Alexandrian liturgical rites

Alexandra Kollontai

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Alexandra Kollontai

Alexandra Mikhailovna Kollontai (March 31, 1872 – March 9, 1952) was a prominent Russian revolutionary, politician, and diplomat. She was a key figure in the Bolshevik movement and became one of the first women to hold a government position in the Soviet Union. Kollontai was also a noted advocate for women's rights and social reform.

Early Life

Alexandra Kollontai was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, into a family of the Russian nobility. Her father, Mikhail Domontovich, was a general in the Russian army, and her mother, Alexandra Masalina, was the daughter of a wealthy Finnish timber merchant. Kollontai was educated at home and later attended the Bestuzhev Courses, a higher education institution for women in Saint Petersburg.

Political Career

Kollontai became involved in revolutionary politics in the late 1890s. She joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) and aligned herself with the Mensheviks before eventually joining the Bolsheviks in 1915. She was an active participant in the Russian Revolution of 1917 and was appointed as the People's Commissar for Social Welfare in the first Soviet government.

Advocacy for Women's Rights

Kollontai was a pioneering advocate for women's rights and played a significant role in the establishment of the Zhenotdel, the women's department of the Communist Party. She worked tirelessly to improve the status of women in Soviet society, advocating for reforms such as maternity leave, child care, and the right to divorce.

Diplomatic Career

In the 1920s, Kollontai embarked on a diplomatic career, becoming one of the first female ambassadors in the world. She served as the Soviet ambassador to Norway, Mexico, and Sweden. Her diplomatic work was instrumental in establishing and maintaining Soviet relations with these countries.

Later Life and Legacy

Kollontai continued to be active in Soviet politics and diplomacy until her retirement in 1945. She spent her later years writing and reflecting on her experiences. Kollontai passed away in 1952 and was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.

Kollontai's legacy as a revolutionary and advocate for women's rights remains influential. She is remembered for her contributions to the Soviet state and her pioneering role in advancing gender equality.

Related Pages

• Bolsheviks
• Russian Revolution of 1917
• Zhenotdel
• Novodevichy Cemetery

Gallery

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  Alexandra Kollontai

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  Kollontai at the 1910 Social Democratic Congress

• Alexander Shlyapnikov, a contemporary of Kollontai

• Clara Zetkin and Alexandra Kollontai at the Comintern

• Kollontai in 1946

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  Letter from Kollontai to Louise Bryant

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  1972 Soviet stamp commemorating Kollontai

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  Church of the Virgin Mary and Saint Athanasius in Mississauga