A Rebels Guide to Lenin

Ian Birchall
1: WHY IS LENIN STILL RELEVANT?
Most historians tell you that Lenin an Leninis! are "ery #a thin$s% Lenin is sai
to ha"e rule in a ictatorial &ashion o"er his o'n (arty) an later o"er the state
create #y the Russian Re"olution% He 'as) 'e are tol) res(onsi#le &or thousans
o& eaths an &or the creation o& a totalitarian society% Stalin !erely &ollo'e in his
&ootste(s% He is ri$ht u( there 'ith Hitler an Saa! Hussein as one o& the $reat
"illains o& the !oern a$e% In a recent !uch*hy(e "olu!e) Martin A!is too+ ti!e
out &ro! 'ritin$ se, an "iolence no"elettes to is(lay his "ast +no'le$e o&
Russian history) concluin$ that Lenin an Trots+y -i not .ust (recee Stalin%
They create a &ully &unctionin$ (olice state &or his later use/ 0A!is) 1o#a the
2rea) Lonon) 3443) (3567%
8eo(le on the le&t criticise Lenin too) &or crushin$ the 'or+ers9 risin$ at 1ronstat)
o((osin$ the ine(enent anarchist !o"e!ent in :+raine an estroyin$ the
&actory co!!ittees 'hich s(ran$ u( a&ter the re"olution%
The real Lenin 'as a #it !ore co!(licate% ;ertainly he !ae !ista+es% He coul
#e ruthless < in the interests o& the cause) not to line his o'n (oc+ets < an he
&ou$ht tirelessly &or 'hat he #elie"e to #e ri$ht% A#o"e all he (laye a +ey role in
!a+in$ (ossi#le the Russian Re"olution o& =cto#er 1>1?% The Russian Re"olution
o(ene u() all too #rie@y #e&ore it 'as stran$le #y Stalin) the (ossi#ility o& a
iAerent 'orl < a 'orl in 'hich (rouction 'oul #e &or hu!an nee an not &or
(roBt) a 'orl in 'hich those 'ho 'or+e) not those 'ho o'ne) 'oul !a+e the
ecisions) a 'orl in 'hich hu!an #ein$s o& all races an nations 'oul coo(erate
rather than B$ht) a 'orl in 'hich chilren 'oul learn a#out 'ar an (o"erty in
history lessons) astonishe that such atrocities coul e"er ha"e ha((ene%

The 'orl toay is "ery iAerent &ro! the one Lenin +ne'% Lenin9s Brst lea@ets
'ere han'ritten < toay ieas @y roun the $lo#e at the touch o& a #utton% Yet i&
he ca!e #ac+ to li&e Lenin 'oul reco$nise so!e thin$s all too Cuic+ly < enless
'ars) the $ro'in$ $a( #et'een rich an (oor) !ountin$ state re(ression) the
(illa$e o& (oor countries #y rich cor(orations) the corru(tion an (o'erlessness o&
!ainstrea! (oliticians% Another 'orl is not only (ossi#le #ut necessary i&
hu!anity is to sur"i"e% To achie"e that) 'e nee or$anisation% =ur ene!ies are
(o'er&ully or$anise an so !ust 'e #e%
The central the!e o& Lenin9s li&e 'as the nee &or or$anisation% What that
or$anisation shoul loo+ li+e "arie $reatly &ro! one ti!e to another < there is no
such thin$ as the !ythical -Leninist (arty/% Lenin9s 'or+ is not a set o& reci(e
#oo+s < the #est Leninist is not the one 'ho Cuotes Lenin !ost &reCuently% An
analysis o& Lenin9s e,(erience an achie"e!ents can hel( us unerstan his
!ethos an so !a+e it easier &or us to e"elo( the &or!s o& or$anisation 'e
nee &or our o'n stru$$les%
3: H=W LENIN BE;AME A REV=L:TI=NARY
Vlai!ir :lyano") later +no'n as Lenin) 'as #orn in 16?4) the son o& a schools
ins(ector% Russia 'as then a "ast e!(ire 'here !ost (eo(le li"e an ie as
illiterate (easants cone!ne to #ac+#rea+in$ 'or+ an (erioic &a!ine) +no'in$
little #eyon their nati"e "illa$e unless they 'ere sent oA to #e slau$htere as
soliers% Ser&o!) 'hich in (ractice !ae (easants the (ro(erty o& local lanlors)
'as a#olishe only in 16D1% The e!(eror < +no'n as the Tsar < rule as he
(lease 'ithout any (arlia!entary institutions%
At this ti!e the !ain le&t 'in$ &orce 'as the Naroni+s 08o(ulists7% No'aays they
'oul #e calle -terrorists/% They 'ere !ainly stuents an intellectuals) 'ho
#elie"e they ha a !ission to li#erate the o((resse (easants% Their !ethos
o&ten in"ol"e thro'in$ #o!#s) an assassinations% They sho'e enor!ous
coura$e #ut !ae little i!(act% Lenin9s o'n #rother 'as in"ol"e in such acti"ity
an 'as han$e in 166?%
This turne Lenin into a re"olutionary% Eor a 'hile he hunte &or a strate$y to
chan$e the 'orl% E"entually he turne to the 'ritin$s o& 1arl Mar,% Mar, ar$ue
that ca(italis! e,(loite 'or+ers) 'ho recei"e &ar less than the "alue o& the
$oos they (rouce% But those e,(loite 'or+ers 'oul #eco!e the $ra"ei$$ers
o& the syste! #y !a+in$ a re"olution to esta#lish a society #ase on co!!on
o'nershi(% Wor+ers) not (easants) 'ere the +ey to social chan$e% 8easants 'ho
$ot ri o& the lanlor coul i"ie the lan u( a!on$ the!sel"es% Wor+ers coul
not i"ie u( a &actory < &or the!) only a collecti"e solution 'as (ossi#le% Mar,
insiste that 'or+ers 'oul not #e li#erate #y s!all $rou(s o& heroic
re"olutionaries: -The e!anci(ation o& the 'or+in$ class !ust #e the act o& the
'or+ers the!sel"es%/
Eor Lenin) re"olutionaries ha to #e 'here the 'or+ers 'ere% In the early 16>4s
there 'ere s!all stuy circles o& 'or+er intellectuals) eter!ine ini"iuals
(ursuin$ +no'le$e) #ut re!ote &ro! their &ello' 'or+ers% Lenin ar$ue that
socialists !ust in"ol"e the!sel"es in real stru$$les a#out issues such as 'a$es
an 'or+in$ conitions) ho'e"er li!ite these !i$ht a((ear to #e% In his earliest
acti"ity in St 8eters#ur$ in the 16>4s) Lenin ar$ue that the i!(ortant .o# 'as to
train a$itators% His o'n acti"ity in"ol"e stuyin$ &actory conitions an(roucin$
lea@ets to #e circulate in &actories%
In 16>> he (u#lishe his #oo+ The Development of Capitalism in Russia% It 'as
#ase on three years research) one in .ail an e,ile% It 'as &ull o& etail an
statistical ta#les) #ut the #asic (oint 'as si!(le% Russia 'as still o"er'hel!in$ly a
(easant country) #ut !oern inustry 'as $ro'in$) an 'ith it a 'or+in$ class%
The Naroni+s 'ere 'ron$ < Russia9s &uture lay 'ith the 'or+in$ class%
This e"elo(!ent 'as ou#le*e$e% Men an 'o!en 'ere #ein$ #rutally
e,(loite% But inustry 'as ta+in$ the! out o& the i$norance an isolation o& the
(easant househol) an (uttin$ the! in &actories 'here collecti"e re"olt 'as
(ossi#le% There coul #e no return to a $olen a$e o& (re*inustrial (easant li&e:
-=ne has only to (icture to onesel& the a!aFin$ &ra$!entation o& the s!all
(roucersGto #eco!e con"ince o& the (ro$ressi"eness o& ca(italis!) 'hich is
shatterin$ to the "ery &ounations the ancient &or!s o& econo!y an li&e/ 0LCW)
H:H637%
In the &actory) Lenin ar$ue) 'or+ers #e$an to e"elo( socialist consciousness:
-E"ery stri+e #rin$s thou$hts o& socialis! "ery &orci#ly to the 'or+er9s !in/
0LCW) 5:H1I7%
H: B=LSHEVISM: WHAT IS T= BE 2=NE?
In 16>6 a con$ress in Mins+ 'ith .ust nine ele$ates &oune the Russian Social
2e!ocratic La#our 8arty 0RS2L87% Lenin 'as not there) ha"in$ #een sent to Si#eria
&or his re"olutionary acti"ities% :ner the Tsarist re$i!e socialist acti"ities 'ere
ille$al or se!i*le$al% Ee' re"olutionaries en.oye !ore than one year at li#erty
#e&ore #ein$ arreste an i!(risone in Si#eria% Bet'een 1>44 an 1>4I Lenin
'as e,ile in Lonon) Munich an Jene"a%
In 1>43 Lenin (u#lishe What is to be Done?) in 'hich he set out his thou$hts on
or$anisation% Many o& Lenin9s critics) an so!e o& his su((orters) use this #oo+ as
a state!ent o& his "ie's on 'hat re"olutionary or$anisation shoul #e at all ti!es
an (laces% This is nonsense% Lenin 'as 'ritin$ &or one (articular set o&
circu!stances% What is to be Done? is a historical ocu!ent rather than a
uni"ersal reci(e% Yet it contains so!e i!(ortant ar$u!ents that are still rele"ant
toay%
A &e' years earlier Lenin ha stresse that trae union acti"ity (ointe 'or+ers
to'ars socialis!% No' he sai the o((osite: -Trae unionis! !eans the
ieolo$ical ensla"e!ent o& the 'or+ers #y the #our$eoisie/ 0LCW) I:H657% It 'as a
hu$e o"erstate!ent) #ut Lenin 'as !a+in$ the (oint that trae unions e,ist to
i!(ro"e 'or+ers9 conitions 'ithin ca(italis!) not to $et ri o& the 'hole syste!%
The (arty9s .o# 'as to B$ht &or socialis! < trae union stru$$le 'as a !eans to
that en) not an en in itsel&% Socialist ieas 'oul not e"elo( auto!atically% The
!a.or socialist thin+ers) &ro! Mar, an En$els to Lenin hi!sel&) ha not #een
'or+ers% Eactory 'or+ers) o&ten toilin$ 11 hours a ay) scarcely ha leisure to rea)
let alone 'rite% In this conte,t Lenin !ae the clai!) o&ten Cuote out o& conte,t)
that -class (olitical consciousness can #e #rou$ht to the 'or+ers only &ro!
'ithout) that is) only &ro! outsie the econo!ic stru$$le) &ro! outsie the s(here
o& relations #et'een 'or+ers an e!(loyers/ 0LCW) I:5337%
Lenin 'ent on to as+ 'hy #our$eois ieas o!inate in society% He re(lie) -Eor
the si!(le reason that #our$eois ieolo$y is &ar oler in ori$in than socialist
ieolo$y) that it is !ore e"elo(e) an that it has at its is(osal i!!easura#ly
!ore !eans o& isse!ination/ 0LCW) I:H6D7% What 'oul he say i& he coul see
the !oern !ass !eia?
