Lenin Dictatorship of the proletariat

1 lenin

1.1 proletarian government
1.2 banning of opposition parties , factions
1.3 stalinism , dictatorship
1.4 post-stalin

lenin

in 20th century, vladimir ilyich lenin developed leninism—the adaptation of marxism backward socio-economic , political conditions of imperial russia (1721–1917). body of theory later became official ideology of communist states.

the state , revolution (1917) explicitly discusses practical implementation of dictatorship of proletariat through means of violent revolution. lenin denies reformist interpretations of marxism, such 1 of kautsky s. lenin focuses on engels phrase of state withering away , denying apply bourgeois state , highlighting engels work panegyric on violent revolution . based on these arguments, denounces reformists opportunistic , reactionary , points out red terror method of introducing dictatorship of proletariat compliant marx , engels work.

in imperial russia, paris commune model form of government realised in soviets (councils of workers , soldiers) established in russian revolution of 1905, revolutionary task deposing capitalist (monarchical) state establish socialism—the dictatorship of proletariat—the stage preceding communism.

in russia bolshevik party (described lenin vanguard of proletariat ) elevated soviets power in october revolution of 1917. throughout 1917, lenin argued russian provisional government unrepresentative of proletariat s interests because, in estimation, represented dictatorship of bourgeoisie . argued because continually put off democratic elections, denied prominence of democratically constituted soviets, , promises made liberal-bourgeois parties prior february revolution remained unfulfilled, soviets need take power themselves.

proletarian government

lenin argued in underdeveloped country such russia, capitalist class remain threat after successful socialist revolution. result, advocated repression of elements of capitalist class took arms against new soviet government, writing long classes existed, state need exist exercise democratic rule of 1 class (in view, working class) on other (the capitalist class).

the use of violence, terror , rule of single communist party criticised karl kautsky, rosa luxemburg , mikhail bakunin. in response lenin accused kautsky of being renegade , liberal , these socialist movements did not support bolshevik party line condemned communist international , called social fascism.

soviet democracy granted voting rights majority of populace elected local soviets, elected regional soviets, , on until electing supreme soviet of soviet union. capitalists disenfranchised in russian soviet model. however, according lenin, in developed country possible dispense disenfranchisement of capitalists within democratic proletarian dictatorship; proletariat guaranteed of overwhelming majority. [notes on plenkhanov s second draft programme. lenin collected works. vol. 6, p. 51]

the bolsheviks in 1917–1924 did not claim have achieved communist society; in contrast preamble 1977 constitution (fundamental law) of union of soviet socialist republics (the brezhnev constitution ), stated 1917 revolution established dictatorship of proletariat society of true democracy , , supreme goal of soviet state building of classless, communist society in there public, communist self-government. [1]

....dictatorship not mean abolition of democracy class exercises dictatorship on other classes; mean abolition of democracy (or material restriction, form of abolition) class on which, or against which, dictatorship exercised.

banning of opposition parties , factions

during russian civil war (1918–22), major opposition parties either took arms against new soviet government, took part in sabotage, collaboration deposed tsarists, or made assassination attempts against lenin , other bolshevik leaders. when opposition parties such cadets , mensheviks democratically elected soviets in areas, proceeded use mandate welcome in tsarist , foreign capitalist military forces. in 1 incident in baku, british military, once invited in, proceeded execute members of bolshevik party (who had peacefully stood down soviet when failed win elections). result, bolsheviks banned each opposition party when turned against soviet government. in cases, bans lifted. banning of parties did not have same repressive character later bans under stalin would.

internally, lenin s critics argued such political suppression plan; supporters argued reactionary civil war of foreign-sponsored white movement required it—given fanya kaplan s unsuccessful assassination of lenin on 30 august 1918, , successful assassination of moisei uritsky, same day.

after 1919, soviets had ceased function organs of democratic rule, famine induced forced grain requisitions led soviets emptying out of ordinary people. half population of moscow , third of petrograd had, stage, fled countryside find food. political life ground halt.

the bolsheviks became concerned under these conditions—the absence of mass participation in political life, , banning of opposition parties—counter-revolutionary forces express within bolshevik party (some evidence existed in mass of ex-opposition party members signed bolshevik membership after end of civil war).

despite principle of democratic centralism in bolshevik party, internal factions banned. considered extreme measure, , did not fall within marxist doctrine. ban remained until ussr s dissolution in 1991. in 1921, vigorous internal debate , freedom of opinion still present within russia; beginnings of censorship , mass political repression had not yet emerged. example, workers opposition faction continued operate despite being nominally dissolved. debates of communist party of soviet union continued published until 1923.

stalinism , dictatorship

elements of later censorship , attacks on political expression appear during lenin s illness, , after death, when members of future stalinist clique clamped down on party democracy among georgian bolsheviks , began censor material. pravda ceased publishing opinions of political oppositions after 1924, , @ same time, ruling clique (zinoviev, kamenev, , stalin) admitted large numbers of new members party in order shout down voices of oppositionists @ party meetings, severely curtailing internal debate. policies partly directed interests of new bureaucracy had accumulated great deal of social weight in absence of active participation in politics majority of people. 1927 many supporters of left opposition began face political repression, , leon trotsky exiled.

some modern critics of concept of dictatorship of proletariat —including various anti-communists, libertarian marxists, anarcho-communists, , anti-stalinist communists , socialists—argue stalinist ussr , other stalinist countries used dictatorship of proletariat justify monopolisation of political power new ruling layer of bureaucrats, derived partly old tsarist bureaucracy , partly created impoverished condition of russia.

however, rising stalinist clique rested on other grounds political legitimacy, rather confusion between modern , marxist use of term dictatorship . rather, took line since vanguard of proletariat, right rule not legitimately questioned. hence, opposition parties not permitted exist. 1936 onward, stalinist-inspired state constitutions enshrined concept giving various communist parties leading role in society—a provision interpreted either ban other parties altogether or force them accept stalinists guaranteed right rule condition of being allowed exist.

this justification adopted subsequent communist parties built upon stalinist model, such ccp in china, cp in north korea, vietnam, , cp (initially 26th of july movement) in cuba.

post-stalin

at 22nd congress of communist party of soviet union (cpsu) nikita khrushchev declared end dictatorship of proletariat , establishment of people s government.