Moderated by Norman Michaels. The speakers discuss the traditions of 20th century Russian history, the Marxist party and the Bolsheviks. The Marxists (led by Lenin) proposed a rational but utopian ideal. In pre-Soviet Russian religion, there was no individual salvation; instead, people could be saved only in a community. Similarly, the Russian revolution can be best viewed through the attitude of the peasants. Eventually, the revolution favored the proletarian struggle and limited the liberty of the peasants. One speaker contends that all governmental measures in Soviet Russia strengthened centralized state power over wide areas, with a focus on national survival.
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Moderated by Norman Michaels. The speakers discuss the traditions of 20th century Russian history, the Marxist party and the Bolsheviks. The Marxists (led by Lenin) proposed a rational but utopian ideal. In pre-Soviet Russian religion, there was no individual salvation; instead, people could be saved only in a community. Similarly, the Russian revolution can be best viewed through the attitude of the peasants. Eventually, the revolution favored the proletarian struggle and limited the liberty of the peasants. One speaker contends that all governmental measures in Soviet Russia strengthened centralized state power over wide areas, with a focus on national survival.
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