Wor+ers 'oul not e"elo( -s(ontaneously/ to socialist ieas% The e,istin$ orer
ha "ery (o'er&ul !eans to e&en itsel&% Socialists neee eCually (o'er&ul
!eans to B$ht &or their alternati"e%
=ne "ital as(ect o& this 'as the esta#lish!ent o& a socialist ne's(a(er% The Bnal
section o& What is to be Done? calle &or a ne's(a(er to co"er the 'hole o&
Russia% Eor Lenin a ne's(a(er 'oul also #e a collecti"e or$aniser% Such a (a(er
'oul reCuire a -net'or+ o& a$ents/) a isci(line an 'ell*or$anise tea! o&
(eo(le% Such acti"ity -'oul stren$then our contacts 'ith the #roaest strata o&
the 'or+in$ !asses/ 0LCW) I:I1I* I1D7%
8a(ers li+e Iskra 0Spark7 0on the eitorial #oar o& 'hich Lenin ser"e7 'ere
(rinte a#roa an s!u$$le into Russia) or (rouce clanestinely in ille$al
(rintsho(s in cellars%
Lenin ar$ue that the (arty shoul not #e o(en to anyone 'ho 'as $enerally
sy!(athetic to its ieas) #ut !ust #e an or$anisation o& (ro&essional
re"olutionaries) (re(are to e"ote all their ener$y to the stru$$le an to act in a
isci(line &ashion% As he (ointe out) uner the re(ressi"e conitions e,istin$ in
Russia) a -#roa 'or+ers9 or$anisationGsu((osely !ost Kaccessi#le9 to the
!asses/ in &act si!(ly !ae -re"olutionaries !ost accessi#le to the (olice/ 0LCW)
I:5D47%
In What is to be Done? Lenin stresse the nee &or a centralise or$anisation < -a
sta#le) centralise) !ilitant or$anisation o& re"olutionaries/ 0LCW) I:5I47% =nly a
centralise or$anisation coul eal 'ith the threat &ro! the (olitical (olice an
'or+ aroun a national ne's(a(er that raise the sa!e issues in all areas%
Russian socialis! 'as !ar+e #y "i$orous e#ate throu$hout its history) #ut once
ecisions 'ere ta+en e"eryone ha to (ut the! into (ractice% 8olicies coul then
#e teste in (ractice) an) i& necessary) correcte%
This 'as the (rinci(le o& 'hat #eca!e +no'n as -e!ocratic centralis!/% There is
no $reat !ystery a#out this iea% It e,ists in any &or! o& or$anisation 'here
(eo(le $et to$ether to achie"e so!ethin$ rather than !erely iscuss%
The ne,t year the RS2L8 s(lit% The socialist !o"e!ent has seen all too !any
s(lits) an so!e (eo(le thin+ they (ro"e their Leninis! #y re(eate s(lits% But
here there 'as an i!(ortant (rinci(le% Lenin 'ante a (arty o& (eo(le 'ho 'oul
'or+ uner the isci(line o& the (arty an not si!(ly e,(ress a$ree!ent 'ith it%
The Bnal s(lit ca!e o"er a !inor or$anisational Cuestion) #ut it re@ecte
i!(ortant iAerences% Lenin9s su((orters 'on the !a.ority an too+ the na!e
-Bolshe"i+s/ 0&ro! the Russian &or !a.ority7% The e&eate sie 'ere calle
Menshe"i+s 0!inority7% This 'as only the #e$innin$ o& the s(lit < !any local
or$anisations re!aine unite urin$ the e"ents o& 1>4I% There 'ere "arious
!o"es to reunite) an the Bnal #rea+ only ca!e in 1>13%
Lenin9s or$anisational (rinci(les hel(e hol the Bolshe"i+s to$ether in a iLcult
(erio% But soon the course o& stru$$le 'as to !a+e a co!(letely iAerent +in o&
or$anisation necessary%
5: 1>4I 8R=VISI=NAL J=VERNMENT
In Manuary 1>4I a hu$e e!onstration in St 8eters#ur$ le #y a (riest) Eather
Ja(on) 'as Bre on #y troo(s% Hunres 'ere +ille% A ne' (erio o(ene u(% The
ieas o& What is to be Done? 'ere &or$otten% The .o# o& the (arty no' 'as to (ush
&or'ar the !o"e!ent a$ainst the Tsarist state% That neee not .ust a s!all
$rou( o& re"olutionaries #ut all the !ost !ilitant acti"ists in the 'or+in$ class%
In a letter the &ollo'in$ !onth Lenin ur$e the Bolshe"i+s to -recruit youn$ (eo(le
!ore 'iely an #ollyG This is a ti!e o& 'ar% The youth < the stuents) an still
!ore so the youn$ 'or+ers < 'ill ecie the issue o& the 'hole stru$$le%/
He stresse that i& ne' (eo(le 'ere #eco!in$ acti"e) -there is no har! i& they o
!a+e a !ista+e/ 0LCW) 6:15D7%
In Se(te!#er 1>4I St 8eters#ur$ (rinters 'ent on stri+e o"er (iece'or+ (ay rates
an e!ane (ay!ent &or (unctuation !ar+s% The action ra(ily s(rea into a
$eneral stri+e% Stri+in$ 'or+(laces sent ele$ates to a central stri+e co!!ittee
+no'n as a so"iet 0Russian &or council7 < a ne' &or! o& or$anisation% Within 'ee+s
this ha ID3 ele$ates re(resentin$ 344)444 'or+ers% It #eca!e a (olitical #oy
to e&en the interests o& the 'or+in$ class% =l (re.uices isa((eare < althou$h
anti*Se!itis! 'as 'ies(rea) 'or+ers electe a youn$ Me' as their !ain leaer%
His na!e 'as Leon Trots+y%
The (re"ious years o& clanestine acti"ity ha #re conser"ati"e an sectarian
ha#its a!on$ Bolshe"i+ acti"ists% It 'as not easy to aa(t to a totally ne'
situation% To #e$in 'ith !any Bolshe"i+s in St 8eters#ur$ 'ere istrust&ul o& the
so"iets% But in Mosco' an else'here Bolshe"i+s (laye a central role in the
so"iets% Lenin reco$nise that the (arty 'as in a totally ne' situation% He
i!!eiately tra"elle to St 8eters#ur$ on a &alse (ass(ort%
He ar$ue that the (arty !ust #e roote a!on$ the re"olutionary 'or+ers) all
those 'ho 'ante to B$ht% Eor e,a!(le) ;hristian 'or+ers shoul #e allo'e to
.oin the (arty% Lenin ar$ue that i& they 'ante to B$ht #ut hel reli$ious #elie&s
they 'ere -inconsistent/% He #elie"e) -The actual stru$$le) an 'or+ 'ithin the
ran+s) 'ill con"ince all ele!ents (ossessin$ "itality that Mar,is! is the truth) an
'ill cast asie all those 'ho lac+ "itality/ 0LCW) 14:3H7%
=ne thin$ se(aratin$ the Bolshe"i+s &ro! other (olitical currents 'as the
insistence that 'or+ers shoul #e ar!e% Lenin tol ho' he ha #een in an
ar$u!ent 'ith so!e li#erals) one o& 'ho! sai) -I!a$ine there is a 'il #east
#e&ore us) a lion) an 'e t'o are sla"es 'ho ha"e #een thro'n to this lion% Woul
it #e a((ro(riate i& 'e starte an ar$u!ent? Is it not our uty to unite to B$ht this
co!!on ene!y?/ Lenin res(one) -But 'hat i& one o& the sla"es a"ises
securin$ 'ea(ons an attac+in$ the lion) 'hile the other) in the "ery !ist o& the
stru$$le) notices a ta# reain$ K;onstitution9 sus(ene &ro! the lion9s nec+) an
starts shoutin$) KI a! o((ose to "iolence) #oth &ro! the ri$ht an &ro! the le&t9?/
0LCW) 14:3H57%
All re"olutions are sur(rises% The challen$e &or re"olutionaries is not to (reict
social e,(losions) #ut to Bn 'ays o& res(onin$ to ne' situations% In orer to
sur"i"e lon$ (erios 'hen not that !uch is ha((enin$) re"olutionary (arties nee
or$anisation) isci(line) routine% But these Cualities can #eco!e o#stacles in a
(erio o& ra(i chan$e% Be&ore 1>4I the Bolshe"i+s ha #een a s!all !inority)
tryin$ to #rin$ socialist ieas to 'or+ers% In 1>4I their .o# escri(tion chan$e
raically < no' their crucial tas+ 'as to listen to 'or+ers an learn &ro! the! in
(ushin$ the !o"e!ent &or'ar% 2es(ite so!e !ista+es) the Bolshe"i+ action in
1>4I raise the (arty (roBle an !e!#ershi( $re' ra(ily o"er the ne,t t'o
years) reachin$ 54)444% A ne' $eneration o& !ilitants 'oul (lay a crucial role in
the stru$$les to co!e%
I: H=L2INJ THE 8ARTY T=JETHER
The Tsar re$aine control% Lenin 'as &orce to 'ithra' to Einlan) an then at the
en o& 1>4? !o"e to S'itFerlan% There 'as an enor!ous loss o& conBence
a!on$ 'or+ers% Instea o& !assi"e street e!onstrations there 'ere tiny $rou(s
ar$uin$ a#out the lessons o& the e,(erience% Because it ha real roots in the
'or+in$ class) the Bolshe"i+ 8arty 'as not i!!une to the e!oralisation% In 1>4?
the Bolshe"i+s ha 54)444 !e!#ers% By 1>14 they 'ere o'n to a &e' hunre%
Lenin +ne' the #a (atch 'oul not last < sooner or later ca(italis! al'ays &orces
'or+ers into stru$$le% The .o# o& the (arty 'as to hol to$ether an (re(are &or
the ne,t 'a"e% As anyone 'ho &ollo's the Tour e Erance cycle race +no's) there
is no (oint $ettin$ to the to( o& a !ountain i& you on9t +no' ho' to co!e o'n
the other sie% The sur"i"al o& local $rou(s) e"en i& s!all) !eant the (arty 'oul
#e a#le to res(on to the u(turn 'hen it ca!e%
Lenin 'as a (eculiarly sin$le*!ine (erson% ;o!(are 'ith Mar, an En$els) or
'ith Trots+y) he see!s "ery narro'*!ine% His 'ritin$s sho' little o& the #roa
ran$e o& interests in literature) culture an science that they ha% Lenin
eli#erately cut hi!sel& oA &ro! cultural e,(erience% Jor+y recalle that 'hen
Lenin hear Beetho"en he sai that the !usic 'as so #eauti&ul it !ae you 'ant
to (at (eo(le -'hen they ou$ht to #e #eaten on the hea/ 0Lenin an Jor+y)
Letters, Reminiscences, Articles) Mosco') 1>?H) (36>7%
He &ocuse o#sessi"ely on #uilin$ the (arty% =ther re"olutionaries loo+e &or
shortcuts% Jor+y 'as a &rien o& Lenin9s < he ha .oine the Bolshe"i+s in 1>4I)
an ha 'ritten a !a$niBcent account o& the re"olutionary !o"e!ent in his no"el
The Mother 01>4D7% In 1>4> Jor+y or$anise an eucational school attene #y
.ust 1H Russian acti"ists% Lenin re&use to (artici(ate #ecause o& (hiloso(hical
iAerences 'ith Jor+y% When B"e stuents an an or$aniser Cuarrelle 'ith Jor+y
an 'al+e out) Lenin i!!eiately in"ite the! to .oin hi! in 8aris% E"ery
ini"iual 'as (recious%
So!e Bolshe"i+s a#anone the har slo$ o& (arty #uilin$ in &a"our o& culti"atin$
!ystical ieas% They tal+e a#out -$o*#uilin$/% Lenin attac+e these ieas%
When there 'ere &e' !e!#ers it 'as i!(ortant to ha"e clarity a#out the
(hiloso(hical #asis o& Mar,is!%
There 'ere also tactical ar$u!ents% The Tsar ha set u( a &a+e (arlia!ent calle
the 2u!a% It ha no real (o'er) an the "otin$ syste! 'as ri$$e so that one
lano'ner9s "ote 'as 'orth the "otes o& 5I 'or+ers% But there 'ere o((ortunities
&or 'or+ers9 caniates to #e electe% So!e Bolshe"i+s) incluin$ Bo$ano") the
author o& the s(leni science Bction no"el Re Star) ar$ue that the (arty shoul
ha"e nothin$ to o 'ith the 2u!a% Lenin ar$ue Bercely a$ainst this%
The Bolshe"i+s use the 2u!a &or (ro(a$ana an a$itation% =ne o& their
e(uties) Baeye") 'rote) -We use the 2u!a rostru! to s(ea+ to the !asses
o"er the heas o& the (arlia!entarians o& "arious shaes/ 0A Y Baeye")
!olsheviks in the Tsarist Duma) Lonon) 1>6?) (1657% Later on the Bolshe"i+
e(uties 'oul 'al+ out o& the &a+e (arlia!ent to su((ort stri+es an .oin street
e!onstrations%
D: 1>13: A W=R1ERS9 8A8ER
Eollo'in$ #i$ stuent e!onstrations in 1>14) the nu!#er o& stri+es rose ra(ily
in 1>11% The 'or+in$ class !o"e!ent) aslee( &or se"eral years) #e$an to a'a+e%
The Bolshe"i+s ecie to launch a aily (a(er% Instea o& the s!all (a(ers 'hich
ha (re"iously circulate) o&ten e"ote to o#scure (ole!ics a$ainst other
socialists) the ne' (a(er ha to aress 'or+in$ (eo(le an tal+ a#out real
(ro#le!s in their li"es% The aily "rava 0Russian &or -truth/7 a((eare in A(ril
1>13 ai!in$ to counter $o"ern!ent lies%
It ca!e at .ust the ri$ht ti!e% Earlier that !onth stri+ers in the Lena $olBels ha
#een attac+e #y (olice) an hunres 'ere +ille or in.ure% A 'a"e o& stri+es
s(rea across Russia% Eor years the Bolshe"i+s ha or$anise secreti"ely% Those
ha#its) a#solutely necessary to (rotect the! &ro! the (olice) ha to #e sha+en oA
Cuic+ly% Re"olutionaries 'ho ha #eco!e use to s'i!!in$ a$ainst the strea!
