Marxist Unhappiness of Russian Mentality

Abstract

The author focuses on the peculiarities of the reception of Marx’s views by the Russian intelligentsia. It is shown that not the theory, but rather the utopian part (communism) of his teaching played a decisive role in this. It was the most sensitive members of the intelligentsia. Originally they were populists hoping that Russia would avoid the “horrors of capitalism.” Then they were replaced by people counting on the “saving role” of economic progress. At last both were substituted by social democratic doctrinaires. It is shown that each trend of Russian Marxism corresponded to a certain type of mental reception. Ultimately, the Russian revolution took place according not to Marx, but to the social-rebellious synergy. This did not prevent the victorious Bolsheviks from introducing the Marxist image of Soviet reality into the minds of the masses.