COMMUNIST MANIFESTO.
Written by Marx and Engels its relevance in
the present age.
Parimal Dasgupta.
“whole history of
mankind (since dissolution of primitive tribal society holding land
in common ownership) has been a history of class struggle, “contests
between exploiting and exploited, ruling and oppressed”...The
exploited and oppressed class the proletariat cannot attain its
emancipation from the sway of the exploiting and ruling class – the
bourgeoisie – without at the same time once and for all
emancipating the society at large from all exploitation, oppression,
class distinctions and class struggles”. This proposition of Marx
is destined to do for history what Darwin’s theory had done for
biology”.(Engels In The Preface to Communist Manifesto)
I
The subject of
Relevancy of Communist Manifesto, written by Marx and Engels in 1847,
in the present age has become an
important-subject matter of discussion at present in political
circle.
1. Marx, in
repudiating the theory of Dialectical Idealism of Hegel, his teacher
in philosophy and a very distinguished
philosopher of Germany of a time, well-proved and well established
the theory of Dialectical Materialism. By this, he created a
Topsy-turvy situation in Philosophy. He explained the development of
human society in dialectical process with the Theory: ‘From matter
to knowledge’, opposed to the theory: ‘From Supreme idea to
matter’ of Hegel. The Dialectical materialism has become the
material of thinking of the exploited people for making them free
from the idea of ‘Fate’, ‘Destiny’ or ‘Divine Order’,
that is: Fatalism with respect to system of exploitation over them.
2. Marx, on the
basis of this materialistic dialectics, explained the class division
and contradiction in the system of production at a stage of society,
indicated the trend and way towards change of society. It is
epoch-changing contribution to social science. In the realm of this
though, his very close friend, Engels, was a fellow traveler. He has
also made immense theoretical contribution in this subject. But, on
the whole, as the contribution of Marx was main, this though has
become known as Marxism.
3. Marx and Engels
have put forward the theory for change of society through class
struggle due to creation of classes
and class contradictions in the society at a stage of economic system
of the society in the process of social development. They have
announced: “The class struggle is the key to change of society’, ‘driving
force’ of history’, ‘Lever of social revolution’. “The
class struggle is the immediate driving force of history and in
particular the class struggle between bourgeoisie and proletariat as
the great lever of modern social revolution”. (Marx-Engels:
Selected Correspondences (Moscow) page 395)
4. Marx and Engels
have advanced proposition for the advance of human society to
Communist Society. In this course, they have explained in the affairs
of economics as to ‘Value of commodity’, ‘creation of surplus
value’ by the labor power engaged in production, ‘exploitation
of labour power’, ‘accumulation of capital’, the theory of
class struggle, ‘Revolution and Dictatorship of the proletariat’
as its basis. Marx wrote the book ‘Capital’ on the basis of
economic theories. After writing of capital it has become known in
Europe as ‘Bible’ of the working class. On the other side the
bourgeois class described it as an ‘endeavor to rouse jealousy in
the mind of illiterate person. After publication of Marx’s
lecture-series-article; WAGE, LABOR and CAPITAL, the
German-secret-police organization wrote in a confidential report:
“This noxious
paper must indisputably exert the most corrupting influence upon the
uneducated public to whom it is directed. The alluring theory of
dividing up of the wealth is held out to factory workers and day
laborers as an innate right and a profound hatred of the rulers and
the rest of the community is inculcated into them. There would be
gloomy outlook for father-land and for civilization in such succeeded
in undermining religion and respect for laws and in any great measure
infected the lower class of the people by means of press and these
clubs..... the circumstance that the number of members (of workers
union) has increased from thirty seven to seventy within a few days
is worthy to note” (Marx: Man and Fighter:-Boris Nicolaevsky and
Otto Maenchen-Helfen: Penguin Book page 137)
This Marxian
Economics is completely different from Bourgeois Economics. In it
also lies blossoming of certain
unblossomed theories of certain economic theoreticians of the past.
On the whole it has become a ‘Political Economy’. This Economics
is the material basis of the Communist politics with Marxian thought.
5. Marx and Engels
were not subjective theoreticians with leisured life. They have
organizers of political taking upon themselves all risk to give shape
to their theories. Marx was driven out from different bourgeoisie
states of Europe for his political thought and activities.
In 1847, in Europe,
with active role of Marx and Engels, the communist league was formed
secretly as a political organization. Between December 1847 and
January 1848, the Communist Manifesto was written with
joint-leadership of Marx and Engels as a Programme of the Communist
League (Manifesto of the Communist Party). This has become the
guiding document of Communist politics. This was necessary as, at
that time, several types of thought of socialism were in existence in
Europe.
