The Bolsheviks Volume II

 
Sonjya realized that she had some ammunition with which she could fight.  It was evident to her that William had lumped these two revolutionaries together.  Sonjya knew that was a mistake.  It was easy to make.  Though both advocated the same goal—establishing a communist society based on the teachings of Karl Marx—Sonjya was well aware that there was a huge gulf between Markov and Lenin when it came to the means by which Russia would achieve that end.  So, with the resolve of a schoolteacher giving a lecture by which he or she is an expert, Sonjya proceeded to present William with a compare and contrast outline of the differences between Yuli Osipovich Zederbaum, better known by his revolutionary alias of Julius Martov, and Vladimir Illyich Ulyanov, better known by his revolutionary alias of N. Lenin:
     “William, the term ‘Menshevik’ comes from the Russian word menshinstvo.  It is the Russian word for minority.  Now that doesn’t mean Julius Martov and his Menshevik followers are in the minority…just the opposite.  Most Russians, myself included, are in favor of Martov’s ideas and the Mensheviks are by far the more popular with the Russian people.  On the other hand, Lenin, who signs all his works as ‘N. Lenin’ with the ‘N’ standing for ‘Nobody’ rather than ‘Nikolai’ like everyone thinks, heads up the faction of socialists called the Bolsheviks.  As you can guess, this too is an adaptation of the Russian word bolshinstvo.  It is the complete opposite of menshinstvo…it is the Russian word for majority.  The comic part about all this is that the Bolsheviks ARE NOT the majority here in Russia…just the opposite.  Yet that doesn’t seem to matter one bit to Lenin or his followers.  I’m convinced Lenin has no interest in majorities and that’s why I favor the Mensheviks.  According to both, Russia—for all intents and purposes—is still a feudal state.  With orderly change having been blocked on ‘Bloody Sunday’ in nineteen-oh-five, Russia needs to have a revolution in order to create a democratic, humanistic state based on capitalism in order to ensure that Russia’s people need no longer be unnecessarily exploited by the autocrats.  Since this new revolutionary government will be based on capitalism, it goes without saying Russia will have to become a democratic society in the process.  As far as I’m concerned we can even keep the czar as a constitutional monarch too!  But, in the end, what we will have is a society that will be much like America, Vil!  With or without the czar, it will be a capitalist society using a Parliamentary Bourgeoisie to run the country.  Now eventually, as Karl Marx predicted in his book Das Kapital, after capitalism runs its course, Russia will then be ready to move to a socialist state.  In a socialist state life will be based on the premise of ‘each according to his ability, each according to his work’—”  
     “I know that, Sonjya!”  William shouted back, cutting her off midsentence.  “I also know that eventually, socialism will give rise to communism;  a society whereby all people are rewarded equally—‘each according to his ability, each according to his needs’.”
     “Well then, you know why it is Martov had a falling out with Lenin?”  Sonjya challenged.  
     The young American shook his head sheepishly.  Yes, he was aware of Lenin.  However, that was it.  Up until a few minutes ago, William had no idea what the word ‘Bolshevik’ even meant!  What Lenin advocated, other than espousing the theories of Karl Marx, William could not say.  Of Julius Martov and the Mensheviks he was ignorant.  Luckily for him, Sonjya continued on with her lecture.  By doing so she deprived W