Die Russische Revolution

The Russian Revolution is the most significant fact of the World War. With these words, Rosa Luxemburg introduces her writing and acknowledges the role of the Bolsheviks in the revolution. Alongside her commendatory remarks, she simultaneously offers sharp criticism of aspects of their policy that, in her view, run counter to the goal of socialism. The full wording of the quote, often invoked by opponents of any socialist transformation, reads: "Freedom only for the supporters of the government, only for members of a party – no matter how numerous they may be – is not freedom. Freedom is always freedom for the dissenters. Not because of the fanaticism of justice, but because all that is invigorating, healing, and purifying about political freedom depends on this essence and loses its effect when freedom becomes a privilege." The dictatorship of the proletariat must be the work of the class and not a small, leading minority acting in the name of the class; that is, it must arise from the active participation of the masses at every step. However, the Bolsheviks patronize and manipulate the population, acting undemocratically and antisocialistically. With her intention to engage solidarity and critical reflection on the Russian Revolution in all historical contexts, Rosa Luxemburg aimed early on for the revolutionary vigor of the working class in Germany to awaken, thus avoiding historical detours. When Paul Levi published the manuscript in 1922, these detours were already beginning to manifest in Russia. In the texts from 1921–1928 added to this volume, the editor of the new edition, Jörn Schütrumpf, notes that Levi often observed the decline of the Russian Revolution, which soon transitioned into decay, with a sense of mild nostalgia and sometimes even anger. With this, he aimed to save the idea of socialism for Western Europe.