no' ha to learn to s'i! 'ith it%
The aily (a(er 'as (rinte insie Russia an sol o(enly in &actories an on the
streets% The Tsarist re$i!e coul not cla!( o'n co!(letely) #ut it constantly
harasse the ne' (a(er% Acti"ists in"ente all +ins o& tric+s to &ool the
authorities% So!eti!es the (a(er 'as #anne an rea((eare i!!eiately uner
a iAerent na!e < &or e,a!(le) #orthern Truth%
Eor Lenin it 'as "ital that the (a(er shoul #e an or$aniser% "rava #uilt u( a
ran$e o& 'or+er corres(onents) 'ho contri#ute accounts o& their 'or+(lace
(ro#le!s an stru$$les% The (a(er ena#le isolate reaers to learn &ro! the
e,(eriences o& the 'hole class%
Money 'as a (olitical Cuestion% The (a(er 'as Bnance #y its reaers% Most
'or+ers li"e in (o"erty) #ut Lenin ar$ue they shoul #e encoura$e to
contri#ute at least a +o(e+ 0a little s!all chan$e7 e"ery (ay ay% Lenin 'oul not
ha"e turne u( his nose at a rich sy!(athiser) #ut the re$ular contri#utions &ro!
'or+ers 'ere !ore i!(ortant% They ensure that 'or+ers sa' "rava as their
(a(er) 'hich 'oul ie 'ithout their su((ort%
?: WAR AN2 NIMMERWAL2
In 1>15 'ar #ro+e out #et'een the !a.or Euro(ean (o'ers < Britain an Erance
"ersus Jer!any) Austria an Russia% This (ossi#ility ha #een 'iely iscusse in
the 'or+in$ class !o"e!ent% In 1>14 an 1>13 resolutions ha #een (asse at
con&erences o& the Secon International 0to 'hich all the socialist (arties o& Euro(e
#elon$e7 co!!ittin$ socialists to act ecisi"ely to (re"ent 'ar%
But in Au$ust 1>15 it 'as only in Russia an the Bal+ans that socialist (arties
o((ose the 'ar% Else'here (arties an trae unions 'hich ha (re"iously ta+en
an anti*'ar stan no' #ac+e the national 'ar eAort% In Britain an Erance
socialist leaers .oine the $o"ern!ent to encoura$e their &ello' 'or+ers to $o
an ie in the trenches% Tiny $rou(s o& !ilitants o((ose the 'ar) ris+in$ state
re(ression an the an$er o& the (ro*'ar (u#lic% Eor those 'ho o((ose the 'ar it
'as a terri#le shoc+ to Bn the!sel"es suenly totally isolate%
To #e$in 'ith) Lenin i not #elie"e the re(orts o& the #etrayal #y the socialist
or$anisations% But soon he 'as #usy tryin$ to (ull to$ether the s!all &orces o&
those o((ose to the 'ar%
At the sa!e ti!e he i!!erse hi!sel& in 'or+s o& (hiloso(hy) es(ecially the
Jer!an (hiloso(her He$el) 'ho ha ins(ire the youn$ Mar,% What Lenin learne
&ro! He$el 'as that e"ery situation !ust #e seen as an interconnecte 'hole) #ut
that 'ithin that 'hole there 'ere contraictions 'hich !ae suen ra(i chan$e
(ossi#le% He escri#e the +ey &eatures o& He$el9s !etho as) -The lea(% The
contraiction% The interru(tion o& $raualness/ 0LCW) H6:3657% With Lenin
(hiloso(hy al'ays le #ac+ to action%
In Se(te!#er 1>1I a s!all anti*'ar con&erence 'as hel in Ni!!er'al in
S'itFerlan% All the ele$ates Btte into &our sta$ecoaches < this 'as all that 'as
le&t o& the Secon International 'hich ha re(resente !illions o& 'or+ers%
Lenin reco$nise t'o tas+s% The !o"e!ent reCuire unity) #ut it also neee
clarity% So!e at Ni!!er'al #elie"e the 'ar coul #e ene 'ithout a
re"olutionary challen$e to ca(italis!) an that the treacherous Secon
International coul #e re"i"e% Eor Lenin) the only 'ay ahea 'as to !a+e a
co!(lete #rea+ 'ith the Secon International an s!ash the ol orer that ha
(rouce the 'ar%
An,ious not to s(lit the unity o& the ne'#orn anti'ar !o"e!ent) Lenin "ote &or
the !ain resolution) 'hich he escri#e as -a ste( &or'ar to'ars a real stru$$le
a$ainst o((ortunis!/ 0LCW) 31:H6?7% He an B"e others also issue a state!ent
!a+in$ clear their reser"ations a#out the !a.ority (osition%
Lenin ar$ue that in Russia 'or+ers shoul see that -the e&eat o& the Tsarist
!onarchyG'oul #e the lesser e"il/ 0LCW) 31:H3*HH7% Eor socialists) class 'as
!ore i!(ortant than nation < their !ain ai! !ust #e to attac+ their o'n rulin$
class% In the 'ors o& Lenin9s conte!(orary) the Jer!an anti*'ar socialist 1arl
Lie#+necht) -The !ain ene!y is at ho!e%/ But Lenin 'as una#le to con"ince e"en
the !e!#ers o& his o'n (arty o& this raical (osition%
6: IM8ERIALISM
Throu$hout the 'ar Lenin continue to ar$ue &or clearer unerstanin$% In 1>1D
he 'rote a short #oo+ calle Imperialism) 'hich analyse the causes o& 'ar in
orer to o((ose it !ore eAecti"ely%
Mar, ha alreay sho'n that ca(italis! 'as #ase on co!(etition% E"ery
ca(italist Br! has to stri"e to outo its ri"als) to (rouce !ore chea(ly an to sell
to a #i$$er !ar+et% But &ar &ro! #ein$ an eternal (rinci(le) as the su((orters o&
ca(italis! clai!) co!(etition (rouces its o((osite) !ono(oly% The !ost
success&ul Br!s ri"e their ri"als out o& #usiness an ta+e o"er their assets) or
!er$e 'ith the! to &or! !ore eAecti"e (roBt!a+in$ enter(rises% The 'orl
#eco!es o!inate #y lar$e co!(anies%
In (articular Lenin o#ser"e the &act that as ca(italist Br!s $et #i$$er they nee
!ore ra' !aterials an lar$er !ar+ets to sell in% They cannot e,ist 'ithin national
&rontiers an (ush out'ars to ta+e o"er the rest o& the 'orl% In the last Cuarter
o& the 1>th century the i!(erial (o'ers o& Euro(e colonise !ost o& A&rica an
i!(ose their rule on the nati"e ci"ilisations% This 'as the lo$ic o& the syste!% It
'asn9t (ossi#le to ha"e a !ore hu!ane ca(italis!% Lenin 'rote) -The ca(italists
i"ie the 'orl) not out o& any (articular !alice) #ut #ecause the e$ree o&
concentration 'hich has #een reache &orces the! to ao(t this !etho in orer
to o#tain (roBts/ 0LCW) 33:3IH7%
So!e thin+ers in the Secon International) li+e 1arl 1auts+y) ha clai!e that as
ca(italis! e"elo(e it reuce the tenency to 'ar% That !yth is still aroun
toay% There are (eo(le 'ho clai! that $lo#alisation can (ut an en to 'ar% Lenin
ar$ue that the ri"e to 'ar 'oul continue 'hile ca(italis! sur"i"e% Toay
ca(italis! is !ore !ultinational than it has e"er #een% But this oesn9t !ean that
relations #et'een the #i$ (o'ers ha"e #eco!e !ore har!onious% =n the
contrary) co!(etition an con@ict are !ore intense%
Many thin$s ha"e chan$e since Lenin9s ay% ;olonialis! has lar$ely co!e to an
en% I!(erialis! can $enerally e,(loit Thir Worl countries Cuite eAecti"ely
'ithout (olitical rule% But on the essential (oint) Lenin has #een sho'n to #e ri$ht%
8erios o& international coo(eration are only interlues%
-8eace&ul alliances (re(are the $roun &or 'ars) an in their turn $ro' out o&
'ars)/ he 'rote 0LCW) 33:3>I7% ;a(italis! still leas to 'ar) as 'e can see e"ery
ay on the tele"ision ne's%
>: 1>1?: REVISINJ 8ERS8E;TIVES
In Manuary 1>1? Lenin aresse a !eetin$ in Nurich) sayin$)-Weo& the oler
$eneration!aynot li"e to see the ecisi"e #attles o& this co!in$ re"olution/ 0LCW)
3H:3IH7% He 'as soon to #e sur(rise%
Russia) 'ith its unere"elo(e econo!y) 'as suAerin$ $reater strain than other
nations% In Ee#ruary 1>1? 'o!en te,tile 'or+ers in 8etro$ra 'ent on stri+e) e"en
thou$h the Bolshe"i+s a"ise a$ainst stri+e action at this ti!e% Wor+ers 'ere
!o"in$ ahea o& the (arty%
The stri+es s(rea% A 'ee+ later the Tsar @e% A 8ro"isional Jo"ern!ent 'as
&or!e) (le$e to esta#lish uni"ersal suAra$e an a constitution% 2urin$ the
stri+es 'or+ers ha re"i"e the or$anisations in"ente in 1>4I) the so"iets%
Lenin) still in S'itFerlan) realise that a ne' (hase o& history 'as #e$innin$% He
ha not set &oot in Russia &or al!ost ten years) #ut no' he 'as eter!ine to
return% He hatche a (lan to (reten to #e S'eish) althou$h he in9t s(ea+ a
'or o& the lan$ua$e% Then the Jer!an $o"ern!ent a$ree to let hi! tra"el #y
train throu$h Jer!any% In A(ril he arri"e #ac+ in 8etro$ra 0as 8eters#ur$ 'as
no' calle7%
Eace 'ith an une,(ecte situation) Lenin reconsiere all the &una!ental ieas
on 'hich he ha #ase his (olitical strate$y% :ntil no' he ha al'ays ar$ue that
Russia 'as not reay &or a socialist re"olution% Since there 'as no (arlia!entary
e!ocracy) he ha #elie"e Russia neee a e!ocratic re"olution li+e the Jreat
Erench Re"olution o& 1?6> 0'hat Mar,ists re&erre to as a -#our$eois re"olution/7%
Ho'e"er) Trots+y ha ar$ue that Russia coul !o"e strai$ht to a socialist
re"olution% He ha e"elo(e the theory o& -(er!anent re"olution/) su$$estin$ a
Russian re"olution coul !o"e strai$ht to 'or+ers9 (o'er) (ro"iin$ the re"olution
s(rea ra(ily to other countries% The Bolshe"i+s re$are Trots+y as a heretic%
No' Lenin ca!e out 'ith a (osition si!ilar to Trots+y9s% He clai!e it 'as (ossi#le
to !o"e irectly to a Bolshe"i+ ca(ture o& (o'er in the near &uture% Me!#ers o&
his o'n (arty 'ere shoc+e < his Brst .o# 'as to 'in a shar( ar$u!ent 'ith the!%
Lenin also neee a strate$y &or the (easantry% The 'or+in$ class 'as tiny
co!(are 'ith the hu$e (easantry% Wies(rea (easant re"olt #e$an shortly a&ter
the Ee#ruary Re"olution% Lenin realise that this !o"e!ent !ust #e lin+e to the
stru$$le o& the 'or+ers in the to'ns% This !eant su((ortin$ the (easant e!an
&or eCual i"ision o& the lan a!on$ those 'ho 'or+e it% The Bolshe"i+s ao(te
'hat ha #een the (ro$ra!!e o& the Socialist Re"olutionaries 0the successors o&
the Naroni+s7%
The ar!y) !ainly co!(ose o& (easants) 'ante (eace% 2urin$ 1>1? !ore than 1
!illion soliers eserte% The (easants 'ante to o'n their o'n lan% The 'or+ers
in the to'ns 'ante &oo% The slo$an o& the Bolshe"i+s #eca!e -8eace) lan an
#rea/%
14: 2:AL 8=WER
The re"olution #e$an s(ontaneously) #ut it coul not en s(ontaneously% So!e
