Consequences and significance of the russian revolution
CONSEQUENCES AND SIGNIFICANCEOF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION
SIGNIFICANCE One of the mostremarkable events inhuman history since it setup a new way of living andthinking Dr. J.E. Swain said,"Nothing has socompletely challengedorthodox theories, sincethe French revolutionistsoverthrew the Bourbons.The Russians, in a fewyears, have set upstandards for a new wayof living and thinking."
INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE It struck terror in the mindsof the capitalists all overthe world as the Revolutionmade an irresistible appealto the proletarians. Invited the labouringpeople all over the world tounite against the capitalistclass. A war was declaredbetween totalitariandictatorship anddemocratic socialism,between Marxism andcapitalism.
SIGNIFICACNE Brought the Czarist regime to an end. In its place aRepublic was established. The Revolution threw a challenge to the: values of western culture fundamental principles of trade and industry well-established systems of government social, economic and political institutions and themethods of diplomacy Thus the world was forced to re-evaluate thewestern values of democracy.
THE SOVIET ECONOMY The Soviet economicplanning was directedtowards the realization ofthree well-defined socialgoals:1. the promotion of thematerial and moralconditions of theproletariat2. the realization of thesocial or the commongood of society by andthrough society3. the securing of equalsocial obligations andrights.
GLOBAL IMPACT The character of the nationalist revolutions in thecolonial world were given a new social andeconomic content. Politically, the cult of the ’common man’ was amajor result of Soviet democracy. In the economic field, the conception of economicplanning (Five-Year Plans) and the idea of centraldirection of the national economy emerged. E.H. Carr declared, "If we are all planners now, thisis largely the result, conscious or unconscious, ofthe impact of Soviet practice and Sovietachievement."
CONSEQUENCES Divided the world into two diametrically opposedpower blocs; one being the communist bloc led bythe Soviet Union and the other being the anti-Communist bloc, under the leadership of the U.S. The Revolution of 1917 transformed a poverty-stricken Czarist Russia into a super power, underthe guiding spirits of Lenin, Stalin and otherleaders. The Bolshevik Revolution is still going on. Itcontinually demonstrates the values thattransformed a backward and decadent state into asuper power of the world, within the short span ofsixty years. It attracts many more millions ofSoutheast Asia and the Middle East.
BUT... WHY DID RUSSIA LOOK SODIFFERENT FROM MARX’S IDEAS?
MARXISM VS. LENINISM Believed humanity was changing, Industrialization was toblame. Horrified by working conditions. Capitalists were getting richer than workers creating asignificant gap between the two Believed one of the following would happen: Rich must distribute wealth A worker led violent revolution
MARXISM VS. LENINISM Lenin was fascinated by industrialization, wanted tobring that to Russia Differed from Marx in his belief that the world widecommunist revolution had to be led by a power eliteforcing it forward – not just the common man. Communist Party was the only party allowed. The use of force and terror through the secretpolice (Cheka) was necessary and good for thecause Used slogans, include “Bread, Land, Peace and AllPower to the Soviets.”
LENIN’S DEATH Died in January 1924. Believed Leon Trotsky should replace him asleader. Trotsky had successfully lead the Red Armyagainst the White Army. Had a vision of the SovietUnion in line with Lenin. He wanted to focus onagriculture. Lenin believed that Stalin could not handle thepower that came with leadership. Stalin believed inthe industrialization of the nation.
STALIN’S RISE TO POWER Lenin wrote his Last Testament and wanted it to beread at the Twelfth Party Congress to delegitimizeStalin Stalin and his allies had it blocked Blamed the death of a higher up official on Trotskyand purged the country of his supporters and anyother enemies, leaving him in power Trotsky would flee to Mexico where he wouldcontinue to criticize Stalin from afar and it isbelieved that Stalin had him assassinated in 1940