1917 Russia: Workers Revolution And The Festival Of The Oppressed

When women workers' anger exploded onto the streets of Petrograd on International Women's Day in 1917, it lit a fuse that was to turn the world upside down. It toppled the Tsarist autocracy and hastened the end of the First World War and three other dynastic empires, The workers and soldiers of Petrograd were the vanguard of the most important and the most successful social movement in world history. Women were at its forefront, tearing up the deep rooted oppression they faced. The centenary of 1917 is an opportunity to rediscover these momentous events, which changed the course of history and inspired generations of workers. The Russian Revolution proved another world is possible and showed how we might be able to win it. Today the deepening crisis of capitalism means a world in turmoil. Understanding 1917 and the movements and ideas that led to it is vital if we are to re-open the prospect of a better world before capitalism destroys the future. Title Copyright Contents Foreword 1 Introduction 2 Context: Russia at the start of the 20th century 3 1905: Russia’s great dress rehearsal and the years of reaction 4 The outbreak of war and the collapse of official socialism 5 February 1917: Soviets and the Provisional government 6 April 1917: Re-arming the party 7 The Kornilov coup and the road to workers’ power 8 War and Revolution: The international impact 9 Achievements of the Revolution 10 Consolidating Soviet power 11 Revolution under siege and how it was lost 12 Conclusion: When all things are possible Endnotes Further reading Bibliography Index When women workers' anger exploded onto the streets of Petrograd on International Women's Day in 1917, it lit a fuse that was to turn the world upside down. It sparked the toppling of the Tsarist autocracy and three other global empires and speed the end of the First World War. The women and soldiers of Petrograd were the vanguard of the most important and the most successful social movement in world history. The 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution gives socialists the world over the chance to rediscover these momentous events, which have inspired generations of workers