Discussing the rise of socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution, this text delves into how socialism began to take root in Europe. The Russian Revolution, on the other hand, brought about unique societal transformations and prompted a reevaluation of economic equality and welfare of the working class and peasants. Within the scope of our current discussion, exploration of themes like transformations ushered in by the emerging Soviet government, process of industrialization, mechanization of agriculture, and rights of citizens, among other topics can be found.

The Age of Social Change

Ripple Effect of French Revolution: French Revolution opened up the possibility of creating a dramatic change in the way in which society was structured.

• Breakdown of Ancien Regime: Before the 18th century society was broadly divided into estates and orders and it was aristocracy and church that controlled economic and social power.
  • After the revolution, individual rights and social power began to be discussed in many parts of the world, including Europe and Asia.
• Perspectives Towards Change: Colonial development reshaped ideas of societal change, but everyone was not in favor of the complete transformation of society. 
  • They were categorized into ‘conservatives’, and ‘liberals’ or ‘radicals.
• Socialism: Through revolution in Russia, socialism became one of the most significant and powerful ideas to shape society in the twentieth century.

Liberals, Radicals and Conservatives

Liberals: Liberals wanted a nation that tolerated all religions. They opposed uncontrolled power of dynastic rules and argued for a representative, elected parliamentary government subject to laws interpreted by a well-trained judiciary that was independent of rulers and officials.

• • They were not democrats. They did not believe in universal adult franchise, i.e. the right to vote for every citizen.
  • They believed men having property mainly should have the right to vote, but they rejected the right to vote for women.
• Radicals: Radicals wanted a government based on the majority of a country’s population.
• Conservatives: Conservatives, after the nineteenth century, accepted changes but also believed the past needed to be respected and change should begin slowly.
  • Many supported women’s suffragette movements. They opposed the privileges of great landowners and wealthy factory owners. 
  • They were not against the existence of private property but disliked concentration of property in the hands of a few.
  • Conservatives were opposed to radicals and liberals. 

Industrial Society and Social Change

Socio-Economic Change: Industrial Revolution led to changes in social and economic life, new cities came up, and new industrialized regions developed.

• • Men, women, and children came to factories in search of work. But, unfortunately, working hours were long, and wages were poor.
  • There was unemployment during a time of low demand for industrial goods.
• Economic Philosophy: Liberals and radicals made wealth through trade or industrial ventures. According to them, society can be developed if freedom of individuals is ensured, if the poor can labor, and if those with capital can operate without restraint.
• Political Change: In France, Italy, Germany, and Russia, revolutionaries overthrow existing monarchs. Nationalists talked of revolutions to create ‘nations’ with equal rights.
  • Post 1815, Giuseppe Mazzini, an Italian nationalist, conspired with others to achieve this in Italy.

Coming of Socialism to Europe

Socialism as Critique of Capitalism: Socialism was a well-known body of ideas by the mid-nineteenth century in Europe. 

• • Socialists were against private property and saw it as the root cause of all social ills of time. They wanted to change it and campaigned for it.
• Early Socialist: Robert Owen (1771-1858) sought to build a cooperative community called New Harmony in Indiana (USA). Louis Blanc (1813-1882) wanted the government to encourage cooperatives and replace capitalist enterprises.
  • Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) added other ideas to this body of arguments. 
• Karl Marx and Capitalism: According to Marx, industrial society was ‘capitalist’ who owned capital invested in factories, and profit of capitalists was produced by workers.
  • Capitalism and rule of private property were overthrown. Marx believed that a communist society was the natural society of the future.

• Support for Socialism: By the 1870s, socialist ideas spread through Europe, and they formed an international body – namely, the Second International.
  • Associations were formed by workers in Germany and England to fight for better living and working conditions. 
  • The Labour Party and Socialist Party were formed by socialists and trade unionists by 1905.
• Paris Commune of 1871: The image (Refer to Figure 5.1) portrays a scene from the popular uprising in Paris between March and May 1871. 
• • This was a period when the town council (commune) of Paris was taken over by a ‘people’s government’ consisting of workers, ordinary people, professionals, political activists, and others. 
• Legacies of Paris Commune: It is popularly remembered for two important legacies:
  • For its association with workers, the red flag – was the flag adopted by the communards (revolutionaries) in Paris.
  • For ‘Marseillaise’, originally written as a war song in 1792, became a symbol of Commune and a struggle for liberty.

Conclusion 

The uprising emerged against a background of growing discontent against the policies of the French state. The ‘Paris Commune’ was ultimately crushed by government troops but it was celebrated by Socialists the world over as a prelude to a socialist revolution. 

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