stemmerist

A stemmerist is an individual who advocates for or practices "stemming." Stemming is a technique, most commonly associated with Russian revolutionary politics, that involves actively participating in and seeking to influence established political parties or movements from within. The goal of a stemmerist is often to steer the direction of these organizations towards a more radical or revolutionary agenda, rather than forming separate, independent radical groups. This approach contrasts with outright party-splitting or the creation of entirely new political entities.

The term and practice are often linked to the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, sometimes advocated for their members to join and work within other socialist groups, such as the Mensheviks, with the intention of winning over their members and ultimately dominating the broader socialist movement. This tactic was seen as a way to gain broader support and influence than might be possible by remaining in a small, isolated radical group. The effectiveness and ethical implications of stemming have been subjects of debate among political theorists and historians. Critics sometimes argue that it can lead to opportunism or a dilution of radical principles, while proponents maintain it is a pragmatic strategy for achieving revolutionary change within existing power structures.