Those organisations, collectives and communes which the people created themselves, before and during the revolution, independent of any political party or external power. These were the tools with which the people made and then defended the revolution. We will discuss the social movements behind the revolutions and the historical setting. The revolution itself is normally just the tip of the iceberg. It has normally come at the end of a long period during which the workers have struggled for a better society.
Revolutions are never as homogeneous as they are presented by most history.
Social upheavals create situations where radical opinions gain space to be heard and can win widespread support. This brings the revolution into conflict with the authoritarian and reformist groups who attempt to control and 'lead' it. We examine the arguments between and within the various revolutionary movements, what they said and what they did. Despite their immense achievement in organising to defeat the bosses, none of these revolutions was successful in organising themselves to defend and expand the revolution. They were all eventually crushed by the forces of reaction, both external and internal.