Engels said that
though there was joint leadership in writing this document, Marx was
the main protagonist of its
basic proposition of thought. Engels stated:
“The proposition
is: that in every historical epoch, the prevailing mode of economic
production and exchange and the
social organization necessarily following from it, form the basis
upon which is built up and from which alone can be explained the
political and intellectual history of that epoch; that consequently
the whole history of mankind (since the dissolution of the primitive
tribal society, holding Land in common ownership) has been a history
of class struggles, contests between exploiting and exploited, ruling
and oppressed classes; that the history of these class struggles
forms a series of evolutions in which, nowadays, a stage has been
reached where the exploited and oppressed class-the
proletariat-cannot attain from the sway of exploiting and ruling
class-the bourgeoisie-without at the same time and once and for all
emancipating the society at large from all exploitation, oppression,
class distinctions and class struggles.
“This proposition,
which, in my opinion, is destined to do for history what Darwin’s
has done for biology”. (Engels: Preface to English Edition of 1888
of Communist Manifesto)
Marx’s theory of
social development is an important discovery of Social Science-just
as the theory of Darwin in Biology.
It is a scientific thought.
6. On the basis of
this thought it has been stated in the Communist Manifesto: “The
theory of the Communists may be
summed up in the single sentence: “Abolition of Private Property”.
Having given further clarification on this subject, it has also been
stated in the Manifesto: “the distinguishing feature of Communism
is not the abolition of property generally, but the abolition of
bourgeois property”.
That is, Communism
is the protector of social property and a creative process of
retaining health of society generally; it is an establishment of
equal right of all to enjoy the wealth of the society. It is neither
a stoicism nor a ‘pleasure’. It is a step towards buoyant
development of human civilisation and society.
7. With the object
of abolition of bourgeois property, the Manifesto, with a class
outlook, altering the old slogan: “All men are brothers” of the
Communist League, has brought in the slogan: “Working men of all
countries, unite”.
This out-look of
Manifesto has become dreadful for the bourgeoisie. So in the
introduction of Manifesto it has been mentioned that “the specter
of Communism is haunting Europe”:
“A specter is
haunting Europe-the Specter of Communism. All the powers of old
Europe have entered into a holly
alliance to exorcise the specter: Pope to Czar, Metternich to Guizot,
French Radicals to German police-spies”.
Communist Manifesto
is condemned by all sorts of Reaction.
8. In Communist
Manifesto, Marx and Engels have put a declaration:
“Emancipation of
labour is not at all local or national problem-but a social
problem-”Though, not substance, but in
form, the struggle of the proletariat with the bourgeoisie is at
first a national struggle. The proletariat of each country, must of
course, first of all settle the matter with their own bourgeoisie”.
Hence the Communist
manifesto carried the vision of basic change of the society. The
internationalism of Manifesto is not
without any prop: it is based on the flow of struggle from national
level.
9. The first
declaration of the Manifesto is: “The history of all hitherto
existing society is the history of class struggle”.
This class struggle is the basis of the Communist Manifesto that is
of Communist politics. So at one time, Marx-Engels declared: “it is
impossible for us to co-operate with the people who wish to expunge
this class struggle from the movement” (Marx-Engels; selected
correspondence: (Moscow) page 395).
10. Communist
Manifesto, mentioned that the weapon the bourgeoisie used to
dismantle has become a death giving weapon
for them. It has stated:
“The weapons with
which the bourgeoisie felled feudalism to the ground are now turned
against the bourgeoisie itself”.
“....not only has
the bourgeois forged the weapons that bring death to itself; it has
also called into existence the men
who are to wield these weapons-the modern working class-the
proletariat”.
The weapon of class
struggle which the bourgeoisie used to make the feudalism fall to the
ground, will now be used against
them; further in order to build up the capitalist society the
bourgeoisie has given birth to which will be death giving for the
bourgeoisie itself. The bourgeoisie has now become very vocal to
resist it; but the history will work in its normal way. Communist
Manifesto has brought this historical truth in the front.
11. The implication
of the thought for creating new society by smashing the
bourgeoisie-controlled capitalist society,
which Communist Manifesto has brought, should properly be realised.
