The revolutionary movement in the Russian countryside of the early 20th century in the collective memory of the generation of the “revolutionary turning point”

Abstract

Drawing on a wide range of archival documents, this article examines for the first time in Russian historiography the collective memory of peasants of the “revolutionary turning point” generation, allowing for a deeper understanding of the role of the peasant movement of the early 20th century, its participants, and their revolutionary identities. Particular attention is paid to the perception of revolutionary ideas, the role of rural teachers and family ties in their dissemination, and the participation of peasants in revolutionary actions, such as the distribution of illegal literature, agitation, participation in mass protest movements, and other resistance practices, including violent ones. An important part of the study is identifying the motives for involvement in the revolutionary movement, including personal convictions, a desire for change, resistance to the established order, and a search for new ideas. It also examines the influence of revolutionary ideas emanating from the city on the village. This is the first time this research has been considered in the context of their internal perception and the transformation of the local social environment. For the first time in Russian historiography, this article analyzes the specifics of how revolutionary practices in the village are reflected in the collective memory of this generation, including the particular methods of struggle conditioned by the specifics of the agrarian context and the specific spatial context. The study focuses on how revolutionary ideas shaped the personal narratives, worldview, and behavioral patterns of the movement’s participants. It concludes that the events of the first Russian revolution played a key role in radicalizing the consciousness of a significant portion of rural youth, shaping a new worldview and views that differed significantly from the traditionalism of older generations in the Russian village. The authors conclude that the collective memory of the generation studied reflects internal experiences, motivations for struggle, and personal ideas associated with revolutionary practices, emphasizing the role of the revolution as a source of personal challenges, ideas, and active participation in change that contributed to the formation of their social identity.