History 301
Spring 2000
Prof. Koenker

Class Formation in Russia 1905-1917

March 29, 2000


I. Paradigms of revolutionary interpretation

A. Victory of the vanguard proletariat
B. Bolshevik villainy and evil of Lenin
C. Class formation paradigm

1. Moral communities and citizenship
2. Class consciousness

II. Russia in 1905

A. Labor movement
B. Bloody Sunday and its aftermath

III. Results of 1905 revolution

A. Dominance of class interpretations of current events
B. Limited democracy (4 -- count 'em -- dumas)
C. Political alternatives for workers

1. Social Democrats

a. left wing Bolsheviks
b. right wing Mensheviks

2. Socialist Revolutionaries

a. right wing constitutionalists
b. left wing terrorists

IV. Growth of "class struggle"

A. Mobilization of entrepreneurs
B. Growth of strikes and labor unrest
C. Role of the state

V. The Great War

A. Citizenship trumps class?
B. What happens when the state fails?




Back to Main Page