Combining reference entries and examination of primary documents from the Russian Revolution, this book gives students a better understanding of how and why political forces fought to reshape the Russian empire 100 years ago—and provides keen insights into the Soviet Union that resulted.
This invaluable reference guide provides an understanding of the social, political, and economic forces and events in Russia that led to the 1905 Russian Revolution in which leftists radicals disposed of the Czar and his regime. It addresses key developments such as the formation of the provisional government, the Bolshevik Revolution in October 1917, and the Russian Civil War—connected, evolutionary historical events that fundamentally reshaped Russia into the Soviet Union.
This book serves students and general readers seeking a single source that provides in-depth coverage of the Russian Revolution and the Russian Civil War. Beyond the reference entries, the book contains primary documents that cover the key events, people, and issues that emerged during Russia’s revolutions and Civil War. These documents give readers a more detailed understanding of how the Bolsheviks used calls for greater “democracy” to gain support for their revolution, how the Bolsheviks used terror and control as means to maintain their power once the Bolshevik Revolution took place, and why the Bolsheviks believed such extreme measures were needed. Also included is a chronology of major events from 1890 through 1923 and a bibliography that serves as a starting point for more directed research.
Features
- Provides a detailed history of the Russian Revolution, addressing events from the abdication of Czar Nicholas II to the Bolshevik Revolution
- Gives readers a more complete understanding of how the Bolsheviks fought during the Civil War to maintain and solidify the success of their revolution
- Includes a substantial collection of primary documents that offers keen insights into what key actors thought and how these individuals behaved during the historical period
Sean N. Kalic, PhD, is professor of military history in the Department of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, where he has taught since 2004. He specializes in Cold War history and the history of terrorism. His numerous contributions to major publications include "Post Cold War Conflicts" in The Handbook of American Military and Diplomatic History, 1865 to the Present; "Eisenhower" in Generals of the Army: Marshall, MacArthur, Eisenhower, Arnold, Bradley; "Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century: A New Era of Warfare" in An International History of Terrorism: Western and Non-Western Experiences; "Framing the Discourse: The Rhetoric on the War on Terrorism," in Legacies of the Cold War; and US Presidents and the Militarization of Space, 1946–1967, which was recognized by CHOICE as a Outstanding Academic Title in 2012. Kalic is editor of Thinking About War and Peace: Past, Present and Future.
Gates M. Brown, PhD, is assistant professor of military history at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. His main research focus is the early Cold War period with a focus on U.S. nuclear and defense policy. Brown earned his doctorate from the University of Kansas. He served in the United States Army and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Reviews
"This is an excellent resource for primary documents and historical information that encompass the events of the Russian Revolution."—Booklist Online, November 22, 2017
"Editors Sean N. Kalic and Gates M. Brown, both in the Department of Military History at the United States Army Command and General Staff College, are joined by forty-two scholars in producing an excellent introduction to not only the conflict referenced in the title, but also the 1905 Revolution and the Russian Civil War (1917-1922). . . . Public and undergraduate libraries should strongly consider acquiring this resource for their reference collections."—ARBA, January 24, 2018
"[The authors'] goal is to provide 'an introduction to key events, figures, and documents' for readers new to this area of study. They have achieved this goal in an admirable fashion. . . . As with any volume dealing with Russian history of this period, transliteration and dates can cause issues. The editors have explicitly stated how they handled them. Summing Up: Recommended. Public, general, community college, and lower-division undergraduate collections."—Choice, May 1, 2018
