The Russian Revolution

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               R.G. Williams

This short essay is a study of the Russian Revolution, and its importance to the history of Socialism.

The Russian Revolution of 1917, as we all know, was one of the truly great revolutions – to politics, to society, to history, to humanity. Indeed, it is a classic example of a modern revolution – a revolutionary event which resulted in the revolutionary transformation of society. Effectively, it is one of the truly remarkable events in all of human history. It shook the world. It changed the world. Whenever we think of revolution, today, we often think of the Russian Revolution – an event which shows that revolutions can happen, and that they can change the world.

  There have been many revolutions in modern history. The Russian Revolution remains the most important. This is for two reasons. The first reason is that it changed the course of world history — by helping to end the First World War, by overthrowing Tsarism, by achieving the world’s first workers’ state — and it still shapes world history. The second reason is that it shows the power of revolutionary Socialism. The legacy of the Revolution might be largely forgotten by the Russian state, today, but the political legacy of it remains. Indeed, it remains the greatest revolution in world history – so far. As long as people believe we can build a better society – a society of human freedom – the example of the Russian Revolution will remain: with its example of workers’ power, workers’ democracy, and the hope of human freedom.1

The Revolution was also a crucial event in the history of Socialism.2 Indeed, it probably remains the most crucial event in the history of Socialism — still helping to define the basic ideas and the basic hope of Socialist politics. The Revolution showed that ordinary working-class people could seize state power and social power and build their own society. By seizing state power Lenin and the Bolsheviks showed that Soviet power, in the form of workers’ councils, remains the basic social basis for achieving Socialism and a Socialist society. The Russian Revolution shows us that the real and effective way to achieve Socialism is through workers’ power. It was a Revolution which showed that Socialism is, ultimately, a revolutionary process. As an event in the history of Socialism, the Revolution, as a Revolution, proves the revolutionary possibility of Socialism.3

Humanity entered a new era, and a new stage, in history, because of the events of 1917.4 Humanity might still achieve Socialism — thanks to the legacy of the Russian Revolution and the victory of the Russian Revolution.5 Humanity still lives in the shadow of its possibilities. We need to go beyond that shadow – and build a better world.

Notes

1. L. Trotsky, History of the Russian Revolution, (1931)
2. L. Trotsky, History of the Russian Revolution, (1931)
3. L. Trotsky, History of the Russian Revolution, (1931)
4. V.I. Lenin, The Third International and Its Place in History, (1919)
5. E.H. Carr, A History of Soviet Russia, (1950-1978).

(2011)

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