Working Population in Russia before 1917: How it Differs from Other European Countries

Before the Russian Revolution of 1917, the working population in Russia differed from other countries in Europe in several ways. These differences can be explained as follows:

1. Size and Composition of the Working Class
- Russia had a large agricultural sector, resulting in a significant proportion of the population being engaged in peasant farming.
- The majority of the Russian working class consisted of agricultural laborers, factory workers, and urban artisans. However, compared to other European countries, Russia had a smaller proportion of industrial workers.

2. Industrialization
- Russia's industrialization process was relatively late compared to Western European countries like Britain, Germany, and France.
- The Russian industrial sector was concentrated in a few major cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kiev, while other regions remained largely agrarian.
- The working conditions in Russian factories were often harsh, with long working hours, low wages, and limited workers' rights compared to the more developed industrialized nations in Europe.

3. Trade Unions and Workers' Movements
- Trade unions and workers' movements in Russia were significantly less developed compared to their European counterparts.
- Limited legal rights and strong state control over labor organizations hindered the growth and influence of trade unions in Russia.
- Strikes and labor protests were more frequently suppressed by the state, leading to a weaker labor movement compared to countries like France or Germany.

4. Political Climate and Revolutionary Tendencies
- Russia had an autocratic political system under the rule of the Romanov dynasty, which restricted political freedoms and workers' rights.
- The presence of a large peasant class, combined with poor living conditions and social inequality, created a fertile ground for revolutionary tendencies among the working population.
- Revolutionary movements, such as the Bolsheviks, gained popularity among Russian workers, leading to the eventual overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a communist regime.

In summary, the working population in Russia before 1917 differed from other European countries primarily due to the size and composition of the working class, the late industrialization process, limited development of trade unions and workers' movements, and the unique political climate that fostered revolutionary tendencies. These factors played a crucial role in shaping the course of the Russian Revolution and subsequent socio-political developments in the country.

Industrial Workers The working population in Russia was different from other countries in Europe before 1917 in the following ways.:1.Many workers had settled in cities permanently but many had strong links with the villages from which they came and continued to live in villages. They went to the towns to work daily and then returned to their villages in the evenings. 2.Workers were a 7 divided social group. Workers were divided by skill. Divisions among work ers was visible in their dress and manners also. 3.Metal workers considered themselves aristocrats among workers as their occupations demanded more training and skill. 4.Women made up 31 per cent of the labour for ce by 1914, but they were paid less then men. 5.Some workers formed associations of help in times of unemplo yment or financial hardship. 6.The workers did unite to strike work when they disagreed with the employers about dismissals or about work conditions. 7.Workers got low wages and the y had long working hours. They had very few political rights; in short, their life was miserable.Agricultural Workers 1.About 85 per cent of Russia ’s population earned their living from agriculture but most of them were landless farmers. 2.Most of the land was owned by the nobility, the crown and the orthodox church. 3.In France, during the French Revolution in Brittany, peasants respected and fought for the landowners, but in Russia peasants wanted the land of the nobles to be given to them. 4.They refused to pay rent and even murdered landlords. 5.Russian peasants were different from European peasants in another way. They pooled their land together periodically and their commune divided it according to the needs of individual families. 6.Like industrial workers, the condition of the agricultural workers or farmers was also very miserable because of low wages, doing free labour and paying high rent and revenue.