It is not a matter of only freeing the proletariat from economic
exploitation; It is an ending all sorts of economic and social
discrimination and deprivation of the people of different stratum of
society. By this, there will also occur elimination of
discrimination, with respect to sex-based advantage and position of
Man and Woman. The ‘secondary’ position of woman which has
occurred in patriarchal society after breaking of matriarchal Society
will also be eliminated. The women have become free from feudal
bondage, in the capitalist society, which has been brought by
bourgeoisie. Yet their economic subjugation to man continued to exist
in it. The woman in bourgeois society is under domestic slavery. The
bourgeoisie sees the woman as wife, a mere instrument of production.
In this society the body of the women is sold as commodity, in the
pattern of bourgeoisie commodity system. The prostitution of woman
due to economic distress, has been legalized in bourgeois society.
This position of woman would be removed in the new society which will
develop through proletarian revolution because in the said new
society, the labor power and social right of the woman will get full
honor. The Communist Manifesto has described the position of woman
in bourgeois society stating: “The bourgeois sees in his wife a
mere instrument of production”.... Bourgeois marriage is in reality
system of wives. The Manifesto has declared: “It is self evident
that abolition of present system of production must bring with it the
abolition of community of women, springing from that system e.g.,
prostitution, both public and private”. Full honor of women will
occur by having freedom from economic subjugation. Emancipation of
women is the barometer of progress of the society. In exploitation
free society which will grow after proletarian revolution, the man
and woman will be moving in the courtyard of new culture, with mental
feeling of monogamy in life, the Communist Manifesto intends to
create it.
12. Communist
Manifesto in its declaration has described that in order to create a
new society, the systems which will
be or are to be introduced with the dictatorship of the proletariat,
after achieving the state power by the proletariat, through class
struggle, will be of following nature: “These measures will of
course be different in different countries”.
Nevertheless, in
most advanced countries the following will be petty generally
applicable:
(1)Abolition of
property in land and application of all land to public purposes;
(2)A heavy
progressive or graduated income tax.
(3)Abolition of all
rights of inheritance
(4)Confiscation of
the properties of all emigrants and rebels
(5) Centralization
of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with
state capital and exclusive monopoly.
(6)Centralization of
the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.
(7)Extension of
factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the
bringing into cultivation of waste land and the improvement of the
soil generally in accordance with a common plan.
(8)Equal liability
for all to labor; Establishment of industrial armies, especially for
agriculture;
(9)Combination of
agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of
distinction between town and country, by more equal distribution of
population over the country.
(10)Free education
for all children in public schools; abolition of children’s factory
labor in its present form: Combination of education with industrial
production”.
The proposal of
abolition of private property in land by which the land be
nationalized, is not directly nationalism of land
of middle and small peasantry; it would be to bring their land under
co-operative with proposal of “social help” and not by any
coercion (Decision of Basic Congress of 1st Communist International
and subsequent writing of Marx and Engels on peasant problem). Its
object is to break the conservative attitude of peasants with respect
to land gradually. These co-operatives are in the interests of the
concerned peasants. The aforesaid proposals are not any sort of
building of ‘castle in the air’ or ‘Rip van winkle plan’, but
the objective step for the creation of new exploitation and class
conflict-free society. In Soviet Russia, Lenin and Stalin and in
China, Mao Tse Tung has taken steps to incorporate the above systems
in the society and through such step, had brought before the people
the reality of the thought of Marx and Engels. So they are the
creators of real semblance of Communist Manifesto. But the social
systems which have been created through their steps became alarming
for the forces of reaction, bourgeoisie and imperialism. Hence the
reality of Communist Manifesto has got burning revelation.
Communist Manifesto
mentioning the creation of new social organization through the
process of above system has put the
declaration:
“When in course of
development, class distinctions have disappeared and all production
has been concentrated in the
hands of vast association of whole nation, the public power will lose
its political character. Political power, properly so called, is
merely the organized power of one class for oppressing another”...…
“We shall have an association, in which free development of each is
the condition for the development of all”.
This is shiver of
the bourgeoisie; but whole heartedly acceptable for the destituted
proletariat, it willbe a blossoming of
life for them.
13. In bourgeois
society, human activities are not based on social feeling, but are
based on basically the thought of
‘commodity’ and ‘wage’. That is the root of its culture. It
has been stated in Communist Manifesto. “It has converted the
physician, the lawyer, the priest, the poet, the man of science into
its paid wage laborers”. In the thought of aforesaid
exploitation-free, class-less society, which the Communist Manifesto
has brought in, the human activities will be resuscitated with Social
feeling. A new culture will be created thereby.
