Lenin’s concept of the Revolution

As stated in the document, “Why do the Russian workers still manifest little revolutionary activity in response to brutal treatment of the people by people… etc.?” (Lenin, 372) Do you agree with Lenin’s statement that “It is because the ‘economic struggle’ does not ‘stimulate’ them to this, because such activity does not ‘promise palpable results,’ because it produces little that is ‘positive’?” (Lenin, 372) Or what other reasons are possible that the people don’t want to start or participate in revolts? Or do you disagree with Lenin’s statements?

While reading this passage on page 372, I believe that the original quotation marks he used on certain words, such as “economic struggle” and “stimulate” were almost used in a sarcastic kind of way to urge the people to stop using the “economic struggle” as an excuse and to go out and start/ participate in the revolution(s). And with “stimulate” as well, to me seems as a “is this not goof enough for you the people.”

5 Replies to “Lenin’s concept of the Revolution”

  1. On the question of why Russia’s working class revolt minimally even though they deal with harsh conditions, I believe that it is due to a number of things. After reading the document, the author listed some of the hardships that the Russian working class lives with. Because of these troubles it seems it could be possible that the people are so beaten down by their own society that a revolution is almost impossible to have. Moreover, the author touches on the fact that there is no clear and “independent” party made by, and for the working class- only socialist or bourgeois. Due to this lack of representation for what the working class actually needs and wants, I think it is doubly harder to have any impact on the government at large, and they almost disappear in their own society.

    1. I agree with Blake that the working class was going through an intense time of suffrage and a revolt could have been too large of a task for a group that doesn’t have the most resources at their disposable. Going back to what we talked about of the first day, Lenin makes it seem that its almost crazy that the working class hasn’t revolted yet when we had concluded that a revolution is very hard to manifest and needs to have a number of things add up. I think that the question Lenin should be asking isn’t “why haven’t they revolted yet?” but instead, “What is holding them back?” In a way, he answers that question by blaming their economic struggle and the working class lacking the ability to organize but, I think it is also important to note the diversity of the working class and how finding a consensus among them will be a very difficult task.

  2. I believe that Lenin was correct and incorrect. What I mean by this is that he is incorrect in the matter of economic oppression not being a stimulus for revolt. In my mind, the amount of difference in wealth amongst classes would be more than enough cause for the working people of Russia to revolt. However there is a catch, Lenin is also correct because obviously being placed in a position with no financial resources is being placed in position with little means to revolt. Essentially, taking this economic perspective to the act of revolt would then appear trivial as the people would realize their means would not suffice the end. Primarily in my own opinion, the frustrations felt by the majority of Russian people derive from economic issues originally but then take the form in history as other civil issues.

  3. I agree with Lenin’s quote on how economic struggle does not stimulate such revolutionary reaction. The “economic struggle” usually goes by uncontested, since the elite not only have economic advantage, but also have strings within the government as well. Although the lower economic classes are larger in number, such actions such as revolting simply does not attract the masses. We should also take into consideration how previous revolts in Russian history, such as the Decembrist Revolt, was crushed swiftly despite having various by-standards who align themselves with the revolutionaries. This not only lead to the people not only be scared to revolt but also lose hope in the movement. Throughout history, we see revolutions occur at breaking point, such as the American Revolution and the October Revolution. Although revolutions are inspired by the “economic struggles”, people tend to join the movement to overthrow the government in hopes of bringing actual change and justice to their country. Revolution tends to be accompanied by violence, since force may be needed to actually bring change.

  4. I agree with Blake and Liam. I believe that Lenin is is putting the fact no one has revolted on the economic status of the working class. However he is not looking at other possible factors such as they might not have the materials needed in order to organize a revolt. I believe it is important to dig deeper and look at other possible factors that may be small, but can still be a greater impact, not just looking at the financial issue that is obvious.

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