'or+ers 'ere !ore !ilitant than others% The ol rulin$ class 'as ha((y to e,(loit
i"isions% The (arty ha to B$ht &or the interests o& the class as a 'hole% As Victor
Ser$e 'rote) -The (arty is the ner"ous syste! o& the 'or+in$ class) its #rain/ 0V
Ser$e) $ear %ne of the Russian Revolution) Lonon) 1>>3) ((I?*I67%
Lenin ha a ou#le tas+ in this (erio% He ha to relate to the (arty an encoura$e
it to increase its in@uence) #ut at the sa!e ti!e he ha to irect his attention to
the !asses o& non*(arty 'or+ers) &or 'ithout the! there 'oul #e no re"olution%
The (arty ha #een a#le to $ro' #ecause 'or+ers re!e!#ere its role in earlier
stru$$les% But since the (arty ha real roots in the 'or+in$ class) it 'as s'aye #y
iAerent trens 'ithin the class% Lenin ha to .u$e 'hich to encoura$e an 'hich
to iscoura$e%
Lenin9s Brst .o# 'as to $et the (arty in B$htin$ sha(e% As in 1>4I) the ai! 'as to
ra' in all the #est !ilitants% The (arty $re' ra(ily% At the #e$innin$ o& the year
it ha a#out 5)444 !e!#ers) #y the en (erha(s 3I4)444% In one city) I"ano"o*
VoFnesens+) !e!#ershi( $re' &ro! ten to !ore than I)444 in a &e' !onths%
The Bolshe"i+s 'ere not a #ureaucratic or$anisation in 'hich e"eryone o#eye
orers% In the s(rin$ o& 1>1? the (arty oLces co!(rise t'o s!all roo!s an the
total staA o& the secretariat a#out hal& a oFen% =&ten acti"ity 'as chaotic <
!e!#ers ha to ta+e initiati"es rather than 'ait &or orers%
In May Trots+y returne to Russia% ="er the (re"ious 1I years Lenin an Trots+y
ha sai so!e cruel thin$s a#out each other% But 'ith re"olution loo!in$ such
is(utes 'ere irrele"ant% Lenin +ne' 'hen to s(lit < an 'hen to (ull to$ether%
2urin$ the su!!er Trots+y an his &ollo'ers .oine the Bolshe"i+s% Trots+y 'as
al!ost i!!eiately electe to the central co!!ittee%
E"en the ra(ily $ro'in$ Bolshe"i+ 8arty neee allies% There 'as little to #e
ho(e &or &ro! the Menshe"i+s 0'ho #elie"e (o'er shoul re!ain in #our$eois
hans) an 'ho constantly "acillate as their su((ort ecline7% But the Socialist
Re"olutionaries 'ere increasin$ly i"ie o"er their attitue to the 8ro"isional
Jo"ern!ent) an the le&t 'in$ !o"e closer to the Bolshe"i+s%
The situation 'as an uneasy #alance% Lenin re&erre to the situation as one o&
-ual (o'er/ 0LCW) 35:D47% No sin$le authority controlle society% The 8ro"isional
Jo"ern!ent ha no intention o& challen$in$ the econo!ic (o'er o& the ca(italists%
In the 'or+(laces an localities the so"iets eAecti"ely ran thin$s% In so!e
&actories 'or+ers (ut their !ana$ers in 'heel#arro's an 'heele the! out o&
the $ate to assert their (o'er%
The (arty ha to B$ht &or its ieas in the or$anisations o& the class < 'ithin the
so"iets there 'ere su((orters o& all the iAerent (arties% Lenin stresse the
i!(ortance o& (atience in e,(lainin$ the Bolshe"i+ (osition < The Bolshe"i+s !ust
use -co!raely (ersuasion/ an re.ect the -(re"ailin$ or$y o& re"olutionary
(hrase*!on$erin$/ 0LCW) 35:DH7% =nly at the en o& Au$ust i the Bolshe"i+s 'in
a !a.ority in the 8etro$ra so"iet) one o& their stron$est areas%
2urin$ the su!!er Lenin an the Bolshe"i+s &ace t'o se"ere tests% In Muly a hu$e
e!onstration o& 'or+ers in 8etro$ra e!ane that the so"iets shoul ta+e
(o'er i!!eiately% The Bolshe"i+s ar$ue that this !o"e!ent !ust #e hel #ac+%
I& the !ost !ilitant 'or+ers alone ha o"erthro'n the $o"ern!ent) they 'oul not
ha"e #een stron$ enou$h to re!ain in (o'er% More ti!e 'as necessary #e&ore the
!a.ority o& 'or+ers 'oul #e reay%
Then a ri$ht 'in$ ar!y oLcer calle 1ornilo" trie to !ount a cou( to o"erthro'
the 8ro"isional Jo"ern!ent an re*esta#lish an authoritarian re$i!e% The
Bolshe"i+s !o#ilise thousans o& 'or+ers to e&en 8etro$ra% Rail'ay 'or+ers
tore u( trac+s an i"erte trains) 'hile other 'or+ers &raternise 'ith 1ornilo"9s
soliers% His troo(s re&use to attac+ 8etro$ra) an 1ornilo" 'as arreste% Lenin
!ae it clear that the Bolshe"i+s 'ere actin$ a$ainst 1ornilo") #ut eBnitely not in
su((ort o& the 8ro"isional Jo"ern!ent% In &act these e"ents 'ea+ene the
8ro"isional Jo"ern!ent an stren$thene the crei#ility o& the Bolshe"i+s%
11: STATE AN2 REV=L:TI=N
Eor Lenin) theory an (ractice 'ere al'ays lin+e% 8ursuin$ ieas 'as (ointless
unless they le to action% But the !ost enthusiastic acti"ity 'as &utile unless it
'as $uie #y an unerstanin$ o& ho' society chan$e%
In Muly Lenin ha to $o into hiin$% He too+ a"anta$e o& a &e' 'ee+s o& relati"e
(eace to 'rite his !ost i!(ortant #oo+) State an Revolution% 0I& you only e"er
rea one #oo+ #y Lenin) this is the one%7 When it 'as (u#lishe it cause
consternation a!on$ !any -orthoo,/ Mar,ists) yet it 'as hi$hly re$are #y
anarchists%
In ealin$ 'ith the Cuestion o& the state) Lenin 'ent to the heart o& the ar$u!ent
a#out 'hat socialis! is% =((onents o& socialis! 0an all too !any o& its
su((orters7 ha"e ientiBe socialis! 'ith state o'nershi(%
Societies ha"e #een escri#e as -socialist/ .ust #ecause !a.or (arts o& the
econo!y 'ere nationalise% Lenin challen$e this "ie' "i$orously% He ar$ue that
in a society i"ie into classes the state is -an or$an &or the o((ression o& one
class #y another/ 0LCW) 3I:H6?7% It co!(rises the 'hole #oy o& re(ressi"e
institutions use to (re"ent the inha#itants o& a nation &ro! challen$in$ the
e,istin$ o'nershi( o& (ro(erty an the e,istin$ &or!s o& e,(loitation < the state
-consists o& s(ecial #oies o& ar!e !en ha"in$ (risons) etc) at their co!!an/
0LCW) 3I:H6>7% These institutions are not neutral% The la' oes not treat rich an
(oor ali+e: it is esi$ne to e&en the rich an (o'er&ul% Lenin 'as &ollo'in$
Mar,) 'ho 'rote in The Communist Manifesto) -The e,ecuti"e o& the !oern state
is #ut a co!!ittee &or !ana$in$ the co!!on aAairs o& the 'hole #our$eoisie%/
So) Lenin ar$ue) socialists coul not ta+e o"er the state &ro! 'ithin) usin$ the
e,istin$ institutions% He is!isse (arlia!ent as a -(i$sty/) 'hich allo's us -to
ecie once e"ery &e' years 'hich !e!#er o& the rulin$ class is to re(ress an
crush the (eo(le throu$h (arlia!ent/ 0LCW) 3I:5337% What istin$uishes
re"olutionaries &ro! re&or!ists) he 'rote) is the &act that they #elie"e it is
necessary to -s!ash/ the state !achine 0LCW) 3I:5?67% Eor this) -"iolent
re"olution/ 'as reCuire 0LCW) 3I:5447%
But 'hat 'oul re(lace the state? The anarchists thou$ht the e,istin$ state coul
#e a#olishe) an a &ree) stateless society esta#lishe i!!eiately% Eor Lenin this
'as) un&ortunately) i!(ossi#le% I& the 'or+in$ class too+ o"er society) the other
classes 'oul B$ht #ac+ ruthlessly to re$ain their (ri"ile$es% The 'or+in$ class
'oul nee a state o& its o'n to resist counter*re"olution% Lenin calle this the
-ictatorshi( o& the (roletariat/ 0LCW) 3I:5437% It 'oul #e si!(ler .ust to call it
-'or+in$ class (o'er/%
E"entually) Lenin ar$ue) society coul #e reor$anise an 'ealth reistri#ute%
;a(italist 'aste 'oul #e re(lace #y !uch !ore eAecti"e (rouction to !eet
hu!an nees% The ol classes 'oul "anish an e"eryone 'oul #e #oth a 'or+er)
oin$ a .o# use&ul to society) an a ruler 'ho (artici(ate in a e!ocratic (rocess
o& eciin$ ho' society9s resources shoul #e use% The state 'oul #eco!e
unnecessary an -'ither a'ay/ 0LCW) H>?*H>67% Lenin su!!e u( his ar$u!ent
'ith the 'ors) -So lon$ as the state e,ists there is no &reeo!% When there is
&reeo!) there 'ill #e no state/ 0LCW) 3I:5D67% Lenin9s $oal 'as the sa!e as the
anarchists9) #ut he reco$nise that the (ath to it 'oul #e co!(le,%
Lenin re' on !any historical e,a!(les) in (articular re&errin$ to the 8aris
;o!!une o& 16?1) 'hen 'or+in$ (eo(le ha seiFe the city an rule it &or ten
'ee+s #e&ore #ein$ !assacre #y troo(s &ro! outsie% All !e!#ers o& the
'or+ers9 $o"ern!ent ha recei"e the (ay o& an a"era$e 'or+er) an coul #e
recalle at any ti!e #y those 'ho ha electe the! < the sa!e &or! o&
e!ocracy as in the so"iets% Be&ore 1>1? this 'as the only e,a!(le o& 'or+ers
ta+in$ o"er society) ho'e"er #rie@y) an it 'as i!(ortant to learn &ro! it%
State an Revolution 'as ne"er co!(lete% Lenin ha to return to acti"ity% As he
note in the conclusion) -It is !ore (leasant an use&ul to $o throu$h Kthe
e,(erience o& the re"olution9 than to 'rite a#out it/ 0LCW) 3I:5>37%
13: TIMINJ THE INS:RRE;TI=N
In the su!!er o& 1>1? Lenin resiste those 'ho 'ante to ta+e (o'er too early%
But #y the autu!n the situation 'as #eco!in$ ri(e &or such action% It 'as ur$ent
&or the re"olutionaries to $ras( their o((ortunities #e&ore it 'as too late% In article
a&ter article Lenin ar$ue that there 'as no ti!e to 'aste) that it 'as necessary to
(re(are the insurrection i!!eiately% By =cto#er he 'as 'ritin$ to the central
co!!ittee insistin$ that -to K'ait9 'oul #e a cri!e/ 0LCW) 3D:1547%
=n the streets there 'as a !oo o& e,(ectation: 'or+ers 'ere reain$ Lenin9s
articles such as -The ;risis has Mature/ 0LCW) 3D:?5*637% They +ne' !o!entous
chan$e 'as i!!inent) #ut they neee a centralisin$ &orce to ensure they all
acte to$ether%
T'o !e!#ers o& the central co!!ittee) Nino"ie" an 1a!ene") o((ose Lenin9s
(lans < an 'rote an article criticisin$ hi! in a non*Bolshe"i+ (a(er% This coul
ha"e enan$ere the 'hole enter(rise% But contrary to the !yth that Lenin 'as a
ruthless tyrant) he coul not (ersuae the central co!!ittee to e,(el the! &ro!
