Roads of the Red Wheel

Abstract. The article is devoted to reflections on the nature of the revolution. It opens the journal issue, in which a revolutionary theme plays the leading role. The theme of the issue designated as “Red wheel”. The article responds to this famous metaphor. It also contains reflections on the nature of socialism in general. The author reflects on the conflicting experiences of various attempts to build a society based on socialist ideals. It emphasizes the transformative value of a revolutionary experience that is regarded not only as the demolition of the old, but as a point of assembly of new social relations and political institutions. Considerable attention is paid to the methods of revolutionary mobilization of masses, and in this respect to such figures as Stalin and Trotsky. They are very different from a personality perspective. But both are proved to be very effective in coercion, mobilization, inspiration and support during the Civil war. Events of the Civil war in Russia are presented in historiosophical parallels with the episodes of the Great French revolution. The author dwells on the role and place of the Volga-region major cities in the Russian post-revolutionary turmoil. The article also briefly presents the materials published in this journal issue.

Keywords: revolution, Russia, the Civil War, socialism, Stalin, Trotsky.