Quoting: tornado2007
The political, cultural and everyday issues in Russia are much different than those of the UK. and to judge the Uk on Russia's History would be a mistake, what works for one country might not work for another.
Let us judge on English History. English revolution and King Charles murder. Let us be closer to today. Chartist movement and marxist-anarchist ideas. Who saved UK? Police? Regular Army? Who was the most initiative at Peterloo? Who was able to cope with 60 000 lumpens?
Did you forget that at the beginning of 19 century there was a special tax to support lumpens? Did you forget many poor people who worked hard were ruined by this tax and left for USA? Did you forget that aristocracy ruined them by the idea to make the life of inactive people better? Active candidats to middle class were sacrificed for beggers' good life. Nothing strange that irregulars, middle classers, not rich people, were so agressive at Peterloo.
And as to middle class victory in 19 century, that occured because middle classers were quite united and high class found it more easy to use them without special attention to lumpens.
What about today? Is that a foolish idea that Government takes money from active British people to support inactive? That is the beginning of future disaster.
As to Russia, nobody was able to imagine future even in 1916. communists composed some 0.05%.
No different states. Only militias are different. Russia in 1917 had none.
By the way, Frederick Forsyth didn't describe Russia. UK only