the (arty%
In 8etro$ra a !ilitary co!!ittee 'as set u( #y the so"iet) an heae #y Trots+y%
A!on$ its D4 !e!#ers 'ere 56 Bolshe"i+s) a &e' le&t Socialist Re"olutionaries)
an &our anarchists%
Lenin) 'ho throu$hout his li&e ha &ocuse on the tas+ o& #uilin$ the (arty)
thou$ht the (arty itsel& shoul call the insurrection% Trots+y) 'ho ha $reater
e,(erience o& the so"iets than Lenin) ha to (ersuae hi! that the (arty9s su((ort
alone 'as not #roa enou$h) an that the call shoul co!e &ro! the so"iets% Lenin
'as no tyrant < it 'as his 'illin$ness to learn that !ae hi! a $reat leaer%
:nli+e the Tsar) 'ho sent !illions to their eath in the 'ar) Lenin i not sCuaner
the li"es o& his su((orters% Because the re"olutionaries 'ere eter!ine) an
sho'e that they 'oul use 'hate"er &orce 'as necessary) the nu!#er o&
casualties in 8etro$ra 'as "ery s!all% Ten years later the $reat irector
Eisenstein !ae a Bl! o& the =cto#er Re"olution% It is sai !ore (eo(le 'ere
+ille !a+in$ the !o"ie than ie in the insurrection in 8etro$ra%
Within a ay the 8ro"isional Jo"ern!ent ha colla(se an the Bolshe"i+s 'ere in
(o'er% Else'here) nota#ly in Mosco') the resistance 'as Bercer an there 'ere
!ore casualties% The ay a&ter the u(risin$ Lenin eclare to the 8etro$ra so"iet)
-We !ust no' set a#out #uilin$ a (roletarian socialist state in Russia/ 0LCW)
3D:3547%
1H: THE ER:ITS =E VI;T=RY
A ne' state structure 'as set u() #ase on the so"iets% Lenin #eca!e hea o& the
ne' $o"ern!ent% Thou$h he is o&ten accuse o& see+in$ (o'er) he i not 'ant
the .o#% He trie to (ersuae Trots+y to ta+e it) so that he coul concentrate his
ener$ies on the (arty% But Trots+y re&use 0I 2eutscher) The "rophet Arme)
Lonon) 1>?4) (H3I7%
The ne' re"olutionary re$i!e i!!eiately #e$an to introuce a (ro$ra!!e o&
raical an &ar*reachin$ re&or!s% =ne o& the Brst ecrees institute !easures o&
'or+ers9 control in the &actories%
8ri"ate o'nershi( o& lan 'as a#olishe) 'ithout co!(ensation% The ri$ht to use
the lan 'ent to those 'ho culti"ate it% A&ter a Berce e#ate a (eace treaty 'as
si$ne 'ith Jer!any% Russia 'as out o& the 'ar% Nations 'hich ha &or!erly #een
o((resse 'ithin the Russian E!(ire 'ere $i"en the chance o& ine(enence%
="er the ne,t &e' years B"e ine(enent states 'ere create) an 'ithin the ne'
Russian &eeration 1? autono!ous re(u#lics an re$ions 'ere esta#lishe%
The ol le$al coe 'as a#olishe) an the le$al syste! 'as co!(letely re&or!e%
8o(ular courts 'ere set u() 'ith electe .u$es%
Wo!en $aine the ri$ht to "ote) an &ull citiFenshi() eCual (ay an e!(loy!ent
ri$hts% Le$al chan$es #e$an to trans&or! the 'hole nature o& the &a!ily% 2i"orce
#y !utual a$ree!ent 'as esta#lishe% As one le$islator (ut it) !arria$e -!ust
cease to #e a ca$e in 'hich hus#an an 'i&e li"e li+e con"icts/% 2iscri!ination
a$ainst ille$iti!ate chilren 'as ene% In 1>34 Russia #eca!e the Brst country in
the 'orl to le$alise a#ortion% Ho!ose,uality 'as no lon$er a cri!e% Such
chan$es (ut Russia 'ay ahea o& the su((osely !ore a"ance nations o&
Western Euro(e%
Within a year the nu!#er o& schools 'as increase #y !ore than I4 (ercent) an
there 'ere ca!(ai$ns to teach the illiterate to rea an 'rite% :ni"ersity &ees
'ere a#olishe to allo' $reater access to hi$her eucation% E,a!inations 'ere
one a'ay 'ith) an learnin$ #ase on (ure !e!orisin$ 'as !uch reuce%
School stuy 'as co!#ine 'ith (ractical !anual 'or+) an !easures o&
e!ocratic control 'ere #rou$ht in) in"ol"in$ all school 'or+ers an (u(ils a$e
o"er 13% Lenin (ersonally $a"e $reat attention to the e,(ansion o& li#raries%
2ecrees coul only chan$e so !uch% The tas+ o& eraicatin$ i$norance)
su(erstition an reactionary attitues 'oul ta+e lon$er% Lenin stresse the
i!(ortance o& the sel&*e!anci(ation o& the 'or+in$ class) sayin$ the re"olution
!ust -e"elo( this ine(enent initiati"e o& the 'or+ers) an o& all the 'or+in$
an e,(loite (eo(le $enerally) e"elo( it as 'iely as (ossi#le in creati"e
or$anisational 'or+% At all costs) 'e !ust #rea+ the ol) a#sur) sa"a$e)
es(ica#le an is$ustin$ (re.uice that only the so calle Ku((er classes9) only
the rich) an those 'ho ha"e $one throu$h the school o& the rich) are ca(a#le o&
a!inisterin$ the state an irectin$ the or$anisational e"elo(!ent o& socialist
society/ 0LCW) 3D:54>7% 2es(ite the terri#le harshi(s o& the (ost*re"olutionary
(erio) !any 'or+in$ (eo(le &elt release &ro! the li!itations o& their ol 'ay o&
li&e% There are conte!(orary accounts o& 'or+ers) a&ter a ay in the &actory)
i!(ro"isin$ an (roucin$ (lays) or attenin$ classes to learn ho' to 'rite (oetry%
Re"olutionary Russia sa' a &er!ent o& inno"ation an e,(eri!ent in literature)
(aintin$ an cine!a% The (osition o& the artist in society 'as trans&or!e% As the
(oet Maya+o"s+y (ut it) -Streets &or (aint#rushes 'e9ll useO=ur (alettes) sCuares
'ith their 'ie*o(en s(aces/ 0-=rer o& the 2ay to the Ar!y o& the Arts/) 1>167%
15: THE ERAJILE W=R1ERS9 STATE
The ne' society &ace !any (ro#le!s% War an Tsarist !isrule ha le&t an
econo!y in chaos% The Russian 'or+in$ class 'as "ery ne'% Most 'or+ers 'ere
the chilren o& (easants 'ho ha co!e to 'or+ in the to'ns% Many 'ere illiterate%
The 'or+in$ class 'as a tiny !inority in the !ist o& a "ast (easantry%
Lenin reco$nise &ro! the outset that there coul #e no (lanne econo!y 'ithout
the acti"e in"ol"e!ent o& the !ass o& 'or+in$ (eo(le% As a ne's(a(er re(orte
his s(eech) -There 'as not an coul not #e a eBnite (lan &or the or$anisation o&
econo!ic li&e% No#oy coul (ro"ie one% But it coul #e one &ro! #elo') #y the
!asses) throu$h their e,(erience% Instructions 'oul) o& course) #e $i"en an
'ays 'oul #e inicate) #ut it 'as necessary to #e$in si!ultaneously &ro! a#o"e
an #elo'/ 0LCW) 3D:HDI7%
In other 'ors) there coul #e no -econo!ic (lannin$/ se(arate &ro! 'or+ers9
e!ocracy% History has sho'n .ust ho' ri$ht Lenin 'as% Whene"er (lannin$ has
#een i!(ose &ro! a#o"e) 'ithout !ass in"ol"e!ent) so calle -socialis!/ has
#eco!e a $rotesCue authoritarian tra"esty%
Ho'e"er) the 'or+ers on 'ho! Lenin relie ha $ro'n u( in a society that 'ar(e
an stunte their e"elo(!ent% As he reco$nise in 1>1>) socialis! ha to #e
#uilt 'ith -!en an 'o!en 'ho $re' u( uner ca(italis!) 'ere e(ra"e an
corru(te #y ca(italis!/ 0LCW) 3>:D>7% Russia 'as less e"elo(e) inustrially an
culturally) than Western Euro(e) an its econo!y ha #een 'rec+e #y the 'orl
'ar% Ero! the "ery #e$innin$ the Bolshe"i+ 8arty ha to so!e e,tent to su#stitute
itsel& &or the !ass o& 'or+ers%
There 'as a $reat shorta$e o& re"olutionary acti"ists 'ith the e,(erience to o
a!inistrati"e .o#s% Those 'ho 'ere ca(a#le o&ten &oun the!sel"es oin$
se"eral .o#s at the sa!e ti!e% Victor Ser$e) a Bel$ian*#orn re"olutionary 'ho
ca!e to Russia to hel( the re"olution) &oun hi!sel& 'or+in$ si!ultaneously as
.ournalist) teacher) schools ins(ector) translator) $un*runner an archi"ist%
This lac+ o& e,(erience 'as es(ecially serious in the state security !achine% The
ne' re$i!e create an or$anisation calle the ;he+a 0All*Russian E,traorinary
;o!!ission to ;o!#at ;ounter*Re"olution an Sa#ota$e7% This 'as unou#tely
necessary% Many o& the &or!er (ri"ile$e 'ante to sa#ota$e the ne' re$i!e%
They ha to #e sto((e% But o&ten ;he+a e!(loyees 'ere (eo(le 'ith insuLcient
co!!it!ent to socialist (rinci(les 'ho !isuse their authority% Many innocent
(eo(le suAere at their hans% It 'as reco$nise that this 'as an e!er$ency
!easure < in 1>33) at the ur$in$ o& Lenin an others) the ;he+a 'as re(lace #y a
#oy 'ith !ore li!ite (o'ers%
So!e re"olutionaries e,(ecte too !uch too soon% In 1>1? !any 'or+ers ha
&or!e &actory co!!ittees < Bolshe"i+s o&ten (laye a +ey role in the!% But such
#oies o&ten re(resente the interests o& a (articular $rou( o& 'or+ers rather than
the class as a 'hole% In March 1>16 a re(ort #y Shlya(ni+o" 0later leaer o& the
Wor+ers9 =((osition7 escri#e the chaos (rouce #y 'or+ers9 control on the
rail'ays 0T ;liA) Lenin "ol III) Lonon) 1>?6) ((11>*1347% This 'as contrary to the
interests o& the 'or+ers in $eneral) 'ho neee an eLcient trans(ort syste!%
Althou$h co!!itte to 'or+ers9 control in (rinci(le) the Bolshe"i+s incor(orate
the &actory co!!ittees into the trae unions%
I& Russia ha e,iste in a seale #u##le) these (ro#le!s !i$ht ha"e #een irone
out o"er a &e' years% But the $reat (o'ers o& Euro(e i not 'ant to see the
re"olution sur"i"e% They +ne' ho' (o(ular re"olutionary Russia 'as a!on$ 'ar*
'eary 'or+ers) an they 'ere terriBe that the e,a!(le !i$ht s(rea%
=n the ay #e&ore the Ar!istice in 1>16 Winston ;hurchill tol the British ca#inet