The basis of the
thought of Marxism with respect to human social life is: ‘Man by
nature is a social being and creative being; creation is the instinct
of man in work’. In this matter the thought of bourgeois society
is: Man is a selfish being; and without self-gain Man will have no
instinct for work. The analysis Marxism is: “due to ‘deprivation’
in bourgeois society self gain instinct for work in Man has
occurred”. After advent of new exploitation free society self-gain
instinct for work will be eliminated: The man will be moving with
instinct of work for creation.
14. The object of
Communist Manifesto is not the solitary and isolated struggle of the
Communist force, but an advancing in combination with different
revolutionary struggles of the society. It has been declared in the
Manifesto:
“The Communists
everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing
social and political order of
things”.
“In all these
movements they will bring to the front, as the leading question in
each, the property question, no matter, what its degree of
development at the time”.
Here lies the
thought for formation of class front; and it is to be shaped through
different realities.
15. Communist
Manifesto has further declared that the Communists will fight for
immediate interest of working class; that
means that their struggle is not for immediate jumping to struggle
for final emancipation of the proletariat; there will be a process.
The declaration of the Manifesto is:
“The Communists
fight for the attainment of the immediate aims, for the enforcement
of momentary interests of the
working class; but in the movement of the present, they also
represent and take care of the future of that
movement”.
On the whole, The
Communists Manifesto is a historic document, a way showing to
creation of a new society, free from
explanation and class antagonism, having broken the bourgeoisie
controlled capitalist society, through
process of class struggle, with materialistic based social theory.
II
1. The Communist
Manifesto has not put forward any sort of decorative plan or
mechanical sketch of revolution with
angle of vision of class revolution; And it is not even possible to
do so, because it is dependent on situation; specially it would be
considered with the back-ground of organizational strength of the
working class and surrounding situation.
In 1872, at the time
of publication of German edition of Communist manifesto Marx and
Engels wrote in its preface: ‘The
practical application of the principles will depend, as the Manifesto
itself states, everywhere and all
times, on the historical conditions for the time being existing, and,
for that reason, no special stress is laid on the revolutionary
measures proposed”. But Marx and Engels were conscious about the
necessity of creation of working class party, for conducting violent
revolution of class revolution and on the subject of making other
parties allies in revolution. In 1889 on 18th December, Engels in a
letter to G. Trier wrote:
“We are agreed on
this; the proletariat cannot conquer its political domination, the
only door to new society, without
violent revolution. For the proletariat to be strong enough to win on
the decisive day, it must- and for this, as Marx and I have been
arguing ever since 1847, form distinct from all other parties and
opposed to them, a conscious class party”.
“But that does not
mean that this party cannot at certain moments use the other parties
for its purpose. Nor does this mean
that it cannot support other parties for a short period in securing
measures which either are directly advantageous to the proletariat or
represent progress by way of economic development or political
freedom” (Marx-Engels; Selected correspondence (Moscow) page 492)
In Communist
Manifesto also there is expression of this thought and angle of
vision of the activities of the proletariat.
2. The ‘Strategy’
and ‘Tactics’ of this proletarian revolution have been enriched
through the activities under the leadership
of the Communists Parties. In revolution of 1905 in Russia, Lenin,
having given analysis of mental state desiring compromise with
Czarism and vacillating tendency of the bourgeois class in
revolution, advanced the proposition that ‘the Bourgeois Democratic
Revolution would be completed under the leadership of the
Proletariat. ‘In October Revolution in 1917, Lenin brought in the
front the proposition that ‘the Socialist Revolution would be
carried out under the leadership of the working class and on the
basis of the worker-peasant alliance in the under-developed countries
like Russia’. In 1919 having brought in the forefront, the subject
of leading role of the working class in the anti-imperialist National
Revolution in Colonies, Lenin advanced the proposition of
establishing ‘link’ between ‘Socialist Revolution’ of
advanced capitalist country and ‘Democratic revolution of backward
and colonial country. This became fearful for the imperialism. In the
case of colonial revolution the problem, arose in China as a result
of defeat of Chinese Revolution, due to betrayal of Chiang Kai Shek,
Stalin have taken into consideration the subject of armed resistance
of the people led by the Communist Party of China against the armed
attack of Chiang Kai Shek and advanced analysis that “the Chinese
Revolution would proceed in the way of “armed Revolution with armed
resistance and counter-attack against armed reaction”. On the basis
of it Mao Tse Tung’s theory of People’s
Democratic revolution took shape in China, against Imperialism, a
section of native bourgeoisie as comprador to imperialism and
feudalism. It is a stage of social revolution; basically democratic
revolution- not socialist revolution-it is transitional to socialism.
