Today, many experts in the field of promotion of goods and services seriously argue that the leader of the proletarian revolution VI Ulyanov was the most talented marketer in the world.His genius was that he was able to "sell" the broad masses of the idea of equality, using brief, biting and intelligible slogans.Vladimir Ilyich succeeded in creating a concise and expressive symbols (the hammer and sickle, the five-pointed star) and to determine the appropriate corporate color (red).But the main achievement of Lenin lay in the choice of brand.In the mass consciousness firmly established the idea that Bolshevism is something big, powerful, inevitable and immutable.But the Mensheviks - it's some little thing in general rubbish.
Creating brand the strongest political party of the XX century was held in London in 1903, in the summer.
When the Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks were
Second Party Congress was held consecutively in two cities - London and Brussels.Obviously, the organizers feared persecution and sought to secrecy, because and so went to the custom step as a break and moving.Lenin and Martov much and often argued, and the essence of the debate can be reduced to whether or not to wait for the apple to fall itself, or rather rip it?At least about that, the future leader of the Bolshevik described the scheme of any contradictions.One of the oldest and largest member of the RSDLP Party theoretician Martov unripe fruits have not wanted to break off branches with foliage and shoot down the more it would not stick.
Both debater at the time agreed that the revolution should be global, it will happen in the countries with the most advanced industry, and only then spread to the backward kingdom-state, among which the number of the Russian Empire.The question was only how to give priority to the methods - legal or underground.After the vote, leading to the victory of the Leninist line, the party split into two parts.Immediately Lenin called his supporters to the Bolsheviks, adding that the followers of Martov - the Mensheviks.This is to some extent determined the history of the XX century.
first revolution
should pay special attention to the fact that the Bolsheviks did not always seek the overwhelming numerical superiority in the party polls in the early turbulent twentieth century.Their chosen line on the underground-terrorist operation led to a split in the RSDLP.In the III Congress, held also in London (1905), the supporters of Martov did not want to take participation, they perceived the tragic revolutionary events like going to the next stage of social development in Russia, that is, the bourgeois republic, which corresponded to the Marxist theory.However, the armed wing of the March uprising representatives involved, they acted on the battleship "Potemkin" and during other unrest.Thus, controversy raged somewhere in the upper echelons of the party, and at the grassroots level do not play a big role.After the suppression of disorder Plekhanov spoke of it as a futile case that should not have, and venturing.The leader of the Mensheviks, Martov agreed with this opinion.
war with Japan
Bolsheviks wanted the defeat of Tsarist Russia and did everything to undermine the defense potential of the country.This is most clearly manifested commitment during the German war, but was first formulated earlier - during the Japanese.One of the reasons that refused to participate in the III Congress of the London RSDLP Mensheviks - a fact known to them material support from foreign hostile intelligence services.Condemning the war Martovites could not tolerate the thought that freedom will come from abroad, and it will bring the Japanese on their bayonets.In addition, Land of the Rising Sun at the time was socially and technically relatively backward state, and the promotion of its victories did not fit in elementary logic.In general, the ideology of the Mensheviks as Bolsheviks ruled out at the moment the possibility of victory of socialism in one country.
Together Again
In 1906 the leaders of both wings of the RSDLP rallied to the Congress, this time it was held in Stockholm.The parties recognized the need to work together, and sought to bridge the gap.Disagreements Mensheviks and Bolsheviks it just did not seem very significant, and concerned only the wording of the first paragraph of the Party Rules.Martov proposed to leave unchanged the obligation to "promote", as Lenin insisted on the "personal participation" in the organization.At first glance, the difference is small, but in fact it turned out that it is of paramount importance.Lenin sought to establish a strict hierarchical structure constructed of combat, and Martov suited the usual intellectuals talking shop.The revolutionary transformation of the leader of the Mensheviks considered premature to focus on offering indoctrination backward agrarian country a huge population is not ripe for socialism.Nevertheless, the Bolsheviks won another victory: the Leninist version was approved by the first article of the Charter RSBRP (o).
interwar contradictions
formally after the "unity" of the Stockholm Congress party has gained solidity, but the realities revealed the presence of the remaining contradictions.The defeat of the revolution forced sotsdekovskoe guide to emigrate in their ranks gloom prevailed.They demanded money, but the Bolshevik methods of getting aroused mixed reactions eternal opponents - Martov, Levitsky his brother, Potresov, Axelrod and other Mensheviks.There was movement of the "liquidators" who expressed an opinion on the need to complete folding of illegal work, termination "eksov" (ie, robbery), but it covered only part of the supporters of the milder actions (including Plekhanov), others have taken a wait, declaring the commitment tounity.Trotsky published in 1912 in Vienna, the newspaper "Pravda", which published articles openly anti-Leninist, and on the basis set out the main press organ of the party platform was set up conference, called the August.The unit formed after it suffered all the same Menshevik defect, namely, internal friction, and soon collapsed.General requirements for civil liberties in the IV State Duma representation of all sectors of society, and so on. N. Did not suit other members of the revolutionary movement.
Defeatists and patriots
After the start of World War II, a program of the Mensheviks came into direct conflict with the Bolshevik policy.Potresov, Plekhanov and other "defencists" did not feel right to seek the death of the king's regime at the cost of national tragedy.They denounced the war as such, calling it one-aggressive, then completely "rolled" to the recognition of the fact that the Russian army only protects the land.Camp RSDLP split into two parts: the "internationalists" and "patriots" features relating to the possible result of the fighting at the front.The most extreme position is considered to achieve the goal of halting and removal of the warring parties "without annexations and indemnities."Defeats and escalating fighting in the civil conflict unwilling Bolshevik wing of the RSDLP.The Mensheviks believed that the conclusion of peace in this situation may lead to world revolution.They were wrong.
February revolution actually began the implementation of "minimum program", declared before the RSDLP as a goal for the next decade.
main theses Menshevik policy
So what is the difference between the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks?The program of the party, or rather, the March of its wing, was in the following paragraphs:
a) the seizure of power in a country with no existing conditions and prerequisites useless, is only meaningful opposition struggle;
b) Russian proletarian revolution will not happen soon, and only after her victory in Europe and North American States;
c) the role of the liberal bourgeoisie in the struggle against the autocracy is extremely important, and it is necessary to cooperate;
d) the peasantry - the backward class, it should be used as an auxiliary power and an ally, but you can not rely on it;
d) the proletariat - the main "locomotive" of the revolution (this point has arisen under the influence of Bolshevism)
e) preference is given to legal methods of struggle.Terrorism is unacceptable.
February
Menshevik Party as an independent political force was formed in early 1917.At first glance, everything went according to the approved plan, there was a bourgeois republic on the ruins of the empire, and now can only wait, when the people will mature and he wants a new revolution, this time the proletariat.The trouble was that the dramatic events of February 1917 caught off guard leadership RSDLP.The Mensheviks, as the Bolsheviks did not control its course, in the organization of the overthrow of the king did not participate and now painfully trying as efficiently as possible to exploit the situation for the implementation of its program objectives.Quickly find Martovites.The interim government was formed, and they sent their representatives in its composition.The Mensheviks in the new power structure had three (AM Nikitin, KA Gvozdev, PN Malyantovich), NS Chkheidze headed the Petrograd Soviet, and later, in June, after I All-Russian Congress of Soviets even became chairmanRussian Central Executive Committee.Continued strengthening of the party's position, expanding the possibilities of its influence on the masses.
Party Mensheviks, despite the obvious successes, the newly contracted typical for her ailments: her powers were divided into three currents.Right (represented Potresov) occupied the extreme patriotic positions centrists (Dan, Tsereteli) reserved the right to continue to conduct revolutionary work in the conditions of bourgeois democracy, but only after the victory over the external enemy, and the left (March) condemned the participation in the work of the Provisional Government,They demanded the immediate distribution of land and make peace.
