Was the October Revolution a popular revolution?

Was the October Revolution a popular revolution?

1. Soviet historians pre 1991

   • Popular uprising led/carried out by working class.
     • They created the soviets, provided power base.
     • Supported by peasants.
     • Bolshevik Party guided working classes to success, Lenin as inspired leader who directed party.

2. Leonard Schapiro, Robert Conquest, Richard Pipes- during Cold War post 1945

   • Small number of revolutionaries seized power in coup d'etat
     • Revolution led directly to totalitarian communist state
     • Then imposed their ideology on unwilling population
     • Lenin architect of the revolution, head of well-drilled party

3. Revisionists 1970's

   • Stephen Smith
     • More active role for lower ranks of Bolshevik Party in pushing forward revolution
     • Lenin not so firmly in control. Poor party discipline.
   • Sheila Fitzpatrick
     • People- workers, soldiers, peasants, created circumstances
       • Thus creating circumstances for Bolsheviks to operate in

4. Robert Service, Christopher Read- recent

   • Accepts ideas of Cold War historians AND revisionists
   • Lenin was key figure
   • Hallmarks of a coup
   • Independent action at local levels in Party and soviets
   • Radicalism of peasants, workers, sailors, soldiers
   • Beryl Williams
     • Workers might support October Revolution, vote for Bolsheviks in elections, does not imply support for one-party rule

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