Dreams of Emancipation: A Transnational History of Revolutionary Russia.

The article reviews "Dreams of Emancipation: A Transnational History of Revolutionary Russia," edited by Norihiro Naganawa, which reassesses the global impacts of the 1917 Russian Revolution through a transnational lens. It highlights the volume's thematic organization, which spans various regions and timeframes, emphasizing the interplay between revolutionary and post-imperial phenomena across Northern Eurasia. The chapters collectively illustrate the diversity of revolutionary experiences and the complexities of emancipation, revealing how local contexts shaped the reception and adaptation of revolutionary ideas. While the book effectively decouples the narrative from traditional Russian-centric perspectives, it is noted that the concept of emancipation is not thoroughly deconstructed, particularly regarding the contradictions and coercive aspects of revolutionary projects. Overall, the volume contributes significantly to the historiography of revolution and empire, encouraging a reevaluation of the legacies of the "long twentieth century." [Extracted from the article]