Ενβέρ Χότζα Έργα Τ.4

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WORKERS
OF
ALL
COUNTRIES,
UNITE!
ENVER HOXHA
SELECTED WORKS
PUBLISHED BY DECISION OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA
ENVER
HOXHA
THE
INSTITUTE AT
OF THE
MARXIST-LENINIST CC OF THE PLA
STUDIES
ENVER HOXHA
VOLUME IV
FEBRUARY 1966 - JULY 1975
T H E 8 NNTORI P U B L I S H I N G HOUSE T I R A N A , 1982
FOREWORD
The fourth volume of the Selected Works of Comrade Enver Hoxha in English includes documents of the period 1966-1975, which deal with the consistent continuation of the complete construction of socialism in the new conditions of the fierce struggle against imperialism and revisionism and, at the same time, with the further revolutionization of the Party and the entire life of the country. In this volume are published speeches, discussions, articles and talks of Comrade Enver Hoxha. They reflect the correct policy of the Party of Labour of Albania for the all-round development of the economy at rapid rates, for the continuation of industrialization as one of the vital tasks of socialist construction, for the development of agriculture on the road of modernization and intensification; they reflect the measures taken by the Party for participation of the working people in the governing of the country in a broader and more organized way, for the circulation of cadres, for the narrowing of differentials between the higher and lower wages, etc., measures which served to close the way to the restoration of capitalism as occurred in the Soviet Union and the other former socialist countries. Comrade Enver Hoxha replies to such questions as: Why does the role of the masses in the governing of the country and the management of the economy con-
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FOREWORD
stantly grow, why is it important for the strengthening of the socialist democracy to establish correct relations between the masses and the cadres, what gave rise to the great revolutionary movements of the masses, such as that for the emancipation of women, for the revolutionization of the school, for placing the general interest above the personal interest, the movement against backward customs, etc., which broke out in 1967 under the leadership of the Party, and how are they developed, how is direct worker control exercised, what is the interdependence between the technical-scientific revolution and the active participation of the working people in it, etc.? All these questions found their reflection in the successful fulfilment of the 4th and 5th Five-year Plans, as the deed of the working masses themselves. He proves with scientific argument why the class struggle will continue until the construction of communism and why the fate of socialism depends on the correct understanding of this struggle which is waged in a coordinated manner on the internal and external plane, why socialism is threatened not only from abroad, by a military aggression, but also from within the country, by degeneration and peaceful counter-revolutionary evolution. Arguments are also brought to reveal the reactionary essence of the viewpoints of the Soviet and other revisionists on the extinction of the class struggle, on the party of the entire people and the state of the entire people, as well as of the viewpoints of the Chinese revisionists, at that time still camouflaged, who held that after the construction of the economic base of socialism the bourgeoisie is not eliminated as a class. Significant are his conclusions on the so-called Proletarian Cultural Revolution, in which Chinese revisionism was emerging more openly in practice. It is stressed that a fundamental condition for the
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writers and artists to create works of ideo-artistic value is that they must sit cheek by jowl with the people. This problem is treated in a comprehensive manner in the report delivered at the 4th Plenum of the CC of the PLA, which exposes the reactionary content of the currents of the bourgeois and revisionist literature and art and shows what distinguishes them from the literature and art of socialist realism. To make the working people still more conscious of the tasks which lie ahead of them, Comrade Enver Hoxha calls on all communists and all the working people to thoroughly understand and assess the imperialist-revisionist blockade in all its seriousness, to foil all the ideological, political, economic and military pressures the imperialists and social-imperialists exercise on socialist Albania, by implementing the principle of self-reliance with ever greater persistency. This is connected with the struggle of the Party of Labour of Albania to expose the superpowers, the USA and the USSR, and the other imperialist powers as aggressors and exploiters of the peoples. Following this policy unwaveringly, the PLA denounced and exposed, without any reservation, the fascist-like aggression of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Treaty allies against Czechoslovakia, while ceaselessly continuing its exposure of the aggressive war of American imperialism in Vietnam. In the materials of this volume is stressed the great and inexhaustible strength of the peoples in the struggle to win and defend their freedom and independence against the savage common enemies, American imperialism, Soviet social-imperialism and all their lackeys. Educated in the spirit of proletarian internationalism, the PLA has fulfilled its duties towards its own working class and people in close connection with the tasks and aims of the international proletariat, the cause of the
FOREWORD
triumph of socialism everywhere in the world. In many articles, speeches and talks in this volume it is pointed out how the relations between the Marxist-Leninist parties should be built. The documents of this volume are a clear testimony of the correct revolutionary line of the PLA and its consistency in the faithful and creative implementation of Marxism-Leninism, its contribution to the enrichment of the theory and practice of scientific socialism. Many materials abridged form. in this volume are published in
INVIGORATION OF T H E LIFE OF THE PARTY - T H E MAIN PROBLEM
Orientations for the basic organizations of the Party

February 2, 1966
T h e v e r y l i v e l y debates w h i c h t o o k p l a c e i n t h e P a r t y a n d a m o n g t h e people d u r i n g the d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e c a l l o f the C e n t r a l Committee o f the P L A and the C o u n c i l o f M i n i s t e r s o f t h e P R A , ( 1 ) a s w e l l a s o f the d e c i s i o n o f the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f the C C o f t h e P a r t y O n t h e s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y f o r a r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t y l e a n d m e t h o d o f w o r k , ( 2 ) d e m o n s t r a t e t h e correctness o f these h i s t o r i c decisions a n d the m a t u r i t y of o u r P a r t y w h i c h , at the p r o pier m o m e n t , w a s a b l e t o seize o n t h a t l i n k w h i c h w o u l d f u r t h e r r e v o l u t i o n i z e a l l t h e w o r k . T h e y are i n c o n t e s t a b l e evidence of that healthy M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t force w h i c h the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a represents. T h e communists and the w h o l e people supported the Central Committee and our Party in this very important undertaking w i t h a l l their might. T h i s is fresh evidence o f those close b o n d s w h i c h e x i s t b e t w e e n the P a r t y a n d
_____________________________ 1 Issued on October 23, 1965 for d r a w i n g the people's masses in the discussion and d r a f t i n g of the 4th Five-year P l a n of the development of the economy and culture d u r i n g 1966-1970. 2 T h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the CC of the P L A took this d e c i sion on December 24, 1965, by w h i c h it called attention to the need for a more resolute struggle against the bureaucratic distortions in the state organs and in the P a r t y .
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t h e people, o f t h a t u n s h a k e a b l e t r u s t w h i c h t h e y h a v e i n e a c h other, a n d o f the l o f t y p a t r i o t i s m o f o u r h e r o i c people. T h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u considers t h a t the m a i n p r o b l e m today, i n o r d e r t o r e s p o n d t o t h i s g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s m o f the masses f o r c a r r y i n g o u t t h e m a j o r tasks w i t h w h i c h w e a r e faced, i s t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d i n v i g o r a t i o n o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y .
THE BASIC ORGANIZATIONS OF THE PARTY SHOULD ASSUME THE FULL LEADERSHIP OF EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE IN THE SECTORS IN WHICH THEY OPERATE F o r the P a r t y t o p e r f o r m i t s r o l e o f the o r g a n i z e d v a n g u a r d d e t a c h m e n t o f t h e w o r k i n g class, a s the f o r c e inspiring and leading the w h o l e life of the country, it is e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , a s its s o l i d f o u n d a t i o n , f u l l y p l a y s i t s r o l e i n the e n t e r p r i s e , c o o p e r a t i v e , v i l lage, m i l i t a r y d e t a c h m e n t , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d e v e r y w h e r e else. T h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e f a t e o f t h e e n t e r p r i s e , c o o p e r a t i v e , d e t a c h m e n t , etc., i s i n t h e hands, not o f o n e p e r s o n , b u t of t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n as a w h o l e . To this e n d t h e following matters must be made very clear: 1. In a n y c o l l e c t i v e , w h a t d e t e r m i n e s w h e t h e r a f fairs r u n smoothly is the level of the ideological, political, o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d m o b i l i z i n g w o r k o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y . W i t h o u t u n d e r r a t i n g t h e v e r y great i m p o r t a n c e w h i c h the c a d r e s h a v e f o r t h e P a r t y , i t i s n o t t h e secretary, t h e d i r e c t o r , t h e c h a i r m a n o r the c o m m a n d e r w h o are t h e r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n a c o o p e r a t i v e , e c o n o m i c e n t e r p r i s e , school, m i l i t a r y d e t a c h m e n t o r e l s e where, but m a i n l y the basic organization of the P a r t y . It i s a l w a y s t h e c a r e f u l w o r k o f t h e P a r t y w h i c h has r a i s e d o u r cadres f r o m t h e r a n k s o f t h e masses. T h e task o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y i s not
INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
j u s t t o s u p p o r t the o r d e r s o f the d i r e c t o r , t h e c h a i r m a n o r t h e c o m m a n d e r . I t i s t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y that guides all the w o r k , that decides w h a t must be done by t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l the w o r k i n g p e o p l e t o c a r r y the w o r k f o r w a r d , w h a t tasks m u s t b e f u l f i l l e d , h o w t o defeat the e n e m y i n w a r , etc., a n d o n the basis o f this, each i n d i v i d u a l m u s t c a r r y out t h e d u t i e s e n t r u s t e d t o h i m . A l l the o r g a n s , o r g a n i z a t i o n s o r o t h e r b o d i e s are l e v e r s o f t h e P a r t y . A s s u c h t h e y m u s t w o r k t o p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e the l i n e , d e c i s i o n s a n d t h e correct o r i e n t a t i o n s o f the P a r t y w i t h o u t d e v i a t i n g i n t h e slightest f r o m a l l t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f the d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m o f t h e state a n d o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t h e masses. T h e r e i s n o p r o b l e m i n w h i c h t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n of the P a r t y is not interested, but it cannot c a r r y out a l l t h e w o r k o n its o w n . I t has t o g u i d e a n d s h o u l d s t a n d i n s u c h a p o s i t i o n t h a t it has a b r o a d v i e w of a l l the w o r k . T h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t f i g h t against s e c t a r i a n i s m , against a n y a t t e m p t t o m o n o p o l i z e a f f a i r s . S e c t a r i a n i s m i n h i b i t s t h e i n i t i a t i v e o f the cadres a n d t h e masses, w e a k e n s a n d s h r i v e l s the P a r t y . T h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y m u s t c o n t i n u a l l y e n h a n c e t h e i r a b i l i t y t o set e v e r y t h i n g n e c e s s a r y i n m o t i o n s o t h a t its m e m b e r s a n d l e v e r s a n d a l l t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e p e r f o r m t h e i r tasks f u l l y w i t h t h e h i g h e s t sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . W h i l e w o r k i n g to develop the initiative and enhance t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f cadres a n d v a r i o u s organs, t h e basic organizations of the P a r t y m u s t not p e r m i t localist or departmentalist tendencies or manifestations of technocracy, w h i c h a r e o t h e r m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c pressure on the P a r t y . N o t r i g i d f o r m s , b u t the i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d t e c h n i c a l u p l i f t o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y must constitute the m a i n concern of the o r g a nizations of the P a r t y today.
ENVER HOXHA
2. A n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n of l a c k of c o n f i d e n c e in. the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y a n d o f tutelage over them, any method of compulsion and rigid a d ministration which inhibit their initiative should be c o m b a t e d . I n s t e a d o f these, t h e r e s h o u l d b e q u a l i f i e d assistance a n d c o n t r o l w h i c h w i l l o p e n b r o a d h o r i z o n s f o r a c t i v i t y t o t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s a n d the w o r k i n g masses. T h o s e p r o b l e m s w h i c h i t i s u p t o t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n t o d e c i d e o n a n d solve, s h o u l d b e l e f t t o i t t o d e c i d e a n d solve. P a r t i c u l a r c a r e m u s t b e s h o w n t o assist t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n the c o u n t r y s i d e w h e r e the t a s k s a r e m o r e d i f f i c u l t . a) T h e dictation f r o m above of agendas for the meetings o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h r o u g h v a r i o u s decisions, i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d orders, f o r e x a m p l e , p o l i t i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n m u s t be d o n e once a m o n t h , the p r o b l e m of dues s h o u l d b e e x a m i n e d once i n t h r e e m o n t h s , t h e p r o b l e m s o f l i v e s t o c k - f a r m i n g s h o u l d b e e x a m i n e d once i n s i x m o n t h s , etc., i s a h a r m f u l p r a c t i c e w h i c h s h o u l d b e e n d e d . b ) T h e i n i t i a t i v e a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e basic o r g a nizations of the P a r t y should be extensively developed, e s p e c i a l l y i n the w o r k f o r t h e a n a l y s i s a n d t h e c r e a t i v e a p p l i c a t i o n o f d i r e c t i v e s a n d o r i e n t a t i o n s o f the P a r t y . T h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y m u s t react i m m e d i a t e l y w h e n v a r i o u s decisions, o r d e r s o r i n s t r u c t i o n s r u n c o u n t e r t o t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y , t o its correct p o l i c y a n d t h e interests o f t h e people. T h e P a r t y has n o i n t e r e s t s other t h a n those o f t h e p e o p l e , t h e r e f o r e a n y t h i n g c o n t r a r y t o these i n t e r e s t s i s a t t h e s a m e t i m e c o n t r a r y t o the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y . D u r i n g the d i s c u s s i o n s w h i c h h a v e been h e l d i n t h e P a r t y a n d a m o n g t h e p e o p l e a b o u t t h e struggle against b u r e a u c r a c y a n d f o r t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f the m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k , i t e m e r g e d c l e a r l y t h a t t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e n o t b e e n t h o r o u g h l y o n g u a r d against b u r e a u c r a t i c d i s t o r t i o n s . T h i s m u s t b e m a d e a
g o o d lesson. D e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m r e q u i r e s t h a t w e raise o u r v o i c e l o u d l y , t h r o u g h p a r t y channels, a g a i n s t a n y distortion of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t line of our Party. 3 . A b o v e a l l , o u r P a r t y i s t h e leader, o r g a n i z e r , e d u c a t o r , a d v i s e r a n d i n s p i r e r o f the w o r k i n g masses a n d i t e x i s t s a n d f i g h t s i n o r d e r t o d e f e n d t h e i r interests. T h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y a n d e v e r y c o m m u n i s t must devote all their m a i n activity to practical w o r k for t h e e d u c a t i o n a n d m o b i l i z a t i o n o f people, l i s t e n i n g t o a n d respecting their opinions. There ought to be no problem w h i c h i s d i s c u s s e d i n t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y i n w h i c h t h e o p i n i o n o f the masses, o f those m o s t i n t e rested i n c a r r y i n g out t h e tasks w h i c h the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n sets, i s n o t stressed. L i k e w i s e t h e r e o u g h t t o b e n o d e c i s i o n , task o r o r i e n t a t i o n w h i c h d o e s not r e s p o n d t o t h e c o n c e r n o f the masses a n d t h e s o l u t i o n o f t h e i r d e mands. It should become the rule that after the meeting o f t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n the w o r k e r s a r e i n f o r m e d about t h e m a t t e r s w h i c h are o f i n t e r e s t t o t h e m , a n d t h e m o s t suitable means a n d forms for c a r r y i n g out the decisions should be f o u n d together w i t h the w o r k e r s . F r o m t i m e t o t i m e w h e n t h e n e e d arises, o p e n m e e t i n g s o f the b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d b e h e l d , too. T h e y should play an important role in the education and mobil i z a t i o n o f the w o r k i n g people a n d i n the s t r e n g t h e n i n g of links with them. T h e a b i l i t y a n d s t r e n g t h o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y , t h e people's state p o w e r a n d o u r d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o letariat w i l l be more and more enhanced f r o m their links w i t h the masses. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , a n y a c t i o n o r s t a n d w h i c h w e a k e n s these l i n k s a t t h e s a m e t i m e w e a k e n s o u r P a r t y a n d state p o w e r . A n y r e p l a c e m e n t o f the m e t h o d o f c o n v i c t i o n w i t h orders, d i c t a t e a n d a r r o g a n c e m u s t b e s t e r n l y c o n d e m n e d . N o one c a n b e c o n v i n c e d b y s u c h m e t h o d s
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some w e a k l i n g m i g h t b e i n t i m i d a t e d t e m p o r a r i l y , b u t t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people n e v e r . T h e p a r t y m e m b e r m u s t w a g e t h e class s t r u g g l e b a s i n g h i m s e l f o n the f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s o f M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , on the correct l i n e of the P a r t y , w h i l e r e l y i n g o n t h e masses. H e m u s t b e c a p a b l e o f d i s t i n g u i s h i n g , a f t e r a f u l l analysis, the g o o d f r o m the b a d , the d a n g e r o u s f r o m the less d a n g e r o u s a n d o f u s i n g t h e m o s t a p p r o p r i a t e m e t h o d i n h i s w o r k w i t h people.
THE MOST IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT FOR ENHANCING THE ROLE OF THE BASIC ORGANIZATION OF THE PARTY IS THE COMPLETE ACTIVATION OF A L L THE COMMUNISTS 1. In o r d e r to e n h a n c e t h e sense of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d increase the a c t i v i t y o f each c o m m u n i s t , w e m u s t e l i minate the sectarianism and formalism w h i c h we have i n the a c t i v a t i o n o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d m o v e t o w a r d s a r e d i v i s i o n o f d u t i e s i n a l l t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y . W e s h o u l d act a s L e n i n teaches u s : a l o n g w i t h t h e s o u n d c e n t r a l i z a t i o n i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y w e s h o u l d decentralize the responsibility of each i n d i v i d u a l m e m b e r o f the P a r t y , a d e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n w h i c h i s n o t h i n g but the d i v i s i o n o f d u t i e s a m o n g s t p a r t y m e m b e r s . S u c h a d e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n is an essential c o n d i t i o n f o r r e v o l u t i o n ary centralism. a) No p a r t y m e m b e r should be left out of the activity o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y . T h e c o m m u n i s t m u s t n o t be, i n a n y w a y . i n d i f f e r e n t t o a n y p r o b l e m o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people. A n a r r o w v i e w o f t h e w o r k allocated, p e r s o n a l interest, e f f o r t s t o settle i n t o s o m e c o m f o r t a b l e corner, a r e a l i e n t o t h e c o m m u n i s t s . W h e r e v e r a communist w o r k s he ought to be in the role of the v a n g u a r d fighter struggling to apply the line of the P a r t y a n d b e a n s w e r a b l e f o r its w o r k .
A t t h e s a m e time, t h e p a r t y m e m b e r m u s t b e a n o u t s t a n d i n g p o l i t i c a l a n d s o c i a l a c t i v i s t . F r o m a l l its f e a t u r e s , voluntary social w o r k is purely communist work. A n y o n e w h o is not at the level to assume such a d u t y cannot be a party member. The sectarianism w h i c h is displayed in c h a r g i n g c o m m u n i s t s w i t h tasks, t h e i r d i v i s i o n i n t o c a pable a n d i n c a p a b l e has no basis, it is e v i d e n c e of t h e s u b j e c t i v i t y a n d l a c k of ability of t h e l e a d e r s of the basic organization themselves. b) The division of duties amongst m e m b e r s of the P a r t y should not be standardized, but should be done clos e l y l i n k e d w i t h the c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e w o r k , w i t h the n e w requirements. A p a r t f r o m the d i v i s i o n o f w o r k w e h a v e a l r e a d y i n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , in the o r g a n i z a t i o n s of sectors a n d t h e i r bureaus, t h e c o m m u n i s t s c a n also b e c h a r g e d i n d i v i d u a l l y o r i n groups, i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e i r a b i l i t i e s and qualities, w i t h responsibility for problems w h i c h c o n cern the organization, for e x a m p l e in r e g a r d to planning, problems of finance, discipline, emulation, technical w o r k , savings, t h e c o l l e c t i o n of m a n u r e , etc., etc. A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e c o m m u n i s t s a r e p o l i t i c a l leaders, first of all, therefore they must be charged to w o r k w i t h a g i v e n mass o f citizens o r w o r k e r s s o t h a t n o w o r k i n g man or w o m a n in t o w n or countryside is left without l i v i n g contact w i t h t h e P a r t y , w i t h o u t b e i n g n u r t u r e d w i t h i t s teachings. T h e c o m m u n i s t s c h a r g e d w i t h t h i s w o r k , a s w e l l a s those w h o a r e c h a r g e d t o w o r k w i t h t h e people's councils, the o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t h e masses, etc., are r e s p o n sible t o t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y t o w h i c h t h e y m u s t r e p o r t r e g u l a r l y o n t h e t a s k s set t o t h e m . T h e c o m m u n ist m u s t n o t r e d u c e his r o l e s i m p l y t o seeing w h e t h e r o r n o t this course o f e d u c a t i o n i s r u n o r this o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e masses h o l d s its m e e t i n g s ; h e h a s n o m o r e r i g h t s t h a n t h e others, c a n t a k e n o p a r t y o r state m e a s u r e s against a n y o n e ,
ENVER HOXHA
b u t i t i s h i s d u t y t o see t h a t the w o r k w i t h w h i c h h e i s c h a r g e d goes w e l l , t h a t the p e o p l e a r e e d u c a t e d a n d a healthy party spirit prevails everywhere. c ) A s w e l l a s this, t h e d i v i s i o n o f p a r t y forces i s not unchangeable. In no w a y should the communist feel himself in this or that position fortuitously, but should feel himself a m i l i t a n t m e m b e r of t h a t c e n t r a l i z e d o r g a n i s m of the P a r t y w h i c h i n c l u d e s a l l aspects o f the l i f e o f the c o u n t r y . T h e organizations of the P a r t y should m a k e a more correct r e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f c o m m u n i s t s , n o t w h e r e t h e t a s k i s easier b u t w h e r e t h e y a r e n e e d e d , o n t h e m a i n f r o n t o f p r o d u c t i o n , s o t h a t t h e h a n d o f t h e P a r t y i s felt, its voice, l i n e a n d a d v i c e a r e h e a r d e v e r y w h e r e , i n a l l the sectors, l i n k s a n d o r g a n i s m s . d ) T h e b u r e a u s o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y should become real organizing nuclei for the activation o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s . T h e y m u s t o r g a n i z e a n d d i v i d e the w o r k w e l l a m o n g s t t h e i r m e m b e r s a n d , o n t h i s basis, e n s u r e the a c t i v a t i o n o f a l l m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y a n d the necessary a i d a n d c o n t r o l . T h i s d i v i s i o n s h o u l d b e a p p l i e d also b y the c o m m i t t e e s o f t h e P a r t y w h i c h c a n c a l l the m e m b e r s o f b u r e a u s o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y t o m e e t i n g s , s e m i n a r s , m e e t i n g s o f activists, etc., o n g i v e n questions. 2. O n e of t h e ugliest a n d m o s t d a n g e r o u s m a n i f e s t a tions of bureaucracy and sectarianism w h i c h has weakened t h e m i l i t a n t s p i r i t o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , i s t h e fact t h a t s o m e t i m e s c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m w i t h i n t h e P a r t y are n o t a t t h e p r o p e r l e v e l . Such manifestations must be condemned w i t h the greatest s e v e r i t y . E a c h c o m m u n i s t m u s t e x a m i n e h i m s e l f i n this d i r e c t i o n a n d i m m e d i a t e l y p u t h i m s e l f i n o r d e r t o use t h e w e a p o n o f c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m c o r r e c t l y , without hesitation or restriction. T h e organizations of the P a r t y are nests o f r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , w h i c h s h o u l d b e s e e t h i n g
w i t h v i g o r o u s l i f e a n d i n w h i c h the c o m m u n i s t s h o u l d temper and educate himself. The communist should e x press h i s o p i n i o n s f r e e l y i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , because i n t h i s w a y h e acts c o r r e c t l y , b e h a v e s h o n e s t l y t o w a r d s t h e P a r t y , assists h i m s e l f a n d h i s c o m r a d e s a n d w h e n his o p i n i o n s are not r i g h t h e w i l l b e c o r r e c t e d . T h e steel u n i t y o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s i s f o r g e d i n t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , n o t o n l y i n r e g a r d t o t h e g e n e r a l l i n e o f the P a r t y , b u t also i n r e g a r d t o a l l the p r o b l e m s w h i c h are raised and decided there. Without the clash of o p i nions, w i t h o u t d r a w i n g a l l t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n into this s t r u g g l e , t h e r e c a n n o t b e a s i n g l e s t e e l u n i t y o f o p i n i o n a n d a c t i o n . F r o m this v i e w p o i n t the r i g h t s o f the party m e m b e r must be defended as sacred a n d the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t d e f e n d a l l those w h o c r i t i c i z e f a i r l y a n d severely. T h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f c o n v i c t i o n s i n t h e P a r t y i s also a n essential r e q u i r e m e n t o f d i s c i p l i n e , o f t h a t conscious, steel d i s c i p l i n e w i t h o u t w h i c h the P a r t y c a n n o t e x i s t a n d there can be no activity a n d life for the communists. Especially in the conditions of our country, surrounded by i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t enemies, i n the c o n d i t i o n s w h e n t h e P a r t y i s a l w a y s i n a state o f w a r , the c o n t i n u o u s s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d t e m p e r i n g of conscious d i s c i p l i n e is a d a i l y necessity w h i c h m a k e s the P a r t y i n v i n c i b l e . 3. T h e organs a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t h e P a r t y m u s t d i r e c t t h e a c t i v a t i o n o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s f r o m close a t h a n d , teach them h o w to w o r k so that t h e y proceed p r o p e r l y on the r o a d of the P a r t y and are educated concretely t h r o u g h t h e s t r u g g l e w i t h d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d the v i c t o r i e s w h i c h are a c h i e v e d . T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y s h o u l d educate a n d t e m p e r t h e c o m m u n i s t s t h r o u g h the issues w h i c h emerge f r o m life, f r o m the d a i l y struggle and e x perience o f t h e P a r t y a n d the people. Special w o r k must be done w i t h the communists of
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the countryside. H o r i z o n s of concrete w o r k , k n o w l e d g e a n d activity should be opened to them a n d their initiative d e v e l o p e d . T h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t use t h e i r o w n b r a i n s a b o u t e v e r y t h i n g , o n t h e basis o f t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a n d its o r i e n t a t i o n s a n d the d e c i s i o n s o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s of the Party. T h e y themselves should organize the political w o r k w h i c h t h e y h a v e t o d o w i t h t h e masses o n e a c h problem in the forms most suitable for their conditions a n d s h o u l d n o t w a i t f o r l e c t u r e s o r o r d e r s t o b e sent f r o m above. It should be kept w e l l in m i n d that just g i v i n g orders i s t h e easiest t h i n g , b u t t h e r e are m a n y i n t r i n s i c e v i l s i n this. A m o n g those w h o act i n t h i s w a y the i d e a i s c r e a t e d t h a t t h e y h a v e been b o r n t o d i c t a t e t o o t h e r s . T h i s g i v e s r i s e to conceit, a f e e l i n g of s u p e r i o r i t y , a n d d e v e l o p s a r rogance, a l l o f w h i c h a r e a l i e n t o t h e l i n e o f o u r P a r t y a n d to be condemned. A m o n g s t those w h o r e c e i v e o r d e r s a n d d i r e c t i v e s this h a r m f u l m e t h o d creates t h e h a b i t o f i s s u i n g o r d e r s a n d d i r e c t i v e s themselves. T h u s a r o t t e n , b u r e a u c r a t i c v i c i o u s c i r c l e i s c r e a t e d , one s t r a t u m w h i c h i s s u e s o r d e r s a n d another stratum w h i c h has to apply them. A stern and merciless struggle m u s t be w a g e d by the basic organizat i o n s o f t h e P a r t y a g a i n s t s u c h v i e w s a n d actions, because sometimes they begin u n w i t t i n g l y , innocently, but if they are n o t c o m b a t e d t h e y b e c o m e a v e r y d a n g e r o u s l i n e . S u c h a m e t h o d o f w o r k stops p e o p l e t h i n k i n g w i t h their o w n brains, makes them inert, cowardly and servile i n f r o n t o f t h e i r s u p e r i o r s , stops t h e m e m b e r o f t h e P a r t y f r o m using his o w n brains and reflecting deeply. As a r e s u l t p e o p l e lose the i n i t i a t i v e t h a t is so necessary, t h e i r v a l u a b l e p r o p o s a l s a r e s c o r n e d , a n d i n s u c h cases t h e r e c a n be no talk of Marxist-Leninist criticism or self-criticism. W e m u s t e n h a n c e t h e v i g i l a n c e o f the c o m m u n i s t s , t h e i r m i l i t a n t s p i r i t , t o c l e a n a w a y the a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d a l i e n
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m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a s soon a s t h e y c r o p u p . O u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y vigilance must not be an e m p t y f o r m u l a w h i c h is prated d a y in a n d d a y out to no purpose. N o ! It must be d e veloped in all directions to defend everything sound in the Party and in our country a n d to uncover and eradicate everything evil. T h i s w i l l b e achieved only w h e r e the w o r k o f t h e P a r t y i s c a r r i e d o u t o n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y m a s s scale, w h e r e t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e p e o p l e get r i g h t d o w n t o the essence o f p r o b l e m s , t h a t i s t o say, b o t h t h e g o o d aspects a n d t h e b a d , a n d w o r k , t h i n k a n d f i g h t o n t h e basis o f t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a s its g e n u i n e f i g h t e r s . N o p a r t y m e m b e r m u s t e v e r f o r g e t this. 4. We must put f u l l y into practice the w e l l - k n o w n t e a c h i n g o f t h e P a r t y t o m a k e the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t centres o f t h e e d u c a t i o n a n d t e m p e r i n g o f the communists. T h e education of communists is p r i m a r i l y t h e task o f t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y ; t h e y a r e t h e places w h e r e t h e l i n k i n g o f t h e o r y w i t h p r a c t i c e i s e m b o d i e d best. I n t h i s w a y , t h a t f o r m a l i s m a n d d o g m a t i s m which we have in o u r ideo-political w o r k w i l l be combated more successfully. W e should e x a m i n e a l l the problems w e discuss a n d every measure we take f r o m the standpoint of the general line of the Party, should always analyse their ideological a n d p o l i t i c a l content a n d i n t h i s w a y disclose t h e i r roots. W e s h o u d a l w a y s p r o c e e d o n l y f r o m correct p r i n c i p l e d p o s i tions, f r o m t h e g e n e r a l interest, f r o m t h e great o b j e c t i v e s of our P a r t y : the construction of socialism and c o m m u n i s m , t h e d e f e n c e o f t h e v i c t o r i e s o f o u r people, t h e d e fence o f t h e socialist H o m e l a n d . W h e n e v e r i t i s c o n s i d e r e d necessary, p r o b l e m s w h i c h have to do w i t h the education and tempering of c o m m u n i s t s , w i t h t h e i r v a n g u a r d role, l i n k e d c l o s e l y w i t h t h e l i f e o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d the c o m m u n i s t s , s h o u l d b e
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discussed i n the m e e t i n g s o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the Party.
WE SHOULD COMBAT THE NARROW SECTARIAN CONCEPT OF FORMS OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE PARTY AND STERILE OFFICIAL FORMALITY IN THE MEETINGS OF THE BASIC ORGANIZATIONS W e s h o u l d a l w a y s r e m e m b e r t h a t the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l f o r m s a n d n o r m s h a v e t h e i r basis i n l i f e a n d t h e y d e m o n strate t h e i r v i t a l i t y i n l i f e . R e s p o n d i n g t o its d e m a n d s , t h e y s h o u l d b e e n r i c h e d a n d , i f n e e d be, a l t e r e d . O n e cannot s t a n d s t i l l i n l i f e : one m u s t a d v a n c e o r o t h e r w i s e f a l l b e h i n d . R e a l relations, teaches V . I . L e n i n , are n o t s o m e t h i n g i n a n i m a t e , t h e y are a l i v e a n d d e v e l o p . J u r i d i c a l d e f i n i t i o n s c a n r e s p o n d t o the p r o g r e s s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t o f these r e l a tions, b u t (if these d e f i n i t i o n s a r e bad) t h e y c a n also respond to r e g r e s s i o n or s t a g n a t i o n . L i f e r e q u i r e s t h a t w e m a k e t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y m o r e r e s p o n s i v e a n d s w i f t - a c t i n g i n t h e i r s t r u c t u r e a n d w o r k , get r i d o f u n n e c e s s a r y f o r m s a n d l i n k s a n d a p p l y those f o r m s w h i c h s t r e n g t h e n the w o r k o f the P a r t y . T h i s i s o f great i m p o r t a n c e i n p r i n c i p l e a n d p r a c t i c e . 1. We m u s t f i g h t h a r d to f u r t h e r e n l i v e n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y . N o t t h e i r f o r m , b u t t h e i r content should be our m a i n concern. In this direction we must c o m p l e t e l y change o u r m e t h o d a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s . T h e t h i n g s that d e t e r m i n e t h e content a n d the success o f t h e w o r k o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y a r e n e i t h e r the p l a c e o f the m e e t i n g , its e m p t y s o l e m n i t y , n o r t h e w r i t t e n r e p o r t s . T h e result of holding meetings s h o u l d be measured w i t h their thorough examination of urgent problems, w i t h their d r a w i n g a l l t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y i n t o the s o l u t i o n o f the p r o b l e m s , w i t h the w o r k i n g o u t o f measures w h i c h l e a d
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t o the s o l u t i o n o f t h e p r o b l e m s a n d , f i n a l l y , w i t h t h e c o m p l e t e a p p l i c a t i o n o f these m e a s u r e s . A l l m e m b e r s m u s t p r e p a r e t h e m s e l v e s s e r i o u s l y f o r t h e m e e t i n g s o f t h e basic organization of the Party. T h i s is the m a i n thing. The m e t h o d o f t h e p r e p a r a t i o n a n d t h e e x a m i n a t i o n o f the problem m a y vary, the report m a y be complete in w r i t i n g o r w i t h notes, p e r h a p s o n l y t h e d r a f t o f m e a s u r e s w h i c h s h o u l d b e t a k e n i s presented, u n s c h e d u l e d m e e t i n g s can be held for matters that cannot wait, or questions not on the a g e n d a c a n b e r a i s e d f o r d i s c u s s i o n , the i m p l e m e n t a tion of decisions or other matters can be examined. T h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t settle these m a t t e r s itself, j u s t a s i t m u s t settle t h e m e t h o d o f h o l d i n g the m e e t i n g , t h e w a y i t i s r u n , etc. T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t h e content o f the a n a l y s i s a n d e s p e c i a l l y the c o n c l u s i o n . T h r e e q u a r t e r s o f the proceedings of the m e e t i n g s of the b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y s h o u l d b e o c c u p i e d w i t h w o r k i n g out, d i s c u s sing and checking up on measures w h i c h must be taken t o solve p r o b l e m s . T h e d e c i s i o n o u g h t t o b e t h e synthesis o f a l l t h e proceedings, o f t h e t h r e s h i n g out o f o p i n i o n s a n d the p r o p o s a l s m a d e i n the m e e t i n g s . T h e p r o c e e d i n g s of m e e t i n g s of the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s s h o u l d not b e p u s h e d t h r o u g h h a s t i l y , but n e i t h e r s h o u l d t h e y b e d r a g g e d out u n n e c e s s a r i l y . T h e y m a y last h a l f a n h o u r o r t e n h o u r s . T h e t i m e r e q u i r e d depends o n t h e p r o b l e m , the w a y i t i s p r e s e n t e d , o n its p r e p a r a t i o n , etc. There is nothing more important than the meetings of the Party, therefore no underestimation can be permitted. 2. T h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s of the districts, r e l y i n g on t h e basic p r i n c i p l e s , o n t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e P a r t y , f r o m n o w o n s h o u l d decide t h e s t r u c t u r e o f basic o r g a n i z a tions o f the P a r t y o n t h e i r o w n i n i t i a t i v e . T h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the P L A considers it in order to re-emphasize that the f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e i n t h e s t r u c t u r e o f basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the
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P a r t y i s a l w a y s the u n i t i n g o f a l l m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y w h o w o r k in an enterprise, a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperative, i n s t i t u t i o n , etc., i n a s i n g l e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y . T h e essential n u m b e r f o r s e t t i n g u p a basic o r g a n i z a t i o n i s t h r e e p a r t y m e m b e r s . T h e g e n e r a l m e e t i n g o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n i s s u m m o n e d n o t less t h a n once a m o n t h . A t t h e same t i m e , t i l l the c o m i n g C o n g r e s s , u n t i l t h e r e s p e c tive amendments are made to the Constitution of the P a r t y , the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e also advises these p r e l i m i n a r y m e a s u r e s : a ) T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y o f sectors a n d t h e g r o u p s o f t h e P a r t y s h o u l d b e set u p w h e r e v e r s u c h a t h i n g i s c o n s i d e r e d u s e f u l , r e g a r d l e s s o f the t o t a l n u m b e r o f c o m m u n i s t s i n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n . I n t h i s case the m a i n c o n c e r n o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d c o m m i t t e e s o f t h e P a r t y s h o u l d be, n o t h o w t o ensure the necessary n u m b e r o f c o m m u n i s t s t o set t h e m u p , b u t h o w t h e forces o f the P a r t y can be organized most usefully. T h e y m u s t be c o n s t r u c t e d c o r r e c t l y a c c o r d i n g t o sectors o f t h e w o r k , wherever the communists wage the most active struggle f o r the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y , c a n b e set u p f o r m o r e t h a n o n e u n i t o f p r o d u c t i o n , a s f o r one, t w o o r three b r i g a d e s o f a v i l l a g e i n t h e u n i t e d c o o p e r a t i v e s , etc. W h e r e v e r t h e y w o r k , i n the sector, d e t a c h m e n t , v i l lage, etc., t h e c o m m u n i s t s , i n d i v i d u a l l y o r j o i n t l y , h a v e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o see t h a t t h e w o r k r u n s s m o o t h l y . N o m a t t e r h o w m a n y t h e y are, t h e y m u s t t h i n k , discuss w i t h one another and w o r k to determine their c o m m o n stands. L i k e w i s e t h e y m u s t set i n m o t i o n t h e a c t i v i s t s w h o are n o t p a r t y m e m b e r s , c o n s u l t w i t h t h e m a n d Organize t h e c a r r y i n g o u t o f tasks t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m . T h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y itself s h o u l d h a v e t h e r i g h t t o set u p o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y i n t h e sectors a n d g r o u p s o f t h e P a r t y . b ) I n the b i g o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h e n t h i s i s c o n s i d e r e d
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appropriate by the p a r t y committee of the district and by its d e c i s i o n , o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y i n sectors a n d d e t a c h m e n t s c a n b e g i v e n a l l t h e r i g h t s o f basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y . I n these cases, a p a r t f r o m m e e t i n g s f o r r e n d e r i n g a c c o u n t a n d e l e c t i o n s the g e n e r a l m e e t i n g o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d b e c a l l e d w h e n a n d a s f r e q u e n t l y a s i s c o n s i d e r e d necessary. c) T h e s e c r e t a r y , a s s i s t a n t s e c r e t a r y (more t h a n o n e w h e n necessary) o r t h e b u r e a u o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n a r e elected t o l e a d a l l t h e w o r k o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y . I n a l l cases t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y decides t h i s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e n e e d a n d t h e n u m b e r o f m e m b e r s o f the P a r t y . The: b u r e a u c r a t i c w o r k o f s e c r e taries a n d bureaus should be combated. T h e y should e s t a b l i s h d i r e c t r e l a t i o n s w i t h the c o m m u n i s t s a n d w o r k e r s . As a rule there s h o u l d no longer be f u l l - t i m e secretaries o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s . In those cases w h e n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s of a s e c t o r h a v e the r i g h t s of a basic o r g a n i z a t i o n of the P a r t y , t h e b u r e a u s o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s also h a v e the r i g h t t o e x a m i n e the decisions o n a d m i s s i o n s i n t o a n d e x p u l s i o n s f r o m t h e P a r t y . W h e n these a r e c o n s i d e r e d correct t h e y a r e sent f o r a p p r o v a l t o the h i g h e r o r g a n . d ) I n s p e c i a l cases, w h e n t h e e n t e r p r i s e s o r i n s t i t u t i o n s are v e r y d i s p e r s e d , w i t h e x t e n s i v e a n d i s o l a t e d w o r k sectors a n d w i t h a l a r g e n u m b e r o f c o m m u n i s t s , m o r e t h a n o n e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y c a n b e c r e a t e d a c c o r d i n g t o sectors. T h e s e m u s t b e l i n k e d d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e o f the d i s t r i c t o r t h e r e g i o n , o r b y s p e c i a l d e c i s i o n o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y f o r these organizations, p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s w i t h t h e r i g h t s o f p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s o f r e g i o n s o r peasant zones c a n b e created. e ) O n t h e basis o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e P a r t y , i n p r o d u c t i o n c e n t r e s o r o t h e r w o r k c e n t r e s w h e r e t h e r e are fewer than three p a r t y members, groups of the P a r t y and
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y o u t h can b e set u p . L i k e w i s e , w h e r e necessary, g r o u p s o f the P a r t y a n d t r a d e - u n i o n s c a n b e set u p . T h e m e m b e r s a n d c a n d i d a t e m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y a n d some o f t h e members of the basic organization of the trade-unions should take part in them. Such a group should be led by a p a r t y m e m b e r a p p o i n t e d b y the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e o f t h e d i s t r i c t , r e g i o n o r zone.
W i t h these g u i d e l i n e s t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P L A d o e s n o t i n t e n d t o r e p l a c e one set o f f o r m s w i t h another, o r t o set o u t a series o f f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s o f w o r k r e a d y f o r a n y occasion, o r a n y t h i n g w h i c h m a y c r o p u p i n p r a c t i c e . I f w e w e r e t o act i n t h a t way, instead of achieving the proper aims a n d further i n v i gorating the life of the Party, we w o u l d w e a k e n it and m a k e i t bureaucratic. W e m u s t bear this i n m i n d i n all our work. T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a i s the p a r t y o f the r e v o l u t i o n . Its o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s a n d n o r m s d o not c o n s t i t u t e a n a i m i n themselves, b u t s e r v e its r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e v e l o p m e n t t o assist the r e a l i z a t i o n o f t h e m a j e s t i c p l a n s w h i c h i t d r a f t s f o r the t r i u m p h o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n ism. N o w t h e p r i m a r y task i s t o e n h a n c e t h e r o l e o f the vanguard fighter, enthusiasm of to enhance the creative revolutionary of the communists a n d the organizations as
t h e P a r t y s o that t h e y w i l l l e a d f o r w a r d t h e g r e a t m o v e ment w h i c h has swept a l l t h e w o r k i n g people, they h a v e a l w a y s d o n e i n t h e past. T h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the P L A t h i n k s t h a t these g u i d e l i n e s w i l l s e r v e t h i s great p u r pose. T h e r e f o r e , l e t u s r a i s e e v e n h i g h e r t h e r o l e o f t h e basic organizations as m i l i t a n t centres of o u r P a r t y , as
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nests to r a i s e t r u e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , as great schools to t e m per the m e m b e r s . F i r s t S e c r e t a r y o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a
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Works, vol. 31
T H E FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA AND THE LESSONS COMMUNISTS DRAW FROM IT
Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit

M a y 11, 1966
. . . T h e t r a g e d y w h i c h t h e I n d o n e s i a n people a n d c o m m u n i s t s a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g s h o u l d shock t h e conscience o f a l l p r o g r e s s i v e people. T h e I n d o n e s i a n fascists, assisted openly and indirectly by the US imperialists and the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , are r e p e a t i n g , o n a n e v e r l a r g e r scale, w h a t t h e n a z i s d i d i n the past a f t e r t h e y t o o k p o w e r . T h e i r h a n d m u s t b e s t a y e d . E v e r y honest m a n , every revolutionary, every anti-fascist should raise his voice in p o w e r f u l protest against the massacre of communists and progressives in Indonesia. T o d a y this is t h e most e l e m e n t a r y d u t y o f a l l , because i t i s a r e a l c r i m e t h a t t h e most r a b i d r e a c t i o n a r i e s s h o u l d m u r d e r h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f i n n o c e n t people ( p r o b a b l y i n n o w a r , e x c e p t the w o r l d w a r s , h a v e t h e r e been s o m a n y v i c t i m s ) and go unpunished. T h e A l b a n i a n people a n d c o m m u n i s t s e x p r e s s t h e i r internationalist solidarity w i t h the Indonesian communists, v i c t i m s o f the fascist t e r r o r . W e are c o n v i n c e d t h a t r e gardless o f the g r e a t d a m a g e i t has s u f f e r e d , t h e I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y w i l l r e p l y t o t h e fascists w i t h
THE FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA
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a d e t e r m i n e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e f o r t h e t o t a l defeat of reaction. N o w it is clear that there is but one w a y o p e n t o I n d o n e s i a n c o m m u n i s t s a n d p a t r i o t s t o oppose f a s c i s m a n d t h e t e r r o r : t h e y m u s t r e s p o n d t o the c o u n t e r revolutionary violence w i t h revolutionary violence, w i t h t h e a r m e d s t r u g g l e o f w o r k e r s a n d peasants i n d e f e n c e of freedom a n d democracy. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t s i n I n d o n e s i a a r e a b i t t e r fact f o r the communists and for all revolutionaries. However, what has happened in Indonesia constitutes a m a j o r experience w h i c h m u s t b e c a r e f u l l y s t u d i e d a n d v a l u a b l e lessons m u s t b e d r a w n f r o m it. T h e r e v o l u t i o n n e v e r goes s t r a i g h t a h e a d . I t a d v a n c e s t h r o u g h t r i u m p h s a n d setbacks. I t i s the d u t y o f r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s t o c o n s o l i d a t e the v i c t o r i e s , w h i l e they m u s t l e a r n f r o m t h e t e m p o r a r y s e t b a c k s a n d d r a w the necessary c o n c l u s i o n s so that the r e v o l u t i o n is raised to a higher level a n d w a g e d w i t h e v e n g r e a t e r force. T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f a r e v o l u t i o n i s u s e f u l , n o t just t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d c o m m u n i s t s o f o n e c o u n t r y alone, b u t t o a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , t o a l l the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s o f t h e w o r l d . T h e r e f o r e , n o t only the Indonesian communists, but all the revolutionaries and communists of the various countries should d r a w t h e a p p r o p r i a t e lessons f r o m the I n d o n e s i a n events. T h i s is of first-rate importance. The Indonesian C o m m u n i s t P a r t y grew up and dev e l o p e d as a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y in s t e r n class s t r u g g l e against i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l e n e m i e s . A f t e r t h e h e a v y b l o w s i t r e c e i v e d f r o m r e a c t i o n i n 1927 a n d 1948, w h e n t h o u s a n d s o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d the w h o l e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e party w e r e massacred, the Indonesian Communist Party w a s r e b u i l t t h r o u g h s t r u g g l e a n d e f f o r t u n t i l i t became, s u c h a force that, f r o m t h e n u m b e r o f i t s m e m b e r s , i t r e p r e s e n t e d t h e biggest c o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t
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countries. T h e r e i s n o d o u b t that, d e s p i t e the m a j o r losses it is suffering now, little by little, through courageous and consistent convinced revolutionary Marxist-Leninist struggle it will r e c o v e r once a g a i n . W e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s are f i r m l y that t h e I n d o n e s i a n c o m m u n i s t s w i l l c a r e f u l l y a n a l y s e t h e i r w o r k u p t o date, that t h e y w i l l d i s c o v e r the shortcomings, mistakes a n d weaknesses w h i c h h a v e been m a n i f e s t e d i n the w o r k o f t h e P a r t y , a n d w i l l d r a w t h e necessary conclusions, s o t h a t i n t h e f u t u r e , t h e I n d o n e sian than Communist the Party will lead the Indonesian people t o success i n t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n . N o o n e c a n d o t h i s b e t t e r Indonesian communists themselves. chain, a component against the T h e events in Indonesia are not an isolated phenoa single
m e n o n . T h e y are l i n k s of
p a r t o f t h e assault o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c t i o n
c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d t h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e . T h e y are l i n k e d w i t h t h e aggressive a c t i v i t y o f U S i m p e rialism i n V i e t n a m and elsewhere, w i t h perialist intervention in San Domingo Latin America, with the subversive, chevite the bloody i m and throughout
the organization of counter-revoluwhich the in Khrushwithin
t i o n a r y coups against s e v e r a l n e w states i n A f r i c a , w i t h disruptive activities have long been revisionists engaged
the ranks of the international communist movement, w i t h t h e i r sabotage o f t h e peoples' n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e , with the active support For this reason the they are g i v i n g US revolutionaries and imperialism communists a n d a l l the v a r i o u s r e a c t i o n a r i e s , a n d s o o n . of various countries must give necessary conclusions so that these p h e n o m e n a s e r i o u s the revolutionary struggle
consideration, must analyse them carefully a n d d r a w the w i l l advance s t e a d i l y f r o m v i c t o r y t o v i c t o r y .
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HOW MUCH ARE DEMOCRATIC FREEDOMS WORTH IN A BOURGEOIS STATE AND HOW SHOULD THEY BE UTILIZED T h e bourgeoisie a n d , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m , the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e a lot t o s a y a b o u t a n d c o u n t h e a v i l y o n the s o - c a l l e d d e m o c r a t i c f r e e d o m s . I n fact, f o r the sake o f appearances, i n e v e r y b o u r g e o i s state c o n s i d e r e d democratic there are certain relatively democratic freedoms. W e say r e l a t i v e l y , because t h e y n e v e r g o b e y o n d the b o u n d s o f the b o u r g e o i s concept o f f r e e d o m a n d democracy, because t h e y e x t e n d j u s t s o f a r a s w i l l not j e o p a r d i z e the v i t a l interests o f the b o u r g e o i s i e i n p o w e r . N a t u r a l l y , the w o r k i n g class a n d p r o g r e s s i v e people u t i l i z e these c o n d i t i o n s t o o r g a n i z e themselves, t o p r o p a g a t e t h e i r v i e w s a n d ideology, a n d t o p r e p a r e f o r the o v e r t h r o w o f the e x p l o i t i n g classes a n d t h e s e i z u r e o f p o w e r . F o l l o w i n g the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r , as a r e s u l t of the v i c t o r y o v e r f a s c i s m a n d t h e r o l e p l a y e d b y the c o m m u n ist p a r t i e s i n the a n t i - f a s c i s t w a r , c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s i n m a n y capitalist countries of E u r o p e succeeded in t a k i n g p a r t i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t (as i n F r a n c e , I t a l y , F i n l a n d a n d s o on), i n h a v i n g a l a r g e n u m b e r o f d e p u t i e s i n the p a r l i a m e n t , i m p o r t a n t posts i n the state a p p a r a t u s a n d e v e n i n the a r m y , a n d s o o n . L i k e w i s e , at v a r i o u s p e r i o d s d u r i n g the past 15 y e a r s f a v o u r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s f o r the p a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d p r o g r e s s i v e forces w e r e c r e a t e d i n c e r t a i n c o u n t r i e s o f the M i d d l e East, s u c h a s I r a n a n d I r a q ; i n L a t i n A m e r ica, s u c h a s G u a t e m a l a , B r a z i l , E c u a d o r , V e n e z u e l a , etc. A v e r y favourable situation was created in Indonesia. T h e Indonesian C o m m u n i s t P a r t y grew rapidly, it took part i n the g o v e r n m e n t , e x e r t e d a m a j o r i n f l u e n c e i n the i n t e r n a l a n d f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f the c o u n t r y , a n d s o o n .
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B u t even in the conditions of democratic freedoms, a b i t t e r class struggle, a s t r u g g l e f o r l i f e or d e a t h , goes o n b e t w e e n the r e v o l u t i o n a n d r e a c t i o n , b e t w e e n the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e bourgeoisie. I f the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e i r p a r t y s t r i v e t o consolidate t h e i r positions, r e a c t i o n a n d the bourgeoisie, o n t h e i r p a r t , a r e n o t asleep. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , b y u s i n g t h e b o u r g e o i s state a p p a r a t u s , the p o l i c e a n d a r m e d forces, c o r r u p t i o n a n d s u b v e r s i o n , b y n u r t u r i n g opportunism and reformist and pacifist illusions w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e w o r k i n g class, a n d s o o n , t h e y m a k e serious p r e p a r a t i o n s t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r p o s i t i o n s a n d t o s m a s h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f events a f t e r t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r s h o w s that, w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f d e m o c r a t i c freedoms, t h e b o u r g e o i s i e has acted e n e r g e t i c a l l y i n v a r i o u s ways to liquidate the revolutionary movement of the w o r k i n g class. W h e n the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d r e a c t i o n h a d c o n s o l i d a t e d t h e i r positions, t h e y o u s t e d t h e c o m m u n i s t s f r o m the g o v e r n m e n t , f r o m i m p o r t a n t state posts a n d f r o m t h e army, as in Italy, F r a n c e and F i n l a n d . In B r i t a i n , A u s t r i a and elsewhere the communists w e r e left w i t h not even one seat i n p a r l i a m e n t , w h e r e a s i n G r e e c e t h e y w e r e t h r o w n i n t o p r i s o n o r shot. W h e n the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d r e a c t i o n see t h a t t h e i r p o w e r i s i n j e o p a r d y a s a consequence o f t h e m o u n t i n g prestige a n d s t r e n g t h o f t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f t h e masses, t h e y p l a y t h e i r last c a r d : t h e y set t h e a r m e d forces i n m o t i o n , o r g a n i z e p o g r o m s i n o r d e r t o s m a s h a n d l i q u i d a t e the r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t a n d t h e c o m m u n i s t parties, a s t h e y d i d i n I r a n a n d I r a q , a n d n o w r e c e n t l y , i n I n d o n e s i a , w h e r e these t r a g i c e v e n t s took place. I n s u c h cases t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d reaction of one country have directly employed the a i d of
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w o r l d r e a c t i o n a n d e v e n o f its a r m e d forces, a s i n S a n Domingo and elsewhere. W h a t c o n c l u s i o n s c a n b e d r a w n f r o m this h i s t o r i c a l experience? F i r s t , the s o - c a l l e d b o u r g e o i s freedoms a n d d e m o cratic freedoms in the capitalist countries are not such as to allow communist parties and revolutionary groups to attain their objectives. No. T h e bourgeoisie a n d reaction a l l o w the a c t i v i t y o f r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s j u s t s o l o n g a s i t does n o t e n d a n g e r t h e class r u l e o f the b o u r g e o i s i e . W h e n this r u l e i s e n d a n g e r e d , o r w h e n r e a c t i o n f i n d s t h e o p p o r t u n e m o m e n t , i t suppresses these d e m o c r a t i c f r e e d o m s a n d e m p l o y s e v e r y m e a n s t o c r u s h the r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r ces, w i t h n o m o r a l o r p o l i t i c a l scruples. I n a l l c o u n t r i e s where the communist parties are allowed to w o r k openly, the bourgeoisie a n d r e a c t i o n u t i l i z e t h i s s i t u a t i o n t o get t o k n o w a l l the a c t i v i t i e s , t h e persons a n d the m e t h o d s of w o r k and struggle of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties and the revolutionaries. Therefore, the communists a n d their genuine Marxist-Leninist parties w o u l d be m a k i n g a fatal mistake if they were to put a n y trust in the freedoms w h i c h it suits the bourgeoisie to allow them temporarily, and advertize everything openly, if they f a i l to keep their o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d p l a n s secret. T h e c o m m u n i s t s s h o u l d t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f c o n d i t i o n s o f l e g a l w o r k a n d use t h e m t o c a r r y out e x t e n s i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d p r o p a g a n d a w o r k , b u t a t t h e same t i m e , t h e y m u s t b e p r e p a r e d f o r i l l e g a l work. Second, the o p p o r t u n i s t i l l u s i o n s a b o u t the p e a c e f u l r o a d to t h e t a k i n g of p o w e r are a f r a u d a n d a great d a n g e r t o the r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t . F r o m t h e outside, the I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y seemed t o h a v e t h e most f a v o u r a b l e t e r r a i n f o r a c h i e v i n g its a i m o n t h i s r o a d . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e I n d o n e s i a n c o m m u n i s t s h a d dec l a r e d m o r e t h a n once t h a t t h e y h a d n o i l l u s i o n s a b o u t
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t h e p e a c e f u l road. I n t h e g r e e t i n g o f the d e l e g a t i o n o f t h e C C o f the I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y t o the congress o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f N e w Z e a l a n d t h e y c o n f i r m e d t h a t the e v e n t s i n I n d o n e s i a p r o v e d once a g a i n that there is no r u l i n g class. . . a n d r e a c t i o n a r y f o r c e w h i c h w i l l p e r m i t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces t o a c h i e v e v i c t o r y t h r o u g h t h e ' p e a c e f u l road.' F r o m t h e t r a g i c e v e n t s i n I n d o n e s i a t h e c o m m u n i s t s d r a w the lesson t h a t i t i s n o t e n o u g h s i m p l y t o reject t h e o p p o r t u n i s t i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e peacef u l road, o r t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e o n l y w a y t o seize p o w e r i s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y o f a r m e d struggle. T h e p a r t y o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s a n d e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y must take effective measures to prepare for the revo l u t i o n , f r o m the e d u c a t i o n o f the c o m m u n i s t s a n d the masses i n a m i l i t a n t r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t d o w n t o c o n c r e t e p r e p a r a t i o n s t o cope w i t h t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i o l e n c e o f r e a c t i o n t h r o u g h the r e v o l u t i o n a r y a r m e d struggle of the p o p u l a r masses. T h i r d , regardless of the favourable conditions and positions w h i c h it m i g h t enjoy for a certain time, the party of t h e w o r k i n g class m u s t n e v e r f o r a m o m e n t d i m i n i s h its r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e , o v e r - e s t i m a t e its o w n s t r e n g t h a n d t h a t o f i t s allies a n d u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e s t r e n g t h o f its opponents, the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d r e a c t i o n . T h e I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y h a d great i n f l u e n c e i n the c o u n t r y , but it seems it over-estimated and h a d u n w a r r a n t e d faith i n the p o l i t i c a l s t r e n g t h o f S o e k a r n o i n p a r t i c u l a r a n d t h a t o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e t h a t s u p p o r t e d h i m . A t the s a m e t i m e , apparently it h a d underestimated the strength of reaction, e s p e c i a l l y t h e s t r e n g t h o f r e a c t i o n i n the a r m y . I t seems that the I n d o n e s i a n c o m r a d e s h a d the i d e a t h a t w h o e v e r h a d S o e k a r n o o n h i s side h a d t h e k e y o f I n d o n e s i a i n his hand, and this without h a v i n g thoroughly analysed w h e r e the s t r e n g t h o f S o e k a r n o l a y a n d h o w r e a l i t w a s , e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g the people. T h e recent e v e n t s i n I n d o n e -
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sia h a v e s h o w n c l e a r l y t h a t t h e r e w a s n o s o u n d social, e c o n o m i c o r p o l i t i c a l base f o r S o e k a r n o ' s p r e s t i g e a n d authority. T h e reactionary generals managed to neutralize Soekarno, a n d even to utilize h i m to the extent they n e e d e d h i m f o r t h e i r c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y purposes. F o u r t h , the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y a n d e v e r y g e n u i n e revolutionary must consistently and resolutely pursue a r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e a n d f i g h t c o u r a g e o u s l y against o p p o r t u n i s m a n d its m o s t h i d e o u s m a n i f e s t a t i o n s K h r u s h chevite and Titoite m o d e r n revisionism. T h e opportunists a n d modern revisionists have taken up as their banner the struggle for bourgeois freedoms and have renounced t h e r e v o l u t i o n . T h e y a d v o c a t e t h e p e a c e f u l r o a d a s the o n l y w a y t o t a k e p o w e r . I t i s p r e c i s e l y the o p p o r t u n i s t and revisionist line, the influence of K h r u s h c h e v i t e and other revisionists, that have turned m a n y communist p a r ties, w h i c h once r e p r e s e n t e d a m a j o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y force, i n t o parties o f s o c i a l r e f o r m , i n t o a p p e n d a g e s a n d assistants o f t h e r e a c t i o n a r y bourgeoisie. T h i s has o c c u r r e d i n the Italian, French, F i n n i s h , British, A u s t r i a n and other c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s . F o l l o w i n g t h e o p p o r t u n i s t l i n e o f the 20th Congress o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s l e d t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Iraq, the B r a z i l i a n C o m m u n i s t Party, the C o m munist P a r t y of A l g e r i a and others to catastrophe a n d l i q u i d a t i o n . T h e I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y opposes modern revisionism. T h e recent events in Indonesia and the u n d e r m i n i n g r o l e w h i c h t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s played there show that a genuine r e v o l u t i o n a r y party, loyal to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and determined to carry the revolution f o r w a r d courageously, must have a clear-cut stand towards opportunism, towards K h r u s h c h e v i t e and Titoite revisionism. It is not enough just to be in solidarity w i t h the s t r u g g l e o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s against r e v i s i o n i s m , b u t the p a r t y m u s t f i g h t u n c o m p r o m i s i n g l y a n d o p e n l y against the r e v i s i o n i s t b e t r a y a l , because o n l y i n
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t h i s w a y are t h e c o m m u n i s t s e d u c a t e d i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y spirit and the p a r t y protected f r o m any danger of revisionism. Without fighting courageously a n d consistently against opportunism and Khrushchevite revisionism, imperialism c a n n o t be fought, r e a c t i o n c a n n o t be fought, a n d t h e cause of the revolution and socialism cannot be carried forward.
COMMUNISTS AND ALLIANCES WITH THE PROGRESSIVE FORCES Historical experience shows that in their revolutionary struggle the communists a l w a y s enter into alliances w i t h v a r i o u s p r o g r e s s i v e forces, because, e s p e c i a l l y i n the case o f democratic revolutions or struggles for n a t i o n a l liberation f r o m imperialist a n d colonialist oppression, other broad strata of the population, r a n g i n g f r o m w o r k e r s a n d peasants t o the n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o i s i e a n d o t h e r p r o g r e s s i v e people a p a r t f r o m t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , are also i n t e r e s t e d . I t w o u l d b e w r o n g , s e c t a r i a n a n d h a r m f u l t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n i f a l l those t h a t c a n b e u n i t e d are n o t u n i t e d t o c a r r y i t t h r o u g h . T h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d genuine revolutionaries, as the most courageous fighters a n d most f a i t h f u l representatives of the broad masses o f people, a r e a l w a y s i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e u n i t y o f a l l those w h o w a n t t o c a r r y the r e v o l u t i o n f o r w a r d . T h e events i n I n d o n e s i a a r e a s i g n i f i c a n t l e s s o n also i n regard to the question of alliances. N A S A C O M , w h i c h represented the alliance of nationalist, religious a n d c o m m u n i s t forces, h a d been i n e x i s t e n c e f o r a l o n g t i m e i n Indonesia. T h e I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y d i d w e l l t o take part i n N A S A C O M . B y this means i t strengthened its p o s i t i o n a n d t h a t o f t h e w o r k i n g class i n t h e w h o l e l i f e o f the c o u n t r y . B u t a s t h e e v e n t s s h o w , s o u n d o r ganizational and r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k w a s not done there.
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H a r m f u l e u p h o r i a w a s p e r m i t t e d a n d N A S A C O M itself, t h e a l l i a n c e o f its t h r e e c o n s t i t u e n t forces a n d f r e e d o m o f a c t i o n w e r e b o o s t e d e x c e s s i v e l y . T h e fact i s t h a t o n e storm was sufficient to bring the whole N A S A C O M structure t u m b l i n g d o w n . N A S A C O M w a s not a d y k e strong enough to withstand the tide of counter-revolution. I n t h e i r struggle, t h e r e f o r e , t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s s h o u l d n e v e r content t h e m s e l v e s w i t h the f o r m a l conclusion of alliances. T h e y should not be overenthused by declarations about the vitality of such a l liances, b u t s h o u l d w o r k t o e n s u r e t h a t these a l l i a n c e s are of m a x i m u m benefit to the revolution. F o r this, i t i s essential t h a t i n the v a r i o u s p o p u l a r , democratic, national and national liberation fronts, the g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s s h o u l d w i n the t r u s t o f t h e i r a l l i e s t h r o u g h t h e i r w o r k a n d struggle, s h o u l d e m e r g e a t the h e a d o f these f r o n t s a n d e x e r t e f f e c t i v e l e a d e r s h i p over them. The leadership of the Marxist-Leninist party, its correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e b r o a d masses u n i t e d i n t h e f r o n t , i s the g u a r a n t e e o f t h e s t r e n g t h and vitality of fronts and their major role in achieving the o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n . I t has been p r o v e n m o r e t h a n once that w h e n these f r o n t s a r e l e d b y other s o c i a l forces a n d p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s t h e y d o n o t last, d o n o t f o l l o w a consistent r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e , a r e o f t e n u s e d f o r c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y purposes, a n d b u r s t l i k e a soap b u b b l e a t their first encounter w i t h reaction. I n f o l l o w i n g t h e l i n e o f u n i t y w i t h a l l those t h a t c a n b e u n i t e d i n the f r o n t , M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, c o n t r a r y t o the v i e w s o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , m u s t n o t o n l y p r e s e r v e their independence and their role of leadership but must, a t the same t i m e , s t r u g g l e against t h e v a c i l l a t i o n s o f v a r i o u s allies, a g a i n s t t h e i r r e a c t i o n a r y tendencies, a g a i n s t t h e i r attempts t o s p l i t t h e f r o n t a n d start m a k i n g d e a l s w i t h the forces o f r e a c t i o n . T h e l i n e o f u n i t y a n d s t r u g g l e
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helps strengthen the fronts, purges t h e m of reactionary c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y e l e m e n t s , increases t h e i r s o l i d a r i t y a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t , a n d assists t o a t t a i n a h i g h e r level of u n i t y on sounder foundations. F o l l o w i n g the line o f u n i t y a l o n e a n d n e g l e c t i n g s t r u g g l e creates a false, f o r m a l u n i t y a n d enables r e a c t i o n a r y e l e m e n t s a n d forces t o u n d e r m i n e a n d e l i m i n a t e i t easily, d e a l i n g a h e a v y b l o w t o t h e cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n itself. In their alliances w i t h various social strata a n d forces t o a c h i e v e o n e o b j e c t i v e o r a n o t h e r i n t h e v a r i o u s stages o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t n e v e r lose s i g h t of t h e i r u l t i m a t e g o a l the t r i u m p h of s o c i a l i s m .
One must know how to unite the struggle for democracy with the straggle for the socialist revolution, subjecting the former to the latter, says Lenin. Herein lies the whole difficulty; herein lies the whole essence... Don't forget the main thing (the socialist revolution); put it in the forefront...; subject to it and co-ordinate it with all your demands for democratic rights...*
T h e c o m m u n i s t s are s i n c e r e i n t h e i r a l l i a n c e s w i t h o t h e r s o c i a l forces. T h e y a r e r e s o l u t e f i g h t e r s f o r p u t t i n g i n t o p r a c t i c e t h e p r o g r a m s o f u n i t e d f r o n t s , b u t a t t h e same t i m e , t h e y m a k e n o secret o f t h e i r ideals, a n d once t h e y h a v e a c c o m p l i s h e d t h e i r d e m o c r a t i c a n d n a t i o n a l tasks, t h e y a r e d e t e r m i n e d not t o stop h a l f - w a y , b u t t o c a r r y the revolution f o r w a r d to the t r i u m p h of socialism and communism. T h e struggle of o u r P a r t y d u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , i t s a g r e e m e n t s , t a l k s w i t h p r o g r e s s i v e elements, a n d even w i t h the factions of the reactionary bourgeoisie,
___________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 35, pp. 260-261 (Alb. ed.).
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taught us h o w to f i n d o u r bearings successfully in this labyrinth. This experience gained in the w a r has been a n d i s o f i m m e n s e assistance t o o u r P a r t y i n its c o r r e c t p o l i c y w i t h the b r o a d masses o f w o r k e r s , helps the P a r t y i n its i n t e r n a l p o l i c y a n d i n t h e o r i e n t a t i o n o f its f o r e i g n policy, in studying and resolving antagonistic and n o n antagonistic contradictions both inside and outside the c o u n t r y a n d i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t .
THE INTERNATIONAL UNITY OF MARXIST-LENINISTS MUST BE STRENGTHENED T h e w o r l d p r o l e t a r i a t , the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a n d a l l genuine revolutionaries are engaged in a stern struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m , against t h e r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i e , against the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d a g a i n s t t h e i r i d e o l o g y . T h i s is a l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e , a s t r u g g l e of g r e a t i n t e r national importance. T h e struggle between us and o u r enemies is a b i t t e r , m e r c i l e s s class s t r u g g l e , w i t h no q u a r t e r s o u g h t o r g i v e n . T h i s class s t r u g g l e i s n o t w a g e d i n the s a m e w a y e v e r y w h e r e , n o t o n l y a s t o i t s i n t e n s i t y but also as to its f o r m s , t h e v i g o u r of i t s d e v e l o p m e n t , the w o r l d o u t l o o k o f i t s p a r t i c i p a n t s , t h e c h a n g i n g c i r cumstances, the u p s a n d d o w n s , t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t h e t e m p o r a r y retreats, its o f f e n s i v e s p i r i t , a n d m a n y other objective a n d subjective factors. I t i s the i m p o r t a n t a n d e s s e n t i a l d u t y f o r a l l M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r s ' p a r t i e s t o b e a r a l l these t h i n g s i n m i n d , t o a n a l y z e t h e m s c i e n t i f i c a l l y i n the l i g h t of creative M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a p p l i e d n o t as a d o g m a b u t as a l i v i n g revolutionary theory in action, always keeping pure the basic p r i n c i p l e s a n d t h e u n i v e r s a l l a w s o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d n o t a l l o w i n g r i g h t wing opportunism or h a r m f u l sectarianism to be hidden
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u n d e r the s l o g a n o f a l l e g e d r e a l c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t r y o r the s p e c i a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e t i m e o r o f t h e moment. T h e recent events, the savage a t t a c k o f t h e i m p e r i a l ists, o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d d i f f e r e n t r e a c t i o n a r i e s against s o c i a l i s m , against t h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n struggle, against the c o m m u n i s t and r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r ties o f v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s , s h o w t h a t i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y w h i c h i s a l w a y s necessary, i s n o w m o r e e s s e n t i a l t h a n ever. H e w h o d o e s not u n d e r s t a n d t h i s great t r u t h , d o e s n o t u n d e r s t a n d M a r x ' s great slogan, W o r k e r s o f a l l countries, u n i t e ! . M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m teaches u s that a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s m u s t u n i t e against t h e enemies o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e peoples, against t h e capitalists, i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e i r a l l i e s , a g a i n s t t h e r e a c t i o n a r y bourgeoisie, a g a i n s t v a r i a n t s o f its i d e o l o g y , one of w h i c h at the present time is modern revisionism, headed by Soviet revisionism. T h e enemies of the proletariat a n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m h a v e fought international Marxist-Leninist unity w i t h all t h e i r m i g h t . T o t h i s e n d t h e y h a v e b r o u g h t i n t o use a l l the means at their disposal and co-ordinate all their actions. T h i s i s w h a t w o r l d i m p e r i a l i s m , h e a d e d b y t h a t o f the U S A , is doing today; this is what modern revisionism, headed by Khrushchevite revisionism, is d o i n g ; this is w h a t a l l the v a r i o u s r e a c t i o n a r i e s o f t h e w o r l d a r e d o i n g , because t h e u n i t y o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s o f t h e w o r l d i s fatal to them, while for us Marxist-Leninists it is our salvation. The traitors to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , the K h r u s h c h e v i t e a n d Titoite revisionists and their lackeys, have w o r k e d to a well-defined plan to h i n d e r the u n i t y of the M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t s , a n d i n g e n e r a l , t o d i s c r e d i t t h e o b j e c t i v e necess i t y f o r this u n i t y . I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , w i t h a v i e w t o a c h i e v i n g t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s goals, t h e y a t t a c k e d t h e i d e a
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of any international organization of communists. The r e v i s i o n i s t s h a d t o d o t h i s i n o r d e r t o r e h a b i l i t a t e the traitors and the Trotskyite betrayal, a n d particularly to d i s c r e d i t the i d e a o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y , w h i c h constitutes t h e greatest d a n g e r t o t h e m a t a n y t i m e . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s set a b o u t d i s c r e d i t i n g e v e r y s o u n d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t thing so that they could b u i l d a new k i n d o f u n i t y o n the basis o f r e v i s i o n i s m a n d u n d e r t h e K h r u s h chevite dictate. O f course, t h i s w a s a castle b u i l t o n s a n d , for no genuine u n i t y can exist outside M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h e preaching of the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists about unity i s a i m e d e n t i r e l y against the i d e a o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y a n d this i s done f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f h i n d e r i n g a c h i e v e ment of this unity. T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists preach this k i n d o f u n i t y i n o r d e r t o oppose t h e t r u e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t u n i t y f o r w h i c h w e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s are f i g h t i n g and w i l l fight to the end, and we shall certainly achieve o u r o b j e c t i v e . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t a l k a b o u t t h e i r u n i t y , but developing day by day w i t h i n this unity are m a n y f o r m s a n d ideas o f d i s i n t e g r a t i o n , c e n t r i f u g a l ideas, w h i c h w i l l lead to the open degeneration of pseudo-Marxists, u n d e r w h a t e v e r guise t h e y m a y b e h i d d e n . T h e h e r o i c a n d consistent f i g h t o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s w i l l t e a r o f f m a n y a m a s k . S o o n e r o r l a t e r t h e r e w i l l also b e a n u n m a s k i n g o f the g a m e o f those w h o w a n t t o p l a y the r o l e o f c e n trists (1), w h o defend principles in words, but who, in r e a l i t y , d i s t o r t t h e m u n d e r the guise o f independence, o f specific c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h t h e y a r e s t i l l u s i n g t o c o n ceal t h e i r g r a d u a l d e p a r t u r e f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , their deviation f r o m the internationalist unity of M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t s i n the w o r l d . M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s m u s t c o n s o l i d a t e their u n i t y without heeding the slanders and opinions
________________________________ 1 A l l u s i o n to the Communist P a r t y of R u m a n i a , the C o m munist P a r t y of J a p a n and the W o r k e r s ' P a r t y of K o r e a .
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of revisionists. As to the organizational forms this unity s h o u l d take, t h e y m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d a n d w o r k e d o u t i n concrete f o r m . T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists are m a k i n g a lot of noise a b o u t the thesis o f t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e c o m munist a n d workers' parties and their acting in conformity w i t h t h e concrete c o n d i t i o n s o f each c o u n t r y . I n fact, t h i s i s a L e n i n i s t thesis t o w h i c h o n l y w e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s r e a l l y a d h e r e c o n s i s t e n t l y . B u t the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e t r y i n g t o m i s r e p r e s e n t the s o - c a l l e d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f p a r ties. T h e y accept i t o n l y i n w o r d s , because i n r e a l i t y , the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s w a n t the w h o l e m o v e m e n t t o be dependent on them a n d under their leadership. T h e y conceive independence apart f r o m internationalism so that Marxist-Leninists should not have a c o m m o n line on t h e m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l issues, l i k e the a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s i m p e r i a l i s m a n d t h e renegades f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , observance of the universal laws of the revolution and socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d s o o n . W h i l e s t r i c t l y r e s p e c t i n g the i n d e p e n d e n c e o f e v e r y p a r t y i n d e t e r m i n i n g its o w n l i n e a n d p o l i c y , t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s m u s t , a t t h e same time, submit to the principles of proletarian internationali s m , t o t h e u n i v e r s a l l a w s o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n , m u s t w o r k out a c o m m o n l i n e a n d a c o m m o n s t a n d o n the m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l issues, e s p e c i a l l y i n r e g a r d t o t h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d t h e s t r u g g l e t o d e f e n d the p u r i t y o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m f r o m m o d e r n r e v i sionism. T h e e v e n t s i n I n d o n e s i a a n d t h e j o i n t attack o f the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s against the peoples, against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d s o c i a l i s m , s h o w that w e m u s t s t r e n g t h e n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n i t y o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s . A l l r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m m u n i s t s , a l l the genuine Marxist-Leninist parties must boldly and unhesit a t i n g l y s u r m o u n t a n d c r u s h once a n d f o r a l l a l l the
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obstacles t h a t t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e r a i s e d t o o u r course o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y . T h e y w i l l accuse u s o f setting u p n e w i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n s ; t h e y w i l l b e - d o i n g us an honour. T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s o f t h e w o r l d c o n s t i t u t e a steel bloc. T h i s b l o c t e r r i f i e s t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s , a n d t h a t i s w h y t h e y are s t r i v i n g a t a l l costs t o f i g h t us, s t r i v i n g t o confuse t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s w i t h t h e i r slogans about w h i c h w e h a v e b e e n s p e a k i n g . T h e i r e f f o r t s a r e i n v a i n : t h e L e n i n i s t slogan, W o r k e r s o f a l l c o u n t r i e s a n d o p p r e s s e d peoples, u n i t e ! w i l l triumph.
Against
Modern Revisionism 1965-1967
OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE TO W A G E THE CLASS STRUGGLE AS IT HAS ALWAYS DONE CONSISTENTLY, COURAGEOUSLY AND WITH MATURITY
From a conversation with Zhou Enlai (1)

June 24, 1966 O u r p e o p l e h a v e a s a y i n g , the w a t e r s m a y sleep but not t h e e n e m y . W o e b e t i d e those w h o f a l l asleep. T h i s w i l l never occur w i t h the Marxist-Leninist parties and a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s i f t h e y k e e p the s w o r d o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e class s t r u g g l e a n d the r e v olutionary vigilance sharp, if they continue their struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m , m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , i n t e r n a l a n d external reaction without interruption. T h e class e n e m y i s c u n n i n g a n d savage, t h e r e f o r e w e m u s t b e e x t r e m e l y severe a n d m e r c i l e s s w i t h h i m , i n life-and-death struggle w i t h h i m . T h e enemy is remorseless, t h e r e f o r e w e m u s t h a v e n o c o m p u n c t i o n b u t s h o u l d destroy h i m root a n d branch. We must have no illusions a b o u t t h e e n e m y a n d m a k e n o concessions t o h i m . T h i s i s t h e p r i n c i p l e w h i c h has a l w a y s g u i d e d o u r P a r t y . We must not allow that catastrophe w h i c h occurred in t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , the E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s o f people's d e ______________________________ 1 Z h o u E n l a i paid a visit to A l b a n i a f r o m J u n e 24 to 28, 1966.
OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE
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mocracy and in m a n y communist and workers' parties of the w o r l d , t o t a k e p l a c e i n o u r c o u n t r i e s a n d parties. N o t o n l y m u s t t h i s n e v e r occur, b u t it is a v i t a l d u t y , a m a j o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t t a s k f o r us, t o g e t h e r w i t h the o t h e r M a r x ist-Leninist parties of the w o r l d , w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t revolutionary groups and all the Marxist-Leninists (2), in Marxist-Leninist unity of thought and revolutionary unity of action, to l e a d t h e peoples to b a t t l e against t h e c u r r e n t , to overthrow this situation in the international communist m o v e m e n t , t o expose, defeat a n d f i n a l l y d e s t r o y t h e r e v i sionists a n d t h e i r i m p e r i a l i s t bosses. I r r e s p e c t i v e o f the p u t s c h i s t a n d fascist m e t h o d s t h a t t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s u s e d w h e n t h e y seized power, what happened in the Soviet U n i o n w a s certainly not a s p o n t a n e o u s p h e n o m e n o n , b u t s o m e t h i n g p r e p a r e d i n advance. T h e f a c t t h a t b e f o r e t h e d e a t h o f S t a l i n , K h r u s h c h e v a n d his m a i n c o l l a b o r a t o r s i n t h e p u t s c h w e r e some o f the t o p leaders w h o w o r k e d u n d e r t h e l a p , w h o made preparations and w a i t e d for the suitable m o m e n t to act o p e n l y a n d on a l a r g e scale, s h o w s this. T h e fact is that these t r a i t o r s w e r e c o n s p i r a t o r s h a r d e n e d w i t h t h e
________________________________ 2 T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties and groups put great hope in the support of the CP of C h i n a as a great M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party and in C h i n a as a great socialist country. B u t they were disillusioned. In connection w i t h this C o m r a d e Enver H o x h a , speaking to a Chinese delegation, stressed: . . . I t is up to us, to both your big party and our Party, in the first place, to take the first steps to concretize closer, more effective links w i t h the w h o l e w o r l d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t movement, so that our M a r x i s t Leninist unity is further tempered and our joint activity against our common enemies is strengthened. (Reflections on China, vol. 1, p. 305, T i r a n a 1979, E n g . ed.) G e n Biao, then director of the foreign department of the CC of the CP of C h i n a , in a talk he had w i t h comrades of our P a r t y in 1973, has s a i d : C h i n a does not approve the creation of M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties and does not w a n t the representatives of these parties to come to China. (Enver H o x h a , Imperialism and the Revolution p. 442, T i r a n a 1979. E n g . ed.)
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experience of various Russian counter-revolutionaries, the experience of the anarchists, the Trotskyites and the B u k h a r i n i t e s , a n d the e x p e r i e n c e o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e B o l s h e v i k P a r t y . T h e y d i d n o t h i n g f o r the r e v o l u t i o n , b u t o n the c o n t r a r y , d i d e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e i r p o w e r t o undermine the revolution and socialism, w h i l e escaping the blows of the revolution and the dictatorship of the proletariat. In a w o r d , they w e r e counter-revolutionaries a n d o p e r a t e d i n a t w o - f a c e d w a y . O n t h e one h a n d , t h e y sang the p r a i s e s o f s o c i a l i s m , t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t h e B o l s h e v i k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , w h i l e o n the o t h e r h a n d , t h e y p r e p a r e d the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n . A l l o f u s m u s t a s k o u r s e l v e s : W h y w e r e t h e y not discovered and dealt w i t h in time? T i m e l y discovery and treatment are of decisive importance in preventing the m i c r o b e o f a disease f r o m p r o l i f e r a t i n g a n d g a t h e r i n g s t r e n g t h i n a b o d y i n f e c t e d b y the illness. T o c o m b a t a n d eradicate t h e disease, t o p r e v e n t i t f r o m b r e a k i n g out a n d b e c o m i n g a d a n g e r a g a i n , a precise d i a g n o s i s is i n d i s pensable. O u r P a r t y has b e e n w a g i n g a s t e r n , ceaseless a n d u n f l i n c h i n g struggle against Titoite m o d e r n revisionism f o r about 2 0 y e a r s o n e n d a n d i s a b s o l u t e l y c l e a r a b o u t t h e o r i g i n , t h e l i n e , t h e strategy, t h e tactics a n d t h e methods by w h i c h this agency of the bourgeoisie and i m p e r i a l i s m c o n d u c t s its s t r u g g l e . O u r P a r t y has been f i g h t i n g a c t i v e l y w i t h a l l i t s m i g h t against K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s m e v e r since i t f i r s t a p p e a r e d . I t h a s g a i n e d g r e a t e x p e r i e n c e i n t h i s struggle, a n e x p e r i e n c e w h i c h h a s been a d d e d t o t h a t g a i n e d i n t h e s t r u g g l e against t h e T i t o i t e s . O u r P a r t y is of the o p i n i o n that the line followed b y S t a l i n d u r i n g h i s l i f e t i m e w a s a correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n ist r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e . L e t u s t a k e t h e q u e s t i o n o f class s t r u g g l e . N o t the slightest c r i t i c i s m c a n b e m a d e o f S t a l i n f o r a n o p p o r t u n i s t
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stand towards the capitalist a n d imperialist powers. On t h e c o n t r a r y , he w a g e d a s t e r n , merciless, b l o w - f o r - b l o w struggle against t h e m . H i s t h e o r e t i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l w o r k s , a s w e l l a s the a c t i v i t i e s o f the S o v i e t U n i o n i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a c o n f i r m this. I f s o m e w e a k p o i n t s o f tactics c a n b e f o u n d i n the p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n d u r i n g t h e w h o l e p e r i o d o f S t a l i n , tactics d i c t a t e d b y v a r i o u s c i r cumstances, b y t a c t i c a l w i t h d r a w a l s o r i n a d e q u a t e j u d g m e n t s d u e to l a c k of facts a n d c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n a l y s e s of v a r i o u s circumstances, these do n o t c o n s t i t u t e t h e essence. T h e essence w a s correct. T h i s w a s a c o l o s s a l v i c t o r y f o r t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , f o r the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d f o r t h e peoples w h o f o u g h t a n d a r e f i g h t i n g against the i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s a n d f a s c i s m . I n t h e l i g h t o f c u r r e n t events i t becomes e v e n c l e a r e r t h a t t h e c o r r e c t ness o f t h i s class s t a n d w a s t h e m e r i t o f S t a l i n , because after h i s d e a t h h i s close c o l l a b o r a t o r s , w i t h t h e K h r u s h chevites a m o n g s t t h e m , t h r e w t h i s b a n n e r i n t h e m u d . L e t u s e x a m i n e i n b r o a d o u t l i n e t h e class s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a f t e r the R e v o l u t i o n a n d d u r i n g the w h o l e o f S t a l i n ' s l i f e t i m e . I n t h e o p i n i o n o f o u r P a r t y t h e r e w e r e n o e r r o r s o f p r i n c i p l e i n t h e l i n e o f the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y i n t h e t i m e o f S t a l i n , w h i l e i n t h e tactics, forms and methods errors can be found, but we must take account o f the c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f the t i m e a n d not judge them f r o m o u r present v i e w p o i n t a n d in the l i g h t o f t h e r i c h e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d b y o u r p a r t i e s . I t cannot b e s a i d t h a t t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e tariat withered a w a y or slackened d u r i n g the lifetime of S t a l i n . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t h i t t h e class e n e m y p o l i t i c a l l y , economically a n d militarily and liquidated it without m e r c y . A f t e r t h e t r i u m p h o f t h e R e v o l u t i o n , a f t e r the seizure o f p o w e r , a f t e r t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n a n d N E P , w e c a n s a y t h a t t h e c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t i n g classes o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n h a d been d e a l t a c r u s h i n g
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m o r t a l blow. Economically, they w e r e left biting their k n u c k l e s , as t h e s a y i n g goes. However, we cannot say that as long as Stalin was alive the dictatorship of the proletariat in the Soviet U n i o n operated onesidedly a n d w a s directed solely at the e l i m i n a t i o n o f the e c o n o m i c s t r e n g t h o f t h e e x p l o i t i n g c l a s ses a n d t h a t t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e m w a s n e g l e c t e d o r w e a k e n e d . O n the c o n t r a r y , t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l struggle, too, w a s t r e m e n d o u s . A b u n d a n t proof of this is the concrete d a i l y struggle of S t a l i n , the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y a n d the e n t i r e S o v i e t p e o p l e , S t a l i n ' s p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l w r i t i n g s , the d o c u m e n t s a n d decisions o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , t h e press a n d m a s s i v e p r o p a g a n d a o f those t i m e s a g a i n s t the T r o t s k y i t e s , B u k h a r i n i t e s , Z i n o v i e v i t e s , t h e T u k h a c h e v s kies and thousands of other traitors. This cannot be c a l l e d a n y t h i n g b u t a s t e r n p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l class s t r u g g l e i n defence o f s o c i a l i s m , t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e proletariat, the p a r t y a n d the principles of M a r x i s m Leninism. S t a l i n has great m e r i t s i n t h i s s t r u g g l e . H e s h o w e d h i m s e l f t o b e a great M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w i t h c l e a r p r i n ciples, w i t h g r e a t c o u r a g e a n d cool-headedness, w i t h t h e m a t u r i t y and foresight of a M a r x i s t revolutionary. We need o n l y t h i n k o f t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l enemies of the Soviet U n i o n , the o n l y socialist c o u n t r y i n t h e w o r l d a t t h a t t i m e , o f t h e schemes t h e y concocted, t h e u n r e s t r a i n e d p r o p a g a n d a a n d t h e c u n n i n g tactics t h e y used, t o a p p r e c i a t e p r o p e r l y t h e correct a c t i o n s of Stalin at the head of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n . W e r e t h e r e m i s t a k e s , excesses, d e f i n i t i o n s n o t a l w a y s rigorously exact? Of course there were. N o w we can analyse and evaluate t h e m more correctly in their context, in the existing circumstances and can say w h a t the con-
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sequences w o u l d h a v e b e e n i f s o m e d i f f e r e n t a c t i o n h a d been t a k e n . B u t the essence w a s a n d i s c o r r e c t . I t i s h a r d l y possible to criticize S t a l i n of v i o l a t i o n of a n d failure to defend the Leninist principles, it is difficult or impossible t o accuse h i m o f o p p o r t u n i s t m a n i f e s t a t i o n s i n l i n e , o f l a c k o f p r o l e t a r i a n p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l foresight Stalin's revolutionary vigilance is c o n f i r m e d even in the last y e a r s o f h i s l i f e . H e d i s c o v e r e d a n d e x p o s e d the t r e a cherous r e v i s i o n i s t a c t i v i t y o f T i t o a n d T i t o i s m . ( 3 ) T h i s i s a great m e r i t of S t a l i n ' s . Before he died, a n d K h r u s h c h e v himself has admitted this, S t a l i n t o l d t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h e w a s a f r a i d t h e y w o u l d c a p i t u l a t e t o i m p e r i a l i s m . A n d that i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t h a p pened. W a s this l a c k o f v i g i l a n c e o n t h e p a r t o f S t a l i n ? W a s t h i s j u s t a f o r t u i t o u s r e m a r k or w a s it a c o n c l u s i o n f r o m the p r o f o u n d r e f l e c t i o n o f a great r e v o l u t i o n a r y w h o foresaw the future a n d w a r n e d the P a r t y a n d the people that t h e y m u s t k e e p t h e i r eyes o p e n , b e v i g i l a n t a n d face up to the dangers w h i c h m i g h t threaten them in the future? O u r P a r t y holds the latter to be true. Then the question arises: if this is how matters stood, why did the Bolshevik Communist Party and the Soviet people allow the Soviet revisionists to seize power? The seizure of power by the Soviet modern revisionists from within, without using weapons or violence, is so to speak, a new phenomenon. We t h i n k t h a t in fact S t a l i n h a d n o t e n v i s a g e d this, f o r t h e S o v i e t U n i o n least of all. He never underrated the ferocity of the elements left o v e r f r o m t h e e x p l o i t i n g classes w h o , t h e c l o s e r t h e y
___________________________ 3 A l l u s i o n to the mistaken views of the Chinese on Titoism and Stalin, w h i c h M a o Zedong himself expressed to Comrade Enver H o x h a in 1956, in B e i j i n g , d u r i n g the proceedings of the 8th Congress of the CP of C h i n a . (See E n v e r H o x h a , The Khrushchevites (Memoirs), pp. 241-243, T i r a n a 1980, Eng. ed.)
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d r a w to their grave, the m o r e fiercely they fight sociali s m a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , b u t w e t h i n k that c o n s i d e r i n g t h e state these r e m n a n t s w e r e i n , S t a l i n assessed t h e i n t e r n a l s i t u a t i o n a s s o u n d a n d c o r r e c t l y f o r e s a w t h a t the a l l y w h i c h c o u l d r e v i v e these r e m n a n t s was foreign imperialism. S t a l i n p u t t h e stress o n t h e d a n g e r f r o m outside, w h i l e w e c a n say t h a t h e d i d not foresee t h e f u l l i m p l i c a t i o n of the d a n g e r of t h e r e v i s i o n i s t e l e m e n t s w h o , as a result of m a n y subjective and objective circumstances, m i g h t emerge w i t h i n the p a r t y a n d t h e socialist state a n d b e g r a d u a l l y t r a n s f o r m e d , w i t t i n g l y o r u n w i t t i n g l y , consciously or unconsciously, w i t h or without a premeditated plan, into an a n t i - M a r x i s t trend, especially w i t h i n the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n itself. H e w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t i f some a n t i - p a r t y hostile activity emerged w i t h i n the party, this m i g h t be developed and organized in the u s u a l ways, but he was also f i r m l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h i s a c t i v i t y w o u l d b e a t t a c k e d a n d l i q u i d a t e d b y the same m e t h o d s a n d f o r m s t h a t h a d b e e n u s e d t o expose a n d l i q u i d a t e a l l s u c h a c t i v i t i e s i n the past. T h e fact is, h o w e v e r , t h a t t h i s t i m e m a t t e r s d i d n o t follow the usual course w i t h the anti-party w o r k of the m o d e r n revisionist's. As regards the activities of the Y u g o s l a v C o m m u n i s t P a r t y and the Titoite group, Stalin's v i e w w a s more penetrating a n d he d r e w correct conclusions. Proof of t h i s are t h e l e t t e r s sent t o T i t o a n d the d o c u m e n t s o f the C o m i n f o r m w h i c h are o f great i m p o r t a n c e a n d w h e n w e read them, n o w especially, we can f o r m a better judgment o f h o w c o r r e c t S t a l i n ' s class v i e w s w e r e . T h e Khrushchevite revisionist chiefs concealed their schemes v e r y i n t e l l i g e n t l y b y a c t i n g u n d e r c o v e r o f t h e red flag of Stalin. We think that there were contradictions and frictions
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i n the l e a d e r s h i p o f the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d w e cannot a c cept the a b s u r d thesis o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s t h a t n o n e o f the leaders c o u l d o p e n h i s m o u t h t o e x p r e s s his o p i n i o n for fear of Stalin. F r o m what we h a v e heard, S t a l i n c a l led Khrushchev a narodnik, criticized Voroshilov, M o lotov a n d others. Hence, on the one h a n d we must c o n clude that S t a l i n w a s not politicaly short-sighted w h i l e o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h a t h e d i d not a l w a y s use b u l l e t s a n d t e r r o r a s his e n e m i e s c l a i m , b u t o n the c o n t r a r y u s e d conviction and exchange of opinions. A l t h o u g h w e h a v e n o access t o the i n t e r n a l d o c u m e n t s w h i c h w o u l d v e r i f y m a n y things, it is a fact that S t a l i n d i d n o t detect t h e d a n g e r p o s e d b y the t r a i t o r s K h r u s h chev, M i k o y a n a n d others, a n d t h a t the P a t r i o t i c W a r e x e r c i s e d a great i n f l u e n c e in t h i s d i r e c t i o n . If t h e r e is a n y t h i n g f o r w h i c h w e c a n b l a m e S t a l i n i t i s the fact t h a t after the w a r , a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e last y e a r s o f h i s life, h e d i d n o t r e a l i z e that the p u l s e o f h i s P a r t y w a s not b e a t i n g a s before, t h a t i t w a s l o s i n g i t s r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g our, w a s b e c o m i n g sclerotic a n d , d e s p i t e the h e r o i c deeds o f the G r e a t P a t r i o t i c W a r , i t n e v e r r e c o v e r e d p r o p e r l y a n d t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e t r a i t o r s t o o k a d v a n t a g e o f this. H e r e , i f I a m n o t m i s t a k e n , i s w h e r e w e m u s t seek t h e o r i g i n o f the t r a g e d y t h a t o c c u r r e d i n the S o v i e t U n i o n . The construction of socialism in the Soviet U n i o n a n d the f i g h t against b o t h e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l enemies w e r e c a r r i e d o u t b y the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f the S o v i e t Union and Stalin w h o led it in a lofty revolutionary spirit. The merciless blows justly dealt to the Trotskyites, the B u k h a r i n i t e s a n d o t h e r s w e r e t h e l o g i c a l c o n c l u s i o n of t h i s great class s t r u g g l e . A l l this c o m p l e x , m a n y - s i d e d s t r u g g l e r i g h t l y e n hanced the a u t h o r i t y o f S t a l i n a n d t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n ( B o l s h e v i k ) . T h i s w a s positive, b u t t h e m e t h o d s a n d f o r m s o f w o r k
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w h i c h w e r e u s e d i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the P a r t y h a d a n opposite r e s u l t . If a m i n u t e analysis is m a d e of the political, ideological and organizational directives of S t a l i n on the leadership and organization of the Party, the struggle a n d work, generally speaking, no errors of principle w i l l be f o u n d , b u t w e s h a l l see t h a t l i t t l e b y l i t t l e the P a r t y w a s becoming bureaucratized, that it was becoming o v e r w h e l m e d w i t h routine w o r k and dangerous formalism w h i c h p a r a l y z e the p a r t y a n d s a p its r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d v i g o u r . The P a r t y h a d been covered by a heavy layer of rust, by political apathy and the mistaken idea spread that only t h e h e a d , the l e a d e r s h i p , acted a n d s o l v e d e v e r y t h i n g . I t w a s t h i s concept o f w o r k t h a t l e d t o t h e s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h everybody, everywhere, said about every question: T h e l e a d e r s h i p k n o w s this, the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e k n o w s e v e r y t h i n g , the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e does not m a k e m i s t a k e s , S t a l i n s a i d this a n d t h a t ' s the e n d o f it. M a n y t h i n g s w h i c h S t a l i n m a y not h a v e s a i d a t a l l w e r e a t t r i b u t e d t o h i m . T h e apparatuses a n d o f f i c i a l s b e c a m e o m n i p o t e n t , infallible, and operated in bureaucratic ways, misusing the formulae of democratic centralism and Bolshevik c r i ticism and self-criticism w h i c h were no longer Bolshevik. T h e r e is no doubt that in this w a y the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y lost its f o r m e r v i t a l i t y , i t l i v e d b y correct f o r m u l a e , b u t o n l y f o r m u l a e ; i t c a r r i e d o u t o r d e r s , b u t d i d n o t act o n its own initiative. In such conditions, bureaucratic administrative m e a sures b e g a n t o p r e v a i l o v e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y m e a s u r e s . A f t e r t h e a d o p t i o n o f these b u r e a u c r a t i c m e t h o d s a n d f o r m s o f w o r k , t h e correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y m e a s u r e s t a k e n against t h e class e n e m y a c h i e v e d a n effect opposite t o that desired and w e r e used by the bureaucrats to spread fear i n the P a r t y a n d the people. T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e n o l o n g e r o p e r a t e d , because i t h a d ceased t o b e r e v -
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o l u t i o n a r y , a l t h o u g h i t w a s a d v e r t i z e d a s such. I t w a s being transformed f r o m a vigilance of the p a r t y and the masses i n t o a v i g i l a n c e of t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c a p p a r a t u s e s a n d , i f n o t i n a l l aspects, a t least i n f o r m , i n t o a v i g i l a n c e of the s e c u r i t y o r g a n s a n d the c o u r t s . It is understandable that in s u c h conditions, s e n t i ments and views w h i c h w e r e non-proletarian, not of the w o r k i n g class, took r o o t a n d d e v e l o p e d i n the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n , i n t h e r a n k s o f the c o m m u n i s t s a n d i n the consciousness o f m a n y o f t h e m . C a r e e r i s m , s e r vility, charlatanism, cronyism, anti-proletarian morality, etc. d e v e l o p e d a n d e r o d e d t h e P a r t y f r o m w i t h i n , s m o t h e r e d t h e s p i r i t o f t h e class s t r u g g l e a n d s a c r i f i c e a n d e n c o u r a g e d t h e h a n k e r i n g after a good, c o m f o r t a b l e l i f e w i t h p e r s o n a l p r i v i l e g e s a n d g a i n , a n d w i t h the least p o s s i b l e w o r k a n d t o i l . We w o r k e d a n d f o u g h t f o r t h i s s o cialist state a n d w e w o n . N o w let u s e n j o y i t a n d p r o f i t f r o m it. W e are u n t o u c h a b l e , o u r p a s t covers e v e r y t h i n g . This w a s the bourgeois and petty-bourgeois m e n t a l i t y w h i c h was being created in the Soviet U n i o n and the great d a n g e r w a s t h a t t h i s w a s d e v e l o p i n g i n the o l d cadres o f the P a r t y w i t h a n i r r e p r o a c h a b l e past a n d o f p r o l e t a r i a n o r i g i n , cadres w h o o u g h t t o h a v e b e e n e x amples o f p u r i t y f o r t h e o t h e r s . M a n y o f those w h o u s e d beautiful words, the revolutionary phrases and theoretical formulae of L e n i n and Stalin, w h o reaped the laurels f r o m t h e w o r k o f o t h e r s a n d w h o set a n d e n c o u r a g e d t h e bad example, w e r e in the leadership, in the apparatuses. A w o r k e r a r i s t o c r a c y m a d e u p o f b u r e a u c r a t i c cadres w a s b e i n g created i n t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e U S S R . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h i s process o f d e g e n e r a t i o n d e v e l o p e d under the happy a n d hopeful slogans that everything is going w e l l , n o r m a l l y , w i t h i n the norms a n d l a w s of t h e P a r t y w h i c h i n fact w e r e b e i n g v i o l a t e d u n d e r t h e s l o gans that the class s t r u g g l e goes on, t h a t d e m o c r a t i c
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c e n t r a l i s m is preserved, that criticism and self-criticism c o n t i n u e a s before, t h a t a s t e e l u n i t y e x i s t s i n the p a r t y , t h a t there a r e n o m o r e f a c t i o n a l i s t s a n d a n t i - p a r t y e l e m e n t s , t h a t the T r o t s k y i t e , B u k h a r i n i t e g r o u p s a r e a t h i n g of the past, etc., etc. S u c h a d i s t o r t e d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the s i t u a t i o n , a n d t h i s i s w h e r e t h e essence o f the t r a g e d y a n d the f a t a l m i s t a k e lies, w a s c o n s i d e r e d e v e n b y the r e v o l u t i o n a r y e l e m e n t s a s a n o r m a l r e a l i t y o v e r a l l , a n d that is w h y the idea existed that there w a s nothing t o b e a l a r m e d a b o u t because t h e e n e m i e s , t h i e v e s a n d v i o l a t o r s o f m o r a l i t y w e r e c o n d e m n e d b y the courts, the u n w o r t h y p a r t y m e m b e r s w e r e e x p e l l e d f r o m the P a r t y i n the u s u a l w a y a n d n e w m e m b e r s a d m i t t e d , t h a t the p l a n s w e r e f u l f i l l e d , a l t h o u g h some w e r e not, t h a t people w e r e criticized, condemned, praised and so on a n d so forth. A c c o r d i n g to them life w a s proceeding n o r m a l l y and it w a s r e p o r t e d t o S t a l i n t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s i n order. W e are c o n v i n c e d t h a t h a d S t a l i n , a s the g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y h e w a s , been a w a r e o f t h e r e a l s i t u a t i o n i n the P a r t y , h e w o u l d h a v e d e a l t a c r u s h i n g b l o w t o this u n h e a l t h y s p i r i t a n d t h e S o v i e t P a r t y a n d people w o u l d h a v e r i s e n i n h i s s u p p o r t , because t h e y r i g h t l y h a d great f a i t h i n S t a l i n . But w h y d i d Stalin not deal this blow? C o u l d it be that he h a d reconciled himself to this unhealthy situation, that he was m a k i n g political and ideological mistakes of principle? Not by any means! We t h i n k that on this question Stalin must be defended to the end. S t a l i n can be c r i t i c i z e d because i n the last y e a r s o f h i s l i f e h e w e a k e n e d h i s l i n k s w i t h t h e masses o f the P a r t y a n d the people, b u t he d i d so only physically and never ideologically and p o l i t i c a l l y . S t a l i n h a d c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e cadres, b u t o n e c a n n o t s a y that h e h a d c o n f i d e n c e o n l y i n t h e cadres a n d d i d not h a v e o r h a d lost h i s c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e o r d i n a r y people, the masses o f p a r t y m e m b e r s a n d the people. T h e apparatuses not o n l y m i s i n f o r m e d S t a l i n a n d b u -
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r e a u c r a t i c a l l y d i s t o r t e d h i s correct d i r e c t i v e s , b u t h a d also created s u c h a s i t u a t i o n a m o n g the p e o p l e a n d i n t h e P a r t y that e v e n w h e n S t a l i n w e n t a m o n g t h e masses o f p a r t y m e m b e r s a n d the people, t o the e x t e n t t h a t h i s age a n d h e a l t h p e r m i t t e d , the masses d i d n o t i n f o r m h i m o f t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d m i s t a k e s w h i c h o c c u r r e d , because t h e apparatuses h a d i n c u l c a t e d i n t h e m t h e i d e a t h a t w e s h o u l d not w o r r y S t a l i n . A s r e g a r d s the s o - c a l l e d cult o f S t a l i n , the K h r u s h c h e v ite traitors propagated it deliberately in order to use it e x t e n s i v e l y a g a i n s t M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a s t h e y d i d i n fact. W e t h i n k that S t a l i n w a s a g r e a t M a r x i s t o n account o f his w o r k a n d h i s s t r u g g l e . H e w a s m o d e s t a n d t h e r e w a s n o need f o r the S o v i e t press a n d p r o p a g a n d a t o i n f l a t e h i s f i g u r e i n the w a y t h e y d i d a s l o n g a s h e w a s a l i v e . O n this q u e s t i o n w e t h i n k t h a t S t a l i n p e r s o n a l l y d i d n o t t a k e severe m e a s u r e s t o e n s u r e t h a t t h i s p r o p a g a n d a w a s balanced in a Marxist-Leninist manner and to avoid the m a n y n e g a t i v e a n d d a n g e r o u s aspects o f t h i s p r o p a g a n d a w h i c h c o u l d conceal a n d , a s t h e facts s h o w e d , d i d c o n c e a l great dangers, because t h i s u n b a l a n c e d p r o p a g a n d a a b o u t S t a l i n served to conceal such enemies a n d traitors as K h r u s h c h e v and company, w h o shouted louder than the others and covered the plot u n d e r this disguise. A f t e r the d e a t h o f S t a l i n , i t b e c a m e c l e a r t h a t these t r a i t o r s u s e d this u n b r i d l e d propaganda as a w e a p o n not only against S t a l i n a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t also against M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m o n a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale. W e m u s t n o t b l a m e S t a l i n f o r those f a u l t s a n d m i s takes w h i c h h e d i d n o t c o m m i t , d i d n o t w a n t o t h e r s t o commit and w h i c h , if he h a d detected them, he w o u l d h a v e a t t a c k e d m e r c i l e s s l y as a r e v o l u t i o n a r y . H e n c e , t h e g r a v e g u i l t f a l l s o n m a n y others, g r e a t a n d h u m b l e , a n d o n the C P S U a s a w h o l e , beacuse i t d i d n o t k n o w h o w to fight and react p o w e r f u l l y , in a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y
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a n d o n t h e basis o f the m i l i t a n t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y , against bureaucratic distortions, a n d this led to ideol o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l d i s t o r t i o n s , t o the c r e a t i o n o f the current of m o d e r n revisionists who, by awaiting the opportune moment, the death of Stalin, took power f r o m w i t h i n . M i k o y a n admitted to us that at one time they h a d d e c i d e d t o assassinate S t a l i n , b u t l a t e r h a d a b a n d o n e d t h e idea. This is proof not o n l y of the c r i m i n a l intentions of these b a n d i t s , b u t also o f the f a c t that, w h e n t h e y d e c i d e d to k i l l Stalin, they m u s t have been in danger of being d i s c o v e r e d . H a d t h e y c a r r i e d o u t t h i s attempt, t h e y w o u l d c e r t a i n l y h a v e lost a n d b e e n d e s t r o y e d , because t h e e n t i r e P a r t y a n d people w o u l d h a v e t o r n t h e m t o pieces. A p parently they decided to w a i t a little longer. Hence, this g r o u p o f c o n s p i r a t o r s , p u t s c h i s t s a n d t r a i t o r s k n e w the s i t u a t i o n i n the P a r t y , k n e w the cadres a n d t h e i r s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d weaknesses, h a d q u i e t l y p l a c e d these cadres in k e y positions and h a d devised their tactics a n d strategy w e l l in advance. It is v e r y important to analyze this. M o l o t o v and his comrades w e r e o l d revolutionaries, honest communists, but were the typical representatives o f t h a t b u r e a u c r a t i c r o u t i n e , that b u r e a u c r a t i c l e g a l i t y , a n d w h e n t h e y m a d e f e e b l e a t t e m p t s t o use i t against t h e e v i d e n t p l o t o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s , * i t w a s a l r e a d y too late. I n s t e a d the b u r e a u c r a c y a n d the b u r e a u c r a t i c l e g a l i ty were used by the traitors w h o covered up their p a l a c e i n t r i g u e w i t h this legality and m a n o e u v r e d through their network and the entire stratum of bureaucrats of proletarian, and not kulak, capitalist or feudal, o r i g i n t o seize t h e r e i n s o f the P a r t y a n d the o r g a n s o f state p o w e r .
_____________________________ * See E n v e r H o x h a , T h e Khrushchevites (Memoirs), pp. 29-32, 185-187, T i r a n a 1980, (Eng. ed.).
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Immediately after the death of Stalin, the K h r u s h c h e v i t e p l o t t e r s m a n o e u v r e d d e f t l y w i t h t h i s legality, w i t h the rules o f the p a r t y a n d d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m , w i t h t h e i r c r o c o d i l e tears o v e r t h e loss o f S t a l i n , w h i l e gradually preparing to torpedo his work, his figure and Marxism-Leninism, until all their activity was crowned w i t h success a t the 20th C o n g r e s s a n d i n t h e c r e m a t o r i u m where the body of S t a l i n was burned. T h i s is a period f u l l o f lessons f o r u s M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , because i t h i g h l i g h t s the b a n k r u p t c y o f b u r e a u c r a t i c l e g a l i t y w h i c h i s a great d a n g e r to a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , b r i n g s o u t the m e t h o d s w h i c h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s use t o t u r n t h i s b u r e a u c r a t i c l e g a l i t y t o t h e i r a d v a n t a g e , s h o w s h o w honest leaders, w h o h a v e e x p e r i e n c e b u t h a v e lost t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y class s p i r i t , f a l l i n t o the t r a p s o f c o n s p i r a t o r s a n d m a k e concessions, s u b m i t t o t h e p r e s s u r e a n d r e t r e a t i n face o f the b l a c k m a i l a n d d e m a g o g y o f r e v i s i o n i s t t r a i t o r s disguised w i t h revolutionary phraseology. I n this t r a n s i t i o n a l p e r i o d f o r t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f t h e i r p o w e r w e see h o w t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s , w i t h great boasting about h o w they w e r e acting in a lofty party s p i r i t , f r e e d f r o m the f e a r o f S t a l i n , a n d in t r u l y d e mocratic and Leninist forms, w o r k e d actively to spread the m o s t m o n s t r o u s s l a n d e r s w h i c h o n l y t h e b o u r g e o i s i e has d a r e d t o use against the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d S t a l i n . T h i s whole campaign of slanders supported and tried to prove w i t h a l l e g e d l y l e g a l d o c u m e n t s t h e s l a n d e r s w h i c h a l l the capitalists h a d been m a k i n g f o r y e a r s against M a r x i s m Leninism. Everything was used by the Khrushchevites. T h e y searched t h r o u g h t h e a r c h i v e s , d o c u m e n t s a n d m i n u t e s w h i c h c o v e r e d decades o f w o r k a n d f r o m w h i c h t h e y e x t r a c t e d i s o l a t e d ideas a n d p h r a s e s w h i c h t h e y q u o t e d t o i n t e r p r e t t h e tactics u s e d i n t h e w a y t h a t s u i t e d t h e m , t h e y e v e n u s e d anectodes a b o u t p e o p l e ' s p r i v a t e l i v e s , i n one w o r d , t h e y u s e d t y p i c a l T r o t s k y i t e m e t h o d s o f w o r k .
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A l l this w a s done i n o r d e r t o a t t a c k the c o r r e c t r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r a t e g y o f S t a l i n , t o a t t a c k a n d u n d e r m i n e the Leninist norms, to attack the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology w i t h pseudo-legal forms and to discredit S t a l i n a n d soc i a l i s m i n the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e w o r l d . T h e subsequent development of the treacherous w o r k o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s i s w e l l k n o w n . T h e y h a v e t a k e n c o n t r o l o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d e n j o y the s u p p o r t o f a l a r g e s t r a t u m o f the P a r t y w h i c h has been b u r e a u c r a t i z e d , w h i c h has b e e n a n d is b e i n g s y s t e m a t i c a l l y t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a n e w b o u r g e o i sie. T h e r e m n a n t s o f the c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t i n g classes i n the S o v i e t U n i o n c o u l d n o t a t t a c k the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t because t h e y w e r e p o w e r l e s s a n d d e f e a t e d , b u t the l a c k o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e , t h e w e a k e n i n g o f the class s t r u g g l e i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e the P a r t y , the e n f e e b ling of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y spirit in everything, lack of profound revolutionary political and ideological w o r k on a mass scale a n d the b u r e a u c r a t i z a t i o n of the P a r t y b r o u g h t a b o u t t h a t a w h o l e s t r a t u m o f t h e P a r t y c o m p l e t e l y lost the features of the proletariat, of revolutionaries, and bec a m e bourgeois, c r e a t e d its o w n cadres i n t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state a n d t o o k p o w e r i n t o its o w n h a n d s . T h e y d i d w h a t t h e r e m n a n t s o f the e x p l o i t i n g classes w e r e q u i t e unable to do and now, in this revisionist legality in p o w e r t h e class f u s i o n o f these e l e m e n t s a g a i n s t t h e revolution, M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and socialism is faking place. A l t h o u g h the m o d e r n revisionists in the other count r i e s w h e r e t h e y a r e i n p o w e r u s e d t h e same m e a n s a n d f u r t h e r e d the same e n d s a s t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s w h o h e l p e d t h e m t o seize p o w e r b y a l l m a n n e r o f m e a n s , i t i s o f great interest t o u s M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s t o s t u d y t h e s t r a tegy a n d tactics u s e d b y t h e t r a i t o r s t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d the r o l e the b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t classes p l a y e d i n each
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o f these countries. W h y ? B e c a u s e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n there are m a r k e d d i f f e r e n c e s , d i f f e r e n c e s i n the w a g i n g o f the class s t r u g g l e , i n the i n t e n s i t y o f t h e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n struggle, i n t h e r o l e o f t h e p a r t i e s i n t h i s s t r u g g l e , i n t h e i r l i n e i n the s t r u g g l e f o r v i c t o r y , f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y , f o r the s e i z u r e a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n o f state p o w e r a n d the c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f the people's d e m o c r a c y . A l l this process d i d n o t t a k e p l a c e i n the s a m e w a y e v e r y w h e r e . I t took p l a c e i n d i f f e r e n t w a y s i n d i f f e r e n t c o u n tries. L e t u s t a k e Y u g o s l a v i a , f o r instance. W e l o n g ago came to t h e c o n c l u s i o n not o n l y that s o c i a l i s m is not b e i n g built in Yugoslavia now, but that it had never started to b e b u i l t , t h a t the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a w a s never a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party, not o n l y since T i t o came t o the h e a d o f i t b u t also i n t h e t i m e o f t h e C o m i n t e r n a n d b e f o r e t h e w a r . F r o m the l e g a l d o c u m e n t s o f the C o m i n t e r n we are acquainted w i t h the r a m p a n t factionalist and T r o t s k y i t e a c t i v i t y t h a t t o o k p l a c e i n it. A l l e g e d l y i t achieved stability w i t h the emergence of Tito, but the fact is t h a t T i t o w a s n o t h i n g b u t a d i s g u i s e d , l o n g - s t a n d i n g T r o t s k y i t e agent o f c a p i t a l . T h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a w a g e d a h e r o i c w a r . T h i s i s a fact. T h e r e w e r e r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m m u n i s t s i n t h e Communist P a r t y of Yugoslavia w h o fought heroically. T h i s , too, is a fact. It is also a fact t h a t T i t o w a s at t h e head of the party, at the head of the leadership of the war, but he was not a M a r x i s t . He w a s a disguised b o u r geois agent w h o k n e w h o w t o c h a n n e l t h e w i l l a n d m i litant vigour of the people for the liberation of Y u g o s l a v i a t o f u r t h e r h i s o w n p u r p o s e s , h o w t o i n v o l v e the c o m m u n ists i n t h i s w a r a n d , a t t h e same t i m e , t o l i q u i d a t e t h e m , to select the r i g h t i n d i v i d u a l s a n d create a w h o l e t e a m of m i l i t a r y and political leaders sharing his o w n views. D u r i n g the w a r , h e c r e a t e d a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d h i s s t a f f a n d
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h i s o w n prestige. T i t o a n d h i s s t a f f w e r e d i s g u i s e d b o u r g e o i s n a t i o n a l c h a u v i n i s t s w h o a c t e d u n d e r the g u i d a n c e of B r i t i s h policy. A l t h o u g h Tito posed as a M a r x i s t and pro-Soviet, if we read those few o f f i c i a l Y u g o s l a v d o c u m e n t s f r o m t h e t i m e o f t h e w a r , w e s h a l l see t h a t h e h a d c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e S o v i e t s a n d a f t e r l i b e r a t i o n , espec i a l l y on the question of V e n e z i a G i u l i a and Trieste, r e gardless o f w h e t h e r h e w a s r i g h t o r w r o n g o n t h e e t h n i c a l aspect i n r e g a r d t o these places, h i s s t a n d w a s o p e n l y chauvinist, anti-Soviet a n d anti-Stalin. L a t e r , t h e n a t u r e o f T i t o ' s secret close l i n k s w i t h the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d h i s p u r s u i t o f a h e g e m o n i c p o l i c y i n the Balkans and C e n t r a l Europe, of course in collaboration w i t h the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s , t o h i n d e r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d consolidation of socialism in the countries of Eastern E u r o p e a n d the B a l k a n s a n d t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e b r e a k i n g o f their friendship w i t h the Soviet Union, became clear. Nowadays, Tito pursues this policy in other forms. The zadruga ( a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives) of the b e g i n n i n g w e r e only a hoax and w e r e q u i c k l y broken up. Hence, sociali s m in the Y u g o s l a v countryside never got started, but o n t h e c o n t r a r y the p r i v a t e sector w a s s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d the k u l a k class d e v e l o p e d . C o n f i s c a t i o n s a n d n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t i n i n d u s t r y too, b u t these w e r e not f o r socialist aims, a l t h o u g h t h e y w e r e c a r r i e d o u t i n the n a m e of socialism. It w a s o n l y n a t u r a l that the p r o p e r t y o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e w o u l d pass i n t o t h e h a n d s o f the p e o ple w h o f o u g h t , b u t this p r o p e r t y w a s t o serve t o c o n s o lidate the p o w e r of the clique, a n d v e r y quickly, after t h e i r b r e a k w i t h us, i n t h e f o r m o f s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , was to become the property of the n e w exploiting a n d o p p r e s s i n g class h e a d e d b y T i t o . A f t e r the w a r , the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a b e c a m e a n a u x i l i a r y o f the U D B , o f the a p p a r a t u s o f s u p p r e s s i o n , a n d h u n d r e d s o f thousands of revolutionaries w h o militated in it w e r e
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accused o f b e i n g I n f o r m b u r e a u i s t s a n d w e r e l i q u i d a t e d . H o w t h i n g s a r e d e v e l o p i n g i n Y u g o s l a v i a n o w i s a l l too clear. T h e t i m e a n d the m o m e n t d o n o t a l l o w u s t o s p e a k even b r i e f l y a b o u t B u l g a r i a , R u m a n i a , C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , P o l a n d , etc., as I d i d a b o u t Y u g o s l a v i a . Y o u , of course, h a v e a n a l y z e d t h e m , b u t t h e fact i s t h a t a l t h o u g h the process of d e g e n e r a t i o n in each of these c o u n t r i e s h a s a g e n e r a l l y s i m i l a r c h a r a c t e r a n d features, i t also has its o w n nuances and characteristics of development dependi n g on the c o n d i t i o n s I m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r . I n r e g a r d t o o u r c o u n t r y , I d o n o t w i s h t o speak about t h e great s t r u g g l e o u r P a r t y h a s w a g e d f o r the construction of socialism, but I w a n t to d w e l l briefly on the process o f the class s t r u g g l e t h a t o u r P a r t y has w a g e d a n d o n the course i t h a s f o l l o w e d f o r t h e l i q u i d a t i o n of t h e e x p l o i t i n g classes. A l l o w m e , c o m r a d e s , t o c o n t i n u e t h e expose I d i d not f i n i s h y e s t e r d a y . The elimination of exploiting capitalist classes as classes is a complicated process which is completed with the construction of the economic base of socialism. H o w e v e r , the s t r u g g l e against r e m n a n t s o f these o v e r t h r o w n classes and their ideology and w o r l d outlook is a long, complicated a n d v e r y d i f f i c u l t process. H o w h a s t h i s process been c a r r i e d out i n o u r c o u n t r y a n d w h a t r e s u l t s h a v e n been achieved? T h e e x p l o i t i n g classes c o u l d n o t b e e l i m i n a t e d i m mediately, e i t h e r i n o u r c o u n t r y o r i n t h e o t h e r socialist countries. A f i e r c e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l f i g h t , a v i o l e n t w a r w i t h a r m s , a s t e r n a n d c o n t i n u o u s class s t r u g g l e under the u n w a v e r i n g l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y is n e e d e d for the proletariat to wrest political power by violence from the hands of the exploiting capitalist
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class and establish the state of the dictatorship of the proletariat in order to eliminate the economic base of the exploiting class and private property in general, to eliminate the capitalist relations of production and establish socialist social ownership and the socialist relations of production, to turn the existing socialist property into the property of the entire people; a n d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y , to b u i l d a n e w socialist s u p e r s t r u c t u r e , b y r a d i c a l l y p u r g i n g every remnant of bourgeois and petty-bourgeois policy a n d i d e o l o g y f r o m t h e consciousness o f t h e people. T h e process o f t h e a b o l i t i o n o f the e x p l o i t i n g classes n o t o n l y i s e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t , but i t also d e p e n d s o n several factors: 1) The strength and all-round organization of the capitalist exploiting class. 2) The violence and severity of the armed struggle for the seizure of power by the proletariat, the clarity of the line, the determination and intelligence with which it is consistently and unwaveringly applied by the M a r x ist-Leninist communist or workers' party which heads the struggle for liberation, the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the construction of socialism after the seizure of power a n d t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y d e f e a t o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t i n g classes. 3) The consistent construction of a new socialist structure and superstructure, on the basis of the principles of Marxism-Leninism and the actual material conditions of the country, a l w a y s k e e p i n g t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t as a s h a r p w e a p o n a n d h a v i n g t h e class s t r u g g l e a s the m a i n m o t i v e f o r c e u n t i l the a b o l i t i o n o f w o r l d capitalism and the establishment of communism. In order to really understand the development of the s t r u g g l e f o r t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f the e x p l o i t i n g classes i n o u r c o u n t r y , w e m u s t k n o w the s i t u a t i o n o f these classes b e f o r e t h e w a r a n d d u r i n g the w a r , t h e i r e c o n o m i c , p o -
53
litical and ideological strength, their influence among t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e b e f o r e a n d a f t e r L i b eration. 1) A l b a n i a h a s a l w a y s b e e n a c o u n t r y o c c u p i e d by f o r e i g n e n e m i e s a n d e x p l o i t e d t o t h e bone. Its i n d e pendence w a s g a i n e d late, a n d e v e n t h e n , i f i t w a s n o t occupied de jure, it w a s o c c u p i e d e c o n o m i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y de facto. T h i s s i t u a t i o n d e t e r m i n e d t h e n a t u r e , the s t r e n g t h a n d the d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e O t t o m a n f e u d a l i s m o f the e x p l o i t i n g class o f the c o u n t r y w h i c h s u p p o r t e d the policy of the occupiers, the colonial policy of foreigners towards a country w i t h a v e r y b a c k w a r d economy, in w h i c h n o t the slightest e f f o r t w a s m a d e t o e m b a r k o n the r o a d of c a p i t a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t . Hence, although the feudal lords retained their domination over the land, their estates and the peasantry, thanks to the armies of various occupiers, they had degenerated as a class and were heading towards total elimination. 2) For centuries the Albanian people had been in continual struggle, in uprisings and revolts against the occupiers, against the feudal lords as well as against religion. We can s a y t h a t t h i s w a s a c o n t i n u o u s a n t i - c o l o n i a l , a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t w a r a n d a t the s a m e t i m e a n a n t i - f e u d a l class struggle. The struggle of our people, a people of peasants and herdsmen, is very interesting as regards their twofold, or better threefold liberation from the foreigners, the local landowners and feudal lords and from religion, which served the former two. H e n c e , t h e p e o p l e w e r e c o n t i n u a l l y i n s t r u g g l e against t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d t h e s u p e r s t r u c t u r e o f the f e u d a l - o c c u p i e r o r d e r , i n a r m e d s t r u g g l e o r passive struggle, i n p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e . T h i s k e p t t h e flames of t h e s t r u g g l e f o r l i b e r a t i o n , of t h e class struggle a n d t h e s t r u g g l e against f e u d a l i s m a b l a z e a n d c o n t r i b u t e d to the collapse of the O t t o m a n E m p i r e , but
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it also affected the economic-political power of the feudal class which was becoming extremely weak from the economic aspect and beginning to sell its land and estates p a r t l y t o t h e m i d d l e peasants a n d p a r t l y t o c i t y m e r chants w h o were gaining strength. 3) The proclamation of the independence of Albania in 1912 and the entire activity of the country up to the Italian occupation in 1939 did not result in great changes in the ratio of classes. A f t e r a s e r i e s of u p s a n d d o w n s , Z o g , the b a n k r u p t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f b a n k r u p t f e u d a l i s m , seized power. T h e clique of Z o g w a s supported by a small a r m y o f m e r c e n a r i e s a n d b y fascist Italy, t o w h i c h i t s o l d m i n i n g a n d l a n d concessions a n d h a n d e d o v e r t h e o r ganization of the a r m y and the gendarmerie, allowing it t o p r e p a r e o u r c o u n t r y f o r the i m p e n d i n g o c c u p a t i o n a n d f o r use a s a n a r m e d base f o r t h e f u t u r e w a r s o f f a s c i s m . T h e population of the cities was relatively increased with the unemployed peasants abandoning the countryside which became even more impoverished than before. Those landowners and feudal lords around Zog lived on the rent of the land still in their hands, which they continued to sell to the rich peasants who oppressed the poor and middle peasants. These aghas of the countryside and the cities became the supporters of the Zog regime. I n t h e cities t r a d e b e g a n t o r e v i v e t h r o u g h t e r r i b l e s p e c u l a t i o n w i t h the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y side, u s u r y , t h e p u r c h a s e a n d sale o f l a n d , a n d t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f the l a n d r e n t , w i t h o u t e v e n t h e smallest i n v e s t m e n t b e i n g m a d e i n a g r i c u l t u r e . Those speculator merchants, who supported the feudal semi-colonial regime, were relatively few in numbers and had no great economic power. The main activity of the big merchants who constituted the support of the regime was usury and the monopoly they enjoyed over imports and exports, to the extent the speculation by the Italian fascist trading com-
55
panies and the deplorable economic situation of the country allowed them. This merchant bourgeoisie w h i c h was prospering gave little or no consideration to investments of capital for the d e v e l o p m e n t o f some s o r t o f l o c a l i n d u s t r y , a n d t h a t i s w h y we see t h a t d u r i n g t h i s e n t i r e p e r i o d not even a modest industry was set up, with the exception of a few small cigarette factories, a small cement plant, a brewery or an oil-press, and even those were owned jointly with Italian capitalists. T h e d u m p i n g o f I t a l i a n goods i m p o v e r i s h e d o u r shops, a l l o w e d s p e c u l a t i o n b y u s u r o u s m e r chants w h o , i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h Z o g a n d h i s c l i q u e , l i n e d their purses by a c q u i r i n g the riches of the country a n d exporting them to Italy. Handicraft p r o v i d e d the only local industrial products, but it was v e r y b a c k w a r d a n d r e l e n t l e s s l y i m p o v e r i s h e d as a r e s u l t of t h e i m p o v e r i s h m e n t o f t h e people, t h e h e a v y t a x e s a n d I t a l i a n d u m p i n g . The urban petty-bourgeoisie was in a deplorable situation, its o n l y m e a n s o f l i v e l i h o o d b e i n g s m a l l - s c a l e s p e c u l a t i o n a n d e m p l o y m e n t a s c l e r k s . A s f o r t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s , the o n l y source o f l i v e l i h o o d w a s e m p l o y m e n t i n the b u r e a u c r a t i c a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the r e g i m e , a b a n k r u p t b u r e a u cracy w h i c h d i d not p a y their salaries for ten months on end. T h e great m a s s o f t h e people, t h e p o o r a n d m i d d l e peasantry, t h e b r o a d w o r k i n g masses o f t h e t o w n , t h e poor, the w o r k e r s a n d c r a f t s m e n , w e r e i n o p e n class struggle against t h e c l i q u e o f Z o g , t h e s p e c u l a t o r m e r c h a n t s a n d the s e m i - m e r c h a n t s , t h e s e m i - f e u d a l r i c h b o u r geoisie of t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e . Hence the period was too short for and the remnants of the feudal class and the bourgeoisie which were building up in the countryside and the town proved incapable of strengthening their positions as a dominant class, first of all because of the class resistance of the proletarian masses of town and
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countryside, and because of the economic weakness of the feudal class and the new bourgeois class, their great cultural and technical backwardness, their mediaeval world outlook and their policy of enslavement to Italian fascist capital, which had its own pre-determined aims for the complete colonization of Albania, a i m s w h i c h it t r i e d to a c h i e v e l a t e r , b u t w h i c h e n c o u n t e r e d the h e r o i c s t r u g g l e o f the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e l e d b y t h e i r C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . In short, we c a n s a y that the occupation of our country by fascist Italy found the capitalist exploiting class of the town and countryside in a state of chaos, politically and economically weak; it w a s n o t the o w n e r of the m i n i n g i n d u s t r y , because I t a l y h a d concessions o v e r a l l the e x i s t i n g m i n e s ; it h a d no i n d u s t r y , because, as I said, it dealt o n l y in trade, u s u r y a n d the rent of land. T h i s n e w bourgeoisie of t o w n and countryside w h i c h was developing, w a s backward, without culture and education, m i s e r l y i n t h e basest sense, w i t h o u t a p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a tion and savage and barbarous towards the broad masses o f the p e o p l e ; i t closed its r a n k s a r o u n d t h e Z o g c l i q u e a n d its a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , f r e q u e n t l y n o t because i t f u l l y a g r e e d w i t h it, b u t because t h a n k s t o t h i s c l i q u e , t o its gendarmerie a n d the l i n k s it h a d w i t h fascist Italy, t h e n e w b o u r g e o i s i e o f o u r c o u n t r y c o u l d c o n t i n u e its speculations a n d e n r i c h itself. Thus, the ideology of the regime of Zog and the capitalist exploiting class of the country was robbery, speculation, plunder, the knout, terror and treachery. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t of the e x p l o i t i n g c l a s s of o u r c o u n t r y as a c a p i t a l i s t class c a n n o t b e e q u a t e d w i t h t h a t o f t h e o t h e r capitalist countries of Europe. After the occupation of Albania, fascist Italy tried to hitch these remnants of feudalism, this class of bourgeois merchants, the aghas of the town and countryside, to its chariot to further the interests of colonization and war.
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I n fact i t w o n t h e m o v e r a n d p l a c e d t h e m i n its s e r v i c e against t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r o f t h e p e o p l e l e d by the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a . Fascist Italy was economically unable to make investm e n t s i n t h e e c o n o m y o f A l b a n i a , a n d i n a n y case, t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e w a r d i d n o t p e r m i t s u c h a t h i n g , so, after t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y , i t i n t e r e s t e d itself m a i n l y i n m i l i t a r y projects, i n s t e p p i n g u p t h e e x t r a c t i o n o f o i l t o s o m e extent, b u t o n l y i n K u o v a , i n e n s u r i n g peace i n its r e a r i n A l b a n i a a n d i n p l u n d e r i n g w h a t e v e r i t c o u l d l a y its h a n d s o n i n o u r c o u n t r y . I t a l y h o p e d t h a t i t w o u l d w i n the w a r a n d that A l b a n i a w o u l d r e m a i n its p e r m a n e n t c o l o n y . The impulse which the occupiers gave the Albanian exploiting classes was only by means of speculative trade between Albania and Italy and through this speculation they turned this class into an agent of theirs to strengthen the Italian domination in Albania, to sell land to Italians, to recruit mercenaries and to hurl them into the war against the people who were fighting. Thus, the Italian occupation enriched some speculators, who never thought about m a k i n g investments in the country, b u t o n l y a b o u t a c c u m u l a t i n g g o l d , h o a r d i n g it, o r depositing i t a b r o a d f o r t h e b a d t i m e s t h a t w o u l d come. Fascism tried to hand this class the banner of the fascist ideology and to rally people around it with the aim of consolidating the political positions of this class. H o w e v e r , our f i g h t u t t e r l y d e f e a t e d t h i s s c h e m e . The banner of the fascist party was replaced with the banner of Balli Komblar and of some other mushrooming parties . On the urging of Italian and German fascism, Albanian reaction tried to create a class ideology of its own through these traitor organizations which it set up to assist the occupiers and to fight our Party and the National L i b eration Front. T h i s w a s t h e f i n a l d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t w h i c h
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fascism a n d A l b a n i a n reaction m a d e against the w a r of o u r people w h i c h w a s l e d b y t h e P a r t y . This attempt o f theirs was drowned in blood, and Albanian reaction, together with the occupiers, received the final lethal blow. T h e e x p l o i t i n g classes o f o u r c o u n t r y s u f f e r e d t h e greatest i m a g i n a b l e defeat, p o l i t i c a l , m i l i t a r y a n d e c o n o m i c . T h e y lost t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y p o w e r f o r e v e r . T h e r e v olution triumphed. The National Liberation War, led by the Party, routed the occupiers a n d traitors a n d the r e g i m e o f people's d e m o c r a c y , t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e proletariat was established. Hence, the National Liberation War exposed in the eyes of the people the exploiting class which had sold itself to the bloodthirsty occupiers and oppressors of the people. The policy and activity of our Party at the head of the people forced this class to take a stand and tore off its disguises, fought it mercilessly with arms, dealt it countless blows in the direction of physically liquidating a large number of its leaders (the remainder were obliged to flee the country on the ships of the occupiers), it made a deep and sharp differentiation and thus prepared the terrain for the consolidation of the dictatorship of the proletariat, for the construction of socialism and the complete liquidation of the exploiting capitalist classes as classes in our country. How of power lead the exploiting w a s this process d e v e l o p e d a f t e r t h e s e i z u r e by the people? H o w d i d the P a r t y organize a n d restriction and, finally, the l i q u i d a t i o n of the classes as s u c h ?
T h e d i f f e r e n t stages o f t h i s g r e a t process h a v e b e e n analysed in a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y in m a n y important documents of our P a r t y . I shall d w e l l b r i e f l y on the m a i n points. T h i s p o l i t i c a l process a g a i n s t r e a c t i o n a n d t h e c o l l a b o r a t o r s w i t h t h e o c c u p i e r s c o n t i n u e d its u n i n t e r r u p t e d
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b u i l d - u p f r o m t h e f i r s t d a y s a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n . B e s i d e s the h e a v y b l o w s t h e e x p l o i t i n g classes w e r e d e a l t t h r o u g h o u t the w a r , i n w h i c h t h e y s u f f e r e d t o t a l defeat, they were dealt other crushing blows by the people's courts which were set up all over Albania immediately after Liberation. A l l t h e c o l l a b o r a t o r s w i t h the o c c u p i e r s w e r e a r r e s t e d and brought to trial. Their continual political unmasking and their fear and t e r r o r o f the people's c o u r t s s h a t t e r e d t h e r a n k s o f t h e enemy. The dictatorship of the proletariat struck the enemies of the people mercilessly, discovered the A n g l o A m e r i c a n plots, p u t t h e i r agents o n t r i a l a n d c o n d e m n e d them. T h e resolute, just, r e v o l u t i o n a r y b l o w s against t h e e n e m i e s o f the p e o p l e f u r t h e r e n h a n c e d t h e e n t h u s i a s m a n d t r u s t o f the people i n t h e P a r t y , i n t h e state a n d i n t h e w e a p o n s o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , a n d c r e a t e d a h i g h r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e a m o n g t h e people w h i c h is tempered every d a y a n d has become a p o w e r f u l p o l i t i c a l w e a p o n o f the b r o a d masses a g a i n s t t h e class enemy and enemies f r o m abroad. I shall not speak at length about the large-scale n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s carried out a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n , b u t I s h a l l d w e l l o n those p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c m e a s u r e s w h i c h w e r e t a k e n against t h e c a p i t a l i s t class o f t h e c i t y a n d t h e c o u n t r y s i d e a n d w h i c h f u r t h e r p r o p e l l e d t h e process o f its l i q u i d a t i o n a s a n e x p l o i t i n g class. Extraordinary taxes were imposed on all the merchants and industrialists who had made great profits during the war at the people's expense. T h i s w a s a r a d i c a l e c o n o m i c m e a s u r e w h i c h , i n fact, l e d t o t h e c o n f i s c a t i o n o f a l l t h e i r f i x e d a n d l i q u i d assets. T h e m a j o r i t y o f these p e o p l e w e r e p u t o n t r i a l a n d i m p r i s o n e d , because t h e p r o p e r t y confiscated d i d n o t c o v e r t h e a m o u n t o f t a x e s i m p o s e d on them and the court's verdict w o u l d be reviewed o n l y
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w h e n t h e d e f e n d a n t h a d c o m p l e t e d p a y m e n t o f t h e taxes, i.e. o n l y w h e n h e b r o u g h t o u t t h e g o l d h e h a d h o a r d e d u p . This was a measure of great economic and political i m portance, because it removed a major capitalist element without, however, as yet liquidating the bourgeoisie as a class. W e d i d not f o l l o w t h e p o l i c y o f l i q u i d a t i o n t o w a r d s t h o s e m e r c h a n t s w h o d i d n o t q u a l i f y f o r the e x t r a o r d i n a r y taxes a n d w h o w e r e m a i n l y s m a l l traders, however, i n conformity w i t h the economic and political conditions of the time, we established strict control a n d restrictions on them, w i t h the a i m of b a r r i n g the w a y to speculation. A l o n g w i t h the e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e socialist sector, w e f o u g h t t o a c h i e v e t h e socialist t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the small-scale producers of the city. T h e opportunist Sejfulla M a l s h o v a tried to distort this correct process b y a d v o c a t i n g t h a t the p r i v a t e sector s h o u l d b e g i v e n a i d i n c r e d i t s a n d m a t e r i a l s b y t h e s o c i a l i s t sector, b y t h e s t a t e ; t h e s o c i a l i s t s e c t o r s h o u l d c o m p e t e w i t h the p r i v a t e sector, a n d t h e p e a c e f u l i n t e g r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m i n t o s o c i a l i s m w o u l d b e c a r r i e d o u t i n t h i s w a y . His anti-Marxist theory was rejected by the Party, was exposed among the people and Sejfulla Malshova was expelled from the Political Bureau of the Central C o m mittee and the Party. A f t e r a t i m e , the shops o f t h e s m a l l a n d m i d d l e m e r chants, w h o d e a l t i n i n d u s t r i a l goods left o v e r f r o m t h e p e r i o d o f t h e w a r a n d b e f o r e it, w e r e e m p t i e d ; t h e y c o u l d n o l o n g e r b u y goods a b r o a d because f o r e i g n t r a d e a n d w h o l e s a l e t r a d e w a s t h e m o n o p o l y o f t h e s t a t e ; the h a n d i c r a f t s sector, w h i c h h a d n o t y e t become c o o p e r a t i v e , w a s n o t in a p o s i t i o n to s u p p l y t h e m ; thus, after many vain efforts, most of them were compelled to close their shops, abandon trade and work in production. During this time, besides the socialist state sector,
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the people's s o c i a l i s t c o n t r o l l e d sector o f c o n s u m e r c o o peratives w a s also c r e a t e d e v e r y w h e r e , t h e h a n d i c r a f t s cooperatives w e r e o r g a n i z e d a n d thus, as we shall see, the state socialist sector and cooperation gradually eliminated the overwhelming majority of the private capitalist elements in the sphere of commodity circulation. Thus we can say that in 1955 small-scale industrial production had been almost totally liquidated and its place taken by the handicraft cooperatives. Unable to survive any longer, small private trade gave way to state trade and consumer cooperatives. E v e n those f e w s m a l l s h o p k e e p e r s s e l l i n g fruit, vegetables a n d meat that we a l l o w e d to continue w i t h their trade, w e r e organized in t r a d i n g collectives c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e state. That is how the process of the liquidation of the exploiting classes in the city developed and, as a result of this, the capitalist elements, defeated politically and economically, no longer constitute an exploiting class on their own as before. T h a t is w h y we s a y t h a t e x p l o i t i n g classes n o l o n g e r e x i s t i n o u r c o u n t r y , because t h e y h a v e been l i q u i d a t e d as such, t h a t o n l y r e m n a n t s of these classes exist, but despite the b l o w s t h e y h a v e r e c e i v e d , these e l e ments still dream of restoration. How did this process develop in the countryside? Our w o r k i n g peasantry is very patriotic and ardently revolutionary. It participated broadly in the National L i b e r a t i o n W a r . I t h a d g r e a t t r u s t i n the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y to w h i c h it remains loyal. It was and is whole-heartedly f o r the a l l i a n c e w i t h the w o r k i n g class, u n d e r s t a n d s c l e a r l y a n d accepts w i t h o u t t h e slightest h e s i t a t i o n t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f this a l l i a n c e b y the w o r k i n g class. I t i s l o y a l t o t h e dictatorship of the proletariat.
__________________________ 4 They w e r e created in 1958 in order to strengthen state control on the private owners to create the necessary conditions for them to enter the state sector. T h e y w e r e abolished in 1968.
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I n these c o n d i t i o n s o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y p e a s a n t r y w i t h a n c i e n t t r a d i t i o n s , became, u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e P a r t y , o n e o f the d e c i s i v e f a c t o r s i n the v i c t o r y : t h e l i b eration of our country a n d the construction of socialism, especially in the countryside. I shall not d w e l l at length on the L a n d R e f o r m w h i c h was completed in the first years after Liberation, a r e f o r m w h i c h expropriated both the l a n d and the livestock o f t h e beys a n d aghas o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , d i s t r i b u t e d t h e l a n d a n d l i v e s t o c k t o t h e p o o r peasants, a n d a t t h e same time created the premises for the establishment of t h e socialist sector of a g r i c u l t u r e . I n this p e r i o d , t h e o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y f o r t h e all-round political isolation and economic restriction of t h e k u l a k s w h o c o n s t i t u t e d t h e last e x p l o i t i n g class a n d t h e p o t e n t i a l s u p p o r t f o r class r e s i s t a n c e a g a i n s t the L a n d R e f o r m a n d , l a t e r , against t h e c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n o f agriculture, was applied thoroughly a n d w i t h o u t hesitation. T h e L a n d R e f o r m also somewhat restricted certain m i d d l e peasants w h o w e r e not kulaks, but w h o tended to enrich themselves. However, a correct struggle w a s w a g e d successfully to unite the m i d d l e peasants w i t h the p o o r peasants against the k u l a k s a n d i n s u p p o r t o f c o l lectivization. T h e P a r t y carried out a correct political, ideological a n d economic struggle of differentiation in the countryside. T h e c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e w a s a great r e v olution of the countryside w h i c h continued for some years. I t w e n t t h r o u g h s e v e r a l stages a n d w a s c a r r i e d out p r u d e n t l y , w i t h great care, b y c o n v i n c i n g t h e p e a s a n t s a n d w i t h o u t a n y c o m p u l s i o n o r violence, b y d o i n g a great d e a l of intensive and continuous political work, beginning in t h e l o w l a n d s , i n t h e zones w i t h t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e s o c i o e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s . T h e p e a s a n t s r e c e i v e d great e c o n o m i c a i d f r o m t h e state, w e r e p r o v i d e d w i t h a g r i c u l t u r a l c r e d -
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i t s a n d l a n d p r o t e c t i o n a n d i r r i g a t i o n schemes, etc., etc. were undertaken. In this w a y the collectivization was c o m p l e t e d w i t h success. T h e l a n d w a s not n a t i o n a l i z e d d i r e c t l y , b u t t h r o u g h t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the L a n d R e f o r m large-scale ownership of l a n d was abolished, the basis f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f c a p i t a l i s m i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e was extremely restricted a n d cooperation was brought a b o u t w i t h o u t u s i n g i n t e r m e d i a t e f o r m s based o n r e n t , etc. b u t d i r e c t l y , t h r o u g h c o m p l e t e l y socialist f o r m s . P a r a l l e l w i t h t h e class s t r u g g l e i n the c i t y , t h e class s t r u g g l e i n the c o u n t r y s i d e w a s w a g e d s u c c e s s f u l l y t h r o u g h out t h i s g r e a t process. T h i s class s t r u g g l e l e d t o t h e g r a d u a l liquidation of the k u l a k s as an exploiting capitalist class i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e . The following are some figures to illustrate this process of the isolation and liquidation of the kulaks: The Land Reform expropriated nearly 5,000 kulaks (kulak economies). In 1947, t h e r e w e r e s t i l l a b o u t 2,000 k u l a k economies. T h e taxes i m p o s e d o n these economies w e r e 50-100 p e r cent h i g h e r t h a n n o r m a l , n o t t o m e n t i o n the other restraints, obligations a n d political restriction. Nearly 500 kulak families left the countryside in 19501951. In 1955 t h e l a n d o w n e d by t h e k u l a k s c o n s t i t u t e d 1.7 p e r cent of t h e t o t a l a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d of the c o u n t r y ; g r a i n p r o d u c t i o n f r o m t h i s l a n d m a d e u p 1.9 p e r cent o f t h e t o t a l ; t h e y h a d 2,200 o x e n a n d b u f f a l o e s , 1,900 cows a n d 20,000 sheep a n d goats. By 1955, more than 560 out of the original 2,000 kulak families owned no animals at all a n d h a l f of t h i s t o t a l o w n e d 2 to 3 h e c t a r e s of l a n d a n d no m o r e t h a n 10 h e a d of sheep. In 1962 there were 1,326 kulak families in all, w h o o w n e d a t o t a l of 2,391 hectares of l a n d , 1,645 h e a d of cattle a n d 12,432 sheep a n d goats. They comprised about 0.7 per cent of the total number of peasant economies.
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This percentage has been further reduced in recent years. As a conclusion, the capitalist element does not constitute a class in the countryside either. I am n o t g o i n g to speak h e r e a b o u t t h e class s t r u g g l e in the countryside w h i c h continues a n d w i l l continue, or a b o u t t h e i n t e n s i v e p o l i t i c a l w o r k o f the P a r t y a m o n g these elements, a n d e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g the y o u t h o f k u l a k o r i g i n , f o r t h e i r r e - e d u c a t i o n , d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n , etc., etc. As a result of this great struggle, the situation and composition of classes in our coutry in 1960 w a s as f o l l o w s : W o r k i n g class Cooperativist peasantry Intelligentsia R e m n a n t s of e x p l o i t i n g classes divided into: Kulaks S p e c u l a t o r elements in the c i t y 22.5 62.7 13.6 1.1 per per per per cent cent cent cent
0.8 p e r cent 0.3 p e r cent
The specific weight of the socialist sector in 1960. National income Total industrial output Wholesale trade Retail trade Total agricultural output 90 99 100 90 80 per per per per per cent cent cent cent cent
T h e s e are t h e concrete a c h i e v e m e n t s i n r e g a r d t o the s i t u a t i o n o f classes i n o u r c o u n t r y , a c h i e v e m e n t s w h i c h a l l o w u s t o s a y t h a t the b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t class o f o u r c o u n t r y has been l i q u i d a t e d a s the m a i n e x p l o i t i n g class. H o w e v e r , t h e elements a n d r e m n a n t s o f t h i s class d o exist. T h e y have not been liquidated physically and no q u e s t i o n o f t h i s has e v e r b e e n r a i s e d . W h a t m a t t e r s i s
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t h a t these e l e m e n t s d o not r a i s e t h e i r heads, b u t s u b m i t t o the l a w s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n state a n d g i v e u p t h e i r hostile a c t i v i t y . W e h a v e c r e a t e d the p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e m t o w o r k a n d l i v e l i k e e v e r y o n e else, b u t w i t h o u t s l a c k e n ing our vigilance or clamping d o w n on them w h e n necessary; a s f o r t h e i r c h i l d r e n , w e t a k e care t o e d u c a t e them in the n e w spirit. A s r e g a r d s t h e p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e , the i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g gle, t h e e d u c a t i o n o f t h e masses i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y spirit, w i t h t h e i d e o l o g y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , a s r e g a r d s the class s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e class e n e m y , against the capitalist a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e a l i s t i d e o l o g y a n d i m p e r i a l i s m , a s w e l l a s t h e c o n t i n u o u s e d u c a t i o n o f t h e masses f o r the e l i m i n a t i o n o f vices, s u p e r s t i t i o n s a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s h a n g o v e r s i n a l l f i e l d s a n d sectors, these a r e b i g c o n t i n u i n g p r o b l e m s w h i c h m u s t b e t h e f i r s t c o n c e r n o f the P a r t y and a p r i m a r y objective of the struggle of the P a r t y a n d t h e w o r k i n g class. I f t h e P a r t y a t t h e h e a d o f the masses does n o t c o n t i n u e t h i s g r e a t s t r u g g l e o n a l l fronts, t h e n t h e d a n g e r arises o f the r e v i v a l a n d r e g r o u p i n g of e l e m e n t s of t h e h o s t i l e classes, t h e d a n g e r of t h e creation o f a n e w r e v i s i o n i s t class w h i c h , a s i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t countries, seizes p o w e r a n d t r a n s f o r m s t h e c o u n t r y f r o m a socialist c o u n t r y i n t o a c a p i t a l i s t one. H e n c e , o u r P a r t y believes that, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h a t the e x p l o i t i n g classes h a v e b e e n l i q u i d a t e d , t h e d a n g e r o f bourgeois a n d r e v i s i o n i s t r e s t o r a t i o n a l w a y s e x i s t s i f y o u rest o n y o u r l a u r e l s a n d d o n o t a d v a n c e a t a great r e v o l u t i o n a r y tempo, i f y o u are n o t g u i d e d i n e v e r y t h i n g b y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , i f y o u cease t h e class s t r u g g l e i n s t e a d of waging it consistently and uninterruptedly, if y o u weaken the dictatorship of the proletariat instead of f u r ther s t r e n g t h e n i n g it, i f y o u d i v o r c e y o u r s e l f f r o m t h e people i n s t e a d o f l i n k i n g y o u r s e l f w i t h t h e m a s c l o s e l y
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a s possible, i f y o u p r o v e c o w a r d l y i n s t e a d o f b e i n g v a l i a n t a n d courageous a n d i n c o n t i n u o u s , dauntless, u n r e l e n t i n g s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m , r e v i s i o n i s t s o f a l l hues a n d a l l lackeys of the bourgeoisie a n d capital. W i t h its u s u a l courage, v a l o u r a n d m a t u r i t y , o u r P a r t y w i l l c o n s i s t e n t l y p u r s u e its correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course. O u r P a r t y , a t t h e h e a d o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, i s a w a r e o f t h e g r e a t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i t has i n this l i f e - a n d d e a t h s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m , m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m a n d r e a c t i o n . T h e m a i n t a s k i t has set i t s e l f i s t o k e e p the revolutionary spirit consistently high, to temper and r e t e m p e r itself i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y d a y b y d a y , t o k e e p its r a n k s p u r e , t o p u r g e i t s e l f o f r o t t e n e l e m e n t s , s l u g g a r d s , m e r e t a l k e r s , careerists a n d i n c o r r i g i b l e b u r e a u c r a t s t h r o u g h a n a c t i v e s t r u g g l e w i t h i n the P a r t y a n d t h e r e a l a n d f a c t u a l v e r i f i c a t i o n o f the a c t i v i t y o f e a c h p a r t y m e m b e r in struggle and life. W h a t h a p p e n e d i n the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n w i l l n e v e r h a p p e n i n o u r P a r t y , because i t does a n d w i l l do continuous, intensive political and ideological w o r k i n d e p t h a n d b r e a d t h w i t h the masses, w i t h t h e a i m o f e n s u r i n g t h a t the e n t i r e p e o p l e u n d e r s t a n d a n d a p p l y e v e r y d i r e c t i v e o f t h e P a r t y a n d its correct p o l i c y i n a creative manner, that they w o r k a n d live every d a y a n d e v e r y h o u r a s i n battle, a s i n r e v o l u t i o n . O n l y i n t h i s w a y can every attack of the internal and e x t e r n a l e n e m y be smashed. O n l y in this w a y w i l l the activity of any e n e m y , h o w e v e r s o p h i s t i c a t e d a n d d i s g u i s e d , w h o tries t o r e s t o r e c a p i t a l i s m , b e n i p p e d i n the b u d a n d d e f e a t e d . F o r such a struggle and in such a struggle we are fighting a n d t e m p e r i n g o u r P a r t y a n d people. A r o u s e d , i n r e v o l u t i o n a r y u n i t y o f t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n , t h e P a r t y a n d the people a r e i n v i n c i b l e . T h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s t h o u g h t that the Party of Labour of A l b a n i a w o u l d be only a morsel
OUR PARTY WILL, CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE
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t h e y c o u l d dispose o f a t one bite. H o w e v e r , i t t u r n e d o u t t o b e a n u n c o n q u e r a b l e a n d i n v i n c i b l e steel fortress, b e cause its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g y a n d p o l i c y i s i n v i n c i b l e , is supported and applied by an invincible, fighting, revo l u t i o n a r y people. In the euphoria of their t r i u m p h in the Soviet U n i o n a n d o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , h e a d e d b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , t r i e d t o t h r o w d u s t i n o u r eyes, t o f l a t t e r a n d d e c e i v e us, b u t t h e y f a i l e d , r e c e i v e d h e a v y blows f r o m us and were badly exposed. T h e y still retain t h e i r m a t e r i a l p o w e r a n d a r e m a n o e u v r i n g w i t h it, b u t t h e y h a v e lost t h e i r m o r a l a n d p o l i t i c a l p o w e r , n o t o n l y o v e r us, b u t also o v e r t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d a n d a l l t h e p r o g r e s s i v e peoples. T h e m o d e r n revisionists are capitalist bourgeois a n d the states w h i c h t h e y a r e l e a d i n g h a v e b e e n a n d a r e b e i n g t r a n s f o r m e d i n essence i n t o o u t r i g h t b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t countries. O n l y if an a r m e d revolution breaks out w i t h i n these c o u n t r i e s w i l l t h i s c o u r s e b e s t o p p e d a n d r e v e r s e d . W e a r e h e l p i n g a n d m u s t h e l p t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y course t o r e v e r s e this a n t i - M a r x i s t , a n t i - p r o l e t a r i a n c a p i t a l i s t course in the communist a n d w o r k e r s ' movement. We t h i n k that K i m Il S u n g and his comrades are m i s t a k e n i n c e r t a i n s t a n d s o f theirs t o w a r d s S o v i e t m o d e r n revisionism and, unfortunately for the Workers' P a r t y of K o r e a a n d t h e K o r e a n people, i f t h e y d o n o t c h a n g e t h e course t h e y h a v e t a k e n , t h e y w i l l b e c o m e m o d e r n r e v i sionists l i k e t h e rest. T h e t r u t h i s b i t t e r b u t i t m u s t b e t o l d b e f o r e i t i s too late. T h e t h e o r i e s o f K i m I l S u n g a n d t h e J a p a n e s e t h a t K h r u s h c h e v w h o w a s b a d has been r e m o v e d , b u t t h e r e i s r e a s o n t o h o p e t h a t those i n p o w e r n o w w i l l correct t h e m s e l v e s a n d one o f t h e ways to help t h e m do so is to unite w i t h them (5) allegedly
_____________________________ 5 T h e Chinese leaders have also expressed this v i e w . Z h o u
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a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m , s h o w t h a t t h e y d o n o t see the issue correctly, t h a t t h e y a r e n o l o n g e r a b l e t o m a k e t r u e c l a s s analyses a n d a r e e m b a r k i n g o n a d u b i o u s course. A s f o r t h e R u m a n i a n leaders, t h e y a r e s h a m e - f a c e d r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o are t r y i n g t o steer a m i d d l e c o u r s e w h i c h they proclaim as a wise and flexible policy, although i n fact i t i s a p o l i c y d i c t a t e d b y t h e g r e a t f e a r t h a t h a u n t s t h e m . T h e R u m a n i a n s are a f r a i d o f t h e S o v i e t s , t h e B u l garians and the H u n g a r i a n s and that is w h y they h a v e l i n k e d themselves w i t h Tito, w i t h the imperialists a n d even smile at us w h e n it suits them. This is what t h e R u m a n i a n s c a l l a special authentic M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m t h e l i n e s o f t h e S o v i e t s , t h e Titoites, the Bulgarians, of K i m Il S u n g , of the Japanese a n d m a n y others are a l l a u t h e n t i c M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e s . T h e R u m a n i a n s r a i s e a h u e a n d c r y against t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y and present themselves as boldly independent. This is the line of T i t o and the imperialists. If R u m a n i a left the W a r s a w T r e a t y that w o u l d be fine. B u t w h e r e w o u l d it go? I t w o u l d get o u t o f the b e d o f o n e e n e m y t o get i n t o b e d w i t h another. W h e t h e r i n N A T O o r t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y , i t ' s a l l t h e s a m e t o us. A s l o n g a s these treaties r e m a i n w h a t t h e y are, i t m a k e s n o d i f f e r e n c e t o u s b e cause b o t h o f t h e m a r e f i g h t i n g us. E v e n i f t h e y f u s e i n t o one, t h e y a r e s t i l l o u r e n e m i e s because t h e y a r e u n i t e d a g a i n s t us. I f o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e y d i s i n t e g r a t e and break up they do not do this in the interests of the r e v o l u t i o n . W h a t t h e n i s t h e p u r p o s e o f the R u m a n i a n l e a d e r s h i p i n r a i s i n g t h i s h u e a n d c r y ? T o s h o w the S o v i e t U n i o n t h a t t h e y a r e strong, because t h e y are w i t h T i t o
______________________________ E n l a i expressed this v i e w to our P a r t y w h e n he was on a visit to A l b a n i a f r o m December 31, 1963 to J a n u a r y 9, 1964, and s o d i d L i u Shaoqi t o a n A l b a n i a n delegation i n B e i j i n g , (See Reflections on C h i n a , v o l . 1, p p . 116-124, T i r a n a 1979, Eng. ed.).
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a n d t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s . T h e y d o s o t o assert t h e i r t e r r i t o r i a l claims, ( 6 ) to get m o n e y f r o m t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s as a r e w a r d f o r a c t i n g t o w e a k e n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a s w e l l a s t o c a r r y out t h e c a p i t a l i s t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f R u m a n i a b e f o r e the S o v i e t s c a n l a u n c h a n y attack. T h e y p l a y the C h i n e s e c a r d o n l y f o r this p o l i t i c a l e x p e d i e n c y a n d t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t i t does not h a r m t h e p o l i c y a n d g e n e r a l s t r a t e g y o f i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e R u m a n i a n s a r e s m i l i n g a t u s too, t h e y h a v e invited me, several ministers a n d p a r t y w o r k e r s for holidays, they invite us privately to the meeting of the W a r s a w T r e a t y a n d s i m i l a r nonsense. W e d o n o t s w a l l o w such b a i t . W e s h a l l r e p l y t o t h e m o p e n l y s o t h a t t h e y u n d e r s t a n d t h a t these m a n o e u v r e s w i l l get t h e m n o where. T h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s o f a l l hues a r e e n g a g e d i n all k i n d s of manoeuvres not o n l y to dodge the blows t h e y are r e c e i v i n g a n d a v o i d f u r t h e r e x p o s u r e , b u t also to create the impression that something is happening, there i s s o m e t h i n g i n t h e a i r , b e s t o w i n g a s m i l e h e r e , a s m i l e there, u n d e r t a k i n g a d e m o c r a t i c a c t i o n or a diplomatic one. These are a l l f o r m s of an outdated bourgeois d i p l o m a c y t o w h i c h t h e y r e t u r n f o r l a c k o f a n y t h i n g better, a n d use t h e m i n t h e n e w c i r c u m s t a n c e s a f t e r d r e s sing t h e m u p i n a n e w c l o a k . T h e s e l a c k e y s a r e r e a d y to kiss y o u r h a n d today so as to bite it t o m o r r o w . H o w ever, w e d o n o t a l l o w t h e m t o k i s s o u r h a n d , let a l o n e bite i t ! T h e y a r e t e r r i f i e d o f o u r s t a n d s because these
____________________________ 6 Two years before t h i s talk took place, Comrade Enver H o x h a wrote o n this p r o b l e m : Z h o u E n l a i i s m a k i n g a grave mistake that he is i n c i t i n g the R u m a n i a n s to m a k e territorial claims on the Soviet U n i o n . . . T h i s is neither the time nor the occasion to raise such problems w h i c h p r o v i d e K h r u s h c h e v w i t h a w e a p o n to accuse us of being chauvinists. T h e ideological and p o l i t i c a l struggle against K h r u s h c h e v must not be diverted into delicate questions of t e r r i t o r i a l claims. (Reflections on China, v o l . 1, p. 74, T i r a n a 1979, E n g . ed.).
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correct a n d d e t e r m i n e d s t a n d s h a v e s m a s h e d a n d d e f e a t e d t h e m . To pursue this Marxist-Leninist policy in a consistent, resolute and revolutionary way means to continue to wage the class struggle in the international arena, to defeat t h e i m p e r i a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t a l l i a n c e s against t h e s o cialist countries for the d o m i n a t i o n of the w o r l d by c a p i t a l i s m u n d e r a l l k i n d s o f m a s k s a n d disguises. T h e W a r s a w T r e a t y meeting is of no interest to us o t h e r t h a n a s a n o b j e c t t o serve t h e u n m a s k i n g o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o m w e a r e g o i n g t o expose. T h e contradictions between the revisionist cliques w h i c h are g r o w i n g d e e p e r are p a r t o f the i m p e r i a l i s t chess game, p a r t o f t h e process o f b r e a k i n g , p a t c h i n g u p a n d establishing new bridges between the various imperialists a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e process o f a n e w i n t e g r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m i s d e v e l o p i n g a l o n g s i d e the process o f t h e i r disintegration. I n E u r o p e , c a p i t a l i s t F r a n c e , i n its o w n interests, i s o p e r a t i n g against t h e A m e r i c a n h e g e m o n y , e x e r t i n g p r e s sure on Great B r i t a i n and especially on B o n n to detach t h e m f r o m the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d w i n t h e m o v e r to its side. Its t a c t i c i s : t h e closest p o s s i b l e r a p p r o c h e m e n t w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , t o use i t n o t o n l y a s a m e a n s of b l a c k m a i l against the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a a n d B o n n , but also as a means of penetration into the r e v i s i o n ist c o u n t r i e s o f E a s t e r n E u r o p e . T h e S o v i e t U n i o n o n its p a r t , w h i l e s a f e g u a r d i n g i t s m a j o r interests w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , i s p l a y i n g the c a r d o f F r a n c e a s b l a c k m a i l f o r t h e o p p o r t u n ist s e t t l e m e n t o f the G e r m a n q u e s t i o n a n d t h e V i e t n a m e s e q u e s t i o n t h r o u g h the c a p i t u l a t i o n o f V i e t n a m , w h i c h w o u l d save t h e face a n d p r e s t i g e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a i n A s i a . W h a t i t has i n m i n d is, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , t o a c h i e v e the e n c i r c l e m e n t o f C h i n a p o l i t i c a l l y a n d m i l i t a r i l y i n n e w c o n d i t i o n s , i.e. t h a t N o r t h
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K o r e a , too, s h o u l d b e b r o u g h t i n t o t h e s p h e r e o f t h i s e n c i r c l e m e n t . T h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , w h i c h are h e a v i l y i n f l u e n c e d b y false e u p h o r i a about t h e c a p i t u l a t i o n o f V i e t n a m , w i l l n o t f a i l t o p r o c l a i m this c a p i t u l a t i o n as a g r e a t v i c t o r y f o r p e a c e f u l c o e x i s t e n c e a n d the peace p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d J o h n s o n . W e are o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t a l l these p o l i t i c a l d e velopments in the w o r l d and especially in Europe w i l l not t a k e p l a c e q u i e t l y , w i t h o u t s h a r p c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e tween the various imperialists and revisionists. H o w e v e r , these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i l l also g i v e r i s e t o o t h e r c o n t r a d i c tions w i t h i n c l i q u e s o f d i f f e r e n t t e n d e n c i e s ; c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n c l i q u e s a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties a n d g r o u p s w h i c h h a v e b e e n a n d are b e i n g f o r m e d ; contradictions between the revisionist cliques a n d the peoples o f t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e y a r e i n p o w e r . T h e fact i s t h a t t h e process o f t h e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f the r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s h a s not o n l y c r e a t e d p o l i t i c a l chaos a m o n g t h e p e o p l e t o t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e o f t h e c l i ques i n p o w e r , b u t h a s also r a i s e d p r o b l e m s i n i n d u s t r y , a g r i c u l t u r e , the e c o n o m y , the s u p p l y system, etc. T i t o p l u n g e d t h e c o u n t r y i n t o e c o n o m i c chaos d e s p i t e the b i l l i o n s ( 7 ) w i t h w h i c h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a and others have p r o v i d e d h i m . T h e other revisionist c o u n tries, w h i c h a r e t u r n i n g t h e i r socialist a g r i c u l t u r e i n t o a capitalist a g r i c u l t u r e ( Y u g o s l a v i a h a s n e v e r h a d a socialist a g r i c u l t u r e ) , a r e e n c o u n t e r i n g resistance a n d p o l i t i c a l a n d economic d i f f i c u l t i e s . T h e a b o l i t i o n o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d the process o f t h e i r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n t o k u l a k p r o p e r t y has r e s u l t e d i n t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e , s p e c u l a t i o n a n d i m p o v e r i s h m e n t , a n d together w i t h this, a m o u n t i n g w a v e o f resistance.
_________________________________ 7 U n t i l 1981, Yugoslavia's foreign b i l l i o n dollars (Tanjug, J u n e 26, 1982). debt amounted to 20,1
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I n i n d u s t r y a n d t h e e c o n o m i c sector t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s h a v e b e g u n t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the socialist state p r o p e r t y i n t o t h e p r o p e r t y o f c a p i t a l i s t g r o u p s a c cording to the Titoite pattern or w i t h a slight touch-up. Just by l o o k i n g at the Titoite economy we can envisage w h a t is occurring and w i l l occur in the other revisionist countries w h i c h have p i n n e d their hopes o n U S a i d t o e n a b l e t h e m t o f o l l o w this p a t t e r n . T h e A m e r i c a n s f i nanced the Titoites generously and achieved their aim. T h e Y u g o s l a v peoples are n o w at the e n d of their tether a n d t h i s w i l l increase t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d t h e i r r e sistance, b u t the A m e r i c a n s w i l l b e m o r e t i g h t - f i s t e d a n d merciless w i t h the other cliques w h i c h f i n d themselves b e t w e e n t w o fires, t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the peoples o f their o w n countries. T h i s contradiction w i l l become m o r e a n d more pronounced. The formation of M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t communist parties i n t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e the r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e i n p o w e r w i l l p l a y a decisive role, therefore we must help the n e w f r a t e r n a l M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a t a l l costs, a n d t h i s i s our p r i m a r y internationalist duty, our revolutionary duty. W e t h i n k t h a t t h e n e w b o u r g e o i s i e w h i c h h a s come t o p o w e r t h r o u g h t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , Poland, Czechoslovakia, the G e r m a n Democratic Republic, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Rumania, M o n g o l i a , etc., a n d w h i c h d i s g u i s e s itself w i t h M a r x i s t p h r a seology, cannot be o v e r t h r o w n except by m e a n s of a revolution. The m o d e r n revisionists are determined to supp r e s s the r e v o l u t i o n w i t h a r m s , t h e r e f o r e , i n those c o u n t r i e s especially, g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s m u s t b e c r e a t e d t o p r e p a r e a n d l e a d the r e v o l u t i o n . W e t h i n k t h a t w i t h o u t the f o r m a t i o n o f these p a r ties w h i c h h a v e m a s t e r e d t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n , t h e past a n d p r e s e n t e x p e r i e n c e o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle, w h i c h a r e c l e a r a b o u t t h e s t r u g g l e against
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imperialism a n d m o d e r n revisionism a n d wage it correctly, the r e v o l u t i o n c a n n o t b e c a r r i e d o u t successfully. T h e r e v o l u t i o n needs a l e a d e r s h i p w i t h e x p e r i e n c e , t e m p e r e d a n d determined to carry it through to the end. O f course, w e a r e n o t g o i n g t o e x p o r t r e v o l u t i o n o r g i v e o r d e r s t h a t others m u s t d o t h i s o r that. N e i t h e r i s i t u p t o u s t o s u p p o r t t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n these c o u n t r i e s b y a r m e d i n t e r v e n t i o n . T h i s i s v e r y c l e a r t o us. However, we have a p r i m a r y d u t y to help the prolet a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n i n a l l c o u n t r i e s , a n d i n the r e v i s i o n i s t countries i n p a r t i c u l a r . T h e o b j e c t i v e a n d basis o f o u r a l l - r o u n d assistance o f e v e r y k i n d s h o u l d b e t h e s t e r n a n d u n c o m p r o m i s i n g s t r u g g l e against t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , h e a d e d b y t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , a n d against t h e m o d e r n r e v i sionists, h e a d e d b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . ( 8 ) T h e M a r x ist-Leninists all over the w o r l d , the new M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties a n d g r o u p s w h i c h h a v e b e e n a n d a r e b e i n g c r e a t e d , are i n g r e a t n e e d o f o u r p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l assistance. The A m e r i c a n imperialists a n d the Soviet revisionists operate o n t h e basis o f a n i d e n t i c a l s t r a t e g y a n d c o - o r d i nate t h e i r tactics, i r r e s p e c t i v e o f the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w h i c h they h a v e a n d w h i c h a r e i n c r e a s i n g . T h e y a r e p r e p a r i n g for w a r a g a i n s t u s a n d o t h e r p e a c e - l o v i n g peoples, t h e y a r e fighting w i t h every means to prepare the counter-revolut i o n i n o u r c o u n t r i e s a t a n y cost, t o l i q u i d a t e t h e staffs o f the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n i n a n y p a r t o f the w o r l d . T h e i r
____________________________ 8 T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a d i d not come out immediately and openly against the revisionists. Since A p r i l 1962 C o m r a d e E n v e r H o x h a u n d e r l i n e d : T h e revolutionary communists expect China to come out openly against Khrushchevite revisionism. B u t even w h e n it took an open stand against both the Soviet revisionists and the Y u g o s l a v revisionists, the Communist Party of China displayed pronounced opportunist waverings in l i n e and w e n t so far as to seek reconciliation w i t h them. (See Reflections on C h i n a , vol. 1, p. 7, T i r a n a 1979, E n g . ed.).
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non-interference in i n t e r n a l affairs, defence of a n d respect f o r t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f others, etc., a r e n o t h i n g b u t e m p t y slogans, d e m a g o g y , a n d these a n d m a n y o t h e r s o f t h i s k i n d are b e i n g u s e d a s a great h o a x t o c o n c e a l t h e i r plots, p u t s c h e s a n d a n y o t h e r i n t e r f e r e n c e o f t h e i r s i n o u r countries a n d parties. On the other hand, the m o d e r n revisionists indulge in political and ideological moralizing, t r y i n g t o d e s c r i b e o u r correct, e f f e c t i v e a n d p o w e r f u l M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t support for the revolution in the w o r l d as interference in their internal affairs. W h a t m u s t o u r t w o p a r t i e s a n d states, i n t h e f i r s t place, a n d a l l t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s o f the w o r l d do? We think that we must be f u l l y a r m e d politically, ideologically, economically a n d m o r a l l y a n d should c o n tinue our struggle u n t i l we t r i u m p h o v e r the imperialists a n d m o d e r n revisionists, should continue our ideological, p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c s t r u g g l e , a n d i f t h e n e e d arises, we should w a g e even an a r m e d struggle in defence of o u r countries and the victories of the revolution. O n e o f t h e aspects o f p r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h i s l i f e - a n d d e a t h s t r u g g l e i s the s u c c e s s f u l p r e p a r a t i o n a n d t h e assistance w e s h o u l d g i v e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d a n d the revolution in the revisionist countries in p a r t i c u l a r . B y t h i s w e b y n o m e a n s d i m i n i s h t h e colossal, u n s p a r i n g a n d a l l - r o u n d assistance w e s h o u l d g i v e t o t h e peoples w h o a r e f i g h t i n g a n d t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s and groups of the countries of A s i a , A f r i c a , A u s t r a l i a and L a t i n A m e r i c a . T h i s i s o n e o f t h e m a j o r questions, b u t the revolution w h i c h m u s t be prepared a n d break out in the Soviet U n i o n and the other revisionist countries is also a m a j o r q u e s t i o n . . . A s t o h o w t h i s assistance s h o u l d b e o r g a n i z e d , h o w this struggle should be w a g e d on a more concentrated, w o r l d scale against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , o u r P a r t y h a s c o m m u n i c a t e d some o f its ideas t o y o u r P a r t y , e i t h e r
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d i r e c t l y o r p u b l i c l y t h r o u g h t h e press. O f course, t h e y are n o t n e c e s s a r i l y c o m p l e t e a n d a l w a y s precise, b u t w e still persist in our o p i n i o n that o u r t w o parties should s t u d y this g r e a t a n d u r g e n t q u e s t i o n d e e p l y a n d c o m e u p w i t h a d e c i s i o n o n t h e basis o f facts a n d the n e w s i t u a t i o n s w h i c h h a v e b e e n created. T h e m o d e r n revisionists are w o r k i n g actively, i n v e n t i n g n u m e r o u s theories a n d d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g i n their p o w e r to fight the international proletarian M a r x i s t Leninist u n i t y w h i c h spells death for them. F r o m the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s t o the R u m a n i a n s t h e y h a v e d i s c r e d i t e d the g r e a t i d e a o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y i n order t o r e p l a c e i t w i t h t h e i r r e v i s i o n i s t h e g e m o n y . Therefore, we must raise high the great banner of M a r x , Engels, Lenin and Stalin, the banner of the steel international proletarian unity and smash any revisionist hegemony.
Works, vol. 33
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIMES OF GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?

August 31, 1966
T o save t h e i r o w n s k i n s , t o s a v e t h e s y s t e m o f t e r r o r , o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n w h i c h i s b e i n g s h a k e n t o its foundations, J . B . T i t o and his clique have sacrificed t h e i r closest c o l l a b o r a t o r R a n k o v i o n w h o m t h e y l o a d e d a l l the b l a m e a n d m a d e t h e scapegoat f o r a l l t h e f a i l u r e s , mistakes, crimes and defeats of the Titoite regime to date. W i t h the d i s m i s s a l o f R a n k o v i f r o m a l l state a n d p a r t y f u n c t i o n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , w i t h i n the T i t o i t e c l i q u e t h e s t r u g g l e f o r p o w e r b u r s t out o p e n l y b e t w e e n t h e C r o a t S l o v e n i a n a n d G r e a t - S e r b i a n clans, w h i c h a r e s u p p o r t e d r e s p e c t i v e l y b y the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h i s is a c l e a r e x p r e s s i o n of the deep class a n d national contradictions w h i c h have long been eroding a n d c r u m b l i n g Tito's k i n g d o m , a n d of the decay, dege neration and decomposition of the Titoite system. T h e recent e v e n t s s h o w e d once a g a i n t h a t T i t o i t e Yugoslavia is on the horns of a d i l e m m a . T h e betrayal of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m by the Titoite clique w h i c h gave Y u g o s l a v i a a l l the f e a t u r e s of a b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?
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state, b r o u g h t splits w i t h i n its r a n k s , a s i t w a s b o u n d t o do, a n d l e d i n e v i t a b l y t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f n a t i o n a l i s m and c h a u v i n i s m a m o n g t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e c l i q u e a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , a m o n g the d i f f e r e n t n a t i o n a l g r o u p i n g s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , w h i c h t r i e d t o assert t h e m s e l v e s , t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r p o s i t i o n s i n t h e state, t h e e c o n o m y a n d t h e a r m y , e a c h t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f the o t h e r a n d the s t r o n g e s t against the weakest. T h e old national-chauvinist S e r b Croat rivalries were r e v i v e d and became more pronounced. T h e entire national policy of the T i t o clique d u r i n g these 20 or so y e a r s t o w a r d s the d i f f e r e n t n a t i o n a l i t i e s has b e e n c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y o p p r e s s i o n a n d i n e q u a l i t y , exploitation and economic and cultural discrimination. In particular the Titoites have applied the most ferocious bloody terror, m a i m i n g and p h y s i c a l l i q u i d a t i o n against the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e b l o o d y o p p r e s sion w h i c h t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a h a s suffered f r o m the chauvinist denationalization policy of the e n s l a v i n g T i t o i t e r e g i m e , i s a p o w e r f u l i r r e f u t a b l e i n d i c t m e n t o f the p o l i c e o r d e r o f B e l g r a d e . P e r s e c u t i o n o f the fascist t y p e , p h y s i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l t o r t u r e a n d t h e crime of genocide have been applied on a w i d e scale against t h i s p o p u l a t i o n . F o l l o w i n g the 4th P l e n u m of the so-called League of Communists of Yugoslavia, the T i t o clique is striving w i t h a l l its m e a n s t o s a v e t h e T i t o i t e r e g i m e f r o m t h e c a tastrophe t o w a r d s w h i c h i t i s h e a d i n g , b y t r y i n g t o l o a d the b l a m e f o r t h e h o p e l e s s mess c r e a t e d i n Y u g o s l a v i a onto the f o r m e r c h i e f o f the U D B , T i t o ' s closest c o l l a b o r a tor, R a n k o v i . A l l o v e r Y u g o s l a v i a e f f o r t s a r e b e i n g m a d e to put the U D B , that infamous organization of bloodthirsty assassins, m o r e t h o r o u g h l y i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e T i t o i t e t e r r o r i s t r e g i m e , b y e l i m i n a t i n g f r o m it, f o r the s a k e o f appearances, a f e w g r o s s l y c o m p r o m i s e d c r i m i n a l s . T h u s o n T i t o ' s o r d e r s s o m e purges h a v e b e e n c a r r i e d o u t
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w i t h i n t h e l e a d i n g h i e r a r c h y o f the U D B . S o m e m i n i s t e r s o f i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s h a v e b e e n r e m o v e d i n those r e p u b l i c s a n d provinces where the chauvinist policy of national oppression and genocide has been most ferocious a n d w h e r e the possibility of the eruption of popular anger h a s p l a c e d the v e r y e x i s t e n c e o f t h e T i t o i t e r e g i m e i n danger. This is what happened in Serbia, Montenegro, M a c e d o n i a , B o s n i a a n d H e r c e g o v i n a a n d e l s e w h e r e . T h u s , ac c o r d i n g t o t h e r e p o r t s o f t h e Y u g o s l a v press, c h a n g e s h a v e been made in the leadership of the U D B in the province o f K o s o v a , too. M i a M i j u k o v i a n d S t a n i s l a v G e r k o v i , w h o h a d been i n charge o f the U D B i n K o s o v a u p till n o w , h a v e b e e n d i s m i s s e d a n d r e p l a c e d b y o t h e r specialists o f t h e U D B , h e n c h m e n o f T i t o , s u c h a s X h e v d e t H a m z a a n d D u k o Rusti. B u t t h e Y u g o s l a v peoples a r e n o t f o o l e d a n d t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e i n Y u g o s l a v i a least o f a l l . T h i s c a m p a i g n o f a l l e g e d purges i s j u s t a c o n f i d e n c e t r i c k , i n t e n d e d t o d r a w a v e i l o v e r the g l a r i n g a n d unpardonable crimes of the Titoite regime, to exone r a t e f r o m guilt the T i t o - K a r d e l j - B a k a r i clique, w h i c h has temporarily emerged victorious in the struggle for power. In the f i n a l analysis, it is being done to present T i t o a s the s a v i o u r o f t h e s i t u a t i o n , w h o i s a l l e g e d l y c o n c e r n e d t o r e - e s t a b l i s h the r u l e o f l a w e l i m i n a t e d b y the T i t o i t e system itself a n d the fascist U D B - m e n , that have always operated u n d e r the orders of T i t o and his clique. B u t n o m a n o e u v r e c a n save t h e T i t o i t e c l i q u e . T h e c r i m e s o f genocide w h i c h h a v e b e e n c o m m i t t e d a g a i n s t t h e A l b a n i a n population in Kosova, the D u k a g j i n Plateau, M a c e d o n i a a n d M o n t e n e g r o , a r e a p r o d u c t o f the p o l i c y o f savage n a t i o n a l i s m a n d c h a u v i n i s m w h i c h t h e T i t o i t e regime has implemented. Tito himself a n d together w i t h h i m his entire clique, f r o m the big sharks l i k e R a n k o v i , w h o is drenched in the blood of the A l b a n i a n people in
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Yugoslavia, K a r d e l j , B a k a r i , L . K o l i e v s k i a n d others, d o w n t o t h e m i n o r ones l i k e D u a n M u g o a , X h a v i t N i m a n i , A l i S h u k r i u , G j o k o Pajkovi, edo M i j o v i , edo Topalovi, S i n a n H a s a n i , X h e v d e t H a m z a a n d others m u s t b e m a d e to answer for w h a t has happened. A l w a y s proceeding f r o m correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e d p o s i t i o n s , t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a has l o n g been d e n o u n c i n g w i t h t h e greatest d e t e r m i n a t i o n a l l t h e hideous c r i m e s w h i c h t h e t r a i t o r c l i q u e o f T i t o has c o n t i n u e d t o c a r r y o u t t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f t h e peoples o f Yugoslavia and especially to the detriment of the A l b a n i a n population in that country. We have never interfered in the internal affairs of Y u g o s l a v i a , a n d n e v e r s h a l l d o so, b u t t h e T i t o r e v i s i o n i s t clique, o n t h e c o n t r a r y , h a s r a i s e d i n t e r f e r e n c e i n t h e internal affairs of A l b a n i a a n d other countries to a system. F o r m o r e t h a n t w e n t y y e a r s i t has s t o p p e d a t n o t h i n g i n i t s f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e A l b a n i a n people, a g a i n s t the P L A , a g a i n s t t h e P R A , a n d a g a i n s t t h e s o c i a l i s t state and social order established in A l b a n i a . T h e interference o f the T i t o i t e c l i q u e i n A l b a n i a , its ceaseless p l o t t i n g a n d s u b v e r s i v e a c t i v i t y , its a l l i a n c e s w i t h t h e m o s t f e r o c i o u s e n e m i e s o f t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e f r o m t h e fascists, t h e Ballists, the Zogites to the A m e r i c a n imperialists, the Greek monarcho-fascists and the Khrushchevite revision ists, a g a i n s t t h e P R A , a r e n o w n o t o r i o u s t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d . N a t u r a l l y , a l l these acts o f i n t e r f e r e n c e o f t h e Titoite clique in the internal affairs of A l b a n i a have e n c o u n t e r e d t h e r e s o l u t e o p p o s i t i o n o f o u r people, h a v e been s m a s h e d t o s m i t h e r e e n s a g a i n s t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i lance and u n i t y of the A l b a n i a n people w h o are united l i k e f l e s h t o b o n e w i t h t h e i r P a r t y . B u t i f the T i t o r e v i sionist c l i q u e m a k e s u c h a p r o v o c a t i v e d i s p l a y , a s t h e y did over the p o m p o u s f u n e r a l they gave such an inveterate and notorious enemy of the A l b a n i a n people a n d the
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P L A a s P a n a j o t P l a k u , ( 1 ) s o m u c h the m o r e d o w e h a v e the r i g h t t o r a i s e o u r v o i c e t o d e f e n d t h e v i t a l i n t e r e s t s o f the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n l i v i n g i n Y u g o s l a v i a , u n d e r t h e t e r r o r o f the T i t o c l i q u e a n d the U D B , u n d e r t h e permanent threat of denationalization a n d mass exter mination. T h e c r i m e s , the m u r d e r s , t h e p h y s i c a l a n n i h i l a t i o n o f the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a b y t h e T i t o i t e c l i q u e , a s w e l l a s t h e p o l i c y o f its d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n , c o m p r i s e a consistent l i n e w h i c h b e g a n i n t h e f i r s t d a y s a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n and has continued w i t h ever more hideous ferocity to this day. These crimes and this policy of g e n o c i d e cannot b e w i p e d f r o m t h e m e m o r y o f a n y h o n e s t p e r s o n i n t h e w o r l d , l e t alone f r o m t h e m e m o r y o f those who have suffered and are still suffering f r o m them. T h e A l b a n i a n population i n Y u g o s l a v i a w i l l never forget the t r a g i c e v e n t o f a u t u m n 1944 w h e n t h e T i t o - R a n k o v i g a n g a r r e s t e d 10,000 A l b a n i a n s i n T e t o v a a n d shot 1,200 o f t h e m out o f h a n d w i t h o u t t r i a l , n o t t o m e n t i o n those w h o died in the prisons. C y n i c i s m , savagery a n d f u r y to exterminate the Albanians have always characterized the actions o f t h e T i t o i t e b a n d i t s . W h e n a g r o u p o f A l b a n i a n p a t r i o t s p r o t e s t e d t o t h e T i t o i t e c o m m a n d a b o u t these crimes, G e n e r a l Apostolski, the then commander of the First Macedonian Brigade, answered: This is nothing, we are just doing a clean-up. Those that w e r e k i l l e d h a d to b e got r i d of. A n d V u k m a n o v i - T e m p o w h o w a s p r e s e n t at that time o r d e r e d : A r e y o u s t i l l h o l d i n g people in c a m p s ? T h o s e y o u h a v e t o get r i d of, c l e a n t h e m o u t quickly. This order f r o m the personal representative of
_________________________________ 1 Secret agent of the latter and f l e d to Y u g o s l a v i a A l b a n i a , too, just people's democracy of the Y u g o s l a v state security. On orders in collusion w i t h the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s he in 1957, in order to carry out their plans in as they w e r e d o i n g in a l l the countries of after the 20th Congress of the C P S U .
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T i t o w a s c a r r i e d o u t w i t h great z e a l . I n N o v e m b e r 1944 thousands o f i n n o c e n t A l b a n i a n p e a s a n t s w e r e shot d o w n i n t h e streets i n M a c e d o n i a , b u r n t t o d e a t h , o r d e l i b e r a t e l y infected w i t h typhoid w h i c h killed them. Generation after generation the A l b a n i a n people in Yugoslavia w i l l remember w i t h irrepressible hatred for the b l o o d y T i t o i t e c l i q u e , t h e m a s s a c r e o f D r e n i c a i n w i n t e r 1944 w h e n the Yugoslav divisions, under the pretext of cleaning up e n e m y elements, surrounded the l i b e r a t e d z o n e o f D r e n i c a a n d m a s s a c r e d a b o u t 30,000 A l banian men, women and children. T h e event at Drenica w a s sheer b u t c h e r y , a s y s t e m a t i c o r g a n i z e d a n n i h i l a t i o n o f the p o p u l a t i o n o f A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l i t y i n these regions. W h y , to w h a t purpose did the Titoites h u r l themselves l i k e w i l d beasts o n t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n a n d d r e n c h e d m a r t y r e d K o s o v a w i t h A l b a n i a n blood again? T h e o n l y crime o f t h i s p o p u l a t i o n w a s its A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l i t y , w h i l e t h e a i m o f the T i t o i t e s has b e e n a n d s t i l l i s t h e w i p i n g out of the whole A l b a n i a n population. (2) T h e y are
__________________________________ 2 In post-Second W o r l d W a r Y u g o s l a v i a Vaso u b r i l o v i was minister, member of the A c a d e m y of Sciences and A r t of Serbia, i n his m e m o r a n d u m T h e E x p u l s i o n o f the A l banians, presented on M a r c h 7, 1937, he w r i t e s : W e should distribute weapons to our colonists, as need be. T h e old forms of etnik action should be organized and secretely assisted. . . . A tide of Montenegrins should be launched f r o m the m o u n tain pastures, in order to create a large-scale conflict w i t h the A l b a n i a n s in M e t o h i j a . . . F i n a l l y , local riots can be incited. These w i l l b e bloodily suppressed w i t h t h e most e f f e c t i v e means, but by colonists f r o m the M o n t e n e g r i n clans and t h e etniks rather than by means of the army. T h e r e remains one more means, w h i c h Serbia employed w i t h great practical effect after 1878 by secretly b u r n i n g d o w n A l b a n i a n villages and city quarters. (Dr. Vaso u b r i l o v i , T h e E x p u l s i o n of the A l b a n i a n s , p. 13, E n g . ed.) Hence, the same chauvinist policy has been pursued against the A l b a n i a n s i n both p r e - w a r and post-war Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e
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p u r s u i n g this course relentlessly to this v e r y day. M o r e t h a n 2,000 A l b a n i a n s i n M i t r o v i c a , m o r e t h a n 1,000 o t h e r s i n G j i l a n , t h o u s a n d s o f A l b a n i a n s w h o j o i n e d the Y u g o s l a v b r i g a d e s a s p a r t i s a n s t o f i g h t t h e fascists, w e r e t r e a c h e r o u s l y shot o n t h e o r d e r s o f t h e Y u g o s l a v h e a d q u a r t e r s . H u n d r e d s of other A l b a n i a n s recruited as soldiers by the Y u g o s l a v s w e r e shot b y t h e m o n t h e r o a d f r o m P r i z r e n to Tivar. One thousand t w o hundred A l b a n i a n youths who s u r v i v e d this t r a g i c j o u r n e y w e r e shot a t T i v a r . A t G o r i c a o f T r i e s t e , m o r e t h a n 2,000 A l b a n i a n b o y s f r o m M a c e donia, m o b i l i z e d i n labour brigades, w e r e p u t t o death w i t h p o i s o n gas. T h e p h y s i c a l l i q u i d a t i o n o f the A l b a n i a n s in Kosova, Macedonia and Montenegro was carried out systematically. It emerges f r o m the testimony of witnesses a n d d o c u m e n t a l facts t h a t m o r e t h a n 40,000 i n n o c e n t persons f e l l v i c t i m t o t h e b u l l e t s , b a y o n e t s a n d p o i s o n o f T i t o ' s secret s e r v i c e d u r i n g t h e y e a r s 1944-1948. B u t this c a m p a i g n o f e x t e r m i n a t i o n b y t h e T i t o i t e c l i q u e against t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n K o s o v a , t h e Dukagjin Plateau, Macedonia and Montenegro continued w i t h even greater ferocity a n d in a m o r e organized w a y a f t e r 1948. A f t e r the p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e R e s o l u t i o n o f t h e C o m i n f o r m i n 1948 i n w h i c h T i t o ' s b e t r a y a l o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e cause o f s o c i a l i s m w a s d e n o u n c e d , t h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p s t e p p e d u p its s a v a g e all-round oppression of the A l b a n i a n population in Y u g o s l a v i a , w h o d u r i n g t h e y e a r s 1948-1950 a n d a g a i n i n t h e p e r i o d f r o m 1951-1966 were subjected to a w a v e of k i l l i n g s , arrests a n d i n h u m a n t o r t u r e s . T h e Titoites use every means to incite fratricide among t h e A l b a n i a n s , t h e y n o t o n l y r e v i v e t h e o l d b l o o d feuds,
_______________________________ fact that f r o m 1912 to 1976, over 277 thousand A l b a n i a n s have been exterminated physically in the A l b a n i a n territories a n nexed by Yugoslavia, is significant.
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b u t also c r e a t e n e w o n e s t h r o u g h v a r i o u s m a n o e u v r e s . T o i n c r e a s e these feuds, t h e U D B officers, t h r o u g h t h e i r agents, o r g a n i z e t h e k i d n a p p i n g a n d r a p e o f K o s o v a g i r l s and women, and then incite the A l b a n i a n s to k i l l each other, w h i l e t h e l a w s e n v i s a g e l i g h t sentences f o r these crimes, i n o r d e r t o e n c o u r a g e t h e m . B u t can words be f o u n d to describe the unprecedented crimes a n d barbarities w h i c h the Titoite clique committed d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r 1955-1956 against t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n during the so-called action to confiscate weapons? T i t o charged R a n k o v i personally a n d f o r m e d a staff to w h i c h the people most notorious for their barbarity, the most rabid chauvinists, hardened criminals whose hands were stained w i t h the blood of the A l b a n i a n people of Kosova, w e r e a p p o i n t e d t o c a r r y o u t the c r i m i n a l o p e r a t i o n t o t h e l e t t e r a n d d i r e c t t h e p u n i t i v e e x p e d i t i o n s . T h i s staff w a s led b y D u a n Mugoa, G j o k o Pajkovi, U D B colonel edo Mijovi, edo Topalovi, X h a v i t Nimani Xhevdet H a m z a a n d others. T h e R u g o v a region w a s the first to be struck by the terror. T h e punitive expedition w i t h the U D B officer B o g o l u b R a d i a t t h e h e a d , o n the p r e t e x t o f s e a r c h i n g for weapons, barbarously tortured n e a r l y all the m e n of this r e g i o n . T h e y beat t h e m a l m o s t t o d e a t h , t o r t u r e d t h e m w i t h e l e c t r i c s h o c k s a n d l e f t t h e m n a k e d a l l the night in the snow. T h e n they l i n e d them up a n d drove t h e m i n t o a d i t c h w h e r e t h e w a t e r h a d f r o z e n i n the t e m p e r a t u r e o f m o r e t h a n 1 5 d e g r e e s b e l o w zero. T h e y c o n t i n u e d t h e i r t o r t u r e s a n d massacres ( 3 ) i n s i m i l a r s t y l e
_______________________________ 3 A K o s o v a emigrant f r o m the v i l l a g e of Drenoc, G j a k o v a region, says among other things: W i t h i n one night the U D B took 34 of us m e n and held us in a house, w h e r e d u r i n g the night the U D B officer Drago K i l e v i and four Serbian m i l i t i a m e n beat us one by one, in one of the rooms of this house, w i t h a rubber hose weighted w i t h pieces of metal, k i c k e d us,
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in Junik, Dean, Suhareka, L l a p , Vuiterna, Drenica, M i t r o v i c a , etc. Hundreds died under torture b y the U D B executioners o r a f e w d a y s later. M a n y others, u n a b l e t o w i t h s t a n d t h e t o r t u r e s f o r a second o r t h i r d t i m e , t r a g i c a l l y t o o k their o w n lives. Thousands w e r e left crippled and u n a b l e t o w o r k a n d a r e s u f f e r i n g t o t h i s d a y f r o m the i n j u r i e s caused a t t h a t t i m e . A n d t o cap t h e i r a c t i v i t y o f h a n g m e n , the Y u g o s l a v a u t h o r i t i e s i s s u e d a c a t e g o r i c a l o r d e r t h a t the A l b a n i a n s i n j u r e d d u r i n g the tortures of the years 1955-1956 w e r e n o t t o b e a d m i t t e d t o the h o s p i t a l s f o r treatment. A s i f t h e p u n i t i v e e x p e d i t i o n s , the c r i m i n a l m a s s operations, the k i l l i n g a n d a n n i h i l a t i o n o f t h o u s a n d s o f A l b a n i a n s w e r e not enough, the Titoite clique p u t into p r a c t i c e t h e basest m e t h o d s o f p r o v o c a t i o n . I t h a s set u p a broad network of organizations a n d professional p r o v o cateurs b y m e a n s o f w h i c h i t h a s l i q u i d a t e d h u n d r e d s o f Albanians.
__________________________________ p u n c h e d us w i t h their fists, beat us w i t h the butts of t h e i r guns and w i t h clubs. T h e beatings began w i t h the search for weapons, but that was only the beginning. A f t e r t h a t the U D B interrogated each of us every t h i r d or f o u r t h d a y about w h a t we had done 20 years a g o . . . A n emigrant f r o m Istok o f P e j a testified: In the v i l l a g e of Dubovic the U D B has committed terrible tortures u n d e r the pretext of the search for weapons. T h e tortures took place in the m i l i t i a post. F o r 5 months on end, 50 men f r o m t h e 50 houses of the village w e r e tortured. As a result of the tortures many of them died or w e r e permanently c r i p p l e d . L e t us take the testimony of another emigrant f r o m the v i l l a g e of Bog, R u g o v a (Peja): In J a n u a r y 1956, the U D B o f f i c e r s of the P e j a district, Bogolub R a d i and V l a d o Dai, r o u n d e d up 65 men in one day, held us in the village-store and began to torture us. T h e tortures and humiliations of the U D B w e r e imposed not only on us men, but also on the A l b a n i a n w o m e n , a thing that neither the Sultans of T u r k e y nor the K i n g s of Serbia and Montenegro w e r e able to do in our mountains.
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T h e A l b a n i a n prisoners are kept in i n h u m a n condit i o n s i n t h e T i t o i t e gaols. I n t h e g a o l o f N i s h a l o n e t h e r e are m o r e t h a n 2,000 A l b a n i a n p r i s o n e r s . I n t h e g a o l o f S r e m s k a M i t r o v i c a , w h i c h i s also a c e n t r a l p r i s o n , t h e r e are m o r e t h a n 700 p r i s o n e r s , o n e t h i r d o f w h o m are o f A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l i t y . I n S r e m , h a l f o f those sentenced f o r p o l i t i c a l offences a r e A l b a n i a n s . T h e T i t o i t e s h a v e transformed the A l b a n i a n regions i n Y u g o s l a v i a into p r i sons a n d c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s f o r m a s s e x t e r m i n a t i o n . T h e gaols a t N i s h a n d S r e m , I d r i z o v a o f M a c e d o n i a , P r i s h t i n a , G j u r a k o v c , S u h a r e k a , G o l i O t o k , etc. a r e p r o o f o f this. A l l over Yugoslavia, the A l b a n i a n s l i v e w i t h the fear of insecurity for the morrow. Death is hanging over their heads l i k e t h e s w o r d o f D a m o c l e s . ( 4 ) T h e prisons of Yugoslavia, especially in K o s o v a , are supplied w i t h the last w o r d i n m o d e r n equipment. T h e y are equipped w i t h freezer rooms and hot rooms. People arrested are p u t n a k e d in the freezer rooms and kept t h e r e a t t e m p e r a t u r e s w e l l b e l o w zero, f o r t w o o r t h r e e h o u r s o n e n d . T h e n t h e y are p u t s t r a i g h t i n t o t h e h o t rooms. T h i s is done to destroy their health a n d break t h e i r w i l l , s o t h a t t h e y a d m i t baseless a c c u s a t i o n s a n d place t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e T i t o i t e s . T h e r e are s u c h r o o m s i n the P r i s h t i n a , N i s h a n d I d r i z o v a gaols. Is this treatment of the A l b a n i a n prisoners in the T i t o i t e p r i s o n s n o t r e m i n i s c e n t o f the t r e a t m e n t o f a n t i _______________________________ 4 A prisoner recalls w i t h terror: I have seen many k i n d s of crimes against the Albanians, he said. I have seen them cut a man's throat as if he w e r e a l a m b . B u t w h a t I saw one day at the P r i s h t i n a gaol I dare not describe. E v e n n o w I am terrified w h e n I t h i n k of those crimes. T h e r e w e r e three A l b a n i a n s in the gaol. O n e of them had been hacked to pieces, the other two were alive, but they had b r o k e n the arms and legs of one of them, w h i l e as for the other, they had cut off one ear, put out one eye and cut off one side of his moustache together w i t h his lip.
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fascists i n the c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s o f t h e G e r m a n n a z i s ? A n d it could not he otherwise because the director of the N i s h gaol h a d the same job i n the t i m e o f the Serb K i n g a n d the G e r m a n o c c u p i e r s a n d n o w i n t h e t i m e o f the Titoites. T h e same can be said of the director of the prison of S r e m , w h o is k n o w n as a e t n i k a n d a p r o f e s s i o n a l killer and torturer. T h e patriotic K o s o v a w r i t e r A d e m Demai, (5) a n d hundreds of other patriots w h o , together w i t h the A l b a n i a n population i n K o s o v a , the D u k a g j i n Plateau, M a c e d o n i a a n d Montenegro, h a v e not s u b m i t t e d and never w i l l submit to the y o k e of Tito, the violent extermination, national discrimination a n d genocide w h i c h h a v e b e e n r a i s e d t o a state s y s t e m b y t h e T i t o i t e r e g i m e ( 6 ) , are suffering the most ferocious tortures in such prisons. W e a s k : W h o i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r these t e r r i b l e c r i m e s of genocide w h i c h have been carried out systematically f o r decades b y t h e T i t o i t e r e g i m e against t h e A l b a n i a n population in Yugoslavia? Is it only Rankovi and his U D B g a n g ? N o . N o t o n l y the m a i n e x e c u t o r s , n o t o n l y the lackeys, b u t in the first place their master in crimes, the hangman Tito, and all his criminal clique must answer f o r these a n d o t h e r c r i m e s . One of the objectives of the general line tional policy of the T i t o clique, apart f r o m m u r d e r s o n a m a s s scale, h a s b e e n a n d s t i l l nationalization of the A l b a n i a n population in of the n a crimes and is the de Yugoslavia
___________________________ 5 F r o m 1958 he has been condemned several times for patriotic activity and is s t i l l kept in p r i s o n in Y u g o s l a v i a . 6 A w o r k e r f r o m V u i t e r n a w a s able to escape f r o m the T i t o i t e h e l l only seven days after the B r i o n i turn. He came to A l b a n i a , but his j a w was broken and he was c r i p p l e d by the tortures o f t h e U D B i n B u d v a . H e was b r u t a l l y beaten b y seven T i t o i t e agents s i m p l y because d u r i n g the l u n c h break from his tiring w o r k he and t w o friends sitting in a p a r k sang a song in their mother tongue! T h a t w a s enough for t h e men of the U D B to c r i p p l e this w o r k e r and t h r o w h i m out on the street. Hundreds of such cases are o c c u r r i n g to this day.
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by any means and in any way. To this end they h a v e combined their administrative measures a n d police terror w i t h intense propaganda activity, the a i m of w h i c h is expressed in the suppression of the patriotic spirit, the d e n i a l o f a u t o c h t h o n y (you h a v e c o m e t o these l a n d s , t h e r e f o r e y o u m u s t l e a v e here), w i t h t h e e x c l u s i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n masses f r o m political life a n d the denial of their national demands, w i t h the corruption and de generation w i t h religious opium and the incitement of enmities and fratricide, according to the imperialist p r i n ciple o f d i v i d e a n d rule. D u r i n g t h e last d e c a d e t h e T i t o i t e p r o p a g a n d a h a s t r i e d w i t h a l l its m e a n s to j u s t i f y a n d s a n c t i o n t h e f o r c e d r e g i s t r a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n masses a s S l a v s a n d Turks, the attempts to change A l b a n i a n place names to Slavonic names and, u n d e r the pressure of economic p r i vations, t o d i s p e r s e t h e A l b a n i a n s o v e r a l l p a r t s o f Y u g o slavia a n d b r i n g about their alleged v o l u n t a r y e m i g r a tion to foreign countries. (7)
_________________________________ 7 In his m e m o r a n d u m u b r i l o v i w r i t e s : Another means w o u l d be coercion by the state apparatus. T h e l a w must be enforced to the letter so as to m a k e staying intolerable for t h e A l b a n i a n s : fines, imprisonment, . . . compulsory labour and any other measure that an experienced police force can contrive. F r o m the economic aspect: the w o r k w i t h the l a n d register should immediately i n c l u d e the ruthless collection of taxes a n d the payment of a l l p r i v a t e and p u b l i c debts, the requisitioning of a l l state a n d c o m m u n a l pastures, . . . the w i t h d r a w a l of permits to exercise a profession, dismissal f r o m state, private, and c o m m u n a l offices etc. . . . H e a l t h measures: the b r u t a l application of a l l the dispositions even in the homes, the p u l l i n g d o w n of encircling w a l l s and h i g h hedges around the houses, the rigorous application of veterinary measures, w h i c h w i l l result in i m p e d i n g the sale of livestock on the market, etc. (Dr. Vaso C u b r i l o v i , T h e E x p u l s i o n of the A l b a n i a n s , p. 12, Eng. ed.) T h e data obtained f r o m the publications made i n Y u g o slavia show that, after the Second W o r l d W a r , d u r i n g 1955-1958,
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I n essence, t h e s l o g a n o f f r e e d o m t o l i v e w h e r e v e r y o u like and to call yourself w h a t e v e r y o u like consti tutes the political-economic imposition on the A l b a n i a n to leave his birthplace and live in the remote interior of Yugoslavia or to emigrate to Italy, A u s t r i a , West G e r m a n y , etc., as a slave of m o n o p o l y c a p i t a l i s m . B u t f o r the Titoites any means to achieve their a i m is ac ceptable. I t w a s not f o r n o t h i n g a n d not a c c i d e n t a l t h a t G j o k o P a j k o v i , m e m b e r o f t h e C C o f the L C Y , f o r m e r s e c r e t a r y o f the L C Y f o r K o s o v a , p r o c l a i m e d a s a n o b l i gatory official line the freedom of the A l b a n i a n s to r e n o u n c e t h e i r n a t i o n a l i t y . A t t h e 2 n d session o f t h e 3 r d l e g i s l a t u r e o f the p r o v i n c i a l c o u n c i l o f K o s o v a , o p e n l y a l l u d i n g t o the r e g i s t r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a n s a s T u r k s , o r r a t h e r the d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n s , h e s a i d : N o b o d y c a n stop m e g o i n g t o a T u r k i s h s c h o o l i f I w a n t t o . . . T h i s is my freedom. I can be a Serb, a T u r k , an A m e r i c a n o r w h a t e v e r I please. T h e c o s m o p o l i t a n i s m o f the r e v i s i o n i s t s has n o l i m i t s , b u t this c o s m o p o l i t a n i s m i s e x p r e s s e d i n a v e r y d e f i n i t e d i r e c t i o n : t o d e n y the A l b a n i a n s the right to be Albanians, u n d e r the so-called f r e e d o m to choose a n y o t h e r n a t i o n a l i t y . I n o r d e r t o f o r c e the m a s s o f A l b a n i a n s t o d i s p e r s e i n t h e i n t e r i o r o f t h e Y u g o s l a v t e r r i t o r y , i n the e c o n o m i c f i e l d the T i t o i t e s m a k e e x t e n s i v e use o f e c o n o m i c p r e s s u r e a n d h e a v y taxes. F r o m t h e e c o n o m i c s t a n d p o i n t a l l the A l b a n i a n regions in Y u g o s l a v i a are v e r y b a c k w a r d , be cause most o f t h e m a i n i n d u s t r i a l objects a r e c o n c e n t r a t e d in Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. I n K o s o v a , t h e D u k a g j i n P l a t e a u a n d the o t h e r A l b a n i a n r e g i o n s t h e T i t o i t e state h a s g i v e n i m p o r t a n c e o n l y t o those sectors o f the economy, t h r o u g h w h i c h i t
______________________________ the Titoites banians. removed to Turkey about 203 thousand Al
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c a n e x p l o i t t h e g r e a t r i c h e s o f these regions, a n d i t sends these r i c h e s t o t h e i n t e r i o r o r t o t h e West, t h u s i m p o v e r ishing the mass of the A l b a n i a n population. S u c h m e thods o f t y p i c a l c o l o n i a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n a r e u s e d i n the r i c h m i n e s o f T r e p e , D e v a , G o l e s h , etc. A t these m i n e s , the a d m i n i s t r a t i v e staff a n d t h e specialists are a l l S e r b s and M o n t e n e g r i n s . I f y o u l o o k f o r t h e A l b a n i a n i n these mines, y o u w i l l f i n d h i m a s a n u n q u a l i f i e d w o r k e r . A t the T r e p e m i n e , f o r e x a m p l e , 9 0 p e r cent o f the A l b a n i a n w o r k e r s are u n q u a l i f i e d . E v e n i n t h e f e w e x i s t i n g i n d u s trial objects the S l a v element dominates; for example, out o f 400 w o r k e r s a t t h e tobacco f a c t o r y i n G i l a n , o n l y 90 a r e A l b a n i a n s . T h e r e g i o n s i n h a b i t e d b y A l b a n i a n s h a v e been t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o colonies a n d a r e b e i n g e x p l o i t e d i n t e n s i v e l y by the Serbs, the Montenegrins and the Macedonians. Unemployment is increasing rapidly. In connection w i t h this, S l o b o d a n P e n e z i stated c l e a r l y i n P r i s h t i n a : D e s p i t e the progress, t h e p r o b l e m o f u n e m p l o y m e n t i s n o t b e i n g s o l v e d , t h e w o r k e r s m u s t g o t o o t h e r regions. W h e r e a s later D u a n M u g o a , t h e t h e n s e c r e t a r y o f t h e L C Y f o r K o s o v a , o p e n l y d e c l a r e d : W e a r e s t i l l u n a b l e t o ensure w o r k f o r a l a r g e n u m b e r o f people. E a c h y e a r a b o u t 7,000 i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h i s r e g i o n , K o s o v a , g o t o seek w o r k i n other r e g i o n s o f the c o u n t r y , o u t s i d e K o s o v a a n d M e t o h i a . E a c h y e a r 14,000 n e w w o r k e r s a r e a d d e d t o t h e a r m y o f the u n e m p l o y e d . T h i s p h e n o m e n o n h a s c o n t i n u e d a t the same rates. O n A u g u s t 20, 1966, T a n j u g r e p o r t e d t h a t at the meeting of the Executive Council of K o s o v a and M e t o h i a i t w a s o b s e r v e d t h a t the n u m b e r o f p e o p l e w h o get jobs i n t h i s r e g i o n i s s t e a d i l y d e c l i n i n g a n d t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r n e w w o r k e r s t o f i n d j o b s a r e b e c o m i n g less a n d less. A c c o r d i n g t o statistics a t t h e e n d o f M a y t h i s y e a r 5,000 w o r k e r s less t h a n last M a y w e r e e m p l o y e d . I n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s , displacement to the interior
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o f Y u g o s l a v i a i s the m a i n f o r m o f d e n a t i o n a l i z i n g t h e A l b a n i a n regions. A s a result, s i n c e 1958 tens o f t h o u s a n d s of A l b a n i a n inhabitants have been d r i v e n f r o m their territories to the n o r t h e r n regions of Yugoslavia, V o j v o d i n a , C r o a t i a , o r S l o v e n i a , a p a r t f r o m t h e fact t h a t u p t i l l n o w , a c c o r d i n g t o press r e p o r t s , m o r e t h a n 250,000 Albanians (8) have been forced to leave their homeland for T u r k e y . T h i s i s a c a t a s t r o p h i c o u s t i n g o f the A l b a n i a n s from Yugoslavia. T h e savage G r e a t - S e r b a n d a n t i - A l b a n i a n c h a u v i n i s m o f t h e T i t o i t e s i s also e x p r e s s e d i n t h e f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n and culture. T h e regions of K o s o v a have the highest percentage o f i l l i t e r a c y i n Y u g o s l a v i a a n d E u r o p e . U n d e r different pretexts, the Titoites recently closed d o w n a g o o d n u m b e r o f t h e f e w schools w h i c h e x i s t e d i n K o s o v a a n d the D u k a g j i n Plateau, w h i l e most of the A l b a n i a n schools i n M a c e d o n i a a n d M o n t e n e g r o , w i t h f e w e x c e p tions, h a v e b e e n c l o s e d a n d c o m p l e t e e l i m i n a t i o n o f t h e m seems t o b e t h e a i m ; i n s t e a d o f A l b a n i a n schools, T u r k i s h a n d S e r b schools a r e o p e n e d . E n t i r e A l b a n i a n regions, w h i c h are u n d e r t h e a d m i nistration of Montenegro and Macedonia, such as U l q i n , T i v a r , P l a v a , G u c i a , T u t i n a , R o z h a j a , O h r i , etc., h a v e n o A l b a n i a n schools. I n face o f s u c h a s i t u a t i o n t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : W h o is responsible for the savage denationalization, for the typ i c a l l y colonialist oppression and exploitation of K o s o v a , f o r the e x p u l s i o n o f the p e o p l e o f K o s o v a f r o m t h e i r l a n d and homes to the interior of Yugoslavia or outside Yugoslavia? W h o is responsible for the great economic
_________________________________ 8 D u r i n g 1913-1941, 500 thousand A l b a n i a n s w e r e removed from the A l b a n i a n territories in Y u g o s l a v i a , 380 thousand of w h o m migrated to T u r k e y , and the rest to A l b a n i a , whereas after the Second W o r l d W a r the Titoites have compelled over 400 thousand A l b a n i a n s to leave for T u r k e y .
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b a c k w a r d n e s s , t h e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n against t h e l a n g u a g e , culture a n d traditions of the people of K o s o v a ? Is it only the c r i m i n a l R a n k o v i a n d t h e U D B w h i c h , u n t i l y e s t e r d a y , w a s c o m m a n d e d b y h i m ? A r e o n l y the l a c k e y s a n d t h e tools o f t h e T i t o c l i q u e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e v i c i o u s p o l i c y o f d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n ? T h e T i t o c l i q u e itself, the T i t o i t e r e gime, f r o m w h i c h the chauvinist national policy and the d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f K o s o v a s t e m , a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the a n t i - A l b a n i a n course of denationalization and the a l l - r o u n d national oppression of the people of Kosova. T h e A l b a n i a n population i n Y u g o s l a v i a are convinced f r o m t h e i r l o n g e x p e r i e n c e that, d e s p i t e t h e sweet w o r d s , d e s p i t e t h e m a s k s , t h e p r e s e n t m a n o e u v r e s o f the T i t o clique have o n l y one a i m : to strengthen the shaken p o w e r of the Titoite clique, to intensify the national oppression, exploitation and denationalization of Kosova. F o r the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e i n Y u g o s l a v i a a n d the o p p r e s s e d peoples of Yugoslavia, the deep crisis w h i c h has hit the Tito clique w a s s o m e t h i n g e x p e c t e d , because i t i s a n i n e v i t a b l e c o n sequence of the antagonistic contradictions w h i c h have been s i m m e r i n g f o r y e a r s a m o n g t h i s c l i q u e o f renegades. T h i s c r i s i s has s e v e r e l y s h a k e n t h e T i t o c l i q u e , w h i c h i s f e e l i n g t h e e a r t h s l i p p i n g f r o m u n d e r i t s feet, f e e l i n g insecurity, feeling the approach of the fatal end w h i c h h i s t o r y has i n store f o r e v e r y r e n e g a d e . I n a speech w h i c h he delivered in recent days T i t o openly expressed his concern a n d fear of the rising tide of resistance in dif ferent f o r m s against h i s regime. He admitted that the c o u n t r y i s n o t solid, united, l i n k e d together, t h a t people i n t h e r e p u b l i c s h a v e b e g u n t o speak a b o u t t h e division of nationalities. T h i s is only the beginning of the end of the Titoite leadership. T h e rivalries, the snarling between wolves, w i l l increase a n d blood w i l l flow among them. T h i s is their law, the law of the jungle. T h e m y t h of the T i t o i t e u n i t y is over. T h e rot,
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the b e t r a y a l , t h e f r a u d a r e e m e r g i n g o p e n l y e v e r y d a y . T h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d t h e g e n u i n e Y u g o s l a v M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s see this a n d t h e y w i l l n o t a l w a y s r e m a i n p a s s i v e spectators a s t h e T i t o i t e s o f a l l h u e s l e a d t h e m closer a n d closer t o d i s a s t e r . T h e r e m o v a l o f R a n k o v i cannot e a s i l y f o o l t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d t h e Yugoslav revolutionaries. Tito, K a r d e l j , V u k m a n o v i - T e m po, K o a P o p o v i a n d o t h e r s a r e c r i m i n a l s just a s m u c h as Rankovi. E v e n after the r e m o v a l of R a n k o v i the U D B u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f T i t o w i l l use the m o s t savage methods of the A m e r i c a n police, w h i c h w i l l be added to those o f t h e U D B , t o f u r t h e r oppress t h e p e o p l e s o f Yugoslavia and m a k e them bleed. However, the bitter e x p e r i e n c e o f m a n y y e a r s u n d e r t h e s a v a g e r u l e o f the T i t o c l i q u e has m a d e t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e o f K o s o v a , t h e D u k a g j i n Plateau, Macedonia and Montenegro vigilant, has opened t h e i r eyes s o t h e y a r e n o t d e c e i v e d b y t h e d e m a g o g y o f t h e T i t o i t e c l i q u e w h i c h has b u r s t o u t r e c e n t l y a l l over the country, a n d are not f a l l i n g into the trap. T h e game w h i c h Tito is playing n o w w i t h the aid of a h a n d f u l of A l b a n i a n t r a i t o r s is a v e r y c u n n i n g a n d d a n g e r o u s one. B u t T i t o a n d h i s m o u t h p i e c e s c a n n o t d e ceive anyone. T h e A l b a n i a n population in K o s o v a , the Dukagjin Plateau, Macedonia and Montenegro k n o w w h o t h e T i t o i t e s are. T h e y k n o w v e r y w e l l w h o a r e t h e t r a i t o r s w h o permitted or collaborated in the bloody crimes of D r e n i c a a n d T e t o v a , U l q i n , P r i s h t i n a a n d P e j a , o f the a c t i o n t o confiscate weapons. W h e n t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n o f those r e g i o n s w a s b l e e d i n g a n d b e i n g s l a u g h t e r e d by the clique of T i t o and Rankovi, they prettified the murderous regime of Tito. The Albanian population of these r e g i o n s w i l l n o t b e s n a r e d a g a i n b y t h e l i e s o f these traitors and their patrons, Tito, K a r d e l j , B a k a r i and others, b u t a l o n g s i d e t h e o t h e r o p p r e s s e d peoples o f Yugoslavia, shoulder to shoulder w i t h the genuine Y u g o -
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slav M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , w i l l continue the struggle to u n m a s k t h e T i t o i t e c l i q u e a n d d e f e n d t h e i r o w n interests. H o w e v e r savage, c y n i c a l a n d c u n n i n g the m e a s u r e s o f the r e v i s i o n i s t r u l e r s o f B e l g r a d e , t h e y w i l l n e v e r succeed i n denationalizing, e x t e r m i n a t i n g o r annihilating the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a . T h i s people, w h o w i t h m a r v e l l o u s h e r o i s m w i t h s t o o d the f u r i o u s o n s l a u g h t s o f O t t o m a n a n d S l a v occupiers d u r i n g the centuries, w h o w i t h heroic courage and determination have preserved their l a n g u a g e , t r a d i t i o n s , customs, c u l t u r e , t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l i t y a n d v i t a l i t y , a l l t h e i r n a t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d features i n face o f a l l t h e e f f o r t s t o d e n a t i o n a l i z e a n d a n n i h i l a t e them, are a people w h o can never be subjugated or eliminated. T h e y are eternal and they w i l l t r i u m p h . The d a y w i l l certainly come w h e n Tito and his clique w i l l have t o r e n d e r account f o r a l l t h e i r m o n s t r o u s crimes, f o r t h e unprecedented genocide in K o s o v a .
Works, vol. 33
SOME PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE PROLETARIAN CULTURAL REVOLUTION
Speech at the 18th Plenum of the CC of the PLA (1)

