Weekend school on the Russian Revolution

dublin | miscellaneous | event notice Monday April 11, 2005 15:37 by JM - Socialist Democracy webmaster at socialistdemocracy dot org

Weekend school on the Russian Revolution

11.00am to 5.00pm Saturday 23 April
12 noon to 3.00pm Sunday 24 April
Teachers’ Club
Parnell Square
Dublin

2005 marks the one hundredth anniversary of the 1905 revolution in Russia, the first nation-wide working class revolt in history. It heralded the coming of the most decisive experience of the twentieth century – the revolution in 1917. This event turned the theory of Marxist revolution into a reality for millions of people around the world. It saved socialism from the embrace of international social democracy which had turned it into a justification for the mutual slaughter of millions of workers in the First World War. It inspired millions to attempt to follow the example of the Bolsheviks. Even today it still decisively shapes the content of socialist thought.

No genuine socialist can fail to reflect on its significance, especially given its consignment to the dustbin of history according to reformist, liberal and conservative commentators. The capitalist system we are told has triumphed and the 1917 Revolution is supposedly only a matter for historical reflection; but clearly this is not the case. Socialism, in order to advance, will be compelled again to face its lessons and significance

For these reasons Socialist Democracy is organising a school on the lessons of the revolution. We have invited a cross section of socialists so that the subject is approached with a range of perspectives and debate is more relaxed and open to everyone involved.

There are broadly three sessions –

The first on trade unionism and socialism with the relevance of Lenin’s ‘What is to be Done?’ as a guide to the issues to be discussed.

The second is on the experience of the revolution itself from roughly 1917 to 1921, with Lenin’s ‘State and Revolution’ as reading material and the third is on the inevitability or otherwise of the growth and victory of Stalinism.

Further details will be placed on our web site in the coming weeks. Please contact us if you have any questions.