DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT

New Zealand Listener, Volume 28, Issue 722, 15 May 1953, Page 5

DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT

Sir,-Everyone who desires to understand contemporary history should seriously study the Marxist theory of the state, of which the so-called "dictatorship of the proletariat" is a part. I feel that Mr. Boswell’s recent letter does not contribute to that understanding. As one who has made a study of Communist theory over many years, I must say that Mr. Boswell’s quotations are wrenched from their context. In particular, he fails to point out that the quotations refer to a period prior to the establishment of Socialism in the U.S.S.R. Lenin wrote during and of a period after the revolution of November, 1917, but in a period in which the new class faced "the more powerful enemy, whose resistance is increased tenfold by its overthrow," to quote Lenin’s words in Left-wing Communism. The "dictatorship of the proletariat" -a tefm coined by Marx ftom his extensive classical knowledge -is the means by which society is guided towards Socialism during a_ tfansition period in which state power is held by the working class, but in which the capitalist class still wields much economic and even political power. What is this transitional form of rule? Is it undemocratic, in the sense that it is the tule of a minoftity? Allow me to quote the classic definition of Lenin’s, which has beén used many times by Stalin: "The dictatorship of the proletariat is

a special form of class alliance between the proletariat, the vanguard of the toilers, and the numerous non-prolet-arian strata of toilers (the petty bourgeoisie, the small proprietors, the peasantry, the intelligentsia, etc.), or the majority of these; it is an alliance against capital, an alliance aiming at the complete overthrow of capital, at the complete suppression of the resistance of the bourgeoisie and of any attempt on its part at restoration, an alliance aiming at the final establishment and consolidation of Socialism. . ." In view of the above quotations, which make it clear that the dictatorship of the proletariat was seen by Lenin as a dictatorship over the still powerful capitalist elements, what becomes of Mr. Boswell’s idea that there is no "bourgeoisie" left and that therefore the dictatorship must be one of the Communist Party over the workers and that the Soviet people are to be led against the bourgeoisie of the capitalist countriés? The true spirit, the real historical significance of the Marxist-Leninist theory of transition from capitalism to Socialism, is conveyed in the following statement by Lenin: "Every citizen to a man must act as a judge and participate in the government of the country. And what is important to us is to enlist all the toilers to a man in the government of the state. That is a tremendously difficult task.. But Socialism cannot be introduced by a minority, a party. It can be introduced by tens of millions of people when they have learnt how to do everything themselves." (Lenin, Selected Works Vol. 8. page 320).

SID

SCOTT

(Auckland).