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SOVIET GOVERNMENT

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hand, and the Mensheviks^[1] and Socialist-Revolutionists^[2] of the right—who echo and follow them—on the other hand, continue their attempts to unite for the overthrow of the Soviet power. But, in the main, the problem created by the resistance of the exploiters was already solved in the period between November 7, 1917, and (approximately) February, 1918—the time of the surrender of Bogajevsky.^[3]

The Problems of Management

We are now confronted by the third problem, which is the most urgent and which characterizes the present period
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↑ The Mensheviks are the moderate wing of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party, and have always opposed the Bolsheviks on questions of tactics. The war and the Revolution have widened the gulf which separated them, though both elements considered themselves as belonging to one Marxian Socialist movement. Since the beginning of the war the Mensheviks themselves were split into two factions, the one led by George V. Plechanov, which was nationalist, and the other led by Martov, which was internationalist. During the first eight months of the Revolution (March-November), the Mensheviks were in control of the Soviets, while the Bolsheviks were the opposition, demanding the break of the Mensheviks with the bourgeois parties. It was this policy that finally led to the victory of the Bolsheviks over the Mensheviks in the Soviet.
↑ The Party of Socialist-Revolutionists was the other Socialist party in Russia. It represented the non-Marxian Socialist movement. While the Social-Democrats were primarily active among the city workers, the Socialist-Revolutionists interested themselves in the agrarian problem and spread their organization among the peasants. With this party was also connected the Terrorist group, which was responsible for the various assassinations under the old regime. As with the Social-Democrats, the war and the Revolution have brought about a split among the Socialist-Revolutionists. Corresponding to the Plechanov group among the Social-Democrats, were the elements among the Socialist-Revolutionists, led by Mme. Breshko-Breskovsky, known as Babushka (little mother), who supported Kerensky, also a member of this party. The moderate Internationalist group led by Victor Tchernov formed the center and the radical elements led by Spiridonova formed the left wing.
↑ Reference is here made to the surrender of the leader of the Don Cossacks during one of the counter-revolutionary attempts in the region under General Kaledin, the Hetman of the Don Cossacks.

[1] The Mensheviks are the moderate wing of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party, and have always opposed the Bolsheviks on questions of tactics. The war and the Revolution have widened the gulf which separated them, though both elements considered themselves as belonging to one Marxian Socialist movement. Since the beginning of the war the Mensheviks themselves were split into two factions, the one led by George V. Plechanov, which was nationalist, and the other led by Martov, which was internationalist. During the first eight months of the Revolution (March-November), the Mensheviks were in control of the Soviets, while the Bolsheviks were the opposition, demanding the break of the Mensheviks with the bourgeois parties. It was this policy that finally led to the victory of the Bolsheviks over the Mensheviks in the Soviet.

[2] The Party of Socialist-Revolutionists was the other Socialist party in Russia. It represented the non-Marxian Socialist movement. While the Social-Democrats were primarily active among the city workers, the Socialist-Revolutionists interested themselves in the agrarian problem and spread their organization among the peasants. With this party was also connected the Terrorist group, which was responsible for the various assassinations under the old regime. As with the Social-Democrats, the war and the Revolution have brought about a split among the Socialist-Revolutionists. Corresponding to the Plechanov group among the Social-Democrats, were the elements among the Socialist-Revolutionists, led by Mme. Breshko-Breskovsky, known as Babushka (little mother), who supported Kerensky, also a member of this party. The moderate Internationalist group led by Victor Tchernov formed the center and the radical elements led by Spiridonova formed the left wing.

[3] Reference is here made to the surrender of the leader of the Don Cossacks during one of the counter-revolutionary attempts in the region under General Kaledin, the Hetman of the Don Cossacks.

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