The Bolshevik ideology primarily advocated for which form of governance?

The Bolshevik ideology is rooted in the Marxist belief that a vanguard party represents the interests of the proletariat, or working class, during a revolutionary period. This party is seen as a group of professional revolutionaries who would lead the way to a socialist state. The goal was to establish a dictatorship of the proletariat, which is characterized by a centralized authority where leadership is not democratically elected through popular vote, but rather guided by those who are deemed capable of advancing the revolution.

In this context, the idea of governance under the Bolsheviks was not about restoring a monarchy or allowing an oligarchy of elites to control power. Instead, it emphasized a centralized control system where the party had absolute authority to suppress counter-revolutionary elements and implement policies necessary for achieving socialist goals. This concept effectively positions the Bolshevik party as the ruling body that maintains order and drives social change, differentiating it from more democratic systems that involve broader public participation through elections.