Russian Revolution Centennial 1917-2017

The Russian Revolution of 1917 is universally recognized as one of the most important events of the twentieth century. We have assembled a group of scholars to examine this world-shaking revolution from different perspectives. Their presentations reflect the speakers own views, not any kind of group consensus of members of the Institute for the Critical Study of Society. This series of events runs for the next seven weeks.

Richard Becker: The Bolsheviks in Power: Three Indispensable Tasks
ABSTRACT: Following the seizure of power, the Bolsheviks were confronted with three immense and immediate tasks: building the new Red Army to defend the Soviet republic against a war of annihilation by the imperialist countries and domestic counter-revolutionaries; addressing a deep economic crisis and widespread hunger; and, reorganizing the left-wing of the world working class movement on a revolutionary basis through the Communist International. How did the Revolution survive against seemingly overwhelming odds?

Sharat G.Lin: Centennial Legacies of the Russian Revolution
ABSTRACT: The Russian Revolution remains arguably the single most important event of the past century, casting its legacy on every revolutionary social experiment on the planet, carrying lessons for the struggle for the survival of the revolution, creating an alternative advanced socio-economic model to capitalism, providing an umbrella for national liberation movements to throw off colonialism, shaping the balance of forces to the present day, and setting a pattern of democratic centralism. Each and every one of these aspects had its triumphs and its flaws.
Sharat G. Lin, PhD is a research fellow at the San José Peace and Justice Center and an advisor to the Initiative for Equality. He writes and lectures on global political economy, labor migration, the Middle East, South Asia, and public health.
Related article:
Sharat G. Lin, "On the Ninetieth Anniversary of the Russian Revolution: Why Socialism Did Not Fail", Monthly Review, 29 October 2007
https://mronline.org/2007/10/29/on-the-ninetieth-anniversary-of-the-russian-revolution-why-socialism-did-not-fail/

Moderator: Raj Sahai

Presentations will be followed by audience discussion.

Open to the public | Donations welcomed