One hundred years after the Russian revolution, the Bolsheviks’ historical legacy remains highly politicised. Some backers of Putin argue that, without his guiding hand, Russia would again witness the chaos of 1917.
The year 1917 was a momentous one in Russian history. It started with a democratic uprising that overthrew the absolutist monarchy and ended with Lenin’s rise to power, beginning seven decades of socialism. One hundred years on, the revolution remains a contentious subject for Russians. In a recent Russian opinion poll, 48 per cent thought the Bolshevik takeover in 1917 had played a positive role in the nation’s history, …read more