October 14, 1966
C o m r a d e s , I w a n t t o e x p r e s s some p r e l i m i n a r y i d e a s about the P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n w h i c h is going o n i n C h i n a d u r i n g these m o n t h s . I s a y p r e l i m i n a r y ideas, because t h i s r e v o l u t i o n i s a m a j o r a n d s e r i o u s p r o b l e m w h i c h requires further consideration on our part, more d e t a i l e d analyses, b a s e d o n m o r e c o m p l e t e facts, p o s s i b l y requires clarifications by the Chinese comrades, a n d all these t h i n g s w e s h o u l d a n a l y s e c a r e f u l l y i n the l i g h t o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . M a n y t h i n g s are not c l e a r t o us, w e c a n a n d d o m a k e suppositions, b u t t h e y r e m a i n o n l y s u p p o s i t i o n s w h i c h r e q u i r e v e r i f i c a t i o n f r o m t h e facts, f r o m l i f e . However, although we do not have enough i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e has t o j u d g e o n those facts w e h a v e a n d f o r m a m o r e o r less c l e a r i n t e r n a l o p i n i o n . T h e p o s s i b i l i t y cannot b e e x c l u d e d that, f o r t h e reasons
_______________________________________ 1 T h i s meeting of the P l e n u m w a s held to analyse a n d endorse the report to be submitted to the 5th Congress of the P L A ; however, a t the P l e n u m Comrade E n v e r H o x h a m a d e the speech on Some P r e l i m i n a r y Ideas about the Chinese P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l Revolution w h i c h was not i n c l u d e d o n the agenda, but for w h i c h he h a d received the a p p r o v a l of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the CC of the P L A at its meeting of October 10 and 11, 1966.
PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION
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I m e n t i o n e d a b o v e w e m a y n o t b e v e r y accurate i n certain judgments or definitions. However, the first prel i m i n a r y b r i e f a n a l y s i s (because t h i s p r o b l e m d o e s n o t figure on the agenda of this meeting of the P l e n u m of the Central Committee), and the criticisms we m a y m a k e o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s a n d f o r m s o f the C h i n e s e r e v o l u t i o n a r e i m p e l l e d b y g o o d c o m r a d e l y aims, b y t h e correct M a r x i s t Leninist principles, by the urgent and imperative need f o r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y between o u r two parties and the repercussions this revolution m a y have in the international communist movement. T h e P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l Revolution, as the Chinese l e a d e r s h a v e p r e s e n t e d i t a n d a r e c a r r y i n g i t out, presents t w o aspects of a s i n g l e p r o b l e m : the n a t i o n a l aspect a n d t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l aspect. O u r P a r t y , t h e o t h e r M a r x i s t Leninist parties and the entire w o r l d are interested in b o t h t h e one a n d t h e o t h e r o f these aspects, a n d i n t h e p r o b l e m as a w h o l e . This Proletarian Cultural Revolution is viewed, analysed, interpreted, lauded or criticized f r o m m a n y diff e r e n t p o s i t i o n s , t h e r e is a great d e a l of s p e c u l a t i o n a b o u t it, b u t w e m a y s a y t h a t the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f i t i s d o n e m a i n l y in three directions: interpretation f r o m the posit i o n s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t bourgeoisie, i n t e r p r e t a t i o n f r o m the b o u r g e o i s - r e v i s i o n i s t p o s i t i o n s a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n f r o m the true constructive M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t positions. I t w o u l d b e a gross m i s t a k e o n the nese c o m r a d e s i f t h e y w e r e t o c o n f o u n d l u m p t h e m together, w h e n t h e f i r s t t w o o p p o s e d t o t h e t h i r d . I n t h i s case t h e y in Marxist-Leninist objectivity. part of the C h i these s t a n d s a n d are diametrically w o u l d be lacking
Therefore, comrades, y o u w i l l understand h o w difficult, n o t t o s a y i m p o s s i b l e i t i s f o r u s t o m a k e a correct, o p e n a n d c o m r a d e l y c r i t i c i s m o f t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s i n these complicated circumstances I mentioned, or criticism of
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the t h i n g s I s h a l l g o o n t o s p e a k about, e s p e c i a l l y i n r e g a r d t o the u n r e s t r a i n e d c u l t o f M a o Z e d o n g . B u t , a s always, our P a r t y w i l l defend the principles boldly, correctly a n d fearlessly a n d w i l l f i n d not o n l y the courage but also the w i s d o m a n d cool-headedness, w h i c h h a v e n e v e r been l a c k i n g a n d w h i c h i t h a s g a i n e d i n d i f f i c u l t s t r u g g l e , t o e x p r e s s its o p i n i o n t o the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a , t o d i s c u s s p a t i e n t l y a n d i n a c o m r a d e l y w a y w i t h the C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s f o r the c o m m o n benefit, f o r t h e b e n e f i t of Marxism-Leninism. W e base t h e o p i n i o n s w e s h a l l e x p r e s s h e r e o n t h e facts o f w h i c h y o u a r e i n f o r m e d , f r o m the r e l a t i o n s b e tween o u r P a r t y and the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a for m a n y y e a r s o n e n d , the v i e w s o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a o n t h e m a j o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o b l e m s a n d the p r o b lems of international communism, to the exchange of o p i n i o n s t h r o u g h letters a n d d e l e g a t i o n s b y t h e t w o sides, the e x c h a n g e o f e x p e r i e n c e t h r o u g h p a r t y a n d state c h a n nels, etc. Y o u a r e also i n f o r m e d a b o u t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of the Chinese Proletarian C u l t u r a l Revolution f r o m start t o f i n i s h t h r o u g h o u r press a n d , i n a m o r e d e t a i l e d w a y , t h r o u g h the v o l u m i n o u s m a t e r i a l o f t h e A T A w h i c h y o u receive every day, therefore I am not going to r u n through t h e h i s t o r y o f it, b u t s h a l l m e r e l y b r i e f l y r e c a l l c e r t a i n m o m e n t s w h i c h I consider o f s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e : 1 ) A t t h e i r congress, t e n y e a r s ago, n o t o n l y w e r e the C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s u n c l e a r a b o u t t h e b e t r a y a l o f T i t o , but they made Stalin the culprit a n d exonerated Tito. W e h a v e facts a b o u t this s t a n d , because t h i s c o m p r i s e d the essence o f t h e i r t a l k s w i t h us. L a t e r , a s y o u k n o w , t h e y corrected this s t a n d , b u t c o n t i n u e d t o u n d e r r a t e the T i t o i t e d a n g e r i n face o f the g r e a t K h r u s h c h e v i t e d a n g e r . 2 ) T h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s d i d n o t r e a l i z e the d a n g e r o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s f u l l y a n d p r o p e r l y . T h e y d i d n o t o p e n l y acquiesce i n t h e accusations a n d s l a n d e r s o f t h e
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K h r u s h c h e v i t e s against S t a l i n , b u t t h e y b e l i e v e d a great part of them a n d strengthened their o w n opinion about S t a l i n i n the t i m e o f the C o m i n t e r n a n d later, a b o u t S t a l i n ' s alleged mistakes in r e g a r d to C h i n a , mistakes w h i c h Z h o u E n l a i outlined to us especially to convince us w h e n h e c a m e h e r e t h e last t i m e , a l t h o u g h h e c o u l d n o t c o n v i n c e us. E v e n a s s u m i n g f o r a m o m e n t that w e a c cepted t h e t h i n g s Z h o u t o l d u s a b o u t S t a l i n , i n o u r opinion they do not constitute serious faults or mistakes of principle, but at most are tactical stands adopted in various political and m i l i t a r y situations, w h i c h , w i t h o u t comparing documents, a n d especially w h e n a long time h a s p a s s e d s i n c e these e v e n t s a n d t h e r e a r e n o d o c u m e n t s a v a i l a b l e , a t least t o us, c a n v e r y e a s i l y b e i n t e r p r e t e d one-sidedly. L a t e r the Chinese comrades realized the dangerous nature of the Khrushchevites, but their tactics remained m i l d , e s p e c i a l l y a t first, i n d e e d e v e n a t t h e 2 2 n d C o n g r e s s o f the C P S U a n d f o l l o w i n g it, w h e n w e w e r e o p e n l y a t t a c k e d a n d t h e heat o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t f i r e w a s d i r e c t e d a t o u r P a r t y alone, t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a t r i e d t o h a v e the p o l e m i c s s t o p p e d . Nevertheless, immediately after the fall of K h r u s h chev, t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s w a v e r e d s o m e w h a t , h a d some e r r o n e o u s i l l u s i o n s a n d took s o m e i n c o r r e c t actions. Y o u k n o w a b o u t t h e episode o f Z h o u E n l a i w i t h the A l b a n i a n ambassador (2) and the stand of o u r P a r t y . A n o t h e r erroneous stand of the Chinese, w h i c h h a d consequences e s p e c i a l l y i n c e r t a i n p a r t i e s , l i k e those o f
__________________________________ 2 T h e Chinese leaders described the f a l l of K h r u s h chev as a radical change, h a i l e d this change by a telegram to the n e w Soviet revisionist leadership and decided to send a party a n d government delegation to M o s c o w to take p a r t in the November 7 celebrations. T h e y tried to impose this stand o n the P L A through Z h o u E n l a i , w h o asked the a m -
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K o r e a and Japan, w a s the proposal for the creation of t h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t f r o n t i n c l u d i n g t h e revisionists. W e f o r c e f u l l y a n d r e s o l u t e l y r e j e c t e d t h i s p r o p o s a l , a n d the C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s w i t h d r e w . N o w the K o r e a n s a n d t h e J a p a n e s e h a v e r a i s e d the b a n n e r o f this i d e a . Y o u h a v e had all this in the material you have read. 3) As y o u know, we have h a d a controversy over p r i n c i p l e s w i t h t h e C h i n e s e comrades, n o t m a i n l y o v e r t h e class s t r u g g l e , b u t about t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e f e u d o - b o u r g e o i s class as a class, as an e n t i t y w h i c h f i g h t s us, e v e n f r o m p o s i t i o n s o f state p o w e r , a t a t i m e w h e n state p o w e r in our countries is the dictatorship of the proletariat. W e k n o w w h a t o u r thesis i s a n d t h i s w e base o n o u r struggle, on facts and on M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t analysis. T h e Chinese comrades have claimed the contrary. As y o u k n o w , we have told t h e m that it m a y be so in t h e i r c o u n t r y , b u t n o t i n o u r s , because t h e class s t r u g g l e in our country has been waged and continued consistently f r o m the t i m e o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r a n d s i n c e t h e w a r r i g h t t o this day, a n d i t w i l l g o o n a g a i n s t t h e r e m n a n t s of the f e u d o - b o u r g e o i s class, etc., etc. T h e r e is no bourgeoisie in p o w e r in our country. T h e Chinese
__________________________________ bassador of the P R A to B e i j i n g to i n f o r m the P L A that he had also proposed to the Soviets to i n v i t e A l b a n i a to the November 7 celebrations. He insisted that the A l b a n i a n c o m rades should send a party a n d government delegation there. T h e P L A rejected this proposal by means of a special letter to the CC of the C P C . W e think, the letter said, it is impermissible for us . . . that in these conditions w h e n the Soviet government has b r o k e n off diplomatic relations on its o w n initiative and has committed outrageous a n t i - M a r x i s t actions against us, to ignore these things for the only reason that the person of K h r u s h c h e v has been demoted. Z h o u E n l a i w e n t to M o s c o w on mission to unite w i t h the n e w Soviet leaders, b u t he suffered ignominious defeat. (See E n v e r H o x h a , R e flections on C h i n a , v o l . 1, pp. 125-135, 177-180, T i r a n a 1979, Eng. ed.).
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c o m r a d e s d e m a n d e d that w e a d o p t t h e i r v i e w w h i c h m a y have been formulated after an analysis of the situation i n C h i n a . B u t i t w a s i n v a i n , because, c o n f r o n t e d w i t h o u r analysis, they w e r e forced to lower their tone; n e v e r t h e l e s s , w e suspect t h a t t h e y a r e not c o n v i n c e d a n d continue to t h i n k that the A l b a n i a n s are w r o n g in their analysis. A n d see, t h e y e v e n m a d e t h e i r f i n a l a t t e m p t t o i m p o s e t h e i r c o n c l u s i o n o n u s i n the j o i n t s t a t e m e n t w h e n our delegation went to China. (3) B u t they failed again. 4) In our opinion, the analysis w h i c h the Chinese c o m r a d e s m a d e o f the causes o f t h e a d v e n t o f r e v i s i o n i s m to p o w e r in the Soviet U n i o n , a problem of m a j o r i m p o r tance f o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s m , h a s n o t been c o m p l e t e l y o b j e c t i v e . T h e y l a y t h e b l a m e o n S t a l i n alone. T h i s i s o f p a r t i c u l a r i m p o r t a n c e , a n d , i f w e are n o t m i s t a k e n , is done w i t h ulterior motives. O u r P a r t y has another v i e w ; o u r a n a l y s i s o f t h i s i m p o r t a n t p r o b l e m agrees i n s o m e aspects w i t h t h a t o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a , b u t does n o t agree a n d i s o p p o s e d t o i t i n s o m e o t h e r aspects. T h e m u t u a l e x c h a n g e o f o p i n i o n s , c r i t i c i s m s a n d suggestions a r e n a t u r a l , b u t t h e y c a n b e c o n s t r u c t i v e o n l y w h e n c a r r i e d out i n t h e Marxist-Leninist way. I m e n t i o n these p r o b l e m s n o t because t h e y h a v e become obstacles i n o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e C h i n e s e c o m rades, b u t to e n a b l e us, as f a r as possible, to see m o r e clearly into the recent events w h i c h are occurring in C h i n a , because, i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t h i n g s I p o i n t e d out, t h e r e m a y also b e o t h e r t h i n g s w h i c h w e d o not k n o w about. W e h a v e been i n f o r m e d a b o u t a n d h a v e f o l l o w e d the recent d e v e l o p m e n t s i n C h i n a o n l y t h r o u g h t h e C h i n e s e press a n d H s i n h u a . T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a a n d
__________________________ 3 In M a y 1966.
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its Central Committee have not given o u r P a r t y a n d its Central Committee any special comradely i n f o r m a tion. We t h i n k that as a p a r t y so closely l i n k e d w i t h ours, i t o u g h t t o h a v e k e p t u s b e t t e r i n f o r m e d i n a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t w a y , e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g these r e c e n t m o n t h s . Y o u are acquainted w i t h the expose Z h o u E n l a i gave us. H e t o l d u s n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n w h a t t h e C h i n e s e press h a d s a i d u p t i l l t h e n , b u t a s t o w h a t h a s b e e n done since then a n d w h a t w i l l b e done later, w e k n o w n o t h i n g a p a r t f r o m w h a t has b e e n s a i d i n t h e press. H e n c e , comrades, y o u w i l l u n d e r s t a n d h o w p r u d e n t w e must be in d r a w i n g well-grounded and complete conclusions, because m a n y facts a b o u t w h a t i s g o i n g o n i n s i d e t h e i r p a r t y are u n k n o w n t o us. T o s o m e e x t e n t w e k n o w t h e e x t e r n a l a p p e a r a n c e o f events, t h e i r o u t w a r d d e v e l o p m e n t , as w e l l as the o r i e n t a t i o n of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f events, b u t w e k n o w n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e i r causes, t h e i r f u n d a m e n t a l reasons. W e m a y guess, m a k e s u p p o s i t i o n s , b u i l d u p hypotheses, b u t the g r e a t seriousness o f the p r o b l e m a n d the seriousness o f o u r P a r t y d o n o t a l l o w us to be i m p r u d e n t a n d hasty. I f w e are not m i s t a k e n , i n the c h r o n o l o g y o f events, matters began w i t h an article by L i n B i a o about the a r m y , w h i c h , w e m a y say, d i d n o t i m p l y a n y t h i n g s p e c i a l a p a r t f r o m the s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the a r m y a n d i t s p o p u l a r i z a t i o n , w h i c h i s n a t u r a l i n these i n t e r n a t i o n a l situations. I t w a s c o n t i n u e d w i t h t h e c r i t i c i s m o f s o m e n o v e l s a n d a r t i c l e s a n d rose t o crescendo i n t h e u n i v e r sities o f B e i j i n g , i n the rectorates a n d a m o n g t h e p r o f e s sors, t h e a t t a c k w a s s h i f t e d t o t h e B e i j i n g P a r t y C o m mittee (without even now m e n t i o n i n g the name of P e n g Z h e n ) , s h i f t e d o n t o some m e m b e r s o f t h e B u r e a u , s u c h a s L u D i n g y i , t o L i n B i a o ' s d e p u t y i n t h e a r m y , a n d thus, i n t u r n , t o the c r e a t i o n o f t h e R e d G u a r d a n d its a c t i v i ties. M e a n w h i l e , L i n B i a o ' s s e c o n d article, w h i c h f a n n e d
PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION 101 u p the cult o f M a o a n d a g a i n r e c o m m e n d e d t h e r e a d i n g o f h i s w o r k s , came out. T h i s a r t i c l e , y o u m i g h t say, w a s the c a l l to a c t i o n , etc., etc. C e r t a i n t h i n g s d r a w o u r a t t e n t i o n . I t came o u t i n t h e C h i n e s e press, t h a t t h e B e i j i n g P a r t y C o m m i t t e e , o f course, i n c l u d i n g P e n g Z h e n , b u t w i t h o u t m e n t i o n i n g his n a m e ( Z h o u E n l a i m e n t i o n e d i t t o us), L u D i n g y i , L u o R u i q i n g a n d o t h e r s w e r e r e v i s i o n i s t s , a n t i - p a r t y , agents o f t h e bourgeoisie, etc., t h e y s u p p o r t e d t h e b o u r g e o i s elements i n t h e u n i v e r s i t y , a m o n g t h e w r i t e r s , etc., a n d t h e n e w s papers p u b l i s h e d c r i t i c i s m s o f m a n y o t h e r l i t e r a r y w o r k s . Hence, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m t h i s h o s t i l e a c t i v i t y i s based i n t h e f i e l d o f c u l t u r e a n d t h e school. B u t t h e t h r e e persons n a m e d a n d o t h e r s w e r e m e m b e r s o f t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e . W a s i t i n t h i s sector alone t h a t t h e y h a d b e t r a y e d ? W e c a n n o t o f f e r a n y o p i n i o n a b o u t this, because the C h i n e s e a r e n o t s a y i n g one w o r d . W h e n w a s t h i s b i g plot, a s t h e y c a l l e d it, discovered? A c c o r d i n g to them, the entire w o r k , the w h o l e l i n e , a l l the c o l l e c t i v e a n d i n d i v i d u a l a c t i o n s o f the leadership have been analysed, as it is usually done in n o r m a l a n d especially i n a b n o r m a l times. W e c a n say n o t h i n g a b o u t this, because t h i s i s a n i n t e r n a l p r o b l e m o f theirs; we do not k n o w but can o n l y say: h o w is it possible t h a t t h i s h o s t i l e w o r k , w h i c h i n f a c t w a s m a n i f e s t e d openly, w a s not d i s c o v e r e d e a r l i e r ? T h e fact i s t h a t i t i s n o w t e n y e a r s since the last C o n gress o f t h e C P C w a s h e l d a n d t h e n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n is going by w i t h o u t being e x a m i n e d in the Congress. This is abnormal, not in order, a violation of the Constitution and, a s f a r a s w e can j u d g e f r o m outside, t h e r e has been no objective reason to prevent the h o l d i n g of the Congress. This is not simply an organizational question, but first o f a l l a n issue o f p r i n c i p l e : t h e s u p r e m e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e P a r t y does n o t t a k e decisions, a n d n o b o d y r e n d e r s account
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t o it, t h a t is, i t i s d i s r e g a r d e d . W h y ? I t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r u s t o k n o w this, b u t w e c a n s a y t h a t i t i s a g r a v e v i o l a t i o n w h i c h m a y h a v e v e r y d a n g e r o u s consequences. S o m u c h f o r t h e Congress, b u t w h a t about t h e p l e n u m of the C e n t r a l Committee? F o u r years without m e e t i n g ! H o w i s i t p o s s i b l e ? F a c t s a r e facts. T h e p r i n c i p a l f o r u m s o f the p a r t y h a v e b e e n d i s r e g a r d e d . H o w h a v e t h e p r o b l e m s been j u d g e d , i n u n i t y o r n o t ? I n a d i s t o r t e d o r correct w a y ? W e c a n s a y n o t h i n g a b o u t t h i s because w e d o n o t k n o w , b u t o n e t h i n g w e c a n say, t h a t a l l t h i s is irregular, unlawful, impermissible, condemnable and w i t h g r a v e a n d d a n g e r o u s consequences f o r t h e p a r t y a n d t h e c o u n t r y . S u c h a p r a c t i c e cannot b e f o u n d i n a n y Marxist-Leninist party. W h a t has i m p e l l e d t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s t o v i o l a t e the most elementary a n d most v i t a l rules of the p a r t y ? We can i m a g i n e a l o t of t h i n g s . O n t h e basis o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e n o r m s o f o u r P a r t y , w e w o u l d s e v e r e l y c o n d e m n these a c t i o n s a s h o s t i l e , w o u l d nip them in the b u d and w o u l d never allow them t o become e s t a b l i s h e d , because t h e e x a m p l e o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p w i t h its g o o d a n d b a d aspects, i s r e f l e c t e d r i g h t d o w n to the base. One can imagine h o w a l l that Chinese party w i t h its huge numbers, divided into committees and territories and w i t h m a n y complicated problems, has been led. L e t u s t a k e c e r t a i n q u e s t i o n s . T h e 11th P l e n u m o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of the C P C w a s h e l d after a lapse of four years. A p a r t f r o m the c o m m u n i q u e o n the s t r u g g l e against imperialism a n d Soviet revisionism a n d certain things I shall mention below, we k n o w nothing about w h a t w a s d o n e , w h a t w a s discussed, a n d w h a t w a s d e c i d e d there. B u t was the line of the p a r t y analysed, w e r e t h e good t h i n g s a n d t h e m i s t a k e s p o i n t e d out, w e r e t h o s e w h o h a d made mistakes faced w i t h their responsibility, i n d i -
PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION 103 vidually and collectively, w h a t measures w e r e t a k e n to put t h i n g s i n o r d e r , etc., etc.? T h e s e are t h e i r i n t e r n a l m a t ters a n d t h e y a r e s a y i n g n o t h i n g . T h e r e w a s n o a n n o u n c e ment, e i t h e r , a b o u t w h e n t h e i r n e x t congress i s t o b e h e l d , that m e a n s c a r r y i n g o n w i t h o u t a congress a n d t h i s i m p l i e s that m a t t e r s a r e s t i l l n o t i n o r d e r i n t e r n a l l y , h a v e n o t been s m o o t h e d o u t a n d c l e a r e d u p . P e r h a p s w e a r e m i s t a k e n , b u t t h e r e m a y also b e f a c t i o n s w i t h i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p ; i f t h i s i s so, t h e n t h e d i f f e r e n c e s m u s t s t i l l b e p r o found and, in the opinion a n d practice of our Party, it i s d i f f i c u l t t o e l i m i n a t e t h e m w i t h those m e t h o d s a n d forms used up t i l l n o w by the Chinese comrades w h o continue t o k e e p t h e f a c t i o n a l i s t e l e m e n t s , r e c o g n i z e d enemies o f t h e P a r t y , n o t o n l y i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e P a r t y , but also i n t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , a n d e v e n i n t h e P o litical B u r e a u . W h a t e m e r g e d o f f i c i a l l y f r o m t h e m e e t i n g o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e ? Y o u k n o w that, i n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e 16-point declaration on the Proletarian C u l t u r a l Revolution* emerged, t h a t L i n B i a o e m e r g e d s e c o n d i n l i n e a f t e r M a o , and a n e w r a n k i n g o f t h e m a i n C h i n e s e l e a d e r s h i p w a s p u b l i s h e d , i n w h i c h n e w c o m r a d e s c o m e t o the f o r e a n d L i u Shaoqi, C h u D e h and others go d o w n to the eighth a n d n i n t h p l a c e a n d b e l o w . F r o m this w e g a t h e r t h a t there w e r e d i s c u s s i o n s a t the m e e t i n g a n d m e a s u r e s w e r e taken, b u t w e k n o w n o t h i n g c o n c r e t e l y . One thing we do k n o w is that the Red Guards had b e e n c r e a t e d a n d h a d gone i n t o a c t i o n b e f o r e t h e p l e n u m w a s h e l d , t h a t is, t h e C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n h a d been l a u n c h e d a n d t o g e t h e r w i t h i t t h e cult o f M a o w a s raised t o t h e skies i n a s i c k e n i n g a n d a r t i f i c i a l m a n n e r , as you know. Everything was identified w i t h M a o ; the
_____________________________ * See E n v e r H o x h a , Reflections on China, v o l . 1, p. 252, Tirana 1979 (Eng. ed.).
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p a r t y , the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e w e r e h a r d l y m e n t i o n e d a n d i t e m e r g e s c l e a r l y t h a t the p a r t y exists a n d f i g h t s t h a n k s t o M a o , t h a t t h e people l i v e , f i g h t a n d b r e a t h e o n l y t h a n k s t o M a o a n d t o M a o ' s i d e a s alone. A n d t h e w o r s t of it is that M a o himself is d o i n g nothing to restrain this c u l t about h i m . C a n i t b e that t h e y h a v e r e a c h e d t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e i r p a r t y has d e c a y e d f r o m w i t h i n a n d o n l y t h e a u t h o r i t y o f M a o c a n save t h e s i t u a t i o n ? O f course, M a o ' s a u t h o r i t y i s o f i m p o r t a n c e , b u t a n y a c t i o n on the part of the Chinese comrades should be carried o u t i n t h e correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y . Naturally, this t h i n g worries us greatly and there is r e a s o n f o r u s t o w o r r y a b o u t it, because i t c o n c e r n s the fate of international c o m m u n i s m , the fate of the People's R e p u b l i c o f C h i n a , o f s o c i a l i s m a n d the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t relations between o u r two parties a n d t w o countries. The Chinese comrades are giving unprecedented i m p o r t a n c e t o t h i s r e v o l u t i o n , b u t a l o n g w i t h its i m m e n s e i m p o r t a n c e , a s y e t w e a r e n o t s e e i n g t h e clear o r i e n t a tions for this revolution. In the 16 points, if we read them carefully, we shall find some laconic orientations a n d some general allusions on political and organizational p r o b l e m s o f the p a r t y , w h i c h m u s t h a v e been d i s c u s s e d a t t h e p l e n u m a n d a r e g i v e n t o t h e masses t o b e a r i n m i n d . O n t h e basis o f t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s o r the c o m m i t t e e s m a d e i n these 1 6 p o i n t s , L i n B i a o speaks b e f o r e t h e R e d G u a r d s s a y i n g t h a t there i s a b u n c h o f c a p i t a l i s t s i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p , etc., etc. I n r e g a r d t o the question of h o w this Proletarian C u l t u r a l Revolution s h o u l d d e v e l o p , w h a t p a t h s i t s h o u l d f o l l o w , w h a t its a i m s a n d o b j e c t i v e s are, t h i s i s n o t v e r y c l e a r t o u s a t least, because t o s u m i t u p a s the d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e f o u r o l d t h i n g s a n d t h e r e p l a c e m e n t o f t h e m w i t h the f o u r n e w things c a n be n e i t h e r a c o m p l e t e n o r a c l e a r e x p l a n a t i o n , b u t e v e n i f y o u c o n c e n t r a t e o n these f o u r o l d
PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION 105 things y o u m a y c o m e t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t the C h i n e s e comrades a r e n o t t h i n k i n g q u i t e c o r r e c t l y a b o u t t h e c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f socialist c u l t u r e ; y o u h a v e the i m p r e s s i o n t h a t e v e r y t h i n g o l d i n C h i n e s e and w o r l d culture should be rejected without d i s c r i m i n a tion a n d a n e w c u l t u r e , t h e c u l t u r e t h e y c a l l p r o l e t a r i a n , s h o u l d b e created. H e n c e , t h e C a r t e s i a n t h e o r y o f w i p i n g off the past i n o r d e r t o b u i l d t h e n e w c u l t u r e , a n d t h i s w i l l b e a c h i e v e d o n l y t h r o u g h t h e ideas o f M a o , b y reading his w o r k s and quotations w h i c h have n o w replaced everything in China. Let me read you a quotation f r o m Lenin, and I recommend y o u to restudy his book O n C u l t u r e and A r t p u b l i s h e d i n A l b a n i a n t e n y e a r s ago. O n e s h o u l d c o n tinually delve i n t o the w o r k s of L e n i n a n d Stalin, and study h o w t h e y d e a l t w i t h t h i s o r t h a t p r o b l e m . H e r e i s w h a t L e n i n s a y s a b o u t socialist c u l t u r e :
We shall be unable to solve this problem unless we clearly realize that only a precise knowledge and transformation of the culture created by the entire development of mankind will enable us to create a proletarian culture. The latter is not clutched out of thin air; it is not an invention of those who call themselves experts in proletarian culture. That is all nonsense. Proletarian culture must be the logical development of the store of knowledge mankind has accumulated under the yoke of capitalist, landowner and bureaucratic society. All these roads have been leading and will continue to lead up to proletarian culture, in the same way as political economy, as reshaped by Marx, has shown us what human society must arrive at, shown us the passage to the
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class struggle, revolution.
to
the
beginning
of
the
proletarian
When we so often hear representatives of the youth as well as certain advocates of a new system of education, attacking the old schools, claiming that they used the system of cramming, we say to them that we must take what was good in the old schools. We must not borrow the system of encumbering young people's minds with an immense amount of knowledge, nine-tenths of which was useless and one-tenth distorted. This, however, does not mean that we can restrict ourselves to communist conclusions and learn only communist slogans. You will not create communism that way. You can become a communist only when you enrich your mind with a knowledge of all the treasures of mankind. We have no need of cramming, but we do need to develop and perfect the mind of every student with a knowledge of fundamental facts. Communism will become an empty word, a mere signboard, and a communist a mere boaster, if all the knowledge he has acquired is not digested in his mind. You should not merely assimilate this knowledge, but assimilate it critically, so as not to cram your mind with useless lumber, but enrich it with all those facts that are indispensable to the well-educated man of today. If a communist took it into his head to boast about his communism because of the cutand-dry conclusions he had acquired, without putting in a great deal of serious and hard work and without understanding facts he should examine critically, he would be a deplorable communist indeed. Such superficiality would be decidedly fatal. If 1 know that I know little, I shall strive to learn more;
PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION 107
but if a man says that he is a communist and that he need not know anything thoroughly, he will never become anything like a communist.*
I n the s a m e w o r k L e n i n says a l s o : Marxism has won its historic significance as the ideology of the revolutionary proletariat, because, far from rejecting the most valuable achievements of the bourgeois epoch, it has, on the contrary, assimilated and refashioned everything of value in more than two thousand years of the development of human thought and culture. Only further work on this basis and in this direction, inspired by the practical experience of the proletarian dictatorship as the final stage in the struggle against every form of exploitation, can be considered the development of a genuine proletarian culture.** T h i s i s clear, w h i l e t h e C h i n e s e course, a s i t i s p u b l i cized, i s n o t v e r y clear, a t least i t i s n o t c l e a r t o us. W h a t does this C u l t u r a l Revolution, as it is being carr i e d out i n C h i n a , consist o f ? T h e R e d G u a r d s are c h a n g i n g t h e n a m e s o f t h e streets a n d r e s t a u r a n t s , because t h e y h a d a r e a c t i o n a r y content, w r i t i n g d a z i b a o s a n d c r i t i c i z i n g a n y o n e j u s t a s t h e y please, r a n s a c k i n g houses a n d p u t t i n g t h e d u n c e ' s cap o n k u l a k s a n d r e a c t i o n a r i e s a n d p a r a d i n g t h e m t h r o u g h t h e streets a n d s q u a r e s ; i t i s s a i d t h e y a r e w r e c k i n g the g r a v e s o f f o r e i g n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d , w h a t i s m o r e dangerous, t h e y are a t t a c k i n g p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s , b u r n i n g l i b r a r i e s a n d p a i n t i n g s , d e s t r o y i n g o l d m o n u m e n t s , etc. It is d i f f i c u l t for us to call this revolution, as the Red Guards are c a r r y i n g it out, a Proletarian C u l t u r a l
_______________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 31, pp. 319-320 (Alb. ed.) ** Ibidem, p. 356.
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R e v o l u t i o n . T h e signs c o u l d b e r e m o v e d b y the m u n i c i p a l o r g a n s , the e n e m i e s c o u l d a n d s h o u l d b e c a p t u r e d b y t h e o r g a n s o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o n t h e basis o f t h e l a w , a n d i f t h e e n e m i e s h a v e w o r m e d t h e i r w a y i n t o the p a r t y c o m mittees, let t h e m b e p u r g e d t h r o u g h p a r t y c h a n n e l s . O r i n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , a r m t h e w o r k i n g class a n d a t t a c k the committees, but not w i t h c h i l d r e n . ( 4 ) W h y are such actions taken in this sensational w a y a n d w i t h m o r e of a p o l i t i c a l t h a n a c u l t u r a l c h a r a c t e r ? A n d t o a l l these people w h o h a v e b e e n set i n m o t i o n t o c a r r y o u t t h i s w o r k t h e schools h a v e b e e n s h u t a n d t h e y w i l l n o t a t t e n d school o r a c q u i r e c u l t u r e f o r a year, a l i t t l e r e d b o o k w i t h M a o ' s q u o t a t i o n s has b e e n p u t i n t h e i r h a n d s , a r e d b a n d t i e d around their arms and they have been given permission to shout. W h o a r e the p i o n e e r s o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l R e v olution? T h e students and school pupils, a n d the Chinese c o m m u n i q u e s s a y t h a t t h e y are b a c k e d u p b y t h e w o r k e r s , s o l d i e r s a n d peasants. I t seems t o u s t h a t t h i s m a y b e so, b u t it is n o t a correct, p r i n c i p l e d course. It is d a n g e r o u s , i t i s n o t serious. T h e socialist o r p r o l e t a r i a n c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n , a s the C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s w a n t t o c a l l it, c o u l d not be carried out in a genuine M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y w i t h these p r i n c i p l e s a n d these f o r m s . T h e socialist c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n i s a v e r y serious, v e r y c o m p l i c a t e d p r o b l e m , a n d the C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s k n o w (or s a y t h e y do) t h a t i t m u s t b e g u i d e d w i t h t h e greatest care by the party, w h i c h must be vigilant at every moment to c h e c k u p o n t h e l i n e , t o v e r i f y its i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t o c o r r e c t t h e m i s t a k e s , t o g u a r d against t h e l e f t i s t a n d r i g h t i s t deviations w h i c h are so prone to occur in such a broad a n d d e l i c a t e sector. O n e has the impression that having discovered a
___________________________ 4 Reference is to the red guards w h o w e r e school p u p i l s .
PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION 109 grave hostile current in literature (and w h y d i d they not see this a n d t a k e m e a s u r e s e a r l i e r ? ) , h a v i n g d i s c o v e r e d t h a t cadres i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y a n d state a r e o n t h e c a p i t a l i s t r o a d (and w h y d i d t h e y n o t see this a n d take measures earlier?), h a v i n g w o k e n up f r o m their heavy slumber to realize that capitalists a n d k u l a k s have g r o w n f a t a n d s t r o n g t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t i t seems t h e y are s t i l l i n p o w e r ( w h y w a s this a l l o w e d ? ) , t h e C h i n e s e comrades m a y thus have a r r i v e d at the conclusion that a l l these e v i l s w i l l b e s o l v e d b y t h e P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l Revolution, the R e d G u a r d s comprised of the youth, and t h e b u i l d - u p o f the c u l t o f M a o t o a f a n t a s t i c l e v e l . T h i s i s a m a t t e r w h i c h i s not v e r y c l e a r t o us. I n a p p e a r a n c e i t i s b a s e d o n t h e correct s l o g a n o f t h e l i n e o f the masses, b u t a l i n e of t h e masses w h i c h goes b e y o n d the n o r m s a n d p r i n c i p l e s , w h i c h d i s r e g a r d s t h e p a r t y a n d its justice a n d is based on the cult of the i n d i v i d u a l , on the exaltation of non-proletarian youth w h o i m p r o p e r l y e x p l o i t a l l t h e successes a c h i e v e d b y t h e p a r t y a n d the people in a l l fields. S u c h a course m a y lead to a n a r c h y , m a y w e a k e n the c o n f i d e n c e o f t h e masses i n t h e line of the party. We think that this C u l t u r a l Revolution m a y be a rectification of the entire l i n e of the party, but a r e c t i f i c a t i o n u n d e r t a k e n o u t s i d e the L e n i n i s t n o r m s o f t h e p a r t y a n d the l a w s o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h r o u g h the cult of M a o and h u r l i n g into action that stratum of the p e o p l e w h i c h i s t h e m o s t e a s i l y c a r r i e d a w a y , t h e noisiest, t h e m o s t d e l i c a t e a n d m o s t m o b i l e as a s t r a t u m , lacking m a t u r i t y a n d experience of the difficulties of life. T h i s m a y h a v e g r a v e consequences, e i t h e r i m m e d i a t e l y o r l a t e r , i f t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s d o n o t correct t h e s e m i s t a k e s t h a t c a n b e seen. T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n after the death of S t a l i n taught us m a n y things.
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As y o u w i l l understand, m a n y matters w h i c h I m e n tioned above and of w h i c h I t r i e d to m a k e an evaluation, w h i c h m a y b e m i s t a k e n since w e d o n o t h a v e t h e facts, are internal matters of C h i n a , of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a , a n d we do not have the right to interfere or t o e x p r e s s o u r o p i n i o n , i f i t i s n o t sought. H o w e v e r , i t is i m p e r m i s s i b l e for us not to have an i n t e r n a l o p i n i o n o f o u r o w n f o r g e n e r a l o r i e n t a t i o n , e v e n a p r o v i s i o n a l one, w i t h s o m e p o i n t s u n c l e a r a n d p o s s i b l y some i n c o r r e c t conclusions. I t i s l i k e w i s e i m p e r m i s s i b l e f o r u s t o b e l a c k ing in prudence a n d caution on a question of such m a j o r i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e cause o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . O u r great a i m a n d c o n c e r n i s a n d m u s t b e t o a v o i d f a l l i n g i n t o e r r o r s o u r s e l v e s , t o t r y t o see m o r e c l e a r l y i n t o this q u e s t i o n , a n d w h e n w e h a v e the o p p o r t u n i t y , t o exchange opinions w i t h the Chinese comrades in a c o m radely w a y to the great general interest. H o w e v e r , e v e r y t h i n g t h a t o c c u r s i n C h i n a i s not j u s t an internal affair of C h i n a a n d the Communist P a r t y of C h i n a . W h i l e being their affair, at the same time it has an i n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d internationalist character, because C h i n a i s a b i g c o u n t r y , o f great w e i g h t i n t h e international communist movement. (5) T h e Chinese leaders a n d the Chinese propaganda say t h a t t h e C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n has s h a k e n the e n t i r e w o r l d . T h i s is a fact. On October 1, Z h o u E n l a i said m o r e or less: The w o r l d has been split into t w o over the question of the C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n , i n t o enemies w h o f i g h t u s a n d f r i e n d s w h o are w i t h u s a n d d e f e n d us. It is precisely this international and internationalist aspect o f t h e C h i n e s e P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n t h a t
__________________________________ 5 T h i s is h o w it was considered at that time.
PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION 111 I w a n t to touch on now, after touching on the national aspect. Today, the Chinese comrades a n d the Chinese p r o p a g a n d a pose t h e p r o b l e m i n t h i s w a y : T h e p r e s e n t e p o c h i s t h e e p o c h o f t h e ideas o f M a o Z e d o n g . M a o Z e d o n g i s t h e greatest M a r x i s t o f o u r t i m e . M a o Z e d o n g i s t h e h e i r t o a l l t h e classics o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t science, a n d w o r l d science, h e i s t h e sun, etc., etc. H e n c e , M a o Z e d o n g ' s ideas s h o u l d l e a d t h e e n t i r e w o r l d , and, in regard to the Proletarian C u l t u r a l R e v o l u tion, it is being developed and led by M a o Zedong personally. T h i s is something unprecedented in the history of the w o r l d . The posing of this great problem by the Chinese comrades in this way is not correct, not Marxist and far from unduly modest. B u t w h a t i s e v e n m o r e g r a v e a n d d a n g e r o u s i s t h e fact t h a t those s a m e f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s t h e y use w i t h i n t h e i r o w n c o u n t r y , t h e y w a n t t o use a b r o a d too, t h a t is, t h e y w a n t o t h e r s t o accept a n d a p p l y this incorrect and erroneous posing of the problem in s u c h d o g m a t i c f o r m s , w i t h o u t d i s c u s s i o n , because o t h e r w i s e , f o r t h e C h i n e s e comrades, y o u g o o v e r t o t h e o t h e r s i d e of t h e b a r r i c a d e , to t h e e n e m i e s . N o w some orientations for us: a ) I w a n t t o stress c e r t a i n t h i n g s w h i c h t h e P a r t y must keep w e l l i n m i n d , a n d w h i c h every communist should w o r k out in his o w n head a n d not wait for d i r e c t i v e s f r o m a b o v e about e v e r y s t a n d . T h e s t a n d s o f the P a r t y , t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d the cadres m u s t b e g u i d e d b y the d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e Congress, t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t . T h e s e t h i n g s are c l e a r l y e x p r e s s e d i n d o c u m e n t s a n d o u r d a i l y press, t h e r e fore they should be assimilated and we should be guided by them. b) T h e line of our Party on the struggle against
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i m p e r i a l i s m a n d m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i s correct, t h e r e f o r e w e m u s t p r o c e e d r e s o l u t e l y o n this course, because i t i s decisive. c) F o r o u r part, the economic a n d friendly relations w i t h C h i n a w i l l be m a i n t a i n e d and developed only on the correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r o a d . d ) T h e c u l t o f M a o o r a n y b o d y else m u s t b e c o m b a t e d and we should proceed in everything, just as we have done, o n the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o u r s e . N o t t h e slightest concession o r o p p o r t u n i s m i n this. W i t h the correct s t a n d s of o u r Party, the Chinese comrades ought to be clear on this question. E v e n if they are not clear or take it badly, w e cannot d o o t h e r w i s e , because this i s a n issue o f p r i n c i p l e . W e respect M a o i n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y a n d w i t h i n the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t n o r m s . I n r e g a r d t o M a o w e s h a l l use o n l y the o f f i c i a l d e s c r i p t i o n s o f o u r P a r t y . e ) A s y o u h a v e n o t i c e d , o u r press does n o t s p e a k a b o u t the C h i n e s e C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n i n t h e s a m e t e r m s a n d w a y s a s C h i n e s e p r o p a g a n d a does, a n d w e h a v e avoided doing so in a comradely w a y and without agg r a v a t i n g things, f o r the reasons I h a v e m e n t i o n e d above. P r o b a b l y , i n fact u n d o u b t e d l y , t h i s h a s n o t p l e a s e d the C h i n e s e comrades, b u t w e c a n n o t act o t h e r w i s e u n t i l e v e r y t h i n g becomes c l e a r e r t o u s a n d w e c o n s i d e r i t correct. f ) O u r p r o p a g a n d a a b o u t C h i n a , its successes i n a l l fields, i n c l u d i n g c u l t u r e a n d the w o r k s o f M a o , etc., s h o u l d b e c a r r i e d out w i t h i n correct n o r m s , a s h i t h e r t o , a n d a n y u n d u e d e m a n d o n the p a r t o f t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s should be tactfully avoided. Concessions a n d sectarianism s h o u l d b e a v o i d e d , b e c a u s e n e i t h e r t h e o n e n o r the o t h e r s e r v e s o u r g r e a t cause w h i c h i t i s o u r d u t y t o s t r e n g t h e n o n the correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r o a d f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f communism. I think that in defining o u r line on m a n y questions
PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION 113 i n t h e r e p o r t w e s h a l l d e l i v e r a t t h e C o n g r e s s w e also i n d i r e c t l y d e f i n e some o f these stands t o w a r d s the v i e w s o f t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s w h o , s o t o say, o u g h t t o t a k e t h e m a s o u r objections, e s p e c i a l l y t o t h e c u l t a n d t o t h e C u l t u r a l Revolution, as we understand them. A delegation o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a w i l l come t o o u r C o n gress a n d w e h a v e hopes t h a t w e s h a l l t r y t o c l e a r u p these m a t t e r s as c o m r a d e s s h o u l d . That w a s all I h a d to say. T h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e must advise us whether we v i e w the problems correctly. I t h i n k a l l these m a t t e r s s h o u l d b e k e p t w i t h i n t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , because t h e y a r e v e r y d e l i c a t e . The entire Plenum of the Central Committee expressed agreement with the matters presented by Comrade Enver Hoxha.
Works, vol. 33
ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA
Report to the 5th Congress of the PLA

November 1, 1966
THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION AND THE FOREIGN POLICY OF SOCIALIST A L B A N I A Comrades, T h e 5th Congress of the P a r t y is being h e l d in an i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n f a v o u r a b l e t o t h e cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d the peoples. T h e f u n d a m e n t a l f e a t u r e s o f this epoch are becoming more pronounced and emerging more clearly every day, m a r k i n g it as the epoch of the transition f r o m capitalism to socialism, of the struggle of two o p p o s i n g social systems, t h e e p o c h o f p r o l e t a r i a n a n d n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n r e v o l u t i o n s , o f the collapse o f i m p e r i a l i s m a n d l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e c o l o n i a l s y s t e m , the e p o c h o f the t r i u m p h of socialism and communism on a w o r l d scale. T h e b a l a n c e o f forces i n t h e w o r l d h a s c h a n g e d a n d i s c h a n g i n g ceaselessly i n f a v o u r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r c e s w h i c h are f i g h t i n g f o r n a t i o n a l a n d s o c i a l l i b e r a t i o n ,
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f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a n e w w o r l d w i t h o u t c a p i t a l i s m a n d colonialism, against imperialism, reaction and m o d e r n revisionism, w h i c h are in decay and disintegration, eroded by m a n y internal and external contradictions, encircled b y t h e peoples a n d e x p o s e d t o t h e c o n t i n u o u s b l o w s o f their struggle w h i c h is m o u n t i n g higher and higher. N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e great changes t h a t h a v e o c c u r r e d a n d a r e s t i l l t a k i n g p l a c e i n t h e w o r l d a s a r e s u l t o f the p e o p l e s ' s t r u g g l e h a v e c h a n g e d n e i t h e r t h e c h a r a c t e r o f the fundamental contradictions of our time, w h i c h are growi n g d e e p e r a n d m o r e a n d m o r e acute, n o r t h e a g g r e s s i v e a n d reactionary nature of imperialism, which, far from renouncing its anti-popular, counter-revolutionary and w a r - m o n g e r i n g p o l i c y , i s s t r i v i n g w i t h a l l its forces a n d means to safeguard and consolidate the positions of react i o n e v e r y w h e r e i n the w o r l d a n d t o s t r a n g l e the r e v o l u tion a n d socialism. T o d a y t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a s t a n d s a t the h e a d o f a l l t h e forces o f i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e a c t i o n . A s i s r i g h t l y stressed i n the 1960 D e c l a r a t i o n o f the C o m m u n i s t a n d W o r k e r s ' P a r t i e s , A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i s the m a i n f o r c e o f a g g r e s s i o n a n d w a r , t h e greatest i n t e r n a t i o n a l e x p l o i t e r , the m a i n c i t a d e l o f c o l o n i a l i s m a n d w o r l d r e a c t i o n , the i n t e r n a t i o n a l g e n d a r m e , the e n e m y o f a l l t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d . I t h a s t a k e n o v e r t h e c r a z y H i t l e r i t e d r e a m o f p u t t i n g t h e w h o l e w o r l d u n d e r its heel, a d r e a m w h i c h led G e r m a n nazism to its doom, it i s s t r i v i n g b y a l l i t s m e a n s t o e n s l a v e t h e peoples o f A s i a , A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a a n d t o suppress t h e r e v olutionary and national liberation movement, it is striving to subjugate the whole capitalist w o r l d economically, politically a n d m i l i t a r i l y , w h i l e always h a v i n g the destruct i o n o f s o c i a l i s m a s its m a i n o b j e c t i v e . In order to realize this counter-revolutionary global s t r a t e g y , A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i s d o g g e d l y p u r s u i n g the
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p o l i c y o f aggression, i s p r e s s i n g f o r w a r d a t a r a p i d pace i n t h e a r m a m e n t s race, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e f i e l d o f n u c l e a r weapons, a n d i s f e v e r i s h l y p r e p a r i n g f o r a n e w w o r l d w a r . I t i s a r m i n g a n d i n c i t i n g the W e s t - G e r m a n r e v a n c h ists a n d t h e J a p a n e s e m i l i t a r i s t s , t r y i n g t o s a f e g u a r d a n d consolidate t h e a g g r e s s i v e i m p e r i a l i s t m i l i t a r y a l l i a n ces, b r a n d i s h i n g w e a p o n s , p e r p e t r a t i n g aggressions a n d unleashing wars. L i k e w i s e , it is p u r s u i n g a neo-colonialist policy of penetration and economic subjugation on an e x t e n s i v e scale, i n o r d e r t o p u t t h e A m e r i c a n y o k e a r o u n d t h e n e c k s o f t h e peoples o f v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s a n d t o u n d e r m i n e their national freedom a n d independence, w i t h the a i m of creating a n e w empire of unprecedented p r o p o r t i o n s . I t b a c k s a n d s u p p o r t s t h e r e a c t i o n a r y fascist a n d r a c i s t r e g i m e s a n d f o r c e s a n d o r g a n i z e s coups a n d p l o t s t o b r i n g i t s agents t o p o w e r e v e r y w h e r e . A l l t h i s is accompanied w i t h widespread ideological subversion, t o d e c e i v e a n d c o n f u s e people, t o p r e s e n t b l a c k f o r w h i t e and vice versa, to implant fear and defeatism, to alienate the peoples f r o m t h e s t r u g g l e a n d the r e v o l u t i o n , t o s l a n d e r s o c i a l i s m a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , a n d t o d i s g u i s e the A m e r i c a n plans for w o r l d domination. A great, ferocious, d a n g e r o u s c o m m o n e n e m y A m e r i c a n imperialism, confronts the peoples of the w h o l e w o r l d . T o d a y t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t this e n e m y i s t h e s u p r e m e i n t e r n a t i o n a l d u t y o f a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces o f o u r t i m e . Peace, f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n d e n c e , s o c i a l i s m c a n not be achieved and defended w i t h o u t a determined s t r u g g l e against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , w i t h o u t d e s t r o y i n g i t s r a p a c i o u s p l a n s a n d designs. T h e attitude towards A m e r i c a n imperialism is a t o u c h s t o n e f o r a l l t h e p o l i t i c a l forces o f t h e w o r l d . T h e question m u s t be put l i k e this: should A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m b e r e s i s t e d a n d c o m b a t e d , o r s h o u l d t h e peoples capitulate to it and unite w i t h it; can it be vanquished
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a n d v i c t o r y b e a c h i e v e d o v e r it, o r s h o u l d t h e peoples f a l l on their knees a n d s u b m i t to it? These are questions o f p r i n c i p l e , t h e y a r e a d e m a r c a t i o n l i n e w h i c h separates the revolutionaries f r o m the opponents of the revolution, the anti-imperialists f r o m the lackeys of imperialism, courageous people f r o m cowards a n d capitulators, M a r x ist-Leninists f r o m revisionists. T h e peoples a n d a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s h a v e d e f i n e d t h e i r s t a n d . T h e y are n o t d e c e i v e d b y the i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i sionist propaganda a n d are not i n t i m i d a t e d by threats and blackmail. They have risen boldly and confident of victory in a decisive struggle against the o l d reactionary forces, n o m a t t e r h o w s t r o n g a n d i n v i n c i b l e t h e y m a y seem, and h a v e l a i d bare their rottenness and weakness. T h e y d a r e t o rise i n r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e t o c o n q u e r A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h i s n o t o n l y t h e strongest i m p e r i a l i s m , b u t also the w e a k e s t i m p e r i a l i s m ever, c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e great r e v o l u t i o n a r y t i d e w h i c h h a s r i s e n against i t i n the w o r l d today. A n g e r e d a n d r e v o l t e d b y the e n s l a v i n g p o l i c y o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , the peoples of various countries o f a l l c o n t i n e n t s a r e r i s i n g , one a f t e r another, a n d are f i g h t i n g it, e n c i r c l i n g i t i n a r i n g o f f i r e , d e a l i n g d e a t h b l o w s f r o m a l l sides a t t h i s m o n s t e r w i t h feet o f clay. T h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e peoples a n d i m p e r i a l i s m has b e c o m e e x t r e m e l y d e e p a n d acute, the w a v e s o f t h e a n t i - A m e r i c a n s t o r m are m o u n t i n g h i g h e r a n d h i g h e r , i n f l i c t i n g t o A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m successive d e f e a t s w h i c h are g r o w i n g h e a v i e r a n d h e a v i e r . T h e h e r o i c s t r u g g l e o f the r e v o l u t i o n a r y p e o p l e s o f V i e t n a m a n d the C o n go, t h e D o m i n i c a n R e p u b l i c , L a o s , A n g o l a a n d V e n e z u e l a , and other countries is revealing ever more clearly the weakness of imperialism in general, and of A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m in particular, as w e l l as the courage a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e peoples t o f i g h t a n d w i n . W i t h t h e i r
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i r o n resistance, w i t h t h e i r u n p a r a l l e l e d h e r o i s m a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y courage, t h e y h a v e s h o w n a n d p r o v e d t h a t i t is not m o d e r n weapons, but the r e v o l u t i o n a r y consciousness o f t h e p e o p l e w h i c h , i n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , d e c i d e s t h e o u t c o m e o f the w a r , t h a t m o d e r n w e a p o n s associated w i t h the d e g e n e r a t e m o r a l e o f a m e r c e n a r y a r m y , w h i c h i s f i g h t i n g t o oppress a n d p l u n d e r t h e peoples, a r e i m p o t e n t i n face o f t h e f o r c e o f t h e p e o p l e ' s w a r o f t h e masses, i n s p i r e d b y t h e g r e a t i d e a l s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d o f the l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e h o m e l a n d . G r e a t L e n i n ' s p r e d i c t i o n i s b e i n g c o n f i r m e d . H a l f a c e n t u r y ago, i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e l i b e r a t i o n w a r o f t h e e n s l a v e d peoples, h e s a i d : . . . n o matter how weak these peoples may be, no matter how invincible the power of European oppressors may seem, with all the miracles of military equipment and military art they use in their war, still if the revolutionary fight waged by the oppressed peoples is capable of really arousing millions of workers and the exploited, it contains such potential, such miracles, that the liberation of the eastern peoples has become fully attainable in practice today...* I n its f r e n z i e d a t t e m p t s t o e s t a b l i s h w o r l d d o m i n a t i o n , A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , l i k e a w i l d beast, has e x t e n d e d its c l a w s o v e r t h e w h o l e w o r l d . T h i s i s b y n o m e a n s a s i g n o f its s t r e n g t h , b u t o f its w e a k n e s s , because b y a c t i n g i n t h i s w a y , i t has d i s s i p a t e d its forces o v e r a n i m m e n s e territory, over w h o l e continents, f r o m E u r o p e to South A m e r i c a a n d f r o m A f r i c a t o t h e F a r E a s t . T h e s e forces a r e i n s u f f i c i e n t t o cope w i t h a n d suppress t h e l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e o f a l l the peoples, a n d A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i s
________________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 30, p. 159 (Alb. ed.).
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u n a b l e t o c o n c e n t r a t e t h e m t o t h e necessary e x t e n t i n space a n d t i m e . F u r t h e r m o r e , b y i n t e r v e n i n g a n d p e r p e t r a t i n g aggressions i n v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o r l d , A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has c r e a t e d p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e peoples e v e r y w h e r e t o w a g e a n e f f e c t i v e w a r against i t and to deal it direct blows, separately or collectively, uniting their struggle against A m e r i c a n imperialism in a single, p o w e r f u l , i n t e r n a t i o n a l c u r r e n t . E v e n the n u m e r o u s A m e r i c a n m i l i t a r y bases e s t a b l i s h e d i n a l l c o r n e r s o f the w o r l d a s w e a p o n s o f n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m a n d a s b r i d g e heads f o r a g g r e s s i o n against t h e socialist c o u n t r i e s h a v e turned f r o m a means of domination and strength into a means of the political and m i l i t a r y w e a k e n i n g of the U n i t e d States, because t h e y h a v e b e c o m e suspect a n d i n t o l e r a b l e , n o t o n l y f o r t h e peoples, b u t e v e n f o r t h e bourgeois g o v e r n m e n t s o f t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e these bases h a v e b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d , because these bases are e n c i r c l e d b y t h e peoples a n d w i l l h a r d l y s e r v e t h e A m e r i c a n i m perialists at the required moment. E v e n the arms w i t h w h i c h t h e y h a v e s u p p l i e d a n d are s u p p l y i n g t h e i r a l l i e s t o s u p p r e s s t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples a n d t o c o m m i t aggressions a n d p r o v o c a t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e socialist a n d other countries w h i c h pursue an anti-imperialist policy, are a t w o - e d g e d s w o r d : t h e y i n c i t e a n d d e e p e n the c o n t r a dictions a n d c o n f l i c t s a m o n g t h e p a r t n e r s o f t h e U n i t e d States, s e r v e a s d i r e c t p r e s s u r e against t h e A m e r i c a n h e g e m o n y a n d some d a y t h e y m a y e v e n b e t u r n e d against the U n i t e d States itself. The efforts for w o r l d domination a n d the operation of the l a w of uneven development of the capitalist c o u n tries h a v e l a n d e d A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i n d e e p a n d i r r e c o n c i l a b l e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h its a l l i e s t h e o t h e r imperialist powers, w i t h all the capitalist w o r l d in general. N o t o n l y has t h i s caused i r r e p a r a b l e breaches i n t h e w o r l d c a p i t a l i s t c a m p , but, i n p a r t i c u l a r , i t has w e a k e n e d a n d
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u n d e r m i n e d the economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y potential of American imperialism. N o w the U n i t e d States has lost its a b s o l u t e h e g e m o n y over the other capitalist countries a n d is unable to reo r g a n i z e t h e c a p i t a l i s t forces u n d e r its c o n t r o l . F a r f r o m b l i n d l y obeying the A m e r i c a n dictate, the other imperialist p o w e r s h a v e b e c o m e serious c o m p e t i t o r s o f t h e U n i t e d States i n t h e w o r l d m a r k e t a n d a r e s t r i v i n g t o r i d t h e m selves c o m p l e t e l y o f its e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y domination. Differences in all fields are disintegrating a n d w r e c k i n g t h e aggressive m i l i t a r y blocs o f N A T O and S E A T O w h i c h the A m e r i c a n imperialists established w i t h s o m u c h z e a l a n d h o p e a s bases f o r a t t a c k i n g t h e socialist c a m p . T h e A m e r i c a n p o l i c y o f i n t e r v e n t i o n a n d aggression against t h e peoples does n o t f i n d e f f e c t i v e s u p p o r t a m o n g t h e allies o f t h e U n i t e d States, w h o d o n o t w a n t t o get t h e i r f i n g e r s b u r n t p u l l i n g t h e chestnuts out of the fire for A m e r i c a n imperialism. This completely c o n f i r m s the b r i l l i a n t p r e d i c t i o n S t a l i n m a d e i n 1952, w h e n he wrote:
Outwardly everything would seem to be 'going well': the USA has put Western Europe, Japan and other capitalist countries on rations; Germany (Western), Britain, France, Italy and Japan have fallen into the clutches of the USA and are meekly obeying its commands. But it would be mistaken to think that things can continue to 'go well' for 'all eternity', that these countries will tolerate the domination and oppression of the United States endlessly, that they will not endeavour to tear loose from American bondage and take the path of independent development... To think that these countries will not try to get on their feet again, will not try to smash the
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US 'regimen', and development, is to
force their believe in
way to miracles.*
independent
C a p i t a l i s t F r a n c e has s e r i o u s l y c h a l l e n g e d t h e A m e r i c a n h e g e m o n y i n E u r o p e . I t has e m b a r k e d u p o n t h e course of open opposition to A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . R e v i v e d big F r e n c h capital cannot endure the A m e r i c a n p r e s s u r e a n d d i c t a t e , i t feels s t r o n g e n o u g h t o resist A m e r i c a n domination. It exploited the general w e a k e n i n g of the A m e r i c a n imperialist positions resulting f r o m the peoples' w a r t o t h r o w off t h e fetters o f t h e U n i t e d States, T h e A m e r i c a n s are e n c o u n t e r i n g F r a n c e ' s o p p o s i t i o n e v e r y w h e r e . W i t h its s t a n d F r a n c e has g r e a t l y s h a k e n a n d weakened the m i l i t a r y and political power of N A T O , in w h i c h its m e m b e r s h i p i s n o w o n l y a f o r m a l i t y . I n o r d e r t o m e e t t h e p r e s s u r e s a n d t h r e a t s o f t h e U n i t e d States a n d , at t h e same t i m e , to f u r t h e r its o w n designs as a b i g c a p i t a l i s t p o w e r , F r a n c e i s s t r i v i n g t o r e v i v e the o l d a l liances w i t h t h e c o u n t r i e s o f E a s t e r n , C e n t r a l a n d S o u t h e a s t e r n E u r o p e , a s w e l l a s t o l i n k itself w i t h B o n n G e r many. T h e contradictions between the U S A and British, W e s t - G e r m a n , J a p a n e s e i m p e r i a l i s t s , etc., also are b e c o m i n g deeper a n d m o r e acute. T h e y a r e t r y i n g t o e x p l o i t their collaboration w i t h A m e r i c a n imperialism, in order to achieve their o w n imperialist, revanchist, or e x p a n sionist a i m s . F o r e x a m p l e , W e s t G e r m a n y i s t r y i n g t o get possession o f a t o m i c w e a p o n s , t o g o b b l e u p t h e G e r m a n Democratic Republic, to re-establish the old borders of the H i t l e r i t e T h i r d R e i c h a n d to prepare for a new r e v a n c h i s t w a r , t h u s p r e s e n t i n g a serious d a n g e r to t h e peace a n d s e c u r i t y o f t h e peoples i n E u r o p e a n d t h e whole world.
_______________________________ * J. V. S t a l i n , Economic P r o b l e m s of USSR, 2nd A l b . ed., pp. 39-40, T i r a n a 1968. Socialism in the
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T h e existence o f deep c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n the i m p e r i a l i s t c a m p is, u n d o u b t e d l y , i n f a v o u r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces. T h e t a s k o f r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s is, w i t h o u t c h e r i s h i n g a n y i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e r e a l designs o f i m p e r i a l i s t w o l v e s , w h o e v e r t h e y m a y be, t o c o r r e c t l y e x p l o i t these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n o r d e r t o f u r t h e r w e a k e n the e n e m y c a m p , t o isolate a n d s t r i k e h e a v i l y a t t h e chief e n e m y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . The savagely aggressive a n d w a r m o n g e r i n g activity and the oppression and plunder of A m e r i c a n imperialism, o n t h e o n e h a n d , a n d its i n c u r a b l e w e a k n e s s e s a n d c o n t r a dictions, o n t h e o t h e r , s h o w t h a t t h e peoples c a n a n d should fight imperialism, headed by A m e r i c a n imperialism, mercilessly, should not be intimidated by imperialism a n d its b l a c k m a i l , b u t s h o u l d d a r e t o d e f y its m i g h t and rise in struggle w i t h unshakeable confidence in the f i n a l v i c t o r y o f t h e i r j u s t cause. W i t h t h e r e s o l u t e c o m m o n f i g h t o f t h e peoples o f the w h o l e w o r l d , o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces o f o u r t i m e , s o c i a l i s m , t h e n a t i o n a l liberation movement and the international communist a n d w o r k e r s ' m o v e m e n t , the a g g r e s s i v e a n d e n s l a v i n g plans of imperialism, headed by the U S A , can be d e feated, a n e w w o r l d w a r c a n b e a v o i d e d , t h e r e v o l u t i o n c a n b e c a r r i e d f o r w a r d a n d t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the peoples and the victory of socialism and c o m m u n i s m can be achieved. T h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m f o r t h e t r i u m p h o f the just cause o f the peoples a n d t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y process d o n o t a n d cannot f o r g e s t r a i g h t ahead, a l w a y s on the offensive, but they blaze the t r a i l of history w i t h zigzags, w i t h u p s a n d d o w n s , w i t h attacks a n d retreats, w i t h v i c t o r i e s a n d t e m p o r a r y set-backs. T h i s i s a n o b j e c t i v e l a w o f s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t . H e w h o d e n i e s t h i s a n d accepts the r e v o l u t i o n o n l y p r o v i d e d i t c a n b e c a r r i e d out w i t h o u t d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d reverses, a s L e n i n says,
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... is not a revolutionary, he has not freed himself from the pedantry of the bourgeois intelligentsia and, in fact, is bound to become ever more deeply involved in the camp of the counter-revolutionary bourgeoisie...*
T h e i m p e r i a l i s t p r o p a g a n d a o p e n l y a n d the r e v i s i o n i s t propaganda indirectly are s t r i v i n g to present the temporary victories of imperialism and reaction and the temporary retreats of the revolution in certain countries as defeats o f t h e p e o p l e s ' a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t s t r u g g l e a n d setbacks of the revolution. T h e imperialists and revisionists are r u b b i n g t h e i r h a n d s i n glee a n d t r y i n g t o u n d e r m i n e t h e p e o p l e s ' c o n f i d e n c e i n v i c t o r y , t o confuse a n d c o r r u p t t h e m . B u t t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e peoples a r e r e j o i c i n g i n v a i n : n e w , e v e n h e a v i e r defeats a r e i n store f o r t h e m . T h e general tendency of historical development is a l w a y s t h a t the r e v o l u t i o n a d v a n c e s u n i n t e r r u p t e d l y , o v e r c o m i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d obstacles, because i t r e p r e s e n t s the new a n d the n e w is invincible, w h i l e the crisis of i m p e r i a l i s m a n d all the reactionary forces is becoming deeper a n d deeper a n d they are heading relentlessly for their inevitable d o o m . T h e revolutionaries are not d i s couraged by temporary defeats and do not lay d o w n their a r m s , b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e y d r a w lessons v a l u a b l e f o r the p r e p a r a t i o n a n d w i n n i n g o f f u t u r e v i c t o r i e s a n d ass u r i n g t h e ceaseless a d v a n c e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a t h o m e a n d o n a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale. A s l o n g a s c a p i t a l i s m a n d i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h e x p l o i t a n d o p p r e s s the w o r k e r s a n d t h e peoples, exist, the u p s u r g e o f t h e d r i v e t o r e v o l u t i o n i s i r r e p r e s s i b l e a n d the v i c t o r y o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s i n e v i t a b l e . . .
__________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 28, p. 60 (Alb. ed.).
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T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples a r e conscious t h a t t h e y a r e f a c i n g a f i e r c e e n e m y , w h i c h t h e y m u s t despise, b u t n e v e r u n d e r e s t i m a t e . D e s p i t e the h e a v y b l o w s a n d great d e f e a t s i t h a s s u f f e r e d , i m p e r i a l i s m , w i t h the U n i t e d S t a t e s a t the h e a d , i s s t i l l s t r o n g a n d a b l e t o u n d e r t a k e d a n g e r o u s a d v e n t u r e s a g a i n s t t h e peoples. A n y o v e r e s t i m a t i o n o f the s t r e n g t h o f t h e e n e m y leads t o c a p i t u l a t i o n a n d s u b m i s sion, w h i l e any underestimation of the strength of the e n e m y , a n y i l l u s i o n a b o u t it, leads t o the s l a c k e n i n g o f v i g i l a n c e a n d t o g e n e r a l u n p r e p a r e d n e s s against the e n e m y , o r t o d a n g e r o u s a d v e n t u r e s w h i c h e n d i n defeat. T h e peoples m u s t be p r e p a r e d f o r a l o n g , s t e r n a n d d i f f i c u l t struggle w h i c h w i l l d e m a n d b l o o d s h e d a n d sacrifices, t h e t o t a l m o b i l i z a t i o n o f a l l t h e i r m o r a l a n d m a t e r i a l resources, a l l the h e r o i s m a n d u n y i e l d i n g d e t e r m i n a t i o n , i n w h i c h r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s h a v e n e v e r been a n d n e v e r w i l l b e l a c k i n g . T o d a y A s i a , A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a h a v e become centres o f g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y storms. T h e r e i m p e r i a l i s m i s r e c e i v i n g h e a v y , d i r e c t b l o w s . T h e A l b a n i a n people h a i l and support w i t h all their m i g h t the just struggle of the peoples o f these areas a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m a n d c o l o n i a l slavery, w h i c h they consider as a struggle of historic i m p o r t a n c e f o r the f a t e o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m i n t h e w o r l d , a s t r u g g l e t h a t i s w e a k e n i n g the v e r y f o u n d a tions o f the p o s i t i o n s o f i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e y c o n s i d e r t h i s s t r u g g l e a s the p o w e r f u l a l l y a n d r e s e r v e o f t h e w o r l d p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n , as a great, r e a l f o r c e to r u i n t h e c r i m i n a l aggressive p l a n s o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d t o s e c u r e a n d d e f e n d peace i n the w o r l d . T h e attitude towards the revolutionary struggle of t h e oppressed n a t i o n s a n d peoples, t h a t c o m p r i s e the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f the p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d , i s another important question of principle and one of the m a i n lines of demarcation between Marxist-Leninists and r e v i s i o n i s t renegades. It is t h e s a c r e d d u t y of t h e socialist
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c o u n t r i e s a n d the c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r s ' m o v e m e n t i n the c a p i t a l i s t m e t r o p o l i s e s t o g i v e the r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f the peoples o f A s i a , A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a a l l their unreserved help and support. T h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d its w a r m o n g e r i n g p o l i c y has a r o u s e d a l l t h e peoples. I n t h i s d i r e c t i o n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t m e t r o p o l i s e s a r e p l a y i n g a s i g n i f i c a n t r o l e . T h e w o r k i n g class a n d o t h e r oppressed s t r a t a o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n i n these c o u n t r i e s a r e m o r e a n d m o r e h u r l i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t o v i c t o r i o u s battles against the r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i e and imperialism. Despite the damage caused by the treacherous activity o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , the r e v o l u t i o n a r y u p s u r g e o f t h e w o r k i n g class i s i n e v i t a b l e . N e i t h e r the t e m p o r a r y so-called p r o s p e r i t y o f E u r o p e a n c a p i t a l i s m , t h e b o u r g e o i s d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e fascist type, t h e d e m a g o g y a n d s u b v e r sive a c t i v i t y o f s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y , n o r t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e , T i t o i t e a n d o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t s c a n stop it. T h e n e w M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t forces w h i c h h a v e e m e r g e d a n d are b e i n g f o r m e d i n a l l the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s a r e s u c c e s s f u l l y u n i t i n g the w o r k i n g class a n d o t h e r e x p l o i t e d s t r a t a o f the p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e s t r u g g l e against the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l i s m , the A m e r i c a n i n t e r f e r e n c e a n d d i c t a t e , f o r d e m o c r a c y , better l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s a n d s o c i a l i s m . In order to achieve their counter-revolutionary aims the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l i s m h a v e a l w a y s e m p l o y e d t w o m a i n w a y s a n d m e a n s , t h e h a n g m a n a n d t h e priest, violence a n d d e c e p t i o n . M o r e o v e r , e x p e r i e n c e s h o w s t h a t the m o r e v i c t o r i e s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t scores, t h e stronger its p o s i t i o n s become, a n d t h e m o r e its p o w e r increases, t h e m o r e the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l i s t s p i n t h e i r h o p e s o n the m e t h o d o f u n d e r m i n i n g t h e r e v o l u t i o n and socialism f r o m w i t h i n , on support and backing of opportunism. T r e a c h e r o u s s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y has l o n g been a n d s t i l l
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is the agency of the bourgeoisie a n d i m p e r i a l i s m in the w o r k e r s ' movement, to i n h i b i t the r e v o l u t i o n and to safeg u a r d a n d consolidate the capitalist order. Immediately after the Second W o r l d W a r imperialism f o u n d a n e w social b a c k i n g i n Titoism, w h i c h i t supported a n d e n couraged w i t h a l l its means as a specialized detachment i n t h e s e r v i c e o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m t o u n d e r m i n e soc i a l i s m a n d sabotage t h e p e o p l e s ' l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e . W i t h the emergence of K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionism, however, w o r l d imperialism secured a new ally, a new v e r y p o w e r f u l a g e n c y f o r w h i c h i t h a d v e r y great n e e d a s a r e s u l t of the failures a n d defeats inflicted on it t h r o u g h the historic victories of socialism and liberation struggle of t h e peoples w h o w e r e a d v a n c i n g i r r e s i s t i b l y . T h e Soviet revisionist leaders entered into a holy alliance w i t h A m e r i c a n imperialism, the greatest e n e m y o f t h e peoples o f the w h o l e w o r l d . T h e S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n friendship and all-round collaboration is one of the most f u n d a m e n t a l characteristics of the present international situation. T h i s alliance is based on their common heg e m o n i c i n t e r e s t s a n d a i m s f o r t h e d i v i s i o n o f spheres of influence and for the establishment of the d o m i n a t i o n o f t w o great p o w e r s o v e r t h e w o r l d . H a v i n g t h e s a m e strategic standpoints, the U S A and U S S R , as t w o big p o w e r s w i t h great e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l , c a n n o t f a i l t o t a k e a c c o u n t o f e a c h other, n e e d e a c h o t h e r , u n d e r t a k e c o m m o n actions a n d c o - o r d i n a t e t h e i r p l a n s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , e a c h o f these t w o w o r l d p o w e r s i s s t r i v i n g t o w i n s u p e r i o r i t y f o r itself, t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e g r o u p i n g s o f f r i e n d s a r o u n d itself, t o c o m b a t t h e g r o u p i n g s o f the o t h e r p a r t y , i n o r d e r t o d e t a c h a l l i e s f r o m i t a n d t o e x p a n d its o w n sphere o f i n f l u e n c e a t t h e e x p e n s e of its partner. Nevertheless, they are u n i t e d in a close alliance w i t h each other in order to attack the r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples a n d s o c i a l i s m . T h i s a l l i a n c e i s d e v e l o p i n g
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in a l l directions: political, economic, ideological a n d c u l tural. In m a n y directions it has been sanctioned in official d o c u m e n t s , i n v a r i o u s t r e a t i e s a n d agreements, o p e n a n d secret. T h e y a r e g o i n g f u r t h e r a n d f u r t h e r i n the d i r e c t i o n o f t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f m i l i t a r y agreements, p l a n s a n d plots f o r a g g r e s s i o n a n d o p p r e s s i o n . T h e S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n alliance, w h i c h is developing a n d b e i n g c o n c r e t i z e d d a y b y d a y , o f course, n o t w i t h o u t difficulties and contradictions, constitutes a v e r y serious d a n g e r f o r m a n k i n d , h e n c e i t i s a m a i n o b j e c t i v e against w h i c h t h e s t r u g g l e o f a l l the peoples o f the w o r l d i s d i r e c t ed. T h e fact i s t h a t f o r t h e s a k e o f t h i s a l l i a n c e , t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p h a s s a c r i f i c e d t h e v i t a l i n t e r e s t s o f the p e o p l e s and socialism or is ready to do so at any time. Not only has i t g i v e n u p a n y k i n d o f e f f e c t i v e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m f o r its o w n p a r t , b u t i t has u n d e r t a k e n the shameful role of the fire-extinguisher to quell the flames o f a n y people's l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e . T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists are giving the i m p e r i a l ists g r e a t a n d a l l - r o u n d h e l p . T h i s i s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e i r attempts at prettifying imperialism and alienating the peoples f r o m t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n w a r s , s p r e a d i n g t h e i l l u s i o n t h a t f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e w i l l c o m e a s a gift f r o m abroad o r t h r o u g h U N O resolutions, i n t i m i d a t i n g the peoples w i t h t h e h o r r o r s o f w a r a n d a t o m i c b l a c k m a i l . I t i s e x p r e s s e d also i n t h e a t t e m p t s a t s u p p r e s s i n g t h e p e o p l e s ' n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e s b y a p p r o v i n g the d i s p a t c h o f c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces o f t h e U N O t o suppress them, o r b y s u p p o r t i n g a n d a r m i n g reactionary c l i q u e s in v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s , etc., etc. It is a f a c t t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s l o g a n s o f p e a c e f u l coexistence, o f p e a c e f u l economic competition, of peaceful transition, of complete and general disarmament, or of a world w i t h o u t weapons, w i t h o u t armies a n d w i t h o u t wars, and so on, h a v e been e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y e m b r a c e d b y t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s
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a s w e l l a s b y a l l i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c t i o n , i n c l u d i n g the V a t i c a n , because w i t h these p e a c e f u l slogans, t h e y can t h r o w dust in the eyes of the peoples, c a n c a m o u f l a g e the w a r m o n g e r i n g a c t i v i t i e s o f i m p e r i a l i s m a n d c a r r y out j o i n t S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n p l a n s f o r w o r l d d o m i n a t i o n . B u t the s u b v e r s i o n o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e d i d n o t y i e l d the r e s u l t s d e s i r e d b y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m and w o r l d reaction. T h e betrayal by the Khrushchevites a n d the slogans w i t h w h i c h i t w a s c a m o u f l a g e d are b e i n g m o r e a n d m o r e e x p o s e d i n the eyes o f the peoples, t h e y h a v e set off c h a i n r e a c t i o n s a n d c a u s e d deep c o n t r a d i c tions w h i c h a r e i n f l i c t i n g g r a v e a n d i n e v i t a b l e d e f e a t s o n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m , o n e a f t e r another. Practice has p r o v e d that K h r u s h c h e v i t e peaceful coexistence a n d t h e p o l i c y o f the l a w o f t h e j u n g l e p u r sued b y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m are t w o h e a d s o f t h e one snake w h i c h i s p r e p a r i n g the e n s l a v e m e n t o f peoples a n d b l o o d y clashes at t h e i r expense. U n d e r the guise of p e a c e f u l coexistence the S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t , w i t h the m a r k e d f e a t u r e s of a b o u r g e o i s g o v e r n m e n t , a p p l i e s a policy of friendship, alliance and all-round collaboration w i t h i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d s p r e a d s false i l l u s i o n s a b o u t i m p e r i a l i s m , t r y i n g t o c o n v i n c e t h e peoples t o p r e s e r v e the status quo, t o r e n o u n c e a n y k i n d o f s t r u g g l e w i t h o u t exception, otherwise any spark w o u l d flare up into a w o r l d c o n f l a g r a t i o n , etc. T h e peoples s a w c l e a r l y that b y p u r s u i n g t h e p o l i c y o f K h r u s h c h e v i t e coexistence, the S o v i e t leaders, n o t o n l y r e n o u n c e d s u p p o r t f o r t h e peoples' a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t w a r s , b u t b e c a m e d i r e c t p a r t n e r s a n d a c c o m p l i c e s i n the s u p p r e s s i o n o f the l i b e r a t i o n w a r o f the C o n g o l e s e p e o p l e i n 1961, s h a m e f u l l y c a p i t u l a t e d t o A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i n the C a r i b b e a n crisis o f 1962 ( 1 ) , v o t e d a t t h e U N O f o r the
______________________________ 1 Under direct and open pressure by the U S A government,
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cease-fire i n t h e D o m i n i c a n R e p u b l i c , a n d p o s t p o n e d t h e settlement o f the G e r m a n q u e s t i o n i n d e f i n i t e l y , s a c r i f i c i n g the n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s o f t h e G e r m a n D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c . T h e peoples a r e seeing t h a t the S o v i e t leaders, together w i t h the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , a r e m a n i p u l a t i n g t h e U N O , turning it more and more into an instrument of interference a n d a g g r e s s i o n i n f a v o u r o f the i m p e r i a l i s t s . T h e treacherous revisionist policy of non-resistance to imperialism a n d reaction, of capitulation to and collaborat i o n w i t h t h e m , has l e d t o the e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f i m p e r i a l i s m , the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f its aggressive a c t i v i t y , the a c t i v a t i o n e v e r y w h e r e o f r e a c t i o n a r y , p r o - i m p e r i a l i s t forces and, as a result, t h e a g g r a v a t i o n of t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n seen i n recent y e a r s . O u r P a r t y and government have scornfully rejected and exposed the policy of K h r u s h c h e v i t e peaceful coexistence as a c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o l i c y of b e t r a y a l . They have always adhered to the Marxist-Leninist policy of peaceful coexistence in relations w i t h capitalist countries, w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e w a g i n g a r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m , h e a d e d b y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d unreservedly supporting the peoples' r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i b eration struggle. T h e y have always loyally upheld proletarian internationalism, w h i c h constitutes the general l i n e o f the f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f e v e r y g e n u i n e socialist country. T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e slogans of general a n d complete disarmament a n d a w o r l d without weapons, without a r mies, w i t h o u t w a r s , w h i c h are u s e d b y the r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d i m p e r i a l i s t s , o n the o n e h a n d , t o l u l l t o sleep a n d d i s a r m t h e
_______________________________ during October a n d November 1962 the Soviet government ordered the d i s m a n t l i n g a n d w i t h d r a w a l of missiles f r o m C u b a , w h i c h it had stationed there only a couple of weeks ago, w h i l e o f f i c i a l l y recognizing the A m e r i c a n navy the right to c o n t r o l operations for their d i s m a n t l i n g and w i t h d r a w a l .
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peoples, a n d o n the o t h e r , t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r ceaseless a r m i n g b e h i n d t h e b a c k s o f the peoples a n d t h e i r p r e p a r a t i o n s for c r u e l wars, are a great f r a u d a n d nauseating h y p o crisy. T h i s is n o w m o r e t h a n clear a n d no demagogy can h i d e it. It is a fact t h a t d e s p i t e a l l t h e i r c l a m o u r a b o u t d i s a r m a m e n t , b o t h t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s are a r m i n g t h e m s e l v e s t o the t e e t h a n d a r e o r g a n i z i n g n e w m i l i t a r y alliances, s o t h a t these t w o b i g p o w e r s m a y dictate the l a w to the w o r l d . T h e M o s c o w T r e a t y on the p a r t i a l b a n o f n u c l e a r w e a p o n s ' tests l a i d t h e f o u n d a t i o n s of this alliance. The n e w agreement w h i c h is being concocted o n t h e n o n - p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f n u c l e a r w e a p o n s , i s i n t e n d e d t o consolidate t h e S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n m o n o p o l y of nuclear weapons and to strengthen their nuclear blackm a i l against f r e e d o m - l o v i n g a n d p r o g r e s s i v e states a n d peoples. O u r party and government have energetically exposed a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o e x p o s e the m a n o e u v r e s o f t h e i m perialists and revisionists who, behind the curtain of e n d less t a l k s o n d i s a r m a m e n t , a r e h a t c h i n g u p p l o t s against the peoples a n d s o c i a l i s m . A t a t i m e w h e n t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s , f a r f r o m i n t e n d i n g t o d i s a r m , are c o n tinually a r m i n g themselves w i t h the most up-to-date w e a p o n s , t h e r e i s o n l y one w a y o p e n t o f r e e d o m - l o v i n g peoples a n d socialist c o u n t r i e s : t h e y m u s t b e a r m e d t o liberate themselves f r o m imperialism and defend t h e m selves f r o m i m p e r i a l i s t a g g r e s s i o n . . . O u r P a r t y a n d g o v e r n m e n t h a v e n o t b e e n a n d are not o p p o s e d t o e f f o r t s t o a c h i e v e c o n c r e t e r e s u l t s i n the f i e l d o f d i s a r m a m e n t , b u t these r e s u l t s c a n n o t b e a c h i e v e d b y m a k i n g u n p r i n c i p l e d concessions t o t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , b y s p r e a d i n g i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e m a n d b y b a s i n g hopes o n t h e goodwill of the imperialist leaders and on the talks w i t h t h e m . T h e o n l y correct course i n t h i s m a t t e r , too, i s t h e resolute a n d c o - o r d i n a t e d s t r u g g l e o f t h e p e o p l e s t o
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i m p o s e d i s a r m a m e n t u p o n t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d , i n the f i r s t place, u p o n the U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a . I n o r d e r t o assist t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d r e a c t i o n a r i e s , t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s p r o c l a i m e d the p e a c e f u l w a y a s a s t r a t e g i c p r i n c i p l e f o r the w h o l e w o r l d , o p p o s i n g i t t o t h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n w a r a n d t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n b y v i o l e n c e a s a u n i v e r s a l l a w o f socialist r e v o l u t i o n . T h i s w a s a n o t h e r act o f d i v e r s i o n , a n a p p e a l t o the peoples a n d revolutionaries to leave the bourgeoisie and reaction i n peace a n d t o p u r s u e t h e r e f o r m i s t course s o f a v o u r e d by social-democracy. T h e so-called peaceful w a y is a deviation f r o m every basic Marxist-Leninist principle in the revolutionary theory and practice for the liberation o f t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e peoples a n d t h e o p p r e s s e d n a tions. M a n y events of our times as w e l l as all historical experience h a v e p r o v e d the falsity and danger of this r e v i s i o n i s t l i n e . F a r f r o m d e p a r t i n g v o l u n t a r i l y f r o m the h i s t o r i c a l a r e n a , t h e r e a c t i o n a r y classes a n d t h e i m p e r i a l ists f o r c i b l y suppress t h e r e v o l u t i o n e v e r y w h e r e a n d anywhere, f a r f r o m g i v i n g up their weapons, they are continuously strengthening their mechanism of oppression a n d v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t t h e peoples. T h e b l o o d y events i n I n d o n e s i a are a b i t t e r b u t v e r y v i v i d p r o o f o f h o w f a r reaction w i l l go in its f u r y a n d savagery w h e n it has the incitement a n d active support of the A m e r i c a n imperialists and the backing of the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists, who, v y i n g w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , are n o w t r y i n g t o strengthen their friendship w i t h the Indonesian m i l i t a r y j u n t a , w h i c h h a s t h e b l o o d o f m o r e t h a n 500,000 I n d o n e s i a n c o m m u n i s t s a n d p a t r i o t s * o n its h a n d s . A l l the facts a n d a l l t h e e v e n t s p r o v e w i t h t h e greatest c l a r i t y that the revisionist leading group of the Soviet
___________________________________ * See the article on p. 18 of this volume.
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U n i o n has become, i n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n , the a l l y a n d z e a l o u s assistant o f i m p e r i a l i s m , e s p e c i a l l y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , i n o r d e r t o p r o l o n g its existence, t o save i t f r o m the i n e v i t a b l e defeat a w a i t i n g it, t o e x t r i c a t e i t f r o m the e n c i r clement of the peoples a n d the r e v o l u t i o n , to l i q u i d a t e s o c i a l i s m a n d t o s t r a n g l e the peoples' r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e s e v e r y w h e r e . I n these c o n d i t i o n s t h e struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m , h e a d e d b y the U n i t e d States, i s i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m t h e s t r u g g l e against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , headed b y t h e S o v i e t leaders. W i t h o u t e x p o s i n g a n d s t r u g g l i n g against t h e r e v i s i o n i s t d e m a g o g y a n d b e t r a y a l , w e c a n n o t w a g e t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m successf u l l y a n d c a r r y f o r w a r d the w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n .
I m p e r i a l i s m , m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m a n d a l l the forces o f r e a c t i o n a n d s o c i a l regression, w h e r e v e r t h e y operate a n d h o w e v e r p o w e r f u l t h e y m a y be, a r e c o n d e m n e d t o d e a t h b y h i s t o r y . H o w e v e r , these s i n i s t e r forces w i l l n e v e r die o f t h e i r o w n a c c o r d , t h e y w i l l n e v e r d e p a r t f r o m the scene o f h i s t o r y v o l u n t a r i l y a n d i n a p e a c e f u l w a y . T h e nearer they approach their death, the fiercer become their attempts to preserve their existence and regain t h e i r lost p o s i t i o n s . I n t h e i r a g o n y t h e y w i l l n o t h e s i t a t e t o t h r o w t h e m s e l v e s i n t o the m o s t d e s p e r a t e a d v e n t u r e s , t o use t h e most i n h u m a n m e a n s a n d c o m m i t t h e m o s t h i d e o u s c r i m e s . T h i s i s a l a w t o w h i c h a l l s o c i a l classes a n d forces o n the b r i n k o f t h e i r i n e v i t a b l e d o o m a d h e r e . . . Faced w i t h ferocious enemies A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l ism, Khrushchevite revisionism and w o r l d reaction, we must m a i n t a i n h i g h revolutionary vigilance, must discover, attack a n d d e s t r o y a l l t h e i r aggressive p l a n s a n d c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y plots, m u s t r e s o l u t e l y o p p o s e t h e p o l i c y o f w a r a n d aggression, c o l o n i a l i s m a n d n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m , m u s t expose the fraudulent and demagogic manoeuvres of
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i m p e r i a l i s m and revisionism, exploit all the contradictions that can be exploited in the enemy camp and wage a r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m , h e a d e d b y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d a l l its l a c k e y s a n d stooges. R e s o l u t e resistance a n d s t r u g g l e m u s t b e w a g e d against the imperialist and revisionist policy of economic e x p a n s i o n , w h i c h b y m e a n s o f a i d a n d credits, t h e alliances f o r progress, o r the i n t e r n a t i o n a l d i v i s i o n o f l a b o u r , the C o m m o n M a r k e t , o r the C o u n c i l o f M u t u a l E c o n o m i c A i d , are a t t e m p t i n g t o p u t the y o k e a r o u n d the n e c k o f d i f f e r e n t peoples, t o u n d e r m i n e t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e , t o s u b j u g a t e a n d e x p l o i t these peoples f o r t h e i r o w n purposes. T h e r e c a n b e n o t r u e political independence w i t h o u t economic independence. I n o r d e r t o d e v e l o p the n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e , it is n e c e s s a r y to f o l l o w the c o u r s e of s e l f - r e l i a n c e c o n s i s t e n t l y , b y u t i l i z i n g a l l t h e i n t e r n a l m a t e r i a l resources and manpower in a rational and efficient way. A i d is always a secondary factor a n d it s h o u l d be provided in a c o m p l e t e l y d i s i n t e r e s t e d w a y b y t h e s o c i a l i s t countries, should not be accompanied w i t h political conditions and p r i v i l e g e s a n d s h o u l d s e r v e t o assist the i n d e p e n d e n t econo m i c and political development of the receiving country. M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s c o n s i d e r the p r o v i s i o n o f s u c h a i d not as charity but as m u t u a l a i d and an internationalist duty. T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a n d forces c a n n o t b u t s t a n d a t the h e a d o f t h e h i s t o r i c s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n the forces o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d those o f r e a c t i o n . H i s t o r y has c h a r g e d t h e m w i t h t h e g l o r i o u s m i s s i o n o f u p h o l d i n g the b a n n e r o f s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m , c o l o n i a l i s m a n d neo-colonialism, the banner of national independence, d e m o c r a c y , s o c i a l i s m a n d peace, o f u n i t i n g a l l the p a t r i o t i c a n d d e m o c r a t i c forces o f t h e c o u n t r y i n b r o a d p o p u l a r f r o n t s based o n t h e a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h the p e a s a n t r y , o f m a s t e r i n g a l l f o r m s o f s t r u g g l e a n d ,
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f i r s t o f a l l , the p e o p l e ' s a r m e d s t r u g g l e , b y c r e a t i n g the r e v o l u t i o n a r y a r m e d forces, i n d i s p e n s a b l e b o t h f o r n a t i o n a l a n d social l i b e r a t i o n a n d f o r the d e f e n c e o f t h e victories of the revolution, of safeguarding their ideological, political a n d organizational independence, a n d resolutely ensuring their hegemony in the r e v o l u t i o n as a decisive condition for c a r r y i n g it through to the end.
T h a n k s t o the s t r u g g l e o f the peoples, o f a l l t h e a n t i i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r c e s o f o u r t i m e , the r e v olution is marching triumphantly forward. It has created new conditions in w h i c h no t y r a n t can l o r d it over the peoples i n peace. N o w the peoples h a v e a c q u i r e d t r e mendous experience, though not everywhere in an e q u a l degree. T h e y are not a f r a i d o f t h e oppressors a n d e n s l a v ers, n o t a f r a i d t o t a k e u p a r m s a n d r i s e i n r e v o l u t i o n . T h e great fire of the revolution is ablaze in the w o r l d t o d a y a n d t h e r e i s n o f o r c e w h i c h c a n e x t i n g u i s h it. T h i s fire w i l l envelop the imperialists along w i t h a l l their stooges a n d l a c k e y s a n d w i p e t h e m f r o m t h e face o f the e a r t h .
Comrades, T h e A l b a n i a n people a r e p r o u d t h a t t h e i r P e o p l e ' s Republic is m a r c h i n g shoulder to shoulder w i t h the a r m y o f the r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d , a d v a n c i n g i n t h e f o r e f r o n t o f t h e s t r u g g l e against t h e forces o f i m p e r i a l i s m , r e a c t i o n a n d r e v i s i o n i s m a n d m a k i n g its modest c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f m a n k i n d f r o m oppression a n d exploitation, for the t r i u m p h of the revolution and socialism. T h e People's Republic of A l b a n i a , led by the P a r t y
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o f L a b o u r , a l w a y s has p u r s u e d a n d a l w a y s w i l l p u r s u e a revolutionary foreign policy based on M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a p o l i c y o f f r i e n d s h i p w i t h a l l t h e p e o p l e s o f the world, great or small, according to the principles of e q u a l i t y a n d m u t u a l interests, t h e p o l i c y o f the s t r u g g l e against imperialism, headed by A m e r i c a n imperialism, a n d a c t i v e s o l i d a r i t y w i t h a l l t h e states a n d p e o p l e s t h a t f i g h t f o r f r e e d o m , d e m o c r a c y a n d social progress, w i t h a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples a n d forces t h a t f i g h t f o r t h e d e f e n c e o f peace a n d t h e t r i u m p h o f s o c i a l i s m . T h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e reports to the P a r t y that by u n w a v e r i n g l y p u r s u i n g this p r i n c i p l e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o l i c y , our P a r t y and our government have successfully carried out t h e t a s k s set b y t h e 4 t h C o n g r e s s i n the f i e l d o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s , h a v e s t r e n g t h e n e d the n a t i o n a l independence and sovereignty, have extended the r e l a tions o f f r i e n d l y c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r states a n d h a v e a i d e d a n d s u p p o r t e d t h e s t r u g g l e o f the f r e e d o m - l o v i n g peoples a n d o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces e v e r y w h e r e i n t h e w o r l d . T o d a y A l b a n i a i s s t r o n g e r t h a n ever, w i t h m a n y loyal friends, w i t h a great and well-deserved international authority. The People's Republic of A l b a n i a has always h a d an i n d e p e n d e n t p o l i c y d i c t a t e d b y t h e i n t e r e s t s o f the A l b a n i a n people, b y t h e interests o f c o m m u n i s m a n d peace. W e u p h o l d t h e v i e w t h a t a l l s o v e r e i g n states, b i g o r s m a l l , a r e e q u a l a n d t h a t e a c h m a k e s its c o n t r i b u t i o n i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l f i e l d . W e a r e against t h e concept t h a t a s m a l l state s h o u l d s u b m i t to a b i g state, a g a i n s t t h e i n t e r f e r e n c e o f o n e state i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f a n o t h e r state. T h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a h a s n e v e r p e r mitted a n d never w i l l permit anyone, w h o e v e r he m a y be, t o e n c r o a c h u p o n its n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l r i g h t s . I n t h e f u t u r e , too, i t w i l l f i g h t w i t h a l l its m i g h t a n d w i l l n e v e r accept a n y p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y p r e s s u r e
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t h a t m a y b e e x e r t e d i n o r d e r t o i m p o s e o n o u r people a d i c t a t e h a r m f u l to t h e i r i n t e r e s t s . T h e A l b a n i a n people are peaceful and their People's R e p u b l i c i s a p e a c e f u l state, b u t t h e y w i l l n e v e r hesitate to strike mercilessly a n d w i t h all their might and means at anyone w h o attempts to violate their territorial integr i t y , t o p l o t against t h e i r socialist r e g i m e a n d t h e i r i n ternal order and stability. T h e A l b a n i a n people w i l l never again allow themselves to be trampled upon as in the b i t t e r past. T h e y h a v e t h e i r r i g h t s , d i g n i t y a n d h o n o u r , they h a v e the right to live, to take their o w n decisions on e v e r y t h i n g , j u s t l i k e a n y o t h e r people. T h e People's Republic of A l b a n i a tore up a l l enslaving t r e a t i e s a n d a g r e e m e n t s i m p o s e d o n t h e A l b a n i a n people by the anti-popular regimes and various imperialists. It w i l l n e v e r a l l o w t h e e x i s t i n g a g r e e m e n t s a n d treaties s i g n e d b y i t w i t h f u l l w i l l a n d consciousness to be d i s t o r t e d b y a n y o t h e r s i g n a t o r y a t t h e e x p e n s e o f the l o f t y a i m s o f these a g r e e m e n t s a n d treaties o r a t t h e e x p e n s e o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. O u r g o v e r n m e n t w i l l respect a l l the treaties i t has signed, o n c o n d i t i o n t h a t t h e o t h e r s i g n a t o r i e s also respect t h e m . T h e r i g h t s o f the People's R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a i n these t r e a t i e s a r e n e i t h e r m o r e n o r less, b u t e q u a l t o those o f a l l the o t h e r p a r t i c i p a t i n g states, b i g o r s m a l l . T h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a h a s n o t p e r m i t t e d a n d w i l l not p e r m i t a n y o f its rights, however small, to be violated, a n d likewise it pledges, as it has a l w a y s done, not to v i o l a t e the r i g h t s o f a n y b o d y else. O u r P a r t y a n d g o v e r n m e n t h a v e w a g e d a n d are w a g i n g a r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against t h e c r i m i n a l a t t e m p t s of the Khrushchevite revisionists and their followers to use the W a r s a w T r e a t y a n d t h e C o u n c i l o f M u t u a l E c o n o m i c A i d a s i n s t r u m e n t s o f pressure, i n t e r f e r e n c e a n d a g g r e s s i o n against o u r c o u n t r y . W e s h a l l d e f e n d o u r r i g h t s
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to the end and we shall persistently expose the treachery a n d plots of the n e w Tsars of the K r e m l i n not o n l y i n r e g a r d t o the i n t e r e s t s a n d r i g h t s o f A l b a n i a , b u t also i n r e g a r d t o t h e r i g h t s a n d interests o f s o c i a l i s m a n d peace i n g e n e r a l . I n i t s e c o n o m i c r e l a t i o n s a n d c o m m e r c i a l exchanges, the P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a h a s a l w a y s b e e n correct in regard to reciprocal obligations, but w i l l never permit that the a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d a g r e e m e n t s b e v i o l a t e d a n d d a m a g e caused t o its e c o n o m y t h r o u g h n o f a u l t o f o u r s , b u t as a r e s u l t of t h e h o s t i l e a c t i v i t y of o t h e r states. It w i l l d e m a n d r e p a r a t i o n s f o r d a m a g e d o w n t o t h e last cent. T h e s a m e r i g h t belongs t o o u r p a r t n e r s , s h o u l d the People's Republic of A l b a n i a breach contracts and by its u n l a w f u l a c t i o n s cause d a m a g e t o o t h e r s . O u r country has n o r m a l diplomatic relations w i t h 3 5 states, ( 2 ) a n d c o m m e r c i a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e l a t i o n s w i t h a s t i l l l a r g e r n u m b e r of states. It is c o n t i n u o u s l y e x t e n d i n g these r e l a t i o n s a n d i s r e a d y t o e s t a b l i s h s u c h r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r states, too, r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e d i f f e r e n t f o r m s o f t h e i r s o c i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l r e g i m e s , b u t a l w a y s o n the basis o f t h e r e c o g n i z e d p r i n c i p l e s o f e q u a l i t y , n o n - i n t e r ference, m u t u a l respect f o r t e r r i t o r i a l i n t e g r i t y a n d n a tional sovereignty, m u t u a l benefit and peaceful coexistence. T h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a w i l l c o n t i n u e its r i g o r o u s respect f o r these p r i n c i p l e s i n its r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r states a n d w i l l d e m a n d t h a t others, too. a p p l y t h e m i n their relations w i t h A l b a n i a . . .
_________________________________ 2 The P S R A to A u g u s t 1981. had diplomatic relations with 95 states up
II T H E F U L F I L M E N T O F T H E 3rd F I V E - Y E A R P L A N A N D T H E M A I N TARGETS FOR THE D E V E L O P M E N T OF T H E ECONOMY AND CULTURE FOR THE N E X T FIVE YEARS T h e 4th Congress of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a m a r k e d the p a s s i n g o f o u r c o u n t r y t o the n e w h i s t o r i c a l stage of the c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n of socialist society. T h e 3 r d F i v e - y e a r P l a n c o n s t i t u t e d t h e f i r s t step i n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y f o r t h e s o l u t i o n o f the basic p r o b l e m s o f t h i s stage. Its m a i n a i m w a s t o set o u r c o u n t r y o n the course o f its t r a n s f o r m a t i o n f r o m a n agricultural-industrial country into an industrial-agricult u r a l one, t o i n c r e a s e t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l o u t p u t m o r e r a p i d l y and, consequently, to raise the m a t e r i a l standard of l i v i n g o f t h e w o r k i n g masses a n d f u r t h e r d e v e l o p t h e p e o p l e s education and culture. I n o r d e r t o f u l f i l these tasks the P a r t y a n d the people w o r k e d and struggled in d i f f i c u l t conditions created by the t r e a c h e r o u s S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p a n d its lackeys. T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , a i m i n g t o sabotage our construction of socialism, organized the total blockade o f socialist A l b a n i a , a r b i t r a r i l y a n n u l l e d a l l the agreements on the provision of credits a n d economic, technical and m i l i t a r y a i d , w i t h d r e w t h e specialists, tore u p a l l t h e contracts concluded w i t h the A l b a n i a n government and cut o f f t r a d e a n d d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e P e o p l e ' s Republic of Albania. I n these n e w c i r c u m s t a n c e s , o u r P a r t y a n d g o v e r n m e n t took a n d s u c c e s s f u l l y a p p l i e d a series of m e a s u r e s . A m e n d -
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merits w e r e m a d e t o t h e targets o f the p l a n , t h e n o r m o f a c c u m u l a t i o n o f t h e n a t i o n a l i n c o m e w a s r a i s e d above the p l a n n e d levels, i n c r e a s e d r e s e r v e s of m a t e r i a l s essential t o e n s u r e t h e u n i n t e r r u p t e d d e v e l o p m e n t o f the economy a n d t o g u a r a n t e e the d e f e n c e o f the H o m e l a n d i n a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s w e r e a c c u m u l a t e d , a n d the r e g i m e o f e c o n o m i z i n g a n d the socialist o r g a n i z a t i o n o f w o r k were f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n e d , r a i s i n g the e f f e c t i v e m o b i l i z a tion a n d use o f a l l o u r i n t e r n a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d reserves to a n e w l e v e l . F o r t h e p e o p l e a n d o u r P a r t y , the p e r i o d o f the 3 r d F i v e - y e a r P l a n w a s t h e p e r i o d o f the h a r d e s t test a f t e r the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . N e v e r t h e l e s s , o u r P a r t y comes t o t h e 5 t h C o n g r e s s w i t h m a n y m a j o r successes to its credit. T h e schemes of the r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d of the imperialists failed completely and ignominiously. T h a n k s t o r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s m a n d the l o f t y p a t r i o t i s m o f the w o r k i n g masses, socialist A l b a n i a , l e d b y the P a r t y w i t h w i s d o m , f o r e s i g h t a n d courage, f o r g e d ahead, b r o k e the b l o c k a d e , f o u g h t b l o w f o r b l o w against t h e r e v i s i o n ists a n d i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d e m e r g e d v i c t o r i o u s , as a l w a y s , because t h e r e i s n o f o r c e i n the w o r l d w h i c h can stop the t r i u m p h a n t m a r c h o f o u r s o c i a l i s t r e v o l u t i o n . ...........................
B.
THE MAIN DIRECTIONS SOCIALIST CONSTRUCTION FIVE-YEAR PLAN
AND TASKS FOR THE 1966-1970
OF THE NEW
T h e m a i n targets o f t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n w h i c h this C o n g r e s s w i l l a p p r o v e d e r i v e f r o m the m a i n content of t h e stage of t h e c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n of socialist society o n w h i c h o u r c o u n t r y i s p r o c e e d i n g . T h e y r e s p o n d
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t o t h e needs a n d p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f the d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e a n d p r o c e e d f r o m the i n t e r n a l a n d external conditions in w h i c h our P a r t y a n d people are fighting for the construction of socialism. T h e m a i n objectives o f t h e g e n e r a l l i n e o f the P a r t y f o r the c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s t s o c i e t y h a v e b e e n a n d a r e : the u n i n t e r r u p t e d g r o w t h o f the p r o d u c t i v e forces a n d , o n t h i s basis, the r a i s i n g o f t h e p e o p l e ' s w e l l b e i n g ; t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f the socialist r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n i n correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y s ; the d e e p e n i n g o f the socialist r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e f i e l d s o f i d e o l o g y a n d c u l t u r e ; t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d the u n i t y o f the people w i t h the P a r t y , b y w a g i n g a s h a r p a n d i r r e c o n c i l a b l e class s t r u g g l e against i n t e r n a l and foreign enemies and alien influences; the b u i l d - u p o f t h e defence p o t e n t i a l o f t h e c o u n t r y . A l o n g w i t h this, the P a r t y f o l l o w s t h e l i n e o f g r a d u a l l y r e d u c i n g t h e d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the p e a s a n try, between t o w n a n d country, between industry and agriculture and between mental and physical labour. In c o n f o r m i t y w i t h this general line, d u r i n g the 4th F i v e - y e a r P l a n t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f the p r o d u c t i v e forces o f the c o u n t r y m u s t b e e n s u r e d i n o r d e r t o a c celerate t h e c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f the t e c h n i c a l - m a t e r i a l base o f s o c i a l i s m . T h i s i s t o b e a t t a i n e d b y c o n t i n u i n g t h e socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d i n c r e a s i n g i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n t h r o u g h m o r e c o m p l e t e use o f the e x i s t i n g p r o d u c t i v e c a p a c i t i e s a n d t h r o u g h the b u i l d i n g o f n e w projects, b y c o n c e n t r a t i n g t h e forces f o r a m o r e r a p i d development of agricultural production, especially o f g r a i n p r o d u c t i o n , i n t h e f i r s t place, t h r o u g h t h e f u r t h e r i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e . O n t h e basis o f t h e g r o w t h of social production, the material and cultural well-being o f the people a n d t h e d e f e n c e p o t e n t i a l o f the H o m e l a n d w i l l be r a i s e d to a h i g h e r l e v e l .
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In the f i e l d of industry, it is foreseen that total i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n i n 1970 w i l l r i s e b y 50-54 p e r cent a s c o m p a r e d w i t h 1965. T o t h i s e n d t h e b r a n c h e s o f t h e heavy a n d l i g h t p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r i e s w i l l u n d e r g o great d e v e l o p m e n t . R o l l e d f e r r o u s metals, n i t r a t e a n d p h o s phate f e r t i l i z e r s f o r o u r a g r i c u l t u r e , c a u s t i c soda a n d soda ash, brass, e n a m e l l e d k i t c h e n w a r e , e l e c t r i c l i g h t bulbs, f i b r e boards, v a r i o u s k i n d s o f p a p e r a n d c a r d b o a r d and m a n y o t h e r p r o d u c t s w i l l b e p r o d u c e d i n o u r c o u n t r y for the f i r s t t i m e . T h e t e x t i l e i n d u s t r y w i l l b e s t r e n g t h e n e d while the food-processing industry w i l l be extended continually. T h e n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n envisages great t a s k s f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t of agriculture . T o t a l a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n w i l l i n c r e a s e b y 41-46 p e r cent d u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n a s c o m p a r e d w i t h the 3 r d F i v e - y e a r P l a n . The f u n d a m e n t a l t a s k f o r a g r i c u l t u r e d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d is, f i r s t of a l l , to i n c r e a s e p r o d u c t i o n of b r e a d g r a i n , potatoes, r i c e a n d e d i b l e fats. T h e r e w i l l also b e f u r t h e r increases i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f i n d u s t r i a l crops, i n the development of livestock f a r m i n g to ensure m o r e m i l k and meat, a n d i n t h e e x t e n s i o n o f f o r e s t r y . S p e c i a l attention w i l l b e p a i d t o t h e o p e n i n g u p o f n e w l a n d . In order to ensure the uninterrupted development of our economy and culture, d u r i n g the 4th Five-year P l a n fundamental investments and constructions w i l l be greatly i n c r e a s e d . It is foreseen t h a t t h e v o l u m e of i n v e s t ments f o r this f i v e - y e a r p l a n w i l l b e a b o u t 3 4 p e r cent above t h a t o f t h e p r e v i o u s f i v e - y e a r p l a n , w h i l e the volume of capital construction w i l l g r o w by about 18 per cent. As a result of the development of industry and agriculture, o f t h e r i s e i n t h e p r o d u c t i v i t y o f l a b o u r , the increase i n t h e n u m b e r o f w o r k e r s a n d o f t h e ceaseless r e d u c t i o n o f t h e costs o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d c i r c u l a t i o n , the
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national income in 1970 w i l l be 45-50 p e r cent g r e a t e r t h a n in 1965. In compliance w i t h the g r o w t h of industrial and a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e r i s e i n t h e people's w e l l b e i n g socialist trade w i l l a s s u m e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t d u r i n g the 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n . T h e v o l u m e o f c o m m o d i t y c i r c u l a t i o n i n 1970 w i l l i n c r e a s e b y 25-27 p e r cent c o m p a r e d w i t h 1965. F o r the f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t of the cultural revolution special attention w i l l be paid to the continuous developm e n t of education and culture . D u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e y e a r P l a n t h e n u m b e r o f schools w i l l increase, a n d c o m pulsory eight-year schooling w i l l be applied throughout the c o u n t r y . T h e r e w i l l b e a l l - r o u n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f c u l t u r e , e s p e c i a l l y i n the c o u n t r y s i d e , w h i l e s c i e n t i f i c r e search a n d e x p e r i m e n t a l w o r k w i l l be raised up to a higher level.
1. THE CONTINUATION OF THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF THE COUNTRY REMAINS ONE OF THE VITAL TASKS FOR THE SOCIALIST CONSTRUCTION O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s c o n s i d e r e d i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n a s one of the m o s t i m p o r t a n t tasks of the c o n s t r u c t i o n of s o c i a l i s m i n o u r c o u n t r y , w i t h o u t w h i c h t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n o n t h e e c o n o m i c f r o n t cannot a d v a n c e . I n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h this, i t c o n s i s t e n t l y f o l l o w s the l i n e o f t r a n s f o r m i n g the c o u n t r y f r o m a n a g r i c u l t u r a l - i n d u s t r i a l country into an industrial-agricultural one and then into an industrial country w i t h an advanced agriculture. O u r P a r t y adheres t o t h e p r i n c i p l e that c o u n t r y , r e l y i n g m a i n l y o n its o w n forces, developed economy, w i t h p o w e r f u l industry a g r i c u l t u r e , based on its i n t e r n a l assets a n d e v e r y socialist must build a and advanced resources, an
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economy able to guarantee the independence of the c o u n t r y a n d its ceaseless d e v e l o p m e n t o n t h e r o a d o f socialism. T h e a l l - r o u n d development a n d strengthening of each socialist c o u n t r y is to t h e b e n e f i t of a l l c o u n t r i e s . T h i s does not restrict, b u t e x p a n d s t h e i r e c o n o m i c coop e r a t i o n on a correct L e n i n i s t basis, t h e r e f o r e t h e a i d o f t h e m o r e a d v a n c e d socialist c o u n t r i e s t o o t h e r c o u n tries s h o u l d also b e i n t e n d e d p r e c i s e l y t o b u i l d t h e most a d v a n c e d e c o n o m y possible, so t h a t e v e r y socialist or n e w l y l i b e r a t e d c o u n t r y c a n s t a n d o n its o w n feet. T h a t i s w h y t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a has resolutely condemned a n d denounced the treacherous line o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o , f o r t h e i r o w n n a t i o n a l i s t a n d c h a u v i n i s t interests, h a v e t r i e d a n d are trying to impose an anti-socialist economic policy w i t h c a p i t a l i s t a n d i m p e r i a l i s t a i m s o n t h e socialist c o u n t r i e s . U n d e r the d i s g u i s e o f t h e s o - c a l l e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l d i v i s i o n of labour, specialization a n d cooperation, the K h r u s h c h e vite r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e t r y i n g t o o b s t r u c t t h e r e a l i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n of these c o u n t r i e s to e x p l o i t t h e m as sources of agricultural and mineral raw materials and as markets for the sale o f i n d u s t r i a l goods, t o m a k e t h e m e c o n o m i c a l l y dependent a n d , o n t h i s basis, t o u n d e r m i n e t h e i r e c o n o m i c and p o l i t i c a l i n d e p e n d e n c e , f o r c e t h e m t o s u b m i t t o the revisionist dictate. I n t h e past, t h e T i t o i t e s , a n d l a t e r t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s . t r i e d t o i m p o s e t h i s sort o f a n t i - s o c i a l i s t l i n e o n o u r c o u n t r y a n d t o d i v e r t u s f r o m t h e course o f socialist industrialization by using all kinds of arguments: sometimes p r o m i s i n g t h a t t h e i r i n d u s t r y c o u l d satisfy o u r needs, t o o ; s o m e t i m e s r e f e r r i n g t o t h e c l i m a t e a s t h o u g h t h i s h a d p r e - o r d a i n e d the. f u t u r e r o l e of a f l o u r i s h i n g g a r d e n g r o w i n g f r u i t a n d i n d u s t r i a l crops f o r o u r c o u n t r y ; s o m e t i m e s d e l i b e r a t e l y c o n c e a l i n g t h e geological data in order to p r o v e that we lacked the ne-
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cessary r a w m a t e r i a l s f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r y ; a n d a t other t i m e s b y i n t e r f e r i n g d i r e c t l y t o stop i n v e s t m e n t s i n t h e o i l a n d other sectors, a l l e g i n g that s u c h i n v e s t m e n t s w e r e a w a s t e of m o n e y because t h e r e w e r e no prospects for the development of the oil industry in o u r c o u n t r y , etc., etc. H a d o u r P a r t y f o l l o w e d t h e c o u r s e the T i t o i t e a n d K h r u s h c h e v i t e c l i q u e s t r i e d t o i m p o s e o n u s o n t h i s issue v i t a l t o t h e f a t e o f s o c i a l i s m , t h a t w o u l d h a v e been s u i c i d e a n d b e t r a y a l o f t h e s u p r e m e interests o f t h e H o m e l a n d , o u r p e o p l e a n d s o c i a l i s m . B u t o u r P a r t y d i d not f a l l f o r t h i s t r a p . I t f o u g h t c o u r a g e o u s l y against t h e r e v i s i o n i s t v i e w s a n d a p p l i e d the correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e o f socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n . I n a p p l y i n g t h i s p o l i c y , t h r o u g h countless e f f o r t s a n d p r i v a t i o n s o n t h e p a r t o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d a l l o u r people, the a i m o f t h e P a r t y has a l w a y s been t o create, step by step, a m u l t i - b r a n c h e d i n d u s t r y , b o t h heavy and light, w h i c h w i l l enable us to exploit and process o u r n a t u r a l r i c h e s a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s , w i t h t h e a i m o f e v e r b e t t e r f u l f i l l i n g t h e needs of the development of our economy, raising the productivity o f social l a b o u r , a t t a i n i n g a n i n t e n s i v e a n d c o m p l e x development of agriculture, r a i s i n g the w e l l - b e i n g of the p e o p l e a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g the d e f e n c e o f o u r H o m e land. T h a n k s to t h i s p o l i c y , the r o l e of i n d u s t r y , as t h e leading branch of the w h o l e economy of our country, has g r o w n . T o t a l i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n i s 34.8 t i m e s greater t h a n i t w a s b e f o r e the w a r . P r o d u c t i o n o f m e a n s of p r o d u c t i o n has i n c r e a s e d 34.3 f o l d a n d t h a t of c o n s u m e r goods 35 f o l d . I n d u s t r y p r o v i d e s 39 p e r cent of o u r n a t i o n a l i n c o m e i n s t e a d of t h e 4 p e r cent it d i d in 1938. a n d i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n represents 56.6 p e r cent o f t o t a l i n d u s t r i a l a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n , against 8 p e r cent b e f o r e L i b e r a t i o n . A l b a n i a , f o r m e r l y a n e x t r e -
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mely b a c k w a r d agricultural country without technical forces a n d q u a l i f i e d w o r k e r s , a source o f r a w m a t e r i a l s and a n a p p e n d a g e o f i m p e r i a l i s t m o n o p o l i e s , n o w u t i l i z e s m a n y of its assets a b o v e a n d b e l o w the g r o u n d . It processes o i l , copper, i r o n a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l r a w m a t e r i a l s , produces m a c h i n e r y , t e c h n i c a l e q u i p m e n t a n d c h e m i c a l fertilizers, a n d b u i l d s c o m b i n e s , p l a n t s , factories, h y d r o power plants and railways. It is gradually being changed into a n i n d u s t r i a l - a g r i c u l t u r a l c o u n t r y . T h e i n t e r n a l forces a n d means, t h e c r e a t i v e t h o u g h t , t h e t o i l a n d s w e a t o f the w o r k i n g masses h a v e a l w a y s b e e n a n d s t i l l a r e the decisive f a c t o r i n o u r socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n . P u r s u i n g its c o r r e c t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e o f socialist industrialization, the P a r t y is p a y i n g special attention to t h e r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r y o n a s o u n d basis i n the 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n , too. I n t h e n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n this d e v e l o p m e n t is c l o s e l y l i n k e d , f i r s t of a l l , with the expansion of the whole front of the exploitation of our natural resources, bringing ever more new resources of minerals and fuels into economic circulation and raising their value by processing them in the country. F o r this purpose, d u r i n g the 4th Five-year Plan, a great s t r i d e f o r w a r d , u n r i v a l l e d i n a n y past f i v e - y e a r plan, w i l l be taken in the b u i l d i n g of new mines and i n d u s t r i a l p l a n t s so as to i n c r e a s e t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d processing of oil and other useful minerals a n d i m p r o v e the s t r u c t u r e o f i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n . P u t t i n g t h i s great p r o g r a m i n t o p r a c t i c e w i l l g i v e a new and p o w e r f u l impulse to the m i n i n g industry, w h i c h , i n o u r c o n d i t i o n s , occupies t h e m a i n p o s i t i o n i n the p r o d u c t i o n o f m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n . O n t h i s basis the existing branches w i l l be extended and new branches set u p i n t h e h e a v y p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r i e s , s u c h a s c o p p e r metallurgy, black and ferro-chrome metallurgy, the e n g i n e e r i n g a n d c h e m i c a l i n d u s t r i e s , etc.
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T h u s , o u r c o u n t r y w i l l enter a n e w phase o f i n d u s t r i a lization, the phase of the development of the heavy p r o cessing industry, w h i c h is decisive in ensuring the superiority of the production of means of production, w i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k of all industry. T h e transition to this phase o f i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t w i l l not o n l y b r i n g a b o u t great q u a l i t a t i v e changes i n the s t r u c t u r e o f i n d u s t r y , b u t w i l l also r a i s e t h e p o t e n t i a l o f t h e w h o l e people's e c o n o m y , w i l l s t r e n g t h e n its i n d e p e n d e n c e , p r o v i d e g r e a t e r assistance f o r t h e i n t e n s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d increase the r a n k s o f the w o r k i n g class a n d , especially, t h e n u m b e r o f t e c h n i c i a n s , e n g i n e e r s a n d o t h e r q u a l i f i e d cadres. T h i s w i l l b e a n o t h e r great v i c t o r y o f t h e p o l i c y o f t h e P a r t y for t h e i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y . In o r d e r to g u a r a n t e e the p r o s p e c t of u n i n t e r r u p t e d a n d r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t o f the m i n i n g i n d u s t r y a n d other branches of the heavy processing industry for as long a t i m e as possible, the Party has paid and is paying special attention to the intensification of geological work. M a n y o f o u r u n d e r g r o u n d assets are s t i l l l y i n g d o r m a n t . T h e y m u s t b e sought a n d d i s c o v e r e d s o t h a t they c a n b e u t i l i z e d on a b r o a d scale f o r the b e n e f i t of the people a n d to s t r e n g t h e n t h e e c o n o m y a n d the H o m e l a n d . T h e P a r t y has e n t r u s t e d o u r geologists w i t h t h e l o f t y a n d n o b l e task o f l e a d i n g o u r socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n t h r o u g h t h e i r work. T h e geologists m a d e a n o u t s t a n d i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n d u r ing the years of the 3rd F i v e - y e a r P l a n , w h e n they had to solve m a n y complicated problems and overcome great d i f f i c u l t i e s , a f t e r the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s w i t h d r e w t h e i r specialists f r o m t h e sector o f geology, a b a n d o n i n g the w o r k already started and concealing or taking w i t h t h e m the g e o l o g i c a l d a t a . W i t h a resolute, h e r o i c s t a n d a n d w i t h a l o f t y sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , o u r w o r k e r s , t e c h n i c i a n s a n d geologists, a l t h o u g h y o u n g , d i d n o t i n t e r -
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r u p t the w o r k , but o n t h e c o n t r a r y , s u c c e s s f u l l y c a r r i e d i t f u r t h e r . I n D e c e m b e r 1961, t h e g e o l o g i c a l w o r k e r s p l e d g e d to f u l f i l t h e tasks set by t h e 4 t h C o n g r e s s of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a w i t h i n four years and, for some minerals, w i t h i n an even shorter period. T h e y kept t h e i r w o r d a n d a c c o m p l i s h e d t h e a d d i t i o n a l tasks t h e y had pledged to fulfil. T h e extension and raising to a higher level of prosp e c t i n g a n d s c i e n t i f i c - r e s e a r c h w o r k i n geology, a sector a s d i f f i c u l t a s i t i s v i t a l , constitutes one o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t objectives o f t h e p a r t y p o l i c y f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r y d u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n . O n t h e basis o f t h e r e s u l t s a c h i e v e d a n d t h e e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d , great tasks h a v e b e e n set i n t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n f o r t h e d i s c o v e r y o f i n d u s t r i a l r e s e r v e s r i c h i n o i l , gas, c h r o m i u m , copper, iron-nickel, phosphorites and r a w materials for construct i o n m a t e r i a l s . F o r t h i s p u r p o s e t h e i n v e s t m e n t s i n the g e o l o g i c a l sector w i l l b e i n c r e a s e d m o r e t h a n 2 0 p e r cent a s c o m p a r e d w i t h those o f t h e 3 r d F i v e - y e a r P l a n . The Party considers the strengthening of the fuel base and the increase of the production of electric energy as decisive links for the development of industry and the people's economy as a whole. In e n d e a v o u r i n g to create the most effective and advantageous fuel structure, the P a r t y e m p h a s i z e s t h e need t o i n c r e a s e p r o d u c t i o n o f o i l a n d gas f i r s t o f a l l , o f course, w i t h o u t r e d u c i n g f o r o n e m o m e n t t h e c o n c e r n t o i n c r e a s e the p r o d u c t i o n o f other fuels, e s p e c i a l l y c o a l . T h e ceaselessly i n c r e a s i n g needs o f t h e people's e c o n o m y a n d o f t h e c o u n t r y ' s defence f o r o i l a n d its b y products, the superiority it continues to have in the f u e l balance, m a k e t h e task o f t h e r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t o f this branch one o f t h e most acute p r o b l e m s o f t h e 4th Five-year P l a n . . . In the development of industry, in f i x i n g t h e rates
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and the proportions of industrial production, the P a r t y has a l w a y s i n s i s t e d t h a t e l e c t r i c energy should be increased a t h i g h e r r a t e s . . . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i n o r d e r to meet the e v e r g r e a t e r d e m a n d s of the people's e c o n o m y f o r e l e c t r i c e n e r g y a n d to e n s u r e t h e prospect of its d e v e l o p m e n t , e s p e c i a l l y to m e e t the d e m a n d s of e l e c t r o m e t a l l u r g y , i t has b e e n d e c i d e d t o start t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of the big, p o w e r f u l V a u i Dejs hydro-power station o n t h e D r i n R i v e r d u r i n g the 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n . P r o c e e d i n g f r o m t h e fact t h a t w o o d r e m a i n s t h e m a i n household fuel and that it is v e r y valuable for our econo m y a n d i n s h o r t s u p p l y , t h e use o f i t w i t h t h e greatest frugality should be considered a lofty patriotic d u t y by every w o r k e r and citizen. In this direction, the initiative o f the L u s h n j a d i s t r i c t f o r e v e r y a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e t o create its o w n forest t o p r o v i d e b u i l d i n g t i m b e r a n d f i r e w o o d f o r its o w n needs m u s t b e s u p p o r t e d a n d w i d e l y publicized. T h e e v e r better f u l f i l m e n t o f the i n c r e a s i n g needs a n d d e m a n d s o f the w o r k i n g masses f o r c o n s u m e r goods h a s b e e n a n d remains the object of special attention by the Party in its policy for the development of the light and food-processing industries, of handicrafts and other branches which have to do with various services. T h e r e f o r e i t has been foreseen t h a t d u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n the v o l u m e o f p r o d u c t i o n o f l i g h t i n d u s t r y w i l l b e r a i s e d by 43-45 p e r cent a n d of t h e f o o d - p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r y by 20-24 p e r cent. W h i l e s t r i v i n g w i t h a l l its m i g h t t o increase p r o d u c t i o n o f c o n s u m e r goods, t h e P a r t y p u t s f o r w a r d a s a n u r g e n t task t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e i r s t r u c t u r e a n d q u a l i t y i n o r d e r t o ensure, a t a l l costs, t h a t t h e goods p r o d u c e d w i l l be of t h e best p o s s i b l e q u a l i t y , s i m p l e r , cheaper, m o r e durable and more attractive. T h e w o r k w h i c h the w o r k e r s o f t h e t e x t i l e i n d u s t r y ,
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t h e c l o t h i n g i n d u s t r y , t h e w o o d - w o r k i n g a n d other b r a n ches a n d e n t e r p r i s e s o f i n d u s t r y h a v e b e g u n t o d o i n this d i r e c t i o n m u s t b e r e s o l u t e l y p u s h e d f o r w a r d a n d t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e d i s s e m i n a t e d w i d e l y a m o n g a l l the b r a n ches of i n d u s t r y t h a t p r o d u c e c o n s u m e r goods. It m u s t be clear to e v e r y b o d y t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e f o r q u a l i t y is, at t h e same t i m e , a s t r u g g l e f o r q u a n t i t y , b e cause t h e goods last l o n g e r a n d s o c i a l l a b o u r a n d m a t e r i a l values are saved. That is w h y the struggle to produce goods o f h i g h q u a l i t y m u s t b e j u s t a s o r e v e n m o r e p e r sistent t h a n t h e s t r u g g l e f o r the f u l f i l m e n t o f the p l a n in quantity. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r y a n d the g r o w t h o f industrial production must be achieved both through more c o m p l e t e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g p r o d u c t i v e capacities a n d t h r o u g h the c r e a t i o n of n e w capacities. It m u s t be stressed, h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e m o r e t i m e passes the m o r e the i n t e n s i v e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f the e x i s t i n g p r o d u c t i v e p o t e n t i a l i t i e s a n d t h e increase o f the p r o d u c t i v i t y o f l a b o u r m u s t b e c o m e t h e m a i n f a c t o r s f o r t h e c o n t i n u o u s increase of i n d u s t r i a l production. It is precisely for this reason that i n the 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n a b o u t 6 0 p e r cent o f the i n c r e a s e i n i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n w i l l b e e n s u r e d f r o m t h e e x i s t i n g p r o d u c t i v e capacities a n d t h e increase i n the productivity of labour of enterprises already functioning, a n d a b o u t 4 0 p e r cent f r o m t h e n e w projects. O n l y p r o c e e d i n g o n this course c a n e n s u r e t h e c o n t i n u o u s g r o w t h in the efficiency of o u r industry. G o o d e x p e r i e n c e i n t h i s respect i s not l a c k i n g . D u r i n g the 3rd F i v e - y e a r P l a n , though some new industrial works w e r e not b u i l t a t a l l , o r c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e m w a s p o s t p o n e d , the e x i s t i n g i n d u s t r i a l p l a n t s a n d factories, b y o v e r f u l f i l l i n g t h e i r p l a n s , gave great assistance i n t h e succ e s s f u l f u l f i l m e n t , o n the w h o l e , o f the targets set b y the 4 t h C o n g r e s s o f the P a r t y f o r t h e increase o f t o t a l i n -
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dustrial production. In some branches a n d enterprises of o u r i n d u s t r y , s u c h a s the o i l p r o c e s s i n g , c o p p e r m e t a l l u r g y , cement, t e x t i l e , s u g a r a n d o t h e r i n d u s t r i e s , the p l a n n e d p r o d u c t i v e capacities w e r e s u r p a s s e d b y a n a v e r a g e o f 10 p e r cent. I t i s the d u t y o f t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e e c o n o m i c o r g a n s t o d r a w t h e necessary lessons f r o m t h i s experience, w h i c h s h o u l d b e m a d e t h e basis o f t h e w o r k of every enterprise, workshop, brigade and w o r k e r , so t h a t t h e m a x i m u m p r o d u c t i o n i s got f r o m the m a c h i n e r y a n d e q u i p m e n t . T o this e n d i t i s i m p e r a t i v e t o g o o v e r , as soon as possible a n d w h e r e v e r possible, to the m e t h o d o f w o r k i n g w i t h t w o o r t h r e e f u l l shifts, t o a v o i d seasonal f l u c t u a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , t o ceaselessly r a i s e the t e c h n i c a l and professional level of the w o r k e r s and to ensure r e gular a n d uninterrupted supplies of r a w materials f o r i n d u s t r y , e s p e c i a l l y those f r o m a g r i c u l t u r e . T h e p a r t y organizations a n d the w o r k i n g collectives o f the i n d u s t r i a l e n t e r p r i s e s m u s t m a k e e v e r y e f f o r t t o master, a s q u i c k l y a n d t h o r o u g h l y a s possible, t h e n e w equipment w i t h w h i c h our industry is being more a n d m o r e s u p p l i e d , i n o r d e r t o increase o u r i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n r a p i d l y o n t h e basis o f i n c r e a s i n g t h e p r o d u c t i v i t y of labour. In order to limit low productivity m a n u a l l a b o u r as f a r as p o s s i b l e a n d to i m p r o v e the q u a l i t y , special a t t e n t i o n m u s t b e p a i d t o r a i s i n g t h e t e c h n i c a l l e v e l of production in the cooperative handicraft enterprises. In order to raise the level of mechanized w o r k in industry, agriculture, construction, transport, handicrafts, etc., a n d t o e l i m i n a t e the b o t t l e - n e c k s o f p r o d u c t i o n , t h e t i m e has c o m e f o r o u r e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y t o start t o m a s t e r t h e p r o d u c t i o n i n series o f i n d i v i d u a l a n d c o m p l e t e m a c h i n e s a n d i t e m s o f e q u i p m e n t . T o f u l f i l this t a s k measures m u s t be t a k e n i m m e d i a t e l y to set up d e s i g n , construction and technological bureaus a n d to ensure that
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the f i r s t steps t a k e n t o w a r d s t h e c o o p e r a t i o n a n d s p e cialization of production are extended and deepened by seeking a n d f i n d i n g t h e f o r m s m o s t s u i t a b l e a n d a d v a n tageous f o r the c o n d i t i o n s o f o u r c o u n t r y .
2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE THE MOST IMPORTANT LINK FOR THE FULFILMENT OF THE MAIN ECONOMIC TASKS OF THE 4th FIVE-YEAR P L A N T h r o u g h o u t the w h o l e p e r i o d o f s o c i a l i s t c o n s t r u c t i o n the P a r t y h a s p a i d g r e a t a t t e n t i o n t o a g r i c u l t u r e , c o n s i d e r ing it as one of the m a i n branches of the economy. T h e people's p o w e r has m a d e a n d i s m a k i n g colossal i n v e s t ments f o r the m e c h a n i z a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e , f o r d r a i n a g e and i r r i g a t i o n w o r k , f o r t h e p r o v i s i o n o f c h e m i c a l f e r tilizers, s e l e c t e d seeds, q u a l i f i e d cadres a n d v a r i o u s credits, etc. T h e P a r t y h a s a l w a y s l i n k e d the d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e i n d i s s o l u b l y w i t h the b u i l d i n g o f s o c i a l i s m i n the c o u n t r y s i d e , w h i c h i s c o n t i n u i n g a s a n u n i n t e r r u p t e d r e v o l u t i o n a n d w h i c h i n v o l v e s a series o f t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s of a social, economic, i d e o l o g i c a l , c u l t u r a l a n d t e c h n i c a l nature. T h a n k s to the correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t line of the P a r t y , o u r c o u n t r y s i d e , o r g a n i z e d i n c o l l e c t i v e economies, has m a d e great a n d a l l - r o u n d progress. N e i t h e r t h e g r o w t h of agricultural production nor the i m p r o v e m e n t of m a terial a n d cultural well-being of our peasantry to the l e v e l t h a t has b e e n a t t a i n e d , i s c o n c e i v a b l e w i t h o u t the cooperativist o r d e r . T o t a l a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n i n 1965 was 2.3 t i m e s l a r g e r t h a n in 1938, t h e a r e a of a r a b l e l a n d had i n c r e a s e d 7 4 p e r cent, w h i l e the a r e a u n d e r i r r i g a t i o n had increased 7 fold, a n d n o w about half of the arable l a n d is u n d e r i r r i g a t i o n . I n s t e a d of the 30 t r a c t o r s t h e
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c o u n t r y h a d before L i b e r a t i o n , 7,630 t r a c t o r s o f 1 5 H P ( 3 ) are n o w o p e r a t i n g i n o u r a g r i c u l t u r e . T h e y i e l d rates o f a l l a g r i c u l t u r a l c r o p s are i n c r e a s i n g y e a r b y y e a r . T h e i n c o m e s o f the peasants h a v e i n c r e a s e d a n d t h e e c o n o m i c , social a n d c u l t u r a l s i t u a t i o n i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e has steadily improved. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d the e x p e r i e n c e o f socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y s i d e c o n f i r m the importance and u n i v e r s a l value of the teachings of M a r x ism-Leninism, according to w h i c h the only w a y to build socialism in the countryside in the countries w i t h f r a g m e n t e d peasant e c o n o m i e s i s t h e c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n o f a g r i culture. A n y other w a y apart f r o m collectivization leads only to the development or restoration of capitalism in the c o u n t r y s i d e . T h e Y u g o s l a v a n d other m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s p r e a c h the s p o n t a n e o u s d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e a n d d o not accept t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f the p a r t y a n d state i n its socialist t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . T h e y h a v e d r a g g e d o u t o f the d u s t - b i n a n d p r o p a g a t e the o l d thesis o f t h e i r predecessors about t h e spontaneous i n t e g r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y s i d e i n t o socialism o n l y after the industrialization of the country has been c o m p l e t e d . B u t l i f e a n d t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r c o u n t r y a n d o t h e r socialist c o u n t r i e s h a v e p r o v e d t h a t these v i e w s a r e u t t e r l y a n t i - M a r x i s t , r e a c t i o n a r y a n d hostile, because t h e a i m o f t h e m i s t o p r e s e r v e t h e p o s i t i o n s o f t h e bourgeoisie i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e a n d t o p e r p e t u a t e the c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m i n a g r i c u l t u r e . I n the c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s are i n p o w e r a n d w h e r e c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n h a s been c a r r i e d out, n o w t h e y a r e m o v i n g b a c k w a r d o n the r o a d t o t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m , p r e c i s e l y because t h e y b e t r a y e d t h e L e n i n ____________________________ 3 In 1979 the number of tractors reckoned in 15 HP amounted to 18.369. T h e first tractor of A l b a n i a n m a k e w a s constructed i n 1978.
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ist t e a c h i n g s o n t h e w a y t o b u i l d s o c i a l i s m i n the countryside. F o l l o w i n g the break-up of the machine and t r a c t o r stations i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , n o w m e a s u r e s are being t a k e n t o f r a g m e n t t h e c o l l e c t i v e p r o p e r t y b y c r e a t i n g t h e s o - c a l l e d p r o d u c e r associations, w h i c h m u s t p a y rent f o r t h e l a n d a n d t h e o t h e r m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , the private plots are being extended at the expense of the collective p r o p e r t y a n d t h e l i m i t s o n t h e n u m b e r s o f personally owned draft and productive animals are being abolished. Besides this, collective w o r k is being replaced with individual work, payment according to the work done i s b e i n g r e p l a c e d w i t h t h e p r i n c i p l e o f a c c u m u l a t i n g wealth, a n d the a g r i c u l t u r a l economies are entirely free to develop spontaneously a n d to adapt all their economic and productive activity to the anarchic demands, the competition and the free p l a y of prices on the market. T h i s anti-socialist policy has g i v e n rise to great d i f f i c u l t i e s i n these c o u n t r i e s . T h e peasants a r e a b a n d o n i n g the c o u n t r y s i d e e n m a s s e . T h e r a t e s o f d e v e l o p m e n t o f agriculture are slowing d o w n . T h e plans are not being f u l f i l l e d a n d t h e a p p r e c i a b l e shortages o f a g r i c u l t u r a l and livestock products are increasing relentlessly. D u r i n g the p a s t s e v e n - y e a r p l a n a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n i n the S o v i e t U n i o n i n c r e a s e d o n l y 1 4 p e r cent a s a g a i n s t the 7 0 p e r cent i n c r e a s e p l a n n e d . T h e p l a n f o r o p e n i n g u p n e w l a n d , the p r e a c h i n g o f t h e m a i z e c u l t a n d t h e K h r u s h chevites' o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d r e - o r g a n i z a t i o n s w e r e n o t h i n g but g r e a t b l u n d e r s w h i c h m a d e t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d chaos in agriculture even worse. A l t h o u g h the Soviet U n i o n w a s a b i g e x p o r t e r o f g r a i n i n t h e past, i n r e c e n t y e a r s i t has i m p o r t e d u n h e a r d - o f q u a n t i t i e s o f g r a i n , h o l d i n g out its h a n d t o t h e A m e r i c a n a n d o t h e r i m p e r i a l i s t s . O u r P a r t y adheres t o t h e l i n e t h a t w e m u s t h a v e not only a developed industry, but also an advanced agriculture, that for o u r economy to be strong a n d inde-
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p e n d e n t i t m u s t base i t s e l f o n its t w o legs, b o t h o n i n d u s t r y a n d a g r i c u l t u r e . T h i s i s a m a j o r issue o f p r i n ciple, w h i c h h a s s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r o u r c o u n t r y . Ours is an agricultural-industrial country a n d the majority of the active population is engaged in agriculture. The needs o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n a n d t h e e c o n o m y f o r g r a i n a n d o t h e r a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d a n i m a l p r o d u c t s are g r o w i n g c o n tinuously. T h e rates of industrial development, especially i n the l i g h t a n d f o o d - p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r i e s , d e p e n d d i r e c t l y on the a m o u n t of r a w materials furnished by agriculture. The demand for agricultural products for export is steadily i n c r e a s i n g , too. T h e e x t e n s i o n o f the h o m e m a r k e t d e p e n d s to a great extent on the rise in the incomes of the peasantry, on the increase of their economic exchanges, o n t h e basis o f t h e g r o w t h o f a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d l i v e s t o c k production. F i n a l l y , the improvement of the economic situation of the population m o r e r a p i d l y cannot be thought of without ensuring the rapid development of agriculture. W e i g h i n g u p a n d assessing a l l these factors c o r r e c t l y , t h e P a r t y i s s e t t i n g v e r y great a n d i m p o r t a n t tasks f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e d u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n . In this plan, agriculture occupies the m a i n position in the development of the people's economy as a whole. The basic task of agriculture and the whole people's economy is to increase production of bread g r a i n . . . T h e P a r t y r e g a r d s f u l f i l m e n t o f this t a s k not o n l y a s a p r o b l e m v i t a l t o s o l v i n g once a n d f o r a l l the p r o b l e m s of ensuring the people's b r e a d w i t h i n the country a n d c r e a t i n g reserves f o r t h e f u t u r e , b u t also as a m e a n s to g i v e a f r e s h i m p e t u s to t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of a l l the other b r a n c h e s o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d t o r e l i e v e t h e people's e c o n o m y as a w h o l e of the considerable expenditure w h i c h t h e state m a k e s f o r g r a i n i m p o r t s . T h i s w i l l b e one o f t h e greatest p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c v i c t o r i e s o f o u r P a r t y
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and the p e o p l e ' s p o w e r , because f o r us, t h e s t r u g g l e to ensure t h e people's b r e a d w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y has b e e n and r e m a i n s the s t r u g g l e f o r s o c i a l i s m . I n s e t t i n g t h e task o f i n c r e a s i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f bread g r a i n , t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y has unshakeable confidence that the patriotic peasantry, backed u p b y t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the o t h e r w o r k i n g people of the town, w i l l w o r k w i t h might and m a i n and h o n o u r a b l y f u l f i l t h i s g r e a t task. D i d n ' t t h i s a g r i c u l t u r a l year show this v e r y w e l l ? M o b i l i z e d u n d e r the slogan E n s u r e o u r o w n bread, the w o r k i n g p e a s a n t r y a c h i e v e d v e r y g o o d r e s u l t s . A l t h o u g h t h e p l a n n e d y i e l d rates i n g r a i n w e r e h i g h e r t h a n those o f a n y o t h e r y e a r , t h e y were achieved successfully. T h i s y e a r m a n y mountainous cooperatives succeeded, f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e , i n p r o d u c i n g a l l the g r a i n t h e y n e e d f o r t h e i r o w n b r e a d . T h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n p l a n i n potatoes w a s a n o t h e r great a c h i e v e m e n t . I n r e s p o n s e t o t h e c a l l o f the P a r t y , the a r e a p l a n t e d t o potatoes w a s i n c r e a s e d f o u r f o l d a n d production w i l l increase about f i v e fold. T h e b a c k w a r d concepts t h a t t h i s p l a n t c a n ' t b e c u l t i v a t e d i n l a r g e areas and i n e v e r y d i s t r i c t o f o u r c o u n t r y h a v e b e e n o v e r t u r n e d . A great source t o e n s u r e o u r d a i l y b r e a d h a s been created, because t h e p o t a t o i s b r e a d . O n t h i s o c c a s i o n a l l o w m e to congratulate a l l the w o r k i n g peasantry for this i m portant a c t i o n a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e m e n o f o u r P e o p l e ' s A r m y , w h o , i n t h e f u l l sense o f t h e t e r m , b e c a m e t h e pioneers o f t h i s i m p o r t a n t c a m p a i g n f o r g r o w i n g p o tatoes. T h u s , t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h i s y e a r i s v e r y e n c o u r a g i n g a n d t h e t a r g e t set i n t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n for increased g r a i n p r o d u c t i o n w i l l certainly be achieved. T h e P a r t y w i l l continue its efforts to further strengthen t h e m u l t i - b r a n c h e d c h a r a c t e r o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d its p r o f i t a b l e d e v e l o p m e n t . T o this e n d , t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f i n d u s t r i a l crops w i l l b e i n c r e a s e d , f r u i t g r o w i n g w i l l b e
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extended, paying greater attention to the selection of the t y p e s o f f r u i t trees, a s w e l l a s t o t h e r a d i c a l i m p r o v e ment of agricultural technique, so that the value of the f r u i t w i l l be increased both for the home m a r k e t a n d for export. Greater attention w i l l be p a i d to the e x p a n s i o n a n d t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f o u r forests d u r i n g t h i s f i v e year plan. Particular attention w i l l be p a i d to the development of a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y , w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e s a p r i c e l e s s asset a n d a n i m p o r t a n t source t o f u l f i l t h e needs o f t h e p e o p l e and to expand some branches of the light and food p r o cessing i n d u s t r i e s . T o t h i s e n d , a l l types o f l i v e s t o c k must be increased, g i v i n g special attention to increasing the n u m b e r o f cows, w h i c h a r e t h e basis f o r i n c r e a s i n g the n u m b e r o f cattle. T h e i n c r e a s e o f t h e n u m b e r o f c o w s a n d cattle i n g e n e r a l i s c o n n e c t e d b o t h w i t h t h e extension a n d opening up of n e w l a n d f r o m the pastures, m e a d o w s , h i l l s , w o o d s a n d forests, a n d w i t h t h e d e velopment of intensive agriculture. I n o r d e r t o increase s u p p l i e s o f a n i m a l p r o d u c t s i t i s n e c e s s a r y also t o i m p r o v e the breeds o f a l l k i n d s o f l i v e s t o c k a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , o f cattle. A l l t h e n e c e s s a r y measures m u s t b e t a k e n t o s t a r t h e r d i m p r o v e m e n t i n cattle o n a n e x t e n s i v e scale b o t h i n t h e l o w - l a n d zones a n d i n t h e h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zones, a c c o r d i n g t o the p l a n o f r e g i o n a l i z a t i o n w h i c h w i l l b e d e c i d e d , a n d this t a s k m u s t b e c a r r i e d out i n t h e shortest p o s s i b l e time. T h e k e y to the development of a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y and the increase in a n i m a l products is to ensure a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e f o d d e r base. D e s p i t e t h e o p e n i n g u p o f n e w l a n d , this w i l l not b e d a m a g e d , b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y w i l l be e n r i c h e d to t h e n e c e s s a r y d e g r e e as a r e s u l t of i n c r e a s e d care f o r t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f pastures, u s i n g them in a more organized w a y and increasing the p r o d u c t i o n o f forage c r o p s . . .
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For the rapid development of agriculture, along with the struggle for its intensification, the policy of opening up new land must be continued for a long time. A l t h o u g h v e r y m o u n t a i n o u s , o u r c o u n t r y s t i l l has b i g r e s e r v e s f o r expansion of the area planted to bread g r a i n and other a g r i c u l t u r a l crops. I n g e n e r a l these reserves a r e a t h i g h altitudes a n d i n r e m o t e zones. T h e r e f o r e , f o r n e w l a n d t o b e o p e n e d u p w e m u s t d i r e c t o u r eyes t o t h e h i l l s and mountains. T h e r e i s n o d o u b t a t a l l t h a t this d i r e c t i v e o f the P a r t y a n d t h e t a s k set i n t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n f o r the opening up of n e w l a n d w i l l be accomplished successfully. S u f f i c e i t t o m e n t i o n t h a t d u r i n g the f i r s t y e a r o f this f i v e - y e a r p l a n a l o n e n e a r l y 3 0 p e r cent m o r e n e w l a n d was o p e n e d u p t h a n d u r i n g t h e l a s t t w o y e a r s o f t h e 3rd F i v e - y e a r P l a n t a k e n together. T h i s fact a l o n e o u t strips e v e n t h e b o l d e s t forecasts i n this d i r e c t i o n . I t i s t h e d u t y o f the p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o k e e p a l i v e the r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s m o f o u r p a t r i o t i c p e a s a n t r y for o p e n i n g u p n e w l a n d , w h i c h b u r s t o u t d u r i n g t h e first y e a r o f t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n , a n d r a i s e i t t o a n e v e n higher level. W i t h t h e e x t e n s i v e o p e n i n g u p o f n e w l a n d i n this and f u t u r e f i v e - y e a r p l a n s , great a n d b r i l l i a n t prospects of development have been opened to the h i l l y a n d m o u n tainous zones. T h e s l o g a n o f t h e P a r t y , t h e state a n d the w h o l e p e o p l e m u s t be Let us take to the hills and mountains, beautify them and make them as fertile as the plains. F o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of these zones, besides the tireless w o r k w h i c h m u s t b e d o n e b y t h e peasants t h e m selves, a n d w h i c h w i l l b e the d e c i s i v e f a c t o r f o r r a i s i n g their w e l l - b e i n g a n d c u l t u r a l l e v e l , t h e P a r t y a n d g o v e r n m e n t h a v e also t a k e n s o m e e c o n o m i c m e a s u r e s i n t h e i r f a v o u r , s u c h as: a l l the t a x a t i o n o n a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s
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d u r i n g the f i v e y e a r s w i l l b e l e f t a t t h e d i s p o s a l o f the agricultural cooperatives, to be used for investments, a n d t h e w h o l e s a l e p r i c e s o f w h e a t a n d m e a t s o l d t o the state w i l l b e r a i s e d . T h e s e m e a s u r e s , together w i t h t h e o t h e r a i d o f t h e state i n f i n a n c i a l a n d m a t e r i a l m e a n s a n d cadres, w i l l h e l p t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zones e c o n o m i c a l l y a n d w i l l create the p o s s i b i l i t y t o accelerate t h e r a t e s o f g r o w t h o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d s o c i a l progress i n these areas. A l o n g w i t h this, t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l economies o f these areas, w h i c h h a v e n o t y e t b e e n c o l l e c t i v i z e d ( 4 ) a n d w h i c h r e p r e s e n t a b o u t 1 0 p e r cent o f t h e peasants' l a n d , m u s t b e h e l p e d b y the P a r t y a n d the state t o f i n d the m o s t s u i t a b l e f o r m s f o r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k a n d p r o d u c t i o n o n a c o l l e c t i v e socialist basis. T h e P a r t y a n d t h e state m u s t c o n s i d e r a n d s t u d y t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e m o u n t a i n areas w i t h g r e a t care a n d i n a n o r g a n i z e d w a y . T h e y m u s t d o p e r s i s t e n t w o r k i n this d i r e c t i o n , m u s t n o t b e content w i t h l i t t l e a n d not b e c a r r i e d a w a y w i t h p r e m a t u r e e n t h u s i a s m o v e r t h e i n i t i a l successes, because i n t h i s gigantic u n d e r t a k i n g unprecedented in the history of o u r c o u n t r y , t h e y w i l l r u n into d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d obstacles, w h i c h must a n d certainly w i l l be overcome. R i g h t f r o m this f i v e - y e a r p l a n , t h e o p e n i n g u p o f n e w l a n d i n the h i l l s a n d m o u n t a i n s m u s t b e c a r r i e d o u t a c c o r d i n g t o a p e r s p e c t i v e p l a n , w h i c h m u s t foresee h o w m u c h land, w h e n a n d w h e r e i t w i l l b e opened u p b y the p e a s a n t r y a n d the a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, a n d w h e r e a n d w h e n i t w i l l b e o p e n e d u p b y t h e state, b e a r i n g in m i n d that the new land w h i c h w i l l be opened up by the state s h o u l d c o m p r i s e b i g b l o c k s o n t h e b a s i s o f w h i c h state f a r m s c a n b e set u p .
____________________________ 4 Collectivization of agriculture in A l b a n i a began in N o vember 1946, proceeded gradually a n d was completed in 1967.
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T h e o r g a n s o f the P a r t y a n d state m u s t s o l v e the p r o b l e m o f m a n p o w e r f o r these state f a r m s . W h a t w a y s can t h e r e b e t o s o l v e t h i s p r o b l e m ? N a t u r a l l y t h e p e a s a n t r y o f t h e m o u n t a i n areas constitutes one g o o d source, but s i n c e w e a r e a l r e a d y a w a r e t h a t t h e m o u n t a i n c o operatives t h e m s e l v e s w i l l n e e d m o r e m a n p o w e r , w e m u s t not e x p e c t m u c h f r o m t h e m . A n o t h e r source m u s t b e ensured f r o m the l o w - l a n d cooperatives. To this end, during the next ten years we m u s t t r y to achieve the m a x i m u m m e c h a n i z a t i o n o f the f a r m w o r k i n t h e l o w l a n d s , so as to release a g r e a t n u m b e r of w o r k e r s w h o c a n be s h i f t e d t o t h e m o u n t a i n o u s zones. H o w e v e r , t h e m a i n source t o p o p u l a t e m o u n t a i n zones i n g e n e r a l m u s t b e the p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e t o w n s , f i r s t o f a l l t h e y o u t h , w h o are courageous, p a t r i o t i c , e n t h u s i a s t i c a n d a l w a y s r e s p o n d to the directives of the P a r t y . T h e development of o u r agriculture in this w a y w i l l not o n l y b r i n g a g r e a t e r i n c r e a s e of a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s , hence t h e c r e a t i o n o f c o n s i d e r a b l e reserves, b u t w i l l also h e l p n o r m a l i z e t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n . Going to the mountains w i l l put an end to the noticed h a r m f u l , uneconomical, petty-bourgeois, bureaucratic tend e n c y t o l e a v e those areas a n d g o d o w n t o the t o w n s , regardless o f w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e needs o f t h e e c o n o m y require this. B y a p p l y i n g these o r i e n t a t i o n s , o u r m o u n t a i n s , w h i c h are s o m e w h a t a b a n d o n e d a n d i m p o v e r i s h e d a t present, w i l l flourish a n d become productive w i t h i n a relatively short t i m e . I t i s m a n w h o b e a u t i f i e s t h e c o u n t r y a n d o u r mountains w i l l be transformed by the hands and m i n d of m a n . W e a l w a y s s a y that t h e forests a r e a g r e a t asset and must be protected. Populating the mountains w i l l t r u l y t u r n t h e f o r e s t s i n t o a colossal asset, because t h e y w i l l have people to protect t h e m and take care of them.
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N o t o n l y w i l l t h e p e o p l e p r o t e c t t h e forests f r o m m i s u s e , b u t u n d o u b t e d l y t h e y w i l l e n l a r g e t h e areas u n d e r forest. T h e o p e n i n g u p o f n e w l a n d o n a n e x t e n s i v e scale w i l l u n d o u b t e d l y g i v e rise, i n t h e f u t u r e , t o t h e n e e d f o r studies o n t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f the t y p e s o f l i v e s t o c k i n t h e m o u n t a i n areas. P e r h a p s w e s h o u l d n o longer r e m a i n prisoners to the present tradition that o n l y sheep a n d goats c a n b e r a i s e d o n t h e h i l l s a n d m o u n t a i n s . I n the n e w c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h a r e b e i n g created, i n a d d i t i o n t o sheep a n d goats, d a i r y c o w s m u s t also b e r a i s e d m u c h more extensively, even in the mountains. O u r m o u n t a i n s m u s t b e c o m e a b i g source o f m i l k , m e a t , b u t ter, cheese, etc. W e m u s t d e v e l o p m o d e r n , p r o f i t a b l e livestock farming, just as m a n y countries of Europe have done, w i t h a n a d v a n c e d m i l k p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r y , n o t o n l y t o create a b u n d a n c e i n t h e c o u n t r y , b u t a l s o t o export o u r tasty a n d aromatic products. O u r p e o p l e w i l l w e l c o m e this colossal a c t i o n e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y because t h e y w i l l see a great f u t u r e i n it. T h e P a r t y has especially great faith i n the youth, w h o w i l l r e s p o n d e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y t o the c a l l o f t h e P a r t y a n d w i l l t a k e t o t h e m o u n t a i n s , conscious t h a t i n t h i s w a y t h e y are f i g h t i n g f o r t h e p r o s p e r i t y o f t h e H o m e l a n d , f o r the c r e a t i o n o f n e w v i l l a g e s a n d t o w n s i n t h e m o u n t a i n s , for the dissemination of culture and progress everywhere, f o r t h e f u s i o n o f t h e p e o p l e o f t h e t o w n s w i t h those of the countryside. T h e youth, the f u t u r e of our country, w i l l be tempered w i t h the communist spirit and the heroic features of o u r highlanders, a n d w i l l become as s t r o n g as t h e m o u n t a i n s t h e m s e l v e s . T h e P a r t y m u s t t a k e a l l t h e necessary m e a s u r e s f o r this great a c t i o n p o l i t i c a l , m a t e r i a l a n d p r o p a g a n d a measures, s o t h a t i t i s c a r r i e d o u t s u c c e s s f u l l y . T h e p r o paganda of the P a r t y should arouse love for agriculture, f o r l i v e s t o c k f a r m i n g i n t h e people, a r o u s e t h e i r l o v e f o r
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the h i l l s , f o r o u r h e r o i c m o u n t a i n s , w h i c h f r o m n o w o n w i l l not o n l y be n a t u r a l fortresses in defence of o u r Homeland, but w i l l also become an i m p o r t a n t source f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist e c o n o m y . T h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e great tasks w h i c h t h e 4 t h F i v e year P l a n sets f o r a g r i c u l t u r e d e m a n d s t h e further economic and organizational strengthening of the agricultural cooperatives and their full treatment as voluntary economic organizations of the peasantry. I n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the b r o a d masses o f c o o p e r a t i v ists, as a l w a y s , t h e P a r t y has r e c e n t l y i s s u e d a series of recommendations intended to i m p r o v e the system of p l a n n i n g , o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d p a y m e n t f o r t h e w o r k done i n the a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s , t o i m p r o v e a n d e x t e n d their r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e state e c o n o m i c o r g a n s a n d w i t h the o t h e r e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t o i n v i g o r a t e t h e i r i n t e r n a l life, a n d e n s u r e t h a t t h e basic p r i n c i p l e s o f i n i t i a t i v e a n d c o o p e r a t i v e d e m o c r a c y are respected. T h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e state organs m u s t ensure t h a t these m e a s u r e s a r e c a r r i e d o u t t h o r o u g h l y , so t h a t t h e y s e r v e to s t r e n g t h e n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s , l e a d t o g r e a t e r m o b i l i z a t i o n o f the c o o p e r a t i v i s t peasants a n d raise t h e i r socialist consciousness a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t . In the n e w circumstances, the economic and organizational s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s i s inseparable f r o m the further invigoration of their internal life o n t h e basis o f d e m o c r a c y , f r o m t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g of their financial discipline and better organization of their w o r k . F o r this purpose, the role of the assembly a s the s u p r e m e o r g a n o f m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e a n d t h e o n l y one w h i c h decides a l l t h e m a i n aspects o f its e c o n o m i c a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s , m u s t be e n h a n c e d . In a d d i t i o n to this, t h e organs of state p o w e r at district and grass roots must i m p r o v e the guidance they g i v e t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s o n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l issues a n d the
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organizational forms of the leadership and work, without i n v o l v i n g themselves w i t h details and w i t h the matters w h i c h are u p t o the c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d the c o o p e r a t i v e m e m b e r s themselves, a n d w i t h o u t s t i f l i n g the i n i t i a t i v e o f t h e organs a n d cadres t h e y elect, o r d e p r i v i n g t h e m of their authority. ........................
IV THE FURTHER DEEPENING OF THE IDEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL REVOLUTION T h e further revolutionization of life in our country is inconceivable without the further development and deepening o f t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n . I t i s a c c o m p l i s h e d p r e c i s e l y o n t h e basis o f t h i s r e v o l u t i o n , the f u n d a m e n t a l a i m o f w h i c h i s t o i n s t i l a n d e n s u r e the c o m p l e t e t r i u m p h o f the p r o l e t a r i a n socialist i d e o l o g y i n t h e consciousness o f a l l t h e w o r k i n g people, w h i l e thoroughly eradicating the bourgeois ideology, to ensure the a l l - r o u n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y , c o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n a n d tempering of the new m a n the decisive factor in solving all the big, complicated problems of the construction of socialism and the defence of the H o m e l a n d . T h r o u g h o u t its w h o l e existence, o u r P a r t y has d e v o t e d special care a n d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e a l l - r o u n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y e d u c a t i o n o f the c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l t h e w o r k i n g people. E s p e c i a l l y since t h e 4 t h C o n g r e s s a n d o n t h e basis o f its d i r e c t i v e s , o u r P a r t y has d o n e m o r e p e r s i s t e n t w o r k in this direction.
1. THE STRUGGLE FOR THE TRIUMPH OF THE SOCIALIST IDEOLOGY IS A STRUGGLE FOR THE TRIUMPH OF SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM I n o u r c o u n t r y t h e p r o l e t a r i a n socialist i d e o l o g y i s the i d e o l o g y i n p o w e r w h i c h sets t h e g e n e r a l t o n e f o r a l l t h e l i f e a n d a c t i v i t y o f o u r w o r k i n g people. D e s p i t e
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t h e successes a c h i e v e d , h o w e v e r , w e are conscious t h a t the struggle in this field is protracted and difficult. V.I. Lenin said: Our task is to overcome all the resistance of the capitalists, not only their military and political resistance but also their ideological resistance, which is the strongest and most deeply entrenched.* T h e o l d idealist i d e o l o g y o f t h e e x p l o i t i n g society s t i l l has deep roots a n d e x e r t s a p o w e r f u l a n d c o n t i n u o u s i n f l u e n c e . W h e n w e speak o f t h i s i n f l u e n c e , i t i s n o t j u s t a m a t t e r of a f e w r e m n a n t s a n d a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s t h a t a p p e a r here a n d there, a s i t i s o f t e n w r o n g l y d e s c r i b e d i n o u r p r o p a g a n d a , b u t the i n f l u e n c e o f a w h o l e a l i e n i d e o l o g y w h i c h i s e x p r e s s e d i n a l l sorts o f a l i e n concepts, customs a n d attitudes, w h i c h a r e r e t a i n e d f o r a l o n g t i m e a s a h e r i t a g e f r o m t h e past, h a v e s o c i a l s u p p o r t i n t h e f o r m e r e x p l o i t i n g classes a n d t h e i r r e m n a n t s , i n t h e t e n dencies t o p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s s p o n t a n e i t y , a n d a r e n u r t u r e d in various forms by the capitalist and revisionist w o r l d w h i c h s u r r o u n d s us. A s l o n g a s the c o m p l e t e v i c t o r y o f t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e f i e l d o f i d e o l o g y a n d c u l t u r e has n o t been e n s u r e d , the a c h i e v e m e n t s o f t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c f i e l d s c a n n o t b e secure a n d g u a r a n t e e d , e i t h e r . T h e r e f o r e , i n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , the struggle on the ideological front for the complete defeat o f bourgeois a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g y has t o d o w i t h t h e question: w i l l socialism a n d c o m m u n i s m be built a n d the r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m b e a v o i d e d , o r w i l l the d o o r b e opened t o the s p r e a d o f b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t ideology a n d the r e t u r n to capitalism be permitted.
_________________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 31, p. 423 (Alb. ed.).
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T h e ideological a n d cultural revolution is a part of the g e n e r a l class s t r u g g l e t o c a r r y t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n t h r o u g h t o the e n d i n a l l f i e l d s . C o n t r a r y t o the v i e w s o f the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o h a v e d e c l a r e d the class s t r u g gle i n s o c i a l i s m o u t d a t e d a n d a t h i n g o f t h e past, o u r P a r t y h o l d s t h a t class s t r u g g l e r e m a i n s o n e o f t h e m a i n m o t i v e f o r c e s o f society, e v e n a f t e r the e x p l o i t i n g classes have been eliminated. T h i s struggle includes a l l fields of life. I t h a s its ebbs a n d f l o w s a n d zigzags, s o m e t i m e s i t surges u p , s o m e t i m e s i t f a l l s b a c k , s o m e t i m e s becomes fierce, a t o t h e r t i m e s m o r e mild, b u t i t n e v e r ceases a n d dies r i g h t a w a y . A s t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r c o u n t r y shows, t h i s s t r u g g l e is an objective a n d inevitable phenomenon in socialism. It is w a g e d a g a i n s t t h e r e m n a n t s of t h e e x p l o i t i n g classes, o v e r t h r o w n a n d e x p r o p r i a t e d , b u t w h o c o n t i n u e t o resist and e x e r t pressure by every means, first a n d foremost, through t h e i r reactionary ideology, as w e l l as against new bourgeois e l e m e n t s , d e g e n e r a t e r e v i s i o n i s t a n d a n t i - P a r t y elements, w h o i n e v i t a b l y e m e r g e w i t h i n o u r society. I t i s also w a g e d a g a i n s t b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g y which is retained and expressed in various forms and degrees of i n t e n s i t y , as w e l l as a g a i n s t t h e e x t e r n a l p r e s sure o f i m p e r i a l i s m . T h u s the i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l f r o n t s o f class s t r u g g l e a r e i n t e r c o n n e c t e d , n o w m e r g i n g i n t o o n e single f r o n t , n o w o p e r a t i n g s e p a r a t e l y , b u t a l w a y s l i n k e d by the same objective: to o v e r t h r o w the dictatorship of the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d r e s t o r e c a p i t a l i s m . A c c e p t a n c e o r n o n - a c c e p t a n c e o f the class s t r u g g l e i n s o c i a l i s m is a q u e s t i o n of p r i n c i p l e , it is a l i n e of d e m a r c a tion between M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s a n d revisionists, between revolutionaries a n d betrayers of the revolution. A n y d e v i a t i o n f r o m t h e class s t r u g g l e has f a t a l consequences f o r the f u t u r e o f s o c i a l i s m . T h e r e f o r e , a l o n g w i t h t h e s t r u g g l e t o increase p r o d u c t i o n , t o d e v e l o p e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e ,
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a l o n g w i t h the s t r u g g l e against f o r e i g n enemies the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s , w e m u s t n o t neglect, m u s t n e v e r o v e r l o o k the class s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y , f o r otherwise history w i l l p u n i s h us severely. T h e d u t y o f t h e P a r t y i s n o t t o s h u t its eyes t o t h i s necessity, n o t t o b e n u m b the r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e o f the c o m m u n i s t s a n d masses, b u t t o w a g e t h i s class s t r u g g l e vigorously and unwaveringly until final victory. The progress o f o u r society a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y e d u c a t i o n o f the w o r k i n g people a r e i n c o n c e i v a b l e a n d c a n n o t b e a c h i e v e d o u t s i d e t h e class s t r u g g l e . I n p r a c t i c e w e o f t e n c o m e across a n a r r o w concept o n the class s t r u g g l e a n d class e n e m y , w h i c h r e g a r d s o n l y the k u l a k s a n d o t h e r e l e m e n t s o f the f o r m e r e x p l o i t i n g classes, o r the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d T i t o i t e a n d K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s a b r o a d a s class e n e m i e s , a n d o n l y t h e s t r u g g l e against t h e i r a n t i - s o c i a l i s t a c t i v i t i e s a s class s t r u g g l e . T h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t these e n e m i e s r e m a i n s , as a l w a y s , a p r i m a r y task f o r o u r P a r t y , o u r state a n d o u r w o r k i n g people. B u t w e s h o u l d t a k e a b r o a d e r v i e w o f t h e class struggle. I t i s a m a n y - s i d e d s t r u g g l e w h i c h is, f i r s t a n d foremost, an i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e t o d a y , a s t r u g g l e f o r the m i n d s a n d h e a r t s o f people, a s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t b o u r g e o i s and revisionist degeneration, against a l l alien remnants and phenomena w h i c h still exist a n d manifest themselves i n v a r i o u s degrees a m o n g a l l o u r p e o p l e i t i s a s t r u g g l e for the t r i u m p h of our communist ideology and morality. T h e s t r u g g l e against t h e f t a n d m i s u s e o f s o c i a l i s t p r o p e r t y , against p a r a s i t i c a n d s p e c u l a t i v e tendencies t o take as m u c h as possible f r o m society a n d to contribute to it as l i t t l e as possible, a g a i n s t p u t t i n g p e r s o n a l ease, t h e p e r s o n a l interest a n d g l o r y a b o v e t h e g e n e r a l interest, against b u r e a u c r a t i c m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a n d d i s t o r t i o n s , r e l i g i o u s ideology, p r e j u d i c e s , s u p e r s t i t i o n s a n d b a c k w a r d customs, against u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n o f w o m e n a n d f a i l u r e t o
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respect t h e i r e q u a l r i g h t s i n society, a g a i n s t f a s h i o n a n d the b o u r g e o i s w a y o f l i f e , a g a i n s t i d e a l i s m a n d m e t a p h y s i c s , against v a r i o u s isms o f t h e d e c a d e n t b o u r g e o i s a n d r e visionist a r t a n d c u l t u r e , against the p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l i n f l u e n c e of e x t e r n a l e n e m i e s , etc., etc., a l l these t h i n g s are p a r t s o f t h e class s t r u g g l e . T h u s , t h e class s t r u g g l e i s n o t o n l y d i r e c t e d against e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l enemies, b u t i s also w a g e d w i t h i n the r a n k s o f t h e w o r k i n g people, against a n y a l i e n m a n i festation o b s e r v e d i n t h e consciousness, t h e t h i n k i n g , t h e behaviour a n d the attitude of each i n d i v i d u a l . No one s h o u l d t h i n k t h a t h e i s p r o o f a g a i n s t a n y e v i l a n d has n o t h i n g t o f i g h t against w i t h i n h i m s e l f . A s t e r n s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n socialist i d e o l o g y a n d b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y t a k e s place i n t h e consciousness o f e a c h p e r s o n . E v e r y b o d y o u g h t t o l o o k a t h i m s e l f a s t h o u g h i n a m i r r o r a n d c l e a n his consciousness e v e r y day, j u s t a s h e w a s h e s h i s f a c e e v e r y day, b y t a k i n g a c o m m u n i s t a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s h i m s e l f . C l a s s s t r u g g l e i s r e f l e c t e d w i t h i n the P a r t y , too, b e cause, o n the o n e h a n d , p e o p l e f r o m d i f f e r e n t s o c i a l s t r a t a come i n t o t h e P a r t y , b r i n g i n g w i t h t h e m a l l k i n d s o f a l i e n r e m n a n t s a n d m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , a n d o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , the p a r t y m e m b e r s , l i k e a l l the w o r k i n g people, e n c o u n t e r the p r e s s u r e o f the class e n e m y , e s p e c i a l l y o f t h e e n e m y i d e o logy, f r o m i n s i d e a n d outside t h e c o u n t r y . C o n s e q u e n t l y , in the party ranks as w e l l as in the ranks of the w o r k i n g people t h e r e m a y a n d d o e m e r g e p e o p l e w h o d e g e n e r a t e a n d g o o v e r t o a l i e n a n t i - P a r t y a n d a n t i - s o c i a l i s t positions. Moreover, in a l l their activities o u r enemies give particular importance to the degeneration of party members in order to b r i n g about the degeneration of the P a r t y as a whole, because o n l y t h u s c a n t h e w a y b e o p e n e d t o the r e s t o r a tion of capitalism. It should be clear that without contradictions of various kinds and without a struggle to overcome t h e m , t h e l i f e a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P a r t y w o u l d
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n o t b e possible. T h i s s t r u g g l e s h o u l d n o t b e c o v e r e d u p under the pretext of preserving unity, but should be waged and carried through to the end, thus strengthening t h e t r u e u n i t y o f t h e P a r t y , its r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t , its m i l i t a n c y a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . It is a p r i m a r y task of a l l t h e i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k of the P a r t y to f o r m a correct concept a b o u t class s t r u g g l e i n o u r c o u n t r y i n a l l t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d w o r k i n g people, t o e d u c a t e t h e m i n t h e s p i r i t o f i r r e c o n c i l a b l e class s t r u g gle, t o i n s t i l i n t h e m t h e m e t h o d o f class a n a l y s i s w h i c h i s the o n l y m e t h o d b y w h i c h t o k n o w a n d c o r r e c t l y s o l v e a l l the p r o b l e m s , t o t e a c h t h e m n o t o n l y t o accept the n e e d f o r class s t r u g g l e i n w o r d s , b u t t o w a g e i t i n a l l fields o f l i f e e v e r y d a y . T h i s i s n o t s o m e t h i n g n e w . O u r P a r t y h a s a l w a y s s t r e s s e d t h e n e e d t o w a g e t h e class s t r u g g l e a n d c a r r y o u t class e d u c a t i o n a n d h a s d o n e a great d e a l o f w o r k i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . We must fight indifference and formalism in our p o l i t i c a l w o r k f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y a n d the m a s ses a n d a l w a y s l i n k i t p r o p e r l y w i t h t h e a c t i v e class s t r u g g l e . W e m u s t r e s o l u t e l y c o m b a t a l i e n concepts a n d m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o p p o s e d t o the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a n d the interests of people a n d socialism, combat the tendency t o a v o i d c a l l i n g t h i n g s b y t h e i r t r u e names, b u t t o soften t h e m a n d s m o o t h t h e m o v e r , c o n c e a l i n g t h e i r class essence and their social danger. T h e s e s h o r t c o m i n g s i n the w o r k o f p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s account f o r the fact t h a t s o m e c a d r e s a n d p a r t y m e m b e r s d o not a l w a y s g i v e p r i o r i t y t o t h e c o m m o n i n t e r e s t s r e p r e s e n t e d b y the p a r t y p o l i c y , b u t o f t e n l o o k a t t h i n g s f r o m the a n g l e o f p e r s o n a l , l o c a l o r d e p a r t m e n t a l interest, look at various problems w i t h the eye of a technocrat and b u r e a u c r a t , w i t h the e y e of a n a r r o w - m i n d e d specialist a n d neglect t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l aspects. T h e y do not understand that there is politics everywhere, in
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every w o r k a n d sector, because t h e r e are n o cadres o r economic, a d m i n i s t r a t i v e , c u l t u r a l o r m i l i t a r y w o r k d i vorced f r o m p o l i t i c s o r outside the p o l i c y o f t h e d i c t a t o r ship o f the p r o l e t a r i a t . A l l t h i n g s are i n t e r c o n n e c t e d a n d interdependent a n d i n t h i s u n i t y p o l i t i c s occupies the m a i n place, a n d l i k e w i s e a l l o u r cadres, i n e v e r y sector w h e r e they w o r k , s h o u l d be, f i r s t a n d foremost, p o l i t i c a l people, should p u t the p o l i c y o f t h e P a r t y f i r s t a n d a l w a y s g u i d e themselves by it. O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s been c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y its s t e r n i r r e c o n c i l a b i l i t y w i t h the e n e m i e s o f t h e people, s o c i a l i s m and M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d its l o v e f o r a n d boundless loyalty t o the w o r k i n g p e o p l e a n d t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y cause, its w i s d o m a n d p a t i e n c e w i t h a l l those w h o c o m m i t mistakes b u t c a n b e c o r r e c t e d . N a r r o w , s e c t a r i a n a t t i t u d e s have a l w a y s been a l i e n t o it. T h e r e f o r e , the p a r t y o r ganizations m u s t r e s o l u t e l y c o m b a t a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f sectarianism i n t h e i r w o r k because t h i s d a m a g e s t h e l i n k s o f the P a r t y w i t h the masses, confuses t h e d i v i d i n g l i n e between u s a n d o u r e n e m i e s a n d leads t o t h e use o f w r o n g m e t h o d s i n r e s o l v i n g c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a m o n g the people, w h i c h affect t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e themselves. T h e i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k o f t h e P a r t y m u s t m a k e the nature o f the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n socialist society t h o r o u g h l y clear, a s w e l l a s t h e w a y s t o r e s o l v e t h e m c o r r e c t l y . . . A n y m i x i n g u p o f the t w o k i n d s o f c o n t r a d i c t i o n s leads to o p p o r t u n i s t a n d s e c t a r i a n e r r o r s . I t m u s t a l w a y s b e b o r n e i n m i n d that t h e c a r r i e r s a n d spreaders o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y are n o t o n l y elements f r o m f o r m e r e x p l o i t i n g classes b u t also o u r o w n people w h o are w o r k i n g f o r the cause o f s o c i a l i s m . I n these cases, w h i l e f i g h t i n g m e r c i l e s s l y against the disease, the alien i d e o l o g y , w e m u s t s t r i v e w i t h a l l o u r m i g h t t o cure t h e patient, t h e c a r r i e r o f that ideology. O n l y i n the case w h e n the c a r r i e r a n d s p r e a d e r o f t h e a l i e n i d e o l o g y
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i s o r becomes o u r conscious e n e m y , o n l y t h e n i s t h e c o n tradiction handled and resolved as an antagonistic contrad i c t i o n a n d the m e t h o d o f p e r s u a s i o n r e p l a c e d b y t h a t of compulsion. T h e P a r t y must do a great prophylactic, educational and political work, patiently and systematically, to prevent anyone from falling into grave blunders, going f r o m blunders to culpable faults a n d then to anti-state a n d a n t i - s o c i a l i s t c r i m e s subject t o severe p u n i s h m e n t b y the dictatorship of the proletariat. A n o t h e r v e r y i m p o r t a n t d i r e c t i o n o f the i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k o f t h e P a r t y i s t h e i n c u l c a t i o n o f t h e n e w socialist attitude towards w o r k , so that o u r people w i l l w o r k as r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d f i g h t r e s o l u t e l y t o p u t the r e v o l u t i o n a r y ideals i n t o p r a c t i c e . O n l y i n w o r k a n d t h r o u g h w o r k i s t h e n e w m a n e d u c a t e d a n d t e m p e r e d , because w o r k i s the greatest s c h o o l of c o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n . In the atmosphere of great creative w o r k full of selfless r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s m , w h i c h i s t r a n s f o r m i n g n a t u r e a n d the consciousness o f m a n , i t becomes e v e n m o r e e v i d e n t h o w a l i e n a n d i n t o l e r a b l e a r e the a t t i t u d e s o f those p e o p l e w h o d o d g e w o r k , w h o a r e a f r a i d o f d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d sacrifices, w h o d o not w a n t t o d i s t u r b t h e i r p e r s o n a l ease a n d c o m f o r t , w h o t r y t o o c c u p y o r h a n g o n t o some soft spot, w h o d o t h e i r w o r k c a r e l e s s l y a n d t r y t o g r a b the m a x i m u m f r o m society, w h o p r o c e e d i n e v e r y t h i n g f r o m t h e i r o w n p e r s o n a l interest a n d m a t e r i a l b e n e f i t a n d , w i t h a t h o u s a n d p r e t e x t s a n d excuses, s h i r k the d u t y o f w o r k i n g w h e r e t h e people a n d t h e c o u n t r y n e e d t h e m . A l l these are bourgeois a t t i t u d e s . T h e party organizations must carry on a resolute fight against s u c h a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h o u r communist morality. T h e y must regard the struggle against s u c h m a n i f e s t a t i o n s as an aspect of t h e class s t r u g gle, as a s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e seed of t h e b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t d e g e n e r a t i o n o f people. T h e y m u s t i m p l a n t the
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r e v o l u t i o n a r y socialist concept a n d a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s w o r k among a l l the w o r k i n g p e o p l e o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y , s o that e v e r y b o d y r e g a r d s w o r k as a m a t t e r of h o n o u r a n d pride, a s a l o f t y p a t r i o t i c d u t y , w i t h o u t w h i c h l i f e c o u l d not exist. O u r p e o p l e a n d , f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t , t h e cadres and p a r t y m e m b e r s m u s t w o r k w i t h h i g h consciousness and d i s c i p l i n e , w i t h m i l i t a r y d r i v e a n d t e m p o , b o l d l y overcome e v e r y o b s t a c l e a n d d i f f i c u l t y , m a r c h s t e a d i l y f o r w a r d , p l a c e t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e people, the c o u n t r y a n d socialism a b o v e e v e r y t h i n g , spare n o t h i n g t o p r o m o t e these interests, a n d b e r e a d y e v e n t o l a y d o w n t h e i r l i v e s f o r these interests. A m o d e s t s o n of o u r people, son of a family f o r m e r l y oppressed and exploited by beys and landlords w a s H e k u r a n Z e n u n i , a soldier f r o m the village of Tozhar in the Berat district. He made light of d i f f i c u l ties a n d s a c r i f i c e s a n d w e n t a h e a d t o p e r f o r m t h e d u t y with w h i c h he h a d been charged and, w i t h o u t hesitation, laid d o w n h i s l i f e i n the f l o w e r o f h i s y o u t h , j u s t a s the 28,000 m a r t y r s d i d t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e i r tasks d u r i n g the National Liberation W a r . S u c h are the n e w m e n w h i c h our P a r t y h a s e d u c a t e d a n d t e m p e r e d . W h e n w e s p e a k a b o u t t h e socialist a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s work, the c o r r e c t u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f p h y s i c a l w o r k , w o r k in p r o d u c t i o n h a s f i r s t - r a t e i m p o r t a n c e . T h i s is a great question o f p r i n c i p l e t o w h i c h the o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the Party must give special attention in their educational w o r k . T h e a r i s t o c r a t i c concepts a b o u t w o r k i n p r o d u c t i o n are c o m p l e t e l y a l i e n t o s o c i a l i s m a n d f r a u g h t w i t h d a n g e r ous consequences. A n y u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n o r d e r i d i n g o f physical w o r k should be condemned as underestimation and d e r i d i n g o f the w o r k e r s a n d peasants a n d the b r o a d masses of the p e o p l e a t h i n g t h a t leads to i s o l a t i o n f r o m the p e o p l e a n d t h e i r w o r k a n d l i f e , a n d this i s o l a t i o n i s the source o f m a n y evils. T h i s s h o u l d b e t a k e n i n t o account e s p e c i a l l y b y those e n g a g e d i n m e n t a l w o r k , the
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cadres, officials, t h e t e c h n i c a l a n d a r t i s t i c i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , t h e p u p i l s a n d students. T h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f t h e m h a v e been e d u c a t e d s i n c e t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y a n d h a v e e m e r g e d f r o m the r a n k s o f the w o r k i n g masses, are closely l i n k e d w i t h the p e o p l e a n d the P a r t y and have displayed and are demonstrating a high level of p a t r i o t i c a n d socialist consciousness. N e v e r t h e l e s s , these features s h o u l d not l e a d u s t o u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e d a n g e r of their becoming infected by bourgeois ideology and, especially, b y r e v i s i o n i s t v i e w s . T h i s i s n o t a n i m a g i n a r y d a n g e r , it has a r e a l basis. It is c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e v e r y n a t u r e a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f the w o r k a n d l i f e o f people engaged i n m e n t a l w o r k , a n d e s p e c i a l l y the creative, a r t istic a n d s c i e n t i f i c i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , w h o a r e s t i l l v e r y o u t o f t o u c h w i t h p h y s i c a l w o r k a n d , i n m a n y instances, w i t h the w o r k i n g masses a n d t h e i r l i v e s . A m o n g the i n t e l ligentsia more favourable g r o u n d can be and is f o u n d f o r the s p r e a d o f i n d i v i d u a l i s m a n d c a r e e r i s m , conceit a n d haughtiness, u n j u s t i f i e d p r e t e n s i o n s a n d a n e a s y l i f e , i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m a n d d i s d a i n f o r the masses. O u r p e o p l e s i n t e l l i g e n t s i a m u s t l i n k itself a s closely a s possible w i t h the people, m u s t w o r k a n d l i v e w i t h t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants a n d b l e n d t h e m s e l v e s i n s e p a r a b l y w i t h t h e m . T h e y m u s t reject t h e b o u r g e o i s idea i n h e r i t e d f r o m the p a s t w h i c h s t i l l has d e e p roots, that the i n t e l lectual knows e v e r y t h i n g a n d he alone is able to lead, t o guide, t o t e a c h a n d i n s t r u c t o t h e r s a n i d e a w h i c h in fact expresses the n e g a t i o n of t h e r o l e of the masses. I t m u s t b e c l e a r that the d e c i s i v e r o l e i n a l l f i e l d s o f life, i n c l u d i n g s p i r i t u a l life, does n o t b e l o n g t o p a r t i c u l a r i n d i v i d u a l s , n o m a t t e r h o w o u t s t a n d i n g t h e y are, b u t t o the b r o a d masses o f the people. K n o w l e d g e d o c s not f a l l from heaven. A l l knowledge derives f r o m life and practice a n d is a p r o d u c t of the s t r u g g l e of the masses to t r a n s f o r m n a t u r e a n d society. T h e r e f o r e , t h e m e n o f science, a r t
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and c u l t u r e m u s t l i s t e n w i t h a t t e n t i o n a n d deep respect to the o p i n i o n s of the masses, s u m up t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e , always b e modest a n d h u m b l e p u p i l s o f the g r e a t a n d u n m i s t a k a b l e teacher, t h e people, a n d m a k e the j u d g e m e n t o f the p e o p l e the f u n d a m e n t a l c r i t e r i o n i n a l l t h e i r c r e a t i v e work. S o m e cadres i n o u r s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s are c o n ceited a n d t h i n k t h a t w h a t t h e y s a y i s t h e last w o r d o f science, t h a t a n y o p i n i o n opposed to t h e i r s is w o r t h l e s s , incorrect, a n d m u s t b e r e j e c t e d . N o ! S u c h concepts a m o n g the r a n k s of o u r scientists m u s t be s t i g m a t i z e d . T h e r e is no advance i n science o r a n y w h e r e else w i t h o u t s t r u g g l e , w i t h o u t clashes o f o p i n i o n s , w i t h o u t class struggle, w i t h o u t debate g u i d e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s , b y the proletarian ideology, to discover the t r u t h . T h e idea of the d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s o f science, a n d n o t p e r s o n a l glory, m u s t g u i d e e a c h o f o u r scientists i n h i s o w n w o r k . T h e p e o p l e o f the i n t e l l i g e n t s i a m u s t l i n k t h e i r m e n t a l w o r k a s closely a s p o s s i b l e w i t h t h e p h y s i c a l w o r k o f workers and peasants a n d take part continually, in the proportions laid d o w n , in w o r k directly in production. This d u t y w h i c h has been p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e w i d e l y f o r a l l the cadres, i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , p u p i l s a n d students, h a s g r e a t t h e o retical a n d p r a c t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e . I t w i l l h e l p t h e m t o become b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d w i t h l i f e , t o r i d t h e m s e l v e s o f many alien remnants and manifestations and to temper themselves a s g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . T h i s i s a n i m p o r t a n t step t o w a r d s r e d u c i n g the d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n m e n t a l and p h y s i c a l w o r k , w h i c h , together w i t h the r e d u c t i o n o f d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y a n d b e t w e e n the w o r k i n g class a n d the p e a s a n t r y , constitutes a m a j o r p r o b l e m w h i c h i s closely l i n k e d w i t h the prospects o f our d e v e l o p m e n t t o w a r d s c o m m u n i s m . I f w e d o not t a k e measures n o w t o n a r r o w these d i f f e r e n c e s a n d , w i l l i n g l y o r not, a l l o w t h e m t o deepen, t h e n our c o u n t r y w i l l n o t develop t o w a r d s o u r f i n a l o b j e c t i v e a n d these d i f f e r e n c e s
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w i l l also become the cause o f m a n y evils, o f u n f a i r r e l a tions b e t w e e n p e o p l e o f m e n t a l a n d p h y s i c a l w o r k , b e t w e e n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y a n d b e t w e e n the w o r k i n g class a n d the p e a s a n t r y . O u r P a r t y h a s b i g tasks t o p e r f o r m also i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the i n c u l c a t i o n o f correct concepts a b o u t l i f e s o that the m o r a l f i g u r e o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l the w o r k i n g people w i l l b e t h e same, not o n l y a t w o r k a n d i n society, b u t also i n p e r s o n a l a n d f a m i l y l i f e . T h e cadres, t h e c o m munists and every w o r k e r should live like revolutionaries, l e a d a m o d e s t l i f e of r e a l struggle, t h e y s h o u l d be the f i r s t i n s a c r i f i c e s a n d the last i n p r e t e n s i o n s . A s the O p e n L e t t e r r e a d s : . . . n o t e m p t y idleness a n d c o n c e r n o n l y f o r oneself, b u t t h e i d e a l o f s o c i a l i s m , the s t r u g g l e t o b u i l d o u r socialist H o m e l a n d a n d m a k e i t f l o w e r w i t h o u r o w n h a n d s , the j o y o f c r e a t i v e w o r k f o r the good o f the p e o p l e a n d i n t h e i r s e r v i c e a n d the c o n t i n u o u s r a i s i n g o f the s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g o f t h e w o r k i n g masses m u s t b e the m a i n o b j e c t i v e o f t h e i r l i f e a n d s t r u g g l e , t h e i r m a i n preoccupation. * T h e b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t concept o f l i f e , p u t t i n g m o n e y , pleasure, l u x u r y , c o m f o r t , p e r s o n a l ease a n d w e l l b e i n g above e v e r y t h i n g , i s a l i e n t o o u r people. T h e c o n sequences of s u c h a concept h a v e b e c o m e c a t a s t r o p h i c in the c o u n t r i e s r u l e d b y the r e v i s i o n i s t s . P o l i t i c a l d e g e n e r a t i o n , m o r a l c o r r u p t i o n , r u n n i n g after m o n e y a n d m a t e r i a l gain, selfishness a n d f r e n z i e d i n d i v i d u a l i s m , the b o u r g e o i s w a y of life and fashion, and hooliganism are w h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e l i f e of these c o u n t r i e s t o d a y , a l i f e w h i c h i s a l m o s t i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m that o f w e s t e r n c a p i t a l i s t countries. S u c h a l i e n v i e w s o n l i f e m a y a n d , i n fact, d o t a k e r o o t i n some o f o u r people w h o are e x p o s e d t o the s t r o n g i n fluence o f b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y a n d m o r a l i t y . T h e p a r t y
______________________________ * P r i n c i p a l Documents of the P L A , vol. 5, p. 38 ( A l b . ed.):
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organizations must always be vigilant and carry out a great e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e t o c r e a t e i n the P a r t y , i n the c o l l e c t i v e , i n t h e f a m i l y a n d e v e r y w h e r e s u c h a n a t m o s p h e r e as to s t i f l e d e c a d e n t concepts a b o u t the w a y and p u r p o s e o f life, s t e r n l y c o n d e m n i n g a l l l i b e r a l a t t i t u d e s and l a x i t y i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . T h r o u g h its w o r k t h e P a r t y must i n c u l c a t e , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n , o u r n e w r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n c e p t o f l i f e t h a t i s i n s p i r e d b y the l o f t y ideals o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m . A l l the i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k o f the P a r t y , its p r o p a g a n d a and agitation, must be directed first and foremost at ideological and political education, the f o r m a t i o n a n d tempering of people as genuine revolutionaries and communists so that they understand and put into practice the great slogan o f t h e P a r t y : T h i n k , w o r k a n d l i v e l i k e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e s the essence o f c o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n , t h e f u n d a m e n t a l content o f t h e e d u c a tional w o r k of the P a r t y . .......................
3. WE MUST RADICALLY IMPROVE THE METHOD AND STYLE OF THE EDUCATIONAL WORK O u r great objectives i n the r e a l m o f the c u l t u r a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l r e v o l u t i o n f o r the e d u c a t i o n o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l the w o r k i n g p e o p l e i n a h i g h r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t c a n not b e a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t f u r t h e r i m p r o v i n g t h e e n t i r e content o f o u r e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k a n d e s p e c i a l l y the m e t h o d and s t y l e o f this w o r k . I t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t u p t o n o w t h i s w o r k has suffered a n d i s s t i l l s u f f e r i n g f r o m d o g m a t i s m a n d s t e r e o t y p ism, f r o m b e i n g o u t o f t o u c h w i t h life, f r o m v e r b o s i t y , u n e x p l a i n e d f o r m u l a s a n d a h e a v y , b o r i n g style. O u r w o r k e r s o f M a r x i s t s o c i a l sciences a n d p r o p a g a n d a h a v e
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been t r y i n g t o present o u r e x p e r i e n c e i n the k n o w n terms of theory, r e d u c i n g it, in t h e best instances, to e x a m p l e s f o r i l l u s t r a t i o n , a n d n o t e n o u g h w o r k h a s been done t o m a k e t h e o r e t i c a l g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s f r o m t h e A l b a n i a n practice, t o r a i s e t h e w e a l t h o f f a c t u a l m a t e r i a l t h a t the l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y d u r i n g a l l these y e a r s has p r o v i d e d , t o the l e v e l o f science. T h e r e f o r e , t h e P a r t y must make every effort to combat this serious shortcoming, a n d t o e n l i v e n c r e a t i v e t h i n k i n g i n the f i e l d o f M a r x i s t s o c i a l sciences, i n o u r p r o p a g a n d a , a n d i n a l l o u r i d e o l o g ical and cultural work. In addition there are some other weaknesses that h a v e been n o t i c e d i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d c o n d u c t o f p o l i t i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l e d u c a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s . I n m a n y cases the f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k a r e s t a n d a r d i z e d a n d r i g i d , w i t h o u t s p i r i t o r life, l i t t l e e f f o r t i s m a d e t o a d a p t t h e m to new conditions and circumstances and frequently n o t h i n g i s a l t e r e d u n t i l i n s t r u c t i o n s c o m e f r o m above. T h e fact i s t h a t the r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t o f the P a r t y a n d masses has f a r o u t s t r i p p e d t h e p r o p a g a n d a a n d a g i t a t i o n of the Party. C o m m u n i s t s and non-party workers, coo p e r a t i v i s t s , y o u t h a n d w o m e n are m a k i n g t h o u s a n d s o f innovations and rationalizations w h i c h revolutionize their m i n d s a n d p r o d u c t i o n . H o w e v e r , t h e same c a n n o t b e s a i d about the p a r t y w o r k e r s e n g a g e d i n p r o p a g a n d a a n d a g i t a t i o n , o r a b o u t the w o r k e r s o f t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l f r o n t , w h o s h o u l d a d v a n c e n o t alongside, b u t i n the v a n g u a r d o f a l l t h e o t h e r w o r k i n g people, t o l i g h t the w a y f o r t h e m , t o o r g a n i z e a n d m o b i l i z e t h e m f o r great deeds. W h a t is the r e a s o n f o r t h i s ? Is it t h a t the comrades o f the i d e o l o g i c a l f r o n t are i n c a p a b l e , h a v e n o ideas a n d o p i n i o n s ? N o . T h e y a r e s o m e o f the best c o m rades, w i t h a h i g h i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l l e v e l a n d t i r e less w o r k e r s . T h e t r o u b l e i s t h a t t h e y f i n d i t d i f f i c u l t to break a w a y f r o m the old stereotyped forms of w o r k
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and are not closely l i n k e d w i t h the w o r k a n d struggle o f the masses. I n t h e f i e l d o f i d e o l o g y a n d p r o p a g a n d a the P a r t y must s t r u g g l e a l s o against a n o t h e r serious s h o r t c o m i n g w h i c h i s s e e n e s p e c i a l l y i n the d a i l y l i f e o f p a r t y o r g a n i z a tions, as w e l l as of state a n d e c o n o m i c organs. H e r e I am referring to the manifestations of empiricism and narrow practicism, the separation of practice f r o m theory, b e c o m i n g t o t a l l y i m m e r s e d i n the s w i r l o f d a i l y life, facts and events, t h e f a i l u r e t o d r a w g e n e r a l c o n c l u s i o n s f r o m the e x p e r i e n c e of the masses, a n d t h e u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n of theory, w h i c h leads t o the loss o f p e r s p e c t i v e a n d d e v i a t i o n f r o m p r i n c i p l e s . It is r e g r e t t a b l e , b u t a fact, that there a r e c o m m u n i s t s i n t h e r a n k s o f the P a r t y w h o t o i l d a y a n d n i g h t b u t n e v e r open a book, t h a t s o m e l e a d i n g cadres w h o h a v e n e g l e c t e d t h e i r studies, h a v e lagged b e h i n d a n d cannot r e s p o n d t o the great tasks w i t h w h i c h l i f e faces t h e m . S o m e b e l i e v e t h a t s i n c e t h e y h a v e g r a d u a t e d f r o m the U n i v e r s i t y o r the P a r t y S c h o o l t h e y k n o w e v e r y t h i n g a n d h a v e n o t h i n g m o r e t o l e a r n . O t h e r s are content w i t h l i t t l e a n d t h i n k t h a t t h e s t u d y o f t h e o r y i s not necessary f o r t h e w o r k t h e y do. A l l these v i e w s m u s t b e c o n d e m n e d a n d s t e r n l y c o m b a t e d . T h e cadres, the c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l the w o r k i n g people m u s t l e a r n a l l the time, m u s t l e a r n f r o m l i f e a n d f r o m school, f r o m p r a c tice a n d t h e o r y , f r o m w o r k a n d f r o m books. T h i s i s a never-ending, unlimited job. T h e P a r t y has t a k e n and w i l l take measures to i m p r o v e the w o r k i n t h i s f i e l d o f s u c h i m p o r t a n c e , c o m b a t i n g b o t h d o g m a t i s m a n d e m p i r i c i s m , b o t h lifeless t h e o r i z i n g a n d n a r r o w p r a c t i c i s m . H o w e v e r , these m e a s u r e s w i l l n e v e r b e s u f f i c i e n t a n d c o m p l e t e unless t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s and committees of the P a r t y and the workers on the i d e o l o g i c a l f r o n t use t h e i r b r a i n s , t h i n k a n d create w i t h initiative, unless they elaborate and enrich the directives
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o f the P a r t y a n d a p p l y t h e m i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the tasks a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s . T h e w o r k of the P a r t y a n d its i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k , in p a r t i c u l a r , is a l i v i n g a n d p r o f o u n d l y c r e a t i v e w o r k , w h i c h does n o t tolerate r e a d y - m a d e schemes a n d stereotypes. T h e e n l i v e n m e n t o f this w o r k i s one o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t a s k s o f the P a r t y t o d a y . T h e r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g o f a l l the i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k , o f its content a n d style, l i n k i n g i t c l o s e l y w i t h l i f e , m u s t assist, f i r s t o f a l l , t h e m o r e p r o f o u n d a n d conscious ass i m i l a t i o n o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m b y the c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l the w o r k i n g p e o p l e o f o u r c o u n t r y . S u c h a n a s s i m i l a t i o n o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideas a n d t h e i r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n into a w e a p o n for o u r w o r k i n g people in their daily s t r u g g l e i s the f u n d a m e n t a l d i s t i n g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e that m a r k s the process o f the f u r t h e r d e e p e n i n g o f o u r i d e o l o g i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideas a r e the r e d f l a g o f o u r P a r t y , its i n v i n c i b l e a n d t r i u m p h a n t b a n n e r . T h e y a r e t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f the g e n e r a l l i n e o f o u r P a r t y , t h e y are o u r g u i d e t o a c t i o n , t h e y l i g h t t h e w a y for our ideological and cultural revolution, of w h i c h t h e y are the basis. T h e r e f o r e , t h e y m u s t become, a n d are b e c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e e a c h d a y , t h e p r o p e r t y a n d w e a p o n o f the w o r k i n g people. In this connection we must strengthen and radically i m p r o v e the s t u d y o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y i n t h e P a r t y S c h o o l , i n a l l categories o f o u r schools a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e U n i v e r s i t y a n d o t h e r h i g h e r institutes, w i t h the a i m t h a t the y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n a n d o u r cadres are formed and tempered as genuine revolutionaries, w i t h b r o a d p o l i t i c a l a n d t h e o r e t i c a l h o r i z o n s , closely l i n k e d w i t h l i f e a n d practice. O u r schools m u s t g i v e t h e y o u t h a n d the cadres p r o f o u n d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r e t i c a l k n o w ledge, a n d g i v e i t t o t h e m n o t i n a d o g m a t i c w a y , b u t c r e a t i v e l y , n o t as an o r n a m e n t , b u t as a compass to g u i d e
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t h e m c o r r e c t l y i n l i f e a n d a s a w e a p o n f o r the r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d . T h e w o r k s o f the classics of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and especially the documents, m a terials a n d e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r P a r t y , w h i c h a r e M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m in action in today's national and international conditions, m u s t b e t h e basis f o r the s t u d y o f o u r t r i u m p h ant d o c t r i n e . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , w e m u s t i n t e n s i f y a n d i m p r o v e t h e p r o p a g a t i o n o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideas t h r o u g h the p r e s s a n d p u b l i c a t i o n s , b y p r i n t i n g a n d p u b l i s h i n g m o r e articles, b o o k s a n d p a m p h l e t s , w o r k s o f t h e c l a s sics o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , n o t o n l y c o m p l e t e w o r k s b u t also selections o n s p e c i f i c themes, d e a l i n g w i t h p a r t i c u l a r p r o b l e m s o n w h i c h t h e cadres a n d w o r k e r s need d i r e c t help. O u r struggle for the assimilation of M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideas, f o r t h e d e e p e n i n g o f the i d e o l o g i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n , cannot b e w a g e d s u c c e s s f u l l y u n l e s s the w h o l e P a r t y , t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l w o r k i n g masses are d r a w n i n t o it, u n l e s s t h e l i n e o f t h e masses, the l i n e o f t h o r o u g h socialist d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n , i s i m p l e m e n t e d b o l d l y a n d i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y here, a s e v e r y w h e r e else. To p u t s u c h a l i n e i n t o p r a c t i c e , a s t e r n s t r u g g l e m u s t b e w a g e d against t h e r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i n t e l l e c t u a l i s t concept t h a t t h e o r y , p h i l o s o p h y , science a n d art are too d i f f i c u l t t o b e g r a s p e d b y t h e masses, t h a t t h e y c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d o n l y b y the cadres a n d i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , because the masses h a v e n o t r e a c h e d t h e l e v e l necessary t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e m ! T h i s m e a n s t o m a k e t h e o r y a n d science a b u g b e a r f o r t h e masses. T h i s m e a n s t o m a k e M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m a b u g b e a r f o r the masses, too, because M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i s a t h e o r y a n d science. W e m u s t d e c l a r e relentless w a r o n t h i s concept. M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i s not a m o n o p o l y of a p r i v i l e g e d f e w w h o h a v e t h e b r a i n s t o u n d e r s t a n d it. I t i s t h e s c i e n t i f i c i d e o l o g y o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses, a n d o n l y w h e n its
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ideas are g r a s p e d b y t h e b r o a d w o r k i n g masses does i t cease to be s o m e t h i n g a b s t r a c t a n d is t u r n e d i n t o a great m a t e r i a l f o r c e f o r the r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the w o r l d . T h e h i s t o r i c task o f o u r P a r t y i s t o c o n t i n u a l l y deepen the i d e o l o g i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n a n d c a r r y i t t h r o u g h t o the e n d b y r e l y i n g o n the masses o f w o r k e r s , peasants, soldiers, cadres a n d the i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d d r a w ing them actively into creative revolutionary activity.
V THE S T R U G G L E O F T H E P A R T Y O F L A B O U R O F A L B A N I A AGAINST MODERN REVISIONISM AND IN DEFENCE OF THE PURITY OF MARXISM-LENINISM
D u r i n g the p e r i o d since the 4 t h Congress, o u r P a r t y has w a g e d a resolute p r i n c i p l e d s t r u g g l e i n d e f e n c e o f the p u r i t y of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a b l o w - f o r - b l o w struggle against the K h r u s h c h e v i t e a n d T i t o i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d their f o l l o w e r s . T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a considers i t the duty and the right of every M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party to d e f e n d the t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m f r o m a n y r i g h t i s t o r l e f t i s t d e v i a t i o n , b o t h w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f the party and in the international communist movement, and to make principled criticism of any Marxist-Leninist party which violates and distorts the M a r x i s t principles and the l a w s o f the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n . T h i s d e r i v e s f r o m the p r i n c i p l e d content a n d the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t d o c t r i n e , f r o m t h e c o m m o n i n t e rests a n d a i m s o f a l l t h e d e t a c h m e n t s o f the w o r k i n g class, f r o m p r o l e t a r i a n p a r t i s a n s h i p a n d f r o m t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f each p a r t y f o r t h e f a t e o f the i n t e r n a t i o n a l communist movement. B e s i d e s this, t h e correct u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d d e v e l o p ment of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and its practical application in d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s is not a n d c a n n o t be a m o n o p o l y of one p a r t y or a f e w i n d i v i d u a l s , but is a r i g h t a n d duty of every party and every communist or revolutionary g r o u p a n d , a t the same t i m e , o f a l l o f t h e m j o i n t l y . E a c h
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a n d e v e r y o n e m a k e s a n d has t o m a k e h i s o w n c o n t r i b u tion to this great question of principle. M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m does not r e c o g n i s e b i g p a r t i e s a n d s m a l l parties, m o t h e r p a r t i e s a n d d a u g h t e r parties, l e a d i n g parties and l e d parties. A l l the true M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s are e q u a l a n d i n d e p e n d e n t o f o n e another, t h e y are u n i t e d t o the e n d w i t h o n e a n o t h e r f o r the g r e a t cause o f the r e v o l u t i o n ; g i v e o n e a n o t h e r r e c i p r o c a l a i d a n d support, c o n s u l t a n d cooperate w i t h o n e another, a n d c o - o r d i n a t e t h e i r o p i n i o n s a n d actions i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e t h e i r c o m m o n goal, i n s p i r e d a n d g u i d e d i n e v e r y t h i n g by revolutionary Marxism-Leninism. T h e P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a has always upheld these p r i n c i p l e s a n d t h i s h e a l t h y r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d h a s acted i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e m f r o m t h e t i m e i t w a s f o u n d e d . P r o c e e d i n g r e s o l u t e l y o n t h i s correct course, w i t h o u t w i s h i n g t o i m p o s e its o p i n i o n s o n others, i n this C o n g r e s s the P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a o p e n l y expresses its v i e w s o n t h e m a j o r p r o b l e m s t h a t a r e w o r r y i n g the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t . E v e r y b o d y has the r i g h t a n d d u t y t o c r i t i c i z e u s o p e n l y , i n case w e a r e n o t r i g h t o n some q u e s t i o n , o r i f h e does n o t s h a r e o u r v i e w s . We shall welcome any fair principled criticism.
1. MODERN REVISIONISM AN OFFSHOOT AND ALLY OF THE BOURGEOISIE AND IMPERIALISM T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a considers t h e o p e n , u n r e l e n t i n g s t r u g g l e against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , w h i c h has t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p as its c e n t r e , to be one o f t h e m a i n tasks o f a l l t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , b e cause m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i s the m a i n e n e m y i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t , i t i s t h e T r o j a n horse o f - i m p e r i a l i s m a n d w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m , i t i s t h e second
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front o f i m p e r i a l i s m a g a i n s t s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m . Its s t r a t e g i c a i m i s t o p e r p e t u a t e the c a p i t a l i s t r u l e w h e r ever it is in p o w e r a n d to restore capitalism w h e r e v e r i t has b e e n o v e r t h r o w n . T h e present-day K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionism is a direct successor a n d c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the r e v i s i o n i s m o f B e r n s t e i n and Kautsky, Trotsky and B u k h a r i n , B r o w d e r and Tito, against w h i c h M a r x , E n g e l s , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n a n d the 3rd C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d t h e I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u of the c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r s ' p a r t i e s w a g e d a s t e r n principled struggle. The present-day r e v i s i o n i s t s are f o l l o w i n g in t h e footsteps of s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y , w h i c h is a s e r v a n t o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d a w e a p o n f o r the c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f the c a p i t a l i s t o r d e r t o s u p p r e s s t h e r e v o l u t i o n and u n d e r m i n e socialism. Revisionism and social-democracy are t w o manifestations of the same bourgeois i d e o l o g y : the f o r m e r i n the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t , a n d the l a t t e r i n the w o r k e r s ' m o v e m e n t . T h e i r c o m m o n i d e o l o g i c a l basis a n d c o m m o n p o l i t i c a l a i m s are w h a t b r i n g r e v i s i o n i s m a n d s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y together, u n i t e t h e m a n d fuse t h e m i n t o a s i n g l e a n t i - M a r x i s t , anti-socialist, c o u n t e r revolutionary trend. T h e h i s t o r y o f the emergence, d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t r i u m p h o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i s the h i s t o r y o f the u n i n terrupted struggle against all its ideological a n d political opponents, against t r a i t o r s a n d s p l i t t e r s , against o p p o r tunists a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s o f e v e r y hue. T h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t e x i s t s a n d d e v e l o p s i n a society d i v i d e d i n t o o p p o s i n g classes a n d systems, b e t w e e n w h i c h a s t e r n class s t r u g g l e is w a g e d . T h i s s t r u g g l e f i n d s its e x p r e s s i o n e v e n w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f the c o m m u n i s t parties a n d t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t as a s t r u g gle b e t w e e n M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d v a r i o u s o p p o r t u n i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t trends. T h e d i a l e c t i c a l l a w o f d e v e l o p m e n t t h r o u g h the s t r u g g l e of opposites, as a u n i v e r s a l l a w , also
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operates w i t h i n the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s a n d the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t . O p p o r t u n i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m h a v e a l w a y s been a n d s t i l l are the i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l sources o f d i s r u p t i o n o f the u n i t y o f the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s a n d the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t i n g e n e r a l . T h e h i s t o r y o f the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t s h o w s t h a t i t has gone from unity to division and f r o m division to a new unity o n a n e w h i g h e r basis. I n t h e s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n M a r x i s m Leninism and opportunism and revisionism, v i c t o r y has a l w a y s gone t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . A f t e r e a c h b a t t l e against o p p o r t u n i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m , the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t h a s scored great h i s t o r i c v i c t o r i e s a n d M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m has been d e v e l o p e d a n d r a i s e d to a h i g h e r l e v e l . It w a s p r e c i s e l y the s t r u g g l e of the great L e n i n at the h e a d o f t h e B o l s h e v i k s against t h e o p p o r t u n i s m o f the t r a i t o r S e c o n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l t h a t e n s u r e d t h e v i c t o r y o f h i s t o r i c w o r l d i m p o r t a n c e o f the G r e a t O c t o b e r S o c i a l i s t R e v o l u t i o n i n R u s s i a , w h i c h m a r k e d the greatest t u r n i n g - p o i n t i n the h i s t o r y o f m a n k i n d , o p e n e d t h e e r a o f the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m c a p i t a l i s m t o c o m m u n i s m , e n s u r e d the t r i u m p h o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o v e r o p p o r t u n i s m , r e v i sionism and social-democracy and led to the formation o f the C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , w h i c h r a i s e d the w o r l d communist movement to a still higher level. T h a n k s t o t h e s t r u g g l e w a g e d b y J . V . S t a l i n , the great c o n t i n u e r o f L e n i n ' s w o r k , a t t h e h e a d o f t h e C P S U a n d the s t r u g gle o f the C o m i n t e r n , t h e T r o t s k y i t e s , t h e B u k h a r i n i t e s , the bourgeois n a t i o n a l i s t s a n d a l l the o t h e r o p p o r t u n i s t s w e r e r o u t e d , a n d this e n s u r e d the c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d the v i c t o r y o f s o c i a l i s m i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , a n d c a r r i e d f o r w a r d the w o r l d r e v olutionary and liberation movement. This struggle directly assisted the f o r m a t i o n a n d t e m p e r i n g o f c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r s ' parties, c o n f i r m e d the basic p r i n c i p l e s o f the s t r u c t u r e of M a r x i s t - L e n i r u s t parties, c o n s o l i d a t e d the
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r e v o l u t i o n a r y u n i t y o f t h e c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t against the b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y i n its d i f f e r e n t v a r i a n t s , a n d a r m e d the p a r t i e s w i t h g r e a t e x p e r i e n c e s o t h e y c o u l d u n d e r s t a n d and a p p l y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m c o r r e c t l y i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h national a n d international conditions. T h e results of the w o r k and struggle carried on by the C P S U , t h e C o m i n t e r n a n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l c o m m u n i s t parties w e r e e s p e c i a l l y a p p a r e n t i n the f i g h t against f a s cism a n d a f t e r t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r w h i c h e n d e d w i t h the t o t a l p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y d e f e a t o f f a s c i s m , the general w e a k e n i n g o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t f r o n t , the great v i c t o r y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n , the s e t t i n g o u t o f m a n y c o u n tries o f E u r o p e a n d A s i a o n t h e r o a d o f s o c i a l i s m , t h e upsurge o f the n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t , t h e g r o w t h o f the r o l e a n d a u t h o r i t y o f the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s t h r o u g h out the w o r l d , a n d m a n y p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c v i c t o r i e s o f the i n t e r n a t i o n a l w o r k i n g class. The Soviet U n i o n came out of the w a r stronger than ever, a l t h o u g h i t h a d s u f f e r e d great m a t e r i a l a n d h u m a n losses. Its e c o n o m y r e c o v e r e d q u i c k l y . G r e a t successes were a c h i e v e d b y t h e other s o c i a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , too. T h i s enhanced the economic a n d political potential of soc i a l i s m i n t h e w o r l d , a n d i n c r e a s e d its defence p o t e n t i a l , the p o w e r o f a t t r a c t i o n o f t h e ideas o f s o c i a l i s m a n d the influence of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties. T h e M a r x i s t Leninist u n i t y of the communist a n d w o r k e r s ' parties and the i n t e r n a t i o n a l s o l i d a r i t y o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d peoples was s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d t e m p e r e d o n a s o u n d basis, the cooperation a n d r e c i p r o c a l assistance a m o n g the f r a t e r n a l socialist c o u n t r i e s w e r e d e v e l o p e d a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d i n new M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t f o r m s , t h e socialist c a m p w a s created and c o n s o l i d a t e d a n d b e c a m e t h e c h a m p i o n o f the peoples against i m p e r i a l i s m , a m i g h t y s u p p o r t e r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e s , a great s c h o o l f o r the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d peoples o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d f o r
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t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n f r o m t h e y o k e o f i m p e r i a l i s t oppressors a n d other e n s l a v e r s . The revolution was mounting, continuously advancing, while imperialism was m o v i n g towards its doom, decaying, a n d e n c i r c l e d b y t h e f i r e a n d s t e e l o f the peoples o f the w h o l e w o r l d . I n o r d e r t o get o u t o f its d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d t o a p p l y its c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d aggressive g l o b a l s t r a tegy, t h e h e a d o f w o r l d i m p e r i a l i s m U S i m p e r i a l i s m , set i n m o t i o n a l l its economic, p o l i t i c a l , m i l i t a r y a n d i d e o l o g ical potential. P r e c i s e l y a t these m o m e n t s , w h e n i m p e r i a l i s m w a s i n e x t r e m e d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d s t r i v i n g t o e m e r g e f r o m t h e crisis w i t h w h i c h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y i m p e t u s o f the w o r k i n g people a n d the p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y m i g h t o f the s o c i a l i s t c a m p a n d the n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples w e r e t h r e a t e n i n g it, t h e m o d e r n revisionists, headed by the Titoite a n d Soviet revisionists, came t o t h e a i d o f i m p e r i a l i s m t o r e s c u e i t f r o m t h e c r i s i s a n d defeat. H e r e i n l i e s t h e g r e a t b e t r a y a l b y t h e r e v i s i o n ists a n d t h e i r h i s t o r i c r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b e f o r e t h e peoples. B e i n g i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d m o r a l l y o n the s a m e t r a c k a s U S imperialism and w o r l d imperialism i n general, despite the g r e a t m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l o f t h e c o u n t r i e s t h e y r u l e d , the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s w e r e t e r r i f i e d b y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m ' s threats o f w a r a n d a t o m i c b l a c k m a i l a n d s u r r e n d e r e d t o it. T h e y p r e s e n t e d t h e m s e l v e s t o w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m a s o b e d i e n t l a c k e y s a n d i n v e t e r a t e agents, w i t h a p o l i t i c a l p l a t f o r m t h a t i s b o u r g e o i s f r o m start t o f i n i s h but camouflaged w i t h M a r x i s t phraseology in order to deceive people m o r e readily. Thus, w o r l d i m p e r i a l i s m a c h i e v e d a success g r e a t e r t h a n i t c o u l d e v e r h a v e e x pected. T h e r e f o r e , i t w a s v e r y p l e a s e d w i t h a l l the steps a n d actions o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s ; i t cheered, a p p l a u d e d a n d supported them and exploited them to the limit, t r y i n g t o get t h e m m o r e a n d m o r e d e e p l y i n v o l v e d i n b e t r a y a l
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t h r o u g h b l a c k m a i l a n d concessions, t h r o u g h threats a n d credits. The first and most dangerous spawn of imperialism was T i t o i s m w h i c h , w i t h t h e h e l p o f t h e bourgeoisie, the T r o t s k y i t e s a n d s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y , seized p o w e r i n Y u g o s l a via. I t w a s u s e d b y i m p e r i a l i s m a s a p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o logical m e a n s t o f i g h t t h e socialist c o u n t r i e s , t o o r g a n i z e the s u b v e r s i v e s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n ist m o v e m e n t , t o u n d e r m i n e t h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t s t r u g g l e o f the peoples a n d t o f o r m u l a t e t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f m o d e m revisionism in the conditions w h e n a p a r t y of Trotskyites and renegades i s i n p o w e r . B u t d u e t o t h e p e n e t r a t i n g foresight o f S t a l i n this serious t h r e a t w a s d i s c o v e r e d i n t i m e a n d a f i r m m i l i t a n t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s t a n d against this t r e a c h e r o u s t r e n d w a s a d o p t e d . T h e t r a i t o r c l i q u e o f Tito w a s exposed as an agency of US i m p e r i a l i s m a n d the i n t e r n a t i o n a l bourgeoisie, w a s u n a n i m o u s l y o p p o s e d b y the w h o l e o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s m a n d i s o l a t e d i n its l a i r . A f t e r the death of Stalin, the camouflaged counterrevolutionaries w i t h i n the ranks of the C P S U , headed by Khrushchev, began to stir, to plot and reorganize themselves i n o r d e r t o seize p o w e r . T h e S o v i e t M a r x i s t - L e n i n ists a n d t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C P S U w e r e l a c k i n g i n revolutionary vigilance a n d determination. T h e y fell into the t r a p of t h e i n t r i g u e s of t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d renegades K h r u s h c h e v , M i k o y a n , B r e z h n e v , etc., w h o c a r r i e d o u t their c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y p u t s c h . T h e p e o p l e i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C P S U not o n l y g r a d u a l l y lost t h e i r vigilance, b u t t h e y also p r o v e d to be as a p a t h e t i c as they w e r e c o w a r d l y , f a c i n g t h e r i s e o f the r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n . T h e y d i d not r e l y o n t h e p a r t y a n d the masses, but b e g a n b a r g a i n i n g a n d m a k i n g concessions a n d i n d u l ging in i l l u s i o n s a b o u t a false, o p p o r t u n i s t i c d e m o c r a t i c
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s o l u t i o n , a l l e g e d l y t o save t h e u n d e r m i n e d u n i t y a n d t h e i r prestige w h i c h w a s b e i n g d e s t r o y e d . A n d a l l t h i s a t a t i m e w h e n the traitor K h r u s h c h e v and his accomplices w e r e t a k i n g e v e r y t h i n g i n t o t h e i r o w n h a n d s , b r i n g i n g the r e v i s i o n i s t p l o t t e r s i n t o k e y positions, a n d c o v e r i n g a l l this u n d e r m i n i n g a c t i v i t y w i t h d e a f e n i n g p r o p a g a n d a about p r o s p e r i t y , strength, t h e n e w l y e s t a b l i s h e d d e m o c r a c y , a b o u t t h e s p l e n d i d prospects f o r t h e d e velopment of the economy, culture and well-being, w i t h u n r e s t r a i n e d e u p h o r i a a b o u t t h e f r e e d o m lost a n d regained, a b o u t s e n s a t i o n a l successes i n t h e i n t e r n a tional arena a n d w i t h the bombastic a n d almost d a i l y speeches b y t h e greatest c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y h i s t o r y has e v e r k n o w n , t h e c h a r l a t a n c l o w n K h r u s h c h e v . T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s c a r r i e d out i n t e n s i v e p r e p a r a t o r y a c t i v i t y , o p e n l y a n d b e h i n d the scenes, b o t h i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d i n t h e o t h e r socialist c o u n t r i e s a n d i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a i n o r d e r t o p r e p a r e t h e putsches, t h e t e r r a i n s a n d t h e p e r s o n s f o r their g r e a t u n d e r t a k i n g . T h e 20th, 21st a n d 22nd Congresses o f t h e C P S U are the k e y m o m e n t s w h e n t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n ists came out o p e n l y w i t h t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l p l a t f o r m . T h e y b e g a n t h e i r o f f e n s i v e against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m w i t h the attack o n t h e l i f e a n d w o r k o f J . V . S t a l i n , w h o , a s the great c o n t i n u e r o f t h e cause o f V . I . L e n i n , h a d d e f e n d e d , developed and implemented a consistently revolutionary general line w h i c h ensured the construction of socialism i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , t h e v i c t o r y o v e r f a s c i s m i n the G r e a t Patriotic W a r and the commencement of the construction o f c o m m u n i s m i n the S o v i e t U n i o n . S i n c e t h e n , K h r u s h chevite revisionism has been developed a n d elaborated u n t i l i t has b e c o m e a c o m p l e t e t h e o r e t i c a l a n d p r a c t i c a l system, w h i c h h a s been c o n c r e t i z e d i n the n e w p r o g r a m
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o f the C P S U , w h i c h i s t h e code o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m . J u s t a s K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s m d i d n o t emerge i n one day, b u t w e n t t h r o u g h its process o f f o r m a t i o n , o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d g r o w t h i n t o a s y s t e m , so the process of r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h i s r e v i s i o n i s m b y the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s d i d not t a k e p l a c e i n o n e d a y , but passed t h r o u g h its o w n h i s t o r i c a l process. I n o r d e r t o c o n c e a l t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s aims the r e v i s i o n i s t s u s e d s o p h i s t i c a t e d f o r m s , m a n o e u v r e s , tactics, a n d m e t h o d s , c o v e r e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h a l l k i n d s o f m a s k s i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the i n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d n a t i o n a l situations, w i t h the d e v e l o p m e n t o f the class s t r u g g l e a n d their t e m p o r a r y v i c t o r i e s a n d t h e i r defeats. T h e r e i s a great t r u t h i n t h e A l b a n i a n s a y i n g , T h e serpent n e v e r shows its feet. T h u s i t w a s p r o v e d that t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e f o r m f o r t h e p e n e t r a t i o n o f b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y i n t o the socialist c o u n t r i e s a n d c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s i s r e v i s i o n i s m , which is nothing but bourgeois ideology camouflaged w i t h M a r x i s t a n d socialist p h r a s e o l o g y . T h e history of the international communist movement has n e v e r k n o w n a n o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s m d e v e l o p e d t o s u c h proportions and so dangerous as K h r u s h c h e v i t e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m . T h i s i s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e fact t h a t o n e o f the m o s t i m p o r t a n t f e a t u r e s o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i s t h a t n o w w e h a v e t o d o w i t h r e v i s i o n i s m i n p o w e r w h i c h has infected the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s o f s e v e r a l socialist c o u n tries, a n d f i r s t o f a l l t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , w h i c h uses a l l t h e m i g h t , a u t h o r i t y a n d m e a n s o f the socialist state t o d e f e n d a n d p r o p a g a t e r e v i s i o n i s m . This is a great m i s f o r t u n e , b u t also a g r e a t lesson f o r the Marxist-Leninists, w h o must be able not o n l y to fight this r e v i s i o n i s m w h i c h i s i n p o w e r , b u t also t o p r e v e n t the r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t t r a g e d y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n in other countries that are b u i l d i n g socialism now, o r w i l l e n t e r t h e r o a d o f s o c i a l i s m i n the f u t u r e .
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2. THE STRATEGIC AIMS OF KHRUSHCHEVITE REVISIONISM W h a t the s t r a t e g i c a i m s o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s are a n d w h a t e n o r m o u s d a m a g e a n d e v i l t h e y h a v e b r o u g h t a n d a r e b r i n g i n g t o s o c i a l i s m , the r e v o l u t i o n a n d the peoples h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n p r o v e d w i t h m a n y facts. The revisionists spearheaded their struggle m a i n l y against Marxism-Leninism as t h e t r u s t w o r t h y t h e o r y of the w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e s t r u g g l e t o defeat i m p e r i a l ism and capitalism, and replaced this theory w i t h an opportunist, counter-revolutionary theory in the service o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l i s m . U n d e r t h e false s l o gans o f the struggle against d o g m a t i s m a n d the c r e a t i v e d e v e l o p m e n t o f M a r x i s m i n t h e n e w c o n d i t i o n s , i n fact t h e y d e c l a r e d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o u t d a t e d , n e g a t e d its f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s , s t r i p p e d i t o f its r e v o l u t i o n a r y spirit and turned it into a doctrine w h i c h is not only h a r m l e s s , b u t e v e n h e l p f u l t o the b o u r g e o i s i e . T h e r e v i sionists r e p l a c e d m a t e r i a l i s m w i t h i d e a l i s m a n d d i a l e c t i c s w i t h metaphysics, and adopted the reactionary philosophy o f p r a g m a t i s m . T h e y r e j e c t e d t h e class s t r u g g l e , t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d r e p l a c e d t h e m w i t h the b o u r g e o i s a n d o p p o r t u n i s t t h e o r i e s of class c o n c i l i a t i o n , s o c i a l r e f o r m s , p e a c e f u l transition and liberal-bourgeois democracy. There is no f i e l d o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y i n t o w h i c h t h e r e v i sionists h a v e not i n t r o d u c e d b o u r g e o i s a n d s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c ideology, w h i c h i s t h e i r s p i r i t u a l n u t r i m e n t . T h e revisionists' a i m is to d i s a r m the p a r t y and the w o r k i n g class i d e o l o g i c a l l y i n o r d e r t o o p e n t h e w a y t o the d e generation of socialism and the international communist movement. T h e second o b j e c t i v e o f t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s is to bring about the degeneration and destruction of the
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Marxist-Leninist parties, to t u r n t h e m i n t o s o c i a l - d e m o cratic parties, i n o r d e r t o s u p p o r t t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n , undermine socialism and defend and re-establish capitalism. T h e y t h r e w out the L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s o f the s t r u c ture of the p a r t y of a n e w type, i n t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e life o f the p a r t y f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s o f w o r k a l i e n t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , e l i m i n a t e d the o l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y cadres and p r o m o t e d o p p o r t u n i s t s , c a r e e r i s t s a n d a d v e n t u r e r s to l e a d i n g positions, set out on the course of a l l i a n c e s w i t h the bourgeois, l i b e r a l a n d s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c p a r t i e s a n d are n o w p r e p a r i n g t o l i q u i d a t e t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s u n d e r the p r e t e x t o f c r e a t i n g u n i t e d p a r t i e s o f t h e w o r k i n g class. T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s n e g a t e d t h e p r o l e t a r i a n class c h a r a c t e r o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d d e c l a r e d i t t h e p a r t y o f t h e e n t i r e people. They deny the leading role of the communist party armed w i t h t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y i n t h e socialist r e v o l u tion a n d i n the s y s t e m o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o letariat, a n d p r e a c h t h a t the t r a n s i t i o n t o a n d t h e c o n s t r u c tion o f s o c i a l i s m a r e p o s s i b l e u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f other p a r t i e s a n d classes, e v e n of t h e bourgeoisie. It is regrettable, b u t a fact, t h a t t h e p a r t i e s w h i c h a r e l e d by the m o d e r n revisionists today are v i r t u a l l y indisting u i s h a b l e f r o m the s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c p a r t i e s . T h e y h a v e become b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s o f t h e w o r k i n g class, a p p e n dages t o a n d s e r v a n t s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l ism. I n t h i s w a y , t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t r y t o l e a v e the w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses not o n l y w i t h o u t t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y i d e o l o g y b u t also w i t h o u t t h e i r m i l i t a n t v a n g u a r d , t h e i r l e a d i n g p o l i t i c a l staff, a t a t i m e w h e n i m p e r i a l i s m , the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d r e a c t i o n a r e o r g a n i z e d a n d a r m e d t o t h e t e e t h a n d h a v e gone o n the a t t a c k against t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples. A n o t h e r o b j e c t i v e o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s i s to achieve the degeneration of the socialist order and the
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liquidation of the dictatorship of the proletariat , the r a d i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d socialist c o u n t r i e s i n t o b o u r g e o i s c o u n t r i e s a n d states of a n e w , T i t o i t e T r o t s k y i t e t y p e . U n d e r t h e false s l o g a n o f t h e s t r u g g l e against the c u l t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d its consequences the r e v i s i o n i s t s f a b r i c a t e d t h e m o s t m o n s t r o u s s l a n d e r s against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d t h e dictatorship of the proletariat, the w h o l e socialist order a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s m . T h e y a t t a c k e d the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , m a l i g n e d its v i c tories, d i s c r e d i t e d t h e S o v i e t p e o p l e a n d t r i e d t o m a k e people b e l i e v e t h a t S t a l i n w i t h h i s a r b i t r a r i t y a n d h i s cult h a d d i s t o r t e d L e n i n ' s t e a c h i n g s . H e n c e S t a l i n i s t socialism h a d t o b e d e s t r o y e d t o i t s roots a n d t u r n e d i n t o genuine s o c i a l i s m o n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t m o d e l , w h i c h w o u l d b e acceptable t o t h e social-democrats, the b o u r g e o i s l i b e r a l s , i m p e r i a l i s m a n d the bourgeoisie. U n d e r t h e c l o a k of the state of t h e e n t i r e people the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i sionists e l i m i n a t e d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t i n the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d e s t a b l i s h e d t h e i r o w n d i c t a t o r s h i p , w h i c h is a dictatorship of the n e w bourgeoisified stratum, w h i c h has n o w seized p o w e r a n d i s o p p r e s s i n g a n d e x p l o i t i n g the S o v i e t people. T h i s n e w b o u r g e o i s s t r a t u m , w h i c h i s t h e s o c i a l basis o f r e v i s i o n i s m a n d o f w h i c h the p o l i t i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s are t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders, h a s n o w p a v e d the w a y t o t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m i n the S o v i e t U n i o n . I t h a s t a k e n r a d i c a l m e a s u r e s t o t r a n s f o r m t h e socialist e c o n o m y i n t o a c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m y o f a n e w t y p e , f o l l o w i n g the e x a m p l e o f T i t o i t e Y u g o s l a v i a , t o c o r r u p t the e d u c a t i o n , t h e c u l t u r e , t h e w a y o f life, the h e a l t h y p r o l e t a r i a n m o r a l i t y a n d t o s p r e a d c o r r u p t i o n a n d d e g r a d a t i o n , t o o p e n t h e w a y f o r the p e n e t r a t i o n o f bourgeois i d e o l o g y a n d m o r a l i t y a n d foreign capital and especially the US dollar. W h a t the i m p e r i a l i s t i n t e r v e n t i o n , t h e w h i t e g u a r d s , the T r o t s k y i t e s
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a n d a l l t h e o t h e r e n e m i e s o f the S o v i e t U n i o n w e r e u n a b l e t o a c h i e v e i n t h e i r t i m e , i s n o w b e i n g c a r r i e d out b y the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s . I t h a s been a n d s t i l l i s the a i m o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s to destroy the socialist camp , w h i c h is the greatest r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i c t o r y o f the w o r k i n g class a n d a l l the w o r k i n g people o f the w o r l d , a n d t o r e p l a c e i t w i t h t h e v a g u e i d e a o f the great socialist f a m i l y o f the peoples, t o d e s t r o y t h e f r a t e r n a l M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ties a m o n g the socialist c o u n t r i e s a n d t o r e p l a c e t h e m w i t h h e g e m o n i c a n d c h a u v i n i s t i c ties based o n b l a c k m a i l a n d the economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y p r e s s u r e o f the g r e a t e r u p o n t h e s m a l l e r , o f t h e s t r o n g e r u p o n the w e a k e r . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders t r a m p l e u p o n t h e s o v e r e i g n t y o f the o t h e r socialist c o u n t r i e s a n d peoples, b r u t a l l y interfere in their i n t e r n a l affairs, organize subversive a c t i v i t i e s against t h e m , t r y t o i m p o s e t h e i r d i c t a t e u p o n t h e m i n o r d e r t o p u t t h e socialist c o u n t r i e s u n d e r the c o n t r o l a n d h e e l o f t h e S o v i e t state w h i c h h a s b e c o m e T r o t s k y i t e . I n the r e l a t i o n s a m o n g the socialist c o u n t r i e s the p r i n c i p l e s o f p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m h a v e been replaced w i t h new principles of bourgeois capitalist o p p r e s s i o n a n d d o m i n a t i o n . I n p u r s u i n g this course, the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r f o l l o w e r s v i o l a t e d a l l the economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y a g r e e m e n t s c o n c l u d e d w i t h the People's Republic of A l b a n i a , and pursued t o w a r d s i t a savage c h a u v i n i s t a n d i m p e r i a l i s t p o l i c y . . . They follow this policy in various forms and to various extent t o w a r d s t h e i r f r i e n d s a n d allies, too. A n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t a i m o f the strategy o f the K h r u s h chevite r e v i s i o n i s t s i s d i s r u p t i o n , o n a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale, of the w o r k e r s ' i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t u n i t y , the smashing of the international communist movement, the s u b j u g a t i o n o f the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s t o the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r ship. T h e S o v i e t l e a d i n g g r o u p h a s i n t r o d u c e d i n the
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i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t the m e t h o d o f the conductor's baton a n d the concept of the m o t h e r p a r t y . T h e y h a v e v i o l a t e d the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t n o r m s and principles of relations between fraternal parties and h a v e established f e u d a l - p a t r i a r c h a l r e l a t i o n s o f s u b m i s sion a n d d o m i n a t i o n . . . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s o r g a n i z e d the p u b l i c a t t a c k o n t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a t the 2 2 n d C o n g r e s s o f the C P S U . T h e y a n d t h e i r f o l l o w e r s t r a n s f o r m e d the congresses o f c e r t a i n other parties into arenas for slanders a n d savage attacks a g a i n s t o u r P a r t y . I n M a r c h last y e a r t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists organized the disruptive factional meeting i n M o s c o w , t h e y h a v e s u p p o r t e d a n d i n c i t e d hostile a n t i p a r t y elements t o u n d e r t a k e f a c t i o n a l a c t i v i t y against the f r a t e r n a l parties, t h e y h a v e been a n d are c a r r y i n g out e x t e n s i v e d i s r u p t i v e a c t i v i t y w i t h i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e mocratic organizations striving to impose their opportunist and pro-imperialist line on them. T h e essence o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s ' l i n e , t h e i r loftiest i d e a l a n d t h e i r d r e a m is the Soviet-US f r i e n d s h i p a n d c o o p e r a t i o n a n d the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a new alliance between US imperialism and Soviet revisionist imperialism for world domination . T h e p u r p o s e o f this n e w a l l i a n c e i s t o d i v i d e the spheres o f i n f l u e n c e a n d p u t a l l t h e states o f t h e w o r l d u n d e r t h e d i c t a t e o f these t w o b i g p o w e r s . I t i s a n u n d e n i a b l e fact t h a t n o w the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , h e a d e d b y the S o v i e t leaders, d o not m a k e a n y d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n f r i e n d s a n d enemies o f s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e peoples, a n d h a v e broken off any connection w i t h M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d t h e peoples. T h e y h a v e u n i t e d w i t h i m p e r i a l i s m against s o c i a l i s m , h a v e u n i t e d w i t h t h e U S A against t h e peoples, h a v e u n i t e d w i t h a l l r e a c t i o n a r i e s against t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , h a v e u n i t e d w i t h the T i t o c l i q u e a n d a l l t h e o t h e r renegades f r o m t h e w o r k i n g class
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against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e p a r t i e s a n d forces w h i c h r e m a i n l o y a l t o i t a n d t o the cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n . S u c h i s t h e a n t i - M a r x i s t , anti-socialist, c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y face o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s . S u c h are t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s s t r a t e g i c objectives. T h e m a i n a i m o f the r e s o l u t e p r i n c i p l e d s t r u g g l e o f o u r P a r t y has been p r e c i s e l y to expose t h e t r e a c h e r o u s features of t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s i n the eyes o f a l l t h e c o m m u n ists a n d peoples, to e x p o s e t h e hostile a i m s of the S o v i e t revisionist leadership. O u r P a r t y is determined to carry this s t r u g g l e t h r o u g h t o the e n d , t o t h e c o m p l e t e v i c t o r y of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m over Khrushchevite, Titoite and any other v a r i a n t o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m . .......................
4. INTENSIFY THE STRUGGLE AGAINST KHRUSHCHEVITE AND TITOITE MODERN REVISIONISM T h e e x t e n s i o n a n d f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the s t r u g gle against r e v i s i o n i s m are l i n k e d w i t h o u t r i g h t r e j e c t i o n o f i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e change t h e n e w S o v i e t leaders have a l l e g e d l y m a d e , a b o u t t h e i r change of course a n d t h e corrections t h e y a r e a l l e g e d l y m a k i n g t o K h r u s h chev's m i s t a k e s . S u c h i l l u s i o n s a r e v e r y h a r m f u l . T h e present S o v i e t leaders a r e t h e closest c o l l a b o r a t o r s of K h r u s h c h e v , a r e those w h o , t o g e t h e r w i t h K h r u s h c h e v , p r e p a r e d a n d c a r r i e d o u t the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , w h o w o r k e d out a n d a p p l i e d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t line, w h o f u r i o u s l y a t t a c k e d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i n i d e o logy, i n p o l i t i c s , e c o n o m i c s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n , i n a r t a n d c u l t u r e , etc., those w h o a t t a c k e d a n d are f i g h t i n g t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, those w h o h a v e l i n k e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h U S imperialism, the international bourgeoisie and
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r e a c t i o n , w h o are w o r k i n g w i t h m i g h t a n d m a i n t o f o r m a n i m p e r i a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t h o l y a l l i a n c e against c o m m u n i s m a n d the peoples o f the w o r l d . M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s are n o t d e c e i v e d b y e x t e r n a l a p pearances, a n d b y the d e m a g o g y t h a t t h e n e w leaders o f the S o v i e t U n i o n use s o f r e e l y . T h e y m u s t see t h r o u g h a l l the c a m o u f l a g e to the content, to t h e essence of things, a n d d i s t i n g u i s h w o r d s f r o m deeds. I f w e l o o k a t t h i n g s i n this w a y , then it is c l e a r t h a t the p r e s e n t S o v i e t l e a d e r s h a v e not c h a n g e d a n d h a v e n o i n t e n t i o n o f c h a n g i n g . T h e y a r e d e t e r m i n e d t o g o d o w n t h e i r course o f b e t r a y a l . T h i s i s o n l y l o g i c a l . T h e y c o u l d n o t r e t u r n t o a correct course without condemning themselves to death. Therefore, there i s n o hope t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t t r a i t o r s can c h a n g e f o r the better. A change w i l l c e r t a i n l y b e m a d e some d a y , t h o u g h i t w i l l n o t b e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o w i l l m a k e it, but the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s w h o w i l l put an end to the domination of revisionists and b r i n g them before the c o u r t of the r e v o l u t i o n . I n w h a t d o those w h o n u r t u r e i l l u s i o n s o n this q u e s t i o n see t h e change a n d t h e c h a n g e f o r t h e better i n the n e w S o v i e t leaders? I n n o t h i n g concrete, b u t o n l y in the K h r u s h c h e v i t e demagogy, in w h i c h , w i l l y - n i l l y , t h e y h a v e got t h e m s e l v e s t r a p p e d . A n d i t m u s t b e a d m i t t e d that in regard to demagogy, the n e w leaders of the Soviet U n i o n B r e z h n e v , K o s y g i n a n d c o m p a n y , are s h r e w d e r a n d m o r e s k i l f u l t h a n t h e i r teacher. I n w o r d s t h e y s w e a r b y L e n i n i s m a n d e v e n a l l o w some r e f e r e n c e s t o S t a l i n i n m o r e objective t e r m s , b u t a t t h e same t i m e t h e y s w e a r b y the 20th a n d 2 2 n d C o n g r e s s e s o f t h e C P S U . C a n t h i s r e p r e s e n t a c h a n g e f o r t h e better? C e r t a i n l y not. W e c o u l d t a l k a b o u t s u c h a change o n l y i f t h e y w e r e t o o p e n l y reject r e v i s i o n i s m a n d b e t r a y a l , p u b l i c l y d e n o u n c e t h e decisions of t h e 20th, 21st, 22nd Congresses as a n t i M a r x i s t a n d proclaim the program of the C P S U e l a -
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b o r a t e d a t t h e 2 2 n d C o n g r e s s a n d a l l its theses o n the p a r t y a n d state of t h e e n t i r e people, etc., to be r e v i s i o n ist. T h e r e c a n be t a l k of a change f o r t h e better o n l y if they f u l l y and unequivocally rehabilitate Stalin. O u r P a r t y has stressed a n d stresses a g a i n t h a t the q u e s t i o n o f S t a l i n , i n p a r t i c u l a r , i s a f u n d a m e n t a l issue, because t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s c o n c r e t i z e d t h e i r a t t a c k o n M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t w i t h their attack on J. V. Stalin. O u r P a r t y is of the opinion that t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s a n d a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s should defend S t a l i n f r o m any revisionist slander and attack a n d t h r o u g h t h e i r s t r u g g l e r e s t o r e t h e n a m e a n d w o r k o f S t a l i n t o t h e p l a c e o f h o n o u r t h e y deserve, b e cause S t a l i n w a s a n d r e m a i n s a g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d a great M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t . He f o l l o w e d a correct r e v o l u t i o n ary general line both in internal policy and in foreign p o l i c y . H e c o n s i s t e n t l y a d h e r e d t o the l i n e o f class s t r u g gle a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e l i n e of t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m a n d the s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y a n d degenerate b o u r g e o i s e l e m e n t s . H e l e d t h e S o v i e t people f r o m v i c t o r y t o v i c t o r y i n s t e r n struggle w i t h all the enemies of the Soviet U n i o n and socialism. J. V. S t a l i n made a priceless contribution to the f o r m a t i o n a n d c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f t h e socialist c a m p a n d to the g r o w t h and strengthening of the international c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t . T h r o u g h o u t his l i f e as a r e v o l u t i o n a r y m i l i t a n t , S t a l i n w a g e d a r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m i n defence o f peace a n d the s e c u r i t y o f the peoples, faithfully pursued the policy of proletarian internationali s m , o f a i d a n d s u p p o r t f o r t h e oppressed peoples a n d t h e i r revolutionary, national liberation movements. S t a l i n w a s a m o d e s t p e r s o n . As a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t , he a l w a y s p r o p e r l y a p p r e c i a t e d t h e r o l e o f t h e masses a n d the p l a c e t h a t i n d i v i d u a l s o c c u p y ; h e opposed t h e c u l t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d m o r e t h a n once c r i t i c i z e d i t a s a l i e n
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to Marxist-Leninists. Nevertheless, the Soviet propaganda, e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g the last y e a r s o f S t a l i n ' s l i f e , i n f l a t e d the cult o f S t a l i n t o great p r o p o r t i o n s a n d the K h r u s h c h e v i t e clique, w h i c h out o f f e a r h a d p l a y e d a n a c t i v e p a r t i n the e x a l t a t i o n o f S t a l i n , e x p l o i t e d this f o r its o w n a n t i socialist a n d a n t i - M a r x i s t p u r p o s e s later. S t a l i n c a n b e c r i t i c i z e d , n o t because h e d e v e l o p e d a n d p r a c t i s e d h i s o w n cult, b u t o n l y because h e d i d n o t t a k e t h e p r o p e r measures to restrain this unnecessary propaganda, espec i a l l y t a k i n g i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t t h e great a u t h o r i t y w h i c h S t a l i n h a d g a i n e d b y s t r u g g l e a n d deeds a n d t h e boundless trust a n d love that the p a r t y a n d people h a d for h i m w e r e sufficient to strike a heavy b l o w at the b u r e a u c r a t i c e l e m e n t s w h o w e r e j e o p a r d i z i n g the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . O u r P a r t y o f L a b o u r has r e s o l u t e l y a d h e r e d a n d adheres t o t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s o n the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e masses, t h e class, t h e p a r t y a n d the leaders, c o m b a t i n g b o t h t h e c u l t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d n e g a t i o n o f t h e r o l e a n d a u t h o r i t y o f leaders w h o e n j o y t h e l o v e a n d respect o f the masses, w h o f a i t h f u l l y d e f e n d t h e interests o f t h e masses a n d l e a d t h e m successfully in the revolutionary struggle. In this matter we always bear in m i n d the words of M a r x , w h o , speaking of himself and of Engels, s a i d : Neither of us larization... The the clandestine tional right from Constitution of cal kowtowing
gives a brass farthing for our popuparticipation of Engels and I in communist society was made condithe start on the removal from the anything which contributed to mystito authorities.*
__________________________________ * K. M a r x , F. Engels, W o r k s , vol. 34, p. 241, second Russian edition.
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T h e historic merits of S t a l i n are undeniable. These m e r i t s c o n s t i t u t e h i s f u n d a m e n t a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c as a leader a n d a g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s ' s l a n d e r s against S t a l i n c a n n o t i n t h e least d i m h i s o u t s t a n d i n g f i g u r e a n d his m o n u m e n t a l w o r k w h i c h w i l l s h i n e f o r ever a n d w i l l a l w a y s s e r v e a s a g r e a t i n s p i r i n g e x a m p l e a n d a b a n n e r of s t r u g g l e f o r a l l t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s of t h e w o r l d . T h e n e w S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders speak a b o u t t h e unity of the communist movement and the family of t h e socialist c o u n t r i e s , b u t at t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y d e clare t h a t i n a l l m a t t e r s o f p r i n c i p l e c o n c e r n i n g f o r e i g n policy and the international communist movement they h a d n o d i f f e r e n c e s w i t h K h r u s h c h e v . C a n i t b e t h a t these words constitute the so-called change for the better? C e r t a i n l y n o t . . . B u t w h a t i s t h e r e a l i t y ? I n fact, since Brezhnev, K o s y g i n and company took power, they have s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s e d t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s against M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism and the parties w h i c h defend it; their provocations and subversive activities have been extended a n d unity, b o t h w i t h i n t h e c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d w i t h i n the socialist f a m i l y , has b e e n u n d e r m i n e d e v e n m o r e systematically. T h e u n i t y in the communist movement a n d t h e socialist c a m p w i l l b e r e - e s t a b l i s h e d , b u t i t w i l l b e r e - e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , w i t h o u t the r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t r a i t o r s a n d i n r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against them. T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e m a k i n g a great noise about u n i t y o f a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , stressing t h a t more things b r i n g us together and few things drive us apart, b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y l o u d l y d e c l a r e t h a t t h e y are for, a n d w o r k i n g a c t i v e l y t o a t t a i n , a l l - r o u n d S o v i e t A m e r i c a n c o o p e r a t i o n . D o these statements m e a n t h a t here w e h a v e some change? C e r t a i n l y not. M a n y facts s h o w t h a t t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s are a n t i - i m p e r i a l -
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ists o n l y i n w o r d s , w h i l e i n deeds t h e y a r e p r o - i m p e r i a l i s t s . T h e y are expanding their economic, political and scient i f i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a m o r e and more. A l l their diplomatic activity, especially their secret d i p l o m a c y , i s a i m e d a t s t r e n g t h e n i n g the a l l - r o u n d links and cooperation w i t h the various imperialists A m e r i c a n , J a p a n e s e , W e s t - G e r m a n , B r i t i s h a n d others, w i t h the I n d i a n r e a c t i o n a r i e s , w i t h t h e I n d o n e s i a n fascist c l i q u e , w i t h a l l t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e peoples, s o c i a l i s m a n d the r e v o l u t i o n . W h a t t h e n u n i t e s t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s w i t h the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s ? N o t h i n g . E v e r y t h i n g d i v i d e s t h e m . T h e i r ideologies, p o l i c i e s a n d f i n a l a i m s are d i a m e t r i c a l l y opposed. T h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t f r o n t o f t h e peoples o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d must be built on a solid foundation. It must be a g e n u i n e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t f r o n t , u n i t i n g a l l those w h o , t o this o r t h a t e x t e n t , e f f e c t i v e l y f i g h t i m p e r i a l i s m , headed b y U S imperialism. The K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i sionists h a v e e x c l u d e d t h e m s e l v e s f r o m the a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t front through their whole policy and activity. To include the r e v i s i o n i s t s i n t h i s f r o n t m e a n s t o b r i n g i n t h e f i f t h c o l u m n , the T r o j a n horse, t o u n d e r m i n e i t f r o m w i t h i n . O u r P a r t y f i r m l y u p h o l d s t h e i d e a o f the g r e a t L e n i n that i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o f i g h t i m p e r i a l i s m s u c c e s s f u l l y unless, a t the same t i m e , y o u r e s o l u t e l y f i g h t its o f f s p r i n g a n d close a l l y , r e v i s i o n i s m .
...If it is not closely linked with portunism, the struggle against an empty phrase and a fraud,*
the fight against opimperialism becomes L e n i n p o i n t e d out.
To our Party of L a b o u r it is an utterly unacceptable i d e a t h a t u n i t y o f action w i t h the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i ______________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected Works, vol. 22, p. 367 (Alb. ed.).
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sionists against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m is a touchstone a n d a n e f f e c t i v e a n d p o s i t i v e s t r u g g l e against r e v i s i o n i s m . I n fact, t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h the r e v i s i o n i s t s , t o c a r r y out u n i t e d actions w i t h t h e m m e a n s t o s l i p g r a d u a l l y i n t o the p o s i t i o n s of r e v i s i o n i s m , to accept t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s line. I t m e a n s t o accept t h a t A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i s not the most f e r o c i o u s e n e m y o f the peoples a n d t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l g e n d a r m e , a n d t o c o n s i d e r correct the p o l i c y o f K h r u s h c h e v i t e p e a c e f u l co-existence w i t h i m p e r i a l ism, the S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n c o l l a b o r a t i o n , t h e M o s c o w T r e a t y a n d a l l t h e o t h e r o p e n a n d secret a g r e e m e n t s o f t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s w i t h the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e r e a c t i o n a r i e s of v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s . It m e a n s to g i v e up t h e struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d a d a p t oneself t o the interests o f S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n c o l l a b o r a t i o n , t h u s s a c r i f i c i n g the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e of the peoples. T h i s is just w h a t the r e v i s i o n i s t s are w a n t i n g t o a c h i e v e w i t h t h e i r a t t e m p t s at u n i t y of action. W i t h t h e i r s l o g a n o f u n i t y o f action the r e v i s i o n i s t s are t r y i n g t o a t t a i n t h e i r s i n i s t e r a i m o f p u t t i n g aside the deep i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l d i f f e r e n c e s o f p r i n ciple a l l e g e d l y f o r t h e s a k e o f t h e s t r u g g l e against i m perialism, headed by the U S A . This w o u l d be nothing but u t t e r c a p i t u l a t i o n t o r e v i s i o n i s m , a b a n d o n m e n t o f the s t r u g g l e against it a n d acceptance of i d e o l o g i c a l coexistence w i t h it. T h e r e i s a n o t h e r r e a s o n w h y u n i t e d a c t i o n w i t h the r e v i s i o n i s t s is a f r a u d a n d a d e m a g o g i c m a n o e u v r e . U n i t y i n the s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m supposes c o - o r d i n a t i o n o f t h e e c o n o m i c p o t e n t i a l a n d m i l i t a r y forces w h i c h w i l l c o n f r o n t the i m p e r i a l i s t p o l i c y o f w a r a n d aggression. B u t w h a t d o the facts s h o w ? . . . T h e y h a v e p l a c e d t h e i r e c o n omic a n d m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l i n the service o f t h e i r g e n e r a l l i n e f o r the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f the S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n d o m i n a tion of the w o r l d .
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T h o s e w h o n u r t u r e i l l u s i o n s a b o u t the a l l e g e d c h a n g e o f t h e n e w S o v i e t leaders a r e e n t h u s i a s t i c about t h e latter's readiness t o give u p t h e o p e n p o l e m i c s . C a n this be t a k e n as another serious proof to m a k e us b e l i e v e t h a t the r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e a l l e g e d l y c h a n g e d ? C e r t a i n l y not. F i r s t , i t i s n o t t r u e t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e g i v e n u p the open p o l e m i c s . I s n o t the fact t h a t t h e y are pursuing a line utterly opposed to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e i n t e r e s t s of s o c i a l i s m , a c o n t i n u a t i o n of t h e p o l e m i c s b y deeds? . . . W h a t a b o u t the s l a n d e r s a n d a t t a c k s i n t h e i r d a i l y press, t h e p r o p a g a n d a w o r k , t h e l e t t e r s a n d lectures w h i c h n o t o n l y are d e l i v e r e d a n d discussed i n t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t are also sent to o t h e r p a r t i e s to be s t u d i e d , are t h e y not a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e open p o l e m i c s ? A p a r t f r o m these t h i n g s , i t m u s t not be forgotten that the K h r u s h c h e v i t e modern r e v i s i o n ists w e r e t h e f i r s t t o start the o p e n p o l e m i c s . A n d a t that t i m e a l l o f t h e m p a r r o t e d t h a t t h i s w a s L e n i n i s t . O n l y w h e n they saw that the open polemics w a s y i e l d i n g n e g a t i v e r e s u l t s f o r t h e m , because i t h e l p e d t o u n m a s k t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s features, d i d t h e y c a l l i t h a r m f u l . O u r P a r t y believes t h a t t h e o p e n p o l e m i c s i s essential, a school f o r a l l the c o m m u n i s t s , because i t e n a b l e s t h e m t o d i s t i n g u i s h the t r u t h f r o m lies. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s w o u l d b e v e r y pleased e v e n i f w e w e r e t o s p e a k a b o u t t h e m i n g e n e r a l t e r m s s o l o n g a s t h e y w e r e not a t t a c k e d o p e n l y and things w e r e not called by their true names. B u t r e v i s i o n i s m a n d t h e b e t r a y a l a r e n o t spectres, t h e y a r e a l i v i n g reality w h i c h is u n d e r m i n i n g socialism and the peoples' s t r u g g l e . T h e r e f o r e , this r e a l i t y a n d n o t t h e spectre must be fought, if the M a r x i s t s do not w a n t to fall i n t o t h e Q u i x o t i c positions. Our Party thinks that the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists must not be p e r m i t t e d to benefit f r o m a single m o m e n t o f c a l m t o c o n s o l i d a t e t h e i r positions t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s a c t i v i t y u n h i n d e r e d .
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T o r e l a x the s t r u g g l e against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i n the slightest, o n a n y p r e t e x t , m e a n s t o d e v i a t e f r o m p r i n c i p l e s . A n d principles cannot and must never be sacrificed for the sake o f m o m e n t a r y i n t e r e s t s a n d a d v a n t a g e s o f a n economic o r a n y o t h e r c h a r a c t e r . O u r P a r t y t h i n k s that the situation is such that e v e r y p a r t y a n d e v e r y p e r s o n w h o calls h i m s e l f a c o m munist a n d a r e v o l u t i o n a r y should not be mere o n lookers, s h o u l d not w a i t u n t i l t h e y a r e a t t a c k e d b y t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d content t h e m s e l v e s w i t h c o n g r a t u l a t i n g others o n t h e s t r u g g l e t h e y a r e w a g i n g a g a i n s t r e v i s i o n ism. T i m e does n o t w a i t . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s m u s t b e o n the o f f e n s i v e a n d n o t o n t h e defensive, o n the a t t a c k and not in retreat. T h e y have never been a f r a i d of the revisionists, o f t h e i r t h r e a t s a n d pressure. F e a r i s a l i e n t o M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , t h e y k n o w i t n e i t h e r i n the s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m n o r i n t h e s t r u g g l e against r e v i s i o n ism. I t i s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o a r e a f r a i d : t h e y f e a r imperialism and M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . To be a f r a i d of the revisionists means to be even more a f r a i d of imperialism, a n d t o h a v e n o c o n f i d e n c e i n the s t r e n g t h a n d t r i u m p h o f Marxism-Leninism. W e t h i n k t h a t t h e t i m e has come t o d r a w a clear line o f d e m a r c a t i o n w i t h m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , w i t h a l l its groupings and especially w i t h the Soviet leading group, and t o f i g h t w i t h a l l o u r m i g h t t o isolate i t c o m p l e t e l y from the Soviet people and f r o m the revolutionary Soviet communists. We have never confused and never w i l l confuse t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d S o v i e t people, w i t h w h o m w e h a v e b e e n a n d w i l l b e g o o d f r i e n d s f o r ever, c o m e r a i n , c o m e shine. B u t i t i s a fact t h a t r e v i s i o n i s m i s i n p o w e r i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n now. A n d this revisionism must be fought m e r cilessly a n d i n a p r i n c i p l e d w a y . T h i s i s i n t h e d i r e c t interest o f t h e S o v i e t c o m m u n i s t s a n d the S o v i e t people,
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i t i s a great a i d t h a t w e are g i v i n g t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e t o put a n e n d t o the r e v i s i o n i s t b e t r a y a l w h i c h has d e s t r o y e d the v e r y f o u n d a t i o n s of the v i c t o r i e s of t h e O c t o b e r R e v o l u t i o n a n d the socialist a n d c o m m u n i s t c o n s t r u c t i o n i n the S o v i e t U n i o n . I n the s t r u g g l e against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , a s i n a l l o t h e r p r o b l e m s , the o n l y c o r r e c t s t a n d i s t h e p r i n c i p l e d s t a n d . T h e r e can b e n o h a g g l i n g o v e r p r i n c i p l e s ; i n defence of principles there can be no stopping h a l f - w a y ; a v a c i l lating opportunist stand must never be adopted. The struggle between M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and revisionism is a n e x p r e s s i o n o f the class s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e bourgeoisie, b e t w e e n s o c i a l i s m a n d c a p i t a l i s m . T h e r e i s n o m i d d l e course i n t h i s s t r u g g l e . A s the e x p e r i e n c e o f m a n y y e a r s o f h i s t o r y has s h o w n , t h e l i n e o f the g o l d e n m e a n is the l i n e of t h e c o n c i l i a t i o n of o p posites t h a t c a n n e v e r b e c o m p a t i b l e , i s a n u n s t a b l e a n d t e m p o r a r y p o s i t i o n . N o r c a n the m i d d l e c o u r s e c o v e r u p the d e v i a t i o n s f r o m the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s , b e cause i f t h e s t r u g g l e against r e v i s i o n i s m i s i n s p i r e d not by ideological motives, but only by certain economic a n d political contradictions and by national chauvinist motives, i t i s a f r a u d t h a t w i l l soon b e e x p o s e d . A n y o n e w h o adheres t o this l i n e i n t h e s t a n d t o w a r d s t h e renegades f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w i l l , sooner o r l a t e r , b e i n d a n g e r o f s l i p p i n g i n t o the p o s i t i o n o f those renegades. J . V . S t a l i n has s t r o n g l y stressed:
There is and there can be no 'middle' course in matters of principle. Either these or those principles must be the foundation of the work of the Party. The 'middle' course in matters of principle is the 'line' that benumbs the brains, the 'line' that covers up the differences, the 'line' which leads to the
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ideological leads to
degeneration of the Party, the 'line' which the ideological death of the Party.*
In the opinion of our Party, an urgent question w h i c h i s p r o m i n e n t o n t h e agenda t o d a y i s not r e c o n c i l i a t i o n a n d u n i t y w i t h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s , b u t t h e split, t h e d e f i n i t e break w i t h t h e m . L e n i n s a i d :
Unity is a great thing and a great slogan! But the workers' cause needs the unity of Marxists, not the unity of Marxists with the enemies and distorters of Marxism.**
U n i t y w i t h t h e o p p o r t u n i s t s a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s , L e n i n said,
...really means unity of the national bourgeoisie and division proletariat, the unity of lackeys revolutionaries.***
proletariat with the of the international and the splitting of
F a c i n g t h e attacks, plots a n d w a r t h r e a t s o f the u n i t e d imperialist-revisionist front, the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s must strengthen t h e i r u n i t y o n t h e n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l level a n d step u p t h e i r r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l ism a n d r e v i s i o n i s m . T h e t i m e s w e are l i v i n g are n o t t i m e s for endless, sterile, a c a d e m i c discussions, b u t t i m e s f o r bold, m i l i t a n t , r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions e n t a i l i n g s e l f - d e n i a l and sacrifice. T h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d the bourgeoisie, t h r o u g h t h e i r parties, are l o u d l y p r o p a g a t i n g p a c i f i s m a n d bourgeois h u m a n i s m t o create i n people, e v e n i n c o m m u n ists w h o are v a c i l l a t i n g a n d c o w a r d l y , t h e i m p r e s s i o n that
______________________________ * J. V. Stalin, W o r k s , v o l . 9, p. 4 (Alb. ed.). ** V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , vol. 20, p. 256 (Alb. ed.). *** V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 21, p. 387 (Alb. ed.).
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our revolutionary m i l i t a n c y is allegedly sectarianism, a d v e n t u r i s m , d o g m a t i s m , f a n a t i c i s m , etc. W e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s are n e i t h e r sectarians n o r a d v e n t u r e r s , n e i t h e r d o g m a t i s t s n o r f a n a t i c s . W e f i g h t against these m a n i f e s t a tions a s a l i e n a n d u n a c c e p t a b l e t o c o m m u n i s t s , b u t a t t h e same t i m e , w e d o not f a l l i n t o t h e p o s i t i o n s o f o u r e n e m i e s , w h o , w i t h these false accusations a n d f o r u l t e r i o r m o t i v e s , t r y t o cause u s t o b e c o m e i d e o l o g i c a l l y , p o l i t i c a l l y a n d organizationally corrupt and thus to weaken or extinguish o u r s t r u g g l e against t h e m . T h e r a n k s o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a n d forces m u s t b e closely u n i t e d a n d w e l l o r g a n i z e d , t e m p e r e d a n d prepared to fight continuously. We must prepare ourselves perfectly politically, ideologically, economically and m i l i t a r i l y f o r struggle, f o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions, b y t h o r o u g h l y and creatively mastering our all-conquering doctrine. T h e w o r l d c o m m u n i s m o f o u r days m u s t b e c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y the militant revolutionary spirit of the heroic times of L e n i n and S t a l i n and the C o m i n t e r n . It was not w i t h o u t definite hostile aims that K h r u s h c h e v a n d his henchmen undertook the struggle to discredit the C o m i n t e r n and its i m m o r t a l w o r k . Naturally, the times have changed and t h e q u e s t i o n h e r e i s n o t t h a t w e s h o u l d adopt o r c o p y the forms and methods of work, organization and leadership of the Comintern, appropriate for that time, although they h a d both merits a n d shortcomings. Nevertheless, in the opinion of our P a r t y the establishment of l i n k s f o r cooperation and co-ordination in conformity w i t h the n e w present conditions is an essential and urgent matter. N a t u r a l l y , a l l the p a r t i e s a r e e q u a l a n d i n d e p e n d e n t . A s i s stressed i n the M o s c o w D e c l a r a t i o n , e a c h p a r t y w o r k s o u t its o w n g e n e r a l l i n e , b a s i n g i t s e l f o n t h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s a n d i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e concrete peculiarities and conditions of the country and time. T h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s also h a v e these correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
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p r i n c i p l e s o n t h e t i p s o f t h e i r tongues, b u t w h i l e i n w o r d s they a r e f o r i n d e p e n d e n c e , i n r e a l i t y t h e y w a n t a l l the other p a r t i e s t o b e d e p e n d e n t o n t h e m a n d u n d e r t h e i r d i r e c t i o n ; w h i l e i n w o r d s they a r e f o r p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r nationalism, in reality they strive to prevent the M a r x ist-Leninists f r o m u n i t i n g and adhering to a c o m m o n l i n e f o r m u l a t e d on t h e basis of a p r o f o u n d , p r i n c i p l e d , objective M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t class a n a l y s i s . T h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s e m p l o y e v e r y m e a n s t o s p l i t us, because the unity of Marxist-Leninists is fatal to them a n d their masters t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n ists m u s t r i d t h e m s e l v e s o f these r e v i s i o n i s t attempts, must o v e r c o m e a l l t h e obstacles a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y u n i t y o n t h e basis o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d proletarian internationalism. T h e y must strengthen their c o o p e r a t i o n a n d m u s t w o r k out a c o m m o n l i n e a n d a c o m m o n s t a n d o n t h e m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l issues, e s p e c i a l l y i n connection w i t h t h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e n e w alliances, c o n c r e t i z e d i n t h e r e a l c o n d i t i o n s o f the e x i s t i n g s i t u a t i o n , but a l w a y s based o n M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s . ..... T h e situation in the w o r l d and in the international communist movement is developing in our favour and t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f o u r enemies. B u t w e m u s t l o o k events s q u a r e l y i n t h e e y e a n d face t h e m c o u r a g e o u s l y , because, despite the r e v e r s e s o u r i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t e n e m i e s h a v e s u f f e r e d , t h e y h a v e not l a i d d o w n t h e i r a r m s . O n the c o n t r a r y , t h e y a r e i n t e n s i f y i n g t h e i r c o o p e r a t i o n a n d activity. In this situation there is no place for inertia, h e s i t a t i o n a n d w a v e r i n g , b u t courage, d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d m a t u r i t y are required. T h e r e is no place for insipid, m i l d , o p p o r t u n i s t tactics a n d p h r a s e o l o g y , b u t r a p i d m i l i t a n t
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actions are r e q u i r e d , f i g h t i n g tactics t h a t assist o u r r e v olutionary strategy every day a n d every hour, w h i l e at the s a m e t i m e b e i n g w i s e a n d p r u d e n t , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h the s i t u a t i o n a n d the c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n w h i c h e a c h party is struggling. A n d there is no doubt that w i t h a r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r a t e g y a n d tactics based o n o u r v i c t o r i o u s ideology, the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a n d forces w i l l a l w a y s m a r c h f o r w a r d a n d score n e w v i c t o r i e s i n t h e i r sacred s t r u g g l e t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the oppressed peoples a n d nations, against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m , f o r the t r i u m p h o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , s o c i a l i s m , the r e v o l u t i o n a n d peace i n the w o r l d . As for the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a , as an active m e m b e r o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces o f t h e w o r l d , i t is f u l l y conscious of the great h i s t o r i c t a s k t h a t is f a c i n g the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t t o d a y t o d e f e n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d c a r r y f o r w a r d the cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m . . . T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r w i l l f i g h t w i t h a l l its m i g h t against i m p e r i a l i s m , w i t h U S i m p e r i a l i s m a t the head, a n d against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , w i t h the S o v i e t leaders a t the head, w i l l spare n o e f f o r t t o s u p p o r t the j u s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties a n d forces, a n d w i l l w o r k t i r e l e s s l y f o r the c o n solidation and strengthening of the anti-revisionist unity of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d the a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t u n i t y o f t h e peoples o f the w o r l d , c o n f i d e n t t h a t M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , s o c i a l i s m a n d the peoples w i l l b e v i c t o r i o u s . T h i s i s the d u t y t h a t t h i s C o n g r e s s puts b e f o r e the w h o l e P a r t y f o r t h e c o m i n g years.
Works, vol. 34
THE FURTHER REVOLUTIONIZATION OF THE PARTY AND THE STATE (1)
Speech delivered at the joint meeting of the basic party organizations of the Krraba coal mine, the Enver plant, the Wilhelm Pieck agricultural cooperative, the army detachment No. 5009 and the University of Tirana
February 6, 1967
Comrade
communists,
T h e organizations of the P a r t y have an important event b e f o r e t h e m . D u r i n g the n e x t t w o m o n t h s m e e t i n g s w i l l b e h e l d e v e r y w h e r e i n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f city a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , o f v a r i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d the a r m e d forces to r e n d e r a c c o u n t a n d elect the l e a d e r s h i p of t h e basic p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s i n regions a n d r e m o t e d i s t r i c t s . T h e r e n d e r i n g o f a c c o u n t a n d elections are a n e v e n t of great i m p o r t a n c e to t h e f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n i n g of the P a r t y . I n the m e e t i n g s t h a t w i l l b e h e l d f o r this purpose
____________________________ 1 T h i s speech is a further elaboration of the ideas set forth in the decision of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the CC of the P a r t y On the Struggle against Bureaucracy, for a Revolutionary M e t h o d and Style of W o r k . T h e discussion of this document proved the correctness of the historic decisions of our Party, its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t maturity and vitality.
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every communist must r e v i e w his o w n w o r k and that of t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , m u s t w e i g h u p a l l t h e successes a n d shortcomings in the spirit of criticism a n d self-criticism, set t h e o b j e c t i v e s w h i c h h e w i l l s t r i v e t o a c h i e v e i n t h e f u t u r e , elect t h e secretary, t h e b u r e a u o r t h e c o m m i t t e e f r o m those c o m r a d e s w h o h a v e w o r k e d best, w h o h a v e proved themselves to be capable organizers and resolute fighters for the application of the line of the P a r t y . T h e m e e t i n g s o f basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r r e n d e r i n g account a n d elections m u s t j u s t i f y t h e i r b e i n g h e l d . W h a t I m e a n is t h a t an a c c o u n t i n g s h o u l d be d e m a n d e d of a n d r e n d e r e d b y each m e m b e r , one b y one, a n d n o t j u s t h o w we have carried out the task in general, but h o w I, as a n i n d i v i d u a l p a r t y m e m b e r h a v e c a r r i e d i t out, n o t o n l y i n t h e f i e l d , f a c t o r y o r office, b u t h o w I h a v e d o n e m y d u t y i n society, h o w I h a v e m o b i l i z e d m y s e l f a n d s t r u g gled to solve social, political a n d f a m i l y problems, and, w h e n I s a y f a m i l y p r o b l e m s , I do not, by a n y means, refer to the internal affairs of the family, but to the social a n d p o l i t i c a l p r o b l e m s t h a t p r e o c c u p y t h e A l banian family. I n t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m m u n i s t s d e m a n d a r e n d e r i n g o f account f r o m t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y comrades, since t h e p r o b l e m s o n w h i c h a c c o u n t i n g i s d e m a n d e d are not p r i v a t e , p e r s o n a l a f f a i r s , b u t p o l i t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p r o b l e m s o f the P a r t y , p r o b l e m s o f the collective, of the masses; t h e r e f o r e , w e , as c o m m u n i s t s , b e a r great r e s p o n s i b i l i t y as a p a r t y c o l l e c t i v e a n d as c o m m u n i s t s , i n d i v i d u a l m e m b e r s o f this c o l l e c t i v e . W e are w a g i n g a great a n d c o n t i n u o u s s t r u g g l e f o r the f u r t h e r r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y a n d h a v e achieved v e r y good results. Revolutionizing the P a r t y means r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g t h e c o m m u n i s t s . T h e y m u s t b e soldiers, t o u g h as steel, p o l i t i c a l l y clear, courageous, k i n d l y , s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d a n d sincere a n d , w h e n n e e d be,
REVOLUTIONIZATION OF THE PARTY AND STATE
211
severe a s w e l l . T h e y m u s t d e s t r o y e v e r y t h i n g t h a t i s b a d a n d s u p p o r t , o r g a n i z e the n e w a n d p r o g r e s s i v e a n d fight i n the f o r e f r o n t f o r i t . . . T h e e n t i r e P a r t y a n d c o u n t r y ought t o r i s e t o e r a d i c a t e the b a c k w a r d c u s t o m s a n d break the neck of anyone w h o violates the sacred l a w o f the P a r t y i n defence o f t h e r i g h t s o f w o m e n a n d g i r l s . These are m o r a l a n d p o l i t i c a l p r o b l e m s o f g r e a t i m p o r tance. T h e demanding of accounting f r o m communists is necessary, b u t i t m u s t b e done i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d not f r o m spite, o v e r p a l t r y n o n - p o l i t i c a l m a t t e r s , not i n t h e f o r m o f a n i n q u i s i t i o n , w i t h slanders, t r u m p e d u p charges o r v i n d i c t i v e p e r s o n a l attacks. A l l these k i n d s o f d e m a n d i n g account are a l i e n t o a n d c o n d e m n e d b y o u r P a r t y , f o r t h e y are a l l i n s p i r e d b y p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s v i e w s . T h e r e f o r e , I t h i n k w e s h o u l d get a w a y f r o m those f o r m s o f d e m a n d i n g account i n g e n e r a l w h i c h y i e l d n o results, o r f r o m m a k i n g stale c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m w h i c h has n o effect, does not e d u c a t e c o m r a d e s p o l i t i c a l l y a n d does n o t h e l p t h e m s o l v e p r o b l e m s correctly. In o r d e r to m a k e the P a r t y thoroughly revolutionary, every communist must assume and bear his responsibilities b y c a r r y i n g out h i s t a s k s t o the l e t t e r a n d b y r e n d e r i n g account t o the l e t t e r . F r e q u e n t l y t h e r e n d e r i n g o f account i s not done p r o p e r l y a n d n o t d e m a n d e d p r o p e r l y , because the tasks o f e a c h m e m b e r , a n d f i r s t o f a l l , h i s p o l i t i c a l tasks, a r e not u n d e r s t o o d p r o p e r l y . L e t u s t a k e , f o r instance, t h e m e m b e r s o f p a r t y c o m mittees o r m e m b e r s o f t h e b u r e a u s o f basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d e v e n t h e c o m m u n i s t s of t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s . It is usually said that not a l l are m o b i l i z e d p r o p e r l y in the v a r i o u s a f f a i r s o f t h e P a r t y , a n d t h e c r i t i c i s m i s o f t e n m a d e t h a t t h e b u r e a u o f t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e , its secretaries, o r the s e c r e t a r y o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , d o
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n o t o r g a n i z e the w o r k w i t h t h e m w e l l , a n d s o o n a n d s o f o r t h . T h e s e c r i t i c i s m s are t o t h e p o i n t a n d f a i r , i n d e e d t h e y o u g h t t o b e m a d e m o r e s t r o n g l y , because t h e o n l y m o r e o r less o r g a n i z e d a n d p l a n n e d w o r k o f t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s a n d t h e i r secretaries i s c a r r i e d out w i t h t h e instructors of the committees, w i t h the people of the apparatus, and now and then, at occasional meetings, w i t h t h e secretaries o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s . L o o k e d a t a n d done i n this w a y , this w o r k s m a c k s o f b u r e a u c r a t i c officialdom. B u t these c o m r a d e s a r e n o t t h e o n l y ones a t f a u l t : t h e r e a r e others, too, w h o a r e c r i t i c i z e d o n l y l i g h t l y , o r not a t a l l , a n d w h e n the t i m e f o r t h e r e n d e r i n g o f a c c o u n t a n d elections comes r o u n d , t h e y d o n o t r e n d e r a c c o u n t b u t s t i l l are re-elected. I a m r e f e r r i n g i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e to the members of the plenums of the p a r t y committees a n d of t h e b u r e a u s of basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s . T h e y are elected by the P a r t y to lead, organize, mobilize a n d fight like revolutionaries and not just to w a i t for the t w o or three m e e t i n g s a y e a r o f the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e a n d t o t h i n k t h a t w i t h this t h e i r j o b i s done. A t these m e e t i n g s t h e i r w o r k has just b e g u n . T h e y m a y s a y : W e l l , t h e secretaries d o not c a l l u s together, t h e y do not m o b i l i z e us, a n d so o n . M a y be so, b u t w e h a v e n e v e r seen these c o m r a d e s c a l l t h e secretaries t o task o v e r this, o r f i n a l l y , t h r o w t h e m o u t i f t h e y f a i l t o d o t h e i r j o b p r o p e r l y . L e t u s a s s u m e t h a t the b u r e a u s a n d secretaries are t o b l a m e , b u t w e v e r y r a r e l y see the m e m b e r s of p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s use the r i g h t s the P a r t y has g i v e n t h e m i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y . R a r e l y , if ever, does a n y one go to check u p , assist, i n s t r u c t a n d t a k e steps o n the spot i n basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o t h e r t h a n his o w n , o r v i s i t a n d assist e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s besides the one h e i s d i r e c t l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h , w i t h o u t h a v i n g been a p p o i n t e d b y t h e c o m m i t t e e t o d o so. H e w o n ' t l i f t
213
a f i n g e r w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g a n d g e t t i n g the p e r m i s s i o n of t h e secretary. A p a r t y c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r o u g h t to c o - o r d i n a t e these t h i n g s w i t h the secretaries, s h o u l d d e m a n d facts f r o m t h e p a r t y a p p a r a t u s , a n d s h o u l d discuss w i t h the secretaries w h a t h e has seen, w h a t h e has d o n e a n d w h a t h e suggests s h o u l d b e done. I f h e t a k e s n o t r o u b l e , n o i n i t i a t i v e o f h i s o w n w i t h i n his competences, t h i s cannot b e c a l l e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k , b u t m e r e l y t a k i n g a n interest i n the tasks u n d e r the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f h i s basic o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h i s i s s i m p l e c o n c e r n o v e r l o c a l interests. T h e p r o p e r exercise of a l l prerogatives a n d duties by every communist, whether of the rank-and-file or elected t o t h e l e a d i n g o r g a n s o f t h e P a r t y , does n o t m e a n h e v i o l a t e s t h e p a r t y n o r m s t o w h i c h I s h a l l r e f e r later, on the contrary, he fights to strengthen them. If he fails to e x e r c i s e these r i g h t s he is t o l e r a t i n g a m e t h o d of w o r k w h i c h strengthens the bureaucratic spirit in the w o r k of the a p p a r a t u s e s of t h e P a r t y a n d leads to a state of a f f a i r s i n w h i c h those a p p o i n t e d t o t h e p a r t y a p p a r a t u s e s become a l l - p o w e r f u l , e m e r g e o n t h e stage a s i n f a l l i b l e expert p a r t y workers, a n d people say of t h e m that they have t h e a f f a i r s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a t t h e i r f i n g e r t i p s . T h i s is t r u e also of c e r t a i n r a n k - a n d - f i l e m e m b e r s of t h e Party. T h e r e is no doubt that there must be organization o f the tasks a n d d i v i s i o n o f t h e w o r k a m o n g t h e c o m m u n ists i n t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n . I n c e r t a i n cases t h i s i s d o n e w e l l , i n others n o t s o w e l l ; this w e m u s t i m p r o v e , b u t it is impermissible for any communist to remain idle if no specific job is assigned to h i m . H o w m a n y tasks there are w a i t i n g t o b e d o n e ! T h e n , w h a t k i n d o f a r e v o l u t i o n a r y i s t h a t c o m m u n i s t w h o w a i t s f o r someone t o assign h i m a task to do? No, such getic, a c t i v e a communist revolutionary c a n n o t be c a l l e d an w i t h initiative. The enerParty
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has n o need o f s u c h m e m b e r s ; its m e m b e r s m u s t u n d e r stand that o n l y in r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle can heroic communists be created and tempered. T h e r e f o r e , a l l p a r t y meetings, p a r t i c u l a r l y those f o r r e n d e r i n g account a n d elections, a r e a great s c h o o l f o r t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f p a r t y cadres. T h e r e n d e r i n g o f a c c o u n t a n d elections s h o u l d set i n m o t i o n also a l l t h e n o n - p a r t y w o r k e r s o f t h e c o l l e c t i v e w h o are not, a n d c a n n o t be, i n d i f f e r e n t t o w a r d s t h e successes o r s h o r t c o m i n g s i n t h e w o r k , t o w a r d s t h e tasks the p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l set f o r the f u t u r e , o r w h o w i l l b e elected t o the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e r e fore, i n p r e p a r i n g t h e m s e l v e s f o r t h e m e e t i n g s f o r t h e r e n d e r i n g o f account a n d elections t h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t t a l k w i t h the w o r k e r s , l i s t e n t o t h e i r o p i n i o n s , c o m p l a i n t s , c r i t i c i s m s a n d suggestions a n d s t u d y these c a r e f u l l y , s o that the o p i n i o n , not o n l y of the c o m m u n i s t s , b u t also t h a t o f the n o n - p a r t y masses, w i l l b e r e f l e c t e d i n the m e e t ings o f the P a r t y . A p r e p a r a t i o n o f this k i n d w i l l h e l p to e n s u r e t h a t these m e e t i n g s a r e c o n d u c t e d in a m i l i t a n t revolutionary spirit... N i n e t e e n s i x t y - s i x w a s t h e y e a r o f great c r e a t i v e i n i t i a tives by the w o r k i n g class, as a consequence of w h i c h m a n y n e w shops a n d f a c t o r i e s w e r e set up, i t w a s the y e a r d u r i n g w h i c h a l l the p e a s a n t r y i n t h e m o u n t a i n o u s r e g i o n s e m b a r k e d on the road of collectivization of agriculture; it w a s the y e a r of a f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n i n g of the defence potential of our country and of a revolutionary m o b i l i z a tion of e v e r y citizen of our People's Republic. T h e s e successes are an i n c e n t i v e , a g r e a t e n c o u r a g e ment for every communist and every w o r k e r of our country. T h e y strengthen our confidence and conviction that w e s h a l l f u l f i l t h e tasks o f 1967 a n d the f u t u r e y e a r s o f the 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n w h i c h the 5 t h C o n g r e s s o f o u r glorious P a r t y adopted, just as successfully as we f u l f i l l e d
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the tasks of t h e f i r s t y e a r of the f i v e - y e a r p l a n , or e v e n better. O u r P a r t y teaches u s c o m m u n i s t s t h a t w e m u s t n e v e r become d i z z y w i t h success. W e m u s t n o t h i d e the s h o r t comings i n o u r w o r k b e h i n d o u r successes. W e k n o w that, despite the successes a c h i e v e d i n the great w o r k done b y the p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o m o b i l i z e t h e masses, t h e r e have been a n d s t i l l are defects w h i c h t h e P a r t y m u s t struggle w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o e l i m i n a t e . T h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y has c o n s t a n t l y emphasized t h a t the basic p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s o u g h t t o have m o r e i n i t i a t i v e i n t h e i r w o r k . B u t s o m e t i m e s this matter i s n o t u n d e r s t o o d p r o p e r l y . T h u s , a n i d e a e x i s t s that a n a l y s i s a n d d i s c u s s i o n of t h e decisions of t h e p a r t y committees in the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s is a b u r d e n on t h e m and i n h i b i t s t h e i r i n i t i a t i v e . A n a l y s i s a n d d i s c u s s i o n o f decisions sent f r o m h i g h e r organs s h o u l d not b e c o n s i d e r e d something s u p e r f l u o u s a n d u n n e c e s s a r y . S u c h a n i d e a w o u l d b e w r o n g , because i t w o u l d f o l l o w f r o m this t h a t w e should not i n f o r m the P a r t y as a w h o l e , s h o u l d n o t teach it how to w o r k and think, or give it directions and generalizations o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d . W e m u s t not f o r one m o m e n t f o r g e t t h a t o u r P a r t y is based on d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m . T h a t is to say, the democratic l i f e , the d e m o c r a t i c a c t i v i t y o f o u r P a r t y , i s conducted u n d e r a c e n t r a l i z e d l e a d e r s h i p , elected in the most d e m o c r a t i c w a y b y the e n t i r e P a r t y . H e n c e o n the basis of t h i s d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m , not o n l y m u s t the i m p o r t a n t decisions of the h i g h e r organs of the P a r t y be made k n o w n t o a l l , t o the l o w e r organs a n d t o t h e P a r t y as a w h o l e , b u t the l o w e r organs m u s t go i n t o t h e m m o r e deeply a n d f i n d t h e best w a y s a n d m e a n s t o a p p l y them, t o p u t t h e m i n t o p r a c t i c e . T h e s e v i t a l decisions o f t h e P a r t y c a n n o t b e c a r r i e d out w h e n a l i b e r a l , p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s s p i r i t p r e v a i l s , w h e n
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t h e d a n g e r o u s a t t i t u d e of w h a t do I care e x i s t s in the Party. No, in our Marxist-Leninist Party, in a militant proletarian party, there is no r o o m for l i b e r a l political and organizational indiscipline, for sham democracy. O u r P a r t y is leading the great proletarian struggle o f the people, a n d i n o r d e r t o w i n e v e r y battle, i t enforces a n i r o n d i s c i p l i n e w h i c h i s s u c h i n the P a r t y because i t i s conscious. T h e s e a n d o t h e r n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y , a b o u t w h i c h I s h a l l speak s h o r t l y , m u s t b e p r e s e r v e d a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d , a n d one s h o u l d not t h i n k f o r one m o m e n t that, since the P a r t y i s i n p o w e r , since w e are b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m successfully, w e c a n p e r m i t a n y r e l a x a t i o n i n t h e s t r i c t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e n o r m s o f the P a r t y . B y no means! These n o r m s consolidate the P a r t y , m a k e it a vanguard and invincible. A n a l y s i s a n d d i s c u s s i o n of decisions or suggestions about w o r k , a b o u t f o r m s o f w o r k a n d tasks sent f r o m h i g h e r organs is e s s e n t i a l . S u c h a t h i n g does n o t l i m i t the h o r i z o n s , does n o t i n h i b i t t h e i n i t i a t i v e o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s . B u t the q u e s t i o n i s w h a t d i f f e r e n t i a t e d assistance i s g i v e n t o t h e m s o t h a t t h e y u n d e r s t a n d a n d c a r r y out these decisions i n the r e a l s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h t h e p a r t i c u l a r b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n l i v e s a n d gives l e a d e r ship. H e r e w e h a v e a great w e a k n e s s . T h e f i e l d o f a c t i o n o f e v e r y basic o r g a n i z a t i o n l o o k s alike, b u t i t i s n o t e n t i r e l y so. T h e r e f o r e , w e c a n n o t r e c o m m e n d t h a t t h e e l a b o r a t i o n of a d e c i s i o n s h o u l d be done i n t h e same w a y i n the c i t y a s i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , i n t h e f a c t o r y as in the b r i g a d e of a c o o p e r a t i v e or in a school. W e s h o u l d not insist t h a t e v e r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d d e a l w i t h a l l the p r o b l e m s w h i c h a d e c i s i o n m a y raise, in a u n i f o r m way. A n o r g a n i z a t i o n o u g h t t o b e g u i d e d , i n f o r m e d , s o that it has a good g e n e r a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e w h o l e d e c i sion, a n d t h e n g o d e e p l y i n t o those p a r t s o f i t w h i c h
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constitute acute a n d a c t u a l p r o b l e m s f o r i t . . . T h e p a r t y committees m u s t r e a l i z e t h a t the w o r k i n the p a r t y o r g a nizations i n the c o u n t r y s i d e has its o w n s p e c i f i c c h a r a c t e r istics w h i c h o f t e n , a n d e s p e c i a l l y u n d e r o u r concrete c o n ditions, i s q u i t e d i f f e r e n t f r o m the w o r k i n the p a r t y organizations i n the city. T o forget o r i g n o r e t h e d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n o u r t o w n and o u r v i l l a g e , b e t w e e n the l i f e a n d c u s t o m s of the city and those of t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , a n d to use t h e same m e t h o d o f w o r k , the same f o r m s i n b o t h the c i t y a n d c o u n t r y s i d e i n an automatic and stereotyped w a y is bound to yield unsatisfactory results. T h e secretaries a n d i n s t r u c t o r s o f p a r t y committees p a y n o great h e e d t o this. F o r instance, they d o n o t t a k e p r o p e r l y i n t o account t h a t the press, f o r various reasons, i s not d e l i v e r e d a s q u i c k l y i n t h e c o u n t r y as it is in t h e city, t h a t t h e c u l t u r a l c e n t r e in a c o o p e r a t i v e does not f u n c t i o n a n d is n o t f r e q u e n t e d l i k e t h a t of a factory i n the city, t h a t t h e r e m n a n t s o f t h e past i n the consciousness of the peasant are m o r e persistent t h a n in the consciousness of t h e w o r k e r , t h a t t h e c u l t u r a l level o f the peasant i s s t i l l l o w e r t h a n that o f the c i t y dweller. T h e n , w h a t s h o u l d the secretaries a n d i n s t r u c t o r s do? T h e r e are t w o w a y s : e i t h e r t o p l o d a l o n g l i k e cart horses o r t o r a c k t h e i r b r a i n s m o r e t o f i n d the m o s t a p p r o p r i a t e w a y out. It is d i f f i c u l t to issue a p r e s c r i p t i o n , because, as I said, e v e r y v i l l a g e or g r o u p of v i l l a g e s m a y r e q u i r e s p e c i a l m e t h o d s a c c o r d i n g t o the s i t u a t i o n a n d circumstances. B u t one p r e s c r i p t i o n i s i n f a l l i b l e a n d the m a i n r e m e d y t o c u r e a n d set the w o r k o n its feet. T h i s is thorough, profound, well-based knowledge of the situat i o n i n the c o u n t r y s i d e , k n o w l e d g e o f the people, o f t h e cadres of the v i l l a g e one by one, k n o w l e d g e of t h e i r c a pacities, t h e i r i n c l i n a t i o n s , t h e i r w i l l a n d t h e i r h e a r t s . T h e same t h i n g h o l d s g o o d f o r the c i t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s , too. O n l y o n this basis c a n t h e r e b e i n i t i a t i v e a n d s e l f - a c t i o n
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i n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d o n l y o n t h i s basis c a n the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s a n d i n s t r u c t o r s g i v e q u a l i f i e d assistance. E l i m i n a t i o n of this shortcoming in the method of w o r k o f t h e c o m m i t t e e s a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i l l h e l p t h e party organizations to become m o r e militant and to give better l e a d e r s h i p i n the w o r k t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e great tasks t h e y face. N o w t h a t the p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s are p r e p a r i n g t o g o t o t h e i r m e e t i n g s f o r r e n d e r i n g a c c o u n t a n d elections, t h e y should bear their special characteristics in m i n d , along w i t h t h e i r s h o r t c o m i n g s , p a y i n g p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n t o the l a t t e r w h e n i t comes t o elections. I t m u s t b e s a i d that, i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h elections t o t h e Party, the party committees have created a tradition w h i c h m u s t b e r i d o f the t h i n g s t h a t y i e l d n o f r u i t o r a r e o u t d a t e d . O n e o f these i s t h e c u s t o m o f t a l k i n g a b o u t a l l t h e p r o b l e m s a t the m e e t i n g s f o r r e n d e r i n g account a n d e l e c tions. It seems to me t h a t t h e c o m r a d e s o u g h t to l o o k i n t o this m a t t e r m o r e closely. W e m a y a d o p t t h e p r a c t i c e t h a t r e p o r t s at these m e e t i n g s s h o u l d be c o n f i n e d to one or t w o m a i n issues, let u s say, o f p r o d u c t i o n , o r o n l y t o m a t t e r s o f c u l t u r e a n d e d u c a t i o n , t o those topics w h e r e t h e r e are m o r e weaknesses a n d s h o r t c o m i n g s , a n d e v e r y c o m m u n i s t s h o u l d r e n d e r account, s h o u l d m a k e c r i t i c i s m o r s e l f - c r i t i c i s m a b o u t these. J u s t w h a t p r o b l e m s t o t a k e u p i s closely l i n k e d w i t h t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , its s p e c i f i c f i e l d , its w e a k n e s s e s a n d d e f i ciencies. O u r task is to temper our P a r t y continuously with shortcomings from and weaknesses. To this so that it is the i t w i l l a l w a y s b e m i l i t a n t , d y n a m i c , active, i r r e c o n c i l a b l e end, and essential t o b r i n g n e w b l o o d i n t o the P a r t y , t o a d m i t n e w members the ranks of the w o r k i n g class cooperative peasantry, a n d the most o u t s t a n d i n g r e v o l u -
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tionary e l e m e n t s o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a . T h e C o n s t i t u t i o n ( 2 ) adopted a t t h e 5th C o n g r e s s o f t h e P a r t y c l e a r l y defines the c o n d i t i o n s n e c e s s a r y f o r a d m i s s i o n t o the P a r t y a n d the m e a s u r e s t h a t m u s t b e t a k e n f o r t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f candidates. T h e t a s k o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s i s t o e x p l a i n these r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d t h e i r o b j e c t i v e w e l l s o t h a t they are u n d e r s t o o d c o r r e c t l y . If the d i r e c t i v e s of the Party on admissions are explained w e l l and understood correctly, t h e n i t w i l l b e c l e a r t h a t the n e w r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n do n o t close t h e doors of t h e P a r t y , but o n t h e c o n t r a r y , o p e n t h e m . B u t t o w h o m ? T o the best people, t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , they close the doors t o those w h o a r e u n w o r t h y . W h y does some c o m r a d e t h i n k that t h e n e w c o n d i tions m i g h t h i n d e r t h e e n t r y o f n e w b l o o d i n t o t h e P a r t y ? Because, h i t h e r t o , m e m b e r s a n d p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e sometimes p r o p o s e d a d m i s s i o n s w i t h o u t s o u n d c r i t e r i a and h a v e a d m i t t e d p e o p l e i n t o t h e P a r t y w i t h o u t t e s t i n g them w e l l . N o w t h e c r i t e r i a a r e s o u n d a n d t h e tests d i f ferentiated. P e o p l e h a v e t o b e c o m e a c c u s t o m e d t o these new f o r m s , a n d t h e r e i s n o r e a s o n t o t h i n k t h a t t h e doors o f the P a r t y w i l l b e closed. I f t h e d o o r s w e r e closed t o the people, t h a t w o u l d b e v e r y b a d , j u s t a s i t w o u l d b e v e r y b a d t o k e e p the d o o r s w i d e open f o r a n y o n e t o enter w h e n i t p l e a s e d h i m . B u t s o m e t a k e t h e d i r e c t i v e o f the P a r t y b l i n d l y , w h e r e a s i t i s d i f f e r e n t i a t e d f o r d i f ferent categories f o r w o r k e r s , f o r c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , f o r intellectuals a n d f o r o f f i c e e m p l o y e e s . I f these d i f f e r e n t i a tions a n d t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s l a i d d o w n f o r p e o p l e o f
______________________________ 2 A c c o r d i n g to this Constitution, the probation period for the party candidate was prolonged f r o m 1 year as it was p r e viously, to 2-3 years, in accordance w i t h the social status, the nature of w o r k a n d the ideo-political preparation of each c a n d i date. It is another deep-going measure taken by the P a r t y to have only such people as are more tempered and better embued with the qualities of the w o r k i n g class admitted to its ranks.
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v a r i o u s s t r a t a are n o t t a k e n i n t o account, a n d b o t h the m i n e r and cooperativist a n d the intellectual or office e m p l o y e e are sent a l l o v e r t h e place t o d o t h e i r p e r i o d of p r o b a t i o n as c a n d i d a t e m e m b e r s , this m e a n s t h a t the d i r e c t i v e has n o t been u n d e r s t o o d a n d this i s f r a u g h t w i t h danger. L e t us t a k e the q u e s t i o n of those w h o p r o p o s e a c a n d i d a t e f o r p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p . T h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e s a y t h a t a stand should be taken a g a i n s t those w h o m a k e i r r e s p o n s i b l e proposals. T h i s m u s t b e u n d e r s t o o d c o r r e c t l y . P r o p o s a l s m u s t b e m a d e a n d the p r o p o s e r i s r e s p o n s i b l e t o the P a r t y , b u t t h i s s h o u l d not be taken to mean that p u n i t i v e measures must be taken against h i m w i t h o u t f a i l o n m i s t a k e s a n d offences w h i c h the candidate m a y c o m m i t d u r i n g his life in the Party, because i n t h a t case n o o n e w o u l d p r o p o s e n e w m e m b e r s . T h e q u e s t i o n m u s t b e seen i n t h e d i a l e c t i c o f d e v e l o p m e n t . L e t u s t a k e the r e q u i r e m e n t o f the C o n s t i t u t i o n that the candidate m a y change his occupation w h e n he is doing h i s p r o b a t i o n p e r i o d . T h i s m a y b e d o n e i n p r i n c i p l e , but s h o u l d not become a r u l e , because s u c h a t h i n g is not i n t h e interests o f t h e w o r k o r o f t h e c a n d i d a t e . A candidate m a y be transferred f r o m his o w n district, b u t t h i s , too, s h o u l d n o t b e c o m e the r u l e . W h e n t h e c a n d i d a t e i s a b a c h e l o r t h e p r o b l e m i s easier. B u t n o w w e h a v e m a n y d i f f e r e n t sectors w i t h d i f f i c u l t j o b s i n e v e r y d i s t r i c t , t o w h i c h w e c a n send t h e c a n d i d a t e . T h e question of their education w i t h the difficulties of w o r k should b e l o o k e d a t i n r e g a r d t o w o r k e r s a n d cooperativists, too; we should proceed cautiously in regard to w o m e n c a n d i dates, e s p e c i a l l y w h e n t h e y are m a r r i e d a n d h a v e c h i l d r e n , but we must be m o r e exigent towards office employees a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l s . T h u s , t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f the P a r t y s h o u l d be interpreted correctly and the p r o b l e m of admitting m e m b e r s o n t h e n e w basis, o f s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e P a r t y
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with n e w blood, should be pursued continuously, w i t h the greatest care, f o r t h i s is a v i t a l m a t t e r to t h e P a r t y . These questions are of importance to the i m p r o v e m e n t o f the w o r k o f t h e P a r t y . B u t t h e y a r e n o t t h e o n l y ones we should bear in m i n d in connection w i t h the campaign o f r e n d e r i n g account a n d e l e c t i o n s i n t h e P a r t y . T h e further r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f o u r P a r t y a n d t h e o r g a n s o f our state, t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state depend on a c o m p l e x of p r o b l e m s . I w a n t to t a l k to y o u about t w o p r o b l e m s o f p r i n c i p l e : F i r s t , about the strict implementation and observation of the revolutionary principles and norms of the Party. S e c o n d , about the consistent and determined fight which must be waged against bureaucracy.
ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NORMS OF THE P A R T Y Right f r o m the t i m e it was founded, our M a r x i s t Leninist P a r t y has g i v e n p r i m a r y i m p o r t a n c e t o democratic centralism, criticism and self-criticism, proletarian democracy, critical analysis of problems and events, sound secrecy, conscious iron discipline, the line of the masses, the class struggle, and so on and so forth. T h e m o r a l a n d political s i t u a t i o n i n t h e P a r t y , t h e i d e o l o g i c a l u p l i f t a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t i n t h e P a r t y a n d a m o n g t h e people, the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y w i t h o u t d i s q u i e t i n g m i s t a k e s , a n d the f u l f i l m e n t o f p l a n s a r e p r o o f of the g o o d r e s u l t s in t h i s d i r e c t i o n . It w o u l d , of course, be a m i s t a k e of s e l f - s a t i s f a c t i o n and short-sightedness t o s a y t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s p e r f e c t i n our c o u n t r y , t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s d o n e p e r f e c t l y . S e l f - s a t i s faction, b e c o m i n g d i z z y w i t h success, creates t h a t state of inertia w h i c h minimizes the mistakes, allows them to get worse, a n d glosses t h e m over w i t h t h e i d e a w e h a v e
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a c h i e v e d successes, n o w e v e r y t h i n g i s g o i n g w e l l , w e need not be perturbed about certain reprehensible m a n i festations w h i c h w e consider a s a c c i d e n t a l . Self-satisfaction over the correct decisions taken and, hence, t h e i d e a that those w h o h a v e f o r m u l a t e d t h e m o n the basis of the e x p e r i e n c e of t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state are i n f a l l i b l e , above c r i t i c i s m , m a i n t a i n i n g t o w a r d s t h e m a n idealist, m y s t i c a l , n o n - r e v o l u t i o n a r y , n o n - M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t , n o n - d i a l e c t i c a l a t t i t u d e , i s w r o n g , a w r o n g concept. O n e s h o u l d a l w a y s p r o c e e d f r o m t h e p r i n c i p l e : t r u s t a n d check u p , l o v e a n d respect e v e r y p e r s o n w h o w o r k s a n d s t r i v e s h a r d , c o r r e c t l y a n d w i t h p e r s e v e r a n c e , o n t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y , b u t l e a v e n o one, w h o e v e r h e m a y be, u n c r i t i c i z e d a n d u n - c o r r e c t e d w h e n h e e r r s ; d o n o t hesitate t o expose and deal stern and merciless blows at anyone w h o takes t h e e n e m y course against t h e P a r t y , against t h e people, against s o c i a l i s m . T o c o n t i n u e t o r e v o l u t i o n i z e t h e P a r t y w i t h great t e n a c i t y t h i s s h o u l d b e o u r greatest c o n c e r n . T h e P a r t y cannot b e r e v o l u t i o n i z e d e x c e p t t h r o u g h t h o r o u g h k n o w ledge, deep p h i l o s o p h i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d s t r i c t r e v olutionary application of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t principles w h i c h g u i d e the P a r t y a n d t h e L e n i n i s t n o r m s w h i c h g o v e r n its l i f e a n d t h a t o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s . T h i s great v i t a l p r o b l e m cannot b e u n d e r s t o o d i n a f o r m a l w a y , a n d w e c a n n o t a l l o w these p r i n c i p l e s t o b e a p p l i e d m e c h a n i c a l l y , to be l e a r n e d as c u t - a n d - d r y , lifeless f o r m u l a e . O n e o f o u r m a i n tasks i s that, w h i l e l e a r n i n g a n d a p p l y i n g these p r i n c i p l e s a n d n o r m s p r o p e r l y , w e s h o u l d , at the same t i m e , discover the r e a l , d e e p reasons w h y these n o r m s a r e n o t u n d e r s t o o d a n d a p p l i e d p r o p e r l y i n g e n e r a l , o r b y some i n p a r t i c u l a r , i n t h i s o r t h a t basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , b y this o r t h a t c o m m u n i s t . T h e w o r k e r s o f the P a r t y a r e n o w c a p a b l e o f c o n t i n u a l l y m a k i n g t h i s necessary d i a g n o s i s o f t h e i r w o r k
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and m u s t p r e s c r i b e t h e n e c e s s a r y r e m e d y , b o t h on a general l e v e l f o r t h e P a r t y as a w h o l e as w e l l as f o r individual communists. The remedy for i n d i v i d u a l communists w h o d o not u n d e r s t a n d a n d a p p l y t h e n o r m s properly, o r v i o l a t e t h e m , i s s t u d y o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e , a n d t h i s i s p a r t of the g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n of t h e P a r t y in these d i r e c t i o n s . Let us look at some lessons the experience of the Party teaches us. D e s p i t e t h e g r e a t p r o g r e s s a c h i e v e d , i n t h e basic organizations of o u r P a r t y t h e r e is n o t a v e r y i n t e n s i v e life, d e b a t e s a n d d i s c u s s i o n s are n o t a s l i v e l y a s t h e y should be, t h e r e i s n o t h r a s h i n g o f o p i n i o n s a n d o p p o s i n g views, f r o m w h i c h c o m r a d e s l e a r n , a n d correct conclusions and m e a s u r e s e m e r g e , a t h i n g w h i c h w i l l l e a d t o e n h a n c i n g the p e r s o n a l i t y o f e v e r y c o m m u n i s t , w i l l i n c r e a s e v i g i l a n c e and m a k e i t easier t o c a r r y out t h e d i r e c t i v e s , t h e l i n e and t h e t a s k s c o r r e c t l y . T h i s is a c a r d i n a l q u e s t i o n f o r the l i f e a n d s t r u g g l e o f t h e P a r t y . S h o u l d we devote special attention to this p r o b l e m t o f i n d out t h e r e a l reasons t h a t h i n d e r t h e basic o r g a n i z a tions f r o m b e i n g a t t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y p e a k ? M o s t c e r tainly! Without f a i l ! Or s h o u l d w e content ourselves w i t h t h e r e s u l t s w e h a v e a t t a i n e d a n d t a k e n o account of the fact t h a t a n u m b e r of c o m m u n i s t s t a k e no a c t i v e part i n d i s c u s s i o n s a n d d e b a t e s ? S h o u l d w e b e content t o ascribe t h i s t o t h e i r l o w level o r c o n s i d e r t h e f a u l t s of a c o m m u n i s t w h o is b e i n g c r i t i c i z e d as m a i n l y s u b j e c tive a n d not d e l v e d e e p e r i n t o the m a t t e r a n d c o m e t o the c o n c l u s i o n t h a t , t h o u g h t h i s or t h a t c o m m u n i s t is to b l a m e f o r his m i s t a k e , w e , t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , b e a r a share of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y because we h a v e n o t h e l p e d him? Or, w h e n a communist or group of communists f a i l t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e i r tasks a n d f u l f i l t h e p l a n s , i s i t s u f ficient t o say t h a t t h e y are t o b l a m e , w h i l e w e , t h e basic
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organization, disclaim any responsibility w h e n something unpleasant occurs and solidarize w i t h t h e m only w h e n e v e r y t h i n g goes w e l l ? N o , b y n o m e a n s ! B u t w h y d o s u c h t h i n g s h a p p e n i n basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h y do such things happen among communists? T h i s is not the f i r s t t i m e w e h a v e a n a l y z e d these things, e i t h e r superficially or profoundly; this is not the first t i m e we h a v e c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e m , a n d y e t t h e y s t i l l occur, despite the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l m e a s u r e s w e h a v e t a k e n a n d are c o n t i n u a l l y t a k i n g . I t h i n k w e s h o u l d n o t d e l u d e ourselves, s h o u l d not a l l o w ourselves to b e c o m e s e l f - c o m p l a c e n t on a n y q u e s t i o n , t o t h i n k w e h a v e d o n e o u r d u t y b y t a k i n g these measures, or, i n t h e e n d , t o s a y t h a t w e h a v e r e s u l t s (and i n fact w e h a v e results), b u t it i s i n e v i t a b l e t h a t s u c h t h i n g s w i l l h a p p e n . T h i s i s the dialectics o f l i f e a n d struggle. W e m u s t not b e content w i t h these ideas, t h e r e f o r e w e should always go more deeply into the analysis of things, should strengthen the measures we take and organize t h e m better. I t seems t o m e t h a t this i s w h a t w e m u s t insist o n . I h a v e e m p h a s i z e d at o t h e r t i m e s t h a t the m e e t i n g of t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o u g h t t o b e a n event o f great i m p o r t a n c e f o r t h e c o m m u n i s t s , a n d i n o r d e r t o b e so, t h i s r e q u i r e s a great d e a l of p r e p a r a t i o n by a l l , a n d not j u s t b y t h e secretary, not j u s t i n d r a w i n g u p a g o o d a g e n d a , but a p r e p a r a t i o n b y a l l t h e c o m m u n i s t s , d o w n t o t h e m i n u t e s t d e t a i l s o f the p r o b l e m w h i c h t h e basic o r g a n i z a tion takes up for e x a m i n a t i o n and discussion. If this p r o c e d u r e is f o l l o w e d , it is i m p o s s i b l e not to h a v e discussions i n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , i t i s i m p o s s i b l e n o t t o h a v e d e bates a n d c o n t r o v e r s i e s , not t o h a v e n e w ideas, r i g h t or w r o n g , not to have criticism and self-criticism. T h i s i s the k i n d o f basic o r g a n i z a t i o n w e a r e after. W e m u s t f i g h t f o r s u c h a basic o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h i s is the basis
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o f e v e r y g o o d b e g i n n i n g , o f e v e r y s o u n d e d u c a t i o n , this i s w h e r e t h e c o m m u n i s t s a r e t e m p e r e d w i t h t h e correct norms o f t h e P a r t y , w h e r e t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l and t h e i r t e c h n i c a l - o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l e v e l i s r a i s e d , b e cause the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k , t h e p r a c t i c a l acc o m p l i s h m e n t o f tasks, t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d c o l l e c t i v e efforts t o r a i s e the t e c h n i c a l l e v e l o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d n o n - c o m m u n i s t s d e p e n d g r e a t l y o n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y debates i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . If t h e c a l l i n g of e v e r y o n e to account, t h e d e m a n d for d i s c i p l i n e f r o m e v e r y o n e i s not d o n e p e r s i s t e n t l y i n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e n , w h e r e w i l l i t b e d o n e ? I f c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m a r e n o t c a r r i e d out p r o p e r l y , according t o the n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y i n the basic o r g a n i z a tion, t h e n w h e r e w i l l t h e y b e c a r r i e d out p r o p e r l y ? I f the c o m m u n i s t does n o t h a v e t h e c o u r a g e to e x p r e s s his o p i n i o n s i n t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , w i l l h e b e a b l e t o express t h e m p r o p e r l y i n h i s m e e t i n g s w i t h t h e masses? If the c o m m u n i s t is not e d u c a t e d to u n d e r s t a n d a n d apply the dictatorship of the proletariat and all the norms that e m a n a t e f r o m i t i n l i f e , i n h i s conscience a n d i n h i s w o r k , t h e n t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : H o w w i l l h e m a k e the masses u n d e r s t a n d w h a t t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t is, w h a t its p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l , e t h i c a l , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l and r e p r e s s i v e n o r m s a r e ? W e t e a c h the b r o a d masses a n d w a n t t h e m t o speak freely, t o c r i t i c i z e the s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d t h e persons responsible s o t h a t t h e l a t t e r w i l l b e e d u c a t e d a n d c o r rected. Of course, s u c h a t h i n g c a n n o t be c a r r i e d o u t p r o p e r l y b y the masses w h e n the P a r t y a s a w h o l e a n d the i n d i v i d u a l c o m m u n i s t d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d a n d c a r r y it out p r o p e r l y . T h e question is not that our P a r t y and our c o m m u n ists are n o t a c q u a i n t e d w i t h these n o r m s a n d d o n o t a p p l y t h e m in p r a c t i c e . N o , b u t h e r e t h e r e is a good d e a l
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of f o r m a l i s m , of a u t o m a t i s m , a l a c k of p r o f o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d f a i l u r e t o see t h e b e n e f i t s t h a t m a y r e s u l t from thorough understanding and proper implementation o f t h e m a n d the d a n g e r s t h a t m a y arise i n t h e opposite case. I think that the basic norms that govern the life and struggle of the Party, hence, of the basic organization and each communist, ought to be known well, thoroughly, known from their ideological and political aspects. On this we have not insisted as much as we should and in the way we should. To illustrate this conclusion, let us take the Constitution of the Party as an example. T h e C o n s t i t u t i o n is the c o m m u n i s t s ' g u i d e , t h e basic d o c u m e n t w h i c h r e g u l a t e s t h e l i f e o f t h e P a r t y . I t synthesizes t h e p r i n c i p a l d i r e c tions o f t h e P a r t y , t h e r i g h t s a n d d u t i e s o f t h e c o m m u n i s t , who without knowing them, without understanding them t h o r o u g h l y a n d c a r r y i n g t h e m out i n l i f e , c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d a good c o m m u n i s t . I f h e v i o l a t e s these n o r m s o f the C o n s t i t u t i o n , h e is liable to punishment up to expulsion f r o m the P a r t y . B u t a v e r y strange t h i n g happens: the C o n s t i t u t i o n is n o t s t u d i e d , is not u s e d as a basic m a t e r i a l f o r t h e c o m munists, either rank-and-file or leading members. Some r e a d i t a n d s a y : W e agree. W e k n o w these t h i n g s w e l l . W e base ourselves o n them. I t i s t r u e t h a t w e k n o w m a n y things, but then w h y d o w e blunder, w h y d o w e violate the articles of the Constitution? T h i s shows that we do not k n o w the articles w e l l . Sometimes we are completely i g n o r a n t o f t h e m a n d t h e y h a v e n o t b e c o m e t h e obstacle t h e y o u g h t t o b e i n o u r consciousness t o e r r o n e o u s t h i n g s and an inspiration to always proceed correctly and in a revolutionary way. E v e r y y e a r , e v e r since o u r P a r t y c a m e i n t o b e i n g , we have given lectures on the Constitution. This w o r k
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has y i e l d e d r e s u l t s , a n d s t i l l does so, b u t w e m u s t c o n tinue t o seek b o t h t h e reasons f o r these facts a n d t h e best m e t h o d s t o e n s u r e t h a t e v e r y c o m m u n i s t has the C o n s t i t u t i o n i n h i s m i n d a n d h i s h e a r t i n e v e r y step he takes... Let us take the question that all do not participate properly in the discussion of various problems in the organization. T h e p r o b l e m h e r e i s t h e p h e n o m e n o n itself a n d not some m e c h a n i c a l r u l e t h a t a l l t h e m e m b e r s o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n a b s o l u t e l y m u s t discuss e v e r y t h i n g . W h y don't they take part in discussion? This should preoccupy us first a n d foremost. T h e r e is no discussion, or the discussion is d u l l w h e n the p r o b l e m i s n o t w e l l u n d e r s t o o d , w h e n i t i s n o t s t u d i e d and presented correctly w i t h well-founded arguments. There is no discussion w h e n the problem is comm u n i c a t e d i n a c u t - a n d - d r y w a y a n d a t the last m o m e n t , taking the organization by surprise and placing it in the position either of not discussing it at a l l or discussing it in a perfunctory w a y . Hence, the problem is raised just to h a v e it done w i t h , it is d r a g g e d on as a d r u d g e r y ; i n a r o u n d - a b o u t w a y t h e ideas o f t h e p e r s o n w h o raises t h e p r o b l e m a r e i m p o s e d o n the o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d those m e m b e r s w h o f i n d i t easy t o get u p a n d speak, but w h o o f t e n h a v e n o ideas, b u t o n l y p l a t i t u d e s t o offer, get t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o shine. I t i s not h a r d t o see w h a t n e g a t i v e consequences such a t h i n g has f o r t h e w o r k a n d e d u c a t i o n a n d w h a t relations are established between the leadership a n d the base. Preparation of the problem to be brought up for discussion is the o n l y w a y to e n l i v e n the organization. H e w h o has m a s t e r e d t h e p r o b l e m i s a b l e t o discuss it, to o f f e r suggestions, to c r i t i c i z e , foresee a n d propose. If everybody approaches the matter in this w a y , then there
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i s n o d o u b t that g o o d o p i n i o n s w i l l c l a s h w i t h b a d ones, t h e y w i l l b e s i f t e d out, the best ones w i l l b e chosen a n d measures t o o v e r c o m e t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s w i l l b e e n v i s a g e d . B u t d u r i n g t h i s debate the t r u e w o r t h o f e a c h m e m b e r w i l l be recognized. This is w h a t we mean by r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle in the o r g a n i z a t i o n . . . W h e n a person applies to j o i n the P a r t y and is accepted, h e has r i g h t s a n d d u t i e s w h i c h i t i s a b s o l u t e l y essential that h e m u s t k n o w a n d c a r r y out c o u r a g e o u s l y . Y o u cannot c a l l y o u r s e l f a m e m b e r o f o u r P a r t y a n d , o n the o t h e r h a n d , be a c o w a r d . A p a r t y m e m b e r m a y n o t be w e l l versed in m a n y things or m a y k n o w only a l i t t l e about s o m e t h i n g s ; these t h e P a r t y w i l l a l w a y s t e a c h h i m i n m a n y w a y s , b u t those t h i n g s h e does k n o w , those t h i n g s h e has l e a r n e d , a p a r t y m e m b e r m u s t e x p r e s s as he k n o w s t h e m , as m u c h as he has l e a r n e d t h e m , a n d put t h e m f o r w a r d in discussion, and as the communist that h e is, s h o u l d l i s t e n t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y c r i t i c a l j u d g m e n t o f t h e comrades, t h a t is, h e s h o u l d c a l m l y accept bolshevik criticism and courageously rebuff un-bolshevik criticism, honestly acknowledge where he is w r o n g and m a r c h ahead. E v e r y b o d y says, this i s r i g h t but, u n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r e are some w h o d o n o t dare, a n d s o o n . B u t w h o d o t h e y b l a m e f o r this, the P a r t y , its n o r m s , o r because i t c o n stantly urges them to forge ahead like revolutionaries? I f s u c h persons see t h e P a r t y i n o n e p e r s o n w h o s u p presses t h e i r correct ideas, w h o s m o t h e r s t h e i r c r i t i c i s m , i t i s t h e y t h e m s e l v e s w h o are t o b l a m e , n o t t h e P a r t y o r its r u l e s . I f s u c h c o m m u n i s t s a l l o w a p e r s o n t h e y t h e m selves h a v e v e s t e d w i t h f u n c t i o n s t o o v e r s h a d o w t h e c o l l e c t i v e s t r e n g t h o f t h e P a r t y , t h e n t h e y are f a r f r o m understanding the n o r m s of the Party. H o w e v e r , there are also those w h o a r e w e l l a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e f o r m a l aspect o f t h e n o r m s o f the P a r t y b u t i n w h o s e heads
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other, p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s n o r m s a r e b r e w i n g ; i n this case the c o l l e c t i v e o f t h e P a r t y m u s t p o i n t out a n d f i g h t these a l i e n n o r m s a n d educate t h e people c o n c e r n e d . W e m u s t l o o k a t this m a j o r p r o b l e m f r o m a l l angles, since t h e r e are d i r e c t o r s , heads of d e p a r t m e n t s a n d secretaries w h o m a k e m i s t a k e s , b u t t h e r e a r e also those w h o a r e n e i t h e r d i r e c t o r s n o r m a n a g e r s , but w h o are i n t o l e r a n t o f c r i t i c i s m , d i s c i p l i n e , o r r e n d e r i n g o f account and t a k e a n y r e q u i r e m e n t o r r u l e i m p o s e d o n t h e m a s a p e r s o n a l a t t a c k against t h e m . W e are a c q u a i n t e d w i t h such g l i b t a l k e r s w h o s l a n d e r t h e d i r e c t o r (just a s w e are a c q u a i n t e d w i t h a r r o g a n t d i r e c t o r s ) , but w h e n t h e matter is b r o u g h t b e f o r e the o r g a n i z a t i o n it is j u d g e d f a i r l y b y t h e c o l l e c t i v e a n d i t i s o n l y here t h a t t h e t r u t h comes out. T h e o n l y correct a n d c o m p l e t e j u d g m e n t comes f r o m the c h e c k - u p b y t h e collective, w h i c h v e r i f i e s a n d m u s t v e r i f y the case. T h i s i s w h a t c o n t r o l b y t h e masses, and the p o l i c y o f the masses m e a n s . E v e r y b o d y , w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , m u s t s u b m i t t o t h e j u d g e m e n t o f t h e masses about t h e i r w o r k a n d c o n d u c t i n society. T h e c o m m u n i s t s must s u b m i t to a t w o - f o l d c o n t r o l , to t h a t of t h e P a r t y a n d that of the masses. No one c a n s a y t h a t t h i s is a personal, p r i v a t e a f f a i r , w h e n i t i s l i n k e d w i t h t h e society, w i t h t h e socialist n o r m s a n d the n o r m s o f the P a r t y . N o o n e s h o u l d m e d d l e i n the p e r s o n a l a f f a i r s o f another, b u t w h e n t h i s o t h e r m a l t r e a t s h i s w i f e , f o r instance, or leads a l i f e of l u x u r y b e y o n d h i s m e a n s a n d income, a n d so on a n d so f o r t h , t h e n t h e c o l l e c t i v e has e v e r y r i g h t t o c r i t i c i z e h i m , a n d i f i t t u r n s out t h a t the n o r m s a n d l a w s are b e i n g v i o l a t e d , t h e n o t h e r a c t i o n i s t a k e n . S u c h a n a c t i o n s t r e n g t h e n s a n d does not w e a k e n o u r society. O n t h e c o n t r a r y i t w e a k e n s t h e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s views on life, on the n o r m s of the old life w h i c h made m a n a slave, w i t h o u t p e r s o n a l i t y , f r e e d o m a n d i n i t i a t i v e .
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T h e elections a n d r e n d e r i n g o f account i n the P a r t y are v e r y i m p o r t a n t f o r the f u r t h e r t e m p e r i n g a n d r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e cadres. A n y f o r m a l i s m i n these i m p o r t a n t meetings, a n y h e s i t a t i o n i n a p p l y i n g the n o r m s t h a t g o v e r n the l i f e o f t h e P a r t y m u s t b e done a w a y w i t h . T h e l e a d e r s h i p m u s t r e n d e r a c c o u n t a t these meetings, m u s t p r o v e w i t h facts w h e t h e r i t has o r has n o t a c c o m p l i s h e d its t a s k p r o p e r l y , a n d n o t j u s t present g e n e r a l o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d c r i t i c i s m s o f o t h e r s . Conversely, every communist must do likewise. T h e e l e c t i o n o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p m u s t b e done o n s o u n d criteria in conformity w i t h established rules, w i t h o u t a n y one f o r c i n g a l e a d e r o r l e a d e r s o n t h e basic p a r t y organization. The members must n o m i n a t e the candidates themselves, sift t h e m out t h e m s e l v e s , elect t h e i r l e a d e r s themselves, a n d r e v o k e t h e m t h e m s e l v e s i n a d e m o c r a t i c w a y w h e n they d o not w o r k w e l l . I n n o m i n a t i n g c a n d i d a t e s w e seem t o h a v e d e p a r t e d somewhat f r o m the revolutionary norms we used to a p p l y . N o w , u n d e r t h e p r e t e x t t h a t cadres a r e w e l l k n o w n , t h e i r b i o g r a p h i e s are n o t a s k e d for, o r a s k e d f o r o n l y formally. This must be re-established properly, regardless of whether the nominee is w e l l k n o w n . He must stand before the comrades of the organization a n d give his b i o g r a p h y , i n w h i c h h e s h o u l d a v o i d b o a s t i n g o f h i s past, the m e r i t s o f w h i c h are k n o w n t o t h e masses, b u t s h o u l d speak m o r e c o n c r e t e l y about t h e w e a k n e s s e s h e has d i s p l a y e d i n his w o r k o r the m i s t a k e n v i e w s h e m a y h a v e , and pledge to correct them. These n o r m s must be retained and developed properly i n t h e P a r t y , b u t I t h i n k that, a m o n g t h e masses a s r e g a r d s those w h o a r e a p p o i n t e d t o state f u n c t i o n s , esp e c i a l l y t h e m a i n cadres s u c h a s d i r e c t o r s , a s s i s t a n t - d i r e c tors, heads o f p l a n n i n g , accountants, c h i e f - a c c o u n t a n t s , a n d s o o n , n o r m s m o r e o r less t h e s a m e a s these s h o u l d b e
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applied. T h e s e cadres a r e a p p o i n t e d a n d w e m a y not have t o c h a n g e m a n y t h i n g s i n t h e p r i n c i p l e s a n d n o r m s p u r s u e d s o far, b u t t h e e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n o r a n y other u n i t m u s t c e r t a i n l y b e i n t r o d u c e d t o the n e w p e r s o n w h o i s c o m i n g t o l e a d it. N o t o n l y m u s t w e i n t r o d u c e the a p p o i n t e d e m p l o y e e to t h e masses, a n d do t h i s not in a f o r m a l way, but we must adopt the practice that he comes b e f o r e the masses h i m s e l f , to g i v e a f r a n k account o f h i s b i o g r a p h y s o t h e masses c a n j u d g e h i m and t e l l h i m : L o o k here, b r o t h e r , d o y o u r j o b w e l l , behave w e l l , a p p l y t h e r u l e s a n d l a w s c o r r e c t l y , d e m a n d that w e r e n d e r account t o t h e letter, s i n c e w e w i l l d e m a n d the same t h i n g f r o m y o u ; l i s t e n t o us, because w e w i l l help y o u i f y o u d o y o u r j o b w e l l . B u t , m i n d y o u , i f y o u b l u n d e r w e w i l l p u l l y o u r ears w h i l e i f y o u k e e p o n blundering we w i l l t h r o w y o u overboard, and bear in m i n d t h a t t h e r e i s n o one w h o c a n p r o t e c t y o u ; the P a r t y i s ours, t h e p o w e r i s ours, w e a r e i n p o w e r , the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t i s i n p o w e r , t h e r e f o r e , w e shall b r e a k y o u r n e c k i f y o u d o b a d t h i n g s a n d o n the other h a n d , w e s h a l l l o v e a n d respect y o u i m m e n s e l y i f you d o y o u r j o b w e l l . I f w e r e s o l u t e l y a p p l y these n o r m s w e w i l l see h o w w e l l t h e w o r k w i l l g o a n d h o w q u i c k l y those persons w h o d o w h a t t h e y please a t p r e s e n t w i l l b e c o r r e c t e d . W h y is it so important to k n o w and apply the party norms p r o p e r l y , a n d w h y m u s t w e b e s o i n s i s t e n t a b o u t k n o w i n g these n o r m s a n d m a k i n g t h e m t h e basis o f o u r lives? We k n o w that our P a r t y of Labour, l i k e all genuine M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, is an organized detachment of the w o r k i n g class. T h i s m e a n s t h a t o n l y v a n g u a r d people, the best, m o s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d most i n d o m i t a b l e p e o p l e are i n t h e P a r t y . T h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s d o n o t f a l l f r o m the heavens; t h e y e m e r g e f r o m t h e r a n k s o f t h e p e o p l e a n d
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distinguish themselves in w o r k and in struggle by their v i r t u e s a n d conduct. T h o s e w h o are a d m i t t e d t o the P a r t y come f r o m v a r i o u s classes o f o u r society, f r o m t h e w o r k i n g class, f r o m t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , f r o m t h e o f f i c e e m ployees, t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d o t h e r s t r a t a . N e v e r t h e l e s s , o u r P a r t y i s n o t a n a r e n a o f classes i n w h i c h e a c h class, i n p r o p o r t i o n t o its n u m b e r s , has its r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s w h o d e f e n d the separate interests of each class, etc. N o , in o u r P a r t y t h e w o r k i n g class, w i t h its i d e o l o g y , M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , has h e g e m o n y , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e fact t h a t the p e r c e n t a g e o f m e m b e r s o f w o r k e r o r i g i n o r status m a y , f o r k n o w n reasons, b e l o w e r a t p r e s e n t t h a n t h a t o f those of peasant o r i g i n . Likewise, the organized detachment of the w o r k i n g class i n o u r c o u n t r y , w h i c h i s t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r , i s n o t a n a r e n a w i t h i n w h i c h a class struggle, i n t h e classic sense o f t h e w o r d , i s w a g e d , b u t i t l e a d s t h e class s t r u g g l e . This means that our P a r t y is a monolithic P a r t y w i t h steel, M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y o f t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n ; t h e r e is no r o o m in it for anti-Marxist, revisionist, Trotskyite, l i b e r a l , social d e m o c r a t i c a n d o t h e r f a c t i o n s a n d o p p o s i tions. I t h a s d e f i n e d its s t r a t e g y a n d tactics, a l w a y s based on the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory and the objective conditions o f o u r c o u n t r y , t a k i n g a c c o u n t o f its p e c u l i a r i t i e s and the time, analyzed in the light of dialectical and h i s t o r i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m . T h u s , t h e tactics o f t h e P a r t y c a n not e v a d e o r r u n c o u n t e r t o these p r i n c i p l e s . I t i s o n t h i s basis t h a t t h e P a r t y h a s d e f i n e d its o w n n o r m s t o a t t a i n its e n d , w h i c h i s its p r o g r a m , t h e c o m plete c o n s t r u c t i o n of s o c i a l i s m a n d of t h e classless society, communism. This can be achieved only u n d e r the heg e m o n y o f t h e w o r k i n g class w h i c h i s l e d b y t h e o r g a n i z e d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t d e t a c h m e n t o f t h i s class, t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y , w i t h us, t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r . W h y must there be perfect organization, i r o n discipli-
REVOLUTIONIZATION OF THE PARTY AND STATE ne and bolshevik n o r m s in the party? since t h e y are, so to say, t h e cement party is n o t a m u l t i t u d e of persons without criteria and without aims, or teria a n d v a r y i n g a i m s got t o g e t h e r ding. N o .
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These are needed of t h e p a r t y . T h e w i t h o u t ideology, w i t h opposing c r i to go to a w e d -
The Party of Labour of A l b a n i a was founded and engaged i n a t e r r i b l e w a r a g a i n s t f a s c i s m , s u c h a s m a n k i n d had n e v e r e x p e r i e n c e d . T h e f a t e o f o u r p e o p l e w a s i n the b a l a n c e a n d o n l y a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y l i k e ours could a n d d i d save t h e m . H e n c e , o u r P a r t y w a s the k e e n , gleaming, u n b r e a k a b l e a n d i n d o m i t a b l e s w o r d i n the h a n d s o f the A l b a n i a n w o r k i n g class a n d people. A n d i t b e c a m e such a s w o r d because i t w a s i m b u e d w i t h M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism a n d t e m p e r e d i n b a t t l e w i t h t h e n o r m s i t h a d e s t a b l i shed f o r itself. T h u s , i t w a s u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the Party that the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r was w o n . that o u r people's r e v o l u t i o n w a s c a r r i e d o u t a n d t h a t s o c i a l i s m i s being b u i l t s u c c e s s f u l l y t o d a y . O u r P a r t y w i l l h a v e c o m pleted its n o b l e t a s k w h e n c o m m u n i s t s o c i e t y has been built i n o u r c o u n t r y a n d t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n has triumphed e v e r y w h e r e in the w o r l d . H o w m a n y f i g h t s t h e P a r t y has h a d t o w a g e t o a c h i e v e what it has achieved! It fought the G e r m a n and Italian fascists, f o u g h t t h e B a l l i s t s a n d t h e l o c a l f e u d a l - b o u r geois c o a l i t i o n ; i t f o u g h t t h e T i t o i t e s a n d t h e i r i n n u m e r a ble agencies b o t h w i t h i n a n d o u t s i d e its r a n k s , i t f o u g h t the c o n s p i r a c i e s a n d agencies o f u n i t e d i m p e r i a l i s t s ; i t fought the K h r u s h c h e v i t e t r a i t o r s a n d t h e i r agents b o t h w i t h i n a n d o u t s i d e its r a n k s ; i t f o u g h t t h e r u t h l e s s fascist coalition of m o d e r n revisionists, headed by the K h r u s h chevites. O u r P a r t y o v e r c a m e a l l these dangers a n d e m e r g e d successful f o r t h e reasons I m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r , a n d n o t b e cause o u r people n u m b e r e d tens o f m i l l i o n s o r because o u r
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P a r t y h a d m i l l i o n s o f m e m b e r s . I n t h e P a r t y i t i s n o t the q u a n t i t y b u t the q u a l i t y o f t h e s t e e l t h a t counts, a n d t h a n k s t o t h e i r d e f e n c e o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s the A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s h a v e t r u l y b e c o m e a n u n b r e a k a b l e steel. O u r e n e m i e s d o n o t f a i l t o c l a i m t h a t A l b a n i a stands o n its feet a n d e x i s t s t h a n k s t o others. T h i s , o f course, i s p i f f l e . W e w o u l d n o t b e M a r x i s t s i f w e d e n i e d the international solidarity of the w o r l d proletariat, but first y o u must fight and defend yourself, must w o r k correctly, and only then can others help you. M a n y things occurred i n the Soviet U n i o n and i n the c o u n t r i e s o f people's d e m o c r a c y t h a t l e d t o t h e o v e r t h r o w o f t h e socialist r e g i m e a n d t o t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e i r p a r t i e s . W h y d i d these t h i n g s n o t o c c u r a m o n g u s ? F o r t h e reasons I m e n t i o n e d a b o v e a n d , p r e c i s e l y f o r t h o s e reasons, nothing w i l l occur in the future, either. Is there not a constant i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t c o a l i t i o n a g a i n s t the P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d socialist A l b a n i a ? T h i s c o a l i t i o n i s o n i t s feet, b u t s o a r e w e a n d a l w a y s h a v e been. W e h a v e g r a p p l e d w i t h t h e m a n d h a v e w o n , a n d m a y grapple w i t h them again and w e shall w i n again. This w i l l happen again and again. Therefore, the victory w i l l b e ours, o u r people's a n d o u r P a r t y ' s t o t h e e n d . A l l of us must study the materials of our Party, f r o m t h e t i m e i t w a s f o u n d e d , f o r i n t h e m w e s h a l l f i n d colossal experience. These materials m a y not have the proper forms of philosophical dissertation w h i c h intellectuals or stylists a r e s o f o n d of, t h e y m a y c o n t a i n u n n e c e s s a r y , t r i v i a l r e p e t i t i o n s a n d , a t times, e v e n e r r o n e o u s t h i n g s , b u t they are of a k i n d that tempered a p a r t y a n d inspired a small but unconquerable people w h o w e r e never brought t o t h e i r knees, w h o w e r e n e v e r c o n q u e r e d , because t h e y r e m a i n e d l o y a l t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d its n o r m s . The m o d e r n revisionists a n d reactionaries call us S t a l i n i s t s , t h i n k i n g t h a t t h e y i n s u l t u s a n d , i n fact, t h a t i s
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their a i m . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , h o w e v e r , t h e y g l o r i f y u s w i t h this e p i t h e t : i t i s a n h o n o u r f o r u s t o b e S t a l i n i s t s , because, since w e w e r e S t a l i n i s t s , t h e e n e m y c o u l d n o t conquer us, a n d n e v e r w i l l c o n q u e r u s a s l o n g a s w e remain S t a l i n i s t s . The documents of our P a r t y record certain moments of great h i s t o r i c i m p o r t a n c e w h i c h I w i s h to m e n t i o n , moments d u r i n g w h i c h , h a d w e n o t a c t e d the w a y w e did, w e w o u l d h a v e b r o u g h t t h e p e o p l e great d i f f i c u l t i e s , if not a t o t a l loss of t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e w o n at t h e cost of bloodshed. O u r P a r t y did not allow the sharing of p o w e r w i t h elements o f t h e bourgeoisie, e v e n o f t h e l i b e r a l b o u r g e o i s i e . It did not allow the creation of bourgeois parties either inside o r o u t s i d e t h e F r o n t , n o t o n l y because t h i s w a s the e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t because o u r P a r t y and people k n e w f r o m t h e past, l e a r n e d d u r i n g t h e w a r and c o n f i r m e d a f t e r t h e w a r w h a t t h e B a l l i s t s , the d e mocrats, t h e i n d e p e n d e n t d e m o c r a t s a n d o t h e r s l i k e Riza D a n i a n d S h e f q e t B e j a a n d C o , w e r e . A t t h e a p propriate m o m e n t s , t h e P a r t y a p p e a l e d t o a l l o f t h e m in their time, h e l d out its h a n d to t h e m and e v e n supported a n u m b e r o f t h e m w h o b e c a m e d e p u t i e s . These w e r e c o r r e c t , n e c e s s a r y t a c t i c a l acts, b u t t h e Party did not t u r n t h e m into a strategy or m a k e t h e m its p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l i n e . L e t t h e e n e m i e s accuse u s o f s e c t a r i a n i s m a n d t e r rorism, b u t w e w e r e n o t d u p e s ; o u r P a r t y a n d p e o p l e made short w o r k o f t h e e n e m i e s w h o t u r n e d t h e i r g u n s against us. W e w e r e not t e r r o r i s t s b u t r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , and the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n l e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n ist p a r t y does n o t a l l o w y o u t o a d m i t t h e w o l f t o t h e sheepfold, t o k e e p t h e v i p e r i n y o u r b o s o m . T h e e n e m i e s were dealt w i t h s u c c e s s f u l l y , because t h e P a r t y w a s t h e keen edge o f t h e p e o p l e ' s s w o r d .
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O u r P a r t y a l w a y s k e p t its r a n k s p u r e , a s t h e y m u s t be in a p r o l e t a r i a n p a r t y t h a t has to pass t h r o u g h a t h o u s a n d d a n g e r s t o a t t a i n its f i n a l o b j e c t i v e . T h e P a r t y n e v e r lost its b e a r i n g s i n this v i t a l m a t t e r ; i t a l w a y s b o r e i n m i n d t h a t i n o r d e r t o v a n q u i s h o u r p e o p l e the enemies had first to vanquish the Party, and that is w h y they waged a continuous and co-ordinated struggle b o t h w i t h i n a n d o u t s i d e its r a n k s . O u r P a r t y c r u s h e d a l l its i n t e r n a l enemies, r a n g i n g f r o m A n a s t a s L u l o ( 3 ) t o L i r i B e l i s h o v a . T h i s w a s a system a t i c , r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e . T h e P a r t y has n e v e r a l l o w e d the w o r k of enemies to become f i r m l y established i n the P a r t y , a t n o t i m e has i t f a i l e d t o use the m e t h o d s o f p a t i e n t e x p l a n a t i o n a n d p e r s u a s i o n t o w a r d s a l l those w h o b e t r a y e d i t a n d t o o k the a n t i - p a r t y a n d a n t i - p e o p l e course, b u t w h e n t h e c u p w a s f i l l e d a n d facts w e r e o b v i o u s , i t e x p e l l e d t h e m f r o m its r a n k s w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n a n d those w h o h a d c o n s p i r e d i t h a n d e d o v e r t o the c o u r t w h i c h sentenced some o f t h e m t o d e a t h . O u r e n e m i e s s h e d tears o v e r t h e m w h i l e the people r e j o i c e d a t b e i n g r i d o f these t r a i t o r s . A self-respecting M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party cannot allow t h e existence o f t w o l i n e s i n t h e p a r t y ; t h a t is, i t c a n n o t p e r m i t t h e e x i s t e n c e o f o n e o r m a n y factions. I f such f a c t i o n s a p p e a r t h e p a r t y cannot a n d m u s t n o t t o l e r a t e t h e i r existence, n o t e v e n f o r a s h o r t t i m e . A f a c t i o n in t h e p a r t y i s against t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y o f t h o u g h t a n d action and tries to t r a n s f o r m the p a r t y into a sociald e m o c r a t i c p a r t y a n d t h e socialist c o u n t r y i n t o a c a p i t a l ist c o u n t r y .
_____________________________ 3 M e m b e r of the former Y o u t h C o m m u n i s t G r o u p . B o t h at t h e meeting for the merger of the groups and the f o u n d i n g of the Communist P a r t y of A l b a n i a and later he adopted an a n t i communist stand, began to sabotage the w a r a n d was condemned by the P a r t y .
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These a r e a l l h i s t o r i c m o m e n t s f o r t h e P a r t y , t h e r e fore e v e r y o n e s h o u l d r e a d t h e m a t e r i a l s a n d d e cisions t a k e n a b o u t t h e m , s h o u l d s t u d y t h e m a n d r e l y o n t h e m , f o r t h e y are v i t a l lessons a n d a g u i d e f o r o u r actions at a l l t i m e s . T h e s t r u g g l e o f o u r P a r t y i s a great r e v o l u t i o n a r y school w h i c h teaches i t t o k e e p its r a n k s a l w a y s p u r e , because, a l t h o u g h t h e P a r t y i s n o t a n a r e n a o f class s t r u g gle, its m e m b e r s , a l t h o u g h i n t h e v a n g u a r d , s o m e t i m e s bring w i t h t h e m n o n - p r o l e t a r i a n h a n g o v e r s w h i c h m u s t b e p u r g e d a n d c o m b a t e d ; a n d t h i s i s t h e f o r m o f class struggle w h i c h w e c o n s t a n t l y insist m u s t b e w a g e d against these vestiges w i t h i n t h e P a r t y . I n this g r e a t s t r u g g l e some c o m m u n i s t s get w e a r y , some o t h e r s s u c c u m b . T h a t is w h y they can became dangerous, therefore, the P a r t y must g o o n a n d o n e d u c a t i n g its cadres i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y , t h r o u g h w o r k a n d struggle, t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e y never s u c c u m b , b u t a r e a l w a y s r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . L o o k i n g a t this q u e s t i o n f r o m t h i s angle, t h e o n l y M a r x i s t - L e n i n ist angle, one c a n see h o w i m p o r t a n t a r e t h e M a r x i s t Leninist norms that govern the life, w o r k and struggle o f the P a r t y , t h e people, t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d the n o n party patriots. T h e m o r e p r o f o u n d l y t h e correct l i n e o f t h e P a r t y i s grasped, t h e m o r e t h o r o u g h l y the p r i n c i p l e s a n d n o r m s o f its l i f e are u n d e r s t o o d , t h e m o r e c o r r e c t l y a n d p r o f o u n d l y they are a p p l i e d w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y courage, the s t r o n g e r and m o r e u n y i e l d i n g w i l l o u r P a r t y be, a n d t h u s s o c i a l ism w i l l f o r g e a h e a d s u c c e s s f u l l y . T h a t i s w h y w e h a v e f o u g h t f o r these t h i n g s a n d w i l l go on fighting for them to the end, w i t h our heroic P a r t y a t t h e h e a d , f o r o u r g l o r i o u s people, f o r s o c i a l i s m and c o m m u n i s m .
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BUREAUCRACY
A l l o w m e , o n t h e basis o f t h e h i s t o r i c d e c i s i o n s o f t h e 5 t h C o n g r e s s w h i c h g u i d e u s i n o u r w o r k , o f the Open Letter of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P a r t y a n d t h e C a l l o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d t h e G o v e r n m e n t , w h i c h h a v e b e c o m e n o t a b l e e v e n t s i n the w o r k o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e b r o a d masses a n d h a v e y i e l d e d m a j o r positive results in revolutionizing a l l our work, to express s o m e f u r t h e r ideas r e g a r d i n g t h e ceaseless s t r u g g l e w h i c h w e m u s t w a g e a g a i n s t b u r e a u c r a c y a n d its bearers. It w o u l d be a m i s t a k e to t h i n k t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y has come t o a n e n d , o r t h a t w e s h o u l d slacken our efforts following the campaign we undertook and the i n i t i a l results we have attained in this d i r e c t i o n . It must be understood that this struggle w i l l n e v e r c o m e to an e n d , so l o n g as classes a n d t h e class struggle exist; it w i l l be continuous. W h y w i l l i t b e c o n t i n u o u s ? B e c a u s e i t does n o t consist s i m p l y i n t a k i n g c e r t a i n t e c h n i c a l measures, a s s o m e u n d e r s t a n d it, s u c h a s g e t t i n g r i d o f s u p e r f l u o u s cadres, e l i m i n a t i n g u n n e c e s s a r y l i n k s i n t h e s t a f f i n g o f state, administrative, economic and c u l t u r a l organs or in the p a r t y apparatus, o r d o i n g a w a y w i t h excessive l e t t e r - w r i t i n g a n d r e d t a p e a n d a c h i e v i n g a m o r e correct d e f i n i t i o n o f i n d i v i d u a l a n d c o l l e c t i v e competences a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . These measures have p l a y e d a n d w i l l continue to p l a y a p o s i t i v e , m i l i t a n t r o l e against b u r e a u c r a c y b u t t h i s is n o t a l l t h e r e i s t o it. T h i s i s a m i n o r aspect a n d r e m a i n s a t e c h n i c a l aspect of the p r o b l e m w h i c h c o u l d itself be t u r n e d i n t o a b u r e a u c r a t i c m e a s u r e if t h e content of i t i s n o t u n d e r s t o o d p o l i t i c a l l y a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l y , t h a t is, i f w h a t b u r e a u c r a c y i s a n d h o w i t comes i n t o b e i n g , h o w i t creates its concepts, w h e r e i t has its sources, w h a t
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objective a n d s u b j e c t i v e f a c t o r s n u r t u r e it, are n o t understood i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y . We m a y have reduced the n u m b e r of persons in an i n s t i t u t i o n f r o m 100 t o 50, b u t t h i s does n o t r i d u s o f bureaucracy if the 50 w h o r e m a i n do not have a deep understanding of w h a t bureaucracy is a n d do not fight a s r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . T h e s a m e t h i n g h o l d s t r u e f o r r e d tape. There m a y b e f e w e r l e t t e r s w r i t t e n , b u t t h e y m i g h t s t i l l retain t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c s p i r i t . W e s h o u l d a t t a c h d u e importance to forms, they p l a y their role and help w h e n they are good, d o d a m a g e w h e n t h e y a r e b a d , b u t w e must n e v e r f o r g e t t h a t w h a t counts i s t h e essence o f the m a t t e r , its i d e o l o g i c a l - p o l i t i c a l m e a n i n g . Bureaucracy w h i c h develops in concrete forms and assumes u g l y f e a t u r e s i s i n s p i r e d b y i d e a l i s t concepts which develop, take various forms in order to serve feudalism, t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d capitalists, t o d o m i n a t e the masses, to oppress t h e m , to e x p l o i t t h e m to t h e m a x i m u m . Therefore, bureaucracy is a f o r m of t h i n k i n g and a c t i n g i n open o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e i r v i t a l interests. H e n c e , b u r e a u c r a c y a n d t h e b u r e a u c r a t s are a n t i popular a n d e n e m i e s o f t h e people. T h e concepts t h a t f o r m b u r e a u c r a c y a n d t h e b u r e a u c r a t a r e idealist, r e a c tionary, a n t i - r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d a n t i - M a r x i s t . T h e r e f o r e , bureaucracy and the bureaucrats are the most e v i l and wily enemies of a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y w h i c h must fight t h e m c o n t i n u a l l y , p e r s i s t e n t l y a n d ceaselessly, i n all their manifestations and, first and foremost, must smash t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l concepts. A t t h e same t i m e i t m u s t s m a s h the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l o r s t r u c t u r a l system t h a t t h e y e s t a b l i s h o r s t r i v e t o k e e p a l i v e i n various f o r m s a n d w a y s . T h e people, the masses a r e e d u c a t e d a n d l e d i n t w o w a y s i n t h e w o r l d . W h e r e t h e r e v o l u t i o n has t r i u m p h e d
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t h e y a r e educated i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y , w h i l e w h e r e c a p i t a l d o m i n a t e s , i n a b u r e a u c r a t i c w a y . I n the f o r m e r t y p e of society, a socialist society, the people are in p o w e r , the d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t has been e s t a b l i s h e d a n d t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y i s i n p o w e r , the l i n e o f t h e p a r t y , t h e l i n e o f the masses i s i n force. H e r e t h e r e i s w i d e a n d g e n u i n e d e m o c r a c y f o r the b r o a d m a s ses, a n d t h e r e i s n o d e m o c r a c y f o r t h e r e a c t i o n a r y m i n o r i t y t h a t has b e e n d e p r i v e d o f a l l p o w e r a s o p p r e s s o r a n d e n e m y o f t h e masses. I t m u s t b e k e p t u n d e r p r e s s u r e a n d great v i g i l a n c e , w h i c h m u s t n e v e r b e s l a c k ened, m u s t b e e x e r c i s e d t o w a r d s i t t h r o u g h t h e class struggle and the dictatorship of the proletariat. In countries where capital dominates there is democ r a c y f o r t h e capitalists, oppressors, e x p l o i t e r s , w h i l e t h e r e i s o p p r e s s i o n f o r t h e m a j o r i t y , f o r t h e masses, f o r the people. T h e r e t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e bourgeoisie, t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f f a s c i s m exists, t h e r e t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c o r d e r reigns. T h e r e f o r e , t h e r e are t w o concepts o f l e a d e r s h i p : t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c a n t i - p o p u l a r concept a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o p u l a r concept. T h e o n e w a g e s a l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e against the other. W h e r e t h e r e v o l u t i o n t r i u m p h s , b u r e a u c r a c y has lost t h e f i r s t b a t t l e , b u t i t has n o t l a i d d o w n its w e a p o n s a n d f i g h t s i n o t h e r w a y s w h i c h h a v e t h e i r s o u r c e i n the t r a d i t i o n s o f f o r m e r regimes, f o r t h e o l d sins o f w h i c h w e are s t i l l p a y i n g , a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e m e n t a l i t y , p r e j u d i c e s a n d w o r l d o u t l o o k o f people. T h e m e n t a l concepts o f b u r e a u c r a c y , t h a t is, its i d e a l i s t i d e o l o g y are, at t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e concepts of t h e m i n o r i t y , s u b j e c t i v i s t concepts t h a t d e v e l o p i n i n d i v i d u a l s a n d f o r m t h e i d e o l o g y o f t h e m i n o r i t y class r u l i n g o v e r t h e m a j o r i t y , concepts w h i c h the m i n o r i t y does n o t f a i l t o i n c u l c a t e i n t o t h e m i n d s a n d consciousness of the majority through culture, education, politics, m o r a l
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a n d p o l i t i c a l d e g e n e r a t i o n , s o t h a t t h e y b e c o m e t h e i r second nature, a w a y o f l i f e i n t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n . Therefore w h e n the revolution triumphs, we should not t h i n k t h a t e v e r y b o d y gets r i d o f these idealist, s u b jectivist, i n d i v i d u a l i s t t h o u g h t s a n d p r e j u d i c e s i m m e d i a tely, a n d t h a t these d o n o t i n f l u e n c e , d o not i n h i b i t t h e progress of people, do n o t h i n d e r t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f t h e m a n d t h e i r concepts a n d w o r l d o u t l o o k a n d t h e r a p i d c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m . N o ! W e m u s t not t h i n k i n this w a y , f o r t h e n w e w o u l d n o t b e r e a l i s t i c , w o u l d n o t b e o b j e c t i v e , w o u l d n o t b e o r act l i k e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . We destroyed the old bureaucratic regime of the f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s i e a n d f a s c i s m t o its f o u n d a t i o n s a n d established the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e r e g i m e of people's councils. We cannot say that certain m a n i festations o f t h e o l d w a y o f r u n n i n g t h i n g s d i d not r e m a i n i n one f o r m o r a n o t h e r i n o u r n e w p e o p l e ' s state p o w e r . I t i s t r u e t h a t d u r i n g these t w o decades o r s o w e h a v e m o d e r n i z e d a n d d e m o c r a t i z e d o u r people's state p o w e r and h a v e c o n t i n u a l l y b r o u g h t i t e v e r closer t o t h e m a s ses. B u t w e s t i l l h a v e t o w a g e a c o n t i n u o u s s t r u g g l e t o m a k e o u r state p o w e r d e m o c r a t i c n o t o n l y i n i t s f o r m , its s t r u c t u r e , b u t e s p e c i a l l y i n its content. W e m u s t strive t o m a k e t h e d e m o c r a t i c essence o f o u r state p o w e r p r e d o m i n a t e , t o m a k e its p r o f o u n d l y p o p u l a r c h a r a c t e r p r e v a i l , because t h i s w i l l e r a d i c a t e t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c e l e ments l e f t o v e r f r o m t h e past o r r e b o r n i n n e w f o r m s , and this d e m o c r a t i c c h a r a c t e r a l o n e is c a p a b l e of p e r f e c t i n g s t r u c t u r e s a n d f o r m s , a n d o f c r e a t i n g the l a w s w h i c h shape t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h e state. In order to fight bureaucracy and the bureaucrats s u c c e s s f u l l y i t i s necessary t o u n d e r s t a n d t h o r o u g h l y a n d resolutely a p p l y the directives of the Party, especially those about p o w e r b e l o n g i n g to t h e masses, b r i n g i n g it
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as close as possible to t h e masses, a n d e n s u r i n g a b r o a d d e m o c r a c y f o r t h e masses, a n d s o o n . Some comrades t h i n k they understand and apply these p r i n c i p l e s w e l l , b u t t h e i r p r a c t i c e p r o v e s t h a t t h e c o n t r a r y i s t r u e . T h e y t h i n k t h e state p o w e r i s d e m o c r a t i c s i m p l y because t h e r e are elections, a n d t h a t t h i s i s s u f ficient. Elections are held in the bourgeois democracies, too, a n d t h e r e a r e debates d u r i n g elections i n t h e b o u r g e o i s democracies. B u t the deputies there, f a r f r o m being m e n o f t h e people, a l t h o u g h t h e y a r e f o r m a l l y e l e c t e d b y t h e m in a thousand f r a u d u l e n t ways, are m e n of the bourgeoisie, i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e bourgeoisie, t o p r o t e c t a n d f i l l t h e c o f fers o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t h r o u g h t h e b l o o d a n d s w e a t o f t h e people. S u c h d e p u t i e s e n a c t r e p r e s s i v e l a w s i n o r d e r t o maintain and strengthen an anti-popular, anti-democratic, bureaucratic regime. This is the regime of the bludgeon a n d the gallows, of m o r a l and political corruption. Therefore, our elections a n d theirs are diametrically o p p o s e d i n p r i n c i p l e , i n content, i n t h e i r a i m s a n d deeds. O u r s a r e p o p u l a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n essence. T h e d e p u t i e s t o o u r people's c o u n c i l s a n d o u r P e o p l e ' s A s s e m b l y a r e m e n o f t h e people, l i n k e d w i t h t h e people, e l e c t e d a n d r e v o c a b l e b y t h e people. T h e y e n a c t r e v o l u t i o n a r y l a w s i n t h e interests o f t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e y t h e m s e l v e s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e people, a p p l y t h e s e socialist r e v o l u t i o n a r y laws, ordinances and norms. T h e w i l l of the broad masses o f t h e p e o p l e i s s o v e r e i g n a n d c a n a n n u l these l a w s a n d o r d i n a n c e s , i t c a n correct a n d a m e n d t h e m if it finds t h e m unsuitable, out-of-date or w r o n g . T h e r o l e a n d duties o f o u r d e p u t y i n t h e people's d e m o c r a c y a r e n o t c o n f i n e d t o h i s g o i n g once o r t w i c e a y e a r o n f o r m a l v i s i t s t o contact h i s electors a n d t o a p p l y the ordinances and decisions bureaucratically in the p l a c e w h e r e he w o r k s . He is at the same time, the representative and a member of a great mass of the people,
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who not only implement, but also create, decide, discuss, criticize, propose and amend. The true struggle against bureaucratic concepts is based on profound understanding and proper practical application of these things. Here lies the great field of the battle between revolutionaries and bureaucrats, between champions of the masses and bureaucrats, between heroes and cowards, between those who strive to link the Party firmly with the popular masses and those who strive to alienate the Party from the people. T h e b u r e a u c r a t s a r e a f r a i d o f t h e masses, t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s are n o t . T h e sense o f f e a r i s a n i n d i v i d u a l a t t r i b u t e , n o t a n a t t r i b u t e o f t h e masses. I t m a y b e c o m m u n i c a t e d to t h e masses f o r a m o m e n t a n d e v e n create a t e m p o r a r y p a n i c , b u t t h e masses c a n n o t be i n t i m i d a t e d . I f w e l o o k b a c k a t t h e great e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e N a tional L i b e r a t i o n W a r we f i n d examples of individuals who w e r e afraid to take part in the fight, w h o hesitated, but f i n a l l y c a m e out, j o i n e d t h e v a l i a n t people, lost t h e i r fear a n d b e c a m e v a l i a n t t h e m s e l v e s . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , w h e n t h e masses w e r e f i g h t i n g h e r o i c a l l y t h e r e w e r e individuals w h o became t e r r i f i e d a n d deserted the r a n k s o f the masses. T h u s , t h i s w a s d u e t o s u b j e c t i v e causes i n the i n d i v i d u a l . S u c h a n i n d i v i d u a l t o o k f r i g h t , because his n o n - r e v o l u t i o n a r y , bourgeois, p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s , i n d i v i dualistic a n d c o w a r d l y w o r l d outlook impelled h i m i n this direction. T h e b u r e a u c r a t i s a c o w a r d , because h i s w o r l d o u t look i s idealist, m y s t i c a l a n d i n d i v i d u a l i s t . T h i s i s t h e m a i n - s p r i n g o f a l l e v i l s l i k e a r r o g a n c e , s e r v i l i t y , lies, deceit, etc., a l l o f t h e m t o p r e s e r v e t h e i n d i v i d u a l p o s i t i o n acquired, to c l i m b in position, to profit in illegal ways a n d do a t h o u s a n d a n d one c r o o k e d t h i n g s . Of course, a fault o f t h i s k i n d c a n n o t escape t h e eye o f t h e masses, cannot resist t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e masses, t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y
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i m p u l s e o f t h e masses, t h e r e f o r e t h e b u r e a u c r a t w i l l d o his u t t e r m o s t t o dodge e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y n o r m , w i l l try to make the revolutionary laws and ordinances ineffective, i n o r d e r t o a n n o y t h e masses, t o m a k e t h e m dissatisfied and, finally, indifferent. He w i l l t r y to t u r n the state a p p a r a t u s i n t o a c l o s e d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e p r e s sive weapon, to t u r n it into an administration in the service o f b u r e a u c r a c y i n o r d e r t o i n t i m i d a t e a n d oppress t h e masses r a t h e r t h a n a n a p p a r a t u s i n t h e s e r v i c e o f the people a n d against bureaucracy. W e m u s t seek o u t a n d f i g h t the d a n g e r o u s b u reaucrats w h o strive to raise bureaucracy to a system, o r t o k e e p its s p i r i t a l i v e , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t apparatus and in that of the P a r t y , in the management of economic a n d industrial enterprises and cooperatives, in the leadership of educational and c u l t u r a l institutions. T h e b u r e a u c r a t i s a f r a i d o f t h e masses, h e i s a f r a i d t o w o r k a m o n g t h e masses a n d w h e n h e i s o b l i g e d t o g o a m o n g the masses, h e w a n t s t o b e v e s t e d w i t h a u t h o r i t y , tries t o i m p o s e h i m s e l f o n t h e masses t h r o u g h h i s a u t h o r i t y a n d t h e f u n c t i o n s h e has. I n t h i s h e d i s t o r t s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y , d e m o c r a t i c essence o f t h e state a n d its l a w s . H e v i o l a t e s d e m o c r a c y , suppresses c r i t i c i s m , w h i l e a l l e g e d l y u p h o l d i n g the correctness o f t h e d i r e c t i v e o r t h e l a w a n d the a u t h o r i t y o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state. I n fact h e does t h e opposite. H e d e g r a d e s t h e a u t h o r i t y o f the P a r t y a n d t h e state a n d , w i t h h i s sinister secret a n d s o m e t i m e s o p e n aims, h e a l i e n a t e s t h e masses f r o m the P a r t y . . . T h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : H o w m u c h i s the s k i n o f these i n d i v i d u a l s w o r t h w h e n c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e great r e v o l u t i o n a r y masses o f w o r k e r s a m o n g w h o m t h e y b e h a v e i n these a n t i - p o p u l a r w a y s ? N o t a p e n n y . W h y d o t h e masses n o t sweep a w a y these b a d a n d u n s c r u p u l o u s p e o ple? W h o protects them, w h y the delay in exposing
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t h e m a n d t a k i n g m e a s u r e s against t h e m , w h e n the e v i l things t h e y d o h a v e l o n g b e e n k n o w n b y the masses a n d have b e e n p o i n t e d o u t m a n y times, a n d s t i l l t h e y are a l l o w e d t o c o n t i n u e ? W i t h o u t doubt, i t i s b u r e a u c r a c y , routine, f o r m a l i s m a n d c e r t a i n i n d i v i d u a l s o f the a p paratuses t h a t p r o t e c t t h e m . N o b o d y else. T h e s e b u r e a u c r a t i c o f f i c i a l s w h o i m a g i n e t h a t they are the t r u e u p h o l d e r s o f p r i n c i p l e s a n d l a w s , a r e a f r a i d of the v o i c e of t h e masses, of t h e i r c r i t i c i s m . In the meetings w h i c h a r e h e l d s o m e t i m e s t h e s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d i s not v e r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y . N o p e a l o f bells i s h e a r d c h i m i n g there, b u t o n l y a s i n g l e bell, a n d w h e n s o m e t h i n g i s h e a r d t h a t i s n o t i n h a r m o n y w i t h w h a t has been decided, a n a l a r m i s s o u n d e d a n d e f f o r t s are m a d e t o b r i n g e v e r y t h i n g w i t h i n the e s t a b l i s h e d n o r m , w h i c h i s n o t t h e t r u e n o r m . W h e r e t h e n , a r e the f i e r y debates, the t h r a s h i n g out o f o p p o s i n g o p i n i o n s w e r e q u i r e , w h e r e are t h e c o n s t r u c t i v e c r i t i c i s m s s o w e c a n correct i m m a t u r e a n d w r o n g ideas? N o s u c h t h i n g s c a n e x i s t a t s u c h m e e t i n g s . I n d e e d , t h e v o i c e of t h e masses is n o t h e a r d t h e r e a n d , l i k e i t o r not, t h e masses a r e n o t a l l o w e d t o t h i n k , to c r i t i c i z e , to d e c i d e or to propose. T h u s , a r e s t r a i n t , a r e g i m e of r e s t r i c t i o n , f o r m a l i s m a n d b u r e a u c r a c y is e s t a b l i s h e d u n d e r t h e b a n n e r o f t h e slogans o f the P a r t y , u n d e r the b a n n e r o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people's p o w e r . Those w h o understand the directive or the l a w in a b u r e a u c r a t i c w a y cannot c a r r y i t o u t i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y way. To them, the directive or the l a w is an order f r o m a b o v e a n d m u s t b e c a r r i e d out b l i n d l y . T h e y d o n o t t a k e t h e t r o u b l e t o l o o k d e e p l y i n t o t h e o r i g i n o f the law or directive, into the circumstances that have comp e l l e d t h e l e a d e r s h i p t o issue it. A s a r e s u l t o f s u c h a s u p e r f i c i a l a n d b u r e a u c r a t i c v i e w o f this p r o b l e m t h e y a p p l y t h e l a w s a n d d i r e c t i v e s i n a b u r e a u c r a t i c w a y , too.
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It is not sufficient just to e x p l a i n the l a w or directive once o r e v e n t w i c e but, f r o m p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n a l y s i s of its content, it ought to b e c o m e a m i g h t y m o b i l i z i n g force. T h e i d e a o f c a r r y i n g out t h e d i r e c t i v e w i t h o u t r e l y i n g o n t h e masses, w i t h o u t t h i n k i n g a n d seeing i n p r a c t i c e w h e t h e r t h e masses a p p r o v e i t o r not, i s f r u i t l e s s . T h e r i g h t t h i n g t o d o i s t o accept a n d e n c o u r a g e t h e masses t o e x p r e s s t h e i r o p i n i o n s f o r o r against. T h i s i s t r o u b l e s o m e a n d t h e b u r e a u c r a t i s a f r a i d o f t r o u b l e s . H e m u s t s a f e g u a r d the g o o d o p i n i o n h i s superiors have created about h i m , he must c u r r y favour w i t h h i s s u p e r i o r s a n d f o r u m s a n d say t o t h e m : T h e d i r e c t i v e y o u h a v e issued i s o n e o f genius, f l a w l e s s , f i t ting a n d popular. H o w can a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y be afraid of the masses, o f t h e i r v o i c e a n d c r i t i c i s m ? A p a r t y w h i c h f e a r s them cannot be called Marxist-Leninist. However, it is n e v e r t h e P a r t y t h a t fears t h e m , b u t c e r t a i n i n d i v i d u a l s , c e r t a i n m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y , c e r t a i n state f u n c t i o n a r i e s , I t i s t h e b u r e a u c r a t s t h a t fear t h e masses, those w h o h i d e u n d e r t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state t o suppress the v o i c e o f t h e masses. W e m u s t c r u s h t h e s e individuals and they must be crushed in a revolutionary w a y b y t h e P a r t y a n d the masses a t t h e s a m e t i m e . Comrade communists, comrade workers, are we going t o a l l o w s u c h persons, d i s g u i s e d w i t h t h e n a m e o f t h e P a r t y o r t h e i r state f u n c t i o n s t o t r a m p l e u n d e r f o o t t h e laws of our proletarian revolution, to distort the lifeg i v i n g r e v o l u t i o n a r y n o r m s o f the P a r t y , t o t a r n i s h t h e dictatorship of the proletariat w i t h bombastic words w h i c h h i d e e v i l deeds? B y n o m e a n s , f o r t h e n w e w o u l d h a v e sealed t h e d o o m o f o u r people. C o m r a d e w o r k e r s , a r e w e g o i n g t o p e r m i t s u c h a state of a f f a i r s to please a h a n d f u l of s u c h p e r s o n s a n d d a m a g e t h e great cause o f t h e p e o p l e ? B y n o m e a n s !
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I s i t i m a g i n a b l e t h a t t h e masses o f t h e p e o p l e l e d b y our P a r t y , t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class a n d its g l o r i o u s Party of Labour, could be a f r a i d of a few such corrupt individuals? Not for one m o m e n t could such a thing be imagined. I t s h o u l d n o t b e t h o u g h t , h o w e v e r , t h a t since t h e y are f e w t h e y c a n d o u s n o h a r m a n d t h e r e f o r e w e s h o u l d not p u t t h e m i n t h e i r o n v i c e o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p t o straighten t h e m o u t o r get r i d o f t h e m . W e m u s t n e v e r forget t h e t r a g e d y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n . U n d e r t h e l e a d e r ship o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e masses o f the people m u s t a l w a y s b e o n t h e a l e r t i n e v e r y t h i n g , t o defend t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , i t s l a w s , its ideology, its p o l i c y a n d its a c h i e v e m e n t s . T h i s i s t h e o n l y correct, s o u n d r o a d o f s a l v a t i o n w h i c h o u r P a r t y teaches u s a n d advises u s a l l , w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , t o f o l l o w t o the e n d . T h e r e a r e b u t t w o r o a d s : e i t h e r w i t h the P a r t y a n d the p e o p l e o r against t h e m . T h e r e f o r e , n o t h i n g s h o u l d be allowed outside the laws and n o r m s of the P a r t y and the people, n o t h i n g s h o u l d escape t h e v i g i l a n t eye o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people, n o one s h o u l d b e e x e m p t f r o m rendering account of his w o r k to the P a r t y a n d the people, a n d f r o m r e c e i v i n g his deserts f r o m the P a r t y and t h e p e o p l e . . . Let us do away w i t h the existing v e r y ridiculous w a l l bulletins a n d t u r n t h e m into r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a l l bulletins which w i l l help revolutionary education. Let us do away w i t h t h e e d i t o r i a l b o a r d s o f these w a l l b u l l e t i n s m a d e up of opportunist scribblers w h o uphold the dignity and authority of the director a n d of themselves at the same time, a n d let e v e r y o n e w r i t e w h a t h e t h i n k s a b o u t t h e w o r k a n d t h e p e o p l e , i n b i g letters a n d w i t h o u t f e a r . If T h e y s a y : W e m u s t p r o t e c t t h e a u t h o r i t y o f cadres. we do not act in this w a y we w i l l discredit the
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cadres. T h a t m e a n s t h a t those w h o t h i n k l i k e this accept, i n a d v a n c e , that cadres a r e i n f a l l i b l e a n d the masses e r r in their judgment. To think in this w a y is a very grave m i s t a k e , is to t h i n k n o t as a M a r x i s t , n o t as a r e v o l u t i o n a r y . N o b o d y d i s c r e d i t s a c a d r e w h o w o r k s w e l l . O n the c o n t r a r y , e v e r y b o d y loves a n d p r o t e c t s h i m . B u t w h a t e v i l i s t h e r e a n d w h a t n o r m s are v i o l a t e d w h e n t h e masses openly criticize the cadre w h o makes a mistake? N o t h i n g but g o o d comes o f it. W h y s h o u l d w e suppress o r d i s c o u r age c r i t i c i s m f r o m b e l o w u n d e r the p r e t e x t o f p r o t e c t i n g t h e p r e s t i g e o f cadres? W h a t e v i l comes t o the P a r t y f r o m s u c h a t h i n g ? M a n y e v i l s c o m e i f w e act w r o n g l y . T h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e P a r t y a m o n g t h e masses declines, w e c o r r u p t the P a r t y , w e k e e p u n w o r t h y e l e m e n t s i n the P a r t y and protect them, and educate the P a r t y badly. W e sometimes hesitate t o t a k e m e a s u r e s against e x p e r i e n c e d c a d r e s w h o h a v e b e e n i n the P a r t y a l o n g t i m e . T h i s i s a g r e a t m i s t a k e w h e n t h i s c a d r e m a k e s one o r t w o m i s t a k e s . I n s u c h cases w e s h o u l d see t h a t a good m e t h o d o f w o r k a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n d u c t are n o t a l w a y s l i n k e d w i t h the ability of the cadre, but m o r e e s p e c i a l l y w i t h his p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l w o r l d o u t l o o k . T h e r e f o r e , t h e e d u c a t i o n o f t h e cadres a n d p e o p l e i n the revolutionary spirit is a major, permanent duty, because success o r f a i l u r e o f t h e s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u cracy and the bureaucrats and their correction, depend o n w h e t h e r t h e w o r k d o n e i n this d i r e c t i o n i s g o o d or bad. I f w e subject t h e b u r e a u c r a t s t o close s c r u t i n y we s h a l l see t h a t t h e y d o n o t s t u d y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y as they should and subjectivism predominates in their w o r k . T h e y are v e r y touchy about their opinions. T h e y are m e g a l o m a n i a c s a n d s e r v i l e a t the same t i m e , m e g a l o m a n i a c s t o w a r d s t h e masses a n d s e r v i l e t o w a r d s t h e i r s u p e r i o r s . Bureaucrats cover up their ignorance w i t h bombastic
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words a n d p h r a s e s . T h e y use t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y h a v e stayed a l o n g t i m e i n one p o s i t i o n w i t h o u t b e i n g s h i f t e d as individual, personal capital. T h e y arrive at the idea that t h e y h a v e b e c o m e u n t o u c h a b l e , i r r e p l a c e a b l e , t h i n k they h a v e c r e a t e d a n a d e q u a t e o p i n i o n o f t h e i r a b i l i t y r o u n d a b o u t t h e m a n d see n o d a n g e r o f b e i n g d e m o t e d , t r a n s f e r r e d , etc. T h e y t h i n k o n l y o f b e i n g p r o m o t e d a n d work towards that goal. A l l t h i s n o n - r e v o l u t i o n a r y state o f m i n d creates a m o n g t h e m a sense o f s t a b i l i t y i n t h e soft seat they have o c c u p i e d , a c e r t a i n t y o f t h e i r o w n i n f a l l i b i l i t y i n their w o r k a n d o f the p e r f e c t i o n o f t h e i r m e t h o d a n d style o f w o r k , w h i c h has b r o u g h t a b o u t t h i s state o f affairs, a n d t h u s t h e y d e v e l o p a w a y o f t h i n k i n g a n d l i v i n g i n t h e f a m i l y a n d society o f a n e w b o u r g e o i s i e w i t h i n o u r people's d e m o c r a c y . T h i s i s v e r y d a n g e r o u s . If we do not e x t i r p a t e these v i e w s of the b u r e a u c r a t , he w i l l spread t h e m f r o m his position of authority and infect others w i t h t h e m . T h u s , i n a d d i t i o n t o e d u c a t i n g t h e cadres a n d t h e masses i n g e n e r a l , i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y , i n a d dition to the m a n y forms of fighting manifestations of bureaucracy, I think we should study more seriously and a p p l y a f u r t h e r correct c i r c u l a t i o n of cadres, since we have cadres w h o h a v e b e e n m o u l d e r i n g i n the same p l a c e for more t h a n 10 to 15 years and who, w i l l y - n i l l y , have a s s u m e d c e r t a i n of t h e f e a t u r e s I m e n t i o n e d above. T h e i r r e p l a c e m e n t w i t h t h e p e o p l e f r o m the base w i l l b e good for t h e P a r t y a n d the state a t t h e top, a n d b e b e n e f i c i a l f o r t h e base a n d f o r t h e p e r s o n s w h o g o f r o m h i g h e r to l o w e r ranks. N a t u r a l l y , a l l the latter w i l l not be overe n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t g o i n g , b u t w e can b e c e r t a i n t h a t w e are d o i n g t h e r i g h t t h i n g , because i n t h i s w a y w e c o m b a t the n o n - r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i e w s w h i c h h a v e b e e n m a n i fested i n these people. W e s h a l l c u r e t h e m .
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A w o r k e r or cooperativist is not greatly concerned w h e n h e changes h i s j o b . H e i s n e v e r a f r a i d o f w o r k or life in general. He is used to difficulties, he earns his daily bread a n y w h e r e w i t h the sweat o f his brow. An i n t e l l e c t u a l o r o f f i c e w o r k e r , o n t h e other h a n d , f i n d s i t d i f f i c u l t t o m o v e f o r m a n y r e a s o n s : f i r s t , because h e has created a v i e w of superiority of the intellect and officialdom a n d , second, the question of pay, the question of financial treatment. These two views w h i c h are not manifested among the w o r k e r s and peasants, must be combated among the intellectuals and officials. K n o w l e d g e , science a n d w i s d o m a r e n o t t h e a t t r i b u t e s of only a certain f e w w h o have special brains or special v i r t u e s , w h o a l o n e a r e a b l e t o t e a c h a n d issue o r d e r s f o r o t h e r s t o o b e y . I t i s t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e w h o create, w h o b u i l d a n d t r a n s f o r m t h e w o r l d a n d society a n d w h e n t h e y d o this, i t m e a n s t h a t t h e y p l a c e e v e r y m e r i t , w i t h o u t b e l i t t l i n g t h e m e r i t o f e a c h o n e seperately, in the service of society as a w h o l e . T h e r e f o r e , t h e m e r i t belongs t o t h e masses w h o w o r k , t h i n k , create, apply, t h i n k a n d create a g a i n . T h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t c o m b a t t h e t h i n k i n g o f those w h o possess some degree o f k n o w l e d g e , b u t w h o utilize i t t o i m p o s e t h e m s e l v e s o n t h e masses, since t h i s i s b o u r geois, r e a c t i o n a r y t h i n k i n g , j u s t a s b o u r g e o i s a n d r e a c t i o n a r y a s t h e t h i n k i n g o f o f f i c i a l d o m , i n t h e sense t h a t i t hides t h e b a d i n t e n t i o n s o f the p e r s o n , h i s a n t i - M a r x i s t , anti-revolutionary bureaucratic w o r l d outlook and activity. T h e w o r k e r a n d peasant a r e w e l l a w a r e t h a t t h e i r i n c o m e i s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e i r w o r k , w i t h t h e i r sweat, w h i l e a f u n c t i o n a r y connects h i s s a l a r y b o t h w i t h h i s w o r k a n d w i t h his post. T h e r e f o r e , w h e t h e r h e goes t o t h e base w i l l i n g l y o r not, d e p e n d s o n w h e t h e r o r n o t h e i s d e m oted, w h e t h e r o r n o t h i s s a l a r y a n d rank a r e r e d u c e d . O f course, i t w o u l d n o t b e r i g h t t o g i v e p e r s o n a l s a l a r i e s
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t o those w h o g o f r o m h i g h e r t o l o w e r l e v e l s f o r r e a s o n s o f w o r k . B u t , i n the g e n e r a l interest, w e s h o u l d p r o c e e d with still greater courage towards n a r r o w i n g the gap between t h e w a g e s o f w o r k e r s a n d t h e s a l a r i e s o f officials, a n d a m o n g t h e v a r i o u s categories o f o f f i c i a l s . This is a c o r r e c t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course. It is l i k e wise M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h a t t h i s m e a s u r e s h o u l d b e a c c o m panied w i t h the creation of economic abundance. F r o m a l l these t h i n g s , t h e P a r t y i s f a c e d w i t h m a j o r tasks t o f u r t h e r r e v o l u t i o n i z e its w o r k . T h e great s u c cesses w e h a v e a c h i e v e d i n o u r p a r t y w o r k m u s t n o t m a k e u s d i z z y a n d close o u r eyes t o t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d w e a k n e s s e s w h i c h e x i s t a n d are n o t t o b e n e g l e c t e d . It w o u l d do us great damage if we failed to go further w i t h a n d f e a r l e s s l y a p p l y t h e l i n e o f t h e masses, t r u e democracy of the masses, if we failed to go more deeply into and apply the norms of the Party, d e m o c r a tic a n d n o n - b u r e a u c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m , b o l s h e v i k c r i t i c i s m a n d self-criticism, proletarian discipline and proletarian morality, correctly, i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y . a n d t h r o u g h t o the e n d . We w i l l strengthen our P a r t y by proceeding along this correct course, s o t h a t o u r P a r t y , s o c i a l i s m a n d o u r p e o p l e m a y n e v e r h a v e a n y headache, heartache, n o r b o d i l y p a i n . W e h a v e a l l t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r this, because o u r P a r t y i s strong, t e m p e r e d a n d has great r e v o l u t i o n a r y e x p e r i e n c e , because w e h a v e courageous, h e r o i c p a r t y m e m b e r s a n d a marvellous people closely l i n k e d w i t h the P a r t y .
Works, vol. 35
REFLECTIONS ON THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION. ANARCHY CANNOT BE COMBATED WITH ANARCHY

