Tsarist Russia

Question 1

Communist view on the October Revolution

Answer 1

The October Revolution was the inevitable result of class struggle.

Question 2

The Liberal view on the October Revolution

Answer 2

Ruthless Bolsheviks took advantage of the collapse of government authority to seize power. The Bolsheviks were successful because of their organisational skills and the leadership of Lenin and Trotsky

Question 3

Revisionist View on the October Revolution

Answer 3

There was a growing popular movement, characterised by the growing influence of the soviets, in Russia that would have overthrown the Provisional without the Bolsheviks’ intervention

Question 4

Marxists on Tsardom

Answer 4

Tsardom was doomed and it was only a question of time until this feudal repressive mood of production would be replaced.

Question 5

Marxist on revolution

Answer 5

Revolution was inevitable

Question 6

Norman Stone

Answer 6

The reforms could have saved Russia if it wasn’t for WW1

Question 7

Alan Woods

Answer 7

Tsardom was throwing away its last chance when promises from 1905 were unfulfilled- expectations raised in 1905 but were dashed

Question 8

Richard Pipes

Answer 8

Yes there was a spontaneous uprising from below (common in Russian history). But this time (1917) it succeeded due to the fact that it had support from the ruling elite, which no longer supported the Tsar.

Question 9

Orthodox view on Bolshevik success

Answer 9

the success of the Bolshevik party was due to the fact that the Bolsheviks were well organised and disciplined

Question 10

Revisionist, western historians on the success of the Bolsheviks

Answer 10

The bolsheviks were well organised but the key explanation was that they just followed “popular trend” and that they “rode to power on a wave of popular resentment” (Stephen Lee)

Question 11

Robert Service on the February Revolution

Answer 11

Nicholas was ousted from power by a ‘revolution from above’ rather than ‘below’: ‘The ultimate pressure had been applied by a group of Duma politicians, who proceeded to form a Provisional Government

Question 12

Dimitri Volkogonov on the February Revolution

Answer 12

The two chief causes of the February Revolution were the unsuccessful progress of the war and the weakness of the regime

Question 13

Orlando Figes on the time of Lenin

Answer 13

the Reds’ ‘crucial advantage’ was unity; that ‘they could claim to be defending the Revolution.’ The Whites, on the other hand, suffered ‘a problem of image…that they were associated with the old regime.

Question 14

Sheila Fitzpatrick on Lenin

Answer 14

(on War Communism) To cope with a desperate situation, they turned to more radical policies and tried to extend the sphere of centralized government control.

Question 15

Robert Service on Lenin

Answer 15

the principle of self- determination was implemented much more restrictedly than had been promised by Lenin before the October Revolution.