In the early twentieth century, during the time in which Lenin worked, there were a number of very fine Marxist intellectuals. Not the least of these was a German gentleman by the name of Karl Kautsky. In fact, he was at one time the leading theoretician for the Second International. As such, he was, without doubt, a leader of the international working class. It was with good reason that Lenin had the utmost respect for Kautsky. But then the political situation changed dramatically, as the First World War was rapidly approaching. As a result of this, Kautsky moved to the centre, as it is called, and became a renegade, a revisionist, a traitor to socialism.
In 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, Kautsky abandoned the Marxist position of internationalism and called for the ”defence of the fatherland”. Instead of calling for revolution, he called upon the working people of Germany, both proletarians and peasants, to support their ”own” bourgeoisie, to join in the slaughter of working people of other countries, so that the German capitalists could have a greater share of the colonies of the world.
Compare this to the true Marxist position, that of Lenin. He called upon the working people of all countries, the proletariat, to unite with the working people of all other countries, to overthrow the bourgeoisie of their particular countries and establish the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.
In the case of Russia, the citizens had an added burden, in that the nobility and the landlords were in power and had first to be overthrown. This very thing happened in the spring of 1917, when Czar Nicholas was removed from power. At that point, the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, were able to establish a bourgeois democratic republic, a dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, which came to be known as the Karensky regime. Only at that point were the working people of Russia able to focus on overthrowing the capitalists. This they accomplished in the fall of that year, and established a truly democratic socialist republic, under the leadership of Lenin and the Communist Party. The class enemies of the working people, the nobility, landlords and capitalists, were crushed under the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, DOP. (I should mention that I deliberately use the capital letters as a means of stressing the importance of this method of rule.)
This Dictatorship is the worst nightmare of every capitalist. The idea that the working people may turn the tables on them, to deprive them of any and all democratic rights, to separate them from their money and power, is too terrible for words. They literally cannot imagine having to work for a living. They are so accustomed to hiding behind lawyers, they think they are above the law. Under the current bourgeois democratic society, there is considerable truth to this.
Shortly after the successful Russian revolution of November 7, 1917, the working people of the world were deeply impressed by this new socialist republic. The Dictatorship Of the Proletariat became a common topic of conversation, at least among the most advanced workers of various countries. This was a source of deep concern to the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, of all countries, as the last thing they want is for their wage slaves to be made aware of the key to their independence. The more ignorant the workers are, the less they are aware of class antagonisms, the better.
The ex-Marxist, the renegade Kautsky, rose to the occasion. He knew Marxism in much the same way that a biblical scholar knows scripture. He was also in the service of the bourgeoisie, and as a loyal belly crawling boot licker, proceeded to distort the Marxist revolutionary theory, removing anything that is not acceptable to the bourgeoisie. Kautsky was very accomplished in the use of sophistry to transform Marxism into a bourgeois liberal theory, one which recognizes the non revolutionary class struggle of the proletariat. By using this revisionist Marxist nonsense, everything is recognized in Marxism except the revolutionary methods of struggle, the propaganda and preparation of those methods, and the preparation of the working class for revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship Of the Proletariat.
At that time, Communists referred to themselves as Social Democrats, as those who fight for socialism also fight for democracy. So Lenin was one of the founders of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party, the RSDLP. Germany also had a fine Communist Party, or German Social Democratic Labor Party, at least up until the time of the outbreak of war. Most of the members of this Party became renegades, calling for defence of the fatherland. It was Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxembourg who were notable exceptions, adhering to principle, remaining true Marxists, calling for revolution and the subsequent Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. They were true Marxists, and did their best to prepare the German common people for the German revolution.
It is very likely that the Russian revolution would have failed, if not for the leadership of Lenin. The capitalists of the time were well aware of this, as they are now. After all, they are not entirely stupid. That is the reason they are so determined to neutralize any and all leaders of the working class. This neutralization can take various forms. One such form is that of buying off the leaders, and in fact a great many union leaders are in the pay of the capitalists. Another form is that of murder, although the capitalists are careful to avoid the use of that word. They refer to it as ”terminate with extreme prejudice”. The German capitalists faced the fact that Liebknecht and Luxembourg were completely unreasonable, refused any and all bribes, and were consequently ”terminated with extreme prejudice”. In other words, they were murdered. The German revolution of 1919 was subsequently crushed, as the German working people were deprived of their leaders.
This murder of working class leaders continues to this day. One example is that of Martin Luther King in 1968. Even though he was a pacifist, he was not spared for that reason. He was a leader of the Afro American people and a man of principle. He absolutely would not accept a bribe, so of course the capitalists murdered him.
