Bolshevik Revolution and Xinhai Revolution
The term revolution has been used to mean a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time. Its usage in referring to political change in dates its history from the scientific revolution occasioned by Copernicus. Throughout human life, there have been revolutions; however, the difference between such revolutions that have been happening is that, they do vary widely in terms of method, motivation ideology, as well as duration. According to Trotsky (1918) in the book “the Bolshevik and World Peace” transformation of an established order results have been including major changes in culture, economy as well as social political institutions. However, Revolutions are often socioeconomic and political explosions, which some argue cause more damages and leave more scars on a society, a nation than they brought about positive changes.
As an effect, this essay Compares and contrasts two or more socioeconomic and political revolutions that took place in the 20th and / or 21st Century. In the 20th century, there were visible questions of distinguishing political from social revolutions (Duiker, & Spielvogel, 2006). Political revolutions involves the replacement of one government by another, the best example is the Bolshevik Revolution which took place in the 20th century. On the other hand, social revolutions are more of simultaneous transformation of both regimes a long with its attendant social order, the best example is the Xinhai Revolution that happened in early 20th century (Fitzgerald, & Kotker, 1969).
Outline
Both social and political revolutions are very important in the society, especially in the 20th and 21st century. Based on this factor, social revolutions have been used to bring values in the society by bringing human values in the society. This has been achieved by changing social stratification in the society (Duiker, & Spielvogel, 2006). Revolutions have been used in the protection against modes of production that leads to the generation of new classes that threatens the established orders. Most resolutions have achieved this by fighting for moral issues in the society.
Analysis
Social revolutions have been used in the process of fighting and eliminating classes in the society in the 20th and 21st century. It has been argued that both social and political revolutions under discussion are as a result of changes that might have occurred in the mode of production, which generates new classes that ends up threatening the established order (Trotsky, 1918). Thus in Xinhai Revolution, and the Bolshevik Revolution the socialists overturned the aristocratic social order which was associated with socialism. Due to the exploitation of the growing working class rose against the rich and the capitalist. The capitalist and the rich were devoted in a number of exploring social and political dynamic process. As a result, revolutions do happen with the aim of bringing human values, replacing the values of the old elite. All this is to ensure society transformation (Fitzgerald, & Kotker, 1969).
This is based on the fact that, revolutions may it be political or social; occur in countries where industrialization dissolved long standing social bonds, leading to mass disaffection as well as social instability. This has the ability of leading to Most of social revolutions like Xinhai Revolution occur as a fight of moral issues like corruption in the Qing government, frustrations with the government’s inability of restraining interventions from foreign powers (Fitzgerald, & Kotker, 1969). In addition, some governments are dominated by ethnic groups that compared to the countries populations they are too small. In such countries like China, revolutions have been of great effect. For instance, it brought about equity. Revolutions have also been connected with bringing democracy in countries that are under leadership; some of these countries that have experienced revolutions in the 20th and 21st century under dictatorship.
Citizens in such countries, were oppressed, lived poor lives, starving among other oppression. Revolutions like the Bolshevik Revolution aims at bringing democracy in countries that are filled with dictatorship (Trotsky, 1918). There are countries which entered the 20th century for instance Russia under extreme oppression conditions under the rule of Czars. In such countries, citizens are much oppressed, poor, starving cold, and most of them had no hope for the future. In history, Russia had never undergone liberal revolutions like the once that happened in Europe, which ended up establishing liberal democracy as well as capitalism (Thomson, 1913). Through terrorism acts and rebellions Czars was overthrown, as a result, there was no instability in the country. However, the situation was saved by Bolshevik Revolution (Trotsky, 1918). The plan of revolution was not to leave the country in a worst condition as they found it, but to make it better than before.
This was done by the spread of Marxism by spreading socialism. However, this was done was not done in a tolerant manner, but in a revolutionary form. This ended up overthrowing the dictatorship powers in the country. This led to the formation of Soviet Union, “which was a legislative assembly of publicly elected officials that were to administer the activities of Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers” (Duiker, & Spielvogel, 2006). The Soviet Union was in a better condition as compared to the dictatorship. The emotionalists can be considered as being in their desire to attempt to bring out such like situations. This was the reason as to why Russia ended up having very strong rules against imperialism. In general, Russian revolution was of great importance as it helped the Soviet Union to become more open and democratic. Comparing this with social Xinhai Revolution that happened in China in 1949, it can be observed that, similar objectives of eliminating imperialism (Fitzgerald, & Kotker, 1969).
As compared to social revolutions, political revolutions have lead to great rapid growth in technological innovations. This is particularly due to Bolshevik Revolution, and the early 20th century American revolutions (Trotsky, 1918). Though the growth had both positive and negative impacts to the society, for instance, there were more better and expensive goods, better weapons transportations well as improved communication. A side from these advantages, industries in America caused pollution, child labor issues as well as crowded cities. In U.S, most populations moved from a largely rural population that made its livelihood almost entirely from agriculture to a town centered society that was increasingly engaged in factory manufacture (Duiker, & Spielvogel, 2006).
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Conclusion
Revolutions are often socioeconomic and political explosions which some philosophers have argued that, revolutions causes more damages and leave more scars on the society or nations than they brought about positive changes. However, according to, French philosopher Marcel Proust's quoted, "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes", However, going with the advantages that revolutions have resulted to, I would like to argue that, that revolutions have leaves nations or societies in a better position as compared to how it found it. This is particular in line with the quote “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes”, by Marcel Proust as stated in Duiker & Spielvogel (2006). According to me, this statement depicts discovery. The world should be viewed in a varied perspective.