How Was the Status Quo Challenged by Marxism and Socialism in Russia at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century?

At the beginning of the twentieth century, there were numerous political movements influenced by Marxism and Socialism that took place in Europe, most notably Russia. In Marxist theory, socialism is defined as a political structure that promotes the concept of a classless society in which all of the nation’s wealth is evenly distributed to every citizen of the nation. During this point of time, these political movements were seen to be aggressive and radical as it threatened all aspects of the social, political and economic system that was implemented by the Russian Empire. Marxism and socialism challenged the status quo in Russia through the promotion of its ideologies such that a socialist society could only be achieved through a revolution.
Class division and wealth disparity in Russia was extremely evident during the beginning of the twentieth century. Operating under a feudal social structure, Robert states that the nobility accounted for only 0.5% of Russia’s entire population, but had approximately 50% ownership of Russia’s entire landmass (2002, p.93). The nobility were also automatically given high ranking official positions and that they “relied on government salaries to maintain their extravagant lifestyles.” (Anderson, Low and Keese, 2008, p.47). There was also widespread corruption within the Russian nobility, Anderson, Low and Keese states that the nobles “abused their positions by accepting bribes and misappropriating government funds.” (Anderson, Low and Keese, 2008, p.47). It is also been said that the nobles spent more than they earned, and blamed the government for its declining wealth and influence. Russia’s middle class was also small sector within Russian society. Anderson, Low and Keese state that the “The middle class…criticized the Tsar’s system of government and resented the limits placed on their freedom of expression and on their involvement in the decision making process” (2008, p.47). The middle class were often educated...