Ep 11. The Red Bridge to World Revolution

The Rise of Communism: From Marx to Lenin is a historical documentary series that chronicles the birth and growth of communism from its intellectual origins in the writings of Karl Marx to its realization in the Soviet Union under Vladimir Lenin. In season 1 episode 11, titled "The Red Bridge to World Revolution," the series explores the global impact of the Russian Revolution and the Bolsheviks' efforts to spread communist ideology throughout the world.

The episode begins by examining the worldwide upheaval that followed the Russian Revolution of 1917. In countries across Europe and beyond, left-wing political groups sprang up, inspired by the Bolsheviks' success in overthrowing the old order and establishing a workers' state. These groups looked to Moscow for guidance and saw the Soviet Union as the vanguard of a new, revolutionary international order.

The episode then delves into the efforts of the Comintern (or Third International), a global organization founded by the Bolsheviks in 1919 to coordinate revolutionary activity around the world. The Comintern sought to unite communist and socialist parties in different countries under a single banner and guide them in their struggles against capitalism and imperialism. The episode showcases the work of prominent Comintern leaders such as Grigory Zinoviev, Nikolai Bukharin, and Clara Zetkin, who worked tirelessly to build alliances with left-wing movements from China to Latin America.

One of the key themes of "The Red Bridge to World Revolution" is the tension between the Comintern's idealistic ambitions and the harsh realities of global politics. The episode recounts the many setbacks and failures of the organization, including its inability to spark successful communist revolutions outside of the Soviet Union. The documentary also highlights the criticisms leveled at the Comintern by more moderate socialists and communists, who accused the organization of being too focused on revolutionary violence and insufficiently attuned to the realities of parliamentary democracy.

The episode ends by looking at the legacy of the Comintern and its role in shaping the global political landscape of the 20th century. Though the organization was dissolved in 1943, its influence can still be felt in the work of leftist activist movements and political parties around the world. The documentary shows how the ideals of workers' rights, anti-imperialism, and social justice championed by the Comintern continue to resonate with many people today, even as communism as a political project has largely fallen out of favor.

Overall, "The Red Bridge to World Revolution" is a fascinating exploration of how the Russian Revolution and the rise of communism shook the political world to its core, inspiring both hope and fear in equal measure. Through a combination of archival footage, historical analysis, and expert interviews, the episode paints a vivid picture of a global revolutionary movement struggling to find its footing in a world grappling with the aftermath of World War I.