Socialist Workers' Party (Russia)

The Socialist Workers' Party (SWP) was a minor socialist political party in Russia, active primarily in the period leading up to and immediately following the 1917 Russian Revolution. It represented a more moderate, reformist tendency within the socialist movement, generally advocating for gradual change through parliamentary means and improvements in working conditions within the existing capitalist system.

Unlike the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks who were factions within the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP), the SWP was a separate, smaller organization. It distinguished itself from the RSDLP by its greater emphasis on practical, immediate gains for workers rather than strict adherence to Marxist orthodoxy or revolutionary overthrow. Its platform typically included demands for an eight-hour workday, improved wages and working conditions, and the establishment of social insurance programs.

The SWP’s influence was relatively limited compared to the larger socialist parties. It primarily attracted support from some segments of the working class who favored a pragmatic approach to improving their lives through legal and political channels. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the SWP's influence waned significantly, and it was eventually suppressed by the Bolshevik regime, like other non-Bolshevik socialist parties. Records regarding the specific activities and leadership of the Socialist Workers' Party are limited, reflecting its relatively marginal position in the turbulent political landscape of revolutionary Russia.