The Emancipation of Labour group, established in 1883, served as the first Russian Marxist political organization under the guidance of Georgi Plekhanov. A transformative figure in the intellectual history of the Russian Empire, he transitioned from a populist revolutionary to a foundational theorist whose writings defined the path for future political movements, including the rise of Vladimir Lenin.
Early Intellectual Foundations
Born in 1856 in Gudalovka, Plekhanov emerged from a noble family with Volga Tatar ancestry. His early life was marked by the stern influence of his father, a landowner, and the compassionate guidance of his mother. His education at the Voronezh Military Academy introduced him to radical literature and the thought of critics like Vissarion Belinsky. By the time he enrolled at the Mining Institute in Saint Petersburg in 1873, he had already abandoned his family's Orthodox faith for atheism, pivoting away from military traditions toward revolutionary activism.
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Upon arriving in the capital, Plekhanov encountered the burgeoning Narodnik movement, which focused on the role of the peasant commune. He formally joined the organization Zemlia i Volia in 1876. His involvement in public dissent, specifically a high-profile address at the Kazan Cathedral, necessitated his flight from Russia. This escape marked the beginning of a long period spent abroad, where his political identity shifted from populist tactics to the disciplined framework of Marxism.
Marxist Theory and Party Conflict
As a prominent voice in the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, Plekhanov wielded significant influence over the ideological direction of the Russian left. He collaborated on the publication Iskra and maintained a complex relationship with the Bolsheviks. While he initially supported their faction at the 1903 Second Congress, he soon emerged as a staunch critic of their centralist tendencies, leading the Mensheviks instead. His work Anarchism and Socialism remains a key text documenting his defense of orthodox Marxist principles.
Final Stance and Death
The onset of World War I prompted Plekhanov to adopt a nationalist position known as defensism, which alienated him from many international socialists. Following the 1917 February Revolution, he returned to Russia, where he actively opposed the Bolshevik seizure of power. He viewed the October Revolution as a significant threat to the state. Plekhanov died in Zelenogorsk in 1918 from tuberculosis and was interred at the Volkovo Cemetery Writer's Walkways.
Fast facts
- Born: 1856, Gudalovka
- Died: 1918, Zelenogorsk
- Nationality: Russian
- Religion: Atheism
- Primary Occupations: Writer, politician, philosopher
- Notable work: Anarchism and Socialism
- Burial site: Volkovo Cemetery Writer's Walkways
Questions readers ask
Why is Plekhanov often called the father of Russian Marxism?
He established the Emancipation of Labour group, the first Russian Marxist organization, and his theoretical writings were fundamental in shaping the ideology of subsequent revolutionary leaders.
What was his position during the October Revolution?
Plekhanov was a staunch opponent of the Bolsheviks, publicly warning that their seizure of power would lead to a national disaster.
Achievements
- Notable work: Anarchism and Socialism
- Fields: philosophy and politics