A p r i l 28, 1967
O f course, f r o m l a c k o f facts w e m a y b e m i s t a k e n , because i n this q u e s t i o n , w h i c h i s s u c h a m a j o r one a n d a t the s a m e t i m e s o c o m p l i c a t e d , i t i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t h a t w e d o n o t f i n d a c o n t i n u i t y i n t h e r e p o r t i n g o f facts by the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a . The official Chinese press and first of all the newspaper Renmin Ribao, which is the organ of the Central Committee, reflects this uncertainty, it guards against expressing its real opinion and the analysis of events. Therefore, in place of these things, it writes mostly to prove that Mao's ideas have always been and are correct, that Mao has understood everything correctly, he foresees everything correctly, and everyone should follow the teachings of Mao, w h i c h a r e g i v e n t h r o u g h quotations and have been filling the newspapers and c o v e r i n g the w a l l s , people's bodies a n d t h i n g s f o r the last y e a r . I t seems t h a t t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s e x p l a i n e v e n t s a s i f t h e y a r e t h e o u t c o m e o f the ideas o f M a o , a n d t h u s every article, every note, is directed to convincing people that Mao is a genius, instead of explaining concretely what is occurring in reality. T h i s is a serious shortcoming in the presentation of things. It seems to me, however, that this is not accidental. It respresents a chaotic situation and a method of work and struggle unsuitable for putting things in order. I
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think, and perhaps I am wrong, that the Cultural Revolution was begun without clear perspectives, the course on which it was to proceed was not defined, and neither the expected nor the unexpected things were foreseen. I think that the general staff of the revolution did not exist. They went into the revolution without the party. W h a t b e c a m e o f t h e p a r t y ? W h e r e i s the p a r t y ? W h o led the party? A c c o r d i n g to information, the p a r t y w a s not i n t h e h a n d s o f M a o , o t h e r s w e r e m a n o e u v r i n g i t . Hence, the party, as a Marxist-Leninist party, did not come out in revolution and did not lead the revolution. A f e w c o m m u n i s t cadres, w i t h M a o a t t h e h e a d , l e d this r e v o l u t i o n , b u t n o t as a p a r t y . T h e Red G u a r d s rose i n revolution, b u t this w a s not t h e p a r t y , n o r t h e c o m m u n i s t y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n , n o r t h e t r a d e - u n i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n , n o r t h e w o r k i n g class. This i s a g r e a t m i n u s f r o m t h e a n g l e o f p r i n c i p l e a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e R e d G u a r d s rose i n r e v o l u t i o n , b u t w h a t was i t t o do, w h a t r o a d w a s i t t o f o l l o w ? I h a v e t h e impression that this thing was not clear at the start or even l a t e r . T h e R e d G u a r d s w a s o r d e r e d t o d e m o n s t r a t e its s t r e n g t h , i t s l o y a l t y t o t h e i d e a s o f M a o , t o e x p o s e the r e v i s i o n i s t s , a n d t o seize p o w e r f r o m t h e m . Hence, the main question was the question of state power. To struggle to seize the power implies that someone else is holding this power and is not relinquishing it, therefore you must rise in revolution. Thus, as it turns out, they rose in the revolution to take power without the party at the head, or to put it better, the party had power, but the party was not on the right road. W a s t h e p a r t y o n t h e r i g h t r o a d o r n o t ? I f not, t h e n i t s h o u l d b e c l e a r l y s t a t e d w h y , w h a t the m i s t a k e s c o n sisted of, w h o h a d m a d e these m i s t a k e s , a n d h o w t h e y h a d to be corrected. If the p a r t y w a s on the right road, w h y did it not lead the r e v o l u t i o n in fact? If the revisionists
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a r e t h e m i n o r i t y , t h e n w h y does t h e p a r t y n o t e l i m i n a t e t h e m immediately, a n d especially n o w that the r e v o l u t i o n is being carried out? T h e s e t h i n g s a r e n o t clear, a r e l e f t o b s c u r e ; p e r h a p s the revolution w i l l resolve t h e m and m a k e them clear. I think that the revolution is the most serious thing that can be undertaken, and it does not permit spontaneity, lack of iron discipline, vacillations on principles, anarchy, or confusion. A l l these things, which should not be allowed, we find in the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Not only have these things not come to an end, but, the way they are going, they will continue for a long time to the detriment of the revolution and socialism in China. I f i t does n o t s t r i k e d o w n the leaders o f t h e b e t r a y a l , o r a t least m e n t i o n t h e m b y n a m e , t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s n o t r e v olution. But let us take the question of the unmasking. Is this being done correctly, and who is leading it? It is a fact that the party is not doing this, it is not working as an organized force within certain limits, it is paralyzed, if not destroyed. The Red Guards is carrying out this exposure through dazibaos. T h e Red G u a r d s a n d a l l those w h o a r e m a k i n g t h e r e v o l u t i o n s a y w h a t e v e r t h e y want, abuse a n d discredit w h o e v e r they want. In a w o r d , it is not the p a r t y as a party w h i c h is leading a l l these a c t i v i t i e s , but M a o is leading them w i t h a series o f c o m r a d e s w h o m i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o c o n t r o l all over that great C h i n a , where, effectively, there is no party, a n d w h e r e t h e e n e m y has been w o r k i n g i n t e n s i v e l y f o r t e n s of y e a r s . T h e existing anarchy cannot be combated with anarchy. I think that the great mistake of Mao and the other comrades lies in the fact that they are not handling the question of the party, the question of the line and the cadres of the party correctly. In my o p i n i o n , t h e q u e s t i o n
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should be presented in this w a y : H a s the p a r t y made mistakes d u r i n g s e v e n t e e n y e a r s o r has i t n o t ? Naturally, the Communist Party of China has made serious mistakes. Somebody led it on to a wrong road and the party was not able to see where they were leading it. Hence, together with a few individuals, many others have made mistakes, too. It is essential that the party analyse its incorrect line and correct it first of all. If the party does not see its mistake, the mistake cannot be corrected. Questions are not put forward in this way in China, and the party is treated in an off-hand manner. The problem arises: W h o is right and w h o is w r o n g ? Have L i u S h a o q i a n d D e n g X i a o p i n g made mistakes, and M a o n o t ? O f course, some p e o p l e t h e r e h a v e been w r o n g , a n d these a r e t h e g a n g o f L i u S h a o q i . H o w e v e r , together w i t h L i u a n d D e n g X i a o p i n g , the whole party has gone wrong, hence even Mao himself, who has allowed the party to go wrong. In t h a t case, the p a r t y has to analyse a n d assess t h i s w h o l e s i t u a t i o n , a n d t a k e the necessary m e a s u r e s . I n fact, t h e p a r t y has b e e n p u s h e d aside, a n d o t h e r s t h e y o u t h , the R e d G u a r d s , h a v e been a l l o w e d t o c r i t i c i z e t h e p a r t y f r o m outside, not t h e p a r t y d i r e c t l y , b u t people, e v e r y w h e r e w i t h o u t discrimination. Individuals ought to be criticized, even w i t h dazibaos; but is there, or is t h e r e n o t a p a r t y w h i c h leads, sanctions, says: T h i s is good, or t h i s is b a d ? S u c h a t h i n g has not b e e n seen f o r a w h o l e y e a r . W h o is left in the Communist P a r t y of C h i n a w h o has not m a d e m i s t a k e s ? A p p a r e n t l y , M a o w i t h t w o or three others. T h e n h o w w i l l this w o r k b e done, w i t h a l l this m a s s o f m i s l e a d c a d r e s w h o h a v e m a d e m i s t a k e s , perhaps u n w i t t i n g l y , f o r y e a r s o n e n d ? W i l l t h e y r e l y o n these, separate t h e w h e a t f r o m t h e chaff, a n d b u i l d t h e party to w o r k normally, in a revolutionary w a y ? This is
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not y e t clear, s i n c e t h e f i n a l l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e t r a i t o r g r o u p o f L i u a n d D e n g i s s t i l l not c o m i n g t o a n e n d . I t seems t o m e t h a t m a n y cadres h a v e b e e n e x p o s e d a n d r e h a b i l i t a t e d i n a n i n c o r r e c t w a y . T h e p a r t y d i d not meet t o m a k e a n a n a l y s i s o f t h e w o r k a n d j u d g e t h e cadres one b y one, t o f a c e t h e m w i t h t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , to mention their names in dazibaos w h e n the occasion w a r r a n t e d . C h e n Y i , f o r e x a m p l e , i s subject t o g r a v e accusations i n dazibaos. B u t h e i s d e f e n d e d b y M a o and leads the M i n i s t r y o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s . T h i s i s n o t s e r i o u s w o r k , n o r i s i t o n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l r o a d o f t h e p a r t y , but there are m i l l i o n s of cadres in this position. These things can hardly be put in order with an article about The Treatment of Cadres, or Down with Anarchy!, because these voices do not catch the ear of the party as a party, as an organized detachment of the class. The party is in confusion, they are keeping it in confusion, and justify this by saying, the revolution is being carried out. Without the party there is no genuine revolution, without the party the revolution will be lame, will run into serious, unexpected difficulties. W h y d o n ' t t h e y b e g i n w i t h the s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e p a r t y a t t h e base, i f i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o a c h i e v e t h i s a t t h e centre? W h y are t h e y t r y i n g t o p u t things i n order f r o m above o n l y ? It is clear that the comrades are not relying o n the p a r t y a s a n o r g a n i z e d o r a r e - o r g a n i z e d p a r t y after the shake-up. T h e y are only appointing committees, l i k e that of B e i j i n g (which changed three times, a n d d e s p i t e this t h e y h a i l e d i t a s a n event o f m a j o r i n t e r national significance). As I see it (and m a y b e I am w r o n g , because we a r e s t i l l i n t h e d a r k a b o u t m a n y i n t e r n a l facts o f t h e i r p a r t y ) , the C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s have a pronounced dose of liberalism and opportunism in their activities. Naturally, this is very harmful. T h e s e t e n d e n c i e s c a n n o t b e e i t h e r n e w o r a c -
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cidental. T h e f a c t t h a t f o r s e v e n t e e n y e a r s t w o l i n e s have b e e n o b s e r v e d i n t h e i r p a r t y a n d h a v e c o - e x i s t e d w i t h o u t a great d e a l of f r i c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m (recently, i t has been a l l e g e d t h a t t h e r e w a s f r i c t i o n , a l t h o u g h t h e y seem so a d j u s t e d to e a c h other, t h a t t h e y a p p e a r to be a single w h o l e ) , p r o v e s t h e s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c o p p o r t u n i s m in their line. Y o u c a n n o t e x c u s e a m i s t a k e or, t o p u t i t better, fail to a p p l y a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t line in the correct manner, by i n v o k i n g t h e s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s of C h i n a . It is essential that Marxism-Leninism is applied in an undogmatic way in China and everywhere else. The laws of the revolution, of the class struggle, of the nature and role of the Marxist-Leninist party cannot be manipulated as you wish, under the pretext of an allegedly flexible policy, or of the need for fair compromises dictated by the circumstances. If principles are not adhered to, the alliance and compromises take a wrong course, and endanger the line, the party, and the proper progress of the revolution. T h e fact i s t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a has gone o n f o r tens o f y e a r s o n e n d t o l e r a t i n g t w o l i n e s i n its r a n k s . If it proceeds from the principle that two active lines are necessary in the party, then the party cannot be a Marxist-Leninist party. E v e n w i t h i n t h e p a r t y a class s t r u g g l e m u s t be w a g e d , i n d e e d a s t e r n s t r u g g l e , to totally liquidate the anti-party, a n t i - M a r x i s t faction as quickly as possible. We h a v e not seen such a struggle i n the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a , e v e n w h e n s o m e l e a ders ( w h o h a v e n o t been alone) h a v e b e e n c o n d e m n e d as factionalists. On the contrary, they have remained not only i n t h e p a r t y , b u t e v e n i n t h e m a i n l e a d e r s h i p . E v e n n o w , i n the f a c e o f t h i s g r a v e s i t u a t i o n , w i t h the r e v o l u t i o n b e i n g w a g e d t o seize p o w e r f r o m t h e h a n d s of the r e v i s i o n i s t s , we see t h a t same sort of d i l e t t a n t i s m ,
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soft-heartedness, s l o w n e s s t o act a n d l i b e r a l i s m t o w a r d s a n t i - p a r t y e l e m e n t s o p p o s e d t o t h e w o r k i n g class. W e see that the iron discipline, w h i c h ought to exist in the p a r t y a n d i n the r e v o l u t i o n , i s l a c k i n g ; w e d o n o t see its d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m a s c l e a r a s i t s h o u l d be, e s p e c i a l l y i n r e v o l u t i o n a r y times, w e d o h o t see the t r u e a u t h o r i t y o f a leader, w h i c h is essential, or e v e n t h e a u t h o r i t y of a w h o l e c o l l e c t i v e l e a d e r s h i p i n the c e n t r e a n d i n the p r o vinces w h i c h is indispensable at any time, and especially a t t h e t i m e w h e n the r e v o l u t i o n i s b e i n g w a g e d . It is a mistake of catastrophic proportions to leave the party in the dark and to oppose the masses to it, to put the leadership of the party, the true collective leadership, under the uncontrolled, undirected fire of the broad masses, or the red guards who are inspired in a spontaneous and irregular manner. S u c h l a x i t y cannot be j u s t i f i e d w i t h t h e slogan o f t h e p o l i c y o f t h e masses. T h e party, organized on correct organizational principles, w i t h a clear political and ideological line, w i t h M a r x i s t Leninist centralism and iron discipline, must guide the p o l i c y of t h e masses. We have had the idea, because this was the impression given, that all these correct norms and principles existed in the Communist Party of China. O f course, t h e g r o u p o f L i u S h a o q i h a d d i s t o r t e d the principles and norms of the party, or had put them in t h e s e r v i c e o f a hostile, a n t i - M a r x i s t a n d a n t i - c l a s s a i m . B u t to f a i l to wage a stern, persistent and continuous s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e p a r t y , a n d not o n l y i n t h e r e a d e r s h i p , i n o r d e r t o e l a b o r a t e a n d a p p l y the l i n e f r o m class p o s i tions, from Marxist-Leninist positions, from party positions, is a colossal m i s t a k e . N o t h i n g c a n e x c u s e t h i s . T h i s p r o v e s t h a t t h e l i n e has n o t b e e n c l e a r t o a l l . I t i s a great m i s t a k e t o c o n t i n u e not t o t e l l the p a r t y w h e r e it has gone w r o n g . It is told s i m p l y that all the
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mistakes h a v e b e e n m a d e b y t h e g r o u p o f L i u a n d Deng. T h i s i s one aspect, b u t t h e w h o l e p a r t y has w o r k e d o n this l i n e a n d has b e e n w r o n g . T o t r y t o m a k e t h e p a r t y conscious o f its m i s t a k e s t h r o u g h t h e m i s t a k e s a n d b e t r a y a l of L i u and Deng, in the w a y that this has been done f r o m outside, w i t h i s o l a t e d , d i s o r g a n i z e d d a z i b a o s , i s n o t i n order, i s n o t f r u i t f u l , w i l l n o t t e m p e r t h e p a r t y p r o p e r l y in the course or recognizing a n d correcting its mistakes, and w i l l h a v e f u r t h e r b i t t e r consequences w h e n the p a r t y is r e o r g a n i z e d . A p a r t f r o m a series o f n o n - M a r x i s t stands, s u c h a s the r a i s i n g o f t h e c u l t o f M a o t o t h e n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e v e l , the Chinese propaganda is acting in the same way with the Proletarian Cultural Revolution, calling it as great as, if not greater than, the work of Marx and the October Revolution (1), etc. This is baseless and vain boasting. A c c o r d i n g to the C h i n e s e p r o p a g a n d a , a l l o f u s h a v e t o g o t h r o u g h this p h a s e o f t h e i r s , because their C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n i s u n i v e r s a l ! T h i s i s n o t so, and c a n n o t be so. If a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , w h i c h h a s taken p o w e r a n d i s b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m f a l l s i n t o s u c h a deep sleep t h a t t h e n e w r e v i s i o n i s t b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e suppressed capitalist classes have almost recaptured power, a s i s t h e case i n C h i n a a t present, t h e n p o w e r must b e r e t a k e n , t h e r e v o l u t i o n m u s t b e c a r r i e d out again a n d i t c a n b e c a l l e d p r o l e t a r i a n o n l y i f t h e o b j e c tives w h i c h i t sets a n d a t t a i n s a n d t h e w a y i t i s c a r r i e d
________________________________ 1 Proceeding f r o m the most recent data and facts C o m r a d e Enver H o x h a writes i n his subsequent analysis: . . . T h e Great Proletarian C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n was neither a revolution, nor great, nor c u l t u r a l , and in particular, not in the least proletarian. It was a palace putsch on an a l l - C h i n a scale for the liquidation of a h a n d f u l of reactionaries w h o had seized power. (Enver H o x h a , Imperialism and the Revolution, p. 392, T i r a n a 1979, A l b . ed.).
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a r e c o n s i s t e n t l y o n t h e basis o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . A Marxist-Leninist party like ours, which is building socialism correctly, which wages the class struggle effectively and not just with words, which is deepening the proletarian revolution with success, cannot proceed on the road the Chinese advocate. The road of our party is revolutionary, consistent and Marxist-Leninist. A Marxist-Leninist party like ours builds socialism, deepens the revolution, but does not carry out revolution like that which is going on in China today, because our party has not allowed and does not allow anyone to take power from it, but holds it firmly in its steel grip and there will never be any danger of accidents if it always proceeds resolutely and vigilantly, as it is proceeding, on the Marxist-Leninist road.
Reflections on China,
vol. 1
ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM OF THE ALBANIAN WOMAN
Speech delivered to the 2nd Plenum (1) of the CC of the PLA

