Primary sourceBook1905
Two Tactics of Social Democracy in the Social Revolution
Vladimir Lenin · 1905
Lenin's 1905 pamphlet written during the Russian Revolution, setting out Bolshevik strategy against the Mensheviks.
Lenin wrote this pamphlet to define Bolshevik strategy during the 1905 revolution.
About this source
What it is
This pamphlet was written by Vladimir Lenin in June and July 1905 while the Russian Revolution of 1905 was underway. It argues for a 'revolutionary-democratic dictatorship of the proletariat and peasantry'.
Why it matters
The text marks a key split between Lenin's Bolsheviks and the Mensheviks led by Julius Martov, after the two factions held separate conferences instead of meeting together. It shows how Lenin used theory to argue for immediate, uninterrupted revolution rather than a slow transition, shaping the direction of the revolutionary movement.
Look closer
- Why does Lenin spend so much time criticizing fellow socialists rather than the government?
- What does the phrase 'uninterrupted revolution' suggest about his sense of urgency?
- How might this pamphlet have been read differently by workers versus party leaders?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Vladimir Lenin on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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