Russia: The Second Revolution

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When they came to power in October 1917, many of the Bolsheviks seriously doubted that they could govern the vast, chaotic land of Russia by themselves. "We can't hold out!" cried one of the prominent leaders. Lev Kamenev. Lenin himself hoped at first that the October Revolution would last as long as the Paris Commune of 1871 —71 days—to serve as a warning to capitalism. "It is most surprising," he later said, "that there was no one there to kick us out immediately." This week, to mark the 50 years that...

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