June 15, 1967
Comrades, C o n c l u d i n g the first item on o u r agenda, I w i s h to express some o p i n i o n s o n t h i s p r o b l e m . O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s g i v e n v e r y great i m p o r t a n c e t o the p r o b l e m o f w o m e n , t h i s e x c e p t i o n a l l y b i g social p r o b l e m w i t h w h i c h t h e d e s t i n y o f o u r people, s o c i a l i s m and c o m m u n i s m a n d t h e f u t u r e o f o u r c o u n t r y are l i n k e d . The p r o b l e m s o f w o m e n a r e n o t p e c u l i a r , i n the sense o f specific, s e p a r a t e a n d i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e o t h e r p r o b l e m s o f society, a r e n o t e a s i l y s o l v e d p r o b l e m s t h a t c a n b e taken l i g h t l y , or, e v e n w o r s e , i g n o r e d . T h e p r o b l e m o f w o m e n is n o t j u s t a p r o b l e m of s e n t i m e n t s a n d , hence, to be t r e a t e d in a s e n t i m e n t a l a n d r o m a n t i c w a y . It is a
______________________________ 1 It was held on J u n e 15-16, 1367. w h e r e the report of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P a r t y On the F u r t h e r Deepening of the Struggle for the Complete Emancipation of the W o m a n and the Enhancement of H e r R o l e in Socialist Society a n d the report O n the Results A c h i e v e d and Measures to Be T a k e n for the Spread of A d v a n c e d E x perience and Scientific E x p e r i m e n t a t i o n i n A g r i c u l t u r e , w e r e heard.
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m a j o r p r o b l e m of life, of the dialectical materialist devel o p m e n t o f the h i s t o r y o f m a n k i n d . That is w h y M a r x , Engels, L e n i n and Stalin and all their disciples have given first-rate importance to the problem of women, to their liberation and emancipation, to t h e f o r m a t i o n of t h e i r p e r s o n a l i t y in a f r e e society, w i t h o u t oppressors a n d e x p l o i t e r s . F a r f r o m ever neglecting or u n d e r r a t i n g the p r o b l e m o f t h e A l b a n i a n w o m a n , o u r P a r t y , t h r o u g h o u t its w h o l e s t r u g g l e a n d i n e v e r y aspect o f its struggle, has t a k e n s p e c i a l care t o stress, a n d n o t i n a s e n t i m e n t a l w a y , t h e great r o l e o f w o m e n , b o t h i n t h e w a r f o r l i b e r a t i o n ( 2 ) and in the struggle f o r the construction of socialism. T h i s o u r P a r t y has done w i t h f u l l M a r x i s t m a t u r i t y , a n d , t a k i n g account o f t h e obstacles t h a t i t w o u l d m e e t a t e v e r y step o n its w a y (and a t t h e s a m e t i m e , p u t t i n g f o r w a r d the unshakeable principle that in the struggle to l i b e r a t e t h e p e o p l e f r o m e v e r y k i n d o f bondage, the e m a n cipation of the A l b a n i a n w o m a n was urgent and a condit i o n o f f i r s t - r a t e i m p o r t a n c e ) , i t a c h i e v e d m a j o r successes w h i c h we are adding a n d deepening d a y by day. T h a t is w h y t h i s s p e c i a l session o f t h e p l e n u m o f t h e C e n t r a l Committee on the problems of the A l b a n i a n w o m a n in o u r socialist r e g i m e assumes great i m p o r t a n c e . V e r y careful study of social phenomena as they develop, of the relations of people in production, of the d e v e l o p m e n t a n d a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e n e w ideas o u r P a r t y inspires, of t h e state of classes in o u r society at d i f f e r e n t stages a n d the c h a n g e s t h e y u n d e r g o d u r i n g t h i s c o n t i n u o u s process, a l l t h i s i s o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e P a r t y , because i t c o n f i r m s t h e a c c u r a c y o f p r i n c i p l e s ,
___________________________ 2 ration active food, S i x thousand out of 70,000 fighters in the N a t i o n a l L i b e W a r w e r e w o m e n . Tens of thousands of others took an part in w o r k in the rear, p r o c u r i n g clothing and footwear, etc. for the partisans.
THE PROBLEM OF THE ALBANIAN WOMAN
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enriches t h e t h e o r y o f s o c i a l i s m w i t h p r a c t i c e , gives t h e P a r t y great o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o m a k e g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s a n d carry these g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s t o t h e masses, a n d t h i s w i l l create n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s , n e w s i t u a t i o n s , n e w v a l u e s , which w i l l ensure uninterrupted development and progress. S o c i a l i s m i s t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y a n d o f t h e masses, therefore, its d i r e c t i v e s c a n n o t b e u n d e r s t o o d a n d a p p l i e d unless w e k n o w a n d p r e p a r e the t e r r a i n i n w h i c h t h e y a r e to take root a n d be transformed into objective reality. Correct a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y depends, first a n d f o r e m o s t , o n h o w c o r r e c t l y a n d t h o r o u g h l y t h e y are u n d e r s t o o d b y t h e masses. T h e r e f o r e , t h e masses m u s t b e able, o r r a t h e r , w e m u s t m a k e t h e m able, t o u n d e r s t a n d them t h o r o u g h l y . T h i s d e p e n d s o n t h e l e v e l o f t h e p o l i t i c a l , ideological a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l w o r k o f t h e P a r t y , a n d f o r this w o r k t o b e done w e l l , i t i s a b s o l u t e l y necessary t o do what I said above: to become w e l l acquainted w i t h the t e r r a i n b y s t u d y i n g t h e s o c i a l p r o b l e m s . I t h i n k t h i s is a j o b f o r a l l a n d n o t o n l y f o r a f e w specialists i n p h i l o s o p h y , s o c i a l p r o b l e m s o r p o l i t i c a l e c o n omy, o r o n l y f o r w r i t e r s , d r a m a t i s t s o r artists, e i t h e r . F i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t , t h i s is a p a r t y m a t t e r , a m a t t e r of the line, a m a t t e r w i t h o u t w h i c h the w o r k o f t h e P a r t y can m a k e no h e a d w a y , a n d as a consequence, t h e w r i t e r s , the scholars a n d t h e artists c a n n o t b e i n s p i r e d p r o p e r l y , m a k e p r o f o u n d studies, o r t u r n o u t w o r k s o f socialist r e a l i s m a n d o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t science. H e n c e , t h i s i s h o w w e m u s t act i n r e g a r d t o t h e social problems of the countryside a n d the city, h o w we must act i n r e g a r d t o t h e s p e c i f i c p r o b l e m s o f t h e y o u t h ; a n d w e m u s t act i n t h e s a m e w a y i n r e g a r d t o t h e m a j o r social p r o b l e m o f w o m e n a n d t h e f a m i l y , w h i c h w e a r e concerned w i t h t o d a y a t t h i s p l e n u m o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m mittee.
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O u r proletarian revolution led by our M a r x i s t - L e n i n ist P a r t y h a d t o o v e r t h r o w t h e o l d f e u d a l a n d b o u r g e o i s system as it did, a n d foil both the attempt to implant f a s c i s m i n o u r c o u n t r y t h r o u g h t h e I t a l i a n fascist a n d G e r m a n nazi occupation, and to establish their organs of power and their superstructure. O u r proletarian revolution h a d t o establish, a n d u n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f o u r M a r x i s t Leninist P a r t y d i d establish, develop and enrich, the soc i a l i s t s y s t e m , the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d its n e w p r o l e t a r i a n o r g a n s a n d b u i l d a g e n u i n e socialist s u p e r s t r u c t u r e b a s e d on, i n s p i r e d , g u i d e d a n d e n r i c h e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y a n d socialist p r a c t i c e . I n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h i s great r e v o l u t i o n a r y u p h e a v a l , w h e n the o l d w o r l d was smashed and the beautiful, new socialist w o r l d w a s b u i l t o n its r u i n s , t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the A l b a n i a n w o m e n , half the population of our country, w h i c h i s o f i n c a l c u l a b l e i m p o r t a n c e t o the f u t u r e o f o u r H o m e land and socialism, was effected. T h r o u g h the economic and social revolution, through the destruction of the economic and political p o w e r of the f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s i e , t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n c r e a t e d the true terrain and suitable conditions for the liberation o f the people, a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e A l b a n i a n w o m a n , f r o m exploitation of m a n by man. O u r socialist s o c i e t y i s i n the process o f d e v e l o p m e n t ; great q u a l i t a t i v e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s a r e t a k i n g p l a c e a m o n g u s t h r o u g h o u r people's r e v o l u t i o n . T h e s e q u a l i t a t i v e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s are b a s e d o n t h e m a t e r i a l i s t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f o u r society a n d h a v e c r e a t e d a n d a r e c r e a t i n g n e w social ideas a n d t h e o r i e s w h i c h c o m b a t t h e o l d ones a n d r e p l a c e t h e m . T h e n e w ideas are a great f o r c e r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e changes o f t h e m a t e r i a l l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d lead it f o r w a r d to progress. I t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t these n e w ideas a r e e x p l a i n e d a n d u n d e r s t o o d , f o r o u r society cannot d o w i t h o u t t h e m . I t
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needs these ideas, f o r t h e y m o b i l i z e a n d o r g a n i z e the masses a g a i n s t o l d , i d e a l i s t , m y s t i c a l b o u r g e o i s ideas a n d prejudices w h i c h the o l d society has left to us as o u r worst h e r i t a g e . The P a r t y is opening the w a y to the progressive forces o f society, o n e o f w h i c h i s t h e w o m e n . T h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t ideas o f o u r P a r t y r e f l e c t t h e o b j e c t i v e n e e d f o r the f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e m a t e r i a l a n d m o r a l l i f e of our society. H e n c e , it is c l e a r l y e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e A l b a n i a n w o m a n must be freed f r o m a l l the shackles of the past, f r o m e v e r y r e a c t i o n a r y i d e a , o p i n i o n , o r p r e j u d i c e , w h i c h has its roots i n t h e m e n t a l i t y o f t h e o l d f e u d a l bourgeois society. T h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n w o m a n must b e g u i d e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y o f t h e economic d e v e l o p m e n t o f society, b y t h e l a w s o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n . F r o m t h i s a n g l e w e see h o w urgent becomes t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n i n p r o d u c t i o n , how c o r r e c t l y a n d q u i c k l y t h e P a r t y m u s t a r r a n g e t h e i r new relations in production. The economic development of socialism is at w a r w i t h the m o r a l and material backwardness of w o m e n . T h e l a w of materialist dialectics operates here, too, as it does in e v e r y t h i n g . Therefore, the tasks w h i c h the P a r t y is raising concerning the p r o b l e m of w o m e n f u l l y c o n f o r m to the m a t e r i a l conditions o f t h e c o u n t r y c r e a t e d b y t h e P a r t y . T h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e people's socialist c o m m o n property both in industry and in agriculture, in place of the f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s p r o p e r t y , a n d t h e a p p r o p r i a t e r e v olutionary laws that organize, govern, e n r i c h a n d consolidate i t i n t h e interests o f a l l t h e w o r k i n g masses, have b r o u g h t a b o u t a g r a d u a l p r o g r e s s i v e c h a n g e i n t h e m i n d s o f m e n r e g a r d i n g t h e concept o f p r o p e r t y , f r o m t h a t of private property to that of common property. Thus, through intensive ideological and political educational w o r k d o n e b y t h e P a r t y a l w a y s i n a n o r g a n i z e d
266
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w a y , based o n t h e m a t e r i a l changes, t h e o l d , b o u r g e o i s , idealist concepts o n these f u n d a m e n t a l p r o b l e m s o f o u r e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l l i f e h a v e b e g u n t o change. I t i s clear, o f course, t h a t these changes h a v e not e n d e d , t h a t t h e y are a n d w i l l a l w a y s b e i n t h e process o f d i a l e c t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t . T h e o l d , w h i c h i s d y i n g , w i l l a l w a y s b e i n s t r u g g l e against the n e w , W h i c h e m e r g e s a n d g r o w s s t r o n g e r . W e s t i l l h a v e a great d e a l to do a n d a h a r d b a t t l e to f i g h t against r e a c t i o n a r y i d e a l i s t concepts w h i c h l u r k i n t h e m i n d s , c o n sciousness a n d f e e l i n g s o f m e n , w h i c h a r e m a n i f e s t e d i n l i f e a n d o p e r a t e w i t h g r e a t e r o r lesser v i r u l e n c e , but w h i c h a l w a y s h i n d e r progress. M a r x says i n o n e o f h i s w o r k s t h a t a l l the p r e j u d i c e s o f a l l t h e d e a d h a n g l i k e a great i n c u b u s o v e r t h e l i v i n g . S u c h i s t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e past. H e r e i n lies t h e i m p o r t a n c e t h e P a r t y i s a t t a c h i n g t o the p r o b l e m o f t h e f u r t h e r r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f itself a n d the w h o l e people, because o n l y i n t h i s w a y w i l l w e g a i n a m o r e correct a n d p r o f o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the t r a n s formations of material and spiritual life we are bringing about, w i l l w e g a i n a m o r e correct a n d m o r e p r o f o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e l a w s t h a t g o v e r n these e c o n o m i c and social transformations in socialism, a n d w i l l we be able to master t h e m better and m o r e effectively in order t o b u i l d s o c i a l i s m m o r e q u i c k l y a n d o n steel f o u n d a t i o n s a n d go on to c o m m u n i s m . Excuse me for deviating a little f r o m the topic we are d e a l i n g w i t h , b u t I a m d o i n g this p r e c i s e l y t o l e a d i n t o t h e t h e m e . T h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m w i t h its s a c r e d p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y , its e x p l o i t a t i o n o f m a n b y m a n , its e c o n o m i c and spiritual enslavement of m a n , has weighed heavily on a l l , but e s p e c i a l l y a n d m o r e b a r b a r o u s l y o n w o m e n . W o m e n w e r e t h e f i r s t slaves, e v e n b e f o r e s l a v e r y i n the h i s t o r y o f m a n k i n d . T h r o u g h o u t t h i s h i s t o r y , n o t t o speak o f p r e - h i s t o r y , w h e t h e r i n t h e p e r i o d o f the H e l l e n i c c i v i l i -
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zation, i n t h e R o m a n e p o c h , i n t h e M i d d l e A g e s , i n the epoch o f t h e R e n a i s s a n c e , o r i n m o d e r n t i m e s , t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y b o u r g e o i s e p o c h o f so-called r e f i n e d c i v i l i z a tion, w o m e n h a v e b e e n a n d are t h e h u m a n beings most enslaved, o p p r e s s e d , e x p l o i t e d a n d h u m i l i a t e d i n a l l respects. T h e l a w s , customs, r e l i g i o n , t h e m a s c u l i n e sex h a v e oppressed t h e m , k e p t t h e m d o w n - t r o d d e n .
...The first class antagonism which history, says E n g e l s coincides with ment of the antagonism between man in monogamous marriage, and the first sion with that of the female sex by the
appears in the developand woman class oppresmale.*
I f o u n d w o m a n m o r e b i t t e r t h a n death, says t h e Ecclesiastes, w h i l e St. J o h n C h r y s o s t o m h o l d s a n o t h e r o p i n i o n a b o u t w o m e n . H e s a y s : A m o n g the w i l d e s t beasts y o u c a n n o t f i n d one m o r e h a r m f u l t h a n w o m a n . St. Thomas Aquinas, the theologian and philosopher who was one of the most p r o m i n e n t philosophers of mediaeval obscurantism, held the opinion and prophesied that the d e s t i n y o f w o m a n i s t o l i v e u n d e r t h e h e e l o f man, a n d f i n a l l y , t o cap these b a r b a r o u s q u o t a t i o n s , N a p o l e o n s a i d , n a t u r e has m a d e w o m e n o u r slaves. S u c h w e r e the views of the c h u r c h a n d the bourgeoisie o n w o m e n . A m o n g t h e b o u r g e o i s i e t h e y p r e v a i l t o this d a y . I n E u r o p e a n d t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d t h e r e are innumerable philosophers and writers w h o have made a m y t h o f the s u p e r i o r i t y o f m e n o v e r w o m e n . F o r t h e m m a n i s s t r o n g , w a r l i k e , courageous, a n d hence w i s e r , t h e r e fore, p r e d e s t i n e d t o d o m i n a t e , t o l e a d , w h e r e a s w o m a n , for h e r p a r t , i s w e a k , defenceless a n d t i m i d b y n a t u r e , therefore, she m u s t b e d o m i n a t e d a n d l e d . B o u r g e o i s
___________________________ * K. M a r x , F. Engels, Selected Works, v o l . 2, p. 234, T i r a n a 1975 (Alb. ed.).
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theoreticians l i k e Nietzsche a n d F r e u d likewise uphold the theory that the male is active w h i l e the female is passive. T h i s r e a c t i o n a r y , a n t i - s c i e n t i f i c t h e o r y m u s t l e a d , as it d i d , to n a z i s m in politics a n d to sadism in sexology. O u r mothers, grandmothers a n d great-grandmothers h a v e s u f f e r e d u n d e r this d r e a d f u l s l a v e r y , h a v e b o r n e these physical and spiritual cruelties on their o w n backs. N o w , w h e n the revolution has triumphed, w h e n socialism is b e i n g b u i l t s u c c e s s f u l l y i n o u r c o u n t r y , t h e P a r t y sets b e f o r e us as a m a j o r task, one of t h e greatest tasks, the c o m p l e t e a n d f i n a l l i b e r a t i o n o f w o m e n f r o m a l l t h e fetters o f t h e b i t t e r past, t h e c o m p l e t e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f the Albanian women. M a r x i s m teaches u s t h a t t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n f r o m c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n are t h e t w o phases o f t h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n . T h r o u g h war and revolution, our Party, w h i c h follows and faithf u l l y applies the principles of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , liberated the people and the w o m e n in particular f r o m capitalist exploitation and engaged t h e m in production. H e n c e , w e c a n s a y t h a t b y c o m p l e t i n g these t w o phases, b y c o m p l e t e l y e r a d i c a t i n g c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n and by vigorously developing the participation of women i n p r o d u c t i o n , w e h a v e a c h i e v e d m a j o r successes i n t h e i r emancipation w h i c h must be further developed and deepened. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e v e r y f r u i t f u l w o r k o f p r o d u c t i o n , w o m e n , w h o a r e a col o s s a l p r o g r e s s i v e force, a r e p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e great educational and cultural revolution, breaking d o w n every b a r r i c a d e , o v e r c o m i n g e v e r y obstacle a n d p r e j u d i c e , d i s p l a y i n g t h e i r c r e a t i v e , p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l force, t h e i r s p i r i t u a l a n d m o r a l i n t e g r i t y i n e v e r y f i e l d ; t h e y are taking a m o r e and m o r e active part in governing the country, in managing industry, agriculture, education and c u l t u r e . L e n i n ' s d i r e c t i v e t h a t e v e r y cook m u s t b e t a u g h t
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t o r u n the state i s b e i n g a p p l i e d s u c c e s s f u l l y , d a y b y d a y by our P a r t y . T h e r e f o r e , the P a r t y m u s t t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d the problem o f t h e m a s s p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n i n p r o d u c t i o n , i n r u n n i n g t h e e c o n o m y a n d a f f a i r s o f t h e state, i n a c q u i r ing l e a r n i n g a n d c u l t u r e , seeing this, not o n l y a s a n i m p o r tant, p r o g r e s s i v e e c o n o m i c factor, w h i c h it is, b u t at the same t i m e as a f a c t o r of m a j o r i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l and c u l t u r a l i m p o r t a n c e . W i t h o u t t h e a w a k e n i n g o f women, w i t h o u t t h e i r a c t i v e a n d conscious p a r t i c i p a t i o n , nothing c a n b e d o n e p r o p e r l y a n d a s i t s h o u l d . P e o p l e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h o r o u g h l y , once a n d f o r a l l , that t h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n , t h e s u p p o r t a n d assistance w e s h o u l d g i v e t h e m t o t a k e t h e p l a c e t h e y d e s e r v e in socialist society m u s t not be c o n s i d e r e d as a b o o n b u t as an i m p e r a t i v e d u t y , m u s t n o t be c o n s i d e r e d as an act of k i n d n e s s of t h e s o - c a l l e d s t r o n g e r s e x t o w a r d s t h e so-called w e a k e r sex, or as some k i n d of concession, a s a n y g i v i n g w a y t o w o m e n b y m e n w h o are a l l e g e d l y superior a s r e g a r d s t h e i r i n t e l l e c t a n d p h y s i c a l s t r u c t u r e and p r e d i s p o s e d t o l e a d a n d c o m m a n d . H e n c e , p e o p l e must a p p l y t h i s t e a c h i n g o f t h e P a r t y , n o t j u s t because the P a r t y s a i d so, b u t t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e ideological, p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c reasons t h a t p r o m p t e d the P a r t y t o i n s i s t s o s t r o n g l y o n t h i s m a j o r p r o b l e m . I r e - e m p h a s i z e these t h i n g s because m a n y p a r t y c o m rades u n d e r s t a n d t h e m o n l y s u p e r f i c i a l l y , w h i l e o t h e r s d o not u n d e r s t a n d t h e m a t a l l o r u n d e r s t a n d t h e m w r o n g ly. L e t u s t a k e t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e a d m i s s i o n o f w o m e n to p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p . S o m e p r o g r e s s has b e e n a n d is being m a d e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , b u t s t i l l t h e p r i n c i p l e d i m portance of t h i s m a t t e r is n o t u n d e r s t o o d as t h o r o u g h l y a s i t s h o u l d be. T h e f a c t i s t h a t t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a jority o f p a r t y m e m b e r s a r e m e n . W h y i s t h i s so, p a r t i c u l a r l y after L i b e r a t i o n ? I t h i n k t h a t t h i s stems f r o m t h e
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ideological unclarity of party members about the role of w o m e n i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n , i n s o c i a l i s m , f r o m those b a c k w a r d feudal-bourgeois views l u r k i n g in the m i n d s of c o m m u n i s t s o n t h e supposed s u p e r i o r i t y o f m e n o v e r w o m e n , i n p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l capacities, f r o m the v i e w s 1 p o i n t e d o u t above w h i c h are, of course, a t t e n u a t e d , b u t s t i l l exist, t h a t m e n o u g h t t o r u n t h e state a n d b e i n charge, t h e r e f o r e , t h e y s h o u l d p r e c e d e w o m e n i n t h e P a r t y . W e m u s t f i g h t a n d e r a d i c a t e these e r r o n e o u s v i e w s , must understand the danger of them and put w o m e n and men on absolutely equal footing for admission to the P a r t y . A d m i s s i o n o f b o t h sexes m u s t b e g u i d e d b y t h e same c o n d i t i o n s a n d r u l e s of the C o n s t i t u t i o n of the P a r t y but, first of all, by the ideology of the Party, w h i c h r u n s t h r o u g h e v e r y w o r d o f its C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d a c t i v i t y . T h i s i s the c r u x o f the p r o b l e m . W o m e n m u s t r e a l l y f e e l t h a t t h e y arc m e m b e r s o f their own Party, that they give leadership through their o w n P a r l y , t h a t t h e y t a k e p a r t a c t i v e l y i n w o r k i n g out the l a w s o f t h e i r o w n P a r t y a n d t h a t t h e y c a r r y out a n d supervise them through their active revolutionary p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n life, i n p r o d u c t i o n a n d i n m a n a g e m e n t . T h e great p r o b l e m o f the c o m p l e t e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n i s i n c o n c e i v a b l e a n d cannot b e a t t a i n e d w i t h o u t the active p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n i t o f w o m e n t h e m s e l v e s , not o n l y i n p r a c t i c e , i n c a r r y i n g i t out. b u t also i n l e a d i n g t h i s great w o r k , w h i c h constitutes one o f t h e d e c i s i v e factors i n t h e f o r m a t i o n a n d t e m p e r i n g o f the n e w s o c i a l ist m a n . i n c r e a t i n g t h e most a p p r o p r i a t e c o n d i t i o n s f o r the n e w g e n e r a t i o n s t h a t w i l l p e r p e t u a t e s o c i a l i s m a n d communism. L e t u s t a k e the o p p o r t u n i t y o f t h i s v e r y f r u i t f u l discussion w e are h a v i n g a t t h i s p l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l Committee on this very important problem, to delve deeper i n t o a n d c l a r i f y t h i s p r o b l e m f r o m the p h i l o s o p h i -
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cal a n d i d e o l o g i c a l aspects, on the basis of the i m m o r t a l t e a c h ings o f o u r classics a n d the o b j e c t i v e r e a l i t y o f o u r society. One of the m a j o r scientific deductions of M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m i s t h a t w h i c h says t h a t the e n s l a v e m e n t o f w o m e n i s l i n k e d w i t h the a p p e a r a n c e o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y . This m a j o r t h e o r e t i c a l d e d u c t i o n i s f o u n d i n E n g e l s ' famous b o o k T h e O r i g i n o f t h e F a m i l y , P r i v a t e P r o p e r t y and the State. I n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d these p r o b l e m s p r o p e r l y f r o m the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r e t i c a l p h i l o s o p h i cal aspects, i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d the d i a l e c t i c a l m a t e r ialist d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r A l b a n i a n society i n t h e past a n d a t present p r o p e r l y , i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d i n t e r p r e t correctly t h e p h e n o m e n a o f l i f e w h i c h a r e d e v e l o p i n g r a p i d l y b e f o r e o u r eyes a n d t o d e f i n e t h e l i n e t h a t m u s t b e p u r s u e d t o b u i l d t h e n e w l i f e i n a correct M a r x i s t Leninist way, every communist must m a k e efforts to study t h i s book, or selected p a r t s of it, w h i c h , if they d o not e x i s t , w e m u s t p r e p a r e i n a b r i d g e d f o r m s o that everybody can understand them. If we carefully study Father Shtjefn Gjeovi's (3) w o r k The C a n o n o f L e k D u k a g j i n i , a n d e s p e c i a l l y the c h a p t e r s o n p r o p e r t y , i n h e r i t a n c e , the f a m i l y , w o m e n a n d m a r r i a g e , w e s h a l l r e c o g n i z e i n o u r o w n r e a l i t y t h e great t r u t h and g e n i u s o f E n g e l s . W e s h a l l see h o w p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y keeps t h e w o m a n i n t e r r i b l e s l a v e r y , h o w , i n r e a l i t y , she is t u r n e d i n t o a s i m p l e possession t h a t c a n be b o u g h t or sold. It says c o n c r e t e l y :
_______________________________ 3 Shtjefn K o s t a n d i n Gjeovi (1874-1929), a patriotic, p r o gressive and anti-Zogite clergyman, w h o is k n o w n as the first Albanian archaeologist and ethnographer, and collector of The Canon of L e k D u k a g j i n i , one of the most valuable documents of the history of the A l b a n i a n canon right. He was assassinated by the Great-Serb chauvinists on October 14, 1929, in K o s o v a . The People's Assembly of the P S R A has decorated h i m for his valuable contribution to A l b a n i a n science and his patriotic activity.
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T h e h u s b a n d i s e n t i t l e d t o beat h i s w i f e , t o b i n d h e r i n c h a i n s w h e n she d e f i e s h i s w o r d a n d o r d e r . . . W h e r e a s t h e f a t h e r i s e n t i t l e d t o beat, c h a i n , i m p r i s o n , a n d k i l l h i s s o n o r d a u g h t e r . . . I t i s t h e d u t y o f t h e w i f e t o o b e y her h u s b a n d . . . A w o m a n ' s b l o o d is w o r t h 500 grosh*, etc. O f course, w e a r e c e n t u r i e s r e m o v e d f r o m t h e i n t e g r a l application of The Canon of Lek Dukagjini. Likewise, we are far removed f r o m the period in w h i c h Father G j e o v i collected a n d r e c o r d e d it. B u t t h i s does n o t m e a n t h a t its s p i r i t a n d r o u t i n e d o n o t e x i s t t o some e x t e n t , o f c o u r s e not s o c l e a r - c u t a s i n t h e past, i n m a n y o f t h e c u s t o m s w e e n c o u n t e r , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e social l i f e o f our m o u n t a i n regions. T h e trouble w i t h our P a r t y i n the N o r t h and w i t h o u r scholars o f s o c i a l t h e o r y i n g e n e r a l i s t h a t t h e y h a v e n o t t u r n e d t h e i r a t t e n t i o n a s t h e y s h o u l d t o t h e social r e a l i t y a n d its d e v e l o p m e n t i n these r e g i o n s , n o r h a v e they taken the trouble to study Father Shtjefn G j e ovi's w o r k , w h i c h has h i s t o r i c a l a n d social i m p o r t a n c e . A s t u d y of t h i s w o r k w i l l h e l p o u r scholars to m a k e a good d i a g n o s i s o f t h e e x i s t i n g state o f social r e l a t i o n s i n t h e N o r t h , i n o r d e r t o see t h e i r r a d i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , their evolution, a n d to strengthen o u r ideological, o r g a nizational and propaganda work. C o l o s s a l changes h a v e been m a d e i n the social l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y , i n t h e social a n d p r i v a t e r e l a t i o n s o f t h e people as w e l l as in their philosophical world-outlook, and not only by comparison w i t h the laws of the C a n o n collected by Gjeovi, not only by comparison w i t h the t i m e o f Zog's f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s r e g i m e . A l l these changes m a k e it incumbent upon us to re-examine our C i v i l Code which, a l t h o u g h i t has been d r a w n u p d u r i n g o a r state p o w e r , h a s
______________________ * Old Turkish coin
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many c h a p t e r s a n d a r t i c l e s w h i c h , i f seen i n t h e l i g h t o f the g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s o u r P a r t y i s b r i n g i n g about, m a y h a v e b e c o m e obsolete. Let us take, precisely, the question of private property, t h e source o f s o m a n y e v i l s . T h e P a r t y i s o v e r t h r o w ing it, d e s t r o y i n g i t t o its f o u n d a t i o n s , m a t e r i a l l y a n d t h e o r e t i c a l l y ; i t i s n o l o n g e r t h e m a t e r i a l basis o f o u r socialist o r d e r , w h i c h i s f o u n d e d o n t h e c o m m o n o w n e r ship o f t h e m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n . I n l i n e w i t h o u r m a t e r ialist p h i l o s o p h y , w e a r e n o w i n t h e process o f o v e r t h r o w ing p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y a l o n g w i t h its w h o l e s u p e r s t r u c t u r e and p h i l o s o p h y , a n d r e p l a c i n g t h e m w i t h o u r o w n s u p e r structure, w i t h o u r o w n m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y . H e r e i n , especially, lies t h e s o u r c e o f o u r success i n t h e p r o b l e m w h i c h interests u s t o d a y a t t h i s p l e n u m , t h e p r o b l e m o f the c o m p l e t e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n . B u t w e m u s t n o t c o n s i d e r t h e q u e s t i o n o f the e l i m i n a tion o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y a s t o t a l l y a c h i e v e d p h y s i c a l l y and m u c h less i d e o l o g i c a l l y . M a r x s a y s :
Private property has made us so foolish and narrow-minded that a thing is not ours if we do not possess it, i.e., if it does not exist for us as capital, if we are not in immediate possession of it, if we do not eat it, drink it, wear it...*
A n d M a r x continues:
Therefore, all physical and moral sentiments were replaced, through a simple deterioration of all these sentiments, by the sense of ownership . **
________________________________ * K. M a r x , F. Engels, O n L i t e r a t u r e and A r t , v o l . 1, p. 188, T i r a n a 1976 (Alb. ed.). ** Ibidem.
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It is p r e c i s e l y this t e r r a i n o c c u p i e d by the feelings and sentiments of private, personal ownership, w h i c h M a r x r e f e r s to, t h a t w e h a v e n o t y e t c l e a n e d u p , a n d to do t h i s j o b we m u s t w a g e a b i g , p r o t r a c t e d i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e i n o r d e r t o c a t c h u p w i t h the m a t e r i a l reforms in the physical transformation of property and m a n y other m a t t e r s . O u r p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n l e d b y the P a r l y has created a l l the m a t e r i a l a n d m o r a l c o n d i t i o n s i n o u r c o u n t r y t o e n a b l e t h e r e m n a n t s o f idealist i d e o l o g y t o b e c l e a n e d f r o m the consciousness of the people t h r o u g h a c o n t i n u o u s d i a l e c t i c a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e o f opposites. T h e task devolves on us to carry the revolution cont i n u o u s l y ahead, t o create a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e n e w w o r l d o u t l o o k i n t h e m i n d s a n d consciousness o f people, w h o should live and think like revolutionaries, w h o should e x p l a i n the p h e n o m e n a o f l i f e , d e v e l o p a n d settle r e l a t i o n s a m o n g t h e m s e l v e s , b e t w e e n t h e m s e l v e s a n d society, n o longer in the old way, no longer according to the idealist, r e l i g i o u s , b o u r g e o i s outlook, b u t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m a t e r ialist, atheist, socialist w o r l d - o u t l o o k . I n t h i s f i e l d , i n a d d i t i o n t o the m a t e r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist society, the P a r t y w i l l h a v e t o w a g e a great s t r u g g l e f o r a l o n g t i m e f o r t h e m o r a l d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r society on the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course. O u r P a r t y has n o t left the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n o f o u r people t o s p o n t a n e i t y a n d w i l l n e v e r d o so. B u t i f it is n o t to be left to s p o n t a n e i t y t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of the e d u c a t i o n o f the P a r t y a n d o f t h e masses m u s t b e strengthened and it must be made more profound. Everything we construct, transform, of nature create, and is done But according to M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t laws, nothing is done contrary to the objective laws society. e v e r y t h i n g m u s t b e e x p l a i n e d a n d u n d e r s t o o d , f o r i t has
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its o l d aspect w h i c h i s c o l l a p s i n g , d y i n g , a n d its n e w aspect w h i c h i s b o r n a n d w a x e s s t r o n g . B u t t h e o l d dies hard, a n d p r e c i s e l y because o f this, the n e w i s b o r n w i t h toil a n d s t r u g g l e . T o e n a b l e the n e w t o g r o w u p q u i c k l y and h e a l t h y , o f course, w e h a v e t o c l e a r l y e x p l a i n t h e laws o f its d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t h e l a w s o f its h i n d r a n c e , a s y o u m i g h t say, because o n l y i n t h i s w a y does e d u c a tion b e c o m e c o m p l e t e . O n t h e q u e s t i o n o f the p r o b l e m s o f w o m e n , a s the Report of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u submitted by C o m r a d e Ramiz A l i a and the valuable contributions of the comrades b r o u g h t o u t v e r y w e l l , w e m u s t t a k e s p e c i f i c m a t e r i a l o r g a n i z a t i o n a l m e a s u r e s i n the d i r e c t i o n s d e f i n e d i n t h e R e p o r t , m e a s u r e s w h i c h , a l t h o u g h t h e y l o o k specific, are c o m p o n e n t p a r t s o f t h e o v e r a l l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d c o n solidation o f t h e socialist e c o n o m y , because t h e y create further conditions for the more extensive participation of w o m e n in production, lighten their burden of household chores, a n d are b y n o m e a n s w i t h o u t e f f e c t i n a l l fields. On the contrary, they help to combat the petty-bourgeois ideological h a n g - o v e r s w h i c h s t i l l k e e p w o m e n i n a k i n d of b o n d a g e or state of i n f e r i o r i t y to m e n . I f w e s t u d y t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r society, a n d not only ours, c a r e f u l l y , w e s h a l l f i n d t h a t i t has become a deep-rooted h a b i t of t h e w o m e n t h e m s e l v e s to consider their i n f e r i o r i t y t o m e n s o m e t h i n g r i g h t , something e n t i r e l y n a t u r a l . T h i s c o m m o n i d e a i s the r e s u l t o f the social c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h h a v e s h a p e d t h e l i v e s a n d t h i n k i n g o f o u r m o t h e r s a n d sisters. W e m u s t s t r i v e t o d o a w a y w i t h t h i s c o m m o n i d e a , because w e a r e c h a n g i n g o u r social c o n d i t i o n s . O n e of the a i m s of these social changes, w h i c h o u r p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n i s b r i n g i n g about, i s t o d o a w a y w i t h the a n t a g o n i s m b e t w e e n the sexes, t h a t is, t h e s u b j u g a t i o n o f w o m e n t o m e n . T h e a n t a g o n i s m of sexes, E n g e l s teaches us, c a n be
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c o n s i d e r e d as t h e f i r s t m a n i f e s t a t i o n of the class s t r u g g l e in the history of m a n k i n d . J u s t a s i t does a w a y w i t h c a p i t a l i s m , t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d its ideology, j u s t a s i t does a w a y w i t h e x p l o i t a t i o n o f m a n b y m a n a n d leads m a n k i n d t o a classless society, t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n also does a w a y w i t h t h i s a n t a g o n i s m b e t w e e n sexes. I t does t h i s b y l i b e r a t i n g w o m e n c o m pletely f r o m anything that hinders them f r o m enjoying equal freedoms and rights w i t h men. M a r r i a g e is a v e r y important event in the l i f e of m a n , w i t h w h i c h m a n y b a c k w a r d customs are connected, customs which, even though they no longer exist in o u r c o u n t r y i n s o a c u t e a f o r m a s i n t h e past, s t i l l p e r petuate some v e r y burdensome traditions. E n g e l s says t h a t m a r r i a g e b a s e d o n l o v e i s m o r a l , a n d o n l y w h e r e l o v e lasts i s t h e r e m a r r i a g e . I n o u r socialist society w e s h o u l d b e g u i d e d b y this p r i n c i p l e i n this m a j o r e v e n t i n t h e l i f e o f m a n . . . Frequently, if not always, love is stigmatized as s o m e t h i n g a m o r a l w h i c h leads w o m e n t o p r o s t i t u t i o n a n d m e n t o degeneracy. T h e s e a r e e r r o n e o u s concepts. I f t h e r e i s one t h i n g w h i c h has n o t h i n g a t a l l t o d o w i t h prostitution, it is genuine love. T h e r e is no love in p r o stitution. F o r t u n a t e l y o u r c o u n t r y has n o t b e e n a f f l i c t e d w i t h t h e t e r r i b l e p l a g u e o f p r o s t i t u t i o n , t h e slightest t e n d e n c y towards w h i c h we must fight and w h i c h might appear as a result of a w r o n g a n t i - M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t approach to the question of love and marriage, of our failure to fight, both i n p r a c t i c e a n d i n t h e o r y , against b o u r g e o i s a n d idealist v i e w s a n d p r a c t i c e s o n this m a t t e r . O u r c o u n t r y has k n o w n m a r r i a g e s t h r o u g h v i o l e n c e , the enslavement and torture of w o m e n u n d e r the polyg a m o u s l a w s o f t h e S h e r i a t , i t has k n o w n t h e l a w s o f C a t h o l i c i s m , o f the V a t i c a n , w h i c h n o t o n l y e n s l a v e d a n d
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degraded w o m e n , b u t a l s o s a v a g e l y t o r t u r e d t h e m s p i r i t u a l l y . T h e s e g r e g a t i o n o f t h e state f r o m t h e c h u r c h , the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e C i v i l C o d e , t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a tion W a r a n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m h a v e b r o u g h t about t h a t i n o u r c o u n t r y t h e l a w does n o t r e c o g n i z e any m a r r i a g e o t h e r t h a n t h a t c o n t r a c t e d w i t h t h e c o m pletely f r e e w i l l a n d d e s i r e o f b o t h t h e b r i d e a n d b r i degroom b e f o r e t h e state r e g i s t r a r , d o i n g a w a y f o r e v e r w i t h t h e s o c i a l p r a c t i c e s o f the past. D e s p i t e this r e a l i t y , however, a l t h o u g h m a n y p r e j u d i c e s h a v e b e e n e l i m i n a t e d i n practice, w e w o u l d b e w r o n g t o t h i n k t h a t w e h a v e put e v e r y t h i n g i n o r d e r o n these p r o b l e m s a n d t h a t w e need n o l o n g e r w o r r y a b o u t t h e m , o r t o l e a v e i t t o t i m e t o correct t h e m . W o r k m u s t b e d o n e t o use t h e t i m e w e l l t o create socialist c u s t o m s a n d t h e a p p r o p r i a t e public opinion for the present a n d f u t u r e generations... M a r r i a g e is an act, a s o c i a l fact, a n d s h o u l d n o t be c o n s i d e r e d as a p h i l o s o p h i c a l concept. B u t this s o c i a l fact has its o w n p h i l o s o p h y , b o t h i n o u r society a n d i n b o u r geois society. F o r t h e bourgeoisie, m a r r i a g e i s a m a r k e t i n w h i c h husband a n d w i f e sell themselves to each other. These m a r r i a g e s a r e based n o t o n p u r e s e n t i m e n t s , b u t o n the s a v a g e s e n t i m e n t s o f p r o p e r t y a n d p r i v a t e interest, w e a l t h , i n h e r i t a n c e , the p r o s t i t u t i o n o f m a n a n d w o m a n . In t h e b o u r g e o i s - c a p i t a l i s t r e g i m e s t h e a p p e a r a n c e s of f r e e d o m a r e false, t h e a l l e g e d m o d e r n i n n o v a t i o n s are intended t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h e f r e e d o m o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l , the liberation of w o m e n f r o m capitalist enslavement, and pure sentiments w h i c h , in reality, do not exist at all. I n the c o u n t r i e s w h e r e c a p i t a l r u l e s , these p o s i t i v e social qualities a r e t o b e f o u n d o n l y w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e proletariat. In our country, however, where the liberation of
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w o m e n has been secured, the c o n d i t i o n s f o r m a r r i a g e s to be based on l o v e h a v e been a c h i e v e d . We are passing from the realm of necessity to the realm of freedom, as E n g e l s p u t s it. T h e p u r e feelings m u s t b e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p e d a n d t e m p e r e d b y o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology. W e h a v e a lot t o d o i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . W h a t does E n g e l s t e l l us? S p e a k i n g about r e p e r c u s s i o n s o f t h e c o m m u n i s t o r d e r o n t h e f a m i l y , h e says that the c o m m u n i s t o r d e r ,
...will transform the relations between sexes into entirely personal relations... This will be achieved when private property is abolished, when social education is provided for children, thus destroying the two fundamental bases of the present (bourgeois) marriage, that is, the submission of the wife to the husband and that of children to their parents.*
T h i s i s a m a j o r w o r k i n g p r o g r a m f o r us. W e h a v e t o g i v e a l o t of t h o u g h t to these teachings of M a r x i s m Leninism! Is it not one of the most i m p o r t a n t t a s k s f o r us to keep r e v i e w i n g the nature of parent-child relations w i t h a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t eye, to p l a c e these r e l a t i o n s on the r i g h t r o a d a n d t o cleanse t h e m o f e v e r y t h i n g t h a t i s o u t w o r n , idealist a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s ? O f c o u r s e i t is. V e r y o f t e n i n these m a t t e r s o f s u c h w i d e scope a n d d e l i c a c y , t h e p a r e n t s ' p u r e feelings f o r a n d f a i r a d v i c e to t h e i r c h i l d r e n and, v i c e - v e r s a , of the l a t t e r to t h e i r parents, a r e c o n f o u n d e d w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s a n d p e t t y b o u r g e o i s concepts o f p r o p e r t y a n d idealist v i e w s c o n nected w i t h it. H e r e I am n o t r e f e r r i n g to t h e p u r e s e n t i m e n t s of the
___________________________ * K. M a r x , F. Engels, Works, vol. 4, pp. 336-337 (Russ. ed.).
THE PROBLEM OP THE ALBANIAN WOMAN
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love o f p a r e n t s t o w a r d s t h e i r c h i l d r e n , t h e c a r e they take t o b r i n g t h e m u p a n d e d u c a t e t h e m , n o t t o t h e deep love, respect a n d g r a t i t u d e c h i l d r e n s h o u l d h a v e f o r t h e i r parents t h r o u g h o u t t h e i r w h o l e lives. T h e s e M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m does n o t a b o l i s h , but o n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t tempers, s t r e n g t h e n s a n d d e v e l o p s t h e m to s u c h a great degree t h a t i s n o t c o n f i n e d t o t h e f a m i l y alone, b u t e x tends to t h e w h o l e society. I am s p e a k i n g of those m a n i f e s tations a n d t r e n d s i n o u r s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s w h i c h a r e c r e a t e d and d e v e l o p , s e e m i n g l y as a n o r m a l process. .......................... The coming generations of our country w i l l be completely l i b e r a t e d f r o m m a n y p r e j u d i c e s a n d s u r v i v a l s o f old f r o m w h i c h o u r o w n g e n e r a t i o n s h a v e s u f f e r e d . O u r daughters, t h e w o r t h y m o t h e r s a n d c i t i z e n s o f t h e f u t u r e , w i l l n o l o n g e r f e e l oppressed a s o u r m o t h e r s d i d , w i l l n o longer s u f f e r f r o m i g n o r a n c e o r b e d e p e n d e n t e c o n o m i c a l l y on t h e i r h u s b a n d s , sons or d a u g h t e r s as o u r m o t h e r s were. T h e i r c o m p l e t e e c o n o m i c e m a n c i p a t i o n , t h e i r socialist education a n d c u l t u r e , t h e m e r i t e d p l a c e the A l b a n i a n woman w i l l occupy in production, in the stale and i n society, w i l l m a k e a p o w e r f u l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o the perfecting o f t h i s n e w w o r l d w h i c h t h e P a r t y i s f o r g i n g , in w h i c h material and spiritual life w i l l flourish as never before, i n w h i c h the p u r e f e e l i n g s o f m a n f o r m a n , o f husband a n d w i f e t o w a r d s each other, o f p a r e n t s t o w a r d s their c h i l d r e n a n d v i c e - v e r s a , w i l l f i n d f u l l natural development, c o m p l e t e l y f r e e f r o m t h e b a c k w a r d , idealist, religious, p a t r i a r c h a l a n d b o u r g e o i s h a n g - o v e r s w h i c h s t i l l create a n d foster h a r m f u l a n d i n h i b i t i n g o p i n i o n s a m o n g us. W e a r e w e l l a w a r e that a l l t h i s great w o r k that lies ahead f o r t h e P a r t y t o do, w i l l come u p against a l l k i n d s of difficulties a n d w i l l not be accomplished w i t h i n a short p e r i o d . I t w i l l t a k e s e v e r a l generations, b u t t h e course, t h e l i n e , the m e t h o d o f the P a r t y t o g u i d e the
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c o m i n g g e n e r a t i o n s o n t o t h i s course i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t . E a c h g e n e r a t i o n w i l l d o its bit t o w a r d s d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p e r f e c t i o n . T h e P a r t y a s s i g n e d o u r g e n e r a t i o n t h e task o f l a y i n g the s o u n d f o u n d a t i o n s o f a n d s e t t i n g o u t o n the brilliant road to socialism. The P a r t y is leading us with courage, b o l d l y b u t p r u d e n t l y , on this c l e a r course. In a great h a r m o n i o u s c o m p l e x , w i t h m i g h t y e f f o r t s a n d struggle, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a p r o f o u n d l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t , a l l t h e masses o f p e o p l e a r e t r a n s f o r m i n g the c o u n t r y a n d t r a n s f o r m i n g themselves, t h e socialist e c o n o m y is being strengthened, culture a n d education are developing, the n e w m a n of o u r country is being revolutionized, a n d , i n s t r u g g l e against t h e o l d v i e w s , i s b e i n g i m b u e d w i t h n e w ideals, w o r t h y o f s o c i a l i s m . O n t h i s b r i l l i a n t , c o m p l e x course, w h i c h constitutes o u r p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n that i s f o r g i n g a h e a d r i g o r o u s l y , w e a r e f u l l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t the sooner, t h e better a n d t h e m o r e c o m p l e t e l y conscious t h e A l b a n i a n w o m e n b e c o m e o f t h e i r r o l e , t h e i r r i g h t s a n d t h e i r o b l i g a t i o n s i n t h e society o f o u r c o u n t r y , the greater w i l l be the achievements of o u r revolution a n d the shorter the time r e q u i r e d to attain that h a p p y period, w h i c h t h e g e n e r a t i o n s that f o l l o w o u r s w i l l b u i l d a n d b e a u t i f y . O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s c o n s i d e r e d t h e great s t r u g g l e f o r the e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n a s a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n , as a c o n d i t i o n sine qua non f o r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s in g e n u i n e f r e e d o m a n d d e m o c r a c y . O u r P a r t y n e v e r loses sight o f t h e teachings o f M a r x , w h o defines t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a given historical period by the level of the progress of w o m e n towards freedom and regards the relations between h u s b a n d a n d w i f e as a m e a s u r e of t h e l e v e l of d e v e l o p m e n t o f h u m a n society. Thus, so long as there is not true freedom for w o m e n i n t h e society o f a c o u n t r y , t h e r e c a n b e n o g e n u i n e freedom in that country.
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O n t h i s m a j o r p r o b l e m , o u r P a r t y has n o t c o n t e n t e d itself s i m p l y w i t h e n a c t i n g l a w s o n the e q u a l i t y o f m a n and w o m a n a n d a l l o w i n g these l a w s to r e m a i n a dead letter, but i t has a p p l i e d t h e m a n d i s a p p l y i n g t h e m m o r e and m o r e t h o r o u g h l y i n p r a c t i c e , because L e n i n advises u s that t h i s e q u a l i t y o f m a n a n d w o m a n b y l a w i s s t i l l not equality i n l i f e . A n d i n the r a p i d l y c h a n g i n g t a b l e a u o f our s o c i a l i s t l i f e w e see t h e t r u t h o f L e n i n ' s b r i l l i a n t thesis, because, despite the l a w s we h a v e on this m a t t e r , w e e n c o u n t e r m a n y d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d obstacles a n d feel the n e e d t o t a k e m a n y f u r t h e r m e a s u r e s t o f u l l y a c h i e v e our o b j e c t i v e . T h e P a r t y a n d o u r w h o l e people s h o u l d i n n o w a y u n d e r r a t e the m a j o r r o l e o f w o m e n i n l i f e a n d i n the r e v o l u t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , a l l the doors t o w o r k , l e a r n i n g , p r o d u c t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t s h o u l d b e t h r o w n o p e n t o the w o m e n a n d g i r l s o f A l b a n i a . T h e y s h o u l d b e protected f r o m the d a n g e r of r e t r o g r e s s i o n a n d h e l p e d to create t h e i r o w n p e r s o n a l i t y o n s o u n d f o u n d a t i o n s , t o a c q u i r e selfreliance a n d courage i n e v e r y t h i n g , a t t r i b u t e s w h i c h are not the m o n o p o l y of a n y one sex b u t a r e created, gained and t e m p e r e d i n life, i n w o r k a n d i n s t u d y .
Education, culture, civilization, freedom, says L e n i n , in all the bourgeois capitalist republics of the world, all these resounding words are associated with unbelievably humiliating, terribly filthy, savagely brutal laws on the inequality of women, such as the laws on the right to marriage and divorce, on the inequality of children..., on the privileges of the husband, on the humiliation and abasement of the wife.*
________________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , vol. 30, p. 120 (Alb. ed.).
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Therefore, the emancipation of w o m e n in our country f o l l o w s n e i t h e r t h e course n o r t h e a i m s p u r s u e d b y the bourgeois c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . In t h e d i r e c t i o n of the e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n w e h a v e t o w o r k t o m a k e u p for the t i m e lost. T h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n w o m e n has n o t h i n g i n c o m m o n w i t h t h e so-called e m a n c i p a t i o n o f t h e coquettes o f t h e bourgeoisie. W e r e a l i z e the e m a n c i p a t i o n o f o u r w o m e n i n the c o u r s e o f the p r o l e t a r ian revolution, through the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t spirit and the m a r v e l l o u s q u a l i t i e s o f t h e w o m e n o f A l b a n i a t h r o u g h out history. Despite the social oppression and being kept in ignorance ( w i t h i n t h e g e n e r a l i g n o r a n c e i n w h i c h f o r e i g n invaders and the local feudal-bourgeoisie have kept our people) w o m e n i n A l b a n i a h a v e p l a y e d a r o l e b y n o means small a n d insignificant in strengthening the A l b a nian family, in strengthening our nation, in safeguarding t h e t r a d i t i o n s a n d v i r t u e s o f the A l b a n i a n people.
In the history important liberation without the direct
of mankind, says S t a l i n , no movement has been effected participation of women.*
Despite the conditions of oppression, the A l b a n i a n w o m e n , e s p e c i a l l y t h e peasant w o m e n , h a v e been a n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r o f e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t , hence, a progressive factor, w i t h pronounced freedom-loving a n d p a t r i o t i c sentiments, a n d l i n k e d w i t h the w o r k a n d t h e l a n d , a n d t h i s has m a d e t h e m a b l e a n d i n t e l l i g e n t heroines.
The present revolution, says L e n i n , is based on the countryside, and herein lies its importance and its strength. The experience of all liberation
__________________________ * J. V. Stalin, W o r k s , vol. 5, p. 57 (Alb. ed.).
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movements has shown that the success of the revolution depends on the level of the participation of women in it.*
W h e n w e speak o f the l i b e r a t i o n w a r s o f t h e A l b a n i a n people in h i s t o r y , t h e great s t r u g g l e a n d resistance of the A l b a n i a n w o m e n , beside t h e i r h u s b a n d s , b r o t h e r s a n d sons, b o t h w i t h a r m s a n d w i t h p a s s i v e resistance, against the i n v a d e r s , against e n e m i e s of o u r people a n d o u r l a n d , can n e v e r b e left out. W e u n d e r s t a n d v e r y w e l l that, under the s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s b e f o r e L i b e r a t i o n , the c o n t r i b u tion o f w o m e n w a s n o t p u b l i c i z e d , b u t t h i s m a j o r m o r a l and m a t e r i a l c o n t r i b u t i o n w a s s u b s t a n t i a l , u n d e n i a b l e a n d powerful. D u r i n g o u r N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r t h i s c o n tribution a n d the p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n w o m e n shoulder t o s h o u l d e r w i t h t h e i r h u s b a n d s , sons a n d d a u g h ters was m a s s i v e , p o w e r f u l a n d v i s i b l e i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e and i n the cities. A f t e r L i b e r a t i o n t h e i r s t r e n g t h , v a l o u r , wisdom a n d p a t r i o t i s m b u r s t out w i t h great force w h i c h built up i n t o a m i g h t y , i r r e s i s t i b l e t o r r e n t . W h a t colossal c h a n g e s h a v e b e e n m a d e i n t h e l i f e o f A l b a n i a n w o m e n , w h a t great p r o g r e s s has been a c h i e v e d i n a l l f i e l d s o f a c t i v i t y o f o u r n e w l i f e w h i c h , d e s p i t e the efforts m a d e , t h e R e p o r t s u b m i t t e d t o t h e p l e n u m o f the Central C o m m i t t e e t o d a y w a s i n c a p a b l e o f r e f l e c t i n g properly! O n l y r e a l l i f e i n a l l its g r a n d e u r c a n g i v e a t r u e idea o f w h a t m i g h t y v i t a l forces t h e P a r t y released with the l i b e r a t i o n o f w o m e n , w h a t p r o g r e s s i v e c r e a t i v e strength l a y d o r m a n t i n t h i s l a r g e p a r t o f o u r p o p u l a t i o n , what m a r v e l s t h e y a r e p e r f o r m i n g a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o perform, a n d w i t h w h a t i n c a l c u l a b l e m o r a l a n d m a t e r i a l values t h e y w i l l e n r i c h o u r socialist l i f e . The emancipation of w o m e n in our country, led by
_____________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , vol, 28, p. 196 ( A l b . ed.)
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the P a r t y , is far f r o m being a feminist movement, as in t h e capitalist countries, b u t is the a d v a n c e of w o m e n to a h i g h l e v e l , the rise o f w o m e n t o t h e l e v e l o f f u l l e q u a l i t y of rights w i t h men, the m a r c h of men and w o m e n hand i n h a n d , i n a h a r m o n y o f t h e p u r e s t a n d loftiest s e n t i ments, a i m s a n d ideals o f h u m a n i t y , i t i s t h e m a r c h towards communism.
Works, vol. 36
ON THE ROLE AND TASKS OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE COMPLETE TRIUMPH OF SOCIALISM IN ALBANIA
From the Report to the 4th Congress of the Democratic Front of Albania
September 14, 1967
I
THE H I S T O R I C R O L E O F T H E F R O N T I N T H E L I B E R A T I O N OF THE COUNTRY. THE DEFENCE OF NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOCIALISM
A t a l l stages, t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t has a l w a y s been a p o w e r f u l w e a p o n o f t h e P a r t y f o r the p o l i t i c a l u n i t y of the people a r o u n d itself, a great p l a t f o r m f o r the development of the vigorous self-activity and initiative o f the b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e i n w a r a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n . The experience gained d u r i n g the 25 years of existence o f t h e F r o n t , w h i c h has f u l l y i n d i c a t e d the the
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correct p o l i c y o f o u r P a r t y i n r e g a r d t o t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n , has great t h e o r e t i c a l a n d p r a c t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e . T h a t i s w h y t h e constant s t u d y a n d s u m m i n g u p o f this e x p e r i e n c e is a task of p r i m a r y i m p o r t a n c e f o r a l l of us, because in this w a y b o t h t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d those o f the F r o n t w i l l b e e n a b l e d t o d r a w a s m a n y u s e f u l lessons a s possible f o r t h e i r w o r k i n the f u t u r e .
1. THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA THE SOLE LEADING FORCE AND POLITICAL PARTY IN OUR COUNTRY T h e Democratic Front is the direct continuation of the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t , w h i c h w a s b o r n , g r e w a n d b e c a m e s t r o n g as a v o l u n t a r y p o l i t i c a l u n i o n of the b r o a d masses o f t h e people. Its f o u n d a t i o n s w e r e l a i d f r o m below, i n t h e f i g h t against t h e fascist i n v a d e r s . T h e F r o n t i s the w o r k o f the P a r t y . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t P a r t y of t h e w o r k i n g class has b e e n at t h e h e a d of it a s its g u i d i n g force r i g h t f r o m the start a n d e v e r since. I t has w o n this l e a d i n g r o l e t h r o u g h its correct line, w h i c h expresses a n d d e f e n d s t h e v i t a l interests o f the A l b a n i a n people, a n d t h r o u g h its h e r o i c struggle, the s t r u g g l e o f the A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s w h o , w i t h t h e i r courage, d e t e r m i n a t i o n , spirit of sacrifice and selfd e n i a l , h a v e d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e y a r e t h e most consistent f i g h t e r s f o r t h e cause of the people, the H o m e land and socialism. T h e F r o n t was not a n d is not a p o l i t i c a l p a r t y , i t w a s n o t a n d d i d n o t become a c o a l i t i o n o f parties, because, a p a r t f r o m o u r P a r t y , t h e r e w a s a n d i s n o other p a r t y i n o u r c o u n t r y . O u r P a r t y constitutes, p e r h a p s , the o n l y e x a m p l e o f a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y of t h e w o r k i n g class t h a t w a s created in a c o u n t r y w h e r e n e i t h e r a socialist, s o c i a l - d e mocratic nor any other bourgeois party existed previously,
THE ROLE AND TASKS OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT
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and w h i c h r e m a i n e d the only P a r t y o f the w o r k i n g class and the o n l y p o l i t i c a l p a r t y i n t h e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y . In the first period f o l l o w i n g the proclamation of independence, for a t i m e t h e r e w e r e i n t e n t i o n s a n d the first attempts w e r e m a d e to create b o u r g e o i s - l i b e r a l parties, i n some cases e v e n w i t h p r o g r e s s i v e tendencies. However, n o sooner t h e y w e r e a l l c r e a t e d t h a n they disappeared, because t h e i r p r o g r a m s w e r e n o t c l e a r a n d militant, t h e y d i d n o t e x p r e s s t h e a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e masses and the o b j e c t i v e tendencies of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of A l b a n i a a t that p e r i o d , w h i l e f r o m t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l v i e w p o i n t they amounted to little or n o t h i n g and, therefore, they disappeared l e a v i n g n o m a r k o n the l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y . W i t h the a d v e n t t o p o w e r o f the b o u r g e o i s - l a n d o w n e r regime o f Z o g , w h i c h suppressed a l l d e m o c r a t i c l i b e r t i e s , free e x p r e s s i o n of o p i n i o n or a t t e m p t at o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n y possibility o f the c r e a t i o n o f d i f f e r e n t l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r ties b y t h e o p p r e s s e d a n d e x p l o i t e d classes v a n i s h e d . M o r e o v e r , e v e n the r u l i n g e x p l o i t i n g classes, t h e f e u d a l chiefs a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s i e w e r e q u i t e u n a b l e t o create their o w n p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s . A s w e k n o w , t h e s y s t e m o f many b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s exists i n the d e v e l o p e d c a p i t a l i s t countries. T h i s i s l i n k e d w i t h t h e s i t u a t i o n o f the b o u r geoisie itself as a class l o n g d e v e l o p e d a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d , the d i f f e r e n t g r o u p i n g s a n d s t r a t a o f w h i c h create separate p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s i n o r d e r t o d e f e n d t h e i r o w n interests a n d p o s i t i o n s w i t h i n t h e state. W i t h u s the situation w a s a l t o g e t h e r d i f f e r e n t . A l b a n i a w a s m a r k i n g time b e t w e e n t w o h i s t o r i c a l p e r i o d s , t h a t o f t h e d e c l i n e of f e u d a l i s m a n d t h a t of the d e v e l o p m e n t of c a p i t a l i s m , w i t h the b i g l a n d o w n e r s a s a n o l d class h e a d i n g t o w a r d s their r u i n a n d w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e n o t h a v i n g a t t a i n e d that l e v e l of d e v e l o p m e n t to h a v e e v e n a single p o l i t i c a l party, let alone a n u m b e r o f t h e m . T h e s e w e r e t h e c o n ditions i n w h i c h t h e fascist i n v a s i o n f o u n d A l b a n i a .
288
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I n t h i s g r a v e s i t u a t i o n that w a s c r e a t e d f o r t h e f a t e o f o u r H o m e l a n d , w h i c h h a d lost its f r e e d o m , a n d w h e n the v e r y existence o f the people w a s i n d a n g e r , the i m p e r a t i v e d u t y o f e v e r y A l b a n i a n w a s t o t a k e u p the r i f l e a n d b e g i n t h e s a c r e d a n t i - f a s c i s t w a r , the w a r f o r n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n . P r e c i s e l y at these d e c i s i v e m o m e n t s , in a r e v o l u t i o n a r y s i t u a t i o n , i n the heat o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n w a r , t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a e m e r g e d a s the p a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e p a r t y w h i c h , w i t h its p r o g r a m , r e s p o n d e d to the desires a n d a s p i r a t i o n s of the b r o a d masses of the people, to the concrete o b j e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n s prevailing in our country. The Communist Party of A l b a n i a w a s c r e a t e d by the A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s as a r e v o l u t i o n a r y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , as a p a r t y of the n e w type, f r o m t h e t h e o r y t h a t g u i d e d it, the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s o n w h i c h i t w a s b u i l t , a n d its p o l i t i c a l p r o g r a m . It w a s b o r n as an o b j e c t i v e necessity in o r d e r to l e a d the r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a r f o r n a t i o n a l a n d social l i b e r a t i o n . T h u s , t h e o n l y p a r t y o f the w o r k i n g class w a s c r e a t e d f r o m the b o s o m of the people, w i t h a clear, s c i e n t i f i c a l l y elaborated political, organizational, military, economic and social p r o g r a m . T h e w o r k i n g class, t h o u g h f e w i n n u m b e r s , w a s the m o s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d most p r o g r e s s i v e class o f o u r society. N o other class, n o o t h e r p o l i t i c a l s t r a t u m o r g r o u p e m e r g e d w i t h its o w n p a r t y t o take u p the s t a n d a r d o f n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n , because n o n e o f t h e m w a s capable o f p l a y i n g a n i n d e p e n d e n t r o l e i n the p o l i t i c a l a r e n a o f the c o u n t r y , o f h a v i n g its o w n i n d e p e n d e n t say, o f c r e a t i n g its o w n s t a b l e p o l i t i c a l p a r t y o n s o u n d i d e o l o g i cal and organizational foundations. The Communist Party of A l b a n i a was and remained the o n l y v a n g u a r d p a r t y , w h i c h u n d e r t o o k a n d h o n o u r a b l y c a r r i e d t h r o u g h the h e a v y b u t g l o r i o u s b u r d e n o f m o b i l i z i n g a n d o r g a n i z i n g the people a n d l e a d i n g t h e m i n t h e l i b e r a t i o n w a r against t h e f o r e i g n i n v a d e r s a n d l o c a l
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traitors. T h a n k s t o t h e P a r t y a n d its correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y leadership, o u r people t r i u m p h e d o v e r t h e enemies, d e f e a t e d t h e m a n d d r o v e t h e m b e y o n d the b o r d e r s o f t h e H o m e land, c o m p l e t e l y s m a s h e d the o l d state p o w e r , set u p t h e i r own n e w state p o w e r of the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t , secured a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d t h e i r c o m p l e t e f r e e d o m a n d independence a n d a r e n o w s u c c e s s f u l l y b u i l d i n g socialist society. T h e t r a i t o r s o f the B a l l i K o m b t a r a n d a l l t h e i r f r i e n d s , the A m e r i c a n a n d B r i t i s h i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d others, h a v e spread a n d c o n t i n u e to s p r e a d the s l a n d e r t h a t a l l e g e d l y the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a d i d n o t p e r m i t t h e c r e a tion o f o t h e r p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s i n o u r c o u n t r y a n d w a s not p r e p a r e d t o cooperate w i t h s u c h p a r t i e s i n the l i b e r a tion w a r . I t i s e v i d e n t t h a t w i t h t h i s o u r e n e m i e s w a n t to portray our P a r t y as an undemocratic, sectarian party and r i g i d as to tactics. T h e o b j e c t i v e r e a l i t y , h o w e v e r , categorically r e f u t e s these s l a n d e r s . It is an h i s t o r i c a l fact that n o a n t i - f a s c i s t p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s o t h e r t h a n t h e C o m munist P a r t y o f A l b a n i a w e r e c r e a t e d i n o u r c o u n t r y . H a d a n y s u c h p r o g r e s s i v e p a r t i e s been f o r m e d o u r P a r t y w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n against c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e m o n the q u e s t i o n o f o r g a n i z i n g t h e w a r against t h e i n v a d e r s . As a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , it h a d no r e a s o n to be a f r a i d of cooperating w i t h them. T h e w a r t i m e documents of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a state e x p l i c i t l y : ...we do not mean that we are against the formation of different political parties but, if these parties are formed, they should have in their program, first and foremost, the war against the invader, the war in deeds and not in words, and these parties should take part in the National Liberation Front, while having the right to retain their individuality.*
_______________________________ * P r i n c i p a l Documents of the P L A , v o l . 1, p. 212, T i r a n a 1971, second A l b a n i a n edition.
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I n r e g a r d t o the h i s t o r i c a l fact that n o o t h e r p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s e x i s t e d i n o u r c o u n t r y , w e assert t h a t f o r the w o r k i n g class a n d f o r the A l b a n i a n people, f o r the cause of the revolution and socialism in A l b a n i a , this was an i m m e n s e l y great a d v a n t a g e w h i l e f o r t h e bourgeoisie, for n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c t i o n , it w a s a great m i s f o r t u n e , a f a t a l loss. W h a t c h a r a c t e r a n d w h a t a i m s w o u l d other political parties have had, w h a t w o u l d they h a v e r e p r e s e n t e d a n d w h o s e interests w o u l d t h e y h a v e d e f e n d e d ? O b v i o u s l y , the interests of the beys, t h e aghas, the m e r c h a n t s , t h e c a p i t a l i s t s o f c i t y a n d c o u n t r y s i d e . H a d t h e y b e e n created, t h e y w o u l d h a v e p l a y e d a react i o n a r y role, w o u l d h a v e s e r v e d the fascist o c c u p i e r s directly, w o u l d have collaborated in different forms both w i t h the o c c u p i e r s a n d w i t h the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s against t h e people. A l l t h e i r a c t i v i t y w o u l d h a v e been to the d e t r i m e n t of the u n i t y of the people, to the d e t r i m e n t o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n w a r , w o u l d h a v e been d i r e c t e d against t h e people's p o w e r , against the great economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l r e f o r m s , w o u l d h a v e been d e t r i m e n t a l t o t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f the c o u n t r y a n d the building of socialism. T h i s w a s p r o v e d t o the h i l t d u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , w h e n the p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e B a l l i K o m b t a r a n d L e g a l i t e t i , i n w h i c h the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e r u l i n g a n d e x p l o i t i n g classes o f t h e c o u n t r y h a d g a t h e r e d , w e n t o v e r o p e n l y to the side of t h e n a z i - f a s c i s t occupiers a n d became tools i n t h e h a n d s o f the A n g l o A m e r i c a n imperialists in order to u n d e r m i n e the liberat i o n w a r o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. T h i s w a s p r o v e d after the l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y , too, w h e n the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d agents of the A m e r i c a n s a n d t h e British, Riza Dani, Shefqet Beja, Gjergj K o k o s h i and others, a t t e m p t e d t o f o r m a p o l i t i c a l p a r t y t o u n d e r m i n e the people's p o w e r a n d the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f n e w s o c i a l -
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ist A l b a n i a , a n a t t e m p t w h i c h w a s c r u s h e d b y o u r P a r t y and the D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t . P r e c i s e l y because t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l r e a c t i o n h a v e h a d n o success i n a t t a i n i n g these a n t i - p o p u l a r o b j e c t i v e s , t h e y accuse o u r P a r t y a n d r e g i m e o f people's d e m o c r a c y o f s u p p r e s s i n g d e m o c r a c y a n d l i b e r ty. I t i s e v i d e n t w h a t t h e y m e a n b y d e m o c r a c y a n d liberty. T h e y d e m a n d d e m o c r a c y a n d l i b e r t y f o r t h e enemies o f t h e people, f o r t h e b i g l a n d o w n e r s a n d capitalists, f o r t h e r e a c t i o n a r i e s a n d c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n aries. T h a t i s w h y i t i s i n t o l e r a b l e t o t h e m t h a t i n A l b a n i a there i s o n l y o n e p a r t y , t h a t i s w h y u n d e r t h e guise o f democracy, t h e y d e m a n d t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e m a n y p a r t i e s , s o t h a t r e a l d e m o c r a c y f o r t h e people w i l l never b e e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e r e w i l l n e v e r b e a t r u l y d e m o c r a t i c state, a n d s o c i a l i s m w i l l n e v e r b e b u i l t , b u t o u r people will languish for ever u n d e r the i r o n heal of capital. I n o u r c o u n t r y t h e i n t e r e s t s o f a l l the w o r k i n g people are f u l l y r e p r e s e n t e d a n d d e f e n d e d b y t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r , the o r g a n i z e d v a n g u a r d o f o u r w o r k i n g class. T h e interests and a i m s o f t h e w o r k i n g class, w h i c h t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r represents, are, at the s a m e t i m e , the i n t e r e s t s a n d a i m s of the w o r k i n g p e a s a n t r y a n d o u r socialist i n t e l l i g e n t s i a . A l l these s t r a t a o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n a r e u n i t e d i n t h e D e m o c r a t i c Front, t h e o n l y f r o n t o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, a n d s t r i v e to put into practice the policy a n d directives of the P a r t y , i n w h i c h t h e a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e p e o p l e are e x p r e s s e d . T o w h o m , t h e n , w o u l d other p a r t i e s w i t h i n o r o u t s i d e the F r o n t h a v e been o f a n y use, t h e interests o f w h i c h class would they have represented and defended w h e n it is k n o w n t h a t e v e r y p o l i t i c a l p a r t y expresses a n d defends the interests of a g i v e n class, s t r i v e s to r e a l i z e its a i m s and leads its s t r u g g l e f o r p o w e r ? It is c l e a r t h a t t h e y w o u l d h a v e been o f use o n l y t o those s t r a t a a n d e l e m e n t s of an exploiting m i n o r i t y of big landowners and capitalists
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w h o w e r e defeated i n w a r a n d through war, w h o were c r u s h e d p o l i t i c a l l y a n d e c o n o m i c a l l y b y the w o r k i n g class i n a l l i a n c e w i t h the p e a s a n t r y u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the P a r t y , b y the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t . O u r e x p e r i e n c e s h o w s that, p r o v i d e d the p a r t y o f the w o r k i n g class p u r s u e s a t r u l y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y line, p r o v i d e d i t b o l d l y defends the i n t e r e s t s o f the people a n d the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e H o m e l a n d t h r o u g h its r e s o l u t e a n d e x e m p l a r y struggle, i t can p e r f o r m its h i s t o r i c m i s s i o n f o r n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n , f o r the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f the socialist r e v o l u t i o n a n d the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m e v e n b e t t e r w h e n t h e r e are n o o t h e r bourgeois p a r t i e s i n existence.
2. THE FRONT AS THE MAIN LINK IN THE POLITICAL UNITY OF OUR PEOPLE T h e P a r t y cannot g o i n t o w a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n o n its o w n . T h e r e v o l u t i o n i s t h e d e e d o f the masses. T h a t i s w h y the m a i n a n d f o r e m o s t d u t y o f e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y is to m a k e the masses conscious, to u n i t e , o r g a n i z e and lead them. The f o r m w h i c h our P a r t y found to be the best a n d most e f f e c t i v e f o r this p u r p o s e i n the c i r c u m stances of o u r c o u n t r y at the t i m e w a s the c r e a t i o n of the National Liberation Front. The Conference of Peza, w h i c h w a s h e l d o n l y ten m o n t h s after the f o u n d i n g o f the P a r t y , laid solid foundations for the political and organizational u n i t y o f o u r people o n a n a t i o n a l scale, a n d a d o p t e d the p r o g r a m o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , w o r k e d o u t b y the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . T h e N a t i o n a l Liberation Front was the united front o f the w h o l e p e o p l e against the f o r e i g n e n e m y w h o h a d i n v a d e d o u r c o u n t r y . T h e l i n e o f the P a r t y i n the F r o n t w a s f o r t h e u n i t y , r e g a r d l e s s o f class, r e g i o n , p o l i t i c a l
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opinion a n d r e l i g i o u s belief, o f a l l t r u e A l b a n i a n s , o f a l l the p a t r i o t i c a n d d e m o c r a t i c forces of t h e c o u n t r y , of all those w h o w e r e r e a d y t o f i g h t the fascist o c c u p i e r s and t r a i t o r s f o r a free, i n d e p e n d e n t , d e m o c r a t i c people's A l b a n i a . T h i s o r i e n t a t i o n w a s a b s o l u t e l y correct a n d responded t o the s i t u a t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y a t the t i m e w h e n the i n t e r n a l class c o n t r a d i c t i o n s h a d receded to the secondary p l a n e , w h i l e the e x t e r n a l c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n the A l b a n i a n people f i g h t i n g f o r t h e i r f r e e d o m , i n d e pendence a n d s o v e r e i g n t y , a n d the I t a l i a n a n d G e r m a n invaders o c c u p y i n g o u r c o u n t r y , h a d become the p r i n c i p a l contradictions. B y a p p l y i n g t h i s l i n e the F r o n t i n c l u d e d i n its r a n k s the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y of the p o p u l a t i o n the w o r k i n g class, t h e p o o r a n d m i d d l e p e a s a n t r y , the u r b a n petty a n d m i d d l e bourgeoisie, t h e p a t r i o t i c i n t e l l e c t u a l s and a l l the o t h e r a n t i - f a s c i s t elements. T h e f o u n d a t i o n o f the F r o n t w a s the a l l i a n c e o f the w o r k i n g class w i t h the peasantry. T h i s a l l i a n c e has v i t a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r e v e r y c o u n t r y w h i c h rises i n w a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n . I t constitutes the highest p r i n c i p l e of the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t . H o w e v e r , i n t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f o u r c o u n t r y , w h e r e the w o r k i n g class w a s f e w i n n u m b e r s a n d the p e a s a n t r y constituted the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n , the d r a w i n g o f the l a t t e r i n t o the w a r u n d e r the l e a d e r s h i p o f the w o r k i n g class a n d its r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y w a s the decisive f a c t o r w h i c h d e t e r m i n e d the o u t c o m e o f the w a r a n d the r e v o l u t i o n . O u r P a r t y e v a l u a t e d t h i s p r o b l e m correctly a n d s e r i o u s l y . T h e c o u n t r y s i d e b e c a m e the m a i n base a n d the p e a s a n t r y the m a i n f o r c e o f o u r l i b e r a t i o n war. O u r P a r t y , a s the p a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, also expressed a n d d e f e n d e d the interests o f the w o r k i n g p e a s a n t r y a t the same t i m e . T h e issues w i t h w h i c h the peasantry w a s p r e o c c u p i e d , the e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d educational reforms to w h i c h it aspired, were embodied
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i n the p r o g r a m o f t h e P a r t y a n d w e r e c o n s i s t e n t l y c h a m pioned and put into practice by our Party. In the P a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n h i s t o r y , the p e a s a n t r y f o u n d its g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r y l e a d e r o f its struggle for freedom, land a n d prosperity. T h e f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t , w h i c h was inspired by the Party, likewise, was a policy of a l l i a n c e w i t h a l l the a n t i - f a s c i s t states a n d peoples f i g h t i n g against f a s c i s m , a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n w h i c h , t h r o u g h its w i s e p o l i c y a n d l e g e n d a r y w a r led w i t h m a s t e r y b y t h e great S t a l i n , b e c a m e t h e hope o f the s a l v a t i o n o f the peoples f r o m t h e fascist p l a g u e t h a t was threatening t h e m w i t h extermination. T h e line of the F r o n t t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a i n t h e c o m m o n w a r against t h e nazi-fascist c o a l i t i o n w a s correct, too. N e v e r t h e l e s s , n e v e r f o r a n instant d i d w e r e l a x o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e , because w e w e r e a w a r e t h a t w e w e r e b o u n d t o c l a s h w i t h the rapacious, colonialist, enslaving a n d oppressing aims o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s t o w a r d s the peoples. A n d s u b s e q u e n t events f u l l y c o n f i r m e d that w e w e r e r i g h t . T h e A n g l o A m e r i c a n allies a t t e m p t e d b y e v e r y m e a n s t o t a k e o v e r the l e a d e r s h i p o f o u r N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , t o l i q u i d a t e the F r o n t a n d the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y a n d , f i n a l l y , t o l a n d troops a n d o c c u p y o u r c o u n t r y , a s t h e y d i d i n G r e e c e . H o w e v e r , these a t t e m p t s f a i l e d a n d t h i s is a great m e r i t o f o u r P a r t y a n d t h e F r o n t w h i c h d i d n o t a l l o w the i m p e r i a l i s t s t o p o k e t h e i r noses i n t o t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s of o u r c o u n t r y . T h e p r o g r a m o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t w a s , i n fact, t h e m i n i m u m p r o g r a m o f the P a r t y . I t w a s a clear, understandable, militant, revolutionary program. T h e m a i n tasks o f t h i s p r o g r a m w e r e : relentless a n d u n c o m p r o m i s i n g w a r against the i n v a d e r s a n d t r a i t o r s f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y , f o r n a t i o n a l f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e ,
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for a people's d e m o c r a t i c g o v e r n m e n t ; t h e g e n e r a l a r m e d uprising a n d the c r e a t i o n o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n A r m y , the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a l l - r o u n d p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c assistance f o r the people's w a r , w i t h t h e people o f t o w n and c o u n t r y s i d e as t h e d e c i s i v e s o u r c e of a i d ; d e s t r u c t i o n of the state p o w e r of t h e o c c u p i e r s a n d t h e i r c o l l a b o r a t o r s (who r e p r e s e n t e d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f the m a i n e x p l o i t i n g classes of the c o u n t r y ) , t h e c r e a t i o n of the state p o w e r of national l i b e r a t i o n c o u n c i l s a s the o n l y p o l i t i c a l p o w e r of the p e o p l e ; e x t e n s i v e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l p r e p a r a tion of t h e masses f o r the people's g e n e r a l u p r i s i n g and f o r the c o n t i n u a t i o n e v e n after L i b e r a t i o n of the struggle to s a f e g u a r d t h e v i c t o r i e s a c h i e v e d , to r e c o n s t r u c t the c o u n t r y a n d t o effect m a j o r social a n d e c o n o m i c t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s in the i n t e r e s t s of the people. T h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t a t t a i n e d a l l these objectives w h i c h t h e P a r t y h a d set it. I t s u c c e s s f u l l y accomplished a l l the m a i n tasks e m b o d i e d i n its r e v o l u tionary p r o g r a m . T h u s , t h e w a r a n d e x p e r i e n c e c o n f i r m e d that the P a r t y h a d acted c o r r e c t l y i n c r e a t i n g the F r o n t and i n w o r k i n g out the l i n e o f the F r o n t w h i c h r e s ponded t o t h e w i s h e s a n d a s p i r a t i o n s o f the people and w a s a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e h i s t o r i c a l c o n d i t i o n s o f o u r country. The formation of the N a t i o n a l Liberation Front was a mortal blow to the foreign invaders and all internal reaction w h i c h h a d m a d e c o m m o n cause w i t h t h e m . T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y i m p e t u s o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , the g r o w t h o f the a u t h o r i t y o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y a n d the s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e p o l i t i c a l u n i t y o f the A l b a n i a n people i n the r a n k s o f t h e F r o n t t e r r i f i e d t h e m . F a c i n g this situation, the r e a c t i o n a r y forces s o u n d e d the a l a r m over the great d a n g e r t h r e a t e n i n g t h e m . A t first, they a n n o u n ced the c r e a t i o n o f the B a l l i K o m b e t a r a n d , later, L e g a l i teti o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h i c h w e r e d i r e c t l y o p p o s e d t o the
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National Liberation Front. These two organizations, w h i c h w e r e set u p w i t h the s u p p o r t o f the I t a l i a n a n d G e r m a n occupiers a n d the e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , w e r e n o t p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s , b u t heterogenous collections of t h e r e a c t i o n a r y forces of the c o u n t r y , the landowners and big merchants, bourgeois intellectuals and r e a c t i o n a r y clergy, t h e d r e g s o f o u r society, w h o h a d m a d e c o m m o n cause w i t h t h e o c c u p i e r s . W h a t w a s t h e a i m o f these o r g a n i z a t i o n s ? D e s p i t e their apparent differences, w h i c h were utterly insignificant, a n d t h e i r p s e u d o - p a t r i o t i c a n d p s e u d o - n a t i o n a l i s t disguises, t h e i r c o m m o n a i m w a s t o l i q u i d a t e the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , t o w r e c k t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t , t o p u t d o w n the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , t o secure a l l p o l i t i c a l p o w e r f o r themselves after t h e w a r i n o r d e r t o r e t a i n t h e i r d o m i n a t i o n o v e r t h e people u n i m p a i r e d . T h e p o l i c y o f b o t h the B a l l i K o m b t a r a n d L e g a l i t e t i w a s a l l i a n c e w i t h the fascist o c c u p i e r s against the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r o f the A l b a n i a n people a n d the a n t i - f a s c i s t c o a l i t i o n o f states a n d peoples f i g h t i n g f a s c i s m . F o r r e a c t i o n a n d its t r a i t o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , the p r i n c i p a l c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w e r e the i n t e r n a l c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y a n d the N a t i o n a l Liberation Front, w h i c h they turned into a n t a g o n i s t i c c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b y a t t a c k i n g us, a r m s i n h a n d , together w i t h t h e o c c u p i e r s . O u r P a r t y , a d h e r i n g t o its l i n e i n t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t f o r the u n i t y o f a l l A l b a n i a n s i n the w a r against f a s c i s m , regardless o f r e l i g i o n , r e g i o n a n d o p i n ion, t r i e d its u t m o s t to p r e v e n t t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e B a l l i K o m b t a r a n d L e g a l i t e t i into p r i n c i p a l a n d a n t a g o n i s t i c c o n t r a d i c t i o n s . T h e P a r t y a n d the F r o n t r e p e a t e d l y a p p e a l e d t o t h e m t o f i g h t the i n v a d e r s o f t h e c o u n t r y together, t r i e d t o s h o w t o t h e m the correct course, t o t u r n t h e m f r o m the course o f b e t r a y a l a n d a v o i d f r a t r i c i d e . A l l these n u m e r o u s a t t e m p t s
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o f o u r P a r t y a n d F r o n t , h o w e v e r , w e r e sabotaged b y reaction. T h e P a r t y w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h i s w a s w h a t w o u l d occur, because i t w a s w e l l a w a r e o f the c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y c h a r a c t e r of these o r g a n i z a t i o n s , as r e p r e s e n tatives of t h e i n t e r e s t s of l a n d o w n e r s a n d t h e bourgeoisie. However, there w e r e a few people who, at first, had various i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e n a t u r e o f these o r g a n i z a t i o n s and about t h e p a t r i o t i s m o f t h e p e r s o n s t a k i n g p a r t i n them, a n d t h e y , too, h a d t o b e c o n v i n c e d . T h e y h a d t o b e c o n v i n c e d t h r o u g h t h e i r o w n e x p e r i e n c e , i n t h e heat o f battle, t h a t t h e p a t r i o t i s m o f t h e B a l l i K o m b t a r and L e g a l i t e t i c h i e f s w a s a s h a m a n d t h e i r p a t r i o t i c appeals w e r e n o t h i n g b u t d e m a g o g y t o d i s g u i s e t h e i r betrayal. T h e o n l y t o u c h s t o n e w a s t h e i r s t a n d t o w a r d the foreign e n e m y w h o h a d i n v a d e d o u r c o u n t r y . T h e P a r t y and t h e F r o n t d e m a n d e d t h a t these o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h r o w themselves w h o l e - h e a r t e d l y , u n r e s e r v e d l y , u n c o m p r o m i s ingly, a n d i m m e d i a t e l y , w i t h o u t w a i t i n g f o r the d a y t o come, i n t o t h e w a r a g a i n s t t h e I t a l i a n a n d G e r m a n invaders. Consistent in their betrayal, the B a l l i Kombtar a n d Legaliteti not o n l y d i d not fire a single shot against the i n v a d i n g e n e m y , b u t u n i t e d c o m p l e t e l y w i t h t h e m i n the w a r against t h e people. B u t t h a t was n o t a l l . W h e n t h e e n d o f t h e fascist i n v a d e r s w a s i n sight t h e B a l l i K o m b t a r a n d L e g a l i t e t i w e n t over openly into the service of the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n i m perialists, i n t e n d i n g w i t h t h e i r s u p p o r t t o s n a t c h the v i c t o r i e s f r o m t h e h a n d s o f t h e people a n d t o a t t a i n w h a t t h e y h a d been u n a b l e t o a t t a i n w i t h t h e h e l p o f nazi-fascists. T h u s , t h e a n t i - p o p u l a r a n d a n t i - n a t i o n a l character o f t h e b i g l a n d o w n e r s , t h e bourgeoisie, the bourgeois i n t e l l e c t u a l s , etc., w a s c o m p l e t e l y e x p o s e d . C o n s e q u e n t l y , i n o u r c o u n t r y t h e w a r against t h e fascist invaders, the w a r for n a t i o n a l liberation, was combined
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w i t h t h e w a r against the c o l l a b o r a t o r s w i t h t h e i n v a d e r s , against t h e m a i n e x p l o i t i n g classes a n d t h e i r p o l i t i c a l organizations, the B a l l i K o m b t a r a n d L e g a l i t e t i . T h i s h a d m a j o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y consequences f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r o f o u r p e o p l e a n d i n its p o l i t i c a l outcome. T h i s g a v e the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r the c h a r a c t e r of a p r o f o u n d people's r e v o l u t i o n a n d b r o u g h t about t h a t t h e t r a i t o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s w e r e s m a s h e d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e defeat o f t h e i n v a d e r s , t h a t t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e H o m e l a n d t h e m a i n e x p l o i t i n g classes of the country w e r e ousted f r o m power. I t w a s the g r e a t m e r i t o f o u r P a r t y a n d t h e N a t i o n a l Liberation Front that they never separated the w a r for the liberation of the country f r o m the foreign invaders f r o m the s t r u g g l e f o r the s e i z u r e o f p o w e r b y t h e w o r k i n g masses. T h e h i s t o r i c i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e o f P e z a lies n o t o n l y i n t h e fact t h a t i t w a s t h e r e t h a t t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t w a s c r e a t e d , b u t also i n the fact t h a t i t w a s t h e r e t h a t t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e n e w people's p o w e r w e r e l a i d . T h e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n c o u n c i l s t h a t w e r e set u p e v e r y w h e r e i n o u r c o u n t r y , e m e r g e d a n d g r e w a s r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e m o c r a t i c organs o f t h e people's p o w e r , u n d e r the sole l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . They were the negation of a l l the organs and organizations o f the a n t i - p o p u l a r a n d e x p l o i t i n g state. T h e n e w people's p o w e r w a s e x t e n d e d a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d p a r a l l e l w i t h the g r o w t h a n d i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e a r m e d s t r u g g l e . T h e C o n g r e s s o f P r m e t a n d t h e s e c o n d session o f t h e Anti-fascist National Liberation Council in Berat, held i n M a y a n d O c t o b e r 1944 r e s p e c t i v e l y , w e r e t w o g r e a t events o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y historic importance, w h i c h f u l f i l l e d the w i l l o f t h e p e o p l e t h a t a l l state p o w e r s h o u l d pass i n t o t h e i r o w n hands, t h e n e w A l b a n i a n state s h o u l d b e c r e a t e d a n d t h e n e w , d e m o c r a t i c people's A l bania should be built. Thus, on the eve of the liberation
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of t h e c o u n t r y , t h e p r o b l e m of state p o w e r h a d been solved i n f a v o u r o f the people. O u r P a r t y h a s a l w a y s been v i g i l a n t a n d has f o u g h t m e r c i l e s s l y against a n y c a p i t u l a t i o n o r b e t r a y a l i n any d i r e c t i o n . I t c o n s i s t e n t l y d e f e n d e d its p o l i t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d its l e a d i n g r o l e i n t h e F r o n t a n d i n the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r a n d d i d n o t a l l o w the bourgeoisie t o t a k e o v e r the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e w a r , w h i c h was one o f the m a i n o b j e c t i v e s o f the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n imperialists a n d the B a l l i K o m b t a r and Legaliteti traitor organizations. T h e P a r t y k n e w t h a t s u b m i s s i o n t o the bourgeoisie, a s s u m p t i o n o f the l e a d e r s h i p o f the w a r by the bourgeoisie, w o u l d b r i n g a b o u t o n l y the f a i l u r e o f the revolution and the perpetuation of the old regime of oppression a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n . T h i s w a s t h e a i m p u r s u e d a t M u k j e . H e r e i n lies Y m e r D i s h n i c a ' s c a p i t u l a t i o n t o the bourgeoisie. T h a t i s w h y t h e P a r t y a n d t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n G e n e r a l C o u n c i l r e s o l u t e l y r e j e c t e d the M u k j e meeting as an act of b e t r a y a l of the interests of the people and the r e v o l u t i o n , t h a t o p e n e d the w a y f o r the l e a d e r s h i p o f the w a r a n d p o l i t i c a l p o w e r t o pass i n t o t h e h a n d s o f the r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i e , w h i c h , f a r f r o m c o n s e n t i n g t o f i g h t the fascist i n v a d e r s , h a d c o l l a b o r a t e d a n d w a s s t i l l c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h t h e m against the p e o p l e a n d t h e i r w a r . The creation of the F r o n t and the slogan of u n i t i n g in this o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l those w h o w e r e f o r t h e war against t h e i n v a d e r s , c o n s t i t u t e d o n e o f the m a i n t a c t i c a l tasks o f t h e P a r t y i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e t h e f u n d a m e n t a l strategic o b j e c t i v e o f that t i m e , w h i c h w a s t h e c o m p l e t e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f the people's p o w e r . L i f e p r o v e d t h e correctness o f this line, a s w e l l a s i t s f u l l a p p r o v a l b y t h e people. It. l i k e w i s e , c o n f i r m e d t h e great a n d i r r e p l a c e a b l e r o l e w h i c h the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t p l a y e d i n u n i t i n g t h e people a r o u n d t h e P a r t y a n d u n d e r its l e a d e r s h i p , i n m o b i l i z i n g
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a l l t h e energies a n d c r e a t i v e capacities o f t h e p e o p l e t o s e r v e t h e great cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n .
3. THE ROLE OF THE FRONT IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOCIALISM E v e n after the liberation of the country the Front continues t o f u n c t i o n u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e P a r t y as a d e m o c r a t i c o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e b r o a d masses f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e socialist revolution and the construction of socialism. T h e line of the P a r t y in connection w i t h the F r o n t remains that of steadily enhancing its m a j o r r o l e i n u n i t i n g a l l t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e i n the ranks of this organization, in educating them in the spirit of patriotism, of love for the H o m e l a n d , a n d the defence o f t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e w o n , i n m o b i l i z i n g the masses o f the p e o p l e i n t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of socialism and communism, in educating them with feelings o f p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m . A r m e d w i t h r i c h e x p e r i e n c e a n d c a r r y i n g o n its t r a d i tions f r o m t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , t h e F r o n t c o n t i n u e s to m a k e a m a j o r contribution to the attainment of all t h e v i c t o r i e s o f o u r p e o p l e i n the s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c o n s truction of socialism a n d the defence of the country. The directives of the Party, w h i c h express the vital interests o f t h e w o r k i n g people, h a v e a l w a y s b e e n a n d are. also d i r e c t i v e s o f w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e f o r t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t w h i c h has f o u n d a n d d e v e l o p e d various forms of work, organization and education in order to apply them in practice and make them reality. T h e Front has a l w a y s b e e n t h a t p o w e r f u l lever, b y m e a n s o f w h i c h the P a r t y has l i n k e d i t s e l f e v e r m o r e c l o s e l y w i t h t h e masses, has t a k e n its c o r r e c t l i n e t o t h e m a n d has e d u c a t e d a n d m o b i l i z e d t h e m t o p e r f o r m g r e a t a n d h e r o i c deeds.
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I n t h e heat o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , i n t h e great struggle for the c o n s t r u c t i o n of s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e defence of the H o m e l a n d , t h e F r o n t has b e e n s t r e n g t h e n e d p o l i t i c a l l y and o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l y , has c a r r i e d t o the masses a n d a p p l i e d the t e a c h i n g s o f t h e P a r t y o n t h e class s t r u g g l e , against bourgeois a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g y , f e u d a l a n d p a t r i a r c h a l survivals, b a c k w a r d customs a n d religious prejudices, against e v e r y t h i n g t h a t w e a k e n s t h e u n i t y o f t h e people, the a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h t h e working p e a s a n t r y a n d t h e people's i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d t h a t h i n d e r s the p r o g r e s s o f o u r society t o w a r d s s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m munism. T h e F r o n t is a great school for the political e d u c a t i o n of t h e masses of t h e people. T h e F r o n t i s t h e b r o a d e s t o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e masses in our system of the dictatorship of the proletariat. This system i n c l u d e s a l l t h e o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e m a s ses, l i k e : t h e T r a d e U n i o n s , t h e L a b o u r Y o u t h U n i o n a n d the W o m e n ' s U n i o n . T h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t o g e t h e r w i t h the D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t , a r e l e v e r s o f the P a r t y t o l i n k i t w i t h t h e masses a n d h a v e p l a y e d a n d p l a y a v e r y i m p o r t ant r o l e i n t h e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y . B e a r i n g i n m i n d the s p e c i f i c p r o b l e m s a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s o f w o r k e r s , y o u t h and w o m e n , t h e y b u i l d t h e i r p o l i t i c a l , e d u c a t i o n a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l w o r k s o t h a t t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f the P a r t y are u n d e r s t o o d a n d a p p l i e d c o r r e c t l y b y a l l these s t r a t a o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n . A l l t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e masses c a r r y o n t h e i r a c t i v i t y i n close c o n n e c t i o n w i t h one another, but the w o r k o f o n e c a n n o t r e p l a c e t h a t o f a n o t h e r . E a c h o r g a n i z a t i o n has its o w n s p e c i f i c task a n d r o l e t o p l a y i n the s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m . W h e r e a s the o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e t o d o w i t h g i v e n s t r a t a o f the people, t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t i s the o r g a n i z a t i o n i n w h i c h the p o l i t i c a l u n i t y o f t h e w h o l e p e o p l e i s a c h i e v e d . W h i l e militating in their respective organizations, the members o f the o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s are, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , m e m b e r s
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o f t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t a n d t a k e p a r t a c t i v e l y i n a l l the debates a n d a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e F r o n t . T h u s , t h e F r o n t i s the b r o a d e s t s u p p o r t o f the P a r t y a n d people's p o w e r a n d , a t t h e p r e s e n t stage o f the cons t r u c t i o n o f socialist society, its r o l e f a r f r o m d i m i n i s h i n g a n d c o m i n g t o a n e n d , becomes e v e n m o r e i m p o r t a n t . T h e sole l e a d i n g a n d g u i d i n g f o r c e i n o u r s y s t e m of the dictatorship of the proletariat is the P a r t y of L a b o u r . W i t h o u t t h e P a r t y a n d its l e a d i n g r o l e , the F r o n t , l i k e t h e o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e masses, c o u l d not e x i s t as a t r u l y d e m o c r a t i c people's organization w h i c h e m b o d i e s a n d s a f e g u a r d s t h e interests o f the m a s ses. It is the P a r t y t h a t i n s p i r e s t h e m , c o - o r d i n a t e s t h e i r w o r k and directs all their activities to serve the great objective the t r i u m p h of socialism and c o m m u n i s m . O u r P a r t y has r e j e c t e d a n d c o n d e m n e d t h e p r e a c h ings o f the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o d e n y t h e l e a d i n g role o f t h e P a r t y i n the s y s t e m o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the masses, w h o p r e a c h t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e of the o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t h e masses f r o m the P a r t y , w h o oppose S t a l i n ' s M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t thesis t h a t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the masses a r e levers, t r a n s m i s s i o n - b e l t s to l i n k the P a r t y w i t h the masses. T h e i n d e p e n d e n c e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s d e m a n d i s a f r a u d . S o l o n g a s the class s t r u g g l e c o n t i n u e s in society, n o i n d i v i d u a l , let alone a n o r g a n i z a t i o n , c a n s t a n d above classes, above t h e P a r t y , o u t s i d e a n d i n d e p e n d e n t o f politics. T h e i n d e p e n d e n c e w h i c h t h e r e v i sionists a r e a f t e r i s n o t h i n g b u t i n d e p e n d e n c e f r o m p r o letarian politics, f r o m dhe communist party, in order t o g o o v e r t o f u l l dependence o n b o u r g e o i s p o l i t i c s and bourgeois parties. The line followed in by our Party in the Front of and the
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p e c u l i a r i t i e s w h i c h a r e c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e concrete h i s t o r i c a l c o n d i t i o n s o f o u r c o u n t r y , once a g a i n c o n f i r m certain f u n d a m e n t a l t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w h i c h are e s s e n t i a l to t h e s u c c e s s f u l a d v a n c e of t h e c a u s e of national liberation, the revolution and socialism. T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r c o u n t r y has p r o v e n a l s o t h a t o n l y the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y as a conscious a n d organized v a n g u a r d o f the w o r k i n g class, w h i c h i s c o n s i stently r e v o l u t i o n a r y , l o y a l t o the e n d t o t h e i d e o l o g i c a l p r i n c i p l e s o f o u r d o c t r i n e , c a n l e a d t h e c o u n t r y a n d the people t o v i c t o r y , b o t h i n t h e d e m o c r a t i c national l i b e r a t i o n r e v o l u t i o n a n d i n the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n and t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist a n d c o m m u n i s t society. B o t h o u r e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e e x p e rience o f the w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d l i b e r a t i o n m o v e ment p r o v e that, i n the stage o f i m p e r i a l i s m , the bourgeoisie a n d its p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s a r e i n c a p a b l e , f r o m their v e r y class n a t u r e , o f c a r r y i n g e i t h e r t h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m f o r g e n u i n e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n o r the d e m o c r a t i c a n t i - f e u d a l r e v o l u t i o n t h r o u g h t o t h e end. T h e p r e a c h i n g s o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e , T i t o i t e a n d other m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o d e n y t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f the p r o l e t a r i a n p a r t y i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e s o c i alist c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d w h o p r o p a g a t e t h e i d e a t h a t it is possible to go o v e r to socialism even under the leadership of other parties of a bourgeois a n d pettybourgeois c h a r a c t e r a n d e v e n o f t r a d e - u n i o n s w h i c h are in the s e r v i c e of c a p i t a l i s t m o n o p o l i e s , a r e a m a j o r b e t r a y a l o f the p r i n c i p l e s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , the w o r k i n g class a n d its r e v o l u t i o n a r y cause. F o r the cause of liberation a n d the revolution to t r i u m p h i t i s necessary that the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y u n i t e s all the r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces i n a b r o a d p o p u l a r f r o n t , u n der its l e a d e r s h i p . In c r e a t i n g b r o a d p o p u l a r f r o n t s , a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t n e v e r p i n its
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hopes a n d c o n c e n t r a t e a l l its e f f o r t s o n a l l i a n c e s and c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h the c h i e f s o f v a r i o u s p o l i t i c a l parties a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s . W i t h o u t n e g l e c t i n g t h i s w o r k , i t i s the d u t y o f the p a r t y t o d e v o t e a l l its a t t e n t i o n a n d e f f o r t s t o t h e s t r u g g l e t o create t h e u n i t y o f t h e people f r o m b e l o w , t h r o u g h e x t e n s i v e w o r k o f c l a r i f i c a t i o n a n d persuasion w i t h the masses, e s p e c i a l l y t h r o u g h t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f w e l l - c o n s i d e r e d , w e l l - p r e p a r e d , concrete actions. E x p e r i e n c e has s h o w n that the core of the u n i t e d f r o n t , its f o u n d a t i o n stone, i s t h e a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h the w o r k i n g p e a s a n t r y . W i t h o u t this a l l i a n c e there i s n o p o p u l a r f r o n t , n o n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n f r o n t . T h e s e are t w o m a i n m o t i v e forces o f e v e r y g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n o f o u r days, a n d t h e y c o m p r i s e the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f the p o p u l a t i o n o f e v e r y c o u n t r y . H e n c e , i n o r d e r t o b e a truly broad, militant, revolutionary political organization, the f r o n t m u s t be, f i r s t of a l l . a u n i o n of the b r o a d m a s ses o f t h e people a c h i e v e d w i t h s t r u g g l e a n d i n the course of struggle, a n d n o t a s i m p l e u n i o n of parties, a n d e v e n less, of chiefs of parties, a c h i e v e d on the basis of various political combinations. In t h e c o n d i t i o n s of a d e m o c r a t i c p o p u l a r r e v o l u t i o n and of a national liberation war, w h e n various bourgeois a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s are i n existence, the c o m m u n i s t party can and must t r y to achieve cooperation w i t h them in a broad democratic popular or national liberation front. I n these cases the f r o n t has its o w n p e c u l i a r i t i e s w h i c h distinguish it from our National Liberation Front, in w h i c h t h e r e w e r e n o other p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s save the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . I t i s clear t h a t w h e n a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y goes i n t o w a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n together w i t h o t h e r p r o g ressive parties, i t has t o o v e r c o m e m a n y d i f f i c u l t i e s b o t h t o e n s u r e v i c t o r y i n the l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e a n d t o develop the revolution f r o m the democratic anti-imper i a l i s t a n d a n t i - f e u d a l stage to the stage of t h e socialist
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revolution. I t w i l l n o t b e a b l e t o pass t h r o u g h t h i s p r o cess a s e a s i l y o r i n the s a m e w a y a s o u r P a r t y d i d . T h e problem i s t h a t w h e n b o u r g e o i s a n d s o - c a l l e d socialist parties see t h a t t h e interests of the classes t h e y r e p r e s e n t are being d a m a g e d o r j e o p a r d i z e d they w i l l resort t o m a n y political, o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d m i l i t a r y m a n o e u v r e s , i n ordert o w e a k e n the l i b e r a t i o n w a r , t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t o b r e a k u p the alliances, d e s t r o y the c o m m o n f r o n t , a n d i n p a r ticular t o u n d e r m i n e t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e c o m m u n i s t party i n t h i s f r o n t . T h i s i s l i n k e d w i t h t h e class n a t u r e , position a n d t e n d e n c i e s o f the bourgeoisie. Therefore, while p u r s u i n g t h e l i n e o f c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h v a r i o u s s t r a t a of the b o u r g e o i s i e or w i t h t h e i r p a r t i e s , t h e c o m m u n i s t party must, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , also a p p l y the l i n e o f s t r u g gle against t h e i r v a c i l l a t i o n s a n d d u p l i c i t y , against t h e i r compromises w i t h the f o r c e s o f t h e o c c u p i e r a n d r e a c t i o n . To pursue the line of u n i t y alone a n d to neglect the line of struggle against s p l i t t i n g a n d r e a c t i o n a r y a c t i v i t i e s in the front m e a n s t o t a k e a n o p p o r t u n i s t s t a n d w i t h v e r y d a n gerous consequences f o r the l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e a n d the revolution. O p e r a t i n g a t p r e s e n t i n the w o r l d p o l i t i c a l a r e n a , i n addition t o t h e n o w d i s c r e d i t e d b o u r g e o i s a n d s o c i a l democratic p a r t i e s , a r e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s w h i c h h a v e betrayed the i n t e r e s t s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d its r e v o l utionary cause. T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces a n d p a r t i e s must w a g e a m e r c i l e s s s t r u g g l e against these p a r t i e s to expose t h e i r t r e a c h e r y , t h e i r c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y aims, t o smash t h e m a s p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s b y w i n n i n g a w a y t h e i r rank-and-file members and without entering into any compromise w i t h t h e m o v e r p r i n c i p l e s . C e r t a i n r e v i s i o n i s t parties w i l l i n d u l g e i n d e m a g o g i c t a l k a b o u t t h e a r m e d struggle, others, t o save t h e i r face, m a y e v e n u n d e r t a k e some sort of a c t i o n . M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s m u s t n o t be misled b y t h e s e c u n n i n g tactics, m u s t n e v e r c o n f o u n d t h e
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d e s i r e o f the masses f o r s t r u g g l e w i t h t h e a i m o f the r e v i s i o n i s t c h i e f s t o sabotage t h e i r s t r u g g l e . T h e r e f o r e , the o n l y w a y i s t o m a k e contact w i t h t h e r a n k - a n d - f i l e i n the heat o f the s t r u g g l e a n d f o r the r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle, a n d t h i s i n o r d e r t o n e u t r a l i z e a n d l i q u i d a t e the r e v i s i o n i s t s . W h i l e p u r s u i n g the l i n e o f c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h other parties i n the n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n a n d d e m o c r a t i c r e v o l u t i o n , it is essential that the Marxist-Leninist communist p a r t y m a i n t a i n s its c o m p l e t e i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e as a p a r t y of t h e w o r k i n g class; t h a t i t does n o t s t a n d a s i d e f r o m o r t a i l b e h i n d events, a n d m u s t n o t d i s s o l v e i t s e l f i n t h e F r o n t , b u t m u s t a l w a y s s t r i v e t o a c q u i r e the l e a d i n g role, m u s t s t r u g gle f o r h e g e m o n y . A t t h e same t i m e , i t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t it n e v e r f o r a m o m e n t f o r g e t s t h e p e r s p e c t i v e of the d e v e l o p m e n t o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d a t t a i n i n g its u l t i m a t e objective. T h e true Marxist-Leninist party a n d true revolutionaries must always remain loyal to dhe principles o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t o the l a w s o f the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n , e v e n i n the c o n d i t i o n s o f w a r w i t h i m p e r i a l i s m a n d its m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t stooges. T h e y m u s t n e v e r lose s i g h t o f these p r i n c i p l e s a n d these l a w s , n e v e r f a l l i n t o the t r a p o f a d v e n t u r i s m a n d p s e u d o - r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r m s or e m p t y slogans w h i c h allegedly c o n f o r m to the specific c o n d i t i o n s o f d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s . S p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s e x i s t a n d m u s t a l w a y s b e t a k e n i n t o account, b u t these s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s can b e u t i l i z e d c o r r e c t l y o n l y o n the basis o f the f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e l a w s o f the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n . A n y d e p a r t u r e f r o m these p r i n c i p l e s a n d l a w s , u n d e r w h a t e v e r form o r p r e t e x t , leads i n e v i t a b l y t o d e f e a t f o r the p a r t y a n d t h e revolution. The creation of the broad popular front must in no w a y serve as a basis f o r t h e s p r e a d of o p p o r t u n i s t a n d reformist illusions that allegedly the existing order of
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things c a n b e t r a n s f o r m e d p e a c e f u l l y a n d a u t o m a t i c a l l y and the v i c t o r y of the r e v o l u t i o n a n d t r a n s i t i o n to s o c i a l i s m secured t h r o u g h w i n n i n g the m a j o r i t y a m o n g the masses and i n t h e b o u r g e o i s p a r l i a m e n t s . O n the c o n t r a r y , the front w h i c h i s set u p d u r i n g the process o f the r e v o l u tionary s t r u g g l e m u s t s e r v e t h e cause o f the p o l i t i c a l e d u cation a n d u n i f i c a t i o n o f the people a n d t h e i r m o b i l i z a t i o n for the a r m e d s t r u g g l e t o o v e r t h r o w b y f o r c e t h e i m p e r i alists, the o c c u p i e r s a n d t h e l o c a l r e a c t i o n a r y classes, w h o , as history has p r o v e d , n e v e r r e l i n q u i s h t h e i r p o s i t i o n s voluntarily. T h e revolution w i t h violence is a universal law, n o t o n l y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n , b u t also o f a n y genuine d e m o c r a t i c l i b e r a t i o n r e v o l u t i o n o f o u r t i m e . T h e preachings o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e a n d T i t o i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s about t h e so-called p e a c e f u l w a y . w h i c h t h e y h a v e p r o claimed as a w o r l d - w i d e strategic p r i n c i p l e , s p e l l o n l y defeat f o r the p a r t y o f the w o r k i n g class, t h e r e v o l u t i o n and s o c i a l i s m . A f t e r t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t has been established a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d , a t h i n g w h i c h is a c h i e v e d under t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y , the existence for a l o n g t i m e of o t h e r p a r t i e s , e v e n p r o g r e s s i v e ones, inside o r outside t h e f r o n t , e v e n f o r m a l l y , o n account o f their alleged t r a d i t i o n s , has no m e a n i n g , is against reason. E v e r y p r o g r e s s i v e t r a d i t i o n i s m e r g e d i n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y line of t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y . T h e r e v o l u t i o n o v e r t u r n s a w h o l e w o r l d , let a l o n e a s i n g l e t r a d i t i o n . S i n c e t h e class struggle goes o n d u r i n g t h e w h o l e p e r i o d o f t h e c o n s t r u ction of socialist society a n d the t r a n s i t i o n to c o m m u n i s m , and s i n c e p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s e x p r e s s t h e i n t e r e s t s o f s p e c i f i c classes, the p r e s e n c e of o t h e r n o n - M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s i n the s y s t e m o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t w o u l d be a b s u r d a n d o p p o r t u n i s t , e s p e c i a l l y after t h e e c o n o m i c base o f s o c i a l i s m has b e e n b u i l t . T h i s i n n o w a y i n f r i n g e s democracy, but, o n t h e c o n t r a r y , strengthens g e n u i n e p r o -
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letarian democracy. T h e democratic nature of an order is not d e t e r m i n e d b y the n u m b e r o f parties, b u t i s d e t e r m i n e d by its e c o n o m i c base, by the class in p o w e r , the w h o l e p o l i c y a n d a c t i v i t y o f t h e state a n d w h e t h e r o r not it is in t h e interests of the b r o a d masses of the people a n d serves t h e m . W i t h a v i e w to achieving their counter-revolutionary a i m s i n the s e r v i c e o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l i s m , the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s are e v e r m o r e z e a l o u s l y p u r s u i n g t h e course of t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n of t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s a n d the socialist r e g i m e s . T h e y are l i q u i d a t i n g t h e p a r t i e s o f the w o r k i n g class, b y d e n y i n g t h e i r p r o l e t a r i a n class c h a r a c t e r a n d p r o c l a i m i n g t h e m parties o f the w h o l e p e o ple. I n fact t h e y h a v e t u r n e d t h e m i n t o b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s of a n e w t y p e . T h e d e g e n e r a t i o n of the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s a n d the socialist o r d e r in a n u m b e r of c o u n t r i e s , w h e r e r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s are i n p o w e r , i s b r i n g i n g a b o u t the r e v i v a l o f the s y s t e m o f t w o o r m o r e b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s w i t h pseudo-socialist d i s g u i s e s a l l e g e d l y i n t h e n a m e o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of socialist d e m o c r a c y . S u c h f r o n t s , as there are i n some o f these c o u n t r i e s , e x i s t o n l y o n p a p e r ; t h e y a r c lifeless a n d the signs are a l r e a d y a p p a r e n t o f the r e v i v a l a n d p o l i t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a c t i v a t i o n o f p a r t i e s t a k i n g p a r t i n these f r o n t s i n o r d e r t o w i n d o m i n a n t positions i n t h e socialist state w h i c h i s i n c r e a s i n g l y ass u m i n g t h e f e a t u r e s of a b o u r g e o i s state. T h e m o r e e x t r e mist groupings of m o d e r n revisionists, particularly in the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s s u c h a s F r a n c e a n d I t a l y , a r e s t r i v i n g t o p e r s u a d e t h e i r r e v i s i o n i s t colleagues i n the socialist c o u n t r i e s to p r o c e e d at top speed on t h i s course, t o p r o v i d e the W e s t e r n b o u r g e o i s i e w i t h f u r t h e r p r o o f that t h e y are p r e p a r e d t o p u t a n e n d t o S t a l i n i s t s o c i a l ism a n d to r e - e s t a b l i s h a n e w b o u r g e o i s s o c i a l i s m of the social-democratic type a n d to facilitate the w o r k of the revisionists in the capitalist countries in their efforts
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t o u n i t e a n d m e r g e w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d its p o l i t i c a l parties, t o j o i n w i t h t h e m i n b u i l d i n g a socialist o r d e r of this t y p e in these c o u n t r i e s . The experience of the Democratic F r o n t over 25 years shows that o u r P a r t y has a l w a y s p u r s u e d a correct line, has successfully defended and applied the principles of Marxism-Leninism and the laws of the proletarian r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h i s has e n s u r e d for o u r P a r t y a n d p e o p l e a l l t h e great v i c t o r i e s w h i c h w e e n j o y t o d a y . E x p e r i e n c e u p t o n o w also s h o w s t h a t the Front r e m a i n s to this d a y , as t h e 5 t h C o n g r e s s of the P a r t y p u t it, t h e m a i n l i n k o f t h e p o l i t i c a l u n i t y o f t h e people a r o u n d the P a r t y a n d people's state p o w e r f o r the construction o f s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e d e f e n c e o f t h e H o m e l a n d , a great t r i b u n e f o r t h e e n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d e d u c a t i o n of the w o r k e r s w i t h t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y , a p o w e r f u l m e a n s t o e n s u r e t h e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e b r o a d masses o f the p e o p l e i n r u n n i n g a f f a i r s a n d s o l v i n g m a j o r social and state p r o b l e m s . ........................
II
2. THE ROLE OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT IN FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT AND EXTENDING SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r f r e e a n d i n d e p e n d e n t c o u n t r y has s h o w n that w i t h o u t t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t the victories of the r e v o l u t i o n c a n n o t be s e c u r e d , the resistance and a c t i v i t y o f e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l e n e m i e s cannot b e smashed a n d d e f e a t e d , the d e f e n c e o f o u r socialist H o m e land cannot be guaranteed, a n d the construction of socialist and communist society cannot be carried f o r w a r d .
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L i k e a l l the o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f masses, the D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t has p l a y e d a m a j o r r o l e a n d has done a l l r o u n d w o r k f o r t h e c o n t i n u o u s s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the people's p o w e r . I t h a s e d u c a t e d the w o r k i n g m a s s e s o f town and countryside in the spirit of devotion and loyalty to t h e state, has m o b i l i z e d t h e m to c a r r y out its d e c i s i o n s a n d l a w s , a n d h a s d r a w n t h e m m o r e a n d m o r e i n t o state and social activity. M o r e t h a n o n c e the P a r t y h a s s t r e s s e d that the s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d f u r t h e r d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f the people's p o w e r cannot be attained without combating bureaucracy, and has w a g e d a consistent a n d resolute s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t it. I n r e c e n t years, e s p e c i a l l y , i t h a s l a u n c h e d a n a t t a c k o v e r a b r o a d f r o n t against b u r e a u c r a t i c m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a n d d i s tortions i n the a p p a r a t u s a n d o r g a n s o f the state, the econ o m y a n d the P a r t y . T h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s s t r u g g l e a r e v e r y good. W i t h i n a r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t t i m e a colossal a m o u n t o f w o r k has been d o n e a n d a n u m b e r o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y measures, f a m i l i a r t o a l l , t a k e n . T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s that, a s a l w a y s , these m e a s u r e s o f the P a r t y a n d G o v e r n m e n t w e r e s t r o n g l y s u p p o r t e d b y the w o r k i n g people o f o u r c o u n t r y a n d are b e i n g c a r r i e d out w i t h t h e i r d i r e c t a n d active p a r t i c i p a t i o n . T h i s has g i v e n the s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y the n a t u r e of a b r o a d p o p u l a r m o v e m e n t of p r o f o u n d i d e o l o g i c a l content. T h e essence o f t h i s s t r u g g l e is to s t r e n g t h e n the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t , to c a r r y o u r socialist r e v o l u t i o n t h r o u g h t o t h e e n d , t o b l o c k the w a y to revisionist manifestations and any possibility of restoration of capitalism in our country. But, w h i l e we may have struck a heavy blow at bureaucracy, w e h a v e not l i q u i d a t e d a n d v a n q u i s h e d i t c o m p l e t e l y as yet. T h e r e f o r e , t h e r e is no r o o m to be s a t i s f i e d w i t h the r e s u l t s a t t a i n e d . W e h a v e a great d e a l o f w o r k ahead o f u s t o m a k e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f the struggle against b u r e a u c r a c y m o r e t h o r o u g h - g o i n g .
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First of all, the Democratic Front must continue to do extensive, a l l - s i d e d e x p l a n a t o r y w o r k w i t h the masses of the people so t h a t t h e y u n d e r s t a n d the r e a l d a n g e r which bureaucracy represents now and in the future for o u r people's p o w e r , f o r o u r socialist o r d e r a n d t h e achievements o f the r e v o l u t i o n , t o m a k e t h e m conscious and resolute f i g h t e r s a g a i n s t it. L e t i t b e thoroughly understood b y a l l t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y i s a long a n d a l l - s i d e d one, t h a t it is, f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t , an i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e to e r a d i c a t e b u r e a u c r a t i c concepts of management in order to inculcate and temper r e v o l u tionary concepts w h i c h m u s t f u l l y r e s p o n d t o the p r o foundly p o p u l a r c h a r a c t e r o f o u r state. T h i s i s the o n l y way t o s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m b a t the n a r r o w concept w h i c h r e duces the s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y t o c u t t i n g d o w n o n paper w o r k a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p e r s o n n e l a n d t o a v o i d the practice o f c o n d u c t i n g t h i s s t r u g g l e i n s p o r a d i c c a m p a i g n s . T h e c h e c k - u p b y t h e b r o a d masses o f w o r k e r s a n d peasants, by o u r p e o p l e as a w h o l e , on the a c t i v i t y of the o r g a n s a n d e m p l o y e e s of the state is o n e of t h e most important c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f t h e people's p o w e r a n d f o r success in the s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y . The Democratic F r o n t is called upon to organize and encourage the c h e c k - u p of t h e masses on the state organs and persons w o r k i n g i n t h e m , o n t h e one h a n d , a n d , o n the o t h e r h a n d , to c o n d u c t e x t e n s i v e , i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l , educational w o r k s o t h a t state f u n c t i o n a r i e s a n d employees, the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e people in t h e state organs of all levels a l w a y s f e e l t h a t t h e y are s e r v a n t s o f the people. B u t w h a t does b e i n g a s e r v a n t o f t h e people m e a n ? A b o v e a l l i t m e a n s t o s e r v e the p e o p l e w i t h great l o y a l t y , on the b a s i s of t h e m i l i t a n t l i n e of o u r P a r t y , to be a tireless w o r k e r i n c a r r y i n g out the d e c i s i o n s a n d l a w s i n force, a n d n e v e r f o r a m o m e n t to abuse t h e t r u s t w h i c h
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the p e o p l e h a v e p l a c e d i n y o u f o r p e r s o n a l g a i n and p r i v i l e g e s , b u t t o b e a l w a y s correct a n d sincere, irreconcilable w i t h any manifestation of favouritism, partia l i t y a n d n e p o t i s m . T h i s m e a n s , also, t o b e p o l i t e and considerate t o w a r d s people, n o t o n l y d u r i n g w o r k - t i m e , but also o u t s i d e it, t o m a i n t a i n close l i n k s w i t h the m a s ses a n d to l i s t e n c a r e f u l l y to t h e i r o p i n i o n s , to m a i n t a i n a p r i n c i p l e d s t a n d t o w a r d s c o m p l a i n t s a n d c r i t i c i s m b y the people, t o b e i r r e c o n c i l a b l e w i t h m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f a r r o gance, conceit a n d h a u g h t i n e s s . F i n a l l y , i t m e a n s t o a l w a y s put t h e interests of the people, the i n t e r e s t s of o u r s o c i a l ist s o c i e t y a b o v e e v e r y t h i n g , t o s u b j e c t y o u r p e r s o n a l interests t o t h e m , a n d t o b e p r e p a r e d t o m a k e a n y s a c r i fice in t h e interests of the people. E v e r y state e m p l o y e e o f w h a t e v e r r a n k s h o u l d c a r e f u l l y review his activity and fight in himself anything at v a r i a n c e w i t h h i s f u n c t i o n as a s e r v a n t of t h e people. T h e people, too, s h o u l d e x a m i n e t h e a c t i v i t y of state officials f r o m t h i s s a m e v i e w p o i n t . T h e i d e a t h a t there are s p e c i a l people to s u p e r v i s e t h e a c t i v i t y of state officials must be discarded as an erroneous idea which h i n d e r s the i n i t i a t i v e o f the masses a n d t h a t o f the o r g a n izations of the Democratic F r o n t to organize and encourage the c o n t r o l b y t h e w o r k i n g people. N o other c o n t r o l can r e p l a c e the c o n t r o l o f the people u n i t e d i n t h e i r organization, the Democratic Front. Therefore, this supervision and control must be exercised regularly, w i t h f u l l f o r c e a n d i n t h e r i g h t w a y s o t h a t i t helps the ceaseless i m p r o v e m e n t a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e w o r k o f a l l the p e o p l e a n d organs of t h e state... T h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e state are the c o n c e r n o f a l l the w o r k i n g people. T h e y are d e c i d e d o n a n d s o l v e d n o t b y a f e w c o u n c i l l o r s a n d elected r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , a n d e v e n less by a few appointed functionaries, but by the people in power. We must understand this thoroughly. Therefore,
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the b r o a d e r t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f the w o r k i n g masses in state a c t i v i t y , t h e better a n d m o r e c o r r e c t l y w i l l t h e p r o blems be s t u d i e d a n d s o l v e d . In this r e g a r d , a m a j o r r o l e belongs to the o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t to increase the p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f the masses i n the s t u d y a n d solution o f m a j o r p r o b l e m s o f the people's state p o w e r , t o m a k e t h e masses f u l l y c o n s c i o u s t h a t t h e y s h o u l d t a k e part a c t i v e l y i n r u n n i n g the a f f a i r s o f the country. Without this t h e r e c a n b e n o t a l k o f the f u r t h e r s t r e n g thening a n d d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f t h e people's state p o w e r , of successfully f i g h t i n g b u r e a u c r a c y .
Bureaucracy, L e n i n says, can be fought to the end, to complete victory over it, only when the whole population takes part in running the country.*
. . . T h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f the masses i n r u n n i n g the country also r e q u i r e s t h e i r e x t e n s i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n in d r a w i n g u p t h e decrees a n d t h e l a w s t h a t g u i d e a l l the activity o f t h e state o r g a n s a n d r e g u l a t e the l i f e o f o u r socialist society, as w e l l as t h e i r m o b i l i z a t i o n to a p p l y these decrees a n d l a w s i n p r a c t i c e . T h e D e m o c r a t i c Front must do a great deal of w o r k to m a k e the laws of the state k n o w n , a n d not s i m p l y t h e i r t e c h n i c a l aspect, but m a i n l y t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l content o f each law, to e d u c a t e the people in the s p i r i t of respect f o r the l a w s o f the state a n d i r r e c o n c i l a b i l i t y w i t h a n y b u r e a u cratic m a n i f e s t a t i o n a n d d i s t o r t i o n i n t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n . O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s s t r i v e n c o n s i s t e n t l y t o d e v e l o p and s t r e n g t h e n the b r o a d d e m o c r a c y of the masses of the people a n d w e h a v e scored great v i c t o r i e s i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . N o t o n l y t h e elections, b u t also a l l t h e a c t i v i t y o f the o r g a n s o f t h e state a n d t h e e c o n o m y , o f e d u c a t i o n a n d
_____________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected Works, vol. 29, p. 196 (Alb. ed.).
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c u l t u r e , t h e w h o l e l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y , t a k e p l a c e o n the basis of s o c i a l i s t d e m o c r a c y . T h e s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y , w h i c h i s being w a g e d w i t h success i n o u r c o u n t r y , i s c l e a n i n g u p a n d o p e n i n g the w a y f o r a g r e a t e r d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o l e t a r i a n d e m o c r a c y , i s s t r e n g t h e n i n g its r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d p o p u l a r s p i r i t a n d r a i s i n g i t t o a h i g h e r l e v e l . I n the c o n t e x t of t h i s struggle, t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t m u s t do a great d e a l o f w o r k t o e n s u r e t h a t the p e o p l e a r e n o t a f r a i d t o h a v e t h e i r say a b o u t e v e r y t h i n g , because t h e y are the m a s t e r s o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d the p o l i t i c a l p o w e r , t h e i r w i l l i s l a w f o r a l l a n d cannot b e v i o l a t e d b y a n y one. A t t h e i r meetings, the o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e D e m o c ratic F r o n t should encourage broad a n d free discussions b y the people o f e v e r y p r o b l e m that i n t e r e s t s o r worries them. In particular, they should encourage open a n d u n r e s e r v e d c r i t i c i s m b y the m a s s e s o f s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d m i s t a k e s . T h e c r i t i c i s m b y the masses a t m e e t i n g s o r through flash-posters should mercilessly deride the b u r e a u c r a t s , those w h o r e m a i n i n d i f f e r e n t a n d a n y o n e w h o v i o l a t e s the d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y a n d the l a w s o f the people's state. B y s t r e n g t h e n i n g the c o n t r o l o f t h e masses f r o m b e l o w o v e r the a c t i v i t y o f t h e state o r g a n s a n d t h e i r apparatuses, b y i n c r e a s i n g the p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e p e o p l e i n r u n n i n g the c o u n t r y a n d b y c o n t i n u a l l y d e v e l o p i n g o u r socialist d e m o cracy, w e s h a l l d r y u p a n y source that gives b i r t h t o b u r e a u c r a c y , w e w i l l b a r t h e w a y t o a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f the b i r t h o f r e v i s i o n i s m a n d a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f the r e s t o r a t i o n of capitalism in our country, and consolidate and further d e m o c r a t i z e o u r people's p o w e r , the m o s t p o w e r f u l w e a p o n i n o u r h a n d s , f o r the c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist society a n d the d e f e n c e o f o u r H o m e l a n d . ..........................
Works, vol. 36
ON COOPERATION AND THE TECHNICAL-SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
From the closing speech delivered at the 3rd Plenum (1) of the CC of the PLA
October 14, 1967
I n m y speech c l o s i n g t h i s p l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l C o m mittee I w a n t to stress c e r t a i n aspects of c o o p e r a t i o n a n d the t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n , w h i c h c o m p r i s e the essence o f t h e r e p o r t s o f the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u a n d t h e v e r y valuable c o n t r i b u t i o n s o f the c o m r a d e s o f t h e C e n t r a l Committee a n d o f o t h e r c o m r a d e s . Cooperation, w h i c h concerns o u r i n d u s t r y today, in the b r o a d sense of t h e t e r m is n o t a n e w p r o b l e m f o r the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d o u r G o v e r n m e n t . It is a p r o b lem w h i c h w e h a v e t o u n d e r s t a n d b o t h t h e o r e t i c a l l y a n d
__________________________________ 1 T h e 3rd P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A was held on October 13-14, 1967. At the P l e n u m t w o reports of the P o l i t i c a l Bureau of the CC of the P L A w e r e d e l i v e r e d : O n the W o r k Done and the Measures to Be T a k e n for the F u l l Utilization of the P r o d u c t i v e Capacities of the Engineering Industry, for Its F u r t h e r Specialization a n d Cooperation, and O n the Work of t h e Organizations of the Party, Mass O r g a nizations and State Organs for Inventions. Rationalizations and Savings in Industry and Constructions and on the F u r t h e r Measures to Be T a k e n for the Development of T h i s M o vement.
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t e c h n i c a l l y , because it seems as if it is o n l y a technical administrative problem. T h e correct i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d a p p l i c a t i o n o f cooperat i o n i n the s y s t e m o f o u r socialist e c o n o m y i s o f m a j o r i m p o r t a n c e . C o o p e r a t i o n i n the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s i s c o m pletely different f r o m cooperation in our country, both as t o its m e a n i n g a n d a s t o its p u r p o s e . I n t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s c o o p e r a t i o n exists, both a m o n g d i f f e r e n t b r a n c h e s o f the e c o n o m y a n d w i t h i n different branches of industry, it exists a m o n g the indust r i a l i s t c a p i t a l i s t s of a state, b e t w e e n t h e m a n d t h e i r bourgeois slate, a n d a m o n g the t r u s t s a n d c o n s o r t i u m s of v a r i o u s c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . S u c h a course has also led to international organizations, i n w h i c h the most p o w e r f u l c a p i t a l i s t trusts d o m i n a t e . A l l this c a p i t a l i s t f o r m o f c o o p e r a t i o n i s b a s e d o n c a p i t a l i s t p r i v a t e o w n e r s h i p , o n the s a v a g e c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n o f the w o r k i n g people, o n t h e s t r u g g l e for d o m i n a t i o n i n n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l m a r k e t s , o n the l a w o f the j u n g l e a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h the b i g f i s h eats the s m a l l fish, o n t h e c r e a t i o n o f o m n i p o t e n t n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l trusts, i n o r d e r t o r u l e a n d b a r b a r o u s l y e x p l o i t the peoples a n d the w e a l t h o f t h e i r c o u n t r i e s . T h e savage l a w o f c o m p e t i t i o n i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t m a r kets i n e v i t a b l y leads, a m o n g s t o t h e r things, t o a n a r c h y in production, w h i c h it is impossible to control. The p o w e r f u l c a p i t a l i s t states s t r i v e b y b r u t a l m e t h o d s to o v e r c o m e it, f i g h t i n g d e s p e r a t e l y t o b r i n g about t h e c a p i talist economic i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e w e a k e r c a p i t a l i s t c o u n tries w i t h those w h i c h h a v e g r e a t e r e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y s t r e n g t h . T h i s leads to the loss of t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c f r e e d o m o f the c o u n t r y w h i c h sets out o n the course of c a p i t a l i s t i n t e g r a t i o n . It is t r a n s f o r m e d into a c o l o n i a l c o u n t r y a n d its people into an e n s l a v e d people. T h i s i s the p l i g h t i n w h i c h the t r e a c h e r o u s T i t o i t e
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course has l a n d e d Y u g o s l a v i a a n d its peoples. Y u g o s l a v s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n has f u l l y o p e n e d the w a y f o r the colonization o f Y u g o s l a v i a b y A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l a n d t h a t of the o t h e r c a p i t a l i s t countries. In Y u g o s l a v i a , t h o u s ands of f a c t o r i e s are b e i n g closed a l l e g e d l y as n o n profitable, b u t t h i s m e a n s the c r e a t i o n o f b i g concerns, which g o b b l e u p the s m a l l ones a n d w h i c h t r a n s f o r m the whole e c o n o m y i n t o a c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m y a n d s u b o r d i n a t e it to f o r e i g n c a p i t a l i s t concerns. F i n a l l y , this radical transformation in Y u g o s l a v i a has resulted in the creation o f that t y p i c a l a n a r c h y i n the e c o n o m y , i n t h e m a r k e t , i n p o l i c y a n d i n i d e o l o g y , w h i c h w e a r e seeing e v e r y day i n the T i t o i t e c a p i t a l i s t h e l l . T h e w h o l e Y u g o s l a v economy i s i n the c l u t c h e s o f A m e r i c a n a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l finance c a p i t a l , w h i c h m a k e s t h e e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l and ideological l a w i n Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r satellites i n the former E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s of people's d e m o c r a c y , l i k e w i s e , arc p r o c e e d i n g o n t h i s s a m e course. I r r e s p e c t i v e o f the forms t h e y e m p l o y , t h e y are s t i c k i n g f a i t h f u l l y t o the Y u g o s l a v c o u r s e a n d the essence a n d a i m s o f t h i s c o u r s e are the same. S u c h a c o u r s e of c a p i t a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t , w h i c h is g u i d e d by the p r i n c i p l e s a n d a i m s I m e n t i o n e d above, cannot accept the e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t of the country on t h e basis of a c e n t r a l i z e d p l a n , a l t h o u g h the revisionists h a v e t h e i r o w n p l a n o f d e v e l o p m e n t , b u t this plan is based on p r i n c i p l e s a n d a i m s d i a m e t r i c a l l y opposed to those by w h i c h o u r socialist e c o n o m y is g u i d e d a n d run. T h i s i s w h y w e see t h a t i n Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e S o v i e t Union, etc.. t h e y h a v e r e j e c t e d or a r e r e j e c t i n g the s o c i a l ist p r i n c i p l e s of t h e c e n t r a l i z e d socialist p l a n n i n g of the economy. C o m e c o n has been t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a r e v i s i o n i s t o r g a nization f o r the c o o p e r a t i o n o f i n d u s t r y a n d m a n y other branches of t h e e c o n o m i e s of the m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s . In
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t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i t i s the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o r u l e and t h r o u g h i t t h e y a i m t o e x p l o i t a n d d i r e c t the economies o f the o t h e r m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s i n t h e i r o w n h e g e m o n i c interests, to f o r c e these e c o n o m i e s in t h e d i r e c t i o n s that suit the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , to l i e up t h e e c o n o m i e s of the o t h e r c o u n t r i e s i n s u c h a w a y that, besides t h i s s h a m socialist c o o p e r a t i o n , t h e y d o m i n a t e these c o u n t r i e s p o l i t i c a l l y , too. Of course C o m e c o n is n o t h i n g b u t a k i n d of comm o n m a r k e t , o r the b o u r g e o i s joint e c o n o m y o f the E u r o p e a n c o m m u n i t y , set up on the basis of the p r i n c i p l e o f e x p l o i t a t i o n a n d o p p r e s s i o n o f the s m a l l b y the m i g h t y , t h e r e f o r e w i t h i n i t t h e r e c a n b e n o t h i n g b u t great c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d s t r u g g l e w i t h one a n o t h e r . T h e r e a c t i o n s o f the Socialist Republic of R u m a n i a . (2) w h i c h still remains a m e m b e r of C o m e c o n . against the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s ' e n s l a v e m e n t are w e l l k n o w n . N o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h the f o r m o f c o o p e r a t i o n i n C o m e c o n , the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s e v e n t r i e d t o i n c l u d e the w h o l e b o r d e r a r e a o f the R u m a n i a n t e r r i tory, i n c l u d i n g B u c h a r e s t , w i t h i n the S o v i e t U n i o n a s an allegedly economic measure, w h i c h more f r a n k l y w o u l d m e a n the c o m p l e t e p o l i t i c a l c o l o n i z a t i o n o f R u m a n i a , too. T h e a n t i - M a r x i s t c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k o f Comecon is accompanied w i t h double capitalist enslav e m e n t , since a l l the m e m b e r s o f the r e v i s i o n i s t C o m e c o n . w i t h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a t the h e a d , i n d i v i d u a l l y , b y m e a n s o f credits a n d c o o p e r a t i o n , h a v e p u t t h e m selves i n b o n d a g e t o a n d i n t o the clutches o f A m e r i c a n and other monopoly capital. O u r P a r t y a n d G o v e r n m e n t , o n the other h a n d , along
_______________________________________ 2 T h e contradictions between the Comecon members are also obvious in the reactions of the R u m a n i a n s against the Khrushchevites' plans w i t h regard to The International E c o n omic Complexes in the context of the Comecon. (See Viata Economica, J u n e 12, 1964.)
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w i t h t h e i r c o m p l e t e d e n u n c i a t i o n o f the t r e a c h e r o u s K h r u shchevite r e v i s i o n i s t s also r e l i n q u i s h e d a n d d e n o u n c e d all the f o r m s of e n s l a v i n g e c o n o m i c c o l l a b o r a t i o n a n d cooperation t h a t t h e y h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d a m o n g themselves A l l o f u s c a n r e m e m b e r the s t r u g g l e o f o u r P a r t y against the o l d renegades f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , the Y u g o s l a v Titoites, w h o , u n d e r t h e d i s g u i s e o f t h e a l l i a n c e , a t t e m p ted to b r i n g a b o u t the p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c u n i f i c a t i o n , designed the close c o - o r d i n a t i o n o f o u r e c o n o m i c p l a n s , i n order to o p e n the w a y to t h e c o l o n i z a t i o n of o u r c o u n t r y o n t h e i r p a r t . H o w e v e r , o u r P a r t y a n d people successfully resisted a l l these h o s t i l e a t t e m p t s a n d t r i u m p h e d o v e r them. T h u s w e g a i n e d v a l u a b l e e x p e r i e n c e i n the theory and p r a c t i c e o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m , a n e x p e rience w h i c h t o d a y is h e l p i n g us to d e v e l o p o u r economy correctly a n d s u c c e s s f u l l y o n the socialist r o a d a n d t o score successes, w h e r e a s the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , on the contrary, s u f f e r defeats. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist e c o n o m y i s c a r r i e d out a c c o r d i n g to a state p l a n , based on M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t principles and organization, inspired by our theory and experience. S u c h a p l a n i s r e a l i s t i c a l l y based o n the o b j e c tive s i t u a t i o n a n d r e a l i t y o f o u r c o u n t r y , i n the d y n a m i c process o f its d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d m a i n l y o n o u r o w n possibilities a n d forces. O u r state p l a n d e v e l o p s a n d t h o r o u g h l y u t i l i z e s a l l the m a t e r i a l a n d m o r a l resources o f the c o u n t r y f o r a single great a i m the c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n of s o c i a l i s m , the c o n t i n u o u s i m p r o v e m e n t a n d r a i s i n g of the m a t e r i a l and c u l t u r a l w e l l - b e i n g of the people. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r economy is h a r m o n i o u s , does not k n o w the v a r i o u s ills f r o m w h i c h the c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m y s u f f e r s a n d w h i c h are part a n d p a r c e l o f t h a t e c o n o m y , does n o t k n o w c r i s e s o f capitalist o v e r - p r o d u c t i o n , u n e m p l o y m e n t , s t a g n a t i o n o r c o m p e t i t i o n o n the m a r k e t .
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A n i n t r i n s i c p a r t o f the state p l a n for the d e v e l o p m e n t of the e c o n o m y is the q u e s t i o n of the h a r m o n i o u s cooper a t i o n of the d i f f e r e n t sectors of o u r e c o n o m y , the sectors of the p r o d u c t i o n of m e a n s of p r o d u c t i o n , the r a i s i n g of the l e v e l a n d t r a i n i n g of the cadres, etc. H e n c e , the p r o blem of cooperation is neither a n e w nor an unknown p r o b l e m t o o u r P a r t y a n d state. I n e v e r y sector o f o u r d e v e l o p m e n t we h a v e a c o m p l e x of f o r m s of c o o p e r a t i o n , w h i c h o f t e n g o u n n o t i c e d , b u t are v e r y o b v i o u s l y o p e r a ting and without w h i c h neither that harmonious developm e n t n o r t h a t o b v i o u s p r o g r e s s c a n exist. C o o p e r a t i o n exists, o r t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s a r e c r e a t e d f o r c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t sectors o f the e c o n o m y a n d w i t h i n e a c h separate sector. L e t u s see h o w t h i s q u e s t i o n s t a n d s i n the a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives. T h e v e r y n a m e c o o p e r a t i v e tells u s t h a t the great idea of c o o p e r a t i o n exists there. In the a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives the t r a n s i t i o n o f m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n f r o m i n d i v i d u a l o w n e r s h i p t o c o m m o n o w n e r s h i p has b e c o m e a fact a n d o n t h i s basis, t h e y a r e w o r k i n g , c o l l a b o r a t i n g , c o o p e r a t i n g together, socially. H e n c e , socialist c o o p e r a t i o n o n t h e basis o f w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r s o c i a l l y a n d the c o m m o n m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n exists i n the a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives. T h i s c o o p e r a t i o n , these basic f a c t o r s are c a r r v i n g o u r a g r i c u l t u r e f o r w a r d , r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g t h e people a n d p r o d u c t i o n , because t h e y organize, r a i s e to a h i g h e r l e v e l w h a t y o u m i g h t c a l l the a r t i s a n style o f w o r k o f the f o r m e r b a c k w a r d , f r a g m e n t e d i n d i v i d u a l e c o n o m y , i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f the c o o p e r a t i o n o f v a r i o u s b r a n c h e s o f t h i s a g r i c u l t u r a l e c o n o m y , i n w h i c h the p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s sentiments of small proprietorship, anarchy in production, i n a w o r d , the n a r r o w interests o f t h e f a m i l y e c o n o m y , the interests of p r i v a t e c a p i t a l w i t h a l l its evils, etc., formerly reigned. However, apart from this basic ideological-political
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and e c o n o m i c c o o p e r a t i o n of t h e p e a s a n t r y t h a t the P a r t y c r e a t e d i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , w i t h i n i t t h e r e exists another m a j o r e c o n o m i c c o o p e r a t i o n w h i c h i s s o closely l i n k e d w i t h i t t h a t i t seems t o u s l i k e s o m e t h i n g n a t u r a l . B o t h o n the o l d i n d i v i d u a l p r o p e r t y i n a g r i c u l t u r e i n the past a n d o n the c o m m o n socialist p r o p e r t y today, there i s close a n d p e r m a n e n t c o o p e r a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e w i t h a n i mal h u s b a n d r y . T h e y are p r o d u c t i o n sectors o f t h e same economic t r u n k , the one c a n n o t d o w i t h o u t t h e other. The c o o p e r a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y , which has become a tradition, a w a y of life, has its own l a w s o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n , w h i c h i f they are v i o l a t e d , i f t h e y a r e not k n o w n a n d a p p l i e d properly, i f t h e y d o n o t r e s p o n d t o t h e o b j e c t i v e s i t u ations c r e a t e d as a r e s u l t of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y and objective t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s , r e s u l t i n d a m a g e b e i n g done t o both sectors s i m u l t a n e o u s l y or o n e s u f f e r i n g as a consequence of d a m a g e to t h e other. W e a r e s t r u g g l i n g t o d e v e l o p t h i s h a r m o n i o u s cooperation f u r t h e r , o n s c i e n t i f i c f o u n d a t i o n s . T h e form a t i o n o f c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e creates t h e p o s sibilities a n d imposes t h e d u t y o n u s t o d e v e l o p these two m a i n b r a n c h e s o f a g r i c u l t u r e h a r m o n i o u s l y a n d w i t h new socialist n o r m s . O u r peasant has e x p e r i e n c e i n a g r i c u l t u r e , gained t h r o u g h the centuries, b u t it m u s t n o t be f o r g o t t e n that in this, as in e v e r y t h i n g else, t h e r e is the o l d e x p e r i e n c e o f the d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e , w h i c h w a s d e t e r m i n e d b y the s m a l l - s c a l e p r o p e r t y , t h e n a r r o w p e r s p e c t i v e o f the c a p i t a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h i s p r o p e r t y i n w h i c h the cooperation o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y , w i t h i n the p r o p e r t y , w a s o r g a n i z e d on the c a p i t a l i s t basis of profit, the m a r k e t , etc. I n t h e past, division of these t h e r e w a s s t i l l a n o t h e r aspect o f two natural sectors of agriculture the in
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o u r c o u n t r y . T h e r e w e r e also c a p i t a l i s t l i v e s t o c k - f a r m e r s , w i t h b i g f l o c k s o f sheep, w h o d e v e l o p e d this branch separately f r o m a g r i c u l t u r e . T h e r e f o r e , a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i o n m u s t not b e c o n s i d e r e d as s o m e t h i n g e a s i l y a t t a i n e d , as something e v e r y o n e k n o w s about, s o t h a t w e act i n a n a n a r c h i c o r u n o r g a n i z e d w a y . I n this g r e a t f a c t o r y w i t h o u t a r o o f , w i t h m a n y k n o w n a n d u n k n o w n factors, w h e r e the factor m a n p l a y s a m a j o r r o l e w i t h his p r o g r e s s i v e o r b a c k w a r d judgements, i n w h i c h k n o w n and u n k n o w n , lasting a n d t e m p o r a r y b i o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n s f o r the p l a n t s and a n i m a l s operate, i n w h i c h t h e r e are o b j e c t i v e l a w s o f nature w h i c h must be k n o w n and p u t in the service of m a n a l l these t h i n g s open u p t o the P a r t y a n d a l l the w o r k i n g people w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n a g r e a t f i e l d of battles a n d e x p e r i m e n t s . B a t t l e f i e l d s h a v e been o p e n e d u p t o u s f o r the further improvement of cooperation in agriculture, for t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the sense o f c o m m o n o w n e r s h i p a n d w o r k i n g together socially, but, a t the same time, w i t h the f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s o f t h e socialist e c o n o m y i n a g r i c u l t u r e w e are w a g i n g a n d m u s t w a g e the big, e x t e n s i v e a n d t h o r o u g h - g o i n g b a t t l e f o r science, f o r m o d e r n a g r o t e c h n i q u e . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n d i f f e r e n t sectors o f the a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s s h o u l d b e c a r r i e d o u t a n d e x t e n d e d so as to i m p a r t a f r e s h i m p e t u s to t h e i r e c o n o m y , t o the w e l l - b e i n g o f the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , a n d t o the n a r r o w i n g o f the d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e . B e g i n n i n g f r o m the u n i t e d cooperatives, ( 3 )
___________________________________ 3 T h e united cooperatives, w h i c h resulted f r o m the union of some s m a l l cooperatives, had new possibilities to strengthen themselves f r o m the economic and organizational aspect, to make better use of the superiority of the n e w socialist order, and consolidate their economic links w i t h the state.
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the local p r o c e s s i n g o f m i l k a n d m i l k - p r o d u c t s , the p r o cessing of v a r i o u s types of f r u i t a n d vegetables, the p r o d u c t i o n of a n u m b e r of p r o d u c t s u r g e n t l y n e e d e d f o r the l i f e o f the v i l l a g e f r o m t h e r e m n a n t s o f p l a n t p r o d u c t s w i l l create a n e w m a t e r i a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n the l i f e of the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t of h a n d i crafts services i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, a n d not only i n the d i r e c t i o n o f r e p a i r i n g w o r k tools, b u t o f clothing a n d soft f u r n i s h i n g s , w o o d w o r k i n g f o r f u r n i t u r e and house b u i l d i n g , t h e c r e a t i o n of the t e a m s of c a r p e n ters a n d j o i n e r s t o g e t h e r w i t h the b u i l d i n g squads i n the villages a l l t h i s c o o p e r a t i o n w i l l g i v e a great, u n p r e c e dented i m p u l s e t o t h e m a t e r i a l , c u l t u r a l a n d m o r a l l i f e i n o u r socialist c o u n t r y s i d e . O n t h e other h a n d , i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives we m u s t r a i s e a great n u m b e r of cadres w h o , besides t h e i r k n o w l e d g e o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y , are equipped w i t h o t h e r s k i l l s , necessary a n d i n d i s p e n s a b l e f o r the v i l l a g e , a n d if n e e d be, to come to t h e assistance of the state sector. T h i s is a m e t h o d , a l t h o u g h e m p i r i c a l , of the p o l y t e c h n i c a l e d u c a t i o n of the v i l l a g e f o l k on a mass scale. If s u c h a m e t h o d of w o r k a n d e d u c a t i o n is also a p plied i n t h e a r m y f r o m w h i c h a great n u m b e r o f people g o back t o t h e i r v i l l a g e s w h e n t h e y h a v e f i n i s h e d t h e i r m i l i t a r y service, i t w i l l s t r e n g t h e n t h i s v e r y necessary orientation for our countryside. If we s e r i o u s l y w a n t to k n o w the past, so as to b u i l d the n e w o n s o l i d basis, w e m u s t not f a i l t o s t u d y h o w the i n t e r n a l c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d a n i m a l husbandry was understood and developed in the time of private ownership and how it is understood and applied today a n d h o w i t w i l l b e d e v e l o p e d i n the f u t u r e . I n t h e knowledge of the land, in w o r k i n g it w e l l , in selecting and d e t e r m i n i n g w h a t c r o p s t o g r o w , i n the d e v e l o p m e n t , r a i s i n g a n d d i v e r s i t y o f the a n i m a l s , i n the r a t i o n a l u t i l i -
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zation of production, implements, modern agricultural m a c h i n e r y , d r a u g h t a n i m a l s a n d p r o d u c t i o n stock, d o w n t o the m e n t a l a n d p h y s i c a l forces o f people, t h e r e a r e so m a n y a f f i n i t i e s , so m a n y f o r m s of indispensable cooperation, w h i c h must be studied in detail a n d d u r i n g the process, the good aspects w h i c h t i m e a n d e x p e r i e n c e a f f i r m must be preserved and further perfected, while o t h e r n e w ones m u s t b e c r e a t e d . I n a w o r d , t h e P a r t y must b e c o n t i n u o u s l y p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h t h i s great process w h i c h comprises an harmonious, scientific cooperation of a l l the branches and means of agriculture. W i t h this I w a n t t o s a y that the p r o b l e m u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n t o d a y has a p o w e r f u l a n d i n d i s p e n s a b l e i n f l u e n c e o n o u r socialist a g r i c u l t u r e , too. I n the socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y w e a r e f o l l o w i n g a n d p e r f e c t i n g the same process g u i d e d b y a p l a n a n d based r e a l i s t i c a l l y on the c o n d i t i o n s a n d p o s i b i l i t i e s o f o u r o w n c o u n t r y , i n t h e f i r s t place. S t a r t i n g f r o m a h a n d i c r a f t s i t u a t i o n w e p r o g r e s s i v e l y set u p o u r heavy and light industry, built mines a n d factories. H o w e v e r , at this stage of the i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r c o u n t r y , too, c o o p e r a t i o n has e x i s t e d i n v a r i o u s f o r m s , both in industry and handicrafts, w i t h i n each of them a n d b e t w e e n each o t h e r , a s w e l l a s b e t w e e n i n d u s t r y a n d a g r i c u l t u r e a n d o t h e r sectors. T h e s e f o r m s o f c o o p e r a t i o n are already w e l l developed and are still developing and being perfected. A s y e t w e are u n a b l e t o g i v e u p a r t i s a n f o r m s o f producing i n d u s t r i a l commodities, but after a period they w i l l be completely replaced by industrial forms of production, while artisan forms w i l l remain in repair work. The the purpose of the s t u d y our we are doing and the of m e a s u r e s w e are productive t a k i n g is to ensure f u l l utilization of especially
capacities of
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the e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y w h i c h w e m u s t c o n c e n t r a t e a n d specialize. T h e e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y n o w has s o l i d bases. I n a u d i t i o n t o the m a n y e n g i n e e r i n g d e p a r t m e n t s i n factories, vehicle p a r k s , the M T S ' s a n d v a r i o u s w o r k s h o p s , e q u i p p e d according to requirements and availability w i t h lathes and other m e t a l - c u t t i n g m a c h i n e s , s p e c i a l e n g i n e e r i n g p l a n t s have b e e n set u p i n o u r c o u n t r y . I n o r d e r t o r a i s e t h e i r e c o n o m i c effectiveness and ensure t h e i r f u r t h e r s p e c i a l i z a t i o n , n o w i t i s urgently necessary to b r i n g a b o u t t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n of these means, so t h a t t h e y a r e no l o n g e r l e f t scattered a l l o v e r the country. Obstacles r a i s e d b y g o v e r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n t s a n d a t i n d i v i d u a l e n t e r p r i s e l e v e l , w h i c h w a n t t o h a v e these weapons, a s y o u m i g h t c a l l t h e m , a t t h e i r d i s p o s a l f o r their o w n needs a n d t r y t o c o n v i n c e u s a b o u t t h e i r needs, must b e o v e r c o m e . O f course t h e y h a v e needs, but m a n y o f t h e i r needs w i l l b e f u l f i l l e d b y the e n g i n e e r i n g p l a n t s . While they ought to keep only some m i n o r machinery for urgent r e p a i r s to e q u i p m e n t . T h e c l a i m s t h a t each e n t e r p r i s e s h o u l d k e e p these means, j u s t i f y i n g this b y d e m a n d i n g that t h e y s h o u l d b e set s u p p l e m e n t a r y tasks, so t h a t t h e y w o r k at f u l l capacity, on t h r e e shifts, etc., etc., do n o t h o l d w a t e r . E x p e r i e n c e u p t o d a t e has p r o v e d this. We m u s t be clear a b o u t the great b e n e f i t s of this concentration. I n the f i r s t place, c o n c e n t r a t i o n b r i n g s about i m p r o v e d u t i l i z a t i o n a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n , creates g r e a t e r p o s s i b i l i t i e s for s p e c i a l i z a t i o n in the p r o d u c t i o n of spare parts f o r a l l t h e m a c h i n e r y i n o u r c o u n t r y . A t the m o m e n t this is t h e m a i n task, the task t h a t comes f i r s t a n d takes precedence o v e r a l l others, a n d second, t h e r e is the question o f the p e r s p e c t i v e f o r t h e g r o w t h o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f the m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e
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e q u i p m e n t f o r s m a l l factories, a n d l a t e r f o r l a r g e r p l a n t s . T h i s cannot b e a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t concentration, and without concentration there is no specialization. S o m e m a y c o m p l a i n a n d s a y : H o w are w e g o i n g t o manage without them? H o w did we manage w h e n we l a c k e d spare p a r t s ? A t t h a t t i m e w e i m p o r t e d t h e m , o v e r c o m i n g a t h o u s a n d obstacles. A r e w e t o g o o n l i k e this? N o . T h e n let's p r o d u c e t h e m a t h o m e , a n d i n o r d e r t o d o t h i s m e a n s a r e needed. T h e r e f o r e , these m e a n s c a n n o l o n ger be at the d i s p o s a l of e v e r y k i n d of f a c t o r y , e n t e r p r i s e , o r w o r k s h o p , w h i c h , a l o n g w i t h the means, also h a n g o n t o the most o u t s t a n d i n g m e c h a n i c s o f the c o u n t r y , w h o a r e capable o f a n d w o u l d b e b e t t e r e m p l o y e d , teaching w h o l e generations o f s k i l l e d t r a d e s m e n r a t h e r t h a n t u r n i n g on occasional detail. W h i l e strengthening our engineering industry, today we are stressing the i n d i s p e n s a b i l i t y of the e x t e n s i o n of cooper a t i o n a m o n g the v a r i o u s b r a n c h e s o f i n d u s t r y . T h i s w i l l be a m a r k e d f e a t u r e of this p e r i o d . I s a y a m a r k e d f e a t u re, since c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n o u r i n d u s t r y a t t h i s stage w i l l strengthen and extend the l i n k s and cooperation w i t h m a n y sectors o f o u r e c o n o m y , w i t h a g r i c u l t u r e , t r a n s p o r t , c o n s t r u c t i o n , f o o d - p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r y , w i t h t h e sector o f s c h o o l i n g a n d e d u c a t i o n , etc., etc. W e are n o w d e v e l o p i n g c o o p e r a t i o n i n t h e m a n u f a c t u r e o f spare parts, a g r i c u l t u r a l i m p l e m e n t s a n d b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s , etc. I n the p r o d u c t i o n o f m a c h i n e r y w e are i n o u r i n fancy, y o u c o u l d say. R e l y i n g o n o u r o w n forces w e h a v e b e g u n t o b u i l d some s m a l l factories, some c o m p l e t e a g r i c u l t u r a l m a c h i n e s , b u t w e s h a l l not stop a t that. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist e c o n o m y has o p e n e d u p n e w p o s s i b i l i ties a n d p e r s p e c t i v e s w h i c h are f u l l y a t t a i n a b l e w i t h i n not a v e r y d i s t a n t f u t u r e . W e h a v e b u i l t a n d are e x t e n d i n g o u r c h r o m i u m , copper, i r o n - n i c k e l , a n d o t h e r m i n e s . O u r s t u dies a n d p r o s p e c t i n g w o r k w i l l f u r t h e r e n r i c h this r a n g e
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of m i n e r a l s . We h a v e l a i d the i n i t i a l bases to start the metallurgical processing of copper and iron, have planned t h e setting u p o f i r o n - n i c k e l a n d f e r r o - c h r o m e m e t a l l u r g y , have created a n d are e x t e n d i n g the e l e c t r i c p o w e r base. A i l this creates p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e p h a s e of a higher, more c o m p l e x c o o p e r a t i o n , w h i c h w i l l e n a b l e u s t o b u i l d machinery, a n d f a c t o r i e s o u r s e l v e s , r e l y i n g o n o u r o w n forces. A s w e a r e seeing, the P a r t y i s p r e p a r i n g this phase. T h i s i s o u r r e a l i t y , t h i s i s the p e r s p e c t i v e . W e must s t r e n g t h e n t h e r e a l i t y s o t h a t the p e r s p e c t i v e w i l l be r e a l i z e d . T h e n w h a t m u s t w e d o ? W e m u s t g o i n t o the t e c h n i c a l scientific r e v o l u t i o n w i t h m u l t i p l i e d forces, not o n l y in industry, b u t also i n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d i n a l l other sectors. W e m u s t p r o g r e s s b e y o n d the a r t i s a n l e v e l i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s , t o a d v a n c e d t e c h n o l o g y a n d m o d e r n a g r o t e c h n i q u e . W e can say that we h a v e the necessary bases to deepen the t e c h nical-scientific r e v o l u t i o n . W e h a v e t h e v i t a l d u t y t o f u l l y utilize a l l t h e a v a i l a b l e capacities a n d p o s s i b i l i t i e s , have the d u t y t o increase these capacities a n d create new possibilities, t o i n c r e a s e o u r p r o d u c t s o v e r t h e i r e n t i r e range a n d t o p r o d u c e a m p l e q u a n t i t i e s a t l o w p r i c e s a n d with g o o d q u a l i t y . I n o r d e r t o d o this p r o p e r l y , w e m u s t place the t e c h nical r e v o l u t i o n o n the o r d e r o f t h e d a y . T h e P a r t y m u s t make i t c l e a r t o a l l the w o r k i n g people, the p u p i l s a n d s t u dents t h a t t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r socialist economy, the r a p i d a n d c o n t i n u o u s r a i s i n g o f t h e w e l l - b e i n g of the people, d e p e n d on the l e v e l of u n d e r s t a n d i n g of this r e v o l u t i o n a n d the m o s t a c t i v e p o s s i b l e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n it. O u r p e o p l e h a v e t o a c q u i r e m o d e r n know-how. This r e q u i r e s w o r k a n d s t u d y , f i r s t o f a l l . T h e m i n d s a n d consciousness o f o u r people m u s t be forced f r o m that sense o f i n f e r i o r i t y , w h i c h has p r e v a i l e d and is s t i l l felt, that a l l e g e d l y we are i n c a p a b l e of m a s t e r -
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i n g m o d e r n e q u i p m e n t , t h a t w e are b a c k w a r d , h a v e n e i t h e r q u a l i f i e d people, n o r t h e necessary m e a n s . F i n a l l y , it should be borne in m i n d that i m p o r t i n g m a n y things w h i c h could be made, w h i c h could be produced at home w i t h o u r o w n m i n d s a n d hands, m u s t g r a d u a l l y come t o a n e n d . T h e t e c h n i c a l c o o p e r a t i o n i s p a r t o f this t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h has b e g u n w i t h t h e setting up of o u r industry, w i t h the training and qualificat i o n o f cadres, w i t h the l a b o u r l e g i s l a t i o n , the a g r o t e c h n i c a l code a n d m a n y o t h e r m e a s u r e s t a k e n i n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d o t h e r sectors of p r o d u c t i o n . If we t a k e a c r i t i c a l l o o k a t the t e c h n i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r cadres a n d w o r k e r s , we can say w i t h complete conviction that the result is very positive and exceptionally encouraging and there is n o r o o m t o say t h a t w e c a n n o t m a k e this, we c a n n o t m a k e that. O u r people are c a p a b l e o f m a k i n g a n y t h i n g , the same as the best of t h e o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , p r o v i d e d we further develop the possibilities for w o r k a n d study. A l l o u r p e o p l e are v e r y m u c h c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e i r o w n a d v a n c e m e n t , a task c o n n e c t e d w i t h the b u i l d i n g u p a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f the e c o n o m y . E v e r y o n e i s t r y i n g t o l e a r n , to i n v e n t a n d to create. W h a t he i n v e n t s or creates (it is of no i m p o r t a n c e w h e t h e r t h e y h a v e i n v e n t e d it in other countries w h i c h have advanced very m u c h further) e m b o d i e s that great c r e a t i v e w i l l a n d t h a t political a n d i d e o l o g i c a l p r i n c i p l e o f the class w h i c h the Party teaches us, w h i c h m a k e o u r m a n v e r y capable and p r e p a r e h i m t o pass f r o m the a r t i s a n stage i m p o s e d b y t h e o b j e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n s of o u r c o u n t r y in the past, to t h a t of inventions and rationalizations. I n T i r a n a a n d e l s e w h e r e , these r e c e n t y e a r s w e see that around nearly every big plant that we have built, w o r k shops a n d s o m e t i m e s m a n y s m a l l f a c t o r i e s are g o i n g u p , i n w h i c h p r o d u c t s are t r a n s f o r m e d a n d n e w consumer p r o d u c t s a r e t u r n e d out. S o m e t i m e s t h e y m i g h t not b e all
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fully p r o f i t a b l e , b u t a p a r t f r o m o t h e r reasons, this comes about because the a m o u n t o f p r o d u c t i o n i s s t i l l s m a l l . T a k ing i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e l a r g e q u a n t i t y a n d w i d e r a n g e of products that our people need we are d u t y b o u n d to begin t o b u i l d n e w a u t o m a t i z e d m o d e r n p r o d u c t i o n m a c h i nery, w i t h o u r o w n forces, o n a m o r e e x t e n s i v e scale a n d of a h i g h e r l e v e l . W h e n I s a y t h a t t h e y a r e a u t o m a t i z e d , I don't m e a n c o m p l e t e a u t o m a t i o n a t t h i s m o m e n t . T h i s w i l l come l a t e r , n e v e r t h e l e s s w e m u s t n e v e r lose s i g h t o f this q u e s t i o n w h e n w e i m p o r t m a c h i n e s a n d f a c t o r i e s f r o m abroad. The more developed and more organized co-operation w e are e s t a b l i s h i n g w i l l p l a y a m a j o r r o l e i n the s t r e n g thening o f these s m a l l f a c t o r i e s . T h e s e w o r k s h o p s , r a n k i n g a s s m a l l f a c t o r i e s , w h i c h a r e v e r y necessary f o r t h e p r e sent, w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b e g o o d a u x i l i a r i e s t o o u r l i g h t industry for a long time, even w h e n we are able to b u i l d m o d e r n factories. In order to deepen our technical-scientific revolution, basing o u r s e l v e s o n t h e o b j e c t i v e r e a l i t y o f o u r c o u n t r y a n d its i n e v i t a b l e p e r s p e c t i v e , w e h a v e t o act i n m a n y d i r e c t i o n s . T h e technical-scientific revolution requires all-round mobilization, special attention and concern for the study of theory and practice, closely l i n k e d w i t h a n d never isolated f r o m each other. T h e o r y m u s t not b e u n d e r r a t e d , a s i t i s b y some, w h o , l a c k i n g the w i l l t o s t u d y , s l i p into positions o f p r a c t i c i s m , w h i c h i n m a n y cases t h e y a l l o w t o degenerate i n t o a r o u t i n e d e v o i d of p e r s p e c t i v e . P r a c t i c e is blind without theory, w h i l e theory is dead without practice. D e v e l o p m e n t t a k e s p l a c e on the basis of a series o f genetic, b i o l o g i c a l , p h y s i c a l , c h e m i c a l a n d o t h e r l a w s , and w i t h o u t k n o w i n g t h e m i n t h e i r c o m p l e x i t y a n d p a r t i cularity y o u cannot carry f o r w a r d the technicalscientific revolution. Some think in a simplist manner and say: Well, even w i t h o u t s c h o o l i n g , e v e n w i t h o u t t h e o r y , w e are
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c a r r y i n g the w o r k f o r w a r d , basing ourselves s i m p l y on e x p e r i e n c e a n d p r a c t i c e . S u c h people f o r g e t t h a t the l a w s of w h i c h I spoke above operate in practice even w i t h o u t being t h o r o u g h l y k n o w n , b u t t h e y d o n o t o p e r a t e i n h a r mony, therefore, through ignorance of them, m a n y u n e x p e c t e d a n d i n e x p l i c a b l e t h i n g s occur, o r f o r w h i c h t h e y give an empirical explanation and without foundation, w h e r e a s f o r t h e results a c h i e v e d t h e y f i n d f o r t u i t o u s r e a sons, v e r y o f t e n n o n - e x i s t e n t a n d i m a g i n a r y , o r ones that are n o t e v e n r e m o t e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e p h e n o m e n o n . B u t t h e l a c k o f t h e o r y , science, a n d s p e c i a l c u l t u r e makes the overwhelming majority of simple practical w o r k e r s careless i n t h e i r p r a c t i c e o f o b s e r v i n g , r e c o r d i n g , a n d c o m b i n i n g acts a n d p h e n o m e n a , i n t h e comparison a n d c o n f r o n t a t i o n o f t h e m w i t h one a n o t h e r . T h e y l e a v e t h e conclusions t o t h e u n k n o w n a n d u n e x p e c t e d , t o chance. T h e i r d i s c i p l i n e i n p r a c t i c e i s slack, t h e i r m e t h o d o l o g y i s weak a n d m a n y a time non-existent. E v e n if a certain level of development is achieved through lengthy practice, s t i l l t h e r e s u l t m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d u n s a t i s f a c t o r y , because i t has t a k e n a l o n g t i m e t o c a r r y o u t t h i s e x p e r i m e n t , m u c h t i m e has b e e n lost, a n d the r e s u l t i s c o n t i n u a l l y o u t stripped, if further attempts are made for advance. O n the o t h e r h a n d , the t h e o r y l e a r n e d i n t h e b o o k s a n d detached f r o m l i f e a n d p r a c t i c e (or p e r h a p s l i n k e d only w i t h t h e l a b o r a t o r y , t h i s b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d as a p u r p o s e , n o t as a means) r e m a i n s s o m e t h i n g i n a n i m a t e , lifeless, s o m e t h i n g dead. S o m e o v e r r a t e s u c h a n understanding o f science a n d theory, b u t w e c a n c o n s i d e r t h e m people w i t h o u t m u c h v a l u e a n d a n t i - s c i e n t i f i c , since t h e y have n o t u n d e r s t o o d t h e A B C t h a t t h e t h e o r y a n d science w h i c h i s l e a r n e d i n the b o o k s e x p l a i n s o r synthesizes l o n g p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e , e x p l a i n s the o b j e c t i v e l a w s o f n a t u r e , a n d these l a w s a n d e x p e r i e n c e h a v e t o b e tested i n t h e c o n t i n u o u s d y n a m i s m of the ceaseless d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e
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m a t e r i a l w o r l d t h a t n e v e r stands s t i l l , a s s u c h so-called scientists d o w h e n t h e y s t a n d u n e n l i g h t e n e d o v e r their books i n l a b o r a t o r i e s d e v o i d o f l i f e . It w o u l d be w r o n g to t h i n k that only a few learned people w h o h a v e b o t h t h e o r y a n d science, e v e n i f they amount t o some t h o u s a n d s , w i l l c a r r y o u t t h e t e c h n i c a l scientific r e v o l u t i o n . N o , l i k e e v e r y g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n , the technical-scientific revolution w i l l be carried out by the b r o a d masses of t h e people, t h e b r o a d masses of the w o r k i n g people, w h o a r e s t i l l f a r f r o m m a s t e r i n g t h e o r y a n d science, a n d f o r t h i s t o b e a c h i e v e d a l o n g t i m e yet w i l l be needed a n d a continuity must be created on this endless q u e s t i o n . The appropriate material means for such a suitable mass e d u c a t i o n a r e l a c k i n g f o r the t i m e b e i n g , b u t these means a n d w i t h t h i s I m e a n the schools of e v e r y k i n d , the i n s t i t u t e s , a n d the f a c u l t i e s we p a r t l y possess, a n d we are developing and enriching them every year. There i s n o e n d t o this e n r i c h m e n t , b u t n e v e r t h e l e s s the b r o a d masses w i l l not a l l b e c a p a b l e o f r i s i n g t o a h i g h l e v e l i n r e g a r d to t h e s t u d y of t h e o r y . H o w e v e r , there is a r e m e d y for this impossibility. O u r people, w h o c o m p l e t e t h e i r s c h o o l i n g i n m a n y d i r e c t i o n s , b y l i n k i n g t h e m s e l v e s c l o s e l y w i t h t h e people o f p r o duction, w i t h the practice of production, must vest this practice w i t h t h e i r s c i e n t i f i c knowledge and scientific discipline. W h a t do I mean by vesting w i t h scientific knowledge? I t h i n k t h a t one of the p r i n c i p a l duties of t h e p e r s o n w h o has l e a r n i n g a n d s c h o o l i n g , h a v i n g f i r s t g a i n e d e x p e r i e n c e o f p r a c t i c e h i m s e l f a n d l i n k e d i t c l o s e l y w i t h science, i s t o e x p l a i n t o the p r a c t i c a l w o r k e r s the s c i e n t i f i c l a w s w h i c h a r e the basis o f h i s e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d p r a c t i c a l w o r k . H e m u s t n o t proceed f r o m t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t a c e r t a i n w o r k e r i s m a k i n g bolts o r t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t w o r k s w i t h the hoe, t h e r e f o r e
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there is nothing m o r e I can teach them. S u c h education is c a r r i e d out t h r o u g h m a n y courses a n d conferences l i k e those b e i n g h e l d , i n w h i c h t h e r e i s a v e r y p r a i s e w o r t h y s p i r i t , b u t also d u r i n g w o r k , a s w e l l a s i n free, i n d i v i d u a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s , p r o v i d e d o n l y w e a l w a y s bear i n m i n d the g r e a t o b j e c t i v e t h a t cadres s h o u l d be e d u c a t e d en m a s s e w i t h scientific knowledge. In this w a y we shall create w h o l e a r m i e s o f people w h o c a n n o t a t t e n d s p e c i a l schools, but f o r w h o m p o s s i b i l i t i e s a r e c r e a t e d t o c l a r i t y a n d e n r i c h t h e i r p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d i n t h e course o f w o r k w i t h theory, s o t h a t b r o a d h o r i z o n s o f w o r k a n d d e v e l o p m e n t are o p e n e d t o t h e m a n d r e a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r s t u d y , p r o g r e s s a n d d e v e l o p m e n t c r e a t e d . I n t h i s case s c i e n c e a n d learning w i l l no longer be a bogy to them. What do I m e a n by vesting practice w i t h scientific d i s c i p l i n e ? W i t h o u t i r o n d i s c i p l i n e t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n degenerates t o a n a r c h y . T h e same t h i n g h a p p e n s w i t h the t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n , too, w h i c h , l i k e e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n , i s g u i d e d f i r s t o f a l l b y p o l i t i c s . H e n c e , this, too, must be guided by a strong scientific discipline. T h e peasants t o a g r e a t e r e x t e n t a n d t h e workers s o m e w h a t less, d o not recognize, d o not f e e l the n e e d f o r a n d the f o r c e o f this s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e i n the r e v o l u t i o nization of production. T h i s is the source of a l l those s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d weaknesses w h i c h w e c r i t i c i z e and combat every day. We are fighting to establish this scientific discipline, but still we are v e r y far f r o m what we want to attain. T h e r e are rules, d i s c i p l i n e i s r e q u i r e d i n e v e r y process o f w o r k . T h i s d i s c i p l i n e does n o t consist o n l y i n t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e n o r m , t h e s p e e d o f t h e d r i l l , o r t u r n i n g out f o r w o r k i n t h e f i e l d s i n the m o r n i n g . S c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e i s based o n k n o w l e d g e a n d p r o p e r a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e process w h i c h develops a n d t r a n s f o r m s m a t t e r a n d t h e process itself. T h e s m e l t i n g a n d t e m p e r i n g o f i r o n h a v e a d e f i n i t e
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scientific process, b u t t h e r e is also a s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e connected w i t h it, a n d i f y o u d o n o t a p p l y i t p r o p e r l y , a t the g i v e n t i m e , t h e process does h o t p r o c e e d n o r m a l l y . This i s w h a t h a p p e n s with many o t h e r processes of i n d u s t r y , too. T h e s a m e c a n be s a i d of the processes of agriculture as w e l l . The discipline of time in agriculture, w h e n the various crops s h o u l d b e s o w n , w h e n t h e y s h o u l d b e h o e d , i r r i g a t e d , etc., i s a n e m p i r i c a l d i s c i p l i n e w h i c h i s n o t t h e o n l y t h i n g required. No, we must establish a scientific discipline in a l l these w o r k processes, because t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d its r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n d o n o t d e p e n d o n a m e c h a n i c a l , a m a t e u r i s h w o r k i n g , b u t t h e s o i l , the plant, t h e f e r t i l i z e r , w a t e r , s u n , etc., etc., h a v e t h e i r b i o l o g i c a l , genetic, p h y s i c a l , c h e m i c a l l a w s i n t h e c o m p l e x i t y o f w h i c h n e i t h e r a m a t e u r i s m n o r a n a r c h y are p e r m i s s i b l e , because t h e y o p e r a t e a n d i n f l u e n c e e a c h o t h e r f o r b e t t e r o r w o r s e . N o t o n l y m u s t w e k n o w these processes, b u t w e m u s t also act a c c o r d i n g t o r u l e s a n d w i t h s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e s o a s t o p r e v a i l o v e r those l a w s a n d g u i d e t h e m t o serve the a i m s of m a n . Scientific experiments, to w h i c h we must give an i m p u l s e i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s , a r e p a r t a n d p a r c e l o f t h i s great technical-scientific revolution w h i c h we are c a r r y i n g out and m u s t d e v e l o p e v e r y w h e r e . T h e s e s c i e n t i f i c e x p e r i m e n t s need s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e a n d t h i s r e q u i r e s s c i e n t i f i c k n o w ledge o f t h e process a n d scientific application of this k n o w l e d g e , t o t h e p o i n t t h a t a c c o u n t i s t a k e n o f the slightest c h a n g e t h a t t h i n g s u n d e r g o in the course of d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . A s yet w e h a v e not succeeded i n s u m m i n g u p a l l these s c i e n t i f i c e x p e r i m e n t s p r o p e r l y a n d a p p l y i n g t h e i r r e s u l t s o n a n a t i o n a l scale. T h e r e i s great h e s i t a t i o n a b o u t p u t t i n g t h e m i n t o p r a c t i c e . T h e i r dissemination a n d the revolutionization of production are hampered to a considerable extent by the lack of centra-
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l i z e d o r g a n i z a t i o n , b u r e a u c r a c y a n d the r o u t i n e o f the p l a n , v i e w e d n a r r o w l y f r o m the s t a n d p o i n t o f a v o i d i n g w o r r i e s a n d b r a i n - r a c k i n g . T h e d i s c i p l i n e o f the p l a n w h i c h i s a l w a y s m e n t i o n e d , but w h i c h i s v i o l a t e d i n m a n y cases, i s m a d e t h e m o s t serious obstacle w h e n it is a m a t t e r of the revolutionization of p r o d u c t i o n . . . In a few words we must: 1. A t t a c h v e r y great i m p o r t a n c e to the s y s t e m a t i c e d u c a t i o n o f cadres e n m a s s e i n a l l sectors t h r o u g h schools, courses, w o r k , etc. I n the o u t l o o k o f o u r p e o p l e w e s h o u l d i m p l a n t t h e n e e d t o l e a r n t h r o u g h o u t t h e i r lives, the need f o r c o n t i n u o u s i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d not j u s t i n t h e n a r r o w , petty, egoistic sense o f e a r n i n g one's l i v i n g , b u t f i r s t o f a l l i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d m a s t e r science a n d k n o w l e d g e , t o t r a n s f o r m n a t u r e , t o m a k e t h e H o m e l a n d a n d the l i f e of the people p r o s p e r o u s . O n l y t h e f o r m a t i o n o f s u c h a b r o a d a n d correct concept o f l e a r n i n g a n d i m p r o v e m e n t w i l l r e m o v e a n d e l i m i n a t e the m e a n s p i r i t w h i c h i s e x p r e s s e d i n the v i e w s : I s h o u l d m a k e some e f f o r t s to a t t a i n a h i g h e r c a t e g o r y a n d s o increase m y p a y ; o r Since I h a v e a l r e a d y a t t a i n e d t h e h i g h e s t category, d u e t o m y q u a l i f i c a t i o n , w h y b o t h e r m y s e l f w i t h f u r t h e r l e a r n i n g . T h e s e are m o u l d y ideas that stop y o u seeing b e y o n d y o u r o w n nose, because i f everyone were to think so n a r r o w l y then we w o u l d m a r k time a n d never be able to produce o u r o w n bread. E v e r y citizen of our R e p u b l i c ought to have the perspective clear a n d w o r k t o a c h i e v e it, b y p a s s i n g f r o m s i m p l e e d u c a t i o n t o the h i g h e s t a n d most c o m p l e x e d u c a t i o n . E v e r y o n e o u g h t t o k e e p u p w i t h the t i m e s , t h e s i t u a t i o n s , the c o n d i t i o n s t h a t a r e created a n d w i t h the needs, n o t just o f h i m s e l f a n d his f a m i l y , w h i c h are n a r r o w p e r s o n a l needs, b u t those o f the w h o l e society. T h e masses m u s t h a v e a c l e a r v i e w of the p e r s p e c t i v e a n d the f u t u r e , m u s t see o u r w o r l d i n d e v e l o p m e n t s o
THE TECHNICALSCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION that e v e r y o n e w i l l b e a b l e t o e m e r g e integument of his petty w o r l d . 2. The advanced equipment, which which we shall add in the future, must set i n m o t i o n b y v a n g u a r d p e o p l e o f ideological and technical level.
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f r o m the n a r r o w we have and to be mastered and a h i g h political,
3 . I n d i v i d u a l advances, i n n o v a t i o n s a n d r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s should b e u n d e r s t o o d a n d b e c o m e c o m p o n e n t p a r t s o f the w o r k o f b r o a d collectives, s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d assets o f the masses t o a c h i e v e t h e a i m s a n d a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e e n t i r e people. The movement for inventions a n d rationalizations must n o t h a v e a r e s t r i c t e d i n d i v i d u a l d i r e c t i o n , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h a t i n d i v i d u a l ideas a n d e f f o r t s are o n t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f i t a n d s h o u l d b e e n c o u r a g e d , since t h e y are indispensable. T h r o u g h his invention a n d rationalization, the i n d i v i d u a l s h o u l d f e e l h i m s e l f p o l i t i c a l l y a m e m b e r o f the c o l l e c t i v e i n w h i c h h e w o r k s , a n d h i s i d e a a n d r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s h o u l d b e e m b r a c e d b y t h e e n t i r e c o l l e c t i v e not w h e n i t has a s s u m e d its p e r f e c t f o r m , b u t i t s h o u l d b e subjected t o d i s c u s s i o n a n d i m p r o v e m e n t b y b r o a d groups o f w o r k e r s o f t h e c o l l e c t i v e r i g h t f r o m t h e start, because this i s t h e o n l y w a y t o d e v e l o p a n d s h a r p e n t h e c r e a t i veness o f t h e masses, a n d o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t o c o m b a t the h a n k e r i n g a f t e r p e r s o n a l g l o r y w h i c h i s a n egoistic and petty-bourgeois feeling. I t h i n k t h a t i f w e act i n t h i s w a y t h e p r o c r a s t i n a t i o n and bureaucratic w o r k in accepting and applying inventions a n d r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s w i l l b e c o m b a t e d . A d i r e c t o r , a n engineer or a m i n i s t r y w i l l f i n d it h a r d to delay or to leave i n a d r a w e r , g a t h e r i n g d u s t , t h e w o r k o v e r w h i c h groups o f w o r k e r s a n d specialists, w h o h a v e combined t h e i r c r e a t i v e forces, h a v e t o i l e d , a s t h e y are a b l e t o d o w i t h the i n v e n t i o n or rationalization of an i n d i v i d u a l . 4. T h e complete unity of workers and technicians,
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t h e close l i n k s o f w o r k a n d m u t u a l e d u c a t i o n i n M a r x i s t proletarian modesty, the joint creative w o r k , the c o m m o n s t r u g g l e against a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f conceit a n d h a r m f u l i n h i b i t i o n , a g a i n s t a n y u n d e r r a t i n g o f t h e other's w o r k a n d creativeness, against a n y k i n d o f c o n s e r v a t i s m a n d s c e p t i c i s m i n r e g a r d t o the s t r e n g t h a n d c r e a t i v e a b i l i t y o f o u r w o r k i n g people, s h o u l d b e a c h i e v e d . 5. We must raise the entire younger generation to a h i g h p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d t e c h n i c a l l e v e l so that t h e y become the p i l l a r o f this t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n , p a r t a n d p a r c e l o f o u r socialist r e v o l u t i o n . T h e university students must have a thorough political and i d e o l o g i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the v a l u e o f the l e a r n i n g a n d science w h i c h t h e y a c q u i r e a t school a n d i n p r a c t i c a l a c t i v i t y a n d s t r i v e t o d e v e l o p i t f u r t h e r i n l i f e , i n the interests of the people a n d s o c i a l i s m . I n a l l o u r i n d u s t r y , a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n the e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y , w e m u s t g i v e t h e greatest a t t e n t i o n t o the q u a l i f i c a t i o n o f t h e w o r k e r s . I n this d i r e c t i o n , a l l possible f o r m s a n d a l l the c o n c e r n o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f every f a c t o r y , e n g i n e e r i n g p l a n t a n d the v a r i o u s engineers must be utilized. The struggle must be concentrated on t h e e f f o r t s t o t u r n the w o r k e r s i n t o specialists, t o p r e p a r e thousands a n d t h o u s a n d s o f r e a l m a s t e r c r a f t s m e n w i t h o u t w h o m our industry in general and the engineering i n d u s t r y i n p a r t i c u l a r , cannot a d v a n c e . T h e s e s k i l l e d w o r k e r s are its b a c k b o n e . W i t h o u t t h e m , t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l processes c a n n o t b e a p p l i e d p r o p e r l y , t h e c a p a c i t y o f m a c h i n e r y , the w o r k i n g t i m e a n d speed o f m a c h i n e s o n p r e c i s i o n w o r k cannot b e f u l l y e x p l o i t e d , i n v e n t i o n s a n d r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s w h i c h g i v e a n i m p u l s e t o p r o d u c t i o n cannot b e made, the i n t e r n a l reserves c a n n o t b e p r o p e r l y e x p l o ited or r a w materials used f r u g a l l y and p r o d u c t i v i t y cannot b e increased. H e n c e , w i t h o u t these s k i l l e d w o r k e r s , the w o r k cannot b e done p r o p e r l y .
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The perfect organization of w o r k in factories and plants i s based n o t o n l y o n a d o p t i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m e a sures, b u t m o s t l y o n w h a t I m e n t i o n e d above, n e v e r forgetting that, a l o n g w i t h the w o r k t o t r a i n w o r k e r s w h o a r e r e a l m a s t e r s o f t h e i r trade, w e m u s t w o r k t o ensure t h a t t h e y a r e a l s o v a n g u a r d w o r k e r s f r o m the political a n d i d e o l o g i c a l aspect. H e n c e , the r o l e of the Party, o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n i s great, m a n y - s i d e d a n d not s i m p l e a n d e a s y a s some m a y c o n c e i v e it. T h e task o f the P a r t y a n d its e d u c a t i o n i s n o t a n d m u s t n e v e r b e divorced f r o m the technical t r a i n i n g of w o r k e r s and master c r a f t s m e n . T h e v e r y fact t h a t these p r o b l e m s h a v e been t a k e n u p a n d discussed b y t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e proves this, because, o t h e r w i s e , t h e y c o u l d b e d e a l t w i t h s i m p l y b y g o v e r n m e n t decisions t h r o u g h the M i n i s t r y o f Industry and M i n i n g . T h e r e f o r e , w h e n w e s p e a k a b o u t the a p p l i c a t i o n o f t e c h n o l o g i c a l processes, the r e d u c t i o n of the h o u r s of w o r k i n v a r i o u s processes, w h e n w e speak a b o u t p r o d u c t i o n a n d s k i l l f u l use o f p r e c i s i o n i n s t r u m e n t s , a b o u t the q u a l i t i e s w h i c h m e t a l s h a v e o r w e m u s t g i v e t h e m , a b o u t the techn i c a l - e c o n o m i c aspects o f s p e c i a l i z e d p r o d u c t i o n a n d p r o d u c t i o n i n series, w e m u s t not f o r g e t a t a n y m o m e n t the factor m a n , t h e m a i n , d e c i s i v e factor. T h e r e f o r e w e m u s t w o r k t o e n s u r e that m a n i s educated, s p e c i a l i z e d a n d a t t a ins the h i g h e s t p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d t e c h n i c a l l e v e l . T h e t r a i n i n g o f cadres t h e m s e l v e s o n this e x t e n s i v e scale t o a c h i e v e the great c u l t u r a l a n d t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n calls f o r p e r f e c t c o - o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n w o r k and school, b e t w e e n t h e needs a n d t h e possibilities, between q u a n t i t y a n d q u a l i t y , b e t w e e n t h e present s i t u a t i o n and the p e r s p e c t i v e . ....
Works, vol. 36
FOR THE FURTHER REVOLUTIONIZATION OF OUR SCHOOL
Speech delivered at the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the PLA
March 7, 1968
A s i t happens, t h e d a y o n w h i c h the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u is t a k i n g up the question of the school coincides w i t h Teachers' D a y , therefore, on this occasion we direct o u r thoughts to a l l the m e n a n d w o m e n teachers of o u r c o u n t r y w h o w o r k t i r e l e s s l y t o p e r f o r m a great p a t r i o t i c task, a n d w h i l e e x p r e s s i n g o u r g r a t i t u d e , w e w i s h t h e m f u r t h e r success i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y e d u c a t i o n o f our y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n o n the r o a d o f t h e P a r t y . O u r p e o p l e s a y : L i f e i t s e l f i s a school. I n t e r m s of our materialist philosophy, this means that learning should always continue and proceed uniterruptedly, p a r a l l e l w i t h a n d t h r o u g h o u t the w h o l e o f l i f e ; i t means, a t t h e s a m e time, t h a t m e n t a l w o r k i s i n d i s s o l u b l y l i n k e d w i t h p r a c t i c a l w o r k . T h i s m e a n s t h a t t h r o u g h o u t the w h o l e l i f e o f m a n , w o r k , p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h o u g h t are i n a c o m p l e m e n t a r y r e l a t i o n t o one a n o t h e r , i n w h i c h m a t ter is p r i m a r y and thought secondary. L e a r n i n g and t h i n k i n g are p r o d u c t s a n d r e f l e c t i o n s o f t h e d i a l e c t i c a l d e v e l opment of matter. H e n c e , the t r u i s m t h a t l e a r n i n g , the p r o g r e s s i v e d e v e l -
THE REVOLUTIONIZATION OF THE SCHOOL
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opment of t h o u g h t , is n o t m e r e l y a d u t y , b u t m u s t be considered a n a t u r a l p h e n o m e n o n , w h i c h i s l i n k e d w i t h and o r i g i n a t e s f r o m t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f m a t t e r , f r o m its d i a l e c t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , hence, a n objective n e c e s s i t y f o r m a n a n d society. A t a l l t i m e s , a t every stage of h i s l i f e , m a n , as a n a t u r a l m a t e r i a l b e i n g , undergoes c o n t i n u o u s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , l i k e e v e r y t h i n g t h a t s u r r o u n d s h i m . H e creates, t h i n k s , l e a r n s a n d a g a i n creates and t r a n s f o r m s . A l l this m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d a s a c o n t i nuous, u n i n t e r r u p t e d process f r o m the c r a d l e t o t h e g r a v e . This i s a n a t u r a l l a w . T h e schools w e are d i s c u s s i n g today, have been o r g a n i z e d o n t h e basis o f this l a w o f m a t e r i a list d e v e l o p m e n t . S c h o o l s a n d l e a r n i n g s h o u l d n o t b e considered separate t h i n g s w h i c h b e l o n g o n l y t o one period of t h e l i f e of m a n , or as a basis a d e q u a t e f o r a l l time, p e r f e c t , w i t h i n a c y c l e o f n o r m s l a i d d o w n t o f a c i l i t a t e the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l w o r k of education and teaching. F r o m this l a w stems the q u e s t i o n o f mass p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n s c h o o l i n g a n d e d u c a t i o n , t h a t is, w h a t the P a r t y has a l w a y s s a i d t h a t a l l o f u s w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n s h o u l d apply o u r s e l v e s t o l e a r n i n g , s h o u l d a c q u i r e e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t o u r l i v e s , so that we are a b l e to create, so t h a t thought guides p r o d u c t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t . B u t t o e n s u r e that t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t proceeds c o r r e c t l y o n t h e r o a d o f our u n i n t e r r u p t e d s o c i a l i s t r e v o l u t i o n , o u r t h o u g h t , e d u c a tion a n d s c h o o l i n g m u s t h a v e o u r m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y a s t h e i r basis i n e v e r y t h i n g . We say, a n d it is a fact, t h a t 8-year s c h o o l i n g is o b l i g a tory b y l a w , b u t w e o u g h t t o s a y a n d u n d e r s t a n d that all the schools i n t h e i r v a r i o u s f o r m s , a n d not j u s t those of the c y c l e s we h a v e set d o w n at present, s h o u l d be o b l i g a t o r y f o r a l l , n o t i n the s i m p l e l e g a l sense, a s o u r 8-year s c h o o l is, b u t i n t h e sense o f t h e l a w o f o u r materialist philosophy.
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T h e p r o b l e m o f the organization and pursuit of schooling, t h a t is, o f u n i n t e r r u p t e d e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t to w h o l e l i f e of m a n , is a v e r y i m p o r t a n t m a t t e r that c a n n o t be a c h i e v e d a n d p e r f e c t e d w i t h i n a short p e r i o d a n d o n l y w i t h i n t h e b o u n d s o f the e x i s t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n of the school, because, r e g a r d l e s s of the p r o g r e s sive changes o u r s c h o o l has u n d e r g o n e a n d i s u n d e r g o i n g , i t s t i l l contains c e r t a i n i d e a l i s t concepts i n h e r i t e d f r o m the p h i l o s o p h y o f the b o u r g e o i s school, concepts w h i c h h a v e become a r o u t i n e , f e t t e r i n g the m i n d s of m a n y of o u r people a n d o u r teachers, w h o m t h e y d r a g astray, h i n d e r a n d m a k e c o n s e r v a t i v e , w i t h o u t t h e i r r e a l i z i n g t h i s o r d e s i r i n g it. O u r n e w s c h o o l , l i k e e v e r y t h i n g else i n o u r s o c i a l i s t order, m u s t h a v e its o w n l a w s o f d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h c o n f o r m t o a n d serve o u r e c o n o m i c a n d social s t r u c t u r e , since t h e school a n d e d u c a t i o n a r e a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f the s u p e r s t r u c t u r e w h i c h m u s t b e g u i d e d b y o u r M a r x ist-Leninist materialist philosophy. I n o u r socialist order, t h e s c h o o l a n d education s h o u l d b e o r g a n i z e d i n the same w a y a s w o r k a n d the e x t e n d e d socialist r e p r o d u c t i o n are o r g a n i z e d , a n d p a r a l l e l w i t h t h e m , s o t h a t t h e y r e s p o n d t o t h e o b j e c t i v e needs of s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m , so t h a t the e x p e r i e n c e of p r o d u c t i o n serves t h o u g h t , s o t h a t the d e v e l o p m e n t o f m a t ter c l a r i f i e s t h o u g h t a n d t h e l a t t e r g u i d e s a n d assists t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y practice, t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f society. F r o m the p r e - L i b e r a t i o n p e r i o d w e i n h e r i t e d a h e t e r o g e n o u s c y c l e o f schools e x t e n d i n g f r o m e l e m e n t a r y t o s e c o n d a r y schools, l a c k i n g r e g u l a r o r g a n i z a t i o n , w i t h g r e a t s h o r t c o m i n g s , b o t h i n t h e i r f o r m s a n d i n the c r i t e r i a o f t h e i r s t r u c t u r e , i n t h e content o f t h e subjects, n o t t o m e n tion their political, ideological and pedagogical line utt e r l y a l i e n t o o u r socialist school. T h e Z o g r e g i m e , a n o r i e n t a l f e u d a l r e g i m e , w a s opposed t o the e d u c a t i o n a l a n d
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c u l t u r a l u p l i f t o f t h e people a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , schools w e r e its last c o n c e r n . Elementary schooling was limited, not only in the villages, w h e r e o r g a n i z e d i g n o r a n c e r e i g n e d s u p r e m e , but also i n t h e t o w n s . I n those d i s t r i c t s w h e r e t h e r e w e r e some e l e m e n t a r y schools, t h e n u m b e r o f t h e m w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t , but e s p e c i a l l y i n s u f f i c i e n t a n d n e a r l y a p r i v i l e g e w e r e the secondary schools, g y m n a s i u m s , l y c e u m s a n d technical schools. T h e s e c o u l d b e c o u n t e d o n one's f i n g e r s a n d w e r e located i n a f e w b i g c i t i e s o n l y . I t w a s the c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f d e v e l o p ment o f t h e c o u n t r y t h a t i m p o s e d t h i s p o l i c y i n the f i e l d o f s c h o o l i n g o n t h e Z o g r e g i m e , a l t h o u g h i t d i d i t s uttermost t o i m p e d e e v e n t h i s l a w o f d e v e l o p m e n t by pursuing a reactionary, obscurantist policy. Thus, we can say t h a t e v e n those f e w p r i m a r y o r s e c o n d a r y schools w h i c h w e r e o p e n e d i n t h e t i m e o f this r e g i m e , w e r e due more t o t h e d e s i r e a n d p r e s s u r e s o f the people, o f t h e p r o gressive-minded teachers a n d intellectuals, rather than t o t h i s r e g i m e a n d its p o l i c y . F o r t h a t l i t t l e progress e d u c a t i o n m a d e d u r i n g t h e Z o g r e g i m e , r e g a r d l e s s o f its f l a w s i n f o r m a n d its r u d i m e n t a r y content, w e are i n d e b ted t o t h e people's eagerness f o r l e a r n i n g w h i c h , w i l l y n i l l y , o p e n e d t h e w a y f o r the p e n e t r a t i o n o f t h e l i g h t amidst t h e g r e a t o b s c u r a n t i s m o f the f e u d a l r e g i m e . T h e c r i t e r i a o f t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e s c h o o l d u r i n g the Zog r e g i m e w e r e f e u d a l , bourgeois, b u t e v e n w i t h i n this f r a m e w o r k , t h e y w e r e u t t e r l y chaotic. A s a r e s u l t o f the servile policy of the Zogite regime towards the different i m p e r i a l i s t s w h o h a d p r e d a t o r y a m b i t i o n s i n r e g a r d t o o u r c o u n t r y , the c r i t e r i a o f d i f f e r i n g b o u r g e o i s schools were in conflict w i t h one another, the w i n n e r being the c r i t e r i o n o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s w h o p a i d m o s t t o the regime, w h i c h d i d n o t f o r g e t t o f a v o u r t h a t i m p e r i a l i s t bourgeoisie w h i c h w a n t e d t o e x e r t its o w n i n f l u e n c e a n d
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g a i n concessions f o r a second stage. W h e n one i m p e r i a l i s t gained strong positions in o u r country, then we saw r a d i c a l changes also i n t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d c o n t e n t o f our schools, e x t e n d i n g e v e n t o the p r i m a r y schools. T h u s , d u r i n g the Z o g regime we h a d national gymnasiums, religious gymnasiums, French lyceums and A m e r i c a n and I t a l i a n t e c h n i c a l schools. O n l y T u r k i s h a n d G r e e k g y m n a s i u m s w e r e n o t o p e n e d a n d this i s understandable, because the b o u r g e o i s r e g i m e s of those c o u n t r i e s d i d not m a n a g e o r c o u l d n o t a f f o r d t o b u y these concessions f r o m Z o g , w h o w a s r e a d y t o s e l l off t h e H o m e l a n d p i e c e m e a l t o a n y one, j u s t a s h e g r a n t e d m a n y t e r r i t o r i a l concessions t o the Y u g o s l a v s , the B r i t i s h a n d , f i n a l l y , t o M u s s o l i n i ' s fascist I t a l y , t o w h i c h h e s o l d the c o u n t r y , lock, stock a n d b a r r e l . T h e o n l y p r a i s e w o r t h y n o t e s t r u c k a m o n g s t this chaos i n t h e schools o f o u r c o u n t r y w a s the g i g a n t i c eff o r t of teachers a n d professors to e s t a b l i s h a s y s t e m in o u r schools, t o s t a b i l i z e t h e m i n o r d e r t o f u l f i l , a s f a r as possible, the desires a n d a s p i r a t i o n s of t h e people f o r knowledge and learning. I n short, t h e process o f t h e f o u n d i n g a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r school s y s t e m c o u l d not be done b e f o r e the l i b e r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y . I t i s not m y i n t e n t i o n t o m a k e a n a n a l y s i s o f t h i s process o n t h i s occasion, f o r t h a t i s u p t o specialists i n e d u c a t i o n t o d o i n a n o b j e c t i v e w a y . T h i s a n a l y s i s i s o f m a j o r i m p o r t a n c e t o u s today, i f i t i s m a d e , a n d i t m u s t b e m a d e , i n the l i g h t o f M a r x i s m Leninism. W h y is this of major importance and w h y must it be done? F i r s t , because, despite t h e defects w h i c h o u r schools h a d a t t h a t p e r i o d , s t i l l t h e y p l a y e d a m a j o r r o l e i n the a w a k e n i n g o f t h e people, t r a i n i n g cadres most o f w h o m , w i t h i n the l i m i t s o f t h e i r k n o w l e d g e , s e r v e d t h e people
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to the best of t h e i r a b i l i t i e s at those v e r y c r i t i c a l m o m e n t s . The o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f those f e w scholars a n d t e a c h ers, d o c t o r s a n d engineers, a g r o n o m i s t s a n d t e c h n i c i a n s of m e d i u m t r a i n i n g stood by the people and served them. Therefore, t h e i r r o l e i s n o t t o b e n e g l e c t e d o r d i s r e g a r d e d . S e c o n d , because a f t e r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y and u n t i l w e c a r r i e d out o u r f i r s t r e f o r m o f t h e s c h o o l i n 1946, w e based o u r s e l v e s o n t h e o l d schools, o n t h e o l d teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s . T h i s h e r i t a g e has h a d a h e a v y influence, a n d s t i l l has t o t h i s d a y ( n a t u r a l l y w i t h m a n y differences) a n d i s m a n i f e s t e d i n t h e p r o n o u n c e d c o n s e r vatism o f m a n y o l d e r t e a c h e r s a n d p r o f e s s o r s a n d o f some young ones, too. N e v e r t h e l e s s , j u s t a s e v e r y t h i n g i n o u r c o u n t r y w a s u n d e r g o i n g p r o g r e s s i v e changes, t h e s c h o o l was b e i n g t r a n s f o r m e d , too. T h e r e f o r m o f the s c h o o l w h i c h we c a r r i e d o u t e x e r t e d a p o s i t i v e i n f l u e n c e in this d i r e c tion a n d the e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e S o v i e t school h e l p e d u s t o some e x t e n t i n this m a t t e r . W e s a y t o some extent, f o r later w e s a w t h a t t h e S o v i e t s c h o o l g r a f t e d o n t o o u r o l d school r e t a i n e d m a n y f e a t u r e s o f t h e r e m n a n t s o f b o u r g e o i s pedagogy a n d it, too, h a d m a n y s h o r t c o m i n g s w h i c h t i m e , the e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r c o u n t r y made o b v i o u s t o us, c o m p e l l i n g u s t o m a k e c o n t i n u a l , partial c o r r e c t i o n s , b o t h i n t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d i n the p r o grams a n d p o l i c y o f o u r school. I n t h e m a t t e r o f o u r school, i t w a s h a r d f o r u s t o act d i f f e r e n t l y f r o m w h a t w e d i d , because w e lacked experience, m e a n s a n d cadres. W e c o u l d not s i m p l y w i p e off t h e s c h o o l o f t h e past, a n d i t w o u l d h a v e been a m i s t a k e t o d o so. W e h a d t o p r o c e e d t o w a r d s t u r n i n g it i n t o a p e o p l e ' s school, to e x t e n d it e v e r y w h e r e in cities a n d v i l l a g e s , t o m a k e e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l i n g c o m pulsory, t o e s t a b l i s h t h e 7-year school, t o increase t h e n u m ber of s e c o n d a r y schools, to m a k e 7- a n d 8-year s c h o o l i n g o b l i g a t o r y , t o i n c r e a s e t h e n u m b e r o f t e c h n i c a l schools a n d
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s e n d students t o p u r s u e t h e i r studies a b r o a d u n t i l w e f o u n d e d o u r o w n u n i v e r s i t y ( 1 ) w i t h i n the c o u n t r y . O n the other h a n d , since t h e f i r s t d a y s a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n , i t has b e e n the c o n t i n u o u s c o n c e r n of o u r P a r t y a n d state to m a k e o u r school, t h i s c r a d l e o f k n o w l e d g e , a n i m p o r t a n t c e n t r e f o r e d u c a t i n g t h e y o u t h w i t h the p o l i c y o f the P a r t y . It is t r u e that t h e teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s a d h e r e d to the p o l i c y o f t h e P a r t y , t h a t some a d a p t e d t h e m s e l v e s t o it, nevertheless, t h e y s t i l l p r e s e r v e d i n t h e i r consciousness, m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k , t h e t r e n d s a n d h a n g o v e r s o f the o l d p e d a g o g y a n d t h e o l d school w h i c h t h e y t h e m selves h a d a t t e n d e d i n o u r c o u n t r y o r a b r o a d . N o w m a t t e r s are d i f f e r e n t . W e h a v e n e a r l y 2 5 years of n e w experience of the school in w h i c h a continuous p o s i t i v e process has b e e n g o i n g on, i n w h i c h m a n y objectives set b y the P a r t y h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d , a n d b a s i n g ourselves o n this, w e h a v e the d u t y t o m a k e a q u a l i t a t i v e leap f o r w a r d i n o u r schools, a t h i n g i m p o s e d o n us by t h e need to d e v e l o p p r o d u c t i o n , to c o m p l e t e the construction of socialism and advance towards communist society. However, if we are to make this qualitative leap as w e s h o u l d , i t seems t o m e t h a t w e m u s t d e f i n e the p r i n c i ples a n d course o n w h i c h w e m u s t p r o c e e d a n d h o w w e m u s t p r o c e e d w i t h t h e greatest care a n d a v o i d f a l l i n g i n t o mistakes of n i h i l i s m or grafting on unjustified things w i t h out s o u n d c r i t e r i a . T h e p o l i c y o f o u r P a r t y t o w a r d s the s c h o o l has a l w a y s h a d a p r o n o u n c e d class t e n d e n c y . To t h e best of its a b i l i t y , it has t r i e d to steer t h e school a n d e d u c a t i o n on to the course o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t o l i n k t h e m w i t h the i m m e d i a t e a n d f u t u r e needs o f the a l l - r o u n d d e v e l o p -
_______________________________
1 On September 16, 1957, on the basis of the instituties set up after L i b e r a t i o n , the U n i v e r s i t y of T i r a n a , w h i c h today has 83 chairs and prepares cadres for 41 specialities, was inaugurated
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ment o f t h e c o u n t r y , p r o d u c t i o n a n d the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m . A n d t h e best p r o o f s o f this a r e the f o r m a t i o n of the conviction a m o n g the o r d i n a r y people that learn i n g i s necessary, a n d c r e a t i o n o f o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r t h e m t o l e a r n , e s p e c i a l l y n o w t h a t s c h o o l i n g has b e e n made a v a i l a b l e t o a l l t h e masses, the e c o n o m i c progress, the t r a i n i n g o f a l a r g e n u m b e r o f cadres w h o a r e w o r k i n g w i t h l o y a l t y a n d d e v o t i o n , r u n n i n g t h i n g s f o r t h e people, for s o c i a l i s m o n t h e c o u r s e a n d a c c o r d i n g t o the teachings of the P a r t y . Nevertheless, if we delve a little deeper into this problem, w e s h a l l see a s h o r t c o m i n g w h i c h lies i n t h e fact that t h e s c h o o l w a s c o n s i d e r e d m o r e a s t h e d o m a i n o f the teacher a n d professor, i n w h i c h e v e r y t h i n g w a s s u b o r d i nated t o t h e p e d a g o g i c a l aspect, t o t h e m e t h o d o f i n s t r u c tion. I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e r e w a s t h e t e n d e n c y t h a t the only people c o m p e t e n t i n s c h o o l m a t t e r s w e r e t h e teacher and p r o f e s s o r a n d i t w a s s u f f i c i e n t t o l a y d o w n t h e l i n e s and c r i t e r i a f o r t h e m t o f o l l o w , because t h e y w o u l d a r r a n g e and m a n a g e a l l t h e rest. We have continually criticized the comrades of the P a r t y o v e r t h e i r f a i l u r e t o t a k e a serious i n t e r e s t i n the schools. E v e n w h e n o b l i g e d t o v i s i t schools, their interest i n t h e m h a s c e n t e r e d o n t h e p a s s - r a t e o f p u p i l s , some m a t e r i a l needs, w h e t h e r t h e p u p i l s a t t e n d r e g u l a r l y o r not, etc. T h u s , t h e y h a v e c o n c e r n e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e more o r less f o r m a l aspect o f t h e p r o b l e m , because t h e y felt r e m o t e f r o m t h e s c h o o l a n d t h e y j u s t i f i e d this, because they h a d a great d e a l o f o t h e r w o r k , e c o n o m i c w o r k i n t h e first p l a c e . T h u s , o u r p a r t y c o m r a d e s d i d n o t p r o p e r l y u n d e r s t a n d t h e c o n n e c t i o n o f t h e school w i t h p r o d u c t i o n , and w h e n w e s a y this, w e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h i s c o n nection is p a r a m o u n t , d e c i s i v e . O n the o t h e r h a n d , t h e teachers a n d professors w e r e e n t i r e l y d i v o r c e d f r o m p r o d u c t i o n ; t h e y f e l t t h e needs
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a n d b e n e f i t e d f r o m the changes t h a t o u r e c o n o m y w a s u n d e r g o i n g , b u t i n t h e i r schools a n d i n t h e i r t e a c h i n g they applied, in a stereotyped and bureaucratic way, outdated pedagogical forms a n d methods a n d a style of w o r k w h i c h was often anachronistic. A n d , what was still worse, t h e y i m a g i n e d a n d w e r e c o n v i n c e d that t h e y w e r e p e r f o r m i n g t h e i r task t o the letter. M e a n w h i l e , the P a r t y a n d its people w h o g u i d e d this m a j o r p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c , ideological and organizational transformation d i d not take the d e t a i l e d i n t e r e s t t h e y s h o u l d h a v e t a k e n i n the school a n d the changes t h a t s h o u l d h a v e been m a d e f r o m t i m e t o t i m e i n the d y n a m i c process o f its d e v e l o p m e n t . D u r i n g these last t w o years, t h e M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e f o u n d itself u n d e r s t r o n g p r e s s u r e f r o m a l l the r e v o l u t i o n a r y measures t a k e n i n o u r c o u n t r y , t h e i r q u i e t w a s d i s t u r b e d a n d t h i n g s b e g a n t o b u r s t a t the seams. T h i s c o r r o b o r a t e s w h a t I s a i d above, t h a t t h e p r o b l e m o f e d u c a t i o n a n d the s c h o o l is not a b u r e a u c r a t i c one, n o r c a n i t b e i n g e n e r a l t h e d o m a i n o f the teachers a l o n e ; i t c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d the r e a l m o f t h e o r y d i v o r c e d f r o m p r o d u c t i o n , f r o m w o r k , b u t i s a m a j o r p r o b l e m o f the P a r t y , the people, the e c o n o m y , the s t r u c t u r e a n d t h e s u p e r s t r u c t u r e . M o r e o v e r , i t i s n o t e n o u g h j u s t t o m a k e 8-year s c h o o l i n g c o m p u l s o r y o r t o assign s t u d e n t s t o v a r i o u s f a c u l ties. N o , t h e p r o b l e m is not so e a s y it is m u c h deeper, m u c h m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d t h a n i t looks, a n d t h i s i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t has b r o u g h t t h e M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e face t o face w i t h n e w p r o b l e m s w h i c h d e m a n d s o l u t i o n . It is precisely up to us to f i n d the most correct M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t s o l u t i o n t o these p r o b l e m s . T h e p r o b l e m s a r e m a n y a n d are not so s i m p l e as to be s o l v e d at o n e d i s c u s s i o n or at a s t r o k e of t h e p e n . In s o l v i n g t h e m , w e m u s t g u a r d against a n a r c h i c m e t h o d s disguised as alleged f o r m s of l i s t e n i n g to t h e v o i c e of the masses, m u s t b e w a r y o f s u b j e c t i v i s t v i e w s , m u s t g u a r d
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v i g i l a n t l y against t r e n d s a n d i n c l i n a t i o n s o f s y m p a t h y towards f o r e i g n schools o r o u r o w n schools o f the past, sympathies w h i c h , i n the course o f t i m e a n d t h r o u g h routine, c e r t a i n people h a v e t u r n e d i n t o d o g m a s which seem t o t h e m t h e best, w i t h o u t w h i c h , a c c o r d i n g t o them, the s c h o o l c a n n o t t u r n o u t t o b e g o o d a n d m a y be a l t o g e t h e r w o r t h l e s s . T h e r e f o r e , e v e r y t h i n g t h a t e x i s t s in our n e w school must be subjected to the meticulous analysis o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , s i n c e o u r n e w socialist school m u s t b e p e r v a d e d f r o m e n d t o e n d a n d g u i d e d i n e v e r y t h i n g b y o u r m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y . T h i s i s the f u n damental condition. O u r n e w s c h o o l c a n n o t b e a school o f a n y k i n d , i t must r e s p o n d to the needs of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o d u c tion, b e a p p r o p r i a t e t o a n d i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h the s t r u c ture a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e o f o u r s o c i a l i s t c o u n t r y . O u r school, t h e r e f o r e , m u s t r e p r e s e n t a n d e m b o d y o u r M a r x i s t p h i l o s o p h y i n a l l its cycles, i n a l l i t s f o r m s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n , methods a n d s t y l e , a n d m u s t f o l l o w a n d assist t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e v e l o p m e n t o f the s t r u c t u r e a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e . Guided by the Party, it must become an integral part of the s u p e r s t r u c t u r e , assist p r o d u c t i o n , a n d d e v e l o p c r e a tive t h o u g h t a n d progress. O u r teachers a n d e d u c a t i o n a l i s t s a n d w e ourselves w o u l d b e w r o n g t o t h i n k t h a t i n b u i l d i n g o u r school, e v e r y t h i n g has p r o c e e d e d a c c o r d i n g to t h e c r i t e r i a I just m e n t i o n e d , o r t o t h i n k f o o l i s h l y t h a t since w e took t h e S o v i e t school a s a m o d e l w e h a v e m a d e n o m i s t a k e s . M i s t a k e s have b e e n m a d e i n o u r c o u n t r y , n o t o n l y because w e l a c k e d experience, b u t also because the S o v i e t s c h o o l i t s e l f had serious m i s t a k e s a n d s h o r t c o m i n g s , h a d n o t reached perfection a n d w a s i n the process o f d e v e l o p m e n t . M o r e over, t h e stage of e c o n o m i c , e d u c a t i o n a l a n d c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t i n o u r c o u n t r y (to w h i c h I s h a l l r e f e r later) was d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t o f the S o v i e t U n i o n .
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I n t h e changes, i m p r o v e m e n t s a n d c o r r e c t i o n s w h i c h w e s h a l l m a k e t o o u r s c h o o l w e m u s t base o u r s e l v e s o n t h e e x i s t i n g s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e r e s u l t s a t t a i n e d , w h i l e subjecting t h e m to a detailed M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t analysis. By a d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s I do not m e a n a s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s i n t h e f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n alone, b u t t h i s s h o u l d b e l i n k e d w i t h the e x i s t i n g c o n c r e t e s i t u a t i o n o f o u r c o u n t r y , w i t h the d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n , the e c o n o m y and c u l t u r e , w i t h t h e i r needs, w i t h w h e t h e r o r n o t these needs a n d gaps are f i l l e d , k n o w i n g h o w t h e y a r e f r o m t h e m a t e r i a l angle, s u c h a s t h e n u m b e r o f cadres, and t h e i r q u a l i t a t i v e aspect. T h u s , w e s h a l l k n o w t h e a c t u a l stage o f b o t h o u r e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t a n d o u r e d u c a t i o n a l a n d c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t , s h a l l see w h e r e w e h a v e d e f i c i e n c i e s , a n d t h e n o u r needs w i l l e m e r g e m o r e acc u r a t e l y t h a n a t a n y other t i m e . I t c a n n o t b e s a i d t h a t w e h a v e p r o c e e d e d i n such a m o r e o r less p e r f e c t w a y , b u t n e i t h e r h a v e w e e v e r gone ahead blindly. A f t e r Liberation, in view of the backward e c o n o m i c a n d c u l t u r a l c o n d i t i o n s o f the c o u n t r y , w e h a d n o a l t e r n a t i v e b u t t o accept c e r t a i n features o f t h e old s c h o o l a n d , f o r t h e s a m e reason, t o g i v e i m p o r t a n c e t o g e n e r a l c u l t u r e , a n d so, a p a r t f r o m m a k i n g p r i m a r y schooling compulsory, we strove to establish a n e t w o r k of m a n y k i n d s o f s e c o n d a r y schools f o r g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n and v o c a t i o n a l t r a i n i n g . D u r i n g t h e second decade a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n i n p a r t i c u l a r , w e o p e n e d m a n y schools t h r o u g h w h i c h w e a i m e d t o r a i s e the g e n e r a l c u l t u r a l l e v e l o f o u r y o u t h a n d create a c o n t i n g e n t o f h i g h l y t r a i n e d cadres of various profiles, for w h i c h our country under recons t r u c t i o n h a d g r e a t need. R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s , a n d t h e r e w e r e m a n y , this o r i e n t a t i o n w a s c o r r e c t . T h e o r i e n t a t i o n f o r t h e t r a i n i n g o f t e a c h e r s e n masse w a s correct, too. H o w e v e r , the q u e s t i o n of t e c h n i c a l e d u c a t i o n d i d not
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proceed f u l l y o n t h i s c o u r s e . W h e r e a s d u r i n g t h e first period a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n w e o p e n e d t h e i n d i s p e n s a b l e m i n i m u m o f v o c a t i o n a l schools, l a t e r t h e r e w e r e cases o f negligence a n d m a n y s h o r t c o m i n g s i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f vocational s c h o o l i n g i n g e n e r a l . S o m e m a y seek t o j u s t i f y this w i t h t h e fact t h a t w e h a d n o t y e t r e a c h e d t h e p r e s e n t stage o f d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r i n d u s t r y , b u t t h i s c a n n o t e x cuse t h e l a c k of c a r e a n d f a i l u r e to c l e a r l y see t h e p e r s p e c tive as r e g a r d s the m a t e r i a l c o n s t r u c t i o n of f a c t o r i e s a n d , especially, t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h a t v e r y i m p o r t a n t sector, agriculture, f o r w h i c h w e s h o u l d h a v e t a k e n serious measures r i g h t f r o m t h e s t a r t b y o p e n i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l schools. L e a r n i n g f r o m these m i s t a k e s t h a t h a v e b e e n made i n o u r w o r k w i t h t h e s c h o o l a n d b a s i n g o u r s e l v e s o n the a n a l y s i s I h a v e j u s t r e f e r r e d to, w e s h a l l c e r t a i n l y arrive a t c o r r e c t c o n c l u s i o n s a n d t a k e m e a s u r e s t o e n s u r e that o u r s c h o o l t r u l y b e c o m e s a n e w , r e v o l u t i o n a r y , socialist s c h o o l . This study w i l l show us that the construction of socialism, t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n , the economy a n d c u l t u r e r e q u i r e l a r g e n u m b e r s o f t r a i n e d people, n o t j u s t s u f f i c i e n t t o c o m p l e t e t h e staffs o f some planned o r g a n i s m s , b u t masses o f t h e m , p e o p l e with knowledge a n d science o f a l l levels, a n d n o t a l l u n i f o r m in everything and for everything. Learning and education in schools s h o u l d n o t be c o n s i d e r e d as a m e a n s of speculation a n d p e r s o n a l g a i n , a s b o u r g e o i s p h i l o s o p h y c o n siders t h e m , b u t as a p o w e r f u l w e a p o n in the h a n d s of t h e new m a n o f socialist s o c i e t y t o b u i l d t h i s society, t o promote o u r c o m m o n socialist p r o d u c t i o n , t o d e v e l o p the socialist c u l t u r e in t h e s e r v i c e of society. If we have a proper grasp of h o w many-sided our needs a r e i n r e g a r d t o b o t h q u a n t i t y a n d q u a l i t y , a n d if, also, w e v i e w t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f these needs f r o m t h e angle o f t h e d y n a m i s m o f t h e d i a l e c t i c a l m a t e r i a l i s t a n d
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h i s t o r i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t , w e s h a l l come t o the c o n c l u s i o n t h a t w e cannot a n d m u s t n o t h a v e o n l y one t y p e o f school, b u t a w h o l e r a n g e of schools, i n c l u d i n g v a r i o u s courses of a few months' duration. A s regards the 8-year school, i t seems t o m e t h a t i t s h o u l d r e m a i n u n c h a n g e d , a u n i f i e d school. Its n a t u r e and c r i t e r i a s h o u l d r e m a i n as t h e y are, that is, it m u s t e q u i p a l l c h i l d r e n g o i n g t h r o u g h the 8-year s c h o o l w i t h g e n e r a l c u l ture, the s a m e f o r a l l w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n . M e a n w h i l e i n m y o p i n i o n , i m p r o v e m e n t s c o u l d a n d s h o u l d b e m a d e i n its programs. The ways of doing various jobs can be included in them, but should not be t u r n e d into technical special i z a t i o n . A f t e r c o m p l e t i n g the 8-year s c h o o l o u r y o u t h w i l l h a v e a v a r i e t y of schools of e v e r y b r a n c h a n d of e v e r y p r o f i l e open to t h e m , r e g a r d l e s s of w h e t h e r t h e y t a k e a j o b o r c o n t i n u e t h e i r studies i n a n o t h e r c y c l e o f school h i g h e r t h a n the 8-year school. We s h a l l h a v e a g r e a t e r v a r i e t y of schools, e s p e c i a l l y s e c o n d a r y ones. T h e M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e has s u b m i t t e d v a r i a n t s w h i c h m a y be c o n s i d e r e d a s o u n d basis t o start f r o m , except t h a t these v a r i a n t s s h o u l d b e f u r t h e r e l a b o r a t e d , because it seems to me, t h e y i n c l u d e t w o basic defects. T h e f i r s t defect i s t h a t the M i n i s t r y has f o u n d itself u n d e r d i r e c t p r e s s u r e f r o m t h e base, w h i c h i n o r d e r t o meet t h e great a n d u r g e n t needs w h i c h e m e r g e f r o m the d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n , seeks the w a y out a n d f i n d s i t b y e s t a b l i s h i n g i n c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d p l a n t s schools w i t h ill-defined programs and v a r y i n g profiles. T h e second defect i s t h a t the M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n and C u l t u r e views the future and the i m p r o v e m e n t of t h e school m o s t l y f r o m the p r o f e s s i o n a l , d i d a c t i c o r ped a g o g i c a l aspect, as g e n e r a l or s p e c i a l e d u c a t i o n , as f o r m a l disciplines f i x e d once a n d f o r a l l , a n d less f r o m the aspect o f l i n k i n g i t c l o s e l y a n d i n s e p a r a b l y w i t h p r o d u c -
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tion. T h e fact i s t h a t these m a j o r p r o b l e m s o f e d u c a t i o n are s t u d i e d a n d c o n c l u s i o n s are r e a c h e d b y the staff o f the M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e ; b u t these p r o b lems g o b e y o n d the l i m i t a t i o n s o f t h e staff o f the M i n istry o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e , e v e n i f the l a t t e r i s made u p o f h u n d r e d s o f c o m p e t e n t teachers a n d p r o fessors. T h e p r o b l e m of e d u c a t i o n is a m a j o r p r o b l e m of the P a r t y , t h e state a n d t h e w h o l e people. T o h a n d l e a l l t h i s w o r k w e are g o i n g t o d o i n r e g a r d to the school, I t h i n k it is necessary to set u p , u n d e r the direct g u i d a n c e o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y , a b r o a d a n d i m p o r t a n t c o m m i s s i o n m a d e u p o f t h e best people f r o m e d u c a t i o n , i n d u s t r y a n d m i n i n g , a g r i c u l t u r e (state f a r m s a n d cooperatives), t h e y o u t h , w o m e n , doctors, sportsmen, musicians, philosophers, a n d so on. W h y a r e a l l these p e o p l e n e c e s s a r y ? B e c a u s e , w h i l e d e f i n i n g t h e g u i d e - l i n e s , w h i c h I h a v e just r e f e r r e d to. they w i l l e s t a b l i s h t h e v i t a l l i n k s o f t h e school w i t h the e c o n o m i c a n d social d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y . Each of t h e m w i l l present the immediate and future needs, a n d f r o m t h i s t h e p r o p o r t i o n s a n d p r i o r i t i e s w i l l emerge m o r e c o r r e c t l y , a n d the t i m e n e c e s s a r y t o f u l f i l t h e needs a n d t h e v a r i o u s t y p e s o f schools r e q u i r e d w i l l be d e f i n e d . T h i s is one aspect of t h e w o r k of t h i s c o m m i s s i o n . T h e other, e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t , aspect is t h a t of the subjects, of the p r o p o r t i o n s each of t h e m o u g h t to h a v e i n each g i v e n s c h o o l o r course, s o t h a t e v e r y p e r s o n w h o c o m p l e t e s a s c h o o l o r c o u r s e m a y f i n d the corresp o n d i n g school o r c o u r s e f o r h i s c o n t i n u o u s f u r t h e r t r a i n i n g . T h e w a y these t h i n g s a r e b e i n g d o n e o r b e i n g att e m p t e d a t p r e s e n t i s n o t v e r y correct, because s o m e times there is no objective orientation. This results in simplistic a n d anarchic forms, in proceeding, for instance, a l o n g t h e r o a d o f a d d i n g o r s u b t r a c t i n g this m u c h o r t h a t m u c h f r o m t h i s o r t h a t subject, t h i n k i n g t h a t e v e r y t h i n g
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i s b e i n g s e t t l e d p r o p e r l y i n this w a y . T h e s e o p e r a t i o n s a r e c e r t a i n l y done w i t h g o o d i n t e n t i o n s , i n o r d e r t o g i v e t h e best possible r e f l e c t i o n o f the l i n e o f o u r P a r t y i n the t e x t b o o k s , nevertheless, t h e y c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d a d e quate and always free of mistakes. A n o t h e r problem is that of the equivalence of schools. T h i s i s not u n d e r s t o o d c o r r e c t l y . I t h i n k t h a t i n this matter we should not permit the incitement of i n c l i n a t i o n s a l i e n t o us, because i t i s p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s t o t h i n k , I m u s t get a degree, b e c o m e a m a n of a u t h o r i t y , r e c e i v e a fat salary and occupy an important position. T h i s feeli n g w h i c h l u r k s b e n e a t h t h e s o - c a l l e d u r g e t o s t u d y is, i n fact, a l a t e n t a n t i - s o c i a l i s t s u r v i v a l w h i c h w e m u s t get r i d o f w h i l e w e s t r e n g t h e n t h e g e n u i n e socialist e a g e r ness to s t u d y . T h e r e are some w h o t h i n k t h a t a p a r t o f t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n s h o u l d go t h r o u g h a n o r m a l c y c l e of schools w h i l e t h e r e m a i n d e r s h o u l d g o t h r o u g h courses a n d schools s i m p l i f i e d t o m e e t t h e needs o f p r o d u c t i o n , w i t h o r w i t h o u t s c h o o l c e r t i f i c a t e s , a n d t h a t these schools s h o u l d b e g i v e n the e q u i v a l e n c e o f f u l l g y m n a s i u m s a n d technicums. T h i s is of no interest and is not right. S o m e s a y : W h y s h o u l d w e close t h e doors o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y to these p e o p l e ? This question must be understood correctly. The u n i v e r s i t y is a h i g h e r school. It t r a i n s h i g h e r cadres who, d u r i n g the d e v e l o p m e n t o f the c o u n t r y , w i l l b e s p e c i a l i zed still f u r t h e r at w o r k and in various forms of q u a l i fication. Therefore, this higher qualification requires Sound a n d complete educational foundations. T h e doors of the u n i v e r s i t y are not closed t o a n y one, b u t those w h o a r e to attend it must have the respective schooling, and this we must define w e l l . We h a v e just begun to raise the probl e m o f t h e selection o f s t u d e n t s w h o a r e t o b e a d m i t t e d to the university. B u t are we doing w e l l or not in this
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case? T h e c o m m i s s i o n w h i c h w i l l b e set u p f o r t h i s p u r pose s h o u l d s t u d y t h i s q u e s t i o n a n d d e f i n e i t m o r e c o r rectly. H o w e v e r , I t h i n k t h a t , at a l a t e r stage, t h e r e quirements f o r those w h o a r e t o p u r s u e h i g h e r studies will be tightened up, and this w i l l come about as a result of the n e w c o n d i t i o n s of the d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o d u c t i o n , technique, science a n d t h e m o d e r n i z a t i o n o f o u r e c o n o m y . The t r a n s i t i o n to a m o r e a d v a n c e d e d u c a t i o n a l - c u l t u r a l and t e c h n o l o g i c a l - e c o n o m i c stage, w h i c h w i l l also b r i n g about r a d i c a l changes i n o u r schools, m u s t a l w a y s r e s p o n d t o t h e needs a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f every period and moment. B u t w e need n o t o n l y h i g h e r c a d r e s ; w e h a v e v e r y great needs f o r m i d d l e cadres, too. T h e r e f o r e , e q u i v a l e n c e o r g r a d u a t i o n f r o m this s c h o o l o r the o t h e r c a n n o t become a barricade to block the solution of this problem. An i n d i v i d u a l w h o , f o r m a n y o b j e c t i v e a n d s u b j e c t i v e reasons, has not a t t e n d e d s c h o o l r e g u l a r l y c a n n o t h a v e it as e a s y as his f r i e n d w h o has d o n e so. N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h i s i n d i v i d u a l cannot b e l e f t w i t h o u t s c h o o l i n g . O u r s o c i e t y does n o t abandon h i m . I t has c r e a t e d p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r h i m t o c o m plete one s c h o o l , t o c o n t i n u e h i s studies b y c o r r e s p o n d ence at a n o t h e r h i g h e r s c h o o l of t h i s t y p e , w h i l e if he wants to go to u n i v e r s i t y , he w i l l h a v e to pass a series o f e x a m i n a t i o n s o r c o m p e t i t i o n s i n t h e subjects n o t i n cluded i n the p r o g r a m s o f t h e school h e has b e e n t h r o u g h . The C o m m i s s i o n i n question w i l l open u p m u c h clearer horizons a n d prospects f o r t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , the government a n d p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s , b y p r o p o s i n g i m proved f o r m s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d w o r k f o r t h e progress o f our n e w school. H o w d o I v i e w t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e s t u d y o f the periods o f p r o g r e s s o f o u r s c h o o l f r o m o n e stage t o another? 1 ) T h i s s t u d y w i l l m a k e c l e a r t o u s t h e r e s u l t s at-
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t a i n e d f r o m the t i m e o f L i b e r a t i o n t o this day, will e x p l a i n in a dialectical w a y the development of education a n d c u l t u r e f r o m o n e l e v e l t o a h i g h e r one, c l o s e l y c o n nected w i t h the v a r i o u s stages t h r o u g h w h i c h the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m has passed i n o u r c o u n t r y , a n d w i l l detect d e f i c i e n c i e s a n d d e f i n e o u r c u r r e n t needs. 2) It w i l l d e t e r m i n e , in a s c i e n t i f i c w a y , t h e f o r m s , m e t h o d s a n d steps w e h a v e t o t a k e , a l o n g w i t h t h e econ o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t , to r a i s e t h e g e n e r a l c u l t u r e of the masses to a m o r e or less d e f i n e d l e v e l , to f u l f i l t h e needs of t h e e c o n o m y f o r m i d d l e t e c h n i c a l cadres up to a d e f i n e d l e v e l , a n d l i k e w i s e , the needs o f o u r e c o n o m y , e d u cation, a n d c u l t u r e f o r h i g h e r cadres u p t o a d e f i n e d level. 3) If, f o r e x a m p l e , we c a l l this the f i r s t stage of d e v e l o p m e n t t h e n , i n o r d e r t o a d v a n c e t o t h e second, m o r e a d v a n c e d stage, m a n y o f t h e f o r m s , m e t h o d s a n d m e a s u r e s t h a t w e r e u s e f u l i n t h e f i r s t stage, w i l l n o t f u l l y s e r v e o u r p u r p o s e f o r t h e second, because t h i s r e q u i r e s i m p r o v e d m e t h o d s a n d measures, s i n c e o u r e c o n o m y a n d the people involved in it w i l l have been raised to a higher l e v e l a n d a c h i e v e d a h i g h e r degree of q u a l i f i c a t i o n . M a n y f o r m s o f school w i l l b e d i s c o n t i n u e d a n d w i l l h a v e t o b e r e p l a c e d w i t h m o r e s p e c i a l i z e d ones. I n o u r c o u n t r y today, p e o p l e are n o l o n g e r i l l i t e r a t e , t h e y have completed their 8-year schooling, or those w h o h a v e not done so. h a v e been t h r o u g h s p e c i a l courses a n d schools, p l u s t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e o f l i f e a n d t h e P a r t y ' s ideological-political work, and all this has brought a b o u t changes i n t h e m a s r a d i c a l a s t h e a d v a n c e s i n the construction of socialism. T h u s , f r o m one stage t o a n o t h e r , o u r school, l i k e e v e r y t h i n g else, w i l l u n d e r g o changes i n f o r m , s t r u c t u r e a n d content. O n e t h i n g alone w i l l n e v e r c h a n g e : the b a c k bone of it the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y ,
THE REVOLUTIONIZATION OF THE SCHOOL w h i c h w i l l always guide it in all its t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s . Therefore, first a n d foremost, methods, t h e P a r t y m u s t t e a c h the science w h i c h l i g h t s t h e w a y t o b o d y : p u p i l s , teachers, professors, peasants, o l d a n d y o u n g . directions and in
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using all means and Marxism-Leninism a l l sciences, t o e v e r y t h e people, w o r k e r s ,
Thorough knowledge of Marxist-Leninist philosophy, o f d i a l e c t i c a l a n d h i s t o r i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m b y t h e s t u dents, teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s m u s t b e o u r c o n c e r n , a n d i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n w e m u s t r e v i s e the t e x t b o o k s , f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s o f w o r k . T h e sciences, i n c l u d i n g n a t u r a l , exact, s o c i a l sciences, etc., i n s h o r t , e v e r y t h i n g w h i c h i s taught i n schools, m u s t b e p l a c e d e n t i r e l y o n f i r m M a r x ist-Leninist foundations. A radical r e - e x a m i n a t i o n of t e x t b o o k s w i t h a v i e w t o p u r g i n g t h e m i s one o f o u r most serious duties, w h i c h w e m u s t n o t i m a g i n e t h e teachers a l o n e c a n d o w e l l . T e x t b o o k s m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d a n i m p o r t a n t f i e l d i n w h i c h t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y , its policy, present aims and programs and preparations for the f u t u r e are c o n c r e t i z e d . O u r n e w socialist school i s i n c o n c e i v a b l e w i t h t e x t b o o k s o f a n y k i n d i n w h i c h the bourgeois i d e a l i s t w o r l d o u t l o o k co-exists w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w o r l d o u t l o o k . W e m u s t m a k e n o concessions to b o u r g e o i s i d e a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y a n d , least of a l l , to theology. T h e r e are m a n y t h i n g s w e h a v e t o set o n the r i g h t track. I h a v e s a i d a t o t h e r t i m e s t h a t o u r t e x t b o o k s c o n t a i n a l o t of s u p e r f l u o u s m a t t e r , b u t I m u s t e x p l a i n this a little, because it seems to me that, in practice, t h i s is b e i n g i n t e r p r e t e d n a r r o w l y , b e i n g o v e r s i m p l i f i e d , because t h e r e is a t e n d e n c y to chop off subjects, left a n d r i g h t . L e t u s t a k e science. I t has m a d e great progress. T o chop off a n y o f the sciences a t r a n d o m a n d w i t h o u t
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c r i t e r i o n i s n o t s c i e n t i f i c ; i t m e a n s t o u n d e r r a t e science. Nature must be studied profoundly in a revolutionary w a y . I n this d i r e c t i o n e v e r y t h i n g m u s t b e expressed a b s o l u t e l y c l e a r l y i n o u r t e x t b o o k s ; science m u s t b e l i b e r a t e d c o m p l e t e l y f r o m t h e o l o g y . T h r o u g h the d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s o f science w e e x p l a i n m a t e r i a l i s m a n d dialectics w h i c h w e m u s t e x e r t e v e r y e f f o r t t o i m p a r t t o the students, teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s , because i n t h i s w a y they w i l l be able to understand the theory of devel o p m e n t i n its f u l l scope. I h a v e h e a r d t h a t o u r teachers h a v e t a k e n u p for d i s c u s s i o n the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r t h e L i n n e a n theory should be upheld, whether all the classifications of L i n naeus ( 2 ) s h o u l d b e r e t a i n e d o r s h o u l d b e c u r t a i l e d . T h i s d i s c u s s i o n i s p o s i t i v e , b u t i t w i l l b e m o r e s o w h e n these amendments to Linnaeus' theory, or to any other theory, are m a d e i n t h e l i g h t o f m a t e r i a l i s t d i a l e c t i c s , t h a t i s t o say, d i s c a r d i n g those t h i n g s w h i c h the f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f b o t a n y o r a n y o t h e r science a n d m a t e r i a l i s t dialectics h a v e p r o v e d t o b e s u p e r f l u o u s o r i n c o r r e c t . A n d t h e y s h o u l d n o t g o a b o u t i t l i k e those w h o say s i m p l y : W h y d o w e need this o r t h a t ? T h e m e t h o d s o f these scientists h a v e a t t a i n e d a c e r t a i n degree of p e r f e c t i o n a n d only the ignorant can eliminate them w i t h a stroke o f t h e p e n . B o y s a n d g i r l s a t t e n d i n g schools a n d l e t u s not forget o r u n d e r r a t e this s h o u l d l e a r n t r u e t h e o r y a n d science, because i n t h i s w a y t h e y w i l l get a b e t t e r g r a s p o f t h e t h e o r y o f the r e l a t i v i t y o f h u m a n k n o w l e d g e , a c o n t i n u o u s l y d e v e l o p i n g r e f l e c t i o n of m a t t e r . S o m e s a y s i m p l y : W h y d o w e n e e d these t h i n g s a t a l l ? B u t s u c h people d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t without l e a r n i n g these t h i n g s , w i t h o u t d e a l i n g w i t h t h e m i n v a r i o u s f o r m s , f r o m t h e l o w e s t t o t h e highest, i t i s i m p o s 2 Swedish naturalist, author of the classification of plants and animals.
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sible to i m p a r t a materialist philosophical w o r l d outlook to o u r p e o p l e of s o c i a l i s m , a n d far f r o m a d v a n c i n g , we shall f a l l back a n d be overwhelmed by ignorance, theol o g y a n d b o u r g e o i s p h i l o s o p h y . L e n i n e x p r e s s e d the i d e a that w h i t h o u t s o u n d p h i l o s o p h i c a l a r g u m e n t s , n e i t h e r n a t u r a l science n o r m a t e r i a l i s m a r e a b l e t o w i t h s t a n d the p r e s s u r e o f b o u r g e o i s ideas a n d t h e r e v i v a l o f the b o u r geois w o r l d o u t l o o k . O u r scientists o f s o c i a l i s m m u s t a p p l y themselves p a t i e n t l y t o s t u d y a n d b e the most a r d e n s u p p o r t e r s o f M a r x i s t p h i l o s o p h y , i n short, m u s t b e d i a lectical materialists. T h e p r o g r a m s a r e o f d e c i s i v e i m p o r t a n c e i n schools of every category. Differentiated programs must be d r a w n up for every k i n d of school that w i l l be established, a n d the r e s p e c t i v e t e x t b o o k s m u s t b e r e v i s e d o r r e - w r i t t e n . P a r a l l e l w i t h t h i s w e m u s t also g i v e serious c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f t r a i n i n g n e w cadres a n d r a i s i n g the q u a l i f i c a t i o n of the e x i s t i n g ones. T h i s is a m a t t e r o f p r i m a r y i m p o r t a n c e , f o r i t w i l l b e these cadres w h o , having grasped the programs well, w i l l apply them i n o u r d i f f e r e n t schools. T h e i r t r a i n i n g m u s t n o t b e l e f t t o r o u tine, b u t f o r t h e m , too, it is a m a t t e r of d i s c i p l i n e , of schooling. T h e r e f o r e , t h e c o m m i s s i o n w h i c h I propose, s h o u l d set u p s u b - c o m m i s s i o n s o f specialists i n the r e s p e c t i v e subjects, and t h e i r w o r k s h o u l d b e g u i d e d b y s o u n d c r i t e r i a a n d a i d e d a n d s u p e r v i s e d b y the c e n t r a l c o m m i s s i o n , not once in a blue moon, but at definite periods. T h e r e a r e m a n y d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f p r o g r a m s . I a m not c o m p e t e n t t o speak a b o u t t h e m b u t I t h i n k that, i n a d d i t i o n t o correct p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l orientations, t h e r e m u s t b e a n o r g a n i c c o n n e c t i o n o v e r the w h o l e r a n g e of the subjects t a u g h t in v a r i o u s classes, w i t h o u t a single b r e a k o r m e c h a n i c a l r e p e t i t i o n . I t h i n k that i n this w a y , i f t h e t e x t i s clear, s i m p l e a n d complete, the s t u d e n t w i l l
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forget n o t h i n g d u r i n g h i s s c h o o l i n g , a n d h e w i l l t h u s b e able t o b u i l d the k n o w l e d g e i m p a r t e d t o h i m o n a s o u n d basis. W h e n these c o n n e c t i o n s h a v e b e e n w e l l b u i l t o r g a n i c a l l y , t h e y w i l l n o t b e d a m a g e d b y the necessary c u l l i n g o f subjects w h i c h w i l l b e done a t e a c h stage o f s c h o o l i n g o r e v e n i n each class, o r b y p u t t i n g the subjects o n s o u n d foundations in the light of dialectical and historical m a terialism, w h i c h makes absolutely essential both the c u l l i n g a n d the o r g a n i c l i n k s , b o t h the c l a r i t y a n d t h e acc u r a c y of w h a t e v e r science it m a y be. A n y fear of lack of comprehensive erudition, w h i c h s o m e people m a y raise, s h o u l d n o t b o t h e r u s a t a l l , because w e m u s t g i v e people this necessary e r u d i t i o n p r o g r e s s i v e l y , a n d , i f w e b u i l d school p r o g r a m s a n d t e x t s i n t h e w a y I j u s t p o i n t e d out, t h e students w i l l a c q u i r e a s o u n d , b r o a d a n d r e l a t i v e l y c o m p l e t e c u l t u r e a n d school e d u c a t i o n . T h e y w i l l k e e p m a n y t h i n g s i n t h e i r heads, i n d e e d m o r e t h a n w h e n the a i m is to i m p a r t to them an immense erudition w h i c h does n o t f i t i n t o t h e t i m e a v a i l a b l e a n d does n o t match the development of their intellect and practical k n o w l e d g e . T h u s , o u r l a n g u a g e experts, w h e t h e r l i n g u i s t i c scientists o r t e a c h i n g specialists, m u s t c o m b a t t h e t e n d e n c y t o teach p u p i l s t h e A l b a n i a n l a n g u a g e i n a n a c a d e m i c w a y , b y s t u f f i n g t h e i r heads w i t h a l l sorts o f categories, w i t h the a i m o f g i v i n g t h e m s u p e r f l u o u s , d r y , a b s t r a c t k n o w l e d g e , o f n o use i n p r a c t i c a l l i f e . L i n g u i s t i c science m u s t give the school g r e a t e r assistance so that the p u p i l s gain a sounder foundation and greater ability in the p r a c t i c a l use of the l i v i n g l a n g u a g e . T h e a c q u i s i t i o n of e r u d i t i o n r e q u i r e s a l o n g e r t i m e , m o r e p r o f o u n d studies, a n d g r e a t e r s p e c i a l i z a t i o n t h a n a n y school cycle c a n p r o v i d e . N e v e r t h e l e s s , a p e r s o n w h o has been t h r o u g h t h e r e g u l a r school c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d i g n o r a n t : the m o r e s o a s i n t h e c o u r s e o f l i f e h e w i l l l e a r n m a n y other things, w i l l e x t e n d his k n o w l e d g e . H e n c e t h e
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f o u n d a t i o n s o f studies, p r o g r a m s , t e x t b o o k s , the v a r i o u s e x p e r i m e n t s a n d the s t r u g g l e i n l i f e t o p u t this k n o w ledge i n t o p r a c t i c e a n d t o e n r i c h i t w i t h f u r t h e r l e a r n i n g are i m p o r t a n t . W e m u s t a t t a c h i m p o r t a n c e t o the p r o g rams a n d t e x t b o o k s o f a l l schools f o r a l l subjects. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t h i n g s I m e n t i o n e d above, w e m u s t attach p a r t i c u l a r i m p o r t a n c e to the sciences, to physics, mathematics, c h e m i s t r y , t o t h e s p e c i a l i z e d sciences l i k e medicine, geology, m e c h a n i c s , a n d s o on. A l l these sciences m u s t b e t a u g h t w e l l a n d , i n o r d e r t o t e a c h t h e m well, n o t o n l y m u s t t e x t b o o k s b e c l e a r a n d t h e p r o g r a m w e l l i n t e g r a t e d a l l t h r o u g h the w h o l e cycle o f school and u n i v e r s i t y , b u t the teacher m u s t m a s t e r the subject well. too. T h e m a i n p r i n c i p l e , t h e n i s that o u r d i a l e c t i c a l m a terialist concepts should r u n through the textbooks, p r o g r a m s a n d t e a c h i n g , s o t h a t t h r o u g h these sciences the pupil, the student and the teacher himself f o r m their c o m m u n i s t w o r l d o u t l o o k a n d see t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d practical a p p l i c a t i o n of these sciences f r o m the a n g l e of m a t e r i a l i s t dialectics. S p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n m u s t b e p a i d i n schools t o h i s t o r y and g e o g r a p h y , too, f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t o f o u r c o u n t r y , but also of t h e w o r l d , since t h e r e is a t e n d e n c y n o t to g i v e them a d e q u a t e a t t e n t i o n . T h i s t e n d e n c y m u s t b e c o m b a t e d . It is absolutely necessary that we k n o w the history of our p e o p l e i n t h e l i g h t o f h i s t o r i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m , t h e r e f o r e the t e x t b o o k s a n d p r o g r a m s o f t h i s s u b j e c t m u s t b e r e e x a m i n e d w i t h a c r i t i c a l eye. T h e s a m e a p p l i e s t o the h i s t o r y o f t h e p e o p l e s o f the w o r l d . T o t h i s e n d . I t h i n k r a d i c a l changes m u s t b e m a d e i n t e x t b o o k s a n d p r o g r a m s a n d n e w ones c o m p i l e d i n a p l a n n e d w a y a n d w i t h i n set t i m e l i m i t s , s i n c e t h e old ones h a v e been b o r r o w e d f r o m a b r o a d a n d , m o s t o f them, p a r t i c u l a r l y those o f t h e h i g h e r schools, h a v e been c o m -
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piled on political and ideological criteria inappropriate lor o u r n e w socialist school. C o r r e c t p r o p o r t i o n s i n t h e i r desc r i p t i o n s o f h i s t o r y d o not e x i s t i n t h e m a n d the o r g a n i c c o n n e c t i o n w h i c h w e n e e d t o g i v e t h e t e a c h i n g o f this subject, the h i s t o r y of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of h u m a n society, f r o m the v i e w p o i n t o f h i s t o r i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m , i s lost. T h e r e fore, t h e r e i s a l o t o f w o r k t o b e d o n e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , i n r e g a r d t o q u a l i t y , content, p o l i t i c s a n d i d e o l o g y , a s w e l l as v o l u m e . T h e teaching of the geography of our country is of m a j o r i m p o r t a n c e a n d , i f i t i s u n d e r r a t e d , t h e s o u r c e o f this m a n i f e s t a t i o n m u s t b e sought i n t h e concepts o f f o r e i g n schools, i n t h e i n f l u e n c e o f o p p r e s s i v e r e g i m e s b o t h o f local reactionaries and of foreign invaders, w h o were interested in preventing our people f r o m k n o w i n g their o w n country, so they w o u l d not love it a n d l i n k themselves w i t h it. Theref o r e , i m p e l l e d b y a l l t h e s e t h i n g s , t h e t e a c h i n g o f t h e geography of A l b a n i a was done in a formal, extremely simp l i f i e d w a y , l i s t i n g r i v e r s a n d m o u n t a i n s , etc. I t i s a b s o l u t e l y n e c e s s a r y t o change t h i s s i t u a t i o n c o m p l e t e l y i n our p r o g r a m s , texts, t e a c h i n g m e t h o d s , a n d s o o n . T h e g e o g r a p h y of o u r country, physical, political a n d economic, must b e t u r n e d i n t o a r e a l science s o t h a t , d u r i n g t h e w h o l e s c h o o l cycle, o u r p e o p l e b e c o m e f u l l y a c q u a i n t e d w i t h our H o m e l a n d , its d e v e l o p m e n t a n d prospects, t h a t t h e y k n o w i t a n d t o u c h it, f o r i t i s o n t h i s l a n d t h a t t h e y l i v e , w o r k a n d create. T h e g e o g r a p h y lesson s h o u l d b e o n e o f t h e most l i v e l y and most interesting; the lesson in the book should b e l i n k e d w i t h t h e t e r r a i n , t h e fields, t h e m o u n t a i n s , the r i v e r s a n d t h e l i v e s t o c k . W h a t v a s t prospects s u c h a l e s s o n i n t h e g e o g r a p h y o f o u r c o u n t r y opens u p ! I t i s l i n k e d w i t h the tempering of patriotism a n d love f o r the country, w i t h the economy, agriculture and industry; it helps in the t r a i n i n g o f good geologists, e n g i n e e r s a n d a g r o n o m i s t s f o r the f u t u r e , develops h e a l t h , s p o r t s a n d t o u r i s m . I f w e c o n c e i v e
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geography i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a l l o f these t h i n g s a n d i f we k n o w that we must l i n k the teaching of geography i n schools w i t h n a t u r e , w i t h t h e l a n d , t h e n w e w i l l r e a c h the r i g h t c o n c l u s i o n t h a t w e m u s t m a k e q u a l i t a t i v e c h a n ges i n t h i s subject. M a j o r changes s h o u l d b e m a d e also i n the t e a c h i n g o f world geography, w h i c h in the forms and proportions it is being t a u g h t i n o u r schools a t present, i s u n s u i t a b l e f o r us. T h e r e v i s i o n o f t e x t b o o k s f r o m t h i s angle m e a n s w o r k on pure scientific foundations, w o r k w h i c h , f r o m the p r i mary schools t o t h e u n i v e r s i t y a n d b e y o n d , l i n k s t h e o r y a n d practice p r o p e r l y , f o r p r a c t i c e h e l p s t h e o r y a n d t h e o r y helps a n d g u i d e s p r a c t i c e . I f t h i s o r g a n i c c o n n e c t i o n i s made properly, then we s h a l l be able to serve the present and, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , p r e p a r e f o r t h e f u t u r e . T h e r e v i s i o n o f t e x t b o o k s f r o m the a n g l e o f m a t e r i a l i s t dialectics m u s t b e done f o r a l l k i n d s o f schools w h i c h w e decide u p o n , w h i l e t h e a d a p t a t i o n o f subjects f o r each type of school or course of h i g h or l o w l e v e l m u s t be done separately, s o t h a t t h e y r e s p o n d t o the needs f o r w h i c h that t y p e o f s c h o o l has b e e n opened, a n d the e d u c a tional l e v e l o f those w h o a t t e n d it. I n g e n e r a l , h o w e v e r , I t h i n k t h a t these a d a p t a t i o n s m u s t a l w a y s f o l l o w w e l l studied, s c i e n t i f i c c r i t e r i a a n d c o n f o r m t o c e r t a i n g i v e n orientations, a n d n o t w o r k o n e against a n o t h e r , s u b s t r a c t ing 1 0 h o u r s f r o m t h i s a n d a d d i n g 2 0 h o u r s t o that. This s h o u l d b e a v o i d e d . I h a v e s p o k e n a l i t t l e a b o u t t h e sciences. N o w I w i s h to say a f e w w o r d s a b o u t h o w t h i s p u r g e of science textbooks m u s t b e done a n d n e w ones c o m p i l e d . S i n c e w e w a n t o u r t e x t b o o k s c o m p i l e d f r o m the v i e w p o i n t o f m a t e rialist dialectics, t h e y c a n n o t b e c o m p i l e d b y people w h o are not c o m p e t e n t a n d h a v e p h i l o s o p h i c a l o u t l o o k s a l i e n to Marxism-Leninism. He who is to work in drawing u p the n e w t e x t b o o k s m u s t n o t o n l y b e w e l l a c q u a i n t e d
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w i t h M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t philosophy, but must also feel it a n d k n o w h o w t o a p p l y it, i n short, t o m a t e r i a l i z e i t i n t e x t - b o o k s , t o l i n k i t w i t h l i f e . I a m not r e f e r r i n g h e r e o n l y t o the t e c h n i c i a n s a n d scientists f r o m the o l d schools w h o , i n g e n e r a l , h a v e a g o o d p o l i t i c a l s t a n d , are d e v o t e d t o t h e P a r t y , t o the people a n d t o s o c i a l i s m , b u t w h o , w i l l y - n i l l y , r e m a i n b o u n d w i t h the t h r e a d s o f b o u r g e o i s i d e a l i s t i d e o l o g y , i n d e e d t h i s m u s t be s a i d e v e n of o u r y o u n g cadres o f h i g h e r t r a i n i n g w h o h a v e g r a d u a t e d f r o m o u r state U n i v e r s i t y . W e h a v e m a n y specialists w h o , a l t h o u g h t h e y h a v e g r a d u a t e d f r o m h i g h e r schools, w h e r e they have learned philosophy and have been w o r k i n g f o r some y e a r s a t t h e base, are s t i l l u n a b l e t o l i n k t h e i r k n o w l e d g e w i t h life, h a v e n o t y e t a c h i e v e d w h a t t h e P a r t y r e q u i r e s , that, a s g e n u i n e m a t e r i a l i s t s , t h e y s h o u l d be militants and draw revolutionary philosophical conclusions, as L e n i n says. Then w h a t should we do about the problem I am r a i s i n g ? A close c o l l a b o r a t i o n of teachers of these subjects a n d scientists, m e n o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p h i l o s o p h y m u s t b e o r g a n i z e d u n d e r the d i r e c t i o n o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y a n d the M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e . B u t this m a j o r basic w o r k m u s t n o t b e left t o t h e teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s alone, n o m a t t e r t h a t t h e y are competent, n o m a t t e r t h a t t h e y m a y b e party members. T h e p r o b l e m here is that they do not master Marxist-Leninist philosophy properly. I f w e t a k e the social sciences a n d , p a r t i c u l a r l y , l i t e r a ture, w h i c h i s dealt w i t h i n the schools o f a l l p r o f i l e s , w e s h a l l f i n d v e r y serious things, a l t h o u g h m a n y c o m m u n i s t c o m r a d e s h a v e h a d a h a n d i n i t a n d t h e P a r t y has d e v o t e d m a j o r a t t e n t i o n t o it. I f w e l o o k c a r e f u l l y i n t o the w a y o u r o w n a n d f o r e i g n l i t e r a t u r e are h a n d l e d b o t h i n s c h o o l a n d out o f school (and this w e m u s t s t u d y i n d e t a i l i n t h e l i g h t o f o u r p h i l o s o p h y ) , w e s h a l l see not o n l y weaknesses, i r r e -
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gularities, d i s p r o p o r t i o n s , a m a t e u r i s m , u n h e a l t h y e n t h u s i asm a n d e r u d i t i o n , b u t also g r a v e m i s t a k e s w h i c h cost u s dear a n d w h i c h w i l l cost u s d e a r e r y e t i f w e d o not correct t h e m . I n this q u e s t i o n , w e see t h e r e f l e c t i o n o f the p h i l o s o p h i c a l v i e w s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s school, the i n d i v i d u a l sympathies of one or the o t h e r a c c o r d i n g to h i s i n c l i n a tions, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e school a n d c u l t u r e w i t h w h i c h h e has been m o u l d e d , since h e has not y e t succeeded i n c l e a n ing t h e A u g e a n stables c o m p l e t e l y . A l l these ideas a n d views o f w h i c h h e has n o t r i d h i m s e l f t h o r o u g h l y , a l l t h e s y m p a t h i e s o r passions o f h i s c u m b e r s o m e a n d confused erudition for a local or foreign author, he transmits in school o r i n l i f e t h r o u g h lessons, lectures, conferences, a r t i cles a n d b o o k s he w r i t e s . T h i s constitutes a g r e a t d a n g e r and, i f w e f a i l t o p u t t h i s m a t t e r i n order, w e w i l l h a v e made concessions t o b o u r g e o i s p h i l o s o p h y a n d a l l o w e d i t to fight us openly and almost officially on our o w n ground. T h e epoch of our Renaissance is a democratic r e v o l u t i o n a r y epoch, o f great i m p o r t a n c e i n t h e h i s t o r y a n d l i t e rature o f o u r people, a n e p o c h e n l i g h t e n e d a n d g u i d e d b y t h e i l l u m i n i s t ideas o f o u r m o s t o u t s t a n d i n g m e n o f t h a t p e r i o d , w h i c h has r i g h t l y b e e n c a l l e d the r e b i r t h o f the n a t i o n , its emergence f r o m m e d i a e v a l - f e u d a l a n d i m p e r i a l i s t d a r k n e s s to l i g h t , to i n s u r r e c t i o n , to the f i g h t f o r f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n dence a n d d e m o c r a c y , f o r e n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d e d u c a t i o n . I n o n e o f h i s w o r k s E n g e l s has w r i t t e n a b o u t t h e R e naissance, n o t o u r R e n a i s s a n c e , b u t t h e C i n q u e c e n t o (the period of the second h a l f of t h e the 16th c e n t u r y ) . He says it was a b r i l l i a n t epoch w h i c h b r o u g h t f o r t h p r o m i n e n t m e n , not o n l y artists a n d p a i n t e r s b u t also scientists a n d p h i l o sophers w h o w e r e b u r n e d a t t h e s t a k e b y t h e c h u r c h , p h y sicists, a s t r o n o m e r s a n d o t h e r s w h o b u r s t a s u n d e r t h e h e a v y m e d i a e v a l d a r k n e s s , d e s t r o y e d f a i t h s a n d systems a n d g a v e a further impulse to economic, cultural and scientific d e v e l o p m e n t . B u t the a n a l y s i s E n g e l s m a k e s o f the e p o c h o f
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the Renaissance is a materialist dialectical analysis a n d not a n idealist one, since t h e i m p u l s e t h e m e n o f the R e n a i s sance i m p a r t e d t o society w a s n e i t h e r c o m p l e t e n o r p e r f e c t , it would be transformed and developed further and local a n d g e n e r a l u p h e a v a l s w o u l d o c c u r i n the d e v e l o p m e n t o f h u m a n society a n d i n t h e v a r i o u s sciences. N e w o r c o m p l e m e n t a r y l a w s w o u l d e m e r g e a n d , a s L e n i n says, these upheavals
in most cases give birth tionary philosophical schools
to major and and trends*
minor
reac-
A n d o n l y o u r m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y c a n disperse the f o g o f t h e m a n d w a r d off t h e d a m a g e t h e y b r i n g . I t i s p r e c i s e l y f r o m t h i s angle t h a t o u r P a r t y h a s v i e w e d the epoch of our Renaissance, w h i c h must be ree x a m i n e d m o r e t h o r o u g h l y f r o m the v i e w p o i n t o f d i a l e c tical materialism, so that this period w i l l be transmitted t o t h e school c h i l d r e n , students, teachers, professors, a n d t h e people a s c l e a r l y a n d c o r r e c t l y a s possible, analyzed in a Marxist-Leninist w a y f r o m both the social and economic, a n d t h e e d u c a t i o n a l , c u l t u r a l a n d h i s t o r i c a l angles, a n d not t o suit t h e i n c l i n a t i o n s o f t h i s o r t h a t i n d i v i d u a l . T h i s m u s t b e done i n t h i s w a y . T h e m e n o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e m u s t b e seen i n t h e p r o p e r perspective, i n the e p o c h i n w h i c h t h e y l i v e d , w o r k e d a n d f o u g h t ; t h e i r ideas, w h i c h w e r e t h e p r o d u c t of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of society of t h a t epoch, a n d t h e i r i m m e d i a t e a n d l o n g - t e r m a i m s m u s t b e b r o u g h t out. I f m a t t e r s are presented i n t h i s correct w a y , i t w i l l e m e r g e t h a t the m e n o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e w e r e o u t s t a n d i n g people w i t h p r o g r e s s i v e ideas, w e r e c o u r a g e o u s r e v o l u t i o n ary illuminists, b u r n i n g w i t h ardent love for their country.
____________________________ * V .I. L e n i n , O n the Importance of M i l i t a n t M a t e r i a l i s m , Collected Works, vol. 33. p. 254 (Alb. ed.).
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T h e y f o u g h t w i t h r i f l e a n d p e n f o r the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e people, f o r t h e i r a w a k e n i n g . A l l o f these a r e t h e i r g r e a t p o s i t i v e aspects. A l l these a t t r i butes a n d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e R e n a i s s a n c e a n d o f t h e men w h o l e d i t w e m u s t present t o t h e people. B u t w e m u s t n o t f o r g e t f o r one m o m e n t t h a t these men o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e also h a v e t h e i r n e g a t i v e aspects, which must be subjected to our M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t criticism. T h e i r w e a k n e s s e s lie i n t h e i r p h i l o s o p h i c a l concepts w h i c h are i d e a l i s t . T h i s i s a h e a v y i m p e d i m e n t , i t i s t h e p h i l o sophy o f t h e i r e p o c h w h i c h i s i n c o n t r a d i c t i o n a n d s t r u g g l e with o u r ideology. S h o u l d we keep quiet about this antagonism, about this merciless, l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e w e M a r x i s t s w a g e against i d e a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y , a g a i n s t r e l i g i o n a n d r e l i g i o u s beliefs? S h o u l d w e c o n s i d e r the ideas o f t h e m e n o f o u r Renaissance inviolable, taboo, j u s t because t h e y have expressed t h e m ? C a n w e c o - e x i s t w i t h these ideas a t a t i m e w h e n w e are w a g i n g a s t e r n f i g h t against t h e o l o g y , religion, the churches a n d mosques, the priests and h o d j a s ? C a n w e e x a l t those p a r t s o f t h e w o r k o f N a i m F r a shri w h e r e h e expresses h i s B e k t a s h i p h i l o s o p h y , o r o f Mjeda w h e r e he speaks of C h r i s t i a n theology, or of a j u p w h e r e h e says, f o r e x a m p l e , t h a t B a b a T o m o r r i i s the t h r o n e of G o d , etc. a n d f e e d a l l t h i s to t h e people as i d e o l o g i c a l n u t r i m e n t , s i m p l y because t h e y a r e m e n o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e , g r e a t m e n w h o l a i d t h e bases o f a n d d e v e l o p e d o u r w r i t t e n l a n g u a g e , because t h e i r p o l i t i c a l verses a r e b e a u t i f u l a n d r i c h i n d e l i g h t f u l f i g u r e s ? N o , a s M a r x i s t s a n d i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e people a n d socialism, w e m u s t c o m b a t these n e g a t i v e aspects. I n i d e o l o g y w e c a n n o t m a k e concessions t o t h e b e a u t y o f v e r s e o r the l a n g u a g e . T h e assessment E n g e l s m a d e o f L u t h e r ' s l a n g u a g e a s t h e basis o f the G e r m a n l i t e r a r y l a n g u a g e d i d not i n a n y w a y p r e v e n t h i m f r o m j u d g i n g the r o l e o f t h e
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R e f o r m , b e f o r e a n d a f t e r the P e a s a n t R e v o l t i n G e r m a n y , i n its t r u e l i g h t a n d e x p o s i n g i t a s r e a c t i o n a r y . T h e r e f o r e , f o r us, too, t h e q u e s t i o n o f t e x t b o o k s o n a l l these subjects, a n d e s p e c i a l l y o n l i t e r a t u r e , w i t h i n a n d outside the school, m u s t be s u b j e c t e d to a t h o r o u g h a n a l y s i s a n d e x a m i n a t i o n f r o m the a n g l e o f o u r p h i l o s o p h y . T h e q u e s t i o n I raise a b o u t the m e n of o u r R e n a i s s a n c e must be understood and solved correctly. It is i m p e r m i s sible a n d not M a r x i s t to obscure this epoch. We must m a k e selections o n s o u n d c r i t e r i a f r o m the w o r k s o f the a u t h o r s o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e f o r the d i f f e r e n t categories o f schools a n d t h e p u b l i c , e l i m i n a t i n g the n e g a t i v e passages without hesitation, for if y o u give the children of the 8-year schools p o e m s a n d w r i t i n g s o f a n a u t h o r o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e i n w h i c h h e speaks o f G o d , a n d o n t h e other h a n d y o u praise t h i s a u t h o r h i g h l y , t h e n y o u h a v e also e x a l t e d h i s idealist, deistic o r p o l y d e i s t i c p h i l o s o p h y . N o m a t t e r h o w m u c h y o u c r i t i c i z e it, t h e s c h o o l c h i l d w i l l n o t u n d e r s t a n d y o u , w i l l not u n d e r s t a n d w h a t y o u are e u l o g i z i n g a n d w h a t y o u are c r i t i c i z i n g . I n the h i g h e r schools, h o w ever, t h e i r t e x t s c a n b e m o r e e x t e n s i v e , b u t n e v e r w i t h o u t serious M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c r i t i c i s m o f t h e i r i d e a l i s t v i e w s . On the other h a n d , we must be on our guard against the i d e a l i z a t i o n a n d c u l t o f the m e n o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e . We must v i e w this question f r o m the angle of our M a r x ist-Leninist philosophy. Since the time of our Renaissance, colossal changes h a v e t a k e n p l a c e i n o u r c o u n t r y i n t h e economic, social, c u l t u r a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l f i e l d s . A l b a n i a i s n o l o n g e r w h a t i t u s e d t o be, n o r are its e c o n o m y , c u l t u r e , e d u c a t i o n , language, r e g i m e , p o l i t i c s o r i d e o l o g y . A c c o r d i n g t o the l a w o f m a t e r i a l i s t d i a lectics, e v e r y t h i n g h a s c h a n g e d a n d i s i n t h e process o f change. I f y o u d o n o t k e e p a l l these changes i n m i n d , i f y o u e x a l t o n e a n d forget t h e others, i f y o u l i v e o n l y w i t h the o l d a n d forget the n e w , i f y o u t h i n k t h a t t h e o l d a l o n e
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should i n f l u e n c e the n e w a n d t h a t t h e n e w p l a y s a m i n o r role, t h e n y o u are h e a d i n g i n t o a b l i n d a l l e y . W h i l e b e a r i n g these t h i n g s i n m i n d , w e m u s t c o m b a t a n y t e n d e n c y t o b e little the l i t e r a t u r e o f t h e p e r i o d o f people's p o w e r . T h e doors o f o u r s c h o o l s s h o u l d b e f l u n g o p e n w i d e t o t h i s new l i t e r a t u r e o f socialist r e a l i s m , f o r i t r e f l e c t s t h e sentiments a n d e f f o r t s of a g l o r i o u s n e w e p o c h a n d c a n and s h o u l d assist the a l l - r o u n d e d u c a t i o n of the masses w i t h the l o f t y i d e a l s o f socialist a n d c o m m u n i s t society. The other periods of the development in t h i n k i n g , i n science a n d l i t e r a t u r e , i n a r t a n d m u s i c w h i c h are p o r t r a y e d i n t e x t b o o k s , s h o u l d also b e e x a m i n e d w i t h these same c r i t e r i a . A s I s a i d e a r l i e r , i n the t e x t b o o k s these must b e c o m p l e t e , b u t w e m u s t n o t p e r m i t t h e e x a g gerated m a n i a o f c e r t a i n p r o m i n e n t e r u d i t e s w h o are u n d u l y k e e n t o t e a c h p u p i l s , w i t h i n a s h o r t p e r i o d , a l l these things w h i c h t h e y t h e m s e l v e s took a w h o l e l i f e t i m e t o l e a r n . T h i s , I t h i n k , s h o u l d n o t be i n t e r p r e t e d to m e a n that w e h a v e n o n e e d f o r e m i n e n t scholars, f o r great experts. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , w e h a v e great n e e d f o r t h e m , t h e y a r e t h e w e l l o f science a n d k n o w l e d g e a n d t h r o u g h t h e m w e w i l l m u l t i p l y a n d q u a l i f y o u r h i g h e r cadres, b u t w e s h o u l d n o t m i x u p t h e stages o f d e v e l o p m e n t . A v e r y l e a r n e d p e r s o n has a n d m u s t f i n d t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o make his teaching v e r y understandable to the university student w i t h o u t over-loading h i m , w h i l e h e should k n o w h o w t o i n c r e a s e the d o s e f o r t h e s p e c i a l i s t sent t o h i m f o r further qualification. A s t o w o r l d l i t e r a t u r e , I t h i n k t h a t i t h a s l o n g been i n a c h a o t i c a n d v e r y d a n g e r o u s state i n o u r schools a n d among the public. A l t h o u g h some i m p r o v e m e n t s have been m a d e d u r i n g t h e l a s t t w o o r t h r e e y e a r s , the situation is still disturbing. In this field there is a lack of s o u n d c r i t e r i a ; a n d w h e r e these e x i s t o r h a v e been d e f i n e d , t h e y h a v e been d i s t o r t e d , b a s t a r d i z e d . T h e r e f o r e t h e C e n -
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t r a l Committee of the P a r t y must take this seriously in h a n d , for there are matters of principle w h i c h must be f o r c e f u l l y asserted a n d the s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e i r i m p l e m e n tation must be w e l l organized. Someone takes a fancy to a novel, translates it a n d wants it p u b l i s h e d ; if the t r a n s l a t o r i s some p e r s o n a l i t y a n d t h e n o v e l a classic, it is p r i n t e d and fed to the public, regardless of the ideas e x p r e s s e d i n it. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h i s s a m e translator w i l l deliver a lecture on behalf of the Party, attacking t h e ideas o f the n o v e l h e has t r a n s l a t e d . H e i s n o t b o t h e r e d b y h i s o w n i n c o n s i s t e n c y , n o r i s the P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e w h i c h o v e r f u l f i l s its p l a n . W e m u s t s u p p l y t h e people a n d t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n w i t h s c h o o l t e x t b o o k s a n d o t h e r books, n o t t o c o n f u s e t h e m and corrupt them spiritually but to help them k n o w the d e v e l o p m e n t o f society a n d , a t t h e same t i m e , t o a r m t h e m w i t h o u r ideology. F o r e i g n literature is a w i d e and v a r i e d f i e l d . A c a r e f u l s e l e c t i o n o f w h a t w e n e e d i n this f i e l d i s feasible, b u t also d i f f i c u l t . T h e p e o p l e w h o a r e t o m a k e this selection must h a v e extensive culture and w e l l f o r m e d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t views. These people must have a good g r a s p o f w h a t i s n e e d e d , n o t a s a w h o l e , b u t i n s e p a r a t e categories. W h i l e t r a n s l a t i n g a n d p u b l i s h i n g f o r e i g n l i t e r a t u r e , t h e y s h o u l d h a v e a c l e a r i d e a of t h e d e f i n i t e aims and intentions of our Party. In this important and delicate p r o b l e m we should not allow snobbery, i n d i v i d u a l tastes, o r u n h e a l t h y p r e d i l e c t i o n s , n o r s h o u l d w e a l l o w n i h i l i s m , m e r e l y s a y i n g , w e h a v e n o n e e d o f i t a t all. N o , w e n e e d it, b u t w e s h a l l t a k e a s m u c h o f i t as w i l l help our mental, artistic and cultural development. E v e r y n a t i o n has i t o w n l i t e r a t u r e , a n d t h i s i s m a d e u p o f a v a r i e t y o f schools o f t h o u g h t , i n t h e v a r i o u s phases o f its d e v e l o p m e n t a n d decadence. T h e b o u r geoisie has c r e a t e d a n d i s c r e a t i n g its o w n l i t e r a t u r e
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w i t h m a j o r a n d m i n o r w r i t e r s , poets, m u s i c i a n s , artists, etc. some of w h o m h a v e w i t h s t o o d t h e test of t i m e w h i l e some h a v e t r i c k l e d a w a y t o o b s c u r i t y . B u t i t i s u n t h i n k able t h a t w e s h o u l d t r a n s l a t e t h e m en bloc, a s i f w e cannot do w i t h o u t t h e m , or as if we c a n n o t be abreast o f the t i m e s w i t h o u t t h e m , a s some m a y c l a i m . W e should select a m o n g the m o s t p r o g r e s s i v e , a n d m o s t r e v olutionary books a n d the authors w h o h a v e w r i t t e n about the most r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o m e n t s , s o t h a t t h e y w i l l i l l u s t r a t e t o our r e a d e r w h a t h e has l e a r n e d a b o u t t h e h i s t o r y o f peoples, a b o u t t h e i r class struggle, a n d a b o u t the d e v e l o p ment o f t h e i r p r o g r e s s i v e t h o u g h t . S u c h w r i t e r s , poets and artists exist, b u t w e s h o u l d n e v e r f o r g e t t h a t w e w i l l n o t f i n d a l l w e w a n t o r i n the w a y w e w a n t i t i n them, beacuse e v e n i n these p r o g r e s s i v e o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y authors w e s h a l l f i n d t h e r e f l e c t i o n , t o some degree, i f n o t complete, o f b o u r e g o i s ideas a b o u t l i f e a n d the p r e v a i ling ideas o f the p e r i o d i n w h i c h t h e a u t h o r s l i v e d . T h e n h o w should we proceed in this matter? I think w e s h o u l d n o t b e g u i d e d b y t h e m a n i a t h a t we must give the school children, the y o u t h a n d the public a n o v e l t o d e v o u r w h o l e , e v e n w h e n t h i s n o v e l has t h r e e g o o d p a r t s a n d f i v e b a d . I n t h i s case, w e can a n d s h o u l d g i v e t h e m selected parts, p r e c i s e l y the three g o o d ones, without neglecting to m a k e our c r i t i c i s m of t h e b o o k as a w h o l e . I t h i n k t h a t to perform this delicate task well, we must always, in every step w e t a k e , c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r a n d t o w h a t e x t e n t i t serves t h e f o r m a t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n o f o u r people, whether i t assists o r d a m a g e s w h a t t h e P a r t y i s b u i l d i n g every d a y a n d e v e r y h o u r . B e c a u s e if, o n o n e h a n d , we w a g e a p e r s i s t e n t d a i l y s t r u g g l e to e l i m i n a t e p e t t y bourgeois s u r v i v a l s f r o m t h e m i n d s o f people, o r c o m b a t the i n f l u e n c e o f r e l i g i o n a n d s u p e r s t i t i o n s d a y b y d a y
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and, on the other hand, we give o u r people books by w o r l d f a m o u s a u t h o r s i n w h i c h t h e y serve u p these ideas sugar-coated, t h e n , w i t h o u r o w n hands, w e d e m o l i s h b y night w h a t we b u i l d by day. T h e s e c r i t e r i a , I t h i n k , s h o u l d be f o l l o w e d also r e g a r d i n g t h e l i t e r a t u r e i n the U n i v e r s i t y , i n s t e a d o f f o l l o w i n g the inclinations of i n d i v i d u a l professors and l o a d i n g the p r o g r a m s w i t h t h e w o r k s o f A r i s t o p h a n e s , as a c r i t i c i s m by a s t u d e n t w h i c h I r e a d in t h e n e w s paper Studenti quite r i g h t l y said. T h e philosophy of our Party, materialist philosophy, should prevail in a l l t h e p r o g r a m s o f the U n i v e r s i t y , a s w e l l a s i n d e c i ding their structure, in compiling textbooks, in the forms and methods of teaching. I stress once a g a i n t h a t t h e s t u d y of M a r x i s t p h i l o s o p h y m u s t b e o n e o f o u r m a j o r concerns, because i f w e d o not k n o w a n d m a s t e r i t w e c a n n o t c o n s t r u c t these things in the w a y I have just mentioned. B u t I think t h a t t h i s i m p o r t a n t basic s t u d y i s b e i n g c o n d u c t e d b y o l d , s t e r e o t y p e d f o r m a l i s t m e t h o d s b o r r o w e d f r o m the S o v i e t school, u n e n l i v e n e d a n d u n r e f r e s h e d w i t h the v i v i d , m i l i t a n t e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r P a r t y a n d the const r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n o u r c o u n t r y . I t h i n k also that this important study of materialist philosophy is not p r o p e r l y l i n k e d a n d c o o r d i n a t e d w i t h t h e o t h e r subjects, since t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e p r o g r a m s a n d t h e w a y lessons a r e t a u g h t i n t h e p r a c t i c e o f v a r i o u s d e p a r t m e n t s o f the u n i v e r s i t y l e a v e a lot to be d e s i r e d in t h i s d i r e c t i o n . The genuine materialist world-outlook must be created among our intellectuals, in general, a n d among t h e s t u d e n t s a n d professors, i n p a r t i c u l a r . T h e i r s t u d y of M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y m u s t f o l l o w a n u m b e r of p a r a l l e l courses i n o r d e r t o a r r i v e a t the p o i n t o f t h e i r Marxist-Leninist philosophical formation.
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The first course is that of teaching dialectical and historical m a t e r i a l i s m as one of the most important separate s u b j e c t s . T h i s s t u d y s h o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d i n a serious w a y , w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e , u n d e r s t a n d a b l e f o r m s . In other words, a l l the materialist philosophical syntheses f o r m u l a t e d b y o u r g r e a t classics s h o u l d b e t a u g h t , and i l l u s t r a t e d w i t h t h e s t r u g g l e a n d p r a c t i c e o f o u r P a r t y and the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t . H e n c e , the method i n w h i c h w e teach the M a r x i s t philosophy today must b e r e t a i n e d a n d p e r f e c t e d , a n d the c u r r e n t S o v i e t attempt to e l i m i n a t e M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m as a g u i d i n g science a n d r e d u c e i t t o t h e s t a t u s o f logic m u s t b e exposed a n d c o n d e m n e d a s r e v i s i o n i s t . T h i s m u s t b e the solid f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e t e a c h i n g o f o u r p h i l o s o p h y , w h i c h i s the t h e o r y t h a t g i v e s u s o u r b e a r i n g s a n d g u i d e s us. T h e second course or means, w h i c h re-enforces the first a n d o p e n s c l e a r v i s t a s f o r its p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n and use as a c o m p a s s or g u i d e , is t h a t a l l t h e t e x t b o o k s , lectures, t e a c h i n g m e t h o d s a n d c o n d u c t o f experiments and p r a c t i c a l w o r k m u s t b e d o n e , r e c o n s t r u c t e d and developed in c o n f o r m i t y w i t h our theory. T h e y should be i l l u s t r a t e d a n d e x p l a i n e d , s t e p b y step, i n the l i g h t o f our t h e o r y , s o t h a t t h e s t u d e n t a n d p r o f e s s o r , t h e teacher and p u p i l c a n see c o n c r e t e l y , i n t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e , t h a t the g e n u i n e a n d c o r r e c t d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e sciences a d vances o n t h e course o f p r o g r e s s o n l y w h e n i t i s g u i d e d and e n l i g h t e n e d b y d i a l e c t i c a l a n d h i s t o r i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m . T h e t h i r d , j u s t a s i m p o r t a n t , course, i s t h e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e p u p i l s , s t u d e n t s a n d t e a c h e r s i n the political and economic problems of the country, while they a r e s t i l l b e i n g f o r m e d i n s c h o o l s a n d t h e u n i v e r s i t y , since i n t h i s w a y t h e y e m e r g e f r o m t h e s t u d y o f b o o k s and laboratory practice into active revolutionary life, where the basic principles of our Marxist-Leninist m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y are p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e i n a great
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v a r i e t y o f c r e a t i v e w a y s , y i e l d i n g c o n c r e t e r e s u l t s t h a t can b e seen a n d t o u c h e d . W h i l e e v e r y aspect o f t e a c h i n g a n d e d u c a t i o n m u s t be organically permeated by the ideology and policy of our Party, this must be achieved together w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e o f l i n k i n g lessons w i t h w o r k a n d the p o l y t e c h n i z a t i o n o f t h e s c h o o l . W e t o o k some steps i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n a s f a r b a c k a s t h e P l e n u m o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f o u r P a r t y i n 1960, w h e n w e r e o r g a n i z e d o u r schools o n t h e basis o f t h i s p r i n c i p l e . D u r i n g recent years a n d in the r e v o l u t i o n a r y atmosphere o f t h e w h o l e l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y , these steps a r e b e i n g enriched w i t h new forms, initiatives and experiments. We shall continually extend and intensify this work. T h e s e t h r e e m a i n courses m u s t b e w e l l c o m b i n e d . F o r t h e f i r s t , w h i c h o u r g r e a t classics h a v e l e f t u s a s a colossal h e r i t a g e , w e m u s t p e r f e c t o u r m e t h o d s o f w o r k and s t u d y ; for the second, we h a v e a great deal t o d o a n d m u s t e m b a r k o n t h i s process w i t h g r e a t care and in a revolutionary w a y ; for the third, we have already started but we must extend, complete and perfect t h i s process. I w i s h t o s a y a f e w w o r d s also a b o u t t h e m e t h o d a n d style of w o r k of teachers a n d professors. O u r socialist school requires a new, revolutionary m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k f r o m teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s , a n d to achieve this the teachers themselves must be revolutionaries, must be educated in this w a y so that t h e y , i n t u r n , c a n e d u c a t e t h e p u p i l s a n d students. T h e programs and textbooks constructed in this spirit and w i t h the n e w methods w i l l teach the teachers a n d educat o r s t h e m s e l v e s i n t h i s w a y . T h e r e i s n o d o u b t a b o u t that, b u t this w i l l b e i n s u f f i c i e n t i f t h e y s h u t t h e m s e l v e s up w i t h i n t h e i r i v o r y t o w e r , i n t h e w o r l d o f t h e i r school, a n d
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d o not f e e l a n d t e m p e r t h e m s e l v e s a s a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a n t s i n the v i g o r o u s r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist society. I f t h e y d o n o t l i v e a n d act i n this w a y , r e g a r d l e s s o f the t e x t b o o k s a n d p r o g r a m s , t h e y w i l l n o t b e m i l i t a n t s , innovators a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s i n t h e i r m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k , b u t w i l l b e o v e r c o m e b y r o u t i n e , f o r m a l i s m , stereotypism, a n d t h e i r m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f t e a c h i n g w i l l b e f l a b b y , lifeless, a n d w i l l t u r n i n t o t h a t s t y l e a n d m e t h o d o f the b o u r g e o i s s c h o o l w h i c h does n o t f a i l t o g i v e p r e scriptions w h i c h , p r e t e n d i n g t o b e didactic, o r t o come from a pedagogy w i t h e x p e r i e n c e , a r e a n t i - d i a l e c t i c a l , n o n - r e v o l u t i o n a r y , r e a c t i o n a r y a n d static. T h e m e t h o d s a n d s t y l e o f t e a c h i n g c o m p r i s e one o f the m a i n s k i l l s o f teachers a n d professors, w h o m u s t b e come c o m p e t e n t a n d i m p r o v e these s k i l l s . W e w o u l d f i n d i t d i f f i c u l t a n d w o u l d b e w r o n g t o issue p r e s c r i p t i o n s , a n d the teachers a n d professors, l i k e w i s e , w o u l d b e w r o n g to think that their method and style of w o r k have reached p e r f e c t i o n a n d s h o u l d be t a k e n as a p e r f e c t m o d e l for a l l . T h e g o o d e x p e r i e n c e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n s h o u l d b e publicized, b u t t h e w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e , t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f a b i l i t i e s , w i l l create s t i l l better m e t h o d s a n d styles of w o r k . T h e r e are no l i m i t s to p e r f e c t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , I think t h i s i m p o r t a n t p r o b l e m s h o u l d n o t b e s h a c k l e d w i t h f o r m a l i s m a n d stereotypes b u t s h o u l d b e i n c o n t i n u o u s d e velopment. T h i s s h o u l d n o t b e t a k e n t o m e a n a m a t e u rism, b u t i m p r o v e m e n t based f i r m l y o n the e x i s t i n g p r o g rams a n d t e x t b o o k s . T h e e x a m p l e t o f o l l o w i s t h a t o f the w o r k e r w h o i s a n i n n o v a t o r a n d a r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n his work, w h o p r o d u c e s w i t h h i s l a t h e t h e d e t a i l r e q u i r e d , as n e a r p e r f e c t as possible, a n d not s o m e t h i n g w h i c h is not r e q u i r e d or w h i c h is t h e p r o d u c t of a sick i m a g i nation. T h e g o o d m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k m u s t serve the o v e r a l l a i m . E v e r y t h i n g w i l l be done w e l l w h e n the teacher and
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p r o f e s s o r t h o r o u g h l y m a s t e r t h e i r subject. A p a r t f r o m this, there c a n b e n o g o o d m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k e i t h e r f o r t h e w o r k e r , o r f o r the teacher a n d p r o f e s s o r . O n c e a teacher m a s t e r s h i s s u b j e c t w e l l , he w i l l be able t o gauge t h e c u l t u r a l l e v e l o f h i s students, t h e i r i n c l i n a t i o n s a n d p s y c h o l o g y , because this w i l l i m p e l h i m t o d e e p e n h i s k n o w l e d g e o f subjects, t o k e e p m o d i f y i n g the style a n d m e t h o d o f his w o r k t o c o m p l y w i t h the s i t u a t i o n , a n d h e w i l l t h u s a r r i v e a t t h a t stage o f his method w h i c h he w i l l consider perfect. S u c h a m e t h o d o f w o r k w i l l oblige t h e t e a c h e r a n d professor (and here they w i l l prove themselves r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d e n t e r p r i s i n g ) t o use d i f f e r e n t f o r m s f o r the p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e subject, a v a r i e t y o f f o r m s t h a t w i l l take them far f r o m stereotypism, dogmatism, formalism, etc. I t i s o n l y i n this w a y , I t h i n k , t h a t t h e y w i l l n o t b e a f r a i d o f questions a s k e d b y t h e p u p i l s a n d students, o r the l a t t e r o f t h e questions a s k e d b y t h e t e a c h e r s a n d professors. T h i s w i l l create a v i g o r o u s l i f e i n t h e s c h o o l a n d a s u i t a b l e c o m m u n i t y of p u r e , modest, r e v o l u t i o n a r y feelings i n t h e process o f t h e i n t e r c h a n g e o f ideas between the pupils and the teacher and of i m p a r t i n g t h e teacher's k n o w l e d g e t o t h e p u p i l s . T h e verbosity and unhealthy academism of a teacher are n o t h i n g b u t a m a n i a a n d a p r o n o u n c e d w e a k n e s s , b e h i n d w h i c h l i e s t h e w e a k n e s s o f his k n o w l e d g e o f the subject and t h e t e n d e n c y t o h i d e t h i s f r o m the p u p i l s . A t e a c h e r of t h i s t y p e resorts to s u c h m e t h o d s to c o n ceal the v o i d i n his k n o w l e d g e a n d c o v e r i t u p w i t h m e a n i n g l e s s v e r b i a g e . T h i s , s o m e t i m e s of course, creates a false s i t u a t i o n b e t w e e n the e d u c a t o r a n d students, is a s t u m b l i n g b l o c k to the c o m p l e t e e d u c a t i o n of the p u p i l s w h o g r o w i n a t t e n t i v e a n d t r y t o escape f r o m b o r e d o m b y t a l k i n g , m a k i n g noise, o r s c r i b b l i n g o n t h e i r n o t e books. T h e teacher w i t h a p o o r m e t h o d o f w o r k a n d i n a d -
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equate p r e p a r a t i o n b l a m e s a l l these acts o f m i s c o n d u c t , which are caused by an objective situation, subjectively o n the p u p i l s , o n t h e i r l a c k o f d i s c i p l i n e , l a c k o f e d u c a tion, etc. T o correct t h i s s i t u a t i o n w h i c h seems t o h i m abnormal, t h i s teacher, b e i n g i n c a p a b l e of m a k i n g a self-critical a n a l y s i s of his own work and feeling superior t o the s t u d e n t s i n a l l respects, resorts t o m i s placed c o e r c i v e p e d a g o g i c a l m e t h o d s , w i t h t h e e m phasis o n a u t h o r i t a r i a n i s m , f o r m a l d i s c i p l i n e , t h e f o r c e of m a r k s , u n h e a l t h y a n t i p a t h i e s , s p i t e f u l acts a l l of t h e m anti-educational and anti-pedagogical a n d contrary to sound t e a c h i n g p r i n c i p l e s . T h e P a r t y s h o u l d t a k e a c count o f these a n d m a n y o t h e r m a t t e r s i n t h e p o l i t i c a l , ideological a n d m e t h o d o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n o f teachers a n d professors w h o h a v e b e e n e n t r u s t e d w i t h a m a j o r t a s k . W h i l e we give o u r fullest support to the more extensive a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f t h e masses i n t h e d e v e l o p ment o f e d u c a t i o n a n d the w o r k o f o u r schools, a n d i n this c o n t e x t , g i v e t h e f u l l e s t e n c o u r a g e m e n t t o the i n i t i a tive o f schools a n d r a n k - a n d - f i l e t e a c h e r s t o a p p l y t h e teaching p r o g r a m s in a c r e a t i v e w a y , to use t e x t b o o k s creatively a n d t o v i e w t h e m w i t h a c r i t i c a l eye, t o p e r form e x p e r i m e n t s , w e m u s t i n s i s t t h a t these i n i t i a t i v e s should a l w a y s b e based o n t h e p o l i c y f o r e d u c a t i o n l a i d down b y t h e P a r t y w h i c h e m b o d i e s the p r i n c i p l e o f d e m o cratic c e n t r a l i s m . . . L i f e is a great school a n d the s c h o o l itself is n o t h i n g but a c o m p o n e n t p a r t of l i f e . T h e r e f o r e , t h e s c h o o l s h o u l d b e closely and h a r m o n i o u s l y c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e a c t i v i t i e s , the w o r k a n d t h e t h i n k i n g o f m a n , s h o u l d serve h i m in l i f e a n d serve s o c i e t y as a w h o l e . T h e socialist society and the f u t u r e c o m m u n i s t s o c i e t y w h i c h the P a r t y is building and preparing, have their o w n laws and rules of d e v e l o p m e n t , o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s i n each p e r i o d a n d a t each stage, l a w s a n d r u l e s w h i c h we
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should know, learn, master and apply consistently. P r e p a r a t i o n s are necessary i n e v e r y t h i n g , b o t h b e f o r e the action, i n t h e course o f the a c t i o n a n d e v e n after i t ; w e b u i l d the p r e s e n t but, a t t h e same t i m e , w e look a h e a d a n d p r e p a r e f o r the f u t u r e . I n a l l this process o f d e v e l o p m e n t , n o t p e a c e f u l , n o t spontaneous, b u t r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e s t r u g g l e o f opposites creates progress a n d t h e d i a l e c t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f opposites b r i n g s a b o u t those qualitative transformations which l e a d o u r society f r o m a h i g h stage to a s t i l l h i g h e r one. I n this great r e v o l u t i o n the d e c i s i v e r o l e i s p l a y e d b y the masses, l e d b y t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g y . T h u s , t h r o u g h its i d e o logy, the P a r t y m u s t m a k e t h e b r o a d masses o f p e o p l e conscious o f t h i s r o l e , e d u c a t e t h e m f r o m e v e r y aspect and m a k e them capable of k n o w i n g , mastering and applying the laws of nature properly, a n d of turning t h e m t o t h e m a t e r i a l a d v a n t a g e o f m a n a n d society. Therefore, the school along w i t h the other activities of m e n , i s a n i m p o r t a n t stage. I n b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m , the m a j o r o b j e c t i v e o f t h e P a r t y is to f o r m and temper the new communist m a n w i t h a sound Marxist-Leninist political and theoretical o u t l o o k , w i t h t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ethics, zest a n d taste a n d the m i l i t a n t , r e v o l u t i o n a r y , M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s p i r i t o f d a r i n g t o create a n d c a r r y t h i n g s t h r o u g h . O u r new m a n m u s t f i n d t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a n d its p h i l o s o p h y materialized in this revolutionary struggle f o r formation a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , i n this b a t t l e f o r e d u c a t i o n a n d r e e d u c a t i o n , i n t h i s c l a s h o f opposites, i n t h e class s t r u g g l e , o f t h e n e w w i t h the o l d . A t e v e r y m o m e n t , f r o m h i s b i r t h t i l l his d e a t h , w h e r e v e r h e w o r k s , creates a n d t h i n k s , w h e r e v e r h e sets his f o o t o r l a y s h i s h e a d h e s h o u l d f i n d the m a t e r i a l i z a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y a n d its p h i l o s o p h y , he should understand the policy and the theory of the P a r -
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t y a n d the p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f its l i n e , s h o u l d d r a w p h i l o s o p h i c a l a n d p r a c t i c a l conclusions f r o m these a c h i e vements, s h o u l d a r m h i m s e l f a n d f o r g e a h e a d w i t h m u l t i p l i e d energies, conscious a t a l l t i m e s t h a t a l l these are h i s achievements, the a c h i e v e m e n t s of the masses of t h e people l e d b y t h e i r P a r t y a n d its m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y . L o s i n g one's bearings, or l o s i n g the t r a c k , as our people say, in a n y of these m a t t e r s spells defeat. No sector or sub-sector of social a c t i v i t y c a n be u n d e r r a t e d or developed i n i s o l a t i o n f r o m the others o r i n a n a r c h y i n regard t o the w h o l e . U n d o u b t e d l y , t h e r e w i l l b e i n e q u a l i ties in t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h i s sector, or t h a t t h e r e w i l l b e p r o g r e s s a n d r e t r o g r e s s i o n , b u t these w i l l b e problems of g r o w t h , of development, and we should never allow them to spring f r o m political and ideological deviations. O n e of the m a j o r causes of the catastrophe which befell t h e B o l s h e v i k P a r t y o f L e n i n a n d S t a l i n a f t e r t h e latter's d e a t h i s t h i s u n e v e n n e s s i n the u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d p r o p e r a p p l i c a t i o n o f the l i n e i n a l l fields, t h e sclerosis of t h e t h e o r e t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s of the P a r t y , f a i l u r e to w a g e t h e class s t r u g g l e in a r a d i c a l , c o n t i n u o u s a n d consistent w a y , a l o n g w i t h b u r e a u c r a c y a n d m a n y other f a c t o r s w h i c h h a v e b e e n the t o p i c o f m a n y p r e v i o u s studies a n d analyses o f o u r P a r t y a n d w h i c h need not b e e n l a r g e d o n here. I n short, t h e K h r u s h chevite m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s seized p o w e r , l i q u i d a t e d t h e P a r t y a s the P a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, e l i m i n a t e d its M a r x i s t ideology and replaced it w i t h idealist ideology, a n d are t u r n i n g t h e state of t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t i n t o a b o u r g e o i s state w i t h a c a p i t a l i s t economy. T h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e w r e c k e d the S o v i e t school a n d are t u r n i n g i t i n t o a bourgeois school i n o r d e r to create an a n t i - c o m m u n i s t y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n as a p r o p
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o f the c a p i t a l i s t r e g i m e w h i c h t h e y h a v e r e s t o r e d i n t h e i r country. I n c o n c l u s i o n , w e m u s t not f o r one m o m e n t f o r g e t a l l these situations, these d a n g e r s ; w e m u s t h a v e c l e a r heads a n d a n i r o n f i s t against the enemies o f t h e people, o f the P a r t y a n d o f s o c i a l i s m ; w e m u s t b e c l e a r a b o u t the role of t h e masses a n d the colossal i m p o r t a n c e of t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n , w h i c h s t r e n g t h e n s the present a n d guarantees the f u t u r e , w e m u s t n e v e r f o r g e t t h a t i n a l l this great s t r u g g l e w h i c h the P a r t y i s w a g i n g w i t h s u c cess, the s t r u g g l e to succeed in b u i l d i n g a n e w socialist school is one of o u r greatest a n d most d e l i c a t e tasks, a n d w e are f u l l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t o u r P a r t y w i l l e m e r g e f r o m t h i s s t r u g g l e w i t h success, a s i t a l w a y s does i n everything.
Reports and speeches 1967-1968
THE BUDAPEST CARNIVALS

