present holders of power are evil men, and the present manner of
life is doomed. To make the transition with a minimum of bloodshed,
with a maximum of preservation of whatever has value in our existing
civilization, is a difficult problem. It is this problem which has
chiefly occupied my mind in writing the following pages. I wish I
could think that its solution would be facilitated by some slight
degree of moderation and humane feeling on the part of those who enjoy
unjust privileges in the world as it is.

The present work is the outcome of a visit to Russia, supplemented by
much reading and discussion both before and after. I have thought it
best to record what I saw separately from theoretical considerations,
and I have endeavoured to state my impressions without any bias for or
against the Bolsheviks. I received at their hands the greatest
kindness and courtesy, and I owe them a debt of gratitude for the
perfect freedom which they allowed me in my investigations. I am
conscious that I was too short a time in Russia to be able to form
really reliable judgments; however, I share this drawback with most
other westerners who have written on Russia since the October
Revolution. I feel that Bolshevism is a matter of such importance that
it is necessary, for almost every political question, to define one's
attitude in regard to it; and I have hopes that I may help others to
define their attitude, even if only by way of opposition to what I
have written.

I have received invaluable assistance from my secretary, Miss D.W.
Black, who was in Russia shortly after I had left. The chapter on Art
and Education is written by her throughout. Neither is responsible for
the other's opinions.

BERTRAND RUSSELL

_September, 1920._

CONTENTS

PAGE
PREFACE 5

PART I
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF RUSSIA

I. WHAT IS HOPED FROM BOLSHEVISM 15

II. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 24

III. LENIN, TROTSKY AND GORKY 36

IV. ART AND EDUCATION 45

V. COMMUNISM AND THE SOVIET CONSTITUTION 72

VI. THE FAILURE OF RUSSIAN INDUSTRY 81

VII. DAILY LIFE IN MOSCOW 92

VIII. TOWN AND COUNTRY 99

IX. INTERN