The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917 and its Impact on Iraqi Public Opinion.

Abstract

     This study examines the radical transformation brought about by the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in the structure of the Russian state، a transformation that influenced regional and global political balances for decades to come. It also explores the repercussions of this pivotal strategic event on the Iraqi political landscape at the beginning of the 20th century، as socialist and communist ideas spread among various segments of Iraqi society، particularly intellectuals، students، and workers. The study investigates the organizational roots of the Social Democratic Party، the historical split between the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks، and Lenin's policy of "open diplomacy" toward the East. It traces the channels through which Bolshevik ideology reached Iraq via immigrants، returning prisoners، and the fluctuating media coverage، which ranged from apprehension to sympathy. The study concludes that Bolshevik influence in Iraq was limited in its early stages، remaining largely confined to the intellectual and political spheres rather than manifesting in effective organizational structures. However، this "intellectual spark" indirectly influenced the Iraqi political landscape، paving the way for the emergence of leftist movements and the crystallization of their intellectual orientations in later stages. The study adopted an analytical approach based on an examination of Arabic and translated books، local newspapers، and foreign sources. Its aim was to deconstruct the image of the Bolshevik Revolution in Iraqi memory، reveal the British administration's stance towards it، and ultimately understand the nature of national reactions to the global revolutionary tide. The study demonstrated that Iraq، during that era، constituted a vital space for the interaction and proliferation of intellectual and political currents striving to achieve national liberation and consolidate independence.