In what ways were the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe, before 1917?

Working population of Russia was vastly different from working population of other European countries:

(i) About 85% of the Russians even in the early 20th century were agriculturists. This proportion was much higher than other European countries e.g., in France and in Germany the proportion was between 40% and 50%.

(ii) Unlike Europe, in Russia, industrialisation started late, in the last quarter of the 19th century. Industries were found in small pockets. Craftsmen existed alongside large factories.

(iii) Workers were a divided social group. Divisions were based on skills. Divisions led to workers being denied even basic rights of 8-hour day and minimum wages.

(iv) Workers continued to maintain strong links with the villages they came from. Women made 31% of factory labour.

(v) Like workers, peasants too were divided. These divisions were accentuated due to religious sentiments. The rich peasants were called Kulaks. Unlike European peasants, Russian peasants had no respect for nobles. Many were driven to grab land of nobles. They lived a life of subsistence were rebellious violent, frequently refused to pay rent and even murdered their landlord.

(vi) Unlike peasants in Europe they were natural socialists. They pooled their land periodically and their commune divided it according to the needs of the individual families.