Three Russian Ideas

The three Russian stances towards revolution, represented by the Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, and the Octoberists, all have one thing in common. They all want to make Russia a better place for the common people, whether it by universal suffrage, better working hours, or simply limiting the power of the Tsar to protect the rights of individuals. The Bolsheviks present the most compelling argument, seeing as they strike the chord of revolution immediately, even if it means the death of innocent people for the sake of an entire nation. Ultimately, I feel that this strategy is the only one that would work in Russia, considering Tsars have never been inclined to give any power to the people, especially the common people. The only way to stop something like that is full force revolution when the Tsar is least expecting it, which would mean as soon as possible. The Mensheviks also call for revolution, but the fact that they see it as a gradual thing inhibits their ability to make a persuasive argument. In my opinion, hoping for gradual revolution in Russia would be like hoping spring’s eternal, seeing as Russia has historically crushed the first sings of revolution with such brutal force that our book continues to describe their army as crushing other peoples. As soon as the Tsar got word of revolution, it would be over, and the Mensheviks would be left to wonder why they hadn’t acted faster. The Octoberists make a good argument, but they lack a fundamental principle to changing government, which is that you have to get the people who are enjoying things the way they are to change. Calling for a constitutional monarchy would require someone convincing the Tsar that he should share power with the parliament, and considering the Tsar has power over the army, this is a very unlikely idea. I think that this dynamic in Russia speaks to the complexity Russia faced when it approached its government. The most important thing in my opinion, regardless of which stance is taken, is that Russians have to realize that they are Russians, not western Europeans. They don’t have to do what France or England did, Russia is different from these nations and always has been.