Posted: August 14th, 2022

Influence of the French Revolution on Communism in Soviet Russia

Influence of the French Revolution on Communism in Soviet Russia

The French Revolution of 1789 was a watershed event in modern history that inspired many movements for social and political change, including communism. The revolutionaries in France sought to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic based on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. They also challenged the feudal system and the privileges of the aristocracy and the clergy. The revolution sparked a wave of popular uprisings across Europe and beyond, some of which were influenced by the ideas of communism.

Communism is a political and economic ideology that advocates for a classless society where all property and resources are collectively owned and distributed according to need. The term communism was coined by the French philosopher Étienne Cabet in his 1840 book Voyage en Icarie (Voyage to Icaria), where he described a utopian socialist community. However, the most influential communist thinkers were Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who published The Communist Manifesto in 1848. Marx and Engels argued that history was driven by the conflict between the bourgeoisie (the owners of the means of production) and the proletariat (the workers who sell their labor). They predicted that the proletariat would eventually overthrow the bourgeoisie and establish a dictatorship of the proletariat, which would lead to the abolition of private property and the emergence of a communist society.

Communism had a significant impact on the Russian Revolution of 1917, which ended the rule of Tsar Nicholas II and led to the creation of the Soviet Union. The revolution was influenced by various factors, such as Russia’s defeat in World War I, social unrest, economic hardship, political repression and national aspirations. However, one of the main driving forces behind the revolution was the Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin, who was a follower of Marx and Engels. Lenin adapted Marxism to the Russian context and advocated for a vanguard party that would lead the workers’ revolution. He also opposed the Provisional Government that was established after the February Revolution of 1917, which he saw as a continuation of bourgeois rule. In October 1917, Lenin and his supporters staged a coup d’état known as the October Revolution, which seized power from the Provisional Government and established a Soviet republic.

The Bolsheviks faced many challenges in consolidating their power, such as civil war, foreign intervention, famine, dissent and opposition. They implemented various policies to transform Russia into a communist state, such as nationalizing land, industry and banks, creating a planned economy, suppressing religion, promoting atheism, establishing a one-party dictatorship, forming a secret police (the Cheka), launching a cultural revolution, promoting women’s rights and fostering international communism. The Bolsheviks also changed their name to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) in 1918. Under Lenin’s successor Joseph Stalin, who ruled from 1924 to 1953, communism in the Soviet Union became more totalitarian and repressive, marked by collectivization, industrialization, purges, terror and cult of personality.

The French Revolution and communism in Soviet Russia had some similarities and differences. Both revolutions aimed to overthrow an oppressive regime and create a more egalitarian society. Both revolutions also faced resistance from internal and external enemies and resorted to violence and repression to maintain their power. However, there were also significant differences between them. The French Revolution was more spontaneous and popular, while the Russian Revolution was more organized and elitist. The French Revolution was more influenced by Enlightenment ideals of rationalism, secularism and humanism, while the Russian Revolution was more influenced by Marxism-Leninism. The French Revolution resulted in a constitutional monarchy followed by a republic, while the Russian Revolution resulted in a socialist state followed by a communist one.

Works Cited

– History of communism in the Soviet Union – Wikipedia
– France–Soviet Union relations – Wikipedia
– Russian Revolution | Definition, Causes, Summary, History & Facts
– Russian communists mark 100 years since Lenin’s death

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