it !i$ht #e necessary to re#uil the Jer!an ar!y to B$ht Bolshe"is!% T'o 'ee+s
later he tol a !eetin$) -;i"ilisation is #ein$ co!(letely e,tin$uishe o"er
$i$antic areas) 'hile Bolshe"i+s ho( an ca(er li+e troo(s o& &erocious #a#oons
a!i the ruins o& cities an the cor(ses o& their "icti!s 0M Jil#ert) Winston S
Churchill) "ol IV) Lonon) 1>?I) ((33D*33?7%
:ntil 1>34 a "icious ci"il 'ar s'e(t across Russian territory% Actually -ci"il 'ar/ is
not an accurate escri(tion% There 'ere troo(s in Russia &ro! Britain) Erance)
;anaa) the :S an 1? other countries) lin+in$ u( 'ith the "arious #rutal an
corru(t Russian leaers ouste #y the re"olution% T'ice 8etro$ra nearly &ell into
the hans o& the reactionaries% Lenin iscusse the (ossi#ility that the Bolshe"i+s
'oul return to #ein$ an uner$roun or$anisation 0V Ser$e) Memoirs of a
Revolutionar&) Lonon) 1>DH) (>37%
Those 'ho see+ to "ili&y Lenin) such as the authors o& The !lack !ook of
Communism) (rouce Cuotations &ro! Lenin that !a+e hi! soun li+e a
#loothirsty #rute% In Au$ust 1>16 Lenin sent a tele$ra! a#out ho' to eal 'ith a
re"olt #y +ula+s 0relati"ely (ros(erous (easants) 'ho 'ere ene!ies o& the (oorer
(easants7:
-The +ula+ u(risin$ in your B"e istricts !ust #e crushe 'ithout (ity% The
interests o& the 'hole re"olution e!an such actions) &or the Bnal stru$$le 'ith
the +ula+s has no' #e$un% You !ust !a+e an e,a!(le o& these (eo(le% 017 Han$ 0I
!ean han$ (u#licly) so that (eo(le see it7 at least 144 +ula+s) rich #astars an
+no'n #loosuc+ers% 037 8u#lish their na!es% 0H7 SeiFe all their $rain% 057 Sin$le
out the hosta$es (er !y instructions in yesteray9s tele$ra!/ 0S ;ourtois et al)
The !lack !ook of Communism) Lonon an ;a!#ri$e Mass) 1>>>) (?37%
This loo+s a((allin$ i& the Cuotation is ri((e out o& conte,t% There 'as a "icious
'ar $oin$ on) an the counter* re"olutionaries 'ere &ar !ore #rutal than the
Bolshe"i+s% The :S co!!aner in Si#eria in 1>1>) Jeneral Willia! S Jra"es)
testiBe that -I a! 'ell on the sie o& sa&ety 'hen I say that the anti*Bolshe"i+s
+ille 144 (eo(le in Eastern Si#eria) to e"ery one +ille #y the Bolshe"i+s/ 0W 8
an N 1 ;oates) Arme Intervention in Russia '(')*'(++) Lonon) 1>HI) (34>7%
Lenin 'as no (aciBst) an i all he coul to ensure Bolshe"i+ "ictory% The 'riters
o& the !lack !ook are not (articularly "ocal in criticisin$ the "iolence o& Jeor$e
Bush) Tony Blair or Ariel Sharon% It is easier to sal"e their consciences #y
enouncin$ Lenin%
The counter*re"olutionary &orces 'ere corru(t an anti*Se!itic < they ha nothin$
to oAer e,ce(t a return to the iscreite ol orer% E"entually the ci"il 'ar 'as
'on #y the enor!ous eter!ination an coura$e sho'n #y the Bolshe"i+s%
Lenin (laye a crucial role in $i"in$ the (arty (olitical irection% But he 'as
scarcely a tyrant% In the !onths a&ter the re"olution the Bolshe"i+ leaershi( 'as
o&ten ee(ly i"ie on !a.or Cuestions% Lenin 'as so!eti!es in a !inority an
ha to ar$ue Bercely to 'in his (osition%
Lenin i not consier any tas+ #eneath hi!% He s(ent !uch ti!e on "ery !inor
a!inistrati"e etails% ;o!(are 'ith !oern ictators) his security 'as "ery
'ea+% =nce his car 'as attac+e #y ro##ers an he 'as &orce to $et out 'hile
they ro"e a'ay in it% It too+ so!e ti!e #e&ore he recei"e any assistance% He i
not see+ (ri"ile$e &or hi!sel&% In 1>16 he issue a -se"ere re(ri!an/ 'hen the
;ouncil o& 8eo(le9s ;o!!issars raise his salary 0LCW) HI:HHH7% There is a letter
'ritten #y Lenin in 1>34) 'here he "ery (olitely as+e a li#rarian i& the rules coul
#e #ent so that he coul #orro' so!e re&erence 'or+s o"erni$ht) (ro"iin$ they
'ere returne Brst thin$ the ne,t !ornin$ 0LCW) HI:5I57% It is har to i!a$ine
Stalin or Saa! Hussein sho'in$ such res(ect &or li#rary re$ulations%
1I: THE INTERNATI=NAL M=VEMENT
Lenin ha al'ays unerstoo that there 'as no ho(e &or a socialist re"olution in
Russia unless it &airly ra(ily s(rea to the rest o& the 'orl% In 2ece!#er 1>1? he
'rote) -The socialist re"olution that has #e$un in Russia is) there&ore) only the
#e$innin$ o& the 'orl socialist re"olution/ 0LCW) 3D:H6D7% A 'or+ers9 Jer!any) in
(articular) coul ha"e hel(e Russia econo!ically%
Lenin9s ho(e that the Russian Re"olution 'oul s(rea 'as realistic% 8ros(ects &or
re"olution in Euro(e 'ere $oo at the en o& the 'ar% A&ter &our years 'or+ers
'ere &e u( 'ith a syste! that ha cause so !uch eath an estruction% Ero!
1>16 to 1>34 there 'ere stri+es an !utinies) &actory occu(ations) an 'or+ers9
an soliers9 councils e"ery'here% 2e&eate Jer!any) in (articular) see!e on
the #rin+ o& re"olution%
The (ro#le! 'as one o& leaershi(% Al!ost all the ol leaers o& the 'or+in$ class
!o"e!ent ha su((orte the 'ar% A ne' $eneration o& !ilitants ha e!er$e
urin$ the 'ar) #ut they 'ere ine,(erience% No'here 'as there a (arty li+e the
Bolshe"i+s 'ith e,(erience leaershi( an real roots a!on$ 'or+ers% In Manuary
1>1> Rosa Lu,e!#ur$) the Jer!an socialist) 'as !urere #y her (olitical
ene!ies% Lu,e!#ur$ 'as the one leaer in Euro(e 'ho coul ha"e ar$ue 'ith
Lenin on eCual ter!s%
Lenin ar$ue that there 'as no (oint tryin$ to re"i"e the Secon International < it
'as necessary to #uil a ne' International% In March 1>1> a con&erence in Mosco'
(roclai!e the Thir) ;o!!unist) International% ="er the ne,t three years three
!ore con&erences 'ere hel) as !ore or$anisations 'ere ra'n into the ne'
International%
Be&ore 1>15 there ha #een a ee( i"ision in the 'or+in$ class !o"e!ent)
#et'een Mar,ists on the one han) an anarchists an synicalists on the other%
A&ter the Russian Re"olution !any anarchists an synicalists $a"e the re"olution
their su((ort% Lenin 'as +een to 'in the! o"er% He s(ent hours iscussin$ 'ith
anarchists such as E!!a Jol!an &ro! the :S an Ma+hno &ro! :+raine% In
1>34) 'hen Euro(ean synicalists ha !ae their 'ay to Mosco') o&ten 'ith $reat
iLculty) so!e leain$ Bolshe"i+s rante at the! a#out the necessity &or the
re"olutionary (arty% Lenin ao(te a !uch !ore (ositi"e a((roach% He ar$ue that
the synicalist iea o& an -or$anise !inority/ o& the !ost !ilitant 'or+ers an
the Bolshe"i+ iea o& the (arty 'ere the sa!e thin$ 0LCW) H1:3HI*3HD7% In this
strate$y Lenin ha the su((ort o& Trots+y% Many other Bolshe"i+s too+ a !ore
sectarian (osition%
Lenin realise there 'as a serious (ro#le! 'ith 'hat he calle -le&t 'in$
co!!unis!/% In a (erio o& risin$ stru$$le !any ne' !ilitants 'ere ra'n into
acti"ity% Because they ha no !e!ory o& e&eat) they o&ten uneresti!ate the
iLculties o& 'innin$ o"er a !a.ority o& 'or+ers% Many ne' acti"ists thou$ht that)
#ecause they ha realise (arlia!entary e!ocracy 'as a &rau) all other 'or+ers
coul easily #e (ersuae o& this) an that re"olutionaries shoul re&use to
(artici(ate in elections% Lenin re!ine the! that !illions o& 'or+ers still #elie"e
in (arlia!ent: -We !ust not re$ar 'hat is o#solete to us as so!ethin$ o#solete
to the !asses/ 0LCW) H1:I67%

He ur$e the British ;o!!unist 8arty to see+ aLliation to the La#our 8arty) in
orer to 'in o"er the !ass o& 'or+ers still loyal to La#our) ho'e"er ri$ht 'in$ its
leaers 'ere% He insiste that ;o!!unists !ust retain -the &reeo! necessary to
e,(ose an criticise the #etrayers o& the 'or+in$ class/) an conclue that i& the
;o!!unists 'ere e,(elle it 'oul #e a -$reat "ictory/ 0LCW) H1:3D3* 3DH7% What
!attere 'as not an or$anisational solution) #ut ensurin$ that ;o!!unist ieas
reache the lar$est (ossi#le nu!#er o& 'or+ers%
So!e re"olutionaries 'ante to lea"e the trae unions alto$ether #ecause the
#ureaucrats 'ere corru(t an reactionary% Lenin 'ent so &ar as to say that
re"olutionaries threatene 'ith e,(ulsion shoul -resort to "arious strata$e!s)
artiBces an ille$al !ethos) to e"asions an su#ter&u$es/) in orer to stay in the
unions 0LCW) H1:II7% This is o&ten Cuote out o& conte,t) as i& Lenin a"ocate
ishonesty in $eneral% =n the contrary) Lenin al'ays ar$ue that re"olutionaries
shoul tell the truth to 'or+ers% He si!(ly ar$ue that i& the union #ureaucracy
'itch*hunte re"olutionaries an #ent the rules to e,(el the!) then
re"olutionaries shoul +ee( Cuiet a#out their (arty !e!#ershi( in orer to stay in
the union: -I& you 'ant to hel( the K!asses9 an 'in the sy!(athy an su((ort o&
the K!asses9) you shoul not &ear iLculties) or (in(ric+s) chicanery) insults an
(ersecution &ro! the Kleaers9G#ut !ust a#solutely 'or+ 'here"er the !asses
are to #e &oun 0LCW) H1:IH7%
Lenin coul ar$ue "i$orously) #ut he +ne' ho' to learn &ro! the !o"e!ent% The
Erench synicalist Al&re Ros!er escri#e his Brst !eetin$ 'ith Lenin) 'ho ha
'ritten an article callin$ &or an i!!eiate s(lit in the Erench Socialist 8arty to &or!
