Communist vs. Bolshevik — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 4, 2024
Communist ideology seeks a classless society through collective ownership, while Bolsheviks, a Communist faction, led the Russian Revolution for such ideals.
Difference Between Communist and Bolshevik
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Communism is a broad political and economic ideology aiming for a classless society where all property is publicly owned, and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. On the other hand, the Bolsheviks were a faction within the Russian socialist movement that successfully overthrew the Russian Provisional Government in the October Revolution of 1917, advocating for a vanguard party to lead the proletariat to revolution and establish a dictatorship of the proletariat, advancing towards communism.
Communism encompasses a wide array of thoughts and movements that advocate for the establishment of a classless society, where the means of production are owned and controlled by the community as a whole. Whereas the Bolsheviks, under the leadership of figures like Lenin, believed in a more centralized form of governance and the necessity of a revolutionary vanguard party to guide the proletariat and establish socialism as a precursor to achieving communism.
While communism as a theory does not prescribe a specific path to achieve its goals, focusing on the end state of society, the Bolshevik approach was highly pragmatic and strategic, emphasizing the role of a tightly organized party and revolutionary discipline to seize power.
Communism has been interpreted and implemented in various ways across different countries, leading to a spectrum of socialist states with varying degrees of government control over the economy and society. The Bolsheviks, however, specifically tailored their strategy to the conditions of Russia in the early 20th century, resulting in the creation of the Soviet Union, which became a model for future socialist states.
Despite their shared ultimate goal of establishing a communist society, the distinction between communists at large and the Bolsheviks lies in the methods and strategies for achieving such a society. Communism is a broad church that includes various schools of thought on how to dismantle capitalist structures, while the Bolshevik methodology is a specific instance of communist thought that emphasizes the need for a revolutionary vanguard.
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Comparison Chart
Ideology
Aims for a classless society, collective ownership.
A Communist faction, led the Russian Revolution.
Strategy
Various paths to achieve communism.
Emphasizes a vanguard party's role.
Governance
Can vary, often aims for stateless society.
Advocated for a dictatorship of the proletariat.
Historical Context
Broad movement without a specific beginning.
Originated in 20th-century Russia.
Implementation
Diverse across different countries.
Specific to the conditions of early 20th-century Russia.
Compare with Definitions
Communist
Diverse strategies ranging from reform to revolution.
Some communist parties participate in democratic elections aiming to implement socialism gradually.
Bolshevik
Advocated for a dictatorship of the proletariat to transition to communism.
Bolsheviks sought to organize the working class to seize control of the state.
Communist
Aims to eliminate social classes and disparities.
Communists believe in redistributing wealth to achieve social equity.
Bolshevik
Enforced the nationalization of industry and land immediately following their rise to power.
After the revolution, the Bolsheviks redistributed land among the peasantry.
Communist
Promotes an economy where goods and services are distributed based on need.
In a communist system, healthcare and education are provided free for all.
Bolshevik
A faction within the Russian socialist movement that led the 1917 October Revolution.
The Bolsheviks, under Lenin’s leadership, overthrew the provisional government to establish a socialist state.
Communist
Varied examples exist from Soviet Union to Cuba, with differing degrees of adherence to communist principles.
The Soviet Union was established following the Bolshevik Revolution, aiming to create a communist society.
Bolshevik
Emphasized a disciplined revolutionary vanguard to lead the proletariat.
Lenin believed that a tightly organized party was necessary to guide the revolution.
Communist
An ideology advocating for a classless society with collective ownership of means of production.
Marx and Engels proposed communism as a solution to the inequalities of capitalism.
Bolshevik
Established the Soviet Union, which became a model for future socialist states.
The Bolsheviks’ success in Russia inspired similar movements worldwide.
Communist
A person who supports or believes in the principles of communism
I was very left-wing but I was never a communist
Bolshevik
A member of the left-wing majority group of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party that adopted Lenin's theses on party organization in 1903.
