The Russian Revolutions

In the autumn of 1905 Weber turned the full power of his intellect to the revolutionary events in Russia. Fascinated by the world-historical importance of the revolution, and dismayed by the coverage it received in the German press, Weber set out to write his own ‘chronicles'. This book is the first English-language edition of these writings, and it also includes two essays written by Weber in the aftermath of the February revolution of 1917.

Weber examines the various social classes which might function as the bearers of democratization in Russia, and comes to pessimistic conclusions. He explicitly addresses the dynamics of class conflict, as well as the conditions and consequences of revolution.

Weber discusses the events of 1905 and February 1917, accurately predicting that ‘only a disastrous European war would lead to the final overthrow of the autocracy. ’ He examines the issue of Russian ‘liberalization’ and its prospects in a way that, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, has great relevance today.

With its close attention to detail, its acute cameos of the major players in the revolutions and its often prophetic judgment, this book is a tour-de-force of political writing. It will add a significant chapter to our understanding of Weber’s life and work.

Max Weber (1864-1920) was a key figure in the development of the social sciences and wrote many works in the fields of sociology, politics, economics and law. In the course of his career he taught at the universities of Freiburg, Heidelberg and Munich.