This is its significance. At present in the colonies, where
transference of state power has occurred in the post 2nd world war
period, by a compromise deal between imperialism and big bourgeoisie
in the wake of colonial liberation struggles, the main subject matter
of revolution is also People’s or New Democratic Revolution. But in
the present world situation its transition to socialism will be
deeper.
But in the affair of
Revolution, the main point for realization is: It is not possible to
repeat the Revolution of one country in the same way in another
country. The process of class mobilization will vary from country to
country. So the Revolution of Communist Manifesto should be viewed
with objective look.
III
1. Marx and Engels
had not seen the full development of Imperialism-only sow its initial
countenance; yet what they had
described about the full countenance of capitalism is a follows.
“The bourgeoisie,
has through its exploitation of world market given a cosmopolitan
character to production and
consumption in every country”. “To the great charging to
reactionaries it has drawn from under the feet of industry the
national ground on which it stood. All old established national
ground on which it stood. All old established national industries
have been destroyed or are daily destroyed......raw materials drawn
from the remotest zones..... industries, whose products are consumed,
not only at home, but in every quarter of the globe”.....”In
place of old local and national seclusion and self-sufficiency we
have intercourse in every, universal interdependence of
nations”....... it creates a world after its own image”.
This is the world
exploitation process of capitalism under the control of bourgeois
class. The imperialist stage of capitalism has emerged through this
process.
2. This analysis of
imperialism which Lenin gave, on the basis of Marxian economic
proposition, is as follows:
“Imperialism is
capitalism in that stage of development in which dominance of
monopolies and finance capital has acquired
pronounced importance, in which division of the world among the
industrial trusts has begun, in which the division of all territories
of the globe amongst the great capitalist powers has been completed”.
Imperialism is:
Dominance of monopolies and finance capital and completion of
division of world amongst the great capitalist powers. It is a higher
stage in the development of capitalism. The conflicts and
contradictions of capitalism inevitably exist in it. This is the
location of world division amongst the powerful capitalist groups.
3. After creation of
this world process of capitalism under the control of bourgeois class
the war took place among the big
capitalist groups for a share of division. Lenin has given the
analysis: War is the concomitant of
imperialism. It is an open expression of conflict of interest amongst
the capitalists-a ‘mobilization of
strength’ of each. Colony is created by capturing of backward
countries. The colony is a guarantee of strength of monopoly capital.
Further, in the entire system, the exploitation on the working class
is also intense. So the question of taking a clear attitude about
imperialism is a very important subject of communist politics. In
this affair, the thought of Lenin is an extension of Marxism.
4. During the life
time of Marx and Engels, a thought of “social Democracy’-which
advocated the establishment of
Socialism through democratic process’ arose inside the Socialist
camp of Europe. It sought to correct or reject the theory of ‘class
struggle’, ‘revolution’ and ‘dictatorship of proletariat’
of Marxism. It advanced the possibility of working class winning the
state power through obtaining of majority of working class, by vote,
in Bourgeois Parliamentary Democracy (as the working class is
majority in population) and the establishment of Socialism
‘peacefully’. This idea kept in the oblivion the role of ‘force’
of bourgeois State-machinery. Marx and Engels described it as ‘petty
bourgeois patch-work reform’ and declared that it could not be a
“working class party”. Kautsky who became a chief theoretician of
this ideology in his later period and who was also inside the camp of
Socialist thought in Europe, put forward the analysis that
“Imperialism is the development of capitalism to a new higher stage
as advancement of “Super Imperialism” with unity of international
Finance-capital without contradiction (exploitation of the world by
internationally united finance capital).
5. Lenin, in this
affair, refuted this reasoning and analysis of Kautsky and also gave
the analysis with respect to
‘subjects’ of ‘mutual contradiction inside different powerful
capitalist groups’, ‘their main stay on colonies’, ‘crisis of
capitalism’, ‘non-possibility of advancing trend of Imperialism
etc., characterized Imperialism, as ‘parasitic capitalism’ which
lives by sucking colonies, ‘decaying capitalism’, ‘moribund
capitalism’. He condemned Kautsky as “Renegade”. Here lies the
strong echo of condemnation, which Marx and Engels made against
Social Democracy. In the 1st World War of 1914, the Social Democracy,
having kept the slogan of Nationalism in the front became the
supporter of Imperialist war. Lenin, on the other hand, in opposition
to imperialist war, brought in the front the theory of converting
‘Imperialist war into civil war’, made success of October
Revolution in 1917. So the proposition of Lenin with respect to
imperialism is to be or should be the main basis of the Communist
politics; without this, it will be carrying of Social Democracy, that
is, theory of Kautsky, in to the Communist politics.
