New Books Network Eric Lee, "The August Uprising, 1924: The Georgian Anti-Soviet Revolt and the Birth of Democratic Socialism" (McFarland, 2025)
Nov 11, 2025
Eric Lee, a historian and labor activist, dives into the tumultuous history of Georgia in 1924, where a brave revolt against Soviet oppression emerged. He shares how democratic socialism clashed with Bolshevism during this period and discusses the reasons behind the uprising's delay. Lee highlights the brutal Soviet response, shedding light on mass executions and the legacy of the uprising, which shaped socialist international views. With the resurgence of nationalism today, Lee's insights draw parallels between past and present struggles for democracy.
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Uprising Recast Global Left Politics
- The Georgian 1924 uprising reframed global left politics and helped define democratic socialism as distinct from Bolshevik communism.
- A Kautsky-authored resolution at an international meeting after the revolt codified support for anti-Bolshevik democratic movements.
Georgia's Short-Lived Social Democracy
- Georgia briefly established a functioning social-democratic democracy after 1917, with strong unions and public services.
- Stalin ordered the Red Army to invade and end that experiment, crushing the independent Georgian state by 1921.
Policy Errors Built A Slow-Burn Revolt
- Multiple Bolshevik policies—church attacks, language imposition, union suppression—fueled Georgian resentment over years.
- The revolt's timing reflected long-standing grievances rather than a single triggering event.
