CONSEQUENCES OF THE RUSSIAN/ BOLSHEVIK REVOLUTIONS

The Bolshevik revolution of 1917 is by far the most important event in the political history of Europe during the 20th century. It is a watershed/ Landmark in the history of both Russia and the world at large. The revolution brought fundamental changes in the political, social and economic structures of Russia and Europe as the foregoing analysis reveals.
POSITIVE IMPACT
i) The revolution led to the establishment of the first communist government in the history of Russia and the entire world. The Russian revolutionaries led by Stalin and Lenin were communists who were inspired by Karl Marx's socialist ideas that was written in 1847.After the First World War, communism spread from Russia to other parts of Europe. By 1945, Eastern countries like Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Poland had adopted communism and there was an increase in socialist vote in Western countries such as France, Germany and Italy. Thus, the Bolshevik revolution led to the first socialist government in Russia that later spread to other parts of the world.
NB Russia was later transformed into a super world power with a permanent place in the security council of the United Nations organisation (U.N.O).
ii) Associated with the above was the rise to power of commoners (men of low birth) for the first time in Russia. Revolutionary leaders like Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky were commoners who rose to prominence only because the revolution had destroyed the social class discrimination that existed in Russia. By 1917, Russia was still under the ancient system of Tsardom in which important political posts were dominated by the Nobles and clergy. This system was buried together with the monarchy in 1917.
iii) The success of the Bolsheviks in November led to the withdrawal of Russia from the First World War.
The Russians had suffered greatest amongst the allies from World War 1 yet the provisional government was ready to continue with the war. Lenin promised to end the war and when he rose to power he signed the Brest-Litovsk treaty with Germany on 3rd March 1918 that ended Russia's participation in the First World War. This cowardly withdrawal prompted USA to enter the war on the side of allied powers so as to bridge the vacuum created by Russia's withdrawal.
However, Russia's withdrawal isolated her from the allied powers and explains why she was not invited at the Versailles settlement of 1919. It also explains why Russia was out of the League of Nations not until 1930's. This left the League of Nations weakened since Russia and other Eastern countries were initially blocked from joining the League because of their communist ideology. Even when Russia was eventually admitted in 1934, there was no genuine co-operation between her and western capitalist powers who felt threatened by Russian communist ideology.
NB. The treaty of Brest-Litovsk declared Ukraine independent of Russia. Russia lost 1/3 of her nationals and 1/9 of her coal mines to the independent state of Ukraine.
iv) The revolution was a check and balance to Russia's imperialism over Europe. For instance, Finland that had been under Russia since the 1815 Vienna settlement was granted her independence as a reward for her assistance in the revolution. Poland also took advantage of the political instability during the revolution to declare her independence from Russia. This was confirmed at the Versailles settlement and accepted by Lenin in the treaty of Riga in 1921. Thus, the revolution provided a favourable opportunity to countries that had been dominated by Russia to regain their independence.
v) The communist revolution of-1917 led to the collapse of feudalism in Russia. By 1917, the ancient system where land was dominated by nobles and clergy at the expense of the peasants still existed in Russia yet it was non-existent in other parts of Europe. After the revolution. Land was nationalized by the government and redistributed to peasants for collective farming and ownership. The new Land policy provided more employment opportunities and reduced rural urban migration. It also reduced famine, income inequality and the exploitation of peasants by the rich landlords. Besides, other private enterprises like industries, factories and banks were nationalized and put under the control of workers. All these measures safeguarded the peasants and workers against exploitation by capitalists.
vi) By 1917, the non-Russian nationals who had been conquered by Russia were subjected to unfair treatment. But after the revolution, they were made part of USSR in form of Republics. This equality of all races within USSR was legalized in the 1923 constitution. The Republics formed by these nationalities were granted considerable freedom that favoured the development of their language and culture. This is what transformed USSR from a backward country to one of the super powers in the world.
vii) The communist revolution contributed to the rise and growth of nationalism in Asia and Africa. The communists condemned imperialism and colonialism as the highest stage of capitalism and exploitation. They advocated for decolonization, worldwide adoption of communism and state ownership of production as a means of fighting exploitation of peasants and middle class by capitalists. They also supported decolonization movements in different Asian and African countries to fight for independence against colonialism. It was this advocacy and support against colonialism that strengthened Asian and African nationalism against colonialism, hence contributing to decolonization process outside Russia.
viii) The Bolshevik revolutions led to improved relationship between Germany and Russia. Germany assisted the Russians in the revolution with a hidden aim of causing confusion in Russia, which would make Russia to withdraw from the First World War. This is why Germany smuggled Stalin from exile in a disguised plane up to Russia. This led to better diplomatic relationship between Germany and Russia after the success of the revolution.
NEGATIVE IMPACT
ix) It led to the collapse of the Tsarist monarchy that had ruled Russia for over 300 years. Tsar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate in favour of his brother Duke Michael who declined the offer and the monarchy collapsed. Tsar Nicholas II and his family members were shot dead by the revolutionaries in 1918. This ended the Tsarist oppressive, dictatorial and corrupt regime plus the influence of the Catholic Church in Russian affairs.
x) There was massive loss of lives and destruction of property. This resulted from the clashes between the red army of the revolutionaries and the loyal supporters of the provisional government. Heavy bloodshed also resulted during the nationalization of land that was resisted by the nobles and clergy.
Power struggle between Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks intensified violence and street battles. There were also widespread strikes and demonstrations by workers and peasants on the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg. All these resulted into loss of lives, property, famine and exile to millions of Russians.
xi) There was a general economic decline in Russia as a result of the revolutions. The strikes, demonstrations, violence and civil war that ensued had drastic consequences on agriculture, industrialization and trade. Factories, mines and railways were grossly mismanaged leading to a decline in foreign exchange and economy. This resulted into the severe famine of 1924 that led to the death of over 1 million people.
NB. This unfortunate economic situation created by the revolution was reversed by Lenin's New
Economic Policy (NEP) that relaxed the radical communist policies.
xii) The Bolshevik revolutions led to civil war in Russia. The supporters of the Tsarist regime organized a counter revolutionary force in the north and southern parts of Russia against the revolutionary government. They were supported by the British and French up to 1924 when the counter revolutionary forces were defeated. This led to civil strife,, economic stagnation and violence in Russia from 1917 to 1924.
xiii) The Bolshevik revolutions led to the rise of Nazism in Germany and Fascism in Italy. The revolution gave rise to communism which became a threat to the property of the middle class and wealthy landlords. Hitler and Mussolini promised to fight communism and gained support from the rich landlords, middleclass and industrialists. This led to the rise of Nazism in Germany and Fascism in Italy. It should be noted Nazis and Fascist aggressions were executed under the guise of fighting communism, which had emerged from the Bolshevik revolutions of 1917.
xiv) Lastly, the Russian revolution laid foundation for cold war that divided Europe into two antagonistic camps. The revolution gave birth to communism in Russia which later spread to Eastern Europe. This created a struggle by Russia to expand communism in Europe, which clashed with the determination of western powers led by USA that intended to contain the spread of communism and promote capitalism in Europe. It set off an ideological struggle rotating a round communism and capitalism that is called the cold war. This undermined the League of Nations leading to the collapse of international diplomacy that destabilized world peace.