March 15, 1968
F e b r u a r y is carnival m o n t h in a number of countries. People d i s g u i s e d i n a l l sorts o f f a n c y costumes a m u s e themselves b y p l a y i n g the m o s t d i v e r s e roles. T h e c a r n i v a l sponsors d r a w l a r g e p r o f i t s f r o m these p e r f o r m a n c e s . However, in history, there are carnivals and carnivals. Voltaire, the renowned F r e n c h t h i n k e r and of the 18th c e n t u r y , w r o t e a b o u t t h e c a r n i v a l s of He put various dethroned kings in the role of and p o u r e d s c o r n o n t h e i r r i d i c u l o u s d r e a m s a n d This i s a w e l l - k n o w n w o r k i n t h e h i s t o r y o f literature. author Venice. clowns desires. world
The present-day w o r l d knows another k i n d of carn i v a l , t h e B u d a p e s t c a r n i v a l s . P r e c i s e l y i n the m o n t h o f F e b r u a r y , d u r i n g c a r n i v a l w e e k , the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , dressed u p i n v a r i o u s disguises, m e t i n t h e H u n g a r i a n capital. T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s h a d gone t o great pains i n t h e i r p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r the r e v i s i o n i s t m e e t i n g i n B u dapest. E v e n b e f o r e i t opened, the f i r s t signs b e c a m e a p parent t h a t t h i s m e e t i n g w o u l d not serve t h e h e g e m o n y s o g r e a t l y d e s i r e d b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders. U n d e r pressure f r o m t h e i r p a r t n e r s , the S o v i e t s w e r e u n w i l l i n g l y
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c o m p e l l e d t o m a k e c e r t a i n l i b e r a l o p p o r t u n i s t concessions o n t h e eve o f t h e conference a n d p u b l i c l y d e c l a r e d , t h r o u g h a speech d e l i v e r e d b y B r e z h n e v i n L e n i n g r a d , t h a t M o s c o w w a s n o l o n g e r the l e a d i n g centre o f w o r l d c o m m u n i s m , t h a t t h e u n i t y w h i c h t h e S o v i e t leaders w e r e s e e k i n g w a s a l l e g e d l y based o n t h e i d e a o f p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m , o n the struggle against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d w a s i n the g e n e r a l interests o f socialist c o n struction. O f course, t h e y c o v e r e d a l l t h i s w i t h a f i g l e a f b y p o s i n g a s the r e a l bearers o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w h i c h w i l l b e a p p l i e d a c c o r d i n g t o the i n d i v i d u a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d specific c o n d i t i o n s o f each r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y . T h e s e w e r e t h e conditions i m p o s e d o n the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s f o r the p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n the m e e t i n g o f a g r o u p o f r e v i sionists w h o pose as a u t o n o m o u s a n d a l l e g e d l y as the most revolutionary among the revisionists. Indeed this g r o u p , i n a n n o u n c i n g its d e c i s i o n t o a t t e n d the m e e t i n g , also p r e s e n t e d its o w n theses: n o p a r t y s h o u l d i n t e r f e r e i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f other parties, n o p a r t y has a r i g h t t o c r i t i c i z e t h e actions o f other p a r t i e s w h i c h are fully entitled to interpret and implement M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m as they w i s h , to suit their o w n fancy. T h e s e ideas not o n l y g o b e y o n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t i d e a o f T o g l i a t t i ' s p o l y c e n t r i s m , b u t e v e n suggest t h a t each p a r t y s h o u l d b e c o m e a c e n t r e i n itself. I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h i s m e a n s t h a t not o n l y one a n d t w o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f our revolutionary theory w i l l be permitted, but even dozens, if not h u n d r e d s of t h e m . It is o b v i o u s t h a t t h e a i m o f s u c h ideas i s t o attack M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m f r o m a l l sides, to s o w great i d e o l o g i c a l c o n f u s i o n , to d i s o r i e n tate t h e p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l , m i l i t a r y a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l struggle of peoples, a n d to d i s c r e d i t the socialist s y s t e m and communism. T h u s , e v e n b e f o r e t h e m e e t i n g , b e h i n d the scenes, i n
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principle a n d in practice, the f o l l o w i n g m a i n question was put f o r w a r d : s h o u l d t h e y g o i n t o b a t t l e against M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m b y the classical m e t h o d s a n d u n d e r t h e h e g e m o n y o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , o r s h o u l d t h e y reject both the c l a s s i c a l m e t h o d s a n d t h e S o v i e t h e g e m o n y a n d adopt n e w e r , q u i c k e r a n d m o r e r e l i a b l e m e t h o d s t o smash a n d c o m p l e t e l y d i s i n t e g r a t e t h e c o m m u n i s t m o v e ment? The latter viewpoint was strongly supported by Tito, L o n g o a n d the autonomists. A p p a r e n t l y it w a s v e r y a t t r a c t i v e also t o t h e n e w l i b e r a l g r o u p s o f r e v i sionists w h o h a v e j u s t c o m e t o p o w e r . T h e p a r t i s a n s o f one o r t h e o t h e r thesis h a d t h e i r o w n s u p p o r t e r s w h o canvassed f o r t h e m b e h i n d t h e scenes a n d o n t h e stage at Budapest, d u r i n g the carnival week f r o m F e b r u a r y 26 to M a r c h 5. The Soviet revisionists failed in their fundamental aim, w h i c h was to force the Budapest meeting to take up as the m a i n problem that w h i c h is w o r r y i n g t h e m m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g else: the t o t a l m o b i l i z a t i o n o f a l l the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s o b e d i e n t t o t h e m i n the f i g h t against t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d other M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties. O n l y the s o l u t i o n o f t h i s p r o b l e m c o u l d r e l i e v e t h e S o v i e t s of a h e a v y b u r d e n on t h e i r backs, w h i c h i s also the m a i n cause o f t h e f u r t h e r d e e p ening of the split w i t h i n the revisionist front. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders, the f i g h t against t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s c a n h a v e n o success without the u n i t y of all the revisionists and without the h e g e m o n y o f the S o v i e t leaders i n t h i s f i g h t . T h i s i s w h a t K h r u s h c h e v s o u g h t a n d f a i l e d t o a c h i e v e t h r o u g h the meeting of the communist parties w h i c h he proposed in 1964; his successors also t r i e d to a c h i e v e t h i s at the r e v i sionist m e e t i n g s i n M o s c o w i n M a r c h 1965 a n d i n K a r l o v y V a r y . T h e y f a i l e d i n b o t h instances a n d t h i n g s w e n t from bad to worse. Therefore, to extricate themselves
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f r o m t h i s s i t u a t i o n , a t B u d a p e s t the M o s c o w r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e left n o stone u n t u r n e d t o f o r c e the others t o agree to the h o l d i n g as soon as possible in M o s c o w of a m e e t i n g o f the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s w h i c h , t h e y h o p e d , w o u l d t a k e t h e decisions t h e y m o s t d e s i r e d , t h a t is, t h e c o ordination of the fight of the m o d e r n revisionists under t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the S o v i e t s a g a i n s t M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h e B u d a p e s t m e e t i n g , w h i c h its sponsors h o p e d w o u l d be a m e e t i n g of r e v i s i o n i s t u n i t y , b e c a m e a m e e t i n g o f splits, q u a r r e l s a n d the f u r t h e r d e g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e B u d a p e s t discussions b r o u g h t out i n the o p e n t h a t n o t e v e r y b o d y c o n c e i v e d t h e f u t u r e m e e t i n g i n M o s c o w a s t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s d e s i r e d it, a n d that, a l t h o u g h t h e y h a d g i v e n i t t h e i r a p p r o v a l , t h e i r v a r i o u s o p p o n e n t s h a v e n o t r e n o u n c e d the a i m o f d e f e n d i n g t h e i r o w n n a r r o w interests, o f f i g h t i n g t h e S o v i e t leaders a n d i m p o s i n g t h e i r o w n v i e w s o n others. The preparatory period up to the end of this year w i l l w i t n e s s s t i l l deeper a n d m o r e s p e c t a c u l a r d i v i s i o n s . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w i l l c o m e u p against o p p o s i t i o n f r o m the m o s t d i v e r s e q u a r t e r s , because t h e o t h e r o p p o s i n g revisionists do not w a n t such a meeting and are in no h u r r y t o h o l d it. T h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e so-called b i g r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s i s m o r e t h a n i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o the Soviets, a l t h o u g h t h e y c l a i m t h a t t h e y w i l l h o l d the meeti n g i r r e s p e c t i v e o f w h o absents h i m s e l f . Everybody u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t t h e y c a n n o t h o l d t h e m e e t i n g they yearn for only w i t h the party of Guadeloupe, w i t h L a r b i B u h a l i , ( 1 ) K o l i y a n n i s , ( 2 ) o r w i t h a n y other p e r m a n e n t
_____________________________________ 1 Secretary of the Communist P a r t y of A l g e r i a , menial servant of K h r u s h c h e v . At the time w h e n the A l g e r i a n people were shedding their blood for the freedom of the country, B u h a l i , w h o l i v e d i n the Soviet U n i o n , passed his t i m e i n amusements. 2 T h e n F i r s t Secretary of the C e n t r a l Committee of the Greek Communist P a r t y .
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resident o f t h e M o s c o w hotels, f o r t h i s w o u l d b e a n irreparable catastrophe for them. C e r t a i n r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o h a v e i n t e r e s t s opposed t o those of t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , h a v e o t h e r objectives, they w a n t t o i n t e n s i f y t h e f i g h t against t h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t parties, b u t w i t h t h e i r o w n f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s and w i t h o u t t h e S o v i e t h e g e m o n y , t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r ties a n d r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t states, to reach a g r e e m e n t s w i t h t h e s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t s a n d the other b o u r g e o i s parties, t o t a k e a d i r e c t p a r t i n g o v e r n ing the country on the road of capitalist exploitation, etc. T h e r e f o r e , these r e v i s i o n i s t s are n o t i n f a v o u r o f t h e sort of m e e t i n g t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s advocate, but w a n t a m e e t i n g w i t h o u t d e f i n i t e aims, a l l e g e d l y to exchange o p i n i o n s , t o b e c o m e b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d w i t h w h a t one o r t h e o t h e r t h i n k s a b o u t t h i s o r t h a t p r o b l e m , and a l l t h i s s h o u l d b e d o n e p u b l i c l y , a l l e g e d l y i n the most d e m o c r a t i c f o r m s . T o these r e v i s i o n i s t s , those d e m o c r a t i c a n d open forms of d e b a t e g e n u i n e l y e x p r e s s t h e i r concrete p l a n s and d a i l y w o r k f o r t h e a c h i v e m e n t o f t h e objectives w e m e n t i o n e d above. O n these questions, too, t h e y w a n t t o assert o f f i c i a l l y t h a t b o u r g e o i s d e m o c r a c y is the o b j e c t i v e o f t h e i r efforts, a n d t h e free a n d w e l l - i n f o r m e d b o u r g e o i s press is, so to speak, t h e e m b e l l i s h m e n t of t h e i r l i n e of the specific, d e m o c r a t i c p a r l i a m e n t a r y r o a d , i n o r d e r to establish friendship w i t h the capitalist bourgeoisie and come to p o w e r . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f these p a r ties i s b y n o m e a n s t o t h e l i k i n g o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o nists w h o , l e a v i n g aside t h e i r h y p o c r i t i c a l statements imposed by the circumstances, w i l l do everything in t h e i r p o w e r , w i l l use e v e r y f o r m o f p r e s s u r e a n d b l a c k m a i l t o c l a m p d o w n o n t h e dissidents. B l a c k m a i l a n d e c o n o m i c pressure, t h e s t i r r i n g u p o f t r o u b l e w i t h i n dis-
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obedient p a r t i e s a n d c o u n t r i e s , the i n c i t e m e n t o f t e r r i t o r i a l c l a i m s i n those c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e y e x i s t , etc., a r e the u s u a l w e a p o n s w h i c h S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s m resorts t o i n o r d e r t o i n t i m i d a t e others a n d i m p o s e its v i e w s o n t h e m . N a t u r a l l y , these w e a p o n s are n o t a l w a y s i n e f f e c t i v e , b u t the results c a n n o t be to the a d v a n t a g e of the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a l l the t i m e a n d i n a l l c o u n t r i e s . T h e g e n e r a l t r e n d i s not f a v o u r a b l e t o t h e m , a n d the n u m b e r o f d i s sidents a n d o p p o n e n t s o f the S o v i e t h e g e m o n y i n the r e v i sionist c a m p i s s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s i n g . H o w e v e r , despite a l l the f a i l u r e s t h e y h a v e s u f f e r e d a n d are s u f f e r i n g , the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w i l l c o n t i n u e t o use these f a v o u r i t e w e a p o n s w h e n e v e r t h e y can. I n t h i s respect t h e y h a v e the a d v a n t a g e o f t h e i r e c o n o m i c p o t e n t i a l a n d t h e bonds a n d chains w h i c h t h e y h a v e f o r g e d f o r t h e i r satellites, their m i l i t a r y potential w h i c h terrifies the cowardly, and the n e t w o r k o f agents w h i c h t h e y h a v e set u p i n the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s a n d the c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e y are i n power. The Soviet revisionists behave towards their satellites a n d clients j u s t a s A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m does t o w a r d s its satellites a n d clients, w h o m i t keeps i n c h a i n s . J u s t a s the U n i t e d States sets the v o t i n g m a c h i n e i n m o t i o n i n the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , s o the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s set the v o t i n g m a c h i n e i n m o t i o n i n t h e i r o w n U n i t e d Nations, w h i c h t h e y are s e e k i n g t o c a l l t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t . B u t j u s t a s c a p i t a l i s t cliques b r e a k a w a y f r o m the A m e r i c a n dictate, j u s t a s t h e r e are those that a i m a few kicks at A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , so there are also r e v i s i o n i s t cliques t h a t b r e a k a w a y f r o m t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . A n d t h e r e are some w h o , b e i n g u n a b l e t o b r e a k a w a y , k i c k out a t t h e m a t times, w h i l e t h e r e are those w h o are p e r m a n e n t l y abject slaves. T h e c a r n i v a l c o n f e r e n c e of B u d a p e s t w a s l i k e a basket o f crabs. A n d t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s s o u g h t t o
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establish o r d e r there, p r e c i s e l y w h e r e o r d e r c a n n e v e r be established. N o w , a f t e r the p r e p a r a t o r y c a m p a i g n a n d the B u dapest m e e t i n g , w h e n the c e n t r i f u g a l , n a t i o n a l i s t a n d dissident tendencies of v a r i o u s r e v i s i o n i s t g r o u p i n g s h a v e become f u r t h e r c r y s t a l l i z e d , the dangers f o r the S o v i e t revisionists h a v e become m o r e n u m e r o u s a n d m o r e a l l sided. T h e m a i n d a n g e r , t h e o n e w h i c h w o r r i e s t h e m most and w h i c h presents t h e m w i t h a f r e s h g r a v e p r o b l e m , comes f r o m the r e v i s i o n i s t cliques w h o are i n p o w e r . I t must b e s a i d t h a t n o w n o n e o f t h e m l i k e s the S o v i e t revisionist y o k e a n d t h e y w i l l not t o l e r a t e i t m u c h l o n g e r . In one w a y or a n o t h e r t h e y are a l l t r y i n g to get r i d of it as q u i c k l y as possible, t h o u g h k e e p i n g up appearances of t h e i r f r i e n d s h i p a n d a l l i a n c e as f a r as t h e y a r e able, a n d a i m i n g t o e x t r a c t t h e greatest p o s s i b l e economic a n d p o l i t i c a l a d v a n t a g e s f r o m the e x i s t i n g c i r c u m stances w h i c h c o m p e l t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , u n d e r a t t a c k from a l l sides a n d i n w e a k positions, t o m a k e concession after concession i n o r d e r t o p a c i f y the u n r u l y c h i l d r e n . H o w e v e r , a s the c e n t r i f u g a l t e n d e n c y i s r a p i d l y m o u n t ing, the r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s in p o w e r do n o t present a single u n i t e d f r o n t i n t h e i r o p p o s i t i o n t o the S o v i e t h e gemony a n d i n t h e i r c l a i m s f o r independence f r o m it. T h e s e c t i o n bent most a g g r e s s i v e l y o n b r e a k i n g a w a y from a n d o p e n l y e r o d i n g the S o v i e t h e g e m o n y a m o n g s t the r e v i s i o n i s t s is, at t h e m o m e n t , r e p r e s e n t e d by the T i t o clique a n d its closest associates. A l l these, w h o e n j o y the support a n d o b v i o u s e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f U S i m p e r i a l i s m and the b i g b o u r g e o i s i e of the West, i n t e r e s t e d in f u r t h e r w e a k e n i n g the S o v i e t p o s i t i o n s i n E a s t e r n E u r o p e a n d re-establishing t h e i r o l d a l l i a n c e s w i t h these c o u n t r i e s , are o p e n l y c h a l l e n g i n g t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p a n d o p p o s i n g it as a n e w contestant f o r the l e a d i n g role, if not in a l l
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d i r e c t i o n s , a t least i n t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l fields, o v e r the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s of t h i s a r e a . Other n e w followers of Tito's example have begun to a d v a n c e o n t h i s r o a d , too, b u t f o r the t i m e b e i n g they p r e f e r n o t t o e x a c e r b a t e t h e i r d i f f e r e n c e s w i t h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , because t h i s w o u l d o p e n a n e w f r o n t of s t r u g g l e f o r t h e m at a t i m e w h e n t h e y h a v e n o t yet c o n s o l i d a t e d t h e i r o w n i n t e r n a l positions. T h e G o m u l k a c l a n i s e x t r e m e l y a n t i - S o v i e t b u t a t this j u n c t u r e , o n a c c o u n t o f its i m m e d i a t e interests, w h i c h s t e m e s p e c i a l l y f r o m its p o l i c y t o w a r d s G e r m a n y , i t i s s t a n d i n g closer t o t h e Soviet revisionists, while t r y i n g to preserve the a u t h o r i t y of an equal partner. L i k e w i s e , the G e r m a n s cannot f a i l to have m a j o r contradictions w i t h the Soviet a n d all the other revisionists, b u t the issue o f t h e G e r m a n D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c i n the c o n t e x t o f E u r o p e i s a t t h e m e r c y o f t h e S o v i e t rev i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r satellites. T h e o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s o f E a s t e r n E u r o p e a r e f l o n d e r i n g i n m o r e o r less similar waters. A second danger, t h o u g h less acute t h a n the f o r m e r one. threatens the Soviet revisionists f r o m the b i g revisionist p a r t i e s w h i c h c a r r y out t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s l e g a l l y i n the cap i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . T h e B r e z h n e v - K o s y g i n cliques i s m a k i n g e v e r y e f f o r t a n d u s i n g e v e r y m e a n s t o k e e p t h e m o n the l e a d rope a n d h a v e t h e i r s u p p o r t . B u t e v e n i n these parties t h e r e i s n o u n a n i m i t y a b o u t the q u e s t i o n a s t o h o w far t h e y s h o u l d f o l l o w t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h e r e they s h o u l d p a r t w i t h a n d w h e r e t h e y s h o u l d b e opposed t o t h e m . F o r w e l l - k n o w n reasons t h e F r e n c h C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f W a l d e c k - R o c h e t i s closest t o t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o nists a n d spares n o e f f o r t t o p l a c e itself a t t h e i r service s o m e w h a t m o r e t h a n the others. M e a n w h i l e , t h e I t a l i a n revisionist party w h i c h , in comparison w i t h the French, is l i k e a p o o r r e l a t i o n to t h e Soviets, k i c k s out at t h e m
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a bit m o r e a n d t r i e s to a p p e a r m o r e i n d e p e n d e n t , as though i t i s m a i n t a i n i n g its o w n specific s t a n d p o i n t . Y o u might s a y i t i s t h e T i t o i t e p a r t y i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . The remainder of the legal revisionist parties in the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , w h o s e e x i s t e n c e is d e p e n d e n t on the g o o d w i l l of M o s c o w , m a k e up a l a r g e p a r t of the revisionist U N O . A s r e g a r d s t h e other r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s w h i c h c a r r y out t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s i l l e g a l l y i n the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , t h e y do not cause the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s the slightest c o n c e r n . The l e a d e r s of these p a r t i e s are s i m p l y an a g e n c y of the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , are t o t a l l y a t t h e i r s e r v i c e a n d provide an additional n u m b e r of disciplined votes in the Soviet assembly. T h e f i r s t a n d last o b j e c t i v e o f these revisionist p a r t i e s is to become l e g a l , to be p e r m i t t e d , t h r o u g h t h e g e n e r o s i t y o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s o f t h e i r respective c o u n t r i e s , to act in t h e r e c o g n i z e d f o r m s of t h e l e g a l bourgeois m i n o r i t y o p p o s i t i o n . L i k e a l l t h e i r r e v i s i o n i s t associates, these parties have a b a n d o n e d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y r o a d , t h e class struggle, the a r m e d struggle, a n d h a v e a d o p t e d K h r u s h c h e v ' s r o a d o f p e a c e f u l coexistence. H a v i n g b e t r a y e d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and lost a n y c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e masses, t h e y h a v e p i n n e d all t h e i r hopes o n t h e s u p p o r t w h i c h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o nist p o l i c y a n d i t s a l l i a n c e s w i t h U S i m p e r i a l i s m a n d w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m m i g h t g i v e t h e m . T h e y h a v e n o w been reduced to the status of the s c u m of r e v i s i o n i s m , a revisionist b o h e m i a w i l l i n g to sell i t s e l f f o r a p e n n y . The S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s desire the l e g a l i z a t i o n o f t h i s c o n tigent of agents, w i t h w h o m t h e y act as t h e y please, as soon as possible. T h i s w a s t h e a i m of t h e d i r e c t i v e of the S o v i e t a n d G r e e k r e v i s i o n i s t s , t h a t a l l the G r e e k e m i gres, c o m m u n i s t or not, s h o u l d go b a c k to G r e e c e o p e n l y , a t the t i m e w h e n V e n i z e l o s a n d h i s i l k w e r e r u l i n g t h e r e . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y o f S p a i n has p u r s u e d a n d s t i l l p u r s u e s
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a similar policy. The Soviet revisionists achieved this aim. by sending Baghdash to S y r i a . This policy of legaliz a t i o n a n d r e n u n c i a t i o n o f t h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d the r u l i n g o l i g a r c h i e s has been suggested t o a l l the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s i n L a t i n A m e r i c a , a s w e l l . I n this t r o u b l e d a n d u n s t a b l e s i t u a t i o n o f t h e r e v i sionist h e r d , the T i t o i t e t r e n d , w h i c h i s s e e k i n g t o g a i n t i m e i n o r d e r t o f u l l y c o n s u m m a t e the s p l i t , i s o p e n l y o p posing the Soviet aims of calling a meeting that w o u l d s u p p o r t t h e i r p l a n s as soon as possible. T h e c l a n of t h e old a n d n e w T i t o i t e s t h i n k that t i m e i s w o r k i n g f o r t h e m , a n d that i s w h y t h e y h a v e t a k e n e n o u g h courage t o c h a l l e n g e the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s o n t h e i r m o s t v u l n e r a b l e p o i n t s . F o r the S o v i e t c l a n the a f f a i r s b r o o k n o d e l a y . T h e y are t r y i n g t o save t h e s h i p f r o m s i n k i n g , t o d o s o m e t h i n g as soon as possible, b e f o r e it is too late. T h e y t h i n k , a n d p r a c t i c e has c o n f i r m e d , t h a t t h r o u g h b i l a t e r a l meetings b e t w e e n r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s n o t h i n g i s a c h i e v e d but t e m p o r a r y deals, t r a n s a c t i o n s a n d i n t r i g u e s o f s m a l l p r o p o r t i o n s . F o r h o m e a n d f o r e i g n c o n s u m p t i o n , t h e y need t o o r g a n i z e f r o m t i m e t o t i m e , a n d the m o r e o f t e n t h e better, some b r o a d m e t e i n g of the r e v i s i o n i s t parties to see h o w t h e y are p l a c e d a n d t o p a t c h u p t h e holes. T h e r e f o r e , despite the s t u b b o r n o p p o s i t i o n o f the T i t o i t e t r e n d , the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s took the d e c i s i o n i n B u d a p e s t that the c o m i n g m e e t i n g o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s s h o u l d b e h e l d i n M o s c o w a t t h e e n d o f the c u r r e n t y e a r . A t t h i s m e e t i n g , u n d e r the s m o k e - s c r e e n o f u n i t y i n t h e struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m , t h e y are t o discuss t h e p r o b l e m that i s r e a l l y w o r r y i n g t h e m : the c o - o r d i n a t e d f i g h t against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , against the p a r t i e s w h i c h s t a n d l o y a l to it. T h i s o b j e c t i v e o f the c o m i n g m e e t i n g w a s q u i t e categ o r i c a l l y e x p r e s s e d b y S u s l o v , not o n l y b e h i n d the scenes a n d i n the c o r r i d o r s , b u t also i n the o f f i c i a l speech h e
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d e l i v e r e d i n B u d a p e s t . T h e a g e n d a a n d the a i m s o f the meeting, s o m u c h d e s i r e d b y t h e S o v i e t leaders, w e r e defined e v e n m o r e c l e a r l y b y the P o l i s h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , K l i s z k o . T h e m o b o f r e v i s i o n i s t hooligans, t h a t m a d e up the m a j o r i t y of t h e votes at the B u d a p e s t U N O , e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y c h e e r e d t h e m e e t i n g p r o p o s e d b y the Soviet leaders, because it is o n l y at s u c h a place t h a t they c a n d e l i v e r some speech or other, so t h a t t h e i r voices w i l l b e h e a r d . T h e y h a v e t o b a r k , a t least occasionally, f o r the bones t h r o w n t o t h e m ! T h u s , t h e obstacles r a i s e d b y the n e o - T i t o i t e s i n the way o f t h e c o m i n g m e e t i n g c o u l d not w i t h s t a n d t h e p e r sistence a n d p r e s s u r e of the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders. The c o n d i t i o n w h i c h t h e y set f o r t h e i r s u p p o r t f o r the Moscow meeting was merely a tactical manoeuvre and that i s w h y i t c o u l d n o t b e v e r y e f f e c t i v e . W h e n t h e y said t h a t a l l t h e p a r t i e s s h o u l d b e i n v i t e d t o t h e c o m i n g meeting, e v e r y b o d y k n e w t h a t t h e y d i d n o t m e a n e i t h e r the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a , the P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a , o r the n e w M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, but the Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e p a r t y , w h i c h has l a i d d o w n a s a p r e c o n d i t i o n f o r its c o n d e s c e n d i n g to sit d o w n at a r e v i sionist g e n e r a l m e e t i n g , a m o n g other things, t h e r e p u d i a tion o f a l l t h a t w a s s a i d a b o u t i t i n the d o c u m e n t s o f the 1957 a n d 1960 M o s c o w meetings. N o w T i t o is d e m a n d ing n o t o n l y t h a t the S o v i e t s s h o u l d p u b l i c l y recant, a s K h r u s h c h e v d i d w h e n h e w e n t t o B e l g r a d e i n 1955, b u t that e v e r y b o d y s h o u l d f a l l o n t h e i r k n e e s b e f o r e h i m . T h e Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s , o n t h e i r p a r t , h a v e accepted such a t h i n g in p r a c t i c e a n d in p r i n c i p l e , b u t , as it seems, due t o t h e c o m p l i c a t e d s i t u a t i o n w h i c h t h e y t h e m s e l v e s have c r e a t e d , t h e y are n o t yet r e a d y to agree t h a t t h e denunciation of T i t o be officially and demonstratively revoked f r o m the s a i d d o c u m e n t s a n d b y t h e m e e t i n g they w i l l h o l d .
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T h e I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s , too, w h o are n o t v e r y e n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t t h e c o m i n g m e e t i n g , t r i e d t o raise obstacles to it, a l t h o u g h of a d i f f e r e n t n a t u r e . T h e y w a n t the c o m i n g m e e t i n g t o b e a b a z a a r i n w h i c h a l l sorts o f d i f f e r e n t p a r t i e s s h o u l d b e i n v i t e d t o t a k e p a r t , just so l o n g as t h e y c a r r y a p l a c a r d p r o c l a i m i n g t h a t they are democratic, progressive, etc. T h e y w a n t t h i s m e e t i n g to be an e v i d e n c e of t h e i r f i r s t sincere step t o w a r d s i n t e g r a t i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t o c a p i t a l i s m a n d s e r v i n g the c a p i talistis of their country w i t h devotion. The F r e n c h s u p p o r t e d this b r i l l i a n t d i s c o v e r y p r o v i d e d t h a t s u c h a m e e t i n g s h o u l d t a k e place a f t e r t h e one p r o p o s e d b y t h e Soviet revisionists. A l l this s h o w s t h a t the T i t o i t e t r e n d i n t e n d e d not only to hinder the Soviet revisionists in their w o r k in B u d a p e s t , b u t also t o s t r i v e t o p r e v e n t t h e c o m i n g m e e t i n g d e m a n d e d b y the S o v i e t leaders f r o m t a k i n g p l a c e at all. This revisionist w i n g is thus seeking to gamble on two tables: to exert pressure a n d b l a c k m a i l on the Soviet revisionists by threatening them w i t h a new revisionist g r o u p i n g i n the r a n k s o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , a n d , a t the same time, t o g a i n s t i l l m o r e c r e d i t s a n d s u p p o r t o f a l l k i n d s f r o m the v a r i o u s c a p i t a l i s t g r o u p i n g s . T h e o p e n splits t h a t took place i n B u d a p e s t w i l l cause the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s f u r t h e r great t r o u b l e s . B u t , o f course, t h e y w i l l not b e s i t t i n g w i t h f o l d e d a r m s , either. T h e consensus of r e v i s i o n i s t o p i n i o n is t h a t e f f o r t s m u s t be m a d e to b r i n g the lost sheep b a c k to t h e f o l d , e i t h e r w i t h gentle measures o r w i t h w h a t e v e r k i n d o f p r e s s u r e t h a t m i g h t b e needed a t the t i m e a n d w h i c h w o u l d s e r v e the p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e s h a m c o n f e r e n c e o f international communism in Moscow. T h e fact i s t h a t t h e so-called t h i r d p o s i t i o n , t h a t a p p e a r e d i n B u d a p e s t a n d w h i c h has T i t o b e h i n d it, seems t o h a v e d i v i d e d t h e roles w i t h its B e l g r a d e boss t o
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act i n t w o s p e c i f i c d i r e c t i o n s : o n e i n the d i r e c t i o n o f the secret r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d the o t h e r i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of the i n t e r m e d i a t e c a p i t a l i s t forces. A l t h o u g h , a s one Y u g o s l a v c o m m e n t a t o r w r o t e , m a n y communist p a r t i e s t h a t w i l l b e r e p r e s e n t e d i n B u d a p e s t have v i e w s i d e n t i c a l t o o u r s , t h e Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e s were not at B u d a p e s t . H o w e v e r , despite t h e i r great glee and the b r o a d p u b l i c i t y w h i c h t h e y d e v o t e t o s i m i l a r occasions, t h i s t i m e t h e y a r e n o t m a k i n g m u c h noise a b o u t the n e w s p l i t s at B u d a p e s t . T h i s is n o t a c c i d e n t a l , t h e y do not w a n t to j e o p a r d i z e a n d c o m p r o m i s e t h e i r f o l l o w e r s . Having c o m p r o m i s e d t h e m s e l v e s as o p e n agents of A m e r i c a n imperialism, t h e y l e f t i t t o the n e o - T i t o i t e s t o a p p r o a c h and w i n o v e r t h e s o - c a l l e d neutrals, independents, and a l l t h e secret r e v i s i o n i s t s i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m munist m o v e m e n t . A n d n o w i t i s b e y o n d a n y d o u b t that the n e o - T i t o i t e s h a v e the s u p p o r t of these so-called n e u trals w h e n t h e y r a i s e the q u e s t i o n o f a n d c a l l f o r the cessation of polemics, a g a i n s t h o l d i n g a m e e t i n g w h i c h would e n c o u r a g e a t t a c k s o n C h i n a a n d A l b a n i a , against allowing t h e S o v i e t leaders t o e s t a b l i s h t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p under a n y f o r m a t a l l . I t i s p r e c i s e l y t h e b a n n e r o f these neutrals t h a t t h e y raise w h e n t h e y oppose the S o v i e t revisionists, a n d d e m a n d t h a t a conference s h o u l d be held, b u t its a i m s h o u l d be t h e c r e a t i o n of a b r o a d a n t i imperalist f r o n t i n c l u d i n g r e v i s i o n i s t s , c o m m u n i s t s , socialists, d e m o c r a t s , p a c i f i s t s , etc., etc. U n d e r attack f r o m a l l sides a n d s e e k i n g t o a v o i d a further d e e p e n i n g o f the c r a c k s i n the r e v i s i o n i s t f r o n t , the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w e r e o b l i g e d t o g i v e t h e i r a p p r o v a l to the c a l l i n g l a t e r of an o p e n m e e t i n g of parties of a l l shades, on the c o n d i t i o n t h a t t h i s m u s t not be c o n f u s e d with t h e i r m e e t i n g o r m a k e i t unnecessary, a s t h e T i t o ites, the I t a l i a n s a n d others are d e m a n d i n g . T h u s , t w o g e n e r a l tendencies w e r e c r y s t a l l i z e d a t B u -
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d a p e s t : one t o h o l d the m e e t i n g p r o p o s e d b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e n , p e r h a p s , t o h o l d the other. T h e second t e n d e n c y i s t o h o l d the m e e t i n g p r o p o s e d b y the Soviets, b u t t o h o l d a n o t h e r one w i t h o u t p o l e m i c s , w i t h o u t i d e o l o g i c a l questions, a p u r e l y f o r m a l m e e t i n g against i m p e r i a l i s m , a m e e t i n g t o w h i c h e v e r y b o d y c o u l d come, e v e n the P o p e of R o m e if he w i s h e s . T h e thesis of the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s p r e v a i l e d , a n d w i t h t h i s the B u d a pest f a i r came t o a n e n d . B u t t h i s does n o t m e a n that the p r o b l e m o f t h e c o m i n g m e e t i n g , its character, agenda a n d the q u e s t i o n a s t o w h o w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e i n it, has been f i n a l l y settled. U n t i l i t i s c o n v e n e d , i f i t does take place a t a l l , i t i s v e r y possible t h a t m u t u a l concessions and compromises w i l l be made again between rival groups, s o t h a t i t m a y h a v e a n aspect a n d d i r e c t i o n e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m w h a t those w h o h a v e p l a n n e d i t e n v i sage at the m o m e n t . N o w , f o l l o w i n g the B u d a p e s t m e e t i n g , some o f its p a r t i c i p a n t s , since t h e y w e r e n o t f u l l y i n a g r e e m e n t w i t h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s o n a l l questions, are t h r o w i n g out t h e i r chests a n d p o s i n g as the strong m e n of t h e f a i r , m a k i n g endless statements, w r i t i n g a r t i c l e s a n d a d o p t i n g decisions, t o c o n v i n c e p u b l i c o p i n i o n t h a t t h e i r a c t i o n a n d l i n e are a l l e g e d l y p u r e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t . A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m , t h e p o l e m i c s against class e n e m i e s a n d p a r t y enemies m u s t cease, the r e v i s i o n i s t s s h o u l d n o t b e c r i t i cized e i t h e r f o r t h e i r f o r e i g n p o l i c y o r f o r t h e i r i n t e r n a l p o l i c y , b u t s h o u l d be left in peace to act as t h e y l i k e , w h a t e v e r t h e y d o i t i s t h e i r o w n business. A n d a l l this t h e o r y i s presented a s l i v i n g p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l ism! In reality, nothing could be more opportunist, m o r e a n t i - M a r x i s t a n d m o r e a n t i - i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t t h a n this l i n e o f ceasing the polemics. L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , l i k e M a r x a n d Engels, c o u l d not l i v e e v e n one m i n u t e w i t h o u t p o l e m i c s , w i t h o u t struggle, w i t h o u t f i g h t i n g m o s t f i e r -
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cely against d e v i a t o r s a n d b e t r a y e r s of t h e cause of the proletariat a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n . T h e i r w h o l e l i v e s were n o t h i n g but a ceaseless struggle, the f i e r c e s t a n d m o s t p r i n c i p l e d p o l e m i c s against a l l e n e m i e s o f c o m m u n i s m . It is an a x i o m of a l l genuine communists today that w i t h o u t struggle, w i t h o u t polemics, there is no r e v o l u tion, t h e r e i s n o M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , t h e r e i s n o socialism, t h e r e i s n o c o m m u n i s m . B u t here w e h a v e certain g e n t l e m e n w h o pose a s L e n i n i s t s , a s t h e purest Leninists, w h a t i s m o r e , w h o c l a i m t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e n o m o r e p o l e m i c s , n o m o r e c r i t i c i s m . T i t o , too, d e f e n ded this thesis, w h e n the I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u p u t h i m w i t h h i s b a c k t o t h e w a l l o n account o f h i s t r e a c h e r y . A t t h a t t i m e h e rose against the a l l e g e d i n t e r f e r e n c e i n the a f f a i r s o f h i s p a r t y . W i t h t h i s h e m e a n t , leave m e in peace to c a l l m y s e l f a c o m m u n i s t a n d to b e t r a y c o m m u n i s m , l e a v e m e a t m y ease t o b e c o m e a n agent o f i m p e r i a l i s m , a s h e i n fact b e c a m e . K h r u s h c h e v , also, sought t o f o l l o w t h i s r o a d b u t w a s u n a b l e t o d o so. I n t r y i n g t o p l a y h i s a n t i - M a r x i s t c a r d of the cessation of t h e p o l e m i c s , he got his f i n g e r s b u r n t a n d h i s successors n o l o n g e r t r y t o use it. T h e y p r e f e r o t h e r tactics a n d m e a n s t o s h u t some people's mouths, but t h e i r o l d tactics w h i c h s o m e p r e s e n t a s n e w , do not w o r k any more. O n e cannot r e m a i n for long on t w o chairs. T h e r e cannot be M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t s w h o cease t h e f i g h t against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , just a s t h e r e cannot b e r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o d o n o t f i g h t M a r x i s t Leninists. Those w h o are n o w d e m a n d i n g the toning d o w n of the polemics and w h o preach the peaceful line are scared to death by the other revisionists a n d w a n t the aid and support of capitalists, regardless of w h a t betrayal m a y cost. A n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t s w i l l g i v e t h e m t h i s s u p p o r t , because t h i s tactic, t h a t is, t h e m i d d l e l i n e i n t h e l a b o u r m o v e m e n t , g r e a t l y serves t h e i r a i m s .
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T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s say t h a t t h e a i m o f t h e i r m e e t i n g is to unite a l l possible forces in struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d its aggressions, threats, etc. B u t t h i s i s the most shameless d e c e p t i o n , u t t e r d e m a g o g y a n d a n o b v i o u s f r a u d . O f w h a t f i g h t against i m p e r i a l i s m c a n the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s speak, w h e n t h e y h a v e m a d e t h e i r a l l i a n c e w i t h the U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a f o r t h e d i v i s i o n o f spheres o f i n f l u e n c e a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f the d o m i n a tion of the t w o great powers over the w o r l d the f u n d a m e n t a l basis o f t h e i r e n t i r e p o l i c y ? C a n i t b e s a i d t h a t by u n d e r m i n i n g the struggle of the Vietnamese people and by openly and secretly supporting the Americans in t h e e n s l a v e m e n t o f t h e V i e t n a m e s e people, t h e y a r e f i g h t i n g i m p e r i a l i s m ? W e r e t h e y d e f e n d i n g the A r a b peoples against t h e i m p e r i a l i s t a g g r e s s i o n w h e n t h e y left t h e m i n the l u r c h at one of the most critical moments a n d struck behind-the-scenes b a r g a i n s w i t h t h e i r s w o r n e n e m i e s ? O r perhaps they claim they are supporting the liberation o f t h e peoples w h e n , a t t h e U N O , t h e y a p p r o v e t h e U S a r m e d i n t e r v e n t i o n t o suppress t h e D o m i n i c a n i n s u r g e n t s , or w h e n they grant credits and sell arms to the Indonesian hangmen, the murderers of hundreds of thousands o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d honest p a t r i o t s ? T h e r e is an endless series of acts of b e t r a y a l of t h e s u p r e m e interests o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d p e o p l e s ' l i b e ration committed by the revisionists. D a y by d a y the w o r l d i s w i t n e s s t o h u n d r e d s a n d t h o u s a n d s o f acts o f the rapprochement and collaboration of the Soviet revision i s t s w i t h U S i m p e r i a l i s m , b u t i t h a s n o t seen e v e n one single a c t i o n of t h e i r s opposed to its aggressive p o l i c y . L e t u s n o t g o too f a r b a c k i n search o f e x a m p l e s . W h i l e the Soviet revisionists in Budapest w e r e m a k i n g d e m a gogical appeals f o r u n i t y f o r t h e sake o f t h e f i g h t against imperialism, their representatives in Geneva, jointly w i t h their US colleagues at the 17 Nations Conference on the
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treaty o n n o n - p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f n u c l e a r w e a p o n s , presented a j o i n t d e c l a r a t i o n o n t h e g u a r a n t e e s the S o v i e t U n i o n and t h e U S A w i l l a l l e g e d l y p r o v i d e f o r t h e n o n - n u c l e a r countries t h a t s i g n t h e t r e a t y . T h e e f f o r t s t o p r e s e r v e their m o n o p o l y o f n u c l e a r w e a p o n s a n d t o e x e r t a t o m i c b l a c k m a i l a g a i n s t t h e peoples a r e q u i t e o b v i o u s . O f w h a t a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s m c a n o n e speak u n d e r these c o n d i t i o n s ? T h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s m o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s has n e v e r had a n y c o n c r e t e f o r m , i t i s a n e m p t y p h r a s e , a m a s k to camouflage their collaboration w i t h imperialism. It is a piece o f d e m a g o g y w i t h w h i c h t h e y w a n t t o speculate, t o deceive t h e peoples, t o q u e l l the f l a m e s o f t h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m w h i c h are s p r e a d i n g t o a l l the c o n t i n e n t s . A t the B u d a p e s t m e e t i n g t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w e r e able t o w r e s t a p p r o v a l f r o m the o t h e r p a r t n e r s t o g o t o M o s c o w f o r t h e m e e t i n g set f o r t h e e n d o f t h i s y e a r . T h e bosses o f t h e K r e m l i n a r e n o w m a k i n g a great fuss a n d are b e a t i n g a l l t h e i r p r o p a g a n d a d r u m s p r e s e n t i n g t h i s as a great success. B u t t h i s success is a P y r r h i c v i c tory. F o r one r e a s o n o r a n o t h e r , m a n y o f the r e v i s i o n i s t s do not w a n t the meeting, but they are obliged to hold it, because o u r s t r u g g l e , t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e n e w M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t parties, t h e u p s u r g e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e peoples' n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e c o m p e l t h e m t o d o so. T h e y a r e c o m p e l l e d to r a i s e a c a r d b o a r d b a r r i c a d e , a smoke-screen against these successes a n d t h i s p o w e r f u l march of Marxism-Leninism. B u t a n y e f f o r t o f t h e i r s w i l l b e i n v a i n . O t h e r greater defeats are i n store f o r t h e m , s t i l l deeper splits w i l l t a k e p l a c e . T h e f o r t h c o m i n g M o s c o w m e e t i n g , too, w i l l e n d u p i n t h e w a s t e p a p e r basket a s d i d the M a r c h 1965 m e e t i n g , t h a t o f K a r l o v y V a r y a n d the B u d a p e s t m e e t i n g w h i c h has j u s t c o m e t o a n e n d . T h e revisionists' decision to hold a general meeting i s one t h i n g , but w h a t t o r a i s e there, h o w t o r a i s e it, w h a t
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t o decide, h o w t o decide a n d c o m m u n i c a t e it, let alone h o w t o i m p l e m e n t it, i s a n o t h e r sad s t o r y f o r the m o d e r n revisionists, a n d f o r t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s f i r s t o f a l l . It is they that took the decision in Budapest, but it is also t h e y t h a t d i d n o t g o t h e r e . I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e there is Tito, for w h o m the Soviet revisionists have v e r y great need, because i f h e stays o u t e v e r y t h i n g i s r u i n e d , w h i l e i f h e comes i n , h e d e m a n d s great concessions. I n t h e i r d i l e m m a t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s are r e a d y t o m a k e concessions t o h i m , b u t not a l l t h a t T i t o w o u l d l i k e , because h e w a n t s b o t h t h e k e y s a n d t h e house, t h e i r m o t h e r a n d t h e i r f a t h e r a n d t h e t i t l e deeds. T h e not d i s t a n t f u t u r e w i l l a g a i n c o n f i r m w h a t o u r P a r t y has stated, t h a t the d i v i s i o n , d e g e n e r a t i o n a n d b a n k r u p t c y o f the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e i n e v i t a b l e . T h e r e has n o t been a n d n e v e r w i l l b e u n i t y b e t w e e n t h e m . T h e y c a n n e v e r e s t a b l i s h o r d e r w i t h i n t h e i r h e r d . H i s t o r y has shown that w h o e v e r raises his h a n d against M a r x i s m Leninism, whoever joins w i t h the enemies of the w o r k i n g class, w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a g a i n s t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e l i b e r a t i o n of the peoples is d o o m e d to u t t e r defeat, to t h e shameful end of all traitors. T h e revisionists are t r y i n g t o t u r n back the w h e e l o f t h e h i s t o r i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f society, b u t t h a t w h e e l i s r u t h l e s s l y s m a s h i n g a n d c r u s h i n g t h e m u n d e r i t s great w e i g h t .
Against
THE WORKING CLASS IN THE REVISIONIST COUNTRIES MUST T A K E THE FIELD AND RE-ESTABLISH THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT
March 24, 1968
In all the countries w h e r e the revisionists are in power t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t is b e i n g s m a s h e d and r e p l a c e d by the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the bourgeoisie, t h e socialist r e g i m e i s b e i n g r e p l a c e d b y t h e b o u r g e o i s c a p i talist r e g i m e , a n d the p a r t y o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , degenerate f r o m w i t h i n , serves o n l y as a s m o k e - s c r e e n to c o n c e a l t h i s betrayal, t o b l u n t the v i g i l a n c e a n d suppress t h e l e g i t i m a t e revolt o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the w o r k i n g people. The vigilance and legitimate violence of the working class against class enemies is what terrifies the revisionists. It is the only force that can beat them, it is the only way out of this disastrous situation in which socialism and communism are placed today in the countries where the revisionists are in power. Thus, the rekindling and fanning of the flames of the proletarian revolution in these countries is the road of salvation sine qua non. As e v e n t s have d e v e l o p e d , a n y o t h e r c o u r s e c a n b r i n g n o l a s t i n g benefit t o t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d s o c i a l i s m . It c o u l d o n l y serve as a p o s t u r e of h a r m f u l a n d t e m p o r a r y c o m p r o m i s e w i t h g r a v e consequences f o r s o c i a l i s m .
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Only the working class at the head of the masses, only the working class headed by its true Marxist-Leninist party, only the working class through armed revolution, through violence, can and must send the revisionist traitors to their grave. A l l t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e the r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e i n p o w e r , w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , b o t h those i n t h e v a n g u a r d , s u c h a s Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, P o l a n d , etc., o r those w h i c h , u n d e r d i f f e r e n t m a s k s , h i d e a n d camouflage their revisionist, a n t i - M a r x i s t line, have t u r n e d i n t o b o u r g e o i s - c a p i t a l i s t countries, o r a r e r a p i d l y sinking into that s t i n k i n g morass. The main question on the agenda of the revisionist traitor cliques in power is only that of choosing the most reliable forms to attain the aim of the restoration of capitalism, of strengthening and stabilizing it, without arousing the suspicions and vigilance of the working class and working people, so as to avert any blows and turmoil, and, finally, to be able to suppress the revolution when it does break out. This is a struggle to win the contest. T h e other question on the agenda for them, w i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k of this disintegration to attain the a i m of t h e r e s t o r a t i o n of c a p i t a l i s m , is connected with the efforts of all the other cliques to escape from the tutelage of the most powerful one and yet to have its aid in general, particularly when they feel their positions are weak. T h e degree of d e p e n d e n c e of one on t h e o t h e r is l i n k e d w i t h this, w h i l e the m o s t p o w e r f u l a m o n g t h e m is trying to prevail over the currents and channel them in its o w n i n t e r e s t s as a great state. Of course, n o w s u c h a t h i n g cannot b e a c h i e v e d w i t h c o m p l e t e success w i t h all of them or permanently. A n o t h e r p r o b l e m t h a t r e m a i n s o n the a g e n d a o f these cliques i s t h e i r t e n d e n c y a n d g r e a t c o n c e r n t o f i n d v a r i o u s m e a n s of c a m o u f l a g e a n d a d i v e r s i t y of f o r m s of a c t i o n ,
THE WORKING CLASS MUST TAKE THE FIELD
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w h i c h a r e s o m e t i m e s m u c h m o r e a d v a n c e d a n d less c a m o u flaged t h a n those o f t h e i r c o u n t e r p a r t s . T h e s e pioneers serve t h e c a p i t a l i s t forces w h i c h i n s p i r e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t cliques t o u r g e o t h e r s t o s p e e d u p t h e i r course t o t h e m a x i m u m , t o b r e a k t h e r e s i s t a n c e o f those r e v i s i o n i s t cliques w h i c h , o u t o f necessity, a r e m o r e c o n s e r v a t i v e , because t h e s w o r d o f D a m o c l e s t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n i s c o n s t a n t l y h a n g i n g o v e r t h e heads o f t h e m a l l . T h e revisionists t r y to camouflage all their counterr e v o l u t i o n a r y actions f o r t h e s e i z u r e o f p o w e r a n d t h e efforts t h e y a r e m a k i n g t o c o n s o l i d a t e t h i s p o w e r b y creating and inculcating in the minds of the working class the illusion that its Marxist-Leninist party is allegedly in power and is guiding all this development and transformation on the true course of socialism and communism. T h i s i s t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s d i s g u i s e w i t h t h e a i d o f w h i c h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t r y t o escape the d e c i s i v e b l o w of t h e w o r k i n g class. Therefore, they try to tell the working class that any criticism, any revolt against or opposition to their revisionist course is an anti-Marxist deviation, is a crime against Leninism, against socialism, against the party of the working class. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a d m i n i s t e r this o p i u m t h r o u g h the press and their propaganda, w h i c h i s f a l s e a n d a f a b r i c a t i o n f r o m start t o f i n i s h , a d m i n i s t e r it w h i l e divesting the party, in theory and practice, of any revolutionary characteristics; they administer it by m a k i n g an allegedly M a r x i s t interpretation of each of t h e i r p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e actions i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m . T h i s false i n t e r pretation of their foreign policy, of their relations, alliances a n d u n d e r h a n d d e a l i n g s w i t h t h e c a p i t a l i s t s i s also necessary t o t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s i n o r d e r t o b l u n t the v i g i l a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g masses o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c o u n t r i e s . In all these cunning actions the revisionists set in motion the new corrupted class of bureaucrats who impose
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themselves upon the working class and the masses with the force of their regime, their length of service, with the rows of medals hiding their false hearts. T h u s t h e y create t h e i m p r e s s i o n a m o n g t h e w o r k i n g class t h a t it i s n o t p o s s i b l e t h a t a l l these f i n e f e l l o w s c o u l d b e t r a y t h e p a r t y , t h e class a n d socialism. W e m u s t d r a w some lessons, some conclusions, f r o m revisionist counter-revolution. Let us start with Hungary. In t h e e u p h o r i a of t h e a d v e n t to p o w e r of K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s m , b u t at a m o m e n t w h e n i t h a d not yet c o n s o l i d a t e d its positions, w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m , its T i t o i t e agency a n d t h e i n t e r n a l M a g y a r r e a c t i o n a r y bourgeoisie, l a u n c h e d t h e a r m e d c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n against t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d the H u n g a r i a n Workers' Party, t h i n k i n g it w a s the weakest l i n k o f t h e c h a i n o f the socialist c o u n t r i e s . A n d s o i t w a s indeed. Rakosi's p a r t y melted a w a y l i k e snow in the r a i n . B u t i n t h e i r actions w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m a n d T i t o i s m h a d not chosen t h e c o r r e c t m o m e n t : t h e y w e r e c o n v i n c e d of K h r u s h c h e v ' s line of betrayal, but they d i d not take account o f the fact t h a t his p o s i t i o n s w e r e n o t yet s t a b i l i z e d and, a l t h o u g h h e h e s i t a t e d o v e r s e n d i n g i n t h e t a n k s , i n t h e e n d h e w a s o b l i g e d t o d o so. O t h e r w i s e h i s course o f b e t r a y a l c o u l d h a v e been c o m p r o m i s e d . B u t i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the H u n g a r i a n c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n t h e f o l l o w i n g facts m u s t b e p o i n t e d o u t : this 1. T h e H u n g a r i a n c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n w a s b e g u n by a f e w i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d students. L a c k i n g the i n f l u e n c e of a g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , those v a c i l l a t i n g strata b e c a m e reserves o f the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a n d its assault squads u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e bourgeoisie. T h e H u n g a r i a n w r i t e r s w e r e i n t h e v a n g u a r d o f this c o u n t e r revolution. 2. D e s p i t e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a d i t i o n s i n h e r i t e d f r o m t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n o f 1919, t h e H u n g a r i a n
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w o r k i n g class a n d t h a t o f B u d a p e s t i n p a r t i c u l a r , d i d n o t know h o w t o d e f e n d its p o w e r a n d gains. O n t h e c o n trary, a c o n s i d e r a b l e p a r t of t h e w o r k i n g class, e s p e c i a l l y in Budapest, was activated in favour of the counter-revolutionaries, h e n c e it b e c a m e a r e s e r v e of r e a c t i o n . T h i s means, i n o t h e r w o r d s , t h a t t h e w o r k o f t h e H u n g a r i a n W o r k e r s ' P a r t y w a s s u p e r f i c i a l a n d w i t h o u t a n y r e a l base. The w o r k i n g class d i d not f u l l y r e c o g n i z e i t a s its o w n leader. T h i s w a s t h e greatest a n d m o s t d a n g e r o u s e v i l . 3. T h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n e n t i r e l y l i q u i d a t e d t h e H u n g a r i a n W o r k e r s ' P a r t y w i t h i n a f e w d a y s , w h i l e the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y J a n o s K a d a r i s s u e d t h e decree f o r its o f f i c i a l d i s s o l u t i o n . 4. D u r i n g t h e f e w d a y s of t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n H u n g a r y m a n y bourgeois, c a p i t a l i s t a n d fascist p a r t i e s popped u p i m m e d i a t e l y , l i k e m u s h r o o m s a f t e r r a i n . Thus, the Hungarian counter-revolution was put down by means of Soviet tanks. U n d e r the dictate of the Khrushchevite revisionists, the same traitor w h o liquidated the p a r t y i s s u e d t h e other decree f o r t h e r e f o u n d i n g of the a l l e g e d l y n e w M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , t h e H u n g a r i a n revisionist p a r t y , e v e n m o r e r o t t e n t h a n the p r e v i o u s one. The H u n g a r i a n counter-revolution was put d o w n by the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . T h u s , t h e t w o w i n g s o f the putsch w e r e b o u n d to c o m e together, as t h e y d i d , to build t h e i r o w n H u n g a r y , a s t h e y d i d , t o r e s t o r e c a p i t a l ism, a s t h e y a r e d o i n g . D r a w i n g lessons f r o m t h e b l o o d s h e d and, a f t e r h a v i n g p a i d a n i n d e m n i t y i n b l o o d f o r its hasty actions, H u n g a r i a n r e a c t i o n i s n o w c a r r y i n g out its reforms of r a d i c a l c a p i t a l i s t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n at its l e i s u r e , regardless o f a n d w i t h o u t a n y t r o u b l e f r o m t h e S o v i e t forces a n d t a n k s w h i c h r e m a i n o n H u n g a r i a n t e r r i t o r y . The H u n g a r i a n b o u r g e o i s i e is, so to speak, g o i n g a b o u t its business, t h i s t i m e u n d e r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f K h r u s h c h e v i t e tanks. U n d e r the d i s g u i s e a n d b a n n e r o f t h e P a r t y , t h e
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H u n g a r i a n capitalist bourgeoisie, hostile to the w o r k i n g class, i s l u l l i n g t h e w o r k i n g class t o sleep w h i l e f o r g i n g n e w c h a i n s f o r it. T h e c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s i e has t h e old i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d n e w r e v i s i o n i s t i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , i n complete identity of views and u n i t y of action, as its vanguard. Let us take Poland. As in H u n g a r y , in P o l a n d , too, b l o o d y d e m o n s t r a t i o n s s t a r t e d i n P o z n a n i n 1956 a n d w e r e s u p p r e s s e d b y t a n k s , this t i m e P o l i s h a n d n o t S o v i e t tanks. T h e P o l i s h c h u r c h a n d r e a c t i o n h a d a h a n d i n it, and K h r u s h c h e v was t e r r i f i e d that P o l a n d m i g h t break away f r o m the Soviet U n i o n at that time, therefore, he threat ened G o m u l k a w i t h an invasion of tanks, but G o m u l k a resisted a n d K h r u s h c h e v , w i l l y - n i l l y , s m i l e d a n d e m b r a c e d t h e fascist G o m u l k a , a s h e used t o d e s c r i b e h i m b e h i n d his back, i n c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h others. B u t n o w , i n r e c e n t days, e v e n t s i n P o l a n d a r e de v e l o p i n g d i f f e r e n t l y . T h e y h a v e a s s u m e d a n o t h e r aspect w h i c h is characteristic of all the revisionist countries. In P o l a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , clashes, b l o o d y e n c o u n t e r s have begun between G o m u l k a ' s police and the writers, intel l i g e n t s i a a n d students, w h o a r e d e m a n d i n g freedom, full democracy, liberalization. This time, the Polish counter-revolutionaries, w h o have risen against the Go m u l k a revisionist counter-revolutionaries, are congratulat ing and displaying their solidarity w i t h the Czechoslovak counter-revolutionaries. T h e reactionary Polish intelligent sia, d i r e c t e d b y w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m , t h e c l e r g y a n d J e w r y , a r e n o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h the G o m u l k a r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e and w a n t t o get r i d o f it, a s t h e n e w S l o v a k c l i q u e o f D u b e k i s d o i n g w i t h the N o v o t n y r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e , a b o u t w h i c h w e s h a l l speak b e l o w . I n P o l a n d , j u s t a s i n H u n g a r y , t h e r e a c t i o n a r y i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d t h e s t u d e n t s a r e i n the forefront w i t h their claims, the p a r t y is r i d d l e d w i t h v e r m i n , the o r g a n s o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p are, f o r t h e time being, i n t h e s e r v i c e o f the G o m u l k a c l i q u e , a n d the
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w o r k i n g class i s n o t r e a c t i n g , i s not c o m i n g o u t i n the street t o d o t h e n e c e s s a r y c l e a n i n g . W i l l t h e G o m u l ka clique be able to hold back this mounting tide? We shall see. B u t t h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t h e u l t i m a t e t i d e which must be prepared in order to w i p e a l l the overt and d i s g u i s e d t r a i t o r s i n P o l a n d off t h e face o f t h e e a r t h . This s a l u t a r y t i d e w i l l b e the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n o f t h e Polish w o r k i n g class, l e d b y a t r u e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m munist p a r t y . Let us take Czechoslovakia. T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s used t o t r u m p e t a b r o a d t h a t C z e c h o s l o v a k i a w a s t h e i r most p o w e r f u l b a s t i o n , t h e m o s t f a i t h f u l c o u n t r y o f t h e revisionists, a n d A n t o n i n N o v o t n y t h e m a n closest t o them, the m o s t e a r n e s t a n d m o s t a u t h o r i t a t i v e man of the r e v i s i o n i s t c l a n , n e x t t o t h e S o v i e t s . A n d a s w e h a d forecast, t h i s s i t u a t i o n , too, c o u n t e d f o r n o t h i n g , not b e cause N o v o t n y a n d h i s r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e w e r e not a n obedient a g e n c y o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s , b u t because t h e y were q u i t e u n a b l e t o c a r r y o u t t h e o r d e r s t h a t t h e M o s c o w bosses g a v e t h e m . I n fact t h e S o v i e t s ' d e a d horse, A n t o n i n N o v o t n y , got b o g g e d d o w n i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t m i r e w h i c h he himself created, w h i l e the other horse w h i c h replaced him, D u b e k , has t a k e n t h e b i t i n h i s t e e t h a n d i s n o w bolting t o w a r d W e s t e r n pastures, w h e r e t h e F r e n c h a n d W e s t - G e r m a n c a p i t a l i s t s are w a i t i n g t o c o r r a l h i m , a n d have o p e n e d t h e o l d c h a p t e r s a b o u t t h e i r n o t o r i o u s agents M a s a r y k , B e n e T i s o , H a a , a n d others. H o w is the new counter-revolution in Czechoslovakia developing? O p e n l y , a g a i n s t A n t o n i n N o v o t n y a n d his clique, h e n c e a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t y o k e . T h e y a r e o p e n l y g o i n g o v e r t o c a p i t a l i s m u n d e r the system o f o n e p a r t y o r m a n y p a r t i e s , u n d e r t h e c a p i t a l i s t state s y s t e m a n d t h e u n d i s g u i s e d l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e d i c tatorship o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t i n the e c o n o m y , e d u c a t i o n a n d culture.
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N o t o n l y coexistence, b u t also s o l i d ties w i t h the W e s t e r n capitalists a r e b e i n g a d v o c a t e d o p e n l y . H o m a g e i s b e i n g p a i d a t t h e g r a v e o f t h e M a s a r y k s , f a t h e r and son, at the g r a v e of Bene, e v e r y o n e is b e i n g n o i s i l y r e h a b i l i t a t e d , e v e n the fascists, a n d a l l a r e b e i n g d e s c r i b e d as d i s t i n g u i s h e d men, v i c t i m s of t h e S t a l i n i s t t e r r o r a n d t h e r e s u l t o f t h e e r r o n e o u s p o l i c y , not o n l y o f the N o v o t n y c l i q u e , b u t also o f G o t t w a l d , hence o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d , o f course, o f S t a l i n and the Comintern. In short, C z e c h o s l o v a k i a is g o i n g at a r a p i d t e m p o and without m u c h subterfuge and demagogy towards capitalism, to the complete political, ideological, economic a n d state r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s r e p u b l i c . B y w h a t m e a n s a n d f o r m s i s t h i s process d e v e l o p i n g ? T h e C z e c h o s l o v a k process m u s t not b e t a k e n i n i s o l a t i o n f r o m t h e w h o l e process t h a t i s t a k i n g p l a c e w i t h i n the r e v i s i o n i s t f o l d . T h i s is t h e r e s u l t of t h e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n , of the m a j o r c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w h i c h e x i s t w i t h i n t h e r e v i s i o n ist clan, w i t h i n t h e d i f f e r e n t tendencies w h i c h e x i s t w i t h i n the clan of each i n d i v i d u a l revisionist country, and of the international contradictions. Thus, the Czechoslovak d i s i n t e g r a t i o n a n d t h e course i t has t a k e n a r e b y n o m e a n s e x c e p t i o n a l . N o t h i n g s h o u l d s u r p r i s e us. T h i s i s quite normal. S o i s t h e o v e r t m a n n e r o f these actions, a n d this f o r t w o reasons: on the one h a n d , a p a r t of t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k people, i n d e e d e v e n o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k w o r k i n g class, are p r e p a r e d f o r a n d p r e d i s p o s e d t o w a r d s this liberal course, a s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s c a l l it. T o t h e m c o m m u n i s m has b e e n m e r e l y a veneer, a n i n c i d e n t , a n d d u r i n g t h e w h o l e p e r i o d since L i b e r a t i o n t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of Czechoslovakia has not o n l y failed to w o r k on a sound basis, but, i n fact, has m a d e l i t t l e i m p r e s s i o n o n t h e n a t u r e , t h e p o l i t i c a l i n c l i n a t i o n s , the p o l i t i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l taste
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of a p a r t of the people, w h o , e v e n u n d e r the socialist regime, p r e s e r v e d a n d d e v e l o p e d b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t s e n timents i n a c c e n t u a t e d f o r m s . On the other hand, the n e w Czechoslovak course towards c a p i t a l i s m c o n f i r m s t h e f u r t h e r d e c a y o f the p o w e r of Soviet revisionism w h i c h , w a l l o w i n g in the morass it has itself c r e a t e d , is no l o n g e r a t h r e a t to its o p p o n e n t s either p o l i t i c a l l y or e c o n o m i c a l l y . It h a s b e c o m e a s l a v e t o the s y s t e m i t has c r e a t e d a n d the b e t r a y a l i t has c o m mitted. T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s are o b l i g e d t o g r i n against the m i s f o r t u n e s w h i c h are d e s c e n d i n g o n t h e m . T h e f u r ther course of t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t s n o w has the f u l l s u p p o r t , n o t o n l y o f the A m e r i c a n , F r e n c h a n d W e s t G e r m a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , b u t of course, of the Titoites, t h e neutral r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d , in petto*, of the H u n g a r i a n r e visionists as w e l l . T h u s , a m o r e or less o r g a n i z e d force is taking shape, a l w a y s w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f d i s i n tegration a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e f r o m the S o v i e t , P o l i s h a n d other r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o are v e r y m u c h a f r a i d o f t h i s c o n tagious disease w h i c h has t h e t e n d e n c y t o c l e a r out the old r e v i s i o n i s t h a c k s a n d r e p l a c e t h e m w i t h n e w ones. The new Czech counter-revolutionaries are using new, m a n y - s i d e d m e t h o d s . T h e y a t t a c h great i m p o r t a n c e to taking the internal situation completely into their own hands, w i t h o u t n e g l e c t i n g f o r e i g n p o l i c y . N a t u r a l l y , f o r purposes o f d e m a g o g y t h e y speak p u b l i c l y a b o u t f r i e n d ship w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , i n o r d e r t o c o m p l e t e l y u n d e r mine it. T h e i r p r i n c i p a l a i m i s t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f N o v o t n y and h i s c l i q u e , w h i c h i s p r o t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r ship, a n d t h e r e d u c t i o n o f r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n to mere trade relations. T h e campaign for the liquidation of Novotny, to expose and compromise him, a n d finally t o r e m o v e h i m , w a s c a r r i e d out i n a r o u n d - a b o u t w a y . I n
_______________________________ * in disguise.
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the forefront of this campaign were the S l o v a k national ists w i t h t h e i r a n t i - C z e c h feelings, t h e o l d b o u r g e o i s i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d t h e n e w r e v i s i o n i s t ones, a s w e l l a s students a n d h o o l i g a n s w h o c a m e out r e p e a t e d l y i n d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d are s t i l l d o i n g so. T h e N o v o t n y g r o u p a n d t h e i r K r e m l i n bosses sent i n t h e p o l i c e against t h e m , b u t t o n o a v a i l . A w a r e t h a t the noose w a s t i g h t e n i n g a r o u n d h i s neck, N o v o t n y called the tanks to Prague, copying the method of K h r u s h c h e v w h o s u r r o u n d e d the K r e m l i n w i t h t a n k s a n d t h u s saved h i s h e a d . B u t N o v o t n y c o u l d n o t a t t a i n t h i s a i m a n d lost his j o b . P e r h a p s h e w i l l lose his h e a d , too. T o c o v e r its game, t h e D u b e k g r o u p i s u s i n g a l l e g e d l y l e g a l f o r m s t o c l e a r o u t t h e N o v o t n y c l i q u e . F i r s t o f all, t h i s g r o u p m a d e s u r e o f t h e a r m y t h r o u g h t r u s t e d cadres, a r r a n g e d the d e f e c t i o n o f a c e r t a i n a r m y g e n e r a l , d i s c r e d i t e d N o v o t n y a n d L o m s k y , the d e f e n c e m i n i s t e r , a n d set i n m o t i o n the p a r t y , c o n v i n c e d t h a t N o v o t n y ' s i m m e d i a t e r e m o v a l or resignation should be demanded through peti tions, r a l l i e s a n d s t u d e n t d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . T h i s w h o l e o p e r a t i o n i s b e i n g c a r r i e d out v e r y q u i c k l y , w i t h l i t t l e o b v i o u s strife, a m i d s t t h e s t o r m y a p p l a u s e o f w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m to w h o s e f o l d a s c a b b y goat has t h u s r e t u r n e d . W h a t w i l l t h e S o v i e t s d o ? N o t h i n g , e x c e p t t o take N o v o t n y f o r t h e i r c o l l e c t i o n , i f t h e y a r e p e r m i t t e d , and i n s t a l l h i m . too, i n a v i l l a a s t h e y d i d w i t h someone else previously. A f t e r t h i s p u r g e , t h e y w i l l s t r i v e t o s t a b i l i z e the s i t u a t i o n i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . H o w e v e r , t h i s w i l l n o t b e the e n d o f the m a t t e r . T h e r e w i l l b e great f r i c t i o n a n d fierce political a n d economic struggle. T h u s , i n these t w o countries, P o l a n d a n d C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , w h e r e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e i n p o w e r , t h e same process o f c a p i t a l i s t d e g e n e r a t i o n i s t a k i n g place, w i t h t h e same aims, f o r m s a n d methods, b u t w i t h d i f f e r e n t outcomes,
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different r e s u l t s . I n b o t h c o u n t r i e s , t h e n e w r e v i s i o n i s t cliques, w h i c h w a n t t o speed u p the process o f t h e t r a n s formation o f t h e i r c o u n t r i e s i n t o c o m p l e t e l y c a p i t a l i s t c o u n tries, a r e s t r i v i n g t o get r i d o f t h e o l d r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s of Novotny a n d G o m u l k a . T h e a n t i - C z e c h s e n t i m e n t s o f S l o v a k c h a u v i n i s m , the radical t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k e c o n o m y i n t o a capitalist e c o n o m y , t h e r a d i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the existing C z e c h o s l o v a k s t r u c t u r e a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e t o adapt t h e m t o the r e t u r n t o c a p i t a l i s m , t h e m o r e a c t i v e a n d extensive e c o n o m i c , c u l t u r a l a n d p o l i t i c a l ties w i t h t h e capitalist states, t h e a n t i - S o v i e t feelings, t h e w e a k e n i n g of all ties w i t h t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s these a r e t h e things t h a t i n s p i r e a n d g u i d e the n e w C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i sionist c l i q u e l e d b y B u b e k . The old clique a n d the old revisionist N o v o t n y are now c o m p l e t e l y isolated, r o u t e d . E v e r y b o d y i s a b a n d o n i n g the s i n k i n g s h i p a n d t a k i n g t h e n e w r o a d . T h u s , t h e counter-revolution within the counter-revolution has triumphed i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e c o m p l e t e l y lost t h e i r p o litical a u t h o r i t y i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d t h e i r i n f l u e n c e i s o n the decline. K n o w i n g w h a t t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s are, we can be s u r e t h a t t h e y m u s t h a v e e x e r t e d great pressure t o save t h e m s e l v e s f r o m d i s a s t e r i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . O n the o t h e r h a n d , c a p i t a l i s t C z e c h o s l o v a k i a r e i n f o r c e s the capitalist p o s i t i o n of T i t o a n d his f r i e n d s , assists the complete t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f K a d a r ' s H u n g a r y , w i t h o r without h i m a t its h e a d , a n d assists t h e process i n P o l a n d . This w h o l e situation w h i c h is being created in Central Europe w i l l s h a k e the W a r s a w T r e a t y a n d C o m e c o n t o their f o u n d a t i o n s . I t w i l l l e a d t o b i l a t e r a l a n d m u l t i l a t e r a l alliances in a s p i r i t e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t of the existing ones, a n d C o m e c o n a n d t h e i r e c o n o m i c r e l a t i o n s will change, t h e y w i l l b r e a k u p a n d a s s u m e n e w f o r m s
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in w h i c h amalgamation w i t h the capitalist forms w i l l t a k e place. A l l this c a p i t a l i s t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s e r i o u s l y endangers Democratic G e r m a n y , w h i c h the revisionists w i l l drive i n v a r i o u s f o r m s a n d w a y s t o w a r d s i n t e g r a t i o n w i t h the G e r m a n y o f B o n n . T h i s process i s u n d e r w a y . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s are c o m p l e t e l y p a r a l y z e d . E c o n o m i c pressures a r e t h e i r o n l y r e m a i n i n g w e a p o n s , b u t i t i s c l e a r t h a t these, too, a r e h a v i n g no effect. It is g r e a t l y in t h e i n t e r e s t s of c a p i t a l i s m t o f i n a n c e those w h o b r e a k a w a y f r o m the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t u r n t o w a r d s t h e W e s t . I t has c a p i t a l for investment at is disposal, it is seeking n e w markets, n e w colonies a n d n e w satellites. T h u s , h a v i n g seen l i t t l e b e n e f i t f r o m t h e allegedly i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t aid o f the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , t h e n e w r e v i s i o n i s t c a p i t a l i s t s a r e c h a n g i n g t h e i r bus. T h i s great defeat of the S o v i e t leaders is seen in the great c o n f u s i o n w h i c h has o v e r w h e l m e d t h e m . A l t h o u g h these secressions h a v e b e e n g o i n g on f o r a c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e , t h e S o v i e t c e n s o r s h i p has n o t p e r m i t t e d any knowledge of t h e m to leak out to the Soviet public a t h o m e . T h i s s i m p l y shows h o w a f r a i d t h e y a r e o f t h e i r o w n people, t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , a n d the n e w revisionists, a n d t h e latter, i n f e c t e d b y the C z e c h o s l o v a k disease, m a y b u r s t out i n t h e streets against t h e c l i q u e , t o o v e r t h r o w i t a n d r e p l a c e i t w i t h a n o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e . I n this case K o s y g i n a n d B r e z h n e v w i l l act l i k e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t clan of G o m u l k a is acting in Poland. T h e s a m e process a s i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a s t a r t e d i n P o l a n d , too, but, f o r t h e t i m e b e i n g , w i t h d i f f e r e n t results. T h e G o m u l k a c l a n t e m p o r a r i l y c h e c k e d t h i s process, not because G o m u l k a i s a n y c l e v e r e r t h a n N o v o t n y , b u t because t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s are s o m e w h a t d i f f e r e n t i n P o l a n d , t h e r e f o r e G o m u l k a ' s t a c t i c s a r e d i f f e r e n t a n d m a y appear cleverer.
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In Czechoslovakia it started w i t h the writers and students, but a m o n g s t t h e m , i n a d d i t i o n t o e v e r y t h i n g else, anti-Czech S l o v a k n a t i o n a l i s t s e n t i m e n t s a n d a n t i - S l o v a k Czech n a t i o n a l i s t s e n t i m e n t s w e r e p r e d o m i n a n t . T h e other sentiments w e r e c o m p l e m e n t a r y , a p a r t f r o m the a n t i - S o v i e t and p r o - W e s t e r n s e n t i m e n t s w h i c h w e r e c o m m o n t o a l l . T h e process s t a r t e d i n t h e s a m e w a y i n P o l a n d , w i t h the s a m e tendencies, ideas a n d a i m s a s i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . The G o m u l k a c l a n u s e d p o l i c e v i o l e n c e , too, j u s t a s N o votny d i d , b u t w i t h success. T h e P o l i s h n a t i o n i s n o t made up of t w o peoples, as is t h e case in C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , therefore t h a t f a c t o r w h i c h p l a y e d a r o l e i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a did n o t s e r v e a s a n i n c i t e m e n t i n P o l a n d . G o m u l k a had to f i n d a scapegoat as an object f o r v i o l e n c e a n d he f o u n d it in Zionism. Thus, the disturbances in P o l a n d were created b y Z i o n i s m ! G o m u l k a does not m e n t i o n the C h u r c h , because t h a t c a r r i e s t h e r i s k t h a t t h e r e v o l t m i g h t increase a n d a s s u m e l a r g e r p r o p o r t i o n s . G o m u l k a i s t r y i n g t o k e e p the C h u r c h o u t o f i t a n d , i n fact, t h e C h u r c h d i d not e n t e r t h e a r e n a , a l t h o u g h a t o t h e r t i m e s i t h a d m a d e fiery appeals a n d o r g a n i z e d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a g a i n s t G o m u l k a . I t seems t h a t t h e y h a v e c o m e t o t e r m s u n t i l this tide subsides. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , G o m u l k a , r a b i d l y a n t i Soviet, i s s e e k i n g s h e l t e r a t these m o m e n t s u n d e r the shadow o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o , i n the e n d , w h e n they r e a l i z e t h a t t h e y h a v e lost e v e r y t h i n g i n P o l a n d , may even dare to intervene, allegedly to save Poland, allegedly to keep the c o m m u n i c a t i o n lines open so that they c a n c o m e to t h e assistance of E a s t G e r m a n y , etc. W i l l i Brandt, on his part, declared at his party's congress t h a t it i s n o r m a l f o r u s t o r e c o g n i z e t h e O d e r Neisse b o r d e r s . T h i s w a s a n o f f e r t o P o l a n d t o b r e a k a w a y f r o m t h e S o v i e t s , i t w a s a n a t t e m p t t o w i n support among the p e o p l e f o r G o m u l k a ' s persistent p o l i c y o n the German-Polish borders and. finally, it was an attempt to
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complete the encirclement of East G e r m a n y and to form the c o r d o n s a n i t a i r e a r o u n d the c a p i t a l i s t S o v i e t U n i o n . T h e r e s u l t o f a l l these c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e a n t i - S e m i t i s m , a n t i - S o v i e t i s m , etc., i s t h a t t h e process o f r e t u r n i n g t o capitalism in Poland w i l l continue according to G o m u l k a . B u t this i s p r o v i s i o n a l , t e m p o r a r y . T h e p r o b l e m i s s t i l l o n the agenda. T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , t h e people a n d t h e w o r k i n g class i n P o l a n d h a v e n o t y e t h a d t h e i r say. G o m u l k a t h r e w some sections o f t h e w o r k i n g class into demonstrations. T h i s shows w h a t lack of clarity exists there, w h a t a n e n o r m o u s a m o u n t o f w o r k has t o b e done i n o r d e r t o p u t t h e w o r k i n g class o n its t r u e course, i n a n t i - c a p i t a l i s t , a n t i - r e v i s i o n i s t class p o s i t i o n s , a g a i n s t Gomulka, against t h e Catholic Church, against the Zionists. There are also allegedly neutral countries and parties w h i c h are developing their revisionist course towards c a p i talism i n c o m p a r a t i v e l y c a l m i n t e r n a l situations, w i t h o u t noisy demonstrations, although certainly w i t h accentuated contradictions in the leadership, among the people and in the p a r t y , but w h i c h f o r t h e m o m e n t h a v e t h e a p p e a r a n c e of unity. This sham u n i t y results f r o m fear of the external d a n g e r a n d , i n t h e f i r s t place, f r o m f e a r o f t h e S o v i e t revisionists, w h o have their o w n men, w h o are still i n t h e m i n o r i t y , w i t h i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f these p a r t i e s . B u t i n these n e u t r a l c o u n t r i e s a n d parties, cliques o f b o u r geois i n t e l l e c t u a l s p r e d o m i n a t e , a n d t h e y r e l y s o l e l y o n t h e a n t i - S o v i e t feelings. T h e r e f o r e , a l i t t l e d i f f e r e n t l y f r o m t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k s , these r e v i s i o n i s t s l a y t h e stress o n f o r e i g n p o l i c y , o n r e l a t i o n s w i t h the c a p i t a l i s t states, w i t h Tito's Yugoslavia, w i t h Dubek's Czechoslovakia, to coun t e r - b a l a n c e t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t d a n g e r . I n these c i r cumstances t h e s e c l i q u e s are p u r g i n g t h e i r i n t e r n a l o p ponents, w h o m i g h t e n d a n g e r t h e m , a n d a r e m a k i n g
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efforts t o c o n s o l i d a t e t h e i r b o u r g e o i s r e g i m e s , w h i c h are being e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e i r c o u n t r i e s b y l i q u i d a t i n g s o c i a l i s m . Let us now take the Soviet Union. T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e degeneration of the Soviet U n i o n and the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n i n t h e last y e a r s o f N i k i t a K h r u s h c h e v ' s reign, a n d i n a n even m o r e accentuated manner later, entailed great dangers for the K r e m l i n clique. N o t o n l y has i t f u r t h e r d e e p e n e d t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s o f this c l i q u e w i t h t h e S o v i e t people, b u t i t has also created a s t r a t u m of n e w r e v i s i o n i s t s , o p p o n e n t s of t h e old r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e , w h o s e a i m i s t o l i q u i d a t e t h a t c l i q u e and replace it w i t h another of the same revisionist nature, but w h i c h w o u l d b e m o r e l i b e r a l a n d speed u p the process of the restoration of capitalism in the Soviet U n i o n . These most d e s p i c a b l e d r e g s w e r e n o t s a t i s f i e d , d i s p l a y e d t h e i r d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n a n d a d v a n c e d f u r t h e r d e m a n d s . H e r e , too, they w e r e h e a d e d b y t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d w r i t e r s w h o h a d become c o m p l e t e l y bourgeois, t h e m e n o f r e v i s i o n i s t a r t and c u l t u r e . D i s s i p a t i o n h a d p e n e t r a t e d d e e p l y a m o n g the y o u t h , t h e s t u d e n t s a n d others. T h i s w a s a s s u m i n g f o r m s disturbing to the clique. K h r u s h c h e v himself reacted s e v e r a l t i m e s a f t e r h e sensed the d a n g e r , n o t because t h e y w e r e d e m a n d i n g t o g o o v e r t o c a p i t a l i s m , b u t because t h e y w e r e d e m a n d i n g t o g o t h e r e w i t h o u t h i m , w i t h others, rather by efforts and action than by buffoonry and irregular methods. T h e c l i q u e t h a t succeeded K h r u s h c h e v t r i e d t o o u t d o their master. T h e y l i n k e d themselves m o r e closely and more securely w i t h A m e r i c a n imperialism, carried the w r e c k i n g o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e socialist e c o n o m y f u r t h e r and stepped up degeneration at home and abroad. B u t a l l t h i s a c t i v i t y also c r e a t e d colossal d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d contradictions for the clique. T h e Soviet economy declined, the p r e s t i g e o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n r e a c h e d its l o w e s t ebb, the f r i e n d s o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n deserted i t one a f t e r
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a n o t h e r , its a l l i a n c e s a s s u m e d p u r e l y c a p i t a l i s t , o p p r e s s i v e , f o r m a l a n d r i d i c u l o u s f o r m s a n d content. T h e resistance t o the c l i q u e i n c r e a s e d f r o m a l l d i r e c t i o n s . N o t t o speak o f the i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a , a t h o m e t h e B r e z h n e v - K o s y g i n group f i n d themselves in the midst of m a n y fires w h i c h a r e d i f f i c u l t t o p u t out. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t i n t e l l e c t u a l s , w r i t e r s a n d students h a v e i n c r e a s e d t h e i r p r o t e s t d e m o n strations and the K r e m l i n clique is obliged to arrest and i m p r i s o n t h e m . T h u s , t h e p r i s o n s a n d c o n c e n t r a t i o n camps a r e f i l l e d t o c a p a c i t y , not o n l y w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , b u t also w i t h n e w c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . O f course, w i t h i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n i s b e i n g o r g a n i z e d a n d o n t h e rise. T h e c l i q u e i s v e r y m u c h a f r a i d o f this a n d i s a t t a c k i n g it, t r y i n g t o d e c e i v e t h e p a r t y o f t h e class a n d the w o r k i n g class itself, t r y i n g to neutralize t h e m as f a r as possible by m a k i n g t h e m believe that it is allegedly their Leninist p a r t y w h i c h is leading, that everything is proceeding according to the Leninist line and w i t h Leninist norms, and so o n . A m o n g s t these i l l u s i o n s w e s h o u l d also i n c l u d e those ideas t r u e t o h i s t o r y e x p r e s s e d a b o u t S t a l i n b y c e r t a i n degenerate careerist a r m y g e n e r a l s a n d m a r s h a l s w h o h a v e s t a r t e d t o w r i t e i n o r d e r t o t h r o w d u s t i n t h e eyes o f the masses a n d the g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . B u t t h e B o l s h e v i k r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d the S o v i e t w o r k i n g class are not t o b e d e c e i v e d f o r l o n g . T h e y are b e c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e a w a r e that, i n r e a l i t y , p o w e r i s b e i n g w i e l d e d b y a c l i q u e o f renegades a n d t h e i r b u r e a u c r a t i c a n t i - w o r k e r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , t h a t t h e p a r t y has been t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a b o u r g e o i s p a r t y a n d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p is a b o u r g e o i s d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the n e w capitalist class, w h i c h oppresses t h e masses a n d t h e w o r k i n g class, e x p l o i t s t h e m e c o n o m i c a l l y f o r the b e n e f i t o f the n e w r e v i s i o n i s t bourgeoisie, does n o t allow them for one moment to demonstrate their power and exercise their rights. T h e efforts of the revisionists to m a k e
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the w o r k i n g class a p o l i t i c a l , t o e l i m i n a t e i t f r o m the p o l i t i cal scene a n d o r i e n t a t e i t t o w a r d s e c o n o m i s m , w i l l f a i l . T h u s , a s w e see, a l l these processes h a v e s i m i l a r features, a t p r e s e n t m o r e o b v i o u s a n d s e n s a t i o n a l i n Czechoslovakia and Poland, tomorrow in H u n g a r y and o t h e r places. T h e s e processes w i l l f u r t h e r w h e t t h e a p p e t i t e of the reactionary Soviet revisionist intelligentsia, and we s h a l l see clashes, n o t o n l y b e t w e e n i t a n d t h e r u l i n g c l i q u e , but also b e t w e e n the m o d e r a t e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d its r i g h t wing extremists, between the genuine Marxist-Leninist i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d b o t h t h e r u l i n g c l i q u e a n d these t w o tendencies w e m e n t i o n e d . A n d , f i n a l l y , the R u s s i a n I v a n w i l l awaken f r o m his heavy slumber. The Soviet w o r k i n g class, l e d b y the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , m u s t come out a n d w i l l c o m e o u t i n t h e streets t o h a v e its say. I t w i l l b a n g i t s f i s t o n t h e t a b l e a n d stage a second p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n . W e a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t this w i l l h a p p e n , because it is a d i a l e c t i c a l process t h a t is b o u n d to t a k e place, the c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e e v e n t s a n d t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t w i l l m a k e t h e s i t u a t i o n r i p e f o r this. W h e n ? T h a t i s not f o r u s t o decide. L e a r n i n g f r o m a l l these d e v e l o p m e n t s i n t h e r e v i s i o n ist c o u n t r i e s , f r o m t h e tactics, t h e f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s o f the s t r u g g l e w a g e d b y t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , against the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e tariat, against t h e w o r k i n g class, its p a r t y a n d t h e socialist r e g i m e , i n a d d i t i o n t o w h a t w e h a v e a n a l y z e d a t other times, o u r P a r t y has d e f i n e d c l e a r - c u t tasks t o e n s u r e t h a t m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m o r a n y o t h e r a n t i - M a r x i s t disease w i l l never be allowed to infect the healthy body and m i n d of the P a r t y and the dictatorship of the proletariat in o u r country. W i t h regard to the revisionist degeneration in a n u m b e r o f c o u n t r i e s , m e n t i o n m u s t b e m a d e o f some t y p i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s c o m m o n t o a l l the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s .
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I t i s a fact t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class, i n t h e f i r s t place, a n d t h e n a l l t h e w o r k i n g masses, w e r e c a u g h t u n a w a r e s . T h e y d i d n o t r e a c t i m m e d i a t e l y a n d s t r o n g l y against the b e t r a y a l c o m m i t t e d a g a i n s t t h e i r g r e a t cause, w h i c h h a d t r i u m p h e d a n d b e e n c o n s o l i d a t e d a t s u c h a cost i n b l o o d shed a n d sacrifice. T h e t r a i t o r elements w h o u s u r p e d p o w e r i n t h e p a r t y a n d t h e state, n o t o n l y a t t h e b e g i n n i n g of their subversive activity, w h e n they knew how to hide a n d organize themselves, but even later, w h e n their attitude a n d their treacherous actions h a d become obvious, d i d not e n c o u n t e r f i e r c e r e s i s t a n c e o n t h e p a r t o f the w o r k i n g class a n d its p a r t y , w h i c h o n t h e c o n t r a r y , accepted t h e y o k e o f t h e t r a i t o r s w i t h o u t a n y great o p p o s i t i o n or, e v e n w h e n t h e y d i d react, d i d s o h a l f - h e a r t e d l y . T h e p a r t y a n d t h e w o r k i n g class, i n t h e f i r s t place, h a d lost t h e i r vigilance a n d that vigour of violence w h i c h should always c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e m i n t h e class s t r u g g l e , i n t h e s t r u g g l e against e v e r y e n e m y o f t h e i r class a n d s o c i a l i s m . W h y does t h i s h a p p e n a n d w h a t causes t h i s a p a t h y , t h i s d y i n g d o w n o f t h e i r v i g i l a n c e a n d use o f v i o l e n c e , not only in c o m m u n i s t parties w i t h little r e v o l u t i o n a r y e x p e r i e n c e , b u t e v e n i n t h e oldest a n d biggest p a r t y w i t h colossal r e v o l u t i o n a r y e x p e r i e n c e s u c h a s t h e B o l s h e v i k Party was? In general, there is nothing u n k n o w n or mysterious a b o u t t h e reasons f o r t h i s o c c u r r e n c e , b u t i n t h i s a r t i c l e w e s h a l l e m p h a s i z e c e r t a i n reasons w h i c h a p p e a r t o u s to be t h e m a i n ones, those m o s t d a n g e r o u s to a M a r x i s t Leninist party. Let us consider h o w this has happened to the Bolshevik P a r t y , t h e oldest a n d staunchest r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y , f r o m t h e successes a n d m i s t a k e s o f w h i c h a l l o f u s h a v e l e a r n e d . F i r s t , a n d a b o v e a l l , stands the q u e s t i o n o f t h e p a r t y . It is here that we must try to f i n d the shortcomings and errors w h i c h contributed so tragically to the emergence of
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r e v i s i o n i s m a n d t h e s e i z u r e o f p o w e r b y the K h r u s h c h e v i t e traitors i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . a) Surprising as this may seem, the political and ideological education of the Bolshevik Party was not always carried out at each stage with the intensity and thoroughness required by the circumstances. S u c h e d u c a t i o n , m o r e over, h a d w e a k n e s s e s o f f o r m a n d m e t h o d a n d , s o m e t i m e s , even o f content. A l t h o u g h i t w a s t a l k e d about, t h e l i n k i n g o f t h e t h e o r y w i t h p r a c t i c a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i o n w a s not c a r r i e d out a s m u c h a n d i n t h e w a y i t s h o u l d h a v e been over its w h o l e range, i n o r d e r t o p u t p o l i t i c s f i r s t i n the w o r k f o r t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f people, i n k e e p i n g the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t o f t h e w h o l e p a r t y vigorous, i n e n s u r i n g t h a t e v e r y b o d y u n d e r s t o o d a n d a p plied the line of the P a r t y in a revolutionary w a y in e v e r y t h i n g . I t i s t r u e t h a t i f t h e r e w e r e a n y schools, t r a i n i n g courses, f o r m s , means, m e t h o d s , etc., f o r p o l i t i c a l and i d e o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n , t h e y w e r e i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . The s a m e t h i n g c o u l d b e s a i d , too, i n r e g a r d t o t h e t r a i n ing a n d e d u c a t i o n o f cadres. T h e q u e s t i o n i s n o t t h a t t h e study o f t h e u n e r r i n g M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t - S t a l i n i s t t h e o r y w a s neglected i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t t h a t s o m e t h i n g c a u s e d the p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n t o b e d e f e c t i v e . A n d this s o m e t h i n g w a s n o t o n l y t h e f o r m s , the m e t h o d s a n d the r a t e o f progress, w h i c h , a s w e s a i d above, m e a n t t h a t the t h e o r y w a s n o t p r o p e r l y m a s t e r e d a n d c o r r e c t l y p u t into p r a c t i c e . T h e r e w a s also a c o m p l e x o f o t h e r t h i n g s that e x e r t e d a n e g a t i v e i n f l u e n c e . b) The implementation of the norms of the Bolshevik Party or, to put it better, the profound ideological and political understanding and carrying out of them in practice in a revolutionary way, were not up to the mark. A l l these n o r m s w e r e correct. L e n i n c r e a t e d a n d e s t a b l i s h e d them w i t h a titanic struggle. S t a l i n a f f i r m e d them, d e f e n d e d t h e m a n d c a r r i e d t h e m out. B u t i n a c t u a l l i f e , d u r i n g t h e
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process o f d e v e l o p m e n t , i n the course o f t h e w o r k a n d the s t r u g g l e , w e see these n o r m s , w h i c h a t f i r s t w e r e p r o p e r l y i m p l e m e n t e d , l a t e r f a l l i n g i n t o disuse, b e c o m i n g r u s t y a n d finally distorted and turned into a harsh and very d a n gerous w e a p o n i n the h a n d s o f t h e enemies o f t h e class a n d o f t h e p a r t y . T h i s w a s t h e case i n a l l t h e r e v i sionist parties. In these parties they speak loudly of democratic centralism, but it is Leninist no longer; they speak of Bolshevik criticism and self-criticism, but they are Bolshevik no longer; they speak of party discipline, but it is no longer Leninist, but fascist discipline; they speak of proletarian morality, but the morality is bourgeois, anti-proletarian, anti-Marxist; they speak of free expression of opinions within the Party about everything and everybody, but the expression of opinions in the party spirit, in the proletarian spirit, in the revisionist countries now leads to jail and concentration camps. The same may be said with regard to all the genuine Leninist party norms. T h u s , the o f f i c i a l n o r m s , i r r e s p e c t i v e of h o w t h e y are d i s g u i s e d , are a n t i - L e n i n i s t , are bourgeois, r e a c t i o n a r y , fascist n o r m s . Such a change from the Leninist norms, which constitute the strength of the party as a steel-like vanguard organization of the proletariat, to revisionist norms is the greatest evil that can befall a MarxistLeninist party, is the terrible weapon for the degeneration and disintegration of the party, making it deviate from its historic role of transforming society. T h e fact is t h a t t h i s r e t r o g r e s s i v e change o n this issue has t a k e n p l a c e i n t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d i n the o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t parties, a n d , i r r e s p e c t i v e of the fact t h a t n o t a l l the S o v i e t c o m m u n i s t s a p p r o v e o f a n d c o m p l y w i t h these a n t i - L e n i n i s t n o r m s , i t i s i n d i s p u t a b l e t h a t the revisionist norms actually p r e v a i l in this p a r t y and in other r e v i s i o n i s t parties a n d a r e d e s t r o y i n g t h e p a r t i e s a n d s o c i a l i s m i n these c o u n t r i e s .
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N o w w e m a y ask t h e q u e s t i o n : H a d the M a r x i s t Leninist policy and ideology been understood and implemented c o r r e c t l y , a s w e s a i d above, h a d the L e n i n i s t n o r m s o f the p a r t y , e s t a b l i s h e d i n the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y b y the great teachers L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , b e e n i m p l e m e n t e d i n a correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y a n d a t a l l times, w o u l d this t h a t has o c c u r r e d h a v e h a p p e n e d ? N o ! I t w o u l d not have h a p p e n e d ! B u t i t d i d h a p p e n , f o r t h e r e a s o n s g i v e n above a n d those w e s h a l l set out b e l o w . c) The Communist Party, as the organized vanguard detachment of the working class, must be the leader, the keen edge of the sword; it must preserve, develop and temper the finest virtues of the working class; it must be the first to properly master and implement the ideology of the working class, Marxism-Leninism; above all, it must be vigilant to the extreme and unyielding towards the class enemy. A n d in o r d e r to be such, it m u s t have, understand, a n d i m p l e m e n t t h e Leninist norms that m a k e i t t h e p a r t y o f t h e class, i n o r d e r t o l e a d t h e w o r k i n g class a n d its a l l i e s t o w a r d s t h e a i m s of t h e class. This is a great unity, not any sort of unity, but what we call Marxist-Leninist unity, Marxist-Leninist unity within the party, unity of thought and action on the basis of the Leninist norms, between the base of the party and its leadership, unity within the leadership itself, a steel Marxist-Leninist unity between the party and the working class, a steel, harmonious, party-working class-people unity. And in this whole unity, the fundamental idea, its basis and guarantee, is the party-working class unity, the decisive leadership of the working class headed by its party, inspired, tempered and enlightened by its MarxistLeninist ideology. T h i s u n i t y i s not c r e a t e d i n one d a y o r one year. I t m u s t b e e s t a b l i s h e d a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d i n the heat o f m a n y struggles a n d d a n g e r s w i t h w h i c h t h e y a r e c o n -
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f r o n t e d b y t h e class e n e m y , w h i c h uses e v e r y means, o b j e c t i v e a n d subjective, p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l , r e p r e s s i o n a n d t e r r o r , c o e r c i v e m e a s u r e s a n d e c o n o m i c unrest, o p e n c o r r u p t i o n a n d i l l e g a l s u b v e r s i v e a c t i v i t y against t h e w o r k i n g class i n g e n e r a l , against its p a r t y a s a n o r g a n i z a t i o n , against t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s , a n d t h e f u n c t i o n a r i e s o f t h e state a n d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e masses i n p a r t i c u l a r . W e s h a l l n o t d w e l l a t l e n g t h o n these issues, b u t s h a l l o n l y p o i n t o u t t h a t the preservation and tempering of unity is not something achieved once and for all so that the communists need not trouble about it again; second, that unity in the social-democratic manner, unity of comrades, outside the Marxist-Leninist principles and norms of the party, unity to avoid upsetting someone or other by permitting the violation of norms and principles, is not our unity. Our unity is not unity for unity's sake, contravening principles. Therefore, our unity, over the entire range we mentioned, is created through struggle, is tempered through struggle and preserved through continuous consistent revolutionary struggle. Otherwise there can be no Marxist-Leninist unity. In the Bolshevik P a r t y of L e n i n and Stalin there was unity, a n d there was energetic struggle to temper this u n i t y , b u t i t cannot b e s a i d t h a t p e r f e c t i o n h a d b e e n att a i n e d i n e v e r y t h i n g , f o r t h a t w o u l d b e a d e n i a l o f the class struggle, w i t h i n a n d o u t s i d e t h e c o u n t r y , w i t h i n the p a r t y r a n k s , t h a t w o u l d m a k e u s f o r g e t t h e class e n e m y w h o wages a f i e r c e s t r u g g l e i n e v e r y f o r m a n d w h o s e o n l y a i m is to smash the unity, to infiltrate into the organisms o f the p a r t y a n d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p , t o r i d d l e t h e m w i t h w o r m s a n d d e s t r o y t h e m , t o i n f i l t r a t e t h e consciousness a n d t h e w o r l d o u t l o o k o f the c o m m u n i s t s , t o d e m o r a l i z e t h e m a n d cause t h e m t o degenerate. T h u s , i n the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y o f L e n i n a n d S t a l i n t h e y w e r e p r o c e e d i n g o n t h e correct L e n i n i s t r o a d a n d
THE WORKING CLASS, MUST TAKE THE FIELD
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the successes i n the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m , i n t h e c o n struction o f t h e f i r s t p o w e r f u l socialist state i n t h e w o r l d prove t h i s . S t a l i n , a t t h e h e a d o f t h e B o l s h e v i k P a r t y , fought c o r r e c t l y , v i g o r o u s l y , w i t h d e e p u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d w i t h o u t c o m m i t t i n g t h e o r e t i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l e r r o r s , o n the road o f t h e w o r k i n g class, o n t h e r o a d o f t h e L e n i n i s t party, o f its n o r m s , t o a c h i e v e the a i m s o f t h e class a n d its p a r t y , w h i c h w e r e t h e b u i l d i n g o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m munism i n the Soviet U n i o n and i n the w o r l d . H o w e v e r , t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : I f t h i s w a s so, t h e n why d i d the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y degenerate into a revisionist party a f t e r t h e d e a t h of S t a l i n ? T h i s is a r e a s o n a b l e q u e s tion w h i c h m u s t b e a s k e d , a n d i n o r d e r t o a n s w e r i t one must d i s c o v e r t h e o b j e c t i v e a n d s u b j e c t i v e reasons. W e have a l r e a d y p o i n t e d o u t i n o t h e r a r t i c l e s t h a t this q u e s tion i s a s i m p o r t a n t a s i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o d e a l w i t h t h o r o u g h l y a n d w i t h o u t m i s t a k e s , i f w e d o n o t base o u r s e l v e s o n the d o c u m e n t s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e i n t e r n a l ones, o f t h e B o l shevik P a r t y , d o c u m e n t s w h i c h w e d o not possess a n d could h a r d l y possess, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n . However, our ideology and the experience of our P a r t y and o t h e r p a r t i e s c a n h e l p us to d e t e r m i n e s o m e of these reasons. W e say some, because t h e r e are a n d m u s t b e m a n y more. H o w e v e r , these o p i n i o n s , too, m a y b e i n c o m p l e t e . P r e s e n t i n g t h e p r o b l e m a s w e p u t i t above, i t t u r n s out t h a t g r a d u a l l y , w i t h o u t b e i n g a w a r e o f i t a n d o n the basis of t h e g r e a t successes of t h e r e a l i z a t i o n of t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n , a m o n g t h e cadres o f the S o v i e t p a r t y and socialist state t h e r e w a s c r e a t e d a c e r t a i n s e l f - c o m placency a n d l e g i t i m a t e p r i d e , b u t w h i c h , u n w i t t i n g l y assumed e v e r m o r e p r o n o u n c e d , t h o u g h latent, f o r m s until they turned into incorrect inclinations w h i c h were basically i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h p r o l e t a r i a n m o r a l i t y . M a r x i s t ideology a n d e d u c a t i o n c o n d e m n e d t h e m i n p r i n c i p l e a n d i n practice, w h e n t h e y m a n i f e s t e d t h e m s e l v e s i n a f l a g r a n t
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a n d d a n g e r o u s w a y , b u t these t r e n d s w e r e d e v e l o p i n g i n t h e g e n e r a l f o r m a n d this w a s not c o n s i d e r e d a d a n g e r o u s t h i n g . T h e y e n t w i n e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e n o r m s o f the p a r t y a n d g r a d u a l l y g a v e t h e m s u c h a tinge. L a t e r t h e y w o u l d become m o r e p r o n o u n c e d a n d c o m b i n e d w i t h other n o n - p r o l e t a r i a n habits, w o u l d b e a d d e d t o t h e d a n g e r o u s complex. T h e members of the Bolshevik Party, w h o w e r e led i n l e g e n d a r y battles b y L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , w e r e c a d r e s o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y class o r i g i n a n d d r i v e , t e m p e r e d i n r e v o l u t i o n , i n struggles, i n t h e b u i l d i n g o f s o c i a l i s m , i n t h e battles against T r o t s k y i s m , d e v i a t o r s a n d o t h e r t r a i t o r s . T h e y were tempered ideologically and politically and had unshakeable and justified faith in their glorious Bolshevik P a r t y , i n L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , i n the c o r r e c t l i n e a n d n o r m s t h a t these h a d l a i d d o w n . T o t h e m the p a r t y w a s e v e r y t h i n g , i t w a s t h e i r heart, b r a i n a n d eyes, t h e r e f o r e t h e y d e f e n d e d it, w e r e e d u c a t e d by it a n d t h e i r great l e a d e r . But while the Soviet cadres tried to carry out the correct line and norms of the Party headed by Stalin, at first not among all of them and not in a clear-cut way, the feeling of stability, which is alien to the revolutionary sense of development, gradually began to spread and crystallize. So l o n g as t h e y h e l d l o w e r l e v e l f u n c t i o n s , t h e cadres w o r k e d z e a l o u s l y t o serve t h e cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e best possible m a n n e r , r i g o r o u s l y i m p l e m e n t i n g the n o r m s a n d l i n e o f t h e P a r t y , m a i n t a i n i n g close connections w i t h the masses a n d w i t h t h e w o r k i n g class. B u t w i t h t h e passage o f t i m e , w h e n t h e i n i t i a l d i f f i c u l t i e s h a d been o v e r c o m e , w h e n t h e i n d i s p e n s a b l e i d e o logical, political and general education a n d culture had been a c q u i r e d , h a v i n g g r o w n o l d e r a n d h a v i n g g a i n e d s e n i o r i t y i n t h e p a r t y , i n c e r t a i n p e o p l e b a d tendencies began to e m e r g e . The successes in their work nurtured the feeling of self-complacency and, along with this, the Soviet
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cadres lost their proletarian modesty. They began to raise improper claims, which they described as politically justified, because they had worked and fought. With their promotion to more and more responsible posts, the desire for personal ease and comfort developed in them and they became more and more infected by bureaucracy, intellectualism and technocratism. T h u s , g r a d u a l l y , a s e p a r a t i o n and i n e q u a l i t y w a s c r e a t e d b e t w e e n t h e cadres of the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y a n d S o v i e t state, o n t h e one h a n d , a n d the masses of t h e S o v i e t people a n d w o r k i n g class, on the other. Many cadres did not listen to the voice of the masses as they had done in the past. The idea began to prevail among them that they knew everything themselves, that they were specialists in everything, that they stood above the masses, above the working class politically and ideologically and were more far-sighted than they. These cadres confused the authority and prestige which the Bolshevik Party and Stalin enjoyed among the masses of the Soviet people and in the working class with their personal authority and prestige. A l l these anti-proletarian features led to deformation of the revolutionary concepts among these cadres and from this the infection spread to the line of the party and its implementation and the revolutionary norms of the party remained formal. The process of sclerosis had set in in the life of the party itself and its organization, as well as in the whole Soviet state administration. T h e r e f o r e , t h e e d u c a t i o n , the e q u i p p i n g o f t h e cadres o f the p a r t y , t h e state a n d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w i t h s c h o o l ing a n d c u l t u r e i s one o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p r o b l e m s , but an even greater prime duty is their political and ideological education and their permanent revolutionization. The danger of the development of bureaucracy in cadres and of equipping only them with schooling and
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culture, is that it can and does create in them a feeling of superiority and conceit, causes the features of intellectualism and technocratism, which gradually place them above the masses of the party and the class, to take root in them and thus, little by little, a situation is created in which a stratum dominates the class and its proletarian party, makes the party sclerotic and its revolutionary norms lifeless, propagates them without zeal and strips them of their revolutionary influence and action. This leads to separation from the masses and from the direction of the working class. I f the p a r t y a n d t h e w o r k i n g class d o n o t p a y c o n tinuous special attention to the ideological and political u p l i f t o f t h e cadres, a n d n o t j u s t t h r o u g h b o o k i s h m e t h ods, b u t t h r o u g h p r a c t i c a l a c t i o n s a n d i n u n i n t e r r u p t e d d a i l y struggle, t h e n t h e i r p r o m o t i o n t o l e a d i n g positions, the disproportion between their educational and c u l t u r a l l e v e l a n d t h a t o f t h e g r e a t b u l k o f t h e p a r t y a n d the w o r k i n g class, t h e i r s e n i o r i t y i n t h e p a r t y o r i n t h e state organs, the great d i s p a r i t y i n s a l a r i e s ( a d a n g e r o u s e v i l this) a n d the p r i v i l e g e s t o w h i c h t h e y are a l l e g e d l y e n t i t l e d a s cadres (another d a n g e r o u s e v i l ) r u i n t h e cadre, willy-nilly impel him gradually to adopt features w h i c h a r e n o t o f the p r o l e t a r i a n class. S u c h a p h e n o m e n o n m a y occur e v e n w i t h cadres o f w o r k e r o r i g i n a n d status, b u t it is a s t i l l g r e a t e r d a n g e r a m o n g those f r o m the p e a s a n t r y a n d the i n t e l l i g e n t s i a . The party of the working class must educate the cadres in such a way that they not only advance and are promoted to posts of responsibility, but also understand properly when it is necessary for them to be taken down from posts of responsibility, and this not only in cases when they prove incapable and inactive in the function with which they are charged, or for mistakes in their work and in life, but even when they are capable and do their jobs properly. The cadres
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should be educated to realize that even when they are in order, their removal from functions of responsibility and their going to work in the ranks of the working class and the working masses is a necessity, is for the good of the cadres themselves and the party, for the present and the future. The three features we mentioned above bureaucracy, intellectualism and technocratism brought about that w i t h i n t h e B o l s h e v i k P a r t y a n d t h e S o v i e t state t h a t r e v olutionary spirit of heroic times d i d not prevail as it should. T h i s i n s i d i o u s disease d i d n o t o p e n l y a t t a c k the correct l i n e o f t h e p a r t y . T h e cadres r e m a i n e d f a i t h f u l to it and to Stalin. T h e y were ready to go through fire for h i m , because S t a l i n w a s a m a n o f the class. W i t h his M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t class c l a r i t y , h e d i d n o t c o m m i t e r rors o f p r i n c i p l e , e i t h e r i n p o l i c y o r i n i d e o l o g y , i n t h e economy o r i n t h e m i l i t a r y f i e l d . H e l o y a l l y d e f e n d e d everything Leninist and developed L e n i n i s m further. However, in this stagnation w h i c h was gradually b u i l d i n g u p , a l t h o u g h t h e S t a l i n i s t e n e r g y o f the p a r t y and the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t w a s s t i l l c a r r y i n g the w o r k f o r w a r d , sclerosis w a s s e t t i n g i n i n the w o r k o f the p a r t y , t h e n o r m s w e r e i m p l e m e n t e d b u t not w i t h revolutionary vigour, the line w a s carried out but not at that r e v o l u t i o n a r y t e m p o , M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w a s b e i n g taught b u t i n s u c h a w a y t h a t i t w a s n o l o n g e r a b l e t o purge these d a n g e r o u s t r e n d s . M a n y t o p a n d m i d d l e cadres o f t h e p a r t y a n d state e q u i p p e d w i t h d i p l o m a s were, s o t o speak, v i e w i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n f r o m above, a n d especially f r o m t h e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s f e e l i n g o f t h e i r o w n all-round superiority. T h e y h a d come to believe that this was s o m e t h i n g n a t u r a l , t h a t t h e y w e r e s u p e r i o r t o t h e bulk of t h e p a r t y . T h e y w e r e a s s u m i n g the f e a t u r e s of a class a b o v e the class a n d a b o v e the p a r t y , c o n s i d e r e d themselves i n f a l l i b l e , because t h e y w e r e i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p ,
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because t h e y h a d l o n g e x p e r i e n c e , because t h e y possessed knowledge, and it was they w h o brought the sunshine a n d the r a i n . A l l these a n t i - M a r x i s t v i e w p o i n t s w e r e d e v e l oping, w i t t i n g l y or unwittingly, under cover of the party norms. There was talk about democratic centralism, c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m , p a r t y d i s c i p l i n e , a n d elections f r o m b e l o w , b u t a l l these t h i n g s h a d lost t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t . A n d what could all this bring about? The gradual separation of the leadership from the bulk of the party, and of the party from the working class. Thus, in essence, that Marxist-Leninist unity which we mentioned above was weakened. Stalin had forged the Leninist unity and he fought to defend it, notwithstanding the stagnation that existed. After his death the disruption of the unity in the leadership and in the Bolshevik Party took place and the revisionists seized power. K h r u s h c h e v a n d h i s t r a i t o r o u s associates h a d been w o r k i n g even w h e n S t a l i n w a s alive, of course in very disguised forms. A f t e r Stalin's death, profiting by the s i t u a t i o n t h a t h a d b e e n c r e a t e d , t h e y seized p o w e r . T h e y sought a n d a r e s e e k i n g t o p r e s e r v e t h e w h o l e o f the n e g a t i v e process a n d d e e p e n i t f u r t h e r , b y c o m p l e t i n g the transformation to capitalism and the l i q u i d a t i o n of the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y of L e n i n a n d S t a l i n . T h e attack on Stalin was an attack on Leninism, on M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h a t i s w h y t h e y h a v e r e m o v e d o r are g e t t i n g r i d o f those w h o m t h e y c a l l S t a l i n i s t s a n d , m a s q u e r a d i n g a s L e n i n i s t s , t h e y a r e s t r i v i n g t o m a k e t h e process o f t h e l i q u i d a t i o n of t h e p a r t y , as a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y of the proletariat, more thorough-going day by day and to isolate t h e S o v i e t w o r k i n g class, t o l u l l i t t o sleep, t o m a k e it amorphous a n d apolitical, so as to avoid the b l o w s w h i c h i t c o u l d deal t h e m . O f course, t h e r e are o t h e r reasons, too, b u t w e t h i n k t h a t these f a c t o r s w e h a v e m e n t i o n e d caused the w o r k i n g
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class o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s and m i l l i o n s o f S o v i e t p a r t y a n d state c a d r e s t o b e caught off g u a r d . T h e y t h o u g h t a n d s t i l l t h i n k (for t h e y are n o t a t a v e r y h i g h l e v e l p o l i t i c a l l y a n d i d e o l o g i c a l ly, a n d this s h o u l d n o t s u r p r i s e us) t h a t w h a t K h r u s h c h e v did was on the L e n i n i s t road a n d in accord w i t h the Leninist rules. T h e y w e r e deceived by the slanders, the demagogy a n d the p r o m i s e s of the t r a i t o r s , b u t of course this w i l l not g o o n f o r l o n g . T h e eyes o f t h e S o v i e t w o r k ing class a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s are b e i n g a n d w i l l b e opened p r o p e r l y a n d t h e y w i l l r e c o v e r t h e f i g h t i n g s p i r i t of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggles t h r o u g h w h i c h L e n i n a n d Stalin l e d t h e m . T h e y m u s t come out i n the streets, arms i n h a n d , a n d t h e y w i l l c o m e o u t , i f n o t t o d a y , tomorrow. The situation w i l l ripen. T i m e is w o r k i n g for the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n . T h i s process has o c c u r r e d i n t h e o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t parties, too, b u t e v e n m o r e deeply, f o r t h e r e a s o n that, apart f r o m t h e P o l i s h p a r t y , t h e p a r t i e s o f the r e v i s i o n ist c o u n t r i e s a r e p a r t i e s w h i c h h a v e n o t w a g e d the struggle t h e m s e l v e s , h a v e not gone t h r o u g h that f u r n a c e , irrespective of t h e i r s e l f - a d v e r t i s e m e n t as a l l e g e d l y o l d p a r ties w h i c h h a v e been t h r o u g h the f i g h t . T h e i r e x p e r i e n c e on this issue a n d this is t h e m a i n issue is v e r y p o o r if t h e y h a v e a n y at a l l . M o r e o v e r , these p a r t i e s w e r e r e v i v e d , r e o r g a n i z e d a n d took p o w e r t h a n k s t o t h e S o v i e t A r m y a n d t h e d i r e c t a i d o f t h e B o l s h e v i k P a r t y a n d S t a l i n . T h i s assistance w a s v i t a l t o t h e m , not o n l y because t h e y w e r e r e - e s t a b l i s h e d m a t e r i a l l y , b u t also because it h e l p e d t h e m to create political a n d i d e o l o g i c a l c o h e s i o n i n t h e i r r a n k s . L a t e r , i n such parties a s the P o l i s h , G e r m a n , C z e c h o s l o v a k , H u n garian a n d o t h e r parties, a n o r g a n i z a t i o n a l , p o l i t i c a l a n d ideological u n i o n w a s b r o u g h t a b o u t b e t w e e n the c o m munist, socialist and s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c parties. Thus,
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i n s t e a d o f r e m a i n i n g outside, i n t h e f r o n t t h e s o c i a l democratic maggot w a s introduced w i t h i n the party. The w i n e w a s w a t e r e d d o w n , a n d n o w i t has t u r n e d i n t o v i n e gar. W h i l e S t a l i n w a s a l i v e , t h e s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c p a r t i e s of C y r a n k i e w i c z , (1) Otto G r o t e w o h l , (2) Fierlinger, (3) kept a low profile, but they w e r e w o r k i n g f r o m w i t h i n , corroding, demoralizing, a n d seizing as m a n y important positions as they could. W h e n K h r u s h c h e v came t o p o w e r , o f course these elements w e r e o v e r j o y e d . L a t e r the s e p a r a t i o n began, a n d it w a s a r a d i c a l one, since d e g e n e r a t i o n h a d become deep l y i m p l a n t e d i n these parties a n d these c o u n t r i e s . W h e r e a s the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t G o t t w a l d brought the a r m e d w o r k e r s out i n the streets a n d m a d e r e a c t i o n t r e m b l e a n d s c u r r y back i n t o its rat-holes, n o w t h e r e v i s i o n i s t D u b e k has a p a r t o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k w o r k i n g class o n h i s side. T h i s i s w h a t h a p p e n e d i n H u n g a r y , too, b u t n o t e n t i r e l y s o i n P o l a n d , f o r t h e P o l i s h w o r k i n g class has a m o r e r e v o l u tionary tradition. B u t the struggle to w i n the w o r k i n g class a n d t o a r o u s e i t i n r e v o l u t i o n s h o u l d b e t h e m a i n o b j e c t i v e of e v e r y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y . There is no and there cannot be proletarian revolution without the working class and without the leadership of the MarxistLeninist party. T h e students and intellectuals must be raised in rev o l u t i o n a n d l e d b y t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t p a r t y . H o w e v e r , the opposite c a n occur, a s i n the r e v i s i o n i s t countries, i f t h e y are n o t p u t i n t h e i r p r o p e r place i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d i f t h e y are not e d u c a t e d c o r r e c t l y i n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y . T h e y o u t h c a n n e v e r assume t h e r o l e a n d c a r r y out t h e tasks w i t h w h i c h h i s t o r y
______________________________ 1 G e n e r a l secretary of the P o l i s h Socialist P a r t y . 2 One of the founders of the G e r m a n U n i t e d Socialist Party (1946). 3 Chief of t h e Czechoslovak Social-Democratic Party.
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has c h a r g e d the w o r k i n g class. T h e w o r k i n g class a n d the p a r t y o f t h e class m u s t b e a t t h e h e a d , i n a b s o l u t e leadership, e v e r y w h e r e a n d i n e v e r y t h i n g . T h e p e a s a n t r y and t h e v a r i o u s s o c i a l s t r a t a m u s t a d v a n c e o n t h e r o a d o f the w o r k i n g class, i n a l l i a n c e w i t h it, m u s t b e e d u c a t e d w i t h its l a w s a n d its ideology, a n d w h o e v e r does n o t advance o n this r o a d a n d p u t s spokes i n t h e w h e e l s m u s t be d i s c a r d e d , by p e r s u a s i o n or by v i o l e n c e , as m a y be necessary. I n t h e l i g h t o f a l l t h a t w e h a v e s a i d , the correctness o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r o a d a n d l i n e p u r s u e d b y o u r Party in a l l the stages of its d e v e l o p m e n t , e v e n at the most c r i t i c a l m o m e n t s , a n d its b o u n d l e s s l o y a l t y t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y ideas a n d w o r k o f M a r x , Engels, L e n i n a n d Stalin, s t a n d out e v e n m o r e c l e a r l y . B u t o u r P a r t y has never lost sight of the fact t h a t no c o m m u n i s t p a r t y , including o u r o w n , is i m m u n e to the danger of revisionism. I t has a l w a y s m a i n t a i n e d k e e n v i g i l a n c e against t h i s danger a n d has n e v e r r e s t e d o n its l a u r e l s . O u r P a r t y has accumulated r i c h e x p e r i e n c e , a n d i s e l a b o r a t i n g i t e v e r y day, o n h o w t o b a r t h e w a y t o r e v i s i o n i s m a n d t h e restoration o f c a p i t a l i s m . T h e m e a s u r e s w h i c h t h e P a r t y has t a k e n f o r the f u r t h e r r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f the w h o l e life o f t h e c o u n t r y , f o r the p e r f e c t i n g a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f the socialist r e l a t i o n s of p r o d u c t i o n a n d of t h e s u p e r structure, i n o r d e r t o p u r g e t h e m o f e v e r y t h i n g a l i e n , are o f d e c i s i v e i m p o r t a n c e a n d v i t a l t o t h e cause o f socialism. I t has w a g e d a n d i s w a g i n g t h e class s t r u g g l e i n the correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y , i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e t h e Party, a n d t h i s i s the m o t i v e f o r c e d u r i n g t h e w h o l e period o f t h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m c a p i t a l i s m t o s o c i a l i s m . I t has a t t a c h e d p r i m e i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y class education o f t h e w o r k i n g people, t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n in particular, in various ways, especially through revolu-
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t i o n a r y a c t i o n . I t has w a g e d a n d i s w a g i n g a p r i n c i p l e d a n d consistent s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t a n y f o r m o f b u r e a u c r a t i c d i s t o r t i o n , f o r t h e constant d e e p e n i n g o f t h e l i n e o f the masses i n a l l fields, f o r t h e c o n t i n u o u s p e r f e c t i n g o f s o c i a l ist d e m o c r a c y . A b o v e a l l , s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n has been d e v o t e d t o the c o n t i n u o u s r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y a n d its cadres, s o t h a t t h e y n e v e r b e c o m e i s o l a t e d f r o m the people, lose t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y f e a t u r e s a n d s p i r i t , o r b e c o m e b u r e a u c r a t i c a n d degenerate. T h e P a r t y has n e v e r lost sight o f t h e d i a l e c t i c a l o p e r a t i o n o f v a r i o u s factors, w i t h a l l t h e i r p o s i t i v e a n d n e g a t i v e i n f l u e n c e s . I t has c a r r i e d o u t a n d c o n t i n u e s t o c a r r y out i n d e p t h a l l - r o u n d m e a s u r e s o f r e v o l u t i o n i z a tion, of education, of w o r k and struggle on all fronts w h i c h g i v e rise t o a n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s , g r e a t a n d s m a l l , but a l l i m p o r t a n t a n d c l o s e l y i n t e r c o n n e c t e d , especially on the f r o n t of the i d e o l o g i c a l class e d u c a t i o n a n d the class struggle. T h u s , it has c o n t i n u e d a n d c o n t i n u e s the s t r u g g l e o n a l l f r o n t s , w i t h o u t i n t e r r u p t i o n , a t a n ever h i g h e r l e v e l , a l w a y s l e a r n i n g f r o m the successes a n d s h o r t comings, s o t h a t t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s w i l l n o t b e r e p e a t e d a n d t h e successes w i l l n o t i n t o x i c a t e i t a n d p u t i t t o sleep. O u r P a r t y a n d p e o p l e are a d v a n c i n g o n t h i s correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r o a d w i t h u n w a v e r i n g c o n f i d e n c e i n the c o n struction of socialism and communism. I n t o d a y ' s c o n d i t i o n s , w h e n the r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s are completely liquidating all the victories of socialism in their respective countries, the w o r k i n g class o f these countries must clearly understand that the revisionist party in p o w e r is no longer a party of the proletariat, b u t a n i n s t r u m e n t i n t h e h a n d s o f t r e a c h e r o u s leaders f o r t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m a n d t h e d e c e p t i o n o f the masses. T o d a y t h e r e i s n o l o n g e r r o o m f o r i l l u s i o n s , h e s i t a t i o n a n d t e m p o r i z a t i o n . T h e w o r k i n g class o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s i s n o w f a c e d w i t h t h e h i s t o r i c necessity
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of t a k i n g a g a i n the b a t t l e f i e l d , of h u r l i n g itself i n t o a merciless a n d consistent f i g h t to t h e f i n i s h to o v e r t h r o w and s m a s h t h e t r e a c h e r o u s cliques, t o c a r r y out t h e p r o letarian r e v o l u t i o n once a g a i n a n d t o r e - e s t a b l i s h t h e dictatorship of the proletariat. This absolutely requires d e t e r m i n a t i o n , courage, s a c r i f i c e s a n d a r e v i v a l o f t h e revolutionary spirit and traditions of the times of L e n i n and S t a l i n . I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e a n d a b o v e a l l , t h i s r e q u i r e s the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s i n t o n e w Marxist-Leninist parties w h i c h have to mobilize, organize and l e a d t h e g e n e r a l u p r i s i n g o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e other w o r k i n g masses t o v i c t o r y . A t these i m p o r t a n t m o m e n t s f o r t h e d e s t i n i e s o f t h e revolution, a l l the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s and the w o r l d proletariat c a n n o t r e m a i n s i l e n t spectators i n t h e f a c e o f what i s h a p p e n i n g i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s . P r o l e t a r i a n internationalism demands that a l l revolutionaries raise their voices a n d w a g e a p r i n c i p l e d struggle, t h r o u g h to the end, f o r t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t cliques i n power a n d g i v e a l l t h e i r s u p p o r t t o t h e w o r k i n g class and the people t h a t are u n d e r the r e v i s i o n i s t r u l e t o d a y to o v e r t h r o w these t r e a c h e r o u s c l i q u e s a n d raise t h e banner o f r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m once m o r e . Against
WORKING CLASS CONTROL

Speech delivered at a meeting of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the PLA in connection with the report submitted by the Central Council of the Trade Unions of Albania on the activity of the trade-union organizations concerning the working class control
A p r i l 9, 1968
In the a r t i c l e of M a r c h 24, 1968, p u b l i s h e d in Z r i i p o p u l l i t * c o n c e r n i n g t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n s w h i c h are t a k i n g place i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s , stress has been l a i d o n t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g class i n the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d i n the o t h e r c o u n t r i e s w h e r e the r e v i s i o n i s t s are i n p o w e r . A m o n g other things, t h a t a r t i c l e i s i n t e n d e d , f i r s t o f a l l , t o s h o w w h e n c e comes the a p a t h y , t h e i n e r t i a o f t h e w o r k i n g class o f these c o u n t r i e s i n the f a c e o f t h a t t r a g e d y , t h a t b e t r a y a l o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d its p a r t y , and, second, t o c a l l the a t t e n t i o n o f o u r P a r t y t o t h e d a n g e r o u s s i t u a t i o n s i t m a y b e i n v o l v e d i n i f i t does not prove vigilant, if it is not in the forefront of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e a n d i f this s t r u g g l e i s not l e d b y the w o r k i n g class a n d its P a r t y . I s h a l l not go o v e r these questions a g a i n t o d a y , b u t I c a l l o n t h e P a r t y a n d w o r k i n g class t o r e f l e c t d e e p l y
____________________________ * See p. 397 of this volume.
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about t h e m a n d n o t t o t h i n k that, since these t h i n g s happen i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s , t h e y h a v e n o connection w i t h o u r P a r t y a n d o u r c o u n t r y , t h a t n o d a n g e r threatens o u r P a r t y a n d o u r c o u n t r y , etc. A t t h e e n d , the s a m e a r t i c l e b r i e f l y p o i n t s o u t the measures t h a t o u r P a r t y has t a k e n , t h e m e t h o d s a n d s t y l e o f w o r k i t uses i n o r d e r t o p r e v e n t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t diseases from appearing, becoming established a n d jeopardizing the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m i n o u r c o u n try. T h i s c o n c l u s i o n f r o m a r e a l s i t u a t i o n m u s t n o t create that u n h e a l t h y s e l f - c o m p l a c e n c y , t h a t s i n c e w e h a v e f o u n d the r e m e d y w e are c o m p l e t e l y i m m u n i z e d a n d e v e r y t h i n g w i l l g o s m o o t h l y , w i t h o u t b r a i n - r a c k i n g , w i t h o u t struggle, w i t h o u t e f f o r t s . L e t u s n o t b e s u r p r i s e d , f o r t h e r e are people w h o t h i n k i n t h i s w a y , a n d t h e r e are also those w h o n o t o n l y t h i n k i n t h i s w a y , b u t w h o act a c c o r d i n g l y and, i n one w a y o r a n o t h e r , d i s t o r t the d i r e c t i v e s o f the P a r t y . B u t the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y e a r n e s t l y t h i n k a n d are c o n c e r n e d a b o u t these v i t a l p r o b l e m s w h i c h h a v e t o d o w i t h t h e defence o f the r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e o f the P a r t y and w i t h b a r r i n g t h e w a y t o a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f r e v i sionism. A m o n g this m a j o r i t y , there are persons of a h i g h p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l e v e l , persons w h o d e e p l y u n d e s t a n d t h a t the q u e s t i o n o f t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l u p l i f t a n d t h e consciousness o f t h e w o r k i n g class i s one o f t h e m a i n a n d m o s t d e c i s i v e issues, and, h a v i n g this c o r r e c t u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f it. g i v e t h i s p r o b l e m t h e i r p r i m a r y , p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n . H o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e some who, faced w i t h other problems, forget this and proceed f r o m t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t someone else i s l o o k i n g a f t e r this problem. S u c h p e o p l e d i v i d e t h i s q u e s t i o n , w h i c h i s decisive for e v e r y b o d y , w h i c h i s t h e k e y t o s o l v i n g e v e r y p r o b l e m , and w h i c h everybody ought to concern himself w i t h , reflect on deeply and participate in actively, into separate c o m -
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partments, into commissions and sub-commissions and they consider the f o r m s of w o r k not as means, b u t as special s e l f - c o n t a i n e d sectors, l i k e the c a r d i n d e x e s of l i b r a r i e s . T h i s is a d a n g e r o u s p r a c t i c e because, u n w i t t i n g l y , t h e y a r r i v e a t t h e v i e w p o i n t t h a t the f i r s t a n d the last r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r better o r w o r s e , f o r w h e t h e r t h i n g s g o w e l l o r b a d l y i n t h i s o r t h a t sector, rests w i t h t h a t person, c o m m i t t e e o r c o m m i s s i o n t h a t has b e e n c h a r g e d w i t h r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r the p a r t i c u l a r j o b . S u c h a t h i n g leads to d i v o r c e f r o m the masses a n d to f a i l u r e to p e r f o r m duties p r o p e r l y . . . S p e a k i n g a b o u t the w o r k e r c o n t r o l i n g e n e r a l , the T r a d e U n i o n c o m r a d e s come t o the concrete p r o b l e m t h a t the w o r k e r c o n t r o l c o m m i s s i o n s t h a t h a v e b e e n set u p are not y i e l d i n g r e s u l t s ; a n d m o r e o v e r , t h e y h a v e become b u r e a u c r a t i c elements, h a v e e l i m i n a t e d the c h e c k - u p f r o m the base a n d h a v e d i s p l a c e d the t r a d e - u n i o n c o m m i t t e e s ; people f r o m the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a v e got i n t o t h e m , e v e n i n t o t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f these c o m m i s s i o n s a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , the s p i r i t o f b u r e a u c r a c y has got i n t o these c o m m i s s i o n s w h i c h are a l l e g e d l y c o m m i s s i o n s o f w o r k e r s . I n such a s i t u a t i o n there are m a r k e d m a n i f e s t a t i o n s of r e v enge t a k e n against w o r k e r s f o r t h e i r c r i t i c i s m , m a n i f e s t a tions w h i c h are e x p r e s s e d i n s u b t l e w a y s i n e v e r y d a y practice. T h i s i s a serious p r o b l e m w h i c h w e m u s t analyse. A c c o r d i n g to w h a t the Trade U n i o n comrades tell us a b o u t these c o m m i s s i o n s a n d c o n s i d e r i n g t h e w a y t h e y operate in practice, as w e l l as t h e r e q u e s t of these c o m rades t h a t w e s h o u l d g i v e o u r o p i n i o n a s t o w h e t h e r t h e y ought to be p e r m a n e n t or not, I t h i n k t h a t t h e y m u s t not b e p e r m a n e n t , a n d , m o r e o v e r , t h a t the d i r e c t c h e c k - u p by workers must be f u l l y exercised. I f w e accept t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e c o m m i s s i o n s m a d e up o n l y of w o r k e r s and do not introduce into t h e m a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f f i c i a l s , this f o r m w i l l b e b e t t e r t h a n t h a t
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w h i c h i s c r i t i c i z e d , b u t s t i l l t h e w o r k i n g class m u s t not be c o m p l a c e n t that, s i n c e it has a p p o i n t e d 5 or 10 w o r k e r s t o the c o m m i s s i o n , e v e r y t h i n g w i l l g o s m o o t h l y . If it thinks in this w a y , this w i l l lead to w h a t I said above, to f o r m s of c o m p a r t m e n t a l i z a t i o n . T h e v a r i o u s c o m m i s s i o n s w e set u p c a n b e c h a n g e d , can b e i m p r o v e d , b u t w h e t h e r t h e y f u n c t i o n w e l l depends not o n l y o n t h e i r f o r m , b u t o n t h e i r correct u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e p u r p o s e f o r w h i c h t h e y w e r e set u p , o n the political a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l e v e l a n d the class consciousness o f the people w h o w o r k i n t h e m . A n d , f i n a l l y a n d above all. w h e t h e r these c o m m i s s i o n s w i l l w o r k w e l l o r b a d l y depends o n t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e masses o v e r t h e m a n d o n the assistance g i v e n t h e m b y the w o r k i n g class itself a n d the P a r t y . I n m y o p i n i o n , h o w e v e r , t h e r e i s m u c h m o r e t o this problem t h a n the q u e s t i o n o f w o r k e r s ' c o m m i s s i o n s . T h e l e a d e r s h i p a n d c o n t r o l e x e r c i s e d b y t h e w o r k i n g class and the P a r t y o v e r e v e r y t h i n g a n d e v e r y b o d y , o v e r the cadres, t h e f o r u m s , the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s , t h e c o m m i s s i o n s , must b e complete, decisive, w i t h o u t a n y loopholes. T h i s requires, i n t h e f i r s t place, t h e greatest care a n d a t t e n tion t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class a n d its P a r t y are raised to a h i g h p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l e v e l , a n d t h e i r class consciousness is t e m p e r e d c o n t i n u a l l y . It is n o t s u f ficient j u s t t o s p o u t o r t o l e a r n b y h e a r t a f e w w e l l k n o w n t h e o r e t i c a l p r i n c i p l e s w h i c h c o n f i r m the great truth t h a t the w o r k i n g class a n d its P a r t y are i n power, but t h i s s h o u l d b e a c h i e v e d e f f e c t i v e l y i n e v e r y t h i n g . Such a t h i n g becomes a r e a l i t y o n l y t h r o u g h r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle, t h r o u g h p r o f o u n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y e d u c a t i o n a n d , these t w o , p r o p e r l y c o m b i n e d , s h o u l d r e p e l a n d defeat any d a n g e r . T h e P a r t y a n d o u r w o r k i n g class t h a t a r e i n p o w e r a r e p r o c e e d i n g r e s o l u t e l y o n t h i s course. W e have s c o r e d successes, b u t w e also h a v e m a n y s h o r t -
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c o m i n g s , s t i l l h a v e a great d e a l t o do. W e h a v e t o m a k e s t i l l g r e a t e r e f f o r t s t o e n s u r e t h a t the o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y and the trade-unions thoroughly understand these p r o b l e m s a n d i m p l a n t t h e m i n t o t h e h e a d s o f the masses a n d , f i r s t o f a l l , o f t h e w o r k i n g class. If I am n o t m i s t a k e n , t h e r e is a n a r r o w u n d e r s t a n d ing of the w o r k e r control in the P a r t y a n d the tradeunions. T h e p r i n c i p l e s I m e n t i o n e d above, n a m e l y , t h a t the w o r k i n g class a n d its P a r t y a r e i n p o w e r , t h a t politics are p r i m a r y , are stressed i n t h e o r y , b u t i n practice, i n a c t u a l l i f e , t h e y a r e n o t s u f f i c i e n t l y u n d e r stood a n d c o m p r e h e n s i v e measures are not t a k e n t o enable the w o r k i n g class a n d its allies n o t o n l y t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e m p r o p e r l y , b u t also t o a p p l y t h e m i n practice, s o t h a t t h e y a n d t h e i r P a r t y become t h e r e a l g u a r a n t e e o f the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f these p r i n c i p l e s . . . W e are c o n t i n u a l l y s t u d y i n g , c o r r e c t i n g a n d s u p p l e m e n t i n g t h e q u e s t i o n o f the e d u c a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y i n the s p i r i t o f o u r i d e o l o g y , a n d i t i s v e r y good t h a t w e d o so. F o r the e d u c a t i o n o f y o u t h w e act i n the same w a y , w h i l e i n r e g a r d t o the w o r k i n g class, a l t h o u g h w e are a l w a y s p r o c l a i m i n g t h a t it is the class, it is the basis, w e d o not c o n c e r n o u r s e l v e s s u f f i c i e n t l y w i t h t h e quest i o n o f its i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l e d u c a t i o n . I t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t e v e n t h e t r a d e - u n i o n comrades, f o r w h o m t h i s i s a s p e c i a l d u t y , d o n ' t d i s p l a y m u c h i n t e r e s t i n it, e i t h e r , a n d d o n o t r a i s e t h e i r voices s u f f i c i e n t l y i n t h e P a r t y a n d i n state organs, n o t j u s t a s k i n g f o r o n e o r t w o cadres, b u t d e m a n d i n g a r a d i c a l c h a n g e i n t h e e x i s t i n g state of a f f a i r s . S u c h a s i t u a t i o n m u s t c e r t a i n l y be a l t e r e d . I p r o p o s e that t h e P a r t y a n d t h e t r a d e - u n i o n organs i n t h e centre, the d i s t r i c t s a n d a t the base s h o u l d s t u d y t h e content a n d f o r m s o f the p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n of t h e w o r k i n g class a n d e s t a b l i s h , as f a r as the size, e x p e r i e n c e a n d s c h o o l i n g o f t h e w o r k i n g class
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allow, those s a m e c r i t e r i a o f d i s c i p l i n e a s w e h a v e e s t a blished f o r t h e P a r t y . T h e P a r t y c a n n o t a d v a n c e w i t h o u t the masses, j u s t as it c a n n o t h a v e a h i g h i d e o l o g i c a l l e v e l w h i l e the w o r k i n g class i s a t a l o w l e v e l . S h o u l d t h i s h a p pen, t h e n m a n y e v i l s l i e i n store f o r us. W e m u s t n e v e r f e e l s a t i s f i e d t h a t i n g e n e r a l our w o r k i n g class k n o w s t h a t i t a n d its P a r t y are i n p o w e r , that t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t is its d i c t a t o r s h i p , that s o c i a l i s m i s its o r d e r . N o , w e m u s t m a k e sure that i t t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d s t h e f u l l s i g n i f i c a n c e o f these issues, u n d e r s t a n d s t h e m a n d l i n k s t h e m w i t h l i f e , w i t h p r a c t i c e , a n d i s a l w a y s i n the f o r e f r o n t o f the struggle t o d e f e n d t h e m . In the analysis w h i c h m u s t be made of the present method of the ideological and political education of our w o r k i n g class, w e s h a l l see h o w m a n y gaps, h o w m u c h formalism, and even u n c l a r i t y w e have. W e must not proceed f r o m t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t t h i n g s a r e g o i n g w e l l , hence, e d u c a t i o n a n d t e m p e r i n g , l i k e w i s e , are g o i n g w e l l w i t h o u t a n y g r e a t e f f o r t s . W e c a n n o t solve o u r p r o b l e m s in s u c h a w a y . O u r w o r k i n g class b a d l y needs t o b e e d u c a t e d w i t h the i d e o l o g y o f t h e class, w i t h t h e n o r m s o f t h e class, w i t h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y d r i v e a n d courage o f the class. W e m u s t h a v e n o i l l u s i o n s a b o u t this, o t h e r w i s e w e m a y make m i s t a k e s . W e m u s t t a k e o u r w o r k i n g class j u s t as it is a n d n o t as it o u g h t to be. We m u s t m a k e this w o r k i n g class w e h a v e w h a t i t o u g h t t o be. H e n c e , i t i s not e n o u g h t o s a y t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class i s i n p o w e r and to d e l u d e o u r s e l v e s t h a t it has a l l t h e q u a l i t i e s of a class t e m p e r e d f r o m e v e r y p o i n t o f v i e w . O u r w o r k i n g class s e i z e d t h e p o w e r , i t i s i n p o w e r , i t has i n its h a n d s every m e a n s a n d e v e r y p o s s i b i l i t y to b u i l d a classless society, t o b u i l d s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m , b u t t o succeed i n this, i t m u s t t e m p e r itself, f i r s t o f a l l , a n d t e m p e r t h e
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masses w i t h its o w n e x a m p l e . T h i s i s a m a j o r task o f o u r P a r t y a n d o u r w o r k i n g class. B u t w e m u s t n o t forget o u r r e a l i t y . O u r w o r k i n g class i s r e l a t i v e l y y o u n g . ( 1 ) W e m u s t a l w a y s k e e p t h i s fact i n m i n d i n o u r w o r k , f o r o n l y i n this w a y w i l l w e see the i m p o r t a n c e o f the tasks w h i c h the P a r t y m u s t a c c o m p l i s h . I n o u r c o u n t r y , the w o r k i n g class w a s f o r m e d a s s u c h a n d e x p a n d e d a f t e r the l i b e r a t i o n o f the H o m e l a n d a n d w i t h t h e g r a d u a l c r e a t i o n o f o u r socialist i n d u s t r y . A s m a l l p a r t o f o u r w o r k i n g class o r i g i n a t e s f r o m the w o r k e r s o r s m a l l c r a f t s m e n w h o h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d the oppression o f the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d e x p l o i t e r s . T h e o v e r w h e l m i n g b u l k o f i t o r i g i n a t e s f r o m the p e a s a n t r y a n d the u r b a n poor, a n d they, too, h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d t h e c a p i t a l i s t and landlord oppression and exploitation. A considerable p a r t o f o u r w o r k i n g class, w h e t h e r o f w o r k e r o r i g i n , o r f r o m t o w n o r c o u n t r y s i d e , has p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e l i b e r a t i o n w a r , u n d e r the l e a d e r s h i p o f the P a r t y . H e r e i n lies o n e o f t h e m a i n features o f o u r w o r k i n g class. A f u r t h e r great s u p p l e m e n t a r y t e m p e r i n g i s t h e w h o l e p e r i o d o f t h e s t r u g g l e f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m . B u t . w h i l e the y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n o f o u r w o r k i n g class h a s t h i s g o o d o r i g i n , w h i c h i s its g r e a t asset, t h i s y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n , b o r n , b r o u g h t u p a n d i n t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e r a n k s o f the w o r k i n g class u n d e r t h e s o c i a l i s t r e g i m e , h a s n o t e x p e rienced capitalist oppression and exploitation. It is not my intention to m a k e a p r o f o u n d analysis o f t h e c o m p o s i t i o n o f o u r w o r k i n g class w i t h these f e w remarks, but I w a n t to point out that this composition o f o u r w o r k i n g class o r t h i s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e class i n d e v e l o p m e n t has a u t o m a t i c a l l y b r o u g h t i n t o its r a n k s
_____________________________________ 1 In A l b a n i a , in 1938, about 87 per cent of the population engaged in material production w o r k e d in agriculture, whereas only 13 per cent w o r k e d in industry and in the other branches of the national economy.
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many petty-bourgeois hangovers and views w h i c h damage that class c o h e s i o n , consciousness a n d d i s c i p l i n e w h i c h w e w a n t t o create. T h e s e h a n g o v e r s i n the consciousness of the w o r k e r c a n n o t be l i q u i d a t e d w i t h o u t the p o l i t i c a l and i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e of t h e P a r t y , w i t h o u t a p r o f o u n d and m a n y - s i d e d s t r u g g l e , w i t h o u t a v e r y p e r s i s t e n t p o l i t i cal a n d i d e o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n . W e m u s t b e a r i n m i n d also t h a t o u r w o r k e r s n o t only b r i n g i n h a n g o v e r s a n d r e t a i n t h e m , i f w e d o n o t e l i m i n a t e t h e m , b u t also c o n t i n u a l l y a c q u i r e o t h e r s f r o m society, i f w e d o n o t s y s t e m a t i c a l l y e d u c a t e t h i s society, too, w i t h t h e t r u e f e a t u r e s o f t h e m a n o f s o c i a l i s t society, w i t h t h e f e a t u r e s o f t h e class, w i t h t h e i d e o l o g y o f the class, w i t h t h e h e a l t h y f e a t u r e s o f o u r P a r t y . H e n c e , I want to stress t h a t i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l e d u c a t i o n is a vast, m a j o r p r o b l e m , t h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t g r a s p t h e w h o l e chain a n d n o t j u s t one o r t w o o f its l i n k s . W e h a v e t o b e able t o seize f i r m l y o n t h e m a i n issue, b u t n o t o v e r look a n d f a i l t o c o - o r d i n a t e , t o h e l p o r c h e c k u p o n the other t h i n g s a s w e l l . H e a d e d b y the P a r t y , w h i c h m u s t keep a n eye o n e v e r y t h i n g a n d g i v e concrete h e l p t o a l l the m a s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w e m u s t c e n t r e o u r a t t e n t i o n , i n the f i r s t place, o n the i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l e d u c a t i o n of the masses, the people, a n d the cadres. It is a m a j o r fact t h a t we h a v e a h e r o i c w o r k i n g class, w i t h g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d courage, w e h a v e a w o r k i n g class c l o s e l y l i n k e d w i t h its P a r t y a n d its people, w e h a v e a w o r k i n g class w h i c h i s m a k i n g m a r vellous p r o g r e s s i n t h e f i e l d o f t e c h n o l o g y . I n t h i s sense, it is n o t at a l o w p o l i t i c a l l e v e l . T h e s e a r e its p o s i t i v e aspects. B u t w e s h o u l d n o t f o r g e t t h e n e g a t i v e aspects w h i c h I m e n t i o n e d above. T h e f i r s t d a n g e r i s that the w o r k i n g class, k n o w i n g t h a t i t a n d its P a r t y a r e i n p o w e r , may feel secure or not p u t p o l i t i c s first, as it s h o u l d a n d engage o n l y i n e c o n o m i s m , i n its o w n p a r t i c u l a r p r o b l e m s ,
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o r a t t a c h t h e m a i n i m p o r t a n c e t o these alone. T h e second d a n g e r i s t h a t the masses o f w o r k e r s m a y c o n f i n e t h e i r interest o n l y t o t h e i r o w n e n t e r p r i s e a n d those w i t h w h i c h t h e i r e n t e r p r i s e has e c o n o m i c ties, a n d f a i l t o g i v e s u f f i c i e n t i m p o r t a n c e to t h e i r d e c i s i v e r o l e as a l e a d i n g class, d e s t i n e d b y h i s t o r y not j u s t t o w o r k i n factories, but, w h i l e w o r k i n g i n factories, t o g u i d e e v e r y sector, a n d h a v e e v e r y b o d y f o l l o w its c o u r s e a n d t h a t o f its P a r t y , i n t h e f a c t o r i e s , i n t h e f i e l d s , i n t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , the schools a n d e v e r y w h e r e . T h e w o r k i n g class m u s t u n d e r s t a n d its tasks a n d role, n o t o n l y i n s i d e t h e f a c t o r y , b u t a l s o o u t s i d e it. W i t h i n t h e f a c t o r y w e h a v e m u c h t o do, f o r t h e r e , too, w e a r e slaves t o c e r t a i n f o r m s o f w o r k a n d e d u c a t i o n w h i c h d o n o t y i e l d the r e q u i r e d r e s u l t s a n d w e s t i l l r e t a i n them... S u c h issues s h o u l d b e t a k e n u p n o t o n l y i n s i d e t h e e n t e r p r i s e , b u t also o u t s i d e it, c o v e r i n g a l l t h e m a n i f e s t a tions o f l i f e , w h e r e the w o r k i n g class s h o u l d u n i t e its forces a n d b e i n t h e f o r e f r o n t e v e r y w h e r e , d i s t i n g u i s h i n g itself f o r its c o u r a g e a n d m a t u r i t y , its m o d e s t y a n d sev e r i t y w h e n the line and norms of the P a r t y are violated... I insist o n t h a t m a j o r p o i n t t h a t t h e P a r t y m u s t e n s u r e a n d steel its u n i t y w i t h t h e class, a n d t h i s m u s t b e based c o n c r e t e l y a n d f i r m l y o n o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology a n d p o l i c y . T h e p a r t y cadres, w h o a r e its great asset, m u s t t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d this great p r o b l e m i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y , because, i f they u n d e r s t a n d i t i n this way, there w i l l never be any danger of isolation of the P a r t y f r o m t h e class o r o f t h e cadres f r o m t h e masses. It is not s u f f i c i e n t j u s t to s a y t h a t the cadres educate the masses a n d t h e y l e a r n f r o m the masses, b u t this m u s t r e a l l y t a k e p l a c e i n t h i s w a y a n d n o t o t h e r w i s e . T h e r e are m a n y obstacles i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . M a n , w i t h his feelings a n d tastes, is a c o m p l i c a t e d c r e a t u r e , a
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m a r v e l l o u s c r e a t u r e , b u t c o m p l e x a t t h e same t i m e . Therefore, t h e P a r t y , w h i c h c a r r i e s t h e h e a v y b u t n o b l e burden o f f o r g i n g the n e w m a n , m u s t d o v e r y , v e r y c a r e ful, t h o u g h t f u l , p r i n c i p l e d w o r k f o r this p u r p o s e . C o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y a n d the trade-unions w h i c h w e are c o n s i d e r i n g t o d a y m u s t c o n cern t h e m s e l v e s , f i r s t o f a l l a n d e s p e c i a l l y , w i t h t h e education o f people. T h i s w i l l s o l v e e v e r y p r o b l e m w e l l , because i t i s closely c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e i r w o r k , a c h i e v e ments a n d c r e a t i o n s . M a n comprehends a n d creates, therefore, the h i g h e r h i s i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l l e v e l , the b e t t e r e v e r y t h i n g w i l l g o f o r u s . I t h i n k the trade-unions, aided by the Party, must re-examine their w o r k s t i l l m o r e deeply a n d adapt it better a n d m o r e c o r r e c t l y t o t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a n d the n e w c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r society. In our trade-unions there must be m a n y erroneous and outdated h a n g o v e r s f r o m t h e o l d S o v i e t e x p e r i e n c e , w h i c h w i t h the passage o f t i m e h a v e been dressed u p i n our clothes, so to speak, a n d w h i c h c o n t i n u e to e x i s t a n d to i m p e d e us. If we take the question of the concern of the tradeunions a b o u t t h e e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m s o f the w o r k e r s d o w n to the tiniest d e t a i l s , if I am n o t m i s t a k e n , these e c o n o m ic problems have diverted the trade-unions from their major c o n c e r n f o r the i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l e d u c a t i o n o f the w o r k i n g class. L e t m e e x p l a i n , i t i s n o t t h a t the trade-unions m u s t n o t c o n c e r n t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e e c o n omic p r o b l e m s o f t h e state, the f a c t o r y a n d the w o r k e r s , for w i t h o u t c o n c e r n i n g t h e m s e l v e s a b o u t t h e m , w i t h o u t knowing them, they cannot do well-founded ideological and p o l i t i c a l w o r k . B u t i t seems t o m e t h a t the t e n d e n cies are in the d i r e c t i o n of c o n c e r n a b o u t these questions alone, w h i l e t h e p o l i t i c a l w o r k i s e i t h e r t u r n e d i n t o formulae or w e a k l y l i n k e d w i t h life and practice and
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does not g o b e y o n d t h e spheres o f p r o d u c t i o n i n the factory. I f I a m n o t m i s t a k e n , the cadres w o r k i n g i n the t r a d e - u n i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e a d o p t e d these tendencies. They are not w i t h o u t experience, but they must reflect about t h e i r w o r k a n d , w i t h o u t f o r g e t t i n g t h e w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e i n the e c o n o m y , s h o u l d t u r n t h e i r faces m o r e towards politics a n d ideology, should f u r t h e r prepare themselves o n a f i r m basis i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n f o r t h e i r o w n e d u c a t i o n , s o t h a t t h e y w i l l b e a b l e t o e d u c a t e the w o r k i n g class a n d r e a l l y become a t r a n s m i s s i o n belt f o r the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y . W h a t I s a i d a b o v e a b o u t t h e w o r k i n g class, t h a t i t must understand that it is in p o w e r not just in principle, i s e v e n m o r e v a l i d f o r t h e t r a d e - u n i o n cadres, w h o m u s t p u r g e t h e m s e l v e s o f t h e d a n g e r o u s r e m n a n t s o f conceit, i s o l a t i o n f r o m the masses, o f u n h e a l t h y f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h the m e m b e r s of t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e of the d i s t r i c t , or the m a n a g e m e n t of the e n t e r p r i s e . T h o s e c o m r a d e s , too, w h e t h e r o r not o f w o r k e r o r i g i n , a n d w i t h l o n g e x p e r i e n c e as w o r k e r s , be t h e y chief engineers, m a s t e r t r a d e s m e n or m i d d l e t e c h n i c i a n s , are not i m m u n e f r o m these diseases a n d escape t h e m o n l y w h e n t h e y l i v e a n d w o r k w i t h the masses. I t f r e q u e n t l y h a p p e n s t h a t w e t a l k a b o u t these t h i n g s in p r i n c i p l e , b u t w h e n it is a q u e s t i o n of s p e a k i n g out against the l e a d e r s h i p o f the e n t e r p r i s e o r t h e g o v e r n ment department, about mistakes, about violations of laws or orders, the t r a d e - u n i o n leaders raise these t h i n g s a m o n g themselves, i n t h e i r o w n circles, a n d n e v e r raise t h e m p r o p e r l y b e f o r e the w o r k e r s , b u t s i m p l y s a y t h a t they have r a i s e d the q u e s t i o n once or a d o z e n t i m e s w i t h t h e d i r e c t o r , the v i c e - d i r e c t o r , the c o m m i t t e e , as if this were all their duty required of them, but measures were not t a k e n . A n d as a result, at the P o l i a n p l a n t , f o r example, we had t w o w o r k e r s killed. H a d they raised
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the q u e s t i o n b e f o r e t h e w o r k e r s a n d h a d t h e w o r k i n g class b a n g e d its f i s t o n the table, t h e b a r r a c k s w o u l d h a v e been r e p a i r e d i n t i m e , t h e b u r e a u c r a t s w o u l d h a v e b e e n put i n t h e i r place a n d t h e w o r k e r s w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n killed. B u t w h y don't they do this? Because they do not have c o r r e c t concepts a b o u t b u r e a u c r a c y a n d a b o u t h o w it m u s t be f o u g h t ; do n o t h a v e c o r r e c t concepts a b o u t the w o r k i n g class a n d its s t r e n g t h , d o n o t h a v e correct concepts a b o u t t h e P a r t y , etc., a n d t h e y t h i n k that, i f they t e l l t h e w o r k i n g class t o b a n g its f i s t o n t h e t a b l e against t h e b u r e a u c r a t s , w h o e v e r t h e y m a y be, the w o r k ing class i s r i s i n g a g a i n s t t h e P a r t y . H e n c e , t h e y c o n f o u n d t h e P a r t y a n d its l i n e w i t h one o r one h u n d r e d persons w h o a r e n o t g o o d a n d w h o h a r m t h e P a r t y a n d the w o r k . O n l y thorough-going political and ideological w o r k by the P a r t y , t h e t r a d e - u n i o n s a n d a l l the o t h e r mass o r ganizations t e m p e r s t h e m a n , t e m p e r s t h e P a r t y a n d t h e class, s t r e n g t h e n s s o c i a l i s m a n d scores c o n t i n u o u s successes in e v e r y f i e l d . T h e only p r o b l e m raised in the report presented to us by t h e t r a d e - u n i o n c o m r a d e s is t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e workers' commissions w h i c h , although called workers' commissions, are a b u r e a u c r a t i c f o r m . T h e r e is a l o t of talk a b o u t t h e f i g h t against b u r e a u c r a c y , w h i c h the P a r t y has r a i s e d f o r c e f u l l y , b u t this f i g h t i s b a d l y u n d e r stood. P r e c i s e l y at a t i m e w h e n it is c l a i m e d t h a t t h e fight against b u r e a u c r a c y has b e e n u n d e r s t o o d , b u r e a u cracy i s b e i n g f o s t e r e d i n p r i n c i p l e a n d i n p r a c t i c e b y t h e state apparatuses, g o v e r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n t s , etc., a n d as if it were n o t h i n g the m a t t e r , t h i s i s a p p r o v e d e v e n b y t h e d i s trict p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s . N o t j u s t one, b u t m a n y d i s t o r t e d commissions h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d i n t h e e c o n o m i c e n t e r p r i s e s . The m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e e n t e r p r i s e m u s t b e k e e n , o p e r a t i v e
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a n d t a k e its competences a n d d u t i e s w e l l i n h a n d , d o i n g t h e w o r k w i t h a l i m i t e d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p e r s o n n e l . I t creates the t e c h n i c a l c o u n c i l a t t a c h e d t o it, t h e t i t l e o f w h i c h def i n e s the a i m s o f t h i s c o u n c i l , w h i c h a r e correct. B u t i n fact, t h i s so-called t e c h n i c a l c o u n c i l has b e e n t u r n e d into a b u r e a u c r a t i c one. T h e r e are cases w h e n t h i s c o u n c i l takes i n t o its h a n d s decisions o n t h e a p p o i n t m e n t a n d t r a n s f e r of staff, on w o r k e r s ' pay, a p p r o v a l of the t i m e of a n n u a l leave, staff n u m b e r s , a n d e v e n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m e a s u r e s against w o r k e r s . H e n c e , w e h a d one m a n a g e m e n t a n d n o w h a v e t w o i n s t e a d , i n s t e a d o f one b u r e a u c r a c y w e h a v e two bureaucracies... W h e n a c o m r a d e is elected by t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n as secretary, h e i s v e s t e d w i t h s u c h great a u t h o r i t y t h a t h e s o m e t i m e s forgets w h a t h i s d u t i e s a r e t o t h e P a r t y a n d those w h o h a v e elected h i m . I n m a n y cases h e becomes conceited and t h i n k s that he is more capable t h a n anyb o d y else, i n a s m u c h a s t h e P a r t y has elected h i m secret a r y . H e forgets t h a t t h e P a r t y has i n its r a n k s m e n even m o r e c a p a b l e w h o m i t has assigned t o v a r i o u s jobs, m e n n o less t r u s t e d p o l i t i c a l l y t h a n he. S u c h a w r o n g v i e w a b o u t t h e s e c r e t a r y i m p e l s h i m t o t h i n k that, since t h e y h a v e elected h i m secretary, h e i s t h e m a i n g u a r a n t o r o f the line of the Party, therefore, he must be everywhere, m u s t check u p o n e v e r y one, f o r g e t t i n g t h a t t h e m a i n g u a r a n t o r , a n d t h e o n l y r e l i a b l e one, o f t h e correct i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y i s t h e P a r t y itself, t h e w o r k i n g class, the c o m m u n i s t s , a n d t h e w o r k e r s a n d cooperativists. T h e ranks of the P a r t y include not only t h e secretary, b u t also t h e m a n a g e r o f t h e f a c t o r y o r enterprise, t h e c h a i r m a n o f the c o o p e r a t i v e , t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e e x e c u t i v e c o m m i t t e e , etc., a n d a l l o f t h e m h a v e j u s t a s m u c h r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , i f not m o r e t h a n t h e secr e t a r y , t o t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state f o r t h e correct i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f a n d c h e c k - u p o n the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y . I t
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may b e s a i d t h a t t h e y m a y m a k e m i s t a k e s . B u t t h e secretary m a y m a k e m i s t a k e s , too, w h i l e the basic p a r t y organization, t h e collective, d o n o t m a k e m i s t a k e s , o r perhaps m a k e a v e r y f e w m i s t a k e s f o r a t i m e , b u t n o t for l o n g . Hence, it must be understood that things go w e l l in the f a c t o r y , n o t because the s e c r e t a r y is good, b u t because e v e r y b o d y , f r o m the s w e e p e r t o the m a n a g e r , i s good, because t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d the w o r k i n g class are good, a n d a c o n t r i b u t i o n has been m a d e to t h i s b y the c o m m u n i s t s a n d n o n - p a r t y w o r k e r s , b y t h e secretary, t h e m a n a g e r , t h e f o r e m a n , a n d e v e r y b o d y else. S u c h ideas a b o u t t h e secretaries a n d a m o n g t h e secretaries u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e P a r t y , the class a n d the mass, cause t h e secretaries or t h e b u r e a u s to f o r g e t a n d neglect t h e i r r e a l d u t i e s w h i c h are p r e c i s e l y : t h e a i d t h e y must g i v e s o t h a t the P a r t y a n d t h e class are s t r e n g t h e n e d and e d u c a t e d . B u t e v e n i n r e g a r d t o t h i s g r e a t f u n c t i o n , these c o m r a d e s elected t o t h e p a r t y f o r u m s s h o u l d n e v e r think t h a t t h e y d o e v e r y t h i n g a n d t h a t w i t h o u t t h e m nothing c o u l d b e done. T h e y m u s t a l w a y s f e e l modest before t h e great e x p e r i e n c e a n d a b i l i t y o f t h e P a r t y , t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the m a s s e s . . . Y o u see, c o m r a d e s , h o w d a n g e r o u s t h e y become, these wrong views and these i m p r o p e r p r a c t i c e s w h i c h are established off h a n d e d l y . We m u s t do a r a d i c a l house cleaning t o sweep these w r o n g v i e w s a n d o r g a n i z a tional f o r m s r i g h t a w a y . A t t h e present stage, w e s h o u l d neither c o n f u s e n o r i d e n t i f y t h e c o n t r o l b y t h e state w i t h the c o n t r o l b y t h e P a r t y , t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e masses. It is s t i l l necessary t h a t t h e y act in p a r a l l e l . Is is necessary also t h a t t h e secretaries of the d i s t r i c t party c o m m i t t e e s , t h e m e m b e r s of these c o m m i t t e e s should h a v e contacts n o t o n l y w i t h the secretaries o f basic organizations or t h e m e m b e r s of t h e i r b u r e a u s , b u t I
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t h i n k t h a t t h e y s h o u l d also i n v i t e r a n k - a n d - f i l e c o m munists, w o r k e r s and cooperative members to all meetings w i t h t h e m in order to solicit their opinions a n d have t a l k s w i t h t h e m , a n d n o t n e c e s s a r i l y w i t h those t h e secr e t a r y chooses. A n d these contacts n e e d n o t n e c e s s a r i l y be o r g a n i z e d as o f f i c i a l m e e t i n g s . It is v e r y necessary to use t h i s f o r m o f w o r k t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e p r a c t i c e o f l i n k s b e t w e e n t h e l e a d e r s h i p a n d the base o f t h e P a r t y , not only in the regular forms of w o r k we have established b u t also i n s u c h f o r m s w h i c h d o n o t a l l o w t h e secretaries o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o b e i n f e c t e d w i t h the m a l a d y of s e t t l i n g m a t t e r s in a n a r r o w c i r c l e b e h i n d closed doors. T h r o u g h this practice we should m a k e t h e m understand t h a t t h e p r o b l e m s are s o l v e d , a n d m u s t b e s o l v e d , t o g e t h e r w i t h the masses o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e class a n d , i n o r d e r t o d o this, t h e y m u s t e a r n e s t l y k e e p t h e m i n f o r m e d , discuss w i t h t h e m s o l i c i t t h e i r o p i n i o n s a n d t h e n decide. W e s h o u l d l e a r n t h a t i t i s n o t w e , t h e l e a d e r s h i p , alone w h o decide, b u t i t i s t h e P a r t y t h e class t h a t decide. W e discuss, d r a w c o n c l u s i o n s a n d t a k e decisions a s m e m bers of the Party, but never a r b i t r a r i l y a n d contrary to t h e w i s h e s , the w i l l a n d t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e w o r k i n g class. In this w a y we shall avoid the creation of b u r e a u crats, o f m e g a l o m a n i a c s , o f p r e p o t e n t a n d a r b i t r a r y i n dividuals... C o m r a d e s , w e m u s t b e v e r y c a u t i o u s r e g a r d i n g these p r o b l e m s , f o r t h e y are p r o b l e m s o f t h e l i n e . I n p a r t i c u l a r , the central administrations, such as the M i n i s t r y of I n d u s t r y a n d M i n i n g , etc., m u s t d i s p l a y e x c e p t i o n a l c a u t i o n . A t t h e same t i m e , i t i s v e r y b a d t h a t d i s t r i c t p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s do n o t t a k e i m m e d i a t e m e a s u r e s , I say t a k e i m m e d i a t e measures, a n d n o t j u s t r e p o r t s u c h t h i n g s , s o t h a t t h e y d o n o t occur. We are a c o u n t r y of t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a -
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riat l e d b y t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a . T h i s m e a n s that the w o r k i n g class h e a d e d b y t h e P a r t y i s l e a d i n g the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n a l l i a n c e w i t h the l a b o u r ing p e a s a n t r y . I n g l a r i n g contrast w i t h the m o d e r n r e v i sionists, w h o say t h a t t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t no l o n g e r exists, t h a t t h e states is w i t h e r i n g a w a y , t h a t i n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s the p a r t y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t c a n n o l o n g e r h a v e e i t h e r t h e class c o m p o s i t i o n o r t h e f u n c tions of a p r o l e t a r i a n p a r t y , d u e to t h e w i t h e r i n g a w a y of the d i c t a t o r s h i p or to t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of society, that, c o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e p a r t y has become a p a r t y of t h e entire people a n d t h e state a state of t h e e n t i r e people, i n o u r c o u n t r y t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t exists and w i l l g o o n e x i s t i n g ; t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y o f the w o r k i n g class i n the l e a d exists a n d w i l l g o o n e x i s t ing, a n d t h e p o w e r o f w o r k i n g class exists a n d w i l l g o o n existing. T h e g e n u i n e socialist state c a n n o t b e i d e n t i f i e d or equated, as the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d , e s p e c i a l l y , t h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s are m a k i n g out, w i t h t h e c a p i t a l i s t bourgeois state w h i c h i s opposed t o t h e w o r k i n g class, o r w i t h t h e n e w b u r e a u c r a c y a l l e g e d l y created i n soc i a l i s m a n d w h i c h i s also opposed t o t h e w o r k i n g class. P r a t t l i n g s u c h a n t i - M a r x i s t theories, t h e y h a v e a r r i v e d a t the t h e o r y o f w o r k e r s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , w h i c h m e a n s smashing centralized p l a n n i n g allegedly to fight this new b u r e a u c r a c y , a l l e g e d l y t o h a v e t h e w o r k i n g class of a g i v e n e n t e r p r i s e d i r e c t l y a d m i n i s t e r the p r o f i t s u r plus, w h i c h m e a n s t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n . W i t h t h i s a n t i M a r x i s t theory they emerge on the true capitalist road o f the c r e a t i o n a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e n e w c a p i t a l i s t class. T h i s process of t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of t h e f o r m e r s o c i a l ist c o u n t r i e s i n t o c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s began i n Y u g o s l a v i a and i s d e v e l o p i n g w i d e l y a n d r a p i d l y i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , Czechoslovakia, P o l a n d and elsewhere. O u r P a r t y is fighti n g c o u r a g e o u s l y against t h i s t r e a c h e r o u s t r e n d , w h i l e
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defending and consistently implementing M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism. T h e h a r m o n i o u s d e v e l o p m e n t o f s o c i a l i s m i n our c o u n t r y , l e d b y o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t P a r t y , c o n f i r m s the i n d i s p e n s a b l e need f o r t h e e x i s t e n c e o f the s t r o n g a n d u n d e v i a t i n g d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , o f t h e p a r t y o f the w o r k i n g class i n f u l l l e a d e r s h i p a n d f o r t h e e x i s tence of t h e socialist state. T h e course d e f i n e d out a n d p u r s u e d b y o u r P a r t y w i t h great consistency i n the m a n a g e m e n t of the socialist e c o n o m y , in the p r o g r e s s i v e a n d c e n t r a l i z e d d e v e l o p m e n t o f the e c o n o m y , i n the e x p a n s i o n o f social p r o d u c t i o n , a l w a y s b e a r i n g i n m i n d the needs o f society i n g e n e r a l , a n d o f t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e i n p a r t i c u l a r , has r e s u l t e d i n these g r e a t successes. W i t h its correct l i n e a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g o u r , t h e P a r t y ensures that the process of the socialist d e v e l o p m e n t of the c o u n t r y is not t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a b u r e a u c r a t i c p r o cess, t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the l a b o u r i n g masses a l w a y s h a v e t h e i r say i n i t a t e v e r y stage, f o r i t i s t h e y w h o act, t r a n s f o r m a n d create. T o e n s u r e the a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f the w o r k i n g class a n d the w o r k i n g people in e v e r y t h i n g is one of the greatest concerns of our Party, and this is the a i m of the whole revolutionary s t r u g g l e o f t h e P a r t y f o r the p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l u p l i f t of the class a n d the masses, f o r the greatest possible d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f the state, w h i c h m e a n s b r o a d , a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g masses i n e v e r y t h i n g a n d i n e v e r y p r o b l e m , i n t h e s t r u g g l e against t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c d e g e n e r a t i o n of t h e a p p a r a t u s e s of the state, the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d the P a r t y itself, a n d o f the people who work in them. T h i s is a vast a n d c o m p l e x w o r k t h a t e v e r y o n e , I say everyone, m u s t m a k e great e f f o r t s t o u n d e r s t a n d t h o r o u g h l y a n d c a r r y out c o r r e c t l y , because success i n the s t r u g g l e f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n of s o c i a l i s m depends on this.
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M o r e o v e r , the cadres o f t h e P a r t y a n d the state m u s t h a v e a p r o f o u n d i d e o l o g i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g of these p r o b lems, w h i c h are n e i t h e r s i m p l e n o r i s o l a t e d f r o m one another. If y o u do n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e l e a d i n g r o l e of t h e P a r t y i n its f u l l d i m e n s i o n a n d a l l its nuances, i n a l l aspects o f t h e a c t i v i t y o f the P a r t y , t h e n y o u m a n y m a k e rightist o r l e f t i s t m i s t a k e s . T h e c o m r a d e s w h o are n o t a t a h i g h i d e o l o g i c a l l e v e l a n d n o t c o n n e c t e d w i t h the masses c a n e a s i l y m a k e s u c h e r r o r s i n t h e i r d a i l y w o r k and s t r u g g l e . T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k o f the P a r t y and of t h e state a p p a r a t u s e s f o r t h e correct i m p l e m e n t a tion of the d i r e c t i v e s of t h e C o n g r e s s a n d of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P a r t y is of great importance, even in the most m i n o r m a t t e r s , e v e n in t h e c r e a t i o n of a f o r m of w o r k or a c o m m i s s i o n w h i c h , at f i r s t sight, m a y seem u n i m p o r t a n t . H o w d a n g e r o u s i t w o u l d be, f o r e x a m p l e , i f the m a j o r d i r e c t i v e o f t h e P a r t y : p o l i t i c s a n d i d e o l o g y come f i r s t , w e r e c o n c e i v e d i n i s o l a t i o n f r o m e v e r y t h i n g , from the e c o n o m y , e d u c a t i o n , c u l t u r e , t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of the state, etc., if it w e r e c a r r i e d o u t as s o m e t h i n g in itself a n d t h e P a r t y w e r e t o r e n o u n c e t h e d i r e c t i o n o f the w h o l e l i f e of t h e c o u n t r y or v a r i o u s aspects of it. L i k e w i s e , t h e opposite becomes dangerous, w h e n t h e P a r t y c o n c e r n s itself w i t h t h e e c o n o m y alone, w h e n i t i s turned i n t o a m e r e t e c h n i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c a p p a r a t u s a n d forgets its n u m e r o u s a n d m a n y - s i d e d m a j o r tasks. W e c a n see h o w T i t o a n d K h r u s h c h e v , t h e t w o great betrayers o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , s t a r t e d p r e c i s e l y f r o m this, p r o c e e d i n g f r o m t h e t w o e x t r e m e s w h i c h c o n v e r g e d o n the same o b j e c t i v e , t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f the P a r t y . W i t h his r e f o r m of the L e a g u e of C o m m u n i s t s of Y u g o s l a v i a , Tito a l l e g e d l y a s s i g n e d t o t h e p a r t y o n l y the role o f political a n d i d e o l o g i c a l e d u c a t o r ; w h i l e K h r u s h c h e v , w i t h his f a m o u s o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e p a r t y , a i m e d a t
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t u r n i n g it i n t o a m e r e e c o n o m i c o r g a n a n d d i v e s t i n g it of a n y other f u n c t i o n . T h i s i s n e i t h e r the f i r s t n o r t h e l a s t t i m e t h a t the P a r t y has r a i s e d these p r o b l e m s , b u t I t h i n k t h a t w e d o v e r y w e l l t o raise t h e m c o n t i n u a l l y a n d t h e m o r e t h o r o u g h l y w e s t u d y a n d u n d e r s t a n d t h e m , the b e t t e r w e s h a l l p u t t h e m i n t o p r a c t i c e a n d i n t h i s w a y w e s h a l l score g r e a t e r successes.
Reports and Speeches 1967-1968
WHERE IS CZECHOSLOVAKIA HEADING?
MEN,
BE
VIGILANT!
Julius Fuik
Article
published in the newspaper Zri i popullit

A p r i l 21, 1968
T h e process o f t h e u l t r a - r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n in Czechoslovakia is developing more and more rapidly every d a y . T h e c l i q u e o f D u b e k a n d o t h e r r e a c t i o n a r y elements, w h i c h i s b a s e d o n v a r i o u s s t r a t a o f the b o u r geoisie, e s p e c i a l l y o n S l o v a k n a t i o n a l i s t a n d fascist e l e m ents, o n a l l those w h o h a v e accounts t o settle w i t h t h e dictatorship o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , o n t h e l i b e r a l - r e v i s i o n i s t intelligentsia a n d t h e s t u d e n t s c o r r u p t e d b y b o u r g e o i s ideas a n d m o r a l i t y , a s w e l l a s o n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l b o u r geoisie, has c o m p l e t e l y g a i n e d the u p p e r h a n d . M e a n while, t h e s u p p o r t e r s o f t h e b a n k r u p t N o v o t n y r e v i s i o n i s t clique are s t r i v i n g t o save t h e i r o w n positions t h r o u g h sincere s e l f - c r i t i c i s m or are t a k i n g a c o m p u l s o r y rest from p o l i t i c a l l i f e a n d c o w e r i n g i n s o m e refuge, d r e a m i n g of better d a y s to come. T h e t h e o r e t i c i a n s o f t h e n e w u l t r a - r e v i s i o n i s t course, such a s S m r k o w s k y a n d others, a r e b r a g g i n g t h a t n o w
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C z e c h o s l o v a k i a is b l a z i n g n e w paths i n a n u n e x p l o r e d t e r r a i n , that w h a t i s o c c u r r i n g n o w i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i s the first e x p e r i e n c e o f t r u l y d e m o c r a t i c s o c i a l i s m i n the world. B e a r i n g in m i n d w h a t is going on there, and translating their phraseology into ordinary language, it becomes e v i d e n t t h a t c a p i t a l i s m i s b e i n g c o m p l e t e l y r e stored i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . T h e s o - c a l l e d p r o g r a m o f action a d o p t e d a t the p l e n u m o f t h e C C o f the C z e c h o s l o v a k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y i n e a r l y A p r i l , a p r o g r a m t h a t the C z e c h n e w s agency C e t e k a released u n d e r t h e t i t l e The C z e c h o s l o v a k R o a d t o S o c i a l i s m , i s f u r t h e r p r o o f o f this. T h e C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t s are q u i t e r i g h t t o c a l l t h i s r e t u r n t o c a p i t a l i s m t h e i r s p e c i f i c road, because, w h i l e s i m i l a r i n essence t o t h a t o f the T i t o i t e s , t h e S o v i e t a n d o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o are o r are n o t i n p o w e r , i t has its o w n characteristics, its o w n s p e c i f i c f o r m s . The Titoites have long been elaborating their system of workers' self-administration w h i c h cannot attain s t a b i l i t y , e i t h e r t o d a y o r i n t h e f u t u r e , not o n l y because i t i s a n t i - M a r x i s t , b u t also because, w h i l e t r y i n g t o b e a n o r i g i n a l , t h o u g h d i s g u i s e d , e l a b o r a t i o n o f the r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m i n Y u g o s l a v i a , i t has b r o u g h t i n d e s c r i b able chaos t o the e n t i r e Y u g o s l a v c a p i t a l i s t p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c s t r u c t u r e , r i g h t u p t o the Y u g o s l a v f e d e r a l state structure. The Titoites, seeking to embroil the w o r k i n g class, too, i n t h e i r c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m , h a v e set u p s u c h a n anarchic system in their capitalism that it is difficult for them, or it w i l l take time, and even more draconian measures, to restore a l l the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f e a t u r e s of c a p i t a l i s t o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n p r o p e r . T h e i r syst e m does n o t f u l l y c o n f o r m t o the c o m m i t m e n t s t h a t t h e y h a v e t o t h e i r c a p i t a l i s t masters, n o r t o t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s and commitments l i n k i n g them w i t h their revisionist partners. T h e T i t o i t e s ' s y s t e m o f w o r k e r s ' s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a tion, w o r k e r s ' i n n a m e o n l y , i s c r e a t i n g s t r a t a o f n e w
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capitalists, i s b r i n g i n g a b o u t t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n a n d p o l a rization o f t r u s t s a n d concerns. A t the s a m e t i m e , h o w ever, it is m a k i n g t h e serious c o n t r a d i c t i o n s of t h e T i t o i t e system b e t w e e n the w o r k i n g class a n d the e m p l o y e r s , between t h e p o o r peasants a n d the k u l a k s , a m o n g t h e employers t h e m s e l v e s , a m o n g t h e k u l a k s themselves, b e tween the R e p u b l i c s a n d t h e v a r i o u s n a t i o n a l i t i e s , a n d s o on, e v e n m o r e acute. F r o m t h e w a y events are d e v e l o p i n g , i t seems t h a t the D u b e k g r o u p i s t r y i n g t o a v o i d chaos l i k e t h a t i n Yugoslavia occurring in Czechoslovakia. Therefore, it is aiming t o a c h i e v e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m i n C z e c h o slovakia u n d e r t h e n e w c o n d i t i o n s , b y r e t u r n i n g t h e country t o t h e c a p i t a l i s t f o r m s , m e t h o d s a n d content o f the b o u r g e o i s - c a p i t a l i s t C z e c h o s l o v a k i a o f M a s a r y k a n d Bene, w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e m a k i n g use o f t h e e x perience o f t h e o t h e r c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s a n d t h e i r p o l i t ical a n d e c o n o m i c t h e o r i e s . T h u s , t h e r e v i s i o n i s t D u b e k is going straight ahead to attain more q u i c k l y w h a t he desires a n d to a v o i d , as he t h i n k s , t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s and d i f f i c u l t i e s . T h a t i s w h y , o n t h i s f a m o u s C z e c h o slovak r o a d t o s o c i a l i s m w e are h e a r i n g d e m a g o g i c t a l k about t h e r e g i m e b e i n g a l l e g e d l y socialist a n d based on the w o r k i n g class, b u t n o t h i n g is b e i n g s a i d a b o u t Titoite w o r k e r s ' s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . L e t u s l o o k m o r e closely i n t o this q u e s t i o n . T h e D u b e k c l i q u e d e c l a r e d o p e n l y , r i g h t f r o m the start, t h a t t h e w h o l e e x i s t i n g p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m of C z e c h o slovakia m u s t be changed. It c o u l d n o t be p u t m o r e clearly. T h e n e w g r o u p t h a t has seized p o w e r i n C z e c h o slovakia is a g r o u p h o s t i l e to s o c i a l i s m , an a n t i - M a r x i s t group, a s w o r n e n e m y of the p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m of t h e dictatorship o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . W h e n this g r o u p says t h a t the w h o l e e x i s t i n g p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a
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m u s t b e c h a n g e d , t h i s m e a n s t h a t i t w i l l l i q u i d a t e even those a l l e g e d l y socialist o r p r o l e t a r i a n f o r m s r e t a i n e d b y the p r o - S o v i e t N o v o t n y g r o u p . T h i s is n o t a m a t t e r of corrections w h i c h m a y b e m a d e t o t h e socialist r e g i m e o f the r e v i s i o n i s t N o v o t n y g r o u p , t o its m i s t a k e s a n d hesitations. N o , w h a t w e h a v e t o d o w i t h h e r e i s a radical transformation of the political regime in Czechoslovakia. In what direction is this political transformation b e i n g m a d e ? I n the d i r e c t i o n o f t h e c o m p l e t e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m . T h e bourgeois c a p i t a l i s t r e g i m e , w i t h a l l its f u n d a m e n t a l features, i s b e i n g r e s t o r e d there. B u t i n o r d e r t o disguise t h i s r e s t o r a t i o n , t h e y a r e c a l l i n g i t t h e Czechoslovak road to socialism. I n essence, t h i s i s T o g l i a t t i ' s n o t o r i o u s o p p o r t u n i s t thesis a b o u t the I t a l i a n r o a d t o socialism, b u t s t a r t e d f r o m the opposite end. B o t h these a n t i - M a r x i s t , r e a c t i o n a r y roads h a v e a c o m m o n o b j e c t i v e : to serve c a p i t a l i s m . The Italian and Czechoslovak revisionists share identical v i e w s a n d are i n f u l l a g r e e m e n t w i t h each other. T h e I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o l o n g ago d e g e n e r a t e d i n t o a n t i M a r x i s t s , r e f o r m i s t s a n d c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , are seeki n g to come to p o w e r , to share in the b o u r g e o i s state power, through structural reforms, the peaceful road a n d a l l i a n c e s w i t h t h e p a r t i e s o f the b o u r g e o i s i e . T h i s they call the Italian road to socialism, along w h i c h , according to them, they w i l l travel, not only w i t h the I t a l i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , b u t also w i t h the other p a r t i e s of t h e bourgeoisie. T h i s is a great d e c e p t i o n of the w o r k i n g class, the a i m o f w h i c h i s t o e x t i n g u i s h t h e class s t r u g g l e a n d s t r a n g l e the r e v o l u t i o n , a n d is a s p e c i a l assistance to the m o n o p o l y b o u r g e o i s i e a p p r o p r i a t e to t h e present stages of the d e v e l o p m e n t a n d decay of i m p e r i a l i s m . T h i s , b r i e f l y , i s the course w h i c h t h e T o g l i a t t i r e n e gades are f o l l o w i n g .
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F o r their part, the Czechoslovak revisionists headed by Dubek are f o l l o w i n g the same Togliatti road, but c o m m i n g f r o m t h e opposite d i r e c t i o n . I t i s r e l a t i v e l y easier for t h e m , f o r t h e y a r e n o t m e e t i n g resistance f r o m t h e Czechoslovak revolutionary M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , w h i l e the T o g l i a t t i g r o u p i s e n c o u n t e r i n g resistance f r o m t h e b o u r geoisie, w h i c h f o r the t i m e b e i n g , i n t h e p r e s e n t s i t u a tion, does n o t accept t h e m i n t h e state p o w e r . D u b e k and c o m p a n y a r e f o l l o w i n g t h e course o f the d e s t r u c t i o n and l i q u i d a t i o n of t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , of all its f o r m s , o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d l a w s , a s f a r a s t h e y existed. T h e C z e c h o s l o v a k w o r k i n g class has n o t b e e n i n power f o r a l o n g t i m e . T h i s is a fact. W h i l e the r e v i s i o n ist N o v o t n y g r o u p w a s i n p o w e r , w o r k w a s g o i n g o n i n depth i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t r e s t o r a t i o n , t o wards l i b e r a l i z a t i o n , t h o u g h , f o r t h e sake o f a p p e a r ances, s o m e o u t w a r d f o r m s o f t h e s y s t e m o f t h e d i c t a t o r ship o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t w e r e s t i l l r e t a i n e d . E v e n these forms w e r e l i q u i d a t e d b y t h e D u b e k g r o u p a f t e r i t h a d liquidated the N o v o t n y group completely, after it had e l i m i n a t e d its opponents, r e p l a c i n g a l l o f t h e m w i t h p r o v en anti-proletarian elements. Instead of going to social ism b y s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e positions o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , D u b e k a n d h i s c l i q u e are w e a k e n i n g these p o s i t i o n s a n d s h a r i n g t h e m w i t h the parties o f t h e bourgeoisie. T h e b o u r g e o i s i e a i m s t o r e c o v e r its lost p o s i tions, a s i s o c c u r r i n g i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a n o w , b u t once i n p o w e r i t w i l l n o t s h a r e i t w i t h others, f o r e x a m p l e , w i t h the disciples o f T o g l i a t t i , L o n g o a n d C o . It is self-evident that by sharing the p o w e r w i t h the b o u r g e o i s i e t h e p o l i t i c a l s y s t e m w i l l b e changed, too, a n d t h i s i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t D u b e k i s d o i n g . I t i s also s e l f - e v i d e n t i n w h a t d i r e c t i o n t h i s change o f the s y s t e m is being carried out: if it were to go towards the c o m -
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plete c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m o r c o m m u n i s m , i t w o u l d certainly not be either Dubek, Novotny, or their bour geois c a p i t a l i s t h e n c h m e n t h a t w o u l d d o this. W i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k o f t h e r a d i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the system, t h e D u b e k g r o u p is, n a t u r a l l y , c h a n g i n g a l l t h e p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c , state, o r g a n i z a t i o n a l , m i l i t a r y structures. A l l these changes t h a t a r e b e i n g m a d e i n o r d e r t o c o m p l e t e l y restore c a p i t a l i s m i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a are b e i n g e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y a p p r o v e d a n d a c c l a i m e d b y t h e Italian revisionists who, w i t h this living example, want t o t e l l t h e i r b o u r g e o i s i e : W e w a n t t o d o t h e same t h i n g here i n I t a l y ; w e are a n d w i l l b e s i m i l a r l y f a i t h f u l ser v a n t s of y o u r s , t h e r e f o r e toss us a bone if y o u don't w a n t t h e w o r k i n g class o n y o u r backs. M e a n w h i l e the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s c a n n e v e r a g r e e to this development w h i c h is currently t a k i n g place in C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , t h o u g h t h e y t h e m s e l v e s are f o l l o w i n g t h e course o f c a p i t a l i s t r e s t o r a t i o n i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . They agreed w i t h the Czechoslovak revisionists so long as their clique headed by Novotny was in power a n d C z e c h o s l o v a k i a w a s a n o b e d i e n t satellite o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , a l l e g e d l y one of t h e freest a n d m o s t e c o n o m i c a l l y i n d e p e n d e n t socialist d e m o c r a c i e s . N o v o t n y ' s C z e c h o s l o v a k i a h a d got r i d o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , j u s t a s the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e d o n e ; the Czechoslovak C o m m u n i s t P a r t y was allegedly in p o w er, i n d e e d t h e o n l y p a r t y i n p o w e r , h e n c e a p a r t y o f t h e e n t i r e people, a n d its d e g e n e r a t i o n w a s b e i n g b r o u g h t a b o u t t h r o u g h t h e same f o r m s a n d a t t h e s a m e tempo as that of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n , H e r e , too, e v e r y t h i n g w a s p r o c e e d i n g i n a c o - o r d i n a t e d manner. The Czechoslovak economy, allegedly indepen dent a n d a d v a n c e d , h a d become l a r g e l y d e p e n d e n t o n the r a w m a t e r i a l s s u p p l i e d t o i t b y t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p ;
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the C z e c h o s l o v a k F o r e i g n M i n i s t r y w a s a n o f f i c e o f the Soviet F o r e i g n M i n i s t r y , etc. H e n c e , u p t o t h i s p o i n t t h e y were i n f u l l a g r e e m e n t . B u t N o v o t n y fell and the Dubek clique came to power. A l l t h a t w e h a v e j u s t o u t l i n e d w a s c h a n g e d . The s p l i t o c c u r r e d a n d c o n t r a d i c t i o n s arose b o t h o v e r the q u e s t i o n of t h e guise to be u s e d f o r g e t t i n g r i d of the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d o v e r t h e q u e s t i o n of the p a r t y , t h e q u e s t i o n of the e c o n o m y , f o r e i g n p o l i c y , the state s t r u c t u r e s , a n d so o n . T h e s e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i l l c e r t a i n l y g r o w deeper, a n d t h e c o n f l i c t w i l l b e c o m e f i e r c e r . ( 1 ) Czechoslovak reaction, the Czechoslovak bourgeoisie, w h i c h i s a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f w o r l d r e a c t i o n a n d the u l t r a reactionary E u r o p e a n bourgeoisie w i t h w h i c h it is l i n k e d by m a n y threads, k n o w s very w e l l w h a t the dictatorship of the p r o l e t a r i a t is. T h e C z e c h o s l o v a k b o u r g e o i s i e f o u g h t with arms and entire legions against the Soviet power established b y L e n i n i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . T o d a y , i t does not p u b l i c i z e t h i s s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the proletariat, b u t c a r r i e s i t o n c o n s i s t e n t l y . A s a g e n e r a l b a c k g r o u n d i t uses the g r i m e a n d d i r t t h a t t h e K r u s h chevites h a v e f l u n g a t t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t and its g l o r i o u s w o r k i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n ; i t uses the just a n d u n f l i n c h i n g s t r u g g l e t h a t t h e B o l s h e v i k P a r t y , with Stalin at the helm, and the Soviet power waged in a n e x e m p l a r y m a n n e r against t h e W h i t e G u a r d s , the T r o t s k y i t e s , t h e d e v i a t o r s , the t r a i t o r s t o t h e p a r t y , socialism a n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , as a spectre to f r i g h t e n people a n d i n o r d e r t o t a k e its revenge. T h e b e t r a y a l b y the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s has assisted a n d
________________________________ 1 W e s h a l l witness other clashes, wrote Comrade Enver H o x h a on A u g u s t 10, 1968, other still greater defeats for the Soviet revisionists, s t i l l greater quarrels and clashes among the revisionist cliques. A m o n g them there can never be mutual trust. T h i s is the logic of the development of their treacherous line.
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is a s s i s t i n g the C z e c h o s l o v a k c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s i e to do its o w n c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k , hence t h e r e i s n o reason f o r the B r e z h n e v s a n d the K o s y g i n s t o g r o a n w h e n t h e D u b e k s attack t h e G o t t w a l d p e r i o d , r e - e x a m i n e the t r i a l s of t r a i t o r s , r e h a b i l i t a t e t h e bourgeoisie, t h e fascists, r o b b e r s , c r i m i n a l s , a n d the clergy, w h e n , a p a r t f r o m s t a u n c h p r o l e t a r i a n e l e m e n t s w h o , o f course, a r e t h e f i r s t t o b e a t t a c k e d a n d p e r s e c u t e d , t h e y also p u r g e t h e people of the N o v o t n y g r o u p a n d of t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . A c l i m a t e of w h i t e t e r r o r , a c l i m a t e of b o u r g e o i s r e v e n g e against the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t has b e e n created in Czechoslovakia. The most r a b i d reactionaries, c a m o u f l a g e d as c o m m u n i s t s , h a v e e m e r g e d at t h e h e a d of t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . I n t h e streets, the spectre o f d e m o n s t r a t i o n s b y h o o l i g a n students, w h i c h h a v e been g i v e n the false l a b e l o f people's d e m o n s t r a tion, p r e v a i l s . T h e C z e c h o s l o v a k M i n i s t r y o f t h e I n t e r i o r is n o w d i r e c t e d by a p e r s o n s t r a i g h t o u t of p r i s o n , to w h i c h h e h a d b e e n sentenced f o r h o s t i l e a c t i v i t y against t h e socialist r e g i m e . T h e M i n i s t r y o f D e f e n c e , too, i s d i r e c t e d b y a p e r s o n released f r o m the p o l i t i c a l p r i s o n . A c c o r d i n g t o reports, e v e r y d a y w o r k e r s o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k s e c u r i t y f o r c e are c o m m i t t i n g s u i c i d e i n t h e i r offices, others are b e i n g a r r e s t e d , a n d m a n y others f r o m a l l sectors w i l l c e r t a i n l y b e a r r e s t e d a n d c o n d e m n e d b y the b o u r g e o i s d i c t a t o r s h i p t h a t i s b e i n g e s t a b l i s h e d . A l l this c a p i t a l i s t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , a l l t h i s w h i t e ter r o r o f purges a n d revenge, i s t a k i n g place u n d e r the c l o a k of alleged l e g a l i t y ; a l l e g e d l y C z e c h o s l o v a k i a is e m e r g i n g f r o m a d a r k a n d t r o u b l e d era o f m u r d e r s , a r b i t r a r y t r i a l s a n d so on, i n t o a p e r i o d of peace on e a r t h , t r u e social j u s t i c e , class peace a n d h u m a n f r e e d o m , a n d s o o n a n d s o f o r t h , w e l l - k n o w n slogans o f t h e p r o p a g a n d a o f c a p i t a l i s m , w h i c h acts w i t h d r a w n daggers. N a t u r a l l y , the C z e c h o s l o v a k b o u r g e o i s i e w h i c h i s seiz-
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ing p o w e r a n d f o r w h i c h the b e d has b e e n p r e p a r e d b y the r e v i s i o n i s t t r a i t o r s , i s a d v a n c i n g , c a p t u r i n g k e y p o s i tions one a f t e r a n o t h e r , w i t h o u t m a k i n g c r a z y gestures like those of the H u n g a r i a n c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s i e at t h e time of the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n of 1956, b u t g e t t i n g w h a t it wants q u i e t l y a n d g e n t l y , s o l o n g a s a n y o p p o s i t i o n h a s been q u e l l e d a n d n o resistance o n the p a r t o f the w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses a p p e a r s o n the h o r i z o n . The Czechoslovak bourgeoisie w h i c h is t a k i n g power has n o h e s i t a t i o n a b o u t u s i n g t h e t e r m socialism, w h i c h has become f a s h i o n a b l e f o r e v e r y o n e f r o m I n d i r a G a n d h i t o t h e fascist F r a n c o , i n o r d e r t o deceive t h e masses. I n t h i s respect, i t has r e c e i v e d its d i p l o m a f r o m the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s a n d t h e T i t o i t e s . B u t a t this p o i n t i t parts f r o m t h e S o v i e t s , w h o h a v e d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e y are g o i n g t o c o m m u n i s m a n d , a t a t i m e w h e n i n r e a l i t y they are r e s o l u t e l y r e t u r n i n g t o c a p i t a l i s m , are t r y i n g to p r e s e r v e the f o r m s a n d a p p e a r a n c e s of a socialist order, w h i l e the C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t s d o n o t i n d u l g e in s u c h nonsense t h e y are o p e n l y h e a d i n g f o r c a p i t a l ism. T h u s , i n c a r r y i n g o u t t h e i r change i n the p o l i t i c a l system, w h i c h m e a n s t h e c o m p l e t e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e dictatorship o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d its l a w s i n C z e c h o s l o v a kia, t h e C z e c h b o u r g e o i s i e w h i c h has c o m e t o p o w e r i s coating this b i t t e r p i l l w i t h t a l k o f good b e h a v i o u r t o w a r d s its o p p o n e n t class, t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , a n d of not r e t u r n i n g t o t h e o l d s u b j e c t i v e m e t h o d s . F o r the m o d e r n revisionists, t h e l a w s of the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t are s u b j e c t i v e m e t h o d s , w h i l e t h e b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t laws are sacred, o b j e c t i v e a n d h u m a n e . The Czechoslovak bourgeoisie that is coming to p o w er says e x p l i c i t l y in t h e p o i n t s of t h e p r o g r a m of its c o m m u n i s t p a r t y t h a t better l a w s m u s t b e sought a n d enacted t o ensure t h a t a l l i n d i v i d u a l r i g h t s a n d p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y are b e t t e r a n d m o r e r e s o l u t e l y defended. N o
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k i d gloves a b o u t this. I n d i v i d u a l p r o p e r t y , p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y ! T h i s i s n o t t a l k i n g a b o u t one's t o o t h b r u s h , w r i s t watch or bed at home, but about something big, antip r o l e t a r i a n , anti-socialist, c a p i t a l i s t , a b o u t t h e c a p i t a l i s t private property w h i c h is being restored. F o r this property, w h i c h the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t h a d destroyed, n e w l a w s h a v e t o b e d r a f t e d a n d e s t a b l i s h e d , a n d these n e w l a w s m u s t f i r m l y d e f e n d these r i g h t s g i v e n b a c k t o the w e a l t h y , the b o u r g e o i s i e o f t o w n a n d countryside. H o w w i l l they proceed in re-creating this capitalist property? The p r o g r a m of the Czechoslovak revisionists e x p l i c i t l y states t h a t the e x i s t i n g m e t h o d s o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d the o r i e n t a t i o n o f the n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y h a v e become obsolete a n d u r g e n t l y r e q u i r e a m e n d m e n t s . T h i s is not s i m p l y a q u e s t i o n of n e w f o r m s of a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e economy, b u t of c h a n g i n g t h e class s y s t e m of t h e e c o n o m y t h r o u g h these f o r m s . O f course, t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e great e x p e r i e n c e i n the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n of a c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m y , b o t h l a r g e a n d small-scale, a n d n o w t h a t t h e y h a v e t a k e n the state p o w e r c o m p l e t e l y i n t o t h e i r o w n h a n d s a n d severed a l l those o l d t h r e a d s w h i c h w e r e h o l d i n g t h e m back, t h e y w i l l c a r r y out t h e r a d i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f industry, agriculture, trade and the entire economy, m o d e l l e d o n a n a d v a n c e d b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t state. O n t h i s course, t h e y w i l l b e h e l p e d b y W e s t - G e r m a n a n d A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l i n t h e f i r s t place, a s w e l l a s b y t h e r e t u r n o f the c a p i t a l o f the C z e c h o s l o v a k c a p i t a l i s t s f r o m these a n d other W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s . T h e s e c r e d i t s c a n n o t be o r d i n a r y c r e d i t s a c c o r d e d to one state by a n o t h e r at a g i v e n rate of interest, b u t w i l l h a v e a d e f i n i t e e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l c h a r a c t e r . B y m e a n s o f these credits, t h e capitalist s t r u c t u r e w h i c h t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k b o u r g e o i s i e i s r e b u i l d i n g w i l l b e c o n s o l i d a t e d . T h e state c a p i t a l i s m
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being r e s t o r e d i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a w i l l h a v e its m a i n s u p port i n the i n t e r n a l i n d u s t r y a s w e l l a s i n t h e n e w s u p port t h a t t h e f o r e i g n c a p i t a l i s t s w i l l p r o v i d e . A t present, t h e p o l i t i c a l positions o f the v a r i o u s b o u r geois c a p i t a l i s t cliques i n p o w e r a r e b e i n g c o n s o l i d a t e d i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . T h i s process w i l l c o n t i n u e u n t i l t h e coming elections, i n w h i c h the r e h a b i l i t a t e d b o u r g e o i s cliques t h a t w e r e o v e r t h r o w n b y t h e r e v o l u t i o n hope t o regain t h e i r lost c i t i z e n s h i p a n d t o t a k e p o w e r c o m p l e t e l y into t h e i r o w n h a n d s a g a i n . A n d , o f course, t h e y a r e going t o t a k e p o w e r , s h a r i n g i t w i t h one another, not w i t h kindness t o w a r d s one another, b u t l i k e r a v e n i n g w o l v e s . The l a w o f the j u n g l e w i l l r e i g n there, too, i r r e s p e c t i v e of the d e m a g o g i c w o r d s of the p r o g r a m of the C z e c h o slovak C o m m u n i s t P a r t y w h i c h states w i t h o u t a b l u s h , It is c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t h e present stage t h a t a n t a g o n i s t i c classes no l o n g e r exist. T h u s , i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a not o n l y d o classes a n d t h e antagonism b e t w e e n t h e m e x i s t , a n d these w i l l b e c o m e more a n d m o r e acute, b u t n o w t h e v a r i o u s c a p i t a l i s t groupings are b e i n g r e h a b i l i t a t e d a n d are o r g a n i z i n g a n d sorting t h e m s e l v e s out p o l i t i c a l l y a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l y i n order to perfect the o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t of the new c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m y . T h e n e w l a w gives the b o u r geois parties t h a t are c o m i n g t o p o w e r t h e r i g h t a n d duty, a s i n d e p e n d e n t parties w i t h i n t h e F r o n t , t o h a v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y a n d the society. T h e n e w l a w o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n ists states o p e n l y t h a t the interests of social g r o u p s must be protected a n d t h e i r e c o n o m i c interests m u s t be t a k e n into account i n the e c o n o m i c p o l i c y . T h u s , n o t o n l y w i l l the state e c o n o m y b e r u n b y various g r o u p s o f capitalists i n c o r p o r a t e d i n v a r i o u s p a r ties, i n c l u d i n g the C z e c h o s l o v a k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , b u t other s o c i o - e c o n o m i c g r o u p s w i l l s p r i n g u p l i k e m u s h r o o m s
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a f t e r t h e r a i n , outside t h e s p h e r e o f the state e c o n o m y . T h i s m e a n s t h a t s m a l l - s c a l e a n d large-scale p r i v a t e l y o w n e d i n d u s t r i e s w i l l b e set u p , c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n w i l l b e s m a s h e d a n d b i g c a p i t a l i s t f a r m e r s emerge, a n d new capitalist banks, both local a n d foreign, that w i l l finance t h i s b i g c a p i t a l i s t e n t e r p r i s e w h i c h i s t a k i n g s h a p e i n the centre of Europe, w i l l be established. T h e C z e c h o s l o v a k c a p i t a l i s t s i n p o w e r q u i t e openly are g o i n g to b u i l d a b u r e a u c r a t i c , t e c h n o c r a t i c state, a r e g i m e o f b i g e c o n o m i c t r u s t s a n d concerns a t t h e level of the modern technology of the capitalist w o r l d mark e t . To a c h i e v e t h i s as soon as possible, t h e y m u s t get r i d of the existing situation, must break w i t h the existing socialist t r a d i t i o n s of the e c o n o m y , m u s t d e s t r o y the present l i n k s a n d f o r m s o f w o r k a n d c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e S o v i e t a n d others m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , a n d integrate C z e c h o s l o v a k i a c o m p l e t e l y i n t o t h e m e c h a n i s m o f the capitalist w o r l d economy. The planning of their economy and the decentralizat i o n o f its m a n a g e m e n t c a n n o t f a i l t o a s s u m e e n t i r e l y new forms w h i c h must be adapted to the requirements of the n e w p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c c i r c u m s t a n c e s created. T h e s e c a n n o t be the s a m e as those t h a t h a v e b e e n and are being applied in other revisionist countries, a n d it i s n o t possible t h a t t h e y c o u l d be. T h e m o d e r n i z a t i o n , o n a c a p i t a l i s t basis, of C z e c h o s l o v a k i n d u s t r y , w h i c h is a l r e a d y c o n s i d e r e d one o f the most m o d e r n i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c a m p , w i l l u n d o u b t e d l y b r i n g changes i n the f o r m s o f m a n a g e m e n t , b o t h i n s t r u c t u r e s a n d methods. O f course, t h e r e a r e m a n y s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s t o b e t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t i n t h i s : not o n l y the f o r e i g n m a r k e t , not o n l y the interests of f o r e i g n c a p i t a l i s t i n v e s t o r s , b u t also t h e s p e c i f i c interests o f the C z e c h s a n d the S l o v a k s and t h e interests of the i n t e r n a l c a p i t a l i s t g r o u p s t h a t have been f o r m e d o r are i n the process o f f o r m a t i o n .
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I n short, t h e a n t i - M a r x i s t t e a m o f D u b e k p l a c e d a t the h e l m i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i s l e a d i n g i t t o w a r d s c a p i t a l ism m o r e r a p i d l y . It is c a r r y i n g o u t r a d i c a l p u r g e s of its opponents, w h o are s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d N o v o t n y i t e s , sometimes r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d s o m e t i m e s Stalinists, a n d is not g o i n g to t o l e r a t e a n y p e r s o n of the G o t t w a l d or the N o v o t n y p e r i o d s i n a n y k e y l e a d i n g post. I t i s s u r rounding i t s e l f w i t h a n d b r i n g i n g t o p o w e r the m o s t notorious a n d m o s t r a b i d l y a n t i - M a r x i s t elements, b r a n d e d revisionists a n d c l e r g y m e n , i n d i v i d u a l s j u s t released f r o m prison u n d e r t h e n e w l a w t h e y h a v e p r o c l a i m e d on t h e complete r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d n o n - c o m m u n i s t s who h a v e s u f f e r e d v i c t i m i z a t i o n i n past years. W h i l e o p e n l y c o n s o l i d a t i n g t h e positions o f c a p i t a l ism i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , t h r o u g h these actions the D u b e k clique is s a y i n g to t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s so t h a t the whole w o r l d c a n h e a r : W e s h a l l n o t stop a t y o u r K h r u s h chevite n o r m s ; w e h a v e d e c i d e d t o g o f u r t h e r o p e n l y , even against y o u r w i l l , e v e n t o accuse a n d expose y o u in the eyes of t h e o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t s as c o n s e r v a t i v e a n d outmoded r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o are n o t m a k i n g a n y a d v a n c e towards t h e d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n a n d l i b e r a l i z a t i o n y o u preach. W h i l e a s t o t h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d , t h e D u b e k t e a m i s g i v i n g i t great g u a r a n t e e s a n d hopes a n d its f u l l c o n f i dence. O f course, t h i s t e a m o f t r a i t o r s i s g o i n g t o c a r r y out r a dical p o l i t i c a l , c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a n d e c o n o m i c r e f o r m s . W i t h o u t doubt, a l l these t h i n g s w i l l c o m e a b o u t i n d u e course, for, a s the s a y i n g has it, each f r u i t r i p e n s i n its o w n t i m e . A t the m o m e n t we see the l e a d i n g r o l e of t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y b e i n g r e d u c e d , see i t b e c o m i n g w e a k e r ideologically a n d p o l i t i c a l l y , completely deproletarianized a n d b o u r g e o i s i f i e d , we see the r o l e of the N a t i o n a l Front b e i n g e l e v a t e d t o a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d p o s i t i o n , a n d see the f o r m a t i o n , r i g h t s a n d f u n c t i o n s of the other b o u r -
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geois parties w i t h w h i c h i t i s s h a r i n g p o w e r a n d coo p e r a t i n g t o consolidate c a p i t a l i s m , s a n c t i o n e d b y l a w . O n t h e other h a n d , t h i s t e a m i s p r e p a r i n g f o r f e d e r a l i s m , t h a t is, a l l e g e d l y t o m a k e b o t h t h e C z e c h s a n d the S l o v a k s equal i n a l l r i g h t s . B e a r i n g i n m i n d the course w h i c h the r e v i s i o n i s t D u b e k c l i q u e has t a k e n , i n fact, this means that it is inciting and keeping the weapon o f n a t i o n a l i s m a n d c h a u v i n i s m p o i s e d t o attack s o c i a l i s m a n d a n y r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t , i n o r d e r t o speed u p the restoration of capitalism, to favour Slovak chauvinism i n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d t o h a v e i t r e a d y a t a n y t i m e as a c o u n t e r - w e a p o n . O f course, the D u b e k t e a m , u s i n g the p r e t e x t t h a t N o v o t n y ' s Czechs h a d n e g l e c t e d t h e poor sister, S l o v a k i a , w i l l f i n a n c e i t m o r e i n its c a p i t a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t u n t i l i t reaches the a d v a n c e d l e v e l o f t h e f a v o u r e d sister, w i t h o u t n e g l e c t i n g the m o d e r n i z a t i o n o f C z e c h industry. W i t h o u t doubt, o v e r t h i s f u n d a m e n t a l q u e s t i o n t h e r e w i l l be continual contradictions and lack of stability and w e s h a l l w i t n e s s c o n t i n u a l clashes b e t w e e n C z e c h a n d S l o v a k capitalists, b e t w e e n the l a t t e r a n d t h e f o r e i g n c a p i t a l i s t m a s t e r s w h o h a v e g r e a t e r i n f l u e n c e , because t h e y h a v e m o r e c a p i t a l i n v e s t e d i n one o r t h e other p a r t o f t h i s f e d e r a t i o n o r c o n f e d e r a t i o n t h a t bears the false n a m e o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c . The Czechoslovak revisionist team that w i l l give lead e r s h i p i n the f u t u r e has t o b a l a n c e t h e C z e c h a n d S l o v a k forces n o t o n l y o n the n a t i o n a l i s t p l a t f o r m , b u t i s o b l i g e d t o b a l a n c e t h e m also i n the l e a d e r s h i p o f the b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t p o l i t i c a l parties t h a t are b e i n g r e h a b i l i t a t e d a n d the others t h a t w i l l b e c r e a t e d a s n e w parties. A l l these parties are b e i n g o r g a n i z e d ; t h e y are e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e i r o w n press organs, t h e i r t r a d e - u n i o n a n d y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n s . E a c h o f t h e m i s w o r k i n g t o s p r e a d its o w n
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views a m o n g the masses. A l l the c l a m o r o u s d e m a n d s o f these o r g a n i z a t i o n s , o f students, b o u r g e o i s w r i t e r s a n d u n restrained j o u r n a l i s t s f o r i n d e p e n d e n c e f r o m t h e r e v i sionist C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , g o i n g s o f a r a s c l a i m s t o h a v e their o w n d e p u t i e s a n d special r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s i n the state organs, a r e n o t h i n g b u t an aspect of the r e v i v a l of v a r i o u s b o u r g e o i s g r o u p s , of t h e i r o r g a n i z i n g a n d ef forts t o c l a i m p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n the state p o w e r a n d r u n ning the c o u n t r y . F o r t h e t i m e b e i n g , e v e r y t h i n g i s b e i n g done u n d e r the pseudo-socialist a n d a l l e g e d l y t r a d i t i o n a l l a b e l of the g e n u i n e l y d e m o c r a t i c h e g e m o n y of the C z e c h o s l o v a k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , w h i c h , a t present, i s the largest p a r t y n u m e r i c a l l y . H o w e v e r , s u c h a s i t u a t i o n is t e m p o r a r y . T h e strengthening o f c a p i t a l i s m i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a w i l l b r i n g about t h e d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n of parties. It m i g h t b r i n g the revisionist C z e c h o s l o v a k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y d o w n f r o m its pedestal a n d r e d u c e i t t o a p a r t y w i t h c o m p l e t e l y s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c o r w e s t e r n socialist features. O t h e r p a r ties m a y w i n s u p r e m a c y a n d p o w e r . A p a r t y w i t h o u t the slightest socialist trace, b u t w h i c h represents the strongest C z e c h o r S l o v a k c a p i t a l i s t g r o u p , closely l i n k e d w i t h the m o s t p o w e r f u l c a p i t a l i s t g r o u p a b r o a d , m a y become t h e most p o w e r f u l p a r t y . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t t e a m c u r r e n t l y a t t h e h e a d o f the Czechoslovak C o m m u n i s t P a r t y a n d the C z e c h o s l o v a k state is p r e p a r i n g t h i s process of c a p i t a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t under the guise o f socialism, i n o r d e r t o a v o i d t h e hegemonic b l o w s o f the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s ( 2 ) , i n o r d e r t o
_________________________________ 2 Dubek a n d company c o u l d not eschew such blows. T h e Soviet revisionists w h o themselves plotted to overthrow Novotny and to b r i n g D u b e k to p o w e r s a w clearly that the latter was galloping towards the West, thus putting the Soviet interests in Czechoslovakia at stake. A l l the means to impede the Dubek clique l i k e the threats i n the Letter f r o m W a r s a w , w h i c h was adopted in the ridiculous meeting in the P o l i s h capital by the
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k e e p t h e w o r k i n g class asleep, a n d i n o r d e r t o internal disturbances and ist w o r l d i s q u i t e clear is h e a d i n g .
a n d the other w o r k i n g strata avoid and crush the eventual attacks. M e a n w h i l e t h e c a p i t a l about w h e r e the D u b e k clique
The Dubek revisionists claim that n o w there are no m o r e r e s t r i c t i o n s , n o c e n s o r s h i p , n o e n t r y o r e x i t visas i n C z e c h o s l o v a k passports o r those o f t h e w e s t e r n c o u n tries, t h a t no C z e c h o s l o v a k c i t i z e n c a n be c o n s i d e r e d a p o l i t i c a l f u g i t i v e o r e m i g r e i f h e goes a w a y a n d stays a b r o a d . I n a w o r d , t h e D u b e k c l i q u e has t r a n s f o r m e d C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i n t o a n i n n , i n w h i c h people, goods a n d ideas c a n f l o w f r e e l y back a n d f o r t h b e t w e e n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d the W e s t . T h e C z e c h o s l o v a k s are b o a s t i n g a b o u t t h e stress they h a v e p u t o n the r i g h t s o f the n a t i o n a l m i n o r i t i e s , a s t h o u g h t h e y d i d n o t e x i s t f o r m e r l y . A p p a r e n t l y the g r o u n d i s b e i n g p r e p a r e d f o r the r e t u r n o f o v e r one m i l l i o n S u d e t e n G e r m a n s t o C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e y are t r y i n g t o s t r e n g t h e n contacts w i t h t h e c a p i t a l i s t s o f B o n n t o ensure the i n f l o w of capital investments f r o m West G e r m a n y . T h i s w i l l u n d o u b t e d l y b r i n g a b o u t a r a d i c a l change i n C z e c h o s l o v a k f o r e i g n p o l i c y a n d i n its p o l i t i c a l a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s the G e r m a n D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c , t o w a r d s the W a r s a w T r e a t y , a n d t o w a r d s t h e p r e s e n t p o l i c y o f the states o f C e n t r a l E u r o p e i n g e n e r a l . The idea is n o w being vigorously canvassed in Cze________________________________ Soviet leadership together w i t h the revisionist leaders of P o l a n d , the G e r m a n Democratic Republic, H u n g a r y a n d B u l g a r i a , and i n the talks i n erna n a T i s s u a n d Bratislava, w e r e consumed. T h e i r last resort was open aggression, w i t h w h i c h , as C o m r a d e Enver H o x h a stressed in the article T h e Aggression against Czechoslovakia an U g l y Crime, published in the newspaper Zri i popullit, A u g u s t 24, 1968, the K h r u s h c h e v i t e c l i q u e put another big stain on the Soviet U n i o n and the Soviet a r m y and dealt another heavy b l o w at the honour and prestige of the Soviet people.
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choslovakia that, d u e t o t h e c o u n t r y ' s g e o g r a p h i c a l p o s i tion, it is d e s t i n e d to serve as a b r i d g e b e t w e e n E a s t and West a n d e v e r y d a y t h e r e i s t a l k a b o u t p u r s u i n g an active E u r o p e a n p o l i c y , a b o u t a m o r e a c t i v e p o l i c y towards the u n i f i c a t i o n of E u r o p e , a n d so on. T h e present r u l i n g c l i q u e i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i s d o i n g n o t h i n g to conceal its a r d e n t desire f o r a l l - r o u n d n o r m a l i z a t i o n of its r e l a t i o n s w i t h B o n n . Its assurances t h a t a l l e g e d l y i t w i l l s u p p o r t a n d d e f e n d t h e interests o f the G e r m a n Democratic R e p u b l i c a r e false, j u s t as its d e c l a r a t i o n s that the k e y - s t o n e o f its f o r e i g n p o l i c y w i l l r e m a i n its friendship w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n are false. T h e present l i n e p u r s u e d b y C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i n t h e direction o f its f o r e i g n p o l i c y i s o n l y t e m p o r a r y . I n t h e near f u t u r e it w i l l a s s u m e a clearer, m o r e concrete p r o Western f o r m . Its e m i s s a r i e s h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n sent to the U n i t e d States, B r i t a i n a n d e l s e w h e r e . N e i t h e r the content n o r t h e f o r m s o f t h e e x i s t i n g p o l i c y t o w a r d s t h e Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t s c a n b e d u r a b l e . They w i l l u n d e r g o changes, p e r h a p s d r a m a t i c changes. A l l these changes w h i c h a r e t a k i n g p l a c e a n d w i l l continue i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , t h e d e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n a n d t r a n s formation of the economy, the political a n d constitutional s y s t e m , t h e i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l alliances, t h e Czech a n d S l o v a k n a t i o n a l r i v a l r y , t h e m o d e r n i z a t i o n a n d l i n k i n g o f i n d u s t r y w i t h f o r e i g n c a p i t a l i s t trusts, t h e switching o f a g r i c u l t u r e o n t o the c a p i t a l i s t r o a d , t h e re-establishment o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y , t h e g r o u p i n g o f c a pitalists i n t r u s t s a n d concerns, t h e f i n d i n g o f n e w s o u r ces of r a w m a t e r i a l s a n d e x p o r t m a r k e t s , a l l these a n d other s u c h t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s c a n n o t t a k e place w i t h o u t clashes, b o t h i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l ; t h e y cannot f a i l t o have a n effect w i t h i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d the o t h e r revisionist c o u n t r i e s o f E u r o p e , o r f a i l t o e n c o u n t e r t h e i r resistance.
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T h e v a r i o u s i m p e r i a l i s t s w i l l place s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e o n the C z e c h o s l o v a k c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s i e a n d g i v e i t great assistance f o r the c o m p l e t e r e s t o r a t i o n of c a p i t a l i s m , p r o c e e d i n g f r o m t h e i r o w n economic, p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d strategic reasons, interests, a i m s a n d b e n e f i t s . C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i s b e c o m i n g f o r t h e m a p i v o t i n C e n t r a l and Southeast E u r o p e , w h e r e the interests o f the S o v i e t r e v i sionist i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the W e s t e r n i m p e r i a l i s t s clash, w h e r e t h e r e are dangers of a t u r n i n g - p o i n t in t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle, i n the class s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d the w o r k i n g masses, o n the one h a n d , a n d the r e v i s i o n i s t cliques w h i c h h a v e u s u r p e d p o w e r i n the p a r t y a n d state, on the other. W i t h the r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , i m p e r i a l i s m is s e e k i n g to a v o i d the b a d e x a m p l e of the T i t o i t e chaos, to a c h i e v e t h e l i q u i d a t i o n of the e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l dependence o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a o n the S o v i e t U n i o n as q u i c k l y as possible a n d , at t h e s a m e t i m e , to b r i n g a b o u t the b o u r g e o i s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e so t h a t C z e c h o s l o v a k i a becomes a s u p p o r t for a n d t h e p r o t o t y p e of a r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r y a t t r a c t i v e to H u n g a r y , B u l g a r i a , P o l a n d , etc. I t i s n o t t h e i r i d e o l o g i c a l bonds, w h i c h k e e p the r e v i s i o n i s t states u n i t e d w i t h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , so m u c h a s e c o n o m i c issues a n d the W a r s a w T r e a t y o f m u t u a l defence. If these b o n d s w e r e to be severed, they w o u l d a l l b e released f r o m the dictate o f the S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p . I f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d the o t h e r i m p e r i a l i s t states c a n m a n a g e to sever these bonds, t h e n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t S o v i e t U n i o n w i l l b e isolated, a n d left i n t h e l u r c h b y its r e v i s i o n i s t allies ( 3 ) .
___________________________________ 3 In the J u l y 24, 1968 article T h e Soviet Revisionists and Czechoslovakia, Comrade E n v e r H o x h a pointed out, The Czechoslovak crisis is neither an accidental, unexpected phenomenon nor an isolated crisis. It is part of the large-scale crisis
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T h u s , t h e r e is some o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r y , besides Titoite Y u g o s l a v i a , w h o s e p o l i t i c a l a n d defence ties w i t h the S o v i e t U n i o n are p u r e l y f o r m a l . T h e ties b e t w e e n them are l i m i t e d t o r e c i p r o c a l c o m m e r c i a l e x c h a n g e s o n l y and e v e r y t h i n g else i s tense. N o w i t a l l depends o n w h a t course m a t t e r s w i l l t a k e i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d t h e y c a n not d o o t h e r t h a n t a k e the course w e m e n t i o n e d above. Therefore, w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a c o n s t i tutes a g r e a t defeat f o r t h e S o v i e t l e a d i n g c l i q u e , b e cause i t j e o p a r d i z e s its w h o l e p o l i c y t o w a r d s its r e v i s i o n ist satellites. O n c e this r o a d i s opened, H u n g a r y o r P o l a n d may also f o l l o w the e x a m p l e o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , a n d t h e n the W a r s a w T r e a t y , the p o l i t i c a l l i n k s a n d the s o - c a l l e d ideological l i n k s w o u l d a l l collapse. C o m e c o n l i k e w i s e . I n that case the r e v i s i o n i s t S o v i e t U n i o n w o u l d e x p e r i e n c e a m a j o r p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c u p h e a v a l . S u c h a process w i l l s u r e l y come t o pass. I t i s i n the m a k i n g . A l l these sensational p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l changes t a k i n g place in Czechoslovakia have and w i l l have great repercussions i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f h o w the S o v i e t revisionists, i n o r d e r t o h e l p t h e i r c a u s e , t r y t o disguise, conceal, m i n i m i z e a n d d i s t o r t w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i n Czechoslovakia, t o r e d u c e its effect a n d a v o i d its c o n sequences. S o o n e r o r l a t e r t h e t r u t h w i l l c o m e out, the sun cannot be concealed w i t h a sieve. T h i s is a c h a i n reaction. T h e n i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , i n the c i r c u m s t a n c e s in w h i c h the a l l - r o u n d crisis of the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionist r e g i m e has l o n g b e e n s i m m e r i n g , the s h a k y p o s i tion o f the r u l i n g c l i q u e w i l l b e c o m e e v e n m o r e d i f f i c u l t , the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n the present S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p , which is furiously angry w i t h the Czechoslovak extremist clique (and i s t r y i n g t o devise w a y s a n d m e a n s t o
__________________________________ of modern revisionism, w i t h its centre in the Soviet U n i o n . T h i s crisis is also felt outside the Soviet U n i o n , among its satellites which try to t h r o w off the y o k e of Soviet revisionism.
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d e s t r o y it, b y u n d e r m i n i n g i t f r o m w i t h i n o r b y m e a n s o f a l l sorts o f p r e s s u r e a n d b l a c k m a i l ) , a n d t h e p r o C z e c h o s l o v a k S o v i e t elements, w h o a r e l i k e w i s e d e m a n d i n g f r e e d o m o f a c t i o n , d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n a n d changes, w i l l b e c o m e m o r e acute. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d a n d a b o v e all, the Soviet revisionist leadership is very m u c h afraid of the r i s i n g t i d e of the r e v o l u t i o n , because a l l these d e feats are c o n f i r m i n g t h e b e t r a y a l b y t h e r e v i s i o n i s t chiefs i n t h e eyes o f the masses a n d t h e w o r k i n g class o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . I n t h i s serious s i t u a t i o n f o r t h e m , t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders, c e r t a i n l y d i v i d e d a m o n g t h e m selves, are t r y i n g t o p r e s e r v e the a p p e a r a n c e o f u n i t y i n the l e a d e r s h i p , t r y i n g t o m a k e l i g h t o f t h e i r e x t e r n a l defeats, t r y i n g t o p r e s e r v e t h e status q u o a n d t h e ideological and political stagnation internally, t r y i n g to f o b off the p a r t y a n d the w o r k i n g class w i t h a l l e g e d l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y l e f t i s t slogans, t o create t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t l i b e r a l i z a t i o n does not e n t e r S o v i e t society. H o w ever, a l l these e f f o r t s c a n n o t a c h i e v e m u c h a n d w h a t t h e y have repaired today w i l l fall apart tomorrow. This is the dialectics of the t h i n g s . N o t o n l y i s t h e s t o r m r i s i n g w i t h i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t t h e w a v e s are c r a s h i n g against S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s m f r o m a l l sides, e x t e r n a l l y , too, i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e f r o m the g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a n d a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s o f t h e w o r l d w h o are w a t c h i n g , j u d g i n g a n d f i g h t i n g . A s w e l l a s the s t r u g g l e w a g e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s against t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , w e are seeing a n d w i l l see e v e n m o r e c l e a r l y l a t e r h o w the r e v i s i o n i s t partners o f the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s w i l l a b a n d o n t h e m . A t present these p a r t n e r s h a v e t w o l o v e r s : one o f the h e a r t a n d t h e o t h e r f o r h i s m o n e y . F o r the I t a l i a n , F r e n c h a n d o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t s o f the capitalist countries, C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s m w i l l b e come the f o r m e r , t h e t r u e lover, because it has b r o u g h t
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nearer a n d i s r e a l i z i n g t h e i r d r e a m , because they w i l l boast o f t h i s t o t h e i r o w n c a p i t a l i s t s a n d , o n the strength o f its e x a m p l e , t h e y w i l l beg a crust f r o m t h e capitalist t a b l e . M e a n w h i l e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s m i s t h e o l d lover w h o has t o g i v e t h e m subsidies. T h e I t a l i a n r e v i sionists, d e p u t i e s a n d senators, a t m e e t i n g s a n d o v e r television, a r e s a y i n g o p e n l y , W e are n o t f o r the estab l i s h m e n t i n I t a l y o f a socialist r e g i m e l i k e t h a t i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t f o r a socialist r e g i m e s u c h a s has n o w been e s t a b l i s h e d i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . T h e D u b e k g r o u p , o n t h e r o a d t o the r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m , has n o w g i v e n f r e e d o m o f a c t i o n t o a l l , w i t h the e x c e p t i o n o f p r o l e t a r i a n s , r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t s . F r e e d o m o f the press f o r a l l r e a c t i o n a r i e s has b e e n p r o c l a i m e d , a n d i n fact, i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a t o d a y there i s n o c e n s o r s h i p e v e n f o r t h e b l a c k e s t r e a c t i o n , w h i l e f o r t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m m u n i s t s e v e n f r e e d o m o f speech a n d d i s c u s s i o n w i t h i n the p a r t y h a s b e e n d e n i e d , not t o m e n t i o n t h e i r r i g h t t o g o o u t i n t h e streets t o oppose r e a c t i o n o r t o w r i t e i n the press. S u c h a s i t u a t i o n does n o t e x i s t e v e n in the capitalist c o u n t r i e s w h e r e r e a c t i o n i s i n p o w e r , b u t w h e r e , despite this, t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s h a v e the r i g h t t o o r ganize, t o h o l d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d s t r i k e s , t o h o l d m e e t ings a n d h a v e t h e i r o w n press. H e n c e t h e D u b e k t e a m is quite openly and unashamedly going further: all reac tionaries, a l l t h e fascists, c a n speak h o w a n d w h e r e v e r they l i k e , w h i l e p r i s o n a w a i t s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . W i t h t h i s sort o f f r e e d o m t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i sionist t e a m is consistent in its course. It w a n t s a n d is w o r k i n g t o accelerate a n d a c t i v a t e the process o f d e g e n e r a t i o n i n e v e r y t h i n g f r o m the past. O n this course i t enjoys the assistance of the b o u r g e o i s press in t h e c a p i talist countries, to which the doors o f Czechoslo v a k i a h a v e b e e n f l u n g open s o w i d e t h a t its r e p r e s e n t a -
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t i v e s are present e v e n at the m e e t i n g s of b a s i c o r g a n i z a tions o f the C z e c h o s l o v a k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . T h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n w i t h i n the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i s s t r i v i n g t o consolidate its n e w l y w o n positions a n d i s c e l e b r a t i n g its v i c t o r y . H o w e v e r , the w o r k i n g class a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a h a v e s t i l l not h a d t h e i r say. W i l l the g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t s a n d the w o r k e r s o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a p e r m i t f o r m u c h l o n g e r the b e t r a y a l w h i c h i s b e i n g p e r p e t r a t e d against the C z e c h o s l o v a k people a n d s o c i a l i s m ? It is a l r e a d y clear to e v e r y o n e t h a t the b o u r g e o i s i e , reactionaries, the fascists a n d the h o o l i g a n s w i t h l o n g h a i r , f i n a n c e d b y the i n t e r n a t i o n a l bourgeoisie, are m a k i n g the law in Czechoslovakia today. W i l l the Czechoslovak w o r k i n g class a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a l l o w s u c h a t h i n g ? T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m m u n i s t s a n d the w o r k i n g class of C z e c h o s l o v a k i a m u s t reject the false f r e e d o m s of the D u b e k clique. H o w c a n i t b e t o l e r a t e d t h a t t h e f a s cists, t r a i t o r s a n d f o r m e r l y i m p r i s o n e d class enemies a r e free t o speak a n d attack M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t o s u l l y t h e m e m o r y o f K l e m e n t G o t t w a l d a n d other M a r x i s t - L e n i n ists l i k e f o u l - m o u t h e d hooligans, a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a f a i l t o e r u p t i n a n g e r against t h e m a n d d o n o t h a v e t h e r i g h t t o d e f e n d the cause o f c o m m u n ism? The revolutionary communists must smash all the p s e u d o - n o r m s t h a t h a v e been established i n the C z e c h o slovak C o m m u n i s t P a r t y by N o v o t n y and Dubek, w i t h w h i c h t h e y h a v e b o u n d the c o m m u n i s t s h a n d a n d foot, a n d e s t a b l i s h the L e n i n i s t n o r m s o f K l e m e n t G o t t w a l d , w h o said, T h e P a r t y m u s t b e the l e a d e r o f the masses, the o r g a n i z e r o f t h e i r s t r u g g l e . . . T h e m o r e acute t h e s i t u a t i o n , the t e n s e r the class c o n t r a d i c t i o n , the m o r e i m p o r t a n t a n d d e c i s i v e becomes the role o f the P a r t y . K l e m e n t G o t t w a l d l i k e w i s e said, A n y o p p o r t u n i s m , a n y w a v e r i n g , a n y c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h the o p p o r t u n i s t s , a n y l a c k
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of p r i n c i p l e , i n e v i t a b l y leads to l i q u i d a t i o n i s m . O n l y by rising against t h e m c a n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m m u n i s t s and the w o r k i n g class s m a s h the t r e a c h e r o u s p l a n s w h i c h the N o v o t n y a n d D u b e k cliques h a v e h a t c h e d u p against socialism i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , the f o r m e r w i t h t h e assis tance o f the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d the l a t t e r w i t h the aid of i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c t i o n . T h e u l t r a - r e v i s i o n i s t D u b e k c l i q u e i s a f r a i d o f the people a n d t h e g e n u i n e c o m m u n i s t s , i t i s a f r a i d o f the old g u a r d w h i c h keeps a l i v e t h e s p i r i t o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n ary class s t r u g g l e , of the p a r t i s a n w a r , a n d t h e events of F e b r u a r y 1948 ( 4 ); it is a f r a i d of the w o r k i n g class and the c o m m u n i s t s i n s p i r e d b y G o t t w a l d a c c o r d i n g t o the teachings o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . B e c a u s e o f t h i s fear, N o votny a n d D u b e k , b o t h o f t h e m renegades a n d enemies o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , settled t h e i r accounts i n b e h i n d - t h e scenes deals i n the g l o o m o f P r a g u e Castle, i g n o r i n g the w o r k i n g class a n d b e h i n d its back, a v o i d i n g a n d f e a r ing its j u d g e m e n t . T h e D u b e k c l i q u e f e a r s the w o r k e r s ' m i l i t i a w h i c h has w e a p o n s i n its h a n d s , t h a t i s w h y this clique i s t r y i n g t o d i s a r m t h e w o r k i n g class. W i l l t h e w o r k i n g class p e r m i t s u c h a t h i n g ? T h e v i c t o r i e s of t h e w o r k i n g class i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , w h a t e v e r t h e y be, are being s e r i o u s l y t h r e a t e n e d by the bourgeoisie, the fascists and the u s u r p e r s . T h e r e f o r e , it is n o w or n e v e r t h a t the strength of the w o r k i n g class m u s t be d e m o n s t r a t e d . The tragic situation through w h i c h Czechoslovakia is passing d e m a n d courage a n d d a r i n g . T h e s e are q u a l i t i e s , not of t r a i t o r s a n d c o w a r d s , b u t of r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . W h a t are the b r a v e m e n o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , the g e n u i n e M a r x _________________________________ 4 In F e b r u a r y 1948, under the leadership of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, the Czechoslovak w o r k i n g people defeated the counter-revolutionary attempts. T h e F e b r u a r y events led to the founding of the new government, w i t h G o t t w a l d at the head, on February 25, 1948.
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i s t - L e n i n i s t s a n d the w o r k i n g class d o i n g ? W h y are they s i l e n t ( 5 ) a l l o w i n g t h e c o w a r d s a n d the fascists t o s t r u t i n the streets, t o i m p o s e t h e w h i t e t e r r o r a n d f a b r i c a t e g r a v e situations t h a t d r i v e people t o c o m m i t suicide? W h o m d o the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s f e a r ? I s i t t h a t t h e y w a n t to respect t h e l e g a l i t y of t h e i r p a r t y a n d the l a w s of t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t ? B u t t o d a y i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a that l e g a l i t y does not e x i s t , a n d n e i t h e r the p a r t y n o r t h e state p o w e r belongs t o the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d the w o r k e r s a n y l o n g e r . T h e y h a v e been t u r n e d into a p a r t y a n d a d i c t a t o r s h i p of the bourgeoisie. T h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d w o r k i n g class t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d believe that the revolutionaries and the w o r k i n g class o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a w i l l c o m e o u t i n t h e streets and f i g h t t o d e f e n d t h e interests o f t h e people, s o c i a l i s m and t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t . In the d e c i s i v e days o f F e b r u a r y 1948 t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r y K l e m e n t G o t t w a l d issued t h e c a l l t o a l l the C z e c h o s l o v a k w o r k e r s a n d w o r k i n g p e o p l e : I c a l l o n y o u a l l t o b e v i g i l a n t and i n c o m b a t r e a d i n e s s . . . N i p i n the b u d a n y act o f p r o v o c a t i o n b y r e a c t i o n a r y agents. B e u n i t e d a n d d e t e r m i n e d , and y o u r right w i l l t r i u m p h ! N e w Gottwalds and Fuiks w i l l come o u t o n the b a t t l e f i e l d , t a l e n t e d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d o u t s t a n d i n g leaders, w h o w i l l l e a d the C z e c h o s l o v a k w o r k i n g class a n d w o r k i n g people i n battles t o destroy t h e r o t t e n fortress o f t h e N o v o t n y a n d D u b e k cliques. T h i s i s the o n l y w a y w h i c h w i l l b r i n g n o g r i s t t o the
_________________________________ 5 In the article of J u l y 24. 1968, Comrade E n v e r H o x h a also stresses, A people w h o lose their revolutionary vigilance for a period, be it even for a short one, w h o w e a k e n a n d lose the m i l i tant spirit to defend their independence and rights, are faced w i t h m a n y evils the i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l enemies get up for them. T h e times i n w h i c h w e are l i v i n g and f i g h t i n g require that the peoples should not f a l l asleep, should not a l l o w to be lulled into sleep l i k e babies in the cradle by the demagogy of a h a n d f u l of traitors w h o are forging heavy chains for them.
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mill of the Soviet revisionists, Dubek, or the i m p e r i a l ists, but r e s p o n d s o n l y t o t h e i n t e r e s t s o f the C z e c h o s l o v a k people, t h e i n t e r e s t s o f s o c i a l i s m a n d w o r l d p r o l e t a r i a n revolution.
Against Modern Revisionism 1968-1970
ON THE PRESENT INTERNATIONAL SITUATION
From the Report to the 5th Plenum of the CC of the PLA

