The History of the Russian Revolution
analytical Essay
1236 words
The Russian Revolution is a widely studied and seemingly well understood time in modern, European history, boasting a vast wealth of texts and information from those of the likes of Robert Service, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Allan Bullock, Robert Conquest and Jonathan Reed, to name a few, but none is so widely sourced and so heavily relied upon than that of the account of Leon Trotsky, his book “History of the Russian Revolution” a somewhat firsthand account of the events leading up to the formation of the Soviet Union. There is no doubt that Trotsky’s book, among others, has played a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of the events of The Revolution; but have his personal predilections altered how he portrayed such paramount individuals as Vladimir Lenin and Josef ‘Soso’ Stalin. Does the account tarnish such important assemblages as the Bolshevik Party and even the Russian Proletariat needlessly, and how has this representation been reflected in our current understanding of past events?
The main discrepancies become apparent when comparing Trotskyite texts with Soviet sources; to some degree they are very similar. Despite the fact that Trotsky was exiled during his composure of ‘History of the Russian Revolution’, embittering him towards Stalin and his allies, he was still loyal to the party and to the ideals they stood for. Throughout the events of The Revolution he proudly praises the liberation of the Proletariat “The proletariat cannot directly seize the power; it has to have an organisation accommodated to this task. The co-ordination of the mass insurrection... presupposes a correct general leadership of the masses...and a daring blow.” This kind of referencing to the workers of Russia as one large, unthinking, hom...
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...Revolution and the Postmodern Challenge." The School of Russian and Asian Studies - Study, Research, and Travel in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine. The School of Russian and Asian Studies. Web. 30 June 2011. .
Sebag, Montefiore Simon. Stalin: the Court of the Red Tsar. New York: Knopf, 2004. Print.
Sebag, Montefiore Simon. Young Stalin. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Print.
Service, Robert. Comrades!: a History of World Communism. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2007. Print.
Trotsky, Leon. An Appeal to the Toiling, Oppressed and Exhausted Peoples of Europe. Penguin Group USA, 2009. Print.
Trotsky, Leon, and Max Eastman. History of the Russian Revolution. Chicago, IL: Haymarket, 2008. Print.
Trotsky, Leon, and Max Eastman. The Revolution Betrayed. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2004. Print.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how leon trotsky's book "history of the russian revolution" has played a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of the revolution, but has his personal predilections altered how he portrayed such paramount individuals as vladimir lenin and josef ‘soso’ stalin needlessly?
- Analyzes the discrepancies between trotskyite texts and soviet sources, stating that despite being exiled during his composure of ‘history of the russian revolution’ he was still loyal to the party and ideals they stood for.
- Analyzes how trotsky is a standout of these historians for his political dissent and blatant disregard for stalinist power, but he is still one of many.
- Analyzes how leon trotsky's book "history of the russian revolution" has played a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of the revolution, but has his personal predilections altered how he portrayed such paramount individuals as vladimir lenin and josef ‘soso’ stalin needlessly?
- Analyzes the discrepancies between trotskyite texts and soviet sources, stating that despite being exiled during his composure of ‘history of the russian revolution’ he was still loyal to the party and ideals they stood for.
- Analyzes how trotsky is a standout of these historians for his political dissent and blatant disregard for stalinist power, but he is still one of many.
- Argues that modern revisionist historians such as edward acton, robert service, harold shukman and steven smith have had great exposure to confidential literature, kept secret by the many soviet purges and the prolific ‘iron curtain’.
- Analyzes how trotsky formed a great resentment towards stalin in the decade before the composure of ‘history of the russian revolution’.
- Analyzes how trotsky reiterated lenin's amazing ability to conduct a revolution and his passion for the communist cause through his leadership, his grasp on marxist theory and the "logically predetermined" events of the russian revolution.
- Opines that trotsky's book, while useful for its in depth analysis of the russian revolution from an upper-echelon insider’s perspective, has not been a turning point in soviet history.
- Cites bullock, alan, courtois, stéphane, and mark kramer. the black book of communism: crimes, terror, repression.
- Introduces sebag, montefiore simon, and service, robert. comrades!: a history of world communism.
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- Analyzes how gorbachev's treaty would have given more autonomy to the individual soviet states in an attempt to solve national issues at the state level rather than having the centralized government solve them.
- Analyzes how gorbachev speaks with disdain and disgust as he relates the events that led up to and surrounded the belovezh accord.
- Analyzes how gorbachev believed the soviet union could have been saved. he cited the 1990 declaration of russia as a sovereign nation, eliminating any hope of regaining any of the states.
1752 wordsRead More - Why Did Joseph Stalin's Use Of Scare Tactics Essayanalytical essaySteve Phillips’ Stalinist Russia is a condensed textbook designed for students studying Stalin’s influence over the Soviet Union. Because of its supportive student audience, the text is assumed to be factual, concise, and comprehensive.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how stalin's use of scare tactics shape the soviet union in the early 20th century.
- Explains that steve phillips' stalinist russia is a condensed textbook designed for students studying stalin's influence over the soviet union.
- Explains that the center for european studies is facilitated by the university of north carolina on chapel hill to provide bulk research on contemporary europe.
- Analyzes how stalin's use of scare tactics shape the soviet union in the early 20th century.
- Explains that steve phillips' stalinist russia is a condensed textbook designed for students studying stalin's influence over the soviet union.
- Explains that the center for european studies is facilitated by the university of north carolina on chapel hill to provide bulk research on contemporary europe.
- Explains that ces was recognized as a national resource center and jean monnet center of excellence by the us department of education.
604 wordsRead More - The Dichotomy Between Joseph Stalin And Leon Trotskyanalytical essayThe dichotomy between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky is pivotal in understanding the power hierarchy in the Bolshevik party and their successful attempt at revolution in 1917. When considering the various schools of historiography examined, the views on the two political figures differs greatly depending on the sources school and therefore biases. However, generally Stalin is presented far more negatively in most historiographies being depicted suspicious and threatening, rapidly gaining power through deceptions and generally antagonizing the political climate of Soviet Russia, only being seen as truly pure in pro-Stalinist propaganda. Contrastingly, Trotsky is presented as cunning but never conniving, a prestigious and unparalleled military
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the dichotomy between stalin and trotsky is pivotal in understanding the power hierarchy in the bolshevik party and their successful attempt at revolution.
- Argues that the dichotomy between stalin and trotsky is pivotal in understanding the power hierarchy in the bolshevik party and their successful attempt at revolution.
274 wordsRead More - However, one must question the validity of Trotsky’s claims of having founded a ‘great army and guiding it to victory.’ Richard Pipes states that his contribution was more ‘modest’, and that the credit for victory should go the ex-Tsarist officers who had a better grasp of military affairs. However Robert Service mentions, that for whatever his faults, Trotsky’s no-nonsense persona, as well as his ruthless streak of terror, such as ‘ordering deserters to be shot on the spot and not [giving] a damn if some of them were Communist Party activists,’ was what was needed to transform a ragtag army, wracked with low morale, to an army of five million men, that had ‘an unshakable belief in its own eventual victory.’ Therefore it is to Lenin and Trotsky’s credit that an effective fighting force did emerge amongst the chaos of the Civil War, and one that could claim wholescale
In this essay, the author
- Argues that the bolsheviks' leadership was key to winning the war. lenin never visited the front line personally, but he was a hard-headed decision-maker. trotsky was an exceptional organiser of the fledgling red army.
- Argues that the bolsheviks' leadership was key to winning the war. lenin never visited the front line personally, but he was a hard-headed decision-maker. trotsky was an exceptional organiser of the fledgling red army.
405 wordsRead More