From the History of October to the History of the Russian Revolution: A Comparative Analysis of Methodological Approaches to the Assessment of the Events of 1917

Abstract

The centenary of the Revolution of 1917, which radically changed the historical destiny of Russia, calls for conclusions regarding certain results of its study. In modern historiography, there are dozens of opinions on the matter, which significantly differ from each other. Scholars focus on the basic characteristics of the Revolution — its chronological frameworks, character, causes and results, driving forces, etc. The very notion of revolution is also under consideration. However, there are didactic needs related to teaching, which imply the need to harmonise the existing assessments of the event in question. The article analyses theoretical views on the Revolution of 1917, which rely on various methodological approaches, including the Marxist, civilisational, modernisational, institutional, synergetic, comparative, and projective ones. The author analyses the events of the Revolution relying mainly on historiographic resources of a summarising nature based on a typological analysis of the events. When analysing the historiographic interpretations of the debatable questions of the 1917 Revolution, the author suggests using the method of adjustment of opinions, based on the identification of objectively arising points of overlapping opinions. The possibility of such adjustments rests on the use of similar cognitive procedures based on the deductive or inductive logic of judgments, and also on the basis of frequency of the most widespread opinions.