Abikenova K.E.

Candidate of history sciences, associated professor

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan, Almaty

Zh.Zh. Kumganbayev

PhD student

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan, Almaty

The October Revolution in Russia and its impact on the political life of Kazakhstan

The main cause of the October Revolution in 1917 was the entire Russian socio-economic and public-political crisis.

The First World War, the military confrontation of the Triple Alliance and the Entente, which active participant was Russia, three years later, by the summer of 1917 gave rise to an unprecedented economic collapse and the depletion of public resources. The prices on bread incredibly increased, industrial goods also raised in price, the ruble fell down, inflation spread. But nevertheless the provisional government did not take any measures to save the starving population. The economic collapse caused by the war, repeatedly escalated by systemic crisis that has been associated with the transition of society from the feudal-monarchical system to the bourgeois-democratic system. Extensive and massive formations of the Russian feudal hierarchy were not destroyed by the new economic order, and the bourgeois social and political institutions were at the first stage of development.

The major component of the entire Russian crisis was a political crisis. During the summer and fall 1917, the companies of many cities in Turkestan region were swept by strikes. The strikes on mining industries of Steppes - in Ridder city, in Ekibastuz city, in coal mines in the Karaganda city, Spassky smelter factory, Emba oil fields got widespread character. The wave of resistance to the authorities spread to the rural population. Masses of peasants refused to pay taxes, rents, irrigation works, seized the land, alienated by the Resettlement Administration. Soldiers also started to be engaged into the rebellion. They openly did not obey their commanders, refused to come to the front, had deserted from the army. Such soldiers’ sections of disobedience were in military garrisons of Lepsinsk, Vernyi, Perovsk and other cities.

The total collapse of the industry and transport in the country, the decline of agriculture sector and the food crisis also have been observed in Kazakhstan. Mining of gold, compared with 1916 year had decreased by 65.7%, coal - by 28%, production of zinc - by 50%, and lead had almost stopped to extract.

Large amount of the workers were fated to unemployment, and those left at the factories were obliged to work 14-16 hours a day and agree for the miserable salary, lived in barracks with the strong deficit of drinking water. The agriculture was weakened due to the World War I and the policy of the Provisional Government. During the war the number o cattle has decreased, for example, from 1915 to 1918 on Turkestan area the number of cattle has diminished by 11 million (out of the total amount of 18 million). The Provisional Government had taken away from Kazakh people a large amount of meat, fat, and other products cattle breeding. There was substantial decrease in grain dropping almost in all parts of Kazakhstan. The harvest of grain from arpent had been falling from year to year, and in 1917 the harvest was very bad. So that only in Semirechye oblast the shortage of the bread was 14.5 million poods whereas the minimum consumption is is 22.3 million poods /1/. The hunger proliferated throughout the territory of Kazakhstan in people rebelled in Petropavlovsk, Pavlodar, Zharkent. Pre-revolutionary situation had become worse due to the dissatisfaction in outskirts of Russian Empire including Kazakhstan, inability of the Provisional Government to conduct democratic reforms and implement real national self-identification.

V.I. Lenin thought that the rebellion is caused by the objective sequence of events, correlation and allocation of forces. First, the successful rebellion shall be based not on conspiration, not on party, but on the labor class (proletariat); second the rebellion shall be based on revolutionary upraise of people; third the rebellion shall be based on the critical moment in the development of revolution when the people are most active and enemies of the revolution are most instable. The political situation was exactly as described after the February Revolution when the people all the parties were strongly dissatisfied by the policy of the Provisional Government and the Government itself led by Kerensky was internally instable. Widely known the expression of Lenin which characterizes the revolutionary situation: “When those at the bottom do not want to live and those at the top cannot govern in old style”/2/. All this objective causes had realized in Russian in fall 1917, therefore the task of preparation of the rebellion, government overthrow and getting the power shall be put on the agenda /3/.

During this period Lenin claimed that namely Russia shall start world social revolution and the labor class of Europe shall continue. Bolsheviks could raise their prestige among soldiers and proletariats in February-October 1917 by active agitation and using dissatisfaction of Provisional Government’s politics to organize revolts. In the Unions of workers, peasants, and soldiers deputies of the largest industrial cities and firstly the capital Petersburg the influence had got Bolsheviks and their supporting deputies. Soldiers (originated from peasants) liked the mottos of Bolsheviks about establishing the peace with Germany and seizing the war which had led to destruction of country economy and devastation of people. Workers and peasants liked the slogans about transferring the power to workers and peasants, liquidation of private property including land property, transferring the land to the property of peasants and the factories and plants under the management of workers. National movements on the outskirts of the Russian empire liked the promises of liberation from colonial rule and national self-determination up to the release of the empire. In general, the October Revolution was accomplished under the banner of human values and democracy, but was approved by the unprecedented class violence, which led eventually to the establishment of a totalitarian regime.

