SOCIALISM IN EUROPE AND

THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

Before the 18th century society was broadly divided into estates and orders and it was the
aristocracy and church which controlled economic and social power.

1. After the French revolution

 Powerful ideas of freedom and equality circulated in Europe after the French
Revolution.
 It opened up the possibility of creating a dramatic change in the way in which society
was structured.
 In Europe and Asia, new ideas about individual rights and who controlled social power
began to be discussed.
 In India, Raja Rammohan Roy and Derozio talked of the significance of the French
Revolution.
 The developments in the colonies, in turn, reshaped these ideas of societal change.

Through the revolution in Russia, socialism became one of the most significant and powerful ideas
to shape society in the twentieth century.
 2. LIBERALS, RADICALS, CONSERVATIVES.

LIBERALS RADICALS CONSERVATIVES

Wanted a nation which Wanted a nation in which Opposed to radicals and
tolerated all religions. * government was based on liberals.
the majority of a country’s
population.
Opposed the uncontrolled Supported women’s Generally opposed the idea
power of dynastic rulers. suffrage movements. of change.
Wanted to safeguard the Opposed privileges of great By the nineteenth century,
rights of individuals against landowners and wealthy they accepted that some
governments. factory owners. They change was inevitable but
disliked concentration of believed that the past had to
be respected and change had
property in the hands of
to be brought about through a
few.
slow process
They argued for
 A representative
 An elected
parliamentary
government
 Subject to laws
interpreted by a
well-trained judiciary
independent of
rulers and officials
They were not democrats.
They did not believe in
Universal adult franchise.
They felt men of property
mainly should have the
vote. They didn’t want the
vote for women

* European states usually discriminated in favour of one religion or another (Britain

favoured the Church of England, Austria and Spain favoured the Catholic Church)
3. INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY AND SOCIAL CHANGE