Result of several social, political, and ideological transformations, the bolshevik
revolution marked the establishment of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist
Republic (RSFSR). Bolsheviks, which means “majority” were a far-left,
revolutionary Marxist faction founded by Vladimir Lenin that split with the
Mensheviks from the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, a
revolutionary socialist political party. The revolution had a profound impact on
Russia and the wider world, leading to the formation of the Soviet Union and the
Cold War. This revolution also created a legacy of political and social change that
can still be felt today.
Let’s dive into the rise of bolshevism during WW1, the formation of the soviet
union based on marxist-leninist ideology, and the transformations this made on
the Russian Federation and the rest of the World.
One of the main factors that contributed to the formation of the Bolshevik
Revolution was the widespread dissatisfaction with the Provisional Government
that was established after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in February 1917;
The Provisional Government was seen as weak and ineffective, and it failed to
address the pressing social and economic problems facing the country.
Meanwhile, grassroots community assemblies (called Soviets) were formed. The
Soviets did insist on a prerogative (privilege) to influence the government and
control various militias. By some time, Russia was locked in a dual power as
neither government trusted the other. The Provisional Government held state
power in areas such as military and international affairs, whereas the network of
Soviets held more power concerning domestic affairs. Social democrats,
Mensheviks, social revolutionaries, and anarchists were engaged in daily
struggle and vied for influence within the Provisional Government and the
Soviets. These organizations fought against the bolsheviks, led by Vladimir
Lenin. Bolsheviks were initially a marginalized faction but with time, their slogans
of peace, land, and ending the famine caused by Russian involvement in WW1
helped the bolshevik popularity to grow.
Bolshevik revolution, based on the Marxist-Leninist ideology and aiming to form a
communist or socialist state of government within Russia, established its
government as a result of the October Revolution in which Bolshevik armed
insurrection by workers and soldiers in Petrograd successfully overthrew the
Provisional Government. With the establishment of the Russian Soviet
Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), it went on to sign a peace treaty with
Germany as promised to end its involvement in WW1.
The Bolshevik revolution transformed the Russian system and the soviet union
ruled the region until its collapse in 1991. The Soviet Union was one of the most
powerful countries in the world during the Cold War, and its influence extended
far beyond its borders. The Bolsheviks implemented a land reform program that
redistributed land to peasants. This was a significant change from the previous
system, in which land was owned by the nobility and worked by peasants. The
land reform program gave the peasants more control over their own lives and
helped to reduce inequality in Russian society. The soviet union nationalized
industry, putting it under state control. This was done to promote the
development of a socialist economy. The state-owned industries were run
according to the principles of central planning, to meet the needs of the people.
Not only this but the Soviet Union shifted from an agrarian economy to an
industrial one. This was achieved through the rapid development of heavy
industry, particularly in the areas of steel, coal, and oil. The Soviet Union became
a major industrial power and was able to compete with the West in many areas.
The Marxist-Lennist-based bolshevik revolution not only transformed the
capitalist government into a communist government but also affected the world
significantly. The Bolshevik Revolution was seen as a model for other countries
seeking to establish a socialist government. The Soviet Union provided financial
and political support to communist movements around the world, and many
countries adopted the Soviet model of government. The Soviet Union and the
United States became locked in a long-standing conflict that came to be known
as the Cold War. The Cold War was characterized by political, economic, and
military competition between the two superpowers. The non-aligned movement
was a group of countries that did not align themselves with either the United
States or the Soviet Union. The non-aligned movement played a significant role
in world politics during the Cold War and helped to promote peace and
disarmament. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, marking the end of the Cold
War. The collapse of the Soviet Union had a profound impact on the world, as it
changed the balance of power and opened up new opportunities for global
cooperation.
Bolshevism is one of those ideologies that transformed the Russian federation
significantly and helped it establish itself as a power. Russia became a nuclear
power under the soviet union in 1949 and established itself as one of the
strongest nuclear forces in the world. The debate over socialism and capitalism is
a never-ending one but it is to be noted that different systems suit different
people and nations of different eras. After six long decades, Russia had to
transform into a capitalist government because it had to. Socialism and
Capitalism both have pros and cons and it cannot be defined which system is a
better one.
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