The content of Lenin's plan for an armed rebellion was in the immediate organization of staff of the revolutionary groups, in the distribution of power and the concentration of the most reliable parts to capture the most important objects. The center of the armed rebellion, according to Lenin, was to be Petrograd city, where the revolutionary forces could provide the city's defenses in the case of counter-revolutionary speeches parts. By the decision of the Central Committee of the Party on October 7, 1917 Lenin secretly moved to Petrograd. On 10 October it was held a historic meeting of the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party, which adopted the proposed by Lenin resolution of armed rebellion. The decision about rebellion was confirmed at the enlarged meeting of the Central Committee on 16 October.

The revolutionary events that shook Russia made an impact on the political life in the former colonial suburbs.

Across the Kazakhstani territory it was mentioned the increase in political activity, different segments of the Kazakh society have joined public life. The social life of the Kazakh society in that period had different variety of views, opinions and judgments on the issues of further development of society, the growth of national consciousness. It's all displayed the originality of the historical moment, the heterogeneity of the social composition of the Kazakh society, including its national intelligence. Already in the pre-October revolution period on the territory of Kazakhstan the basis of pluralism and multiparty system had been formed.

In Kazakhstan, at this time there were local organizations of various Russian parties: the Cadets, the Social Revolutionaries (SRs), Mensheviks, Bolsheviks, monarchists and others areas and counties there were various jobs, muslim, youth, etc. organization. Several youth organizations were create during that period, for example ‘Erkin dala’ in Orenburg city, ‘Bіrlik’ in Omsk city, ‘Zhas Kazakh’ in Uralsk city, ‘Revolutionary Union of Kazakh youth’ in Aulie-Ata and Merke cities organized by Mr.Turar Ryskulov, which were aimed to the cultural and educational work among the population. SR’s with their slogan ‘The land should be transferred to those who work it’ had stepped up its activities in the cities; Cossack parties; Cadets had published the newspaper ‘Freedom of Speech’ and proclaiming the idea of a united and indivisible Russia. Discrepancy of interests and the ultimate goal, specifically the rejection by the Cadet Party the ideas of Kazakh autonomy led to the withdrawal of Mr. Bukeykhanov from the Cadets party. The workers that had returned from the war joined the political life of the region. After facing the horrors of the war, they actively involved in social and political life of the country. A huge impact on the growth of political consciousness of tyloviks had their communication with the Russian workers and soldiers.

In that time, Kazakhs were one of the largest ethnic groups that were living in Russia. During the census in 1897, there were 4,084,139 Kazakhs (Kyrgyz-Kaisak) nationality / 4 /. If you unite all of them, it would be a rather big formation or even an autonomous state.

In the Kazakh public mind by October 1917 it was raised the idea of consolidation on Kazakh, on general Muslim and on Turkic basis. The Kazakh leaders of Steppes, that were united in the party ‘Alash’, and being located in Orenburg city, advocated on unification of the Kazakh lands and execution of Kazakh autonomy. Leaders of the Kazakhs from Turkestan province, that were focused in Tashkent city more inclined to the idea of consolidation of Turkestan people on the basis of Turkic and Muslim community (the party of ‘Shuro-e-Islamia’). The vast majority of the people of Kazakhstan and Central Asia was illiterate and was strongly influenced by the Muslim clergy. Therefore, the representatives of the southern Kazakh intellectuals believed that in such circumstances it is easier to subjoin people to the knowledge and education through the Islam. The national political parties which were formed after the February Revolution reflected the interests of the indigenous population, ‘Alash’ - the party of the national democratic intellectuals, who shared the Western democratic values, "Ush Zhuz" - the party of radical, pro-Bolshevik-minded sections of the population and "Shuro-e-Islamia" - Islamic organization and Turkism.

It should be noted that, along with the rapid revolutionary events the views of the leaders of some political parties have also passed a certain evolution. For example, the party ‘Ush Zhuz’ in the beginning of his career advocated a federation of Turkic peoples, and later moved to the pro-Bolshevik position. ‘Shuro-e-Islamia’ party gradually divided on two opposing wings: ulemists that stood in the position of ‘pure Islam’; and Jadids - supporters of Turkism, distinguished modernism and pragmatism. The first division, led by Mr.Serali Lapin were supporters of orthodox Islam, demanded compliance with the Sharia, opposed the reform of education in the European manner, and the latter, whose leader was Mr.Chokay, advocated for democratic reforms, especially in education.

