The Russian Revolution, especially ‘what happens after?’

A Marxist-Humanist Perspective: Lenin and the Russian Revolution, especially ‘what happens after?’

One hundred years ago Russian workers and peasant masses shook the world as they overthrew the Tsar’s regime and established a new order. What can today’s movement, searching for revolutionary new beginnings in the face of the totality of the present crisis, learn from that history? Weighing heavily on today’s mind is how events unfolded in the Russian Revolution and revolutions since. Indeed, the question, “What happens after the conquest of power?”, preoccupied Lenin as he struggled to realize his vision of a new society, in which he sought to bring everyone “to a man, woman and child” into running the state and society. Let’s examine the uniqueness and limits of Lenin’s philosophic preparation for revolution and especially Lenin’s struggles after the revolution from the 1920-21 Trade Union Debate to his 1922-23 Testament.

Celebrating a new (2017) collection of writings, Russia: From Proletarian Revolution to State-Capitalist Counter-Revolution, from Raya Dunayevskaya.