How Did Ww1 Influence The Russian Revolution
The Influence of WWI on the Russian Revolution: A historiographical review
I. Topic Introduction and research questions
WWI developed during an era of unprecedented global conflict, political fractioning, and breakdown of diplomatic Balkan relationships that rapidly expanded globally. Russia was undergoing worsening stress of the existing class structure, political instability under the developing constitutional monarchy, and aggressive pressures by the intelligentsia to gain more control of the country. The Russian military was comprised predominantly of a peasant class that was overwhelmed with a poor sense of nationalism and feelings of abuse and disregard. With a collapsing class structure, continued political conflict among …show more content…
the wealthy, and a tsar dedicated to remain in power, WWI was an external pressure that placed the Russian ideologies to the brink of destruction. Russia’s political divide, class breakdown, and lack of nationalism made her participation in a global conflict unrealistic. It is relevant in understanding the instability in the region prior to the Russian Revolution.
History has demonstrated that Russia was a militarily weak nation with a poor sense of nationalism by its vast peasant class. The following research paper will discuss four areas of historiography. First, How did historians shortly following the time document and view the tactic of retreating from WWI and the influences that affected that decision? Specifically, did historians view this as protectionism, fear of annihilation by the Western powers, a Czar’s political strategy to stabilize while the world was in turmoil or was the political instability in Russia too overwhelming for the support of military for participation? Secondly, when did the western historians begin to challenge or debate the same influences? How did both of these groups elucidate the primary data, what lenses were used to view the data, and what were the influences on objectivity that each historian experienced? Thirdly, who were the communist party sanctioned historians and what publications and sources were available to be critiqued? Finally, What are the revisionist positions and did the communist historians change any historiography following the fall of communism? Throughout this research, the historiographical methods, lenses, and pressures on objectivity will be compared and contrasted among each
group. The historiography of this topic is important as it reviews one of the most significant external influences on the Russian revolution as well as requiring a review of the political, social, and economic structure of Russia. The largest obstacle in researching the historiography of this topic will be accumulating publications for the initial post war era and the communist publications.
II. Search terms and phrases
A. Russian communism historians
B. WWI and the Russian Revolution
C. Revisionist historians on the Russian Revolution
D. Tsar Nicholas II
E. Russian archives during the communist era
F. Comparative historians on the Russian Revolution
G. WWI historians
H. Class structure of Russia, pre-revolutionary
III. Initial Research Resources
A. Pipes, Richard. A Concise History of the Russian Revolution. New York: Vintage Books, 1996.
B. Pipes, Richard. Three "whys" of the Russian Revolution. New York: Vintage Books, 1997.
C. Pipes, Richard. The Russian Revolution. New York: Vintage Books, 1991.
D. Lieven, D. C. B. The End of Tsarist Russia: The March to World War I and Revolution. NY, NY: Viking, 2015.
E. Radzinskiĭ, Ėdvard. The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
F. Central Committee of the C.P.S.U. History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union: Bolsheviks. Moscow: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1939.
G. Trotsky, Leon, and Max Eastman. The Revolution Betrayed: What Is the Soviet Union and Where Is It Going? Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran &, 1937.
I. Topic Introduction and research questions
WWI developed during an era of unprecedented global conflict, political fractioning, and breakdown of diplomatic Balkan relationships that rapidly expanded globally. Russia was undergoing worsening stress of the existing class structure, political instability under the developing constitutional monarchy, and aggressive pressures by the intelligentsia to gain more control of the country. The Russian military was comprised predominantly of a peasant class that was overwhelmed with a poor sense of nationalism and feelings of abuse and disregard. With a collapsing class structure, continued political conflict among …show more content…
the wealthy, and a tsar dedicated to remain in power, WWI was an external pressure that placed the Russian ideologies to the brink of destruction. Russia’s political divide, class breakdown, and lack of nationalism made her participation in a global conflict unrealistic. It is relevant in understanding the instability in the region prior to the Russian Revolution.
History has demonstrated that Russia was a militarily weak nation with a poor sense of nationalism by its vast peasant class. The following research paper will discuss four areas of historiography. First, How did historians shortly following the time document and view the tactic of retreating from WWI and the influences that affected that decision? Specifically, did historians view this as protectionism, fear of annihilation by the Western powers, a Czar’s political strategy to stabilize while the world was in turmoil or was the political instability in Russia too overwhelming for the support of military for participation? Secondly, when did the western historians begin to challenge or debate the same influences? How did both of these groups elucidate the primary data, what lenses were used to view the data, and what were the influences on objectivity that each historian experienced? Thirdly, who were the communist party sanctioned historians and what publications and sources were available to be critiqued? Finally, What are the revisionist positions and did the communist historians change any historiography following the fall of communism? Throughout this research, the historiographical methods, lenses, and pressures on objectivity will be compared and contrasted among each
group. The historiography of this topic is important as it reviews one of the most significant external influences on the Russian revolution as well as requiring a review of the political, social, and economic structure of Russia. The largest obstacle in researching the historiography of this topic will be accumulating publications for the initial post war era and the communist publications.
II. Search terms and phrases
A. Russian communism historians
B. WWI and the Russian Revolution
C. Revisionist historians on the Russian Revolution
D. Tsar Nicholas II
E. Russian archives during the communist era
F. Comparative historians on the Russian Revolution
G. WWI historians
H. Class structure of Russia, pre-revolutionary
III. Initial Research Resources
A. Pipes, Richard. A Concise History of the Russian Revolution. New York: Vintage Books, 1996.
B. Pipes, Richard. Three "whys" of the Russian Revolution. New York: Vintage Books, 1997.
C. Pipes, Richard. The Russian Revolution. New York: Vintage Books, 1991.
D. Lieven, D. C. B. The End of Tsarist Russia: The March to World War I and Revolution. NY, NY: Viking, 2015.
E. Radzinskiĭ, Ėdvard. The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II. New York: Doubleday, 1992.
F. Central Committee of the C.P.S.U. History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union: Bolsheviks. Moscow: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1939.
G. Trotsky, Leon, and Max Eastman. The Revolution Betrayed: What Is the Soviet Union and Where Is It Going? Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran &, 1937.