Page:George Pitt-Rivers - The World Significance of the Russian Revolution (1920).pdf/33

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We have seen that outwardly there was little difference between the Red Armies, and the White Armies, the material on both sides consisted mainly of Russian peasants whose only real concern was peace and food. They got none of the former and little enough of the latter. On both sides there was also a considerable foreign element. In the Red Army were Chinese, Letts and dago mercenaries of every description. In the White Armies were Czecho-Slovaks, and alien ex-prisoners of war. The Red Armies have a sprinkling of German military experts on their staffs, and the Whites had a sprinkling of Allied officers. Why then are these Armies, so nearly alike in personnel, nationality and interests, fighting each other?

The answer is supplied when an examination reveals what Bolshevism really is.

Like all other terms denoting a definite historical movement associated with an "ideology" more or less particular to it, the term Bolshevism has been used to express, not only the bare fact of its existence, but in addition all the odium, and also, let it not be forgotten, the rapturous approval, of its partisans and opponents. But mere abuse and mere effusive praise does not help to explain, in the least, what a thing is—its characteristics, properties, origin, relations and consequences.

However inadequately, an attempt will here be made to analyse it as scientifically and briefly as possible. In dealing with it in the broadest possible way it will be found necessary to deal with it under two aspects—common to all scientific classification—the generic and the specific. That is to say we must now recognise that "Bolshevism"