a ne' ;o!!unist 8arty% Ros!er e,(laine to hi! it 'oul #e !uch #etter to 'ait
a &e' !onths an 'in o"er the !a.ority% Lenin i!!eiately res(one) -I !ust
ha"e 'ritten so!ethin$ stu(i)/ an chan$e his article 0A Ros!er) Lenin,s
Mosco-) Lonon) 1>6?) (IH7% Lenin 'as a leaer 'ho +ne' ho' to listen an 'hen
to chan$e his !in% Ho' iAerent &ro! toay9s (oliticians) &or 'ho! reco$nisin$ a
!ista+e is an a!ission o& &ailure%
In his last s(eech to the ;o!!unist International) late in 1>33) Lenin 'arne o&
the an$ers o& i!(osin$ the Russian e,(erience on other countries%
Re"olutionaries e"ery'here !ust a((ly their (rinci(les to the concrete
circu!stances o& their actual e,(erience:
-The resolution is too Russian) it re@ects Russian e,(erience% That is 'hy it is Cuite
unintelli$i#le to &orei$ners) an they cannot #e content 'ith han$in$ it in a corner
li+e an icon an (rayin$ to it/ 0LCW) HH:5H17%
1D: RETREAT AN2 NE8
The Jer!an ;o!!unist 8arty) 'ithout a sta#le an e,(erience leaershi()
"eere &ro! le&t to ri$ht an &aile to turn a lon$ social crisis into a success&ul
re"olution% Russia re!aine isolate%
The Bolshe"i+s 'on the ci"il 'ar an retaine (o'er) #ut at a terri#le (rice% The
econo!y 'as in ruins% The 'or+in$ class itsel& 'as in !assi"e ecline < #y 1>31 it
'as a#out one thir the siFe it ha #een in 1>1?% Many !ilitant 'or+ers ha le&t
the &actories to .oin the ar!y < a &air nu!#er ne"er returne% =thers) &acin$
une!(loy!ent an star"ation) returne to their &a!ilies in the countrysie) 'here
they coul $et a s!all a!ount to eat% The so"iets 'ere an e!(ty shell%
The Bolshe"i+s coul not si!(ly han #ac+ (o'er% That 'oul ha"e le&t the ol
rulin$ class &ree to !assacre 'hat 'as le&t o& 'or+in$ class or$anisation% They ha
no alternati"e #ut to han$ on to (o'er an 'ait &or a re"olutionary u(turn in the
West%
Not sur(risin$ly) there 'ere e,(ressions o& iscontent in the (o(ulation% The !ost
serious ca!e in the s(rin$ o& 1>31% Sailors in the na"al &ortress o& 1ronstat) .ust
outsie 8etro$ra) re#elle% So!e o& the! calle &or a -thir re"olution/% Se"eral
o& their criticis!s 'ere .ustiBe% But a -thir re"olution/ 'as a (ure &antasy) an
the re#ellion threatene the Bolshe"i+ re$i!e% I& the Bolshe"i+s ha #een ouste)
the result 'oul ha"e #een not a !ore e!ocratic society) #ut the return o& the
ol re$i!e% It 'as ecie to s!ash the re"olt !ilitarily% This 'as a lo' (oint &or
Bolshe"is!) #ut there 'as no alternati"e%
Lenin +ne' that !ilitary !easures coul not sol"e the real (ro#le!s% He escri#e
the 1ronstat e"ents as -li+e a @ash o& li$htnin$ 'hich thre' !ore o& a $lare u(on
reality than anythin$ else/ 0LCW) H3:3?>7% A$ain he sho'e his a#ility to &ace an
un(reicte reality an ao(t the necessary solution% The Russian econo!y 'as
&ailin$ #ecause the (arty &unctionaries in char$e o& "arious enter(rises i not
ha"e the a#ility to run the! (ro(erly% A suita#le #alance #et'een to'n an
country ha not #een achie"e%
Lenin introuce 'hat #eca!e +no'n as the Ne' Econo!ic 8olicy 0NE87% The
reCuisition o& $rain &ro! (easants 'as re(lace #y a ta, 'hich encoura$e the!
to $ro' !ore% So!e (ri"ate o'nershi( 'as restore) an ne' o((ortunities &or
(ri"ate trae an s!all*scale !anu&acture allo'e the e!er$ence o& a train$
class o& #usiness (eo(le 0NE8!en7%
The (olicy sta"e oA econo!ic isaster% Victor Ser$e recounte) -The Ne'
Econo!ic 8olicy 'as) in the s(ace o& a &e' !onths) alreay $i"in$ !ar"ellous
results% Ero! one 'ee+ to the ne,t) the &a!ine an the s(eculation 'ere
i!inishin$ (erce(ti#ly/ 0V Ser$e) Memoirs of a Revolutionar&) Lonon) 1>DH)
(15?7%
This solution shoc+e !any (eo(le% Lenin9s ee( co!!it!ent to socialist
(rinci(les ena#le hi! to a"ocate such a retreat% He a!itte the +ey test 'as)
-;an you run the econo!y as 'ell as the others? The ol ca(italist can < you
cannot%/ As a result -the ca(italists are o(eratin$ alon$sie us% They are o(eratin$
li+e ro##ers) they !a+e (roBt) #ut they +no' ho' to o thin$s/ 0LCW) HH:3?H7%
The NE8 'as a short*ter! retreat) not a lon$*ter! reconciliation 'ith ca(italis!%
Lenin still ho(e a re"olution else'here 'oul relie"e #esie$e Russia%
1?: LENIN9S LAST STR:JJLE
By 1>33 Lenin 'as "ery sic+% A((allin$ o"er'or+ an the in.ury &ro! an atte!(t
on his li&e ha le&t hi! e,hauste% He +ne' he 'oul not sur"i"e to steer the
re"olution throu$h its !ost iLcult (hase%
He 'as also alar!e at ho' the re"olution 'as e"elo(in$% As the 'or+in$ class
ha shrun+) #ureaucracy #e$an to $ro' insie an outsie the (arty) o&ten
ao(tin$ !ethos alien to the (rinci(les o& 'or+in$ class e!ocracy% There 'as
also a an$erous e"elo(!ent o& nationalis!%
Lenin e"ote 'hat stren$th he ha to stru$$lin$ a$ainst the $ro'in$
#ureaucracy% In one o& his last articles) -Better Ee'er #ut Better/) he reco$nise
that) B"e years a&ter the re"olution) the state a((aratus 'as -e(lora#le/ an
-'retche/ 0LCW) HH:56?7% There coul #e no Cuic+ re!ey) only a (atient
stru$$le &or $enuine 'or+ers9 e!ocracy) 'ith the introuction o& !ore 'or+ers
into the state !achine:
-Eor this (ur(ose) the #est ele!ents that 'e ha"e in our social syste! < such as)
Brst) the a"ance 'or+ers) an) secon) the really enli$htene ele!ents &or
'ho! 'e can "ouch that they 'ill not ta+e the 'or &or the ee) an 'ill not
utter a sin$le 'or that $oes a$ainst their conscience < shoul not shrin+ &ro!
a!ittin$ any iLculty an shoul not shrin+ &ro! any stru$$le in orer to
achie"e the o#.ect they ha"e seriously set the!sel"es/ 0LCW) HH:56>7%
Lenin9s honesty an critical s(irit 'ere in star+ contrast to the co!(lacency an
arro$ance that characterise the Russian state uner Stalin an his successors%
Lenin 'as &orce to thin+ a#out 'ho shoul succee hi!% He 'rote a short
ocu!ent re"ie'in$ the ca(acities o& the other leain$ Bolshe"i+s% He 'as critical
o& all o& the!) #ut sin$le out Stalin &or the shar(est criticis!) a"ocatin$ his
re!o"al as secretary*$eneral o& the (arty 0LCW) HD:I>5*I>D7%
Ero! the !ile o& 1>33 on'ars Lenin suAere a series o& stro+es% By early 1>3H
he 'as una#le to inter"ene in the e#ates in the (arty he ha #uilt% When he ie
in 1>35 his #oy 'as e!#al!e) trans&or!in$ hi! into a sort o& saint) so!ethin$
that 'oul ha"e a((alle hi!% His 'io') 1ru(s+aya) 'ho ha share his !any
stru$$les) ur$e a$ainst this sort o& tri#ute:
-2o not raise !e!orials to hi!G To all this he attache so little i!(ortance in his
li&eG I& you 'ish to honour the na!e o& Vlai!ir Ilyich) #uil creches)
+iner$artens) houses) schools) li#raries) !eical centres) hos(itals) ho!es &or the
isa#le) etc) an) !ost o& all) let us (ut his (rece(ts into (ractice/ 0"rava, H4
Manuary 1>357%
16: 2I2 LENIN LEA2 T= STALIN?
