July Days: Counter-revolution within the revolution
Channel: In Defence of Marxism
Date: 13/07/2017

Alan Woods, author of "Bolshevism - the Road to Revolution", discusses the "July Days" of the 1917 Russian Revolution.

As Alan discusses, revolution is not a one-act drama; it is not a linear process of radicalisation and ascent. Within any revolution, there are ebbs and flows.

During the course of 1917, counter-revolution reared its head in the month of July. Terrified by the outbreak of mass spontaneous armed demonstrations with the slogan "All Power to the Soviets", the Provisional Government took measures to suppress the leaders of the Revolution. The Bolshevik offices and printing press were shut down, whilst Lenin was driven into hiding.

These events marked a turning point in the revolution. From this moment on, dual power had ended. Only two options remained: either the forces of reaction would crush the revolution, or the Bolsheviks would lead the masses to take power.