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The Applicability of Marxist Theory in Early 20th Century Russia

This analysis explores whether Marxist theory could be implemented in Russia during 1917. Rooted in Marx's observations of industrial England, the study examines key Marxist ideas, including economic centralization and the transition from capitalism to socialism. It reviews the five stages of societal evolution as outlined by Marx, suggesting that Russia's socio-economic conditions were not conducive for socialism due to its underdeveloped state. Perspectives from Mensheviks and Bolsheviks highlight the debate on adapting Marxism to Russian realities leading up to the revolution.

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The Applicability of Marxist Theory in Early 20th Century Russia

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  1. DmytroOstapenko d.ostapenko@latrobe.edu.au

  2. Whether the Marxist theory could be put into practice in Russia in 1917? Marx’s writing largely based on his experience in England – the most advanced industrial county of the mid 19th century Some key ideas of Marxism - competition between capitalists leads to centralisation of economy and growth of large monopolies In the near future a few capitalists would own all means of production in a country. This would facilitate takeover of power on behalf of people.

  3. Five stages of historical development • 1.Primitive Communism • 2.Slave Society • 3.Feudalism • 4.Capitalism • 5.Socialism (proletarian revolution) • 6.Communism: a classless and stateless society.

  4. Russia was not ripe enough for socialism: the backward country: developed unevenly geographically and industrially 90 million peasants Small-scale industry– 2/3 of all industrial output in 1915 Russia produced just 5 % of world’s manufacturing production in 1913 (USA – 35%, UK – 14%, Germany – 15%)

  5. Two main views on the pathway to socialism in Russia • Mensheviks: we have to follow Marxism because of the iron law of historical development • Bolsheviks: we can modified Marxism owing to power of the proletariat supported by non-socialist elements (peasants) and weakness of the bourgeoisie. What to do after the revolution little attempt was made to explain.

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