Many acae!ics) (oliticians an .ournalists clai! that Lenin9s !ethos an
(olicies le irectly to the #rutalities an atrocities o& the Stalin era% This is a laFy
'ay o& e,(lainin$ history) 'hich &ails to e,a!ine the co!(le, historical (rocess
that le to Stalin% It Bts 'ith the iea that history is all a#out $reat ini"iuals) that
all 'e nee to unerstan is the (sycholo$y o& a cou(le o& leaers%
=& course) anythin$ can #e (ro"e 'ith selecte &acts torn out o& conte,t% Victor
Ser$e) 'ho .oine the Bolshe"i+s in the !ile o& the ci"il 'ar an 'as later one o&
Stalin9s "icti!s) su!!e u( 'hat 'as 'ron$ 'ith this a((roach: -It is o&ten sai
that Kthe $er! o& all Stalinis! 'as in Bolshe"is! at its #e$innin$9% Well) I ha"e no
o#.ection% =nly) Bolshe"is! also containe !any other $er!s) a !ass o& other
$er!s) an those 'ho li"e throu$h the enthusias! o& the Brst years o& the Brst
"ictorious socialist re"olution ou$ht not to &or$et it/ 0#e-
International) Ee#ruary 1>H>7%
Lenin9s 'hole strate$y 'as #ase on the (rinci(le that the Russian Re"olution
'oul s(rea to the rest o& Euro(e) then the 'orl% But the re"olution &aile to
s(rea an) as Lenin unerstoo) it coul not #e e,(orte%
This isolation 'as the &una!ental cause o& 'hat 'ent 'ron$ in Russia% Rosa
Lu,e!#ur$) o&ten hi$hly critical o& Lenin) 'rote) -The RussiansG'ill not #e a#le to
!aintain the!sel"es in this 'itches9 Sa##athG#ecause social e!ocracy in the
hi$hly e"elo(e West consists o& !isera#le an 'retche co'ars 'ho 'ill loo+
Cuietly on an let the Russians #lee to eath/ 0Letter to Luise 1auts+y) 35
No"e!#er 1>1?7%
The real #la!e lies 'ith those Western leaers li+e Winston ;hurchill) 'ho
launche ar!e attac+s on the (ost*re"olutionary state) an 'ith 'or+in$ class
leaers 'ho e&ene the Russian Re"olution hal&*heartely or not at all%
=& course) it is i!(ossi#le to say 'hat Lenin 'oul ha"e one i& he ha sur"i"e
a&ter 1>35% But 'e can #e (retty certain 'hat Lenin 'oul not ha"e one% Stalin9s
solution) launche 'hen Lenin 'as sa&ely ea) 'as -socialis! in one country/%
Instea o& encoura$in$ re"olutionary !o"e!ents 'hen they arose any'here in
the 'orl) Stalin (ositi"ely iscoura$e the!%
The ;o!!unist International) in Lenin9s ay a li"ely &oru! 'here iAerent
strate$ies 'ere e#ate) #eca!e a to(*o'n #ureaucratic a((aratus in 'hich
e"eryone o#eye the sa!e line% In ;hina in 1>3? the ;o!!unists 'ere tol #y
Stalin to surrener their ine(enence to ;hian$ 1ai*she+) 'ho use the! an
then !assacre the!% In Jer!any) ;o!!unists 'ere tol that the Social
2e!ocrats 'ere the sa!e as &ascists < hence there 'as no unite o((osition to
Hitler% In the S(anish ;i"il War) ;o!!unists turne their $uns a$ainst 'or+ers 'ho
'ante to turn the 'ar into a re"olution%
Stalin ecie that Russia 'oul ha"e to inustrialise on its o'n% He ar$ue that
Russia ha to catch u( 'ith 'hat the West ha one o"er !any years: -We are I4
or 144 years #ehin the a"ance countries% We !ust !a+e $oo this la$ in ten
years% Either 'e o it or they crush us/ 0I 2eutscher) Stalin) Lonon) 1>D1) (H367%
Inustrialisation in 1>th century Britain 'as #rutal enou$h% The (rocess 'as !uch
Cuic+er in Russia an hence the suAerin$ 'as !uch $reater% What !ost critics o&
Stalinis! re&use to see is that the syste! 'hich cause the suAerin$ 'as
essentially the sa!e% 2es(ite state o'nershi() the econo!ic la's 'hich ro"e the
Russian econo!y 'ere those o& ca(italis!%
Many o& the $ains o& the re"olution 'ere lost% Ine(enent trae unions an the
ri$ht to stri+e isa((eare) an 'a$es 'ere &orce o'n% A#ortion an
ho!ose,uality once a$ain #eca!e cri!es% Artistic inno"ation 'as re(lace #y the
ra# conser"ati"e octrine o& -socialist realis!/%
Stalin9s #rutal (olicy o& &orci#ly collecti"isin$ a$riculture 'as the irect o((osite o&
Lenin9s (osition% Lenin ha al'ays sou$ht to (reser"e an alliance 'ith the
(easantry%
A ne' class o& #ureaucrats) 'ith their o'n interests) no' e!er$e% The
;o!!unist 8arty) 'hich ha consiste o& the !ost eicate !ilitants 0until 1>3>
(arty !e!#ers only earne a s+ille 'or+er9s 'a$e) 'hate"er their (ost7) no'
#eca!e an or$anisation o& the elite) 'ho loo+e to Stalin to e&en their interests%
Lenin is o&ten accuse o& introucin$ the one*(arty state% But the Bolshe"i+s ha
little choice in the !atter% A&ter the success&ul re"olution the Menshe"i+s an
Socialist Re"olutionaries (ro(ose a unite coalition $o"ern!ent i& Lenin an
Trots+y 'ere e,clue) a conition that 'as clearly unacce(ta#le% The Socialist
Re"olutionaries then resorte to "iolence a$ainst the ne' re$i!e < in Au$ust 1>16
a Socialist Re"olutionary atte!(te to assassinate Lenin%
Lenin 'as o&ten harsh in ar$uin$ 'ith his o((onents% But he ar$ue a#out ieas
an (olicies < he in9t accuse his o((onents o& cri!es they ha ne"er co!!itte%
In 1>31 the Bolshe"i+ 8arty #anne the or$anisation o& &actions) #ut Lenin insiste
that -'e cannot e(ri"e the (arty an the !e!#ers o& the central co!!ittee o&
the ri$ht to a((eal to the (arty in the e"ent o& isa$ree!ent on &una!ental
issues/ 0LCW) H3:3D17% In the (ur$es an sho' trials o& the 1>H4s Stalin9s "icti!s
'ere accuse o& Bctitious < an o&ten luicrous < oAences) such as colla#oratin$
'ith the NaFis%
There 'as certainly harsh re(ression in the ci"il 'ar (erio) #ut it 'as not
co!(ara#le to the sa"a$ery o& Stalin9s re$i!e% Victor Ser$e) 'ho 'as there an
+ne' 'hat he 'as tal+in$ a#out) .u$e that -in theory an (ractice the (rison*
state Po& StalinQ has nothin$ in co!!on 'ith the !easures o& (u#lic sa&ety o& the
co!!une state in the (erio o& the #attles/ 0V Ser$e) Russia T-ent& $ears After)
Ne' Mersey) 1>>D) (>H7%
In orer to consoliate his (o'er) Stalin ha to +ill Lenin9s closest associates <
Nino"ie") 1a!ene") Rae+ an Bu+harin% Stalin9s a$ents hunte Trots+y across the
'orl an !urere hi! in Me,ico% Thousans o& ran+ an Ble ol Bolshe"i+s 'ere
eli!inate%
In 1>55 Stalin sat o'n 'ith Winston ;hurchill) 'ho ha hel(e to or$anise the
in"asion o& Russia in 1>16% Bet'een the! they car"e Euro(e u( into -s(heres o&
in@uence/ an settle the &ate o& !illions 'ithout consultation% ;hurchill 'as not
stu(i% He +ne' 'ho his real ene!ies 'ere%
Stalin9s !ost consistent o((onents 'ere those 'ho re!e!#ere the ays o&
Lenin) an criticise Stalin in ter!s o& the "alues they ha share 'ith Lenin <
a#o"e all) Leon Trots+y an his tiny #an o& &ollo'ers) #ut also coura$eous 'riters
li+e Victor Ser$e an Al&re Ros!er% They (ro"ie the #asis &or a $enuine socialist
!o"e!ent to re*e!er$e 'hen Stalinis! #e$an to cru!#le%
1>: LENINISM T=2AY
T'o thin$s !attere a#o"e all &or Lenin < unity an clarity% Without the #roaest
(ossi#le unity o& 'or+in$ (eo(le) action to chan$e the 'orl is i!(ossi#le% But
such action is &utile unless it is #ase on a clear unerstanin$ o& ho' society is
or$anise%
The t'o (rinci(les !ay see! at ti!es to contraict each other < hence the turns
an a((arent inconsistencies in Lenin9s 'ritin$s% :nity 'ithout clarity !eans
re"olutionaries 'ill #e ra$$e alon$ #y the u(s an o'ns o& the !ass
!o"e!ent) una#le to in@uence it% ;larity 'ithout unity lea"es re"olutionaries
ar$uin$ a!on$ the!sel"es) a$ain una#le to in@uence e"ents%
Much has chan$e since 1>1?) an Lenin al'ays re!ine us to thin+ &or
oursel"es% But three #asic the!es 'hich run throu$h Lenin9s 'or+ re!ain "ital in
our ay% Inepenence of the -orkin. class/ =ur 'orl toay is still #ase on
e,(loitation) an it is only those 'ho are e,(loite 'ho can #e counte on to
stan u( an B$ht to chan$e it% We ha"e no illusions that Bara+ =#a!a or e"en
=shio!ole Aa!s 'ill !a+e any real chan$e% The 'or+in$ class nees its o'n
(olicies an its o'n or$anisations%
We cannot take over the institutions of the state, -hether parliament or local
councils 0thou.h -e ma& use them as a platform1/ The 'ar on terror) 'ith its use
o& ar!e &orce a#roa an attac+s on ci"il li#erties at ho!e) sho's !ore clearly
than e"er that the state !achine is a 'ea(on irecte a$ainst 'or+in$ (eo(le% It
!ust #e estroye an re(lace%
The other sie have enormous resources an are e2tremel& -ell or.anise/ We
nee to be or.anise too/ We nee centralise or$anisation) #ecause 'e &ace a
hi$hly centralise ene!y% But it !ust also #e e!ocratic) ra'in$ on the
e,(erience o& those in stru$$le% The etaile &or!s o& or$anisation !ust #e
constantly re"ise in "ie' o& the current tas+s% But the &una!ental necessity &or
a re"olutionary or$anisation is as ur$ent toay as in 1>43%
NOTE ON FURTHER READING
Lenin9s ;ollecte Wor+s 0Mosco') 1>D4A7 'ere (u#lishe in 5D "olu!es% I9"e $i"en
re&erences in #rac+ets to Cuotations) 'ith the a##re"iation L;W) so that reaers can chec+
i& they 'ant to% I9"e ae a &e' other notes on (oints 'here (eo(le !i$ht 'ant to +no'
!y source%
In a short (a!(hlet I ha"e #een una#le to co"er !any o& the i!(ortant e#ates arisin$
&ro! Lenin9s li&e% Anyone 'ho 'ants to $o ee(er shoul consult Tony ;liA) Lenin 0Lonon)
1>6I*6D) three "olu!es7% This e"elo(s the sa!e #asic line o& ar$u!ent as this (a!(hlet%
=ther use&ul #oo+s are L Trots+y) The History o& the Russian Re"olution 0Lonon) 1>>?7) V
Ser$e) -Lenin in 1>1?/ 0in Re"olutionary History IOH) 1>>57) A Ros!er) Lenin9s Mosco'
0Lonon) 1>6?7) V Ser$e) Year =ne o& the Russian Re"olution 0Lonon) 1>>37) M Le'in)
Lenin9s Last Stru$$le 0Lonon) 1>D?7) M Lie#!an) Leninis! :ner Lenin 0Lonon) 1>?I7) M
Haynes) Russia: ;lass an 8o'er in the T'entieth ;entury 0Lonon) 34437%
=& Lenin9s 'ritin$s) the !ost i!(ortant is State an Re"olution% =thers 'orth loo+in$ at are
Socialis! an War) The Three Sources an Three ;o!(onent 8arts o& Mar,is!) -Better
Ee'er #ut Better/ an I!(erialis!% Many o& Lenin9s #etter*+no'n #oo+s an (a!(hlets
'ere (u#lishe in chea( eitions in Mosco' #e&ore 1>>1% There are still (lenty o&
seconhan co(ies aroun% A "ery &ull selection o& Lenin9s 'ritin$s) in the (rocess o& #ein$
e,tene) is a"aila#le at htt(:OO'''%!ar,ists%or$Oarchi"eOlenin
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Se"eral (eo(le ha"e assiste !e 'ith this (a!(hlet% Hannah 2ee (ersuae !e to 'rite it
in the Brst (lace) an 1ate ;onnelly an 8ete Jlatter !ae "ery use&ul co!!ents on the
Brst ra&t% My $reatest e#t is to the late Tony ;liA) 'ho Brst tau$ht !e a#out the real
Lenin) an 'hose 'or+s I ha"e sha!elessly (lunere in 'ritin$ this #rie& introuction%
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ian Birchall) &or!erly a senior lecturer in Erench at Milese, :ni"ersity) is the author o&
nu!erous #oo+s an a re$ular contri#utor to acae!ic an (olitical .ournals% His !ost
recent #oo+ is Sartre A$ainst Stalinis!% He is a !e!#er o& the Socialist Wor+ers 8arty
0'''%s'(%or$%u+7
This (a!(hlet 'as ori$inally (u#lishe in 344I #y Boo+!ar+s 8u#lications) :1% It is
re(rinte 'ith (er!ission%