The Mensheviks

Who were the Mensheviks?

The Mensheviks were founded by Julius Martov when the Social Democratic Party split into two: the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks. Bolshevik means 'majority' and Menshevik means 'minority'.

When were the Mensheviks created?

The Mensheviks were formed in Brussels, Belgium, in 1903.

What were the Mensheviks beliefs?

The Mensheviks had 5 key beliefs:

• ❖ In creating a communist society in which all private ownership of property, land and businesses would be abolished to benefit the workers.
• ❖ The communist revolution would only happen after Russia industrialised to create a large working class. This would take a long time.
• ❖ The party should be be democratic, rather than dominated by a 'revolutionary elite'.
• ❖ That the party should work with other political parties to achieve a liberal, capitalist society as the first step towards a communist revolution.
• ❖ They gained the support of the working class by promoting policies such as an eight-hour working day.

How were the Mensheviks different to the Bolsheviks?

There were 3 main differences between the Mensheviks and the Bolsheviks:

• ❖ They were willing to work with other left-wing parties to bring about democracy whereas the Bolsheviks were not.
• ❖ They believed in a more democratic approach to gaining power whereas the Bolsheviks believed in forcing a revolution.
• ❖ They believed that a liberal capitalist society would be a stepping stone to communism, unlike the Bolsheviks who believed in a small group leading a revolution by force.

What was the role of the Mensheviks in the 1905 Revolution?

The Mensheviks played 3 main roles in the 1905 Revolution:

• ❖ They encouraged workers to set up councils or 'soviets'.
• ❖ They were crucial to the set up of the Petrograd Soviet.
• ❖ They played an active role in the state Dumas which were established by Tsar Nicholas II in response to the 1905 Revolution.

What happened to the Mensheviks?

The Bolsheviks suppressed the Mensheviks, along with all other political parties, and many Mensheviks went into exile.