Russian Revolution Centennial 1917—2017: Part of a Weekly Series

Russian Revolution Centennial
1917—2017

ABSTRACT: The Russian Revolution of 1917 is universally recognized as one of the most important events of the twentieth century. We have assembled a group of scholars and activists to examine this world-shaking revolution from different perspectives. Their presentations reflect the speakers own views and do not represent a group consensus of members of The Institute for the Critical Study of Society.

As with the Russian Revolution, our Centennial began in March with the February Revolution in which the women of Russia overthrew Tsarism and won the right to vote. We continue through the October Revolution which established the world’s first Socialist Country, the Soviet Union. We consider the world-historical significance of this complex revolution.

Here are our speakers for this week, and their topics.
Sun, Nov 12, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library
Moderator: Lew Finzel
• Gary Hicks: The Comintern and the US and South Africa
ABSTRACT: I am going to try and express some ideas about how we might look at the role of the Comintern in the building of the CPs of of the US and South Africa in the 1920s. This activity consisted of a decade of organizing, discourse, polemic on the part of a most international cadre of West Indian, South African, Soviet, Finnish, British, and North American comrades, participating in various commissions, organizations congresses, conferences
• Raj Sahai: Dawn of a New Era: The Russian Revolution and the World
ABSTRACT: The presentation will argue that: The February and October 1917 Russian Revolutions together heralded a new era for humanity, not just for the multi-ethnic peoples of the Russian empire. It ended monarchy as an institution governing society all over the world, which end was heralded in the French Revolution of 1789 but which remained incomplete. It began the end of colonial ownership of the world’s countries in Asia and Africa by the rich handful of European countries. It made the masses as active agents: makers of history on a global scale. It ushered in the era of liberation…the world will never be same again…Socialism is the future of the world despite the present reaction personified by Trumpism.
Raj Sahai is a Socialist & Anti-Imperialist War Activist, and a member of ICSS.