I mention this because it is important and not because I am trying to scare anyone. The point is that the working people need true Marxist leaders. If the working people are deprived of such leaders, then the revolution is likely to fail. The reason is quite simple. Those who refer to themselves as Marxists, but are in fact revisionists who are in the service of the capitalists, will assume a leadership role and divert the revolution onto some harmless path of social reform.
For that reason, those who choose to assist in raising the level of awareness of the working class, to fight for revolution and the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat, should take every reasonable precaution. As a suggestion, this could include writing articles anonymously and posting them on the internet. Other suggestions include keeping as many people as close to you as possible, bearing in mind that the capitalists take great delight in sending into the working class those who are paid ”confidential informers”, otherwise known as rats. Also consider the fact that Lenin was forced to disguise himself as a peasant and flee to Finland, where he prepared for the approaching revolution by writing State and Revolution. As well, he and the Central Committee planned the insurrection, from a rather safe distance.
Now a similar revolutionary situation exists. I have previously maintained that the American workers, and in particular the American women, both working class and middle class, are leading the international working class movement. I was mistaken, but it is fair to say that they are in the vanguard of the international working class revolutionary movement.
The working people of Hong Kong are also taking part in a revolutionary movement, although it is doubtful that many of them are aware of this. The problem is that the movement appears to have no leaders. Or it could be that the leaders are keeping a low profile, staying ”underground”, as it is called, in hiding, so as not to be arrested by the Chinese authorities.
The Chinese capitalists, the bourgeoisie, were able to restore capitalism in China after the death of Mao. At that time, there were a great many members of the Chinese Communist Party. No doubt, many of these members were really agents of the bourgeoisie, determined to crush the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. Equally without doubt, many others were dedicated Marxists, and it is quite possible that they changed their tactics, went underground, and continued as leaders of the Chinese people, but in secret. Such people, Chinese Marxists, could well be directing the Chinese revolutionary movement, including the uprising in Hong Kong. That remains to be seen.
It is clear that common people in other countries of the world are marching in support of the people of Hong Kong. As Hong Kong is a city, it is reasonable to assume that the protesters are workers and middle class people, petty bourgeois, and not peasants. It is also very likely that the common people of mainland China, including the peasants, are supporting the people of Hong Kong. As yet the Chinese authorities have managed to suppress any reports of the press to this effect.
The current political situation is now similar to the situation which existed in 1917, in that the proletarian revolution is now a practical issue in a number of countries, not just in America and China. We can expect the most advanced strata of the proletariat to soon be discussing the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. We can also expect the capitalists to respond by singing the praises of the pamphlet by Kautsky, titled The Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
As the title suggests, Kautsky discusses that which Lenin refers to as the ”very essence of proletarian revolution”, the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. Lenin goes on to say that ”this is a question that is of the greatest importance for all countries, especially for the advanced ones….this is the key problem of the entire proletarian class struggle. It is therefore necessary to pay particular attention to it.” For that reason I can only suggest a careful reading of the book by Lenin, The Proletarian Revolution and the Renegade Kautsky.
In the book by Lenin, he provides a very sharp and clear definition of the dictatorship, as Marx had in mind. This stands in stark contrast to the definition -or distortion- provided by Kautsky. As Lenin phrased it:
”Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws.
The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by the use of violence by the proletariat against the bourgeoisie, rule that is unrestricted by any laws.”
It is to be hoped that the preceding quote by Lenin should be printed out in poster form and hung on the wall of every class conscious worker in the country.
Lenin also points out the nonsense that Kautsky spits out concerning ”pure democracy”. In fact, democracy is a system of government in which a state apparatus is used by one class to subjugate another class. The class of slave owners crushing slaves amounts to a democracy for the slave owners. The class of nobility crushing peasants amounts to a democracy for the nobility. The class of capitalists, bourgeoisie, crushing the workers, proletariat, amounts to a democracy for the bourgeoisie. The approaching revolution will give birth to the class of workers, proletariat, crushing the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, which will amount to democracy for the proletariat, the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. Any way you look at it, there is absolutely nothing ”pure” about democracy! In fact it is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. It makes about as much sense as ”friendly” fire, ”secret” bombing, or my all time favourite, ”holy” war. As if there is anything holy about war!
The point must be stressed to the working people that we can only speak of class democracy.
