Workers' Party for the Political Liberation of Russia
Encyclopedia
The Workers' Party for the Political Liberation of Russia was a political party
in Russia
, founded in 1899. The membership of the party included Grigory Gershuni
and Catherine Breshkovsky
(which would become two of the key architects of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party
) and its membership was predominately Jewish. The party had its roots in a Minsk
workers' study circle founded in 1895. As of 1899 the group had around sixty members. The party directed most of its agitation towards Jewish workers, a fact that differed the party from other narodnik
groups. The main base of the party was found in Bielorussia (which had a large Jewish population). The party, which functioned as a federation of autonomous local groups, had branches in Minsk
, Bialystok
, Dvisnk, Ekaterinoslav, Zhitomir, Berdichev and Saint Petersburg
.
The party published a programmatic manifesto (edited by Gershuni and L. Rodionova-Kliacho) in 1900, titled 'About Freedom'. The manifesto identified autocracy
as the main enemy of the people (rather than capitalism
or the industrialists). The document proposed political terrorism
as a means of struggle against Russian despotic rule.
The Workers' Party for the Political Liberation of Russia party was one of the groups that affiliated itself with the Socialist-Revolutionary Party
in 1902.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, founded in 1899. The membership of the party included Grigory Gershuni
Grigory Gershuni
Grigory Andreyevich Gershuni was a Russian revolutionary and one of the founders of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party.-Early life:Born in Kovno, Russia 1870 to Jewish peasants....
and Catherine Breshkovsky
Catherine Breshkovsky
Catherine Breshkovsky was a Russian socialist and revolutionary, better known as Babushka or, more solemnly, the Grandmother of the Russian Revolution.-Revolutionary life:She left her home at the age of 26 to join followers of anarchist Mikhail Bakunin in Kiev...
(which would become two of the key architects of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party
Socialist-Revolutionary Party
thumb|right|200px|Socialist-Revolutionary election poster, 1917. The caption in red reads "партия соц-рев" , short for Party of the Socialist Revolutionaries...
) and its membership was predominately Jewish. The party had its roots in a Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
workers' study circle founded in 1895. As of 1899 the group had around sixty members. The party directed most of its agitation towards Jewish workers, a fact that differed the party from other narodnik
Narodnik
Narodniks was the name for Russian socially conscious members of the middle class in the 1860s and 1870s. Their ideas and actions were known as Narodnichestvo which can be translated as "Peopleism", though is more commonly rendered "populism"...
groups. The main base of the party was found in Bielorussia (which had a large Jewish population). The party, which functioned as a federation of autonomous local groups, had branches in Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Bialystok
Bialystok
Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Located on the Podlaskie Plain on the banks of the Biała River, Białystok ranks second in terms of population density, eleventh in population, and thirteenth in area, of the cities of Poland...
, Dvisnk, Ekaterinoslav, Zhitomir, Berdichev and Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
.
The party published a programmatic manifesto (edited by Gershuni and L. Rodionova-Kliacho) in 1900, titled 'About Freedom'. The manifesto identified autocracy
Autocracy
An autocracy is a form of government in which one person is the supreme power within the state. It is derived from the Greek : and , and may be translated as "one who rules by himself". It is distinct from oligarchy and democracy...
as the main enemy of the people (rather than capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
or the industrialists). The document proposed political terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
as a means of struggle against Russian despotic rule.
The Workers' Party for the Political Liberation of Russia party was one of the groups that affiliated itself with the Socialist-Revolutionary Party
Socialist-Revolutionary Party
thumb|right|200px|Socialist-Revolutionary election poster, 1917. The caption in red reads "партия соц-рев" , short for Party of the Socialist Revolutionaries...
in 1902.