What was the context for revolution in Russia in 1917?

Russia – The International Impact of the Russian Revolution

In this course, Dr David Kaufman (University of Edinburgh) discusses the international impact of the Russian Revolution. In the first lecture we introduce the state of the Russian Empire at the turn of the century, and explore the shift from Tsarist Autocracy to Socialist Revolution. In the second lecture we look at the detrimental impact of the First World War on Russia and the path to the February Revolution. Third, we investigate why and how the Bolsheviks withdrew from the First World War. In the fourth lecture we identify the impact of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on the newly socialist state and the emergence of new conflicts, including the Russian Civil War, the Polish–Soviet War and the Ukrainian-Soviet War. Fifth, we think about the broader post-WWI picture, and highlight Russia’s position amongst the Central European powers in the rebuilding of Europe. Finally, in the sixth lecture we conclude with a reanalysis of how the Russian Revolution impacted the global political scene, across Central Europe and to China.

What was the context for revolution in Russia in 1917?

In this module we think about the context for the Russian Revolution, focussing on: (i) the significant international impacts of the Russian Revolution, diplomatically and militarily; (ii) the state of the Russian Empire at the turn of the century leading to the Russo-Japanese War and the rise of revolutionary movements; (iii) Russia’s attempt to reassert itself on the international stage through military expansion in the face of ongoing domestic turmoil and opposition to the autocratic regime.