Count Sergei Witte And Vladimir Lenin Analysis

Count Sergei Witte (1849-1915) and Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) had sketched out plans for the modernization of the Russian Empire economically, politically, and socially. Lenin was a Russian Communist Revolutionary, the architect of the soviet state. He used Karl Marx as a foundation for his modernization plans. Witte was not a liberal nor a conservative, and held several positions of power. His goals were to be achieved under the existing Russian Empire. The context to the two differing perspectives originates in the historical background of Russia in the early twentieth century. A chronological series of events up until the end of Tsar Nicholas II who ruled from 1894-1917, during the modernization of Russia is provided.

In 1901 the Socialist

January 1905 the Bloody Sunday Massacre occurred in St. Petersburg, in October there was a general strike, and in December the members of St. Petersburg Soviet were arrested. In April of 1906 the First Duma convened only to be dissolved in July. The Second Duma convened in February and was dissolved in June, which sets into motion a new electoral law. The Third Duma convened in November of 1907, by 1911 students in universities wreaked havoc. In 1912 there was a Fourth Duma, and the First Balkan War. In the following year the Second Balkan War occurred. World War I breaks out in 1914, for the next year Russia suffered several defeats. Nicholas the II was abdicated in 1917. Russia was industrializing at this point, but it differed from others world powers because “cottage industry and heavy industry existed side by side.” At the turn of the century there was a revival of revolutionary interest, the Socialist Revolutionaries who had previously had issues with assassination attempt gone awry created the boevoi otriad. This separate fighting detachment targeted terrorism, “from 1902-1906 its victims included the governor general of Moscow, a number of ministers…, and some

He believed a “violent revolution was a universal requirement.” If workers wielded the power exploitation and oppression would be eliminated. It was the dictatorship of the proletariat, of the bourgeois that needed to be dismantled. Communism was the overall goal but to achieve it, the state needed to remain until capitalism was eradicated “and a transitional epoch of the dictatorship of the proletariat would be needed before communism could be attained.” Profession such as engineers and agronomists would remain but they would be employed by the working class. During the time of post-capitalism/pre-communism “employees and workers of a single national state syndicate” would rule and be a socialist stage. The enemies of the workers are the capitalist. People would govern in turns over themselves. Against the rule of the minority over the majority, the majority’s needs are not being met. Take power into the hands of the majority with a violent revolution. Direct democracy, power in the hands of the people, the majority. End the dictatorship of the proletariat. He wished to promote equality, end the tyranny of the majority. The state gives rise to class differences, and fails to resolve the issues posed by the distinction. By promoting the proletariat, the lower class will be promoted by itself. This will be done through a violent revolution. This will put an end to the state, which will put an