The Russian Revolution

[RGacky3]

Based on discussions I've had with Leninists many times here, I've come to realize that I'm not so knowlegable on the Russian revolution. What I do know I don't like, the basics of what I've learned from reading and so on. But what I'd like is a basic background and history of the Russian revolution and civil war, up to Stalin. Now I" know thats a tall order, but just a basic history and things I might be missing in general readings.

[Green Dragon]

Comrade On's synopsis in that other thread is largely accurate.

And if you look at what he writes, he argues that socialism developed under the Bolsheviks more or less as one would reasonablly expect. Until that point when his (or her) ox was gored, then suddenly the revolution was hijacked. Which is no different, as I recall, from what you have oft said, it simply now a matter of timing and which ox. At that point you both agree that the failure is not the revolution, but those people who betrayed the revolution.

[ComradeOm]

See my sig for links to both an essay on the Bolshevik party in 1917 (which explodes a few myths) and a list of works on the Revolution. I particularly recommend Rabinowitch's trilogy but I review about a dozen others in that thread

And if you look at what he writes, he argues that socialism developed under the Bolsheviks more or less as one would reasonablly expect. Until that point when his (or her) ox was gored, then suddenly the revolution was hijacked. Which is no different, as I recall, from what you have oft said, it simply now a matter of timing and which ox. At that point you both agree that the failure is not the revolution, but those people who betrayed the revolution

I argue that the October Revolution was socialist in character and witness the flourishing of genuine proletarian democracy. Very different from arguing that Russia during the period was a socialist society. I also place the 'degeneration' of the Revolution much earlier than most but see it as a continual process rather than a single event. The economic crisis had severely weakened the vitality of Soviet democracy (and, ironically, the Bolshevik party) by mid 1918 and the following years (particularly the NEP in 1921) would see a weakening of the party's position relative to the peasantry

Which is not to say that the Bolsheviks made no mistakes, they certainly did, but that I lay the blame (if we are to play that game) on the economic catastrophe and peasant empowerment rather than individuals or parties