6. In the post-2nd
world war period, with new division of world, the intense endeavour
of certain imperialist groups,
under the dominance of US Imperialism began to capture the world
market with the strength of finance
capital. With the strength of finance capital and deadly weapon, the
object of US imperialism is to
create the world with “its own image” Roosevelt, the President of
American Federal State, announced: “Americanization of the world is
our destiny”. This intensified exportation of Imperialist capital
Globalization is the present structure of world exploitation of
imperialism. This should be considered on the basis of the theory of
Lenin; and real Communist force must decide its attitude about it.
The theory of Kautsky is appearing anew to glorify this
Globalisation; and it is entering in Communist Politics also. In this
matter the under mentioned thought of Lenin requires deep study:
“The imperialist
ideology also penetrates the working class. There is no ‘Chinese
wall’ between it and other classes. The
leaders of so called “Social Democratic” Party of Germany are
today justly called “Social- Imperialist”, that is socialism in
word and imperialist in deed”.
“Bourgeois
scholars and publicists usually come out in defense of Imperialism in
somewhat veiled form and obscure its complete domination and its
profound roots; they strive to concentrate attention on partial and
secondary details and do their best to distract attention from the
main, by means of ridiculous schemes for reforms” (Lenin;
imperialism; the Highest Stage of Capitalism)
Lenin depicted the
Social Democratic Party as “Social Imperialists”, it would be
reasonable and justified to characterize the Communist Party which
will extend support to globalization of imperialist capital according to the depiction of
Lenin.
7. The basic theory
of ‘class struggle’ and ‘Revolution of the Communist Manifesto
continues to be valid and strong
reality in the present age, that is, in the situation entailing
Globalisation of Imperialist Capital. In the present time, the
property difference and conflicting situation therefore have assumed
deeper intensity. The position, as shaped, in different countries,
that is, in the world is: In one side, a very small number of
population who control and enjoy the wealth of the society; and on
another side a vast destitute masses who are deprived of real
enjoyment of wealth. These are two opposite poles of the society. It
has taken shape of an irreconcilable contradiction of the society.
The mobilisation of strength to execute the basic theory of Communist
Manifesto is the only necessity of the situation. The declaration of
Communist Manifesto-”United action of the leading civilized
countries at least, is one of the first conditions for the
emancipation of the proletariat”-has now acquired a very wide
dimension.
Marx and Engels,
composed Communist Manifesto for the world proletariat. Yet Europe in
the main was before them at that time. But in the present time the
world court-yard has abjectly appeared for it. The working class of
different countries, have become more closer to each other through
cheap-world-labor-market. Hence the thought of proletariat
revolution of Communist Manifesto will now be moving throughout the
world through creation of different fighting fronts of the working
class.
8. About the theory
of abolition of “Private Property” of Communist Manifesto, which
makes the Bourgeois-class
panic-stricken and for which they spread panic, Communist Manifesto
has stated:
“You are horrified
at our intending to do away with private property. But in your
existing society private property is already done away with for
nine-tenth of the population, its existence for the few is solely due
to its non-existence in the hands of this nine-tenth”.
In the present world
situation, the private property lessness of vast distressed masses is
the basis of the private property of
small section. Advancement of society and advent of new civilisation
will occur through crushing of this basis-it is what Communist
Manifesto has depicted and has brought before the vision of the
proletariat. It is deeply vibrating before the distressed masses.
9. In this affair
the fight of the distressed masses, that is, the Proletariat, is the
fight of the major section of population. It
has been stated in the Communist Manifesto.
“All the previous
historical movements were the movement of minorities. The proletarian
movement is the self-conscious
independent movement of the immense majority, in the interest of the
immense majority”.
So the main strength
of protection of minorities and their properties is their
state-machinery. It is for this reason Communist Manifesto has
brought the object of crushing the bourgeois state machinery, without
which it will be impossible to build up new society.
The relevancy of
Communist Manifesto should be considered on the basis of above
mentioned realities not by any sort of
mechanical thought.
