Did the Bolsheviks Want Communism?
The rise of the Bolsheviks in Russia during the early 20th century marked a pivotal moment in the history of the world. One of the most debated questions surrounding this period is whether the Bolsheviks genuinely sought to establish a communist society. This article delves into the motivations and goals of the Bolsheviks, examining the extent to which they were committed to the principles of communism.
The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, were a faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP). They were primarily focused on the immediate goal of seizing power from the Provisional Government that had taken over after the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II in February 1917. However, their long-term objectives were more complex and open to interpretation. Did the Bolsheviks truly want to establish a communist society, or were their goals more limited?
The origins of the Bolsheviks can be traced back to their Marxist ideology, which sought to overthrow the capitalist system and replace it with a classless, stateless society. Lenin and his followers were influenced by the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who had outlined the stages of social revolution in their seminal work, “The Communist Manifesto.” According to this ideology, the proletariat (the working class) would eventually rise up and take control of the means of production, leading to the establishment of a socialist state, which would eventually evolve into a communist society.
However, the practical application of this ideology in Russia was fraught with challenges. The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a complex event, involving various factions and external influences. While the Bolsheviks were successful in their initial goal of seizing power, their ability to implement their vision of communism was far from straightforward. The following sections of this article will explore the factors that contributed to the Bolsheviks’ commitment to communism, as well as the challenges they faced in trying to establish a communist society.
