Bolshevism: The Road to Revolution

by Alan Woods

There have been many books and potted histories of the Russian Revolution, either written from an anti-Bolshevik perspective, or its Stalinist mirror image, which paint a false account of the rise of Bolshevism. For them, Bolshevism is either a historical "accident" or "tragedy." Or it is portrayed erroneously as the work of one great man (Lenin) who marched single-minded toward the October Revolution. Author Alan Woods* reveals the real evolution of Bolshevism as a living struggle of various class forces, tendencies and individuals.

Using a wealth of primary sources, Woods uncovers the fascinating growth and development of Bolshevism in pre-revolutionary Russia up to the seizure of power in October 1917. This is the first U.S. publication of this monumental work. It comes at an important time, as the world economic crisis calls for a thorough study of working class history in order to educate a new generation of revolutionaries.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Russian History, Soviet Union, Russia, Russian Revolution

636 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1999

About the author

Alan Woods is a Trotskyist political theorist. He is one of the leading members of the British group Socialist Appeal as well as its parent group, the International Marxist Tendency (IMT). He is political editor of the IMT's In Defence of Marxism website.

Woods supported the Militant tendency within the UK Labour Party until the early 1990s, when he and Ted Grant were expelled from the tendency and founded the Committee for a Marxist International (soon renamed International Marxist Tendency) in 1992. They continued with the policy of entryism into the Labour Party.

Woods has been particularly vocal in his support for the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela, and has repeatedly met with the socialist Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, leading to speculation he was a close political adviser.

Reviews

[G Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read for any revolutionary.
Nowhere else will you find such detailed analysis of the history of Bolshevism. This book provides vital lessons that must be absorbed by the working class movement today.

[Mazen · Rating 5 out of 5]

مجهود تأريخي ممتاز لواحدة من أهم الثورات في التاريخ و هي الثورة البلشفية في الإمبراطورية الروسية، يؤرخ الكاتب تكون الحزب البلشفي داخل الحركة العمالية و يرصد بدقة و تفنيد شديدين و مناطق الخلاف مع المناشفة و الإصلاحيين داخل الدوما. الثورة البلشفية لم تكن نزهة او وحي نزل علي لينين و أتباعه، و انما صراع و كفاح حقيقي راح ضحيته عشرات الالاف و حرب أهلية اشتركت فيها جيوش العالم كلها تقريبًا لتفكيك روسيا، و كانت الثورة المضادة خطوة بخطوة للانقضاض علي الثورة و تصفيتها فور ولادتها. ما أدهشني هو كما الأخطاء و التغييرات التي حدثت أثناء بناء الحزب و كم النضال و التضحيات و التفاني في العمل و انكار من عمالقة مثل لينين و تروتسكي في تلك المرحلة. الكتاب يشبه مشاهدة فيلم وثائقي طويل و أنصح به بشدة.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much information

[Francis Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's do this shit.

[Sam Lovesey · Rating 5 out of 5]

fascinating history of the evolution of bolshevism through constant struggle. many lessons for today

[Manu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally.....

[Sasha Boucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot express how enlightening this book is for all serious revolutionaries. There are few things as often (correctly) romanticized and feared as revolution and yet equally as often completely misunderstood. It lays bare the non-linear and dialectical nature of revolutionary socialist organizing within and against class society, something which is essential for all socialists to understand. Accompanying this book with Trotsky's 3 volume History of the Russian Revolution as well as the History of the Russian Revolution to Brest-Litovsk has proven to give a very well-rounded grasp of the greatest even ever to have occured in human history...so far.

[Balloonhands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the most important book you could read on the process of revolution that does an amazing job of not just debunking lies and misconceptions but also deglamorizes revolution

This book is fantastic at laying out the playing field at any moment in history and the in fighting, faction relations, logistic problems, and the absolute will to power it takes for some of these political leaders to succeed. Fantastic experience even if it was a tiny bit overzealous at moments but I think it’s necessary to leave no stone unturned in a book like this

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely useful historical retelling of the years leading up to the October Revolution and the development of Russian Marxism out of Narodnism. As usual, Woods manages to retell what many may consider to be obscure, ancient history in a very vibrant way, allowing the reader to make organic connections between this distant period and the present day.

My version has the cool yellow cover, which is by far the best one.

[Tarek · Rating 5 out of 5]

قرأت الترجمة العربية التي نشرها موقع marxy.com وللاسف لم يتم نشرها بعد على صيغة ورقية.

على العموم الكتاب رائع، فبالرغم من كثرة الكتابات عن تاريخ الثورة الروسية وحول احداثها، الا ان الكتابات بخصوص تاريخ الحزب البلشفي منذ الحلقات الماركسية في نهاية القرن 19 الى عشية الثورة البلشفية، غير متوفرة خاصة في المكتبة العربية. وبالتالي فإن كتاب آلان وودز هو اضافة مهمة في المكتبة الماركسية.

[Vasiliki Mazis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling read

Thrilling, informative, insightful, this book takes us to the very beginnings of Marxism in Russia all the way to the forging of the Bolshevik Party which led the democratic revolution in Russia.
This is a must read

[Debol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous research!

Favorite Trotsky quote:

On behalf of the Military Revolutionary Committee, I declare that the Provisional Government no longer exists! Long live the Military Revolutionary Committee!

[Diarmuid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accessible account of all the factors that went into the Russian Revolution. Essential reading.

[Andrew Feist · Rating 5 out of 5]

must read.

[Damiano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely phenomenal

[Grant Klausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You become a different person