Russia: Revolution and Civil War

The Institute of World Politics

About the lecture: A revolution broke out in Russia in February 1917, which overthrew the Tsar. Instead of ushering in a liberal democracy, it quickly degenerated into anarchy, which paved the way for a Bolshevik takeover in October 1917. Non-Bolshevik leftists for the most part refused to save democracy and freedom by refusing to fight for it. The right-wing counterrevolutionaries fought bravely but their slim ranks were overwhelmed by the might of the Reds and the sea of indifference and hostility of the Russian people, who cherished no government. The lands of the former Russian Empire descended into a civil war and, concomitantly, wars of national liberation as borderland nationalities attempted to assert their freedom. Most failed and found themselves back firmly under the boot of Moscow, which was now ruled by the Reds. Only the Entente could have thwarted the Bolshevik victory but the West lacked the will and imagination to invest much to destroy Communism in its cradle. About the speaker: Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz holds The Kosciuszko Chair in Polish Studies at The Institute of World Politics, where he also serves as a Professor of History and teaches courses on Geography and Strategy, Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy, Russian Politics and Foreign Policy, and Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States. He is the author of Intermarium: The Land Between the Black and Baltic Seas and numerous other books and articles. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and has previously taught at the University of Virginia and Loyola Marymount University.