The events of October 1917 and the threat of Bolshevisation set new challenges for the leaders of the national parties.

National intellectuals, which later became the core of the party ‘Alash’, entered the political arena in 1905. The social base of the party ‘Alash’ consisted of intellectuals, which expressed the idea of the national freedom, the establishment of a sovereign and independent nation-state, the course of the democracy values and market economy. Organization of entire Kazakh Congress, where it was planned to proclaim the new state, began earlier in 1913 by Kazakh Democrats. Especially this idea was actively promoted in the famous at that time magazine ‘Aikap’ and the newspaper ‘Kazakh’. Subsequently, the newspaper ‘Kazakh’, whose editors were Mr. Dulatov and Mr.Baitursynov, has become a central press organ of Alash Orda government and the party.

1917 year was especially active and carried great hopes, during which the preparatory regional congresses and two entire Kazakh Congresses in Orenburg city were convened (first in 21-28 of July; and the second - 5-13 of December). During the first entire Kazakh Congress in Orenburg it was considered the question of the formation of the party Alash; creation of a national-territorial autonomy, land management, population, religion, status of women and others. Mr. Alikhan Bukeikhanov, one of the outstanding representatives of Kazakh intellectuals of that time, was elected on the Chairman position of the Movement.

During the 5-13 of December in 1917 year, the second entire Kazakh Congress in Orenburg city was held. It was most significant in the history of the Kazakh democratic movement. On 21 November, 1917 a draft program of party ‘Alash’, compiled by Alikhan Bukeikhanov, Ahmet Baitursynov, Mirzhakyp Dulatov, Eldes Gumarov, Esengali Tormuhamedov, Gabdulahmid Zhundibaev and Gazimbek Birimzhanov wass published in the newspaper ‘Kazakh’. The program consisted of ten paragraphs. Thus, in section I it was proclaimed: ‘Russia should be democratic and federal republic. Each member state of the Federal Republic, being the independent should act in union with other states - members of the federation ...’/ 5 /

Thus, it was highlighted the equality of subjects of the federation and the priority of self-autonomy. By the way, during the Soviet time the system of local self-government in the country was completely destroyed and now this issue is the subject of political debate in the post-Soviet republics. The founders of ‘Alash’ party were far from separatism, and of course they understood the threat of civil war and did not want people’s bloodshed in vain.

They saw autonomy with its own elected government in the structure of the decentralized (Federal) democratic Russia, which, in their view, was to hold a broad democratic transformation and play an important role in improving and developing the national democratic political culture.

Universal suffrage was amended by important anti-discrimination rules. In par. I it is stated that ‘everyone with no regard to the religion, origin or sex has the right to vote’ / 6 /. Earlier on Orenburg Congress (21-28 July 1917) women's political rights were proclaimed equal to men’s political right / 7 /. It was a huge step forward for that time, which is even ahead of the conquest of democracy in Western countries. They did more than American democracy, which, as it is known, did not provide the right to vote for Negro population and aborigines. In the U.S., only white women received the right to vote in 1920; in the UK - in 1928, and in many European countries the right to vote for women was limited to property or educational qualification. In eastern countries the traditional Islamic orientation question of granting women equal suffrage was not even raised during the XX century.

Bibliography

1. Yeleuov, T. Establishment and Reinforcement of the Soviet power in Kazakhstan (March 1917-June 1918). A. 1961, p. 225.

2. Lenin, V.I., The Collapse of the II International. PSS, Vol. 26, p. 218.

3. Lenin V.I. Marxism and Rebellion: the Letter to the Central Committee of Russian Social-Democratic Labor Party (of Bolshevik) as of September 13-14 (26-27), 1917. PSS. Vol. 34, p. 242-243.

4. Alekseyenko, N.V.The Population of Pre-Revolutionary Kazakhstan: Quantity, allocation, structure (1870-1914). A., 1981. pp. 90-94.

5. Alash-Orda, Collection of documents / Prep. by Martynenko, N., - A., 1992, p. 88.

6. ibid.

7. Bashikova, A.B. At the beginning of Kazakh democracy: constitutionalism in political-legal education of the leaders of “Alash” party // the Collection of the materials of “10^th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan” scientific conference. Almaty, 2001. p. 136.