5min chapter

11.1 Why the Russian Revolution Failed: When Rich Kids do all the Socialism

WHAT IS POLITICS?

CHAPTER

Socialism in Russia - The People

Middle class people in Russia at the time tended to be employed or dependent in some way on the Tsarist bureaucracy. And then you have the overwhelming mass of the population who were peasants and were barely aware of any of the political currents of the day. The Narudnik intellectuals didn't actually know very much about the peasants. They shared an idealization of the peasants and peasant culture as the embodiment of the true ideals of Russia. In complete contrast to Marx and Engels writings in that period, the populace, very much believed that because of its peasant character, it's exactly that peasant nature of Russia which will propel Russia into socialism.

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