French and Russian Revolutions Compared

Evaluating Two Watershed Movements in European History

Feb 1, 2009

Although it is tempting to drawn comparisons between the French and Russian Revolutions, each movement must be viewed as unique and inherently different.

To what extent is it possible to compare the French Revolution of 1789 with the Russian Revolution of 1917? Both revolutions reflected sweeping political, cultural, and social changes. Both revolutions spawned continuing movements that affected other nations. Both revolutions were triggered by economic distress, poor leadership, and widespread discontent. Yet beyond generalizations that could be applied to other, similar national movements, comparison of specifics tends suggest that each revolution was an entirely separate event with vastly different elements and outcomes.

Politics and Leadership at the Time of the Revolutions

Although both nations had traditions of absolutism, neither Louis XVI of France nor Tsar Nicholas II of Russia ruled as absolute monarchs at the time of the revolutions. In the case of Russia, Nicholas II had already abdicated and the country was governed by the Provisional Government. The realm of Louis XVI had also changed from the absolutism of the “Sun King.”

Parlements, regional councils, church and nobility checked the power of Louis XVI so that by 1789, in an attempt to resolve the national financial crisis, he convened the Estates General, a body that had not met for over 150 years. The French political equation was vastly different from that in Russia in October, 1917.

The October Revolution was accomplished through the efforts of a relatively small group, the Bolsheviks, led by the fiercely dynamic Lenin, a man of superlative intellect. Although the French Revolution has significant leadership throughout its several phases, no one man could claim the same kind of dynamism seen in Russia’s Lenin.

In Russia, the revolution was heavily indebted to the army and the navy with urban support from workers. In France, however, the Revolution succeeded with the strong support of the urban bourgeoisie, at least in Paris, while some members of the First and Second Estate – clergy and nobility – stepped across social lines to identify with the Revolution. The same did not happen in Russia in 1917.

Outcomes of the Revolutions

The French Revolution fed on itself, devouring its leadership until Robespierre was finally executed, bringing to an end the violent phase of the Revolution known as the Reign of Terror. Thereafter France was governed by the Directory, the Consuls, and finally only Napoleon who ruled until his defeat in 1914 as emperor.

In Russia, however, Lenin remained at the leadership helm until his death in 1924. It can be argued, for comparisons sake, that Stalin, his successor, consolidated power by purging many of the early Bolsheviks, perhaps drawing a weak comparison with Napoleon. Napoleon, however, never exercised the extent of brutality as did Stalin.

In Russia, the Orthodox Church, as well as other faith traditions, was not only abolished, but persecuted. There would be no compromise with religion. Although the Catholic Church suffered greatly during the first few years of the Revolution, it was never completely stamped out and eventually acknowledged through Napoleons Concordat with Rome in 1801.

Both revolutionary movements spread beyond their borders. Russia would be transformed into the USSR and promote world Communism. In terms of France, however, Napoleon’s defeat at Leipzig in 1914 resulted in the Congress of Vienna that set into place programs to restore the old order. While revolutionary sentiment remained strong, legitimacy would reflect the European order after 1815.

Dangers of Comparisons

The dangers of such comparisons might be that readers cannot define the revolutions on the basis of inherent differences that were unique to the time period and to the culture. Getting past generalizations more clearly demonstrates that these two events simply cannot be compared historically.

Sources:

Robert V. Daniels, Red October: The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 (Boston: Beacon Press, 1967).

Simon Schama, Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1989).

Leonard Shapiro, The Russian Revolutions of 1917: The Origins of Modern Communism (New York: Basic Books, 1984).

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