From “robespierrianism” to piecemeal reforms. Alexander Herzen on revolution in his political essays

Abstract

In the article, the author presents the overview of A.I. Herzen’s changing views on revolution and the way they are reflected in his political essays. Having a broad perception of revolution, Herzen considers the emergence of Christianity and its early years in Ancient Rome as well as the French Revolution to be the exemplary, paradigmatic revolutionary cases. Both revolutions, their “apostles” with their belief in the world transformation were Herzen’s assessment criteria and models for the prospective coups and their participants. The revolution of 1848 shattered Herzen’s faith in the new revolutionaries, in the expedience of Jacobin methods as well as in the necessity of revolutionary changes for the present. It resulted in a crisis in his worldview and demanded deep analysis of the reasons why the revolution failed. From year 1848 on, Herzen was getting less inclined to the idea of a coup d’etat, he refused to idolize the “apostles of the revolution” and Jacobin terrorist methods.