Opposition

• Growth of Liberal Opposition

  1895 NII rejected petition, but Zemstvo still demanded all class district zemstvo & National Assembly

  1896 Shipov tried to set up "All Zemstvo Organisation"

  1899 Radical liberals set up "Beseda Symposium" This led liberal movement

  1900 100s of liberals dismissed from elected boards of Zemstvo

  1903 Struve helped found "Union of Liberation" Wanted constitutional system = legally workers could campaign

  1904 Union's grand meeting & banquets for liberal elite
• 1899 SR's

  Social Revolutionary Party Organisation 


  Wide variety of views

  Combined Marxist & Populist ideas in specifically "Russian" programme

  Most influential theorist - Chernov

  Chernov - Law grad & editor of party journal. Party leader in 2nd Duma 1907
• Bolsheviks (Majority)


  Led by Lenin

  Believed in:

  Centralised & disciplined organisation of professional revolutionaries

  Total dedication to revolution not compromised by political alliances

  1912 4th Duma had 6 workers deputies

  Newspaper, Pravda (The Truth) had high circulation, but overall support limited

  1905+ Membership declined
• SR & SD's

  1905-1914


  Survived at local level only

  Weakened by:

  Exile of leaders

  Rivalry between SR & SD

  Split within SD

  Ideological divisions & disagreements over how to respond to 1905 defeat

  Success of Secret Police

  Organisation difficulties - lack of finance & shortage of secret printing presses