INTRODUCTION

• Vladimir Iiyich Lenin (1870- 1924)

• Leading political figures and revolutionary

thinkers of the 20th century.

• Mastermind of the Bolshevik Revolution

• The first leader of the Soviet Union, the creator

of Leninism, an extension of Marxist theory.

Internal and External Conditions

• Nations formed partnerships to protect

against opposing forces

Alliances

• Massive military buildup in European

countries

• Wanted to protect overseas colonies

from other nations

Militarism

Europe on the Brink of War

• Germany, France, Russia, Great Britain

vied to become great imperial nations

• Each did not want others to gain power

Imperialism

• Strong devotion to one’s national

group or culture, increased in late

1800s

Nationalism

• Adaptation of Marxist ideas of overthrow of capitalism

• As Russia’s problems grew more serious, Bolsheviks gained more followers

• Czar Nicholas hoped World War I would cause people to rally to his leadership

Bolshevik Plan

• Russia a troubled nation• Czar Nicholas II had

promised reform after 1905 revolution, but delivered little real change

• Bolsheviks sought to change life through revolution, wanted to overthrow czar

The Years Before the War

Russia and World War I

At the start of the war, Russia had an enormous army of some 6 million soldiers.

• Outbreak of fighting caused patriotism, rush to join military

• Otherwise Russia ill-prepared for war

– Factories unable to produce supplies quickly

– Transportation system weak

– Equipment outdated

Preparations for War

•Millions of Russian soldiers wounded, killed during early battles

On the Battlefield

Russia and World War I

World War I and the Russian Revolution: Section 4

Graph: Financial Costs of the War

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By the end of 1916, Russia was once again on the edge of a revolution. As the new year began and conditions in Russia continued to worsen, the Russian people clearly wanted a change.

•Citizens protested in streets of Petrograd, March 8, 1917

•Police, soldiers refused to shoot rioters

•Government was helpless

Revolution Begins• Ordered legislature to

disband• His order defied• Citizens, government,

military refused to obey Czar• Forced to abdicate, March

15, 1917• Provisional govt took power

Czar Nicholas II

The Russian Revolution

Kerensky’s final offensive• Kerensky ordered final military offensive against Central Powers along Eastern Front,

mid-1917• Drive failed and led to widespread rebellion in Russian army• Weakened Russian army collapsed

• Conditions ideal for Lenin• Armed Bolshevik factory workers, Red

Guard, attacked provisional government, November 1917

• Known as October Revolution• Kerensky’s government collapsed after

nearly bloodless struggle

Bolshevik takeover

• Established radical Communist program

• Made private ownership of land illegal• Land given to peasants• Control of factories given to workers

Lenin became leader

The Bolshevik Revolution

Environmental factors (socio-political- economic

factor)

political factor

Major power but under Autocracy. (While other power were reforming at that period)

Poor leadership of Tsar, Nicholas II.

Global unrest and world war I.

Restriction on political group and discourse.

political factor

Sacking of Zemstvos.

Two distinct revolutionary parties. Social revolutionaries (Peasant support) Social democrats (Working class support)

Russian social Democratic Labor party Bolsheviks under lenin. Mensheviks under Martov.

Socio-economic factor

Rural areas Greater reform by alexander II in 1860.

Emancipation of serf class.

Village as self contained entity, Zemstoves.

Socio-economic factor

Rural areas Increase in population without increase in productivity.

Disease, poor harvests, famine and poverty.

Disparity in wealth, land and privileges to peasant class.

Peasants need to pay redemption to crown.

Forced for communal ownership of the land. (need to pay

to cultivate)

Socio-economic factorCities Social unrest due to industrialization process.

Overcrowding. Deplorable sanitation poor safety condition poor wages Harsh discipline in job.

Standard of living was awful due to high price, tariff and high taxation.

Overcrowding in cities resulted more people were exposed about the social and political order of Russia and became organizing center.

Socio-economic factor

Cities Emergence of middle class.

Restriction to form labor groups.

Formation of brotherhood based on region of origin.

These harsh condition became fertile soil for political parties to develop revolutionary force.

First revolution 1905 Tsar allowed to form labor union under restriction.

‘BLOODY SUNDAY’ Jan 9, 1905.

Worker riot against government and peasant against landlords, student and middle class demand civil rights, constitutional govt and social reforms.

Formation of worker soviets.

First revolution 1905

Nicholas II promised civil rights and formation of Duma.

Minister Peter stolypin implemented strip farming. It was abolished due to death of stolypin and outset of WW I.

This created major revolutionary sentiments during revolution of 1917.

Impact of great war Lack of resources and manpower.

Nationwide inflation.

Increase in demand and decrease in supply stressed workers.

