What is the difference between bolshivek and menshivek?

Answer 1

The Bolsheviks and Mensheviks were two factions of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party in the early 20th century. The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, advocated for a centralized party structure and a revolutionary approach to achieve socialism, believing in the necessity of a vanguard party to lead the working class. In contrast, the Mensheviks favored a more democratic and inclusive approach, supporting a broader coalition and gradual reform rather than an immediate revolution. These ideological differences ultimately led to a split in the party and significant divisions during the Russian Revolution of 1917.