September 5, 1968
Dear
comrades,
At its m e e t i n g of S e p t e m b e r 3, 1968, a f t e r e x a m i n i n g and analyzing the international situation in general and t h e t r a g i c events w h i c h o c c u r r e d r e c e n t l y i n t h e S o c i a l i s t Republic of Czechoslovakia in particular, and after studyi n g t h e p o l i t i c a l , m i l i t a r y a n d j u r i d i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n the W a r s a w T r e a t y i n the l i g h t o f t h e fascist aggression committed by the Soviet, Polish, E a s t - G e r m a n , H u n g a r i a n a n d B u l g a r i a n g o v e r n m e n t s a g a i n s t C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u d e c i d e d t o c a l l this session o f t h e P l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y a n d t o p r e s e n t f o r d i s c u s s i o n a n d a p p r o v a l t h e c o n c l u s i o n s r e a c h e d o n t h i s now aggressive treaty. B e f o r e i n f o r m i n g y o u a b o u t those d e c i sions a n d proposals of t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u , I w a n t to p o i n t out some aspects of the present i n t e r n a t i o n a l events, a n d the tasks w h i c h e m e r g e f o r o u r P a r t y , people a n d state i n these situations. T h e d e n u n c i a t i o n o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y b y t h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a p r e c i s e l y a t these v e r y favourable political moments, w i t h a l l the political, ideol o g i c a l , j u r i d i c a l a n d o t h e r r i g h t s a n d r e a s o n s o n o u r side,
REPORT TO THE 5th PLENUM
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w i l l c e r t a i n l y raise the prestige o f t h e P a r t y , t h e people, the G o v e r n m e n t a n d the P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a s t i l l higher i n the eyes o f a l l p r o g r e s s i v e peoples o f the w o r l d . O n the other h a n d , i n d e n o u n c i n g t h i s aggressive t r e a t y from w h i c h it has l o n g b e e n e x c l u d e d de facto by t h e revisionist m e m b e r s o f t h i s t r e a t y , t h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a s t r e n g t h e n s its positions a n d a v e r t s a p o s s i b l e danger o f a g g r e s s i o n o f w h i c h w e h a v e l o n g b e e n a w a r e in o u r s t r u g g l e against the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , a d a n g e r w h i c h w a s f u l l y c o n f i r m e d i n t h e case o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . I w a n t t o stress t h a t w h e n t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y w a s signed (in 1955), t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s d i f f e r e n t , b u t i t has now c h a n g e d c o m p l e t e l y because, s i n c e the b e t r a y a l o f the S o v i e t a n d o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t s , t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h i s treaty has b e e n t o t a l l y t r a n s f o r m e d b o t h p o l i t i c a l l y a n d ideologically, a n d m i l i t a r i l y . A t t h e t i m e t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y w a s signed, t h a t is, after t h e d e a t h o f S t a l i n a n d b e f o r e t h e B u c h a r e s t M e e t i n g , about F e b r u a r y 1956, w h e n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s ' v i e w s o f t h e N i k i t a K h r u s h c h e v g r o u p h a d s t i l l n o t come t o l i g h t t o their f u l l e x t e n t , t h e r e w e r e e v i d e n t signs o f some sort of incitement towards political and ideological liberalism i n the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f a rapprochement w i t h the Y u g o s l a v revisionists. H o w e v e r , at that t i m e , t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s h a d not yet c o m e o u t openly w i t h t h e i r theses a n d t h e p o l i t i c a l m o m e n t s seemed to be such that they called for the signing of the W a r s a w Treaty, w h i c h w a s c r e a t e d t o s a f e g u a r d the i n d e p e n d e n c e of all the socialist states i n d i v i d u a l l y a n d the socialist c a m p as a w h o l e against i m p e r i a l i s t a g g r e s s i o n a n d t h e aggressive b l o c o f N A T O a n d t o p r e v e n t i n t e r f e r e n c e i n t h e i r internal a f f a i r s . H e n c e , i t w a s c o r r e c t a n d p r o g r e s s i v e for u s t o s i g n t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y , t h e s i t u a t i o n r e q u i r e d this, t h e r e f o r e o u r P a r t y a n d G o v e r n m e n t e n d o r s e d a n d signed it.
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It must be said, however, that even at that time for u s the W a r s a w T r e a t y e x i s t e d o n l y o n paper, because the m i l i t a r y relations concerning the defence of o u r country, the s u p p l y o f a r m a m e n t s i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h i s T r e a t y , and the respective agreements w e r e concluded between t w o states o n l y , t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d A l b a n i a , w h i l e i n r e g a r d to o t h e r questions, as a m e m b e r c o u n t r y of the W a r s a w T r e a t y , w e w e r e t r e a t e d o n l y a s stage e x t r a s i n the f u l l sense o f the t e r m . T h e o t h e r m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y w e r e i n the s a m e p o s i t i o n . P e r h a p s t h e S o v i e t s m a y h a v e h e l d s e p a r a t e m e e t i n g s w i t h the o t h e r m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s o f this T r e a t y w i t h o u t t h e p a r ticipation of A l b a n i a , but we noticed that the joint meetings w e r e p u r e l y f o r m a l , a s w a s the case o f t h e m e e t i n g s h e l d f r o m t i m e t o t i m e t o elect the g e n e r a l s e c r e t a r y o f the Consultative Political Committee a n d the commanderin-chief. Hence, in a few words, the W a r s a w T r e a t y did n o t f u n c t i o n as a c o l l e c t i v e o r g a n of t h e m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s . W h e n w e e x p o s e d t h e great b e t r a y a l o f t h e S o v i e t revisionists and all other modern revisionists, then their h o s t i l e a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s the P a r t y , the G o v e r n m e n t a n d the People's R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a in all fields, political, ideological, economic and military, was displayed openly. Thus, far f r o m being a means of defence for our Party a n d people, the W a r s a w T r e a t y c o n s t i t u t e d a t h r e a t to t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e c o u n t r y . I n fact, e v e n t h e n the r e v i s i o n i s t s h a d de facto e x c l u d e d us f r o m the Treaty. The Political B u r e a u and the Central C o m m i t t e e o f o u r P a r t y h a v e l o n g been c l e a r a b o u t this p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y s i t u a t i o n i n the W a r s a w T r e a t y , t h e r e f o r e w i t h t h e b r e a c h i n r e l a t i o n s w i t h the r e v i s i o n i s t countries, o u r w h o l e d e f e n c e has been b u i l t a s a n a l l - s i d e d defence, r e a d y f o r a n y k i n d o f d a n g e r o r a t t a c k b o t h f r o m the i m p e r i a l i s t c o u n t r i e s a n d f r o m the r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s . In fact, even though we were excluded from the
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W a r s a w T r e a t y w e h a v e a l w a y s o p p o s e d its u n j u s t actions, but its m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s n e v e r accepted o u r d e m a n d s . They m a y h a v e t a k e n some secret i n t e r n a l d e c i s i o n a n d expelled u s f r o m t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y , b u t e v e n i f t h e y have not t a k e n t h i s secret d e c i s i o n , e f f e c t i v e l y w e a r e expelled. The recent events in Czechoslovakia c o n f i r m w h a t we long ago f o r e s a w , t h a t the W a r s a w T r e a t y n o l o n g e r has the c h a r a c t e r i t h a d w h e n i t w a s created. A l l the m e m b e r countries o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y i n w h i c h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t cliques are i n p o w e r , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f R u m a n i a , a t tacked C z e c h o s l o v a k i a in a p e r f i d i o u s fascist m a n n e r , i.e. they u s e d the W a r s a w T r e a t y as a m e a n s to oppress a n d enslave a m e m b e r c o u n t r y of this T r e a t y , hence w h a t the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f o u r P a r t y h a d foreseen c a m e t o pass, and the p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d i s s u c h t h a t w e s h o u l d denounce t h i s T r e a t y . T h e d e n u n c i a t i o n o f t h e W a r s a w Treaty in this international situation w i l l find the complete support a n d e n d o r s e m e n t o f t h e e n t i r e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e and o u r P a r t y , a s w e l l a s o f p r o g r e s s i v e d e m o c r a t i c elements o f t h e w o r l d a n d g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , w h o will approve this political action of the People's Republic of A l b a n i a . In this way, our defence w i l l be strengthened, sympathy f o r and the authority of the Party, the G o v e r n ment a n d the P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a w i l l b e i n c r e a s e d , because i n these m o ments, w h e n the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e t h r e a t e n i n g t o put e v e n t h e c o u n t r i e s o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y t h e m s e l v e s t o the t o r c h , w e slap t h e m i n t h e f a c e w i t h t h e i r o w n fascist acts a n d p u b l i c l y a n d c o u r a g e o u s l y e x p o s e t h e m . B u t is the denunciation of the W a r s a w Treaty in our f a v o u r i n these i n t e r n a t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s ? I n t h i s s i t u a tion c r e a t e d b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , i n t h e c o n d i t i o n s of the sharpening of the crisis w h i c h has gripped the capitalist c o u n t r i e s , w h e n t h e S o v i e t - U S a l l i a n c e t o s u p -
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p r e s s t h e l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e s o f t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d i s b e i n g s t r e n g t h e n e d m o r e a n d m o r e , w e s a y t h a t this denunciation is in our favour. We consider that the existence o f the W a r s a w T r e a t y p l a y e d n o p o s i t i v e r o l e a t all i n t h e defence o f o u r c o u n t r y . O n the c o n t r a r y , i t w a s a danger w h i c h w i l l r e m a i n even after we revoke this Treaty. So, i n this case w e lose n o t h i n g . T h e o t h e r e n e m i e s , the i m p e r i a l i s t s , l i k e w i s e , d o n o t r e l i n q u i s h a n y t h i n g , they w a n t t o a t t a c k a n d e n s l a v e us, j u s t a s before, t h e r e f o r e , i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n n o t h i n g i s c h a n g e d . A s r e g a r d s t h e threats t o a n d t h e defence o f o u r c o u n t r y , t h e d e n u n c i a t i o n o f the W a r s a w T r e a t y a l t e r s n o t h i n g . U p t i l l y e s t e r d a y , i n t h e o r y , the U S i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d their friends m i g h t have said that they must not attack A l b a n i a , because the forces o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y m i g h t b e set i n m o t i o n . F o r u s t h i s t h e o r e t i c a l s u p p o s i t i o n i s valueless, because w h e t h e r o r n o t A l b a n i a i s i n the W a r saw T r e a t y can have no affect in regard to the strategy o f N A T O i n t h e B a l k a n s , t h e r e f o r e the i m p e r i a l i s t s c o u l d attack us in both eventualities. H o w e v e r , i n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s the d e n u n c i a t i o n o f the W a r s a w T r e a t y b y the P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a assumes special i m p o r t a n c e . W h e n w e d e n o u n c e t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y , the m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s o f N A T O c a n n o t p u t f o r w a r d the excuse. W e are a t t a c k i n g A l b a n i a because it is a m e m b e r c o u n t r y of t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y , b u t t h e y w i l l be a t t a c k i n g a c o u n t r y w h i c h is n o t a m e m b e r o f the W a r s a w T r e a t y , s o w e d e p r i v e t h e m o f this argument. Thus, in both instances the denunciation o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y i n n o w a y h a r m s t h e cause o f t h e defence o f o u r c o u n t r y . T h i s act i s one h u n d r e d p e r cent i n o u r f a v o u r . T h e p r o p a g a n d a o f the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s w i l l scream, N o w A l b a n i a has l i n k e d itself w i t h N A T O , etc. b u t n o o n e w i l l s w a l l o w t h i s ; let t h e m b a r k a s they h a v e done u n t i l n o w . because l i f e itself a n d the d e -
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termined r e v o l u t i o n a r y stands o f o u r P a r t y a n d people w i l l c e r t a i n l y expose t h e m m e r c i l e s s l y . T h e r e f o r e , c o m rades, i t i s g o o d t h a t w e s h o u l d discuss t h i s q u e s t i o n o f great i m p o r t a n c e a n d t a k e a d e c i s i o n on it. T h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the P a r t y has f u l l k n o w ledge of the d e v e l o p m e n t of events in the i n t e r n a t i o n a l arena a n d e s p e c i a l l y o f t h e events i n t h e S o c i a l i s t R e public o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s . Zri i p o p u l l i t a n d a l l t h e press o f o u r c o u n t r y h a v e given d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t these events, h a v e t a k e n the p r o p e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t a n d t o w a r d s t h e m , a n d m a d e penetrating a n a l y s e s t o e x p l a i n t h e o r i g i n o f the t r e a cherous a n d a g g r e s s i v e r e v i s i o n i s t acts, b o t h those b y the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r a g g r e s s o r satellites a n d those b y t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t t r a i t o r s a n d c a p i tulationists. T h e r e f o r e , w e t h i n k t h a t i t i s n o t n e c e s s a r y for u s t o g o o v e r t h e events c h r o n o l o g i c a l l y . I w a n t t o r e - e m p h a s i z e w h a t o u r P a r t y a n d its C e n tral C o m m i t t e e f o r e s a w c o r r e c t l y , n a m e l y t h a t the great crisis i n t h e c a m p o f the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s i s b e i n g c o n f i r m e d a n d g r o w i n g deeper w i t h each p a s s i n g y e a r . A l l these e v e n t s a n d those w h i c h a r e b o u n d t o occur i n t h e future, w h i c h w i l l b e e v e n m o r e c a t a s t r o p h i c t o t h e r e v i sionists, are t h e r e s u l t a n d consequence o f t h e i r b e t r a y a l o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t course t h e y h a v e taken i n i d e o l o g y , p o l i c y , e c o n o m y , i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of the p a r t y , t h e state a n d t h e e c o n o m y . The liquidation of the victories of socialism in their countries b y the S o v i e t a n d o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t s , t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s i n t o b o u r g e o i s social-democratic parties, t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e i r e c o n omies i n t o c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m i e s b r o u g h t a b o u t a s a n i n evitable r e s u l t t h e a l t e r a t i o n o f t h e i r i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l policy i n t o a c h a u v i n i s t , o p p r e s s i v e , fascist p o l i c y , a policy o f r u l i n g t h e i r peoples t h r o u g h force a n d t e r r o r , t h e
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a l t e r a t i o n o f the o b j e c t i v e s o f the v a r i o u s a l l i a n c e s concluded among them into enslaving political, economic and m i l i t a r y a l l i a n c e s i n f a v o u r o f the most p o w e r f u l r e v i s i o n i s t state, w h i c h i s t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a n d t o t h e det r i m e n t o f its satellites, a n d f i n a l l y a p o l i c y o f t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n a l l i a n c e f o r the d i v i s i o n o f spheres o f i n f l u e n c e , f o r t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f the w o r l d b y t h e t w o great p o w e r s , f o r the a r m e d a n d u n a r m e d s t r u g g l e against t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t , s o c i a l i s m , and peoples' n a t i o n a l liberation wars. T h i s w h o l e c o u r s e o f b e t r a y a l t r a v e r s e d b y the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r l a c k e y s s i n c e the 20th Congress of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n is an u n i n t e r r u p t e d sequence of resounding defeats for t h e m . T h e p y r a m i d s t h e y h a v e set u p a l o n g this r o a d are pyramids w i t h shaky, rotten foundations, erected with g r e a t desperate efforts, w h i c h h a v e e x p o s e d t h e m t o t a l l y a n d definitively in the eyes not only of revolutionary c o m m u n i s t s a n d the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t , b u t also o f a l l honest p e o p l e o f t h e w o r l d . A l l t h i s f e v e r i s h t r e a c h e r o u s a c t i v i t y o f the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r s e r v a n t s has t a k e n place w h i l e the g e n e r a l crisis o f w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m , h e a d e d b y U S i m p e r i a l i s m , w a s i n t h e process o f g r o w i n g deeper. P r e c i s e l y i n o r d e r t o rescue w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m f r o m its g r a v e crisis a n d the r e v o l u t i o n , t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r s e r v a n t s t o o k u p o n t h e m s e l v e s t h e r o l e o f scabs a n d t r a i t o r s t o the r e v o l u t i o n a n d peoples' n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n w a r s , u n d e r t h e d e s p i c a b l e slogans o f a w o r l d w i t h o u t w a r s , a w o r l d w i t h o u t arms, p e a c e f u l coexistence, etc. Naturally, at the favourable revolutionary moments, w i t h i n the g r e a t g e n e r a l crisis o f w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m , the c r i s i s i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , these n e w capitalists, w a s b o u n d t o become i n c r e a s i n g l y deeper and m o r e acute.
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I n the f i r s t place, t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w o u l d lose their h e g e m o n y a n d a b s o l u t e p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d economic c o n t r o l o v e r t h e i r s a t e l l i t e s a n d a l l the r e v i s i o n i s t chiefs o f v a r i o u s p a r t i e s . T h i s defeat f o r t h e m w o u l d b e b r o u g h t a b o u t not o n l y b y t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e i r a n t i M a r x i s t i d e o l o g y a n d the n e w f o r m s w h i c h w e r e a d o p t e d , but also because U S i m p e r i a l i s m , i n t h e f i r s t place, a n d w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m , e a c h s e p a r a t e l y a n d a l l o f t h e m together, would undertake, as they did, to b u i l d bridges in order t o p r e c i p i t a t e the u n d e r m i n i n g o f the S o v i e t d o m i n a t i o n , t o a c t i v a t e p o l y c e n t r i s m a n d c e n t r i f u g a l tendencies f r o m Moscow, to encourage liberalization in the life of the countries w h e r e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s r u l e . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s s u f f e r e d colossal loss o f p r e s tige a n d a u t h o r i t y , a s w e l l a s e c o n o m i c d a m a g e f r o m this development, a n d t h e m o r e t h e y lost, t h e m o r e closely the t r a i t o r c l i q u e o f t h e K r e m l i n l i n k e d itself w i t h U S i m perialism, w h i c h , thanks to its alliances w i t h the Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s , w a s a b l e t o o v e r c o m e t h e I n d o n e s i a n crisis, the D o m e n i c a n a n d I n d o - P a k i s t a n crises, t h e c r i s i s i n its relations w i t h F r a n c e a n d m a n y o t h e r s . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s are g r e a t l y w o r r i e d because they w a n t t o h a v e c o n t r o l o v e r a l l the r e v i s i o n i s t s o f the world, w h o m they need so desperately to sing in h a r m o n y w i t h t h e m a n d set u p a s m o k e - s c r e e n . A b o v e a l l , t h e Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s are t r y i n g t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r p o l i t i c a l , ideological, e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y h e g e m o n y o v e r t h e i r satellites i n E u r o p e . The big game w h i c h is being played in Europe is over the u n i f i c a t i o n o f G e r m a n y . T h i s i s t h e a i m o f B o n n and U S i m p e r i a l i s m . O n t h e i r p a r t , t h e y are m a k i n g efforts t o e n s u r e the l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e G e r m a n D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c w i t h o u t a w a r . T h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f the G e r m a n Democratic Republic f r o m the map of Europe a n d t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n e w R e i c h i s the k e y t o l i q u i d a t i n g
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S o v i e t i n f l u e n c e o v e r its E u r o p e a n satellites a n d d e p e l o p i n g f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s o f the l a t t e r w i t h B o n n . T h e offers o f B o n n are m a k i n g some h e a d w a y w i t h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s cliques. T h e S o v i e t s , Z h i v k o v , G o m u l k a , T i t o , e v e n U l b r i c h t , a n d others are v e r y k e e n o n t h e h u g e c r e d i t s t h e y r e c e i v e f r o m B o n n a n d are w e l c o m i n g the G e r m a n t o u r i s t s g l e e f u l l y . T h i s i n d u c e d the S o v i e t U n i o n , Y u g o s l a v i a a n d R u m a n i a to establish diplomatic relations w i t h B o n n . The C z e c h s a n d B u l g a r i a n s , not t o m e n t i o n t h e H u n g a r i a n s , were ready to follow suit. T h e Soviet revisionists are a f r a i d and w i l l not commit t h e m s e l v e s t o s i g n i n g t h e peace t r e a t y w i t h t h e G e r m a n Democratic Republic, w h i c h they are sacrificing for the sake o f t h e S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n a l l i a n c e . T h e n w h a t d o t h e y p u t as a c o u n t e r to t h e s o l u t i o n of t h i s basic p r o b l e m ? H o t a i r t h e m e e t i n g a n d the u n f e a s i b l e p r o p o s a l s of K a r l o v y V a r y and the ideological disintegration i n their camp, or the coming abortive M o s c o w Conference! I n these i n t e r n a t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k crisis, w h i c h h a d b e e n s i m m e r i n g f o r a b o u t a year, c a m e to a head. It was an internal crisis of Czechoslovak r e v i s i o n i s m , i n w h i c h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w e r e i n v o l v e d up to their elbows as we have already analysed and, gen e r a l l y s p e a k i n g , the facts h a v e p r o v e d o u r a n a l y s i s c o r r e c t . T h e Dubek clique overthrew the Novotny clique and set o f f at a h e a d l o n g g a l l o p t o w a r d s t h e W e s t . T h e s t r a tegic-military balance of the defence of the Soviet U n i o n w a s upset. I n t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e S o v i e t s , t h e G e r m a n D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c a n d t h e People's R e p u b l i c o f H u n g a r y w e r e e n d a n g e r e d , not o n l y p o l i t i c a l l y b u t also m i litarily. Thus, events were precipitating. The Soviet, G e r m a n a n d P o l i s h r e v i s i o n i s t s w e r e i n great t r o u b l e . F o l l o w i n g t h e e x a m p l e o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , d e m o n s t r a t i o n s against G o m u l k a began in P o l a n d . N o t h i n g could h o l d back the G e r m a n s of U l b r i c h t . they were only awaiting the signal.
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I n D r e s d e n the D u b e k c l i q u e r e s i s t e d its o p p o n e n t s who met later in W a r s a w a n d gave it the u l t i m a t u m we k n o w a n d w h i c h o u r P a r t y ' s press has a n a l y s e d c o r r e c t l y , taking a resolute a n d p r i n c i p l e d stand. Y o u k n o w a b o u t t h e subsequent m e e t i n g s o r g a n i z e d b y the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r l a c k e y s a t e r n a n a Tissu a n d B r a t i s l a v a ( 1 ) , a n d t h e c o m m u n i q u e s t h e y i s s u e d . Y o u also k n o w a b o u t t h e m i l i t a r y m a n o e u v r e s o f t h e f i v e member countries of the W a r s a w T r e a t y in Czechoslovakia a n d l a t e r a l o n g its b o r d e r s ; y o u k n o w o f the t r i u m p h a l visits o f T i t o a n d C e a u s e s c u t o P r a g u e . Y o u are i n f o r m e d about a l l these t h i n g s f r o m o u r press, w h i c h c o m m e n t e d o n t h e m e x t e n s i v e l y , i n the t r u e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y . T h e a r t i c l e s a n d c o m m e n t a r i e s o f o u r press a n d R a d i o T i r a n a h a v e b e e n f o l l o w e d w i t h great i n t e r e s t a n d h a v e e n h a n c e d t h e a u t h o r i t y o f o u r P a r t y because o f i t s heroic, resolute, just, M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s t a n d . W i t h i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e y h a v e m a d e great i m p r e s s i o n , be cause o f t h e i r c l a r i t y a n d o b j e c t i v i t y . T h e fascist a t t a c k o n a n d o c c u p a t i o n o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a b y the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s c o m p l e t e l y t o r e the m a s k f r o m the c l i q u e i n t h e K r e m l i n . M o r e o v e r , e v e n t h e m e t h o d s t h e y used, r a n g i n g f r o m pressure, b l a c k m a i l a n d t h e J u d a s ' kisses i n B r a t i s l a v a , d o w n t o t h e i r s u d d e n attack, i n the d a r k n e s s o f t h e n i g h t , w i t h o u t a n y fact t o s e r v e e v e n as a f o r m a l excuse for their brutal a r m e d intervention, s h o w t h i s i n t e r v e n t i o n i n its r e a l fascist i m p e r i a l i s t l i g h t . T h e y s u l l i e d t h e p r e s t i g e o f the S o v i e t U n i o n a s the f i r s t socialist c o u n t r y !
__________________________________ 1 At e r n a na T i s s u in eastern Slovakia, talks were held be tween the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the CC of the revisionist party of the Soviet U n i o n a n d the p r e s i d i u m of the revisionist party of Czechoslovakia. At B r a t i s l a v a a meeting was held between delegations of the revisionist parties of the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, P o l a n d , the G e r m a n Democratic Republic, H u n gary and B u l g a r i a .
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T h r o u g h their hostile activity the Soviet revisionists h a v e been w o r k i n g s y s t e m a t i c a l l y , a c c o r d i n g to a f i e n d i s h p l a n , t o w i p e o u t t h a t colossal c r e d i t t h a t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n h a d g a i n e d i n t h e eyes o f t h e w o r l d a s t h e f i r s t socialist c o u n t r y . T h i s i s t h e greatest loss c o m m u n i s m has s u f f e r e d a n d i t w i l l t a k e t i m e , b l o o d a n d s w e a t f o r the true Soviet communists and all the Marxist-Leninists of the w o r l d t o r e g a i n t h a t c r e d i t . A s f o r t h e S o v i e t r e v i sionists t h e m s e l v e s , t h e y h a v e lost e v e n w h a t l i t t l e c r e d i t t h e y m a y h a v e h a d a m o n g the r e v i s i o n i s t s o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s a n d a m o n g v a c i l l a t i n g o p p o r t u n i s t elements, because i n appearances, a t least, a l l t h i s f i l t h , t h i s s c u m o f i n t e r national c o m m u n i s m is not in agreement w i t h the b r u t a l a n d aggressive acts o f the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , does n o t r e c o n c i l e itself t o S o v i e t i m p e r i a l i s m a n d h e g e m o n y . T h i s scum is part and parcel of that national capitalism w h i c h aims to strengthen its hegemony o v e r the others. T h i s s c u m w a s h o p i n g that, a t least, the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w o u l d n o t t r a n s f o r m t h e i r p o l i c y o f p e a c e f u l coexistence i n t o a p o l i c y o f b r u t a l f o r c e w h i c h w o u l d j e o p a r d i z e the h e g e m o n y o f t h e o t h e r c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s o f w h i c h the revisionists are lackeys. T h e r e f o r e , w i t h the b r u t a l o c c u p a t i o n o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , w e see t h a t n e a r l y a l l the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s o f t h e w o r l d , w h e r e v e r t h e y are, w i t h t h e F r e n c h C o m m u n i s t P a r t y a n d the I t a l i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y a t t h e h e a d , a r e openly declaring themselves opposed to the a r m e d occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet revisionists. Just a s w e f o r e s a w , the s p l i t i n the r a n k s o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i s g r o w i n g deeper, t h o u g h t h e y w i l l not b r e a k o f f r e l a t i o n s w i t h one a n o t h e r a n d w i l l get t h e m g o i n g a g a i n f o r m a l l y . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e basis o f these p a r t i e s i s rotten, s h a k y , a l m o s t n o n - e x i s t e n t a n d i s c o l l a p s i n g c o m pletely. T h e i r n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o i s i e w i l l w r e a k h a v o c a m o n g the r a n k s o f these p a r t i e s i n o r d e r t o w e a k e n a n d l i q u i d a t e
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even t h a t r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l i n f l u e n c e t h e y s t i l l h a v e left. F o r some m o n t h s a t least t h e r e v i s i o n i s t C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n w i l l b e alone, i s o l a t e d , w i l l have o n its side o n l y those f o u r p a r t i e s w h i c h f o l l o w e d it in t h e a t t a c k on C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , a n d a f e w l i c k s p i t t l e s of the apatride* e m i g r a n t s , w h o h a v e no f o l l o w e r s apart f r o m t h e m s e l v e s a n d w h o s e o n l y i d e a l i s the S o v i e t ruble. T h u s , a s w e p r e d i c t e d , the r e v i s i o n i s t c o n f e r e n c e i n M o s c o w has b e e n c o m p r o m i s e d , a n d e v e n i f the S o v i e t s m a n a g e t o h o l d it, t h e y w i l l d o s o o n l y b y m e a n s o f threats a n d the f o r c e o f the r u b l e , a n d i t w i l l b e a n u t t e r farce. A b o v e a l l , the a r m e d attack o n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a has been a catastrophe, s u i c i d e , f o r t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e fact is t h a t t h i s act is a b l o w to t h e i r p o l i c y of p e a c e f u l coexistence a n d a s e l f - i n f l i c t e d defeat f o r t h e i r l i b e r a l r e visionist p o l i c y . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t L e f t i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , o r the r e v i s i o n i s t c o n s e r v a t i v e s , as t h e y insist on b e i n g c a l l e d , forced the liberals into silence and here considerations of strategic d e f e n c e a n d p r e s t i g e p l a y e d the m a i n role. T h e e n e m y w a s a t t h e door, a n d t h e k n i f e w a s a t t h e i r t h r o a t s . T h e r e are r u m o u r s that there w i l l be a changing of the g u a r d i n the p r e s e n t S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p . Naturally, the existing crisis in the Soviet revisionist l e a d e r s h i p w i l l g r o w deeper, h o w e v e r , t h e r e m u s t b e n o i l l u s i o n s a b o u t those w h o m a y b e b r o u g h t i n e v e n t u a l l y . T h e y w i l l b e j u s t l i k e those w h o m a y g o out a l l o f t h e m are p u t s c h i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s . H o w e v e r , a c h a n g i n g o f t h e g u a r d w i l l , t o some extent, s h a k e t h e s l u m b e r i n g I v a n o u t o f his deep sleep. U n d e r t h e p r e s s u r e o f events, h e m a y b e g i n t o t h i n k a l i t t l e a b o u t w h y s u c h t h i n g s are h a p p e n i n g a n d w h a t
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* without homeland (French in the original).
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he s h o u l d do a b o u t t h e m . T h i s is the p o s i t i v e aspect of t h e possible change. These changes w i l l w e a k e n the r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p a n d e n c o u r a g e r e s i s t a n c e t o it. I n the r a n k s of the satellites, too, a c h a n g i n g of t h e g u a r d in the K r e m l i n could and must touch off a chain-reaction, b r i n g i n g changes, i f not i m m e d i a t e l y , a t least g r a d u a l l y , a m o n g some of t h e m , if not e v e r y w h e r e . I n a n y case, some m o n t h s p r i o r t o the a t t a c k o n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e L e f t took p e r i p h e r i c a l m i l i t a r y m e a s u r e s t o e n s u r e the rear a n d f r o n t l i n e s o f the S o v i e t U n i o n . O n t h i s occasion i t s t r e n g t h e n e d its o c c u p a t i o n o f P o l a n d a n d the G e r m a n D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c a n d , a f t e r the m i l i t a r y o c c u p a t i o n o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , f r o m w h i c h t h e S o v i e t troops w i l l n e v e r b e w i t h d r a w n , r e i n f o r c e d its g a r r i s o n s i n H u n g a r y a n d B u l g a r i a , w h e r e the S o v i e t troops are dressed i n t h e u n i f o r m o f t h e B u l g a r i a n a r m y . A l l t h i s has b e e n d i c t a t e d b y the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s ' f e a r of a t o t a l d i s i n t e g r a t i o n a n d the c o m p l e t e b r e a k - a w a y o f t h e i r satellites f r o m t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a s w e l l a s o f a n analogous o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y o u t b r e a k i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n itself. H e n c e , w e a r e e n t i t l e d t o p u t f o r w a r d t h e h y p o t h e s i s t h a t this m a y h a v e been t h e o b j e c t i v e of t h i s w h o l e o p e r a t i o n . T h u s , w h e t h e r or not t h e r e is a c h a n g i n g of t h e g u a r d i n the K r e m l i n , the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e p a n i c s t r i c k e n o v e r events b o t h i n s i d e a n d outside t h e i r c o u n t r y , a n d t h e y h a v e p u t t h e q u e s t i o n o f m a i n t a i n i n g this s i t u a t i o n first, e v e n b y a r m e d force, e v e n b y a r m e d o c c u p a t i o n o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , a l t h o u g h t h e y k n o w a n d are c o n v i n c e d t h a t n e i t h e r t h e Poles, n o r the E a s t - G e r m a n s , n o r t h e H u n g a r i a n s agree w i t h t h e m . A t t h e p r e s e n t j u n c t u r e , these satellites a r e o b l i g e d t o e x p r e s s t h e i r s h a m s o l i d a r i t y w i t h these acts o f t h e Soviets, a t least f o r the t i m e b e i n g . H e n c e , f r o m n o w on, solutions t o p r o b l e m s a n d c o n tradictions, w h i c h w i l l become more p r o f o u n d and abrasive
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between t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r s a t e l l i t e s , t h e other m e m b e r s o f the W a r s a w T r e a t y , w i l l b e i m p o s e d by force by the Soviet U n i o n or eventually, result in armed clashes. T h e r e i s n o o t h e r w a y t h e y c a n go. O f a l l the satellites o f the S o v i e t U n i o n , C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i s the m o s t t y p i c a l e x a m p l e . I t w a s o c c u p i e d a n d the others h a v e b e e n o c c u p i e d . N o w t h e S o v i e t o c c u p a t i o n forces w i l l m a k e t h e l a w i n t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k R e p u b l i c . They w i l l a p p o i n t t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the C z e c h o s l o v a k party a n d g o v e r n m e n t . I f i t i s h e l d , t h e congress o f t h e Czechoslovak C o m m u n i s t P a r t y w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d a c cording t o d i r e c t i v e s f r o m M o s c o w . T h u s , C z e c h o s l o v a k i a has been t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a S o v i e t c o l o n y . P o l a n d , t h e German Democratic Republic and Hungary, not to m e n tion B u l g a r i a w h i c h has l o n g b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a Soviet c o l o n y , w i l l u n d e r g o s i m i l a r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s . T h i s is their course w h i c h o n l y a r m e d conflicts among different cliques c a n a l t e r ; it is a c o u r s e w h i c h e n d a n g e r s o n l y t h e Soviet c o l o n i a l y o k e , while the proletarian revolution is the best means to put a definitive end to this tragedy and intrigue hatched up by the Soviet imperialists and world imperialism. T h e r e f o r e , these m o m e n t s are v e r y f a v o u r a b l e t o t h e true M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s e v e r y w h e r e i n the w o r l d . T h e y m u s t o r g a n i z e a n d m o b i l i z e t h e i r peoples i n resistance a n d a r m e d s t r u g g l e against b o t h m o d e r n r e v i sionism a n d i m p e r i a l i s m . W i t h the fascist-type aggression they committed against t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k people a n d t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k Republic, t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t aggressors s u f f e r e d a great and i g n o m i n i o u s defeat. A l l w o r l d o p i n i o n has r i s e n against them. T h e i r a c t i o n i s i m m o r a l , c y n i c a l a n d fascist. T h e r e i s n o p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l o r j u r i d i c a l basis i n t h e i r a c t i o n . A l l their arguments to j u s t i f y their aggression are u n f o u n d e d a n d false. T h e b e t r a y e r s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m
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a n d t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e t r e a c h e r o u s course o f r e v i s i o n i s m a r e i n n o p o s i t i o n t o accuse t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t s o f h a v i n g b e t r a y e d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o r o f t a k i n g the r e v i s i o n i s t course. T h e Soviet revisionist traitors, w h o are the political a n d ideological partners, friends a n d allies of US i m p e r i a l i s m , are i n n o p o s i t i o n t o accuse the C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t s o f m o v i n g t o w a r d s a close a l l i a n c e w i t h w o r l d capitalism. T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t t r a i t o r s , w h o h a v e r e d u c e d the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y to a degenerate p a r t y , a p a r t y w i t h o u t the Leninist spirit and norms, a social-democratic party w h i c h they keep in existence only for the sake of its name, are i n n o p o s i t i o n t o accuse t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t s of destroying the Czechoslovak Communist P a r t y and t r a n s f o r m i n g it i n t o a s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c p a r t y . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o t h e m s e l v e s are b u i l d i n g capitalism in the Soviet U n i o n , w h i l e destroying socialism w i t h its l a w s , n o r m s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l f o r m s , a r e i n n o p o s i t i o n t o accuse the C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t s o f b u i l d i n g capitalism and destroying socialism in their o w n country. T h e Soviet revisionists, w h o are t a k i n g huge credits f r o m w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m , a r e i n n o p o s i t i o n t o accuse the Czechoslovak revisionists of taking and w a n t i n g to take credits f r o m the capitalists. T h e Soviet revisionists, w h o have diplomatic a n d o t h e r l i n k s w i t h B o n n , are i n n o p o s i t i o n t o d e m a n d that the Czechoslovak revisionists should not establish s i m i l a r relations w i t h B o n n . W e c o u l d e x t e n d the l i s t o f s i m i l a r s t a n d s o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e q u e s t i o n arises a n d a n s w e r s i t s e l f : W h a t political, moral, ideological or juridical right have the Soviet revisionists over the Czechoslovak revisionists? W h a t right have they to call the Czechoslovak revisionists t o account a n d , w o r s e s t i l l , t o a t t a c k t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k
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people w i t h a r m s a n d o c c u p y the C z e c h o s l o v a k R e p u b l i c ? No right whatsoever! H e n c e , a l l t h i s c o n f i r m s w h a t w e h a v e said, t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s are t r a i t o r s , i m p e r i a l i s t s , fascists. W i t h w h a t they d i d i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a t h e y h a v e d i s c a r d e d a n y d i s guise, h a v e p r o v e d t h a t f o r t h e m , j u s t a s f o r t h e fascists, f r i e n d s h i p , p r i n c i p l e s , alliances, treaties, d e m o c r a c y , f r e e dom, i n d e p e n d e n c e or s o v e r e i g n t y of the peoples, s i m p l y do not e x i s t . T h e y t r a m p l e o v e r a l l these t h i n g s , c r u s h t h e m under their jackboots, suppress them w i t h fire and steel. T h e official Soviet revisionists' justification for their aggression against C z e c h o s l o v a k i a is. in itself, a g r e a t self-exposure. A m o n g o t h e r things, t h e y c l a i m t h a t t h e y were i n v i t e d t o i n t e r v e n e i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a b y C z e c h o s l o vak personalities w h o s e n a m e s t h e y d a r e n o t m e n t i o n , p r o b a b l y because it is a f r a u d , b u t e v e n if s u c h p e o ple e x i s t t h e y a r e n o t h i n g but despicable traitors, Soviet agents, c o l l a b o r a t i o n i s t s a n d h a t e f u l q u i s l i n g s . Intervention in a country is justified only w h e n there is an official call for help f r o m that country's legal government. N e i t h e r the Czechoslovak Government, nor the P r e s i d e n t o f the R e p u b l i c , n e i t h e r t h e C e n t r a l C o m mittee o r P a r l i a m e n t i n v i t e d t h e m . W h e n H i t l e r a t t a c k e d C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , h e a t least f o r c e d P r e s i d e n t H a a t o p u t his s i g n a t u r e t o a n o f f i c i a l d o c u m e n t . W h e n t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t o c c u p i e r s u n d e r t o o k this act, t h e y k n e w t h a t t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k l e a d e r s h i p w o u l d g o d o w n o n its k n e e s t h e n e x t d a y . I n fact, t h i s r e v i s i o n i s t leadership w h i c h d i d capitulate, w h i c h left the borders open a n d d i d n o t g i v e the o r d e r f o r t h e c o u n t r y t o b e defended, c a p i t u l a t e d i n M o s c o w f o r t h e second t i m e a n d entered t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e i n v a d e r s . B u t t h e S o v i e t s w i l l h a v e t o m a k e g r e a t e f f o r t s t o f i n d people t h e y c a n r e l y o n one h u n d r e d p e r cent, w i t h w h o m t h e y m a y a t least
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f o r m the s h a d o w of a q u i s l i n g g o v e r n m e n t of s o m e s t a b i l i t y . T h i s w i l l b e t h e i r n e x t g r e a t defeat. O f course t h e y w i l l f i n d stooges a n d t r a i t o r s , but the r e s i s t a n c e w i l l not be put d o w n . T h e Soviets w i l l f i n d some Czech K a d a r , but things w i l l take a different course f r o m that of H u n gary. T h e i r b a r b a r o u s act w i l l p r e v e n t t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n ists f r o m c a r r y i n g out t h e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the C z e c h o s l o v a k C o m m u n i s t P a r t y a s t h e y i n t e n d e d , a n d w i t h o u t this t h e y cannot l e g a l i z e t h e i r fascist deed. W i t h great d i f f i c u l t y t h e y m a y m a n a g e t o h o o d w i n k some o f the people, j u s t e n o u g h t o o v e r c o m e t h e i n i t i a l d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d create t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t the i n t e r v e n t i o n w a s n e c e s s a r y a n d saved t h e s i t u a t i o n , e v e r y t h i n g has b e e n b r o u g h t b a c k t o n o r m a l a n d o u r f r i e n d s h i p continues, a n d t h e n t h e r e w i l l be exchanges of delegations w i t h embraces and J u d a s ' kisses. B u t t h i s w i l l s o l v e n o t h i n g . W i t h e v e r y passing d a y the situation in Czechoslovakia w i l l become more difficult for the occupiers and more favourable for the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . The true Czechoslovak Marxist-Leninists w i l l have to organize an underground Czechoslovak M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t Communist P a r t y as q u i c k l y as possible; they w i l l have to organize the f r o n t of resistance on p r i n c i p l e d , but not sectarian, f o u n d a t i o n s , w i l l h a v e t o l e a d t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k w o r k i n g class a n d people f r o m t h e p r e s e n t p a s s i v e defence i n t o a c t i v e defence, w i t h s t r i k e s a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , a r m e d attacks a n d , e v e n t u a l l y , t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f p a r tisan warfare. The moments their nation is going through n o w are v e r y f a v o u r a b l e a n d t h e y m u s t b e u t i l i z e d t o the m a x i m u m , not w a i t i n g for anything f r o m anybody. The talks, n e g o t i a t i o n s a n d concessions t o the o c c u p i e r s m u s t b e a t t a c k e d m e r c i l e s s l y . T h e hopes o f h e l p f r o m the i m p e rialists w i l l have to be exposed and intervention by them o r t h e i r agents w h o , a t e v e r y stage, w i l l t r y t o seize c o n -
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trol of the l e a d e r s h i p of the resistance, m u s t be a t t a c k e d T h e p a s s i v e r e s i s t a n c e of t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k s is a p o s i tive b e g i n n i n g , b u t i t does not s o l v e e v e r y t h i n g . I t a l l o w s the o c c u p i e r s t i m e t o o r g a n i z e themselves, too. T h e y w a n t a p e r i o d of c a l m to c o m p l e t e t h e i r p l u n d e r a n d aggression. They n e e d t h i s also t o p l a c a t e p u b l i c o p i n i o n i n t h e i r o w n countries, w h i c h t h e y deceive b r a z e n l y . Therefore, the Czechoslovak M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r e v olutionaries m u s t u n d e r s t a n d the great i m p o r t a n c e o f the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a r m e d resistance f o r t h e a w a k e n i n g of public opinion in the Soviet U n i o n a n d the other revisionist countries. T h e y must understand that they must m a k e t h e r e a r o f the r e v i s i o n i s t o c c u p i e r s u n s t a b l e and insecure, a n d b r i n g p r e s s u r e t o b e a r o n t h e t r e a cherous l e a d e r s h i p s of t h e i r c o u n t r i e s . T h e total boycott of the revisionists' occupation armies i s a g o o d t a c t i c a n d t h e m o r e c o m p l e t e i t is, t h e better its r e s u l t s w i l l be. T h e h a t r e d f o r t h e m a m o n g t h e people m u s t b e f a n n e d u p . L e t t h e S o v i e t s o l d i e r s d r a w conclusions i f t h e y w i s h . A t t h e same t i m e , i t w i l l b e necessary t o c a r r y o u t p r o p a g a n d a , i n s t i l l i n g d e f e a t i s m among the troops of the occupation a r m y in o r d e r to e n l i g h t e n t h e m a n d expose m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m . K h r u s h chevite r e v i s i o n i s m , t h e b e t r a y a l b y t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p , their destruction of socialism. T h e Soviet soldiers m u s t be told that w h e n S t a l i n w a s alive, they entered Czechoslovakia as liberators, whereas n o w that the anti-Stalinist t r a i t o r s h a v e e m e r g e d a s t h e i r leaders, t h e y h a v e c o m e t o C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a s i n v a d e r s . I t i s good, i n d e e d e s s e n tial, t o d o s u c h w o r k b u t w e t h i n k t h a t i t w i l l s t i l l b e i n s u f f i c i e n t i f t h e o c c u p a t i o n forces a r e n o t a t t a c k e d w i t h arms a n d d r i v e n b e y o n d t h e b o r d e r s o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , because o t h e r w i s e t h e y a r e n o t g o i n g t o l e a v e t h e r e . A s y o u h a v e seen. C z e c h o s l o v a k i a i s b e i n g d e f e n d e d from various positions. O u r position, l i k e that of any
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o t h e r g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , i s t h e m o s t correct, revolutionary, M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t position, w h i c h defends freedom, independence, sovereignty a n d genuine socialism in Czechoslovakia. F r o m this position our P a r t y fights a n d t h o r o u g h l y exposes t h e r e v i s i o n i s t i n v a d e r s , h e a d e d b y the S o v i e t revisionists, a l o n g w i t h U S i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the w o r l d capitalist bourgeoisie, as w e l l as the Czechoslovak capitulationist revisionists, o l d a n d new, together w i t h the r e a c t i o n a r y C z e c h o s l o v a k b o u r g e o i s i e . I t w a s c l e a r l y a p p a r e n t t h a t U S i m p e r i a l i s m a n d the w o r l d capitalist b o u r g e o i s i e g a v e the S o v i e t s a f r e e h a n d t o act i n the C z e c h o s l o v a k crisis. T h e i r o n l y i n t e r v e n t i o n w a s a s u p e r f i c i a l , j o u r n a l i s t i c p r o p a g a n d a . In t h e secret S o v i e t - U S agreements reached at C a m p D a v i d and Glasbor o , ( 2 ) t h e t w o aggressive s u p e r p o w e r s h a v e d i v i d e d t h e s p h e res o f i n f l u e n c e b e t w e e n t h e m , a n d h a v e c e r t a i n l y d e f i n e d t h e i r c o m m o n strategy a n d tactics for the d o m i n a t i o n of the w o r l d . T h i s is being applied on a wide scale under c o v e r o f p e a c e f u l coexistence. T h i s i s c o n f i r m e d n o t o n l y by the events in Czechoslovakia and the signing of a series o f t r e a t i e s a n d a g r e e m e n t s b e t w e e n t h e U S A a n d the S o v i e t U n i o n , but also b y a l l t h e t r e a c h e r o u s a n t i r e v o l u t i o n a r y stands o f the S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h L a t i n A m e r i c a , the I s r a e l i a g g r e s s i o n a g a i n s t t h e A r a b c o u n t r i e s , i t i s c o n f i r m e d t o the best b y t h e v e r y c o r d i a l coexistence a n d the d i v i s i o n o f spheres of influence between the A m e r i c a n s a n d the Soviets in t h e A r a b c o u n t r i e s a n d i n the w h o l e M i d d l e East, i t i s d e m o n s t r a t e d b y the v e r y c o r d i a l f r i e n d s h i p b e t w e e n the U S 6th F l e e t a n d t h e S o v i e t F l e e t w h i c h c o h a b i t i n t h e w a t e r s a n d p o r t s o f the M e d i t e r r a n e a n l i k e t w o close
_______________________________ 2 Reference is to the agreements reached in the EisenhowerK h r u s h c h e v talks, in September 1959 and the J o h n s o n - K o s y g i n talks in J u n e 1967
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and t r u e allies t h a t h a v e the same a i m to k e e p the peoples o f the M e d i t e r r a n e a n u n d e r t h e i r y o k e , t o exploit t h e m b r u t a l l y i n e v e r y w a y and t o suppress a n y r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t t h e r e b y force o f a r m s . I n t h e aggressive fascist w a r w h i c h t h e t w o i m p e r i a l i s t great p o w e r s , t h e U S A a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a r e p r e p a r i n g , n a t u r a l l y t h e y are t r y i n g t o i m p o s e t h e i r will and policy on all the members of N A T O and the W a r s a w T r e a t y r e s p e c t i v e l y , a n d i f other m e a n s f a i l , t h e y w i l l d o s o b y force o f a r m s a n d o t h e r pressure. T h e s e two aggressive i m p e r i a l i s t states w a n t a l l t h e r e a r areas throughout the w o r l d to be tranquil and under their complete d o m i n a t i o n . W i l l t h e y a c h i e v e t h i s ? T i m e w i l l show. B u t t h i s w i l l n o t b e p o s s i b l e f o r a l o n g t i m e t o come, because c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n t h e i r r a n k s w i l l m a k e themselves f e l t a n d g r o w deeper. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e o f B e l g r a d e has b e e n a c t i v e i n d e f e n c e o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d has o p p o s ed the occupation of Czechoslovakia. N o w T i t o is faced with difficult alternatives. T h e situation in his country i s c o n f u s e d , a n d i n t h i s state o f c o n f u s i o n a n d p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d n a t i o n a l i s t d e g e n e r a t i o n , h e has t o r e o r g a n i z e t h e d e f e n c e o f h i s c o u n t r y , because f r o m n o w on he can no longer count on the help of the Kadars, Dubeks and company. Yugoslavia today is encircled by the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o a r e d i c t a t i n g e v e r y t h i n g b y force o f a r m s t o t h e i r satellites o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y . T h u s , f o r t h e Y u g o s l a v leaders, a s t h e y t h e m s e l v e s h a v e o f f i c i a l l y d e c l a r e d , the d e f e n c e o f t h e i r n o r t h e r n and e a s t e r n b o r d e r s h a s e m e r g e d a s a n u r g e n t task. T h e organization of Y u g o s l a v defence against a n y attempt at an invasion of Yugoslavia by the Soviets is in our f a v o u r . W e m u s t f o l l o w these d e v e l o p m e n t s w i t h t h e greatest a t t e n t i o n . It is a fact t h a t t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s ' t h r e a t to t h e
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Y u g o s l a v state b o r d e r s i s b e c o m i n g e v e r m o r e e v i d e n t . If a S o v i e t i n v a s i o n of R u m a n i a t a k e s place, t h e n the threat to Y u g o s l a v i a becomes e v e n greater. In a n y case, whether R u m a n i a is invaded or submits peacefully to t h e M o s c o w dictate, n o t h i n g c h a n g e s t h e t h r e a t t o Y u g o s l a v i a . O n l y the a r m e d r e s i s t a n c e o f t h e Y u g o s l a v p e o ples c a n t h w a r t t h i s t h r e a t . A p a r t f r o m this, e v e n t h o u g h Y u g o s l a v i a i s n o t a m e m b e r of N A T O , in its political and strategic plans N A T O c o n s i d e r s t h i s c o u n t r y a s a p a r t o f its defence zone. T h i s b o r d e r i s n o w i n j e o p a r d y a n d i t i s l i k e l y t h a t the m i l i t a r y , strategic, o f f e n s i v e a n d d e f e n s i v e d i s p o s i t i o n s o f N A T O r e g a r d i n g the Y u g o s l a v , G r e e k , M e d i t e r r a n e a n a n d A d r i a t i c sector w i l l b e d e f i n e d m o r e p r e c i sely. H e r e the p e r m a n e n t q u e s t i o n of t h e defence of o u r H o m e l a n d emerges. W e h a v e a l w a y s been e n c i r c l e d g e o g r a p h i c a l l y b y savage, p e r f i d i o u s , aggressive, f a s c i s t e n e mies, a n d the defence o f o u r H o m e l a n d has b e e n foreseen a n d b u i l t in s u c h a m a n n e r as to face up to a n y aggress o r or g r o u p of aggressors at a n y t i m e . S u c h a defence m u s t b e s t r e n g t h e n e d t o t h e u t m o s t because o f the g r o w i n g t h r e a t I m e n t i o n e d above. W e m u s t a l w a y s t a k e i n t o account t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a m o n g o u r n e i g h b o u r s i n regard to A l b a n i a , contradictions w h i c h do not operate in the same w a y i n d i f f e r e n t c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d w h e n the b a l a n c e o f f o r c e s changes i n a g i v e n sector o r i n m a n y sectors o f the w o r l d . T h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t b e c o m p l e t e l y ready, a l w a y s e x t r e m e l y v i g i l a n t , m u s t w a t c h the d e v e l o p m e n t o f events w i t h the greatest a t t e n t i o n a n d d r a w the m o s t correct d e ductions possible for the a l l - r o u n d defence of our borders f r o m a l l q u a r t e r s , f r o m l a n d , sea a n d a i r . O u r d e f e n c e m u s t , as a l w a y s , be based on r e a l i s t i c assessments, r e l y i n g m a i n l y o n o u r o w n a r m e d forces, t h e a r m e d f o r c e s o f
495
the e n t i r e people, o n a d e c i s i v e a n d v i c t o r i o u s f i g h t t o the e n d a g a i n s t a l l o u r e n e m i e s . I n these c o m p l i c a t e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n s , e s p e cially in C e n t r a l Europe, but particularly so in the B a l kans, the v i g i l a n c e o f the people, t h e P a r t y , o u r p e o p l e ' s state p o w e r a n d o u r g o v e r n m e n t m u s t b e a t its m a x i m u m . We must be very well prepared to cope with any eventuality, even an unexpected one. Nothing must take us by surprise, least of all in the defence of the Homeland, to which we should pay even more attention than at any other time. We must strengthen and temper unshakeable confidence i n o u r forces a m o n g t h e P a r t y , the people a n d the a r m y , m u s t raise the p a t r i o t i s m , courage a n d h e r o i s m o f the b r o a d masses o f t h e people t o t h e h i g h e s t l e v e l . A l l this m u s t b e c l o s e l y l i n k e d w i t h v e r y t h o r o u g h p o l i t i c a l and ideological w o r k and very revolutionary practical activity. E v e r y b o d y m u s t be m a d e a w a r e of the internal and i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n s , l i v e w i t h b o t h feet f i r m l y on the g r o u n d and not indulge in d a y - d r e a m i n g and v a i n speculation. E v e r y w o r d , e v e r y a c t i o n b y a n y o n e m u s t b e w e i g h e d u p a n d serve o n l y the i n t e r e s t s o f t h e P a r t y , the p e o p l e a n d s o c i a l i s m . Thorough-going political a n d ideological work, implem e n t a t i o n o f t h e l i n e a n d n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y w i t h the greatest p r e c i s i o n a n d i r o n d i s c i p l i n e e v e r y w h e r e w i l l ensure t h a t the p a t r i o t i s m o f t h e masses i s p r o f o u n d and has a great m e a n i n g , t h a t t h e h e r o i s m of t h e masses i s not s o m e t h i n g i n d i v i d u a l o r t e m p o r a r y , b u t m a s s i v e and permanent. O n l y in this w a y is the unhealthy habit of boasting, w h i c h leaves y o u in the l u r c h at d i f f i c u l t m o m e n t s , e l i m i n a t e d a m o n g t h e people, o n l y i n t h i s w a y i s f e a r o r p a n i c d i s c a r d e d . T h e source o f these e v i l s l i e s in superficial political work. W h e n we say that we must be f u l l y prepared, we
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must understand the question both f r o m the political, i d e o l o g i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y aspect, a n d f r o m t h e e c o n o m i c aspect. N o t o n l y m u s t w o r k i n o u r c o u n t r y c o n t i n u e n o r m a l l y o n the c o r r e c t l i n e w h i c h t h e C o n g r e s s a n d the P a r t y h a v e set, b u t w e m u s t o r g a n i z e i t s t i l l b e t t e r i n e v e r y sector, b e i n g a w a r e o f e v e r y s i t u a t i o n w h i c h arises w i t h a d v a n t a g e o u s aspects a s w e l l a s t h e f r e s h d i f f i c u l ties i t b r i n g s . W e m u s t l e a v e n o t h i n g u n d o n e , o r p u t off t o d a y ' s w o r k t i l l t o m o r r o w , because t o m o r r o w t h e r e w i l l b e s o m e t h i n g else t o a t t e n d to. W e m u s t w o r k i n t e l l i gently, w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g o u r a n d tempo. W e must set the masses i n m o t i o n , h a v e c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e m , h a v e confidence i n t h e y o u n g cadres, m u s t n o t b e s e c t a r i a n towards them, must help them, correct t h e m w h e n they make mistakes, and entrust them w i t h w o r k of respons i b i l i t y . I t i s a s a c r e d p a r t y d u t y f o r us, t h e o l d e r generation, to do this in an absolutely correct w a y . W h e n s h a l l w e d o it, i f n o t n o w t h a t w e a r e a l i v e a n d c a n give o u r help a n d experience on this question so vital to the P a r t y ? Y o u n g a n d old m u s t f e e l t h e m s e l v e s t o t a l l y m o b i l i z e d in political and practical activities f o r the great cause o f o u r socialist H o m e l a n d . T h e t o u g h v i t a l i t y o f t h e P a r t y a n d people m u s t b e m o r e o u t s t a n d i n g t h a n e v e r : t h e revolutionary vigilance of the P a r t y a n d t h e masses against any enemy or evil-doer, o p e n or disguised, i n ternal or external, must be raised higher than ever; we m u s t w o r k h a r d e r t h a n e v e r t o t e m p e r u n i t y i n the r a n k s of the P a r t y a n d u n i t y of the P a r t y w i t h the people t o the h i g h e s t degree, t h r o u g h the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e l i f e - g i v i n g n o r m s o f the P a r t y a n d u n i n t e r r u p t e d w a g i n g o f class s t r u g g l e . The situation in our Party, in our country and among o u r people i s e x t r e m e l y s t r o n g . L e t u s m a k e i t e v e n stronger every day. This is our w h o l e a i m in life, this
REPORT TO THE 5th PLENUM is our m a i n broken and crush t h e m our P a r t y , Albania.
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task. T h a t i s w h y t h e e n e m i e s h a v e a l w a y s a l w a y s w i l l b r e a k t h e i r heads. We shall to death if they attempt a n y t h i n g against o u r people, a n d t h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f
Against
THE FIST OF THE COMMUNISTS MUST ADVENTURISM, OF MODERN
MARXIST-LENINIST ALSO SMASH LEFT THE OFFSPRING REVISIONISM
From a conversation with two leaders of the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) of Ecuador
October 21, 1968
W e are v e r y g l a d t o m e e t y o u c o m r a d e s f r o m E c u a d o r . O f course, w e w o u l d l i k e t o h a v e m o r e f r e q u e n t a n d l o n g e r t a l k s w i t h y o u , because the s t r u g g l e o f the Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) of Ecuador, as well a s o f a l l the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s o f L a t i n A m e r i c a , has g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e f o r t h e r e v o l u t i o n . W e c o n s i d e r y o u r s t r u g g l e a s a great assistance t o t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a n d t o o u r P a r t y w h i c h a l w a y s feels t h e n e e d t o l e a r n a n d p r o f i t f r o m t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f f r a t e r n a l parties. M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , our universal doctrine, applied in t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f e a c h c o u n t r y , i s e n r i c h e d w i t h the n e w experience of all the r e v o l u t i o n a r y parties. T h e exper i e n c e o f each Marxist-Leninist p a r t y g a i n e d i n the course o f its w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t the c o m m o n enemies, i m p e r i a l i s m and revisionism, helps the other p a r t i e s a t t h e same t i m e . W i t h o u t t h i s e x p e r i e n c e w e w o u l d be limping along. Y o u comrades, w i t h y o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y activity and s t r u g g l e o n the c o n t i n e n t o f L a t i n A m e r i c a , w i t h a l a r g e
SMASH LEFT ADVENTURISM
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p o p u l a t i o n a n d w i t h w o n d e r f u l a r d e n t people, are i n permanent insurrection, in revolution, in the f u l l meaning of the term. At the h e a d of the peoples of this continent today t h e r e a r e f r a t e r n a l M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s . T h e i r realistic M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t understanding of the situation of your continent fills the true M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties of Europe, A s i a a n d A f r i c a w i t h boundless enthusiasm and inspiration a n d helps a l l of us to carry the revolutionary actions o f e v e r y c o u n t r y t h r o u g h t o t h e e n d o n a n a t i o n a l , c o n t i n e n t a l o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale against our c o m m o n e n e m i e s : t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , w i t h the U S i m p e r i a l i s t s a t the head, t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , w i t h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s at the h e a d , a n d r e a c t i o n a r i e s of e v e r y hue. The P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a , the A l b a n i a n comm u n i s t s f e e l v e r y g r e a t l y the n e e d f o r c o n t a c t s i n o r d e r t o e x c h a n g e e x p e r i e n c e w i t h a l l the f r a t e r n a l parties, b e cause close c o - o p e r a t i o n s t r e n g t h e n s u s r e c i p r o c a l l y . A l though we are v e r y f a r apart geographically, in o u r m i n d s a n d o u r h e a r t s w e a r e v e r y close t o e a c h o t h e r , a n d t h e distance f a c t o r does n o t c o n s t i t u t e a n i n s u r mountable difficulty today. A s y o u m a y h a v e seen f o r y o u r s e l v e s d u r i n g y o u r visits, m a n y changes h a v e been m a d e i n o u r c o u n t r y since t h e t r i u m p h o f the r e v o l u t i o n . T h i s i s d u e t o t h e correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e of the P a r t y and the r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t o f o u r people. I n o r d e r t o f o r m a m o r e precise i d e a o f A l b a n i a ' s state i n t h e past, a s the M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t s y o u are, y o u m u s t c o m p a r e i t w i t h one o f the most p o v e r t y - s t r i c k e n , m o s t b a c k w a r d a n d oppressed regions o f present-day Ecuador. J u s t l i k e y o u r country today, before L i b e r a t i o n A l b a n i a s u f f e r e d g r e a t l y u n d e r savage f e u d a l o p p r e s s i o n . W e h a d n o schools. T h e people w e r e i n w a n t o f f o o d , c l o t h i n g , a n d e v e r y v i t a l necessity. M o s t o f t h e p l a i n s y o u h a v e seen w e r e s w a m p s a n d m a r s h e s before L i b e r a t i o n . M a l a r i a , t u b e r c u l o s i s a n d m a n y other
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diseases took a h e a v y t o l l of the p o p u l a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y of c h i l d r e n . B u t as a result of the people's r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h o u r P a r t y l e d , t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s h a v e been c a r r i e d o u t o n such a v a s t scale a n d s o r a p i d l y t h a t w i t h o u t boasting we can describe t h e m as colossal by o u r A l b a n i a n standards. H o w e v e r , as M a r x i s t s , t a k i n g a r e a l i s t i c v i e w of t h e s i t u a t i o n , w e are f u l l y a w a r e that, a l o n g w i t h t h e v e r y great successes t h a t h a v e been a c h i e v e d , w e also h a v e w e a k n e s s e s a n d a great d e a l m o r e r e m a i n s to be d o n e in t h e f u t u r e , i n the f i r s t place, t o raise the l e v e l o f t h e w o r k i n g masses s t i l l h i g h e r , e s p e c i a l l y t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d ideological level, as w e l l as their economic level; we must w o r k h a r d to m a k e our country even stronger m i l i t a r i l y , t o raise the e d u c a t i o n a l a n d c u l t u r a l l e v e l o f o u r people s t i l l h i g h e r , a n d a l l t h i s o n l y o n the r e v o l u tionary Marxist-Leninist road. O u r P a r t y i s w o r k i n g i n these d i r e c t i o n s . W e c a n s a y t h a t n o w w e h a v e c r e a t e d a sounder, m o r e p o w e r f u l base, b u t the m a i n t h i n g i s that e v e r y t h i n g w e h a v e done, e v e r y t h i n g w e h a v e created, w e h a v e a c h i e v e d i n u n r e l e n t i n g struggle against the difficulties of g r o w t h , encircled b y r a b i d enemies, i n s u c h c o n d i t i o n s t h a t t h e i n d e p e n dence, f r e e d o m a n d s o v e r e i g n t y o f o u r H o m e l a n d a n d s o cialism were in danger at every moment. We have created these t h i n g s t h r o u g h s t r u g g l e t o d e f e n d a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y o f the P a r t y a n d t h e people, w h i c h i s a s p e c i a l t a r g e t f o r e n e m y attacks. W e h a v e w o r k e d ceaselessly t o t e m p e r this u n i t y . O u r s t r e n g t h l i e s in the ever greater steeling of the party-people u n i t y . T h i s i s o f v i t a l i m p o r t a n c e , because the d a n g e r s o f i n t e r vention by means of a r m e d force a n d e v e r y other poss i b l e m e a n s against o u r c o u n t r y h a v e b e e n a n d r e m a i n great a n d u n r e l e n t i n g , b o t h f r o m the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d f r o m t h e T i t o i t e renegades a n d t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t m i -
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litarists w h o , as the o c c u p a t i o n of C z e c h o s l o v a k i a s h o w e d , excuse a n y a c t i o n o f t h e i r s w i t h the interest t h e y a l l e g e d l y h a v e i n the c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f f r a t e r n a l states. I n t h e p r e s e n t r e v o l u t i o n a r y situations, the M a r x i s t Leninist parties throughout the w o r l d must fight continuously to strengthen their ranks and their M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t u n i t y , t o l i n k t h e m s e l v e s c l o s e l y w i t h the masses o f t h e people a n d w i t h one a n o t h e r , because the c o m m u n ist a n d w o r k e r s ' m o v e m e n t t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d i s o n e o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l f a c t o r s f r u s t r a t i n g t h e p l a n s concocted against t h e peoples b y b o t h t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e U S i m p e r i a l i s t s , w h o f r o m d a y t o d a y are s t r e n g t h e n ing their fascist dictatorships in order to dominate the w o r l d . These M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties must increase their v i g i l a n c e , too. A t a l l times, b u t e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e s i t u a t i o n s w e are l i v i n g t h r o u g h , o u r c o u n t r y c o n s i s t e n t l y has e n h a n c e d a n d w i l l e n h a n c e its u n i t y a n d v i g i l a n c e . T o t h i s e n d , a s a l ways, we have taken ideological, political, economic and m i l i t a r y measures. A H our people are a r m e d i n the f u l l meaning of the word. Every Albanian, city-dweller or v i l lager, h a s h i s w e a p o n a t h o m e . O u r a r m y itself, t h e a r m y o f a s o l d i e r people, i s r e a d y a t a n y m o m e n t t o s t r i k e a t a n y e n e m y o r c o a l i t i o n o f e n e m i e s . T h e y o u t h , too, h a v e r i s e n t o t h e i r feet. C o m b a t r e a d i n e s s does n o t i n a n y w a y i n t e r f e r e w i t h o u r w o r k o f socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n . O n the c o n t r a r y , it has g i v e n a g r e a t e r boost to t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of the economy and culture in our country. A t these m o m e n t s t h e S o v i e t a n d Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n ists, t h e G r e e k a n d I t a l i a n fascists k n o w f u l l w e l l t h a t i f t h e y d a r e t o e m b a r k o n a n y a d v e n t u r e against A l b a n i a , t h e y w i l l n e v e r succeed, b u t w i l l b e d e a l t m o r t a l b l o w s i n s t e a d . T h i s w e h a v e m a d e clear t o e v e r y b o d y a t a l l times. T h u s , i n g e n e r a l , t h e s i t u a t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y i s s o u n d , secure a n d w i t h b r i l l i a n t prospects. H o w e v e r , w e
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m u s t n o t rest o n o u r l a u r e l s o n t h i s account, b u t m u s t w o r k more and more every day. It is c l e a r to a l l t h a t a m i l i t a r i s t fascist d i c t a t o r s h i p exists in the Soviet U n i o n today. B u t , as is k n o w n , where t h e r e i s o p p r e s s i o n t h e r e i s also m o v e m e n t , t h e r e f o r e , b o t h i n the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d i n the s a t e l l i t e c o u n t r i e s , t h e r e is revolutionary movement that is steadily mounting. G r e a t p r e s s u r e i s b e i n g e x e r t e d o n the S o v i e t U n i o n t o d a y b y i m p e r i a l i s m , too. O n t h e o n e h a n d , i m p e r i a l i s m a i m s t o defeat i t a s a r i v a l i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r , a n d o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t o p r e v e n t the e m e r g e n c e o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t s a t a l l costs, o r t o p u t t h e m d o w n i m m e d i a t e l y i f t h e y d o emerge, n o t o n l y i n the S o v i e t U n i o n b u t a l s o i n its s a t e l l i t e c o u n t r i e s . F o r its p a r t , t h e S o v i e t U n i o n i s t r y i n g t o a t t a i n t w o o b j e c t i v e s : first, t o c r u s h a n y r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t w h i c h m i g h t arise, a n d second, u n a b l e a s i t i s t o d e f e a t the U n i t e d States as a rival imperialist power, it is s t r i v i n g t o r e t a i n its positions a n d t o e n s u r e that t o g e t h e r w i t h U S i m p e r i a l i s m each o f t h e m w i l l r u l e i n the a r e a s w h i c h f a l l w i t h i n its sphere o f i n f l u e n c e . W e are v e r y g l a d t o l e a r n t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y ( M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ) o f E c u a d o r i s m a k i n g progress. T h e comrades w h o m y o u h a v e met i m m e d i a t e l y i n f o r m e d m e about the t a l k s y o u h e l d a n d the e x p e r i e n c e y o u e x c h a n ged. W e h o l d s p e c i a l m e e t i n g s t o k e e p t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f the C C c o n t i n u a l l y i n f o r m e d a b o u t t h e v e r y u s e f u l a n d f r u i t f u l exchanges b e t w e e n o u r P a r t y a n d o t h e r f r a t e r n a l parties. W e are v e r y h a p p y t h a t y o u r P a r t y i s ceaselessly t e m p e r i n g i t s e l f a n d a d v a n c i n g o n t h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t r o a d . L i k e w i s e , w e are i n c o m p l e t e a g r e e m e n t w i t h the views of your P a r t y and are convinced that t h e r o a d y o u are f o l l o w i n g i s t h e r i g h t one. T h e r e i s n o d o u b t t h a t y o u k n o w b e t t e r t h a n a n y b o d y else t h e p r o b l e m s t h a t concern y o u a n d t h e most c o r r e c t w a y t o s o l v e t h e m ,
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always basing yourselves on our ideology, M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism. O n l y y o u r P a r t y i s i n a p o s i t i o n t o w o r k out y o u r tactics p r o p e r l y , based, o f course, o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t strategy, because, a s t h e h e a r t o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d p e o ple o f E c u a d o r , i t k n o w s b e t t e r t h a n a n y o n e else the s i t u a t i o n i n the c o u n t r y a n d t h e l e g i t i m a t e a s p i r a t i o n s o f y o u r people. F o r t h i s reason, as l o n g as y o u r P a r t y has a correct s t r a t e g y based o n the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y a n d the r e a l p r a c t i c e o f t h e c o u n t r y , the tactics i t w o r k s out w i l l b e c o r r e c t a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y , too. D u r i n g o u r N a tional L i b e r a t i o n W a r w e , too, e m p l o y e d v a r i e d tactics, just a s y o u are d o i n g . O u r p a r t i e s s h o u l d t r y t o l e a r n a n d p r o f i t f r o m one another. B u t e v e r y p a r t y m u s t b e a r i n m i n d t h a t some t h i n g s f r o m the e x p e r i e n c e o f o t h e r p a r t i e s are s u i t a b l e only i n t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e countries, a n d many of t h e m m a y not be suitable in the conditions of other c o u n t r i e s . T h e y m u s t e l a b o r a t e a n d a d o p t t h e e x perience of other parties w h e n they f i n d they need it and it suits their concrete conditions, otherwise they f a l l into s t e r e o t y p i s m . A s f o r o u r e x p e r i e n c e , w e c a n n o t t e l l you w h e t h e r o r not m a n y o f o u r tactics a r e a p p r o p r i a t e f o r y o u . I t i s u p t o y o u t o s t u d y i t a n d choose w h a t y o u w a n t f r o m it, b u t w e t h i n k t h a t y o u s h o u l d bear i n m i n d that M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t h e g e n e r a l l a w s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n p r o v i d e t h e compass w h i c h p r e v e n t s u s f r o m e r r i n g o n t h i s q u e s t i o n . O n l y these l a w s g u a r d a g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y against m i s t a k e s . W e a r e c l e a r a b o u t these l a w s a n d t r y t o a c q u a i n t o u r s e l v e s w i t h t h e m m o r e a n d m o r e e a c h d a y , a n d that is w h y we have never slid into revisionism, or into Trotskyism, left adventurism, or other a n t i - M a r x i s t trends. W i t h these theories, w i t h t h e d a n g e r s a n d d a m a g e they cause, y o u are b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d t h a n w e . F o r i n s -
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tance, C h e G u e v a r a w a s k i l l e d . S u c h a t h i n g i s l i a b l e t o h a p p e n , because a r e v o l u t i o n a r y m a y get k i l l e d . C h e Guevara, however, was a v i c t i m of his o w n n o n - M a r x i s t Leninist views. W h o w a s C h e G u e v a r a ? W h e n w e speak o f C h e G u e v a r a w e a l s o m e a n s o m e b o d y else w h o poses a s a Marxist, in comparison to whom, in our opinion, Che G u e v a r a w a s a m a n of f e w e r w o r d s . He w a s a r e b e l , a revolutionary, but not a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t as they t r y to present h i m . I m a y be m i s t a k e n y o u L a t i n - A m e r i c a n s are better acquainted w i t h C h e G u e v a r a , but I think t h a t he w a s a leftist f i g h t e r . H i s is a b o u r g e o i s a n d p e t t y bourgeois l e f t i s m , c o m b i n e d w i t h some ideas t h a t w e r e progressive, but also anarchist w h i c h , in the f i n a l analysis, l e a d t o a d v e n t u r i s m . T h e v i e w s o f C h e G u e v a r a a n d a n y o n e else w h o poses as a M a r x i s t a n d c l a i m s p a t e r n i t y of these i d e a s h a v e never been or h a d a n y t h i n g to do w i t h M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . C h e G u e v a r a also h a d some claircies* i n h i s a d o p t i o n o f c e r t a i n M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s , b u t s t i l l they h a d n o t become h i s p h i l o s o p h i c a l w o r l d - o u t l o o k w h i c h c o u l d i m p e l l h i m t o g e n u i n e l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions. W e c a n n o t s a y t h a t C h e G u e v a r a a n d h i s comrades w e r e c o w a r d s . N o . b y n o m e a n s ! O n t h e c o n t r a r y , they w e r e b r a v e people. T h e r e a r e also b o u r g e o i s w h o are b r a v e m e n . B u t t h e o n l y t r u l y g r e a t heroes a n d r e a l l y b r a v e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s are t h o s e w h o p r o c e e d f r o m the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t philosophical principles and put a l l t h e i r p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l energies a t t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e w o r l d p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e peoples f r o m the y o k e o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , f e u d a l l o r d s a n d others. W e h a v e d e f e n d e d t h e C u b a n r e v o l u t i o n because i t w a s against U S i m p e r i a l i s m . A s M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s l e t u s
____________________________ * glimmerings of clarity (French in the original).
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s t u d y i t a b i t a n d t h e ideas w h i c h g u i d e d i t i n t h i s struggle. T h e C u b a n r e v o l u t i o n d i d n o t b e g i n o n t h e basis o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d w a s n o t c a r r i e d o u t o n t h e basis of the l a w s of t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n of a M a r x i s t Leninist party. A f t e r the liberation of the country, Castro d i d not set o u t o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course, e i t h e r , but o n t h e c o n t r a r y , c o n t i n u e d o n t h e course o f h i s l i b e r a l ideas. I t i s a fact, w h i c h n o b o d y c a n d e n y , t h a t t h e p a r t i cipants i n t h i s r e v o l u t i o n t o o k u p a r m s a n d w e n t t o t h e m o u n t a i n s , b u t i t i s a n u n d e n i a b l e fact also t h a t t h e y did not fight as Marxist-Leninists. T h e y were liberation fighters a g a i n s t t h e B a t t i s t a c l i q u e a n d t r i u m p h e d o v e r i t p r e c i s e l y because t h a t c l i q u e w a s a w e a k l i n k o f c a p i talism. B a t t i s t a w a s a n o b e d i e n t f l u n k e y o f i m p e r i a l i s m , w h o r o d e r o u g h s h o d o v e r t h e C u b a n people. T h e C u b a n people, h o w e v e r , f o u g h t a n d t r i u m p h e d o v e r t h i s c l i q u e and o v e r A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a t t h e same t i m e . . . In o u r opinion, the theory that the revolution is carried o u t by a f e w heroes c o n s t i t u t e s a d a n g e r to M a r x ism-Leninism, especially in the L a t i n - A m e r i c a n countries. Y o u r S o u t h - A m e r i c a n c o n t i n e n t has great r e v o l u t i o n a r y traditions, but, a s w e s a i d above, i t also has s o m e o t h e r t r a d i t i o n s w h i c h m a y seem r e v o l u t i o n a r y b u t w h i c h , i n fact, a r e n o t g e n u i n e l y o n t h e r o a d o f the r e v o l u t i o n . A n y putsch c a r r i e d o u t t h e r e is c a l l e d a r e v o l u t i o n ! B u t a putsch c a n n e v e r b e a r e v o l u t i o n , because o n e o v e r t h r o w n clique i s r e p l a c e d b y a n o t h e r , i n a w o r d , t h i n g s r e m a i n as they were. In addition to all the nuclei of a n t i - M a r x i s t trends w h i c h s t i l l e x i s t i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e o l d p a r t i e s that h a v e p l a c e d t h e m s e l v e s i n the s e r v i c e o f the c o u n t e r revolution, there is n o w another trend w h i c h we call left adventurism. T h i s t r e n d , a n d t h a t o t h e r o f f s p r i n g o f the b o u r g e o isie, m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , c o n s t i t u t e great d a n g e r s t o t h e peoples, i n c l u d i n g those o f t h e L a t i n - A m e r i c a n c o u n t r i e s .
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C a r e f u l l y disguised, m o d e r n revisionism is a great deceive r o f the peoples a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . I n d i f f e r e n t c o u n tries i t p u t s o n d i f f e r e n t disguises. I n L a t i n A m e r i c a , C a s t r o i s m , d i s g u i s e d a s M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , i s l e a d i n g people, e v e n revolutionaries, i n t o left adventurism. T h i s trend appears to be in contradiction w i t h m o d e r n revisionism. T h o s e w h o a r e i d e o l o g i c a l l y i m m a t u r e t h i n k thus, b u t i t i s n o t so. T h e C a s t r o i t e s are n o t o p p o s e d t o t h e m o d e r n revisionists. On the contrary, they are in their service. T h e separate courses each o f t h e m f o l l o w s l e a d t h e m t o the same p o i n t . T h e question is that wherever the Soviet revisionists f a i l t o p r e v e n t t h e masses o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the p e o p l e f r o m c a r r y i n g o u t t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t h i s t r e n d steps in and, by means of a putsch, destroys w h a t the r e v i sionists are u n a b l e t o d e s t r o y b y m e a n s o f e v o l u t i o n . T h e Soviet revisionists a n d all the traitor cliques w h i c h lead the revisionist parties preach evolution, coexistence and a l l those o t h e r a n t i - M a r x i s t t h e o r i e s w e k n o w . F r o m t h e t e r m s i t e m p l o y s , l e f t a d v e n t u r i s m seems m o r e r e v o l u t i o n a r y , because i t a d v o c a t e s a r m e d s t r u g g l e ! B u t w h a t does i t m e a n b y a r m e d s t r u g g l e ? C l e a r l y putsches. M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m teaches u s t h a t o n l y b y p r o c e e d i n g w i t h p r u d e n t a n d s u r e steps, o n l y b y b a s i n g o u r s e l v e s f i r m l y on the principles of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t doctrine, only b y m a k i n g t h e masses conscious c a n v i c t o r y b e e n s u r e d in the preparation and launching of the armed uprising, and only i n this w a y w i l l w e never fall into adventurism. T h e authors of the theory that the starter motor sets t h e b i g m o t o r i n m o t i o n pose a s i f t h e y a r e f o r the a r m e d struggle, b u t i n fact t h e y a r e o p p o s e d t o i t a n d w o r k t o d i s c r e d i t it. T h e e x a m p l e a n d t r a g i c e n d o f C h e Guevara, the f o l l o w i n g and propagation of this theory also b y o t h e r s e l f - s t y l e d M a r x i s t s , w h o a r e opposed t o the great struggles b y the masses o f t h e people, a r e p u b l i c l y
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k n o w n facts w h i c h r e f u t e t h e i r c l a i m s : ;We m u s t g u a r d against the people lest t h e y b e t r a y us, lest t h e y h a n d us over t o the p o l i c e ; w e m u s t set u p w i l d , i s o l a t e d d e t a c h ments, s o t h a t the e n e m y does n o t get w i n d o f t h e m a n d does n o t r e t a l i a t e w i t h t e r r o r against the p o p u l a t i o n ! T h e y p u b l i c i z e these a n d m a n y other c o n f u s i n g theories, w h i c h you k n o w o n l y too w e l l . W h a t sort o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i s this w h i c h advocates a t t a c k i n g t h e e n e m y , f i g h t i n g i t w i t h these w i l d d e t a c h m e n t s , etc. w i t h o u t h a v i n g a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y t o l e a d the f i g h t ? T h e r e i s n o t h i n g M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t a b o u t it. S u c h a n t i - M a r x i s t a n d a n t i L e n i n i s t t h e o r i e s c a n b r i n g n o t h i n g but d e f e a t f o r M a r x ism-Leninism a n d the revolution, as C h e Guevara's u n dertaking in Bolivia did. T h i s t r e n d b r i n g s the theses o f t h e a r m e d u p r i s i n g into d i s r e p u t e . W h a t great d a m a g e i t causes t h e r e v o l u tion! W i t h the k i l l i n g of G u e v a r a , t h e masses of c o m m o n people, c o n t a m i n a t e d b y t h e i n f l u e n c e s o f these a n a r c h i s t v i e w s , w i l l t h i n k : N o w t h e r e i s n o o n e else t o l e a d us, t o l i b e r a t e u s ! O r p e r h a p s a g r o u p o f p e o p l e w i t h another G u e v a r a w i l l b e set u p a g a i n a n d t a k e t o t h e m o u n tains t o m a k e t h e r e v o l u t i o n , a n d t h e masses, w h o e x pect a g r e a t d e a l f r o m these i n d i v i d u a l s a n d are b u r n i n g to fight the bourgeoisie, m a y be deceived into f o l l o w i n g them. A n d w h a t w i l l h a p p e n ? S o m e t h i n g t h a t i s clear t o us. S i n c e these people are n o t t h e v a n g u a r d o f t h e w o r k ing class, s i n c e t h e y are n o t g u i d e d b y the e n l i g h t e n i n g principles of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , they w i l l encounter m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g a m o n g t h e b r o a d masses a n d sooner o r later t h e y w i l l f a i l , b u t a t the same t i m e the g e n u i n e struggle w i l l b e d i s c r e d i t e d , because t h e masses w i l l r e gard the a r m e d struggle w i t h distrust. We must prepare the masses p o l i t i c a l l y a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l y , a n d c o n v i n c e t h e m through their o w n practical experience. That is w h y we say t h a t this i n h i b i t i n g , r e a c t i o n a r y t h e o r y about t h e r e v -
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o l u t i o n t h a t i s b e i n g s p r e a d i n L a t i n A m e r i c a i s t h e offspring of modern revisionism and must be unmasked by the Marxist-Leninists. C e r t a i n leaders o f s o m e L a t i n - A m e r i c a n state p u t i n the odd w o r d in a veiled opposition to the Soviet U n i o n , b u t w e c a n n o t i n f e r f r o m this t h a t t h e y a r e r e a l l y o p p o s e d t o it. T h e s e w o r d s a r e o n l y p r e s s u r e a n d b l a c k m a i l f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f g a i n i n g s o m e a d v a n t a g e , o n the one h a n d , a n d o f d e c e i v i n g the n a i v e , o n t h e o t h e r . I f the a d v o c a t e s o f these t h e o r i e s w e r e t o s t o p s e r v i n g t h e S o viets in their imperialist-revisionist expansion, the latter w o u l d cut o f f a l l a i d t o t h e m . W e k n o w t h e S o v i e t s o n l y too w e l l . H o w e v e r , t h i s w i l l n o t o c c u r , because t h e y s e r v e the Soviets admirably. That is w h y the Soviet revisionists continue to give them aid and keep them alive. I t i s the d u t y o f a l l t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s t o e x p o s e this a n t i - M a r x i s t trend, the advocates of w h i c h style t h e m selves M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s a n d use M a r x i s t t e r m i n o l o g y o n l y a s a d i s g u i s e w i t h o u t w h i c h t h e y w o u l d b e lost. W e m u s t tear this disguise f r o m them and this can be done o n l y t h r o u g h o r g a n i z e d s t r u g g l e o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course, as y o u comrades f r o m E c u a d o r a n d others are doing. W e w e r e v e r y p l e a s e d o v e r t h e w a y y o u h a v e gone a b o u t s t r e n g t h e n i n g the P a r t y a n d t h e c o r r e c t v i e w s y o u h o l d o n the a r m e d s t r u g g l e . I f w e M a r x i s t s d o n o t t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e p a r t y m u s t b e s t r o n g a s steel a n d that this c a n b e b r o u g h t a b o u t o n l y o n t h e M a r x i s t Leninist road, we can achieve no victory. O u r people f o u g h t i n t h e past, too, j u s t l i k e y o u r people, b u t d i d not w i n . V e r y g o o d a n d a b l e i n d i v i d u a l s h a v e e m e r g e d f r o m t h e b o s o m o f o u r people, p e r s o n s w i t h c l e a r i l l u m i n i s t v i e w s a n d great r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e t e r m i n a t i o n , w h o f o u g h t w i t h r i f l e a n d p e n against t h e T u r k s , a n d l a t e r , against o t h e r i n v a d e r s . B u t t h e y shed t h e i r b l o o d a n d toiled in vain. T h e bourgeoisie and the feudal lords e x -
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p l o i t e d t h e v i c t o r i e s o f the p e o p l e a n d these o u t s t a n d i n g i n d i v i d u a l s t o foster t h e i r o w n interests, w h i l e t h e p e o p l e remained as oppressed as before. T h i s came about because t h e r e w a s n o t e v e n a p r o g r e s s i v e p a r t y , l e t a l o n e a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party, to lead our people f o r w a r d . Only after the founding of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y w e r e the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e a b l e t o r e a l i z e t h e i r a g e - o l d a s p i r a tions; i t w a s o n l y u n d e r i t s l e a d e r s h i p t h a t t h e i r sweat and b l o o d w e r e n o t s h e d i n v a i n . H e n c e , i t i s t h e l e a d e r ship b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y w h i c h ensures t h e v i c tory o f t h e peoples, a n d n o t t h e a c t i o n s o f a g u e r r i l l a centre, as s o m e p e o p l e p r e a c h . We rejoice that y o u comrades of the C o m m u n i s t P a r ty of E c u a d o r have purged y o u r P a r t y of elements alien t o a g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y . W e are v e r y p l e a s e d t o see t h a t y o u a r e c l e a r a b o u t h o w t h e p a r t y s h o u l d b e s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d e x p a n d e d , w i t h w h a t c l a s s e l e m e n t s its r a n k s s h o u l d b e f i l l e d , h o w i t s h o u l d b e e x t e n d e d t o the countryside, a n d i n the first place, h o w i t s h o u l d i m p l a n t itself m o r e d e e p l y i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e w o r k i n g class. P e o ple a r e n o t b o r n c o m m u n i s t s , b u t t h e y a r e b o r n p u r e , and d u r i n g t h e i r l i f e a n d i n t h e c o u r s e o f the d a i l y s t r u g gle t h e y l e a r n , are e d u c a t e d a n d b e c o m e c o m m u n i s t s w h o w i l l s a c r i f i c e e v e n t h e i r l i v e s f o r t h e i r ideals. I t i s v e r y good t h a t y o u h a v e o p e n e d courses a n d s c h o o l s f o r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n . T h i s i s w h a t w e d i d , too, d u r i n g the National Liberation War. The learning and assimiliation of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m are essential for and the salvation of every communist and every Marxist-Leninist party. E v e n today, this is the course we follow. We have put lessons, w o r k i n p r o d u c t i o n , a n d p h y s i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y training for the defence of the H o m e l a n d in the centre of our activity for he education of the y o u t h . . .
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W e assure y o u , d e a r comrades, t h a t o u r P a r t y , closely u n i t e d w i t h t h e people, has s t r i v e n a n d w i l l s t r i v e w i t h m i g h t a n d m a i n a n d w i t h the greatest l o y a l t y t o d e f e n d the p u r i t y of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , and w i l l w o r k tirelessly to strengthen proletarian internationalism. T h e P a r t y w i l l d o e v e r y t h i n g t o e n s u r e t h a t its e f f o r t s a n d t h e e f f o r t s o f t h e p e o p l e are u n d e r s t o o d a n d t o create c o n d i t i o n s , not o n l y f o r t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f o u r s o c i a l i s t H o m e l a n d , but also for the strengthening of the bonds of friendship w i t h a l l t h e f r a t e r n a l M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, s o t h a t o u r P a r ty, too, m a k e s i t s modest c o n t r i b u t i o n , d e v o t i n g a l l its energies, t o o u r c o m m o n cause, t h e t r i u m p h o f t h e p r o l e t arian revolution. W e are v e r y m o v e d b y t h e h i g h a p p r a i s a l y o u m a k e of the modest w o r k of o u r P a r t y . As M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , we understand v e r y w e l l everything you, dear comrades, said about o u r P a r t y and its experience. We thank y o u f o r a l l these t h i n g s a n d t e l l y o u t h a t t h e y are a great enc o u r a g e m e n t t o us, because w e k n o w t h e y c o m e f r o m the clear and realistic judgement of M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m r a des. O f course, a s M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , w e assure y o u t h a t t h i s does n o t m a k e u s c o n c e i t e d . O n the c o n t r a r y , i t i n creases o u r sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o m a k e o u r s e l v e s w o r t h y o f a t least o n e p e r cent o f w h a t y o u say. T h e r e f o r e , we must fight even harder, must p e r f o r m our d u t y even m o r e h o n o u r a b l y , t o e n s u r e that e v e r y a c t i o n o f o u r s not o n l y does not h a r m the g r e a t cause o f s o c i a l i s m i n the w o r l d , t h e cause o f w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n , o r e v e n t h a t o f a n i n d i v i d u a l M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y o r g r o u p , b u t , o n the contrary, serves as an encouragement a n d e x a m p l e f o r everybody, so that Marxist-Leninist parties grow in n u m bers a n d s t r e n g t h , because, a s a s a y i n g o f t h e A l b a n i a n people goes, j u s t o n e o r t w o f l o w e r s d o n o t m e a n s u m m e r . F o r t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n t o t r i u m p h e v e r y w h e r e
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more flowers are a n d w i l l be needed. T h i s is how we understand our internationalist duty. F o r us, too, t h i s m e e t i n g w i t h y o u w i t h r e m a i n u n f o r g e t t a b l e , because y o u h a v e h e l p e d u s g r e a t l y w i t h w h a t y o u t o l d u s a b o u t the s i t u a t i o n i n L a t i n A m e r i c a . We feel ourselves a h u n d r e d times stronger w h e n we see t h a t y o u r s is a t r u e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t P a r t y , w i t h a clear l i n e a n d p e r s p e c t i v e . T h e r e i s n o d o u b t t h a t s u c h a party w i l l certainly t r i u m p h . Y o u say that your P a r t y is small, We tell y o u that w h e n our P a r t y was f o u n d e d i t h a d a b o u t 200 m e m b e r s . B u t t h i s d i d n o t p r e v e n t u s i n t h e slightest f r o m w i n n i n g t h e masses, l e a d i n g t h e m , fighting and, together w i t h them, defeating the i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l enemies, t r i u m p h i n g a n d s e t t i n g u p t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t . W h a t g r e a t s t r e n g t h w e g a i n t o step u p o u r s t r u g g l e , w h e n w e see t h a t y o u r P a r t y i n E c u a d o r i s a p a r t y w i t h a b r i l l i a n t f u t u r e , since it u p h o l d s the b a n n e r of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m ! Y o u say y o u have made mistakes, that y o u have not seen s o m e t h i n g s a s y o u o u g h t to. W h a t p a r t y h a s n o t m a d e m i s t a k e s ? O u r P a r t y , too, has m a d e m i s t a k e s i n the course o f its r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i v i t y , b u t n o t i n its g e n e ral line. The important thing is that we have corrected our mistakes i m m e d i a t e l y , as soon as we h a v e detected t h e m . W h a t y o u s a y a b o u t s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e w o r k o f the p a r t y w i t h t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the y o u t h a n d the w o m e n is extremely i m p o r t a n t to the revolution. I have noticed, and y o u h a v e s a i d t h i s y o u r s e l v e s i n y o u r t a l k s w i t h our comrades, that y o u are v e r y interested in the quest i o n o f students. T h i s i s v e r y good, b u t y o u m u s t k e e p i n m i n d t h a t t h e s t u d e n t s a r e p a r t o f the y o u t h , n o t t h e w h o l e o f it. L i k e w i s e , y o u a t t a c h i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e p r o b lems o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e a n d the p r o b l e m s o f t h e w o r k i n g class. I f y o u a t t a c h i m p o r t a n c e t o the c o u n t r y s i d e
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a n d t h e w o r k i n g class, y o u c a n n o t f a i l t o b e i n t e r e s t e d in the problems of y o u t h a n d w o m e n in the countryside, as w e l l . T h e question n o w is that you must concretize these issues better. W e s h a l l b e v e r y h a p p y i f o u r m o d e s t experience is of any help to y o u . I w a n t t o a d d this, t o o : O u r P a r t y w a s s m a l l , o u r w o r k i n g class a t t h e t i m e w h e n t h e P a r t y w a s f o u n d e d w a s e x c e p t i o n a l l y s m a l l . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h a n k s t o the great w o r k carried out b y the Party, the youth, i n the first place, e m b r a c e d its i d e o l o g y , M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h e P a r ty was quick to organize them, and they threw themselves i n t o t h e w a r a n d p l a y e d a n e x t r e m e l y g r e a t r o l e i n it; they fought as they did, enlightened by the ideology o f t h e w o r k i n g class. A s f o r t h e w o m e n , r i g h t f r o m t h e start t h e s l o g a n o f the P a r t y w a s t h a t t h e a r m e d s t r u g g l e c o u l d n o t b e w a g e d and carried through to victory without them. The Party stressed t h a t , i n t h e f i r s t place, t h e w o m e n t h e m s e l v e s m u s t u n d e r s t a n d that, w h i l e f i g h t i n g f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the H o m e l a n d , t h e y w o u l d b e f i g h t i n g f o r the e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n , too. A t t h a t t i m e the P a r t y s a i d : I f the w o m e n d o not u n d e r s t a n d t h e g r e a t idea o f t h e P a r t y a b o u t t h e i r participation in the war, there w i l l be no genuine l i b e r a tion war. We attached major importance to this question, f o r w i t h o u t its s o l u t i o n t h e w o m e n w o u l d h a v e b e c o m e a h i n d r a n c e t o t h e w a r , because t h e y h a d o n l y t o s a y t o t h e i r h u s b a n d s o r sons, w h e r e are y o u going?, w h e r e a r e y o u l e a v i n g us?, t h e y w i l l k i l l us!, d o n ' t g o t o w a r ! , let's m i n d o u r o w n business!, w h a t g o o d i s t h e w a r t o u s ? etc., a n d t h i n g s w o u l d h a v e t a k e n a n o t h e r direction. T h e P a r t y d i d its w o r k s o t h o r o u g h l y t h a t t h e w o m e n became ardent propagandists of the l i n e of the P a r t y w i t h i n their families. Take the rifle, they w o u l d urge t h e i r h u s b a n d s a n d sons, a n d t h r o w y o u r s e l v e s i n t o t h e
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f i g h t f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the H o m e l a n d ! Y o u u n d e r stand, c o m r a d e s , w h a t c o u r a g e t h i s s t a n d o n t h e p a r t o f the w o m a n g a v e the h u s b a n d o r s o n w h o seized t h e r i f l e and joined the partisans. W h e n e v e r w e e n t e r e d t h e h o m e s o f o u r people, i n c i t y o r v i l l a g e , t h e w o m e n g a v e u s e v e r y possible h e l p , they l i n k e d themselves closely w i t h our war, w i t h the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y . M a n y o f t h e i r h u s b a n d s o r sons w e r e fighting in the mountains, and, w h e n we went to their homes f o r s h e l t e r a n d f o o d , t h e y t r e a t e d u s a s t h e i r sons, a s t h e i r closest r e l a t i v e s . See t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f w o m e n a n d t h e i r a c t i v i t y ! I t w a s i n these c o n d i t i o n s t h a t t h e w o m e n ' s o r g a n i z a t i o n w a s set u p i n o u r c o u n t r y . O f course, t h e s a m e process w i l l d e v e l o p i n y o u r c o u n t r y , too. I n t h e b e g i n n i n g W e c a m e u p a g a i n s t m a n y d i f f i c u l ties, e v e r y t h i n g w a s n o t a c h i e v e d a t once, a s y o u see i t today. W e k n o w w h a t difficulties there are i n the c a p i talist countries, but they can a l l be overcome w h e n the l i n e i s c o r r e c t a n d the p a r t y d e t e r m i n e d . Y o u , dear comrades, have helped us greatly in anot h e r d i r e c t i o n too, i n f u r t h e r e n h a n c i n g o u r c o n f i d e n c e i n the f u t u r e v i c t o r i e s o f o u r c o m m o n s t r u g g l e . W e a s s u r e y o u t h a t w e w i l l h o n o u r a b l y a c c o m p l i s h o u r tasks a s soldiers o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , a s l o y a l s o l d i e r s o f M a r x i s m Leninism. We w o u l d like you, dear comrades of the C o m munist P a r t y (M-L) of Ecuador, to consider our P a r t y as yours in everything. We are r e a d y to give y o u whatever assistance y o u c o n s i d e r u s e f u l , because a s i n t e r n a t i o n a lists w e a r e d u t y b o u n d t o d o so. I f w e d o n o t d o this, we cannot call ourselves internationalists, cannot be M a r x ists. W e h a v e s p a r e d a n d w i l l s p a r e n o t h i n g t o g i v e y o u e v e r y p o s s i b l e assistance, a s o u r c o m r a d e s a n d b r o t h e r s , because y o u r i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t a s s i s t a n c e t o u s i s also great. Y o u also h e l p u s w i t h y o u r e x p e r i e n c e , a n d i f y o u notice that we m a y be going w r o n g in some direction,
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please c r i t i c i z e us, s h a k e u s u p w i t h y o u r o p e n c r i t i c i s m , a n d rest a s s u r e d t h a t w e c o n s i d e r a n d treat y o u r c o m r a d e s ' c r i t i c i s m a s the m o s t s a c r e d t h i n g . O u r people s a y t h a t h e t h a t c r i t i c i z e s y o u l o v e s y o u , h e t h a t does n o t l o v e y o u pats y o u o n t h e b a c k s o t h a t y o u w i l l c o n t i n u e o n the w r o n g r o a d . O u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t d i a l e c t i c s teaches u s t h a t not e v e r y t h i n g goes s t r a i g h t , t h a t people's heads a r e n o t a l l cut t o o n e p a t t e r n , t h a t t h e e n e r g i e s o f e a c h i n d i v i d u a l are n o t e q u a l , some g o s t r a i g h t , others d o not. I n these c o n d i tions, the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y , b o l s h e v i k c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m sets p e o p l e r i g h t , keeps t h e p a r t y p u r e a n d c a r r i e s t h e r e v o l u t i o n f o r w a r d . These are the relations we want, this is the sincere proletarian love we w a n t to have for one another, and the m o r e w e d o f o r o n e a n o t h e r , f o r t h e r e v o l u t i o n , the m o r e m o d e s t w e m u s t be. T h e r e f o r e , t h e m o d e s t y o f communists m u s t be exemplary, like that of proletarians; the efforts and thoughts of communists must be like those o f p r o l e t a r i a n s , t h e f e e l i n g s o f t h e i r souls a n d h e a r t s m u s t b e l i k e those o f p r o l e t a r i a n s . O n l y t h u s c a n o u r revolution march forward. We are sorry, dear comrades, that y o u w i l l be leavi n g , b u t rest a s s u r e d t h a t o u r h e a r t s are u n i t e d w i t h y o u r s . We k n o w that y o u are v e r y busy. E v e n greater and m o r e d i f f i c u l t t a s k s a w a i t y o u i n t h e f u t u r e , nevertheless, we w o u l d be v e r y happy if you could come more frequently and stay longer in o u r country, regardless of the fact t h a t t h i s c a n n o t b e d o n e i n e v e r y i n s t a n c e a c c o r d i n g to our wishes. M a y y o u r great w i s h b e f u l f i l l e d , m a y the d a y c o m e when we can visit you in your country.
Against
AN A C T WHICH LEGALIZES THE TRANSFORMATION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA INTO A COLONY OF THE SOVIET REVISIONISTS
October 23, 1968
T h e s e d a y s , as has been a n n o u n c e d , t h e so-called S o v i e t - C z e c h o s l o v a k T r e a t y , w h i c h legalizes t h e e n s l a v e ment of Czechoslovakia by the foreign occupation troops a n d its c o m p l e t e c o l o n i z a t i o n b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , came i n t o effect. I n o r d e r t o c a m o u f l a g e t h e i r aggressive and neo-colonialist aims the Moscow revisionists and their spokesmen are l o u d l y p r o c l a i m i n g the Soviet-Czechoslovak treaty as an expression of the free w i l l of e q u a l parties, as a m e a n s of d e f e n d i n g s o c i a l i s m f r o m W e s t G e r m a n revanchism, and so on and so forth. B u t all this i s r u b b i s h . T h i s t r e a t y has f u r t h e r e x p o s e d its authors, s t r i p p e d t h e m n a k e d a n d r e v e a l e d t h e i r t r u e n a t u r e o f i m p e r i a l i s t aggressors a n d c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y renegades f r o m t h e p e a c e - l o v i n g peoples o f t h e w o r l d . This treaty is a scandalous example of the cynicism and v i l l a i n y of the Soviet revisionists, further e v i dence o f t h e i r a g g r e s s i v e a n d i m p e r i a l i s t p o l i c y . R i g h t f r o m t h e start, i n its f i r s t clause, t h i s d o c u m e n t r e v e a l s the essence o f the t a n k d i p l o m a c y because i t s p e a k s o f a n a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e aggressor a n d h i s v i c tim, an agreement concluded subsequent to the accom-
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p l i s h e d fact, after the c o m p l e t e m i l i t a r y o c c u p a t i o n , u n d e r the m e n a c e o f a r t i l l e r y a n d t a n k s . T h e S o v i e t o c c u p a t i o n troops p r e s e n t i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a w i l l r e m a i n t h e r e f o r e v e r . T h i s fact i s a d m i t t e d i n C l a u s e 1 w h i c h states that the n u m b e r s o f S o v i e t troops a n d t h e p l a c e s w h e r e t h e y w i l l b e stationed i s t o b e d e f i n e d l a t e r , a n d t h a t these t r o o p s w i l l b e u n d e r t h e S o v i e t m i l i t a r y c o m mand. This means legalization of the occupation r e g i m e i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d its c o m p l e t e d e p e n d e n c e o n t h e Soviet military occupation command. F u r t h e r proof of the cynicism of the Soviet r e v i s i o n ist i n v a d e r s can be f o u n d in C l a u s e 2 of t h i s i n f a m o u s treaty w h i c h c l a i m s t h a t t h e s t a t i o n i n g o f S o v i e t troops i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a does n o t v i o l a t e i t s s o v e r e i g n t y , t h a t the S o v i e t t r o o p s d o n o t i n t e r f e r e i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f t h e SR. o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , t h a t t h e y w i l l respect t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k l a w s . T h e r e o u g h t t o b e a limit even to demagogy a n d cynicism, but for the S o viet revisionists there is no limit. T h e w h o l e w o r l d saw t h a t a f t e r t h e 21st of A u g u s t t h e s o v e r e i g n t y of C z e c h o slovakia w a s crushed under the Soviet tanks, that the Soviet marshals Y a k u b o v s k i a n d P a v l o v s k i , together w i t h the gauleiter Kuznetsov, made themselves masters in anot h e r ' s house, t h a t the v i o l e n c e o f i n v a d e r s r e p l a c e d t h e Czechoslovak law. T h e treaty sanctions colonial-type privileges for the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t occupiers. U n d e r C l a u s e 3 of t h e treaty, the puppet government of P r a g u e is b o u n d to put at the disposal of the Soviet occupation troops barracks and d w e l l i n g - h o u s e s i n the g a r r i s o n t o w n s , s e r v i c e b u i l d i n g s , depots, etc., a i r f i e l d s a n d s t a t i o n a r y i n s t a l l a t i o n s a n d o t h e r e q u i p m e n t , m e a n s o f t h e state n e t w o r k o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n s a n d t r a n s p o r t , e l e c t r i c p o w e r a n d o t h e r services. Likewise, the shooting-ranges and t r a i n i n g grounds of the Czechoslovak a r m y w i l l be used by the Soviet occupa-
THE OCCUPATION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA
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t i o n troops. W i t h t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s , t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k a r m y w h i c h has been r e d u c e d b y t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n i s t t r i o D u b e k - e r n i k - S v o b o d a to t h e m i s e r a b l e r o l e of a stage e x tra, w i l l n o w c o n s i d e r i t s e l f a s t r a n g e r i n its o w n h o m e . I n fact, t h i s i n f a m o u s t r e a t y d o e s n o t i n a n y w a y r e c o g n i z e t h e e x i s t e n c e of C z e c h o s l o v a k i a as a s o v e r e i g n state w i t h its o w n i n d e p e n d e n t s o c i o - e c o n o m i c a n d j u r i dical order. A f t e r t r y i n g to solve the Czechoslovak p r o b l e m manu militari, by m i l i t a r y v i o l e n c e , t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t imperialists have p u t themselves in the position of master i n t h e h o u s e a n d s e t t l e d t h e m s e l v e s c o m f o r t a b l y a t the C z e c h o s l o v a k table. T h e y h a v e c r e a t e d s u c h p r i v i l e g e s f o r themselves as to enable t h e m to dictate their neo-colonialist w i l l o v e r t h e w h o l e l i f e o f t h i s c o u n t r y i n p o l i t i c s , in the economy, in the socio-cultural field. The Soviet occupation troops a n d their families c a n enter or leave Czechoslovakia whenever they wish, without entry or exit visas or c u s t o m s c o n t r o l . C l a u s e 4 says e x p l i c i t l y , T h e S o v i e t a r m y u n i t s , t h e p e r s o n s w h o are p a r t o f t h e e f f e c t i v e o f the S o v i e t t r o o p s a n d t h e m e m b e r s o f the f a m i l i e s o f these p e r s o n s c a n g o t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e t h e S o v i e t troops a r e s t a t i o n e d i n t h e S R o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d r e turn f r o m the SR of Czechoslovakia both by direct trains and carriages w h i c h belong to the Soviet U n i o n , or by c h a n g i n g f r o m t h e c a r r i a g e s o f t h e one c o u n t r y t o t h o s e o f the o t h e r , o r b y a i r o r m o t o r t r a n s p o r t . T h o s e p e r s o n s who are part of the effective of the Soviet troops and the m e m b e r s o f t h e i r f a m i l i e s w i l l n o t b e s u b j e c t t o p a s s port o r v i s a c o n t r o l d u r i n g t h e i r e n t r y t o s t a y i n o r departure f r o m the SR of Czechoslovakia. W i t h this p r o v i s i o n , t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k state b o r d e r , w h i c h s y m b o l izes t h e s o v e r e i g n t y a n d i n t e g r i t y o f t h a t c o u n t r y , h a s been t u r n e d i n t o a f o o t - r a g , i n t o a b r o k e n - d o w n a n d w o r t h l e s s fence. The occupation regime and the complete capitulation
518 and submission of i s also s a n c t i o n e d C z e c h o s l o v a k side b o r d e r o f the S R customs or border
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the D u b e k - S v o b o d a r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e b y C l a u s e 5 . U n d e r t h i s c l a u s e the agrees to a l l o w c r o s s i n g of t h e state of Czechoslovakia tax-free a n d without control, b y :
the S o v i e t troops a n d persons w h o are p a r t of t h e i r effective, i n c l u d i n g units, s u b - u n i t s a n d a r m y c o m m a n d s ; a l l k i n d s o f m i l i t a r y cargo, i n c l u d i n g those d e s t i n e d for trade and c o m m u n a l purposes of the Soviet troops; p e r s o n s w h o are p a r t o f t h e e f f e c t i v e o f t h e S o v i e t troops, w h o e n t e r o r l e a v e t h e S R o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a l o n e or accompanied by the members of their families, w i t h t h e i r p e r s o n a l effects, o n p r e s e n t a t i o n t o t h e c u s t o m s o r gans o f t h e i r d o c u m e n t s e n t i t l i n g t h e m t o cross t h e state b o r d e r o f the S R o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . F u r t h e r p r o o f o f t h e complete dependence upon the w i l l of the occupier is the fact t h a t a l l t r a d e a n d c o m m u n a l services f o r t h e e f f e c t i v e o f the S o v i e t troops o n C z e c h o s l o v a k t e r r i t o r y w i l l b e p r o v i d e d t h r o u g h the S o v i e t t r a d e a n d c o m m u n a l e n t e r p r i s e s ! T h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f this treaty w i l l i n e v i t a b l y e n t a i l a great c o n f u s i o n i n t h e w h o l e e c o n o m i c , c o m m e r cial and financial life of the country a n d w i l l m a k e the l i f e o f the C z e c h o s l o v a k w o r k i n g p e o p l e m o r e d i f f i c u l t . T h e p r i v i l e g e s g r a n t e d t o t h e i n v a d e r s t o use t h e l o c a l c u r r e n c y i n t r a d i n g , t h a t is, t o p u t i n t o c i r c u l a t i o n u n controlled amounts of Czechoslovak banknotes, w i l l ine vitably lead to disorder in the whole currency system of the country, to i n f l a t i o n and the f u r t h e r flourishing of t h e black m a r k e t and economic speculation. A b o v e all, the Czechoslovak puppet government is obliged to supply the occupation troops w i t h food and industrial products, thus t i g h t e n i n g t h e b e l t o n the people, o n t h e w o r k i n g masses. T h i s is an unforeseen extra burden, a heavy impost w h i c h w i l l be a further blow to the Czechoslovak economy, a l ready staggering u n d e r t h e revisionist reforms.
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T h e t r u e face of the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s as aggressors and i m p e r i a l i s t i n v a d e r s i s c l e a r l y r e v e a l e d also i n those p r o v i s i o n s o f t h i s i n f a m o u s t r e a t y w h i c h b e a r o n the a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l o c a l l a w t o the o c c u p a t i o n troops, t h e i r responsibility for the penal offences and contraventions c o m m i t t e d b y these t r o o p s o n C z e c h o s l o v a k s o i l . I n fact, point B of C l a u s e 9 of t h e t r e a t y o p e n l y a n d b r a z e n l y sanctions the c o m p l e t e e x e m p t i o n f r o m r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f the e f f e c t i v e o f t h e S o v i e t t r o o p s w h o c o m m i t c r i m e s o r o t h e r w i s e v i o l a t e t h e l a w i n the p e r f o r m a n c e o f t h e i r duties i n t h e r e g i o n w h e r e t h e a r m y u n i t s a r e stationed. In reality this means that the Czechoslovak l a w w i l l never b e a p p l i e d t o S o v i e t troops, because t h e y c a n w a s h t h e i r hands o f a n y a r b i t r a r y a c t i o n o r c r i m e t h e y c o m m i t , a s they are s u p p o s e d l y p e r f o r m i n g t h e i r d u t i e s a n d t h e w h o l e of Czechoslovakia m a y be considered a region for the s t a t i o n i n g o f S o v i e t m i l i t a r y troops. F i n a l l y , i n t h e s a m e clause t h e t r e a t y r e c o g n i z e s t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e S o v iet c o u r t s i n C z e c h o s l o v a k t e r r i t o r y , t h e c o m p e t e n c e s o f the a t t o r n e y ' s o f f i c e a n d o t h e r S o v i e t o r g a n s w h i c h w i l l act o n t h e basis o f S o v i e t l a w s i n C z e c h o s l o v a k t e r r i t o r y . T h i s i s a r e v i v a l o f t h e savage c o l o n i a l l a w o f c a p i t u l a tion w h i c h i s s t i l l i n f o r c e i n a f e w o u t - o f - t h e - w a y c o l o n ies o f B r i t a i n a n d P o r t u g a l ! T h i s i s t a n t a m o u n t t o t h e recognition of extra-territorial rights, of the unlimited f r e e d o m o f t h e i n v a d e r s t o act a s a n d w h e n t h e y w i s h , in the n a m e of the occupation l a w and contrary to the laws o f t h e c o u n t r y , t h u s s c o r n f u l l y d e r i d i n g t h e n a t i o n a l dignity of the Czechoslovak people. Understandably, the effective and permanent presenc e o f the S o v i e t o c c u p a t i o n t r o o p s i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , w h i c h this t r e a t y n o w legalizes, w i l l e x e r t i t s i n f l u e n c e i n a l l directions on the foreign p o l i c y of that country. A l r e a d y the C z e c h o s l o v a k c o l l a b o r a t i o n i s t c h i e f t a i n s h a v e b e g u n t o j u m p t o attention, t o t h e c o m m a n d s o f t h e S o v i e t o c -
520
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cupiers, to obey t h e m in complete servility and do w h a t they dictate. T h e foreign policy of the puppet government o f P r a g u e has n o w b e e n o f f i c i a l l y set o n t h e r a i l s o f t h e h e g e m o n i c i n t e r e s t s o f the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t occupiers, a n d , thus, u n d e r these c o n d i t i o n s , i t c a n n e v e r r e p r e s e n t the aspirations a n d sovereign interests of the Czechoslo v a k people and can never defend their v i t a l rights. The s p i r i t a n d p r o v i s i o n s o f t h i s c o l o n i a l i s t t r e a t y w h i c h has b e e n i m p o s e d o n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a r e b y n o m e a n s conces sions to l i g h t e n t h e occupation, a s e r n i k says, b u t i n fact t h e y l e g a l i z e t h i s o c c u p a t i o n a n d m a k e t h e b u r d e n o f it heavier. This is a dictated treaty a n d in no w a y based on mutual understanding, as the revisionist K o s y g i n s h a m e l e s s l y lies. T h i s t r e a t y i s b a s e d o n t h e b a y o n e t s a n d t a n k s o f the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t o c c u p i e r s . B r e z h n e v ' s rag, Pravda, w r i t e s about unity a n d equality. B u t w h a t u n i t y c a n t h e r e b e b e t w e e n t h e o c c u p i e r a n d the occupied; w h a t equality can there be between the rider a n d t h e horse? T h e f i f t e e n clauses o f t h i s enslaving neo-colonialist treaty are f i f t e e n n e w s t r o n g k n o t s i n the noose p l a c e d a r o u n d the n e c k o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k p e o p l e . I t i s a n o u t come o f the f a s c i s t - t y p e a g g r e s s i o n a g a i n s t C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . W i t h this treaty, t h e f r e e d o m , s o v e r e i g n t y a n d n a t i o n a l d i g n i t y of the Czechoslovak people have been legally and f i n a l l y b u r i e d . T h e w h o l e s p i r i t o f t h e treaty, its p u r poses a n d the w a y o f a p p l y i n g i t are v e r y s i m i l a r t o those b y w h i c h H i t l e r i m p o s e d his n e w o r d e r o n the E u r o p e a n q u i s l i n g s o r t o t h e a g r e e m e n t s b e t w e e n the p r e s e n t - d a y Hitlerites, the A m e r i c a n imperialists, and their smaller p a r t n e r s . I n this s h a m e f u l d o c u m e n t t h e r e i s not t h e s l i g h t est r e f e r e n c e t o the n o r m a l i z a t i o n o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d t h e f i n a l w i t h d r a w a l o f the o c c u p a t i o n troops. T h e dictate, p r e p a r e d i n M o s c o w a n d s i g n e d i n P r a -
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gue, does n o t e n d b u t f u r t h e r d e e p e n s t h e c r i s i s of the Soviet revisionist clique a n d the w h o l e revisionist front in C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d e v e r y w h e r e else. I t f u r t h e r aggravates the d i f f i c u l t p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d social s i t u a t i o n i n the S o v i e t U n i o n itself, a n d t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e d i f ferent r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s a n d c o u n t r i e s . I n p a r t i c u l a r , i t inevitably makes the irreconcilable contradictions between the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t i n v a d e r s a n d t h e f r e e d o m - l o v i n g Czechoslovak people deeper and m o r e bitter. S e e k i n g to le galize i t s c r i m i n a l actions o f a n i m p e r i a l i s t a n d c o l o n i a l i s t by m e a n s of a s o - c a l l e d b i l a t e r a l agreement, t h e r e v i s i o n ist l e a d e r s h i p o f M o s c o w has t r i e d i n v a i n t o d e c e i v e w o r l d p u b l i c o p i n i o n w i t h t h i s treaty. B u t w i t h this new act t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e o n c e a g a i n e x p o s e d themselves a s aggressors, i n v a d e r s , e x p l o i t e r s a n d i m p e r i a l ists. A s f o r t h e D u b e k - e r n i k c l i q u e , b y s i g n i n g this title to o c c u p a t i o n , it b r a n d e d i t s e l f once a g a i n as a group of renegades, collaborationists a n d quislings. But the Czechoslovak people w i l l contemptuously re ject t h i s act w h i c h l e g a l i z e s t h e c o l o n i a l i s t o c c u p a t i o n o f their H o m e l a n d . T h e y h a v e accepted n e i t h e r t h e aggres sion, t h e o c c u p a t i o n , n o r t h e t r e a t y o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i sionist aggressors, b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e y h a v e de nounced a n d o p p o s e d a l l o f t h e m , together w i t h t h e be trayal and capitulation by the D u b e k - e r n i k - S v o b o d a trio. T h e f r a t e r n a l C z e c h o s l o v a k people, w h o h a v e great r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a d i t i o n s , l e d b y t h e i r w o r k i n g class a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , w i l l c e r t a i n l y e x t e n d their resistance a n d w i l l fight w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n and w i t h e v e r y means, e v e n w i t h a r m s , a g a i n s t the f o r e i g n o c c u p i e r s a n d t h e l o c a l t r a i t o r s , f o r t h e s a c r e d cause o f n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n a n d t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t .
Against
HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND SOLVE CERTAIN PROBLEMS OF OUR SOCIALIST ECONOMY CORRECTLY
Speech delivered at the meeting with workers, cooperativists and cadres of the district of Berat
February 26, 1969
T h e w h o l e existence, t h e m a t e r i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l d e v elopment and progress of our socialist society are f o u n d e d o n the w o r k , the m i n d s a n d t h e h e a r t s o f t h e w o r k i n g people. T h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e a r e t h e i r o w n masters. L e d b y the P a r t y , t h e y w o r k , create a n d r u n t h i n g s c o n s c i o u s l y r e l y i n g o n k n o w l e d g e a n d use o f the l a w s o f s o c i a l i s m . T h e aim of all their activity is the construction of socialism and c o m m u n i s m . I n a c t i n g u p o n n a t u r e , t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e get t o k n o w m o r e a n d m o r e a b o u t it, d i s c o v e r the l a w s o f its ceaseless d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n a n d use t h i s knowledge to harvest its boundless riches and produce t h e m a t e r i a l blessings w i t h w h i c h t h e y f u l f i l b o t h t h e i r needs f o r p e r s o n a l c o n s u m p t i o n a n d those o f e x t e n d e d reproduction. T h i s is a natural, uninterrupted a n d nevere n d i n g process o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d c o n s u m p t i o n . W h e n there are adequate quantities of good q u a l i t y products, t h e w o r k i n g people f e e l great s a t i s f a c t i o n , b e cause t h e i r needs a r e f u l f i l l e d p r o p e r l y a n d t h e i r s t a n d a r d
ON CERTAIN PROBLEMS OF OUR ECONOMY
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o f l i v i n g rises c o n t i n u o u s l y . T h a t i s w h a t o u r p l a n s f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f the e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e a i m t o a c h i e ve. T h i s i s t h e l o f t i e s t a i m w h i c h g u i d e s t h e e n t i r e a c t i v i t y o f o u r P a r t y a n d state. B u t t h e r e are cases w h e n t h e r e is a s h o r t a g e of s o m e products, o r t h e y are o f a p o o r q u a l i t y . T h e n the w o r k i n g masses f e e l a c e r t a i n d i s c o n t e n t a n d , q u i t e r i g h t l y , t h e y make criticisms, and so they should. T h i s is absolutely reasonable and indispensable, otherwise the shortcomings a n d m i s t a k e s i n the f u l f i l m e n t o f o u r e c o n o m i c p l a n s i n quantity and quality w o u l d not be combated and put right. I f w e a n a l y s e this q u e s t i o n m o r e m i n u t e l y w e s h a l l reach the f o l l o w i n g g e n e r a l c o n c l u s i o n : w h e n the w o r k i n g masses c r i t i c i z e a n d c o m p l a i n a b o u t t h e shortage o f s o m e product or about its quality, they must understand that they t h e m s e l v e s are r e s p o n s i b l e f o r this, t h a t the c u l p r i t s are a m o n g t h e m , because i n o u r socialist r e g i m e i t i s t h e masses t h e m s e l v e s w h o p r o d u c e a n d r u n t h i n g s . N o b o d y can escape o r d o d g e t h i s fact. A s c o n s u m e r s , w h e n w e buy something for ourselves or o u r children, a l l of us w a n t t o f i n d e v e r y t h i n g a n d o f g o o d q u a l i t y a n d a s cheap a s possible. W i t h o u t d o u b t these a r e f a i r d e m a n d s . B u t w h y are we so exigent as consumers, whereas w h e n we are p r o d u c e r s , w h e n w e w o r k i n a f a c t o r y o r i n t h e f i e l d , w e are n o t a l l s o d e m a n d i n g o n ourselves, d o n o t s t r i v e persistently to ensure that every c o m m o d i t y that we t u r n out i s p r o d u c e d q u i c k l y , w i t h g o o d q u a l i t y a n d a t t h e lowest p o s s i b l e cost? N a t u r a l l y , t h e r e are m a n y w o r k e r s w h o w o r k w e l l a n d f u l f i l t h e p l a n s , b u t f r e q u e n t l y they, too, h a v e t h e i r w e a k n e s s e s , e s p e c i a l l y i n r e g a r d t o q u a l i t y . A n d besides t h e m t h e r e are o t h e r s w h o d o n ' t m e a s u r e up either in quantity or in quality. A l l branches of the economy: industry, agriculture, t r a n s p o r t , t r a d e etc., share, to a g r e a t e r or lesser e x t e n t ,
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i n these s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d w e a k n e s s e s . T h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , t h e m a n a g e m e n t s , w h e t h e r a t t h e centre o r i n the base, s h o u l d not t h i n k t h e y bear n o p a r t o f the b l a m e , i n d e e d t h e y b e a r t h e m a j o r p a r t , because they, too, h a v e great responsibility to ensure that planning, management, dist r i b u t i o n s , s u p p l i e s etc. a l l r u n s m o o t h l y . W h e n t h e r e i s a shortage o f s o m e a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t t h e c i t y - d w e l l e r c o m p l a i n s a n d has t h e c r i t i c i s m the peasant doesn't w o r k w e l l o n t h e t i p o f h i s t o n g u e . A n d w h e n t h e w o r k e r does n o t p r o d u c e a s m u c h a s h e s h o u l d a n d w i t h t h e p r o p e r q u a l i t y the c i t y - d w e l l e r c o m p l a i n s a g a i n , because s o m e o f h i s needs are u n f u l f i l l e d i n q u a n t i t y a n d q u a l i t y . I n t h i s case, too, h e b l a m e s h i m s e l f less t h a n the t r a d e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n f o r n o t p l a n n i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e goods p r o perly. The trade organization and administration u n d o u b t e d l y h a v e t h e i r f a u l t s , b u t the p e o p l e h a v e a s a y i n g : T h e b l a m e w a s m a d e a f u r coat a n d n o b o d y w o u l d w e a r it. H o w e v e r , this is not e x a c t l y so in o u r c o u n t r y , because the w o r k i n g masses are e d u c a t e d t o o w n u p t o t h e i r m i s t a k e s and shortcomings and, in general, they make self-criticism. It is in order a n d f a i r to criticize the peasant w h e n h e has t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s b u t does n o t p r o d u c e w h a t h e should and as m u c h as he should. B u t this ought to m a k e the c i t y - d w e l l e r , i n t u r n , t h i n k better a n d p r o d u c e a s m u c h as possible a n d of a good quality. E a c h c i t y - d w e l l e r m u s t ask h i m s e l f : A m I a n d t h e c o l l e c t i v e i n w h i c h I w o r k in order? T h e peasant should do as m u c h . L i k e w i s e , e v e r y e m p l o y e e o f the state, t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , o r p a r t y w o r k e r m u s t e x a m i n e his o w n conscience. T h i s i s h o w a l l o f u s m u s t j u d g e t h i n g s a n d act, otherwise we shall not understand the anomalies, the p a r t i a l a n d t e m p o r a r y weaknesses a n d s h o r t c o m i n g s o f our e c o n o m y , p r o p e r l y , a n d w i l l n o t b e a b l e t o d r a w t h e necessary conclusions t o f u r t h e r i m p r o v e o u r w o r k .
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Let us take an example from everyday life. Whenever the supplies o f shoes a r e i n a d e q u a t e o r o f p o o r q u a l i t y the b u y e r s a r e c r i t i c a l . T h i s c r i t i c i s m i s a b s o l u t e l y r i g h t . B u t , w h e n the f a c t o r y does n o t p r o d u c e g o o d shoes, t h i s i s n o t a l w a y s t h e f a u l t o f t h e f a c t o r y alone, f o r o f t e n the peasant does n o t d i s p l a y the p r o p e r care f o r the q u a l i t y o f the h i d e o r h e does n o t f u l f i l the p l a n f o r t h e i m p r o v e m e n t i n q u a l i t y a n d t h e increase i n n u m b e r s o f cattle, pigs, sheep a n d goats, etc. T h a t i s w h y t h e t r a d e d e p a r t ment has to b u y hides abroad, but n a t u r a l l y in s m a l l q u a n t i t i e s , because t h a t i s a l l its q u o t a a l l o w s , a n d s o m e times i t b u y s h i d e s o f i n f e r i o r q u a l i t y t o i n c r e a s e the q u a n t i t y a l i t t l e , or because t h e f o r e i g n d e a l e r s o u t w i t our people w h o have l i m i t e d experience. However, the w o r k i n g people of o u r tanneries also have their share of the b l a m e , because f r e q u e n t l y t h e y d o n o t t a n t h e l e a t h e r a t the r i g h t t i m e , o r w i t h t h e r e q u i r e d q u a l i t y , a n d s o o n . L e t u s t a k e a n o t h e r case. I t happens, f o r e x a m p l e , that s o m e t i m e s t h e g i r l s o f M y z e q e j a c r i t i c i z e o u r c o t t o n textiles because t h e y a r e n o t o f g o o d q u a l i t y . T h i s , too, is a f a i r criticism. B u t let us look into this p r o b l e m a l i t t l e m o r e closely. W h y d o e s t h i s h a p p e n ? First, let us t a k e up w h a t the w o r k i n g people of agriculture m u s t do. It is w e l l k n o w n that cotton is a very delicate plant. If the agrotechnical code is not i m p l e m e n t e d t o the l e t t e r a n d t h e p r o p e r g e n e r a t i o n o f seed i s n o t u s e d , t h e n t h e r e i s n o w a y y o u c a n get t h e q u a l i t y r e q u i r e d . A f t e r t h e f i f t h g e n e r a t i o n i n t h e 108F seed, for e x a m p l e , t h e l e n g t h o f t h e f i b r e f a l l s f r o m 3 2 m m t o 30 m m . B u t every m i l l i m e t r e reduction in length of staple means a 3 p e r cent r e d u c t i o n in the p r o d u c t i v i t y at t h e t e x t i l e c o m b i n e s , a n d t h i s l e a d s t o t h e d e c l i n e i n the q u a l i t y o f t e x t i l e s . T h e q u a l i t y o f t h e cotton deteriorates, also, w h e n the w o r k i n g people o f a g r i c u l t u r e w o r k a c c o r d i n g t o the p r a c t i c e e v e r y t h i n g w h i t e s h o u l d b e p i c k e d ,
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w i t h o u t g r a d i n g the p r o d u c t d u r i n g p i c k i n g a c c o r d i n g t o its q u a l i t y a n d degree o f m a t u r i t y . L a s t y e a r p r e v e n t i v e measures w e r e not t a k e n i n t i m e t o f i g h t the b o l l w o r m ( C h l o r i d e a Obsoleta), w h i c h s e r i o u s l y d a m a g e d p r o d u c t i o n , a n d as a r e s u l t of t h i s a n d o t h e r factors, a d e f i c i t of about 5,500 t o n s o f g i n n e d c o t t o n w a s c r e a t e d . T h i s forces t h e state t o i m p o r t c o t t o n , i n s t e a d o f u s i n g these f u n d s t o i m p o r t b e t t e r d y e s o r o t h e r goods w h i c h t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e e c o n o m y n e e d . T h e n t h e process c o n t i n u e s i n t h e g i n n i n g p l a n t s . T h e r e , too, w h e n the t e c h n o l o g i c a l process i s not r i g o r o u s l y respected, f u r t h e r d a m a g e i s d o n e t o the q u a l i t y o f the c o t t o n . T h e n i t goes t o the t e x t i l e w o r k e r s . I f they, too, a r e l a x i n t h e i r w o r k , p e r m i t defects, etc. the m a t e r i a l w i l l come out w i t h b r o k e n threads, w i t h i n s u f f i c i e n t d e n s i t y a n d d u r a b i l i t y , u n e v e n l y d y e d etc., etc. A l l these f a c t o r s h a v e a h a r m f u l i n f l u e n c e o n the quality of our textiles. L i k e w i s e , p o o r w o r k b y the w o r k i n g people o f t r a n s p o r t a n d t r a d e m a y also h a v e a h a r m f u l i n f l u e n c e . A n d s o the cycle i s c o m p l e t e d . M o r e o r less t h e s a m e t h i n g occurs w i t h the production of other commodities in industry and agriculture. H e n c e the t e n d e n c y t o c r i t i c i z e others m o r e t h a n o n e self, t o l i n k the p r o b l e m s o f each i n d i v i d u a l w i t h the g e n e r a l p r o b l e m s n o t t o t h e p r o p e r extent, f o r g e t t h a t a l l these p r o b l e m s a r e c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h one a n o t h e r , a n d , f i n a l l y , w h e n p e r s o n a l interest i s i n v o l v e d , t o p l a c e i t a b o v e the g e n e r a l interest, i s not correct. T h i s i s i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t h e social c h a r a c t e r o f socialist p r o d u c t i o n , b u t a b o v e a l l , w i t h t h e n e w r e l a t i o n s a m o n g the w o r k i n g p e o p l e a n d w i t h the e c o n o m i c l a w s o f s o c i a l i s m , according to w h i c h each i n d i v i d u a l in our society must r e g a r d his w o r k n o t a s i s o l a t e d f r o m b u t a s a c o m p o n e n t part of the whole. Those directors and collectives of w o r k i n g people w h o
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do not p a y adequate attention to f u l f i l l i n g the p l a n for certain so-called minor decentralized articles of a s m a l l value, but w h i c h are v e r y necessary for the people and the e c o n o m y , o u g h t t o j u d g e t h e i r a c t i o n s f r o m t h i s s t a n d a r d , too. T h o s e instances w h e n people s t r i v e t o r e a l i z e the p l a n i n t o t a l f i g u r e s ( o n l y i n v a l u e ) a n d d o n o t w o r k p e r s i s t e n t l y a n d w i t h a s t r i c t d i s c i p l i n e to p r o d u c e the w h o l e r a n g e o f p l a n n e d articles, a l l the c o m m o d i t i e s e n v i s a g e d t o b e p r o v i d e d f o r the people a n d the e c o n o m y , are also w r o n g a n d h a r m f u l . L i k e w i s e i t m u s t b e m a d e clear t o a l l t h a t w h e n someone w a n t s s o m e t h i n g f r o m society, f r o m the state, h e m u s t f i r s t c o n t r i b u t e , because t h e r e i s n o source o f i n c o m e t o secure the t h i n g s w a n t e d o v e r a n d a b o v e those e n v i s a g e d , i f the p l a n a n d t h e pledges are n o t f u l f i l l e d in the p r o p e r q u a n t i t y and quality. T h e same thing must be said w h e n the wages f u n d is exceeded or w h e n i n creases i n i t a r e d e m a n d e d , w h i l e p r o d u c t i v i t y does n o t increase. S u c h b u r e a u c r a t i c stands are o p e n m a n i f e s t a tions of putting the n a r r o w interests of the enterprise, the d i s t r i c t o r t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a b o v e the g e n e r a l interests of the people and socialism, of the lack of responsibility t o s o c i e t y a n d v i o l a t i o n o f t h e d i s c i p l i n e o f the p l a n . In this context, m a n y problems emerge for us in the methodology and forms of planning, w h i c h must be studied a n d r e - e x a m i n e d w i t h great care, s o t h a t t h e y are p u t o n t h e r i g h t r o a d , i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the phases o f the d y n a m i c d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r e c o n o m y , a n d f o r m s i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h the n e w s i t u a t i o n s w h i c h t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t creates s h o u l d b e a b a n d o n e d . Therefore, a l l of us must be deeply aware of and s t r e n g t h e n the c o l l e c t i v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r e v e r y t h i n g . W e must also feel and increase the personal responsibility of each i n d i v i d u a l w o r k e r i n the s a m e w a y , o r e v e n s o m e w h a t m o r e , because i n t h i s w a y w e b u i l d u p t h e c o l l e c -
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tive responsibility at the same time. Hence, we must, w i t h o u t f a i l , l e a r n t o c h e c k u p o n t h e w o r k o f others, but in the first place we must establish a personal checkup on our o w n work, w h i c h means self-criticism, correct i o n , t e m p e r i n g o f t h e socialist conscience. T h i s m u s t b e turned into a great r e v o l u t i o n a r y movement. M o u l d y ideas s o m e t i m e s a r i s e i n t h e h e a d o f s o m e o n e w h o has n o u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y a n d t h e socialist l a w s w h i c h g u i d e t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t . I f h e does n o t f i n d w h a t h e w a n t s , i n t h e q u a n t i t y h e w a n t s a n d w h e n h e w a n t s i t i n t h e shops, h e s a y s : In t h e past y o u c o u l d f i n d w h a t e v e r y o u w a n t e d i n the shops, a l l k i n d s o f m a t e r i a l s , shoes a n d s o on. B u t h e forgets, a n d t h e y o u n g p e o p l e d o n o t k n o w t h a t a t t h a t t i m e t h e r e w e r e v e r y f e w shops, o n l y i n c e r t a i n t o w n s , a n d those w h o h a d m o n e y t o b u y w e r e v e r y f e w . T h e shopkeepers t w i d d l e d their t h u m b s all day, but if y o u w e n t i n t o t h e shop t h e y w o u l d b r i n g e v e r y t h i n g d o w n off t h e shelves i n t h e h o p e o f s e l l i n g s o m e t h i n g . A n d t h i s o c c u r r e d n o t because t h e r e w a s p l e n t y , o r because the w o r k i n g p e o p l e h a d f u l f i l l e d a l l t h e i r needs, o n t h e c o n t r a r y it w a s a f a l s e p l e n t y , a c r i s i s because of t h e p o v e r t y o f t h e masses. T h e p o o r l o o k e d o n these s h o p s a n d t h e i r goods a s v e r y r e m o t e f r o m t h e m ; t h e y d i d n o t a l w a y s h a v e t h e m o n e y t o b u y t h e i r b r e a d , salt, k e r o s e n e or a p a i r of g r e e n - h i d e s a n d a l s . T h i s i s w h a t goes o n t o d a y i n t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e capital is in power, where, regardless of the t e m p o r a r y circumstances w h i c h are created a n d w h i c h arouse i l l u sions a b o u t a n a l l e g e d r i s e i n t h e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g o f c e r t a i n s t r a t a o f t h e w o r k i n g people, crises a n d u n e m p l o y m e n t a f f e c t t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e i n v a r y i n g degrees, a n d t h i s i s t h e u n i versal law. Hence the gulf w h i c h divides the r i c h f r o m the poor is g r o w i n g deeper every d a y a n d the broad
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masses o f w o r k i n g p e o p l e are a l w a y s h a r d - p r e s s e d t o e n sure e v e n t h e i r d a i l y b r e a d . T h e case i s t o t a l l y d i f f e r e n t w i t h o u r c o u n t r y w h e r e everybody works, w h e r e an average standard of l i v i n g has been e n s u r e d f o r t h e e n t i r e p o p u l a t i o n a n d e a c h p e r son, a c c o r d i n g t o the i n c o m e h e r e c e i v e s o n t h e basis o f his w o r k , i s a b l e t o b u y , t o c o n s u m e a n d t o f u l f i l h i s d a i l y needs s a t i s f a c t o r i l y a t a l l times. O u r socialist t r a d e network has been extended to every village, even to the remotest c o r n e r s o f t h e c o u n t r y , a n d a l l t h e goods w h i c h are t r a d e d i n t h e c i t i e s c a n b e f o u n d t h e r e . T h e r e f o r e , t o m e a s u r e o u r r e a l i t y w i t h t h e y a r d s t i c k o f t h e past m e a n s to live outside all reality. T h e r e are other examples of utterly confused a n d i l l - f o u n d e d o p i n i o n s s u c h a s : I n the p a s t one c o u l d f i n d articles o f g o o d q u a l i t y , because c o m p e t i t i o n e x i s t e d a n d did n o t a l l o w t h e c a p i t a l i s t t o p r o d u c e p o o r q u a l i t y goods, because t h e y w o u l d n o t sell. H e w h o t h i n k s s o i s w r o n g in g i v i n g the capitalist system, the capitalists and c o m p e t i t i o n c r e d i t f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f m a t e r i a l blessings i n q u a n t i t y a n d of a good q u a l i t y . I n the f i r s t place, t h e c a p i t a l i s t s h a v e n e v e r w o r k e d themselves a n d h a v e p r o d u c e d n o t h i n g , because o n l y the w o r k e r s a n d the p e a s a n t s w o r k a n d p r o d u c e . F r o m t h i s viewpoint, the capitalists are parasites w h o l i v e on the backs o f others, a n d e x p l o i t a n d a p p r o p r i a t e t h e l a b o u r and t a l e n t s o f t h e w o r k e r a n d the w o r k i n g peasant. Secondly, as I shall point out later, the competition about w h i c h p e o p l e o f this c a t e g o r y speak, w a s a n d i s nothing b u t a n o p p r e s s i v e m e t h o d a n d p r e s s u r e c h a r a c teristic o f c a p i t a l i s t society. T h e i d e a o f those w h o l a u d c o m p e t i t i o n proceeds f r o m a n i h i l i s t p o s i t i o n o f d e n i g r a t ing o u r goods a n d o v e r r a t i n g those w h i c h are p r o d u c e d in the capitalist countries. It is t r u e t h a t s o m e f o r e i g n c o m m o d i t i e s are of a bet-
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t e r q u a l i t y t h a n some o f ours, b u t a m o n g t h e m t h e r e are m a n y w o r t h l e s s substitutes. O n the other h a n d , t h i n g s must be v i e w e d realistically, in their dialectical developm e n t . L o o k a t the i m p r o v e m e n t s m a d e i n m a n y o f o u r goods i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h those m a d e o n l y a f e w y e a r s ago. W i t h some o f t h e m w e are s u c c e e d i n g i n o p e n i n g u p foreign markets, despite the savage imperialist-revisionist competition. In this direction, however, there is something else t h a t m u s t b e k e p t i n m i n d : t r u e , w e a r e f i g h t i n g f o r quality, but at the same time we must fight just as hard f o r q u a n t i t y , because o u r p r o d u c t s h a v e t o f u l f i l t h e needs, not just of one group of people as was r e q u i r e d in the f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s o r d e r , b u t o f a l l t h e masses o f t h e people, i n b o t h t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , b o t h i n t h e l o w l a n d s a n d i n the m o u n t a i n s . T h e r e f o r e , o u r w o r k i n g p e o p l e must a l w a y s r e m e m b e r the s l o g a n : W e m u s t t u r n o u r faces t o q u a l i t y w i t h o u t t u r n i n g o u r back o n q u a n t i t y . A s f o r the capitalist, i f h e can a c h i e v e h i s m a i n a i m , t h e s e c u r i n g o f m a x i m u m p r o f i t b y p r o d u c i n g less b u t o f h i g h e r q u a l i t y a n d at a h i g h e r price, w h a t does he care t h a t t h e masses of the people s u f f e r f r o m a l a c k of t h e m o s t v i t a l necessities. In considering this p r o b l e m we must not f a i l to take account o f t r a d i t i o n . T h e i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f m a n y c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s i s m e a s u r e d b y centuries, w h e r e a s w e s t a r t e d f r o m n o t h i n g o n l y 2 5 y e a r s ago, a f t e r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the H o m e l a n d . N e v e r t h e l e s s , o u r t a l e n t e d w o r k i n g p e o p l e a r e n o t r e s t i n g content w i t h t h e successes t h e y h a v e a c h i e v e d , because t h e y a r e conscious t h a t w e s t i l l h a v e a great d e a l t o d o i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h q u a l i t y . T h e technical-scientific revolution w h i c h is developing cont i n u o u s l y i n o u r c o u n t r y serves t h i s a i m . I n c o n s i s t e n t l y b a s i n g the d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r s o c i a l ist e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e of self-reliance, o u r P a r t y e v a l u a t e s t h i s as a g r e a t r e v -
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o l u t i o n i z i n g p r i n c i p l e w h i c h serves t o m o b i l i z e a l l the i n t e r n a l m a t e r i a l , f i n a n c i a l a n d h u m a n resources, i n s p i r e s and e n c o u r a g e s t h e c r e a t i v e t h o u g h t o f the masses, i n creases t h e i r s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e , a n d p r e p a r e s t h e m t o s o l v e any p r o b l e m a n d o v e r c o m e a n y d i f f i c u l t y t h a t e m e r g e s i n the course o f o u r s o c i a l i s t c o n s t r u c t i o n . H o w e v e r , this p r i n c i p l e does n o t r u l e o u t the e f f o r t s w h i c h m u s t b e m a d e i n the f u t u r e , too, t o g a i n t h e m a x i m u m b e n e f i t f r o m t h e a c h i e v e m e n t s o f o t h e r peoples i n the f i e l d o f science a n d t e c h n i q u e . T h e w r o n g ideas w h i c h I m e n t i o n e d above, t h a t exist i n the m i n d s o f s o m e people, are r e m n a n t s o f t h e old w o r l d o u t l o o k o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e economy, o f its e x p l o i t i n g m e t h o d s a n d c a p i t a l i s t r e l a tions o f p r o d u c t i o n . A t t a c h i n g t h e m s e l v e s t o these r e m nants, t h e vestiges o f p e r s o n a l i n t e r e s t a n d p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y m a k e these p e o p l e f o r g e t o r f a i l t o see t h e m a r v e l lous a n d h a r m o n i o u s d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist e c o n omy, i t s l a w s , the n e w r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , a n d consequently, t h e r i g h t s a n d d u t i e s o f e a c h p e r s o n i n t h e a l l r o u n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist society, i n t h e i r t r u e light. Therefore, if we understand the problems correctly, a s the P a r t y i n s t r u c t s us, t h e n w e s h a l l a c h i e v e e v e n greater r e s u l t s i n t h e c o u r s e o f o u r ceaseless d e v e l o p m e n t . O f course, t h i s i s t h e s p i r i t i n w h i c h w e are p r o c e e d i n g , but w e m u s t f u r t h e r i m p r o v e o u r w o r k , n o t o n l y because we h a v e a g r e a t d e a l to do, b u t also because t h e r e is no end t o i m p r o v e m e n t . T h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . t h e people's r e v o l u t i o n , led b y o u r P a r t y , e l i m i n a t e d t h e c a p i t a l i s t s a n d e x p l o i t i n g capitalism together w i t h their ideology a n d methods in our c o u n t r y once a n d for a l l , but the remnants of t h e i r ideology h a v e n o t y e t been e l i m i n a t e d f r o m t h e m i n d s o f people, a n d p r e c i s e l y i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n o u r P a r t y i s w a g i n g a n a l l - r o u n d s t r u g g l e . O u r p e o p l e seized p o w e r
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a n d n o w i t i s t h e y w h o m a k e t h e l a w , w h o direct, a d m i n ister, p r o d u c e a n d c o n s u m e . H e n c e , i n o u r c o u n t r y n o w there is extended production for a v e r y greatly extended c o n s u m p t i o n . T h i s w h o l e process t a k e s p l a c e w i t h o u t e x ploiters and exploited. B u t there must be a proper understanding that although this development is v e r y r a p i d a n d a d v a n c i n g e v e r y d a y , i t has n o t r e a c h e d t h e stage needed for adequate consumption, either in q u a n t i t y or in q u a l i t y . N o , w e s t i l l h a v e a v e r y great d e a l t o d o i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , t h a t i s W h y a l l the p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l e n e r g i e s of an e n t i r e people, as t a l e n t e d a n d i n d u s t r i o u s as ours, have been exerted to the f u l l . O u r socialist s y s t e m i s t h e m o s t a d v a n c e d s o c i a l system, a s y s t e m w h i c h o p e n s t h e b r o a d e s t r o a d t o t h e greatest m a t e r i a l , m e n t a l , s p i r i t u a l , c u l t u r a l a n d m o d e r n t e c h n i c a l progress, w h i l e t h e b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m i s i n decay, d o o m e d t o b e c o m e e x t i n c t , t o d i s a p p e a r . F r o m the s t r a t e g i c s t a n d p o i n t c a p i t a l i s m h a s b e e n d e f e a t e d b y socialism. S t a r t i n g f r o m the t r i u m p h of the Great October Socialist Revolution, led by Lenin, and d u r i n g the period of the construction of socialism in the Soviet Union, led by Stalin, it was proved in life, in practice, that the t i m e has c o m e f o r c a p i t a l i s m t o m a k e w a y f o r s o c i a l i s m . O u r people, u n d e r the far-sighted leadership of t h e P a r t y , w i t h selfless w o r k a n d l o f t y r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t are b u i l d i n g a n e w socialist w o r l d , w i t h t h e i r m i l i t a n t slogan, T h e p i c k i n one h a n d a n d t h e r i f l e i n t h e o t h e r . M o r e concretely. In the f i e l d of the e c o n o m y we a r e s t r u g g l i n g , a n d s t r u g g l i n g successfully, t o set u p a n e n t i r e l y n e w socialist a g r i c u l t u r e w i t h a great f u t u r e . A n d i f w e m a k e a c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h e past, t h e p r o o f s a r e vivid and convincing. B u t have we achieved what the P a r t y wants? No, we still have a great deal to do before our agriculture produces as m u c h as it should and w h a t it s h o u l d .
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Someone m a y say that in the capitalist countries, agriculture is m o r e advanced a n d gives higher yields. This is not true for a l l capitalist countries. A n d even w h e r e i t i s t r u e , t h i s i s d u e n o t t o the m e r i t s o f t h e c a pitalist system, but to the savage exploitation of the people b y t h i s s y s t e m . Science, a g r i c u l t u r a l k n o w l e d g e , the a d v a n c e d e x p e r i e n c e o f p e o p l e i n this f i e l d a n d the a d v a n c e d m e a n s of w o r k are created and mastered. In our country this is only a matter of time. T h e socialist system a n d the colossal p o s s i b i l i t i e s w h i c h i t has c r e a t e d , t h e p e o p l e l i b e r a t e d once a n d f o r a l l f r o m c a p i t a l i s t o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n , w i l l s k i p t h e stages, w i l l m o r e t h a n m a k e u p f o r lost time, w i l l o u t s h i n e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f c a p i t a l i s t a g r i c u l ture a n d , a t t h e s a m e t i m e , w i l l also d e s t r o y t h e c a p i t a l i s t system i t s e l f . T h e same phenomenon is occurring and w i l l continue i n the f i e l d o f i n d u s t r y . W h a t m i g h t y changes h a v e t a k e n place i n o u r c o u n t r y i n t h i s f i e l d ! E v e r y t h i n g s t a r t e d f r o m scratch. W h e r e w e r e w e a n d w h e r e a r e w e t o d a y ! T h e future prospects for our country are brilliant. A capitalist regime w o u l d need hundreds of years to do w h a t our socialist s y s t e m has d o n e w i t h i n s u c h a s h o r t p e r i o d . L e t us take for comparison one of our neighbours, capitalist Greece. F r o m w h a t e v e r s t a n d p o i n t y o u l o o k a t it, t h e r e can b e n o c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h e m a g n i f i c e n t t r a n s f o r m a tions w h i c h o u r c o u n t r y has m a d e d u r i n g these 2 5 y e a r s since L i b e r a t i o n , i n o u r people's state p o w e r , u n d e r the l e a d ership o f o u r g l o r i o u s P a r t y o f L a b o u r . T o see t h e p i c t u r e more c l e a r l y , t h e s i t u a t i o n i n G r e e c e s h o u l d n o t b e m e a sured w i t h t h e n e o n l i g h t s i n A t h e n s , b u t w i t h t h e m i s e rable s o c i o - e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d m o s t o f the G r e e k p e a s a n t r y , a g o o d p r o p o r t i o n o f w h o m e m i grate e v e r y y e a r t o t h e W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s t o f i n d jobs, not t o m e n t i o n t h e desperate p s y c h o l o g i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l
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state o f the people, b o t h b e f o r e a n d t o d a y u n d e r t h e r e g i m e o f the m i l i t a r y j u n t a . I n t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e e x i s t e n c e o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t i n d u s t r y m a d e great a d v a n c e i n the Soviet U n i o n , but unfortunately, the new revisionist capitalists rule there today, a n d they are t r y i n g to attribute t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f a d v a n c e d S o v i e t science, t e c h n i q u e a n d i n d u s t r y t o themselves, e x p l o i t i n g a l l these t h i n g s f o r t h e i r o w n t r e a c h e r o u s purposes. S o m e o n e m a y say t h a t i n d u s t r y i s m u c h m o r e a d v a n c e d in the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . T h i s , too, is not true f o r a l l t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . T h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d does n o t consist o n l y o f the U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a , B r i t a i n a n d o t h e r i n d u s t r i a l c o u n t r i e s , b u t also o f A f r i c a , L a t i n A m e r i c a , Indonesia, Spain, P o r t u g a l a n d m a n y other countries w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e the m a j o r p a r t o f t h e w o r l d , a n d w h i l e t h e y are u n d e r the c a p i t a l i s t r e g i m e t h e y h a v e been l e f t i n a state o f great b a c k w a r d n e s s . T h i s i s p r e c i s e l y the m a i n reason that hundreds of m i l l i o n s of the broad masses i n these c o u n t r i e s l i v e i n p o v e r t y , u n e m p l o y m e n t a n d p e r m a n e n t g r e a t w a n t , u n d e r the h e e l o f r e a c t i o n a r y fascist regimes. T h e c a p i t a l i s t s of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a , B r i t a i n and other m o r e developed capitalist c o u n t r i e s , i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t , h a v e not only exploited the workers and peasants of their o w n countries, but over hundreds of years, they h a v e barb a r o u s l y squeezed t h e s w e a t a n d b l o o d f r o m h u n d r e d s o f m i l l i o n s o f people o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s a n d p l u n d e r e d t h e i r great n a t u r a l assets. T o d a y , the U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a i s t h e greatest i n t e r n a t i o n a l e x p l o i t e r , the m a i n bastion of colonialism and w o r l d reaction, the most ferocious e n e m y o f the peoples o f the w h o l e w o r l d . I m p e l l e d b y the u n b r i d l e d l u s t f o r p r o f i t , i t does not hesitate t o use a n y m e a n s i n c l u d i n g aggression a n d w a r . N e v e r theless, w i t h i n the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a itself, too,
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the p o l a r i z a t i o n of t h e p o p u l a t i o n is so m a r k e d , that whereas t h e M o r g a n s , t h e R o c k e f e l l e r s a n d s u c h l i k e are becoming ever richer and o w n billions of dollars and other f a b u l o u s w e a l t h , m i l l i o n s o f A m e r i c a n w o r k e r s a n d the b l a c k p o p u l a t i o n s u f f e r e v e r y d a y f r o m h u n g e r , w a n t , u n e m p l o y m e n t , i g n o r a n c e a n d disease. E v e n those w o r k e r s who h a v e jobs l i v e i n c o n s t a n t d r e a d o f b e i n g l e f t u n e m ployed, u n d e r t h e t h r e a t t h a t t h e c a p i t a l i s t s m a y t h r o w them out o n the street. T h e r e f o r e , e v e n i n those c o u n t r i e s where t h e r e i s some d e v e l o p m e n t , t h i s i s n o t d u e t o the merits o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m , b u t t o t h e b a r b a r o u s p h y s i cal a n d s p i r i t u a l e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e p e o p l e b y this i n human system. T h u s , t h e p r o g r e s s i n the f i e l d o f a g r i c u l t u r a l o r i n dustrial p r o d u c t i o n in c e r t a i n c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s is n o t a merit of c a p i t a l i s m , b u t a r e s u l t of the t h o u g h t , t h e t o i l and t h e c r e a t i v e w o r k o f t h e e x p l o i t e d , w h i l e t h e c a p i t a l ists, b y u s i n g t h e i r b a r b a r o u s r u l e , s i m p l y a p p r o p r i a t e the f r u i t s of t h i s progress.
II
In the c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m the f e a r of u n e m p l o y m e n t and hunger c o m p e l s t h e w o r k e r s , w h o are s a v a g e l y e x p l o i t e d , to produce c o m m o d i t i e s of a g o o d q u a l i t y a n d so enable the c a p i t a l i s t t o d r a w t h e m a x i m u m p r o f i t a n d w i t h s t a n d the c o m p e t i t i o n . I n s o c i a l i s m , t h e w o r k e r a n d peasant work a n d p r o d u c e f o r themselves, f o r t h e i r o w n h a p p i n e s s and t h a t o f t h e i r c h i l d r e n . F o r this reason, w i t h t h e m i t i s first o f a l l t h e i r conscience w h i c h u r g e s t h e m t o f u l f i l their t a s k s a n d t o p r o d u c e c o m m o d i t i e s o f g o o d q u a l i t y . I n socialist society, socialist e m u l a t i o n can a n d m u s t p l a y a n ever g r e a t e r r o l e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n .
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T o f u r t h e r i m p r o v e t h e w o r k i n a c c o m p l i s h i n g the tasks w h i c h the P a r t y sets u s f o r t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f e c o n o m i c plans, I w a n t t o stress b r i e f l y h o w o u r w o r k i n g p e o ple o u g h t t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d a p p l y i n p r a c t i c e L e n i n ' s great teachings o n socialist e m u l a t i o n a n d socialist c o m p e t i t i o n s . T h e s o c i a l i s t s y s t e m g i v e s b i r t h t o great e m u l a t i o n a m o n g t h e w o r k i n g people. B u t w h a t does e m u l a t i o n m e a n in s o c i a l i s m ? S o c i a l i s t e m u l a t i o n is a m e t h o d of selfaction, b o l d initiative and creative w o r k of the broad masses o f the w o r k i n g people f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialism and communism, for the tempering of their revo l u t i o n a r y consciousness. S t a l i n teaches u s t h a t
socialist emulation is an expression of the constructive revolutionary self-criticism of the masses, which is based on the creative initiative of millions of working people.*
T h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e social o w n e r s h i p o f the m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , the ceaseless r i s e i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y consciousness, the w o r k f o r society, f o r oneself, are the d e c i s i v e source of t h e e m e r g e n c e o f t h i s e m u l a t i o n i n a l l f i e l d s o f social a c t i v i t y . C o n t r a r y t o w h a t h a p p e n s i n socialist society, i n c a p i t a l i s m savage, b l i n d c o m p e t i t i o n operates. W h a t does competition mean in capitalism? Competition is a life-andd e a t h s t r u g g l e a m o n g c a p i t a l i s t s t o secure t h e greatest possible p r o f i t s a t t h e e x p e n s e o f t h e w o r k i n g people. The principle of competition means the destruction and death of some and the t r i u m p h and d o m i n a t i o n of others. T h i s w h o l e b a t t l e i s f o u g h t out w i t h d a g g e r s d r a w n , acc o r d i n g t o t h e l a w o f the j u n g l e : the b i g f i s h g o b b l e s u p t h e small. A t t h e present stage o f i m p e r i a l i s m , c o m p e t i t i o n has f l a r e d u p , has b e c o m e f i e r c e a n d h a s e x t e n d e d
_________________________________ * J. V. S t a l i n , W o r k s , v o l . 12, p. 108 (Alb. ed.).
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beyond a l l bounds between various branches of the economy, b e t w e e n n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l m o n o p o l i e s , against one a n o t h e r , b e t w e e n t h e m o n o p o l i e s a n d t h e non-monopoly enterprises, between combinations of m o n o polies a n d b e t w e e n t h e i m p e r i a l i s t states t h e m s e l v e s t o divide the m a r k e t s a n d spheres of influence, to p l u n d e r the peoples a n d t h e assets o f t h e colonies a n d d e p e n d e n t countries. C o m p e t i t i o n i s a n o b j e c t i v e l a w a n d a n i n e vitable accompaniment of the capitalist m o d e of p r o d u c tion, w h i c h d e r i v e s f r o m p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y a n d a n a r c h y i n production. In the competitive struggle, the capitalists do not hesitate t o e m p l o y a n y m e a n s . T h e y i n c r e a s e the o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n o f the w o r k i n g people, t h r o w m i l l i o n s o f w o r k e r s o u t o n t h e streets, r a i s e p r i c e s , a d u l t e rate t h e goods, o r g a n i z e u n r e s t r a i n e d a d v e r t i s i n g t o c o n fuse a n d d e c e i v e people, m a k e e x t e n s i v e use o f t h e e x port o f goods a n d c a p i t a l f o r p u r p o s e s o f e x p l o i t a t i o n , d e s t r o y i n g t h e economies o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s a n d p l a c i n g them under their domination, militarize the economy, practise m o n e t a r y a n d f i n a n c i a l speculations, t h e A m e r ican i n v e n t i o n o f g a n g s t e r i s m , m a r r i a g e s f o r c o m m e r cial reasons, a n d b l o w i n g u p t h e o p p o n e n t ' s p r o p e r t y w i t h d y n a m i t e , u p t o o p e n a g g r e s s i o n against peoples. I n t h i s struggle t h e y h a v e r e c o u r s e t o a n d e x p l o i t t h e e n t i r e p o l i t ical, p r o p a g a n d a , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r i s t m a c h i n e r y o f the state w h i c h i s i n t h e i r h a n d s . A l l t h i s savage a n d m e r c i l e s s c o m p e t i t i v e s t r u g g l e i n creases t h e m a x i m u m p r o f i t s o f t h e m o n o p o l y b o u r g e o i s i e to unprecedented proportions while, on the other hand, increases t h e p o v e r t y , w a n t a n d m i s e r y o f t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e w o r k i n g people, f r o m w h o m t h e c a p i t a l i s t s squeeze m o r e a n d m o r e b l o o d a n d sweat e v e r y d a y . T o c o n c e a l t h e i r p r o f i t s a n d a n t i - p o p u l a r actions f r o m t h e w o r k i n g masses, the m o n o p o l i e s use v a r i o u s m e a n s o f deception, f r o m t h e
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i n c l u s i o n o f false, v e r y h i g h r a t e s o f d e p r e c i a t i o n o f the m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n i n t h e cost o f p r o d u c t i o n , t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e s o - c a l l e d p r o f i t - s h a r i n g s y s t e m o f wages s o v i g o r o u s l y a d v o c a t e d b y t h e l a c k e y s o f t h e bourgeoisie, to t h e f a l s i f i c a t i o n of accounts, etc. S o c i a l i s t e m u l a t i o n i s t h e c o m p l e t e opposite o f c a pitalist competition. Socialist e m u l a t i o n encourages bold i n i t i a t i v e , w h e r e as c o m p e t i t i o n d o e s t h e opposite to t h e c r e a t o r s of t h e m a t e r i a l blessing, w h o k n o w that i n capitalism t h e i r i n i t i a t i v e b r i n g s p r o f i t s o n l y t o the e m p l o y e r s . Socialist e m u l a t i o n encourages a n d develops the creat i v e t h i n k i n g o f t h e masses, w h e r e a s c a p i t a l i s t c o m p e t i t i o n encourages f i n a n c i a l speculation. Socialist emulation makes m a n courageous a n d free t o t h i n k a n d act, w h e r e a s c a p i t a l i s t c o m p e t i t i o n fosters d e s p o t i s m , m a k e s m a n c o w a r d l y a n d s e r v i l e b e f o r e his employers. S o c i a l i s t e m u l a t i o n m o b i l i z e s t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e w o r k e r s a n d sets t h e m i n m o t i o n , a l l o w s t h e f r e e a n d f r u i t f u l exchange of experience of each i n d i v i d u a l in the g e n e r a l interest, a t h i n g w h i c h h e l p s t o r a i s e t h e t e c h n i c a l - p r o f e s s i o n a l l e v e l o f a l l a n d discloses n e w t a l e n t s . C a p i t a l i s t c o m p e t i t i o n does t h e o p p o s i t e . I t uses t a l e n t f o r individual speculation and monopolization. Capitalist c o m p e t i t o n i n c i t e s the sense o f i n d i v i d u a l i s m a n d s t e r e o t y p e d a u t o m a t i o n a t w o r k f o r t h e masses o f w o r k e r s . S o c i a l i s t e m u l a t i o n creates a n d t e m p e r s i n m a n t h e l o f t y f e e l i n g t h a t h e i s w o r k i n g f o r t h e w h o l e society, hence f o r h i m s e l f too, w h i l e c a p i t a l i s t c o m p e t i t i o n d e m onstrates t o h i m n o t h i n g b u t t h e f a c t t h a t h e w o r k s f o r the capitalists. Here it is not a question of presenting in detail a l l t h e stages w h i c h socialist e m u l a t i o n has gone t h r o u g h i n our country and to analyse the content a n d f o r m s w h i c h
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have c h a r a c t e r i z e d i t f r o m o n e p e r i o d o f socialist const r u c t i o n t o t h e o t h e r . B u t o n e t h i n g m u s t b e stressed i n p a r t i c u l a r , t h a t i t has s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s e d a n d t h e b r o a d m a s ses o f the w o r k i n g p e o p l e i n o u r c o u n t r y h a v e i n v o l v e d themselves i n i t t o d a y . O u r e n t i r e p e o p l e h a v e r i s e n t o their feet w i t h a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u siasm a n d d r i v e , t h e y h a v e m o b i l i z e d t h e i r energies a n d talents t o f u l f i l a n d o v e r f u l f i l t h e t a r g e t s o f the 4 t h F i v e year P l a n . As always, at the head of this d r i v e stands our heroic w o r k i n g class w h i c h has b e c o m e a s o u r c e of i n s p i r a t i o n for a l l t h e o t h e r w o r k i n g p e o p l e a n d p l a y s t h e v a n g u a r d role i n the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n . M a n y movements a n d w o n d e r f u l initiatives have burst out in its r a n k s t o a d v a n c e p r o d u c t i o n , the t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n , t o set u p n e w f a c t o r i e s a n d w o r k s h o p s r e l y i n g o n t h e i r o w n forces, t o e x t e n d t h e r a n g e a n d i m p r o v e t h e quality of products. Great enthusiasm for the r e v o l u tionization of a g r i c u l t u r a l production a n d a lofty patriotic s p i r i t c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e c o o p e r a t i v e p e a s a n t r y , too. A l l these t h i n g s are l o f t y e x p r e s s i o n s o f t h a t e m u l a t i o n w h i c h is developing under the slogan: Let us think, w o r k and live a s r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s w h i c h , m o r e a n d m o r e each day, i s b e c o m i n g t h e l e i t m o t i f o f o u r l i f e . A n d a l l this e m u l a tion i s i n s p i r e d n o t b y p e r s o n a l interest, b u t b y t h e gen e r a l interest, t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m and t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e H o m e l a n d . W i t h the a l l - r o u n d revolutionization of the life of our country, however, it is essential that the w o r k for the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f c o m p e t i t i o n s a n d o t h e r f o r m s o f socialist emulation should be raised to a higher level. In this direction special importance must be given to p r o f o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e c o n t e n t o f socialist c o m petitions. T h e y m u s t n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d c o m p e t i t i o n s f o r advertisement, or empty praise, w h i c h are unhealthy,
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w o r t h l e s s s y m p t o m s d e v o i d o f p o l i t i c a l o r e d u c a t i o n a l content, b u t m u s t b e a i m e d a t m o b i l i z i n g c r e a t o r s a n d g i v i n g them proper encouragement to f u l f i l the plans in quantity and quality. T h e question of q u a l i t y must, w i t h o u t fail, b e one o f t h e m a i n i n d i c e s t o e v a l u a t e the effect o f socialist c o m p e t i t i o n s a n d e m u l a t i o n . Q u a l i t y s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d t h e m o s t s e n s i t i v e i n d i c a t o r o f s o c i a l i s t consciousness a t w o r k , o f t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e p o l i c y o f the P a r t y b y t h e i n d i v i d u a l , f i r s t o f a l l , a n d b y t h e c o l l e c t i v e i n c a r r y i n g out t h e i r tasks. A n o t h e r object o f s o c i a l i s t e m u l a t i o n , w h i c h has a l w a y s b e e n o f f i r s t - r a t e i m p o r t a n c e , i s t h e ceaseless r a i s i n g o f the p r o d u c t i v i t y o f l a b o u r . T h i s p r o b l e m assumes n e w a n d m o r e p r o f o u n d s i g n i f i c a n c e e s p e c i a l l y i n the present conditions w h e n the tendency towards the intensive development of our economy is becoming ever more p r o n o u n c e d , w h e n t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c p r o g r e s s i s deepened, a n d c u l t u r e a n d science d e v e l o p e d . The evaluation of the results of competitions w i t h i n enterprises a n d districts, between t h e m a n d on a national scale, m u s t b e d o n e i n a c o m p l e x m a n n e r , i n c l u d i n g , w i t h o u t f a i l , t h e m o r a l - p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e w o r k done a m o n g people f o r t h e c o n t i n u o u s e n h a n c e m e n t o f their r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d consciousness. An inseparable and v i t a l part of the organization of socialist e m u l a t i o n i s t h e p u b l i c i z i n g i n the best w a y , i n s i m p l e , c l e a r a n d u n d e r s t a n d a b l e f o r m s , o f t h e best e x a m p l e s i n p r o d u c t i o n , o r g a n i z a t i o n , d i s c i p l i n e a n d a l l the o t h e r issues o f socialist e m u l a t i o n , i n o r d e r t o d i s s e m i n a t e them. Creative t h i n k i n g is forging ahead and is finding n e w w a y s a n d f o r m s i n t h i s f i e l d , too, o r g a n i z i n g e x h i b i tions, c o n s u l t a t i o n s , e x c h a n g e s o f d e l e g a t i o n s ; t h e press, the r a d i o a n d a l l t h e o t h e r m e a n s o f p r o p a g a n d a are pop u l a r i z i n g the n e w d e v e l o p m e n t s i n p r o d u c t i o n , t h e posi-
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tive e x a m p l e a n d t h e l o f t y r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o t i v e s w h i c h inspire o u r w o r k i n g p e o p l e t o e m u l a t i o n . S t i l l in connection w i t h this question, an end must be put to manifestations of formalism and sticking to stereotyped f o r m s , t o w o r k i n f i t s a n d starts a n d i n t e r m i t tant c a m p a i g n s i n t h e t o w n s a n d e v e n m o r e s o i n t h e countryside. I t m u s t n o t b e p e r m i t t e d t h a t o n l y c e r t a i n commissions w h i c h a r e c h a r g e d w i t h t h i s t a s k t a k e a n y interest i n t h e s o c i a l i s t c o m p e t i t i o n s a n d t h e d i s s e m i n a t i o n of the p o s i t i v e e x a m p l e . T h e e n t e r p r i s e , t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o operative, t h e w o r k s h o p , t h e b r i g a d e a n d t h e s q u a d m u s t become n u c l e i s e e t h i n g w i t h e m u l a t i o n . T h e socialist c o m petitions, t h e p l e d g e s t a k e n o n t h e basis o f t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f the P a r t y , m u s t e m e r g e f r o m a m o n g t h e masses, i n consultation w i t h t h e m a n d m u s t r e a l l y b e t h e i r o w n creative i n i t i a t i v e s . T h e f o r m s o f m o r a l s t i m u l a t i o n m u s t b e used m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y a n d f u r t h e r p e r f e c t e d i n t h e course o f o r g a n i z i n g a n d c o n d u c t i n g c o m p e t i t i o n s . I n a l l t h i s c o m p l e x o f p r o b l e m s o f socialist e m u l a t i o n , the t r a d e - u n i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the masses, u n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f t h e P a r t y , m u s t seek a n d f i n d the m o s t a p p r o p r i a t e a n d e f f e c t i v e f o r m s for t h e i r w o r k . T h i s y e a r , e s p e c i a l l y , i n t h e c o n t e x t o f the 25th a n n i v e r s a r y o f L i b e r a t i o n a n d t h e t r i u m p h o f the people's r e v o l u t i o n , a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d e m u l a t i o n o u g h t t o burst o u t i n t h e i r h o n o u r , i n m a n y a n d v a r i e d f o r m s , i n every w o r k c e n t r e a n d c o o p e r a t i v e . N a t u r a l l y , w h e n w e speak o f socialist e m u l a t i o n w e mean q u a l i t y a t t h e same t i m e , a n d n o t j u s t q u a n t i t y , w e mean e v e r m o r e p e r f e c t o r g a n i z a t i o n , e x e m p l a r y d i s c i p l i n e and not d i s o r d e r , a n a r c h y a n d o t h e r s u c h l a x i t y . S u c h evils must b e s m a s h e d w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n w h e r e v e r t h e y a p p e a r and i n e v e r y instance. U n d e r s t a n d i n g socialist e m u l a t i o n c o r r e c t l y , a n u n remitting struggle must be waged against parasites, spe-
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c u l a t o r s w h o w a s t e w o r k i n g t i m e , those w h o b r e a c h the r u l e s o f d i s c i p l i n e a t w o r k a n d t h e p r o p e r a n d successful use o f e q u i p m e n t , a n d , a t t h e same t i m e , p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s a n d idealist v i e w s o n the u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f p e r s o n a l interest and personal gain, and sentimental individualistic i l l u sions m u s t b e c o m b a t e d . O u r young w o r k e r s w h o have not k n o w n capitalist o p p r e s s i o n m u s t b e m a d e c o n s i s t e n t l y conscious o f i t through ideo-political education. T h e y must understand t h a t o n l y n o w , i n s o c i a l i s m c a n p e o p l e r a i s e t h e i r heads a n d s t r a i g h t e n t h e i r backs, t h a t i n s o c i a l i s m m a n i s able t o w o r k f o r society, h e n c e f o r h i m s e l f too, t h a t h e h a s the possibility to have complete o w n e r s h i p of the means o f l a b o u r a n d c a n base h i m s e l f f r e e l y , w i t h c r e a t i v e courage, o n t h e a d v a n c e d e q u i p m e n t , t h e n e w i n v e n t i o n s a n d o n m o d e r n science a n d c u l t u r e . O u r w o r k i n g class e d u c a t e d d u r i n g a l l these y e a r s t h r o u g h the p e r s i s t e n t w o r k o f t h e P a r t y , b y c r u s h i n g a n d h u m b l i n g t h e f o r m e r e x p l o i t e r s , has g a i n e d great experience in organizational problems. The same thing has o c c u r r e d w i t h t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t p e a s a n t r y , w h i c h i s now capable of organizing the w o r k in large-scale production, organizing the cooperatives and the w o r k w i t h i n them. Not o n l y have the w o r k e r s a n d peasants gained this experience i n organization but, w i t h initiative, they a r e continuously extending a n d perfecting it. Initiative is o f great i m p o r t a n c e a n d w h e n k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r i e n c e a r e a d d e d t o it, i t i s t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a c o l o s s a l a c t i v e f o r c e w h i c h k n o w s n o l i m i t s t o its r e s u l t s ; i t m o v e s mountains. I n this c o l o s s a l c h a n g e i n t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f p r o blems w e shall f i n d the m a j o r reason w h y o u r w o r k e r s a n d peasants a r e s o e a g e r t o l e a r n , t o g a i n k n o w l e d g e , w h y t h e y are l e a r n i n g a n d a d v a n c i n g s o r a p i d l y . The w a r made them aware that they are able to
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lead, t o b u i l d a n d p r o d u c e . T h e p e o p l e o f t h e s o - c a l l e d learned classes, d e s t i n e d f o r m a n a g e m e n t , w e r e n o t h ing but s t u p i d , i g n o r a n t oppressors a n d parasites, n o t h i n g w i t h k n o b s on, a s t h e p e o p l e say. B e s i d e s w h i p p i n g a n d fleecing t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants, t h e beys, aghas a n d the l e a r n e d p e o p l e i n t h e i r s e r v i c e d i d n o t f a i l t o g i v e them a d v i c e , too. B u t w h a t w a s t h e i r a d v i c e w o r t h ? W h a t results d i d i t g i v e i n p r a c t i c e ? N o n e ! T h e e c o n o m i c , e d u cational a n d c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e c o u n t r y under the r u l e o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d the l a n d e d g e n t r y p r o v e s this s q u a r e l y . W h a t e v e r w a s d o n e a t t h a t t i m e w a s t h e f r u i t o f t h e sweat, t h e t o i l a n d t h e p r a c t i c a l w o r k o f the peasant, t h e w o r k e r a n d t h e c r a f t s m a n . I f w e p u t t h a t time side b y side w i t h o u r t i m e o f s o c i a l i s t c o n s t r u c t i o n , there i s j u s t n o c o m p a r i s o n . F r o m t h i s c o n f r o n t a t i o n t w o things e m e r g e : t h a t t h e beys, aghas, b l o o d - s u c k e r s a n d a l l the p a r a s i t e s h a d t o b e t o t a l l y e r a d i c a t e d a s t h e y w e r e , and t h a t t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants w e r e e v e r y t h i n g , t h e y w e r e a g r e a t d e c i s i v e c r e a t i v e f o r c e , a n d a f o r c e that, w h e n t h e y seized p o w e r , u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the P a r ty, t h e y w o r k e d a n d a r e w o r k i n g w o n d e r s . We must d r a w another conclusion f r o m the rapid development o f o u r c o u n t r y t o w a r d s s o c i a l i s m . W h e n o u r w o r k e r s a n d peasants set t o w o r k t o c o n s t r u c t s o c i a l i s m , were they learned, d i d they have schooling, h a d they m a s t e r e d m o d e r n science a n d t e c h n o l o g y a n d d i d t h e y have m o d e m m e a n s i n t h e i r h a n d s ? N o ! T h e n h o w d i d they m a n a g e ? P r a c t i c e t a u g h t t h e m , i t o p e n e d t o t h e m horizons t o s t u d y a n d e x t e n d t h e i r k n o w l e d g e , h e l p e d t h e m t o test t h i s k n o w l e d g e i n p r a c t i c e . O n c e a g a i n o u r r e a l i t y c o n f i r m s the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e s i s t h a t p r a c t i c e i s the basis o f a l l k n o w l e d g e a n d t h e o r y . P r a c t i c e t a u g h t our w o r k e r s a n d p e a s a n t s t o seek a n d f i n d t h e best f o r m s and methods of organization of the w o r k a n d struggle. I n this w a y t h e y g a i n e d e x p e r i e n c e ; n e w h o r i z o n s w e r e
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opened to them and ardent desires were aroused in them to extend their knoweldge and to enrich it w i t h their o w n experience a n d that of others. Thus, they began to learn and assimilate knowledge, to l i n k it w i t h life and put it into practice. B u t g i v i n g practice the important place it t r u l y deserves s h o u l d not lead anyone to the erroneous standpoint, alien to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , of underestimation of the great role of theory. T h e a r m i n g of our people w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w o r l d outlook and profound scientific knowledge a n d the enhancement of their professional abilities can be realized o n l y through a d i a l e c t i c a l u n i t y b e t w e e n p r a c t i c e a n d t h e o r y . T h i s process i s c o n t i n u o u s a n d endless. N e i t h e r t h e w o r k e r n o r the p e a s a n t b r o u g h t u p i n s o c i a l i s m , a n d e s p e c i a l l y the i n t e l lectual, should ever forget this u n i t y a n d the decisive role of practice in particular. Knowledge, all the beautified academic advice is of no value, is just a worthless o r n a m e n t w i t h o u t p r a c t i c e , w i t h o u t its c o m p l e t e a n d o r g a n i z e d implementation in practice. The portentous advice and methods of the conceited intellectual w h o is d i v o r c e d f r o m life, f r o m practice, are sterile; they produce nothing, n e i t h e r b r e a d n o r boots, n o r b u t t e r , n e i t h e r m e a t n o r houses. S u c h a n i n t e l l e c t u a l d i s p l a y s n o t h i n g b u t h i s u n h e a l t h y i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m , the g r e a t d e f i c i e n c y a b o v e a l l i n his ideological formation w i t h our M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w o r l d o u t l o o k , a s a r e s u l t o f w h i c h h e does n o t k n o w w h y h e w o r k s a n d w h o m h e s h o u l d s e r v e . T h e r e f o r e , i f the w o r k i n g class a n d t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s w a n t t o h e l p s u c h an intellectual, in order to correct h i m a n d educate h i m , t h e y should put h i m to w o r k together w i t h them so that h e gets u p t o h i s e l b o w s i n o i l , m u d a n d m a n u r e . T h e intellectuals, the youth, should not be a f r a i d of getting t h e i r h a n d s a n d clothes d i r t y a t w o r k , because t h e y c a n be washed or changed each day or several times a day. W h a t i s i m p o r t a n t i s t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s d i r t cleans t h e
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stains o f the past f r o m t h e consciousness, p r e v e n t s t h e noxious w e e d s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g y f r o m s p r o u t i n g a n d r u n n i n g w i l d . I f t h e r e i s some i n t e l l e c t u a l w h o does n o t l i k e t h i s a n d does not c o r r e c t h i m self, t h e n , r i g h t l y , t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the c o o p e r a t i v ists s h o u l d r e f u s e t o g i v e h i m b r e a d , shoes o r a r o o m i n which he can l a y his head to d r e a m and philosophize in the b a d sense o f t h i s t e r m . W h y s h o u l d o u r w o r k i n g class a n d p e a s a n t r y b e s o f t hearted t o w a r d s s u c h p e o p l e , e v e n t h o u g h t h e y m a y h a v e emerged f r o m a m o n g t h e i r o w n r a n k s ? W h y s h o u l d t h e y b e u n d u l y g e n t l e a n d a l l o w t h e m s e l v e s t o s u f f e r serious damage a n d h i n d e r o u r a d v a n c e t h r o u g h s i c k l y s e n t i ment? Is t h i s in o r d e r to a l l o w a s t r a t u m of saboteurs a n d plotters a g a i n s t s o c i a l i s m to be c r e a t e d a m o n g u s ? It is u n t h i n k a b l e t h a t w e s h o u l d e v e r close o u r eyes t o s u c h a t h i n g a n d a l l o w i t t o h a p p e n . I n these cases pity i s an expression of petty-bourgeois sentimentality and very h a r m f u l . T h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t peasa n t r y w a n t w o r k , honesty, c h e c k - u p a n d r e n d e r i n g o f a c count by e v e r y o n e . In the light of this great complex of problems, of these p r o f o u n d , correct, p r i n c i p l e d , M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s o l u tions w h i c h t h e P a r t y i s g i v i n g t h e m r e s o l u t e l y , o f t h e correctness o f t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f t h e p e o p l e a b o u t t h e m and t h i s a l l - r o u n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s m a n d m o b i l i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g masses, t h e p r o b l e m s o f s o c i a l i s t emulation assume a great a n d clear significance. Socialist emulation a n d socialist competitions, p r o f o u n d l y understood i n t h i s great a n d b r i l l i a n t c o n t e x t o f o u r s o c i a l i s t reality, u n d e r s t o o d i n a n a l l - r o u n d m a n n e r p o l i t i c a l l y a n d ideologically a n d p u t into practice in a duly organized way, are t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a c o l o s s a l f o r c e w h i c h f u r t h e r perfects a n d d e v e l o p s t h e p r o d u c t i v e forces a n d t h e s o cial r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , t h e y c o m b a t a n d e l i m i n a t e
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the shortcomings, fight evil-doers a n d parasites a n d i n crease t h e k n o w l e d g e , p e r f e c t t h e p r a c t i c e a n d r a i s e the w e l l - b e i n g o f the w o r k i n g masses. B e a r i n g in m i n d the importance of socialist emulation, w h i c h is at the same time, a political, ideological a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p r o b l e m , I w a n t t o stress t h a t i n t h i s direction nothing should be a l l o w e d to give it a slipshod development of a routine, stereotyped w o r k , allegedly proceeding f r o m the position of acting in the same w a y everywhere. T h i s k i n d of stereotyped unity, as L e n i n p o i n t s out, h a s n o t h i n g i n c o m m o n w i t h d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m . S t e r e o t y p i s m i n this f i e l d , a s i n e v e r y o t h e r f i e l d , i s t h e a b o r t e d o f f s p r i n g o f a d d l e - b r a i n s , w h o d o not b o t h e r t h e i r heads, w h o d o n o t w o r k a n d w e a r y t h e m selves a n d a r e n o t l i n k e d w i t h t h e masses t h a t w o r k , t o i l , create a n d p r o d u c e . O u r w o r k i n g people, e d u c a t e d b y t h e P a r t y , a r e c o m p l e t e l y capable o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g p r o f o u n d l y t h a t u n i t y , i n d e e d steel u n i t y , i s necessary, b u t o n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l t h i n g s , o n issues o f p r i n c i p l e . T h e y u n d e r s t a n d c o r r e c t l y that without M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t democratic centralism they cannot a d v a n c e , h o w e v e r , t h e y also t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d t h e issue t h a t t o d e v e l o p e m u l a t i o n p r o p e r l y , f o r m a l i s m a n d stereotypism are no use at all, b u t that variety is required in everything, in the peculiarities of the n a t u r e o f t h e job, t h e place, t h e m e t h o d s , b e c a u s e i n reality, the problems of e m u l a t i o n are s i m i l a r l y variable. As a conclusion to a l l I have said, we, the people w h o live and fight in socialism, w h i l e w o r k i n g and building must learn and thoroughly understand the political econo m y of socialism, w h i c h w i l l not o n l y clear up the temporary negative phenomena of g r o w t h w h i c h appear here a n d t h e r e d u r i n g o u r w o r k o f c o n s t r u c t i o n , b u t w i l l also free u s f r o m t h e r e m n a n t s o f t h e n o t i o n s a n d categories of the capitalist economy, w i l l open broad horizons to us
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a n d a r m u s t o c a r r y o u t t h e great t a s k s t h a t a w a i t u s i n the f u t u r e . W e m u s t set a b o u t t h e ceaseless s t u d y a n d m a s t e r y o f science a n d a d v a n c e d m o d e r n t e c h n i q u e a n d its a p p l i c a t i o n i n a l l f i e l d s o f l i f e . O u r p r o p a g a n d a faces i m p o r t a n t t a s k s t o m a k e the people c o n s c i o u s o f a l l this. O u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r o p a ganda has a l o f t y a i m . K n o w i n g t h a t the s o c i a l i s t m a n does n o t e m e r g e s p o n t a n e o u s l y w i t h the c h a n g e i n t h e e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s , t h e P a r t y has t h e t a s k o f f o r m i n g and e d u c a t i n g t h i s m a n w i t h n e w , r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i e w s , with the n e w materialist w o r l d outlook, of m a k i n g h i m capable o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e l a w s o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f society a n d m a s t e r i n g the l a w s o f o u r society, i n c l u d i n g the e c o n o m i c l a w s o f s o c i a l i s m . E q u i p p i n g o u r people with M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t thought, w i t h revolutionary virtues, w i l l m a k e t h e m act v i g o r o u s l y t o s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m b a t the i d e a l i s t - b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y , t h e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s r e m nants w i t h i n t h e m s e l v e s a n d i n others, t o e x p o s e a n d struggle a g a i n s t t h e m e t a p h y s i c a l v i e w s o n p h i l o s o p h y , economics a n d t h e m a t e r i a l i s t t h e o r y o f t h e t r u t h . P r o f o u n d knowledge of the objective economic laws of socialism w i l l m a k e o u r w o r k i n g people penetrate into the essence o f d i f f e r e n t e c o n o m i c p h e n o m e n a i n o r d e r t o draw correct conclusions on the scientific management of our people's economy a n d to apply the correct r e v olutionary line of the P a r t y w i t h precision. In this direction, the time has come w h e n a determ i n e d s t r u g g l e m u s t b e w a g e d i n p r o p a g a n d a o v e r economic p r o b l e m s , too, against s t e r e o t y p e d schemes, t h e s u p e r f i c a l stands, s o t h a t p r o b l e m s are d e a l t w i t h p r o f o u n d ly, clearly, s i m p l y a n d w i t h a content o f h i g h l e v e l , n o t only i n t h e e c o n o m i c p l a n e b u t also i n the p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o gical, t h e o r e t i c a l a n d social planes. T h e p r o p a g a n d a a b o u t different economic problems must be linked as closely a s possible w i t h p r a c t i c e , w i t h o u r socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n ,
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w i t h the revolutionization of the entire life of the country and must help the w o r k i n g people to understand and i m p l e m e n t t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y i n t h i s f i e l d i n t h e best p o s s i b l e w a y , s o t h a t t h e y f i n d the best s o l u t i o n s m o r e q u i c k l y f o r t h e d i f f e r e n t p r o b l e m s w h i c h a r i s e f r o m the dynamic development of our economy. N o t h i n g should be too d i f f i c u l t a n d u n r e a l i z a b l e for o u r free, c o u r a g e o u s a n d p o l i t i c a l l y e n l i g h t e n e d people, w h o l i v e a n d f i g h t i n o u r s o c i a l i s t s o c i e t y a n d w h o are g u i d e d w i t h s u c h care b y o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y M a r x i s t Leninist Party.
INTEGRATION WITH THE BOURGEOISIE T H E NEW COURSE OF THE ITALIAN REVISIONISTS' 12th CONGRESS

March 2, 1969
A f e w d a y s ago, the I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s h e l d t h e i r 12th C o n g r e s s a t B o l o g n a . I f w e w e r e t o t r y t o s u m u p the r e s u l t s o f t h i s r e v i s i o n i s t congress i n o n e sentence, w e c o u l d s a y t h a t i t w a s t h e congress o f c o m p l e t e i n t e g r a tion o f t h e I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s w i t h t h e i r n a t i o n a l b o u r geoisie t h r o u g h t h e i d e o l o g i c a l l i n e a n d the o l d p o l i t i cal p r a c t i c e o f E u r o p e a n s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y . A t t h e s a m e time, i t w a s t h e c o n g r e s s w h i c h m a r k e d a n o t h e r , e v e n deeper, s p l i t a n d w i d e n e d t h e g u l f b e t w e e n t h e I t a l i a n and the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e o n l y a i m t h e T o g l i a t t i s t l e a d e r s h i p set i t s e l f a t the congress w h i c h i t o r g a n i z e d a t B o l o g n a w a s t h e a d o p t i o n of a c o m p l e x of p r a c t i c a l m e a s u r e s , a p p r o p r i a t e to the c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f the c u r r e n t p o l i t i c a l l i f e o f I t a l y , for t h e i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y i n t o t h e s t r u c tures o f the g o v e r n m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y b y the r u l i n g c l a s ses. W h e r e a s a f e w y e a r s ago t h e I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s s t i l l spoke about t h e seizure o f p o w e r , n o w t h e y h a v e f i n a l ly dropped this term f r o m their vocabulary. At their new congress t h e y d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e y w a n t o n l y t h e i r
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p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n the e x i s t i n g b o u r g e o i s state, i n a g r e e m e n t w i t h the r u l i n g b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s . T h e B o l o g n a congress s h o w e d t h a t t h e m a i n o b j e c t i v e o f the r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p i s its f r e n z i e d h a s t e t o a d a p t its p o l i c y a n d stand to the transitory circumstances brought about in the country by the m a n y manoeuvres o f b o u r g e o i s p o l i t i c a l forces. I n f a c t , t h e theses o f t h e congress w e r e a b u n c h o f r e f o r m i s t d e m a n d s w h i c h d i d not go a fraction beyond the f r a m e w o r k p e r m i t t e d by bourgeois democracy. They were observations criticizing the l e g i s l a t i o n i n force, w h i c h the r e v i s i o n i s t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s h a v e b e e n m a k i n g i n the b o u r g e o i s p a r l i a m e n t f o r y e a r s , a l t h o u g h u p t o d a t e t h e y h a v e f a l l e n o n d e a f ears. L o n g o swore a h u n d r e d times over that the demands a n d aims o f the p a r t y w o u l d not i n a n y w a y affect the e x i s t i n g b o u r g e o i s order. T h e s t a r t i n g - p o i n t a n d l a n d m a r k o f a l l o u r struggle, h e d e c l a r e d , r e m a i n s t h e r e publician Constitution. (1) We cannot say that the big newspaper of the Italian o w n i n g class C o r r i e r e d e l l a S e r a i s w r o n g t o w r i t e t h a t all the bourgeois p o l i t i c a l currents of Italy c o u l d call the theses o f the 12th C o n g r e s s o f t h e I C P t h e i r o w n a n d a p p l a u d t h e m . D e s c r i b i n g L o n g o ' s r e p o r t t o t h e congress, the newspaper w r i t e s that f r o m it emerges a sort of general amalgam in w h i c h everyone, beginning f r o m Pope P a u l VI to the Christian-Democrat Moro, f r o m L o m b a r d i to De M a r t i n o as left socialists, f r o m the student to the m a n i n t h e street, c a n f i n d s o m e t h i n g w h i c h suits h i m . There are so m a n y v a r i a n t s of the line and the perspective that they end up paralysed and cancel one another out. T h e o n l y fact that emerges f r o m a l l this is t h a t
____________________________________ 1 Comrade E n v e r H o x h a dwells more extensively on t h e views of the Italian revisionists about the constitution of t h e bourgeois state in his book E u r o c o m m u n i s m Is A n t i - c o m m u nism, pp. 192-210, T i r a n a 1980 (Eng. ed.).
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there i s n o l o n g e r o n e l i n e , b u t v a r i o u s I t a l i a n l i n e s t o w a r d s s o c i a l i s m , t h a t i s , n o n e a t all. W h e n the I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s r e d u c e t h e e n t i r e s t r u g gle f o r s o c i a l i s m t o t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n , or, t o p u t i t better, t o w h a t t h e b o u r geoisie p e r m i t s , t h e y are f o l l o w i n g t w o v e r y c l e a r l y d e f i n e d a i m s . I n the f i r s t place, t h e y assure t h e b o u r g e o i s i e that t h e y are not g o i n g to upset t h e e x i s t i n g c a p i t a l i s t order a n d the rules w h i c h it has established, and, in the second p l a c e , w h a t i s m o r e i m p o r t a n t , b y s p r e a d i n g t h e i l l u s i o n t h a t s o c i a l i s m i s t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a n d the r e v o l u tion i s t h e s t r u g g l e i n defence o f the c o n s t i t u t i o n , t h e y alienate t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses f r o m the r e v o l u t i o n a n d the g e n u i n e s t r u g g l e f o r s o c i a l i s m , a n d urge t h e m t o r e m a i n e n s l a v e d w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f the c a p i t a l i s t o r d e r . It is no accident that d u r i n g the entire proceedings o f t h e congress t h e w o r d r e v o l u t i o n o r the t e r m d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t w e r e n o t h e a r d once, e v e n b y chance. T h e y r e g a r d t h i s as a p r o o f of t h e i r d e v o t i o n to t h e bourgeois d e m o c r a c y , as a d e m o s t r a t i o n of t h e i r c o m p l e t e integration into this democracy. In d a i l y practice this stand is e x p r e s s e d in a t r a g i c o m i c b a t t l e b e t w e e n e x ponents o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d e x p o n e n t s o f t h e r e v i sionists. T h e f o r m e r are c o n t i n u a l l y e x e r t i n g p r e s s u r e o n the l a t t e r o n t h e g r o u n d t h a t t h e y a r e s t i l l n o t c o m p l e tely d e m o c r a t s i n t h e b o u r g e o i s sense, t h a t t h e y h a v e still not completely relinquished their dogmatic positions, a n d t h e l a t t e r m a k e e v e r y p o s s i b l e c o n c e s s i o n t o prove themelves democrats a n d to shut the mouths of those w h o d e n y t h e m t h i s q u a l i t y . I t seems i t w i l l n o t be v e r y l o n g before their roles are changed and the revisionists begin to say that the bourgeois are not as bourgeois a s t h e y c l a i m . T h e guests i n v i t e d f r o m bourgeois parties and cur-
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rents spoke at the congress and presented their political programs in a systematic manner and without any hesitation, telling to the participants w h e r e and to w h a t ext e n t t h e y s h o u l d m a k e f u r t h e r concessions. O n t h e other h a n d , h o w e v e r , n o r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e w o r k e r s spoke at the congress a n d the voice of the 20 m i l l i o n Italian w o r k e r s , w h o d u r i n g t h o s e d a y s w h e n t h e congress w a s taking place had launched a strike for their rights w h i c h the bourgeoisie a n d those representatives of it w h o w e r e applauded so frenziedly by the revisionists a r e d e n y i n g t h e m , w a s n o t h e a r d a t a l l a t t h i s congress. L i k e w i s e , the r e v i s i o n i s t s d i d n o t f o r g e t t o endorse a s t h e f i r s t d o c u m e n t o f t h e c o n g r e s s a t e l e g r a m sent t o t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e R e p u b l i c , t h e g u a r d i a n o f the c a p i t a l i s t order, t h e o r d e r a g a i n s t w h i c h t h e s t r i k e r s h a d revolted, b u t they d i d forget to adopt a n y resolution o f s o l i d a r i t y , e v e n a f o r m a l one, t o e x p r e s s t h e i r c o n c e r n a n d s u p p o r t f o r those m i l l i o n s o f w o r k i n g p e o p l e . H a d t h e q u e s t i o n o f s o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e s t r i k e been t h e o n l y issue that w a s forgotten at t h i s congress, that w o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e lesser e v i l , b u t t h e congress, especially the report of the Central Committee, almost c o m p l e t e l y f a i l e d t o d e a l w i t h t h e p r o b l e m s o f the class s t r u g g l e , w h i c h has a s s u m e d b r o a d p r o p o r t i o n s i n Italy d u r i n g t h e l a s t t w o y e a r s . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t r i e d t o cover u p t h i s v e x e d q u e s t i o n b y a t t e m p t i n g t o c r e a t e a false p o l i t i c a l e u p h o r i a d u r i n g t h e p r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e congress t h r o u g h pompous displays, for e x a m p l e : the huge n u m b e r o f i n v i t e d guests, o v e r 5,000 p e r s o n s a n d t h e w i d e - s p r e a d p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f the b o u r g e o i s press i n c l u d i n g t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e V a t i c a n , i n o r d e r t o d i s t r a c t the a t t e n t i o n o f t h e p u b l i c f r o m t h e c o n f r o n t a t i o n b e t w e e n the theses w h i c h the r e v i s i o n i s t s discussed at the congress and the r e a l i t y of the d a y . D e s p i t e the e f f o r t s o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p t o c o n c e a l the
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t r u t h , h o w e v e r , t h e r e v i s i o n i s t 12th C o n g r e s s r e v e a l e d that i n I t a l y , a s i n m a n y o t h e r W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s , t h e process o f the s e p a r a t i o n o f t h e masses f r o m t h e r e v i sionist p a r t y has a l r e a d y b e g u n . T h i s i s e x p r e s s e d i n the fact that t h e s t r a t a o f t h e p e o p l e w h o u p t i l l n o w h a v e b e e n u n d e r the i n f l u e n c e o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s , are losing confidence in their preachings about social peace a n d , c o n t r a r y t o t h e w i s h e s o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s , are l a u n c h i n g p o w e r f u l actions of t h e class s t r u g g l e against the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d its state. I n t h i s s t r u g g l e , t h e r e v i sionists a n d t h e w o r k e r s a r e i n d i f f e r e n t c a m p s a n d t h e gulf b e t w e e n t h e m i s b e c o m i n g w i d e r a n d deeper. I n D e c e m b e r last y e a r , the c e n t r a l o r g a n o f t h e I t a lian r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y , t h e n e w s p a p e r U n i t , w a s o b l i g e d to a d m i t w i t h great concern : A great c r e d i b i l i t y gap is being c r e a t e d a b o u t us. W e n o l o n g e r r e p r e s e n t a r e v olutionary force at a time w h e n the p r o b l e m of the revolution h a s b e c o m e t h e m a i n t h e m e o f t h e W e s t a n d o f capitalist society. T h e great c o n c e r n o f t h e r a n k - a n d - f i l e i s s h o w n b y the f a c t t h a t n o t l o n g b e f o r e t h e congress was s u m m o n e d t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e 109 d i s t r i c t s of t h e Italian r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y h a d d e m a n d e d t h a t t h e i r l e a d ership r e - e x a m i n e its s t a n d t o w a r d s t h e s t u d e n t r e v o l t s . A l t h o u g h not open, the criticism w h i c h B o r g h i n i , an executive m e m b e r of the F e d e r a t i o n of C o m m u n i s t Y o u t h , made a t t h e congress w a s v e r y c l e a r w h e n h e r e b u k e d the p a r t y f o r its h e s i t a n c y a n d because i t h a d p r o v e d slow t o a n a l y s e t h e n e w c o n t r a d i c t i o n s o f c a p i t a l i s m which h a d led to the student revolts. T h e r a p i d g r o w t h o f t h e class s t r u g g l e o f t h e masses o f the p e o p l e h a s p u t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s i n a b a d f i x . T h e y want t o b r e a k w i t h t h e w o r k e r s a n d t o u n i t e w i t h t h e bourgeoisie a g a i n s t t h e m , w h i l e a t t h e same t i m e a p p e a r ing t o b e a n d g i v i n g t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e y are w i t h the w o r k e r s . T h i s t y p i c a l l y o p p o r t u n i s t t a c t i c o f r e n e g a d e s
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c a m e o u t v e r y c l e a r l y a t t h e 12th C o n g r e s s o f t h e I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y , too. W h i l e o n t h e one h a n d t h e y t r i e d t o steer t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e p o o r p e a s a n t r y , t h e s t u d ents a n d t h e a n t i - c a p i t a l i s t i n t e l l i g e n t s i a o n t o t h e r o a d of r e f o r m i s m a n d submission, on the other h a n d they begged the bourgeoisie to unite w i t h the revisionists in o r d e r t o cope w i t h t h e n e w d a n g e r w h i c h i s t h r e a t e n i n g t h e m b o t h . T o f i n d a p o l i t i c a l w a y o u t o f t h e present crisis, d e c l a r e d L o n g o i n h i s r e p o r t , is n o t a t a s k w h i c h c a n b e c a r r i e d o u t b y t h e v a n g u a r d a l o n e a n d e v e n less b y a s i n g l e p a r t y . W e r e - a f f i r m t h a t t o get I t a l y o u t o f the crisis a n d ensure that it advances on the r o a d of the democracy of socialism w i l l r e q u i r e various forces w h i c h act i n the o n e d i r e c t i o n w i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e w h o l e people. Whether the bourgeois vanguards w i l l u n i t e w i t h the revisionists to advance to socialism together is very d o u b t f u l , b u t t h a t sooner o r l a t e r t h e y w i l l u n i t e t o s u p press t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e a n d t o d r o w n t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y movements in blood, this is quite certain. T h e i r predecessors i n t h e b e t r a y a l o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e c a u s e o f t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t s , h a v e p r o v i d e d m a n y e x a m p l e s o f this. I t i s n o t a n i n s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t t h a t in Italy today there is a powerful group in the ChristianD e m o c r a t P a r t y a n d t h e t o p r u l i n g circles, h e a d e d b y the former head of government Moro, whom, incidently, L o n g o e u l o g i z e d h i g h l y a t t h e congress, w h i c h i s d e m a n d i n g t h a t the p r a c t i c a l e v e n t u a l i t y of t h e c r e a t i o n of a g o v e r n ment coalition w i t h the participation of the revisionists should be examined. O n e of the problems w h i c h attracted general attention at the Bologna Congress w a s also that of relations between the Soviet revisionists and the Italian revisionists a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e s t a n d o f t h e l a t t e r t o w a r d s the occupation of Czechoslovakia. As was expected, des-
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pite the great s p i r i t u a l a f f i n i t y w h i c h the Italian r e v i sionist c h i e f s h a v e w i t h those o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d despite t h e g r e a t w e i g h t w h i c h t h e S o v i e t s u b s i d i e s h a v e in their activity, they persisted in their stand against the h e g e m o n y o f M o s c o w a n d t h e aggression against C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . T h e y are o p p o s e d because the C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i sionists b e l o n g t o t h e s a m e r e v i s i o n i s t c u r r e n t a s t h e Italians. I n p a r t i c u l a r , i n t h e i r h a n d l i n g o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k q u e s t i o n , t h e y w a n t t o b e i n h a r m o n y w i t h the I t a lian bourgeoisie and do not w a n t to stand apart f r o m it in any way. L o n g o a n d the other chiefs of his p a r t y engaged in open p o l e m i c s w i t h t h e i r S o v i e t f r i e n d s , o n c e a g a i n c o u n terposing t h e i r w e l l - k n o w n t h e o r i e s o f T o g l i a t t i ' s p o l y centrism t o t h e h e g e m o n i c a n d c h a u v i n i s t p r e t e n s i o n s o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e l e a d e r s o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n t o d o m i n a tion o f the r e v i s i o n i s t f r o n t a n d s u b j u g a t i o n o f r e v i s i o n i s t states. T h e y s p o k e a b o u t f u l l respect f o r t h e a u t o n o m y and s o v e r e i g n t y o f e a c h c o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d socialist state, e x p r e s s e d o p p o s i t i o n t o a n y t h e o r y o f t h e l e a d i n g state o r p a r t y , t o a n y i n t e r f e r e n c e o r p r e s s u r e i n t h e internal affairs of the other parties. In particular, they supported t h e D u b e k c l i q u e a n d t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k line, w h i l e a d v i s i n g t h e S o v i e t s not t o d o a n y t h i n g , e i t h e r i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a o r o u t s i d e it, w h i c h w o u l d d a m a g e t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k leaders. P o n o m a r y o v , t h e specialist i n i n t e r - r e v i s i o n i s t r e l a tions, w h o m B r e z h n e v h a d sent t o B o l o g n a , t r i e d i n v a i n to convince the Italian revisionists that allegedly the pre sent l o r d s o f t h e K r e m l i n are f o r e q u a l i t y o f r i g h t s a n d the i n d e p e n d e n c e o f a l l c o u n t r i e s a n d p a r t i e s , t h a t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m there m u s t n o t b e l e a d i n g p a r t i e s i n t h e communist movement. He exposed himself later, w h e n h e t r i e d t o j u s t i f y t h e b a r b a r o u s aggression a g a i n s t C z e choslovakia and described it as an internationalist duty.
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T h e silence w i t h w h i c h those p r e s e n t l i s t e n e d t o his speech w a s m o r e f r o m c o n t e m p t t h a n f r o m a t t e n t i o n . E v e n the interventions of the satellites of the Soviet revisionists, the representatives of G o m u l k a , Z h i v k o v and c o m p a n y , w e r e u n a b l e t o rescue t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s f r o m the isolation a n d the uncomfortable position in w h i c h t h e y f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s a t t h e B o l o g n a C o n g r e s s . O n the other hand, the Titoites, w h o f o u n d in the Italian r e v i sionists n o m e a n s u p p o r t e r s i n t h e i r n e w , t e m p o r a r y q u a r r e l w i t h the M o s c o w leaders, m a n a g e d v e r y w e l l . A w a l k - o u t b y the S o v i e t d e l e g a t i o n a t t h e t i m e K a r d e l j w a s s p e a k i n g c o u l d n o t be e f f e c t i v e as a m e a n s to r e t r i e v e t h e i r h o n o u r i n f a c e o f t h e d i s c r e d i t i n g a c c u s a t i o n s o f the Titoites, in a place w h e r e the cream of revisionism h a d gathered. T h e congress o f t h e I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s w a s f r e s h evidence of the further degeneration of the revisionist front and the increased quarrels a n d contradictions bet w e e n the d i f f e r e n t r e v i s i o n i s t g r o u p i n g s . I t w a s p r o v e d there, o n c e a g a i n , t h a t t h e e f f o r t s o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s t o e s t a b l i s h t h e m o n o p o l y a u t h o r i t y o f the Soviet U n i o n on the revisionist front have n o w suffered t o t a l defeat. T h e a g g r e s s i o n against C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d t h e c o n t i n u o u s r e s i s t a n c e o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k people, a p a r t f r o m o t h e r factors, h a v e m a d e a g r e e m e n t s b e t w e e n the revisionists, even just for appearances' sake, almost impossible. The hegemonic and imperialist policy of the c h i e f s o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a s t h e I t a l i a n congress s h o w e d , i s e n c o u r a g i n g the r e v i s i o n i s t g r o u p i n g s o f t h e W e s t a n d serving as a pretext for them to go more r a p i d l y d o w n t h e i r course of b r e a k i n g a w a y f r o m the pressure of M o s cow and integrating themselves w i t h their o w n national bourgeoisie. F o r example, the Italian revisionists have transformed the fact of their quarrels w i t h the leaders of the Soviet U n i o n and their opposition to the Soviet
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line o f h e g e m o n y i n t o a b a n n e r o f t h e i r t u r n i n g t o w a r d s unity w i t h the bourgeoisie and a proof of their loyalty to the bourgeois order. T h e rise of nationalist tendencies w i t h i n t h e s e g r o u p i n g s m u s t b e s e e n f r o m t h i s aspect, t o o . I n the p r a c t i c a l f i e l d , t h i s i s e x p r e s s e d i n the l a c k o f s u p port f o r t h e i n i t i a t i v e s w h i c h the S o v i e t U n i o n i s n o w taking in the international arena a n d in their silent and frequently open solidarity w i t h the foreign policies of the r e s p e c t i v e b o u r g e o i s g o v e r n m e n t s , e v e n o n those i s sues w h i c h a r e a i m e d a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t s . T h e n e w s t a n d s of the leaders of the revisionist parties towards the C o m mon M a r k e t , N A T O , or the problem of Berlin, are very significant in this direction. T h e s t a n d s w h i c h t h e f o r e i g n delegates m a i n t a i n e d a n d t h e v i e w s w h i c h t h e y e x p r e s s e d a t t h e I t a l i a n congress clearly indicate the atmosphere w h i c h w i l l p r e v a i l at the revisionist m e e t i n g i n M o s c o w i n M a y a n d w h a t its results w i l l be. T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o a r e t r y i n g t o b r e a k their i s o l a t i o n w i t h i n the revisionist front a n d to somewhat restore their fallen prestige and authority, are trying to ensure discussion in M o s c o w of the c u r r e n t p r o b l e m s of the struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d joint actions in this s t r u g g l e w i t h t h e a i m o f b r i n g i n g a b o u t a c l o s i n g of the ranks of the revisionists, as P o n o m a r y o v put it at B o l o g n a . B u t , a s i t t u r n e d o u t f r o m t h e speeches o f m o s t of the representatives of the foreign parties taking part a t t h e 12th C o n g r e s s o f t h e I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s , t h e o t h e r s have n o t t h e slightest i n t e n t i o n o f s a t i s f y i n g t h e S o v i e t chiefs w h o , t h r o u g h s p e c u l a t i o n s a b o u t j o i n t actions, ar t r y i n g to impose on t h e m obligations w h i c h are in the interests o n l y o f t h e f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . T h e other r e v i s i o n i s t s u n d e r s t a n d that, i n t h e p r e sent s i t u a t i o n , a c c e p t a n c e o f a n y k i n d o f o b l i g a t i o n w o u l d not o n l y p u t t h e m u n d e r s o m e d e g r e e o f d e p e n d e n c e o n Soviet hegemony, w o u l d not o n l y o p e n the w a y to pres-
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s u r e f r o m the l e a d e r s o f t h e K r e m l i n , b u t w o u l d g r e a t l y restrict the t e r r a i n for their o w n action in the f i e l d of national and international relations. T h e y do not w a n t to go to the A m e r i c a n s u n d e r the leadership of the Soviet revisionists, but i n complete u n i t y w i t h their o w n n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o i s i e . I n t h e c l o s i n g s p e e c h a t t h e congress, the deputy general secretary of the Italian revisionist party, Berlinguer, a w a r e that he w a s expressing the o p i n i o n o f m a n y o t h e r p a r t i e s , too, t o l d t h e S o v i e t s t h a t a t the Moscow meeting there must be an open and responsible confrontation of v i e w s e v e n in connection w i t h the most d i f f i c u l t problems, a n d not m e r e l y a discussion of t h e q u e s t i o n o f the s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a s t h e Soviet leaders want, w h i c h is a m a n o e u v r e to tighten the screws on the others. B u t w i l l t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s agree t o b e p l a c e d i n the dock at the M o s c o w meeting and listen to the o p p o s i t i o n s o f t h e I t a l i a n s , t h e F r e n c h , t h e B r i t i s h , etc., o v e r t h e i r aggression against C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , t o r e p l y t o q u e s tions in connection w i t h Brezhnev's theory of the limited s o v e r e i g n t y o f s o c i a l i s t c o u n t r i e s o r the c o n d i t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e o f p a r t i e s , ( 2 ) etc.? I t w o u l d b e d i f f i c u l t f o r t h e m t o accept this. I n M o s c o w t h e S o v i e t s w a n t t o e s t a b lish and justify their hegemony over the participating parties, w h i l e t h e I t a l i a n s o r t h e F r e n c h w i l l g o t h e r e p r i m a r i l y to oppose this hegemony and in this w a y to receive a certificate of good conduct w h i c h w i l l serve them in their further integration w i t h their o w n b o u r geoisie. T h e r e f o r e , t h e M a y c o n f e r e n c e i n M o s c o w h a s failed even before it is held. E v e n if it is held some time, it w i l l do n o t h i n g but a d d even m o r e to the quarrels and
_________________________________ 2 Theories of the Soviet revisionists to justify their aggressive activity against the satellite countries of Eastern E u r o p e a n d to establish the hegemony of the Soviet revisionist party on the revisionist parties of other countries.
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splits i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t f r o n t a n d w i l l f u r t h e r d i s c r e d i t its o r g a n i z e r s , f i r s t of a l l , t h e chiefs of S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s m w h o h a v e b a s e d s u c h g r e a t hopes o n i t . Whatever efforts the revisionists m a y make, there can b e n o u n i t y a m o n g t h e m . T o t h i s d a y n o u n i t y has e v e r been e s t a b l i s h e d o n t h e basis o f b e t r a y a l o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e s t r u g g l e against t h e m . T h i s i s t h e case, n o t o n l y i n r e g a r d t o t h e d i f f e r e n t r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s , b u t also i n r e g a r d t o the u n i t y w i t h i n e a c h p a r t y . T h e recent congress o f t h e I t a l i a n revisionist party demonstrated this very well. F o l l o w i n g the e x a m p l e o f t h e b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e s o cial-democratic parties, the revisionist party is now split into t h e m o s t v a r i e d f a c t i o n s w h i c h h a v e d e f i n i t e i d e o l o g i c a l and political platforms, w h i c h have their o w n followers and s u p p o r t e r s i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e the r a n k s o f t h e i r o w n p a r ty, a n d w h i c h q u a r r e l a n d c l a s h w i t h o n e a n o t h e r f o r superiority and special positions. In this situation, in b u i l d i n g its l i n e a n d s t a n d , t h e p a r t y w i l l t a k e the o p i n i o n o f t h e masses a n d t h e r a n k - a n d - f i l e m e m b e r s less a n d less i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n a n d a d a p t t h e m m o r e a n d m o r e t o the r a t i o o f forces, c o m p r o m i s e s a n d m u t u a l concessions o f these f a c t i o n s . T h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w h i c h c a n b e seen i n t h e r e p o r t o f t h e C C p r e s e n t e d t o t h e congress by Longo, certainly result mostly f r o m the opportunist, a n t i - M a r x i s t , c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y g e n e r a l l i n e o f the I t a l i a n revisionist party, but to a considerable degree they are a l s o e x p r e s s i o n s o f t h e s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t factional lines w h i c h exist in the party. It is t r u e that Italy is going through a grave crisis a f f e c t i n g b o t h its e c o n o m y a n d i t s p o l i c y . T h e p o w e r f u l student movement, the b i g w o r k e r s ' strikes w h i c h have effected n e a r l y all sectors of p r o d u c t i o n , the protest of state a n d p r i v a t e e m p l o y e e s , n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e ceaseless s t r u g g l e o f t h e e x p l o i t e d p e a s a n t r y , s h o w t h a t the I t a l i a n
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bourgeoisie is sitting on a volcano w h i c h is l i k e l y to e r u p t a t a n y m o m e n t . T h e w o r k i n g masses are s t r u g gling and seeking a w a y out f r o m the grave situation, d e m a n d i n g r e v o l u t i o n a r y changes i n the situation w h i c h t h e y a n d t h e c o u n t r y are f a c i n g , a n d are r e a d y t o f i g h t w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n i n d e f e n c e o f t h e i r r i g h t s . B u t the I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e i n f l i c t e d a n d a r e i n f l i c t i n g great d a m a g e o n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the o t h e r e x p l o i t e d masses. T h e y a r e t r y i n g t o set t h e w o r k i n g class o n the r o a d o f r e f o r m i s m , t r y i n g t o encourage the s p i r i t o f C h r i s t i a n p a s s i v i t y , e x p e c t a n c y a n d s u b m i s s i o n . I t i s the d u t y o f t h e h e a l t h i e s t v a n g u a r d forces o f t h e I t a l i a n w o r k i n g class, o f t h e r e s o l u t e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , t o place t h e m s e l v e s a t the h e a d o f the s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e w o r k i n g p e a s a n t r y , the w o r k i n g y o u t h , a n d o t h e r s t r a t a o f the population w h o oppose the bourgeoisie, and to fight for a n e v e r g r e a t e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e class s t r u g g l e o n t h e correct line of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , for the proletarian r e v o l u t i o n a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . I t i s t h e i r d u t y t o s h o w t h e masses t h e c o r r e c t r e v o l u t i o n a r y r o a d , to enlighten them w i t h the true ideology of the w o r k i n g class, t o w o r k o u t a n d a p p l y t h e c o r r e c t s t r a t e g y a n d tactics f o r c a r r y i n g o u t the r e v o l u t i o n . N o n e o f this w o r k i s easy. A c o n s i d e r a b l e p a r t o f the w o r k i n g masses, d i s i l l u s i o n e d b y o p p o r t u n i s m a n d t h e treacherous line of the m o d e r n revisionists under whose influence they h a v e been up t i l l today, have n o w hurled t h e m s e l v e s i n t o the struggle a g a i n s t b o u r g e o i s o p p r e s s i o n a n d order. B u t t h i s s t r u g g l e l a c k s d i r e c t i o n , o r g a n ization and leadership, and thus the bourgeoisie and the opportunists have no d i f f i c u l t y in defending themselves f r o m its a t t a c k a n d c o u n t e r - a t t a c k i n g i t w i t h g r e a t s e v erity. Therefore, the revolutionaries have the difficult b u t n o b l e t a s k o f r e b u i l d i n g t h e class consciousness, t h e
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spirit of discipline a n d organization among the workers and, above all, of leading t h e m on the r o a d of revolution as M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m teaches. T h e I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s boast t h a t t h e y a r e a b i g p a r ty, t h a t s u c h a n d s u c h a n u m b e r o f people v o t e f o r t h e m . In fact they are v e r y weak, l i k e the bourgeoisie w i t h w h i c h t h e y c o l l a b o r a t e . T h e y b e l o n g t o t h e past, t o w h a t is collapsing a n d d y i n g . T h e b a n k r u p t c y of the r e v i s i o n ists i s a p p a r e n t i n t h e i r d e g e n e r a t i o n , i n t h e r a p i d i t y w i t h w h i c h they are heading towards complete integrat i o n w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e . T h e i n g l o r i o u s e n d o f the r e v i sionists i s n o t f a r off, i t i s a p p e a r i n g c l e a r l y o n t h e horizon of the historical development of o u r time. T h e d e c l i n e o f r e v i s i o n i s m has a l r e a d y b e g u n a n d o u r g e n e r a t i o n w i l l c e r t a i n l y w i t n e s s i t s descent i n t o t h e abyss o f h i s t o r y i n w h i c h a l l t h e r e a c t i o n a r y forces t h a t h a v e o p posed t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r o g r e s s o f t h e w o r k i n g people have ended up.
Against
T H E CORRECT UNDERSTANDING AND ORGANIZATION OF ILLEGAL AND L E G A L WORK BY THE PARTY A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION OF THE REVOLUTION
From the talk with a comrade from Ceylon

