At the outset the struggle between the two sections was declared to depend solely upon differences concerning the problem of organisation. The majority wished for rigid centralisation, whilst the minority considered that this centralisation would weaken the party. But in the course of an unduly rapid political evolution, additional differences of tactics and aim became apparent. On the whole, as far as it is possible to formulate these differences precisely, the bolševiki inclined towards the tactics of the social revolutionaries, and their tactical theories determined their general outlook on the situation and their choice of tactical methods. Whereas the men'ševiki desired that revolutionary energy should first be concentrated and that the masses of the workers should first be educated to understand socialist principles, the bolševiki believed in the imminent possibility of a definitive revolution, urged individuals and the masses towards an immediate struggle, and endeavoured to strengthen the centralist dictatorship as the framework of the future central government. They wished to follow the example of the Narodnaja Volja and to entrust the party leadership to a revolutionary élite.
In actual fact, Russia's internal and external situation was an incitement to a mass revolution. Universal dissatisfaction and a revolutionary mood had been stimulated by the disastrous war with Japan, whilst on the other hand this war had promoted the growth of nationalism, not the liberals alone, but converts from Marxism (Struve), having adopted nationalist views. Through the revolutionary and counter-revolutionary movements, all the progressive and all the conservative and reactionary forces in the country at length secured expression. The constitution, won by the revolution, rendered it possible to organise political parties, and work in the duma made it necessary for these parties to undertake practical administrative activities.
The bolševiki boycotted the duma and opposed cooperation with the liberals (cadets). Only with the social revolutionaries and with the trudoviki (members of the Labour Party) would they make common cause. The men'seviki, on the other hand, were in favour of the duma and of cooperation with the cadets.
of the "hard" iskrovcy and the "soft" iskrovcy, the former designation attaching to the majoritarians. "Iskra" remained in the hands of the minority, and has since been known as the "Novaja Iskra."
