Russia: From Revolution to Counter-Revolution

by Ted Grant

The October Russian Revolution, led by Lenin and Trotsky, swept away landlordism and capitalism and placed the working class in power for the first time. It transformed the idea of socialism from theory into practice. From this point of view, the Bolshevik revolution can be considered the greatest event in history. The revolution changed the course of world history and the last century has been dominated by its consequences. Ted Grant’s book traces the evolution of Soviet Russia from the Bolshevik victory of 1917, through the rise of Stalinism and the political counter-revolution, its emergence as a super-power after the Second World War, and the crisis of Stalinism and its eventual collapse. The book, which was first published in 1997, has been updated and edited in the light of new developments and the subsequent re-establishment of capitalism in Russia. Grant based his analysis on that of Leon Trotsky, who first analysed Stalinism in his Revolution Betrayed . While the counter-revolution has attempted to bury the memory of October, the new crisis of world capitalism has led to a revival of interest in Marxism and the significance of Bolshevism. The republication of Ted Grant’s book in this centenary year of the revolution therefore comes at a fitting time.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Soviet Union

454 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Edward Grant (born Isaac Blank; 9 July 1913 – 20 July 2006) was a South African Trotskyist who spent most of his adult life in Britain. He was a founding member of the group Militant and later Socialist Appeal.

Reviews

[Will Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, smashed it out the park Ted ✊

[Juan Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book exceeded my expectations. Grant traces the history from the aftermath of the October Revolution to the collapse of the USSR & the accompanying material & political conditions throughout as well as their consequences. It answered many of my questions on Stalin’s rise to power as well as that of the bureaucracy & how they maintained it.

I’m glad he talked of the Russian Civil War following the October Revolution & the fact that the capitalist west supported the white army against the red army in order to overthrow the workers state & keep it from spreading. That is a very important part of the history that I don’t see talked about in regards to the Revolution & the history of the USSR.

While I was on the fence on the question of State Capitalism vs A Degenerated Worker’s State, the latter of which Trotsky believed to be the case, it seems Grant has helped clarify the issue. It would appear history supports Trotsky’s analysis & their is much evidence demonstrating this.

Understanding the deformities brought on by the bureaucracy as well as the social make up of it as a caste is crucial to understanding everything that followed the civil war up to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

It’s an easy & important read for those of us who want to know what happened & why. It’s also important because of the misinformation spread by the west that can be damaging in regards to getting people to truly understand what Marxism, Socialism & Communism are all about.

Highly recommend.

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omfattningen av den här boken!!! Mängden research!!! Vilken fråga man än har om Sovjetunionen varesig vi pratar om revolutionen 1917, Lenin och Trotskij, inbördeskriget, NEP, stalinismens väg till makten, andra världskriget, Östeuropa, hur ekonomin fungerade och hur den inte gjorde det, vägen till världens andra supermakt och den oundvikliga slutliga stagnationen, kollapsen på 1990-talet och det efterföljande kaoset, eller perspektiv för Ryssland idag och allt där emellan tar den sig sakligt och vetenskapligt an. Allt Sovjetunionen var och åstadkom och också allt det inte var, allt vad stalinismens oförlåtliga brott ledde till och dess slutliga undergång.

Tyvärr fick jag inte den fula 90-talsutgåvan utan min är från 2017, men innehåller en utmärkt epilog som tydligt skildrar vägen som höll på att stakas ut i riktning mot invasionen av Ukraina 2022, men också som Rosa Luxemburg skrev, ”ordning härskar i Berlin”. Även den regim som nu härskar kan en dag falla som ett korthus när den ryska arbetarklassen reser sig igen. För historien är ju inte slut, den går oupphörligt vidare.

Väl värt sin läsning.

[Callie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scope of this work is mind boggling. Yet with a concise array of facts, quotes, and arguments, Grant lays out a crystal clear Marxist analysis of an entire century of contentious history. All in under 500 pages!

If you have a question about the USSR, I can guarantee this book answers it. From "Was the USSR socialist?" to "How did Stalin rise to power?". From "Why did the USSR collapse?" to "Was 1917 a coup?".

It really is a must read. Understanding history of the USSR is an absolute necessity for anyone who wants to fight for the future of our world today.

[Maarten · Rating 5 out of 5]

To this day remains the best Marxist analysis of the degeneration of the Soviet Union. Good to have it available as an ebook now.

[Richard Prins]

Title should be:
Russia: From Revolution to Counter-Revolution