Communist
Adhering to or based on the principles of communism
A French communist writer
Bolshevik
A member of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party that seized power in that country in November 1917.
Communist
A member of a movement or political party that advocates Communism.
Bolshevik
A member of a Marxist-Leninist party or a supporter of one; a Communist.
Communist
A supporter of such a party or movement.
Bolshevik
Often bolshevik An extreme radical
A literary bolshevik. In all senses also called Bolshevist.
Communist
A Communard.
Bolshevik
Alternative form of Bolshevik
Communist
Often communist A radical viewed as a subversive or revolutionary.
Bolshevik
A member of the extreme left wing of the Social Democratic Party that seized power in Russia in 1917 after the Russian October Revolution, and advocated rule by the proletariat and state ownership of property.
Communist
Often communist Relating to, characteristic of, or held to resemble communism or Communists.
Bolshevik
Same as communist, especially used of Russian communists.
Communist
Communist Supporting, advocating, or serving to further communism
Communist propaganda.
Bolshevik
Anyone with communist leanings or sympathies; - used very loosely in a derogatory sense by some people with economically conservative views.
Communist
Of, relating to, supporting, or advocating communism.
Bolshevik
Of or pertaining to Bolsheviks or bolshevism.
Communist
Russian
Bolshevik
Emotionally charged terms used to refer to extreme radicals or revolutionaries
Communist
Slav
Bolshevik
A Russian member of the left-wing majority group that followed Lenin and eventually became the Russian communist party
Communist
An advocate of a society based on the common ownership of property; a proponent of communism.
Bolshevik
Of or relating to Bolshevism;
Bolshevik Revolution
Communist
(nonstandard) Any revolutionary or subversive radical.
Communist
An advocate for the theory or practice of communism.
Communist
A supporter of the commune of Paris.
Communist
A member of the communist party
Communist
A socialist who advocates communism
Communist
Relating to or marked by communism;
Communist Party
Communist governments
Communistic propaganda
Common Curiosities
What is communism?
Communism is an ideology advocating for a classless society where the means of production are owned collectively.
Who were the Bolsheviks?
The Bolsheviks were a faction within the Russian socialist movement that led the October Revolution in 1917.
Did all communists support the Bolsheviks?
No, the Bolsheviks were one faction among many in the international socialist movement, and not all communists agreed with their tactics or ideology.
Are there different types of communism?
Yes, there are various schools of thought within communism, including Marxist, Leninist, and Maoist, among others.
Can a Bolshevik be considered a communist?
Yes, Bolsheviks are a specific subgroup within the broader communist movement.
How did the Bolsheviks view the state?
The Bolsheviks viewed the state as a tool for the dictatorship of the proletariat during the transition to communism.
What are the key differences between communism and Bolshevism?
The key differences lie in their approaches and strategies towards achieving a communist society.
What role did Lenin play in Bolshevism?
Lenin was a key leader of the Bolshevik faction, guiding their revolutionary strategy and ideology.
How do communism and Bolshevism differ in their approach?
Communism encompasses various strategies for achieving a classless society, whereas Bolshevism emphasizes the role of a vanguard party.
How did the economic systems proposed by communists and Bolsheviks differ?
Both aimed for collective ownership, but the Bolsheviks implemented immediate nationalization policies post-revolution.
Can communism exist without a state, according to communist theory?
Yes, the ultimate goal of communism is a stateless society, though paths to this vary among communists.
How do modern interpretations of communism and Bolshevism differ from their original concepts?
Modern interpretations vary widely, with some emphasizing democratic socialism and others adhering to strict Leninist principles.
What was the goal of communism?
The goal of communism is to establish a classless, stateless society where property is owned collectively.
What did the Bolsheviks achieve?
The Bolsheviks successfully overthrew the Russian Provisional Government and established the Soviet Union.
Did communism and Bolshevism spread to other countries?
Yes, both ideologies inspired revolutions and movements in various countries around the world.
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Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
