Russian Revolution

Phases of Russian Revolution (1917)

First Phase: (February Revolution, formation of Provincial Government) Russian demonstrators claiming for bread took to streets in Russian Capital Petrograd (St. Petersburg) coupled with industrial workers, peasants and families of Russian soldiers who went to war. With the passage of time strikes spread all across the capital. Troops were called out who fired on demonstrator who came and gather for peaceful demonstration. But they faced dire consequences. This did not break their effort to demand their rights. Ultimately troops also joined the demonstrator. In the meanwhile Nicolas dissolved the Duma again without any consultation of its members. This resulted into abdication of Nicolas from his designation as Czar of Russia which lead to end of Czarist dynasty in Europe.

After abdication of Czar two contradictory groups were emerged. Petrograd Soviet represented workers and soldiers and second group composed of Former Duma Members represented the middle and upper class Russian. After first phase of revolution Provincial Government was established under the Prime Minister Alexander Kerensky. This government introduced the following policies which lead to their decline.

Second Phase: (October Revolution / Bolshevik Revolution) Coup D’état of Vladimir Lenin as Leftist Revolutionary of Bolshevik Party. Vladimir Lenin who was exiled since 1894 came back to Russia with his famous slogan of Bread, Peace and Land. He confronted with the government by hijacking his party members who were initially not willing for another revolution. Lenin with the backup of his party won this coup and become head of Russia as dictator. He nationalized the industry, abolishes private ownership, made peace with Germany, singed treaty with allied powers to withdraw from World War 1. But this will not the end of whole scene of bloodshed in Russia and civil wars. Anti Bolshevik revolutionary forces went against Bolshevik which resulted into start of another civil war that ends in 1921 after at least three years of bloodshed and millions of deaths of people. In 1922 USSR became as first communist state of the world.

Reasons behind the Russian Revolution

Socially exploitation, economically poor, morally downtrodden, politically inefficiency, military failures coupled with revolutionary attitude of Lenin led the Russian Revolution.

1.      Lack of Leader and Leadership Skills in Nicolas II and Alexander III

2.      Bloody massacre of 1905 and humiliating defeat in Russo-Japanese War 1905

3.      Spoiling image of Czarist family

4.      Chronic Food shortage, inflation and downfall of economy

5.      Spread of socialist and democratic movement around the world and inability of Russian monarch to handle these movements.

6.      Participation of Russia in World War I

After effects of Russian Revolution

1.      Rule of Bolshevik on Russia under the leadership of Lenin.

2.      Marxism and Leninism declared as state’s ideology

3.      Suppression of freedom of speech and expression

4.      Economy became centralized and planned

5.      Emergence of new civil war with anti Bolshevik

6.      USSR became as first communist state of the world after defeating White Army of anti Bolshevik for at least seven decade in which USSR spread communism around the world by support revolutionary movements

7.      Emergence of new ideology threaten the eastern Europe nations which resulted into totalitarian and authoritarian government in eastern Europe particularly fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany.