Revolutionary Russia, 1891-1991 by Orlando Figes

Description

Orlando Figes’ “Revolutionary Russia, 1891-1991” throws open a vast window, inviting us to gaze upon a century of upheaval and transformation in Russia. It’s not just a chronicle of revolutions and regimes, but a tapestry woven with social anxieties, political struggles, and the hopes and dreams of ordinary people caught in the whirlwind of history.

Figes takes a bold approach, challenging the traditional view of the Russian revolution as a singular event confined to 1917. Instead, he argues that the revolution was a century-long process, a continuous wave of change that began with the famine of 1891 and culminated in the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. He identifies three distinct yet interconnected generations that drove this revolutionary cycle:

• The Leninists: Led by figures like Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky, this generation brought about the Bolshevik Revolution and established the Soviet state. Their idealistic commitment to social justice and revolutionary fervor masked the brutality of their methods and the authoritarian nature of their regime.
• The Stalinists: Born from the lower classes, this generation, with Joseph Stalin at its helm, consolidated Soviet power through ruthless purges and forced collectivization. They built a formidable industrial base and secured victory in World War II, but at the cost of immense human suffering and the suppression of dissent.
• The Gorbachev Generation: Shaped by the revelations of Stalin’s crimes and the economic stagnation of the late Soviet era, this generation, with Mikhail Gorbachev as its representative, sought to reform the system from within. However, their attempts at glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) ultimately led to the Soviet Union’s demise.

Figes doesn’t shy away from the complexities and contradictions of this history. He paints vivid portraits of towering figures like Lenin and Stalin, while giving voice to the struggles and aspirations of ordinary citizens. He explores the rise and fall of ideologies, the clash of social classes, and the enduring quest for a just and equitable society.