There are loyal servants of the capitalists, the bourgeoisie, who claim to be socialists, even Marxists. These flunkies of the capitalists, otherwise known as ”labour lieutenants of the capitalist class”, will no doubt maintain that there is no need for the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat because we have a majority. They will conveniently overlook that which Marx and Engels explained:
The Dictatorship Of the Proletariat is necessary :
to break down the resistance of the bourgeoisie
to inspire the reactionaries with fear
to maintain the authority of the armed people against the bourgeoisie
that the proletariat may forcibly hold down its adversaries
It is possible to overthrow the capitalists at one stroke, as happened on November 7, 1917, in Russia, at the time of the insurrection. But then for a rather long time after the revolution, the capitalists will continue to have a number of practical advantages. This includes money, valuable articles such as artwork, superior education and skills in matters of management and so forth. The mere international connections of the capitalists give them an enormous advantage. In short, even after the revolution, the capitalists will still remain stronger than the workers.
To suggest, as Kautsky does, that a mere majority rule is sufficient, after the revolution is, as Lenin says, ”the acme of stupidity, the silliest prejudice of a common liberal, an attempt to deceive the people by concealing from them a well established historical truth. This historical truth is that in every profound revolution, the prolonged, stubborn and desperate resistance of the exploiters, who for a number of years retain important practical advantages over the exploited is the rule. Never …will the exploiters submit to the decision of the exploited majority without trying to make use of their advantages in a last desperate battle, or series of battles.” (all italics by Lenin)
Lenin goes on to say that the transition from capitalism to communism takes an entire historical epoch. By communism is meant the abolition of all classes, which is not about to happen any time soon. In the mean time, as Lenin phrased it, ”the overthrown exploiters -who had not expected their overthrow, never believed it possible, never conceded the thought of it -throw themselves with energy grown tenfold, with furious passion and hatred grown a hundred fold, into the battle for the recovery of the ‘paradise’, of which they were deprived, on behalf of their families, who had been leading such a sweet and easy life and whom now the ‘common herd’ is condemning to ruin and destitution (or to common labour)… In these circumstances…to talk about majority and minority, about pure democracy, about dictatorship being unnecessary and about equality between the exploiter and the exploited! What infinite stupidity and abysmal philistinism are needed for this!” (all emphasis by Lenin)
I have gone into this at length in order to impress upon common people, by which I mean workers and middle class people, the necessity of crushing the capitalists after the revolution. As for those who are skeptical, consider the fact that the capitalists were able to return to power in both Russia and China.
The current international situation is revolutionary. It is very likely that a revolution which breaks out in one country will spread to other countries. The chance of any particular revolution being successful depends a great deal upon the leaders. The leaders who are true Marxists will provide proper direction.
As for those who scoff at leaders, may I suggest a comparison. It may help to think of the revolutionary motion as a ship upon the seas. Without a competent captain to chart a proper course for this ship, such a vessel is bound to wander aimlessly, at the mercy of the wind and waves. But with a competent captain, that same ship will head straight for port.
At the moment, the people of Hong Kong are in a state of revolt, and have been for many weeks. The press reports that it shows no sign of weakening. If anything, it appears to be gaining strength. Most of the protesters are wearing face masks, so that they cannot be identified. Many are wearing helmets, in order to protect their heads from the clubs of the police. They are also wearing gloves, so that the tear gas containers can be picked up and thrown back at the police. Rocks and sticks are also being thrown. The posts which contain the cameras are also being pushed over, and now petrol bombs, commonly referred to as Molotov cocktails are being used against the police. The students are now on strike, as well as many workers. The airports, subways and highways are being disrupted. All of this is characteristic of a full blown revolution. The protesters are also changing their tactics, attacking in different parts of the city, using modern technology to keep in touch with each other. All of this implies a certain level of organization. Someone, or some group of people, are calling the shots.
The Hong Kong city officials have responded by spraying the protesters with blue water, so that the dye will mark them as protesters, making them more easy to identify. The police have now resorted to firing warning shots. This is an indication that the tension within the city is becoming ever more intense. The officials on Mainland China are more concerned, and have issued a thinly veiled threat.
Any attempt by Mainland China to crush the rebellion in Hong Kong could trigger a full blown revolution, not just in China but also in other countries of the world. As there are a great many Chinese troops stationed at the border with Hong Kong, this is a distinct possibility.
If nothing else, this should provide the working people of all countries with a certain sense of urgency to prepare for socialist revolution and the Dictatorship Of the Proletariat. A careful reading of the pamphlet by Lenin, The Proletarian Revolution and the Renegade Kautsky, should be part of that preparation.
We will know that the world socialist revolution is focused properly when the posters and signs of the demonstrators read:
Dictatorship Of the Proletariat!
Scientific Socialism!
Workers of the World, Unite!
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 