Exporting Revolution: Comintern and the French Armies

Some revolutions sought to spread themselves. In 1792 the French Convention offered 'fraternity and assistance' to peoples seeking liberty, and French armies created 'sister republics' in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy, though these often served French interests. The Bolsheviks expected revolution to spread across Europe and in 1919 founded the Communist International (Comintern) to coordinate communist parties. Revolutions in Germany and Hungary failed, and in 1920 the Red Army was halted near Warsaw.

Stalin later emphasized 'socialism in one country'. The American Revolution, by contrast, inspired others mainly by example and did not seek to export itself by force, though it supported independence movements diplomatically, as in the Monroe Doctrine. Comparison reveals that efforts to export revolution by force often provoked nationalist resistance, while example and ideas could spread more widely.