May 17, 1969
The difficult situations d i d not take us by surprise, (1) w e h a d foreseen t h e m long before a n d w e r e prepared. O u r g e o g r a p h i c a l p o s i t i o n i s s u c h t h a t i t keeps u s a l w a y s o n o u r toes, o b l i g e s u s t o b e c o n s t a n t l y v i g i l a n t , r e a d y and mobilized at every moment. A l t h o u g h the general situation is in favour of the revolution, of the communists and the Marxist-Leninist parties, w e m u s t , w i t h o u t f a i l , a l w a y s b e v i g i l a n t . F o r u s A l b a n i a n s , i n p a r t i c u l a r , i t i s essential t o b e p r e p a r e d , because o u r c o u n t r y i s c o m p l e t e l y e n c i r c l e d b y i m p e r i a l ist a n d r e v i s i o n i s t states w h i c h a r e c o n t i n u a l l y t r y i n g t o d a m a g e a n d d e s t r o y us. T h e r e f o r e , i f w e s l a c k e n e d o u r v i gilance even for a moment or toned d o w n our struggle against e n e m i e s i n t h e least, t h e y w o u l d s t r i k e i m m e d i a t e l y l i k e t h e s n a k e t h a t bites y o u a n d i n j e c t s its p o i s o n b e f o r e y o u are a w a r e of it.
__________________________________ 1 Reference is to the danger that could have threatened A l b a n i a at the time of the Soviet aggression against Czechoslovakia
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The betrayal by the Soviet revisionists is an event w i t h g r a v e consequences f o r t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r e v o l u tionary movement world-wide. Nevertheless, the situation shows t h a t w h i l e i t i s t r u e t h e y h a v e g r e a t e c o n o m i c a n d armed s t r e n g t h , w i t h i n t h e i r o w n c o u n t r y t h e y are w e a k , very weak. O u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t d o c t r i n e teaches u s t h a t i n w a r i t i s m e n , t h e i r i n s p i r a t i o n o n t h e r i g h t r o a d , a n d not armaments, w h i c h p l a y t h e m a i n r o l e . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t cliques, l i k e t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , h a v e a l l t h e p e o p l e s a g a i n s t them. T h i s i s b e i n g p r o v e d e v e r y d a y b y t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l situation, w h i c h is developing in their disfavour, and by the i n t e r n a l s i t u a t i o n i n the S o v i e t U n i o n w h e r e , a l t h o u g h w e d o n o t h a v e p r e c i s e facts, i n o u r o p i n i o n , t h e p o l i t i c a l and e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n i s n o t a t a l l f a v o u r a b l e f o r the Soviet t r a i t o r c h i e f s . I n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , t h e s i t u a t i o n i s i n the h a n d s o f t h e m a r s h a l s a n d g e n e r a l s w i t h p r o n o u n ced n a t i o n a l i s t , f a s c i s t a n d i m p e r i a l i s t t e n d e n c i e s . S u c h an evolution indicates that the Soviet revisionists do not have t r a n q u i l i t y a m o n g t h e p o p u l a t i o n a n d , i n o r d e r t o get o u t o f t h e chaos i n t o w h i c h t h e y h a v e f a l l e n , t h e y are trying to suppress the r e v o l u t i o n a r y movement w h i c h exists, a s i t m u s t do, i n t h e i r c o u n t r y . W e d o n o t k n o w in what forms this movement is developing or how w i d e s p r e a d i t is, b u t the f a s c i s t m e a s u r e s w h i c h t h e r e v i sionists h a v e t a k e n t o p r o t e c t t h e i r r e g i m e , c l e a r l y i n dicate t h e g r a v e i n t e r n a l s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e i r w e a k n e s s . T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e t r a i t o r s s u f f e r e d a m a j o r set-back in Czechoslovakia, w h i c h they occupied true enough, but they w i l l not s u b d u e t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k people. T h e C z e choslovak r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s p r o v e d t o b e w e a k a n d c a p i t u l a t e d i m m e d i a t e l y . T h e a n g e r w h i c h the C z e c h o s l o vak people displayed, sometimes in passive ways, sometimes w i t h s t r i k e s a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , w a s k e p t i n check b y the l e a d e r s h i p . H a d t h e r e been s t r o n g e r r e s i s t a n c e
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i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , e s p e c i a l l y a r m e d resistance, e v e n t s i n E u r o p e a n d i n the S o v i e t U n i o n i t s e l f w o u l d h a v e dev e l o p e d i n q u i t e a d i f f e r e n t w a y . T h e S o v i e t t r a i t o r chiefs w e r e t e r r i b l y a f r a i d o f a r m e d resistance, b u t t h e y w e r e saved f r o m this by the submissive stand of the capitulat i o n i s t C z e c h o s l o v a k leaders. In order to crush the Czechoslovak people w i t h every k i n d of r e p r e s s i o n , K h r u s h c h e v ' s successors b r o u g h t a n e w group to p o w e r in Czechoslovakia, headed by a cer t a i n H u s a k , a r e v i s i o n i s t w i t h a u t h o r i t a r i a n , fascist, n a t i o n a l i s t tendencies, a g r o u p m o r e s u i t a b l e t h a n t h a t headed by the revisionist Dubek. By means of traitors like this, t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e t r y i n g t o r e a l i z e t h e i r aims in Czechoslovakia bit by bit a n d to quell even that passive movement w h i c h exists there n o w . B u t the new czars o f t h e K r e m l i n d o n o t h a v e f u l l c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e m a n d a r e a f r a i d lest a f t e r a f e w y e a r s t h e n e w r e v i s i o n i s t s i n P r a g u e m a y t u r n coat. T h e Czechoslovak question made things v e r y clear to a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d t h e peoples, e s p e c i a l l y those o f Europe, in t w o directions: first, it c o n f i r m e d the correct common Marxist-Leninist line of all genuine communists in the w o r l d , the correctness of the struggle being waged for the exposure of this group of renegades and traitors i n the K r e m l i n a n d their fascist-imperialist tendencies; it proved to the hilt that their Marxist facade is nothing but a fraud. Second, it c o n f i r m e d the A m e r i c a n - S o v i e t collaboration over the d i v i s i o n of spheres of influence and the preparations w h i c h the A m e r i c a n s and the Soviets are m a k i n g j o i n t l y f o r w a r against t h e peoples, a g a i n s t t h e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s , against s o c i a l i s m a n d against t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d . O u r P a r t y and all the other M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties h a v e w a g e d t h e s t r u g g l e f o r the e x p o s u r e o f t h e f a s c i s t aggression against the Czechoslovak people properly
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t h e r e f o r e t h i s e x p o s u r e has b e c o m e v e r y p o w e r f u l . O f course, a p a r t f r o m C z e c h o s l o v a k i a the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s have o t h e r a m b i t i o n s t o w a r d s c o u n t r i e s a n d p e o p l e s w h o m they c o n s i d e r t h e i r m a i n a n d m o s t d e t e r m i n e d opponents. But w e t h i n k t h e i r m o s t i m m e d i a t e a m b i t i o n s a r e d i r e c t e d t o w a r d s R u m a n i a a n d , t o some degree, also t o w a r d s Y u g o s l a v i a a n d us. In our opinion, the R u m a n i a n leadership is revision ist-nationalist. I n its r a n k s t h e r e m u s t b e b o t h p r o - a n d a n t i - S o v i e t tendencies, b u t n e v e r o n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t road. I n t h e s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d a f t e r t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f Czechoslovakia and the undisguised display of Soviet i n tentions t o i n v a d e R u m a n i a , t h e R u m a n i a n l e a d e r s h i p adopted w h a t y o u m i g h t c a l l a n o p p o s i t i o n s t a n d . A t first, w h e n D u b e k , w h o h a d u n d e r t a k e n the r e - e s t a b l i s h ment o f c a p i t a l i s m i n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , resisted, t h e R u m a nians s p o k e o u t m o r e c o u r a g e o u s l y a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t revisionists, t h i n k i n g t h a t t h e y w o u l d h a v e some sort o f p r o t e c t i o n f r o m t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e other c a p i t a l i s t states o f t h e W e s t . H o w e v e r , a f t e r t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , w h e n t h e y s a w t h a t the American imperialists d i d not m o v e against the Soviet revisionists a t a l l , t h e y l o w e r e d t h e i r tone. We think that the difficulties w h i c h emerged for the Soviet t r a i t o r s a f t e r t h e invasion of Czechoslovakia ruined t h e i r p l a n s f o r t h e i n v a s i o n o f R u m a n i a . N a t u r a l l y , we supported the stand of the R u m a n i a n s against the Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s , because t h i s w a s i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n . I n r e g a r d t o t h e Y u g o s l a v peoples, i t m u s t b e s a i d that t h e y a r e b r a v e . B u t d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y h a v e peoples o f s u c h m e t t l e , w e s a w t h a t d u r i n g the events w h i c h t o o k p l a c e , t h e Y u g o s l a v leaders w e r e t e r r i f i e d o f a possible Soviet invasion. T h e reason for this, in o u r opinion, w a s n o t s o m u c h t h e i m m e d i a t e e x t e r n a l t h r e a t
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a s t h e fact that t h e p o s i t i o n o f the T i t o i t e r e g i m e w i t h i n Yugoslavia was very weak. Tito still wields influence in that country, but the i n t e r n a l contradictions w h i c h exist a n d are i n c r e a s i n g d a y b y d a y b e t w e e n t h e Serb bourgeoisie a n d the Croat-Slovenes a n d others i n Y u goslavia have created m a j o r national antagonisms w h i c h a r e e n d a n g e r i n g the u n i t y o f t h e Y u g o s l a v state. T h i s i s t h e b a s i s o f T i t o ' s f e a r lest t h e S o v i e t s , t h r o u g h the Serb chauvinists such as R a n k o v i and Co. from w i t h i n , create a d i s t u r b e d s i t u a t i o n s u i t a b l e f o r aggres sion. N e v e r t h e l e s s , w e s t i l l d o n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e S o v i e t revisionists are able to launch aggression against Y u g o slavia. In o u r opinion, the threats w h i c h they made towards it were intended more to frighten T i t o so that he w o u l d not incite the anti-Soviet resistance in Czecho slovakia or any other country, w o u l d not raise his voice about the Soviet pressure or the subsequent a r m e d i n v a s i o n o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . I n these c o n d i t i o n s , T i t o took m e a s u r e s a n d p u r g e d the a r m y o f h u n d r e d s o f generals, t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f w h o m w e r e cadres o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , p e r s o n a l i t i e s a n d his close c o l laborators, accusing them of h a v i n g w e a k e n e d the Y u g o s l a v defence a n d a r o u s e d c h a u v i n i s t a n d n a t i o n a l i s t t e n dencies t h r o u g h o u t Y u g o s l a v i a . I t seems t h a t T i t o t o o k these m e a s u r e s f o r h i s i n t e r n a l interests, i r r e s p e c t i v e o f the f a c t t h a t f o r m a n y reasons h e h i m s e l f , i n o u r o p i n i o n , does n o t b e l i e v e t h e r e w i l l b e a S o v i e t a g g r e s s i o n . W h y d o w e t h i n k so? F i r s t , because t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s w i l l h a v e t o t h i n k t w i c e b e f o r e t h e y a t t a c k Y u g o s l a v i a , f o r i t i s not Czechoslovakia. If they were going to undertake an armed aggression against Yugoslavia, the Soviet r e v i s i o n ists w o u l d h a v e t o m a k e t h e i r c a l c u l a t i o n s w e l l , because t h e y a r e a f r a i d o f d e f e a t , since t h e Y u g o s l a v peoples w o u l d fight them w i t h determination.
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S e c o n d , because t h e e c o n o m i c i n t e r e s t s o f A m e r i c a n , B r i t i s h a n d o t h e r c a p i t a l i n Y u g o s l a v i a are n o w e x c e p t i o n a l l y great. I t has c o n t r o l o f t h e w h o l e Y u g o s l a v e c o n omy. T h e i n d u s t r y o f t h a t c o u n t r y i s c o m p l e t e l y i n t h e hands o f A n g l o - A m e r i c a n c o n c e r n s . I f Y u g o s l a v i a w e r e invaded by the Soviets, the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a a n d the other i m p e r i a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , w h i c h h a v e m a d e b i g i n vestments in Y u g o s l a v i a , w o u l d intervene to defend their e c o n o m i c interests. T h i r d , i f i t w e r e t o a t t a c k Y u g o s l a v i a , the S o v i e t Union w o u l d be faced w i t h another important thing f r o m t h e s t r a t e g i c a n g l e t h e N A T O a l l i a n c e a n d the A m e r i c a n m i l i t a r y a i d to Yugoslavia. Hence, apart f r o m the f i g h t w h i c h t h e Y u g o s l a v peoples t h e m s e l v e s w o u l d put u p a g a i n s t a p o s s i b l e S o v i e t aggression, a l l t h e m a c h i n e r y o f N A T O a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a itself w o u l d b e set i n m o t i o n . F o r a l l these r e a s o n s w e t h i n k t h a t T i t o does n o t expect a n a g g r e s s i o n f r o m t h e S o v i e t s . H o w e v e r , h e t o o k measures, b o t h w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y a n d i n r e g a r d t o the alliance w h i c h h e has w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , w h o c a l l h i m the leader o f t h e n o n - a l i g n e d w o r l d , although we k n o w that he is their agent and not neutral. A t those m o m e n t s w h e n the Y u g o s l a v l e a d e r s h i p w a s threatened, o u r P a r t y c o n s i d e r e d i t n e c e s s a r y t o m a k e the declaration, w h i c h i t p u b l i s h e d ( 2 ) , a g a i n s t t h e c o n c e n t r a tion o f S o v i e t m i l i t a r y forces i n B u l g a r i a a n d t h e t h r e a t that t h e y p r e s e n t e d t o Y u g o s l a v i a a n d R u m a n i a . I n the terms o f o u r d e c l a r a t i o n , i f Y u g o s l a v i a o r R u m a n i a w e r e attacked, w e w o u l d d e f e n d those c o u n t r i e s , w o u l d t a k e their side, b u t d o t t i n g t h e i's a s a l w a y s , w i t h o u t h i d i n g the i r r e c o n c i l a b i l i t y o f o u r v i e w s w i t h those o f t h e T i ________________________________ 2 On A p r i l 11, 1969, in the newspaper Zri i p o p u l l i t in the article M i l i t a r y Pressure the Basis of the Dictate and Political B l a c k m a i l of the Soviet Revisionist Leaders.
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toites; moreover, we once again made k n o w n the ideolog i c a l d i f f e r e n c e s w e h a v e w i t h the R u m a n i a n l e a d e r s h i p , too. W e c o n s i d e r e d t h a t s u c h a r e s o l u t e s t a n d w a s i n the interests o f s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e d e f e n c e o f o u r H o m e l a n d , because i f Y u g o s l a v i a w e r e a t t a c k e d i t c a n b e a s s u m e d t h a t A l b a n i a w o u l d b e a t t a c k e d , too. W e a r e a l w a y s r e a d y t o d e f e n d o u r H o m e l a n d i n case t h e e n e m y l a u n c h e s a n a r m e d a t t a c k o n it. O u r p e o p l e are not a f r a i d of w a r . O u r friends, the fraternal M a r x ist-Leninist parties, are w e l l aware of it, a n d the enemies a r e w e l l a w a r e o f it, too. O u r d e c l a r a t i o n i n s u p p o r t o f t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a , R u m a n i a , B u l g a r i a , etc., i n case o f a g g r e s s i o n b y the Soviet social-imperialists was received w i t h enthus i a s m b y those peoples. T h e h e r o i c s t a n d o f t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e a n d t h e d e c l a r a t i o n h a d a n e x c e p t i o n a l l y great influence on the stand of the peoples of the B a l k a n s . Tito is a r a b i d enemy of the A l b a n i a n people and the international communist movement, but he is cunning. Immediately after our declaration he declared that a t t h e m o m e n t s w h e n t h e S o v i e t s are t h r e a t e n i n g Y u g o slavia, the People's R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a is p l a y i n g a decisive role in the Balkans. H o w e v e r , we are w e l l acquaint e d w i t h h i s d e v i o u s p o l i c y . W h e n t h e events b e t w e e n the Soviet U n i o n and C h i n a occurred o n the U s s u r i , T i t o tried to maintain a k i n d of neutral policy, taking neither t h e side o f C h i n a n o r t h a t o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . A s a r e s u l t o f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d t h e tense s i t u a tion created by the Soviet aggression against Czechoslov a k i a a n d the S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n a l l i a n c e , t h e s i t u a t i o n i n the w o r l d is far f r o m peaceful, especially now. T h e Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s are b e n t o n aggression, b u t t h e y a r e a f r a i d , because t h e y t a k e a c c o u n t o f t h e r e s i s t a n c e a n d s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples, n o t o n l y o f A l b a n i a , b u t a l s o o f Y u g o s l a v i a and even of R u m a n i a , of course to the extent that the
LEGAL. AND ILLEGAL WORK
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R u m a n i a n p e o p l e c o u l d resist. W h i l e n o t g i v i n g u p t h e idea of m i l i t a r y aggression, the Soviet revisionists are n o w t r y i n g to break the R u m a n i a n resistance internally, w i t h m a n y S o v i e t agents c o n t i n u i n g t h e i r w o r k o f s u b v e r s i o n . T h e Soviet revisionists are w o r k i n g in Y u g o s l a v i a , too, n a t u r a l l y w i t h less success t h a n i n R u m a n i a , w h i l e Tito, on his part, continues to preach u n i t y of the p e o ples, t o a t t a c k t h e S e r b b o u r g e o i s i e , a n d t o r e l y m o r e on t h e C r o a t - S l o v e n e b o u r g e o i s i e , etc. The difficult situation compels Tito to m a k e some concessions e v e n t o t h e m o r e t h a n a m i l l i o n A l b a n i a n s in Kosova, of w h o m he is v e r y afraid, and therefore, to p l a c a t e t h e m , h e has n o w a l l o w e d t h e m t o o p e n A l b a n i a n l a n g u a g e schools a n d t o f l y t h e A l b a n i a n f l a g . I n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h i c h I m e n t i o n e d above, t h e Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s , i n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n imperialists, are n o w t r y i n g to calm the situation in E u r o p e , t o p r e s e r v e t h e status q u o here, w i t h the a i m o f intensifying the w a r in A s i a . There are major contradictions in Europe. This continent i s r u l e d b y c a p i t a l i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o a r e p r o c e e d i n g t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r fascist d i c t a t o r s h i p s . T h e y are ceaselessly a t t a c k i n g t h e g r o w i n g r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces and t r y i n g t o p a t c h u p t h e b r e a c h e s w h i c h h a v e b e e n opened a n d are o p e n i n g d a y b y d a y , b u t s u c h a t h i n g i s hard to achieve. A l l the m a n y strikes w h i c h take place almost e v e r y d a y i n F r a n c e , I t a l y etc., t h e g r e a t m o n e t a r y crisis i n B r i t a i n , t h e c r i s i s i n t h e C o m m o n M a r k e t , t h e f a l l o f D e G a u l l e , etc., i n d i c a t e t h e d e c a y e d state o f a l l the E u r o p e a n [capitalist a n d r e v i s i o n i s t ] c o u n t r i e s . In this situation West G e r m a n y is trying to play the role o f t h e m a i n E u r o p e a n f o r c e i n N A T O . I t k n o w s t h a t without its existence N A T O and the U S A cannot balance the f o r c e o f S o v i e t i m p e r i a l i s m i n E u r o p e . T h e S o v i e t revisionists have prepared t w o or three plans on E u r o -
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p e a n s e c u r i t y . T h i s m e a n s t h a t the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w a n t peace i n E u r o p e , u n d e r A m e r i c a n - S o v i e t d o m i n a t i o n , s o t h a t t h e y c a n e a s i l y k e e p a l l t h e i r satellites such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, B u l g a r i a a n d p o s s i b l y also R u m a n i a , u n d e r t h e i r c o n t r o l ; w h i l e t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a c a n p u t t h e C h i n e s e colossus i n t h e E a s t u n d e r its c o n t r o l . N e v e r t h e l e s s , the situation in E u r o p e is revolutionary, therefore, we ought t o t a k e great a d v a n t a g e o f t h i s . F o r t h e t i m e b e i n g , the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t s i n E u r o p e are not s t r o n g , b u t t h e y a r e r e c o v e r i n g a n d , d e s p i t e t h e i r d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i c h a r e u n d e r s t a n d a b l e , i n fact, t h e y are advancing d a y by day. We recognize that the n e w M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties a n d g r o u p s w h i c h o p e r a t e i n those c o u n t r i e s h a v e t h r e e enemies on t h e i r b a c k s : the capitalism of t h e i r o w n countries w i t h the respective apparatuses of oppression, social-democracy w h i c h plays the role of strike-breaker, and Soviet revisionism w i t h the internal revisionists. The c o m m u n i s t c o m r a d e s i n those c o u n t r i e s a r e t r y i n g t o f i n d the most appropriate r e v o l u t i o n a r y roads on w h i c h to a d vance, but w h i c h , a t t h e s a m e t i m e , a r e r a t h e r c o m p l i c a t e d . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e l e m e n t s w h o l e a d these m o v e m e n t s and parties are resolute in the struggle against revisioni s m , b u t since, i n m o s t instances, t h e y c o m e f r o m the revisionist parties, they still retain the f o r m s a n d methods o f s t r u g g l e a n d w o r k o f r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s , because they have been in their ranks for a long time. T h a t is w h y t h e r e are occasions w h e n t h e y f o l l o w t h e s a m e f o r m s o f s t r u g g l e a s the p a r t i e s i n w h i c h t h e y f o r m e r l y took p a r t . B e s i d e s this, t h e r e i s a l w a y s a n o t h e r g r e a t d a n g e r f o r t h e n e w M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s , n a m e l y , t h a t the bourgeoisie and the revisionists w i l l insinuate their own people i n t o their r a n k s for purposes of sabotage a n d subversion...
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I n t h i s s i t u a t i o n , o u r P a r t y t r i e s t o t h e best o f its a b i l i t y t o m a k e i t s o w n l i n e a n d t h a t o f the other M a r x ist-Leninist parties k n o w n everywhere and to combat Soviet revisionism, A m e r i c a n imperialism and capitalism, i n g e n e r a l , i n E u r o p e a n d t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d , w i t h the greatest s e v e r i t y . W i t h those l i m i t e d p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d f e w p r o p a g a n d a m e a n s w h i c h o u r c o u n t r y possesses, o u r P a r t y w i l l t r y t o assist o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m r a d e s i n E u r o pe, L a t i n A m e r i c a , a n d e v e r y w h e r e else i n a m o d e s t w a y , and, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , t o c o n s o l i d a t e its o w n m i l i t a n t political a n d ideological positions w i t h i n the country day by day. T h e struggle against h o s t i l e p r o p a g a n d a has great i m p o r t a n c e f o r us, because t h e a m o u n t o f t h e c a pitalist-revisionist propaganda beamed in the direction of our c o u n t r y i s great. N o w t h e r e a r e d o z e n s o f e n e m y radio stations speaking against A l b a n i a every day. It is of great importance for us to strengthen the internal situation in the country, to ensure the ideological and p o l i t i c a l m o b i l i z a t i o n o f the w h o l e p e o p l e a n d , a l o n g with this, the f u l f i l m e n t of the economic plans, and first of all, the m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g of the w h o l e people on a large scale. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e w o r k o f o u r P a r t y in every d i r e c t i o n proves that things are going w e l l w i t h us. w i t h c o n t i n u o u s p r o g r e s s o n a l l t h e p r o b l e m s s i m u l taneously a n d e a c h p r o b l e m d e v e l o p i n g w i t h o u t h i n d e r i n g the other f r o m t h e m a t e r i a l aspect. Someone m a y ask: W h e r e do the A l b a n i a n s f i n d the time t o w o r k a n d l e a r n , t o g a i n p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l education and, at the same time, do their m i l i t a r y t r a i n ing? A l l these t h i n g s t h e w o r k , t h e lessons, t h e e d u c a tion, t h e m a r c h e s a n d m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g , w e a r e d o i n g very w e l l a n d w e see t h a t t h e m o r e d e e p l y w e g o i n t o these p r o b l e m s , t h e b e t t e r t h i n g s g o w i t h u s . . . A s f a r a s w e c a n see, i n E u r o p e t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s h a v e not y e t m a n a g e d t o g a i n a p r o p e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f
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t h e necessity f o r the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e a c t i v i t y o f the p a r t y i n i l l e g a l i t y a n d s e m i - i l l e g a l i t y . T h e a c t i v i t y o f the r e v i s i o n i s t s has e great i n f l u e n c e t h e r e . A l t h o u g h t h e y do not talk about f o l l o w i n g t h e p a r l i a m e n t a r y road, the new M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties a i m to c a r r y out a l l their activity i n l e g a l f o r m s , j u s t a s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s d o . I t seems t o t h e m t h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t d o a n y t h i n g i f t h e y w e n t into s e m i - o r c o m p l e t e i l l e g a l i t y . I f t h e y s e n d s o m e o f the m e m b e r s o f t h e p a r t y i n t o i l l e g a l i t y , i n o r d e r t o become t h e m a i n n u c l e u s o f a l l t h e a c t i v i t y o f t h e p a r t y , they think they are not w o r k i n g . Hence, they do not unders t a n d t h e i m p o r t a n c e of t h e c r e a t i o n of a s o l i d nucleus in the conditions of illegality. In the time of illegality, w h e n we were pursued by t h e fascists a n d t h e a g e n t s o f q u i s l i n g g o v e r n m e n t s , e v e r y p a r t y c o m m i t t e e b r o u g h t o u t its o w n b u l l e t i n p r o d u c e d o n d u p l i c a t o r s , m e a n s w h i c h seem s m a l l , b u t w h i c h w e r e h a r d t o f i n d a t t h a t t i m e . W e h a d t o a t t a c k the ministries to capture such means, a n d m a n y of our comr a d e s w e r e k i l l e d d u r i n g actions w h i c h w e o r g a n i z e d t o secure m a t e r i a l s o f t h i s n a t u r e , w h i c h a r e e s s e n t i a l for the p r o p a g a n d a o f t h e p a r t y . O n one occasion, w i t h i n one night in Tirana, our comrades dismantled a whole print i n g press in a p r i v a t e p r i n t e r y , a p r e s s w h i c h w a s set up elsewhere in illegality, in a place w h i c h the P a r t y k e p t v e r y secret. T h e s t r u g g l e o r g a n i z e d i n i l l e g a l i t y m u s t b e l i k e this. D u r i n g the t i m e of the w a r o u r leaflets were printed i l l e g a l l y i n t h e p r i n t e r i e s o f the fascist state a n d p r i v a t e o w n e r s b y o u r w o r k e r c o m r a d e s w h o m t h e p o l i c e d i d not suspect of such activity. T h e leaflets a n d newspapers of t h e P a r t y w e r e set u p a n d p r i n t e d i l l e g a l l y a n d d i s t r i b u t e d secretly, w i t h i n t h e h o u r , i n t h o u s a n d s o f copies. T h e people w e r e astounded about how the C e n t r a l C o m mittee, or this or that regional committee brought them
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out. O u r m e n w e r e w e l l - t r a i n e d t o w o r k i n i l l e g a l i t y a n d i n the greatest s e c r e c y i n t h i s f i e l d . T h e y p o s e d a s i f t h e y were n o t c o m m u n i s t s , t h e r e f o r e t h e e n e m y w a s c o n f u s e d and d i d n o t k n o w o n w h o m t o l a y h a n d s , because i n t h e course o f t h e s t r u g g l e o u r c o m r a d e s w e r e l e a r n i n g h o w to defend themselves f r o m the enemy. T h e organization of the w o r k of the p a r t y in i l l e gality has g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e a n d w e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h o r o u g h l y t h a t t h e e n e m y i s n o t asleep. I n o r d e r t o k n o w w h a t y o u a r e a n d w h a t forces you have, he may p e r m i t y o u t o c a r r y o n some activities for a while, b u t l a t e r , h e w i l l soon f i n d the o p p o r t u n i t y t o launch a s u r p r i s e a t t a c k a n d w i p e y o u o u t w i t h i n a night. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e w e l l a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e m e thods o f i l l e g a l s t r u g g l e , t h e y h a v e e x p e r i e n c e , because they t h e m s e l v e s h a v e f o u g h t i n i l l e g a l i t y , a n d t h e r e f o r e they are e x c e p t i o n a l l y d a n g e r o u s . T h e e n e m y m u s t not b e u n d e r e s t i m a t e d i n a n y w a y , because h e t h a t u n d e r e s t i mates t h e e n e m y a l w a y s loses, b u t t h e e n e m y m u s t n o t be overestimated, either. T h e important t h i n g is not to be a f r a i d of the enemy, but to be able to understand its tactics. T h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s s p e n d colossal s u m s in order to fight us. In Y u g o s l a v i a they have T i t o on their side, a s w e l l a s o t h e r a g e n t s t r a i n e d t o f i g h t c o m m u n i s m . A l l those w h o m T i t o sends a s a m b a s s a d o r s t o India, E g y p t , A l g e r i a , etc., a r e n o t s i m p l y d i p l o m a t s b u t highly t r a i n e d people. W e s a y t h i s because w e k n o w w e l l what t h e y are, s i n c e s o m e o f t h e m h a v e b e e n i n A l b a n i a , like the a m b a s s a d o r J o s i p D j e r d j a , o r t h e y o u t h delegate, like D i z d a r e v i , etc., a n d h a v e m a d e e v e r y e f f o r t t o defeat o u r P a r t y . T h e w o r k w i t h w o m e n a n d t h e y o u t h has c o l o s s a l importance, too. R i g h t f r o m t h e start, o u r P a r t y g a v e this p r o b l e m g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e . T h i s i s o b v i o u s also f r o m the fact t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y o f o u r f i g h t e r s w h o f e l l i n
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the National Liberation W a r were f r o m twenty to twentyt w o o r t w e n t y - t h r e e y e a r s o f age. T h u s , t h e y w e r e y o u n g people. T h e y w e r e b u r n i n g w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y a r d o u r . . . T h e y o u t h c o n s t i t u t e the n e w b l o o d f o r t h e P a r t y . Y o u n g m e n a n d w o m e n are people of sacrifice. People 4 0 y e a r s o f age a n d o l d e r a r e a b l e t o d o p r o p a g a n d a w o r k , b u t w h e n i t comes t o h u r l i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t o struggle a n d w o r k they do not h a v e the same d r i v e as t h e y o u t h , because i t i s n a t u r a l t h a t t h e y w i l l b e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e i r homes, a b o u t t h e i r w i v e s a n d c h i l d r e n , a b o u t t h e i r h e a l t h , etc., w h i l e t h e y o u t h d o not w o r r y a b o u t these t h i n g s , b u t t h r o w t h e m s e l v e s w i t h o u t hesitation into a n y front of the w o r k and struggle to w h i c h t h e P a r t y assigns t h e m , p r o v i d e d t h e r e i s c o n t i n u o u s w o r k to educate a n d convince them. W e h a v e a v e r y g o o d y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n , b u t the revisionists tried to liquidate both this a n d the women's organization. What do y o u need t h e m for? they said a n d indeed, in some other countries, they b r o k e up the women's organization, w h i l e we on the contrary strengt h e n e d i t m o r e a n d m o r e . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s also w a n t e d to corrupt o u r y o u t h organization, but, o u r P a r t y took no heed of their advice a n d d i d the opposite; it ceaselessly i n s t r u c t e d a n d t o o k c o n c r e t e m e a s u r e s t o e n s u r e that the youth was continuously tempered a n d strengthened. O u r P a r t y h a s d i r e c t e d its e f f o r t s t o e n s u r i n g a thorough understanding of w h a t tasks the organizations of the Front, the trade-unions, the y o u t h and the w o m e n have, w i t h t h e a i m t h a t t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s s h o u l d n o t b e m i x e d up a n d the competences a n d tasks of each of t h e m s h o u l d n o t b e c o n f u s e d . T h e y h a v e c o m m o n tasks, but t h e y a l s o h a v e s p e c i f i c t a s k s . A l l these, o f course, w e r e d e f i n e d i n t h e course o f t h e s t r u g g l e a n d t h r o u g h o u t t h e i r w h o l e existence these o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d p o w e r f u l l e v e r s o f
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the P a r t y h a v e g a i n e d a g r e a t e x p e r i e n c e , b o t h i n t h e i r joint w o r k a n d i n t h e i r s p e c i f i c w o r k . O u r P a r t y has specified the a i d w h i c h i t gives e a c h o f t h e m , w i t h the objective o f s u r r o u n d i n g a l l o u r people w i t h its o w n teachings a n d s e t t i n g t h e m i n m o t i o n , because, besides the w o r k i n g class, a s t h e l e a d i n g class, t h e y o u t h a n d t h e w o m e n , each h a v e s p e c i f i c p r o b l e m s . . . I w i s h y o u a g o o d j o u r n e y a n d successes.
Against
DIFFICULTIES ARE OVERCOME AND VICTORY IS ACHIEVED ONLY WITH A CORRECT POLITICAL LINE AND SOUND UNITY
From the talk with a delegation of the Al-Fatah Movement for the National Liberation of Palestine
August 3, 1970
W e are v e r y h a p p y t h a t y o u , o u r P a l e s t i n i a n b r o t h ers, h a v e c o m e f o r a v i s i t t o o u r c o u n t r y . W h e n w e h e a r d that y o u r delegation w a s to is bound to please the come to A l b a n i a we were people, because they immensely pleased. T h e coming of friends f r o m Palestine Albanian w h o l e - h e a r t e d l y l o v e t h e A r a b peoples ple in particular, because your a n d the fighting than
P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e i n p a r t i c u l a r . I say t h e P a l e s t i n i a n peosituation is worse t h a t o f t h e o t h e r A r a b peoples, y o u r d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d suff e r i n g s a r e n o t o v e r a n d c o n t i n u e t o b e g r e a t e r t h a n the sufferings of a l l the other A r a b peoples. T h e A r a b p e o p l e s a r e honest, generous a n d sincere a n d , a s h i s t o r y tells us, t h e i r s t r u g g l e s h a v e b e e n b i t t e r and, generally speaking, they have always fought heroically. tions. T h e A r a b peoples but also cultural have not only fighting Becoming traditions, with traditions. acquainted They are revolutionary and have fighting tradi-
ADHERING TO THE LINE
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the c u l t u r a l a c h i e v e m e n t s o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s i n a n c i e n t times, t h e y set o u t o n t h e r o a d o f k n o w l e d g e a n d p r o gress a n d s i n c e t h a t t i m e h a v e m a d e t h e i r r e c o g n i z e d contribution to the further development of w o r l d culture. Through A r a b scholars the w o r l d became acquainted w i t h many philosophical, literary and scientific works of Greek and R o m a n a n t i q u i t y , w i t h t h e ideas o f S o c r a t e s , P l a t o , A r i s t o t l e , etc., t r a n s l a t e d i n t o the A r a b i c l a n g u a g e . G r e a t thinkers a n d p h i l o s o p h e r s , r e n o w n e d poets a n d h i s t o r i a n s , o u t s t a n d i n g d o c t o r s a n d scientists h a v e e m e r g e d f r o m the ranks o f t h e A r a b peoples. A l l these g r e a t f i g h t i n g a n d cultural traditions h a v e been handed d o w n f r o m generation t o g e n e r a t i o n a m o n g y o u r peoples. H o w e v e r , t h e r e are g o v e r n m e n t s a n d states w h i c h degenerate, j u s t a s t h e r e a r e p e r s o n s w h o d e g e n e r a t e . Y o u k n o w t h e h i s t o r y o f y o u r peoples better t h a n w e do, therefore y o u k n o w t h a t t h e A r a b e m p i r e , w h i c h h a d e x tended o v e r g r e a t d o m a i n s , f r o m t h e b o r d e r s o f C h i n a t o Spain, d e g e n e r a t e d because t h e chiefs a n d t h e w e a l t h y degenerated, w h i l e t h e p e o p l e a l w a y s r e m a i n e d s t r o n g . Since t h a t t i m e , m a n y o f t h e A r a b peoples h a v e gone through g r e a t d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i c h c a m e a b o u t because t h e i r lands, r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y m o s t l y b e l o n g e d t o the w e a l t h y , b e i n g v e r y f e r t i l e , a t t r a c t e d t h e g r e e d of perfidious enemies w h o g r a d u a l l y invaded y o u r c o u n tries. T h u s , o v e r a l o n g p e r i o d , the i m p e r i a l i s t s m a n a g e d t o enslave y o u r peoples. H o w e v e r , t h a n k s t o t h e w a r s t h e y waged, m a n y o f the A r a b peoples w o n t h e i r f r e e d o m , b u t the d i f f i c u l t i e s h a v e n o t e n d e d f o r t h e m a n d e s p e c i a l l y for y o u , P a l e s t i n i a n b r o t h e r s . We understand your difficult situation v e r y w e l l and w e are c o m p l e t e l y w i t h y o u i n s p i r i t . W e h a v e f o l l o w e d the s t r u g g l e o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e to follow and support it w i t h all our might, a n d we consider t h a t w e a r e f i g h t i n g s h o u l d e r t o s h o u l d e r w i t h
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y o u . W e t e l l y o u this w i t h the greatest s i n c e r i t y , w i t h o u t a n y u l t e r i o r m o t i v e . W e n e v e r s a y a n y t h i n g a b o u t our friends behind their backs. Y o u a r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f the A l - F a t a h o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e p o l i t i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n o f w h i c h w e k n o w i n general. A l t h o u g h we are Marxist-Leninists, a n d irrespect i v e o f t h e fact t h a t t h e r e a r e d i f f e r e n c e s i n o u r i d e o l o gical views, we support the orientations of y o u r organizat i o n , because y o u h a v e m a d e t h e a r m e d s t r u g g l e t o the end for the liberation of your H o m e l a n d a n d the Pales t i n i a n people t h e f u n d a m e n t a l t a s k o f t h e p r o g r a m o f y o u r m o v e m e n t a n d , t h e r e f o r e , y o u m a y rest assured that y o u w i l l a l w a y s have the A l b a n i a n M a r x i s t - L e n i n ists a m o n g y o u r m o s t s i n c e r e f r i e n d s . L i k e y o u , w e too, h a v e some e x p e r i e n c e f r o m o u r National Liberation War. When we started the war, o b v i o u s l y , a l l t h e m a s s e s d i d n o t h u r l t h e m s e l v e s into the fight right at the beginning. In our country, as everyw h e r e else, i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e p e o p l e t h e r e w e r e the poor, the m i d d l e s t r a t a a n d a l s o the w e a l t h y . W e d e c i d e d t o e n c o u r a g e , t o o p e n p e r s p e c t i v e s t o a n d r e l y o n the p o o r s t r a t a o f t h e people, because t h e y a r e t h e f o u n d a tion of the victory. In A l b a n i a , the m a i n aspiration of t h e masses o f t h e p o o r p e a s a n t r y , w h o c o m p r i s e d the m a j o r i t y o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n , w a s the l a n d . I n o u r c o n d i tions, w h o e v e r possessed t h e l a n d g u i d e d the d e s t i n y o f t h e H o m e l a n d , t h e r e f o r e w e t o l d t h e p e o p l e t h a t t h e land s h o u l d b e l o n g t o h i m w h o t i l l e d it, a n d o n e o f t h e first t h i n g s w e w o u l d d o a f t e r t h e v i c t o r y w a s t o g i v e the l a n d t o t h e p e a s a n t s . T h r o u g h t h e c e n t u r i e s t h e y had f o u g h t f o r t h e l a n d , b u t t h e y h a d n e v e r r e a l i z e d their d r e a m . T h a t i s w h y w h e n w e c a m e o u t w i t h t h e slogan, T h e l a n d t o those w h o t i l l it, a t f i r s t t h e peasants did n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y w o u l d r e a l l y b e c o m e o w n e r s o f the land.
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F r o m the b e g i n n i n g o f t h e f i g h t m a n y o f o u r f i n e comrades were killed, but their sacrifice gradually aroused t h e t r u s t a n d c o n f i d e n c e o f o u r peasants t h a t the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , w h i c h w a s l e d b y t h e sons o f the people, w o u l d t r u l y s e c u r e t h e m t h e l a n d . A n d thus the p e a s a n t s b e g a n t o j o i n us. I t h i n k t h a t y o u , too, a r e quite c o r r e c t i n m a k i n g t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e l a n d one o f the m a i n q u e s t i o n s i n t h e p r o g r a m o f y o u r s t r u g g l e . S i n c e you h a v e r i s e n a n d a r e f i g h t i n g f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f your H o m e l a n d , y o u m u s t f i g h t w i t h u n w a v e r i n g d e t e r mination to c a r r y this great cause t h r o u g h to the end. I n o u r c o u n t r y t h e r e w e r e also w e a l t h y people a n d honest n a t i o n a l i s t s , w h o w e r e against t h e o c c u p i e r s . I n these circumstances we h a d to differentiate a m o n g t h e m . Those who h a d s o m e w e a l t h a n d w e r e a g a i n s t f a s c i s m , w e i n v i t e d t o j o i n us. A t f i r s t , m a n y o f t h e m h a d d o u b t s a n d d i d n o t c o m e close t o u s i m m e d i a t e l y , b u t l a t e r , w h e n their sons a n d d a u g h t e r s j o i n e d o u r r a n k s , t h e y , too, were c o n v i n c e d a n d w e r e w o n o v e r t o us, t o the p o i n t that t h e h o m e s o f s o m e o f t h e m b e c a m e o u r bases. S o true is t h i s t h a t I m y s e l f , t h e G e n e r a l S e c r e t a r y of the Party, w a s s o m e t i m e s s h e l t e r e d i n t h e h o m e s o f these people, a l t h o u g h the enemies w h o h a d sentenced m e t o death w e r e s e a r c h i n g f o r m e e v e r y w h e r e . O f course, on m a n y problems we could not have the same o p i nions a s t h o s e w h o w e r e w e a l t h y , b u t s o m e o f t h e m , w h o h a d p a t r i o t i c feelings a n d s a w t h a t t h e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s w e r e h o n e s t p e o p l e a n d t h a t t h e i r sons a n d daughters w e r e w i t h us, c o u l d n o t b u t s y m p a t h i z e w i t h our s t r u g g l e . We clearly e x p l a i n e d the aims of the w a r to the honest n a t i o n a l i s t s w h o c a m e f r o m t h e w e a l t h y s t r a t a o f the p o p u l a t i o n . W e e x p l a i n e d t h a t i t w a s n o t p o s s i b l e for t h e m , e i t h e r , t o l i v e w i t h t h e f o r e i g n fascists w h o h a d occupied o u r c o u n t r y a n d w h o a i m e d t o e n s l a v e A l b a n i a
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m o r e a n d m o r e a n d w e r e i n f a c t d o i n g so. W i t h the patriots, not o r g a n i z e d in parties, of the poor a n d middle strata, of various anti-fascist currents of town and countryside, we created the National L i b e r a t i o n Front. Even n a t i o n a l i s t s , w h o w e r e against t h e c o m m u n i s t s a t f i r s t , united w i t h this organization later, after patient w o r k to explain things to them, a n d the majority of them b e c a m e f i g h t e r s a n d o u r a l l i e s . S o m e o f t h e m w e r e even elected to the leading forums, right up to the A n t i - f a s cist N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n G e n e r a l C o u n c i l , w h e r e they fought and w o r k e d i n the most honourable w a y a n d after Liberation became defenders and supporters of the A g rarian R e f o r m and other socio-economic transformations of the c o u n t r y . However, there were also other nationalists w h o , in fact, w e r e p s e u d o - p a t r i o t s , l i k e a c e r t a i n A b a z K u p i , who, w h e n it came to acting concretely, w o u l d not fight against the occupiers. T h e n we took a clear-cut stand t o w a r d s t h e m a n d t o l d t h e m w e c o u l d n o t c o n t i n u e the alliance w i t h them, since they w e r e not f i g h t i n g shoulder t o s h o u l d e r w i t h t h e p e o p l e a n d w i t h u s a g a i n s t the G e r m a n o c c u p i e r s . T h i s t h e y d i d n o t d o a n d c o u l d not h a v e done, b e c a u s e i n r e a l i t y , t h e y h a d l i n k s w i t h the G e r m a n nazis, as we discovered later. We thoroughly exposed every stand of theirs w h i c h w a s not compatible w i t h our l i n e and u n c o m p r o m i s i n g fight against the Ital i a n a n d G e r m a n occupiers, u n t i l t h e y t h r e w off t h e i r disguise and came out against the N a t i o n a l Liberation F r o n t , a g a i n s t t h e people, a n d o p e n l y j o i n e d forces w i t h the G e r m a n occupiers. I do not k n o w w h e t h e r you have a communist party, but there m a y be communists w o r k i n g in illegality, therefore, t h e y m u s t f i g h t s h o u l d e r t o s h o u l d e r w i t h y o u , because the A l - F a t a h o r g a n i z a t i o n h a s a c l e a r l y d e f i n e d p r o g r a m w h i c h is permeated by the idea of resolute strug-
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gle f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e a g a i n s t t h e Z i o n i s t state o f I s r a e l , g o t u p b y i m p e r i a l i s m . W e a r e n o t a c quainted w i t h them, but we have h e a r d that there are such c o m m u n i s t s i n y o u r c o u n t r y . S o m e s a y t h a t t h e y are G u e v a r i s t s . I f t h i s i s so, i t m e a n s t h a t t h e y are n o t Marxists. A l l of y o u must strive to build up unity w i t h one a n o t h e r i n t h e f i g h t , m u s t b a n d a g e one a n o t h e r ' s wounds, b e c a u s e o n l y w i t h t h e u n i t y o f a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces a n d t h r o u g h t h e a r m e d s t r u g g l e c a n y o u emerge f r o m t h e g r a v e s i t u a t i o n o f s u f f e r i n g s w h i c h others h a v e b r o u g h t u p o n y o u . In a speech of one of y o u r leaders, w h i c h I read recently, I s a w t h a t t h e p r o g r a m o f y o u r A l - F a t a h organization is not against the Israeli people or against the J e w i s h r e l i g i o n , t h a t y o u a r e n o t racists, b u t o n t h e contrary are progressive people. H o w e v e r , quite r i g h t l y you cannot p e r m i t i n t e r n a t i o n a l Z i o n i s m t o create i n y o u r c o u n t r y a state s u c h a s I s r a e l , w h i c h oppresses t h e P a l e stinian p e o p l e . T h e s t a n d y o u m a i n t a i n o n t h i s q u e s t i o n is completely correct, therefore, we as M a r x i s t s agree to it, o t h e r w i s e , w e w o u l d n o t s u p p o r t y o u . I h a v e r e a d i n some m a t e r i a l s t h a t t h e r e a r e P a l e s t i n i a n s w h o h a v e declared t h a t t h e y w o u l d d e s t r o y t h e J e w s a s a people. Such a v i e w i s n o t i n a n y w a y c o r r e c t . Y o u r l i n e i s c o r rect a n d t h a t i s w h y i t i s f i n d i n g a n d i s b o u n d t o f i n d support a m o n g p r o g r e s s i v e f o r c e s e v e r y w h e r e . T h i s i s another r e a s o n f o r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n c o m m u n i s t s t o b e e v e n more u n i t e d l i k e t r u e b r o t h e r s a n d i n c o m p l e t e u n i t y with you in the fight against the common enemy for the complete l i b e r a t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e . I n t h e l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t occupiers, b o t h t h e Marxist-Leninists a n d the honest nationalists, a l l the staunch f i g h t e r s f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e H o m e l a n d , m u s t b e clear o n w h o t h e i r f r i e n d s are a n d w h o t h e i r e n e m i e s that m u s t b e f o u g h t , are. I n o r d e r t o f i g h t t h e e n e m y
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successfully u n i t y must be created, first of a l l a m o n g the f i g h t e r s t h e m s e l v e s , t h e n b e t w e e n t h e m a n d t h e masses of the people for w h o m they are fighting. A n d the masses, too, m u s t k n o w the reason for the fight so they can judge whether or not the struggle w h i c h is being c a r r i e d o u t s h o u l d b e s u p p o r t e d . I f t h e p e o p l e j u d g e the aims of the w a r a n d evaluate them, then the fighters w i l l become invincible. W h a t e v e r the n a m e someone m a y adopt a n d w h a t e v e r his proclamations about c a r r y i n g out this or that work, in the f i n a l analysis it is the people w h o w i l l e v a l u a t e these things, a n d t h i s n o t o n t h e basis o f w o r d s , b u t o n t h e b a s i s o f deeds c a r r i e d o u t f o r the people. W h e n the p e o p l e see t h a t s o m e o n e i s a c t i n g c o r rectly, honourably, and m a k i n g sacrifices for them, then they support h i m unreservedly a n d strengthen their unity w i t h h i m . T h e r e f o r e , t h e u n i t y w i t h i n the m o v e m e n t a n d the unity of the movement w i t h the people are decisive factors. It must be borne in m i n d that all do not understand the importance of unity a n d the w a y to achieve it in the same manner. However, u n i t y cannot be ensured w i t h o u t a s t r o n g l e a d e r s h i p at t h e h e a d of t h e m o v e m e n t . T h e u n i t y w i t h i n the r a n k s of y o u r organization and its u n i t y w i t h t h e people, t h e n , are m a j o r factors essential for achieving victory, in o u r opinion. If you have this and if you keep the correct political and m i l i tary line pure, y o u m a y be sure that y o u w i l l always score successes. I f t h e o p p o s i t e i s t h e case, y o u w i l l b e f a c e d w i t h m a n y d i f f i c u l t i e s . W i t h the correct l i n e a n d w i t h strong unity, you w i l l surmount every difficulty. Y o u r u n i t y w i t h that of the other f r a t e r n a l A r a b peoples i s e x c e p t i o n a l l y i m p o r t a n t f o r y o u , too. This unity is vital to the liberation of Palestine and the conq u e r i n g o f y o u r e n e m i e s , because t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people a r e a c o m p o n e n t p a r t of the A r a b peoples, t h e r e f o r e ,
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their opinion about the liberation of your people cannot be an external factor of secondary importance, but on the c o n t r a r y , i s a n i n t e r n a l f a c t o r o f f i r s t - r a t e i m p o r tance. T h e g e n u i n e u n i t y o f a l l A r a b peoples a g a i n s t t h e i r c o m m o n e n e m y a n d f o r t h e g o o d o f a l l these p e o p l e s i s essential, b u t i t m u s t b e c r e a t e d i n s t r u g g l e a n d n o t w i t h words. We M a r x i s t s can collaborate even w i t h a m i n o r king l i k e Hussein of Jordan of the Hashemite dynasty (although everyone k n o w s h o w m u c h benefit the peoples h a v e h a d f r o m k i n g s ) , i f h e f i g h t s f o r t h e f r e e d o m of the A r a b peoples. B u t if H u s s e i n tries to m a n o e u v r e with the A m e r i c a n imperialists against the cause of the freedom of the A r a b peoples and against the freedom of the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e i n p a r t i c u l a r , w e c a n n o t b e i n unity w i t h him. On the contrary, we must fight h i m until he suffers the same fate as F e i s a l w h o came f r o m Medina a n d was placed o v e r the I r a q i people, as w e l l as that o f N u r i S a i d . ( 1 ) F r o m the e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r c o u n t r y , we can tell y o u that o u r e x - k i n g A h m e t Zog, after t h o r o u g h l y f l e e c i n g t h e people, w h e n t h e H o m e l a n d w a s placed i n d a n g e r , g r a b b e d t h e g o l d l i k e a t h i e f a n d c l e a r e d out, l e a v i n g t h e A l b a n i a n s t o t h e m e r c y o f t h e fascist aggressors. T h e r e f o r e , w e c o u l d n o t i n a n y w a y b e i n unity w i t h a t h i e f a n d e x e c u t i o n e r of t h e people. H e n c e , unity is created in struggle and must be created only in struggle. T h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a l l i a n c e w i t h t h e w o r k e r s a n d the peoples o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d h a s a l s o g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e for t h e s t r u g g l e o f y o u r p e o p l e a n d t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f v i c t o r y o v e r t h e o c c u p i e r s . O n t h i s q u e s t i o n i t i s essential t h a t y o u r people u t i l i z e e v e r y p o s s i b i l i t y t o k n o w
____________________________ 1 K i n g F e i s a l II and p r i m e minister N u r i Said were executed in 1958, w h e n the monarchy was overthrown by a group of Iraqi officers, headed by General K a s e m .
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w e l l w h o t h e i r f r i e n d s a r e a n d w h o t h e i r e n e m i e s abroad are. I say this, because t h e s i t u a t i o n in t h e w o r l d is n o w v e r y c o m p l i c a t e d . A l l p e o p l e s n e e d t o k n o w their friends w e l l , so that by l i n k i n g themselves closely with t h e i r f r i e n d s , t h e y c a n cope s u c c e s s f u l l y w i t h e v e r y difficulty and trap w h i c h the enemies might prepare. H o w ever, b e f o r e y o u c a n k n o w w h o y o u r t r u e f r i e n d is, you m u s t act a c c o r d i n g t o t h e w i s e s a y i n g o f t h e p e o p l e : M e a s u r e s e v e n t i m e s b e f o r e y o u cut. Y o u m u s t t h i n k w h e t h e r t h e f r i e n d s h i p o f t h i s o r t h a t c o u n t r y i s i n the interest of y o u r people first of all. T h i s is h o w we A l b a n i a n s act, w e a l w a y s b e a r t h i s p r i n c i p l e i n m i n d i n selecting our friends. If l i n k i n g w i t h a certain country i s i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e people, t h e n y o u s h o u l d agree t o b e c o m e f r i e n d s , i f i t i s t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f t h e people, t h e n y o u m u s t n o t e s t a b l i s h f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h i s o r that c o u n t r y . S o m e o n e m a y s a y t h a t w e a r e s m a l l a n d need friends, therefore bow in allegiance and join up with h i m . N o , w e c a n n e v e r agree t o s u c h a f r i e n d s h i p o f subjection. Regardless of the fact that we are s m a l l we n e v e r b o w i n a l l e g i a n c e . T h i s i s v a l i d b o t h f o r t h e big peoples a n d f o r t h e s m a l l . T h e o n l y t r u e f r i e n d s are those w h o s u p p o r t y o u , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n y o u a r e h a r d p r e s s e d , w h e n y o u a r e i n t r o u b l e . O u r p e o p l e h a v e a wise s a y i n g : Y o u k n o w y o u r g o o d f r i e n d s i n d i f f i c u l t days. Therefore, it is v e r y important for every people to know their friends. G e n e r a l l y speaking, a l l the peoples are y o u r friends, w h i l e t h e c l i q u e s r u l i n g i n d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s a n d those w h o come i n t o t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f states are not a n d cannot all be your friends. The American, British, French a n d o t h e r i m p e r i a l i s t s c a n n o t b e y o u r f r i e n d s . B u t besides these, n o w a n o t h e r n e w i m p e r i a l i s m , S o v i e t i m p e r i a l i s m , has e m e r g e d . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t c h i e f s w h o pose a s M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , i n f a c t , a r e t r a i t o r s t o this
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ideology, t h e o n l y a i m s o f w h i c h a r e t h e f r e e d o m , p r o sperity a n d h a p p i n e s s o f t h e p e o p l e . T h e r e f o r e , t h e y a r e traitors t o t h e S o v i e t peoples a n d , a t t h e s a m e t i m e , t r a i tors t o y o u r people, t o o u r people, t o t h e A r a b peoples, etc. In the A r a b countries there are persons who, t h i n k ing t h a t t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e h e l p i n g t h e m , c a l l them f r i e n d s . B u t w e s a y b l u n t l y t h a t t h e y a r e g r a v e l y mistaken. W h a t e v e r t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s m a y p r o v i d e is temporary a n d intended to deceive y o u a n d to create the i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e y a l l e g e d l y d e f e n d t h e p e o p l e s a n d their l i b e r a t i o n w a r s , w h i l e o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e y t a k e measures t o e n s u r e t h a t t h i s s o - c a l l e d a i d does n o t g o in favour of the Arabs, for example, but for their o w n gain. It is a m i s t a k e to r e l y on t h e f r i e n d s h i p of S o v i e t social-imperialism for the t e m p o r a r y so-called a i d w h i c h they p r o v i d e w i t h u l t e r i o r m o t i v e s . N o o n e s h o u l d b e d e ceived b y t h e a i d p r o m i s e d b y t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e r e fore, a n y o n e w h o i s c o n c e r n e d a b o u t a n d f i g h t i n g f o r the i n t e r e s t o f h i s o w n p e o p l e , m u s t n o t b u i l d his h o p e s on their aid. T h e y m i g h t give someone weapons, but the q u e s t i o n m u s t b e a s k e d : W h y d o t h e y g i v e t h e m ? A s far a s w e k n o w , u p t i l l n o w t h e y h a v e n o t s u p p l i e d y o u Palestinians w i t h w e a p o n s , p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e y o u a r e d e termined i n t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e e n e m i e s o f y o u r people, a n d w e t h i n k t h a t s o l o n g a s y o u c o n t i n u e t o struggle f o r t h e c o m p l e t e l i b e r a t i o n o f y o u r H o m e l a n d they w i l l n e v e r s u p p l y y o u w i t h w e a p o n s . It m a y be said that the Soviet revisionists have given Vietnam some weapons. In the first place, it m u s t be borne i n m i n d t h a t t h e s e a r e a f e w o l d w e a p o n s t h a t they d o n o t n e e d . A p a r t f r o m t h i s , t h e y a r e o b l i g e d t o do so, because a d i f f e r e n t s i t u a t i o n e x i s t s t h e r e f o r t h e m : their s t a n d t o w a r d s t h e w a r i n V i e t n a m i s a l i f e - a n d death issue f o r t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e i r a u t h o r i t y i s g r e a t l y d e p e n d e n t o n w h a t h a p p e n s there, b e c a u s e i n
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o r d e r t o d e c e i v e o t h e r s , t h e y h a v e p o s e d a n d s t i l l pose as defenders of the D e m o c r a t i c Republic of V i e t n a m . H o w e v e r , t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t c h i e f s a r e n o t fools, therefore, w i t h their hypocritical stand t o w a r d s V i e t n a m , their a i m , on the one hand, is to protect their o w n interests there and, on the other band, to avoid discrediti n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e eyes o f t h e S o v i e t p e o p l e s a n d the peoples in the w h o l e w o r l d a n d to restrain the s t r u g g l e o f t h e V i e t n a m e s e people, a t h i n g w h i c h i s g r e a t l y i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e A m e r i c a n aggressors. The Soviet revisionists have also supplied some w e a p o n s t o E g y p t , b u t these t h e y a d m i n i s t e r t h e m s e l v e s , they have them in their o w n hands, thus nothing can be done w i t h t h e m a g a i n s t t h e I s r a e l i o c c u p i e r s . T h e a i m o f the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o pose a s f r i e n d s o f t h e A r a b s , i s t o get c o n t r o l o f t h e p o r t s o f the A r a b states i n o r d e r t o ensure through t h e m freedom of m o v e m e n t in the M e d i t e r r a n e a n S e a . I n o u r c o u n t r y , too, t h e i r o b j e c t i v e w a s t o get c o n t r o l o f t h e p o r t o f V l o r a , a n d p r e c i s e l y t h e r e they clung to us like burs, but we encircled all their submarines w i t h guns, u n t i l , in the end, they were o b l i g e d to w i t h d r a w . We m u s t be realistic, in the M i d d l e East, w h e r e t h e y h a v e got a f o o t h o l d a n d are s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e i r p o s i t i o n s , the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s n o w w a n t peace a n d quiet to a v o i d trouble for themselves a n d not because t h e y a r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t g e n u i n e p e a c e f o r t h e peoples o f t h a t zone. T h e emergence of the Soviet revisionists' fleet in the M e d i t e r r a n e a n w i l l create m a n y difficulties. N o w t h e y w i l l t r y t o b u i l d n a v a l a n d a i r bases s o t h a t t h e y can c o n c e n t r a t e t h e i r fleet in t h i s zone. It is c l e a r to us t h a t the Soviet revisionists have their fleet in the M e d i t e r r a n e a n B a s i n n o t t o d e f e n d t h e peoples, b u t f o r t h e i r o w n i m p e r i a l i s t a i m s . W e A l b a n i a n s a r e c o n v i n c e d o f this from our o w n experience. T h i n k i n g that we were small
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a n d t h e y w o u l d c r u s h us, t h e y t r i e d t o s t a b u s i n the back, b u t t h e y d i d n o t a t t a i n t h e i r o b j e c t i v e because w e a i m e d t h e r i f l e a t t h e m , a n d t h e y a r e a f r a i d o f this. T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s c a l l u s s e c t a r i a n because we always tell the truth and do not tag along in their w a k e . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o pose a s c o m m u n i s t s b u t a r e not c o m m u n i s t s , d o n o t h a v e g o o d i n t e n t i o n s t o w a r d s u s A l b a n i a n s . I t does n o t w o r r y u s w h a t n a m e s e n e m i e s c a l l us. A l l r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , e v e n t h o s e w h o a r e n o t M a r x i s t s , u n d e r s t a n d our correct p r i n c i p l e d stands a n d the t r u t h a b o u t us, t h e r e f o r e , t h e y h o n o u r u s w h i l e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s d e r i d e us. T h i s i s a n h o n o u r t o us. W h e n the e n e m y does n o t p r a i s e y o u , t h i s m e a n s y o u a r e o n the right r o a d . T h e Soviets are v e r y much a f r a i d of the P a l e s t i n i a n s , too, b e c a u s e t h e y a r e d e t e r m i n e d f i g h t e r s , and t h e r e f o r e , w h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g y o u r u s u a l m o d e s t y , y o u must put y o u r trust in t h e strength of y o u r people, in the s t r e n g t h o f t h e r i f l e a n d the people's resistance. Y o u must n e v e r s u r r e n d e r y o u r r i f l e s a n d , d e s p i t e a l l t h e difficulties w h i c h m a y be created for you, must never become d i s c o u r a g e d . Perhaps we are mistaken, but we believe that d i f f i culties w i l l b e c r e a t e d f o r y o u , b o t h b y y o u r o p e n e n e m ies a n d y o u r f a l s e f r i e n d s . T h e P a l e s t i n i a n refugees have been dispersed over the territories of f r a t e r n a l A r a b c o u n t r i e s a n d are still l i v i n g as refugees w i t h o u t a homeland. F r o m w h a t I have read, the uncle of K i n g H u s s e i n w a s r e a d y t o w i p e y o u out i n J o r d a n , i f y o u had not t a k e n u p a r m s . Y o u s a i d stop, also, t o K a r a m e ( 2 ) o f L e b a n o n a n d h i s associates, w h o a r e m a i n t a i n e d b y the b a n k s o f A m e r i c a n a n d B r i t i s h i m p e r i a l i s m . A l l these enemies o f y o u r people a n d o f the A r a b peoples i n g e n eral are r e a d y t o r i s e against y o u a n d c r u s h y o u , t h e r e _____________________________ 2 Former prime minister of L e b a n o n .
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fore, as I said, y o u m u s t never surrender y o u r weapons, because t h e y h a v e s a v e d y o u a n d t h e y a r e t h e o n l y m e a n s w h i c h w i l l save y o u i n t h e f u t u r e , too. We think that the Rogers Plan is the result of a great betrayal on the part of the Soviet revisionists. T h e y have reached agreement w i t h the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s t o settle t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e M i d d l e E a s t b e tween themselves, w i t h the a i m of strengthening their d o m i n a n t m i l i t a r y a n d economic positions there, a n d also of suppressing the w i l l of the A r a b revolutionaries who, w i t h o u t doubt, are the most revolutionary elements in t h a t zone, a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e e n e m i e s a r e s t r i v i n g t o s u p press a n y r e v o l u t i o n a r y c e n t r e o r e l e m e n t t h e r e . N o w the Soviet revisionists have come into the Mediterranean; they have become friends w i t h a n u m b e r of A r a b c o u n t r i e s , i n c l u d i n g L i b y a , f r o m w h i c h , i n fact, t h e y a r e t r y i n g t o seize p o r t s . W h i l e s u c h a s i t u a t i o n i n t h i s r e gion constitutes an advantage for Soviet social-imperiali s m , it is to the detriment of the A m e r i c a n a n d B r i t i s h i m p e r i a l i s t s w h o s a w c l e a r l y that, i n these c o n d i t i o n s , they could not come out w i t h a p l a n for the subjugat i o n o f the M i d d l e E a s t w i t h o u t r e a c h i n g a n a g r e e m e n t w i t h the Soviet revisionists, and in order to achieve t h i s a i m , t h e y w e r e o b l i g e d t o m a k e concessions t o those w h o posed a s M a r x i s t s . T h e s e concessions are m a d e b y the Western imperialists in favour of the Soviet Union, because i t i s n o l o n g e r a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o u n t r y . T h i s m e a n s that, i n fact, t h e n e w r u l e r s o f t h e K r e m l i n d o not w a n t t h e g e n u i n e f r e e d o m o f t h e E g y p t i a n p e o p l e o r t h e J o r d a n i a n o r P a l e s t i n i a n peoples, a l t h o u g h t h r o u g h t h e i r p r o p a g a n d a t h e y s p r e a d lies a l l e g i n g t h a t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n is still a communist country a n d a c h a m p i o n of t h e f r e e d o m o f t h e peoples. T h e Rogers P l a n is to the detriment of the A r a b peoples a n d especially the P a l e s t i n i a n people. It is in
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favour of A m e r i c a n and Soviet imperialism and, in particular, i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f I s r a e l i Z i o n i s m . W i t h o u t d o u b t , e f f o r t s w i l l b e m a d e b y t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e A r a b peoples to achieve this compromise, but the Rogers P l a n is b o u n d t o r u n i n t o m a n y obstacles a n d d i f f i c u l t i e s t h e b i g gest o f w h i c h w i l l b e the f i g h t o f the P a l e s t i n i a n s , y o u r f i g h t , w h i c h has b e e n o f a p p r e c i a b l e h e l p t o t h e A r a b peoples a n d has g i v e n t h e i r r e p u t a t i o n a g r e a t boost. W e w e r e v e r y pleased w i t h t h e s t a n d o f B o u m e d i e n n e against t h e R o g e r s P l a n , w h e n h e d e c l a r e d p u b l i c l y that A l g e r i a w a s f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f a l l t h e A r a b t e r r i t o r y o c c u p i e d b y t h e Israelis a n d i n f a v o u r o f t h e Palestinian people's war. This is a correct stand. We were pleased w i t h the stand o f S y r i a a n d Iraq, too. W e also l i s t e n e d a t t e n t i v e l y t o M r . N a s s e r ' s speech, b u t w h e n h e spoke about restoring the Palestinians' rights he gave us the impression that he was not so categorical in what he said. Perhaps w e d i d not understand h i m w e l l , but w e t h i n k t h e r e are r i g h t s a n d r i g h t s , t h e r e f o r e , e v e r y t h i n g has t o b e d e f i n e d c l e a r l y a n d w i t h o u t e q u i v o c a t i o n , a n d i t must be clearly understandable to all w h a t rights, c o n cretely, m u s t be restored to the Palestinians. W e A l b a n i a n s h a v e o u r bitter experience i n this direction. T h e r e a r e m a n y s i m i l a r events i n the h i s t o r y o f our people. T h e A l b a n i a n people w e r e among the first f i g h t e r s t o resist t h e T u r k i s h E m p i r e . I n t h e B a l k a n W a r t h e y assisted t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g peoples, t h e G r e e k s a n d t h e S e r b s , a g a i n s t t h e O t t o m a n T u r k s , b u t w h e n the time came for A l b a n i a to be liberated f r o m bondage to the s i c k m a n o f t h e B o s p h o r u s , ( 3 ) a l l t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g states, s u p p o r t e d b y the g r e a t p o w e r s o f t h a t t i m e , B r i t a i n , G e r m a n y , F r a n c e , R u s s i a , etc., f e l l o n o u r c o u n t r y
________________________________ 3 Reference here is to the Ottoman E m p i r e w h i c h by the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century was on its decline.
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t o p a r t i t i o n it. A t t h e A m b a s s a d o r s ' C o n f e r e n c e h e l d i n L o n d o n i n 1913, w h e n t h e b o r d e r s o f A l b a n i a w e r e l a i d d o w n , the S e r b s s e i z e d f r o m u s K o s o v a , a b i g a n d v e r y fertile piece of our t e r r i t o r y , w h i c h they s t i l l have u n d e r their d o m i n a t i o n to this day. M o n t e n e g r o also seized a part of o u r territory, a n d so d i d others. The appetite of Prince Nicholas of Montenegro was whetted. The A l b a n i a n territories w h i c h h e seized w i t h t h e a i d o f the imperialists d i d not satisfy h i m , so w i t h the a i d of the C z a r of Russia he t r i e d to take S h k o d r a and the surrounding districts. B u t o u r grandfathers took up t h e i r r i f l e s , f o u g h t w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d s a v e d t h i s piece o f t h e H o m e l a n d . In connection w i t h this event, one of the d i p l o m a t s o f t h a t t i m e s a i d t h a t t h e C z a r o f R u s s i a w a n t e d t o set fire to Europe to cook the omelette for P r i n c e Nicholas. We think that w h a t occurred once upon a time w i t h A l b a n i a is l i k e l y to occur w i t h Palestine, too, w h e n it comes t o i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e R o g e r s P l a n . W h e n t h e present foreign minister of the K r e m l i n , G r o m y k o , posing a s t h e c h a m p i o n o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people, l i k e S a z o n o v ( 4 ) i n t h e past, begs t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s f o r 5 k i l o m e t r e s h e r e a n d 7 kilometres t h e r e for the Palestinians, Rogers w i l l repeat t h a t R u s s i a ' s G r o m y k o w a n t s t o set f i r e t o t h e w o r l d t o c o o k t h e o m e l e t t e f o r H u s s e i n o r s o m e o n e else. W i t h this I w a n t to say that the Rogers P l a n for the so-called peaceful settlement of the M i d d l e East question must be combated tooth and n a i l , because it is to the d e t r i m e n t a n d against the interests of the A r a b peoples a n d o f the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e i n p a r t i c u l a r . We love the small, long-suffering and v a l i a n t P a l e s t i n i a n people, because they are o u r brothers a n d we are c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e i r cause i s j u s t a n d w i l l t r i u m p h . A l t h o u g h w e , too, a r e a s m a l l people, w e s h a l l r a i s e o u r
___________________________________ 4 F o r m e r foreign minister of Russia, one of the authors of the partitioning of A l b a n i a in 1913.
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v o i c e l o u d l y i n d e f e n c e o f t h e cause o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people a n d a g a i n s t t h e R o g e r s P l a n , w h i c h i s v e r y d a n g e r o u s a n d i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f n o one b u t t h e t w o b i g imperialist powers. In our o p i n i o n , the decisive thing for the f u t u r e freedom of y o u r people is that you continue your just road a n d s t r u g g l e . T h e r e f o r e , s t r e n g t h e n y o u r u n i t y a s m u c h a s y o u c a n , because, i n o r d e r t o d e c e i v e y o u a n d t o h i n d e r y o u o n y o u r course, t h e r e w i l l b e n o l a c k o f all sorts o f a r r o w s , i n c l u d i n g a l l e g e d l y t h e o r e t i c a l ones of every k i n d directed at you, especially by the Soviet revisionists w h o , w h i l e s w e a r i n g black a n d blue that they are f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e peoples, a r e L e n i n i s t s , etc., w i l l t r y t o p e r s u a d e y o u t o d o a s t h e y say, i n t h e f i r s t phase t o i n d u c e y o u t o stop t h e w a r , t o s i g n t h e a g r e e ment w i t h the enemies, l e a v i n g y o u w i t h t h e hope that they w i l l e x a m i n e the question of the P a l e s t i n i a n people in the future. B u t their first phase w i l l have the aim of consolidating the positions of t h e state of Israel, w h i c h w i l l m a k e y o u r position m u c h worse later. We tell y o u openly that we w o u l d consider the signi n g of s u c h a c o m p r o m i s e , as the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s aim to achieve, v e r y regrettable, because it w o u l d m a k e the s o l u t i o n o f y o u r g r e a t q u e s t i o n m o r e d i f f i c u l t . I t e n visages t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e state o f I s r a e l f o r w h i c h the c l i q u e s o f B e n G u r i o n , G o l d a M e i r , t h e p i r a t e M o s h e D a y a n , a n d others h a v e b e e n f i g h t i n g t h e A r a b peoples since 1948 a n d e v e n e a r l i e r . N o w e f f o r t s a r e b e i n g m a d e to have this question signed and legalized through the U N O . T h e A m e r i c a n and Soviet imperialists are pledged to this a n d are m a k i n g efforts to achieve it, w h i l e the Palestinian people a r e still l i v i n g in tents and receiving f r o m t h e U N O a h a n d o u t o f 500 g r a m s o f sugar a n d 300 grams o f o i l a m o n t h , one b l a n k e t e v e r y t h r e e y e a r s a n d m u s t l i v e u n d e r t h e care o f o n e d o c t o r f o r e v e r y t e n
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t h o u s a n d persons, etc. T h e P a l e s t i n i a n s w h o s h o w t h e m selves r e a d y t o b e c o m e s u p p o r t e r s o f t h i s c o m p r o m i s e , w h o m a k e some speech against the interests of their o w n p e o p l e , w i l l b e s e n t f o r a h o l i d a y t o t h e U n i t e d States of America, and might be even given a beautiful villa in L e b a n o n or another country, as a r e w a r d . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , also, w i l l e u l o g i z e a n y b o d y w h o s u p p o r t s t h e i r p o l i c y , w i l l p r a i s e h i m a s a good, intelligent, capable person, give h i m a v i l l a a n d a motorc a r i n M o s c o w , s e n d h i m f o r a h o l i d a y t o Y a l t a , etc. This i s w h a t they d i d w i t h L a r b i B u h a l i , w h o l i v e d far r e m o v e d f r o m the A l g e r i a n people and the struggle they w a g e d , t h e r e f o r e , the A l g e r i a n p e o p l e d i d v e r y w e l l that t h e y s h u t h i m o u t . W e , t o o , h a v e g o n e t h r o u g h these phases w i t h the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists, but w e put t h e m i n t h e i r place, t h e r e f o r e , t h e p e o p l e s u p p o r t e d us. I f y o u a r e n o t l i n k e d w i t h t h e p e o p l e a n d i f y o u base y o u r s e l v e s o n t h e e n e m i e s , it's a l l o v e r w i t h y o u , y o u a r e f i n i s h e d . T h o s e w h o h i d e t h e m s e l v e s f r o m t h e people c a n n o t b e c o m m u n i s t s . W h e n t h e s i t u a t i o n d e m a n d s it, t h e r e are m o m e n t s w h e n t h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t r e m a i n i n h i d i n g , b u t w h e n t h e s i t u a t i o n changes, t h i s c l a n d e s t i n i t y comes t o a n e n d . I n a n y case a n d w h a t e v e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s of the struggle, the communists must a l w a y s be l i n k e d and m a r c h w i t h the people. We are confident that things w i l l not go smoothly in t h e M i d d l e East, e i t h e r f o r t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s o r f o r t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , f i r s t o f a l l because y o u P a l e stinians, as courageous, r e s o l u t e a n d i n t e l l i g e n t people, w i l l not tolerate l i v i n g for ever w i t h y o u r belongings on y o u r backs. U n d o u b t e d l y y o u w i l l encounter difficulties i n y o u r s t r u g g l e , because K i n g H u s s e i n , l i k e h i s u n c l e w i t h his B r i t i s h adviser Lawrence, w i l l continue t o hatch up intrigues on the u r g i n g of the imperialists a n d r e v i sionists. N e v e r t h e l e s s , y o u r c a u s e w i l l t r i u m p h , n o one
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can c r u s h t h e w i l l o f y o u r p e o p l e w h o a r e f i g h t i n g . W e j u d g e y o u f r o m t h e stands y o u m a i n t a i n a n d the a c t i v i t y y o u c a r r y out. T h e a c t i v i t y o f y o u r l e a d e r s h i p , f o l l o w i n g the b l o w H u s s e i n a n d his clique w a n t e d to s t r i k e y o u , seems t o u s c o r r e c t . W e h a v e h e a r d t h a t H u s sein w a s s u r r o u n d e d b y t h e Al-Fatah troops, b u t t h i s organization adopted a cautious stand w i t h w h i c h it calmed the situation a n d demanded that Hussein remove his p r i m e m i n i s t e r a n d c o m m a n d e r - i n - c h i e f . T h i s w a s one o f the f i r s t tests, d u r i n g w h i c h w e t h i n k t h a t A l Fatah judged things correctly, otherwise the situation might have become worse. B u t even if the situation h a d become w o r s e w e b e l i e v e t h a t y o u w o u l d h a v e k n o w n h o w t o act. A n d i f m o r e f a v o u r a b l e c i r c u m s t a n c e s h a d been c r e a t e d a n d e v e r y t h i n g s e e m e d t o h a v e b e e n a c h i e ved, y o u P a l e s t i n i a n f i g h t e r s w o u l d n o t h a v e r e l a x e d but, on the contrary, w o u l d h a v e kept y o u r vigilance constantly a t the n e c e s s a r y l e v e l . N o s i t u a t i o n w o u l d h a v e f o u n d the P a l e s t i n i a n f e d a y e e n , w h o h a v e a l w a y s k e p t t h e r i f l e i n h a n d , u n p r e p a r e d . I n these c o n d i t i o n s , n e i t h e r I s r a e l , the S o v i e t s , n o r a n y o n e else, w o u l d b e a b l e t o h a r m y o u , W i t h their resolute struggle the fedayeen of A l - F a t a h w i l l not go on m u c h longer c a r r y i n g the blankets of the U N O , but, i n u n i t y w i t h t h e a r m y a n d t h e p e o p l e o f Jordan, w i l l raise high the banner of the A r a b peoples' liberation struggle, w i l l t r i u m p h o v e r the imperialists and Israel a n d , t h r o u g h t h e i r s t r u g g l e , w i l l c e r t a i n l y succeed in liberating their Homeland, a real Homeland, in which they c a n l i v e , a n d t h e n y o u r m a n y f r i e n d s t h r o u g h o u t the w o r l d w i l l h a i l y o u r v i c t o r y . We are sure that y o u f o l l o w events vigilantly, therefore w e c o n s i d e r i t u n n e c e s s a r y a n d d o n o t a l l o w o u r s e l ves t o t r y t o t e a c h y o u lessons t o s h o w y o u h o w t h e people's f r e e d o m i s w o n . W e w a n t t o t e l l y o u o n l y t h a t when we were in conditions similar to yours today, we
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b o r e i n m i n d t h a t one m u s t n o t r e t r e a t o v e r m a t t e r s o f p r i n c i p l e w h i c h h a v e b e e n w e l l t h o u g h t out, b u t m u s t act c o u r a g e o u s l y t o a p p l y t h e m i n p r a c t i c e . W e h a v e n e v e r b e e n a f r a i d o f t h e t h r e a t s w h i c h the e n e m i e s h a v e m a d e a n d a r e s t i l l m a k i n g a g a i n s t us. S i n c e they secured their freedom, the A l b a n i a n people have fought w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n for decades on end a n d that is w h y they have emerged stronger f r o m every battle and have made the borders of their H o m e l a n d inviolable. W i t h o u t this d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e p e o p l e w e w o u l d h a v e b e e n o v e r t h r o w n b y t h e e n e m i e s . T o d a y , too, w e a r e ready, as always, to withstand whatever k i n d of w a r t h a t m i g h t b e u n d e r t a k e n against u s b y t h e e n e m y , whether by the social-imperialist Soviet U n i o n , revisionist Yugoslavia, monarcho-fascist Greece, f a s c i s t I t a l y , the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , o r a l l o f t h e m together. I n d e e d , w e h a v e b e e n i n s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e m a l l , t h i s has t e m p e r e d us, m a d e u s s t r o n g e r , m a d e u s i m p r e g n a b l e , o t h e r w i s e w e w o u l d h a v e b e e n g o b b l e d u p l o n g ago. T h e enemy is perfidious. He m i g h t attack A l b a n i a , but y o u can b e sure, c o m r a d e s a n d b r o t h e r s , t h a t h e w o n ' t c o m e o u t of it without being badly mauled by our country. He m i g h t attack some easier place w h e n he is convinced that the object of his attack is r e a d y to hoist the w h i t e f l a g , t h a t is, t o s u b m i t . B u t t h e e n e m y i s a f r a i d t o d o a n y t h i n g a g a i n s t us, because h e i s w e l l a w a r e t h a t i t w i l l n o t b e easy t o c o m e o u t a l i v e f r o m t h e a d v e n t u r e w h i c h he might undertake. T h e enemies are p u r s u i n g s i m i l a r tactics a n d aims w i t h y o u , too, b u t i t i s d i f f i c u l t f o r t h e m t o a c h i e v e their aims, because they have to r e c k o n w i t h the u n i t y o f the f r a t e r n a l A r a b peoples, w h i c h constitutes a v e r y i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r . M a n y c h i e f s o f t h e A r a b c o u n t r i e s need t o k e e p t h i s i n m i n d . L i k e i t o r not, w h e n t h e masses o f the r a n k - a n d - f i l e A r a b s see t h a t t h e i r P a l e s t i n i a n b r o t h -
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ers a r e b e i n g k i l l e d , t h e y w i l l n o t r e m a i n i n d i f f e r e n t , but w i l l c o m e t o y o u r a i d . I n t h i s case t h e y w i l l a s k the question: W h y are our Palestinian brothers being killed, f i g h t i n g t h e Israelis, t h e S o v i e t s o r t h e A m e r i c a n s ? A n d undoubtedly they w i l l a r r i v e at the correct conclusion that t h e f o r e i g n e n e m i e s h a v e r o b b e d t h e m o f t h e i r H o m e land, t h e i r f r e e d o m , t h e i r p r o d u c t s a n d a l l t h e i r o t h e r w e a l t h , a r e i n s u l t i n g t h e m , v i o l a t i n g t h e i r r i g h t s , etc., etc. Then A r a b o p i n i o n w i l l c e r t a i n l y b u i l d u p p o w e r f u l l y and s a y : W h a t a r e w e d o i n g ? W h y d o n ' t w e a l l r i s e i n struggle a g a i n s t t h e c o m m o n e n e m y ? A m i l l i o n o r s o A l banians i n Y u g o s l a v i a s u f f e r s i m i l a r t r e a t m e n t , a l t h o u g h they a r e o n t h e i r o w n l a n d . W h e t h e r T i t o l i k e s i t o r not, the A l b a n i a n s w h o l i v e i n t h e i r f r e e H o m e l a n d cannot fail to t h i n k about their brothers in K o s o v a , M o n t e n e g r o and M a c e d o n i a , w h o m t h e i n j u s t i c e o f t h e p a s t has l e f t outside t h e A l b a n i a n s t a t e b o r d e r s , c a n n o t f a i l t o r a i s e their v o i c e i n s u p p o r t o f t h e e f f o r t s w h i c h t h e A l b a n i a n s in Yugoslavia m a k e to retain the p u r i t y of their A l b a n i a n language, t o h a v e a n o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f A l b a n ians i n t h e o r g a n s o f p o w e r a n d n o t S e r b s a n d others, t o put a n e n d t o t h e s a v a g e p e r s e c u t i o n b y S e r b c h a u v i n i s t s , etc., t o stop t h e e m i g r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a n s f r o m t h e i r n a tional t e r r i t o r y , a n d m a n y o t h e r p r o b l e m s o f t h i s n a t u r e . For o u r p a r t , w e h a v e n e v e r r e m a i n e d i n d i f f e r e n t t o t h e events c o n c o c t e d i n Y u g o s l a v i a t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f o u r brothers o f K o s o v a . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , w e h a v e e x p o s e d them c o n t i n u a l l y i n t h e eyes o f A l b a n i a n a n d w o r l d opinion t o t h e p o i n t t h a t , n o w , a t last, T i t o h a s b e e n obliged t o g r a n t s o m e r i g h t s t o t h e p e o p l e o f K o s o v a , who h a v e n e v e r lost t h e i r n a t i o n a l s e n t i m e n t s a n d n e v e r w i l l d o so. L e t h i m t r y t o r e f u s e t o g i v e t h e A l b a n i a n s who l i v e i n Y u g o s l a v i a t h e i r d u e r i g h t s , t h i s w i l l b e s o much t h e w o r s e f o r t h e T i t o i t e r e g i m e a n d w e , f o r o u r part, f r o m f r e e s o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a , w i l l n e v e r b e s i l e n t
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a b o u t t h i s a s l o n g a s these r i g h t s a r e d e n i e d o u r b r o t h e r s o n t h e other side o f o u r s t a t e b o r d e r . P e r h a p s I h a v e s p o k e n t o o l o n g , b u t t h i s i s because w e d o n o t o f t e n h a v e the c h a n c e t o m e e t y o u . Taking the floor, the leader of the Palestinian delegation among other things said: These things w e h e a r d f r o m y o u w e consider v e r y v a l u a b l e a n d p r o f o u n d lessons, w h i c h a r e the r e s u l t o f a great a n d l e n g t h y e x p e r i e n c e . O n t h i s occasion please a l l o w m e t o c o n v e y g r e e t i n g s on behalf of the C e n t r a l Committee of the Al-Fatah a n d A l - A s i f a m o v e m e n t of Palestine to the A l b a n i a n comrades. T h e P a l e s t i n i a n people have a l w a y s f o l l o w e d the struggle of the A l b a n i a n people u n d e r y o u r far-sighted leadership w i t h sympathy. Therefore, w e consider t h i s t a l k w i t h y o u a g r e a t s c h o o l w h i c h w i l l g r e a t l y assist our organization and leadership. During our visit to your country we have found your people to be sincere friends, w h o n u r t u r e s y m p a t h y for our people and support our struggle unreservedly. We h a v e seen i n A l b a n i a t h a t y o u r w i s e l e a d e r s h i p h a s m a d e i t possible f o r the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e t o u n d e r s t a n d c o r r e c t l y a n d s u p p o r t t h e s t r u g g l e w h i c h w e a r e w a g i n g . W e are convinced that y o u r support for the struggle of t h e P a l e stinian people is great and w h e n we r e t u r n h o m e we shall make k n o w n to our comrades everything that we h a v e seen a n d l e a r n e d f r o m y o u , a l t h o u g h e v e n w i t h o u t h a v i n g c o m e t o A l b a n i a , o u r c o m r a d e s w e r e a w a r e o f the l o v e w h i c h y o u r p e o p l e n u r t u r e f o r o u r people, b u t f r o m now on they w i l l regard your support as a tangible truth. W e are c o n v i n c e d t h a t y o u r s u p p o r t w i l l b e c o n t i n u o u s . F o r our part, we give y o u o u r w o r d , the w o r d of a comrade a n d a fighter, that as long as we are a l i v e we w i l l never give up the a r m e d struggle.
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rose to his feet, embraced the leader of the delegation and shook hands warmly with the other Palestinian friends present.
You are absolutely right, continued Comrade Enver Hoxha, t h i s is t h e o n l y r o a d to peoples' l i b e r a t i o n , comrades and brothers, especially for the heroic and f r a t e r n a l P a l e s t i n i a n people. W e are c o n f i d e n t t h a t y o u r people w i l l l i b e r a t e t h e m s e l v e s . T h e r e f o r e , i n the n a m e o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e A l b a n i a n people, I a s s u r e y o u o n c e again that in A l b a n i a you have and w i l l have an u n w a v e r i n g l o y a l a l l y a n d f r i e n d i n both good a n d difficult days. W e s h a l l a l w a y s assist t h e f r a t e r n a l P a l e s t i n i a n p e o ple w h o l e - h e a r t e d l y . Y o u are r i g h t w h e n y o u s a y t h a t t h e struggle y o u r p e o p l e a r e w a g i n g i s d i f f i c u l t , b u t t h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t h a t t h e l i n e o f y o u r s t r u g g l e i s correct, that i t i s b a s e d o n t h e a s p i r a t i o n s o f y o u r p e o p l e f o r t h e liberation of t h e i r H o m e l a n d , a n d therefore it w i l l cert a i n l y b e c r o w n e d w i t h success. T h e s t r u g g l e y o u are w a g i n g i s a r e v o l u t i o n a r y one a n d w e b e l i e v e t h a t t h r o u g h this s t r u g g l e y o u a r e l a y i n g t h e s o l i d f o u n d a t i o n s f o r the t r i u m p h a n d f u t u r e o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e . L i k e y o u , f o l l o w i n g i n the footsteps o f y o u r g r a n d parents a n d p a r e n t s i n t h e i r w a r s t o a c h i e v e t h e p e r m a n ent l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n people, w e , too, w a g e d a w a r w h i c h was the continuation of the struggle of the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e t h r o u g h t h e c e n t u r i e s , o f t h e i r ceaseless uprisings, o f t h e e f f o r t s o f A l b a n i a n p a t r i o t s a n d p r o gressive i n d i v i d u a l s w h o w e r e n o t c o m m u n i s t s , b u t w h o loved t h e i r people whole-heartedly, a n d therefore, w e r e linked closely w i t h t h e m and n u r t u r e d a p r o f o u n d hatred for t h e o c c u p i e r . T h e past g e n e r a t i o n s l e f t u s a l l t h e i r great f i g h t i n g e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e g l o r i o u s t r a d i t i o n s o f their s t r i v i n g s a s a h e r i t a g e , s o t h a t w e w o u l d c a r r y o n the f i g h t u n t i l v i c t o r y . N o w o u r t a s k i s t o c o n s o l i d a t e t h e victories achieved, because the dangers have not d i s a p -
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p e a r e d f o r us, either, a n d r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e f a c t t h a t w e h a v e w o n o u r f r e e d o m , t h e d a n g e r s are s t i l l great. Through its struggle A l b a n i a , w h e r e the people are in p o w e r , has n o w w o n great respect i n t h e w o r l d , w h e r e a s i n the past i t w a s t o t a l l y i g n o r e d . N e v e r t h e l e s s , i t i s s t i l l threatened by the imperialists, the Soviet social-imperialists a n d t h e i r m i n i o n s . H o w e v e r , w e n e v e r f o r g e t t h a t w e are n o t i s o l a t e d , therefore, we closely l i n k the struggle a n d victories of o u r p e o p l e w i t h t h e s t r u g g l e a n d e f f o r t s o f a l l the o t h e r f r a t e r n a l peoples w h o a r e f i g h t i n g f o r t h e s a m e o b j e c tives, a m o n g w h o m a r e t h e V i e t n a m e s e p e o p l e , t h e A f r i c a n peoples, t h e A r a b p e o p l e s a n d e s p e c i a l l y the P a l e s t i n i a n people. W e are f u l l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e f i n a l v i c t o r y w i l l b e a c h i e v e d , b u t w e also k n o w t h a t w h i l e we are fighting, along w i t h victories, there w i l l also be t e m p o r a r y defeats, w h i c h c a n n o t g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s yield. The exploiters still ruling in the w o r l d , wherever t h e y are, a r e n o t h i n g b u t a f e w c l i q u e s w h i c h w i l l b e b u r i e d by the peoples' l i b e r a t i o n wars. We consider every struggle, w h i c h has a s its a i m t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f a n y p e o ple, t o b e o u r s t r u g g l e a n d , l i k e w i s e , w e c o n s i d e r e a c h o f t h e i r v i c t o r i e s a n d defeats t o b e ours. W h e n w e see that t h e A r a b peoples are f i g h t i n g , h e r e i n A l b a n i a w e f e e l ourselves s t r o n g . L i k e w i s e , w h e n t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , o r o t h e r e n e m i e s , t r y t o q u e l l the s t r u g g l e o f t h e A r a b peoples, w e f e e l t h a t t h e d a n g e r t o A l b a n i a i s i n c r e a s e d , too. T h e r e f o r e , t h e d u t y o f g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s i s t o o p e n t h e eyes o f t h e masses i n E u r o p e a n d e v e r y w h e r e else, so t h a t t h e y n e v e r f a l l asleep, i n t o the b e g u i l i n g l e t h a r g y of false peace, false coexistence a n d false d i s a r m a m e n t c o n c o c t e d b y t h e t w o g r e a t p o w ers i n o r d e r t o q u e l l t h e p e o p l e s ' r e v o l u t i o n s a n d n a t i o n a l liberation w a r s w h i c h are a serious threat to them, and
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that i s w h y t h e y m a k e e v e r y e f f o r t t o e x t i n g u i s h t h e m . T h e allies of n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n w a r s a n d the m a i n supporters of revolutions a n d national liberation wars are the s o c i a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . F o r a l l t h e r e a sons I s t a t e d a b o v e , s o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a , to t h e e x t e n t of its p o s s i b i l i t i e s , b a s i n g itself u n w a v e r i n g l y o n M a r x i s m Leninism, is w i t h a l l the genuine revolutionaries and the peoples w h o a r e f i g h t i n g i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m . M i s u s i n g the name of L e n i n , the revisionists have done g r e a t d a m a g e t o t h e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s w i t h their a n t i - L e n i n i s t theories. T h e y are c a r r y i n g out their u n d e r m i n i n g w o r k t h r o u g h parties called c o m m u n ist w h i c h h a v e d e g e n e r a t e d i n t o p a r t i e s b e t r a y i n g the cause of t h e p e o p l e s . T h e r e is a p a r t y c a l l e d c o m m u n i s t in J o r d a n . I say this, because we k n o w the J o r d a n i a n communists t h o r o u g h l y and the secretary of that party, Massar, w h o goes b a c k a n d f o r t h t o M o s c o w a l l t h e t i m e . I n 1960, w h e n N i k i t a K h r u s h c h e v b e g a n h i s a t t a c k o n us, because w e p o i n t e d o u t a l l t h e t h i n g s h e h a d d o n e a g a i n s t A l b a n i a and the peoples' national l i b e r a t i o n wars, Massar abused us. G i v e t h e P a l e s t i n i a n c o m r a d e s t h e speech delivered by the delegation of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of Albania at the M e e t i n g of 81 Communist and Workers' P a r t i e s i n M o s c o w i n 1960 i f t h e y w a n t it. ( 5 ) I t h i n k t h a t this c o m m u n i s t i s u r g e d b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s t o sabotage y o u r p e o p l e ' s s t r u g g l e . T o t h i s e n d , i n o r d e r t o fight y o u i n e v e r y w a y , h e r e c e i v e s n o t o n l y m o n e y , b u t also w e a p o n s f r o m y o u r e n e m i e s . T h e c h i e f o f t h e J o r danian c o m m u n i s t s i s e v e n r e a d y t o assist K i n g H u s s e i n against y o u . A p a r t f r o m this, w h e n h e sees t h a t y o u a r e resisting, w i t h t h e e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f t h e Soviets, h e w i l l even t r y t o create F e d a y e e n g r o u p s w h i c h , f o r p u r p o s e s of deception, w i l l spread propaganda that they are alle_____________________________ 5 Comrade E n v e r H o x h a speaks to the functionaries of t h e Foreign M i n i s t r y w h o w e r e present at this meeting.
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gedly fighting for the liberation of Palestine, but w h i c h i n reality w i l l t r y t o u n d e r m i n e y o u r struggle. THE PALESTINIAN COMRADE: We k n o w t h a t he has received weapons f r o m B u l g a r i a and the Soviet U n i o n . H e o p e n l y defends t h e m o n a r c h i c s y s t e m r u l i n g i n J o r d a n and the decisions of his p a r t y are to the l i k i n g of the existing regime there. M a s s a r has created an organizat i o n w i t h the n a m e P a r t i s a n a n d f i g h t s a g a i n s t a l l o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n s o n a c c o u n t o f the peace p l a n concocted b y t h e enemies.
COMRADE ENVER HOXHA: Y o u see how they operate? U n d e r t h e c a l l o f L e n i n , l e t u s f i g h t together w i t h the H u s s e i n s . O u r P a r t y teaches t h a t w e m u s t a l ways be severe w i t h the enemies, but just a n d sincere w i t h our friends.
. . . C o m r a d e s and brothers, as y o u yourselves have said, t h i s i s t h e f i r s t c o n t a c t b e t w e e n us. I n t h e f u t u r e w e s h a l l h a v e o t h e r , m o r e f r e q u e n t contacts. A t p r e s e n t the situation is difficult for you, but the time w i l l come w h e n a better situation w i l l be created for Palestine. I stress o n c e a g a i n , d e a r f r i e n d s , t h a t A l b a n i a , w i t h w h a t s m a l l p o s s i b i l i t i e s i t has. w i l l s p a r e n o t h i n g t o s u p port the struggle of the f r a t e r n a l P a l e s t i n i a n people. O n b e h a l f o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people, I w i s h y o u f u r t h e r successes a n d t h a t y o u c a r r y t h e c o u r s e o f t h e s t r u g g l e y o u h a v e b e g u n t h r o u g h t o t h e e n d , because this is the o n l y w a y to salvation, the w a y to liberation. There is no other way. W h e n there are no more i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , t h e n g e n u i n e peace a n d real respect for s m a l l peoples such as y o u r s w i l l be established throughout the w o r l d . L e t u s d r i n k t h i s toast t o y o u r h e a l t h a n d t h e h e a l t h of the fraternal Palestinian people!
Against
Modem Revisionism 1968-1970
ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISIONS OF THE 6TH PLENUM OF THE CC OF THE PLA FOR THE STRUGGLE AGAINST MANIFESTATIONS OF INTELLECTUALISM AND TECHNOCRACY
From the speech delivered at the meeting of the Secretariat of the CC of the PLA
September 28, 1970
W e h a v e s p o k e n a b o u t this p r o b l e m b e f o r e a n d i n the f u t u r e , too, w e s h a l l c o n t i n u e t o s p e a k a g a i n a b o u t i t and w o r k m o r e p r o f o u n d l y in three directions: ideologically, p o l i t i c a l l y a n d organizationally. It is by no means sufficient to discuss intellectualism and technocracy o n l y from the political angle or simply to explain the danger of t h e m d u r i n g our activity to b u i l d socialism. At the same t i m e , w e s h o u l d t a k e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l m e a s u r e s t o restrain the tendencies and block the paths to the development o f i n t e l l e c t u a l i s t a n d t e c h n o c r a t i c v i e w s w h i c h m a nifest t h e m s e l v e s a m o n g o u r p e o p l e a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o d o so. N a t u r a l l y , t h i s i s n o t easy, a n d w e m u s t n o t t h i n k that t h e diseases o f i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m a n d t e c h n o c r a c y c a n be easily erased f r o m people's minds, but we have the possibilities t o a c h i e v e g r e a t e r r e s u l t s t h a n h i t h e r t o i f w e t a k e t h i s p r o b l e m s e r i o u s l y a n d l i n k people's t h i n k i n g concretely w i t h the development of production a n d the
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p e r f e c t i o n o f m a n a g e m e n t , w i t h t h e i r i n i t i a t i v e a n d the fulfilment of plans. We m a y say that through the directives, advice and continuous political and ideological w o r k of the P a r t y and t h e state, t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m a n d t e c h n o c r a c y h a s b e e n set o n a c o r r e c t course, a l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e s t i l l m a n y obstacles. T h i s i s c o n firmed by all our practice at w o r k up t i l l now, as well as by the reports of the p a r t y committees of the T i r a n a a n d K o r a districts, w h i c h have clearly p o i n t e d out both the p r o g r e s s m a d e a n d the obstacles w h i c h a r e s t i l l e n countered i n this direction, a n d i n general, f r o m w h o m they are encountered. It is not possible for us to classify w h o are free of these h a r m f u l m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a n d w h o a r e s t i l l t a i n t e d w i t h them. T h e t r u t h is that efforts are being made everywhere, but in one w a y or another and to different degrees, t h e t e n d e n c i e s t o i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m , t e c h n o c r a c y a n d b u r e a u c r a c y a r e m a n i f e s t e d , m o r e o r less, i n e v e r y o n e . H o w e v e r , i t seems t o m e , a n d t h i s i s c o n f i r m e d b y the r e p o r t s w h i c h c o m e i n a n d b y o u r e n t i r e p r a c t i c e , t h a t these s h o r t c o m i n g s a r e m o r e e v i d e n t here, a t t h e c e n t r e , esp e c i a l l y i n t h e c e n t r a l d e p a r t m e n t s , b u t less s o a m o n g t h e l e a d i n g cadres o f e n t e r p r i s e s . T h e r e f o r e , w i t h o u t r e d u c i n g our v i g i l a n c e in the slightest greater efforts to f i g h t these tendencies s h o u l d b e m a d e e v e r y w h e r e , first of all, by the w o r k i n g people of the central institutions, w h o m u s t t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d t h e d a n g e r o f these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s . H o w e v e r , t h e y m u s t not r e s t r i c t t h e m selves s i m p l y to a p o l i t i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e d a n g e r of them, because t h e struggle that must be w a g e d subseq u e n t l y i n p r a c t i c e a g a i n s t these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s assumes s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e . I t seems t o m e t h a t t h i s i s w h e r e the defect i n t h i s w o r k l i e s . A s h a s b e e n p o i n t e d o u t here, i t i s n o t t h a t o u r c o m -
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rades a n d o u r p e o p l e i n general, d o n o t w a n t t o c o m b a t these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s ( a l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e s o m e w h o d o n o t understand the danger of t h e m or certain others w h o do not w a g e t h i s s t r u g g l e b e c a u s e o f t h e i r conceit, a r r o gance, u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n o f t h e r o l e o f t h e masses a n d t h e l o w e r cadres, a n d o v e r e s t i m a t i o n o f t h e i r o w n i n t e l l e c t u a l capacities, etc.), b u t because w e use m a n y f o r m s a n d methods of management of the w o r k w h i c h are outdated and do not respond to the changing conditions and the existing revolutionary reality. A l t h o u g h m a n y comrades who hold positions of responsibility in the central departm e n t s o r those w h o h a v e l e a d i n g p o s i t i o n s a t t h e base understand the danger of intellectualism a n d technocracy i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y , s t i l l t h e y d o n o t f i g h t against them in practice, because they have fallen into a routine o f t h e w o r k o f m a n a g e m e n t a n d because t h e r e are f o r m u l a s , r u l e s , a d i s c i p l i n e o f the p l a n , f i n a n c i a l l i n k s a n d i n t e r d e p e n d e n c e , etc., etc., w h i c h , i n p r a c t i c e , h i n d e r t h e m f r o m a d v a n c i n g w i t h t h e d r i v e o f t h e masses, a n d s o u n wittingly they hinder their revolutionary drive. Herein lies a m a j o r c o n t r a d i c t i o n w h i c h w e a n d t h e w h o l e P a r t y must m a k e great efforts to resolve. N o w , y o u m i g h t say, t h e p r o b l e m s a r e c l e a r t o e v e r y one. R e g a r d l e s s of t h e e x t r a v a g a n t i d e a s , etc., etc., w h i c h m a y e x i s t i n s o m e people, i n o u r w o r k w e a l w a y s t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h e r a t i o n a l ideas o f t h e masses, t h e w o r k i n g people, t h e engineers, t h e d i r e c t o r s , t h e m i n i s t e r s , w h o n o t o n l y o p e n u p b r o a d h o r i z o n s o f w o r k b u t also a c h i e v e great t h i n g s , o v e r c o m e a n d s m a s h t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f plans, m e t h o d s , rules, c o n n e c t i o n s , dependences a n d i n terdependences, etc. T h e P a r t y , t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e state a r e v e r y p l e a s e d a b o u t a l l these e f f o r t s w h i c h a r e b e i n g made a n d say that this is the course on w h i c h we must proceed. T h a t i s w h y w e h a v e a c h i e v e d r e s u l t s o n t h e c o u r s e w e are p u r s u i n g , w h y t h e a r d e n t d e s i r e o f e v e r y -
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o n e i s t o f i g h t a n d e l i m i n a t e those n e g a t i v e p h e n o m e n a w h i c h w e m e n t i o n e d , t o o v e r c o m e t h o s e obstacles, t o start t h e w o r k a g a i n w i t h n e w m e t h o d s , t o t r y t o f i n d a more suitable method of organization in order to respond t o t h i s d r i v e a n d m a t u r i t y o f t h e masses, t o t h e i r m a n y suggestions a n d g r e a t r e a d i n e s s , a n d w e a r e p r o c e e d i n g t o d o this. N e v e r t h e l e s s , i n t h e course o f t h i s great drive, the squeal of the brakes of bureaucracy and technocracy still can be heard. T h e bureaucrat understands the discipline of the plan, w h i c h is a t h i n g of great i m p o r t a n c e , as s o m e t h i n g v e r y r i g i d , i n d e e d e x c e p t i o n a l l y r i g i d . H o w e v e r , t h e masses, f o r their part, break t h r o u g h this r i g i d i t y a n d the P a r t y , the state ( t h r o u g h the b u d g e t a n d t h e p l a n ) have, i n fact, s u p p o r t e d this i n i t i a t i v e , w h i l e t h e b u r e a u c r a t a n d t e c h n o c r a t r a i s e obstacles t o it, c l i n g i n g f a n a t i c a l l y t o w h a t t h e y call the discipline of the p l a n and to their stereotyped m e t h o d s o f w o r k . T h e b u r e a u c r a t says, T h e r e i s n o n e , this is all I have, I won't give y o u a n y more. This can't b e done, c o n t i n u e s the t e c h n o c r a t , t h e n o r m s d o not envisage this... T h e s e people c l a i m t o b e v e r y l e a r n ed, a n d p e r h a p s t h e y are, b u t a s f a r a s I a m c o n c e r n e d their learning is worthless. T h e y m a y h a v e great experience as w e l l , but as far as I am concerned, t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e , too, i s w o r t h l e s s , because i t h i n d e r s o u r a d vance. T h e bureaucrat a n d technocrat are people w i t h o u t a n y perspective, w i t h o u t i n i t i a t i v e a n d courage, w h e r e a s t h e masses w h o t h i n k , act a n d s m a s h t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f the plan are f u l l of confidence and courage in their activ i t y and are convinced that they are serving their o w n cause, t h e c a u s e o f t h e H o m e l a n d . T h e b u r e a u c r a t a n d technocrat t h i n k that A l b a n i a w i l l be r u i n e d if some amendment is made to the plan, they cannot s u m m o n up t h e c o u r a g e t o g o t o t h e d i r e c t o r o f t h e e n t e r p r i s e , t o the technical council, to the minister or the government and
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boldly discuss the essential need for the amendment w h i c h s h o u l d b e m a d e t o t h e p l a n . H e n c e , i n s t e a d o f setting their knowledge in motion, they keep it rigidly in a f i x e d state. H e n c e , t h e b u r e a u c r a t a n d t h e t e c h n o c r a t a r e not valuable. O n the contrary, t h e y hinder the r e v o l u tionary drive in our development. This question must be understood correctly and not interpreted as if we w a n t to bite off m o r e then we can chew. N o , we have n e v e r done this, but we have achieved more than we have planned. These achievements have been s e c u r e d b y t h e g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y c r e a t i v e f o r c e o f the masses. W i t h t h i s I h a v e i n m i n d n o t o n l y t h e r a n k a n d - f i l e p e o p l e , b u t a l s o t h e cadres, t h e c o m m u n i s t s , t h e t e c h n i c i a n s , h e n c e a l l t h o s e w h o w o r k f o r the i m p l e m entation of the line of the Party, w i t h the exception of those w h o a r e s h a l l o w - m i n d e d a n d a f f e c t e d b y these r e p r e h e n s i b l e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s w h i c h w e a r e d i s c u s s i n g , those who, as C o m r a d e M a n u s h (1) said, are dominated by the conceit, fear a n d p e r s o n a l a m b i t i o n of the intellectual. T h e r e f o r e , i n these d i r e c t i o n s w e m u s t w a g e a c o n t i n u o u s struggle. In his report C o m r a d e M a n u s h dealt extensively w i t h the p r o b l e m of intellectualism a n d gave us a picture of the measures w h i c h the P a r t y Committee of T i r a n a has t a k e n t o f i g h t t h i s u n h e a l t h y m a n i f e s t a t i o n . I t seems to me that the P a r t y Committee of the Tirana District has b e e n c o r r e c t i n its i d e a s o f h o w i t s h o u l d act o n t h i s problem and h o w it should w o r k to l i n k the scientific aspect w i t h t h e p r a c t i c a l aspect o f p r o d u c t i o n , i n t h e f a c tories, schools a n d i n s t i t u t e s , w i t h t h e w o r k o f e n g i n e e r s , w o r k e r s , c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , t h e p e o p l e of p r o d u c t i o n , etc. I think that the f o l l o w i n g course should be pursued: the
________________________________ 1 M a n u s h M y f t i u M e m b e r of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the CC of the P L A , at that t i m e also first secretary of the P a r t y Committee of the T i r a n a District.
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experience gained should be deepened and pursued further a n d w e s h o u l d t r y t o e x t r a c t t h e m a x i m u m benefits f r o m it. In the central apparatuses a n d departments intellectualism is more pronounced and is not combated properly i n t h e o r y a n d less s o i n p r a c t i c e . I t i s m a n i f e s t e d i n m a n y directions, both in the old m e t h o d of p l a n n i n g , in the u n r e a l i s t i c trust, n o t i n t h e p e o p l e o f the base, b u t i n the balances of materials, in the securing of different m a t e r i a l s a n d goods f r o m i m p o r t s o n t h e basis o f r e q u e s t s w h i c h t h e c e n t r a l d e p a r t m e n t s m a k e f r o m a b o v e . W e see the manifestation of intellectualism in the hesitation of the people w o r k i n g in the central apparatuses to give the base competences, i n t h e t e n d e n c y t o g a t h e r m a n y t h i n g s i n the c e n t r a l apparatuses, a t h i n g w h i c h h a s its source in their conceit a n d excessive faith in the power of o r d ers. A n o t h e r aspect o f t h i s m a n i f e s t a t i o n i s t h e t e n d e n c y o f some t o see o n l y t h e n e g a t i v e aspects a n d n o t t h e p o s i t i v e aspects o f t h e o r g a n s a n d cadres o f t h e base, their intellectual m a n i a r a t h e r to boost themselves t h a n t o p u t p r o p e r stress o n t h e c r e a t i v e f o r c e o f t h e masses. T h e struggle against intellectualism and technocracy has b r o u g h t t o l i g h t m a n y p r o b l e m s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the great i n i t i a t i v e s o f t h e w o r k i n g masses. M a n y g r e a t t h i n g s a r e b e i n g done a n d t h i s i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e , b u t t h e p r o b l e m i s t h a t t h e t e c h n o c r a c y o f the c e n t r a l d e p a r t m e n t s w h e r e , as I said, these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a r e m o r e pronounced, is still a hindrance. It is noticed that in m a n y cases t h e m i n i s t r i e s l a c k i n i t i a t i v e , t h e y h a v e o f t e n u n derstood the discipline of the p l a n incorrectly, a t h i n g w h i c h m a k e s t h e m v e r y i n f l e x i b l e , m a k e s t h e m reject suggestions a n d i n n o v a t i o n s , a n d r e f u s e t o m a k e a d d i tions w h i c h development requires. T h i s i s u n f r u i t f u l w o r k on their part, w h i c h i n h i b i t s development. T h e facts of the m a n y i n i t i a t i v e s a n d g r e a t a c h i e v e m e n t s o f t h e m a s ses h a v e p r o v e d t h e t r u t h o f these o b s e r v a t i o n s .
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T h e mass actions w i t h concentrated blows (2) are a heavy k n o c k to the technocrats, to those w h o m a k e allegedly precise calculations of the norms, materials, time, p r o d u c t i v i t y , etc. I n t h e s e actions, t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e w i t h their revolutionary drive broke the norms and plans m a d e in offices by the bureaucrats a n d technocrats. These actions a n d m a n y others have helped to create a n d i m p l a n t n e w r e v o l u t i o n a r y ideas and concepts among our people, m a k i n g t h e m t h i n k c o r r e c t l y f r o m t h e p o l i t i c a l p o i n t of v i e w , size t h i n g s up c o r r e c t l y a n d create on a b r o a d scale f o r t h e people. T h e y h a v e dealt a b l o w t o the s c e p t i c a l t e c h n o c r a t s a n d h a v e h e l p e d t o a w a k e n workers' thinking. H a v i n g a correct concept of the need to put politics first, o u r w o r k i n g people have always w a g e d a c o n t i n u o u s s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y , t e c h n o c racy, economism a n d abstract p o l i t i c k i n g . It is correct t h a t great care a n d m o r e efforts should b e m a d e a g a i n s t i n t e l l e c t u a l i s t c o n c e p t s i n t h e schools, a m o n g t h e t e a c h i n g staff, i n o r d e r t o c o m b a t a n d e l i minate the various manifestations of the unhealthy intellectualist spirit in the w o r k i n g people of education, using a w i d e range of the most effective forms and methods. T h e report also raises the question of the c i r c u l a t i o n o f cadres. I t seems t o m e t h a t i n some cases t h i s p r o b l e m is not always understood properly and correctly, but in an automatic w a y . M a n y comrades in responsible posts d o n o t h a v e a p r o f o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e n e e d
__________________________________ 2 On the basis of the experience gained in the course of the w o r k for the e l i m i n a t i o n of the consequences of the N o v e m ber 1967 earthquake in the districts of D i b r a and L i b r a z h d , w h e r e w i t h i n 25 days more t h a n 6,300 houses and other b u i l dings that had been destroyed or heavily damaged w e r e set up, the mass actions w i t h concentrated b l o w s came into being as a n e w revolutionary f o r m of action w i t h concentrated h u m a n forces and material resources by w h i c h relatively great w o r k is done w i t h i n a very short time.
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for the circulation of the cadres. In my o p i n i o n , m a n y cadres of the m i n i s t r i e s o u g h t to go to the base a n d those o f t h e base c o m e t o t h e m i n i s t r i e s . W e a r e n o l o n g e r i n the p o s i t i o n w e w e r e i n d u r i n g t h e f i r s t y e a r s w h e n w e l a c k e d cadres, because i n a l l sectors t h e r e are t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e w h o h a v e w o r k e d a t least 5-6 y e a r s i n p r o d u c tion, hence they have adequate experience of p r a c t i c a l w o r k and a good knowledge of the theoretical side of the w o r k a n d t h a t o f m a n a g i n g p r o d u c t i o n . T h e p e o p l e of t h e base h a v e a f a i r l y g o o d k n o w l e d g e of a l l these things, because t h e y h a v e b e e n h a r d e n e d i n t h e s t r u g g l e of life. M a n y of them have come time after time to the ministries w h e r e they have often made proposals some of w h i c h have been accepted and some t u r n e d d o w n , w h i l e some o f t h e m h a v e b e e n l e f t aside, s a y i n g t h a t t h e m a t e r i a l m e a n s f o r t h e m d o n o t e x i s t , etc., etc. T h e example was brought up here of a f u n c t i o n a r y w h o d i d not supply a q u a n t i t y of cement for the construction of houses w i t h v o l u n t a r y l a b o u r , ( 3 ) a l l e g e d l y because i t h a d n o t been e n v i s a g e d i n t h e p l a n . A c c o r d i n g t o h i m , t h e y w o u l d h a v e t o w a i t u n t i l t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r t o see h o w m u c h cement w o u l d be produced above the plan, then studies c o u l d b e m a d e t o see h o w m u c h c e m e n t f r o m this a m o u n t p r o d u c e d a b o v e the p l a n c o u l d b e a l l o c a t e d f o r this p u r p o s e . T h e r e y o u h a v e a b u r e a u c r a t i c h i n d r a n ce. I f y o u r e p l a c e t h i s f u n c t i o n a r y i m m e d i a t e l y w i t h a c a d r e f r o m t h e base a n d s e n d t h e f u n c t i o n a r y t o w o r k there u n d e r the f o r m a t i v e influence o f the w o r k i n g m a s ses, y o u w i l l see h o w q u i c k l y h e b e c o m e s a c a p a b l e a n d q u a l i f i e d engineer, because t h e r e h e w i l l b e i m b u e d w i t h
_____________________________ 3 T h i s is a revolutionary initiative taken by the w o r k i n g masses themselves to quicken the solution of the housing p r o b l e m in our country. A c c o r d i n g to it everyone can make his contribution by w o r k i n g v o l u n t a r i l y for the b u i l d i n g of houses, w i t h the state p r o v i d i n g the designs, specialists a n d the mater i a l base.
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t h e s p i r i t a n d t h e d r i v e o f the base, w i l l h a v e f i r s t - h a n d k n o w l e d g e o f t h e d e m a n d s a n d n e e d s o f t h e base, h e w i l l b e i m b u e d w i t h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t o f t h e base, s o t h a t w h e n h e has t h e o c c a s i o n t o g o t o t h e m i n i s t r y f o r s o m e t h i n g h e needs, h e w i l l not b e h i n d e r e d i n t h e w a y h e h i n d e r s t h e others, i n this concrete i n s t a n c e w i t h the c e m e n t , because t h e r e h e w i l l f i n d a c o m r a d e w h o h a s w o r k e d a t t h e base, w h o i s w e l l - a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e needs o f t h e base a n d w h o w i l l u n d e r s t a n d t h e r e quest v e r y r e a d i l y a n d i m m e d i a t e l y t a k e m e a s u r e s t o f u l f i l it. A n d w h e n h e i s a t the base, t h i s p e r s o n w i l l p r e s e n t the r e q u e s t s he has to m a k e as r e a s o n a b l e , because he w i l l see t h e w o r k a t t h e b a s e f r o m a d i f f e r e n t a n g l e , w h i l e h i s c o m r a d e w h o h a s c o m e f r o m t h e base t o the m i n i s t r y , b e i n g t e m p e r e d i n t h e s p i r i t o f t h e base, w i l l solve the p r o b l e m s m u c h faster t h a n this person does a t p r e s e n t . I n a w o r d , t h e r e w i l l b e c o m p l e t e h a r m o ny and a unity of d y n a m i c revolutionary action between t h e m i n i s t r y a n d t h e base. T h i s w i l l also h e l p t o e n h a n c e the a u t h o r i t y of the c e n t r a l organs. T h e c i r c u l a t i o n of cadres is indispensable in order to s t r e n g t h e n t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f t h e d e p a r t m e n t s i n the base, since t h e cadre, w h o m t h e d e p a r t m e n t c o n s i d e r s good, w i l l go precisely w h e r e he is needed and w h e r e the w o r k has t o t u r n o u t w e l l . T h u s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l i s t concept o f t h e soft seat, w e s h a l l also c o m b a t the i n t e l l e c t u a l i s t f e e l i n g i n w o r k , i n m a n a g e m e n t a n d i n administration. B u t w h e r e do we stand at present w i t h the problem of circulation, in what direction are we heading? It is clear t o a l l o f u s t h a t w e m u s t g o t o the base, because a l l t h e p r o b l e m s a r e a t t h e base. T h e f a c t o r i e s , p l a n t s , a g r i c u l t u r e , c o n s t r u c t i o n , t h e h e a l t h s e r v i c e , t h e schools, art a n d c u l t u r e , a r e a l l a t t h e base. T h a t b e i n g t h e case, w e m u s t s e n d t h e r e o u r p e o p l e w i t h great e x p e r i e n c e i n
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m a n a g e m e n t , f o r w h o m i t i s i n d i s p e n s a b l e t h a t t h e y get m u d o n t h e i r boots, t h a t t h e y l i v e w i t h t h e people, t h a t t h e y are i m b u e d w i t h t h e s p i r i t o f t h e base a n d b e c o m e resolute fighters to eliminate every shred of intellectualist, b u r e a u c r a t i c a n d t e c h n o c r a t i c r e m n a n t s f r o m t h e m selves. I n p l a c e o f t h e m w e s h o u l d b r i n g o u t s t a n d i n g w o r k i n g people f r o m the base i n t o the central a p p a r a t u ses. I n t h i s m a n n e r w e w i l l h a v e i n v i g o r a t e d b o t h t h e base a n d t h e m i n i s t r i e s . However, as soon as we decide to m o v e one of the w o r k i n g people of the c e n t r a l apparatuses, the opposit i o n begins, p l e n t y o f excuses a r e f o u n d . W h e n w e propose, f o r e x a m p l e , t o m o v e some o l d w o r k e r o f t h e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n t o s e n d h i m t o t h e base, w e a r e i m m e d i a t e l y t o l d t h a t w e c a n n o t let h i m go, the P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n c a n n o t d o w i t h o u t h i m , etc. I a m o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t i t i s n o t e s s e n t i a l t h a t w e h a v e spec i a l i s t s o f 20-25 y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e i n t h e p l a n n i n g sector, a l t h o u g h s o m e o n e m a y i n s i s t t h a t h e k n o w s the e n t i r e h i s t o r y o f t h e p l a n f o r t h e p r o f i l e w h i c h i s his s p e c i a l i t y s i n c e 1945. S u c h a n e x c u s e c a r r i e s n o w e i g h t , because i f t h e n e e d a r i s e s f o r f i g u r e s , w e h a v e t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e o f t h e statistics d e p a r t m e n t w h o c a n f i n d them for us whenever we need them. Let us take oil, for example. In planning we need a person w h o knows t h i s sector, w h o f o l l o w s p r o p e r l y t h e w o r k i n t h i s sector a n d i s i n a p o s i t i o n t o suggest t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t t h e p r o b l e m s w h i c h m u s t b e s o l v e d . A t p r e s e n t i n the S t a t e P l a n n i n g Commission we have gathered m a n y people w h o a r e good, c a p a b l e a n d o f a l o n g e x p e r i e n c e , b u t w h o h a v e a n o f f i c e o u t l o o k , t h e o u t l o o k o f r e d t a p e a n d studies, d i v o r c e d f r o m a c t u a l l i f e , f r o m t h e masses a n d w o r k a t t h e base, r e m o t e f r o m p r a c t i c e , a n d w h o b a s e t h e i r e n t i r e a c t i v i t y o n these r e d t a p e a n d studies. W h y should we not bring w o r k i n g people f r o m the
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base, h a r d e n e d i n b a t t l e against t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s o f l i f e a n d c a p a b l e o f w o r k i n g i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e b r a n c h e s o f the c e n t r a l organs, i n t o t h e p l a n n i n g sector a n d l i k e w i s e i n t o the other central departments? Today, we have plenty of senior e n g i n e e r s , t e c h n i c i a n s , economists, etc., w h o h a v e a l i f e t i m e e x p e r i e n c e a t t h e base. W h y , t h e n , c a n n o t t h e r e s p e c t i v e m i n i s t r y c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h these p e o p l e ? W h y , for instance, should the M i n i s t r y of H e a l t h not collabor a t e w i t h a d o c t o r w h o has b e e n w o r k i n g f o r 10-15 o r 2 0 y e a r s a t t h e base? W h y does t h e m i n i s t e r k e e p t h e same people in head office for a long time, thus creating poss i b i l i t i e s t o p r e p a r e a n u n h e a l t h y s i t u a t i o n there, f r o m t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c aspect, I m e a n ? S u c h a state of a f f a i r s keeps t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e d e p a r t m e n t i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e base, m a k e s i t p l a c e m o r e c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e p e o p l e w h o w o r k t h e r e t h a n i n t h o s e w h o w o r k b e l o w , a t t h e base, a n d thus i t issues i l l - c o n s i d e r e d o r d e r s , a s h a p p e n e d w i t h t h e M i n i s t r y o f T r a d e w h i c h , w i t h o u t c o n s i d e r i n g t h e issues p r o p e r l y , o n s o m e o c c a s i o n s issues i n c o r r e c t o r d e r s , e v e n b y t e l e g r a m . T h i s i s w h a t h a p p e n e d w i t h the m u s sels t h a t w e r e o r d e r e d w h e n n o m e a s u r e s h a d b e e n t a k e n f o r t h e m t o b e c o n s u m e d b y t h e people, o r w i t h t h e garments that had to be produced as they in the m i nistry wanted them, otherwise they could not take d e l i v e r y o f t h e m . etc. S u c h a p e r s o n i n a r e s p o n s i b l e p o s i t i o n in the M i n i s t r y of Trade, w h o is not connected w i t h the base a n d k n o w s n o t h i n g o f t h e needs o f t h e people, w h o proposes a d i s t r i b u t i o n of goods outside t h e needs a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e masses, c o u l d v e r y w e l l b e sent t o a t r a d i n g e n t e r p r i s e in a d i s t r i c t as d i r e c t o r t h e r e , so t h a t b e becomes a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e r e a l i t y , a n d t h e n , y o u w i l l see h o w h e w i l l c o m e t o T i r a n a t o o p p o s e those i l l c o n s i d e r e d d i r e c t i v e s w h i c h h i s s e n i o r sends f r o m t h e head office of the m i n i s t r y . He w i l l n o t i f y the centre t h a t a t the b a s e t h e s i t u a t i o n i s e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t , t h a t
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goods w h i c h t h e base has n o t a s k e d f o r a n d w h i c h t h e p e o p l e o f t h e d i s t r i c t d o n o t n e e d a r e sent f r o m a b o v e . Whereas n o w this person w h o w o r k s in the ministry thinks quite differently. A p a r t f r o m t h i s , s o m e o f these c a d r e s h a v e c r e a t e d the erroneous idea that t h e y are irreplaceable. B u t w h y are they allegedly irreplaceable? It is true that m a n y of them have been w o r k i n g for a long time and are a d v a n c e d i n age a n d f o r t h i s w e s h o u l d r e s p e c t t h e m . A p a r t f r o m this, t h e y a r e a l s o c a p a b l e . P r e v i o u s l y i t w a s s o m e what difficult to move them, especially from the economic aspect, b u t the o t h e r s w h o w o r k a n d l i v e a t the base h a v e the same difficulties. H o w can I leave T i r a n a ? ask some. T h e r e w i l l b e c a d r e s w h o w i l l l e a v e T i r a n a , c o m rades, t h e y w i l l g o t o t h e base, b u t w e m u s t n o t l e a v e t h e m w i t h o u t houses. H e w h o comes h e r e f r o m t h e base m u s t i m m e d i a t e l y h a n d his h o u s e o v e r t o t h e p e r s o n w h o leaves here. W h e n t h e p e r s o n f r o m T i r a n a goes t o w o r k a t t h e base, i t i s e s s e n t i a l t o f i n d h i m a h o u s e t h e r e where he is to work, so that he can take his f a m i l y w i t h him. B u t w h e n an apartment is found for h i m and h e leaves his w i f e a n d c h i l d r e n here, t h i n k i n g t h a t h e w i l l return to Tirana, he w i l l certainly be unsettled in his work. Such t h i n k i n g a n d such a stand is not correct at all. W h y should someone w h o is transferred f r o m T i rana to a district t h i n k that he w i l l come back here? T h e c o n s c i e n t i o u s c o m m u n i s t a n d p a t r i o t s h o u l d n o t seek t o b e m o v e d f r o m t h e base w h e r e h e h a s b e e n a p p o i n t e d a n d should not w o r k there in an unsettled f r a m e of m i n d . I f t h e P a r t y needs t o r e c a l l s o m e o n e t o t h e centre, t h a t i s a n o t h e r m a t t e r , b u t h e h i m s e l f m u s t n o t ask t o l e a v e the base, b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y , s h o u l d f i g h t t o l i n k h i m self l i k e f l e s h t o b o n e w i t h t h e masses a n d w i t h t h e j o b h e has been assigned to. because t h e r e a r e s o m e w h o , before they have ever settled down in the place to w h i c h
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they have been transferred, d e m a n d to be brought back to Tirana. B u t why, for w h a t reason? T h e p r o b l e m o f t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f cadres m u s t b e f o l l o w e d c a r e f u l l y a n d w o r k m u s t b e c a r r i e d out c o n t i n u o u s ly so that it is understood correctly by all, ideologically a n d politically. T h e P a r t y must apply a correct policy on t h i s q u e s t i o n . E s p e c i a l l y i n those k e y positions, w h e r e t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s e x i s t f o r the b i r t h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e dangerous tendencies of bureaucracy, intellectualism and t e c h n o c r a c y , w e m u s t b r i n g t o t h e c e n t r e p r e c i s e l y those cadres w h o have proved themselves in practice and have s h o w n themselves to be resolute fighters against these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s . T h e s e cadres m u s t b e f o l l o w e d a n d k n o w n in the struggle for the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of the l i n e of the P a r t y on this question. Therefore, w h e n the need arises for the circulation of a cadre f r o m the central apparatuses, w e m u s t k e e p w e l l i n m i n d t h a t h e i s n o t r e p l a c e d at r a n d o m , b r i n g i n g in his place some other w h o m a y be i n f e c t e d by t h e s a m e s h o r t c o m i n g s as those I m e n t i o n e d , w h o , w h e n t h e y w e r e sent t o t h e b a s e d i d not take their families, w a i t i n g to be called back to the centre, o r w h o a l t h o u g h t h e y h a v e b e e n sent, d o not p e r f o r m their duties w e l l there. We must b r i n g in a p e r s o n w h o i s r e a l l y l e a r n e d , w i t h b r o a d h o r i z o n s , i n the first place an u n f l i n c h i n g fighter for the line of the P a r t y , a c a p a b l e p e r s o n w h o i s n o t i n t h e least a f r a i d t o e x p r e s s h i s o p i n i o n s o p e n l y , w h o has i n i t i a t i v e a n d does n o t r u n t o c o n s u l t h i s s u p e r i o r a l l t h e t i m e o n e v e r y m a t t e r . S u c h a cadre, i n t h e sector o f i n d u s t r y , f o r example, without any intervention f r o m above can put the s c r e w o n s o m e b u r e a u c r a t i c e l e m e n t o f the t r a d e sector w h e n the latter i s not i n order, a n d compel h i m i n the i n t e r e s t s o f t h e e c o n o m y a n d p e o p l e t o act c o r r e c t l y . We must apply an appropriate policy of circulation o n t h e basis o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e o f t h e P a r t y . N o w
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w e h a v e t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e a t t h e base w h o m w e c a n b r i n g into the central apparatuses, w h i l e the others w h o h a v e been w o r k i n g f o r a l o n g t i m e i n t h e h i g h e r o r g a n s a n d w h o are also r e v o l u t i o n a r y , c a p a b l e a n d w i t h e x perience, we should send to the base to r u n t h i n g s there a n d strengthen it, to m a n a g e t h e economic forces there w h i c h are n o w quite big, so they use their capabilities and their w i d e experience there, a n d at the same time, a b s o r b t h e s p i r i t o f t h e b a s e f o r w h i c h t h e y h a v e great need. O u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y c a d r e s m u s t a l w a y s b e r e a d y t o g o t o the base w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n , w h e r e v e r t h e n e e d arises, i n m u c h g r e a t e r n u m b e r s t h a n h i t h e r t o , a n d t h e y should never feel themselves o n l y t e m p o r a r i l y there. This is a struggle w h i c h we have begun and must continue. T h e principles are clear to us a n d in this d i r e c t i o n good, s o u n d w o r k has b e e n d o n e a n d i s c o n t i n u i n g , b u t t h e r e a r e obstacles s t i l l a n d t h e s t r u g g l e t o o v e r come t h e m w i l l c o n t i n u e . T h e fact t h a t w e see n o d a n g e r i n this p r o b l e m i s o f i m p o r t a n c e . O f c o u r s e u n h e a l t h y manifestations exist here and there a n d w i l l continue to exist for some t i m e to come, a n d that is precisely w h y we must wage a continuous struggle to eliminate them.
STUDY MARXIST-LENINIST THEORY, LINKING IT CLOSELY WITH REVOLUTIONARY PRACTICE
Speech delivered at the meeting commemorating the 25th anniversary of the founding of the V.l. Lenin Party School
November 8, 1970
W e c o m m u n i s t s and. a l l w o r k e r s n e e d t o b e a r m e d w i t h t w o kinds of weapons: w i t h fire arms a n d w i t h the i d e a s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . B o t h these k i n d s o f w e a p o n s are necessary for the revolutionary to m a k e the r e v o l u t i o n a n d c a r r y i t t h r o u g h t o t h e e n d . A s e a r l y a s those difficult but heroic days of the National Liberation War, w h e n the fate of our H o m e l a n d a n d our people w a s d e c i ded, the P a r t y instructed the communists to learn persist e n t l y t o m a s t e r n o t o n l y t h e r i f l e b u t also t h e i d e o l o gical weapons, the ideas of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . A f t e r the l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y , too, w h i l e a l w a y s k e e p i n g t h e r i f l e r e a d y , o u r c o m m u n i s t s a n d w o r k i n g people, o n whose shoulders fell the heavy burden of destroying the o l d w o r l d a n d b u i l d i n g a n e n t i r e l y n e w society s o c i a l i s m , set t o w o r k w i t h e v e n m o r e p e r s i s t e n c e t o m a s t e r the bases o f o u r u n e r r i n g t h e o r y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a s t h e compass t o g u i d e t h e m i n a c t i o n i n t h e concrete c o n d i tions of o u r H o m e l a n d . T h i s has b e e n a n d r e m a i n s a permanent task of first importance for everybody.
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We, A l b a n i a n Marxist-Leninists, came to the philosophy of M a r x through o u r revolutionary practice, we f o u g h t w i t h a l l o u r m i g h t a g a i n s t t h e f e u d a l l o r d s a n d the bourgeoisie a n d t h e i r r e a c t i o n a r y r e g i m e w h i c h o p p r e s s e d the people, against the r e g i m e of the most a p p a l l i n g i g n o rance and barbarous exploitation of m a n by a h a n d f u l of people. W e h a t e d r e l i g i o n w i t h a l l the p o w e r o f o u r r e a s o n , because the r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r a c t i c e o f o u r p e o p l e h a d clearly brought to light the profoundly reactionary and anti-popular role of religious doctrines, w h i c h supported the f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s i e o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d t h e f o r e i g n e r s w h o o p p r e s s e d us. T h e c e n t u r i e s o f n e v e r - c e a s i n g l i b e r a tion struggles had made our people a r e v o l u t i o n a r y peop l e . T h e y c o u l d n o t c o n c e i v e e i t h e r t h e i r e x i s t e n c e as a people or the positive changes in their social life otherwise than by w a y of w a r and revolution. Their uprisings have always had a pronounced anti-imperialist, anti-feud a l , a n t i - b o u r g e o i s a n d a n t i - r e l i g i o u s c h a r a c t e r , o f course, w e cannot y e t speak o f i n s p i r a t i o n o r g u i d a n c e f r o m the philosophy of M a r x , w h i c h became properly crystallized a m o n g us o n l y after the f o u n d i n g of the P a r ty. B u t , a m o n g s t t h e p e o p l e a n d a m o n g s t t h e s m a l l w o r k i n g class, s t i l l a t its i n i t i a l stage, o u r P a r t y f o u n d a f e r t i l e f i e l d f o r r a d i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s , f o r a g r e a t soc i a l r e v o l u t i o n , w h i c h w o u l d o v e r t u r n t h e o l d s o c i a l syst e m o f the f e u d a l l o r d s a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d e s t a b l i s h socialism. T h r o u g h t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i v i t y , i n the process o f t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e i r social c o n d i t i o n s , the people also t r a n s f o r m t h e m s e l v e s . T h u s , w e o b s e r v e a great t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n o u r w o r k i n g class a n d i n o u r p e a s a n t r y , w h i c h has e m b r a c e d c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n . O u r i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , also, i s n o l o n g e r t h a t o f o l d a s r e g a r d s e i t h e r its n u m b e r s , its o r i g i n , o r its c u l t u r a l l e v e l . N o t o n l y has t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l l e v e l o f t h e w o r k i n g class b e e n r a i s e d o n
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the r e v o l u t i o n a r y r o a d , b u t w i t h its class consciousness i t e d u c a t e s a n d l e a d s the p e a s a n t r y a n d t h e o t h e r s t r a t a o f the population in our country. The educational and cult u r a l l e v e l o f o u r n e w m a n has b e e n r a i s e d a n d i s b e i n g s t e a d i l y e n h a n c e d i n o r d e r t o r e s p o n d t o t h e needs a n d c o n d i t i o n s c r e a t e d . A l l these r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a tions of o u r people a r e the f r u i t of the transformation of s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h t h e people's r e v o l u t i o n b r o u g h t about. Thus, our development proceeded along such lines because o u r P a r t y f a i t h f u l l y a p p l i e d t h e t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x , whose p h i l o s o p h y has a l w a y s i l l u m i n a t e d the road for our policy. E n g e l s teaches u s t h a t a l l h i s t o r y t o t h e p r e s e n t d a y d e v e l o p s a s a n a t u r a l p r o c e s s a n d , i n g e n e r a l , i s subject to the same objective laws of m o t i o n to w h i c h nature is subject, b u t w i t h its o w n s p e c i f i c features, f o r here w e h a v e t o d o w i t h t h e a c t i v i t y o f conscious b e i n g s m e n . P e o p l e a r e a l w a y s i n m o v e m e n t a n d a c t i v i t y , t h e y act t o r e a l i z e d e f i n i t e a i m s a n d desires, a n d h i s t o r y i s n o t h i n g but all this a c t i v i t y of theirs. However, a l l the people do not a l w a y s h a v e t h e i r aims, or the means a n d w a y s of a t t a i n i n g these a i m s p r o p e r l y c r y s t a l l i z e d . B e s i d e s t h i s t h e a i m s a n d d e s i r e s o f m e n are not i d e n t i c a l ; t h i s d e pends on the place t h e y occupy in society in conformity w i t h the social relations existing in the given historical p e r i o d . T h e r e f o r e , as E n g e l s p o i n t e d out, h i s t o r y is m a d e i n s u c h a w a y t h a t t h e f i n a l r e s u l t a l w a y s emerges f r o m the conflicts, f r o m a great n u m b e r of i n d i v i d u a l c o n f l i c t s , each o f t h e m m o t i v a t e d b y a h o s t o f c o n d i t i o n s o f e x i s t e n c e . H e n c e , i n t h e h i s t o r i c a l process, t h e r e a r e i n n u m e r a b l e forces w h i c h oppose one a n o t h e r , a n d f r o m this t h e r e e m e r g e s a r e s u l t a n t w h i c h i s t h e h i s t o r i c a l event. N a t u r a l l y , this is t y p i c a l of t h e e x p l o i t i n g society, i n w h i c h p r i v a t e o w n e r s h i p d i v i d e s m e n a n d classes,
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c o u n t e r p o s e s t h e i r i n t e r e s t s a n d a i m s , a n d i n w h i c h the law of blind spontaneity prevails. But even in socialism, a l t h o u g h i n t h i s stage p r i v a t e o w n e r s h i p h a s b e e n e l i m i n a t e d a n d society i s d e v e l o p e d i n a conscious w a y , here, too, because p e o p l e l i v e a n d act u n d e r d i f f e r e n t c o n d i t i o n s a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s , because e s s e n t i a l d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n s e x i s t b e t w e e n f r i e n d l y classes, b e t w e e n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , b e t w e e n m e n t a l a n d p h y s i c a l l a b o u r , etc., w e e n c o u n t e r d i f f e r e n t interests, a s p i r a t i o n s a n d o p i n i o n s , a series of c o n t r a d i c t i o n s . T h e r e a r e c o m m u n i s t s w h o m a y h a v e l e a r n e d these ideas o f E n g e l s a n d o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i n b o o k s a n d a t school, b u t w h e n i t c o m e s t o t h e i r a n a l y z i n g a n d c o n fronting them w i t h the m a n y things that occur in life a n d a p p l y i n g t h e m i n p r a c t i c e , t h e n t h e y get s t u c k , d o n o t see t h e p r o b l e m s c o r r e c t l y , a n d f a i l t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t p e o p l e h a v e v a r i o u s ideas a n d d e s i r e s w h i c h v e r y o f t e n clash w i t h and oppose one another. These comrades t h i n k a n d d e m a n d t h a t t h e resultant, o f w h i c h E n g e l s speaks, should be attained w i t h o u t the struggle of opposites, w i t h o u t t h e c l a s h o f o p i n i o n s f o r a n d against, t h a t i t should be attained in a dogmatic manner, w i t h one stroke of the conductor's baton. A t v a r i o u s m e e t i n g s i t i s n o t i c e d t h a t some l e a d i n g comrades are a f r a i d of discussions w h i c h are out of tune, w h i c h g o b e y o n d t h e s t e r e o t y p e d f o r m u l a s . T h e y t h i n k that e v e r y t h i n g ought to proceed smoothly. T h e result of such a m e t h o d is that the opposing opinions a r e e x p r e s s e d o u t s i d e t h e m e e t i n g . I n t h i s case, t h e a l a r m i s s o u n d e d a b o u t s o m e t h i n g w h i c h i s s a i d t o h a v e been u n d e r s t o o d t h e o r e t i c a l l y , b u t w h i c h , i n fact, has been neither understood n o r applied correctly. B u t we recognize that it is difficult to stifle opposition. F o r instance, h e w h o got h i s f l a t ceased t o c o m p l a i n a n d t h i s c o n t r a diction was solved, whereas he w h o has been o v e r - c r o w -
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ded for years w i l l keep complaining. This contradiction i m p e l s u s t o t h i n k out w a y s o f o v e r c o m i n g i t a s q u i c k l y a s possible, n o t b y s a y i n g H o l d y o u r t o n g u e , o r shut u p ! t o t h e p e r s o n w h o s e needs h a v e n o t y e t b e e n f u l f i l l e d , but by f i n d i n g n e w forms of w o r k a n d of the m o b i l i z a t i o n o f t h e masses i n a c t i o n s w i t h c o n c e n t r a t e d b l o w s t o b u i l d adequate numbers of apartments a n d as quickly as possible. T h i s applies to a l l the problems of life, big o r s m a l l , w h i c h a r e set b e f o r e u s t o b e s o l v e d , a n d w h i c h c o m p r i s e t h e g r e a t h i s t o r i c a l resultants, t h e a d v a n c e a l o n g the r o a d t o t h e c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist s o c i e t y a n d , e v e n t u a l l y , o f c o m m u n i s t society. L i s t e n h o w n e a t l y a n d c o r r e c t l y a n e n g i n e e r i n g w o r k e r has e x p r e s s e d this dialectical l a w of the clash of opinions, as a great m o t i v e f o r c e o f o u r s o c i e t y : W e m e c h a n i c s l i k e these f r i c t i o n s , h e s a i d , b e c a u s e w h e n t w o m e t a l s a r e r u b b e d t o g e t h e r t h e y p r o d u c e heat w h i c h i s t r a n s f o r m e d into mechanical energy. S i m i l a r l y , w i t h ideas: the more ideas a r e t h r a s h e d out, t h e m o r e heat a n d e n e r g y t h e y w i l l generate, and, as a consequence, p r o d u c t i o n a n d the w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e w o r k e r s w i l l g o ahead. If we assimilate our theory w e l l and k n o w how to l i n k it w i t h life, then m a n y things become clear. Just f r o m the one e x a m p l e I mentioned we ought to t h i n k about w h y we s h o u l d be a f r a i d of discussion, of the c l a s h o f ideas, w h y w e s h o u l d b e a f r a i d o f c r i t i c i s m a n d w h y we should confine self-criticism to a few personal t h i n g s , a n d s h o u l d n o t d e v e l o p i t o n a s t i l l w i d e r scale. D i s c u s s i o n a n d c r i t i c i s m does not, i n a n y w a y , l o w e r t h e a u t h o r i t y o f the i n s t i t u t i o n o r d e p a r t m e n t , b u t s t i r s t h e m up to resolve the contradictions that emerge in life, correctly a n d promptly. This is an entire education w h i c h the P a r t y c a r r i e s o u t a n d m u s t c a r r y o u t a m o n g i t s o w n members and the people. I t i s u p t o us, t h e c o m m u n i s t s , i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , t o
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understand our theory thoroughly and then to teach it t o the b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e . M a t t e r s o f t h e o r y are not one-sided a n d it is not enough that they s h o u l d be known, understood and applied by only a few; everybody ought to understand a n d apply them correctly, because e v e r y o n e has d u t i e s a n d n o one, o l d o r y o u n g , c a n escape e i t h e r h i s p e r s o n a l o r h i s c o l l e c t i v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . W h e n we study the r e v o l u t i o n a r y h i s t o r y of the A l b a n i a n people f r o m ancient times to the present day, we understand the magnificence of the materialist dialectics o f M a r x a n d t h e f u t i l i t y o f t h e a t t e m p t e d c r i t i c isms w h i c h h a v e b e e n a n d a r e d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t h i s i m mortal philosophy. Dialectics is the theory of development. In the elab o r a t i o n o f it, M a r x b a s e d h i m s e l f o n H e g e l ' s d i a l e c t i c s , but he transformed it radically, turning it into its opposite, f r o m a d i a l e c t i c s b a s e d f r o m t o p t o b o t t o m o n t h e development of the idea to a dialectics based f i r m l y on m a t e r i a l i s t concepts. I n M a r x ' s d i a l e c t i c s , t h e d e c i s i v e a n d a c t i v e aspect o f d e v e l o p m e n t i s n o t t h e d y n a m i s m o f s p i r i t u a l a c t i v i t y , i n other w o r d s , t h e idea, b u t h u m a n practice, that is the m a t e r i a l practical a c t i v i t y of m a n f o r t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f n a t u r e a n d society. T h i s great h i s t o r i c a l f o r m u l a t i o n o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p h i l o sophy, w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e s t h e m a t e r i a l i s t d i a l e c t i c s o f M a r x , a s d i s t i n c t f r o m the i d e a l i s t d i a l e c t i c s o f H e g e l , is k n o w n to all. We Marxist-Leninists learn it thoroughly, f o r i t i s t h e basis o f o u r p h i l o s o p h y . I n o r d e r t o a f f i r m these m a j o r p r i n c i p l e s o u r great r e v o l u t i o n a r y t h i n k e r s h a d to w a g e a great struggle for decades on end, in theory and practice, against the idealist, a n t i - M a r x i s t philosophers, the reactionary bourgeoisie and their various p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l schools. T h e m a t e r i a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t o f w o r l d h i s t o r y , the r e v o l u t i o n s i n v a r i o u s h i s t o r i c a l periods, u p t o the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n o f o u r c e n -
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t u r y , w h i c h b r o u g h t t h e w o r k i n g class t o p o w e r a n d established the dictatorship of the proletariat in m a n y c o u n t r i e s , c o n f i r m e d t h e f u n d a m e n t a l theses o f M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m . N a t u r a l l y , the struggle continues and w i l l continue between revolutionaries and counter-revolutionaries, b e t w e e n the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , b e t w e e n Marxist-Leninists and anti-Marxist-Leninists. I n o u r times, t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , w i t h t h e S o v i e t revisionists at the head, w h i l e fighting M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m fiercely, t r y to preserve the e x t e r n a l appearances of the theoretical f o r m u l a t i o n s of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t doctrine, o b v i o u s l y for the purpose of using them as a mask, but, on the other hand, they strive to d e f o r m t h e m all, to d e p r i v e t h e m o f t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y essence, i n o r d e r to fight communism and the revolution. By interpreting the materialist development of history in a falsified way, these e n e m i e s o f M a r x i s m t r y t o t u r n t h e m a t e r i a l i s t d i a l e c t i c s o f M a r x u p s i d e d o w n a n d set i t o n a n e w , t r a n s f o r m e d pedestal, t h a t o f t h e n e o - H e g e l i a n s . T h e g r e a t t a s k d e v o l v e s o n us, t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , t o f i g h t i n d e f e n c e o f o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y against the n e w falsifiers, and in order to w a g e this struggle properly, we must not consider the theoretical f o r m u l a tions of o u r doctrine, w h i c h we learn at school or in books, m e r e l y correct historical observations w h i c h r e present the r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle of o u r great leaders at given periods. On the contrary, every thought of M a r x , Engels, L e n i n a n d S t a l i n should become for us the object o f d e e p r e f l e c t i o n , s o t h a t w e u n d e r s t a n d t h e essence o f it and adapt it correctly, in a creative, non-dogmatic way, to the actual period in w h i c h we are l i v i n g and fighting, to the concrete historical conditions of our country, to our social development and to the problem w h i c h requires solution. It is precisely in this complex struggle for our educa-
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t i o n w i t h t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y a n d its c r e a t i v e application in our country that we must never w i t h d r a w into our o w n shell and consider our d u t y accomplished, if we do not follow w i t h vigilance the falsifications of our doctrine made by the m o d e m revisionists and the other ideologists o f c a p i t a l a n d f a i l t o w a g e a s t e r n a n d relentless i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e m , w h i l e at the same t i m e countering these falsifications w i t h o u r successes i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m , a t tained by f o l l o w i n g the life-giving teachings of M a r x ism-Leninism. S t u d y of M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t science is the only w a y to enable us to e x p l a i n the phenomena and facts of life correctly, to c l a r i f y the present a n d i l l u m i n a t e the future. S t u d y of it arms people so that they are not content to analyze facts and phenomena m e r e l y f r o m their e x t e r n a l appearances, f r o m w h a t appears on the surface, but by d e l v i n g d e e p e r i n t o t h e m , d i s c o v e r i n g t h e i r content, t h e i r essence, t h e o b j e c t i v e l a w s t h a t g u i d e t h e i r s o c i a l d e v e l o p ment. It is by no means rare for the external f o r m of s o c i a l processes a n d p h e n o m e n a t o g i v e t h e essence h i d d e n b e l o w a d i s t o r t e d a p p e a r a n c e , s o t h a t i t seems s o m e t h i n g n e w , n o r m a l , p r o g r e s s i v e , w h e r e a s i n essence i t i s completely the opposite. L e t us take, for instance, one of the basic questions of social relations in capitalism. F r o m their superficial appearance they create the impression that relations of equality exist between the w o r k e r a n d the capitalist, I g i v e y o u a s m u c h a s y o u g i v e me, says t h e c a p i t a l i s t , a s t h o u g h h e p a y s t h e w o r k e r f o r a l l t h e w o r k h e does, a s though the capitalist is the producer of capital, but this is not so in reality. It is k n o w n that the capitalist pays the w o r k e r f o r o n l y a p a r t o f his w o r k , w h i l e f o r the rest o f t h e w o r k h e does n o t p a y h i m , b u t a p p r o p r i a t e s i t . I t i s precisely this u n p a i d part of the labour of the w o r k e r
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w h i c h p r o d u c e s a n d i n c r e a s e s c a p i t a l . H e r e i n lies t h e s o u r c e o f c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n , h e r e i n a l s o l i e s the b r i l l i a n t discovery of that mysterious problem in the m a i n relations between the w o r k e r a n d the capitalist w h i c h K a r l M a r x n a m e d surplus value. T h u s , i t i s t h e M a r x i s t science w h i c h has d e m o n s t r a ted that the laws w h i c h regulate a n d guide production i n c a p i t a l i s m are r e p r e s e n t e d o n the s u r f a c e i n s u c h f o r m s t h a t t h e y n o t o n l y h i d e t h e i r r e a l n a t u r e , b u t also create the opposite impression a m o n g the people, that is, a s t h o u g h t h e y a r e t h e fairest, m o s t n a t u r a l a n d e v e r lasting forms. T h i s w h o l e illusion is created by the c a pitalists to conceal their e x p l o i t a t i o n of the w o r k e r s a n d the unavoidable contradictions w h i c h erode the capitalist order f r o m w i t h i n a n d lead it to the grave. E v e n a t t h e present t i m e , t h e apologists f o r c a p i t a l i s m and the m o d e r n revisionists, misrepresenting the significance of certain n e w external manifestations, such as t h e s p r e a d o f state m o n o p o l y c a p i t a l i s m , t h e c r e a t i o n o f so-called w o r k e r s ' councils w h i c h allegedly t a k e part i n t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f the c a p i t a l i s t e n t e r p r i s e s , o r t h e w o r k e r s ' s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a , etc., etc., t r y t o c r e a t e t h e i l l u s i o n t h a t c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n h a s been done a w a y w i t h a n d that the d i s t i n c t i o n between the w o r k e r s a n d the c a p i t a l i s t s i s b e i n g w i p e d o u t . S c i e n t i f i c M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t analysis of these phenomena completely exposes t h i s n e w f r a u d a n d shows that, far f r o m being w i p e d out, c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n has been f u r t h e r i n t e n s i f i e d . No matter w h a t external change the capitalist order m a y undergo, no matter w h a t sort of guise it m a y assume, o r w h a t t h e o r y i t m a y c r e a t e a n d i t a l w a y s creates s u c h t h e o r i e s , a d a p t i n g t h e m t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h i c h a r i s e f r o m t h e s h a r p e n i n g o f t h e class s t r u g g l e it remains an order of oppression and exploitation. This order has to be destroyed and it w i l l be destroyed
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t h r o u g h the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n ; c a p i t a l i s t r e l a t i o n s w i l l be replaced, w i t h o u t fail, by the n e w socialist r e l a tions, t h e m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n w i l l b e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e h a n d s o f the c a p i t a l i s t s a n d t a k e n o v e r b y t h e w o r k i n g class itself. T h e o p p o n e n t s o f M a r x i s m t r y i n v a i n t o a t t a c k the t h e o r y o f M a r x o n the p r e t e x t t h a t i t deals w i t h a b s t r a c t r e a s o n i n g , w i t h t h e a b s t r a c t q u i n t e s s e n c e o f processes a n d p h e n o m e n a , a l l e g e d l y d e p a r t i n g f r o m t h e facts a n d c o n c r e t e d a t a , f r o m t h e h i s t o r i c a l r e a l i t y . T h i s i s a gross f a l s i f i c a t i o n . W h e r e a s w e , M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , f r o m the m e t h od used by M a r x for the analysis of capitalism in his i m m o r t a l w o r k , C a p i t a l , d r a w t h e g r e a t lesson that, i n order to probe i n t o the objective reality, it is not suff i c i e n t t o g a t h e r a n d p r e s e n t facts, b u t i t i s n e c e s s a r y to m a k e generalizations, to d r a w scientific conclusions a n d abstractions, to discover the laws g u i d i n g the phenomena of social development. Otherwise, one r e m a i n s on the surface of things, falls into practicism, or into various other mistakes. I n s o c i a l i s m , l i k e w i s e , b e c a u s e here, too, t h e o l d fights for survival, often by clothing itself in the garb o f the n e w , i t m a y h a p p e n t h a t t h e e x t e r n a l a p p e a r a n c e s d o n o t r e f l e c t t h e t r u e essence o f p h e n o m e n a . T h e r e f o r e , we must k n o w h o w to avoid r e m a i n i n g on the surface, a n d m u s t base o u r s e l v e s o n t h e s c i e n t i f i c t h e o r y o f M a r x ism-Leninism and penetrate f r o m the external manifestat i o n s i n t o t h e i r essence, t o d i s c o v e r t h e deep causes w h i c h lie at the root of things a n d the social l a w s w h i c h guide their development. O n l y i n this w a y shall w e b e able to distinguish the n e w f r o m the old, the progressive f r o m the conservative a n d reactionary. W e m u s t e d u c a t e o u r p e o p l e t o j u d g e the p h e n o m e n a o f social d e v e l o p m e n t o n s c i e n t i f i c m a t e r i a l i s t bases, w i t h the aim of r i d d i n g them of idealist v i e w s or h a n g -
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overs, o r s u p e r f i c i a l s i m p l i s t i c ideas. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x , t h e w o r k i n g class i s n o t a n d m u s t not b e U t o p i a n . I t s h o u l d n o t i d e a l i z e decrees a n d t h i n k t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s d o n e o r a c c o m p l i s h e d b y m e a n s o f decrees a n d o r d i n a n c e s . I t m u s t u n d e r s t a n d w h a t t h e decrees are, their origin a n d w h a t they serve for. In the first place a n d t h i s i s t h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g , o u r w o r k i n g class must be clear on the k e y to the problem, must be clear t h a t its e m a n c i p a t i o n , its l i b e r a t i o n f r o m t h e s h a c k l e s o f c a p i t a l , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s o c i e t y w h i c h i t has created a n d w h i c h is developing continuously towards p e r f e c t i o n , w a s n o t b y a n y m e a n s d o n e b y decree, b u t has g o n e t h r o u g h a n d w i l l a l w a y s g o t h r o u g h p r o l o n g e d s t r u g g l e s , c o n t i n u o u s h i s t o r i c a l s t r i v i n g s a n d processes, w h i c h r e s u l t i n t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e society a n d people. Hence, the impression should not be created that the victories achieved and the radical transformations which have been c a r r i e d out i n o u r country, i n o u r society a n d a m o n g o u r p e o p l e a r e t h e r e s u l t o f decrees a n d o r d i n a n ces; o n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e decrees a n d o r d i n a n c e s a r e t h e consequence of certain problems w h i c h have emerged f r o m t h e o b j e c t i v e h i s t o r i c a l processes, f r o m t h e s t r u g gle a n d e f f o r t s e x e r t e d f o r t h e a l l - r o u n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e s o c i e t y a n d people. T h u s , t h e d e c r e e i n i t s e l f c a n not b r i n g about social development, it is a reflection of this development, a n o r m , the purpose of w h i c h is to a d j u s t a n d assist t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t . I t i s t h e o b j e c t i v e d e v e l o p m e n t o f s o c i e t y t h a t dictates t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s , creates t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s t h a t m u s t b e r e s o l v e d . I t comes into opposition, for instance, w i t h the written and u n w r i t t e n l a w s a n d c u s t o m s o f t h e o l d o v e r t h r o w n society, of a w a y of life incompatible w i t h the n e w development of the forces of production a n d the n e w socialist r e l a tions of p r o d u c t i o n . T h i s is the starting-point f o r t h e issue o f a d e c r e e o r o r d i n a n c e , w h i c h i s d i c t a t e d b y t h e
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necessity t o o v e r c o m e the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s c r e a t e d . H e n c e , it is not the offspring of arbitrariness or subjective w h i m . H e n c e , o u r l a w s , decrees a n d o r d i n a n c e s s h o u l d a l ways emerge from a p r o f o u n d scientific, materialist knowledge and analysis of the conditions of r e a l life. H e n c e , also, w h e n e v e r t h e o b j e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n s c h a n g e , w h e n e v e r d e v e l o p m e n t creates n e w c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d problems, this must be accompanied by the r e - e x a m i n a t i o n a n d a m e n d m e n t o f o u r decrees a n d o r d i n a n c e s . A n y i d e a lizing or m a k i n g a fetish of what was decided yesterday u n d e r g i v e n c o n d i t i o n s , becomes a n o b s t a c l e t o d e v e l o p m e n t a n d leads t o b u r e a u c r a c y w h e n these c o n d i t i o n s have changed. T h e objective development of nature, a n d l i k e w i s e o f h u m a n society, i s m a t e r i a l i s t a n d d i a l e c t i c a l a t t h e same time. Therefore, t r u l y reflecting the phenomena of the r e a l w o r l d , our Marxist-Leninist science, too, i s materialist and dialectical at the same time. There are people who, though posing as materialists, g i v e p r i o r i t y t o i d e a s a n d consciousness, a n d t h e r e a r e others, too, w h o c a l l t h e m s e l v e s m a t e r i a l i s t s , b u t s a y that only economic development is important, that it allegedly brings about the automatic transformation of s o c i e t y as a w h o l e , t h e r e f o r e , t h e s u b j e c t i v e f a c t o r is e n t i r e l y p o w e r l e s s a n d does n o t p l a y a n y a c t i v e r o l e i n h i s t o r i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t . N a t u r a l l y , b o t h t h e s e categories of people are m i s t a k e n a n d do not h a v e as clear an understanding as they should of the fundamental p r i n ciples of o u r p h i l o s o p h y materialist dialectics. In essence, s o c i a l l i f e is a m a t e r i a l process, b e c a u s e i t i s based u p o n w o r k . M a n s h o u l d l i n k h i m s e l f c l o s e l y w i t h work, should l i k e it and understand theoretically w h a t w o r k is. A c c o r d i n g t o K a r l M a r x , w o r k i s a process c a r r i e d o u t b e t w e e n m a n a n d n a t u r e . M a n h i m s e l f acts upon the m a t e r i a l of nature as a n a t u r a l force. Therefore,
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m a n cannot be conceived as divorced f r o m nature. It is inconceivable that the elements of nature react u p o n h i m a n d h e r e m a i n s i n a c t i v e i n t h e f a c e o f t h e m , does n o t a c t a s a c r e a t u r e w h o has a n d s h o u l d p l a y t h e r o l e o f a n a t u r a l f o r c e . I n o r d e r t o l i v e , m a n needs t o b e f e d , t o c r e a t e , t o set i n m o t i o n a l l h i s p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l forces, h i s h a n d s , feet a n d m u s c l e s , h i s b o d y a n d b r a i n . I n short, h e m u s t w o r k t o d i s c o v e r , process a n d t r a n s f o r m t h e v a r i o u s things of nature, so that they m a y serve h i m in his life. W h a t occurs i n this n a t u r a l process? B y acting u p o n e x t e r n a l n a t u r e m a n t r a n s f o r m s it, b u t i n t h i s process a t t h e s a m e t i m e h e t r a n s f o r m s h i m s e l f , d e v e l o p s h i s tastes and abilities. Hence, the starting-point for m a n , according t o M a r x , i s w o r k i n a f o r m c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f m a n alone, b e cause t h e r e are also a n i m a l s t h a t p e r f o r m acts s i m i l a r to w o r k but w h i c h differ f r o m the w o r k of man. The r e s u l t s a c h i e v e d b y m a n e x i s t b e f o r e h a n d a s ideas i n t h e i m a g i n a t i o n o f t h e w o r k e r , a t h i n g w h i c h d o e s n o t occur w i t h t h e b e e w h e n i t c o n s t r u c t s its h o n e y c o m b , M a r x says. T h a t i s t o say, m a n n o t o n l y c h a n g e s the f o r m o f n a t u r a l t h i n g s , b u t , at t h e s a m e t i m e , a l s o r e a l i z e s a set p u r p o s e o f w h i c h h e i s conscious, a p u r p o s e w h i c h d e t e r mines as a l a w the mode of his actions a n d to w h i c h he must subject his o w n w i l l . A s a m a t e r i a l process o f t h e a c t i o n o f m a n o n n a t u r e for the transformation of nature, himself and society as a w h o l e , w o r k is, i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e a n d m a i n l y , t h e a c t i v i t y o f t h e b r o a d w o r k i n g masses, o f t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants. T h e y a r e t h e d e c i s i v e f o r c e w h i c h c a r r i e s t h e w h o l e o f s o c i a l l i f e u p o n its s h o u l d e r s a n d c a r r i e s social development f o r w a r d . Therefore, the intellectualist and b u r e a u c r a t i c concepts w h i c h o v e r r a t e t h e r o l e o f those e n gaged i n m e n t a l w o r k a n d t r y t o p l a c e t h e m a b o v e t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses, a r e i d e a l i s t , a n t i scientific, a n d u t t e r l y a l i e n t o o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g y
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E n g e l s e x p l a i n s that, i n t h e last resort, t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t factor, t h e d e c i s i v e f a c t o r i n h i s t o r y , i s t h e p r o duction and reproduction of immediate life. It must be u n d e r s t o o d p r o p e r l y , h e t e a c h e s us, t h a t t h e e c o n o m y i s t h e basis, b u t n o t t h e o n l y d e t e r m i n i n g f a c t o r , f o r t h e r e a r e also o t h e r e l e m e n t s , s u c h a s t h e p o l i t i c a l f o r m s o f t h e class s t r u g g l e a n d t h e i r results, t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n s e s t a b l i s h e d b y the v i c t o r i o u s classes, t h e j u r i d i c a l f o r m s , t h e r e l i g i o u s concepts, t h e v a r i o u s p o l i t i c a l theories, a n d s o on. A l l of them exert influence through their actions a n d , n a t u r a l l y , l e a v e t h e i r m a r k . E n g e l s says t h a t t h e r e i s a c t i o n a n d r e a c t i o n f r o m a l l these factors, b u t a m o n g a l l these f a c t o r s i t i s the e c o n o m i c f a c t o r w h i c h emerges, s t a n d s o u t a n d e x e r t s its i n f l u e n c e . I n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s this is the most i m p o r t a n t one a m o n g a l l these other f a c tors, t h e o n e w h i c h f i n a l l y o p e n s t h e w a y . I f t h e o b j e c t i v e process o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r s o c i e t y i s s t u d i e d , i t w i l l b e c l e a r l y seen o n w h a t b a s i s t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e consciousness o f o u r p e o p l e w a s b r o u g h t a b o u t a n d h o w t h e n e w ideas w h i c h w e r e c r e a t e d by the new social conditions poured out. To understand t h i s process p r o p e r l y a n d n o t t o p e r m i t v u l g a r c o n c l u s i o n s , all the transformations brought about by the development of o u r society must be studied according to the dialectical m e t h o d , a s t h e y arise, a s t h e y d e v e l o p a n d a d v a n c e , a s t h e y cease a n d f i n a l l y , a s t h e y are t r a n s f o r m e d a n d r e p l a c e d b y n e w ones. B u t a s t h e classics o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m t e a c h us, t h e role of ideas in social development cannot be denied. Engels attacks economic m a t e r i a l i s m w h i c h pretends t h a t o n l y t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f e c o n o m i c forces i s i m p o r tant. T h i s i s v u l g a r m a t e r i a l i s m , E n g e l s says. Nevertheless, it must always be borne in m i n d that ideas d o n o t p l a y t h e d e c i s i v e role, a n d t h i s i s b r i l l i a n t l y e x p l a i n e d b y M a r x . Ideas t h e m s e l v e s a r e t h e p r o d u c t a n d
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t h e r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e m a t e r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f society. B y t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e m a t e r i a l c o n d i t i o n s o f society, m e n c r e a t e a n e w c o n s c i o u s n e s s ; i n t h e process o f s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e y also create n e w ideas a n d p r i n c i p l e s c o m patible w i t h the m a t e r i a l situations created. Thus, the changes in the m a t e r i a l development of society are the b a s i s f r o m w h i c h t h e n e w ideas a r i s e a n d a n e w c o n s c i o u s ness is created. J u s t as m a t e r i a l i s m in general e x p l a i n s consciousness f r o m b e i n g , a n d n o t m a n f r o m t h e i d e a , s o s o c i a l consciousness m u s t a l s o b e e x p l a i n e d f r o m s o c i a l being. W h i l e combating the danger of idealist subjectivism w h i c h i g n o r e s t h e d e c i s i v e r o l e o f the e c o n o m i c f a c t o r , o u r P a r t y at the same t i m e appreciates in a M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t w a y t h e g r e a t a n d a c t i v e r o l e o f ideas a n d t h e superstructure generally, rejecting any manifestation of f a t a l i s m a n d o f b o w i n g t o s p o n t a n e i t y . T h e great process of the revolutionization of the entire life of our country, to c a r r y f o r w a r d the socialist r e v o l u t i o n uninterruptedly a n d to block the w a y to the danger of revisionism and t h e r e t u r n t o c a p i t a l i s m , h a s t o d o , i n the f i r s t p l a c e a n d a b o v e all, w i t h the r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n of the socialist supers t r u c t u r e o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of the proletariat, of the school and culture, and especiall y , w i t h t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f t h e consciousness o f t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e . T h i s is a p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n , a f u r t h e r concretization and development of the teachings of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o n t h e great a n d a c t i v e r o l e o f t h e s u b j e c tive factor in history. T h e continuous development of o u r socialist society w h i c h takes place through the b i r t h and overcoming of v a r i o u s c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , has l e d t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f p r o d u c t i o n , a n d t o g e t h e r w i t h this, o f t h e consciousness o f o u r p e o p l e , also. T h e s e m a t e r i a l changes i n t h e p r o d u c t i v e forces a n d i n t h e r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n c r e a t e such
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conditions that the people w h o take part vigorously in this u n i n t e r r u p t e d revolution create n e w ideas appropriate t o t h e s i t u a t i o n w h i c h h a s b e e n c r e a t e d . A n d t h e s e ideas, too, a r e tested i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n . T h o s e w h i c h a r e n o t i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the s i t u a t i o n a n d b e come restrictive are combated, eliminated and replaced. H o w e v e r , i t i s n o t t h e s t r u g g l e o f i d e a s t h a t causes t h e advance of the objective social development, but it is t h e latter that is the basis w h i c h leads to the b i r t h of n e w contradictions, a n d consequently, to the b i r t h of n e w p r o g r e s s i v e ideas, i n s t r u g g l e w i t h t h e o l d o r r e a c t i o n a r y ideas w h i c h d i e . Therefore, the m a i n thing is to k n o w whether people, classes, a r e a c t i n g i n c o n c e r t w i t h t h e o b j e c t i v e c u r r e n t o f h i s t o r y o r a g a i n s t it. T h e d e c i s i v e q u e s t i o n i s t h a t , b y m a k i n g o b j e c t i v e analyses, w e m u s t m a n a g e t o e d u c a t e the w o r k i n g class, t h e m o s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y class, a n d t h e o t h e r classes a n d s t r a t a w h i c h a r e its n a t u r a l allies, a n d m a k e t h e m m a r c h i n step w i t h t h e o b j e c t i v e p r o g r e s s i v e advance of history. H e r e emerges the great role of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y t h e o r y , w h i c h , a s M a r x says, becomes a m a t e r i a l f o r c e w h e n i t g r i p s t h e masses. In conformity w i t h the objective social conditions u n d e r w h i c h t h e y l i v e , people, classes, h a v e t h e i r o w n i n terests, a s p i r a t i o n s a n d a i m s . T h e i r o b j e c t i v e i n t e r e s t s t u r n i n t o consciousness a n d i n t o r e v o l u t i o n a r y o r r e a c t i o n ary action. W h e n w e analyse the social development o f o u r c o u n t r y , w e see t h a t t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e classes ( w o r k e r s a n d peasants) d e s i r e d a c h a n g e i n t h e i r d e p l o r a b l e s o c i a l s i t u a tion, a change in the old relations of production. T h e desire w a s the result of r e a l sufferings, of the m a t e r i a l social situation w h i c h t h e y felt on their o w n backs, the result of their recognition of this situation that brought about a change in t h e i r consciousness a n d ideas, t h a t o p e n e d
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u p t o t h e m t h e p r o s p e c t o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f forces t o m a k e m a t e r i a l changes i n o u r society w h i c h w a s d e v e loping slowly. Thus it w a s the objective development w h i c h c r e a t e d t h e c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e s p r e a d o f n e w ideas, w h i c h were gradually concretized and launched the broad w o r k i n g masses i n t o a c t i o n . T h u s , t h e a c t i o n o f t h e m a s ses, w h i c h m a d e t h e h i s t o r y o f o u r c o u n t r y , w a s s u b j e c t to the laws of historical development, as the materialist p h i l o s o p h y c r e a t e d b y K a r l M a r x t e a c h e s us. P r o f o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t doct r i n e shows h o w correctly our P a r t y has v i e w e d the card i n a l p r o b l e m s o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r society, a n d i n the first place, the m o t i v e force of social development, the class s t r u g g l e , a s w e l l a s t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d r e p r o d u c tion of real l i f e as the d e t e r m i n i n g factor, n a t u r a l l y w i t h o u t f o r g e t t i n g t h e other f a c t o r s . I f t h e i m p o r t a n t m a terials published by the P a r t y at different periods of the historical development of our country after L i b e r a t i o n are r e a d w i t h care, i t w i l l b e seen h o w t h e e c o n o m i c p r o b l e m opens t h e w a y b y c r e a t i n g t h e m a t e r i a l c o n d i t i o n s for the solution of m a n y problems of the superstructure. T h e c o n f l i c t s , t h e clashes, t h e a c t i o n a n d r e a c t i o n o f a l l these factors, o f w h i c h E n g e l s speaks, a r e c l e a r l y a p parent there. H e w h o does n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h e m a t e r i a l i s t d i a l e c t i c s o f s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t , w h o does not u n d e r s t a n d t h a t this development is a r e l a t i v e l y long process w h i c h proceeds t h r o u g h t h e s t r u g g l e o f opposites, h e w h o sees e v e r y t h i n g a r i s i n g f r o m ideas alone, i s u n a b l e t o u n d e r s t a n d the stages o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t h e tasks a n d p r o b l e m s p e r t a i n ing to each of them. Such a person might very easily be faced w i t h a d i l e m m a and ask: W h y didn't our Party, w h i c h i s atheistic, m a i n t a i n t h e s t a n d w h i c h i t m a i n t a i n s t o d a y t o w a r d s r e l i g i o n , t o w a r d s the c h u r c h a n d t h e m o s q u e , right f r o m the start? He is u n a b l e to understand that our
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P a r t y has a l w a y s c o n s i s t e n t l y u p h e l d its atheist, a n t i idealist, m a t e r i a l i s t w o r l d o u t l o o k . B u t o n l y a t t h e p r e s e n t stage o f d e v e l o p m e n t , w h e n the e s s e n t i a l m a t e r i a l c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h i s h a d been c r e a t e d , d i d the b r o a d masses o f o u r p e o p l e b e c o m e conscious f i g h t e r s a g a i n s t t h e r e l i g i o u s w o r l d outlook and r i d themselves of the churches, the mosques and their dogmas. S u c h a p e r s o n has e q u a l l y h a z y ideas a b o u t t h e q u e s t i o n o f s m a l l - s c a l e p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y a n d its e l i m i n a t i o n , especially in the countryside. He cannot understand w h y . w h e n t h e f i r s t steps o f o u r r e v o l u t i o n w e r e b e i n g t a k e n , w h e n the a g r a r i a n r e f o r m w a s t a k i n g t h e l a n d b y f o r c e f r o m t h e beys a n d l a n d o w n e r s , t h e u s u r e r s a n d r i c h p e a s ants, a n d d i s t r i b u t i n g i t a m o n g t h e l a n d l e s s a n d l a n d p o o r peasants, the P a r t y s a i d t h a t t h e p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g peasant was not to be touched. B u t on this question v i t a l to the future of socialism the P a r t y could n o t h a v e p r o c e e d e d i m p r u d e n t l y a n d s k i p p e d t h e stages. It acted according to the teachings of M a r x a n d Engels, that the proletariat should not talk i m m e d i a t e l y of doing away w i t h private property. T h e question should be approached in such a w a y as to b r i n g the peasant to collectivization by the economic road. A n d this is the w a y he came to it in o u r country. As a result, the small-scale private p r o p e r t y of the l a n d was t r a n s f o r m e d into collective property w h e n the necessary economic and ideo-political conditions h a d been created for this. O r let u s t a k e t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f the land, w h i c h is the p r i m a r y means of production in agricult u r e . A s i s k n o w n , w e d i d n o t e x p l i c i t l y c a r r y out t h i s act. ( 1 ) a n d o n account o f t h e o b j e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n s o f A l b a n i a a n d
____________________________ 1 In A l b a n i a t h e land was not nationalized directly, but the A g r a r i a n R e f o r m was carried out and this eliminated largescale l a n d ownership and greatly restricted the basis for the development of capitalism in the countryside. E a c h f a m i l y was
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these reasons, a t t h a t t i m e , t h e P a r t y a c t e d c o r r e c t l y . H o w e v e r , a l l l e g a l m e a s u r e s h a v e been t a k e n i n o u r c o u n t r y to ensure that the l a n d is no longer used as the p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y o f t h e past. O n l y t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s ' p r i v a t e plot is used as personal property today, but it cannot be sold, leased or b e q u e a t h e d . T h i s piece of l a n d has been left f o r t h e p e r s o n a l use o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t f a m i l y o n l y . O u r people's r e v o l u t i o n m a d e s u c h l a w s w h i c h , i n p r a c t i c e , n a t i o n a l i z e d t h e l a n d . I t c a r r i e d out t h e A g r a r i a n R e f o r m a n d took o v e r that p r o p e r t y w h i c h was used to exploit the w o r k of others. Gradually, through conviction a n d f o l l o w i n g the e c o n o m i c road, a s M a r x a n d E n g e l s advocate, o u r peasant a p p r o a c h e d the c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n o f t h e l a n d a n d o t h e r m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , etc. H e r e t a i n s o n l y t h e s m a l l p l o t w h i c h h e w o r k s h i m s e l f . O n t h i s same e c o n o m i c r o a d the peasant's p e r s o n a l p l o t i s b e i n g s t e a d i l y r e d u c e d i n size u n t i l e v e n t u a l l y i t w i l l d i s a p p e a r completely as p r o p e r t y f o r personal use a n d be united w i t h the collective property, w h i c h , after a still longer process, w i l l t u r n f r o m t h e c o m m o n p r o p e r t y o f t h e g r o u p into the p r o p e r t y of the w h o l e people. This w i l l not be b r o u g h t a b o u t b y m e a n s o f decrees, b u t w i l l b e t h e h i s t o r i c a l r e s u l t a n t o f a c o n t i n u i n g process o f t h e e c o n o m ic, social, i d e o - p o l i t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y , and e s p e c i a l l y o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e a n d t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t masses. As y o u know, it was announced in recent days that the e l e c t r i f i c a t i o n o f a l l t h e v i l l a g e s o f o u r c o u n t r y has been s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m p l e t e d one y e a r a h e a d o f s c h e d u l e . T h i s i s a n o t h e r great v i c t o r y o f o u r P a r t y a n d p e o p l e i n t h e i r s t r u g g l e t o c o m p l e t e t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f o u r socialist
_____________________________ allocated 5 hectares of l a n d . T h e buying, selling or renting of land was p r o h i b i t e d by the state. Part of the l a n d expropriated was turned into state property, thus creating the state farms, w h i c h m a r k e d the b i r t h of the state socialist sector in a g r i c u l ture.
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society. T h e s u p p l y i n g o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e w i t h e l e c t r i c p o w e r i s the f i r s t i m p o r t a n t step t o w a r d s its t h o r o u g h electrification, towards the great t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the means and the technology of a g r i c u l t u r a l production at w h i c h the P a r t y a i m s , a n d w h i c h w i l l p u t o u r a g r i c u l t u r e completely on the road of m o d e r n intensive development. At the same time, however, the electrification of the countryside w i l l give a new p o w e r f u l impulse to the r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f t h e consciousness o f o u r c o o p e r a t i v i s t peasant, to the dissemination and further implanting of sociali s t ideas a n d c u l t u r e a n d t h e n e w w a y o f l i f e . T h i s n e w brilliant v i c t o r y was attained as a result of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s m o f t h e masses, w h i c h d i d n o t b u r s t o u t s p o n t a n e o u s l y , b u t as a d i r e c t r e s u l t of t h e o b j e c t i v e a n d s u b j e c t i v e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s i n t h e l i f e o f t h e masses. T h e s u c c e s s f u l a c c o m p l i s h m e n t , a h e a d o f schedule, o f t h i s great action, w h i c h is not o n l y economic, but also political, ideological and cultural, shows that the decision t a k e n by t h e P a r t y w a s c o r r e c t a n d t i m e l y , because its i m p l e m e n t a t i o n h a d been p r e p a r e d b y t h e w h o l e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y . T h u s , i n t h i s case, too, t h e P a r t y a c t e d i n a c c o r d w i t h t h e M a r x i s t w o r l d o u t l o o k w h i c h teaches u s t h a t e v e r y step i n l i f e m u s t b e t a k e n a f t e r a l l t h e m a t e r i a l a n d spiritual premises for it have been created.
Comrades, W e l e a r n M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a t school, n o t just t o satisfy our curiosity, or m e r e l y to e n r i c h or develop the intellect, b u t in order to be as useful as possible in life, s o w e c a n a c c o m p l i s h the tasks set b y t h e P a r t y w i t h t h e greatest p o s s i b l e success, a n d b e c o n s c i o u s r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , capable of p r o m o t i n g the cause of socialism a n d c o m m u n ism in our country. T h i s is attained w h e n the M a r x i s t Leninist theory is learned not in an abstract, academic,
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b o o k i s h w a y , b u t i n close c o n t a c t w i t h l i f e , w i t h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r a c t i c e o f t h e masses. T o m a s t e r M a r x i s m - l e n i n i s m m e a n s t o m a s t e r its f u n d a m e n t a l principles a n d laws, its w o r l d outlook a n d methodology, the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y of interpreting things and solving problems. Learning the Marxist-Leninist definitions on this or that topic, or this or that l a w of M a r x i s t p h i l o s o p h y o r p o l i t i c a l e c o n o m y , has its o w n i m portance. B u t w h a t is of greater importance is to learn h o w to be g u i d e d by these laws in life, h o w to solve the c o n c r e t e p r o b l e m s f a c i n g u s o n t h e basis o f t h e m . I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o k n o w t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e P a r t y , its g l o r i o u s r o a d , b u t i t i s o f g r e a t e r i m p o r t a n c e t o get a t h o r o u g h understanding of the starting-point and the methods used by our P a r t y in solving problems under differing circumstances, a n d f r o m this to l e a r n h o w to solve them today in new historical conditions. T h e task of the P a r t y S c h o o l is not just to i m p a r t some M a r x i s t k n o w l e d g e to t h e cadres o f t h e P a r t y , b u t t o a r m t h e m i n s u c h a w a y that they c a n orientate themselves in life, to f o r m in t h e m the M a r x i s t m a n n e r of t h i n k i n g and acting. This is t h e sense i n w h i c h w e s a y t h a t M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m s h o u l d s e r v e us as a g u i d i n g compass. L i f e is always in motion and development, continually gives rise to n e w problems, a n d the social conditions change incessantly. Let us take life in our c o u n t r y as an e x a m p l e . W e h a v e e n t e r e d a n e w stage o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of the r e v o l u t i o n a n d socialist construction. T h i s stage h a s b r o u g h t f o r t h a series o f n e w p r o b l e m s , s u c h as the complete construction of the material-technical base o f s o c i a l i s m , t h e p e r f e c t i n g o f t h e w h o l e system o f relations of production, the strengthening of the dictators h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t the d a n g e r of bureaucracy, the development of the technical and s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n , t h e w o r k e r c o n t r o l , a n d m a n y others.
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Ready-made answers to such problems cannot be found and it cannot be expected that others w i l l solve t h e m for us. T h e r e f o r e , o u r m a s t e r i n g o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m m u s t not b e d o g m a t i c , b u t c r e a t i v e . T h i s m e a n s t h a t i n the w o r k o f t h e s c h o o l a n i m portant place should be occupied by profound and a l l sided study of this reality of our time, of the great p r o b lems raised by life and put f o r w a r d by the Party, analysi n g a n d i n t e r p r e t i n g t h e m i n the l i g h t o f t h e M a r x i s t Leninist theory. F r o m this point of view, the practice of students a n d t e a c h e r s g o i n g t o t h e base t o s t u d y v a r i o u s themes, a s w e l l as their participation in productive labour, in m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g o r i n mass m o v e m e n t s a n d actions, i s a g o o d thing w h i c h must be further developed and perfected. N a t u r a l l y , this s h o u l d not be done to the d e t r i m e n t of m a s t e r i n g theory, w h i c h occupies a n d should occupy the m a i n place i n t h e w o r k o f t h e school. O n the contrary, these t h i n g s s h o u l d l e a d t o a m o r e p r o f o u n d , a c t i v e a n d tangible grasp of the theory. O u r Party, shoulder to shoulder w i t h all the M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t forces i n t h e w o r l d , has b e e n a n d s t i l l i s w a g i n g a resolute struggle of principle against the revisionist betrayal. M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m has assumed and is assuming a n e w d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h i s s t r u g g l e . I n t h e course o f t h i s struggle we h a v e gained a deeper grasp of the teachings of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , have learned to recognize our f r i e n d s a n d enemies, g o o d a n d e v i l , the r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d the counter-revolutionary, more readily. Thus, the l a w of t h e s t r u g g l e o f opposites, a s t h e s o u r c e o f e v e r y m o v e ment and development, f i n d s f u l l application, also, in t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m itself, a s w e l l a s i n t h e process o f k n o w i n g a n d m a s t e r i n g it. H e n c e , a n i m portant task for the P a r t y School is to acquaint the cadres a n d communists w i t h the history of this struggle a n d to
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t e a c h t h e m M a r x i s m - l e n i n i s m , n o t i n a s i m p l e w a y , pass i v e l y , p r e s e n t i n g t h e M a r x i s t theses, p r i n c i p l e s a n d c o n clusions, but i n struggle w i t h the v i e w s a n d arguments o f its i d e o l o g i c a l o p p o n e n t s a n d o f t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n ists, f i r s t o f a l l . O n l y t h u s i s i t p o s s i b l e t o m a s t e r t h e ideas of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m thoroughly and actively a n d to f o r m lasting M a r x i s t ideological convictions. T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y concept about study w h i c h the school must implant in every cadre is that everyone should read not m e r e l y for the sake of reading, but s h o u l d c o n s i d e r w h a t h e reads, r e f l e c t o n it, f i n d w h e r e its g o o d aspects l i e , w h a t its p o s i t i v e e x p e r i e n c e is, w h a t its w e a k p o i n t s are, a n d w h a t tasks e m e r g e f r o m i t . T h e m i s s i o n of o u r school is not m e r e l y to i m p a r t k n o w l e d g e t o people, b u t a l s o t o e d u c a t e t h e m a s r e v olutionaries, not o n l y to give them a correct theoretical w o r l d outlook, but also to cultivate lofty m o r a l a n d p o l i t i cal qualities in them. T h e c o m r a d e s w h o c o m p l e t e t h e schools a n d c o u r s e s of the P a r t y should always bear in m i n d that everything i s n o t s o l v e d w i t h g r a d u a t i o n f r o m school. E v e r y c o m m u n ist m u s t l e a r n c o n t i n u a l l y , w i t h w i l l - p o w e r a n d persistence. He cannot advance without learning, and without learning seriously. O n e cannot guide by practicism. Therefore, the P a r t y i n s t r u c t s u s : N e v e r t i r e o f l e a r n i n g , n e v e r cease your study! To continue studying after graduation means to deepen and extend what y o u have learned at s c h o o l . . .
THE CONGRESS OF THE RESTORATION OF CAPITALISM AND SOCIAL-IMPERIALISM

