The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism. Bertrand Russell

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       Bertrand Russell

      The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism

      Published by Good Press, 2019

       [email protected]

      EAN 4057664115225

Table of Contents

       PREFACE ToC

       PART I

       THE PRESENT CONDITION OF RUSSIA

       I ToC

       WHAT IS HOPED FROM BOLSHEVISM

       II ToC

       GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

       III ToC

       LENIN, TROTSKY AND GORKY

       IV ToC

       ART AND EDUCATION

       V ToC

       COMMUNISM AND THE SOVIET CONSTITUTION

       VI ToC

       THE FAILURE OF RUSSIAN INDUSTRY

       VII ToC

       DAILY LIFE IN MOSCOW

       VIII ToC

       TOWN AND COUNTRY

       IX ToC

       INTERNATIONAL POLICY

       PART II

       BOLSHEVIK THEORY

       I ToC

       THE MATERIALISTIC THEORY OF HISTORY

       II ToC

       DECIDING FORCES IN POLITICS

       III ToC

       BOLSHEVIK CRITICISM OF DEMOCRACY

       IV ToC

       REVOLUTION AND DICTATORSHIP

       V ToC

       MECHANISM AND THE INDIVIDUAL

       VI ToC

       WHY RUSSIAN COMMUNISM HAS FAILED

       VII ToC

       CONDITIONS FOR THE SUCCESS OF COMMUNISM

       ERRATA ToC

       BY THE SAME AUTHOR

PREFACEToC

       Table of Contents

      The Russian Revolution is one of the great heroic events of the world's history. It is natural to compare it to the French Revolution, but it is in fact something of even more importance. It does more to change daily life and the structure of society: it also does more to change men's beliefs. The difference is exemplified by the difference between Marx and Rousseau: the latter sentimental and soft, appealing to emotion, obliterating sharp outlines; the former systematic like Hegel, full of hard intellectual content, appealing to historic necessity and the technical development of industry, suggesting a view of human beings as puppets in the grip of omnipotent material forces. Bolshevism combines the characteristics of the French Revolution with those of the rise of Islam; and the result is something radically new, which can only be understood by a patient and passionate effort of imagination.

      Before entering upon any detail, I wish to state, as clearly and unambiguously as I can, my own attitude towards this new thing.

      By far the most important aspect of the Russian Revolution is as an attempt to realize Communism. I believe that Communism is necessary to the world, and I believe that the heroism of Russia has fired men's hopes in a way which was essential to the realization of Communism in the future. Regarded as a splendid attempt, without which ultimate success would have been very improbable, Bolshevism deserves the gratitude and admiration of all the progressive part of mankind.

      But the method by which Moscow aims at establishing Communism is a pioneer method, rough and dangerous, too heroic to count the cost of the opposition it arouses. I do not believe that by this method a stable or desirable form of Communism can be established. Three issues seem to me possible from the present situation. The first is the ultimate defeat of Bolshevism by the forces of capitalism. The second is the victory of the Bolshevists accompanied by a complete loss of their ideals and a régime of Napoleonic imperialism. The third is a prolonged world-war, in which civilization will go under, and all its