Before new revolution
Just before the October Revolution had left the party ranks, many prominent Mensheviks.The party program of its vagueness repelled potential supporters and vacillating, among whom was Yuri Larin, Leon Trotsky, and even the Plekhanov.The process of political migration became a mass of about 4000 Petrograd tsentristov- "Interdistrictites" joined the Leninist wing of the RSDLP in the spring of 1917.The reasons for this behavior were compelling: the ideology of the Mensheviks been discredited support for the war, from which the population, disoriented active Bolshevik propaganda, just tired.In addition, there has been a frequent contradiction between political objectives and some honesty of the party leadership, which did not dare to promise people that are not able to perform.Play for power was lost, and in October, the Mensheviks understood it fully.
coup
October 25 coup and the Bolshevik seizure of power.RSDLP (o) immediately developed a condemning resolution, calling these actions usurpation, but it was too late.Internal unity and coherence of action is still not observed.Calls to create a new government, "uniform", representing all political trends on an equal footing, and to support the Constituent Assembly nor to no avail.Ten members of the Central Committee and the three candidates left the party ranks.It convened the extraordinary emergency congress of the RSDLP (o), but he also remained inconclusive, except dissolution of the Constituent Assembly by the Bolsheviks at the beginning of 1918.Then came the Civil War, during which the right-wing Mensheviks under the direction of A. Levitsky, V. Rozanov and Potresov taken a position, it is hostile to the new authorities.
For or against the Soviets?
Leaders RSDLP (o) taken during the Civil War, the active participation in the power structures created in the territories beyond the control of the Bolsheviks.Then the Mensheviks changed the name of the party and began to call himself a Russian Social-Democracy, without the letters in parentheses.They occupied ministerial posts in Samara Komuch Provisional Siberian Government, Tsentrokaspii, Ufa meeting Ural regional government.In 1918, they (SPD) actually seized power in Georgia after the announcement there is a democratic republic.In response, the Bolsheviks expelled the representatives of the RSDLP of all councils.However, in August 1918, the party of the Mensheviks was partially rehabilitated how to refuse a coalition with the bourgeois associations.
defeat of the Menshevik
The repression continued in the spring of 1919, after the consolidation of the Bolshevik position during the Civil War.In Kiev, Odessa, and then in the Georgian Cheka, extensive cleaning of identified members of the RSDLP.In cooperation with the Volunteer Army of Denikin, the Bolsheviks were accused.The Mensheviks, Social Revolutionaries, Cadets and members of other parties were isolated, in some cases, (often) were shot, and their leaders are "settled" for the purpose of disposal.What is meant by this term is not known, but you can guess.Y. Martov and Abramovich were lucky: they had to flee the country in 1920.Two years later, he was sent abroad for another leader sotsdekov Russian - a Menshevik FI Dan.At the same time in Moscow have arrested a whole group of the youth wing of the RSDLP on it was preparing an open court, but in the end, Soviet justice was limited reference.The repression led to an almost complete defeat of the Mensheviks;individual cells, gone underground, lasted until 1925.
What happened to the Mensheviks then
fate of the Mensheviks found themselves in exile, is unenviable.Attempts to publish their own periodicals is extremely costly, settled in Germany "fathers of Russian democracy" in 1933, were forced to move to France and then to America.But bad "brand" became a kind of stigma for those who remained in the Soviet Union and for one reason or another turned out to be disagreeable Stalinist leadership.If necessary, any member of the party could recall his Menshevik past, present or imaginary.The first high-profile trial was held in 1931: on charges of counterrevolutionary organization of 14 employees of the State Bank and the State Planning Commission were sentenced to long prison terms.
However, not all the former Menshevik Bolshevik Party has cost so severely.Attorney General Vyshinsky, diplomats AA Troyanovskiy and Maisky and some other members of the banned organization lived a life quite well.Although over them hung their past sword of Damocles.
