Press Release, 12.09.2024

A round table dedicated to the anniversary of the beginning of World War I was held in Yabloko with the participation of Russian historians Vladimir Buldakov, Vladislav Aksyonov, Boris Kolonitsky, Konstantin Morozov and Alexander Shubin, as well as politicians from the Yabloko party Nikolai Rybakov, Grigory Yavlinsky and Sergei Mitrokhin. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Galina Mikhaleva, professor of the Russian State University for the Humanities. Historians and politicians talked about the causes and inevitability of the beginning of the war, its tragic consequences for Russia, and also drew obvious parallels with today’s developments in the country and the world.

Opening the discussion Yabloko Chairman Nikolai Rybakov noted that the events of more than a century ago have much in common with what is happening now, and the task of the speakers and guests of the round table is to analyse the causes and consequences of the past events and look for ways out of the current tragedy.

Vladimir Buldakov, a Soviet and Russian historian, Doctor of Historical Sciences, and Chief Researcher at the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, marked that the development of capitalism and the emergence of resentment in society – the accumulation of internal aggression – were among the reasons for the outbreak of the war. According to Buldakov, we still do not understand the consequences of the catastrophe of World War I and the subsequent civil war in Russia.

Prof. Boris Kolonitsky, an expert in the history of the 1917 revolution in Russia and Doctor of Historical Sciences, spoke about the danger of escalation of war, when the participants in the military conflict are no longer able to influence the developments. He also described the connection between an external military conflict and a civil war, referring to the present events.

“Some people speak with alarm about a civil war, some with hope, other say that the civil war is already underway,” Boris Kolonitsky said.

Vladislav Aksyonov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor, and Senior Researcher at the Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke about the attitude towards the war in Russian society and rumours as one of the main tools for studying public opinion. In Russia, there was no single position on the war and mobilization in beginning of World War I. Although there was no organised anti-war movement as such, there were clashes involving revolutionary-minded citizens, and drunken riots among the mobilised.

Vladislav Aksyonov also noted that, at the same time, the attempts by contemporaries to study public opinion about the World War I were unsuccessful, but they formed the understanding that “there can be no sociology during war”. Thus, the writer and publicist Fyodor Sologub (1863-1927) conducted surveys of peasants about their attitude to what was happening and recorded that respondents could change their point of view several times during the conversation, focusing on the reaction of the interviewer.

Alexander Shubin, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Chief Researcher at the Institute of General History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, focused on a specific historical event – ​​the Zimmerwald Conference of Socialists, which took place on 5 – 8 September, 1918. The conference participants wanted to formulate a formula of peace and offer it to the people.

Alexander Shubin emphasised that the issue of borders was not the most important thing that should worry politicians and society if blood was being shed because of these borders.

Konstantin Morozov, and expert on the political history of Russia in the 20th century, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Associate Professor, spoke about World War I affected the political party of Socialist Revolutionaries. A split occurred among a community with common views and values, within which people ceased to understand each other, find compromises, and even broke off personal relationships.

Sergei Mitrokhin, Candidate of Political Sciences and member of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko party, discussed the responsibility of Tzar Nicholas II for the events of the early 20th century in Russia. According to Mitrokhin, the Emperor failed to preserve the basic bonds of the country 110 years ago – the conservative values.

Grigory Yavlinsky, Doctor of Economics and Professor of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, cited several circumstances of the social, political and cultural life of the world community at the beginning of the 20th century, which could be compared with the present developments in the world now and what played a role in the development of the tragic events between Russia and Ukraine.

Thus, Yavlinsky reminded the participants of the discussion that a feeling of hatred towards “enemies” prevailed in the societies of different countries, and this feeling was encouraged by politicians and cultural figures.

The signing of the peace treaty in Versailles took place without the participation of Germany, the leader of the military-political bloc. However, colossal reparations were imposed on the state. The Germans felt humiliated. After this, in 1933, the National Socialists came to power, promising to return dignity to Germany. Thus, Yavlinsky said, the Versailles peace became the prologue to an even greater tragedy of the 20th century.

Yavlinsky also noted that the rapid dynamics of international political changes, a breakthrough in the development of information technologies and active discussion of new deadly weapons were among the circumstances that influenced the start of World War I.

In conclusion, Grigory Yavlinsky called for comparing what happened 110 years ago with the present developments.

“There were no nuclear weapons then. But bragging and unwillingness to talk were there then too,” Yavlinsky summed up.