Soviet (council)

A soviet is a type of workers' council that follows socialist ideas. It played a big role during important events in Russian history, especially the Russian Revolution. Soviets were the basis for the government in the Russian SFSR and the Soviet Union, and they also influenced places like the Makhnovshchina.

The first soviets began during the 1905 Revolution in the Russian Empire. In 1917, after the February Revolution, there was a situation called dual power, where both the Russian Provisional Government and the soviets had control. This changed later that year during the October Revolution, when the Second Congress of Soviets declared itself the top governing body of the country.

Soviets were officially called "Soviets of People's Deputies," and people sometimes used the term "Sovdepiya" to describe Soviet Russia or the Soviet Union. Even though soviets are often linked to the Soviet Union, the idea of a soviet can apply to any workers' council with socialist beliefs, like the Irish soviets.

Etymology

The word "Soviet" comes from a Russian word that means council or assembly. It is related to words in many languages that have to do with sharing ideas and knowledge. For example, in English, we have words like "wise" and "advisor" that share this same root.

In Russian, someone who works as a council member is called a "sovietnik." Many groups in old Russia used the word "council" to describe themselves, like the State Council that helped run the government from 1810 until 1917. Other languages, such as Polish and Ukrainian, also have words for council that come from similar roots.

Russian Empire

Workers' councils

The first groups of workers who came together to discuss their needs, called soviets, formed in May 1905 in Ivanovo, near Moscow, during a big change in Russia called the 1905 Russian Revolution. Some people remember seeing similar groups in St Petersburg a little earlier, in January 1905.

During this time, many workers were unhappy because of a war and hard times at their jobs. They began to meet and stand up for their rights, even without government help. These meetings happened mostly in factories. The groups of workers, or soviets, helped organize protests and fights against the government of the Russian Empire. Though these groups went away after the 1905 revolution, they came back later during the big changes in 1917.

Russian Revolution

Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Soviet Union and the leader of the Bolshevik party.

Leon Trotsky, founder of the Red Army and a key figure in the October Revolution.

During the February Revolution, groups called "Councils of Workmen's and Soldiers' Deputies" formed to help keep things running until a new government could be chosen. The most important of these was the Petrograd Soviet, which had 4,000 members and was located in the capital city.

At first, these councils were led by different political groups, but as time passed, the Bolsheviks grew more popular. They promised a government led by workers' councils and, in October 1917, they took control from the temporary government, giving all power to the Soviets. The Soviet system was seen as a new way to run a country, giving ordinary people a say in how things were done.

Within the Soviet Union

The Soviets were the foundation of government in the USSR, as described in important documents like the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR, the Declaration of the Creation of the USSR, and the 1924 Constitution of the Soviet Union and 1936 Constitution of the Soviet Union. Factory and village Soviets chose delegates to send to town Soviets. These town Soviets then sent delegates to regional Soviets, and this pattern continued up to the highest level, the Congress of Soviets of the U.S.S.R.. By 1936, the process of choosing delegates became direct, with the creation of the Supreme Soviets.

Local Soviets had many responsibilities, such as deciding what their communities needed and making sure these tasks were done. If a delegate did not satisfy the people, they could be replaced. Many citizens took part in running the government, with over a million people involved in the 1940s. Each Soviet had committees for different areas, like education and healthcare, with experts from those fields helping to guide decisions. The Union Republics, provinces, and towns had the power to manage local industries, build schools and hospitals, and spend their budgets as they saw fit, as long as it did not go against national rules.

Post-Communist Russia

Even though many people think the word "soviet" only means the old Soviet Union, in Russia it is also used for a special group called the Federation Council in the Russian Federal Assembly. In Russian, this group is called Сове́т Федера́ции (Sovyet Federatsii).

Outside Russia

Poland

Main article: Workers' Councils in Poland

Workers' councils formed in Poland many times during the 1900s. The first happened during a big uprising in 1905–1906, when workers took control of factories and towns. These councils appeared again when Poland became independent in 1918, with over 100 councils representing many workers and farmers. They were later broken up by the Polish government.

Germany

After World War I, leaders in Bavaria created a new government. This new government did not last long. The German Army and local groups took over, and many people were hurt during this time.

China

Main article: Revolutionary base area

Chinese Communists used the idea of councils in the 1920s to control some areas. This led to the creation of a small government called the Chinese Soviet Republic in 1931, which later helped form the People’s Republic of China. It ended in 1937 when the Communists joined forces with another group.

Elsewhere

The idea of workers' councils spread to other countries after 1917. In 1919, a council formed in Ireland during a time of conflict. In Britain, plans were made for councils that would include families and mothers.

Translations

The word "soviet" comes from the Russian word "sovet," which means "council." It refers to groups of workers who came together to make decisions during important times in history, like the Russian Revolution. These councils played a big role in how the government was formed in Russia and influenced other places as well. The first of these councils started appearing during a big change in Russia back in 1905.