, the phrase “Peace, Land, and Bread”

played to seek the support of the Kronstadt sailors, Petrograd workers and the soldiers alike.

Alexander Rabinowitch, The Bolsheviks Come to Power the Revolution of 1917 in Petrograd (London:

Pluto Press, 2017), 7.

Abbott Gleason, Peter Kenez, and Richard Stites. Bolshevik Culture: Experiment and Order in the

Russian Revolution (Indiana University Press, 1989), 13.

Ayse Dietrich. "The Bolsheviks come to power the Revolution of 1917 in Petrograd." International

Journal of Russian Studies vol. 6, no. 2 (2017), 332.

Lenin, V I. The State and Revolution: The Marxist Teaching on State and the Tasks of the Proleteriat in

the Revolution (Foreign Languages Press Peking, 1976), 333.

The ease with which Lenin and the Bolshevik’s garner extensive support in months indicates the

success of the revolution for them.

The actual sizing of power in 1917 was merely a lucky gamble by a robust disciplined

movement under Lenin’s decisive leadership taking charge of a country in confusion. Despite

their somewhat easy ascent to power, their seizure of the nation was not unopposed and sparkled

a Civil War that lasted for two years. In the debate of the success of the Russian revolution,

many historians cite the war as an indication of failure.

However, it is necessary to acknowledge

given the fragility of Russia as a nation; it is remarkable that Lenin and Bolsheviks won the Civil

War and were able to contain the formidable forces of the opposition. Conversely, historians that

consider the war a failure may argue that the oppositional forces were often uncoordinated and

lacked the commitment and finances that Lenin and the Bolsheviks enjoyed. Many historians

agree conflicts often influenced necessary changes and marked transition points.

Indeed, in

some aspects, the Civil War that followed the Russian Revolution worked to consolidate the

Bolshevik power.

While the war was a success for Bolshevism, it was a disaster for the public. Lenin

acknowledged the situation on the ground and in an attempt to save the public’s image of his

governance introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP). In the new policies, private economic

ingenuities were encouraged, but Lenin continued to emphasize the concept of state capitalism

where a majority of the industries were ultimately under the control of the government.

Lenin

William Henry Chamberlin. The Russian Revolution volume 1: 1917-1918 from the overthrow of the

Tsar to the Assumption of Power by the Bolsheviks (New York: Princeton University Press, 2014), 45.

Vladimir Brovkin, Russia after Lenin: Politics, Culture and Society 1921-1929 (London: Routledge,

2005), 179.

Leon Trotsky. The History of the Russian revolution: Volume One. (Chris Russell for Marxist Internet

Archive, 1930), 67.

acknowledged the fact that in the course of modernization, capitalism was inevitable and he

approved the later as a mere manifestation of the former. In his bid for state-capitalism, Lenin

rationalized that socialist economic ventures tend to triumph in the long-run. Indeed, the Russian

economy revived with many authors pointing evidence of continuity between pre-revolutionary

Russia and Russia in the early 1920s.

During this period capitalist flourished with an aspect of

socialist rhetoric as was the case in many European countries. The 20s are considered the

Golden Age of the revolution in the eyes of the people.

However, the situation was not ideal for

every individual due to Lenin ruthlessness since there were several repressions in the society, for

instance, the persecution of the Orthodox Church.

Despite the success of the revolution to the people in the 20s, the Bolshevik party was

split internally based on different ideologies which ignited vigorous debates amongst the party

members. Months before the October revolution, Lenin often argued with various members of

the Bolshevik party but most times his decision on the course of the revolution prevailed.

It is

apparent the extreme divisions of the party showcase a failure on Lenin’s part to inspire

devotion. Bolsheviks began as a group that was separated from the others for their shared

ideologies during a vote session in 1903. Indeed, over the next two decades, the party stood

together despite minor internal conflicts in the face of political turmoil.

In this regard, an

unresolvable internal battle amongst themselves reflects a failure. One may question, was

Russian in the early 20s what Lenin had envisioned in decades of active opposition and

Loxenburg, Rosa. "The Russian Revolution." International relations and security Network (2000), 16.

Sheila Fitzpatrick. The Russian Revolution. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1982), 132.

Leon Trotsky. "What was the Russian Revolution?" Copenhagen, Denmark, (1932), 7.

Robert Vincent Daniels. The Conscience of the Revolution: Communist Opposition in Soviet Russia.

(Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1960), 209.

revolutionary attempts? The NEP served to revive the economy while supporting Lenin opinions

on state capitalism and by extension socialism. It is difficult to establish whether Lenin perceived

the NEP as a permanent feature that would pave the way for an ideal socialist society since he

suffered from severe health problems and eventually died.

Eventually, Stalin who was the general secretary of the party prevailed. It is vital to

acknowledge before his demise, Lenin had warned against the ability of Stalin to lead. He took

the country based on the notion of “socialism in one country.”

While Lenin and Bolsheviks had

envisioned such as society, they lacked self-confidence and relied heavily on external events to

bolster their aspirations. Moreover, the civil war deprived the Bolsheviks and Lenin of pursuing

the illusion.

In conclusion, Lenin was often involved in revolutionary attempts years before the 1917

uprising. The efforts reflect his desire for change in the country that was Russia. The Bolsheviks,

on the other hand, emerged as individuals with mixed ideologies but were united against the

political turmoil in Russia. Lenin was fundamental in stirring the party towards a revolutionary

with the promise of a different society. As mentioned, the Russian revolution was indeed a

success for Lenin and the Bolshevik as they ascended into a power where they could inspire

change. However, the Russian Revolution was not an absolute success for both Lenin and the

Bolsheviks. The Civil war coupled with internal arguments in the party and Lenin’s health

deterioration and eventual death indicates that Lenin and Bolshevik failed to achieve all their

aspirations.

Vladimir Brovkin. Russia after Lenin: Politics, Culture and Society 1921-1929. (London: Routledge, 2005),

63.

Section 3: Reflection

This investigation has allowed me to gain an in-depth understanding of methods for

research and the challenges historians face in the bid to report events as accurately as possible.

During the investigation, I realized that despite the accepted historical account of major events

like the Russian revolution, the representation of content differed significantly from one author

to another. Some authors insist while Lenin was important in stirring the Bolsheviks towards a

revolution it was the party’s organization and discipline that delivered their success while others

acknowledge Lenin as the primary reason the Russian revolution occurred as it did.

When I started this investigation, I knew the basic accounts of the revolution, and I

considered the uprising a success for Lenin and the Bolshevik. However, the question made me

want to probe deeper, to understand what success means in a coup and more important how to

quantify it. Initially, it was hard to conclude, however, as a continued the investigation it was

apparent I was not required to provide an absolute answer but rather seek the truth and make an

acceptable conclusion. I have learned pursuing historical truth involves extensive research on the

benefits and limitations of the sources at hand and to an extend accounting for the shortcomings

by employing several sources.

The investigation required extensive research including reading books by prominent

authors, analysis of the different views they present and studying the techniques that they employ

in their inquiries and writings. Indeed, I feel like I have developed a fundamental skill regarding

the analysis of sources. Additionally, I have learned to form a historical opinion necessitates

extensive research using various sources both primary and secondary.

Bibliography

Brovkin , Vladimir. Russia after Lenin: Politics, Culture and Society 1921-1929. London :

Routledge, 2005.

Chamberlin , William Henry. The Russian Revolution volume 1: 1917-1918 From the overthrow

of the Tsar to the Assumption of Power by the Bolsheviks . Princeton University Press ,

2014.

Daniels , Robert Vincent . The Conscience of the Revolution: Communist Opposition in Soviet

Russia . Cambridge: Harvard University Press , 1960.

Dietrich, Ayse . "The Bolsheviks come to power the Revolution of 1917 in Petrograd."

International Journal of Russian Studies 6, no. 2 (2017): 228-335.

Fitzpatrick, Sheila. The Russian Revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press , 1982.

Gleason , Abbott, Peter Kenez, and Richard Stites. Bolshevik Culture: Experiment and Order in

the Russian Revolution . Indiana University Press , 1989.

Lenin, V I. The State and Revolution: The Marxist Teaching on State and the Tasks of the

Proleteriat in the Revolution . Foreign Languages Press Peking, 1976.

Loxenburg, Rosa. "The Russian Revolution." International relations and security Network ,

2000: 1-23.

Lukacs , Georg, and Gyorgy Lukacs. Lenin: A Study on the Unity of His Thought. Verso Books,

2009.

Rabinowitch , Alexander . The Bolsheviks Come to Power the Revolution of 1917 in Petrograd.

London: Pluto Press, 2017.

Trotsky , Leon. The History of the Russian revolution: Volume One. Chris Russell for Marxist

Internet Archive , 1930.

Trotsky, Leon. "What was the Russian Revolution." Copenhagen, Denmark, 1932.

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