The Mensheviks were a faction of the Russian socialist movement that emerged in the early 20th century. They believed in a more gradual approach to socialism, advocating for a broad-based party that included various social classes. The Mensheviks supported collaboration with other political groups and emphasized the importance of democratic processes within the party. In contrast to the Bolsheviks, who favored a more revolutionary and centralized approach, the Mensheviks sought to build a mass movement through legal and political means. Their differences with the Bolsheviks became pronounced during the 1917 Russian Revolution, leading to a split that significantly influenced the course of Russian history.