10. In the post 2nd
world war period a thought arose inside the Communist camp, with
‘new’ orientation of old social democracy to win Socialism in a
peaceful way, they claim, in the present age of Atomic and Hydrogen
bomb, the theory of ‘class struggle’ and ‘Revolution’ of
Marxism is obsolete and an ‘adventurism’. This was the creation
of the post 2nd world war epoch and a new challenge posed to
Communist Manifesto. Soviet Khrushchev-Kosygin-Gorbachev clique,
brought this thought in the front. They advanced the theory of
‘concluding movement of ‘Social Revolution’ in ‘peaceful way’
and of ‘integral universe’ without ‘class- contradictions. It
is ‘Modern Revisionism’ in place of ‘reformism’ of old Social
Democracy. This clique, in one side, in order to create disgust
against Soviet system, hurled different slanderous attack on Stalin,
who after Lenin, was the main architect of Soviet System for a long
time; and, in another side, they rejected the character of
Worker-Peasant Dictatorship of the Soviet-State and replaced with the
idea of ‘Peoples State’; Further they introduced the elements of
capitalist market economy in Socialist Economy. They created an
atmosphere for devastation of the Soviet State. Taking advantage of
it, the Imperialist conspiracy caused such devastating position. But
this devastation is temporary. Still in Russia, the Communist force
exist with strength. Yeltsin who was placed as state-controller, by
the Imperialists, has now been removed from state- power. The
Socialist system, on basis of the thought of Communist Manifesto
which was been established under the initiative of Lenin and Stalin,
has not been completely devastated. They exist as a rich experience and idea among the
people. It is the sign of strength of Marxism; on the other side the
character of Revisionism as
anti-Marxism and destroyer of socialism stands exposed.
11. It is also to be
observed in the present time that after death of Mao Tse Tung, a
revisionist, clique, under the leadership
of Deng Xiaoping having rejected the theory of Mao Tse Tung, as to
“forward leap to socialism” with new “class struggle” with
the proposition that “after New Democratic Revolution” the
National Bourgeoisie and Rich Peasantry are not the allies, but
enemies of socialist revolution, advanced a theory of ‘Mixed
Economy’, taking the Bourgeoisie and Rich Peasantry as allies and
obtaining cooperation with imperialist capital; and dragged the
Chinese economy towards the same. The property difference in economy
has immensely been aggravated there by, it has got state recognition.
They have been catering it as ‘Socialism’ with Chinese
characteristics”. They have retained ‘Single-Party’ rule, as if
it is a ‘Dictatorship of Proletariat’. But with a political
declaration they have extended invitation to the representatives of
the capitalist and other classes who have ‘honestly earned
property’ to be inside the Party. They have also announced that
without owning full private property right advancement of China would
not be possible. According to their view also, the old theory of
Marxism would not be applicable or relevant in the present age; its
rectification is necessary. It is another countenance of Modern
Revisionism-the carrier of capitalism with new dress.
It is essential to
bring special consciousness among the working class and toiling
masses, in the present time, about this
Modern Revisionism. It is the responsibility before the real
communist force.
12. It should be
observed in this context that a turmoil due to mass fury against the
ruler who are the protectors of the
vested interest, has been spreading in South-East Asia and other
regions. It is motion towards a new
mobilization of the world proletariat. So the thought of Communist
Manifesto should move with all intensity.
13. But in the
present world situation while applying the basic thought of Communist
Manifesto it is necessary to take a
clear view and attitude towards certain questions:
At first, the
definition of Proletariat should be looked into with new extension.
The organized shape of entire distressed
masses would be its basis. Objectively, the workers of unorganized
industries are to be taken in fold, in
organized form, with the workers of organized industries; and the
‘unorganized force’ which has been created with the blow of
Globalization of imperialist capital in different industries is to be
taken as its main strength. In the present time, these forces will be
‘working men’ of the Communist Manifesto. Unity of Struggle of
them is essential.
Along with it, a
clear thought and attitude should be taken on certain subjects
mentioned here under:
(a) At one time, the
manner by which the entire middle class was taken as ally to
Democratic Revolution and Socialist Revolution, cannot be made
applicable in the present situation, because in the present
bourgeois-state container, the top heavy education system which has
been evolved, one section of middle class, who can be called ‘upper
middle class’, having been developed with highly expensive higher
education, have secured the position as the administrative
bureaucrats in State administration, education administration and in
different organizations of imperialist capital and old colonial big
capital. In the present revolutionary movement the role of them is
‘reactionary’. So they should be treated as the camp of reaction.
Hence in the present time, the Communist Party which will bring them
in its fold as ally, will be or will be bound to be the carrier of
Reaction. At present, amongst the middle class, there is ‘middle
section’. In industry and other working establishment they are
‘highly salaried’ employees. They have attraction towards
Socialism – (as described in Communist Manifesto, a “petty
bourgeoisie”)-they are vacillating in revolutionary struggle. They
are bearing the ideology of social democracy with respect to
Socialism. A ‘lower section’ of the middle class, which exists
thereafter, among whom a distressful condition exists-are more closer
to proletarian class. They are to be taken as allies to the struggle
of the proletariat.
