In my previous article, I argued that the current situation, around the world, is comparable to that which existed in Russia, in early 1917. Immediately after the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas, the political climate can best be described in one word: Revolutionary!
At that time, the Revolution was raging in Russia. The ‘’First Revolution’’, which was a reference to the overthrow of Tsar Nicholas, was widely anticipated to be followed by a ‘’Second Revolution’’, one which was expected to overthrow the capitalists.
Of course, Lenin was following events, as best he could, from ‘’afar’’, as he was still in exile. Yet even with the scarce news reports at his disposal, he was able to get a pretty good grasp of the events, as they unfolded in Russia.
He noted that the ‘’slogan of the moment’’ was ‘’organization’’. Yet as that slogan contained no class content, it meant nothing. After all, organization is always needed.
For that reason, most working people are already organized in trade unions, as well as clubs of various sorts, such as sports, books, dancing, cycling and so forth. This is a natural result of working people wanting to associate with others, those who share the same interests. There is nothing wrong with this.
The trouble comes when leaders insist that workers confine themselves to such organizations. That is the very thing the capitalists want, in order to strengthen their rule. They are determined that the ‘’workers should not go beyond their ordinary ‘legal’ organizations’’, according to Lenin. (italics by Lenin)
Fortunately, in 1917, the Russian common people, by whom I mean the workers and peasants, were not listening to such leaders, those who were trying to limit them to their ‘’legal’’ organizations. Indeed not!
Instead, they took a ‘’page from the book’’ of the previous Russian Revolution, that of 1905. They set up a Soviet of Workers Deputies! What is more, they expanded upon the Soviets, which had first been created in 1905. Indeed, they created a Soviet of Soldiers Deputies, a Soviet of Poor Peasants Deputies, as well as a Soviet of Rural Wage Workers Deputies.
For the benefit of those who are not aware, the word Soviet means Council, in English. These Soviets, or Councils, are created as a result of Revolutionary Motion.
As various Revolutions, or perhaps more accurately, Revolutionary Motion, is raging in various countries around the world, it is reasonable to assume that these Soviets have also spontaneously appeared.
For his part, Lenin stressed the importance of these Soviets. As he phrased it, ‘’The prime and most important task, and one that brooks no delay, is to set up organizations of this kind in all parts of Russia, without exception, for all trades and strata of the proletarian and semi proletarian population, without exception’’.
That is as true now, as when it was first written. Soviets of Workers, Peasants, Military Personnel and Rural Workers must be established, in the various countries of the world, which are experiencing Revolutionary Motion.
I use the expression ‘’Military Personnel’’, instead of ‘’Soldiers’’, as it is possible that various branches of the military may object to being referred to as ‘’Soldiers’’. Some of them may prefer to be referred to as Sailors, Marines, Coast Guard, Airmen or even Military. That is entirely up to them.
For that matter, here in North America, we have family farmers who may object to the name ‘’peasant’’. So perhaps the term Soviets of Family Farmers is acceptable. Of course, the industrial farmers should not be allowed to join those Soviets, as they correspond to the ‘’kulaks’’, rich peasants, the Russian rural bourgeoisie.
That ‘’begs the question’’: What is the function of the Soviets? The answer, according to Lenin, is that they ‘’must be regarded as organs of insurrection, of Revolutionary Rule’’. This calls for a little explanation.
A couple of years earlier, in October of 1915, in his article ‘’Several Theses’’, Lenin went into this in some detail. As it is so important, we have decided to quote the pertinent parts here, while not going into the parts which dealt with the Russian autocracy:
‘’We consider that the consolidation and extension of Social Democratic work among the proletariat and its extension to the rural proletariat, the rural poor and the army are the immediate and pressing tasks. It is Revolutionary Social Democracy’s most pressing task to develop the incipient strike movement…
‘’Soviets of Workers Deputies and similar institutions must be regarded as organs of insurrection, of Revolutionary rule. It is only in connection with the development of a mass political strike and with an insurrection, and in the measure of the latter’s preparedness, development and success, that such institutions can be of lasting value.
‘’Only a Revolutionary democratic Dictatorship of the Proletariat and the peasantry can form the social content of the impending Revolution in Russia…We have urged and still urge the absolute need, in any and all circumstances, for a separate organization for rural proletarians…
‘’We consider it admissible for Social Democrats to join a provisional Revolutionary government with the democratic petty bourgeoisie, but not with the Revolutionary chauvinists…
‘’Revolutionary chauvinism is based on the class position of the petty bourgeoisie. The latter always vacillates between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat….
‘’Our slogan is: Against the chauvinists, even if they are Revolutionary and republican – against them, and for an alliance of the international proletariat for the Socialist Revolution…
‘’The international solidarity of the Revolutionary proletariat is a fact, despite the scum of opportunism and social chauvinism.’’ (all italics by Lenin)
Incidentally, at the time Lenin was writing this, all Marxists were referred to as Social Democrats, as they were fighting for Democracy as well as Socialism. Later they became known as Bolsheviks, and then Communists.
By the Social chauvinists, he is referring to those who are socialists in words, chauvinists in deeds. Their goal is to take over the existing state apparatus, at the time of the Revolution, and set themselves up, as the new rulers.
Note that Lenin referred to Soviets as ‘’organs of insurrection, of Revolutionary rule’’. They must be as broad as possible, embracing all common people. That includes urban, city workers, those in industry, as well as those in rural, country areas, such as farm labourers. It is also important to set up Soviets in the military, as most enlisted personnel are working people. As well, there should be a Soviet of Poor Peasants, or Family Farmers. In fact, all working people, in all walks of life, must be organized in Soviets.
