The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism
by Bertrand Russell

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Title: The Practice and Theory of Bolshevism

Author: Bertrand Russell

Release Date: December 19, 2005 [EBook #17350]

Language: English

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The Practice and Theory
of Bolshevism

Bertrand Russell

LONDON: GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN LTD.
RUSKIN HOUSE, 40 MUSEUM STREET, W.C. 1

_First published November 1920_
_Reprinted February 1921_

(_All rights reserved_)

PREFACE

The Russian Revolution is one of the great heroic events of the
world's history. It is natural to compare it to the French Revolution,
but it is in fact something of even more importance. It does more to
change daily life and the structure of society: it also does more to
change men's beliefs. The difference is exemplified by the difference
between Marx and Rousseau: the latter sentimental and soft, appealing
to emotion, obliterating sharp outlines; the former systematic like
Hegel, full of hard intellectual content, appealing to historic
necessity and the technical development of industry, suggesting a view
of human beings as puppets in the grip of omnipotent material forces.
Bolshevism combines the characteristics of the French Revolution with
those of the rise of Islam; and the result is something radically new