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Russian
Revolution Centennial 1917-2017 PROGRAM
WITH ABSTRACTS 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 begins 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. Our
forums are listed in chronological order. Sun, Mar 5, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sun, Mar 26, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sun, Jun 4, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Creativity and Artistic Ferment in the
Early Years of the Soviet Union: The Case of Chagall. ABSTRACT: Lew Finzel
will discuss this important topic. Sun, Sep 17, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sun, Oct 8, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sun, Oct 15, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library Moderator:
Raj Sahai � Sharat G. Lin: Centennial Legacies of the
Russian Revolution: Triumphs,
Flaws, and Alternatives ABSTRACT:
The Russian Revolution remains arguably the single most important event of
the past century, casting its legacy on every revolutionary social experiment
on the planet, carrying lessons for the struggle for the survival of the
revolution, creating an alternative advanced socio-economic model to
capitalism, providing an umbrella for national liberation movements to throw
off colonialism, shaping the balance of forces to the present day, and
setting a pattern of democratic centralism. Each and every
one of these aspects had its triumphs and its flaws. Sharat
G. Lin, PhD is a research fellow at the San Jos� Peace and Justice Center and
an advisor to the Initiative for Equality. He writes and lectures on global
political economy, labor migration, the Middle East, South Asia, and public
health. Related
article: Sharat
G. Lin, "On the Ninetieth Anniversary of the Russian Revolution: Why
Socialism Did Not Fail", Monthly Review, 29 October 2007 https://mronline.org/2007/10/29/on-the-ninetieth-anniversary-of-the-russian-revolution-why-socialism-did-not-fail/ � Gerald Smith: Art and the Russian
Revolution ABSTRACT: The Russian Revolution led to
a burst of artistic creativity. Gerald Smith, a member of the Creative Lens
Collective, will discuss various aspects of this revolutionary period in
artistic history. Sun, Oct 22, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library Moderator:
Lew Finzel � Eugene E Ruyle: The Russian Revolution: A
Scientific Approach NOTE:
Guillermo Herrera was unable to give his talk on �The Status of Minority
Nations within the USSR,� so we
substituted a talk by Gene Ruyle. ABSTRACT;
The Russian Revolution gave birth to the Soviet Union, which remained a
socialist country until it was overthrown by a counter-revolution in 1991.
Unfortunately, many on the left approach this period through sectarian eyes
and reject it because it does not correspond to their pre-conceptions about
what they think should have happened. This paper recommends a scientific
approach that is both dialectical and materialist, seeking to understand what
actually happened, why it happened, and the results. � Anthony D'Agostino:
WWII as the Triumph of the Russian Revolution. ABSTRACT: Some reflections on historians' views about the Russian
Revolution. Special reference to Stalin's 1946 speech on the
causes of the victory of the USSR over fascism in world war two. The role of
the Five Year Plans. Can the capitalist
states combine against the USSR? Was Henry Wallace (and Oliver Stone)
right? Sun, Oct 22, 2017: 7:30 pm Omni Commons, , 4799 Shattuck Ave. Oakland Moderator:
Gerald Smith � Film: October: Ten Days That Shook the
World, Soviet film by Sergei Eisenstein, 1928 ABSTRACT:
In commemoration of the centennial of the Russian Revolution Liberated Lens is
hosting the viewing of the classic feature film October by Sergei
Eisenstein. October is based on the first hand account of American journalist John
Reed�s book, Ten Days That Shook the World. October was produced in 1927 as a
celebratory dramatization of the 1917 workers
revolution that was commissioned for the tenth anniversary of the world
historic event. Sun, Oct 29, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library Moderator:
Lew Finzel � Richard
Becker: The Bolsheviks in Power: Three
Indispensable Tasks ABSTRACT: Following the seizure of power, the Bolsheviks were confronted
with three immense and immediate tasks: building the new Red Army to defend
the Soviet republic against a war of annihilation by the imperialist
countries and domestic counter-revolutionaries; addressing a deep economic
crisis and widespread hunger; and, reorganizing the left-wing of the world
working class movement on a revolutionary basis through the Communist International.
How did the Revolution survive against seemingly overwhelming odds? A Marxist-Humanist
Perspective: Lenin and Russian Revolution, especially "what happens
after?" ABSTRACT:
One hundred years ago Russian workers and peasant
masses shook the world as they overthrew the Tsar's regime and established a
new order. What can today's movement, searching for revolutionary new
beginnings in the face of the totality of the present crisis, learn from that
history? Weighing heavily on today's mind is how events unfolded in the
Russian Revolution and revolutions since. Indeed, the question, "What
happens after the conquest of power?", preoccupied Lenin as he struggled
to realize his vision of a new society, in which he sought to bring everyone "to
a man, woman and child" into running the state and society. Let's
examine the uniqueness and limits of Lenin's philosophic preparation for
revolution and especially Lenin's struggles after the revolution from the
1920-21 Trade Union Debate to his 1922-23 Testament. Sat, Mar 4, 2017: 2pm to 4:30 pm Presentation and Discussion of the Russian
Revolution LOCATION: Starry Plough Pub, 3101 Shattuck
Ave, at Prince St in Berkeley, 2 blocks from Ashby BART Sun, Nov 5, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library Moderator:
Raj Sahai Lew Finzel
& Urszula Wislanka:
China Mieville's October: Book Review in Two
Parts ABSTRACT:
October is still ground zero for arguments about fundamental radical social
change. Its degradation was not a given, was not written in any stars.
China Mieville, October. Science fiction writer,
China Mieville, has just published October (Verso
Press: London, New York, 2017), a story of the 1917 Russian Revolution from
February to October. Unusually, October does not make the revolution a
background for an adventure or love story. The revolution itself,
contradictory as it was, is the main character of the book. As with any look
at history, the point is not to re-live the past, but to see what can we
learn from it. What do we learn from 1917 for today? Lew Finzel will introduce China Mieville
as a science fiction/fantasy writer. Urszula Wislanka will take up several of the contradictions and ask where we
stand on those questions now. 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. (117 words) Raj Sahai is a Socialist & Anti-Imperialist War
Activist, and a member of ICSS. Wed, Nov
15, 2017: 7-9 pm Sun, Nov 19, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library � Round Table with all speakers. Moderator:
Urszula Wislanka Sun, Nov 26, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sun, Dec 3, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sun, Dec 10, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Sun, Dec 17, 2017: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm All forums will be at the Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library, 6501
Telegraph Ave, Oakland 94609, unless otherwise noted. The Institute is funded by the working class through cash
donations at our forums, not the capitalist class though their foundations or
rich donors. For info, or to join our email list,
contact: Eugene E Ruyle cuyleruyle [at] mac
[dot] com 510-332-3865 (WE DON'T TWEET OR DO FACEBOOK) |
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