(b) In the present
time in imperialist countries and even in industrially
under-developed countries, ‘the labor aristocracy’
had grown with intensity. They are the creation of industrial
employers. Lenin has seen the Labor-Aristocracy at certain stage as
“Labor-lieutenants” of the bourgeois class. At present, it has
taken more strong intensified position. The Trade Unions of the
ruling party and the parties which are strongly tagged to
parliamentary politics are their main political prop. They are now
the agent of collective bargaining with respect to the demands of
workers; they have arrived in alternative position of the
administration of the employers as the governor’ of the workers,
Marx and Engels have not seen the labor aristocracy; they have seen
the opportunism of Social Democracy in its primary position. This
Social Democracy is the strength giver of labor aristocracy. Modern
Revisionism in the present age is the pillar of labor aristocracy.
At present it has become specially necessary to ‘corner’ the
labor aristocracy in new working class movement with the angle of
vision of proletarian revolution.
(c) In post 2nd
World-War period, in the colonies where transference of state power
has occurred as a result compromise
deal with Imperialism, due to economic policy of the new ruling
group, the control of rich peasantry has grown in agricultural
economy; and in their agricultural production system the ‘peasants’
have been converted to “land labor”. These land laborers
landless and poor peasantry are the rural distressed masses, and they
are to be taken as extremely close ally to proletariat in
revolutionary movement; the rich peasantry would be the target of
attack.
(d) The thought of
“class party” of Communist Manifesto has caused birth of the
Communist Parties in different countries.
But, in the present time, the matter of purification of the Communist
Party should be taken up with very seriousness and strong attitude;
Because, in the present time, imperialism and Bourgeoisie- State
power are using other methods in the name to smash the Communist
Party than the direct methods of repression and attack: the main
tactic of them is to pollute the Party in different manners’. Apart
from it, in the present time, in one way, different types of ideology
of Social Democracy i.e., revisionism are entering the Communist
Parties; and in another way, in organization process, there has
occurred assembling in the party of the opportunists and advantage
seeking elements. The removal of these from the party is essentially
needed. Specially, in the present time, the tested cadres in mass
movements should be taken as the ‘base of the Party; the leadership
also should be oriented accordingly; Further, in the communist party,
Marx- Engels-Lenin-Stalin-Mao Tse Tung should be taken as successive
personalities of Marxism-not in served or isolated manner. Out of
these personalities, to accept one isolate would be a wrong step with
respect to Marxism. In the present time the slumberous position of
the Communist Parties throughout the world is a noticeable event.
Hence, a properly oriented Communist party is a necessity of the
situation. The implication of the under mentioned declaration of Marx
and Engels should deeply be realized.
“The emancipation
of the working class must be conquered by the working class
themselves: we cannot therefore co-operate with the people who openly
state that the workers are too uneducated to emancipate themselves
and must be freed from above by philanthropic big bourgeoisie and
petty-bourgeoisie”. (Marx- Engels selected correspondence 9 Moscow
page 395).
Petty bourgeois
dominated Communist Party will be incapable to be ‘real’
Communist Party for Proletarian
Revolution. In the present time, it is observable that the petty
bourgeois elements do prefer to get enter into the Communist party
carrying parliamentary politics than separate Democratic Party’. It
is a prop for their self-establishment. It is beyond possibility to
retain revolutionary character and role of the Communist Party with
flooding of this force into the communist party.
(e) In the present
time in countries where transference of state power has occurred, a
continued campaign and
movement should be organized against the parliamentary ‘rulers’
and the said administrative system’, who or which is acting as
collaborationist of imperialism and helping forces for Globalization
of imperialist capital; And the flow of it should be intensified in
the movement of working class and distressed masses.
14. In the present
situation the Communist Manifesto be applied and practiced taking the
present process of exploitation of imperialist capital into view and
on the basis of the basic thought of ‘class struggle’ and
‘Revolution’ of Communist Manifesto. We must make a strong
declaration before the world proletariat that the Communist Manifesto
continues to be relevant, fully living. Any declaration in the
present time, as to extinguisher of the relevancy of Communist
Manifesto would be acting as partisan to imperialism and its
collaborators-the ‘vested interests’ and of playing the role of
“enemy’ of the distressed masses.
15. In the present
time, imperialism, through the process of Globalization of its
capital, has given birth to, with intensified
exploitation, such a distressed mass force as its “grave diggers”
which will put imperialism inside the grave according to infallible
law of history. This is the present ‘Declaration of the
Communist Manifesto.
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