| Author | Karl Kautsky |
|---|
Road to Power orThe Road to Power is a book written byKarl Kautsky.
In Chapter 1 Kautsky argues that the time for revolution has not yet passed, as some on the Left alleged,[1] most importantlyEduard Bernstein.[2] Kautsky argued that the revolutionary energy of thebourgeoisie was channeled by Bismarck intoa project to throw “a few German princes from their thrones”, overthrow theFrench Empire and support forItalian unification.[1] The cooperation between the state and bourgeoisie that prevented revolution halted the development of the proletariat.[1]
Kautsky continues to point out that in 1904, he predicted that workers would revolt in Russia, joining with the bourgeoisie to establish representative government (in 1905 a revolution led toTsar to create theDuma, a Parliament).[3] He proceeded to note and predict a continuation of a political awakeningChina,India,Egypt,Morocco,Persia andTurkey.[3] He predicts that violent revolution is unlikely in Europe because of the strength of modern armies, except in Russia.[4]
In Chapters IV & V Kautsky argues that Marxism is ahistorical determinism because the will itself is not free.[5]
Road to Power had a large impact on theBolsheviks and was used to justify theOctober Revolution.[6]