New Books in History Eric Lee, "The August Uprising, 1924: The Georgian Anti-Soviet Revolt and the Birth of Democratic Socialism" (McFarland, 2025)
Nov 11, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Eric Lee, a historian and journalist known for his work on Georgian history, delves into the 1924 August Uprising in Georgia. He explores its roots in the brief democratic independence following the Russian Revolution and the brutal Soviet crackdown led by Beria. The discussion highlights the ideological clash between social democracy and Bolshevism, shedding light on the uprising's significance in shaping modern democratic socialism. Lee connects these historical events to today's political landscape, emphasizing the enduring relevance of Georgia's struggle.
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Georgia As A Social-Democratic Experiment
- Georgia's 1921 independence and social-democratic experiment continued into a new international story by 1924.
- The August 1924 uprising links Georgian resistance to a wider split between democratic socialism and Bolshevik communism.
Serendipity Sparked The Project
- Eric Lee discovered the book's core idea by chance in an obscure Dutch biography mentioning a Second International meeting.
- That small lead became the basis for arguing the uprising helped birth 'democratic socialism.'
A Georgian Model Of Social Democracy
- After the Tsar's abdication Georgian Social Democrats were handed power and built a liberal democratic state with strong unions.
- That model impressed European socialists and contrasted sharply with Bolshevik rule.