There is a good reason for this. At the time of the Revolution, the existing state apparatus, that which has been set up, by the capitalists, for the purpose of crushing the working people, must be smashed! This is to say that the ‘’organs of government’’, by which we mean the police force, army and bureaucracy, must be abolished!
It may come as a great surprise, to so many people, to find that Lenin referred to this state apparatus as a ‘’magnificent organization’’! But only because that is precisely the case! After all, it is the creation of the entire bourgeoisie, and the entire bourgeois intellectuals, in all capitalist countries! Further, they have had several hundred years to perfect this state apparatus!
In fact, this bourgeois state ‘’machine’’ -as that is the word the capitalists use- is so precious, it is closely guarded! Cherished and protected! The capitalists consider this state ‘’machine’’ to be their ‘’Crown Jewel’’! The Crown Jewels of the royalty could not be more closely guarded!
As Lenin pointed out, ‘’All bourgeois Revolutions merely perfected this state machine, merely transferred it from the hands of one party to those of another.’’ (italics by Lenin)
To think that this ‘’state machine’’, this closely guarded ‘’Crown Jewel’’ of the capitalists, is the very thing that we must destroy, at the time of the Revolution! That is indeed a ‘’tall order’’!
Yet we are not anarchists, those who are opposed to any sort of state apparatus. On the contrary, we are well aware that a different sort of state apparatus is required. After all, the capitalists can be counted upon, after the Revolution, to make every effort to ‘’restore their paradise lost’’. They are so predicable! They will stoop to any depth, to any deception, in their efforts to return to power!
The capitalists are not to be under estimated! After all, they managed to return to power, in the Soviet Union, after the death of Stalin. Not only that, but they also managed to return to power, in China, after the death of Mao!
As I have covered that in a separate article, and have suggested a course of action to prevent such a further reversal, there is no need to repeat it here.
For the purposes of this article, it must be stressed that at the time of the Revolution, after the capitalists are overthrown, after the bourgeois state apparatus has been smashed, a new state apparatus must be set up. ‘’But not the kind of state the bourgeoisie has created everywhere’’, as Lenin stated. (italics by Lenin)
Instead, we need a state apparatus of a different sort, one that will crush the capitalists. We must substitute a new one, ‘’by merging the police force, the army and the bureaucracy with the entire armed people!’’ as per Lenin (italics by Lenin)
Lenin goes on to say that ‘’the proletariat must organize and arm all the poor, exploited sections of the population in order that they themselves should take the organs of state power directly into their own hands, in order that they themselves should constitute these organs of state power.’’ (italics by Lenin)
As Lenin pointed out, after the Revolution, we will need ‘’a militia that will really embrace the entire people, be really universal, and be led by the proletariat!’’ He referred to this as the ‘’task of the day’’.
He went on to say that what we need is a ‘’genuine people’s militia, one that first, consists of the entire population, of all citizens of both sexes; and second, one that combines the functions of a people’s army with police functions’’ (italics by Lenin)
This new, soon to be created state apparatus, has been given the title of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. After the completion of the Socialist Revolution, and the smashing of the bourgeois state apparatus, this proletarian state apparatus will be set up, as a means of crushing the capitalists, of exercising dictatorship over them.
In my opinion, the most important thing now, is to prepare for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
With that in mind, Soviets must be set up in all areas of the country. By that I mean, all countries that are in the midst of Revolutionary Motion. Further, those Soviets must be trained, armed and equipped. The most advanced workers must be placed in positions of leadership. Such advanced workers, those with little or even no training, will be placed in positions of authority, after the Revolution. Any training they receive now, will prove to be most valuable.
As I have gone into this in previous articles, there is no need to repeat it here.
In conclusion, we can only state the fact that most, if not all, of the most highly industrialized countries of the world, are in the midst of a crisis. All are deeply in debt. The banks are also ‘’overextended’’, to use the polite term. Both the banks and countries, are on the verge of bankruptcy. Even the finest bourgeois economists are admitting the ‘’possibility’’ of world financial collapse. In fact, it is a certainty.
It is also a fact that the working class, around the world, is in Revolutionary motion. Excellent! Yet that is not enough.
In previous writings, I have compared the class struggle -or war, more accurately!- to two boxers, slugging it out. Yet one boxer is blindfolded. This gives the other boxer a huge advantage.
Of course, in this extremely over simplified manner, I have compared the working class, which is not aware of itself as a class, with its own class interests, to the capitalist class, which is supremely well aware of itself, as a class. Further, the capitalists are well aware of the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin. That includes the theory of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. They have learned this in university.
By contrast, the working class is largely barred from university, and the Revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, are not taught in public schools. So of course the working class is not aware, and can not be aware, of those Revolutionary theories. It follows that the workers are fighting the class war ‘’blindfolded’’, so to speak.
So it is up to middle class intellectuals, to ‘’remove the blindfold’’, so to speak, to bring the awareness of those theories, to the working class.
This is to drive home the necessity of a true Communist Party, one which calls for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
As the crisis in capitalism intensifies, ever more middle class people will be impoverished. They will be forced into the ranks of the proletariat. Some of them will be intellectuals. No doubt, they will bring with them the awareness of those Revolutionary theories. Equally without doubt, some of them will focus on establishing a true Communist Party. It is in their best interest to do so! Self preservation!
With a proper Communist Party, Dictatorship of the Proletariat, CP, DP, to offer direction, we are almost guaranteed a future of Scientific Socialism.
Gerald McIsaac Science Project 