(leads to formation of underground unions)

Food shortage.

Excessive death toll in front. (resentment among military)

Conscription of industrial workers and peasant. (discontent for

government)

Leninism is a far-left ideology based on principles of class conflict, egalitarianism, dialectical materialism, rationalism, and social progress. It is anti-bourgeois, anti-capitalist, anti-conservative, anti-fascist, anti-imperialist, anti-liberal, anti-reactionary, and is opposed to bourgeois democracy.

IDEOLOGY

IDEOLOGY AND ETHICS

• The cult of Revolution• World Revolution is the path to humanity’s liberation and

progress; Russia’s key role in it• The Revolution justifies any means of achieving its goals• Class hatred of “exploiters”, class war against them• Civil war is inevitable and necessary• Need for self-sacrifice and heroism – among the Communists as

well as the masses• Collectivism vs. individualism• Atheism vs. religion• Need to replace existing culture with a new “proletarian” one

Political Ideologies • Society needs a centralized vanguard and does

not need multiparty competition through peaceful, lawful, political participation.

• Imperialism has shaped the development of capitalism and altered the terms of revolutionary struggle from those outlined by Marx: namely, revolutions are more likely in less developed capitalist economies, contrary to Marx’s theory.

• To Lenin, practical issues were more important than the development of ideological theories.

• Lenin always had one goal – to achieve his aim. To do this, Lenin did not have a set way of working and effectively, he believed that any method was acceptable as long as the aim was achieved.

• Lenin also rejected the peaceful and the constitutional paths to power as preferred by moderate Marxist parties such as the SPD in Germany, and the non-Marxist Labour Party in Britain.

ENDS AND MEANS

• Lenin: “The good of the revolution, the good of the working class – this is the supreme law”.

METHOD OF ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT

Lenin’s Concept of Organization “organization of real revolutionaries,” a

“body of comrades in which complete, mutual confidence prevails” and in which all “have a lively sense of their responsibility.”

Commitment to a revolutionary Marxist political program and effectively, centrally organized party that encourages critical thinking and local initiative;

A democratically centralized organization based on a revolutionary program

Organization ….

• An understanding of the necessity of working-class and support for struggles of all who suffer oppression;

• A coherent conception of organization that is practical, democratic, and revolutionary;

• The development of the united front tactic, in which diverse political forces can work together for common goals,

Vanguard Party

Is a political party composed of professional revolutionaries.

First used by the Bolshevik Party in the Russian revolution.

Lenin (Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov), the first leader of the Bolsheviks, coined the term vanguard party,

Necessary in order to provide the practical and political leadership that would impel the workers and peasants to achieve a revolution.

• Orthodox and pragmatism:- Straight forward, concerned with results and adjust with environment

• Party organization :- Small, Highly motivated, Disciplined

• Popular front :- Common Cause with progressive movement

• Economic penetration:- Economic assistance through money and equipment

• Destabilization :- Exploitation of economic, ethnic, religious

• Military intervention :- Threat or employment of military forces

• Monopoly of power:- Dissident factions and their leaders to be eliminated

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Organization ….

• Lenin emphasizes the importance of the revolutionary party. It unites the mass into one inseparable whole.

• A revolutionary party must have "political force" and operate on a national level.

• A revolutionary party must educate and train the people.

• Revolutionary movement must engage the broad masses of the people.

Method/Conduct

• A wide range of tactics are necessary• Different forms of the movement - legal and

illegal, peaceful and stormy, underground and open, local circles and mass movements, and parliamentary and terrorist forms

Method/Conduct……

The internal enemy is far more dangerous than the external one

Party spited in Aug 1903:- Bolshevik headed by Lenin Menshevik headed by L. Martinov Bolshevik was acting like a “Mafia” Money was collected voluntarily, semi voluntarily or

forced donation Expropriations of Government funds In 1906 Bolshevik plan to issue counterfeit money but

plan became known Book:Lenin and his comrades

Method/Conduct……

Political Strategy• Organizing Soviets• Developing Network of political commissar• Publication of ISKARA• Nationalization of Private Property • Support from the lower Class• Sense of Nationalism • Communism- SOCIALISM – “No RICH NO POOR”• Revolution is a main tool• Granting Political Freedom• “Peace, land and bread” • “All power to the soviets”

Military Strategy

• Attack the centers of power directly• Recruitment of ex-Czarist Military • Revolution is best option to cease the Power• Organizing secret revolutionary cells • Propaganda to get support

ConclusionEstablishment of great communist state of

RussiaFull and equal voting rights for women No favor to any religion – Freedom of worship

on self determination. Industrialization and economic development of the country.

Nationalization of Industries and facilities for workers

Providing equal rights to allDivisions of world in Capitalism and Socialism

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