A p r i l 17, 1971
O n A p r i l t h e 9th, t h e p r o c e e d i n g s o f the 24th C o n g r e s s of the revisionist p a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n w h i c h began o n M a r c h t h e 30th, e n d e d i n M o s c o w . A s e x p e c t e d , i t reaffirmed the Khrushchevite line of the present Soviet leadership. T h e report delivered by B r e z h n e v and the caref u l l y vetted contributions to the discussion amounted to a b o r i n g r e p e t i t i o n o f w e l l - k n o w n r e v i s i o n i s t theses, s t a l e self-praise and demagogic promises. T h e g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h i s congress w a s i n sistence o n c o n t i n u i n g the c o u r s e o f b e t r a y a l o f M a r x i s m Leninism, the revolution and socialism to the end. B r e z h nev declared officially that the chiefs of the K r e m l i n h a v e n o i n t e n t i o n o f r e n o u n c i n g t h e 20th C o n g r e s s a n d t h e p r o g r a m o f the P a r t y a p p r o v e d a t t h e 2 2 n d C o n g r e s s w h e n N i k i t a K h r u s h c h e v w a s i n office, a n d i n w h i c h Khrushchevite modern revisionism was codified. If we m a y speak of a n y t h i n g new w h i c h the present congress b r o u g h t , i t w a s p r e c i s e l y t h e f u r t h e r d e e p e n i n g of K h r u s h c h e v i s m in a l l fields political, economic, ideological, i n t e r n a l and external. T h e m a i n concern and preoccupation of the organizers of this big revisionist meeting was to strengthen and per-
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fect t h e m e a n s a n d m e t h o d s f o r t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a pitalism, for the consolidation of the bourgeois-revisionist d i c t a t o r s h i p . B y m e a n s o f t h i s congress, t h e S o v i e t r e v i sionist l e a d e r s h i p w a n t e d t o get a f o r m a l a p p r o v a l , a l l e g e d l y i n t h e n a m e o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e people, t o c o n t i n u e , a s h i t h e r t o , its s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t p o l i c y a g a i n s t the r e v o l u t i o n a n d the peoples' l i b e r a t i o n movement, for the protection of the Soviet revisionist empire, for its f u r t h e r p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c e x p a n s i o n a n d t h e e x t e n s i o n o f its c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m .
ANTI-MARXISM AND ANTI-COMMUNISM THE IDEOLOGICAL BASIS OF KHRUSHCHEVITE REVISIONISM T h e speeches d e l i v e r e d a t t h e C o n g r e s s f o r t e n d a y s o n e n d f i l l e n t i r e v o l u m e s a n d c o n t a i n countless f i g u r e s . B u t a n y o n e w h o f o l l o w e d t h e p r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e congress carefully could not fail to notice the extreme theoretical p a u c i t y , t h e p o v e r t y o f ideas a n d t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c m e diocrity. In the reports of B r e z h n e v and K o s y g i n there w a s r o o m t o m e n t i o n a l l t h e t r i v i a l p r o b l e m s o f the economy, f r o m smoothing-irons to the numbers of each pamphlet printed, f r o m the w o r k of pensioners to aid the c o m m u n a l services t o s e w i n g - m a c h i n e s . B u t t h e S o v i e t c h i e f s a v o i d e d t h e acute p r o b l e m s w h i c h a r e w o r r y i n g the Soviet people and Soviet society by m a i n t a i n i n g c o m plete silence about them. In the Soviet U n i o n today, the e x i s t e n c e of a c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c a p p a r a t u s o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e state o n t h e o n e h a n d , a n d t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e o n t h e other h a n d , i s a c k n o w l e d g e d ; deep c o n t r a d i c t i o n s e x i s t b e t w e e n t h e p r e v a i l i n g b u r e a u c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m a n d t h e d e m a n d s o f t h e masses f o r f r e e d o m a n d d e m o c r a c y . B u t n o t one w o r d w a s s a i d a b o u t these t h i n g s .
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It w o u l d be difficult to find another country in the w o r l d t o d a y w h e r e the b u r e a u c r a c y has c o n c e n t r a t e d s u c h g r e a t a n d u n t r a m m e l l e d p o w e r s i n its h a n d s a s i n t h e Soviet U n i o n . N o t only the political power, but also the economic power and the ideological monopoly are in its h a n d s . T h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses h a v e n o w been stripped of the rights w h i c h they w o n t h r o u g h the October R e v o l u t i o n to exert their control o v e r the apparatuses a n d to take part directly in r u n n i n g the country. A l t h o u g h m a n y such organisms as the Soviets, the trade-unions, the komsomol, the production councils, etc., s t i l l exist, t h e y h a v e lost t h e i r r e a l m e a n i n g , r e t a i n i n g only their former names and forms, and have been turned i n t o organs t o p r o p a g a t e a n d i n s t r u m e n t s t o a p p l y t h e decisions and directives of the bureaucratic apparatus. T h e democracy about w h i c h B r e z h n e v boasted at the congress i s n o t d e m o c r a c y f o r t h e masses, b u t f o r t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c caste. It is a fact t h a t n e i t h e r t h e masses, n o r e v e n t h e so-called e l e c t e d o r g a n s t a k e p a r t i n t h e f o r m u l a t i o n o f t h e p o l i c y a n d stands, i n b o t h i n t ernal or foreign affairs. These are determined by the n a r r o w circle of the r u l i n g clique a n d the masses are a l w a y s f a c e d w i t h a f a i t a c c o m p l i . W e r e t h e S o v i e t masses consulted w h e n Stalin w a s denigrated a n d the struggle and revolutionary w o r k of entire generations of bolsheviks a n d t h e S o v i e t p e o p l e negated, w h e n K h r u s h c h e v w a s t o p p l e d a n d B r e z h n e v a n d K o s y g i n t o o k h i s place, w h e n C z e c h o s l o v a k i a w a s i n v a d e d , etc., etc.? T h a t u s u a l c o m ment of the Soviet people about e v e r y t h i n g that happens in t h e i r c o u n t r y t o d a y naalstvo znajet (the l e a d e r s h i p k n o w s ) , is no j o k e . It e x p r e s s e s a b i t t e r r e a l i t y , t h e absolute rule of the bureaucracy, the deep gulf f i x e d between it a n d the people. A n o t h e r acute contradiction, w h i c h has not found a n d w i l l not f i n d a s o l u t i o n a s l o n g a s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s
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remain in power, emerged in the Soviet U n i o n several y e a r s ago. T h i s i s t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e i m m e n s e w o r k of the Soviet people in the field of the production o f m a t e r i a l a n d c u l t u r a l a n d a r t i s t i c blessings a n d t h e l o w l e v e l o f its e f f i c i e n c y . T h e c l u m s y b u r e a u c r a t i c m a c h i n e has become an insurmountable obstacle to the development o f t h e p r o d u c t i v e forces, t o t h e r a t i o n a l u t i l i z a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y ' s assets, t h e l a b o u r force, t h e m a t e r i a l a n d f i nancial means, a n d to the introduction of advanced techn i q u e a n d t e c h n o l o g y , etc. I t s t r a n g l e s t h e i n i t i a t i v e a n d c r e a t i v e a c t i v i t y o f t h e masses. B r e z h n e v himself w a s forced to admit in his report t h a t t h e S o v i e t e c o n o m y t o d a y s u f f e r s t h e consequences of such phenomena as delays in completing the construct i o n o f c a p i t a l projects, u n d e r - u t i l i z a t i o n o f p r o d u c t i v e capacities, slowness i n i n t r o d u c i n g n e w t e c h n i q u e i n p r o d u c t i o n , f a i l u r e t o r a i s e p r o d u c t i v i t y t o t h e l e v e l o f possibilities, the production of m a n y articles of poor quality, l a c k o f o r g a n i z a t i o n i n p r o d u c t i o n , etc., etc. T o e m e r g e f r o m these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d d i f f i c u l t i e s , the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists, i n conformity w i t h their p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l concepts, u n d e r t o o k t h e i n t r o duction of capitalist methods of the organization and management of production a n d distribution. These were sanctioned in the most complete and all-round w a y in the so-called economic r e f o r m . T h e a i m of this r e f o r m was to adapt the Soviet economy to the bourgeois-revisionist superstructure. B u t the capitalist mode of production w h i c h the r e v i sionists chose c o u l d n o t save t h e S o v i e t e c o n o m y . T h e i l l s a n d a f f l i c t i o n s t y p i c a l o f t h e b o u r g e o i s society, s u c h a s competition, the great f l u c t u a t i o n of labour force, the disproportions between different branches of production, the e x t e n s i o n o f m a r k e t r e l a t i o n s t o the f i e l d o f t h e m a i n m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , too, etc., b e g a n t o a p p e a r w i t h e v e r
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g r e a t e r force. On the basis of c a p i t a l i s t r e f o r m s , n o w a m a j o r social c o n t r a d i c t i o n has a r i s e n b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses w h o create a l l t h e m a t e r i a l blessings, o n t h e o n e h a n d , a n d t h e n e w b o u r g e o i s class w h i c h appropriates the toil and labour of the w o r k i n g people, o n t h e o t h e r h a n d . T h e m a t e r i a l i n c e n t i v e a n d p r o f i t , o n w h i c h t h e r e f o r m i s based, a r e m a k i n g these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s m o r e a n d m o r e p r o f o u n d a n d acute. T h e revisionist propaganda, and indeed the bourgeois p r o p a g a n d a , too, c a l l the 24th C o n g r e s s t h e congress o f consumption. This is connected w i t h the m a n y promises that B r e z h n e v a n d K o s y g i n made to increase p r o d u c t i o n o f mass c o n s u m e r goods a n d r a i s e t h e w a g e s o f c e r t a i n categories o f w o r k i n g p e o p l e d u r i n g t h i s f i v e - y e a r p e r i o d . N a t u r a l l y , t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t r y t o a d v e r t i s e these m e a s u r e s a s r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e i r c o n c e r n t o r a i s e t h e people's standard of living, alleging that they stem f r o m the ess e n t i a l a i m o f p r o d u c t i o n i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . I n fact, the a i m of production in the Soviet U n i o n today is t o m a k e p r o f i t s f o r t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c caste i n p o w e r . I n reality, the promised measures are a concession w h i c h , a t c e r t a i n m o m e n t s o f t h e s h a r p e n i n g o f t h e class s t r u g gle, t h e r u l i n g b o u r g e o i s class i s o b l i g e d t o m a k e i n o r d e r t o protect its d o m i n a t i o n . T h e b o u r g e o i s i e o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s has m a d e a n d m a k e s s u c h concessions t i m e a f t e r time, in order to placate and deceive the w o r k i n g people a n d to divert them f r o m the revolutionary struggle. It is not by chance that this concern to raise the s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g o f t h e masses w a s e x p r e s s e d j u s t a t this moment. It came i m m e d i a t e l y after the recent events i n P o l a n d , ( 1 ) w h e n the p o w e r f u l r e v o l t o f the P o l i s h w o r k i n g class against t h e r e v i s i o n i s t r e g i m e e r u p t e d . T h e events in P o l a n d showed that the P o l i s h w o r k i n g people could
____________________________ 1 In December 1970.
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not reconcile themselves any longer to the deplorable s i t u a t i o n t o w h i c h t h e y h a d been r e d u c e d , c o u l d n o l o n g e r tolerate the political oppression and economic exploitation. T h e l o w wages, t h e r i s e i n prices, t h e shortages o f c o n s u m e r g o o d s a n d t h e i r p o o r q u a l i t y , t h e l a c k o f houses, etc., s e r v e d t o s p a r k o f f t h e o u t b u r s t o f t h e r e v o l t . B u t the struggle assumed a pronounced political character and w a s directed against the entire revisionist system. In order to forestall and eliminate outbursts similar t o those i n P o l a n d , t h e l e a d e r s i n M o s c o w h a s t e n e d t o loosen their purse strings a little. B u t they are gravely m i s t a k e n if they t h i n k that they can deceive the w o r k i n g people for l o n g a n d overcome the deep contradictions b e t w e e n t h e masses a n d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h a f e w c r u m b s . T h e deep discontent of the Soviet w o r k i n g people and the w o r k i n g people of a l l the other revisionist countries, does n o t h a v e its s o u r c e i n e c o n o m i c causes alone. I t emerged and extended for political and ideological reasons, f i r s t o f a l l . A s l o n g a s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t b e t r a y a l , w h i c h i s t h e s o u r c e o f a l l evils, exists, t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y o u t b u r s t s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a r e i n e v i t a b l e , i r r e s p e c t i v e o f w h a t m o t i v e serves a s t h e i r d e t o n a t o r . T h e same t h i n g is occurring w i t h the Soviet r e v i sionists a s w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e o f t h e o l d c a p i t a l i s t c o u n tries, w h i c h , a l o n g w i t h a f e w concessions t h a t i t m a k e s in the field of socio-economic demands of the w o r k i n g people, i s t i g h t e n i n g t h e s c r e w s t o k e e p its h o l d o n t h e r e i n s o f its d o m i n a t i o n . I n h i s r e p o r t B r e z h n e v d e m a n d e d discipline and the unconditional implementation of the o r d e r s a n d d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e state a p p a r a t u s e s a n d t h e p a r t y . H e t h r e a t e n e d a l l those w h o a r e n o t r e c o n c i l e d to the actions and views of the Soviet leadership and i s s u e d a s t e r n w a r n i n g t o t h o s e w h o w o u l d sully the banner of the r u l i n g clique. B r e z h n e v is t r y i n g to present this screw-tightening as
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a struggle he is w a g i n g to defend the general line of the party f r o m the attacks w h i c h come f r o m the left a n d t h e r i g h t . R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e p r i n c i p l e d pose w h i c h the general secretary of the Soviet revisionist p a r t y tries t o adopt, b y s o d o i n g h e i s o b l i g e d t o a d m i t t h e e x i s t e n c e of opposition to the revisionist line among the Soviet people. I t i s p r e c i s e l y t h e f e a r o f t h e s p r e a d o f d i s c o n t e n t w i t h a n d opposition to the official policy among the different strata of the population w h i c h compels the K r e m l i n leadership to manoeuvre between demagogy and the t h r e a t t o use f o r c e . The renegade Soviet clique has never overlooked the i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e i d e o l o g i c a l b r a i n w a s h i n g o f t h e masses, of keeping them under the continuous pressure of the revisionist propaganda, in order to maintain its d o m i n a t i o n . T h i s w a s c l e a r l y a p p a r e n t a t t h e r e c e n t congress, too, a t w h i c h B r e z h n e v , K o s y g i n a n d o t h e r s t r i e d t o p e d d l e revisionism as M a r x i s m , indeed as creative M a r x i s m , a n d to present their revisionist methods a n d stands as Leninist. T h e y w a n t to strangle any critical or creative thought, t o i m p o s e o n t h e masses t h e concepts o f s u b m i s s i o n a n d unconditional obedience to the policy and activity of the leadership. There is nothing M a r x i s t or L e n i n i s t in this. T h e y misuse the authority and name of L e n i n and L e n i n ism to cover up the hollowness of their revisionist ideology and to conceal their complete betrayal of M a r x i s m Leninism. In his report B r e z h n e v boasted about the contribution the Soviet leaders have allegedly made to the d e velopment and enrichment of the Marxist-Leninist theory in the field of the economy, the role and structure of t h e p a r t y , the h i s t o r y a n d t h e o r y o f t h e state, t h e d e v e lopment of present-day capitalism and socialism, a n d the revolutionary and national liberation movement. If we c a n speak o f a n y r e a l c o n t r i b u t i o n o f the S o v i e t r e v i -
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sionists, i t i s t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e t o t a l r e v i s i n g o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , to the flagrant distortion of the theory a n d p r a c t i c e o f s o c i a l i s m . I n this t h e y a r e t h e b a n n e r bearers and a l l t h e i r merits can be acknowledged. H o w can the elaboration of the n e w methods of p l a n n i n g a n d management of the economy, w h i c h destroyed t h e socialist e c o n o m y i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d o p e n e d the w a y to the restoration of capitalism, be called a f u r t h e r development of the theory of the construction of socialism? W h a t sort of contribution to the doctrine a b o u t t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y c a n they speak of w h e n the Khrushchevites, u n d e r the m a s k of t h e p a r t y o f t h e e n t i r e people, l i q u i d a t e d the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y of L e n i n and Stalin and transformed it into an instrument for their domination over the Soviet w o r k i n g class a n d p e o p l e ? H o w c a n t h e s l a n d e r s a n d v i c i o u s a t t a c k s against the dictatorship of the proletariat, w h i c h were p e r p e t r a t e d u n d e r t h e m a s k o f t h e f i g h t against t h e c u l t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l , a n d i t s c o m p l e t e l i q u i d a t i o n u n d e r the p r e t e x t o f its t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n t o t h e state o f t h e e n t i r e people, b e c a l l e d a n e n r i c h m e n t o f t h e h i s t o r y a n d t h e o r y o f t h e state? T h e r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n also p r a i s e t o t h e skies t h e e l a b o r a t i o n o f n e w p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e relations between socialist countries. C a n it be that B r e z h nev's theory of l i m i t e d sovereignty, the occupation of C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , t h e b r u t a l i n t e r f e r e n c e i n o t h e r countries, the economic exploitation of the countries of Eastern E u r o p e , t h e p r o v o c a t i o n s a n d a t t a c k s against C h i n a a n d A l b a n i a , are M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m ? Or have their opportunist p r e a c h i n g s o n t h e p e a c e f u l , p a r l i a m e n t a r y r o a d t o socialism, on the integration of capitalism into socialism by means of reforms, about the transition of various countries to socialism w i t h o u t the socialist revolution, w i t h o u t the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n p a r t y a n d w i t h -
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o u t t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , assisted t h e d e v e lopment of the theory of the revolution as they c l a i m ? Brezhnev's report and all the proceedings of the c o n gress s h o w e d t h a t t h e i d e o l o g i c a l basis o f t h e e n t i r e a c tivity of the Khrushchevite revisionists is not M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , but a n t i - M a r x i s m , bourgeois ideology, of w h i c h t h e w h o l e o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i s a v a r i a n t . I n essence, t h e l i n e w h i c h t h e 24th C o n g r e s s s a n c t i o n e d i s t h e o l d K h r u s h c h e v i t e l i n e . T h e congress d i d n o t h i n g b u t e x p r e s s once a g a i n t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e p r e s e n t - d a y S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p t o persist i n its c o u r s e o f b e t r a y a l a n d c o u n t e r revolution.
GREAT-STATE CHAUVINIST AND NEO-COLONIALIST COURSE T h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e o t h e r revisionist countries occupied an important place in the d o c u m e n t s a n d p r o c e e d i n g s o f the 24th C o n g r e s s . A s w a s expected, Brezhnev a n d company presented a v e r y i d y l l i c picture both of the bilateral relations and of the situation i n these c o u n t r i e s . W i t h o u t t h e s l i g h t e s t b l u s h , B r e z h n e v spoke about the strengthening of the friendship and u n i t y b e t w e e n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e socialist c o u n tries, a s i f the C z e c h o s l o v a k q u e s t i o n h a d n e v e r o c c u r r e d ; h e s p o k e o f t h e successes a n d p r o g r e s s o f t h e f r a t e r n a l countries, pendence, as if as if the the events in Poland had never military hapof p e n e d ; h e spoke o f t h e i r relations o f e q u a l i t y a n d i n d e permanent occupation Democratic Germany, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and M o n golia d i d not exist at all. N e i t h e r d i d he spare his b o m bastic Soviet world statements Union does not about know the gives fraternal these about aid how which as the if the the allegedly countries,
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U n i o n e x p l o i t s these c o u n t r i e s e c o n o m i c a l l y , h o w t h e y h a v e b e e n t u r n e d i n t o appendages o f t h e S o v i e t e c o n o m y . B u t t h e t r a g i c s i t u a t i o n w h i c h p r e v a i l s i n the r e v i s i o n i s t c a m p c a n n o t b e c o v e r e d b y a false l u s t r e o f demagogy. Czechoslovakia has been and remains an irrefuta b l e i n d i c t m e n t against t h e c l i q u e w h i c h i s r u l i n g a t p r e sent i n t h e K r e m l i n . I n h i s r e p o r t B r e z h n e v t r i e d t o g l i d e lightly over the Czechoslovak problem, t h i n k i n g that in t h i s m a n n e r h e w o u l d f o o l p u b l i c o p i n i o n . T h e best h e could do to justify the occupation of Czechoslovakia was to produce a statement m a d e by H u s a k w h i c h described t h e a g g r e s s i o n a s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t act. T r u l y a k e y t e s t i m o n y ! T h e use o f s t a t e m e n t s m a d e b y a p e r s o n s o discredited as Husak, statements w h i c h w e r e w r i t t e n in the offices of the Soviet embassy in Prague, as arguments, s h o w s h o w l o w t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h a v e s u n k . T h e aggression against Czechoslovakia remains a g gression, a n d no theory, no document or argument can j u s t i f y it. It revealed and p r o v e d the r e a l character of t h e p r e s e n t - d a y i m p e r i a l i s t p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , its t r a n s i t i o n t o s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e e v e n t s o f A u g u s t 1968 exposed the utter falsity of the demagogic preachings of t h e S o v i e t chiefs. T h e y s h o w e d t h a t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n i s t h e a b s o l u t e r u l e r i n these c o u n t r i e s , t h e p o w e r t h a t makes the l a w a n d determines the i n t e r n a l a n d foreign p o l i c y o f these c o u n t r i e s . T h e o c c u p a t i o n o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d the elevation of the doctrine of limited sovereignty to an official n o r m testify to the fact that the other r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s h a v e n o w lost t h e i r f r e e d o m , i n d e pendence a n d national sovereignty. F o r the revisionists of Moscow Czechoslovakia remains an open w o u n d that can never be healed either by the words of B r e z h n e v or by the statements of Czechoslovak quislings. T h e continued stationing of Soviet troops in Czechoslovakia c a n only f u r t h e r deepen the Czechoslovak
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crisis, w h i c h i s t h e c r i s i s o f the w h o l e o f K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionism. The occupation of Czechoslovakia extends a n d deepens the s t r u g g l e o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k p e o p l e f o r freedom and independence f r o m foreign occupiers and increases t h e r e v u l s i o n o f w o r l d p u b l i c o p i n i o n a g a i n s t t h e i m p e r i a l i s t p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t leaders. Another problem which Brezhnev wanted to avoid in his report was the P o l i s h problem. He tried to treat t h i s p r o b l e m a s i f i t h a d t o d o w i t h P o l a n d alone, a s i f i t h a d n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h t h e other r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n tries, a n d r e s t r i c t e d h i m s e l f t o w i s h i n g G i e r e k great successes i n o v e r c o m i n g t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s . ( 2 ) B r e z h n e v c o u l d not open the dossier on the recent events in P o l a n d to t h e congress. S u c h a t h i n g w o u l d h a v e l a i d b a r e t h a t the s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e causes w h i c h a r o u s e d t h e P o l i s h w o r k e r s to revolt are the same in a l l the revisionist countries, i n c l u d i n g the S o v i e t U n i o n itself. T h e y w o u l d h a v e s h o w n the r e a l political character and significance of the Polish D e c e m b e r , a s w e l l a s t h e great n e w fact t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s h a s b e g u n t o a w a k e n a n d r i s e against t h e r u l i n g r e v i s i o n i s t p o w e r . T h e S o v i e t leaders w a n t t o s u r r o u n d the P o l i s h events w i t h a w a l l o f silence, t o p u t a l i d o n t h e q u e s t i o n a n d c o n s i d e r i t o v e r a n d d o n e w i t h , j u s t a s i n t h e case o f Czechoslovakia. B u t the cauldron is seething f r o m w i t h i n , a n d sooner or later it w i l l b o i l over again. T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses c a n n o t b e q u e l l e d because B r e z h n e v a n d h i s associates i g n o r e it. It has its o w n l a w s of d e v e l o p m e n t a n d i s i n e v i t a b l e , s i n c e t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d those o f the r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s i n p o w e r a r e i r r e c o n c i l a b l y opposed.
_______________________________ 2 Gierek couldn't overcome the difficulties, either. He was dismissed from the post of first secretary of the P U W P in 1980
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T h e prospects w h i c h t h e 24th C o n g r e s s o p e n e d t o t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s i s v e r y g l o o m y . I n fact, i t s h o w e d that the a i m of the Soviet leaders is to rob t h e m of w h a t little remains of their national independence and sovereignty and to transform them into military provinces of the Czarist type. B r e z h n e v quite openly d e m a n d e d the c o - o r d i n a t i o n o f t h e f o r e i g n p o l i c i e s o f these c o u n t r i e s w i t h that of the Soviet U n i o n , their economic integration a n d the strengthening of the political and m i l i t a r y i n s t r u m e n t s o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y . I n fact, t h e c o - o r d i n a t i o n of foreign policy means that the other countries w i l l be deprived of their o w n foreign policy, or that it w i l l be o n l y a p r o p a g a n d a echo o f G r o m y k o ' s d e p a r t m e n t . A n d practice shows that in the field of international relations these c o u n t r i e s h a v e a l r e a d y lost t h e i r i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d i n d i v i d u a l i t y and are forced to give their unconditional approval to every manoeuvre of Soviet diplomacy even w h e n t h i s i s c o n t r a r y t o t h e i r n a t i o n a l interests, a s i s t h e case w i t h t h e M o s c o w - B o n n t r e a t y , etc. As far as their economic integration is concerned, it i s n o t d i f f i c u l t t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t its a i m s a r e a n d w h a t consequences i t w i l l h a v e . T h e e c o n o m y o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t countries has already been transformed into an appendage o f t h e S o v i e t e c o n o m y . Its d i r e c t i o n s , r a t e s a n d p r o p o r tions are determined not in Berlin, Prague or Warsaw, but in the State P l a n n i n g Commission in Moscow. It is dependent on the Soviet U n i o n in everything, r a w materials or technology. T h e i r foreign trade is entirely in the hands of Moscow. T h e so-called C o u n c i l of M u t u a l E c o n o m i c A s s i s t a n c e is, in fact, a c o u n c i l of e c o n o m i c enslavement, an instrument of the neo-colonialist policy of the Soviet U n i o n . T h e W a r s a w T r e a t y plays a similar role, but in the m i l i t a r y and political fields. T h r o u g h its mechanisms, w h i c h B r e z h n e v wants to strengthen, the Soviet leadership
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e x e r t s p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y p r e s s u r e o n i t s allies, k e e p s t h e m under continuous control and compels them to obey its orders. T h e W a r s a w T r e a t y i s n o l o n g e r a f o r c e t o defend the freedom and independence of the member countries f r o m foreign imperialist threats, but a means t o m a i n t a i n the r e v i s i o n i s t f o r e i g n o c c u p a t i o n . M o r e o v e r , n o w the W a r s a w T r e a t y emerges as a m i l i t a r y bloc in the service of the expansionist Soviet policy, w h i c h const i t u t e s a serious t h r e a t to t h e o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , too. T h e policy of subjugation to the Soviet leadership, w h i c h e m e r g e d q u i t e c l e a r l y a t t h e 24th C o n g r e s s , i s a i m e d not o n l y at the satellite countries, but also at a l l the revisionist parties w h i c h m a i n t a i n connections w i t h M o s c o w . I n t h e r e p o r t , i n t h e c l o s i n g speech, a n d i n t h e speech d e l i v e r e d a t t h e d i n n e r o r g a n i z e d f o r t h e f o r e i g n d e l e g a t i o n s t h a t a t t e n d e d t h e congress, B r e z h n e v d e m a n d e d f r o m a l l parties u n l i m i t e d obedience to a n d solidarity w i t h the present policy of the Soviet U n i o n . He v e r y arrogantly described a n y comment or criticism against the unerring activity of the Soviet leadership as anticommunist and anti-Soviet. He demanded that they p u t e v e r y t h i n g else aside a n d c o n s i d e r u n c o n d i t i o n a l s u p p o r t f o r t h e p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t state i n e v e r y s i t u a t i o n as the m a i n a n d only a i m of their activity. B r e z h n e v h i g h l y eulogized the revisionist international m e e t i n g s a n d d e m a n d e d t h a t t h e y be i n t r o d u c e d w i d e l y in the practice of the w o r l d communist movement. It is w e l l - k n o w n w h a t these m e e t i n g s a r e a n d w h o m t h e y s e r v e . T h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p has u s e d t h e m a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o use t h e m t o i m p o s e i t s concepts a n d d i c t a t e o n t h e others, t o k e e p t h e o t h e r p a r t i e s h i t c h e d t o t h e c h a r i o t of its policy. B u t wishes are one thing and reality another. T h e fact i s t h a t t h e d i f f e r e n t r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s a r e b e c o m i n g less a n d less e n t h u s i a s t i c a n d h a p p y a b o u t d i s p l a y i n g t h e i r
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solidarity w i t h Moscow. T h e r e is not a n d cannot be u n i t y in the revisionist c a m p today. E a c h p a r t y is r i n g i n g its o w n n a t i o n a l i s t b e l l e v e r m o r e l o u d l y . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d the pressure of the Soviet dictate is increasing the c e n t r i f u g a l tendencies, t h e d i s a g r e e m e n t s a n d c o n f u s i o n . E v e n Brezhnev was obliged to partly admit this situation s o u n d e s i r a b l e f o r M o s c o w , w h e n h e s p o k e a b o u t the d i f f i c u l t i e s o f u n i t y , t h e t e n d e n c i e s t o n a t i o n a l selfi s o l a t i o n , t h e r e v i v a l o f r i g h t o p p o r t u n i s m , etc. D i s t u r b e d b y this s i t u a t i o n , t h e S o v i e t c l i q u e d i d its utmost to gather as m a n y foreign delegations as poss i b l e i n t h e congress. I t h a d t w o a i m s : p r o p a g a n d a a n d political. On the one hand, it a i m e d to show the presence of the foreign delegations in M o s c o w to internal and foreign public opinion as an expression of solidarity w i t h the l i n e of the K r e m l i n , and on the other hand, to m a k e t h e guests a c c o m p l i c e s o f t h i s p o l i c y . B u t t h e w o r l d does not judge the Soviet leaders and their policy by w h o c o m e s a n d goes i n M o s c o w , o r b y t h e c o r d i a l w o r d s these visitors address to them. T h e y cannot save the Soviet chiefs f r o m exposure or do themselves any honour through s u c h gestures.
EXTINGUISHERS OF THE FLAMES OF THE REVOLUTION AND THE PEOPLES' LIBERATION MOVEMENT A s w a s e x p e c t e d , a t t h e i r 24th Congress, t h e S o v i e t revisionists d i d not spare their statements and criticisms against i m p e r i a l i s m . I f o n e w e r e t o b e l i e v e t h e i r w o r d s , i t w o u l d s e e m t h a t t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p opposes t h e p o l i c y of aggression a n d w a r of imperialism, headed by A m e r ican imperialism, in every way. T h e anti-imperialism of the Soviet revisionists has always been and remains merely an e m p t y demagogic slogan, intended to deceive
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the peoples and to u n d e r m i n e their struggle. F o r a l o n g t i m e n o w t h e S o v i e t U n i o n has ceased t o b e a r e v o l u t i o n a r y , a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r . N o t o n l y does i t n o t w a g e a n y r e a l s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m itself, b u t i t s a b o tages e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n m o v e ment. B r e z h n e v c a n boast a s m u c h a s h e l i k e s , c a n t a k e s o l e m n oaths a b o u t s o l i d a r i t y a n d t h e a i d w h i c h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a l l e g e d l y g i v e s t h e peoples w h o f i g h t f o r f r e e d o m a n d independence against colonialism, oppression a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n . B u t p r a c t i c e has s h o w n t h a t S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s m has t r i e d a n d d o n e e v e r y t h i n g i n i t s p o w e r t o extinguish the flames of every revolution and every antii m p e r i a l i s t struggle, w h e r e v e r t h e y h a v e g o n e u p . T h e pro-imperialist a n d counter-revolutionary stands a n d actions o f t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p a r e d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e l i n e a n d n a t u r e o f r e v i s i o n i s m itself. A n y g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r y and l i b e r a t i o n struggle, i n w h a t e v e r c o u n t r y it m a y erupt, w i l l certainly be in open opposition to the Soviet revisionists. E v e r y revolution compels the Soviet U n i o n , w i l l y - n i l l y , to take a stand. If it supports revolution t h e n it w i l l come into opposition w i t h the other reactionary a n d imperialist powers, a thing w h i c h i t does not w a n t t o d o i n a n y w a y . I f i t stands aloof, t h e n h o w c a n i t j u s t i f y its c l a i m s t o b e t h e great c e n t r e o f w o r l d communism, the genuine communist party, the s u p p o r t e r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n s , etc. b e f o r e p u b l i c o p i n i o n at home and abroad? Therefore, the only road objectively open t o i t i s t o s a b o t a g e t h e r e v o l u t i o n b e f o r e i t b r e a k s out, o r t o e x t i n g u i s h i t w h e n i t does b u r s t out. T h e i r betrayal of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and the r e v o l u t i o n has the r e v i s i o n i s t leaders i n a s t r a n g l e h o l d a n d does n o t a l l o w them to manoeuvre. It compels t h e m relentlessly to become e x t i n g u i s h e r s o f t h e f l a m e s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n . F o r years the Soviet leaders have been sabotaging the
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heroic struggle of the Vietnamese people and they are trying w i t h all their means to save the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l ists f r o m i n e v i t a b l e defeat. T h e y a r e e x e r t i n g a l l k i n d s o f p r e s s u r e o n V i e t n a m t o f o r c e i t t o its k n e e s a n d accept the A m e r i c a n dictate. T h e y talk a great deal about solid a r i t y a n d aid for the peoples of Indochina. But, w h i l e the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a c o n t i n u e s its a g g r e s s i o n i n Cambodia, to this d a y they still maintain diplomatic relations w i t h the reactionary L o n N o l clique. W h e n the A m e r i c a n imperialists i n v a d e d Laos, the Soviet revisionists contented themselves w i t h a statement of sympathy. The extension of the imperialist aggression in Indochina and o t h e r c o u n t r i e s has n o t h i n d e r e d t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s i n t h e least f r o m m a i n t a i n i n g a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e i r friendship and collaboration w i t h the executioners of the peoples, t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s . W h e r e i s t h e i r a n t i imperialism, their support for the just struggle of the peoples o f I n d o c h i n a , a b o u t w h i c h B r e z h n e v s p o k e a t s u c h l e n g t h a n d s o b o a s t f u l l y a t t h e 24th C o n g r e s s ? I n t h e o d d case, s u c h a s t h a t o f t h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t m o v e m e n t o f t h e A r a b s , f o r e x a m p l e , i t seems a s i f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n i s a i d i n g i t a n d i s n o t s p a r i n g some m a t e r i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l s u p p o r t . B u t the r e a l a i m o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n is to increase its o w n expansionist influence. In other cases i t m a i n t a i n s c o m p l e t e n e u t r a l i t y t o w a r d s l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s o r sabotages t h e m w i t h a l l i t s m e a n s . L e t us look at the stand of the Soviet U n i o n towards the movement of the Palestinian partisans, w h i c h is the v a n g u a r d o f t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e A r a b peoples. W h i l e p o s i n g a s t h e c h a m p i o n s o f t h e A r a b peoples, a s s u p p o r t e r s o f their right to freedom and independence, as supporters o f t h e i r a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t struggle, t h e M o s c o w r e v i s i o n i s t s are t r y i n g a n d s t r u g g l i n g t o q u e l l t h e m o v e m e n t o f t h e Palestinian partisans. T h e absolutely indifferent stand w h i c h they take towards the anti-Palestinian attacks of
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J o r d a n i a n reaction is more than clear proof of this. T h e S o v i e t leaders oppose t h e m o v e m e n t o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p a r t i s a n s , because t h i s m o v e m e n t r u n s c o u n t e r t o t h e i r h e g e m o n i c p o l i c y i n t h e M i d d l e East, s t r i k e s b l o w s a t their joint plots w i t h A m e r i c a n imperialism for the dom i n a t i o n o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s i n this r e g i o n , a n d e x poses the d e m a g o g y a n d f a l s i t y o f t h e i r a l l e g e d l y a n t i imperialist policy. T h e Soviet revisionists are t r y i n g to exploit the t e m p o r a r y d i f f i c u l t i e s o f t h e A r a b peoples i n o r d e r t o p e n e trate into the M i d d l e East and capture economic, political a n d m i l i t a r y positions under the guise of anti-imperialism. L i k e A m e r i c a n imperialism, they w a n t to establish t h e m s e l v e s i n t h i s z o n e i n o r d e r t o c r e a t e bases w h i c h w i l l serve as spring-boards for their expansionist a n d imperialist aims i n the A f r i c a n a n d A s i a n continents. T h e revisionist chiefs of the Soviet U n i o n , together w i t h A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , are t r y i n g t o s p l i t t h e A r a b peoples a n d t o d i c t a t e t o t h e m a peace t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f t h e i r interests a n d i n f a v o u r o f the t w o superpowers. A l l the stands a n d a c t i o n s o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t are f u r t h e r p r o o f o f t h e f a l s i t y o f t h e i r a n t i - i m p e rialism, clear evidence of their collaboration w i t h A m e r ican i m p e r i a l i s m for the division of spheres of influence and the domination of the world. It w a s not accidental that in his report B r e z h n e v m a d e n o m e n t i o n o f t h e h e r o i c s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples o f L a t i n A m e r i c a against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d t h e f a s c i s t d i c t a t o r s h i p s . T h i s i s n o t because h e does not k n o w t h e s i t u a t i o n , b u t because t h e S o v i e t leaders c o n s i d e r L a t i n A m e r i c a a zone of influence of the U S A , in w h i c h they d o n o t w a n t t o i n t e r f e r e , because t h e y d o n o t w a n t t o f a l l out w i t h t h e r e a c t i o n a r y r e g i m e s i n these c o u n t r i e s , w i t h w h i c h they want to extend and strengthen their relations a n d collaboration. T h e revolutionary struggle
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o f t h e L a t i n - A m e r i c a n peoples, w h o i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s have taken up arms, is contrary to the preachings of the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o a r e against r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i o l e n c e , f o r t h e p e a c e f u l r o a d , etc. F o r t h e s a m e reasons, t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a b s o l u t e l y i g n o r e t h e l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e s o f t h e peoples o f A f r i c a a n d A s i a a s i f t h e y s i m p l y d i d n o t e x i s t . C a n the i l l u s i o n s , w h i c h B r e z h n e v once a g a i n s t r e s s e d a t t h e congress, t h a t m a n y o f these c o u n t r i e s t h r o u g h t h e s o - c a l l e d n o n - c a p i t a l i s t r o a d o f d e v e l o p m e n t h a v e a l l e g e d l y set o u t o n the road of socialism a n d the construction of the socialist society, b e c a l l e d a i d f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e r e v olutionary movement? A l l t h e p r e a c h i n g s a n d actions o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i sionists i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e are o p p o r t u n i s t , c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r e a c h i n g s a n d actions, a i m e d a t e x t i n g u i s h i n g t h e f l a m e s of the struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m for national and social l i b e r a t i o n . T h i s h a s b e e n t h e case h i t h e r t o a n d i t w i l l r e m a i n so in the future. A n y illusion about the antii m p e r i a l i s m o f t h e S o v i e t leaders, a n y n a i v e b e l i e f i n their demagogic statements, brings great h a r m to the w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t , t o the r e a l s t r u g g l e against imperialism.
A POLICY OF A SUPERPOWER FOR EXPANSION AND WORLD HEGEMONY In the reports of Brezhnev and Kosygin, and in the c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o t h e d i s c u s s i o n b y G r o m y k o a n d others, the treatment of S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n relations, the problems of w a r a n d peace a n d the foreign policy of the Soviet U n i o n , i n g e n e r a l , o c c u p i e d a m a j o r place. T h e essence o f t h e e n t i r e S o v i e t l i n e o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s i s the
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policy of a superpower w h i c h is striving for expansion a n d hegemony in the w o r l d . There was a good deal of criticism of the policy of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a a t t h e 24th C o n g r e s s . B u t a l l this criticism was made for the sake of appearances a n d i m p o s e d b y t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s . T h e r e a l essence o f the stand of the Soviet revisionists, their official line in relations w i t h the U S A , is not exposure of a n d struggle against the U S A , but the desire to f u r t h e r e x t e n d a n d strengthen their collaboration w i t h A m e r i c a n imperialism i n a l l fields. The i m p r o v e m e n t o f S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n r e l a tions, d e c l a r e d B r e z h n e v , w o u l d r e s p o n d t o t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e S o v i e t a n d A m e r i c a n peoples, t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g of peace. T h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d c a n n o t b u t w o n d e r h o w i t is possible that collaboration w i t h a c o u n t r y w h i c h , as B r e z h n e v h i m s e l f says, is t r y i n g t o r e t a i n t h e r o l e o f guarantor a n d c h a m p i o n of the international system of e x p l o i t a t i o n a n d oppression, w h i c h is t r y i n g t o d o m i n a t e everywhere, to interfere in the affairs of the other peoples, t o v i o l a t e t h e i r l e g a l r i g h t s a n d s o v e r e i g n t y w i t h o u t c e r e m o n y , etc., s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e peoples a n d peace. B e t w e e n t h e w o r d s a n d t h e deeds o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i sionists t h e r e has a l w a y s b e e n a p r o f o u n d i n c o m p a t i b i l i t y . W i t h the i n t e r e s t s o f t h e peoples, they have in mind t h e interests o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t bourgeoisie, w h i c h i s r u l i n g i n t h e U S A a n d the S o v i e t U n i o n , w h i l e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m , t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f peace m e a n s peace b e t w e e n t h e t w o superpowers ism of the ever and USA, more war in against recent others. the Soviet-American increased and D e s p i t e t h e i n c r e a s e d aggressiveness o f t h e i m p e r i a l years have The relations become and collaboration steadily
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S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n a l l i a n c e c o n s t i t u t e s one o f the m o s t i m p o r t a n t f a c t s o n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l scene t o d a y . This alliance has f o u n d its expression in the attempts of the two superpowers to retain their domination in t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e spheres o f i n f l u e n c e . T h e y h a v e g i v e n e a c h o t h e r a free h a n d t o act a s t h e y w i s h i n those c o u n tries w h i c h come u n d e r their influence. F o r example, at t h e t i m e o f t h e S o v i e t a g g r e s s i o n against C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , the A m e r i c a n imperialists maintained a very loyal stand towards the invaders, just as the Soviet revisionists d i d towards the A m e r i c a n aggression in C a m b o d i a a n d Laos. In the f r a m e w o r k of this alliance, today they are s t r i k i n g secret b a r g a i n s t o d i v i d e u p n e w spheres o f i n fluence w h i c h formerly belonged to the other imperialist p o w e r s . T y p i c a l o f t h i s i s t h e s t a n d o f these t w o b i g powers towards the M i d d l e East and N o r t h A f r i c a . T h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s a r e n o w m a k i n g great e f f o r t s to co-ordinate their policies and to emerge w i t h a common s t a n d o n a l l t h e i m p o r t a n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l issues a n d t o i m p o s e these s t a n d s o n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . T h i s c a n b e c l e a r l y seen e s p e c i a l l y a t t h e U N O , w h i c h i s m a n i p u l a t e d by the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a a n d the Soviet U n i o n , a n d has been transformed i n t o an i n s t r u m e n t of t h e i r hegemonic policy. T h e i r a i m is to become the arbiters of the internal and foreign affairs of other countries a n d to impose their w i l l on all. In order to preserve a n d strengthen their alliance, both the Soviet revisionists a n d the A m e r i c a n imperialists n o w p a y great attention to avoiding friction between t h e m selves, t o t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f d i s a g r e e m e n t s a n d t o p r e serving the balance of power. Their permanent preoccupation is to preserve their nuclear monopoly and technicalscientific superiority, w i t h the a i m of keeping ahead of the other countries in order to exert continuous pressure a n d t h r e a t s against t h e m . I t h a s n o w b e c o m e c l e a r t h a t
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the S A L T talks, the G e n e v a talks on disarmament, the a g r e e m e n t s o n o u t e r space, etc., s e r v e p r e c i s e l y these aims. B r e z h n e v ' s peace p l a n , w h i c h h e l o u d l y p r o c l a i m e d at t h e 24th C o n g r e s s , is a d e m a g o g i c p l a n i n t e n d e d to p r e s e n t t h e aggressive i m p e r i a l i s t S o v i e t p o l i c y i n a r o s y l i g h t i n o r d e r t o deceive t h e peoples. T h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s p l a n is to a c h i e v e a series of p r e d e t e r m i n e d o b j e c t i v e s of Soviet foreign policy, w h i l e v i o l a t i n g the v i t a l interests o f t h e peoples. I n fact, B r e z h n e v d i s i n t e r r e d K h r u s h c h e v ' s o l d p r o p o s a l s w h i c h t h e p e o p l e s h a v e r e j e c t e d . H i s peace p l a n is not a p l a n of o p p o s i t i o n to i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h is t h e s o u r c e of w a r s a n d breaches of t h e peace. T h i s is a p r o g r a m the essential a i m of w h i c h is to serve the i m p e r i a l i s t interests o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s a n d t o secure them privileges and superiority in international problems. Demagogy a n d falsity are evident in a l l the points o f t h e B r e z h n e v p l a n . H e d e m a n d s t h a t a l l acts o f aggression a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r b i t r a r i n e s s s h o u l d b e s t o p p e d a n d a l l h o t b e d s o f w a r l i q u i d a t e d , etc. O n e c a n n o t u n d e r stand t o w h a t B r e z h n e v i s a p p e a l i n g : t o t h e w i s d o m o f N i x o n o r t o t h e reason o f t h e P e n t a g o n ? A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has not w i t h d r a w n and w i l l not w i t h d r a w o f its o w n f r e e w i l l o r because o f m o r a l m o t i v e s f r o m I n d o c h i n a , t h e M i d d l e East, o r o t h e r c o u n t r i e s t o w h i c h i t has d u g its clutches. I t does n o t r e n o u n c e t h e p o l i c y o f v i o l e n c e a n d aggression, w h i c h i s a p r o d u c t o f t h e capitalist-imperialist system itself. W i t h such sermons the S o v i e t l e a d e r s a r e t r y i n g t o create i l l u s i o n s a n d d i v e r t t h e peoples f r o m r e s i s t a n c e a n d t h e l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e w h i c h are the o n l y effective w a y s to oppose aggression and to defend freedom and independence. On the other hand, of w h a t opposition to violence a n d a r b i t r a r i n e s s c a n B r e z h n e v speak, w h e n S o v i e t s o c i a l i m p e r i a l i s m i s a n a g g r e s s o r itself, a n d h a s r a i s e d t h r e a t s
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a n d arbitrariness against the other countries to a law? W h i l e t h e y oppose r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i o l e n c e , t h e S o v i e t leaders m a k e widespread use of counter-revolutionary violence. T h e d a n g e r o f a g g r e s s i o n a n d w a r t o d a y comes n o t o n l y f r o m A m e r i c a n imperialism, but also f r o m Soviet sociali m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h use aggression, t h e t h r e a t a n d t h e exercise of violence as the m a i n means to realize their policy of hegemony and w o r l d domination. B r e z h n e v also p r e s e n t e d t h e w e l l - k n o w n p r o p o s a l o f c o l l e c t i v e s e c u r i t y i n E u r o p e a s one o f t h e measures f o r t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n o f peace i n t h e w o r l d . T h i s so-called E u r o pean security has n o t h i n g in c o m m o n w i t h the real security o f E u r o p e a n d t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n o f peace. T h e peoples o f E u r o p e are endangered, in the first place, by the t w o big p o w e r s a n d i t i s against t h e m t h a t t h e y m u s t seek s e c u r i t y . H o w e v e r , t h e S o v i e t p l a n f o r E u r o p e a n s e c u r i t y w a n t s the m a i n enemies of that security, A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m and S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t i m p e r i a l i s m , t o b e c o m e its guarantors. T h i s i s t a n t a m o u n t t o s e t t i n g w o l v e s t o g u a r d t h e sheep. In reality, the B r e z h n e v p l a n for E u r o p e is intended to s e c u r e a n d p e r p e t u a t e t h e S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n spheres o f influence a n d domination in Europe, to preserve the react i o n a r y status quo on this continent a n d to direct the spearhead of aggression a n d w a r against A s i a . In regard to the liquidation of N A T O and the W a r s a w T r e a t y that B r e z h n e v mentions, this cannot be realized as long as the aggressive, h e g e m o n i c a n d e x p a n s i o n i s t p o l i c y o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s exists, because t h e y u s e these m i l i t a r y blocs a s t h e i r m a i n tools f o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h i s p o l i c y . I n B r e z h n e v ' s peace p l a n t h e r e a r e also m a n y w o r d s a b o u t d i s a r m a m e n t , t h e b a n n i n g o f a t o m i c w e a p o n s , stopp i n g t h e a r m a m e n t s race, t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f f o r e i g n bases, t h e r e d u c t i o n o f a r m e d forces, t h e p r u n i n g o f m i l i t a r y budgets, etc. T h e peoples h a v e b e e n h e a r i n g s u c h sweet s e r m o n s
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f o r a l o n g t i m e n o w a n d t h e y are f e d u p w i t h t h e m . W i t h his plan, Brezhnev is capitalizing on the just demands o f the peoples f o r c o m p l e t e a n d g e n e r a l d i s a r m a m e n t a n d is t r y i n g to keep the w o r l d v a i n l y h o p i n g that something w i l l b e done, a n d t o h i d e t h e r e a l m e a n i n g o f the c l a m o u r the t w o superpowers are m a k i n g about disarmament. T h e e n t i r e p o l i c y a n d a l l t h e actions o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a and the Soviet revisionists show that they a r e not w o r k i n g for disarmament, but on the contrary, are a r m i n g themselves more and more, that their a i m is to retain their o w n arms and prevent others f r o m a r m i n g and defending themselves. C a n the infamous treaty on the p r o h i b i t i o n of nuclear w e a p o n s tests o n l a n d s u r f a c e o r i n the a t m o s p h e r e , t h e t r e a t y b a n n i n g t h e p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f these w e a p o n s o r t h e t r e a t y p r o h i b i t i n g the l o c a t i o n o f d e s t r u c t i v e w e a p o n s o n t h e sea-bed o r i n o u t e r space, b e c a l l e d p o s i t i v e a n d p r o m i s i n g steps? T h e s e treaties a n d o t h e r s o f t h e s a m e k i n d w h i c h are being drafted are agreements reached between the t w o big powers w h i c h co-ordinate a n d balance their plans for armament. By this means they w a n t to safeguard the nuclear and technological monopoly f o r themselves so that later they can implement their nuclear b l a c k m a i l a n d t h r e a t against o t h e r s w i t h o u t h i n d r a n c e . A r e t h e peoples m o r e a t peace n o w t h a t t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s n o l o n g e r c a r r y o u t n u c l e a r tests o n t h e s u r f a c e b u t o n l y underground, that they don't place atomic weapons on spacecraft b u t o n l y i n a i r c r a f t w h i c h f l y a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , a n d that they place t h e m not at the bottom of the sea, b u t o n l y i n t h e m i d d l e a n d o n t h e s u r f a c e o f i t ? N o b o d y but the t w o superpowers have encouraged the a r m a m e n t s race, j u s t a s n o b o d y b u t t h e y h a v e m i l i t a r y bases i n f o r e i g n c o u n t r i e s . T o d a y t h e y h a v e t h e biggest armies and their w a r budgets have reached astronomical figures.
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T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s need t h e i r p u b l i c u t t e r a n c e s a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m a n d i n f a v o u r o f peace a n d d i s a r m a m e n t t o a v o i d b e i n g u n m a s k e d b e f o r e t h e peoples. T h e s e statements do not h u r t or w o r r y the A m e r i c a n imperialists i n t h e least, because a t t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e S o v i e t p o l i c y i s t h e c o l l a b o r a t i o n a n d secret d i p l o m a c y w i t h t h e U S A , w i t h w h i c h they are concluding all kinds of agreements b e h i n d t h e b a c k s o f t h e peoples a n d t o t h e i r d e t r i m e n t . T h e peoples c a n e x p e c t n o t h i n g g o o d f r o m S o v i e t social-imperialism. The Soviet foreign policy is an expression of the hegemonic and expansionist aspirations of the new bourgeoisie of the Soviet U n i o n . T h e chiefs of the K r e m l i n s t r i v e t o p r e s e n t t h e i r course a s i f i t i s o p p o s e d t o the a g g r e s s i v e p o l i c y o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . I n fact, t h i s i s a l l a n i l l - d i s g u i s e d b l u f f , because t h e p o l i c i e s o f the t w o superpowers have the same features and are of the s a m e class n a t u r e . T h e r e f o r e , t h e d e f e n c e o f peace a n d international security, liberation f r o m national and social oppression, can be achieved only through resolute and consistent s t r u g g l e o n t w o f r o n t s , against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m and against Soviet social-imperialism. T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t u n i t e d f r o n t o f t h e peoples o f t h e whole w o r l d must be counterposed to the counter-revolut i o n a r y S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n alliance.
RABID HOSTILITY TO THE MARXIST-LENINIST FORCES T h e 24th C o n g r e s s b e g a n a n d e n d e d a s a r e v i s i o n i s t , a n t i - c o m m u n i s t congress. I t once a g a i n r e a f f i r m e d t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y course o f t h e p r e s e n t - d a y K h r u s h c h e v i t e l e a d e r s h i p , a i m e d against t h e g e n u i n e c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t , against a l l t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces. T h e fact i s t h a t n o w t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces, w h i c h are continuously increasing in numbers, and their struggle
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are causing B r e z h n e v a n d company great c o n c e r n . . . T h e Marxist-Leninist parties have emerged f r o m the r a n k s of the w o r k i n g class a s a n h i s t o r i c n e c e s s i t y t o l e a d i t s r e v o l u tionary struggle at a t i m e w h e n the o l d communist parties in m a n y countries have betrayed a n d gone over to r e v i sionism. T h e y are a logical a n d inevitable product of the struggle between M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and revisionism on a n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale. A s s u c h , t h e n e w M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties are g r o w i n g s t e a d i l y b i g g e r a n d s t r o n g e r a n d t h e f u t u r e b e l o n g s t o t h e m alone. In his report B r e z h n e v d i d not f a i l to m e n t i o n A l b a n i a . H e o f f e r e d o u r c o u n t r y the r e - e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f n o r m a l relations. N a t u r a l l y , w e c a n n o t stop h i m f r o m s p e a k i n g about relations w i t h o u r country. However, if the Soviet revisionists t h i n k that w i t h such tactics they w i l l p u t us in the position of a w a i t i n g new positive developments o n t h e i r part, a n d t h a t t h e y w i l l m a k e u s stop o u r p o l e m i c a n d s t r u g g l e against r e v i s i o n i s m , w e i n f o r m t h e m t h a t t h e y h a v e got t h e w r o n g address. O u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i lance against t h e i r c u n n i n g m a n o e u v r e s has a l w a y s been and always w i l l be at the proper level. We have declared and declare again that we w a n t to h a v e g o o d a n d c o r r e c t r e l a t i o n s e v e n w i t h states w h i c h h a v e r e g i m e s t h e o p p o s i t e o f ours, b u t o n t h e c o n d i t i o n t h a t t h e y respect t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f o u r H o m e l a n d , its s o v e r e i g n t y a n d t e r r i t o r i a l i n t e g r i t y a n d a l l the victories of our people's revolution. On the other h a n d , a l l those i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t states w h i c h h a v e m a i n t a i n e d a n d m a i n t a i n h o s t i l e stands t o w a r d s socialist A l b a n i a , have received and w i l l a l w a y s receive the answer t h e y d e s e r v e f r o m us. T h e y h a v e great e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l debts t o A l b a n i a , w h i c h c a n n o t b e p a i d o f f w i t h e m p t y words and demagogy. T h e inevitable r e v o l u t i o n in these c o u n t r i e s w i l l p u n i s h t h e c r i m e s w h i c h h a v e been committed a n d are still b e i n g c o m m i t t e d by t h e m not o n l y
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a g a i n s t t h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a , b u t also against a l l t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d . N o t j u s t once, b u t m a n y t i m e s , t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a has a p p e a l e d t o t h e p e o p l e s a n d c o m m u n i s t s o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , c a l l i n g t h e i r a t t e n t i o n t o t h e r e a l causes of the breach in S o v i e t - A l b a n i a n relations. B u t the Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t chiefs h a v e s t u c k t o t h e i r course o f b e t r a y a l a n d to their stands of hostility towards o u r P a r t y , our country and Marxism-Leninism. T h e n o r m a l i z a t i o n of relations between the Soviet U n i o n and socialist A l b a n i a is not a question that c a n be settled w i t h a false declaration f r o m a revisionist Soviet leadership, w h i c h maintains a hostile stand a n d threatens our country. There can be no talk of such an undertaking if the f r a t e r n a l Soviet peoples and the genuine bolsheviks d o n o t i n t e r v e n e e n e r g e t i c a l l y t o e s t a b l i s h the great M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t j u s t i c e o n these questions, because p r o f o u n d differences of political and ideological principle divide us f r o m the present Soviet leadership. T h e 24th C o n g r e s s w a s a congress o r g a n i z e d b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e f o r i t s r e v i s i o n i s t a i m s . Its p u r p o s e was to mobilize the Soviet people for the implementation o f i t s l i n e , f o r t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f the positions o f the n e w r u l i n g revisionist bourgeoisie. In order to mislead the Soviet people and w o r l d opinion, Brezhnev and company tried to present themselves as pure Marxists, as if they m a i n t a i n a balanced stand and fight b o t h the leftists a n d the rightists, both bureaucratic and technocratic centralism a n d l i b e r a l anarchism, both the cult of the i n d i v i d u a l and subjectivism and arbitrariness, both reactionary nat i o n a l i s t s a n d t h e a n t i - p a t r i o t s , etc. These are w e l l - k n o w n tactical manoeuvres intended t o p l a c a t e t h e w o r k i n g masses, t o d i v e r t t h e i r a t t e n t i o n f r o m t h e great, u n s o l v e d p r o b l e m s w h i c h a r e w o r r y i n g t h e
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S o v i e t peoples. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t chiefs n o w n e e d a p e r i o d o f peace i n o r d e r t o c a r r y o u t t h e i r p o l i c y o f t h e r e s t o r a tion of capitalism internally and of social-imperialism abroad without any problems. T h e S o v i e t peoples w h o h a v e g l o r i o u s r e v o l u t i o n a r y traditions must not be deceived by the revisionist d e m a g o g y a n d t h e m i s l e a d i n g tactics o f t h e i r r u l e r s . T h e 2 4 t h C o n g r e s s adds n e w c h a i n s t o t h e r e v i s i o n i s t b o n d a g e , i t f u r t h e r increases the doses o f p o i s o n w i t h w h i c h t h e r e v i sionists d e s t r o y t h e consciousness o f t h e p e o p l e a n d s t u p e f y their minds. T h e S o v i e t people c a n n o t e m e r g e f r o m t h e g r e a t m i s fortune into w h i c h they have fallen either by w a i t i n g or through political apathy, indifference or passivity. The o n l y r o a d t o s a l v a t i o n f o r t h e S o v i e t w o r k i n g class a n d e n t i r e people is to come out on t h e b a t t l e f i e l d a n d , through their r e v o l u t i o n a r y action, o v e r t h r o w revisionism, re-establish the dictatorship of the proletariat and p u t the Soviet U n i o n back again on the glorious road of the Great October.
Against
IT IS NOT RIGHT TO RECEIVE NIXON IN BEIJING. WE DO NOT SUPPORT IT
Letter to the CC of the CP of China

August 6, 1971
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA COMRADE MAO ZEDONG B E I J I N G
Dear
comrades,
T h e leadership of o u r P a r t y thanks y o u for the i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h c o m r a d e Z h o u E n l a i sent u s t h r o u g h o u r ambassador in Beijing in connection w i t h the coming visit of N i x o n to China. C o m r a d e X h o r x h i Robo, w h o made a special t r i p to Tirana, gave us an extensive report on the talk w h i c h he h a d w i t h c o m r a d e Z h o u E n l a i a b o u t the assessments o f the C h i n e s e l e a d e r s h i p i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e c o m i n g v i s i t of N i x o n to C h i n a , about the international situation and t h e i n t e r n a l s i t u a t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , a n d a b o u t the q u e s t i o n s r a i s e d i n the m e e t i n g o f c o m r a d e Zhou E n l a i w i t h Kissinger and the stand of the Chinese side t o w a r d s t h e m .
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O u r a m b a s s a d o r i n f o r m e d u s that, a c c o r d i n g t o y o u r i n f o r m a t i o n , N i x o n has b e e n a s k i n g f o r m o r e t h a n t w o y e a r s t o g o t o C h i n a a n d that c o n t a c t s a t v a r i o u s l e v e l s have been made for the organization of this visit. T h e talks w i t h N i x o n are described by y o u as an escalation of the earlier S i n o - A m e r i c a n talks in Warsaw. T h e ambass a d o r t r a n s m i t t e d t o u s y o u r assessment t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n i n the U S A has altered greatly i n recent years, that A m e r ica is on the eve of a r e v o l u t i o n a r y outburst a n d that t h e A m e r i c a n s are i n a d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n , t h a t t h e y c a n n o t c o n t i n u e t h e w a r , w a n t t o ease t h e tense s i t u a t i o n , t o w i t h d r a w t h e i r t r o o p s a n d t h e i r m i l i t a r y bases f r o m foreign countries, in order to a v o i d being i n v o l v e d in fighting and creating n e w hotbeds of w a r , and to a i d their puppets o n l y w i t h money and weapons so that Asians fight Asians. Our ambassador transmitted to us y o u r o p i n i o n t h a t N i x o n ' s v i s i t t o C h i n a assists a n d i s i n line w i t h the people's diplomacy, that the meetings w i t h t h e t o p s t r a t a o f t h e U S A assist l i n k s w i t h t h e p e o p l e a n d e n c o u r a g e changes a m o n g t h e A m e r i c a n people, t h a t t h e t a l k s w i t h N i x o n , w h e t h e r o r n o t successful, w i l l b e i n favour of C h i n a and w i l l not result in a n y damage f o r it. The leadership of o u r P a r t y studied the important p r o b l e m y o u p l a c e d b e f o r e u s w i t h t h e greatest s e r i o u s n e s s . . . W e agree t h a t w e h a v e t o d o w i t h a n i m p o r t a n t issue, because, a s y o u d e f i n e it, N i x o n ' s v i s i t t o B e i j i n g i s p a r t o f y o u r great s t r a t e g i c p l a n . W e t r u s t t h a t y o u w i l l u n d e r s t a n d the r e a s o n f o r t h e d e l a y i n o u r r e p l y . T h i s w a s because y o u r d e c i s i o n came as a surprise to us and was taken without any p r e l i m i n a r y consultation between us on this question, so that we w o u l d be able to express and thrash out our opinions. This, we t h i n k , c o u l d h a v e been u s e f u l , because p r e l i m i n a r y c o n s u l t a t i o n s b e t w e e n close f r i e n d s , d e t e r m i n e d c o - f i g h t e r s
LETTER OF THE CC OF THE PLA TO THE CC OF THE CPC 667 a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m , a r e u s e f u l a n d necess a r y , a n d e s p e c i a l l y so, w h e n steps w h i c h , i n o u r o p i n i o n , h a v e a m a j o r international effect a n d repercussion are taken. W e base o u r o p i n i o n s a n d j u d g e m e n t s o n t h i s p r o b l e m of great importance f o r the present a n d the f u t u r e of the struggle against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m on t h e great M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y a n d s t r a t e g y . . . T h i s strategy, w h i c h makes the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties invincible, consists o f t h e r e s o l u t e , p r i n c i p l e d a n d u n c o m p r o m i s i n g s t r u g gle on two fronts, both against imperialism, headed by A m e r i c a n imperialism, and against m o d e m revisionism, headed by Soviet revisionism, of the struggle against all reactionaries and in support of the revolution a n d the peoples' national liberation struggle, for the t r i u m p h of s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m . T h i s s t r a t e g y o f o u r s envisages close a l l i a n c e w i t h t h e peoples w h o a r e s t r u g g l i n g , w i t h the revolutionaries of the w h o l e w o r l d , in a common front against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d social-imperialism, and never a l liance w i t h Soviet social-imperialism allegedly against A m e r i c a n imperialism, never alliance w i t h A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a l l e g e d l y against S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e touchstone w h i c h distinguishes us M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s f r o m t h e v a r i o u s a n t i - M a r x i s t s i s t h e stern, u n c o m p r o m i s i n g class s t r u g g l e , a b l o w - f o r - b l o w f i g h t t o t h e f i n i s h o n t w o fronts simultaneously, against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m and Soviet social-imperialism. In the course of o u r great struggle our t w o parties h a v e e m p l o y e d a n d w i l l e m p l o y v a r i o u s tactics, b u t these have served and must always serve this strategy... It is clear that this great strategy frightens a n d terrifies both A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m and Soviet social-imperialism, w h i c h a r e m a k i n g a t t e m p t s t o d e f e a t o u r strategy, t h e r e f o r e o u r parties w i l l apply and defend it courageously in any circumstances or situations.
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I n this f a v o u r a b l e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s i t u a t i o n . . . P e o p l e ' s C h i n a , socialist A l b a n i a , t h e peoples a n d p r o g r e s s i v e states of the w o r l d must have their say a n d impose their w i l l in order to t h w a r t the diabolical, w a r - m o n g e r i n g and enslaving plans of the A m e r i c a n , Soviet and other imperialist great p o w e r s . I t i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e a n d has a l w a y s b e e n c l e a r t o u s that for the good of the peoples a n d the revolution the great C h i n a o f M a o Z e d o n g s h o u l d t a l k a n d e s t a b l i s h d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h v a r i o u s states o f t h e w o r l d , i n c l u d i n g t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . C o n s i d e r i n g t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a a s a sister p a r t y a n d o u r closest c o - f i g h t e r , w e h a v e n e v e r h i d d e n o u r v i e w s f r o m it. T h a t i s w h y o n t h i s m a j o r p r o b l e m w h i c h y o u p u t b e f o r e us, w e i n f o r m y o u t h a t w e c o n s i d e r y o u r decision to receive N i x o n in B e i j i n g as incorrect and u n d e s i r a b l e , a n d w e d o n o t a p p r o v e o r s u p p o r t it. I t i s also our opinion that N i x o n ' s announced visit (1) to C h i n a w i l l n o t b e u n d e r s t o o d o r a p p r o v e d o f b y t h e peoples, the revolutionaries and the communists of different countries. A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m is the n u m b e r one enemy of the peoples. T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a , w i t h P r e s i d e n t N i x o n at the head, is i n v o l v e d in a great conflict today w i t h a l l t h e peoples, e s p e c i a l l y w i t h t h e V i e t n a m e s e people, a g a i n s t w h o m i t h a s b e e n c a r r y i n g o n a savage a n d b a r barous aggression w i t h o u t precedent in history f o r 12 y e a r s . T o d a y t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d a r e w a g i n g a l i f e a n d - d e a t h struggle, w i t h a r m s a n d w i t h e v e r y o t h e r m e a n s , to destroy the oppressive and enslaving plans of the greatest e n e m y o f m a n k i n d , A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . T h i s s u p r e m e i n t e r e s t o f the peoples a n d t h e i r s t r u g g l e o u g h t t o b e t h e basis o f t h e p o l i c y o f o u r t w o p a r t i e s a n d g o v e r n ments. T h e y must always have this interest in v i e w in
________________________________ 1 M a d e an accomplished fact.
LETTER OF THE CC OF THE PLA TO THE CC OF THE CPC 669 a l l their activities, especially in regard to relations w i t h the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d w i t h the S o v i e t r e v i sionists. It is not h a r d to u n d e r s t a n d the desire of N i x o n , w h o , i t seems, has l o n g b e e n a s k i n g t o g o t o C h i n a , because this is in c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the two-pronged tactics of A m e r i c a n imperialism of brandishing weapons and w a v i n g the olive branch, in conformity w i t h its a i m s to disguise its i m p e r i a l i s t features, t o d e c e i v e t h e peoples a n d t o s o f t e n China. I n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t t h e r e are m a n y examples of talks at various levels between opponents. H i s t o r i c a l p a r a l l e l s c a n n o t b e m a d e , because t h e y took place in different conditions a n d times a n d on diff e r e n t p r o b l e m s . H o w e v e r , o u r great t e a c h e r s h a v e s h o w n t h a t t a l k s s h o u l d b e h e l d w h e n t h e y are t r u l y i n d i s p e n s a b l e w h e n t h e y s e r v e t h e cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m , t h a t t h e aggressive a i m s o f the o p p o n e n t m u s t b e k e p t clearly in m i n d , and that the situation and the opponent m u s t be assessed c o r r e c t l y . T h e talks w h i c h y o u are going t o hold w i t h N i x o n w o u l d h a v e been acceptable to progressive w o r l d o p i n i o n in certain given conditions, if they were sure to bring benefit to the anti-imperialist struggle, to the revolution in general, and to C h i n a in particular. A c o n d i t i o n sine q u a n o n f o r t a l k s w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n s at such a h i g h level is that they should be conducted in c o n d i t i o n s o f e q u a l i t y a t least, w h i c h m e a n s t h a t t h e U S A should first recognize the government of the People's R e public of C h i n a as the only l a w f u l government w h i c h represents t h e C h i n e s e p e o p l e a n d l i f t t h e obstacles t o t h e admission of C h i n a to the U N O , r e m o v e the A m e r i c a n o c c u p a t i o n t r o o p s f r o m T a i w a n , w i t h d r a w t h e 7th F l e e t f r o m C h i n e s e c o a s t a l w a t e r s , stop its a g g r e s s i o n o n t h e borders of C h i n a . This w o u l d be a great defeat for the
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A m e r i c a n p o l i c y . A f t e r this, w e believe, i t w o u l d b e p o s sible to advance gradually towards the solution of m a j o r international problems. I n these c o n d i t i o n s steps c o u l d b e u n d e r t a k e n f o r talks, w i t h n o need, i n o u r o p i n i o n , t o j u m p i m m e d i a t e l y f r o m a v e r y l o w - l e v e l to a t o p - l e v e l m e e t i n g of p e r s o n a l i ties o f the t w o states, C h i n a a n d the U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a , s i m p l y because N i x o n has a p p a r e n t l y f r e q u e n t l y e x p r e s s e d h i s desire f o r s u c h a m e e t i n g . I n o u r o p i n i o n , t h i s m e e t i n g c a n n o t be c o n s i d e r e d a s i m p l e e s c a l a t i o n of talks, b u t a c o m p l i c a t e d e s c a l a t i o n w h i c h w i l l h a v e consequences, because i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w t h e t a l k s can be upgraded in this w a y and the desire of the A m e r i c a n p r e s i d e n t m e t a t a t i m e w h e n t h e U n i t e d States h a s dropped all that huge quantity of bombs on V i e t n a m and e x t e n d e d t h e aggression t o C a m b o d i a a n d L a o s , w h e n the w a r i s s t i l l g o i n g o n a n d the A m e r i c a n a t t a c k s a r e c o n t i n u i n g f u r i o u s l y , one a f t e r t h e other, o n t h e peoples o f Indochina, w h e n the People's Republic of C h i n a , A l b a n i a , the heroic people of N o r t h and South V i e t n a m and a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples are s t a n d i n g a s s o l i d a s g r a n i t e , f i g h t i n g a n d u n m a s k i n g the a g g r e s s i v e p o l i c y o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t o f N i x o n , t h i s e n e m y o f a l l t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d . I n o u r o p i n i o n , this m e e t i n g i n these c o n d i t i o n s i s w r o n g both in p r i n c i p l e and as a tactic. It seems to us t h a t it cannot be c l a i m e d t h a t the t a l k s w i t h N i x o n , w h e t h e r t h e y succeed o r f a i l , w i l l b e e q u a l l y i n favour o f C h i n a and w i l l not cause a n y h a r m . O n the contrary, regardless of the results of the talks, the v e r y fact t h a t N i x o n , w h o i s k n o w n a s a r a b i d a n t i - c o m m u n i s t , a s a n aggressor a n d m u r d e r e r o f peoples, a s t h e r e p r e sentative o f t h e b l a c k e s t o f A m e r i c a n r e a c t i o n , i s t o b e received i n C h i n a has m a n y minuses and w i l l b r i n g m a n y n e g a t i v e consequences t o the r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t a n d o u r cause.
LETTER OF THE CC OF THE PLA TO THE CC OF THE CPC 671 There is no w a y in w h i c h Nixon's visit to China and t h e t a l k s w i t h h i m c a n f a i l t o create h a r m f u l i l l u s i o n s about A m e r i c a n imperialism and its strategy and policy a m o n g t h e o r d i n a r y people, a m o n g t h e n a t i o n s , a m o n g t h e revolutionaries. It w i l l exert a negative influence on the resistance a n d struggle of the A m e r i c a n people themselves against the policy and aggressive activity of the g o v e r n m e n t o f N i x o n , w h o w i l l seize t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o r u n f o r president again. N i x o n ' s visit to C h i n a w i l l w e a k e n the upsurge of revolt against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m everywhere in the w o r l d . Thus, we think A m e r i c a n imperialism w i l l be given the possibility to ensure a period of relative calm w h i c h it w i l l t r y to exploit to consolidate its positions, t o g a t h e r s t r e n g t h a n d p r e p a r e f o r n e w m i l i t a r y adventures. I t i s n o t h a r d t o guess w h a t t h e I t a l i a n w o r k e r s w h o clashed w i t h the police a n d demonstrated their repugnance t o N i x o n ' s r e c e n t v i s i t t o I t a l y , the J a p a n e s e w o r k e r s w h o d i d not a l l o w E i s e n h o w e r e v e n t o set foot o n t h e i r t e r r i t o r y , a n d t h e peoples o f L a t i n A m e r i c a w h o p r o t e s t e d a n d rose against t h e R o c k e f e l l e r s a n d a l l t h e o t h e r e n v o y s o f t h e Washington government, w i l l think. Only the Yugoslav Titoites and the R u m a n i a n revisionists welcomed President N i x o n to their capitals w i t h flowers. T h e talks w i t h N i x o n place a w e a p o n in the hands of the revisionists to devalue all the struggle and the great polemic in w h i c h the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a has engaged for exposure of the Soviet renegades as allies and collaborators of A m e r i c a n imperialism, enabling them to put the stand of C h i n a towards A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m on a par w i t h the line of betrayal and collaboration w h i c h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s f o l l o w t o w a r d s it. T h i s gives the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists the opportunity to w a v e t h e i r b a n n e r o f false a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s m m o r e v i g o r o u s l y a n d t o i n t e n s i f y t h e i r d e m a g o g y a n d lies i n o r d e r t o d r a w t h e
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a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t forces b e h i n d t h e m . A l r e a d y t h e S o v i e t revisionists have begun to exploit Nixon's visit to C h i n a t o f a n u p n a t i o n a l i s t a n d c h a u v i n i s t s e n t i m e n t s u n d e r the pretext that a S i n o - A m e r i c a n alliance a i m e d against the S o v i e t U n i o n i s u n d e r w a y . B y a l l these m e a n s t h e y a i m to strengthen the positions of the revisionist cliques in p o w e r and w e a k e n the revolutionary positions of C h i n a . N i x o n ' s v i s i t t o C h i n a w i l l also e n c o u r a g e t h e c e n t r i s t t r e n d a n d p r o v i d e its p a r t i s a n s w i t h a r g u m e n t s t o p r o v e the correctness o f t h e i r o p p o r t u n i s t l i n e . T h e I t a l i a n f o l lowers of Togliatti and the R u m a n i a n s are declaring o p e n l y t h a t n o w n e w p e r s p e c t i v e s a r e also o p e n e d i n c o n nection w i t h the re-establishment of u n i t y in the communist m o v e m e n t a n d t h a t the d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n C h i n a a n d t h e Soviet U n i o n can be resolved in this w a y . These are the desires o f i n v e t e r a t e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d o p p o r t u n i s t s w h o h a v e seized t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o p r e s e n t t h e d i f f e r e n c e s b e tween the Communist P a r t y of C h i n a and the revisionist leadership of the Soviet U n i o n not as p r o f o u n d ideological d i f f e r e n c e s o v e r c a r d i n a l issues o f p r i n c i p l e , a s t h e y are in r e a l i t y , b u t as d i s a g r e e m e n t s on a s i m p l e state l e v e l w h i c h can be solved by means of direct meetings a n d talks b e t w e e n top state p e r s o n a l i t i e s . T h e visit of the A m e r i c a n president to C h i n a cannot f a i l t o a r o u s e questions, i n d e e d m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s , a m o n g o r d i n a r y people, a m o n g w h o m d o u b t s m a y b e c r e a t e d t h a t C h i n a is changing its stand towards A m e r i c a n imperialism and is joining in the game of superpowers. I t i s n o t f o r t u i t o u s t h a t the c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d has welcomed Nixon's initiative to go to C h i n a w i t h such enthusiasm. A l l the propaganda of the imperialists, revisionists, Titoites, R u m a n i a n s and others in a joint chorus is praising C h i n a and A m e r i c a for this new advance in the relations between them. T h e Soviet, Titoite, R u m a n i a n and other m o d e r n revisionists... say that C h i n a
LETTER OF THE CC OF THE PLA TO THE CC OF THE CPC 673 has t a k e n a new course on the rails of the policy of u n principled compromises. T h e y think they w i l l extract i m portant political, ideological and economic benefits f r o m this. I n o u r o p i n i o n , a l l t h i s c a n n o t f a i l t o cause c o n f u s i o n and disorientation in the r a n k s of the revolutionary and a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t forces, i n d e e d i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t s , a n d c a n n o t f a i l t o e n c o u r a g e t h e s p r e a d o f the pacifist trend a n d illusions about the peaceful road. I n o u r o p i n i o n , these a r e m a j o r estimate the situation w h i c h N i x o n ' s create w o u l d be a great mistake, and minuses cannot be compensated w i t h results w h i c h m a y be achieved in the w h o , l i k e t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s p a w n h e is, minuses. To undervisit to Beijing w i l l w e t h i n k t h a t these certain hypothetical meeting w i t h N i x o n is cunning.
A l l o w u s also t o e x p r e s s s o m e ideas o f o u r s i n c o n n e c tion w i t h certain specific problems of the international s i tuation, rather w i t h the aim of m a k i n g our views more precise o n some q u e s t i o n s w h i c h w e t h i n k a r e d e b a t a b l e , w h i l e at the same t i m e recognizing that y o u r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l events, a n d espec i a l l y a b o u t e v e n t s i n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , m a y be more complete. It is true that A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m is n o w in great difficulties at h o m e and abroad. T h e A m e r i c a n people are s h o w i n g m a r k e d signs of being w e a r y of the policy of aggression and international tension pursued by N i x o n a n d h i s predecessors i n t h e W h i t e H o u s e . T h e protests a n d demonstrations against the w a r in V i e t n a m , the revolts o f t h e b l a c k s a n d students h a v e i n c r e a s e d i n recent years. The machinery of the A m e r i c a n economy is creaking under the h e a v y burden of the expenditure for the w a r in Indoc h i n a , t h e a r m a m e n t s r a c e a n d i n f l a t e d m i l i t a r y budgets. Inflation is not stopping and the a r m y of the unemployed is growing. W h i l e the contradictions w i t h the capitalist
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c o u n t r i e s o f E u r o p e are i n c r e a s i n g , A m e r i c a n i n f l u e n c e a n d prestige are s t e a d i l y d e c l i n i n g . T h e peoples' s t r u g g l e against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i s m o u n t i n g a n d e x t e n d i n g everywhere i n the w o r l d . Nevertheless, w i t h o u t overestimating or underestimati n g the e n e m y , t h e p i c t u r e o f the s i t u a t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a t o d a y does n o t i m p e l u s t o t h e c o n clusion w h i c h y o u have reached, that A m e r i c a is caught up in a great revolutionary storm. T h e b i g p o p u l a r protests a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s i n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a against t h e w a r w h i c h i s b e i n g w a g e d i n V i e t n a m , a n d the o t h e r m o v e m e n t s o f t h e masses a r e a fact, b u t t h e y h a v e t o d o o n l y w i t h o p p o s i t i o n t o a g i v e n a c t i v i t y , to a concrete act of t h e A m e r i c a n g o v e r n ment, a n d o n l y i n d i r e c t l y affect the w h o l e o f its a g g r e s s i v e l i n e . T h e y d o n o t t r a n s c e n d this l i m i t . A s r e g a r d s t h e i r economic situation, the ideology w h i c h inspires them, their w a y o f life, customs, t r a d i t i o n s , l i n k s , etc., t h e A m e r i c a n p e o p l e a r e f a r f r o m b e i n g o n the e v e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n . A great d e a l o f w a t e r w i l l f l o w u n d e r t h e b r i d g e s o v e r the A m e r i c a n r i v e r s b e f o r e t h a t t i m e comes. W e a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t i t w i l l come, b u t i t w i l l t a k e a g r e a t d e a l o f w o r k a n d a great s t r u g g l e . I n W e s t e r n E u r o p e t h e m o v e m e n t o f t h e masses, w h i c h has l o n g - s t a n d i n g t r a d i t i o n s , i s m u c h m o r e e x t e n s i v e a n d p o w e r f u l t h a n i n t h e U S A . Its o v e r a l l p o l i t i c a l t r e n d a n d class c h a r a c t e r are e v i d e n t . N e v e r t h e l e s s , here, too, it c a n not b e said that t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t o r m i s b l o w i n g u p a n d that t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s i m m i n e n t . T o j u d g e o t h e r w i s e w o u l d m e a n t o create h a r m f u l i l l u s i o n s a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces c o u l d e a s i l y f a l l i n t o e x t r e m i s t e r r o r s , e s p e cially into ultra-leftist errors. L i k e w i s e , w e t h i n k t h a t y o u r e s t i m a t i o n that, a s a result of the defeats they h a v e suffered, the A m e r i c a n s w a n t t o ease the tense s i t u a t i o n , t o w i t h d r a w t h e i r t r o o p s
LETTER OF THE CC OF THE PLA TO THE CC OF THE CPC 675 a n d m i l i t a r y bases f r o m f o r e i g n t e r r i t o r i e s , t o a v o i d b e i n g i n v o l v e d in fighting a n d creating other hotbeds of war, i s n o t a c c u r a t e . T h i s w a y o f j u d g e m e n t creates t h e i m pression as if there is a general retreat of A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m o n a l l f r o n t s t o d a y , a t h i n g w h i c h creates o n l y h a r m f u l illusions and a demobilization of the a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t forces. A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m s t i l l h a s g r e a t economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y s t r e n g t h t o resist a n d u n d e r t a k e n e w aggressions. T h e w a r b u d g e t a n d t h e a r m a m e n t s r a c e a n d t h e race to perfect armaments, w h i c h are the m a i n indicator o f its w a r - m o n g e r i n g a n d aggressive p o l i c y a n d aims, h a v e not diminished, but on the contrary, are increasing f r o m y e a r t o y e a r a t v e r y r a p i d rates. A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m w i l l n e v e r g i v e u p its s t r a t e g i c a i m s o f w a r a n d aggression. Otherwise it w o u l d not be imperialism. If the U S A t h i n k s that the puppet governments alone w i l l f i g h t t h e peoples a n d A m e r i c a w i l l assist t h e m o n l y w i t h m o n e y a n d w e a p o n s , this m e a n s t h a t A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m w o u l d s i g n t h e d e a t h w a r r a n t f o r its p u p p e t s a n d itself. There must be no illusions in this direction. E v e n though it suffers defeat a n d is obliged to w i t h d r a w f r o m some c o u n t r y , t h i s does n o t m e a n t h a t A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m w i l l n o t a t t e m p t t o i n t e r f e r e i n a n d o r g a n i z e aggressions against o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . W a r , aggression, o p p r e s s i o n a n d e n s l a v e m e n t o f the peoples a r e i n t h e n a t u r e o f i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e y s t e m f r o m the v e r y essence o f its e x p l o i t i n g s y s t e m . I t i s k n o w n t h a t i n o r d e r t o e x i s t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a needs c o n t i n u o u s economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y e x p a n s i o n f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f k e e p i n g t h e peoples i n b o n d a g e a n d s u c k i n g t h e i r b l o o d . O t h e r w i s e i m p e r i a l i s m d i e s a n d the w a y i s opened to revolts, insurrections and revolutions. F o r this r e a s o n , w e b e l i e v e , t h a t t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a w i l l n e v e r d i s m a n t l e its m i l i t a r y bases i n f o r e i g n t e r r i t o -
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r i e s a n d w i l l n o t w i t h d r a w i t s troops d e p l o y e d a b r o a d o f its o w n a c c o r d . T h i s w i l l b e a c h i e v e d o n l y w h e n i t i s f o r c e d t o d o i t b y t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples. In our opinion, the task of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s i s t o a r o u s e t h e peoples i n s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t imperialism and revisionism, to b u i l d up their confidence in their o w n inexhaustible strength, to m a k e them conscious t h a t t o d a y t h e y a r e c a p a b l e o f s u c c e s s f u l l y r e s i s t i n g the attacks of the imperialists, old and new, and defeating t h e i r aggressive p l a n s . . . We have supported and w i l l support w i t h all our m i g h t the indisputable right of the People's R e p u b l i c of C h i n a to liberate T a i w a n . T a i w a n is an inseparable a n d inalienable part of the People's Republic of C h i n a . O u r g o v e r n m e n t w i l l a l w a y s r e s o l u t e l y oppose t h e t h e o r y o f t w o C h i n a s , o f one C h i n a a n d o n e T a i w a n , o f t h e independence o f T a i w a n , o r o f t h e i n d e f i n i b i l i t y o f Taiwan's position. As hitherto, the People's R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a w i l l struggle to ensure that People's C h i n a occupies the place w h i c h belongs to it in the U n i t e d Nations a n d that the C h i a n g K a i s h e k usurpers are expelled f r o m it. O u r people, l i k e a l l t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d , h a v e admired the aid w h i c h the People's R e p u b l i c of C h i n a has given and is still giving directly to the Vietnamese people a n d t h e i r h e r o i c w a r a g a i n s t t h e A m e r i c a n a g g r e s sors, a s w e l l a s its a i d f o r t h e i r cause i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l arena... In regard to the w a r in Vietnam, the stand of our P a r t y i s a l r e a d y k n o w n t o y o u . W e h a v e b e e n a n d are opposed t o t h e P a r i s t a l k s . T h i s w e h a v e t o l d t h e V i e t n a m e s e c o m r a d e s o p e n l y . R e g a r d l e s s o f this, w e h a v e s u p ported and support the just struggle of the people of Vietnam unreservedly and we consider their victory decisive f o r the w h o l e peoples' anti-imperialist struggle. T h e continuation of the A m e r i c a n aggression in V i e t -
LETTER OF THE CC OF THE PLA TO THE CC OF THE CPC 677 n a m a n d the w h o l e of Indochina is a m a j o r issue w h i c h i s c o n c e r n i n g a l l t h e peoples. T h e V i e t n a m e s e p r o b l e m c a n b e s o l v e d o n l y w h e n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a p u t s a n e n d t o t h e w a r i n V i e t n a m , d e m o l i s h e s a l l its m i l i t a r y bases a n d w i t h d r a w s its last s o l d i e r f r o m t h a t country. We are convinced that the Vietnamese people w i l l t r i u m p h and that v i c t o r y belongs to the Vietnamese t h e m s e l v e s w h o are f i g h t i n g a r m s i n h a n d a n d s h e d d i n g t h e i r b l o o d . T h e last w o r d o n a n y s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e V i e t n a m e s e p r o b l e m belongs t o t h e V i e t n a m e s e themselves, t h e i r s i s t h e i n d i s p u t a b l e r i g h t t o d e c i d e t h e i r o w n fate. T h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e i r satellites a s w e l l a s t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w i t h t h e i r a r m e d forces, w h i c h t h e y h a v e d e p l o y e d o n the b o r d e r w i t h C h i n a , h a v e t r i e d to organize a r i n g of fire around C h i n a and to threaten its f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e . I n t h i s d i r e c t i o n t h e f r i e n d ship which is developing between the Soviet revisionists a n d the reactionary Sato government is significant. We h a v e a l w a y s been and are beside y o u in the sacred s t r u g g l e t o oppose a n d d e s t r o y these h o s t i l e p l a n s o f A m e r i c a n imperialism, the Soviet revisionists and the various reactionaries. We fully approve y o u r stand that the views of China a b o u t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n w e r e not e x p r e s s e d t o K i s singer. H o w e v e r , i t seems t o u s t h a t b e t w e e n u s t h e r e o u g h t t o b e c o m m o n o p i n i o n s a b o u t t h e p o l i t i c a l actions w h i c h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s m i g h t u n d e r t a k e , a t least against C h i n a a n d A l b a n i a , in the existing circumstances. T h e v i e w s of the A m e r i c a n imperialists about the Soviet U n i o n expressed to y o u by K i s s i n g e r should not h a v e b e e n k e p t secret f r o m us. K n o w i n g t h a t A m e r i c a n imperialism is allied w i t h Soviet social-imperialism and t h a t t h e y a r e c o - o r d i n a t i n g t h e i r actions, i t seems t o u s t h a t these v i e w s c a n n o t a f f e c t o n l y t h e F a r East, b u t m u s t also a f f e c t E u r o p e . I f y o u h a d i n f o r m e d u s o f w h a t
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K i s s i n g e r said about the Soviet U n i o n , w e w o u l d h a v e been more f u l l y armed to discover m o r e thoroughly the A m e r i c a n and Soviet moves on the chess-board of Europe. We support the struggle w h i c h the People's Republic of C h i n a is w a g i n g against Japanese m i l i t a r i s m a n d its expansionist policy in Asia, especially in the direction o f K o r e a , T a i w a n , etc. T o g e t h e r w i t h t h e a c t i v e s u p p o r t w h i c h C h i n a gives the struggle of the Japanese people against t h e r e a c t i o n a r y S a t o g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e J a p a n A m e r i c a n alliance, this correct stand is an i m p o r t a n t contribution to b u i l d i n g up the revolutionary struggle in Japan, w h i c h is especially important to restraining the aggressive p l a n s o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d J a p a n e s e militarism. A m e r i c a n imperialism and Soviet social-imperialism have stepped up their efforts to incite Japanese m i l i t a r ism, Indian reaction, and that of several other countries against C h i n a a n d t h e f r e e c o u n t r i e s o f A s i a . I n t h i s context, we appreciate the efforts w h i c h People's C h i n a is m a k i n g to strengthen the united f r o n t of the peoples of China, K o r e a , V i e t n a m , C a m b o d i a a n d Laos, as w e l l a s its e f f o r t s t o s t r e n g t h e n a n d e x t e n d its c o n t a c t s a n d l i n k s w i t h t h e Japanese, I n d i a n , P a k i s t a n i a n d o t h e r peoples. We think that the strikes a n d demonstrations in A m e r i c a are important, but more important a r e the a w a k e n i n g o f t h e peoples o f I n d i a . J a p a n a n d a l l A s i a , f i r s t , and their h u r l i n g themselves into r e v o l u t i o n . . . Likewise, t h e great i m p o r t a n c e w h i c h L e n i n g a v e t o t h e t r i u m p h of the revolution in such big countries as China, India and other countries of the East for the outcome of the w o r l d revolution is well k n o w n . B r i t i s h i m p e r i a l i s m created splits a n d antagonisms b e t w e e n t h e peoples o f I n d i a a n d P a k i s t a n a n d w e M a r x ist-Leninists must oppose the e x p l o i t i n g a n d aggressive aims of the A m e r i c a n imperialists and the Soviet social-
LETTER OF THE CC OF THE PLA TO THE CC OF THE CPC 679 i m p e r i a l i s t s w h o c o n t i n u e t o i n c i t e t h e peoples o f these t w o c o u n t r i e s against e a c h other. I n d i a a n d P a k i s t a n are ruled by the reactionary bourgeoisie w h i c h is nowhere as p o w e r f u l as A m e r i c a n imperialism. T h e y constitute a weak link. O u r t w o parties n e v e r for a moment forget that the struggle against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m must be waged s t e r n l y , not o n l y i n A s i a , A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a , b u t a l s o i n E u r o p e . W e h a v e p o i n t e d out t h a t P e o p l e ' s C h i n a , t o g e t h e r w i t h its t r u e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t f r i e n d s , o u g h t t o play a bigger role in Europe. Y o u k n o w our policy in r e g a r d t o E u r o p e , a p o l i c y w h i c h i s f o r r e v o l u t i o n , against N A T O a n d t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y , against t h e n e w S o v i e t W e s t - G e r m a n t r e a t y a n d a g a i n s t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t schemes over E u r o p e a n security. We t h i n k that the policy of A m e r ican imperialism in E u r o p e is v e r y complicated. Despite t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s t h e U n i t e d States h a s w i t h its p a r t n e r s , its t r a d i t i o n a l l i n k s w i t h B r i t a i n a n d F r a n c e m u s t a l w a y s be t a k e n i n t o account. W e agree w i t h y o u t h a t i n o r d e r t o e s t a b l i s h contacts w i t h t h e p e o p l e s t h e people's d i p l o m a c y m u s t b e a p p l i e d . T h i s i s t h e o p e n a n d s i n c e r e d i p l o m a c y w h i c h serves s o cialism, the peoples' liberation struggle and the extension a n d g r o w t h o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y u p s u r g e o f t h e masses in the capitalist countries. However, just as diplomatic relations are not the only w a y t o e s t a b l i s h l i n k s w i t h the people, c o n t a c t s w i t h t h e people a r e n o t n e c e s s a r i l y e s t a b l i s h e d t h r o u g h m e e t i n g s w i t h t h e chiefs, e i t h e r . T h e i n f l u e n c e o f socialist c o u n t r i e s is exerted, first of all, through the policy w h i c h they pursue, the anti-imperialist and anti-revisionist struggle t h e y w a g e , t h e consistent, p r i n c i p l e d s t a n d s t h e y m a i n t a i n towards the vital problems w h i c h preoccupy the w o r l d , and the solidarity and unreserved support w h i c h they give the p e o p l e s ' r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e .
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U n t i l r e c e n t l y t h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f C h i n a h a s not had diplomatic relations a n d direct contacts w i t h m a n y c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , b u t t h i s has n o t h i n d e r e d i t f r o m e x e r t i n g a g r e a t i n f l u e n c e o n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t i n t h e w o r l d , j u s t a s i t h a s not p r e v e n t e d the peoples o f d i f f e r e n t c o n t i n e n t s f r o m a d m i r i n g , s u p porting and defending C h i n a . . . V i e t n a m not o n l y does n o t h a v e d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , b u t f o r a v e r y l o n g time has been at w a r w i t h it. Nevertheless, t h a n k s to i t s j u s t f i g h t , p r e c i s e l y t o d a y t h e s y m p a t h y o f t h e peoples of the w o r l d and of the A m e r i c a n people for the V i e t n a m e s e people i s g r e a t e r t h a n e v e r . T h e v a l i a n t a n d courageous stand of V i e t n a m is the factor w h i c h , more t h a n a n y other, i s h e l p i n g t o r a d i c a l i z e t h e masses o f t h e A m e r i c a n people w h o c o m e o u t i n t h e streets w i t h t h e national flag of V i e t n a m and portraits of Ho C h i M i n h . T h e most that can be achieved at meetings a n d talks w i t h t h e chiefs o f c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s i s t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f certain given problems. However, they can never be t u r n e d i n t o a f a c t o r t h e i n f l u e n c e o f w h i c h increases t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y u p s u r g e o f t h e masses, e s p e c i a l l y w h e n t h e masses a r e d i s c o n t e n t e d a n d h a v e been set i n m o t i o n against t h e p o l i c y a n d actions o f t h e i r r u l e r s . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , i n s u c h cases m e e t i n g s a n d t a l k s m i g h t create illusions among the people about the imperialist or r e v i s i o n i s t chiefs, m i g h t create a n a t m o s p h e r e o f w a i t i n g a m o n g t h e masses a n d r e d u c e t h e l e v e l o f t h e s t r u g g l e of t h e masses. Moreover, the establishment of diplomatic relations is n o t a l w a y s u s e f u l t o this s t r u g g l e . F o r e x a m p l e , w e d o n o t accept t o r e - e s t a b l i s h d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s because, a s i s k n o w n , t h e y h a v e c o m m i t t e d g r e a t c r i m e s a n d l a u n c h e d f u r i o u s a t t a c k s against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , the People's Republic of A l b a n i a in
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particular, and on their o w n initiative broke off diplomatic r e l a t i o n s w i t h us. O u r P a r t y h a s d e m a n d e d t h a t t h e y make a public self-criticism over everything they have d o n e against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d o u r c o u n t r y . I f t h e y d o n o t d o this, i t w o u l d seem a s i f w e a s s u m e a t least a part of the blame for the breach of relations and we w o u l d give the Soviet revisionist chiefs arguments to justify their hostile stands and actions they have taken hitherto against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and A l b a n i a i n the eyes o f t h e S o v i e t peoples. T h i s w o u l d n o t b e i n f a v o u r of the Soviet peoples a n d their anti-revisionist struggle, b u t w o u l d assist t h e B r e z h n e v c l i q u e t o c o n s o l i d a t e its position. O r , let u s c o n s i d e r the case o f o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h Y u g o slavia. Diplomatic and trading relations and some c u l t u r a l exchanges exist between our two countries. A n d these r e l a t i o n s e x i s t , n o t o n l y w i t h o u t m a k i n g c o n t a c t w i t h the T i t o i t e chiefs, b u t i n d e e d i n p r i n c i p l e d i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e m . T h e p o l e m i c s w i t h a n d the i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e against T i t o i s m , w h i c h i s r e f l e c t e d fully and all-sidedly in the materials and documents w h i c h o u r P a r t y c o n t i n u e s t o p u b l i s h , goes o n w i t h o u t interruption. However, the fact that n o w Y u g o s l a v i a is threatened by Soviet social-imperialism has not prevented u s f r o m d e c l a r i n g t h a t i n case o f a g g r e s s i o n w e s h a l l s t a n d b e s i d e t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a . I n t h i s w a y w e h a v e s t r e n g t h e n e d o u r contacts w i t h t h e peoples o f Y u goslavia... We m u s t utilize the f a v o u r a b l e circumstances, created not f r o m t h e d e s i r e o f o u r enemies, b u t f r o m o u r c o r r e c t l i n e a n d r e s o l u t e struggle, i n o u r f a v o u r a n d i n f a v o u r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , w h e n e v e r the o p p o r t u n i t y presents itself, while always safeguarding the principles and dignity of o u r socialist s t a t e s . . . For our part we want to assure you that the line
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a n d stands o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a w i l l a l w a y s r e m a i n u n a l t e r a b l y p r i n c i p l e d a n d consistent. W e w i l l fight A m e r i c a n imperialism and Soviet revisionism u n c o m p r o m i s i n g l y a n d c o n s i s t e n t l y . P o s s i b l y these e n e m i e s , i n d i v i d u a l l y o r together, o r b y i n c i t i n g t h e i r a l l i e s a n d lackeys, w i l l u n d e r t a k e a g g r e s s i v e a d v e n t u r e s a g a i n s t us. We shall fight them unhesitatingly to the finish, to v i c tory... F o r the C e n t r a l Committee o f the First Secretary Enver Hoxha PLA
Published for the first time from the original in the CPA
ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA

R e p o r t to the 6th Congress of the P L A November 1, 1971
I THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION AND THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
O u r 6th C o n g r e s s i s m e e t i n g a t a t i m e w h e n m a j o r c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d c o n f r o n t a t i o n s e x i s t o n a w o r l d scale, w h e n , a s n e v e r b e f o r e , l a r g e class, p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c and m i l i t a r y forces have been assembled and are confronti n g o n e a n o t h e r a l l o v e r t h e globe. T h e forces o f i m p e r i a l i s m , r e v i s i o n i s m a n d r e a c t i o n s t a n d on one side of t h e b a r r i c a d e , w h i l e the forces of socialism, the peoples' front headed by the international w o r k i n g class, s t a n d o n t h e o t h e r . T h e l i n e o f d e m a r c a t i o n between t h e m is becoming m o r e a n d more distinct in a l l fields. P r o p e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , r e a l i s t i c a n d o b j e c t i v e e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e r a t i o o f forces w h i c h a r e at w o r k in the international arena, and recognition of the basic tendencies of present-day w o r l d development have decisive importance in t h e struggle against i m p e r i a l ism a n d revisionism, in the struggle for the t r i u m p h of the revolution.
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THE TREND OF PRESENT-DAY WORLD DEVELOPMENT IS TO THE REVOLUTION AND THE TRIUMPH OF SOCIALISM T h e events w h i c h have t a k e n place i n the w o r l d d u r i n g these last f i v e y e a r s h a v e c o n f i r m e d t h e c o r r e c t assessment w h i c h o u r P a r t y m a d e o f t h e s i t u a t i o n a n d the trends of development of international relations at its 5th C o n g r e s s . I n a n a l y z i n g t h e s i t u a t i o n i n t h e w o r l d n o w , w e m u s t stress n o t o n l y t h a t i t i s f a v o u r a b l e t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n , b u t also t h a t t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s b e c o m i n g t h e g e n e r a l a s p i r a t i o n o f t h e peoples. T h i s assessment o f t h e s i t u a t i o n i s n o t m e r e l y a n o p t i m i s t i c statement, b u t a n e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e o b j e c t i v e r e a l i t y , o f t h e h i s t o r i c a l process o f w o r l d d e v e l o p m e n t today, i n w h i c h t h e s h a r p e n i n g o f s o c i a l a n t a g o n i s m s a n d the uninterrupted rise a n d strengthening of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggles o f t h e peoples, w h i c h a r e s h a k i n g t h e imperialist a n d revisionist w o r l d to its v e r y foundations a n d w h i c h are further deepening its all-round crisis, can b e c l e a r l y seen. T o d a y w e a r e w i t n e s s e s o f m a j o r class e n c o u n t e r s b e t w e e n t h e w o r k e r s a n d c a p i t a l w i t h its state p o w e r . T h e class s t r u g g l e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d o t h e r e x p l o i t e d social strata has assumed such proportions, both as regards t h e n u m b e r o f p a r t i c i p a n t s a s w e l l a s its i n t e n s i t y , t h a t t h e present p e r i o d c a n b e c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e m o s t c r i tical periods that the bourgeoisie of the capitalist count r i e s has p a s s e d t h r o u g h . T h e b r i l l i a n t b a t t l e s o f t h e French, Italian, Spanish, British, Belgian a n d other w o r k ers, t h e p o s i t i v e a n d n e g a t i v e e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d , w i l l l e a v e i n d e l i b l e traces i n t h e i r m i n d s . F i e r c e battles a r e b e i n g w a g e d b e t w e e n t h e w o r k e r s a n d c a p i t a l e v e n i n those c o u n t r i e s w h i c h b o u r g e o i s p r o p a g a n d a has p r e s e n t e d a s zones of p e r m a n e n t class peace. T h e r e , too, t h e s o c i a l -
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d e m o c r a t i c m y t h s a b o u t social e v o l u t i o n , a b o u t t h e c r e a t i o n of general well-being under the capitalist system, have been smashed. T h e social contradictions have become v e r y acute in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s itself. A s a r e s u l t o f t h e f a i l u r e s i n i t s internal and external policy, the political, economic and social crisis of Y a n k e e i m p e r i a l i s m has been f u r t h e r deepened a n d the revolutionary struggle of the A m e r i c a n people has been f u r t h e r extended. T h e bastion of i m p e r i a l ism is being shaken by the wide-scale revolt of the black A m e r i c a n s for equality a n d c i v i l rights and of the w h o l e people against the w a r i n V i e t n a m . I t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t i n these n e w class battles w h i c h a r e b e i n g w a g e d i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t countries, p o l i t i c a l d e m a n d s are c o m i n g t o t h e fore, t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n sciousness o f t h e w o r k i n g people i s i n c r e a s i n g , a n d t h e break f r o m the influence of social-democratic and revisionist o p p o r t u n i s m i s b e c o m i n g e v e r m o r e m a r k e d . A n o t h e r f e a t u r e o f t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e against t h e exploiting capitalist system and the imperialist policy is t h e o u t b u r s t e v e r y w h e r e o f t h e y o u t h a n d student m o v e ment, w h i c h is t u r n i n g into a p o w e r f u l revolutionary f o r c e o f o u r t i m e . T h e y o u t h o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d are not content either w i t h their social situation or w i t h the s y s t e m w h i c h h a s c l o s e d a l l t h e roads t o t h e f u t u r e . T h e y are n o w in search of the truth, and the t r u t h is leading t h e m , a s i t i s b o u n d t o do, t o w a r d s u n i t y w i t h t h e w o r k i n g class, t o w a r d s t h e r e v o l u t i o n . W o r l d imperialism is receiving ever heavier blows f r o m t h e l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e o f the peoples o f A s i a , A f r i c a and Latin America, w h i c h is being waged vigorously everywhere. T h e determined anti-imperialist struggle of the people o f V i e t n a m a n d other peoples o f I n d o c h i n a , w h o h a v e d e s t r o y e d , once a n d f o r a l l , t h e m y t h o f t h e i n v i n c i b i l i t y o f t h e U S s u p e r p o w e r , o f its m i l i t a r y m a c h i n e
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a n d m o d e r n weapons, is a brilliant e x a m p l e and a p o w e r f u l inspiration for that struggle. T h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t a r m e d s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples o f T h a i l a n d , B u r m a , M a l a y s i a a n d I n d o n e s i a i n A s i a has assumed n e w and greater proportions. T h e revolutionary s t r u g g l e o f the peoples o f B r a z i l a n d C o l o m b i a , C h i l e a n d Peru, B o l i v i a and A r g e n t i n a and the other countries of L a t i n A m e r i c a against U S i m p e r i a l i s m and their local oligarchies for the defence of their n a t i o n a l sovereignty a n d independence, for democratic and independent dev e l o p m e n t a n d f o r s o c i a l p r o g r e s s has d e v e l o p e d o n a b r o a d scale. A n e w r e v o l u t i o n a r y s i t u a t i o n is b e i n g c r e a t e d i n A f r i c a , too. T h e peoples e v e r y w h e r e h a v e b e e n s w e p t i n t o t h e w a v e o f s t r u g g l e against o l d a n d n e w c o l o n i a l i s m , a g a i n s t t h e o p p r e s s i n g a n d r e a c t i o n a r y forces for the defence o f t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e . N e i t h e r t h e p o l i c y o f d i c t a t e a n d deceit, n o r t h e a r m e d v i o l e n c e o f i m p e r i a l i s m c a n s u b d u e t h e w i l l o f t h e peoples t o f i g h t and take their destiny in their o w n hands. I m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m are d r a w i n g d o w n o n t h e i r o w n h e a d s t h e h a t r e d o f t h e peoples, w h o see the A m e r i c a n policy a n d that of the Soviet revisionists as a d a n g e r t o t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e . T h e peoples love freedom, they are against the b r u t a l interference of imperialists and revisionists, they condemn their policy of hegemony and blackmail. A n t i - A m e r i c a n sentiments are growing and becoming more p o w e r f u l everywhere, j u s t a s the o p p o s i t i o n t o S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m i s increasing and becoming more powerful. T h e g r o w t h o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y i m p u l s e i n t h e w o r l d i n d i c a t e s that, d e s p i t e their great and feverish efforts to t u r n the w h e e l of history back, i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m h a v e n o t b e e n a n d w i l l n e v e r b e a b l e t o a l t e r t h e g e n e r a l r a t i o o f forces, w h i c h is tipping more and more towards revolution. T h e histor-
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i c a l i n i t i a t i v e has f i n a l l y passed i n t o t h e h a n d s o f the w o r k i n g class a n d o f t h e peoples. T h e r o a d o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r e s e n t - d a y h u m a n society i s o p e n e d a n d determined by revolution. T h e successful development a n d extension of the w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t a n d t h e peoples' s t r u g g l e i s t h e clearest p r o o f o f t h e d e e p e n i n g o f t h e g r a v e c r i s i s w h i c h h a s g r i p p e d t h e m o s t detested enemies of peoples imperialism and revisionism. T h e betrayal by the K h r u s h c h e v i t e m o d e r n revisionists, w h i c h c a u s e d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t g r e a t damage, was a temporary advantage for the capitalist s y s t e m i n g e n e r a l . H o w e v e r , i t d i d n o t rescue c a p i t a l i s m f r o m its g e n e r a l crisis, n o r d i d i t c h a n g e t h e c o u r s e o f h i s t o r y , its t r e n d o f d e v e l o p m e n t t o w a r d s t h e r e v o l u t i o n and the victory of socialism. I n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f its e x p l o i t i n g s y s t e m , i m p e r i a l i s m a i m e d a t e l i m i n a t i n g e c o n o m i c crises a n d a v e r t i n g t h e p r o f o u n d c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a m o n g s t c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . I n this case, too, i t has s u f f e r e d d e f e a t . T h e b i g c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e s m a l l e r ones, are n o w i n a p h a s e w h e n the phenomena of the crisis have become chronic and have created n e w difficulties for their entire economy. T h e c r i s i s o f t h e m o n e t a r y - f i n a n c i a l s y s t e m has b e c o m e a n i n c u r a b l e disease i n r e c e n t y e a r s . I n f l a t i o n a n d t h e cost of l i v i n g are increasing rapidly, w h i l e the unemployed are c o u n t e d i n m i l l i o n s . T h e s e v e r e s h a k i n g o f t h e d o m i n a n t p o s i t i o n s o f t h e U S d o l l a r a n d N i x o n ' s r e s t r i c t i v e measures h a v e caused g r e a t c o n f u s i o n a n d chaos t h r o u g h o u t t h e capitalist w o r l d . T h e d o l l a r crisis is not just a crisis of the US currency or of the currencies of the other c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . It is a m a n i f e s t e x p r e s s i o n of the g e n e r a l e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l , m i l i t a r y and i d e o l o g i c a l crisis o f t h e e n t i r e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m , o f its s t r u c t u r e s a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u res, o f c a p i t a l i s t a n d i m p e r i a l i s t r e g i m e s a n d a l l i a n c e s .
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A l l these p h e n o m e n a h a v e a d d e d t o a n d f u r t h e r s h a r p e n e d t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n the v a r i o u s b o u r g e o i s c o u n tries a n d e s p e c i a l l y those w i t h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a . The economic and political struggle between the c a pitalist countries is assuming ever greater proportions. Economic integration a n d the creation of m i l i t a r y blocs have added s t i l l m o r e to the ruthless competition between them. N o w the European C o m m o n M a r k e t wants t o challenge U S supremacy i n the w o r l d market, w h i l e t h e n e w e c o n o m i c p o w e r o f J a p a n , t h r o u g h its i n t r u s i o n , is seriously cramping the expansion of US monopolies in A s i a . B i g squabbles have b r o k e n out i n the r a n k s o f N A T O a n d t h e other a l l i a n c e s o f i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e s e r i v a l r i e s a n d contradictions among the imperialist countries tend to b e c o m e e v e r deeper. I n o r d e r t o c o n s o l i d a t e its p o s i t i o n s , t o a v e r t i t s e c o n o m i c d i f f i c u l t i e s , p o l i t i c a l c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d social c o n f l i c t s , imperialism has endeavoured a n d is still endeavouring t o a d a p t i t s e l f t o t h e n e w c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e class s t r u g g l e , b o t h w i t h i n i t s h o m e c o u n t r y a n d o u t s i d e it. B u t n e i t h e r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f state m o n o p o l y c a p i t a l i s m , t h e c o n centration of production and capital on a national and i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale, n o r t h e m i l i t a r i z a t i o n o f t h e e c o n o m y and the technical-scientific revolution have saved it, a n d such measures w i l l never be able to save it f r o m its i n e v i t a b l e d e f e a t s a n d collapse. T h e p a r t i a l a n d t e m porary solutions w h i c h they m i g h t provide are fraught w i t h n e w a n d still m o r e severe contradictions and conflicts, w i t h a n e v e n d e e p e r a n d m o r e d e v a s t a t i n g c r i s i s of the w h o l e w o r l d capitalist system. An equally grave situation now prevails in the r e v i sionist c a m p , too. O u r P a r t y , e n l i g h t e n e d b y its M a r x i s t Leninist theory, accurately predicted w h e r e their r o a d of betrayal w o u l d lead the revisionists, predicted their a l l r o u n d d e c l i n e a n d d e g e n e r a t i o n . T h e crisis w h i c h r e v i s i o n -
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i s m is experiencing is ideological, political and economic. Not only were the Moscow chiefs thwarted in their attempts to establish their d o m i n a t i o n over the communist movement a n d their control of the national liberation movement, but n o w they are unable to keep even their closest allies, t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s i n t h e s a t e l l i t e c o u n tries, u n d e r r e i n . A m o n g the various detachments of revisionism there is neither ideological unity, nor unity of action. Conflicts a n d s q u a b b l e s a m o n g s t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t cliques i n p o w e r a r e commonplace phenomena and have reached such a pitch of tension that they might explode at any moment. Factions a n d trends of the most v a r i e d k i n d s h a v e been created in the ranks of the revisionist parties. T h e betrayal of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m introduced confusion and disintegrat i o n i n t o t h e r a n k s o f these p a r t i e s . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s a n d t h e i r boss, t h e S o v i e t U n i o n itself, a r e b e g i n n i n g t o s u f f e r t h e c h r o n i c i l l s o f b o u r g e o i s society. T h e d i s c o n t e n t o f t h e masses p r o v o k e d by the revisionist line is being transformed into open r e v o l t . T h e e v e n t s o f last y e a r i n P o l a n d d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class has l i n e d u p face t o f a c e against t h e r e v i s i o n i s t state p o w e r . I n t h e p r e s e n t stage, d e s p i t e t h e i r e x t e r n a l a p p e a r a n c e of strength, i m p e r i a l i s m and revisionism are weak. T h e i r decay and degeneration are advancing f r o m d a y to day. A t p r e s e n t t h e y are u n a b l e t o s o l v e a s i n g l e f u n d a m e n t a l internal problem, or to achieve any of their m a j o r external aims. T h e g r o u n d i s q u a k i n g u n d e r t h e feet o f i m p e r i a l i s m , revisionism, and a l l other reactionaries. In o u r epoch, t h e r e i s n o f o r c e o n e a r t h t h a t c a n stop t h e v i c t o r i o u s march of the revolution and socialism. We A l b a n i a n communists, like all Marxist-Leninists everywhere, regard the future of the w o r l d w i t h optimism.
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c o n v i n c e d that i t belongs t o t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e peoples, t o s o c i a l i s m . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , h o w e v e r , o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y o p t i m i s m does n o t p r e v e n t u s f r o m seeing the threats and dangers to our country a n d all t h e peoples, s t e m m i n g f r o m A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d its aggressive p o l i c y a n d f r o m t h e n e w S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t imperialism, w h i c h are jointly claiming w o r l d hegemony a n d domination. R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e c h a n g e s t h a t h a v e t a k e n place a n d are t a k i n g p l a c e i n t h e w o r l d , U S i m p e r i a l i s m r e m a i n s the chief e n e m y o f a l l peoples, the greatest o p p r e s s o r a n d exploiter of other countries, the bastion of international r e a c t i o n . A s l o n g a s i t r e m a i n s o n i t s feet, its r e a c t i o n a r y n a t u r e w i l l r e m a i n unchanged, together w i t h its aggressive and w a r m o n g e r i n g policy a n d strategy, w h i c h stem f r o m the v e r y essence o f its e x p l o i t i n g s y s t e m . A m e r i c a n imperialism cannot live w i t h o u t economic expansion, w i t h o u t p o l i t i c a l i n t e r v e n t i o n a n d m i l i t a r y aggression, w i t h o u t o p p r e s s i n g a n d e x p l o i t i n g o t h e r peoples. O t h e r w i s e i t dies, a n d the road is opened to revolts a n d revolutions. T h e e v e n t s o f t h e recent y e a r s a r e t h e best p r o o f t h a t t h e i m p e r i a l i s m o f t h e U S A has n o t g i v e n u p its attempts, b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y i s d o i n g its u t m o s t , t o u n d e r m i n e the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f o t h e r states a n d t o e s t a b l i s h its w o r l d d o m i n a t i o n . I t i s b r a n d i s h i n g a r m s a n d t h r e a t ening w a r everywhere. T h e A m e r i c a n imperialists are continuing their barbarous w a r i n V i e t n a m . T h e y have extended their agg r e s s i o n t o C a m b o d i a a n d L a o s , too, t h u s i n f l i c t i n g d e a t h , destruction, and grave damage on a l l the heroic peoples of Indochina. On the incitement and w i t h the active and d i r e c t assistance o f t h e U n i t e d States, I s r a e l u n l e a s h e d i t s aggression against t h e A r a b c o u n t r i e s a n d i s m a i n t a i n i n g its o c c u p a t i o n o f t h e i r t e r r i t o r i e s . T h e plots, s u b versive activities, a r m e d intervention a n d violence in
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L i b y a , in the PR of the Congo or Somalia, in G u i n e a or i n m a n y countries o f A s i a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a , have been a n d a r e t h e d o i n g o f U S i m p e r i a l i s t s . T h e U n i t e d States i s t h e a l l y a n d s p o n s o r o f a l l r e a c t i o n a r y a n d fascist regimes, the chief defender of the international system of c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n . O p e n aggression is increasingly coming to the fore as a p r i n c i p a l means to ensure the U S A positions of economic, political and m i l i t a r y domination in other count r i e s . T h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s a r e t r y i n g t o r e a l i z e this strategy t h r o u g h t h e i r p o l i c y o f n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m a n d t h e i r efforts to preserve their technical a n d scientific monopoly as a means of interference, oppression a n d exploitation. I t c o u l d b e s a i d that i n p r a c t i c e t o d a y t h e r e i s n o t a single free and independent country w h i c h is not being t h r e a t e n e d b y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i n some o r a n o t h e r w a y , w h i c h does n o t f e e l i t s p r e s s u r e a n d b l a c k m a i l , a n d w h i c h is not affected by its b r u t a l interference. C o n f r o n t i n g t h e p e o p l e s stands a great, i n s a t i a b l e a n d b a r b a r o u s e n e m y . F o r t h i s r e a s o n t h e s t r u g g l e against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has b e c o m e t h e s u p r e m e d u t y o f a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r c e s o f o u r t i m e , o f a l l t h e peoples. T h e d e e p c o n t r a d i c t i o n w h i c h exists b e t w e e n A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m w i t h i t s a g g r e s s i v e p o l i c y , o n t h e one h a n d , a n d t h e p e o p l e s w i t h t h e i r a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t struggle, o n t h e o t h e r , w i l l b e c o m e e v e r m o r e severe a n d acute. I n the clash between t h e m there can be neither periods of truce, concessions, n o r retreats, a s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s p r e a c h . A n y w a v e r i n g i n the struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m i s f r a u g h t w i t h v e r y d a n g e r o u s consequences. B u t A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m is not the o n l y enemy of the p e o p l e s ; n o r s h o u l d w e c o n s i d e r a s its allies o n l y the reactionary puppets directly connected politically, m i l i t a r i l y and financially w i t h Washington. Despite their c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , B r i t a i n ,
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West G e r m a n y , Japan and other imperialist countries r e m a i n its chief partners, w h o likewise follow the p o l i c y of economic expansion and neo-colonization towards other c o u n t r i e s , seek t o create s p h e r e s o f i n f l u e n c e , a n d a l w a y s come out in support of w o r l d reaction. T h e U n i t e d Europe, w h i c h is being knocked together by West-European c a pital, aims at becoming a n e w imperialist superpower w i t h pretensions to hegemony a n d d o m i n a t i o n s i m i l a r to those o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . T h e struggle against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m w i l l not b e e f f e c t i v e , u n l e s s i t i s w a g e d against b o t h i t s f r i e n d s a n d allies, against a l l i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s . T h e attitude to imperialism, and, in the first place, to American imperialism i s t h e touchstone f o r a l l t h e p o l i t i c a l forces o f t h e w o r l d . T h i s i s n o t j u s t a t a c t i c a l question, or a temporary solution in the existing c i r cumstances. T h e a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s i m p e r i a l i s m i s a q u e s t i o n of t h e content of t h e p o l i t i c a l l i n e . It serves as a gauge t o assess p r a c t i c a l actions a n d , i n t h e e n d , i s a d e m a r c a t i o n l i n e w h i c h d i v i d e s t w o w a r r i n g camps, d i v i d i n g those w h o d e f e n d t h e v i t a l i n t e r e s t s o f peoples a n d the future of m a n k i n d f r o m those w h o t r a m p l e them underfoot, d i v i d i n g the revolutionaries f r o m reactionaries a n d traitors. T h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t s t r u g g l e does n o t a n d c a n n o t h a v e t h e same e x t e n s i o n a n d t h e s a m e i n t e n s i t y e v e r y w h e r e . B u t i t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e peoples s h o u l d b e a r o u s e d i n t h e l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m , not o n l y t o m a k e l i f e i m p o s s i b l e f o r i t b u t also t o cut s h o r t i t s l i f e . O n l y r e s o l u t e resistance, t h e open, b l o w - f o r - b l o w s t r u g g l e , w i t h o u t b a c k i n g d o w n i n t h e face o f d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d s a crifices, c a n r e p e l a n d d e f e a t i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e d u t y o f r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s i s t o m a k e t h e masses o f t h e p e o p l e p o l i t i c a l l y a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l y clear, t o r a i s e t h e i r v i g i l a n c e , t o
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s h o w t h e m w h e r e t h e e n e m y is, h o w i t acts, h o w t h e y must organize themselves a n d fight it. An enemy just as dangerous, just as cunning a n d a g g r e s s i v e a s A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m f o r t h e peoples a n d their revolution is the new Soviet revisionist imperialism. R i g h t f r o m t h e t i m e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m seized p o w e r i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d i n the: o t h e r socialist c o u n t r i e s , o u r P a r t y assessed t h e s i t u a t i o n c o r r e c t l y a n d e m p h a s i z e d t h a t a second f r o n t w a s b e i n g o p e n e d i n t h e w o r l d against socialism and communism. T o d a y all of us are witnesses to the fact that the revisionist Soviet U n i o n has been transformed into a c h a u v i n i s t a n d n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t state. T h e f o r e i g n p o l i c y of t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s is the g r e a t - R u s s i a n p o l i c y of t h e o l d czars, w i t h t h e s a m e e x p a n s i o n i s t a i m s , t h e s a m e o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e s u b j e c t i o n a n d e n s l a v e m e n t o f peoples. T h e appetite of the n e w Soviet revisionist i m p e r i a l i s m is i n s a t i a b l e . L i k e t h e U n i t e d States, t h e chiefs o f the K r e m l i n h a v e f i l l e d t h e s k i e s w i t h a i r c r a f t a n d t h e oceans w i t h s u b m a r i n e s ; w h e r e v e r t h e y can, t h e y a r e setting u p m i l i t a r y bases a n d e c o n o m i c m a r k e t s t o s u c k i n t h e w e a l t h o f t h e peoples a n d t o r e c r u i t agents i n t h e f o u r corners of the earth. Rubles and tanks, corruption and b l a c k m a i l g o h a n d i n hand. T h e r e i s n o area i n the w o r l d to w h i c h the revisionists are not t r y i n g to extend their imperialist influence; there is no international question in w h i c h they do not interfere in order to extract benefi t s f o r t h e m s e l v e s . F o l l o w i n g i n t h e footsteps o f t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , t h e y h a v e b e c o m e t h e biggest d e a lers i n a r m s , i n s a t i a b l e u s u r e r s , i n s p i r e r s o f c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y plots a n d i n s t i g a t o r s o f c o n f l i c t s a m o n g n a t i o n s T h e c h r o n o l o g y o f t h e actions o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i sionists d u r i n g t h e l a s t f e w y e a r s s h o w s t h a t t h i s aggressive course is becoming ever m o r e pronounced. T h e m o r e the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n s i d e t h e S o v i e t U n i o n increase, the
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m o r e t h e s q u a b b l e s a n d o p p o s i t i o n w i t h i n the r e v i s i o n i s t camp mount, and, on the other hand, the sharper the c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h its r i v a l a n d a l l y , A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l ism, the more m i l i t a r y adventures come to the fore i n the actions o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e b a r b a r o u s aggression against C z e c h o s l o v a k i a w a s not accidental, it was not an exceptional situation that cannot b e r e p e a t e d , b u t t h e c l i m a x o f a n a g g r e s s i v e a n d chauvinist policy raised to an official line, the beginning of a major onslaught against the freedom and independence o f m a n y c o u n t r i e s a n d peoples. T h e f a c t i s t h a t simultaneously w i t h the open occupation of Czechoslovakia, the u n d e c l a r e d m i l i t a r y o c c u p a t i o n o f P o l a n d , t h e G e r man Democratic Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria and M o n g o l i a w a s f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n e d . I n p r a c t i c e these c o u n t r i e s have been turned into m i l i t a r y provinces of the M o s c o w empire, in w h i c h the Soviet generals not o n l y m a i n t a i n l a w a n d o r d e r , b u t also m a k e b o t h t h e p o l i c y a n d t h e l a w . T h e i r o n y of a l l this chauvinist policy, of a l l the e f f o r t s t o d o m i n a t e t h e peoples, i s t h a t t h e S o v i e t r e v i sionists e v e n t r y t o j u s t i f y t h e i r p o l i c y t h e o r e t i c a l l y , to call it proletarian, a n d even Leninist. Brezhnev c a m e out w i t h t h e i n f a m o u s t h e o r y o f l i m i t e d s o v ereignty, a n d his zealous propagandists are s t r i v i n g to convince the w o r l d that it w a s not t a n k s that the Soviet U n i o n sent t o P r a g u e , b u t its i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t aid, t h a t it is not o p p r e s s i n g t h e satellite c o u n t r i e s , b u t is s t r e n g t h e n i n g the socialist c o m m u n i t y , t h a t i t i s n o t e x p l o i t i n g t h e m , b u t i s s p e e d i n g u p t h e i r socialist i n t e g r a t i o n , a n d so o n . T h e theory of limited sovereignty is the theory of great-power chauvinism and expansionism, the theory by means of w h i c h the new Soviet imperialists w a n t to e l i m i n a t e a n y s o v e r e i g n t y o f t h e other peoples, a n d t o create f o r t h e m s e l v e s t h e s o v e r e i g n r i g h t t o i n t e r v e n e
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w h e r e v e r a n d w h e n e v e r t h e y choose. B y d e n y i n g t h e sovereignty of others they are t r y i n g to d e n y the n a tions a n d states t h a t w h i c h i s dearest t o t h e m t h e i r freedom a n d independence, to negate their national i n d i viduality, their indisputable right to self-determination and independent development, their right to equality in international life and their active participation in w o r l d relations. W i t h their limited sovereignty they a r e t r y i n g t o l e g a l i z e t h e r i g h t o f t h e s t r o n g e r t o oppress the weaker, of the bigger to gobble up the smaller. It is a t h e o r y f o r t h e j u s t i f i c a t i o n of i m p e r i a l i s t aggression. T h e proletarian internationalism of the Soviet r e v i sionists also has a s i m i l a r r e a c t i o n a r y essence. F o r s p e c u l a t i v e purposes, t h e r u l e r s i n t h e K r e m l i n a r e t r y i n g to impose on the revolutionary a n d anti-imperialist forces the distorted idea that the basic criterion of proletarian i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m , i t s touchstone, i s t h e a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s the Soviet U n i o n , that a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggles and a c t i v i t i e s s h o u l d b e s u b o r d i n a t e d t o t h e interests o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d its p o l i c y . T h e i r m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f the past a n d use o f theses w h i c h w e r e correct a t one t i m e c o n v i n c e n o b o d y t o d a y , w h e n the Soviet revisionists have betrayed M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and transformed the Soviet U n i o n into an imperialist country. T h e attitude towards the Soviet U n i o n today r e m a i n s a c r i t e r i o n of p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m , b u t i n t h e o p p o s i t e sense f r o m t h a t o f t h e t i m e o f L e n i n and Stalin, w h e n the Soviet U n i o n was the centre of the w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a n d i t s base. T o d a y , a r e v o l u t i o n a r y and internationalist is he w h o fights the Soviet revisionists, w h o exposes t h e i r t r e a c h e r y , w h o opposes t h e i r a n t i - M a r x ist a n d i m p e r i a l i s t p o l i c y a n d l i n e w i t h a l l h i s s t r e n g t h . The transition of Soviet revisionism to social-imperialism, the intensification of its expansionist policy and activity have faced the revolutionary and anti-imperialist
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forces w i t h n e w tasks. T h e i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t revisionism remains a prime current duty w h i c h must be carried through to the end u n t i l the complete defeat of revisionism. B u t today this w o u l d be insufficient and w o u l d not have a successful conclusion if the present S o v i e t U n i o n w e r e not c o n s i d e r e d a n d t r e a t e d a s a n i m p e r i a l i s t state p o w e r . T h e greatest c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r c e o p p o s e d t o t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples f o r f r e e d o m a n d s o c i a l i s m i s the S o v i e t - U S alliance. In a l l fields economic, political a n d m i l i t a r y , t h e i m p e r i a l i s t courses o f t h e U S A a n d the S o v i e t U n i o n a r e d r a w i n g s t e a d i l y closer t o g e t h e r u n t i l they merge. In order to realize their aims of hegemony a n d domination, the t w o superpowers need each other, t h e r e f o r e t h e y s y n c h r o n i z e t h e i r w a t c h e s , a n d c o n tinually co-ordinate their plans and concrete activity. T h e weight of this reactionary alliance makes its presence f e l t i n a l l i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f l i c t s a n d p r o b l e m s . M o r e than twenty six years have elapsed since the Second W o r l d W a r e n d e d , b u t t h e U n i t e d States a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n still keep their armies stationed in other countries. The t w o superpowers have recognized their respective spheres o f i n f l u e n c e , a c c e p t i n g t h e m a s a n a c c o m p l i s h e d fact, a n d t r y not t o h i n d e r each o t h e r i n t h e d o m i n a t i o n and exploitation of them. B y m e a n s o f secret d i p l o m a c y a n d i n c o m p l e t e c o n formity w i t h imperialist practice, the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l ists a n d t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e n o w s t r i k i n g b a r g a i n s b e h i n d the scenes o v e r s h a r i n g b e t w e e n t h e m t h e f o r m e r zones o f i n f l u e n c e f r o m w h i c h t h e o l d i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s h a v e b e e n d r i v e n , i n o r d e r t o f i l l t h e v a c u u m , a s they say. T h e s e f r u i t s o f t h e S o v i e t - U S a l l i a n c e a r e q u i t e c l e a r l y o b v i o u s i n t h e M i d d l e East, a l o n g t h e n o r t h coast of A f r i c a , in the Mediterranean, the I n d i a n Ocean, a n d elsewhere.
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O v e r t h e b i g i n t e r n a t i o n a l issues t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s t r y to come out w i t h a co-ordinated policy a n d w i t h a c o m m o n s t a n d t o w a r d s t h i r d p a r t i e s , a s i n t h e case o f the talks on d i s a r m a m e n t in Geneva, the talks over the M i d d l e E a s t i n N e w Y o r k , etc. T h i s c o - o r d i n a t i o n a n d c o m m o n stand are e v e n more obvious in the proceedings o f t h e U N O w h i c h h a s been t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a n i n s t r u ment of their hegemonic policy. In practice, no decision is taken, no suggestion is adopted in the U N O , unless i t i s a c c e p t a b l e t o t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s . W h a t the U n i t e d States a n d the Soviet U n i o n are seeking and striving for is to c o m p e l the other countries to entrust their fate t o t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s , s o t h a t t h e y become a r b i t e r s , n o t o n l y o n t h e f o r e i g n a f f a i r s , b u t also o n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f t h e m . T h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s w a n t acceptance o f their w i l l and submission to their dictate to be raised to a l a w and n o r m of international life. Strenuous efforts are being made by the A m e r i c a n imperialists a n d the Soviet revisionists to preserve the balance of p o w e r between them and to keep the other n a t i o n s a t a c e r t a i n distance. A l l t h e a g r e e m e n t s t h e y h a v e r e a c h e d o v e r a t o m i c w e a p o n s , o u t e r space, t h e s e a bed, etc., h a v e t h e a i m o f k e e p i n g i n t a c t these n e w s t r a t e g i c p r o p o r t i o n s , w h i c h also d e f i n e the c o m m o n p o l i c y o f t h e superpowers. In particular, they w a n t to safeguard their monopoly of n e w weapons and their technical-scientific superiority in the m a i n branches of arms development, w i t h the a i m of keeping the other countries dependent and exerting continuous political, economic and m i l i t a r y p r e s s u r e o n t h e m . N o b o d y d o u b t s t h a t t h e t o p secret S A L T t a l k s , f r o m w h i c h e v e n t h e i r closest a l l i e s a r e excluded, have been turned into an institution, not only f o r t h e c o - o r d i n a t i o n o f m i l i t a r y a f f a i r s discussed, b u t also f o r d e f i n i n g t h e i r c o n c r e t e p o l i t i c a l s t a n d s a n d t h e i r l o n g - t e r m j o i n t strategy.
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O f course, i t w o u l d b e i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e a n d u n r e a l i s t i c i f i n t h e S o v i e t - U S a l l i a n c e w e w e r e t o see o n l y the rapprochement a n d collaboration of the t w o superp o w e r s , t h e i r c o m m o n i n t e r e s t s a n d actions. A s i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s , t h e U n i t e d States a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t S o v i e t U n i o n a l s o h a v e q u a r r e l s , r i v a l r y a n d deep c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w h i c h prevent them f r o m always acting in complete harmony and u n i t y everywhere. T h e existence a n d the sharpening of contradictions lies at the v e r y foundations o f this a l l i a n c e , i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t s o c i a l s y s t e m o f b o t h these countries, i n t h e i r i m p e r i a l i s t a i m s . I n p r e p a r i n g f o r w a r , e a c h side i s p l a n n i n g t o seize t h e o t h e r b y t h e t h r o a t . Misrepresenting the contradictions w h i c h they have w i t h t h e U n i t e d States a n d w i t h t h e a i m o f c o n c e a l i n g t h e i r b e t r a y a l , t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s t r y t o pose a s a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t s , a s i f they, too, oppose t h e p o l i c y o f a g g r e s s i o n and w a r of US imperialism. B u t the anti-imperialism of t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s is a h o a x , a d e v i c e to d e c e i v e t h e peoples, to split their anti-imperialist unity, to sabotage the r e v olution. A n y illusion about the anti-imperialism of the Soviet revisionists w o u l d be v e r y dangerous, w i t h grave consequences f o r t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e o f t h e p e o ples. As long as A m e r i c a n imperialism and the Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t i m p e r i a l i s m are t w o i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s a n d come out w i t h a c o m m o n counter-revolutionary s t r a tegy, i t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples against them not to merge into a single current. Y o u cannot rely on the one i m p e r i a l i s m to oppose the other. (1) T h e A m e r i c a n imperialists and the Soviet revisionists a r e t r y i n g t o p r e s e r v e t h e t r a n q u i l l i t y , t h e status q u o a n d t h e i r alliances. T h e y w a n t t h e p e o p l e s t o sit q u i e t a n d a p ______________________________ 1 T h i s was in opposition to the w r o n g v i e w of the Chinese that one should rely on A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m to fight Soviet social-imperialism. (See p. 665 of this volume.)
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p r o v e t h e i r p o l i c y a n d actions. B u t the peoples, t h e r e v o l u tionaries and a l l progressive m a n k i n d whole-heartedly hate oppression and exploitation, w h i c h are equally unendurable, w h e t h e r e x e r c i s e d b y t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s o r by the Soviet revisionists. T h e y d o n o t w a n t t h e i m p e r i a l i s t peace a n d t r a n q u i l l i t y , n o r d o t h e y w a n t t h e p r e s e n t r e a c t i o n a r y status quo w h i c h the imperialists a n d revisionists advocate. T h e revolution, the struggle for national a n d social liberation is not the destruction of mankind, as the imperialists a n d revisionists preach, but the destruction of oppression and exploitation and the salvation of mankind. O f course, t h e r e v o l u t i o n w i l l n o t b r e a k o u t a t t h e same t i m e i n a l l countries, nor w i l l i t t r i u m p h o n the s a m e d a y . I t w i l l h a v e i t s zigzags, i t s u p s a n d d o w n s . B u t w h e r e v e r there is oppression a n d exploitation there w i l l a l s o b e class s t r u g g l e , t h e r e w i l l b e r e v o l u t i o n . N o w M a r x i s m - L e m n i s m is inspiring the w o r l d proletariat more and more each day, illuminating the road to victory for a l l t h e o p p r e s s e d masses.
TRUE PEACE AND SECURITY FOR THE PEOPLES ARE ACHIEVED THROUGH STRUGGLE AGAINST AMERICAN IMPERIALISM AND SOVIET SOCIALIMPERIALISM O u r P a r t y and Government have devoted particular a t t e n t i o n t o some i m p o r t a n t a n d a c u t e s p e c i f i c p r o b l e m s of international life w h i c h have a direct and widespread i n f l u e n c e o n t h e f a t e a n d t h e f u t u r e o f t h e peoples. F o r t w e l v e y e a r s n o w t h e h e r o i c V i e t n a m e s e people have been w a g i n g a life-and-death struggle against the i m p e r i a l i s t a g g r e s s i o n o f t h e U n i t e d States a n d i t s S a i g o n puppets. A l t h o u g h t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s h a v e lost the w a r i n t h e f i e l d o f b a t t l e , a l t h o u g h t h e y h a v e n o hope t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n w i l l c h a n g e i n t h e i r f a v o u r , t h e y
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are continuing their aggression and their efforts to subdue t h e V i e t n a m e s e p e o p l e a n d t o f o r c e t h e m t o t h e i r knees, w i t h d e s p e r a t e o b s t i n a c y . M o r e o v e r , i n r e c e n t t i m e s the A m e r i c a n imperialists have extended their aggression t o C a m b o d i a a n d Laos, too. H o w e v e r , t h e e x p a n s i o n o f aggression also s h o w e d that, t o d a y j u s t a s y e s t e r d a y , armed violence, terror a n d atrocities cannot offer the A m e r i c a n imperialists a n y w a y out of their impasse. T h a n k s to the combined struggle of the Indochinese peoples, t o t h e i r u n i t y a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n , t h e s t r a t e g i c a n d tactical plans of the N i x o n government have utterly failed. Indochina has n o w become the m a i n battlefield of t h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , t h e r e f o r e , t h e v i c t o r i e s o f t h e peoples o f V i e t n a m , Laos and Cambodia h a v e been a great r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n s p i r a t i o n f o r a l l w h o oppose i m p e r i a l i s m , w h o f i g h t f o r freedom and national independence, for democracy a n d s o c i a l justice. I n p a r t i c u l a r , these v i c t o r i e s h a v e r a i s e d the morale, the fighting spirit of the small nations higher a n d have increased their confidence in their o w n strength and in their future. T h e h i s t o r i c lesson f r o m V i e t n a m i s t h a t t h e a g g r e s sion of the big imperialist p o w e r can be countered by t h e people's w a r w i t h g r e a t success, t h a t i n the p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s e v e n a s m a l l c o u n t r y c a n defeat a s u p e r p o w e r , provided it is determined to m a k e any sacrifice a n d to m a r c h courageously on the road of freedom a n d r e v olution. N i x o n ' s n e w d o c t r i n e o f t h e so-called V i e t n a m i z a t i o n o f t h e w a r a n d h i s m a n o e u v r e s f o r peace t a l k s , etc., c a n n o t h a v e a n y success. V i e t n a m i z a t i o n m e a n s e x t e n sion and continuation of t h e imperialist aggression, so t h a t V i e t n a m e s e are set against V i e t n a m e s e , A s i a n s against A s i a n s , w h i l e the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s d o m i n a t e , suppress,
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e x p l o i t t h e m , a n d use t h e m a s c a n n o n f o d d e r i n t h e i r o w n aggressive, h e g e m o n i c p o l i c y . B u t t h e N i x o n p l a n f o r t h e Vietnamization o f the w a r i n V i e t n a m failed i n the f a c e o f t h e h e r o i c r e s i s t a n c e o f t h e peoples o f I n d o c h i n a , a n d i t c a n n o t l e a d i t s a u t h o r s a n y w h e r e but t o n e w a n d g r e a t e r defeats. N e i t h e r c a n t h e i r f r i e n d s , t h e S o v i e t r e v i sionists, w h o f o r y e a r s o n e n d h a v e s a b o t a g e d t h e e f f o r t s of the Vietnamese people and exerted pressure on them to quell their a n t i - U S struggle, save the US imperialists f r o m disaster in V i e t n a m . T h e r e c a n b e n o g e n u i n e peace i n V i e t n a m a n d t h r o u g h o u t I n d o c h i n a u n t i l a l l t h e A m e r i c a n forces a r e f i n a l l y w i t h d r a w n f r o m that region a n d u n t i l all the A m e r i c a n m i l i t a r y bases a n d i n s t a l l a t i o n s t h e r e a r e dismantled. T h e Vietnamese people w i l l certainly t r i u m p h a n d t h i s v i c t o r y w i l l b e a c h i e v e d o n t h e b a t t l e f i e l d b y the Vietnamese people w h o are fighting and shedding their b l o o d . T o t h e m , a n d t h e m alone, b e l o n g s t h e r i g h t t o d e c i d e for themselves independently, about their o w n future. T h e A l b a n i a n people have always been a n d always w i l l be heart and soul w i t h the fraternal Vietnamese p e o p l e a n d t h e o t h e r peoples o f I n d o c h i n a ; t h e y a r e i n complete solidarity w i t h their just a n d heroic struggle a g a i n s t A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d i t s allies. W e g i v e our f u l l support to the just stands of the government of the Democratic Republic of V i e t n a m and the provisional revolutionary government of the Republic of South Vietn a m on the w i t h d r a w a l of the A m e r i c a n troops a n d the settlement of the Vietnamese conflict. T h e M i d d l e East, too, h a s b e e n t u r n e d i n t o a h o t b e d o f t e n s i o n . T h e i m p e r i a l i s t - I s r a e l i aggression, t h e a i m o f w h i c h i s t o s u b j u g a t e a n d e n s l a v e a l l t h e A r a b peoples, has b e e n g o i n g o n f o r a l o n g t i m e . T h e s i t u a t i o n h a s been aggravated also by the interference in that area of the Soviet revisionists w h o , by posing as friends of the A r a b
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states, a r e s e e k i n g t o o c c u p y strategic p o s i t i o n s a n d t o extend their hegemony there. T h e Zionists, the imperialists, a n d the Soviet r e v i s i o n ists a r e n o w t r y i n g t o s p l i t t h e A r a b s a n d t o set t h e m a t loggerheads w i t h o n e a n o t h e r , w i t h a v i e w t o w e a k e n ing their common anti-imperialist liberation front and i m p o s i n g o n t h e m a peace against t h e i r v i t a l interests. T h e a i m o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s , w h i c h seek t o t a k e t h e f a t e of the M i d d l e East in their o w n hands and to p l a y the r o l e o f a r b i t e r , i s t o d i v i d e i t i n t o spheres o f i n f l u e n c e a n d , o n t h e l i v e s a n d bones o f t h e A r a b peoples, b u i l d n e w w a r bases f r o m w h i c h t o l a u n c h i m p e r i a l i s t i n v a s i o n s o n the continents of A s i a and A f r i c a . B u t t h e A r a b peoples h a v e n o t f o u g h t f o r c e n t u r i e s for freedom and independence, in defence of honour a n d riches, t o s a c r i f i c e t h e m n o w f o r t h e i m p e r i a l i s t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e great p o w e r s . T h e p r i c e f o r t h e peace w h i c h t h e US imperialists and Soviet revisionists are offering t h e m is very high. Furthermore, it is deeply offensive to the glorious traditions, the dignity a n d pride of a l l the A r a b peoples. T h e y h a v e m a d e i t c l e a r t h a t t h e y w i l l not g i v e u p e v e n a n i n c h o f A r a b l a n d a n d w i l l d o n o deals o v e r t h e P a l e s t i n i a n q u e s t i o n . T h e y h a v e r i s e n against t h e v i o lence of the J o r d a n i a n reactionaries in t h e i r attempt to suppress the partisan forces of Palestine, w h o stand in t h e f r o n t l i n e o f the l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e o f t h e A r a b peoples a n d h a v e r e j e c t e d t h e i m p e r i a l i s t plot, w h i c h i s a i m e d a t completely and definitely liquidating the Palestinian revolution. O u r p e o p l e c o n s i d e r t h e A r a b peoples a s t r a d i t i o n a l friends and brothers and are in complete solidarity w i t h t h e i r just cause. O u r p e o p l e h a v e been a n d a l w a y s w i l l b e o n t h e i r side. W e a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h e A r a b peoples w i l l raise high the banner of the liberation struggle against the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d Z i o n i s t s , against the acts of
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i n t e r f e r e n c e o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e deceptive m a n o e u v r e s o f a l l those w h o pose a s f r i e n d s , b u t are t r y i n g t o stab t h e m i n t h e b a c k . T h e A r a b l a n d s b e l o n g t o t h e A r a b s ; t h e cause f o r w h i c h the P a l e s t i n i a n people are fighting is invincible. T h e People's Republic of A l b a n i a is interested in real peace a n d s e c u r i t y i n E u r o p e , i n a r e a l a n d j u s t s o l u t i o n of the problems w h i c h have remained unsolved since the end of the Second W o r l d War, and first of all, the G e r m a n problem. B u t the situation in Europe is not as the Soviet r e v i sionists t r y t o p r e s e n t it, a s i f t h e t e n s i o n h a s eased a n d t h e s i t u a t i o n b e c o m e t r a n q u i l , because t h e M o s c o w - B o n n t r e a t y h a s b e e n signed, because t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d Federal G e r m a n y have allegedly guaranteed the i n v i o l a b i l i t y o f t h e b o r d e r s o f t h e E u r o p e a n states. On the contrary, the conclusion of the Soviet-German treaty created a n e w tension in Europe, w h i c h springs f r o m the real threats represented by Soviet revisionism a n d G e r m a n r e v a n c h i s m t o t h e interests, s o v e r e i g n t y a n d rights of the E u r o p e a n countries, on account of Soviet and A m e r i c a n ambitions for hegemony and domination in our continent. A l r e a d y the Federal G e r m a n Republic h a s b e c o m e t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l c a p i t a l i s t state i n W e s t e r n Europe, is challenging the A m e r i c a n influence and t r y i n g to overshadow the power of France and Britain, not to m e n t i o n the other N A T O partners. Instead of contributing t o a n y s o l u t i o n , t h e S o v i e t - G e r m a n t r e a t y creates n e w imperialist contradictions, rivalries and complications, w i t h d a n g e r o u s consequences f o r a l l t h e c o u n t r i e s o f E u r o p e . By means of this agreement they w a n t to a v o i d s i g n i n g t h e peace t r e a t y w i t h G e r m a n y a n d t o v i o l a t e a n d d e n y t h e l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t s o f t h e peoples w h o f o u g h t a n d t r i u m p h e d o v e r H i t l e r i t e G e r m a n y . B u t those w h o shed t h e i r b l o o d i n t h e w a r a g a i n s t n a z i s m c a n n e v e r
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agree t o a l l o w G e r m a n m i l i t a r i s m a n d r e v a n c h i s m a f r e e h a n d a n d t o create t h e p r e c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e m t o h u r l Europe and the w o r l d again into a n e w slaughter. T h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e peace t r e a t y w i t h G e r m a n y i s a r i g h t w h i c h belongs to a l l countries of the anti-fascist coalition, a n d nobody can rob t h e m of or deny them this right. By a v o i d i n g this q u e s t i o n , the S o v i e t - G e r m a n a g r e e m e n t v i o l a t e d t h e s u p r e m e interests o f t h e G e r m a n D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c , w h i c h are being bargained a w a y in the deals being hatched up behind the back of the Democratic Republic b y t h e d i p l o m a c y o f the f o u r g r e a t p o w e r s a n d B o n n . T h i s w a s also c l e a r l y c o n f i r m e d b y t h e B e r l i n agreement, i n w h i c h t h e concessions a n d c o m p r o m i s e s o f t h e K r e m l i n chiefs put the G e r m a n Democratic Republic in a position w h e r e it was grossly disregarded and humiliated. It is true that the peoples of E u r o p e aspire to a n d need security for their freedom, independence a n d n o r m a l development. B u t the security about w h i c h the Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e b e e n c l a m o u r i n g r e c e n t l y is a false s e c u r i t y . T h e p e o p l e s of E u r o p e cannot agree to become a c c o m p l i c e s o f t h e t w o b i g i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s against t h e i r o w n s u p r e m e interests, c a n n o t a g r e e t o p l a y t h e game of the t w o superpowers, w h i c h are concerned o n l y a b o u t s e c u r i t y f o r t h e i r spheres o f i n f l u e n c e a n d t h e subjection and domination of the E u r o p e a n countries. T h e peoples d o n o t e x p e c t t r u e s e c u r i t y f r o m t h e t w o b i g i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s , w h i c h a r e t h e a u t h o r s o f aggressions i n V i e t n a m , t h e M i d d l e East, C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , a n d e l s e w h e r e , w h i c h m a i n t a i n t h e i r bases a n d o c c u p a t i o n a r m i e s in m a n y countries of Europe and trample underfoot the freedom and independence of sovereign peoples a n d countries. I n E u r o p e t h e r e i s the N A T O bloc, w h i c h i s a n aggressive alliance dominated by the A m e r i c a n imperialists a n d in w h i c h the revanchists of West G e r m a n y p l a y a m a j o r
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r o l e . A l l a l o n g its a i m h a s been t o p u r s u e t h e s t r u g g l e against c o m m u n i s m , s u p p r e s s t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n E u r o p e a n d g u a r a n t e e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t interests. T h e r e i s also t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y , w h i c h has b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a machine for m a i n t a i n i n g the d o m i n a t i o n of the Soviet revisionists over the m e m b e r countries and into an aggressive force threatening the independence of other countries. O f w h a t E u r o p e a n s e c u r i t y c a n w e speak w h e n these t w o blocs k e e p t h e peoples o f t h i s o r t h a t p a r t o f E u r o p e u n d e r their heel, w h e n they are the m a i n pillars of the domination a n d dictate of the two superpowers. It is c l e a r t h a t s o l o n g a s these t w o blocs e x i s t i n E u r o p e , s o l o n g a s t h e bases o f t h e A m e r i c a n a n d S o v i e t a r m i e s e x i s t in the countries of Europe, there can never be true E u r o pean security. O u r c o u n t r y got out o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y ( 2 ) a n d p u b l i c l y d e n o u n c e d its a g g r e s s i v e p o l i c y a n d a c t i v i t y . W i t h t h i s j u s t act w e n o t o n l y d e f e n d e d t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e pendence of o u r H o m e l a n d , but also showed that the w a y t o d e f e n d f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e , t h e r o a d o f peace a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y goes t h r o u g h f i r m o p p o s i t i o n t o the hegemonic and enslaving policy of imperialism and revisionism. W e b e l i e v e t h a t t h e peoples o f E u r o p e c a n a n d w i l l achieve their security only by strengthening their national i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d s o v e r e i g n t y , i n resolute s t r u g g l e against t h e h e g e m o n i c p o l i c y o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , against t h e i r e f f o r t s t o p r e s e r v e t h e i r m i l i t a r y bases a n d s p h e r e s o f i n f l u e n c e i n E u r o p e , against the e f f o r t s t o p r e s e r v e t h i s status q u o a n d t o d i r e c t t h e spearhead of the w a r towards A s i a .
__________________________________ 2 T h e decision of the P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A of September 5, 1968 to come out of the W a r s a w Treaty and to denounce it, was sanctioned by a special l a w of the People's Assembly in its session of September 13, 1968.
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T h e People's R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a , as a M e d i t e r r a n e a n country, is interested in a n d fights for the Mediterranean b a s i n t o b e a z o n e o f peace a n d f r u i t f u l c o l l a b o r a t i o n . I t r e s o l u t e l y c o n d e m n s the a g g r e s s i v e p o l i c y o f the i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s , a n d i n t h e f i r s t place, o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a and the Soviet Union, which, w i t h their w a r fleets, a r e s e r i o u s l y t h r e a t e n i n g t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e pendence of the M e d i t e r r a n e a n countries. It is the d u t y of the freedom-loving countries and of all the progress i v e forces o f t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n t o d e m a n d t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f these fleets a n d t o f i g h t f o r this, t o o p p o s e any hegemonic policy in this part of the w o r l d . T h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n b e l o n g s t o t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n peoples a n d c o u n t r i e s alone. F o r a long t i m e a big fuss has been made in the w o r l d a b o u t t h e p r o b l e m o f d i s a r m a m e n t . T h i s has been raised deliberately by the A m e r i c a n imperialists and S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s t o l u l l t h e peoples t o sleep, w h i l e t h e y i n t e n s i f y t h e i r aggressive p l a n s . T h e f a c t s s h o w t h a t w h i l e t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s h a v e a great d e a l t o s a y a b o u t disarmament, while they have held hundreds and thousa n d s o f m e e t i n g s a n d h a v e set u p c o u n t l e s s c o m m i t t e e s a n d c o m m i s s i o n s , t h e y are c o n t i n u i n g t h e a r m a m e n t s r a c e a t f u l l speed. T h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n have increased their m i l i t a r y budgets as never before, h a v e e x t e n d e d t h e i r m i l i t a r y bases a n d t h e d e p l o y m e n t o f t h e i r s t r i k i n g forces t o a l l t h e c o n t i n e n t s a n d seas, h a v e c o n c e n t r a t e d t h e i r greatest a n d best t e c h n i c a l a n d s c i e n t i f i c forces o n p e r f e c t i n g w e a p o n s o f mass extermination, and so on. C o n t i n u o u s a r m i n g is a c o n d i t i o n of t h e e x i s t e n c e of i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h stems f r o m t h e v e r y c h a r a c t e r o f t h e e c o n o m i c o r d e r a n d its aggressive p o l i c y . T h e r e f o r e , s o l o n g a s i m p e r i a l i s t a n d s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t states e x i s t , t h e r e w i l l never be disarmament in the w o r l d . T h e imperialists
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a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s are a r m i n g a n d i n c r e a s i n g t h e i r s t r i k i n g f o r c e s i n o r d e r t o o c c u p y and r e d i v i d e t h e w o r l d bet w e e n them, to suppress the revolutions, to destroy the socialist c o u n t r i e s , a n d t o e n s l a v e t h e peoples. T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e i r efforts f o r d i s a r m a m e n t i s t o d i s a r m t h e peoples, so that they can impose their domination over them more e a s i l y . O n t h e other h a n d , t h i s p r o p a g a n d a i s a sop t o t h e p a c i f i s t t h e o r e t i c i a n s a n d a l l the n a i v e w h o l i v e o n hopes a n d outside the objective reality. T h e armaments race w h i c h the t w o superpowers t r y to conduct by m a i n t a i n i n g a balance between t h e m is f r a u g h t w i t h v e r y d a n g e r o u s consequences. T h e y are p r e p a r i n g for aggressive wars, w h i c h they m a y unleash, s e p a r a t e l y o r together, a g a i n s t other c o u n t r i e s , o r e v e n a g a i n s t e a c h o t h e r . I n these c o n d i t i o n s , n o t o n l y l o c a l wars, w h i c h the imperialists a n d revisionists unleash cont i n u a l l y , b u t also w a r s o n a w o r l d scale, c a n n o t b e e x c l u d e d . I n d e e d , f o r e i t h e r aggressor t h e l o c a l w a r s p r e p a r e the g r o u n d f o r w a r s o n a w i d e r scale. T h e y a r e t a c t i c a l a d v a n c e s o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s ' aggressiveness i n t h e i r s t r a t e g y f o r a g l o b a l i m p e r i a l i s t w a r . T h i s i s also t h e a i m o f t h e c o n s p i r a c i e s a n d p u t s c h e s h a t c h e d u p b y t h e agencies o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t p o w e r s i n v a r i o u s states without direct outside m i l i t a r y intervention. S o l o n g a s t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s are a r m i n g a n d p r e p a r i n g f o r a g g r e s s i v e w a r s , t h e soc i a l i s t states c a n n o t sit b y w i t h f o l d e d a r m s . T h e i r a r m i n g is for the purpose of defending the socialist H o m e l a n d and opposing the policy of intervention, pressure and blackmail of imperialism and social-imperialism. It is directed against their attempts to violate the rights a n d f r e e d o m o f t h e peoples a n d t o w a r d s h e l p i n g t h e o t h e r peoples t o s a f e g u a r d o r w i n t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d n a t i o n a l independence. The peoples cannot fail to see t h a t the aggressive
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m i l i t a r y groupings the N A T O , dominated by the US imperialists, a n d the W a r s a w Treaty, dominated by the Soviet social-imperialists, constitute the m a i n threat to peace a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y t o d a y . U n d e r t h e p r e t e x t o f d e f e n c e f r o m e a c h other, t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s a r e m a k i n g t h e l a w i n these treaties, d i v i d i n g t h e s p h e r e s o f i n f l u e n c e , l a u n c h i n g separate aggressions, o r a i d i n g o t h e r aggressors i n t h e i r s e r v i c e . T a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f t h e p o w e r o f t h e i r g r o u p i n g s , t h e y are f u r t h e r e n d a n g e r i n g t h e f r e e d o m a n d e x i s t e n c e o f peoples a n d states. T h e peoples throughout the w o r l d must look the situation straight in t h e eye, m u s t e x p o s e t h i s a l a r m i n g state o f a f f a i r s a n d m a k e a l l those g o v e r n m e n t s w h i c h are p l a y i n g t h e g a m e o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s a n s w e r a b l e f o r t h e i r actions. Responsibility for the aggressive actions of the t w o s u p e r p o w e r s f a l l s n o t o n l y o n t h e i r g o v e r n m e n t s , b u t also o n t h e i r peoples, j u s t a s i t f a l l s o n t h e g o v e r n m e n t s a n d t h e peoples o f t h e p a r t n e r s i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e m i l i t a r y alliances. W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e aggression a g a i n s t C z e c h o s l o v a k i a , f o r e x a m p l e , r e s p o n s i b i l i t y rests n o t o n l y o n t h e S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s w h o o r g a n i z e d it, b u t also o n t h e g o v e r n m e n t s o f t h e m e m b e r states o f the W a r s a w T r e a t y w h i c h p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h i s aggression, o n t h e p e o p l e s o f the Soviet Union, Poland, Democratic Germany, Bulgaria and H u n g a r y w h o stood passive and permitted this barb a r o u s act. T h e s a m e c a n b e s a i d also o f t h e d i r e c t a n d indirect aid w h i c h the partners of the U S A give the A m e r i c a n aggressors i n V i e t n a m . T h e i r p a r t n e r s j u s t i f y their participation in N A T O or the Warsaw Treaty, the alliance and friendship w i t h the U n i t e d States or w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , w i t h the n e e d f o r d e f e n c e . B u t i n t h i s w a y t h e y s t r e n g t h e n t h e s u p e r p o w e r s , assist t h e m t o p r e s e r v e a n d d i v i d e t h e spheres o f i n f l u e n c e , t o a p p l y the policy of hegemony, dictate, and aggression. The more organized, extensive and p o w e r f u l the
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r e s i s t a n c e a n d s t r u g g l e o f t h e p e o p l e s o f the N A T O c o u n t r i e s a n d those o f t h e W a r s a w T r e a t y against t h e aggress i v e actions o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t s w h i c h support them, the m o r e difficult w i l l it be for the a g g r e s s o r s t o c a r r y out t h e i r m i l i t a r y a d v e n t u r e s a g a i n s t t h e peoples. I n n u m e r a b l e m i l i t a r y m a n o e u v r e s are b e i n g c a r r i e d o u t on the borders of Y u g o s l a v i a and R u m a n i a by the Soviet Union, Hungary, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia. It i s c l e a r t h a t h e r e w e h a v e t o d o w i t h pressure, b l a c k m a i l a n d threats, w h i c h , i f n o t t o d a y , c o u l d t u r n i n t o o p e n a g g r e s s i o n t o m o r r o w . D o t h e peoples o f t h e c o u n t r i e s p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n these m a n o e u v r e s n o t see a n d f e e l w h a t d a n g e r o u s p l a n s a n d plots a r e b e i n g h a t c h e d u p ? H i s t o r y w i l l p u n i s h t h e m severely, i f t h e y sit p a s s i v e a n d l e a v e t h e aggressors a f r e e h a n d .
II
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY AND THE TASKS OF THE PARTY
Comrades, T h e 5 t h C o n g r e s s set i m p o r t a n t t a s k s f o r t h e d e velopment of the economy a n d culture and for raising t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e people. U n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f t h e P a r t y a n d w i t h l o f t y r e v o l u t i o n a r y consciousness, o u r w o r k i n g class, c o o p e r a t i v e p e a s a n t r y a n d people's i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , a c c o m p l i s h e d a l l these m a j o r t a s k s w i t h h o n o u r . T h u s , a f u r t h e r i m p o r t a n t step h a s been t a k e n t o w a r d s t h e complete construction of socialism in our country. T h e targets of the 4th Five-year P l a n for o v e r a l l industrial production and investments were achieved in 4 years a n d 7 months, w h i l e the w o r k e r s of the city of T i r a n a achieved them in 4 years and 4 months. T h e level of i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n set f o r 1970 w a s a c h i e v e d as e a r l y as 1968. S u c h m i g h t y p r o j e c t s as t h e V a u i D e j s hydro-power plant on the D r i n River, the n e w oil-fields, the chemical fertilizer plants, the Rrogozhina-Fier r a i l w a y , a n d others w e r e a d d e d t o o u r e c o n o m y . M o r e t h a n 200 major projects w e r e built and put into operation in industry, agriculture, transport and other branches of the e c o n o m y . A l l these i n c r e a s e d t h e p o t e n t i a l o f o u r economy, f u r t h e r c o n s o l i d a t i n g t h e m a t e r i a l - t e c h n i c a l b a s e of s o c i a l i s m .
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I m p o r t a n t , too, a r e t h e successes a c h i e v e d i n t h e s o cialist development of the countryside and agriculture. P r o c e e d i n g o n t h e course o f i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n , o u r a g r i c u l ture increased production f r o m year to year, especially t h e y i e l d r a t e s o f b r e a d g r a i n . I n 1970, t h e a v e r a g e y i e l d o f g r a i n w a s 17.3 q u i n t a l s p e r h e c t a r e . ( 1 ) S u c h p r o d u c t i v i t y h a d n e v e r b e e n a c h i e v e d before, e v e n i n the best seasons. A great leap f o r w a r d w a s made in extending the area u n d e r irrigation a n d increasing the level of mechanizat i o n , t h e use o f c h e m i c a l f e r t i l i z e r s a n d selected seeds. T h e 5 t h C o n g r e s s l a u n c h e d the slogan, T a k e t o t h e hills and mountainsides, beautify them and make them as fertile as the plains. T h i s directive opened new horizons for the development of agriculture and the flourishing of life even in the remote m o u n t a i n regions. W i t h i n a short period, the collectivization was completed successfully in these regions, too. T h e p l a n f o r t h e b r e a k i n g i n o f n e w l a n d by the cooperativist peasantry in the preceding fivey e a r period h a d been f u l f i l l e d a n d exceeded ahead of s c h e d u l e . B r i n g i n g t h i s l a n d i n t o use e n a b l e d m a n y m o u n t a i n villages to increase their g r a i n production, to m e e t t h e i r o w n needs f o r b r e a d g r a i n t h r o u g h t h e i r o w n e f f o r t s a n d t o s e l l t h e s u r p l u s t o t h e state. T h i s w a s t h e f i r s t v i c t o r y o n t h e r o a d t o t u r n i n g t h e n e w prospects t h e P a r t y opened t o these r e g i o n s i n t o r e a l i t y . D u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n , m a n y steps w e r e t a k e n t o c o n s o l i d a t e t h e socialist n a t u r e o f e c o n o m i c a n d s o cial relations. T h e entire system of management and planning of our economy was improved. In the countryside, b y m e a n s o f t h e v o l u n t a r y u n i o n o f t h e s m a l l e r c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t o l a r g e r ones, t h e s o c i a l i z a t i o n o f p r o p e r t y and labour w a s raised to a higher level. The cooperativists'
________________________________ 1 In 1981, the average grain y i e l d for the entire country was 26.6 quintals per hectare.
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private plot was reduced, harmonizing the general interest w i t h the p e r s o n a l interests o f t h e m e m b e r s m o r e c o r r e c t l y . T h e h i g h salaries f o r p a r t y a n d state c a d r e s w e r e r e d u c e d , and the difference between t h e m and the p a y of other w o r k i n g people w a s r e d u c e d i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e principles of socialism. M a t e r i a l interest was put into a m o r e correct r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e m o r a l i n c e n t i v e s , w h i l e m a n y material incentives w h i c h h a d become outdated or u n n e c e s s a r y w e r e a b o l i s h e d altogether. T h e self-sacrificing toil and struggle of the w o r k i n g masses f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y p r o v i d e d t h e essential b a s i s w h i c h m a d e p o s s i b l e t h e s u c c e s s f u l a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f t h e t a s k s set i n t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n f o r raising the well-being and c u l t u r a l level of the people. I n 1970, t h e n a t i o n a l i n c o m e w a s 5 5 p e r cent h i g h e r t h a n i n 1965, w h i l e r e a l p e r c a p i t a i n c o m e o f p o p u l a t i o n r o s e 1 7 p e r cent. T h e p o p u l a t i o n w a s s u p p l i e d b e t t e r a n d u n i n terruptedly w i t h the necessary commodities. A w i d e netw o r k o f s o c i a l a n d c u l t u r a l s e r v i c e s w a s set u p i n n e a r l y every cooperative. T h e l i v i n g standards of every r u r a l and urban family were improved. The extension of compulsory 8-grade schooling t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y w a s c o m p l e t e d , m a k i n g i t possible to raise the general educational and cultural training of the y o u t h to a higher level. B u t the most outstanding v i c t o r y scored i n t h e f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n w a s t h e p r o g r a m the P a r t y put f o r w a r d for the further revolutionization o f t h e school. T h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h i s p r o g r a m h a s e x t r a o r d i n a r y i m p o r t a n c e f o r the s o u n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y education of the younger generation a n d for the f u t u r e of socialism in A l b a n i a . T h e c o m p l e t i o n a y e a r a h e a d of s c h e d u l e of t h e great mass action, t h e e l e c t r i c r e t i c u l a t i o n o f a l l t h e r u r a l areas, i s a b r i l l i a n t a n d t r u l y h i s t o r i c a c h i e v e m e n t o f o u r socialist o r d e r , w h i c h b r i n g s i n t o e v i d e n c e t h e constant c o n -
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c e r n o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e a l l r o u n d uplift and emancipation of our cooperativist countryside. D u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n t h e state i n v e s t e d large funds in building dwelling-houses. B u t a v e r y i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r w h i c h o p e n e d u p n e w prospects o f a r a d i c a l i m p r o v e m e n t i n m e e t i n g t h e h o u s i n g needs o f t h e w o r k e r s o f t h e t o w n s a n d w o r k centres w a s t h e o u t b u r s t o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n i t i a t i v e o f t h e masses t o b u i l d houses w i t h the v o l u n t a r y labour of the w o r k e r s themselves. D u r i n g t h e past f i v e y e a r s a t o t a l of a b o u t 73,000 a p a r t m e n t s a n d houses h a v e b e e n b u i l t i n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e . A g r e a t w o r k o f c o n s t r u c t i o n , i n w h i c h t h e u n i t y a n d socialist solidarity of o u r people w a s b r i l l i a n t l y expressed, w a s d o n e t o d e a l w i t h t h e s e r i o u s d a m a g e caused b y t h e e a r t h quakes w h i c h h i t the D i b r a a n d Tepelena districts. W i t h t h e a i d o f t h e state a n d t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t h e e n t i r e people, 1,600 n e w houses w e r e b u i l t a n d about ll,000) w e r e repaired in record time. O u r c o u n t r y i s t h e o n l y one i n t h e w o r l d w h e r e t h e p e o p l e p a y n o d i r e c t i m p o s t s a n d taxes. T h e c o m p l e t e abolition of taxation on the population is clear proof of the s u p e r i o r i t y o f o u r socialist o r d e r o v e r t h e c a p i t a l i s t o r d e r . T h e results attained in the development of the econo m y and culture, in raising the well-being of the people a n d t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f o u r s o c i a l order, a r e o u t s t a n d i n g v i c t o r i e s o f o u r socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n w h i c h r i g h t l y r e j o i c e o u r P a r t y a n d people, g i v e t h e m n e w r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n e r g y and courage to forge constantly ahead. T h e y are clear t e s t i m o n y t o t h e correctness o f t h e consistent M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t l i n e a n d p o l i c y w h i c h the P a r t y has p u r s u e d , t o that e n t h u s i a s m , m o b i l i z a t i o n a t w o r k , a n d t o the l o f t y r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e o u r w o r k i n g masses. T h e f i v e - y e a r p e r i o d w h i c h h a s just e n d e d w i l l g o d o w n i n h i s t o r y a s the p e r i o d o f t h e g r e a t p e o p l e ' s i n i -
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t i a t i v e s a n d mass h e r o i s m , w h e n t h e u n i t e d f o r c e s o f t h e people, u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f o u r P a r t y , h a v e m a d e the plains a n d mountains quake. This is the period w h e n o l d a n d y o u n g rose t o t h e i r feet, w h e n r e v o l u t i o n a r y enthusiasm a n d d r i v e swept the factories a n d villages, the schools a n d m i n e s . I t i s t h e p e r i o d o f c o n s c i o u s heroes w h o m n o obstacle, n o d i f f i c u l t i e s o r s t o r m c a n t u r n b a c k , w h o s e s u p r e m e a n d s a c r e d l a w i s t o p e r f o r m t h e i r task, t o f u l f i l the people's behest. T h i s g l o r i o u s p e r i o d has g i v e n b i r t h t o s u c h heroes a s the y o u n g h i g h l a n d s g i r l S h k u r t e P a l Vata, the w o r k e r A d e m Reka, the engineer M u h a m e t S h e h u , t h e t e a c h e r Ismet S a l i B r u a j , t h e s o l d i e r A g r o n Elezi, and m a n y others, w h o l a i d d o w n their lives in the course of their d u t y for the ideals of the P a r t y a n d the interests o f t h e people. T h e i r e x a m p l e a n d i m a g e e p i tomized the m a n l y stand a n d boundless d e v o t i o n w h i c h i n s p i r e d t h e w h o l e people. I n this i r r e s i s t i b l e r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a v e t h e m a r v e l l o u s i n i t i a t i v e s o f t h e masses a n d t h e s p i r i t o f mass a c t i o n s b u r s t out, a n d t h i s g a v e a n e w c o n t e n t a n d i m p e t u s t o the w o r k i n a l l sectors, w h i c h s h o w e d w h a t colossal forces remain still unrecognized and unutilized w i t h i n the ranks o f t h e P a r t y , t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e p e a s a n t r y , t h e y o u t h and the w o m e n , w h a t inexhaustible strength o u r socialist o r d e r has. O u r people a r e modest, b u t t h e y h a v e a r i g h t t o b e p r o u d o f t h e i r sons a n d d a u g h t e r s w h o t h e m s e l v e s b u i l d f a c t o r i e s a n d i n s t a l l i n t h e m t h e w o r l d ' s latest k n o w - h o w , w h o m a n u p - t o - d a t e ships p l y i n g t h e oceans, w h o b u i l d such technically complicated projects as the V a u i Dejs h y d r o p o w e r s t a t i o n s o w e l l a n d i n s o s h o r t a t i m e . T h e y have a right to be p r o u d of their new m e n who, w i t h e x e m p l a r y courage, t a c k l e s c i e n t i f i c a n d t e c h n i c a l problems, overturn the academic norms and leave behind e v e n the m o s t o p t i m i s t i c e x p e c t a t i o n s .
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This unprecendented revolutionary enthusiasm, this mass h e r o i s m a n d t h i s l o f t y s p i r i t o f i n i t i a t i v e h a v e n o t fallen like manna f r o m heaven. They stem f r o m that h e r o i c a n d u n p r e c e d e n t e d s t r u g g l e t h e P a r t y a n d the people h a v e w a g e d t o b r e a k the b l o c k a d e i m p o s e d b y t h e i m perialists and revisionists, f r o m the ardent patriotism and unshakeable confidence of the people in their own strength, in the certainty of the future that socialism is h a m m e r i n g out, i n t h e l i f e - g i v i n g i m p u l s e w h i c h t h e teachings of the P a r t y inspire. O n l y a great perspective gives rise to great courage; o n l y deep-rooted ideological convictions can w o r k wonders. We must preserve and f u r t h e r d e v e l o p these great m o r a l a t t r i b u t e s w e h a v e acquired. We must strive w i t h all our might to keep t h e m always vigorous and unsullied, to m a k e them a driving f o r c e i n s u c c e s s f u l l y a c c o m p l i s h i n g t h e m a j o r tasks t h a t lie a h e a d of us. T h e g r e a t v i c t o r i e s a c h i e v e d i n a l l f i e l d s o f socialist construction, the experience accumulated, and the enthus i a s m a n d l o f t y r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t o f t h e w o r k i n g masses, constitute that p o w e r f u l foundation on w h i c h the w h o l e e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f the c o u n t r y d u r i n g the 5th F i v e - y e a r P l a n w i l l b e based. T h e m a i n targets of the p l a n w h i c h this Congress w i l l approve stem f r o m the c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist society, f r o m t h e s t a g e a c h i e v e d a n d t h e prospects f o r t h e development of the economy. O u r e c o n o m y has r e a c h e d a n e w a n d h i g h e r q u a n t i tative a n d qualitative level. T h e further development of industry is characterized by a large v o l u m e of production and, e s p e c i a l l y , b y t h e s e t t i n g u p o f n e w b r a n c h e s o f t h e heavy processing industry. B i g complex enterprises w i t h a d v a n c e d e q u i p m e n t a n d t e c h n o l o g y h a v e b e e n set u p . Wherever handicraft methods of production are still in use, the task h a s b e e n p u t f o r w a r d o f g o i n g o v e r t o i n -
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dustrial methods of production. The science a n d t e c h n o l o g y are b e i n g into all branches of the economy. nuously progressing on the road to
A l l this shows that o u r economy is entering a n e w stage, t h a t its f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t r e q u i r e s a b e t t e r h a r monization between extension and intensification, as w e l l as the solution of problems arising f r o m this h a r m o n i z a t i o n . I n these c o n d i t i o n s i t becomes e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e e n t i r e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y , its m a n a g e m e n t a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d b e p u t o n a f i r m e r s c i e n t i f i c basis. In conformity w i t h the fundamental guidelines of the policy of the P a r t y regarding the complete construction o f socialist society, t h e m a i n t a s k f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of our economy d u r i n g the 5th five-year period w i l l be: To ensure the general strengthening of our people's economy on the road to turning Albania from an agricultural-industrial country into an industrial-agricultural one, with a view to raising the level of self-sufficiency of our economy, further strengthening the socialist order, raising the material well-being and cultural level of the people, while reducing the essential differences between town and countryside in particular, and increasing the defence potential of the country. F o r this, i t i s n e c e s s a r y : To strive for a further development of industry by improving its structure with new branches and productions, especially of the heavy processing industry, to expand the energy and raw materials base, and to utilize the resources and assets of the country more rationally; To attain a larger increase in the output of agriculture by further intensifying it on the basis of strengthening the scientific organization and management of production and increasing the power of the material technical base of agriculture;
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To rapidly develop technical-scientific progress in all the branches of our people's economy, to constantly improve the socialist relations of production, to deepen the socialist revolution in the field of ideology and culture, to resolutely apply the principle of self-reliance. The new five-year plan was d r a w n up by the w o r k i n g masses t h e m s e l v e s o n t h e basis o f t h e d i r e c t i v e s a n d o r i e n t a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y a n d G o v e r n m e n t . T h e w o r k i n g class, c o o p e r a t i v e p e a s a n t r y , specialists a n d t e c h n i c i a n s , c a d r e s f r o m t h e g r a s s r o o t s a n d t h e centre, a l l together, t o o k p a r t i n the discussions m o r e v i g o r o u s l y t h a n e v e r b e f o r e a n d set t h e t a r g e t s f o r t h e 5 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n . T h e i r l o f t y r e v o l u t i o n a r y spirit, creative thought, r i c h experience, s e l f - r e l i a n c e a n d p r o f o u n d sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e fate of the H o m e l a n d a n d socialism are embodied in t h e draft-directives submitted to this Congress on the developm e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e f o r t h e y e a r s 1971-1975. D u r i n g this five-year period, industry, as always, w i l l p l a y t h e v a n g u a r d r o l e i n d e v e l o p i n g t h e forces o f p r o d u c t i o n . T o t a l i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n i n 1975 i s e x p e c t e d t o increase 61-66 p e r cent a b o v e t h a t of 1970. T h i s m e a n s t h a t i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n i n 1975 a l o n e w i l l b e 1 2 p e r cent g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t r e a l i z e d d u r i n g t h e e n t i r e 2 n d F i v e y e a r P l a n , 1956-1960. T h i s fact a l o n e i s s u f f i c i e n t t o r e f u t e the banal slanders of the Soviet revisionists that our econo m y h a s a l l e g e d l y been a t a s t a n d s t i l l since t h e y cut o f f their aid. D u r i n g this five-year period our objective w i l l be to strengthen o u r extracting and heavy processing industry, in particular, to further modernize it and raise it to a h i g h e r l e v e l . T o t h i s e n d a series o f n e w p r o j e c t s w i l l b e b u i l t w i t h t e c h n o l o g i c a l processes a n d p r o p o r t i o n s o f p r o duction w i t h o u t precedent i n o u r economy. T h e y i n c l u d e : the f e r r o u s m e t a l l u r g i c a l c o m b i n e w i t h a f u l l p r o d u c t i o n cycle, t h e p l a n t f o r t h e deep p r o c e s s i n g o f o i l , t h e b i g
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m i n e s f o r t h e e x t r a c t i o n o f i r o n - n i c k e l , c h r o m i u m a n d coal, the Fierza H y d r o - p o w e r plant, the m i n e r a l enrichment factories a n d others. C a s t i r o n a n d steel, n i c k e l , cobalt, sheet m e t a l , tubes, h i g h q u a l i t y l i q u i d fuels, l i q u i f i e d gas, u r e a , hydrochloric acid and so on w i l l be produced for the first t i m e . A s a r e s u l t o f this d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e w o r k i n g class w i l l b e i n c r e a s e d a n d its t e c h n i c a l - p r o f e s s i o n a l l e v e l a n d its leading role in the entire life of the country enhanced. G r e a t prospects a r e o p e n e d i n t h e n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n , also, f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist a g r i c u l t u r e . B y 1975 t o t a l a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n w i l l b e 65-69 p e r cent g r e a t e r t h a n t h a t of 1970, or a b o u t 3 t i m e s g r e a t e r t h a n in 1960. T h e p r o d u c t i o n o f b r e a d g r a i n , m i l k , meat, eggs, v e getables a n d i n d u s t r i a l c r o p s w i l l b e i n c r e a s e d . T h e n u m b e r o f f r u i t - t r e e s w i l l b e a b o u t 2 3 p e r cent greater. B y b u i l d i n g i m p o r t a n t l a n d i m p r o v e m e n t a n d i r r i g a t i o n projects, e s p e c i a l l y i n the m o u n t a i n o u s zones, a b o u t 5 8 p e r c e n t o f t h e arable land of the country w i l l be brought under i r r i g a t i o n . T h e n u m b e r o f t r a c t o r s e m p l o y e d i n 1975, c a l c u l a t e d i n 1 5 H P u n i t s , w i l l b e a b o u t 4 0 p e r cent h i g h e r t h a n i n 1970, or 3.5 t i m e s h i g h e r t h a n in 1960. It is e n v i s a g e d t h a t t h e needs o f a g r i c u l t u r e f o r c h e m i c a l f e r t i l i z e r s a n d m e c h a n i z e d means, f o r s e l e c t e d seeds a n d b r e e d s o f l i v e s t o c k of h i g h p r o d u c t i v i t y w i l l be met better t h a n ever before. D u r i n g this five-year period, thousands of m i d d l e a n d higher specialists w i l l be t r a i n e d for this v e r y i m p o r t a n t sector of o u r e c o n o m y . A vast p r o g r a m of capital constructions w i l l i n c l u d e a l l fields of social activity. The investments allocated for t h e 5th F i v e - y e a r P l a n a r e e q u a l t o t h e t o t a l i n v e s t m e n t s m a d e d u r i n g t h e past e l e v e n y e a r s (1960-1970) t a k e n together. T h e v a l u e o f c o n s t r u c t i o n - i n s t a l l a t i o n w o r k f o r the t w o m a j o r p r o j e c t s , t h e m e t a l l u r g i c a l c o m b i n e a n d t h e Fierza hydro-power station alone almost equals the total i n v e s t m e n t s m a d e d u r i n g t h e 1st F i v e - y e a r P l a n , o r a b o u t
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50 p e r cent of those of t h e 2 n d F i v e - y e a r P l a n . A l t o g e t h e r , a b o u t 270 e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i o - c u l t u r a l p r o j e c t s w i l l b e b u i l t . T h e revolutionization of our school w i l l be accompanied by a further extension of secondary and higher education. One in e v e r y three persons of the population w i l l attend s c h o o l o f a l l categories. D u r i n g t h e c o m i n g f i v e y e a r s a b o u t 20,000 s p e c i a l i s t s w i t h h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n , o r 3 3 per cent m o r e t h a n d u r i n g t h e past 2 6 y e a r s since t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e p e o p l e ' s s t a t e p o w e r t o 1970, w i l l b e trained. A l l our socialist construction i n every field w i l l b e i n t e n s i f i e d u n d e r t h e b a n n e r o f a w i d e r use o f k n o w ledge a n d s c i e n t i f i c r e s e a r c h . T h e complex and d y n a m i c development, w h i c h our e c o n o m y w i l l u n d e r g o , w i l l b r i n g about, a s a l w a y s , the raising of the m a t e r i a l a n d c u l t u r a l well-being of the w o r k i n g people o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e . T h e l i f e o f o u r b r a v e a n d h a r d - w o r k i n g people w i l l become m o r e b e a u t i ful, happy and j o y f u l . Suffice it to m e n t i o n that the apartm e n t s a n d houses w h i c h w i l l b e b u i l t d u r i n g t h e 5 t h F i v e year P l a n w i l l accommodate a population equal to the present p o p u l a t i o n s o f t h e cities o f K o r a , E l b a s a n , S h k o dra, Durrs, Vlora, Berat, F i e r and Lushnja, taken together. Consistently pursuing the correct policy of creating a p o w e r f u l national industry, in this period the m a i n objective of o u r industrialization w i l l be u t i l i z a t i o n of the n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s o f t h e c o u n t r y c m a w i d e r scale a n d w i t h a g r e a t e r e c o n o m i c effect, w i t h t h e a i m o f f u l f i l l i n g t h e greatest a n d m o s t u r g e n t needs f o r e x t e n d e d r e p r o d u c tion. I n l i n e w i t h t h i s o r i e n t a t i o n , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f heavy and light, extracting and processing industries, w i l l be continued simultaneously, in the proper proportions according to o u r needs a n d possibilities, always in h a r m o n y w i t h the development of agriculture in particular a n d other b r a n c h e s o f o u r e c o n o m y i n g e n e r a l .
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I n the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f this g e n e r a l o r i e n t a t i o n , stage b y stage, t h e m a i n t a s k o f o u r i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n remains the expansion a n d improvement of the structure of industrial production. This is precisely w h y o u r industrialization d u r i n g the 5th F i v e - y e a r P l a n w i l l continue w i t h the d e v e l o p m e n t o f the e x i s t i n g b r a n c h e s a n d the sett i n g u p o f n e w b r a n c h e s o f the h e a v y p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r y . T h e establishment, for the first time, of the ferrous metallurgical industry is of exceptional importance to our w h o l e economy. T h e metallurgical combine w h i c h w i l l be built in Elbasan, a gigantic undertaking w h i c h w i l l strengt h e n the i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d s e l f - s u f f i c i e n c y o f o u r e c o n omy, w i l l ensure w i t h i n the country the r a w materials e s s e n t i a l t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y , a n d t o its e v e n t u a l t r a n s i t i o n t o a m a c h i n e - b u i l d i n g i n d u s t r y , g r e a t l y s t r e n g t h e n i n g the m a t e r i a l base o f c o n struction work. I n the c o m p l e x d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r y , p r i o r i t y d u r i n g t h i s f i v e - y e a r p e r i o d , too, w i l l b e g i v e n t o t h e b r a n ches o f i n d u s t r y e x t r a c t i n g m i n e r a l s a n d fuels. T h i s w i l l b e d o n e f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f e x t e n d i n g t h e r a w m a t e r i a l s base for metallurgy and for the chemical industry, w i t h the p u r p o s e of i n c r e a s i n g e x p o r t s of m i n e r a l s , as w e l l as of s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e e n e r g y base w h i c h i s s o necessary f o r i n d u s t r y itself a n d f o r o u r p e o p l e ' s e c o n o m y a s a w h o l e . A s i n t h e past, g r e a t a t t e n t i o n w i l l b e g i v e n t o i n c r e a s i n g the p r o d u c t i o n o f e l e c t r i c p o w e r . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the e l e c t r i c p o w e r i n d u s t r y m u s t precede t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of other i n d u s t r i e s a n d a l l t h e other b r a n c h e s of t h e e c o n o m y . T h e r e f o r e , its r a t e of d e v e l o p m e n t m u s t be h i g h e r than the rate of increase of total i n d u s t r i a l production. T h i s course i s d i c t a t e d b y the n e e d t o s u p p l y l a b o u r w i t h more power as an essential condition for a p p l y i n g n e w technique, l i g h t e n i n g t h e b u r d e n o f l a b o u r a n d i n c r e a s i n g its productivity in all branches of the economy.
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T h e engineering industry must play a special role in s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e t e c h n i c a l base o f i n d u s t r y itself a n d o f t h e o t h e r b r a n c h e s o f o u r e c o n o m y . Its p r i m a r y task h a s been a n d still is to ensure that the m a c h i n e r y a n d equipm e n t w h i c h o u r e c o n o m y has a t i t s d i s p o s a l i s k e p t i n good order and w o r k s w i t h o u t i n t e r r u p t i o n a n d w i t h h i g h productivity. T h e other equally important a n d urgent aspect of the m a i n task of our engineering i n d u s t r y is to greatly and continuously improve the quality of the spare p a r t s p r o d u c e d . H o w e v e r m u c h the v o l u m e o f p r o d u c t i o n o f t h i s b r a n c h m a y i n c r e a s e , i f t h e q u a l i t y o f these p r o ducts is not raised to a higher level, the burden on our e c o n o m y o f i m p o r t i n g s p a r e p a r t s w i l l n o t b e eased. I n t h e c o n d i t i o n s w h e n steel, r o l l e d m e t a l a n d cast i r o n are to be produced locally, w h e n the question is raised of giving a further impulse to technical a n d scient i f i c progress, great n e w p r o s p e c t s a r e o p e n e d t o t h i s b r a n c h o f i n d u s t r y . I t m u s t not, r e s t r i c t i t s e l f s i m p l y t o t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f s p a r e parts, b u t t h e t i m e h a s c o m e for it to go boldly into the production of machines as w e l l . T h i s has b e c o m e a n u r g e n t n e e d f o r o u r e c o n o m y , w h i c h m u s t b e dealt w i t h step b y step, w i t h d e t e r mination, in line w i t h the n e w possibilities w h i c h w i l l be created. In this v e r y important but complicated question, w e m u s t start, f i r s t o f a l l , w i t h those m a c h i n e s , m e c h a n i s m s a n d i t e m s o f e q u i p m e n t w h i c h o u r e c o n o m y needs most, w h i c h c a n b e p r o d u c e d i n series, a n d w h i c h ease t h e burden of imports. F o r the engineering i n d u s t r y to respond better to its present a n d f u t u r e tasks it is necessary to go further in the specialization and co-operation of production. R e garding this p r o b l e m , the 3rd P l e n u m of the CC has d r a w n up a detailed, long-term program of action. The development and structure of industry have a l w a y s b e e n c l o s e l y l i n k e d w i t h t h e needs o f o t h e r b r a n -
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ches o f o u r e c o n o m y . T h i s has m a d e i t p o s s i b l e t o p r e serve the balance between the development of both i n d u s t r y a n d a g r i c u l t u r e , s o t h a t i n d u s t r y d i r e c t l y serves the development of agriculture. Proceeding on this correct a n d tested course, t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r y d u r i n g the 5 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n w i l l b e m o r e c l o s e l y l i n k e d w i t h the needs o f a g r i c u l t u r e f o r its f u r t h e r m o d e r n ization and intensification. To this end, it is planned to increase the production of chemical fertilizers and to greatly expand the production of chemicals used in f i g h t i n g p l a n t pests a n d diseases. B e s i d e s this, the p r o duction of spare parts for tractors w i l l be doubled, the production of new agricultural machinery and equipment w i l l be undertaken, measures w i l l be t a k e n to prep a r e m o r e processed s t o c k foods, t o i n c r e a s e t h e m e a n s of transport and other materials of reproduction w h i c h a g r i c u l t u r e needs. A l l t h i s w i l l b e a m a j o r c o n t r i b u t i o n w h i c h o u r socialist i n d u s t r y w i l l m a k e t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of a g r i c u l t u r e . A l t h o u g h t h e m a i n l a b o u r a n d f i n a n c i a l resources and material means w i l l be used d u r i n g this five-year p e r i o d , too, f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f h e a v y i n d u s t r y , n o excesses w h i c h m i g h t i m p a i r o r s l o w t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f light industry w i l l be allowed. In deciding the proportions between heavy and light industries, priority w i l l be g i v e n t o h e a v y i n d u s t r y . T h i s has b e e n a n d r e m a i n s a correct and unshakeable principle for the development of our industry.
THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF OUR PARTY'S POLICY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE A l t h o u g h t h e a i m i s t o t u r n socialist A l b a n i a i n t o a n i n d u s t r i a l c o u n t r y , a g r i c u l t u r e s t i l l r e m a i n s t h e basic branch of our economy. T h e basing of our national econ-
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o m y f i r m l y on both industry and agriculture is a perm a n e n t p r i n c i p l e , a n i n d i s p e n s a b l e c o n d i t i o n f o r its r a p i d a n d h a r m o n i o u s d e v e l o p m e n t , f o r r a i s i n g t h e l e v e l o f its self-sufficiency. F o r this reason the Party's policy for the development of agriculture has a l w a y s had the a i m t h a t t h e d e e p e n i n g o f t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e countryside must necessarily lead to the development of the forces of production in agriculture as w e l l . A n d i n d e e d , e v e r y y e a r t h a t passes i s a n e v e r better t e s t i m o n y t o the c o r r e c t n e s s o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p o l i c y o f o u r P a r t y i n t h i s f i e l d , too. T h e socialist o r d e r has n o w t r i u m p h e d c o m p l e t e l y i n o u r c o u n t r y s i d e a n d i n the e n t i r e l i f e o f o u r p e a s a n t r y , a n d its e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s , i t s m e n t a l i t y a n d p s y c h o l o g y a r e b e i n g ceasel e s s l y t r a n s f o r m e d on a r e v o l u t i o n a r y basis. A g r i c u l t u r e has made great and a l l - r o u n d progress. T h e m a i n objective, the basic task of agriculture d u r i n g t h e 5 t h f i v e - y e a r p e r i o d , too, r e m a i n s t o increase production of bread grain. To this end it is essential to e n s u r e t h a t b r e a d g r a i n p r o d u c t i o n becomes as stable as p o s s i b l e a n d increases at a h i g h r a t e f r o m one y e a r to another. W h i l e c o n c e n t r a t i n g o u r forces a n d m e a n s t o i n c r e a s e b r e a d g r a i n p r o d u c t i o n , w e m u s t f i g h t n o less t o d e v e l o p the other branches of agriculture, i n d u s t r i a l crops a n d a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y , v e g e t a b l e and. f r u i t - g r o w i n g . I n o r d e r t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e g r e a t task f a c i n g a g r i c u l t u r e successfully, it is essential to continue the correct course t o w a r d s its f u r t h e r i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n . T o t h i s e n d , d u r i n g the 5th five-year period, large and all-round investments w i l l b e m a d e , n o t o n l y i n t h e l o w l a n d s , b u t also i n the m o u n t a i n zones. T h e o b j e c t i v e o f t h i s i s t o a c h i e v e s u c h i n c r e a s e d y i e l d rates i n f i e l d c r o p s a n d l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t s as to ensure the o v e r w h e l m i n g bulk of the increase w h i c h total agricultural production w i l l achieve d u r i n g this f i v e year period.
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T h e development and intensification of agriculture w i l l , o f course, b e g r e a t e r i n the p l a i n s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , attention and efforts to promote the development of a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e m o u n t a i n zones, too, w i l l b e i n c r e a s e d . A l o n g w i t h the intensification of agriculture, the b r e a k i n g in of v i r g i n l a n d is a p e r m a m e n t task for us so long as t h e r e a r e areas o f l a n d t h a t c o u l d b e w o r k e d a n d b e c o m e productive. The breaking in of v i r g i n land a n d the intensificat i o n of agriculture require, above a l l , a higher level of m e c h a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k processes. W i t h o u t c o m p l e x mechanization of the w o r k everywhere, both in the plains and in the mountains, our agriculture w i l l not b e a b l e t o a c h i e v e the results r e q u i r e d o f i t a n d t h e c o operativists w i l l be unable to completely revolutionize their concepts a b o u t w o r k a n d m o d e r n a g r i c u l t u r e . T o t h i s e n d w e m u s t s t r i v e f o r t h e greatest p o s s i b l e m e c h a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k processes i n a g r i c u l t u r e . T o a c c o m p l i s h t h e tasks o f r a i s i n g t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s t o the l e v e l o f u p - t o - d a t e economies, i t i s essential t h a t they advance further in their specialization. O u r agriculture c a n n o t d e v e l o p s u c c e s s f u l l y w i t h mosaic e c o n o m i e s w h i c h p l a n t a l l k i n d s o f crops a n d r a i s e a l l k i n d s o f livestock. N o r should it have a n a r r o w , one-sided spec i a l i z a t i o n . It needs a s p e c i a l i z a t i o n w h i c h w i l l a l l o w a m o r e correct, m o r e r a t i o n a l c o n c e n t r a t i o n a n d d i s t r i b u tion of agricultural crops and livestock, both among the different districts and among the cooperatives of t h e same district. T h e f i n a l goal of specialization in our a g r i culture is to increase agricultural a n d livestock p r o d u c t s in ever greater proportions, w h i l e c o n t i n u a l l y r e d u c i n g social expenditure per unit of production. T h e specialization of each agricultural cooperative or district must be supported w i t h economic arguments, must be prepared f r o m a l l aspects a n d m u s t n o t b e d o n e h a s t i l y .
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In the context of specialization, the solution of the problems connected w i t h the modernization of a n i m a l husbandry requires special attention. T h e c o m p l e x t a s k s p u t f o r w a r d f o r t u r n i n g the coo p e r a t i v e s i n t o e c o n o m i e s o f h i g h p r o d u c t i v i t y cannot b e successfully accomplished without placing a l l our a g r i c u l t u r e o n a b r o a d e r a n d m o r e p r o f o u n d s c i e n t i f i c basis. T h e t i m e has c o m e f o r t h e w o r k o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s t o b e c o m b i n e d better a n d m o r e c l o s e l y w i t h s c i e n t i f i c k n o w ledge, f o r s c i e n c e to be i n t r o d u c e d to a g r e a t e r e x t e n t in a l l branches of agriculture, for strengthening the d i s c i pline of scientific agronomy, for c a r r y i n g out its requirements at the proper time and to the letter in every p r o cess o f p r o d u c t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , o u r P a r t y calls o n t h e workers, cooperative members, specialists a n d all the leaders of agricultural economies to persistently study and a p p l y z e a l o u s l y t h e c o n c l u s i o n s o f science a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l technique. T h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f t h e m a n y great t a s k s i n a g r i culture absolutely demands that e v e r y able-bodied person in the countryside, m a n or woman, boy or girl, w o r k the w h o l e y e a r round, i n s u m m e r a n d winter, i n good o r b a d w e a t h e r . I t i s essential, l i k e w i s e , t h a t e v e r y j o b i n a g r i c u l t u r e s h o u l d b e d o n e w i t h s t r i c t socialist d i s c i p l i n e , n o t p e r m i t t i n g t h e loss o f e v e n one w o r k i n g h o u r . E v e r y w h e r e a n d at all times w o r k should be done on the b a s i s o f w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d n o r m s , based o n s c i e n t i f i c c r i teria a n d on advanced experience w h i c h w i l l serve to gauge t h e a m o u n t o f w o r k d o n e w i t h t h e s a m e a c c u r a c y as in industry. A t t h e p r e s e n t stage o f t h e c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialism, we must f u r t h e r intensify the w o r k to reduce the essential differences between village and town. M a j o r results h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , b u t t h e y m u s t b e c a r r i e d f u r t h e r , f i r m l y based o n t h e r e a l s i t u a t i o n
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of our countryside, on o u r specific national characteristics a n d economic possibilities. T h e C e n t r a l Committee of the P a r t y has reached the conclusion that the present economically strong cooperatives of the plains should be t u r n e d into cooperatives of a h i g h e r type, w i t h t h e state t a k i n g a d i r e c t p a r t i n t h e m w i t h non-repayable social means. These cooperatives w i l l still be the collective property of the group, w h i l e the state w i l l assist t h e m t o m a k e c a p i t a l i n v e s t m e n t s i n proportions bigger t h a n their indivisible funds p e r m i t and w i l l provide them w i t h m o r e machinery, pedigree livestock, selected seeds, a n d s o o n . A l t h o u g h t h e r e l a t i o n s o f d i s t r i bution resulting from the property of the group w i l l be r e t a i n e d i n these c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d t h e m e m b e r s w i l l k e e p t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l plots, the f o r m s o f m a n a g e m e n t , o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the w o r k a n d p a y m e n t w i l l b e s i m i l a r t o o r i d e n t i c a l w i t h those o f the state f a r m s . T h e c o o p e r a t i v e m e m b e r s w i l l be paid according to their w o r k w i t h a guaranteed w a g e based o n t h e i n c o m e o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e . T h e setting up of cooperatives of the higher type is of major theoretical and practical significance for the present a n d t h e f u t u r e o f o u r socialist a g r i c u l t u r e , f o r the complete construction of socialism in the countryside. T h e immediate aim of this measure is to achieve a m o r e rapid development of agriculture in our country's most f e r t i l e p l a i n s a n d to e n s u r e a s t a b l e i n c r e a s e of p r o d u c t i o n o f those a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d l i v e s t o c k p r o d u c t s o f w h i c h o u r people's e c o n o m y s t a n d s i n greatest n e e d . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , these c o o p e r a t i v e s w i l l r e p r e s e n t a higher level of the socialization of the property of the group, b r i n g i n g it closer to the property of the w h o l e people. L a t e r l i f e , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p r a c t i c e o f o u r socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n , w i l l s h o w u s t h e o t h e r stages t h r o u g h w h i c h t h i s process w i l l h a v e t o pass later, w i l l i n d i c a t e t h e measures that must be t a k e n to gradually eliminate those
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d i f f e r e n c e s w h i c h e x i s t t o d a y b e t w e e n these t w o f o r m s of socialist p r o p e r t y . O u r P a r t y has always considered the improvement of life in the countryside as a matter of principle of p r i m a r y importance for strengthening the alliance bet w e e n t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e p e a s a n t r y , f o r r e d u c i n g the differences between t o w n and countryside, a n d for i m p r o v i n g t h e g e n e r a l w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e people. I t has a l w a y s r e g a r d e d a n y s t a n d w h i c h does n o t t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h e needs a n d i n t e r e s t s o f t h e p e a s a n t r y a s a n unconscious hangover of the underestimation of the count r y s i d e , as a m a n i f e s t a t i o n of b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y . Resolutely p u r s u i n g the correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course o f e c o n o m i c l i n k s b e t w e e n t h e state a n d t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, t h e s y s t e m o f c o m p u l s o r y d e l i v e r i e s o f b r e a d g r a i n t o t h e state has b e e n a b o l i s h e d a n d t h e system of v o l u n t a r y deliveries, w i t h a price differential bet w e e n t h e m o u n t a i n zones a n d the p l a i n s , h a s b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d . I t h a s b e e n d e c i d e d also t h a t i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t s w h i c h a r e u s e d f o r r e p r o d u c t i o n i n a g r i c u l t u r e are t o be s o l d to t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s at t h e s a m e p r i c e s as to t h e state f a r m s . I n o r d e r t o b r i n g t h e l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e closer t o those i n the t o w n , t h e s u p p l y i n g o f t h e r u r a l areas w i t h i n d u s t r i a l a n d f o o d p r o d u c t s w i l l b e i m p r o v e d . T h e needs o f t h e r u r a l areas f o r e d u c a t i o n , c u l t u r e a n d h e a l t h services, w i l l b e m e t f r o m social f u n d s to a g r e a t e r e x t e n t t h a n h i t h e r t o . A m a j o r v i c t o r y o f o u r socialist o r d e r i s t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the system of pensions for a l l the cooperative m e m bers, u s i n g t h e f u n d s o f t h e state a n d o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s themselves. This measure is of great political, economic a n d social importance to our w o r k i n g peasantry. T h i s i s a f u r t h e r step f o r w a r d i n i m p r o v i n g t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f our cooperative workers, towards bringing the living c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e n e a r e r t o those i n t h e
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w i l l serve as a p o w e r f u l stimulus to the a g r i c u l t u r e a n d o u r socialist c o u n t r y s i d e .
FURTHER IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMY T h e stage r e a c h e d i n t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d the n e w tasks before us call for f u r t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t of the organization and management of the economy, p u t t i n g t h e m o n a s o u n d e r s c i e n t i f i c basis. T h o u g h t h i s p r o b l e m i s n e i t h e r n e w n o r u n k n o w n , t o d a y i t constitutes one o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l l i n k s w e m u s t seize o n t o g i v e a f u r t h e r p o w e r f u l i m p u l s e t o the d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r whole economy. W h a t are the m a i n p r o b l e m s t h a t s h o u l d a t t r a c t o u r attention most for better m a n a g e m e n t of the economy a t t h e n e w stage o f i t s d e v e l o p m e n t ? T h e y a r e : t h e raising of the managerial w o r k of the economic organs to a h i g h e r l e v e l , p u t t i n g it on a s o u n d e r s c i e n t i f i c b a s i s ; the i m p r o v e m e n t o f the m e t h o d s o f m a n a g e m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n on t h e basis of a d e e p e r k n o w l e d g e of e c o nomic laws; the further extension of the participation o f t h e w o r k i n g masses i n t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the economy. F u r t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t o f the m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e economy requires, first a n d foremost, that the organizing r o l e o f t h e state m u s t b e s t r e n g t h e n e d , r a i s i n g i t t o t h e l e v e l o f t h e n e w tasks. T o d a y , t h e tasks o f t h e state organs w h i c h r u n our economy have increased and become more complicated a n d complex. A n y reduction of t h e m , as s o m e t i m e s happens, to t h e m a n a g e m e n t of o p e r a t i v e p r o b l e m s o n l y , i s o n e - s i d e d a n d has h a r m f u l consequences. T h e state o r g a n s a n d t h e i r c a d r e s c a n n o t r u n o u r e c o n o m y e f f e c t i v e l y w i t h o u t b e i n g e n g a g e d to a g r e a t e r
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extent and more profoundly in analysis and concretizat i o n o f t h e e c o n o m i c p o l i c y o f the P a r t y , its d i r e c t i v e s a n d o r i e n t a t i o n s , w i t h o u t s e e k i n g a n d f i n d i n g t h e best a n d most effective w a y s of putting them into practice. It is essential that in their w o r k they pay more attention than hitherto to the study, both immediate a n d longterm, of fundamental problems which have to do with the socio-economic development of our country. T h e need to i m p r o v e the management of the econo m y has raised the question of strengthening the scient i f i c c h a r a c t e r o f o u r p l a n n i n g a s a n acute c u r r e n t issue. T h e solution of m a n y economic and social problems in t h e stage o f t h e c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s t society r e q u i r e s m o r e t h a n one f i v e - y e a r p l a n . T h e r e f o r e , p a r a l l e l w i t h five-year planning, we should d r a w up longert e r m forecast p l a n s . T h e m a i n o b j e c t i v e o f these p l a n s s h o u l d b e t o foresee t h e m a i n d i r e c t i o n s o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y a s a w h o l e , o f its i n d i v i d u a l b r a n ches, a n d o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t k i n d s o f i n d u s t r i a l a n d agricultural products, the directions of the development of e d u c a t i o n , c u l t u r e , science, etc. F o r the five-year or longer-term plans of economic d e v e l o p m e n t t o b e a s r e a l i s t i c a s possible, o u r s o c i a l needs m u s t b e v e r y c a r e f u l l y assessed o n t h e basis o f s y s t e m a t i c , d e t a i l e d , a l l - s i d e d o b s e r v a t i o n s , studies, a n a lyses a n d g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s , i n d i f f e r e n t v a r i a n t s , a n d t e c h nical, economic a n d financial calculations. T h e purpose o f a l l t h i s i s t o e n a b l e t h e P a r t y a n d state organs t o select t h e o p t i m a l v a r i a n t . Strengthening the scientific character of planning dictates t h e n e e d f o r w i d e r u s e t h a n h i t h e r t o o f t h e r e cognized a n a l y t i c a l m e t h o d s o f c o m p a r i s o n , s e t t i n g s t a n dards a n d b a l a n c i n g r e s u l t s . I n a d d i t i o n e f f o r t s s h o u l d b e m a d e , also, t o i n t r o d u c e t h e u s e o f n e w m e t h o d s w h i c h are b a s e d o n m a t h e m a t i c s , p r o g r a m m i n g , a n d m o d e r n
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computer technique into the practice of planning and economic calculations. T h e present l e v e l of development of o u r economic e n t e r p r i s e s raises t h e n e e d t o a c h i e v e a b e t t e r c o m b i n a t i o n of the methods of administrative management w i t h the methods of economic management of production. F o r this it is essential that the objective economic laws of socialism should be k n o w n and consciously applied.
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STRENGTHENING THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT AND THE FURTHER D E V E L O P M E N T OF SOCIALIST D E M O C R A C Y
Comrades, T h e q u e s t i o n o f state p o w e r , o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , h a s b e e n a k e y issue o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d w i l l remain so until the victory of communism is achieved. W h a t e v e r t h e f i e l d i n w h i c h t h e class s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n t h e t w o r o a d s socialist a n d c a p i t a l i s t , i s w a g e d , w h e t h e r political or economic, ideological, c u l t u r a l or military, it is, i n t h e f i n a l account, a s t r u g g l e o v e r t h e q u e s t i o n o f whether the dictatorship of the proletariat w i l l be preserved and strengthened, or w i l l degenerate a n d be overthrown as occurred in the Soviet U n i o n and some o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . O u r P a r t y a l w a y s bears i n m i n d t h i s vital teaching of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w h i c h life has f u l l y confirmed. T h e years that h a v e elapsed since t h e 5th Congress of the P a r t y are years of a l l - r o u n d struggle by the P a r t y , t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w h o l e people, f o r t h e further development of the socialist revolution in the p o l i t i c a l f i e l d , too. T h i s has b e e n a s t r u g g l e t o p r e s e r v e , strengthen and perfect the dictatorship of the proletariat, t o p u r g e i t o f traces a n d i n f l u e n c e s o f t h e o l d society, t o a v o i d t h e d a n g e r o f its r e v i s i o n i s t - b o u r g e o i s d e g e n e r a t i o n , a n d t o e n h a n c e t h e a c t i v e r o l e o f the state i n a l l
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s p h e r e s o f t h e c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s t society. A l l t h i s s t r u g g l e h a s been s p e a r h e a d e d a g a i n s t b u reaucracy, for the f u r t h e r development of socialist d e m o c r a c y . Its r e s u l t s c a n b e seen a n d f e l t i n a l l f i e l d s o f o u r n a t i o n a l l i f e . T h e l i n k s o f t h e s t a t e w i t h t h e masses h a v e been further strengthened a n d extended. T h e state a p p a r a t u s h a s been f r e e d f r o m a c o n s i d e r a b l e b u r e a u c r a t i c b u r d e n , has b e c o m e m o r e e f f i c i e n t i n its f u n c t i o n i n g a n d h a s b e e n b r o u g h t closer t o t h e base a n d its p r o b l e m s . T h e i n i t i a t i v e a n d s e l f - a c t i v a t i o n o f t h e masses, t h e i r interest a n d active participation in state affairs have i n c r e a s e d a s n e v e r before. T h e c o n t r o l o f t h e w o r k i n g people, a n d o f t h e w o r k i n g class i n t h e f i r s t place, o v e r t h e a p p a r a t u s a n d t h e leaders, o v e r t h e w h o l e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y , has b e c o m e a p o w e r f u l a n d e f f e c t i v e m e a n s t o i m p r o v e matters in a l l directions. Relations between the c a d r e s a n d t h e masses h a v e b e e n p u t o n a m o r e c o r r e c t basis, a thing w h i c h has f u r t h e r strengthened the m u t u a l c o n f i d e n c e a n d close c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m . T h e w o r k o f t h e elected state o r g a n s a t a l l l e v e l s has been g r e a t l y e n l i v e n e d , a n d these b o d i e s a r e e x e r c i s i n g t h e i r competences a n d control over the executive organs and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s b e t t e r a n d better. A m o r e c o r r e c t concept o f these m a t t e r s has been c r e a t e d a n d a h e a v y b l o w h a s been struck at bureaucratic, intellectualist a n d technoc r a t i c concepts a n d p r a c t i c e s . O u r experience, and especially that accumulated in these recent years of vigorous political life f u l l of o r i g i n a l i t y , has s h o w n that, p r o v i d e d t h e r e i s c o r r e c t l e a d e r ship by the Party, the dictatorship of the proletariat c a n w i t h s t a n d a l l tests a n d p e r f o r m its h i s t o r i c m i s s i o n successfully. H o w e v e r , w e are c o n s c i o u s t h a t t h e r e s u l t s a c h i e v e d in the implementation of the orientations issued and measures adopted by the P a r t y have not eliminated all
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the dangers once a n d for all. T h e fight against bureaucracy a n d a l l its manifestations, as one of the most i m p o r t a n t e x p r e s s i o n s o f t h e class s t r u g g l e i n t h e c o n d i t i o n s of socialism, r e m a i n s a permanent task of the Party, the s o c i a l i s t state a n d a l l t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e . I t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t i n p r a c t i c e , i n m a n y cases, t h i s q u e s t i o n i s n o t u n d e r s t o o d i n a l l its seriousness. H e r e i n , lies t h e s o u r c e o f t h e fact t h a t i n t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the orientations of the P a r t y we continually r u n up against i n h i b i t i n g concepts, conservatism and bureaucratic resistance, h a v e f r e q u e n t l y e n c o u n t e r e d f o r m a l i s m , a n d t h i s s h o w s t h a t t h e essence o f b u r e a u c r a t i c d i s t o r t i o n s h a s not been t h o r o u g h l y understood, and the fight against these d i s t o r t i o n s i s o f t e n s i m p l i f i e d a n d r e d u c e d t o a t t a c k i n g c e r t a i n p a r t i a l m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a n d side issues. T h e r e f o r e , t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e state o r gans m u s t focus t h e i r attention on the struggle against bureaucracy, must strengthen their educational work, a n d be continuously seeking w a y s and means w h i c h should be used to c a r r y this fight through to the end, w h i l e r e s o l u t e l y s m a s h i n g t h e obstacles a n d r e s t r i c t i v e t r e n d s , whenever a n d in whatever form they m a y appear. T h i s fight is of v i t a l importance to the future of the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , because b u r e a u c r a c y i s a great a n d d e e p - r o o t e d e v i l . A s t h e n e g a t i v e e x p e r i e n c e of the Soviet U n i o n and of some other countries showed, bureaucracy leads to the separation of the state f r o m the masses o f t h e people, t o p l a c i n g t h e l e a d i n g o r g a n s and c a d r e s a b o v e t h e masses a n d b e y o n d t h e i r c o n t r o l , t o t h e e r o s i o n o f t h e socialist d e m o c r a c y , t o t h e c r e a t i o n o f bureaucratic centralism and to degeneration of the d i c tatorship of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . T h e universal road to the strengthening of the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e e n t i r e socialist o r d e r i s t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e d e m o c r a c y o f t h e masses. W i t h -
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o u t socialist d e m o c r a c y t h e r e i s n o d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e proletariat, just as there can be no real democracy for the w o r k i n g people without the dictatorship of the proletariat. U n d e r the guise of extending democracy, the Khrushchevite revisionists liquidated the dictatorship of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d i n its p l a c e t h e y h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d t h e i r b u r e a u c r a t i c d i c t a t o r s h i p , as a w e a p o n of t h e d o m i n a t i o n o f the n e w b o u r g e o i s class o v e r t h e w o r k i n g masses. J u s t as in the classical bourgeois countries, the so-called d e mocracy in the countries r u l e d by the revisionists is a privilege of the exploiting m i n o r i t y a n d a shameless f r a u d f o r t h e masses o f t h e p e o p l e . T h e b r o a d e s t p o s s i b l e i n v o l v e m e n t o f t h e masses i n r u n n i n g o u r c o u n t r y has b e e n a n d r e m a i n s t h e u n w a v e r i n g line in a l l the activity of the P a r t y of L a b o u r and o u r p r o l e t a r i a n state f o r t h e b u i l d i n g o f s o c i a l i s m . W e c o n s i d e r t h i s p a r t i c i p a t i o n a s the m a i n d i r e c t i o n f o r d e e p e n i n g our socialist democracy in action, as an indispensable condition to ensure the experience of the broad w o r k i n g masses i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m , t o m u l t i p l y t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e state a p p a r a t u s o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e proletariat, to m a k e the w o r k i n g people ever more c o n scious t h a t t h e y t h e m s e l v e s a r e t h e a b s o l u t e m a s t e r s o f the country, that they must h a v e their decisive say about everything. I n a d d i t i o n t o a great d e a l o f e d u c a t i o n a l a n d e x p l a n a t o r y w o r k by the Party, the a r m i n g of a l l the citizens w i t h such conception of their role and place in political a n d social life, t r a i n i n g t h e m to p l a y t h i s role p r o p e r l y , has r e q u i r e d a n d s t i l l r e q u i r e s m a n y p r a c t i c a l m e a s u r e s i n o r d e r t o create t h e n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f state p o w e r o n t h e b r o a d e s t p o s s i b l e scale, s o t h a t t h e a d o p tion a n d implementation of decisions is brought more and more under their direct judgement and control.
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From this v i e w p o i n t the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e m e t h o d of c o n s u l t i n g t h e masses, of l i s t e n i n g to t h e m , of r e l y i n g o n t h e m , w h i c h has a l r e a d y b e c o m e a n i n t e g r a l p a r t of o u r practice, m u s t be developed a n d deepened unceasingly. It w o u l d be a mistake to become self-complacent and remain at the point we have reached. It is essential that we continue our efforts even more pers i s t e n t l y t o o v e r c o m e a n y obstacle t h a t r e s t r i c t s t h e e f f e c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e masses i n t h e m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e a f f a i r s o f society a n d i n h i b i t s t h e i r c r e a t i v e i n i tiative. We must invigorate and further enrich the forms of democracy. In particular, we must enhance the role o f t h e mass o r g a n i z a t i o n s a s i m p o r t a n t centres o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g people, a s t r i b u n e s o f t h e i r voice and their revolutionary self-activation. F i r m r e l i a n c e o n t h e masses f o r t h e v e r i f i c a t i o n o f t h e correctness o f d e c i s i o n s i n t h e v i g o r o u s p r a c t i c e o f l i f e i s e s p e c i a l l y i m p o r t a n t . C o n t i n u o u s v e r i f i c a t i o n , ceaseless c r i t i c a l a n d s e l f - c r i t i c a l r e - e x a m i n a t i o n o f a l l p r e v i o u s w o r k and experience in every sphere of activity, w i t h a v i e w to preserving and developing what is soundly based a n d c h a n g i n g w h a t i s n o t j u s t i f i e d b y p r a c t i c e or that life has outstripped a n d left behind, w i t h a v i e w to f i n d i n g n e w w a y s and means for the solution of p r o b l e m s t h i s c o n s t i t u t e s a l a w of t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n , w h i c h , a s K a r l M a r x s a i d , i s i n v i n c i b l e because i t c o n s t a n t l y c r i t i c i z e s itself. This method is incompatible w i t h the bureaucratic and conservative tendencies to m a k e a fetish of everything issued b y t h e a p p a r a t u s , w i t h p e t r i f i e d s c h e m e s a n d p r a c tices w h i c h n o l o n g e r r e s p o n d t o t h e n e w t a s k s a n d c o n d i t i o n s , w h i c h are o u t o f s t e p w i t h t h e great r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g i d e a s o f t h e P a r t y a n d become obstacles t o putting t h e m into practice. We must devote serious a t t e n t i o n t o t h i s q u e s t i o n because, a s L e n i n teaches us,
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t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n the n e w a n d t h e o l d i n t h e development of the revolution manifest themselves w i t h special force and are preserved for a long t i m e in this field.
In the whole field of social, economic and political relations, L e n i n w r i t e s , we are 'terribly' revolutionary. But in the field of hierarchy, of observing the administrative forms and procedure, our 'revolutionism' is nearly always replaced by the mouldiest routine. Here a very interesting phenomenon can often be observed: how in social life the greatest leap forward is associated with the most monstrous fear of the smallest of changes.*
T h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s , the cadres, a n d a l l t h e w o r k ing people must always be dialectical revolutionaries, they m u s t l o o k r e a l i t y r i g h t i n t h e eye i n i t s u n i n t e r r u p t e d development, must canonize nothing, must not fear c h a n ge, b u t m u s t c o u r a g e o u s l y a d v a n c e b e y o n d e v e r y t h i n g obsolete i n t h e concepts, m e t h o d s , l a w s , f o r m s o f o r g a n i z a tion and management. T h e c h e c k u p b y t h e masses f r o m b e l o w , a s a n i m p o r t a n t m a t t e r o f p r i n c i p l e a n d one o f the m a i n aspects o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f socialist d e m o c r a c y , has b e e n c o n stantly in the centre of attention of the Party. H o w e v e r , the deepening a n d i m p r o v e m e n t of it in the most suitable f o r m s a l w a y s r e m a i n s a c u r r e n t , p r i m a r y task. T h e d i r e c t c o n t r o l b y t h e w o r k i n g class i s d e c i s i v e i n socialist democracy. T h e w o r k e r control f r o m below is a n e c e s s i t y a n d a b a s i c p r i n c i p l e of s o c i a l l i f e d u r i n g the whole historical period of socialism. This control, w h i c h i s c a r r i e d out u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e P a r t y ,
_____________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Selected W o r k s , v o l . 2, p. 925, T i r a n a 1958 (Alb. ed.)
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i s one o f t h e c o n c r e t e e x p r e s s i o n s o f t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d o f p r o l e t a r i a n d e m o c r a c y i n a c t i o n . It constitutes a sharp w e a p o n in the fight against b u reaucracy a n d alien influences i n social l i f e a n d i n the consciousness o f t h e w o r k i n g people, a v e r y e f f e c t i v e f o r m o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n e d u c a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g class itself, a n d i s a p o w e r f u l i n c i t e m e n t t o c a r r y socialist construction f o r w a r d . We regard the w o r k e r control as one o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l g u a r a n t e e s t o a v e r t t h e d a n g e r of revisionism a n d turning back to capitalism. O u r practice of the direct control by the w o r k i n g class i s b e i n g c o n f i r m e d b y l i f e . I n t h e p e r i o d since t h e 5th Congress of the Party, the implementation of the w o r k e r c o n t r o l has l e d to a further g r o w t h a n d e n l i v e n ment of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y activity of the w o r k i n g class i n a l l fields. T h e role o f the w o r k i n g masses i n the s o l u t i o n of various problems has increased appreciably, t h e i r i n t e r e s t a n d sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n r e g a r d t o t h e a f f a i r s of the enterprise a n d the life of the country in general has g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d a n d t h e s p i r i t o f c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m t o w a r d s a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s has b e e n s t r e n g t h e n e d . T h e w o r k e r c o n t r o l i s a l o n g process o f s t r u g g l e against various bureaucratic trends w h i c h strive to restrict it, c u r b i t a n d p l a c e i t u n d e r tutelage, a g a i n s t f e a r , d o u b t s a n d e q u i v o c a t i o n i n its a p p l i c a t i o n . F u r t h e r p e r f e c t i o n of it requires that everyone understands it as an indisp u t a b l e r i g h t o f t h e w o r k i n g class t o p r e s e r v e a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e socialist o r d e r . I t i s t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e w o r k i n g class o v e r t h e entire activity of the organs and organizations of the P a r t y , state a n d t h e e c o n o m y , t h e a p p a r a t u s e s a n d c a d r e s , which extends over everything and everybody, in both t o w n a n d countryside. T h e w o r k e r c o n t r o l i s not a n a d m i nistrative checkup on minor, superficial matters of the moment. It is an expression of the opinion and stand
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o f t h e w o r k i n g class o n t h e k e y p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d social problems. The party organizations, the trade-unions, and the workers themselves ought to be continually seeking w a y s o f e n l i v e n i n g t h e e x i s t i n g f o r m s a n d f i n d i n g n e w ones, swift-acting a n d effective in the exercise of the w o r k e r control. R i g i d frameworks and petrified forms cripple and p a r a l y z e it. T h e purpose of the w o r k e r control is not just to o b s e r v e a n d r e c o r d , b u t t o settle a n d c a r r y t h r o u g h t o t h e e n d t h e q u e s t i o n s i t raises. I t i s a d u t y o f a l l , o f t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s , o f t h e state o r g a n s a n d o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e masses, t o f i g h t p e r s i s t e n t l y t o e n s u r e t h a t the criticisms and proposals made by the w o r k e r s are c a r r i e d i n t o effect, a n d t h a t the p r o b l e m s w h i c h e m e r g e f r o m the w o r k e r control are solved rapidly and w i t h the greatest seriousness. T h i s i s i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o e n s u r e t h e development of the revolutionary opinion, action, and active participation of the workers in the affairs of the state, f o r t h e e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f t h e i r i n i t i a t i v e a n d f o r t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e w o r k e r c o n t r o l itself. I t i s e s p e c i a l l y i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class itself, f i r s t o f a l l , u n d e r s t a n d s n o t o n l y its r o l e a s t h e d e c i s i v e p r o d u c t i v e force, b u t also i t s p o l i t i c a l r o l e a s t h e v a n g u a r d class i n o u r society. W i t h its s t r u g g l e , s t a n d a n d e x a m p l e , i t d r a w s i n b e h i n d itself t h e w h o l e m a s s o f the r e m a i n d e r of the population, introduces in everybody the proletarian spirit, discipline a n d culture in w o r k a n d life. In order to live up to this mission it is indispensable that the w o r k e r control should develop also as self-control of the w o r k i n g class, a s c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m i n its r a n k s , as a p e r s i s t e n t s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t m a n i f e s t a t i o n s of s e l f complacency, indifference and h a n k e r i n g after n a r r o w personal interest, against a n y spirit c o m p l y i n g w i t h the phenomena w h i c h hinder our advance.
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T h e w o r k e r control is an inseparable component part o f t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e masses o v e r t h e a c t i v i t y o f t h e state organs a n d the economic, c u l t u r a l a n d educational organizations of t o w n a n d countryside. T h e exercise of this c o n t r o l is a r i g h t of a n d a d u t y f o r e v e r y b o d y : t h e peasant o n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e f a r m , t h e s t u d e n t a t school, t h e i n t e l lectual in his sphere of activity, and every citizen in the w h o l e of social life. W i t h a v i e w to opening a w i d e vista to the control b y t h e masses a n d c r e a t i n g t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e c o n d i t i o n s f o r it, i t i s n e c e s s a r y t h a t the w o r k i n g p e o p l e s h o u l d b e c o n t i n u a l l y i n f o r m e d o f t h e a c t i v i t y o f t h e state a n d social o r g a n i s m s a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s . C o n t r o l b y t h e masses b e comes possible and is facilitated the m o r e the struggle is w a g e d a g a i n s t t h e t e n d e n c i e s o f t h e state a n d s o c i a l a p paratuses a n d organs to adopt f o r m s of w o r k behind c l o s e d doors, a n d t h e m o r e p u b l i c i t y i s g i v e n t o t h e i r activities, w h i c h m u s t be as open as possible a n d easily c o n t r o l l a b l e b y t h e w o r k i n g people. T h e e v e r b e t t e r a c quaintance of the b r o a d masses of the w o r k i n g people w i t h t h e m e c h a n i s m s o f socialist s o c i a l l i f e , w i t h t h e l a w s o f t h e state, a n d t h e r e n d e r i n g o f a c c o u n t b e f o r e t h e m a s ses, as a p e r m a n e n t m e t h o d of t h e f u n c t i o n i n g of t h e w h o l e of our system of the dictatorship of the proletariat, also constitute indispensable conditions for the exercise o f c o n t r o l b y t h e masses. I t i s u p t o t h e press, w h i c h has t h e d u t y t o k e e p t h e masses w e l l i n f o r m e d a b o u t t h e situation and the problems, to promote criticism, and to b e c o m e , to a m o r e m a r k e d degree, a t r i b u n e f o r the a c t i v e t h r a s h i n g o u t o f ideas, f o r t h e p r o f o u n d r e f l e c t i o n a n d s u m m i n g u p o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e masses i n t h e s o c i a l i s t c o n s t r u c t i o n , t o p l a y a m o r e a c t i v e role i n t h i s direction. In the fight against bureaucracy and for the strengthening of the dictatorship of the proletariat the relations
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b e t w e e n t h e cadres a n d the masses a r e o f p r i m e i m p o r tance. T h e n e g a t i v e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s s h o w s t h a t w h e n i n c o r r e c t r e l a t i o n s are e s t a b l i s h e d b e t w e e n t h e c a d r e s a n d t h e masses, w h e n t h e c a d r e s c u t t h e m selves o f f f r o m t h e l i f e a n d s t r u g g l e o f t h e masses, w h e n t h e y a r e n o t s u b j e c t t o t h e c o n t r o l b y t h e masses, w h e n the cadres are g i v e n u n l a w f u l privileges a n d favours, they become b u r e a u c r a t i z e d a n d degenerate, a n d t h e i r r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e masses a r e c h a n g e d i n t o r e l a t i o n s o f d o m i n a t i o n a n d submission. Since the 5th Congress especially, our P a r t y a n d o u r people's p o w e r , e n l i g h t e n e d b y t h e t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , h a v e a d o p t e d a series o f r a d i c a l p o l i t i c a l , i d e o logical and economic measures for the improvement of r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e cadres a n d t h e masses s o t h a t t h e cadres w i l l a l w a y s r e m a i n consistent revolutionaries a n d d e v o t e d s e r v a n t s o f t h e people. T h e s y s t e m a t i c c i r c u l a t i o n o f c a d r e s f r o m l e a d i n g posts t o t h e base a n d f r o m a d ministration to production and vice-versa has been establ i s h e d . N o w a b o u t 5 6 p e r cent o f t h e p r i n c i p a l c a d r e s o f the c e n t r a l a n d l o c a l a p p a r a t u s a n d 5 0 p e r cent o f a l l t h e cadres o f t h e a p p a r a t u s a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a v e been less t h a n 5 y e a r s i n these positions. T h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n m a n u a l w o r k o f t h e c a d r e s a n d a l l those e n g a g e d i n m e n t a l w o r k has been a p p l i e d o n s o u n d e r c r i t e r i a . A t t h e s a m e time, adjustments have been made in the p a y of cadres, to prevent disproportion between their standard of l i v i n g a n d t h a t o f t h e w o r k i n g masses. W e h a v e a l s o a i m e d o u r efforts to ensure that the ideo-political, educational-cultural a n d technical-professional training of the cadres s h o u l d n o t b e done s e p a r a t e l y f r o m t h e u n i n t e r r u p t e d raising of the general level of the broad strata of w o r k i n g masses. T h e s e measures, a l o n g w i t h t h e e x t e n s i v e e d u c a tional w o r k of the Party, serve to combat manifestations o f b u r e a u c r a c y a n d c a r e e r i s m i n t h e cadres, t o s t r e n g t h e n
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a n d d e e p e n t h e i r ties w i t h t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants, t o combat a n d eradicate the influences of the intellectualist c o n c e p t s o f u n d e r - e s t i m a t i o n a n d d i s d a i n f o r t h e masses, t o b a r t h e w a y t o t h e r e v i v a l o f d a n g e r o u s feelings o f conceit, s u b j e c t i v i s m , etc. O u r Party remains constantly concerned w i t h the problem that a l l the cadres should be developed and t e m pered as revolutionaries, should think and w o r k as such t i l l t h e e n d o f t h e i r l i v e s . S o c i a l i s m does n o t n e e d b u reaucrats a n d technocrats w h o believe o n l y i n their o w n genius, i n t e c h n o l o g y , i n t h e p o w e r o f decrees, but needs cadres w h o merge themselves and live w i t h the masses, w h o t h i n k a n d f e e l i n t h e s a m e w a y a s t h e w o r k i n g class a n d c o o p e r a t i v i s t p e a s a n t r y . I n t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y , in the majestic w o r k and inner w o r l d of the w o r k i n g class a n d c o o p e r a t i v i s t peasants t h e cadres w i l l always find strength and inspiration. In o r d e r to c a r r y further the experience gained in the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e c a d r e s a n d t h e masses, i t i s necessary to combat a n y subjectivist, departmentalist or localist attitudes, as w e l l as the petty-bourgeois attitudes of some cadres, s o t h a t t h e c i r c u l a t i o n a n d d i r e c t w o r k i n p r o duction w i l l be understood as a measure of educational and i d e o l o g i c a l i m p o r t a n c e a n d n o t a s a n a i m i n itself, t h a t i t i s u n d e r s t o o d a s a m e a s u r e f o r the c o n t i n u o u s r e v o l u tionization of the cadres themselves a n d of various organs a n d apparatuses. T h e P a r t y devotes special attention to the principle that the cadres of every instance a n d level should be subordinate in t w o directions: to the organs of the P a r t y a n d the p r o l e t a r i a n state f r o m above, a n d also directly t o t h e w o r k i n g masses f r o m b e l o w . A d h e r i n g t o t h i s p r i n ciple, i t i s n e c e s s a r y t h a t i n t h e f u t u r e w e c o m b a t a n y tendency towards fetishing existing staff establishments a n d w o r k b e h i n d c l o s e d doors, s o t h a t t h e voice, t h e o p i n -
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i o n a n d t h e a p p r a i s a l o f t h e masses a b o u t t h e cadres a n d their activity w i l l be heard ever more forcefully. F o r the further deepening of democracy and enhancem e n t o f t h e r o l e o f t h e masses, i n t h e p e r i o d b e t w e e n t h e t w o congresses, s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n has b e e n p a i d t o t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e w o r k o f the elected o r g a n s o f t h e people's p o w e r . I n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e w a s p l a y e d b y t h e r e c e n t elections t o t h e P e o p l e ' s A s s e m b l y a n d people's c o u n c i l s , w h i c h w e r e , t o a c o n s i d e r a b l e degree, r e n e w e d w i t h capable, r e v o l u t i o n a r y y o u n g people, c l o s e l y l i n k e d w i t h t h e masses. Despite the results achieved, a great deal still r e m a i n s to be done to ensure that the people's councils of every level, as direct representatives of the w o r k i n g people in power, can p e r f o r m the functions entrusted to them, a v o i d any manifestation of formalism in their work, and prevent any bit of usurpation of their role by the executive organs, administrations, or economic organizations. We must n o t a l l o w anyone to disregard the elected representatives of t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e p r o b l e m s t h e y raise. W h a t t h e d e p u t y or councillor has to say must be listened to w i t h a t t e n t i o n a n d respect. The further improvement of the w o r k of the executive organs i s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e s t e r n s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t m a n i festations o f b u r e a u c r a c y , t e c h n o c r a t i s m a n d s h a l l o w p r a c ticism in the style and method of their activity, and w i t h the constant strengthening of their links w i t h the masses. Never for a moment must we forget that the e v i l of b u r e a u c r a c y t a k e s root, i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e a n d a b o v e a l l , in the executive organs a n d administrative apparatuses. T h e vigilance of the p a r t y organizations, of the cadres w h o w o r k t h e r e t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses, i s a sharp weapon to successfully combat and n i p in the b u d any bureaucratic tendency or distortion. The measures that have been adopted recently for
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a m o r e correct d i s t r i b u t i o n o f competences h a v e r e l i e v e d the central organs of excessive burdens a n d of an unnecessary piling up of m a n y affairs in their hands. In p a r t i c u l a r , this has e n h a n c e d t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d i n i t i a t i v e o f t h e people's p o w e r a t t h e base. B e a r i n g i n m i n d the vigorous development i n b r e a d t h a n d depth of the economy and culture, the increase in n u m b e r s , a n d t h e constant e l e v a t i o n o f t h e l e v e l o f t h e c a d r e s a n d t h e g r o w t h o f t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e masses i n a l l aspects o f s o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c l i f e , t e n d e n c i e s t o c o d i f y i n g e v e r y t h i n g f r o m above, to tutelage over t h e l o w e r organs, w o u l d be anachronistic a n d h a r m f u l . T h e proletarian centralism i n o u r c o u n t r y rests o n unshakeable f o u n d a t i o n s , f o r i t i s based o n t h e s i n g l e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e of the Party, on the u n i f i e d laws governing a l l social a n d state r e l a t i o n s , o n t h e u n i f i e d p l a n f o r t h e d e v e l o p ment of the socialist economy a n d culture, on the c e n t r a l i z e d use o f f i n a n c i a l m e a n s t h r o u g h t h e state b u d g e t , on the unified price policy, on the unified a n d centralized p a y s y s t e m , o n t h e state m o n o p o l y o f f o r e i g n t r a d e , e t c . Therefore, there is no reason to fear that w i t h the dev e l o p m e n t o f i n i t i a t i v e a n d s e l f - a c t i v a t i o n o f t h e base, w i t h t h e e x t e n s i o n o f its competences, c e n t r a l i s m w i l l b e violated.
VI
MARXISM-LENINISM AN EVER YOUNG AND SCIENTIFIC DOCTRINE
T h e struggle against the most dangerous a n t i - M a r x i s t trend, Soviet-led m o d e r n revisionism, has been constantly in the centre of the attention of the P a r t y . Conscious of the historic necessity f o r this struggle, our P a r t y has e x p o s e d t h e a n t i - M a r x i s t v i e w s a n d theses a n d t h e c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i v i t y , d e m a g o g y a n d d e c e i t f u l tactics of the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists. It has fought resolutely t o t e a r t h e m a s k s f r o m t h e m one a f t e r a n o t h e r , t o r e v e a l t h e i r t r a i t o r o u s , s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t face. F r o m the v e r y beginning of the great polemic w i t h the m o d e r n revisionists, the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a a n d the g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s h a d w a r n e d t h a t t h e i r departure f r o m the principled positions of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w o u l d lead them into the lap of the bourgeoisie a n d c a p i t a l i s m , t o t h e side o f t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n . L i f e f u l l y c o n f i r m e d t h i s forecast. As a l o g i c a l r e s u l t of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of b e t r a y a l , revisionism, w h i c h was born as an opportunist, a n t i - M a r x ist t r e n d i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t , has n o w been transformed into a bourgeois trend in the labour movement, a trend identical w i t h social-democracy. In the c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s c a m e t o p o w e r t h e state h a s been t u r n e d i n t o a b o u r g e o i s state w h i c h oppresses a n d e x p l o i t s t h e w o r k i n g people, j u s t a s t h e b o u r g e o i s i e does i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . T h e h e a d o f r e v i s i o n i s m ,
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the Soviet U n i o n , has been transformed into an imperialist power, w h i c h is p u r s u i n g an aggressive expansionist policy, a n d is fighting for hegemony a n d w o r l d d o m i n a tion. D r i v e n to the w a l l as a result of the exposure by t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces, s h o c k e d b y t h e f a i l u r e s a n d defeats they a r e c o n t i n u a l l y suffering, gripped by c o n tradictions a n d the deep crisis in w h i c h they have landed themselves, the m o d e r n revisionists are t r y i n g to m a n o e u v r e , t o use v a r i o u s t a c t i c s t o d e c e i v e t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e peoples, a n d t o p r o l o n g t h e i r r u l e . A l t h o u g h these e f f o r t s a n d m a n o e u v r e s , w h i c h w e r e i n s i s t e n t l y r e p e a t e d once a g a i n a t t h e 24th C o n g r e s s o f t h e C P S U h a v e a l r e a d y b e c o m e stale, t h e y s h o u l d n o t b e u n d e r e s t i m a t e d . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s s t i l l h a v e b r o a d sections of the w o r k i n g people deceived and under their influence, especially in the countries where they are in power. They a r e s t i l l d o i n g great d a m a g e t o t h e c a u s e o f c o m m u n i s m . To the Marxist-Leninists, to the consistent revolutionaries, r e v i s i o n i s m r e m a i n s a m a j o r e n e m y , n o less d a n g e r o u s than the imperialist bourgeoisie. No illusions whatever s h o u l d b e e n t e r t a i n e d o n t h i s issue. T h e f i g h t against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , h e a d e d b y the S o v i e t leaders, m u s t be continued, intensified, and carried right through to the e n d . N o t h i n g c a n c o r r e c t t h e m e x c e p t t h e r e v o l u t i o n , w h i c h w i l l w i p e t h e m f r o m the face o f the earth. The P a r t y of Labour of A l b a n i a w i l l fight w i t h all its m i g h t a g a i n s t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t b e t r a y a l , a s i t h a s done u n t i l n o w , c o n v i n c e d t h a t i n t h i s w a y i t i s p e r f o r m i n g its d u t y to its o w n people a n d to international communism. We regard the ideological struggle against m o d e r n revisionism as an inseparable component part of the struggle for the construction a n d defence of socialism in A l b a n i a , for the t r i u m p h o f t h e f r e e d o m o f t h e peoples a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n everywhere in the world.
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T h e present situation makes the need for the i n t e n sification of this struggle of historic importance even more imperative. We are l i v i n g in a period of the rise of t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y tide. T h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m and reaction is assuming ever greater proportions. A l l the continents are seething w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y movements w h i c h are shaking the o l d w o r l d of oppression and exp l o i t a t i o n t o its v e r y f o u n d a t i o n s . T h i s i s t h e c l e a r e s t e x p r e s s i o n o f the s h a r p e n i n g o f a l l t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , class and national, internal and external, of the w o r l d capitalist system, a n d o f t h e f u r t h e r d e e p e n i n g o f its g e n e r a l c r i s i s . T o d a y the development of the w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y process has t a k e n a w i d e v a r i e t y o f f o r m s . T h e v a r i o u s detachments of the w o r l d revolutionary movement are fighting and acting under different conditions, are in diff e r e n t stages o f s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t , a r e f a c i n g d i f f e r e n t tasks, h a v e t h e s p e c i f i c f e a t u r e s o f t h e i r o w n h i s t o r i c p r a c tice. T h e s o c i a l class basis o f t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n i s b e i n g e x t e n d e d , too. B e s i d e s t h e w o r k i n g class, b r o a d s o c i a l sections s u c h a s t h e p e a s a n t r y a n d t h e u r b a n p e t t y bourgeoisie, t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d students, y o u t h a n d w o m e n are t a k i n g part ever more actively in the v a r i o u s revolutionary movements, bringing into the movement a l l the ideological trappings of the strata they represent, w i t h t h e i r g o o d a n d b a d aspects. W h i l e t h e r e i s a p o w e r f u l u p s u r g e o f t h e masses a n d peoples i n s t r u g g l e a n d r e v o l u t i o n , h o w e v e r , t h e weakness of the revolutionary m o v e m e n t in m a n y c o u n t r i e s a n d zones lies p r e c i s e l y i n the l a c k o f s c i e n t i f i c s t r a t e g y a n d tactics w h i c h s h o u l d open t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y p e r s p e c t i v e t o t h e masses a n d g u i d e t h e m o n t h e r i g h t r o a d t o t h e i r objectives. T h e s i t u a t i o n i s s u c h t h a t t h e p r a c t i c a l m o v e m e n t o f t h e masses h a s a d v a n c e d a n d i s a d v a n c i n g , Whereas i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s t h e s u b j e c t i v e f a c t o r , t h e i r consciousness, o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d l e a d e r s h i p has l a g g e d
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b e h i n d a n d does n o t r e s p o n d t o t h e t a s k s o f t h e t i m e s . I n t h i s , a d i r e c t r o l e o f u n d e r m i n i n g a n d sabotage i s b e i n g played by the m o d e r n revisionists, who, h a v i n g abandoned t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y ideals, h a v e t u r n e d i n t o scabs a n d f i r e men to quell the revolution, and w i t h their opportunist, anti-Marxist viewpoints and activity, are striving to disarm t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t o s o w i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l c o n f u s i o n i n t h e r a n k s o f r e v o l u t i o n . T h i s i s t h e greatest service they render the bourgeoisie a n d reaction a n d the greatest h a r m t h e y d o t h e c a u s e o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e peoples a n d socialism. W i t h its theses o f t h e d y i n g out o f t h e class s t r u g g l e a n d class c o l l a b o r a t i o n u n d e r t h e m a s k o f p e a c e f u l c o existence, w i t h its i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e c h a n g e i n t h e n a t u r e of imperialism and about a w o r l d without weapons a n d wars, w i t h its fear of atomic weapons and thermonuclear war, w i t h its sermons about peaceful transition to soc i a l i s m , etc., etc., K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s m h a s m e r g e d w i t h social-democracy, f o r m i n g a single counter-revolut i o n a r y t r e n d i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e bourgeoisie. This opportunist and reformist platform w h i c h was p u t f o r w a r d a t t h e 20th C o n g r e s s o f t h e C P S U a n d w a s d e v e l o p e d a n d s u p p l e m e n t e d later a t t h e s u b s e q u e n t c o n gresses w a s p r e s e n t e d b y t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a s a p l a t f o r m w h i c h allegedly defended Leninism f r o m the so-called S t a l i n i s t d i s t o r t i o n s . I n fact, i t w a s v e r y soon p r o v e d t h a t t h e t r e n d w h i c h c a m e o u t w i t h t h e slogans o f a n t i - S t a l i n ism was an alien trend, incompatible w i t h M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d i n s t r u g g l e against i t . The Khrushchevite revisionists trumpeted, and are still t r u m p e t i n g loudly, that w i t h their theoretical v i e w s a n d theses t h e f o u n d a t i o n s f o r t h e s t r u g g l e a n d t h e right r o a d t o s o c i a l i s m w e r e l a i d . I n r e a l i t y t h i s w a s a road a n d a s t r u g g l e t o e x t i n g u i s h t h e s t r u g g l e f o r s o c i a l i s m , t o t u r n t h e masses f r o m the r o a d o f r e v o l u t i o n ,
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to perpetuate the capitalist order and to u n d e r m i n e the gains of socialism everywhere. T h e counter-revolutionary theories and practices of the revisionists serve as n o u r i s h m e n t for the most diverse hostile ideological trends, r a n g i n g f r o m the most react i o n a r y bourgeois trends to the T r o t s k y i t e a n d petty-bourg e o i s ones. T h e b o u r g e o i s ideologists d e l i b e r a t e l y t r y t o p r e s e n t the r e v i s i o n i s t b e t r a y a l as a f a i l u r e of s o c i a l i s m and Marxism-Leninism, as if communism is unable to provide a positive alternative for the solution of the problems of the w o r l d today. J u s t i f y i n g the capitalist order, they claim that today it has become capable of o v e r c o m i n g its s o c i a l c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d c o n f l i c t s , o f c r e a t i n g a s o c i e t y of g e n e r a l w e l l - b e i n g , t h a t a l l e g e d l y t h e present-day technical-scientific revolution is replacing the social revolution, is bringing capitalism nearer to socialism a n d is allegedly merging t h e m in a new, single industrial o r p o s t - i n d u s t r i a l society. T h i s i s t h e m o s t r e a c t i o n a r y w i n g , the openly anti-communist w i n g , in the presentd a y ideological struggle. T h e various anti-Marxist trends of the Trotskyites and anarchists have been activitated as never before. I n f i l t r a t i n g i n t o v a r i o u s mass m o v e m e n t s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e movements of the y o u t h and intellectuals, they are t r y i n g to fish in troubled waters, w i t h a view to diverting the masses f r o m t h e r i g h t r o a d a n d i n v o l v i n g t h e m i n d a n gerous a d v e n t u r e s w h i c h l e a d t o h e a v y d e f e a t s a n d d i s illusionment. A l t h o u g h they frequently come out w i t h u l t r a - r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d a n t i - r e v i s i o n i s t slogans, i n fact they are p l a y i n g the game of the revisionists and they a r e u n d e r m i n i n g the cause o f r e v o l u t i o n , i n j o i n t e f f o r t s . T h e r e a r e also s o m e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g i s t s a n d people of sincere revolutionary inclinations w h o , d i s illusioned by the revisionist betrayal, are questioning the fundamental principles of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and trying
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t o create n e w t h e o r i e s o r t o r e v i v e o l d ones. T h e y p r e a c h that M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m is incomplete and inaccurate, that allegedly it no longer responds to the n e w historical c o n ditions of various countries or continents. In this situation, w h e n the ideological confusion w h i c h the m o d e r n revisionists caused a n d are seeking to keep a l i v e has become m o r e pronounced, the great importance of the struggle of all the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s for the l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d l a b o u r i n g masses f r o m a l l the influences of bourgeois and revisionist ideology and o f t h e v a r i o u s p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s trends, t h e a r m i n g o f t h e m w i t h the only scientific ideology, M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , emerges v e r y clearly.
One of the indispensable conditions for the preparation of the proletariat for its victory, says L e n i n , is the protracted, resolute and merciless struggle against opportunism, reformism, social-chauvinism, and the influences of bourgeois trends of this kind, which are inevitable as long as the proletariat acts under the conditions of capitalism. Without this struggle, without first winning complete victory over opportunism within the labour movement, there can be no talk of a dictatorship of the proletariat.*
T h e ideological struggle w h i c h is being waged in the w o r l d today is v e r y broad and complex. B u t the most f u n d a m e n t a l p r o b l e m s b e i n g d i s c u s s e d a r e those a b o u t hegemony in the revolutionary movement, about the essence a n d t h e r o a d o f d e v e l o p m e n t o f r e v o l u t i o n , a n d a b o u t t h e c o n c e p t a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist society.
_________________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected Works, v o l . 40, p. 24 (Rus. ed.).
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THE LEADERSHIP OF THE WORKING CLASS AND ITS MARXISTLENINIST PARTY A FUNDAMENTAL CONDITION FOR THE DEFEAT OF THE BOURGEOISIE AND IMPERIALISM The ideological opponents of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , f r o m bourgeois and revisionist to radical and petty-bourgeois, a r e s e e k i n g , i n w o r d s a n d deeds, t o d e n y t h e h i s t o r i c w o r l d m i s s i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g class, its r o l e a n d h e g e m o n y i n r e v o l u t i o n . A l l o f t h e m together, i n t h i s w a y o r t h a t , a r e t r y i n g t o p r o v e t h a t t h e ideas o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o n t h i s issue h a v e b e c o m e obsolete. Capitalizing on the significance of the new phenom e n a of present-day capitalism, especially the conseq u e n c e s o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f state m o n o p o l y c a p i t a l i s m a n d the technical-scientific revolution, bourgeois ideologists l i k e M a r c u s e a n d c o m p a n y a r e t r y i n g t o p r o v e w i t h t h e i r t e c h n o c r a t i c theories, t h a t a l l e g e d l y c a p i t a l i s t s o c i e t y I s b e i n g d e p r o l e t a r i a n i z e d , t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class i s b e i n g transformed into co-owner and co-manager of the cap i t a l i s t enterprises, that it is no longer interested in the r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f society, i n a s m u c h a s it has been integrated into t h e capitalist system. E v e n w h e n o n e o f these i d e o l o g i s t s does see some r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r c e , h e f i n d s i t i n t h e s t r a t a o f the class f r i n g e s , i n the l u m p e n proletarians, i n the ghettos o f the large cities, a m o n g t h e i m m i g r a n t s o r t h e s t u d e n t s a n d i n t e l lectuals. On the other hand, overrating the objective impulse t o w a r d s s o c i a l i s m w h i c h comes f r o m t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f the n e w p r o d u c t i v e forces a n d w h i c h i s s t r e n g t h e n e d b y t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e n e w r a t i o o f forces i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l arena in f a v o u r of socialism, the revisionists propagate the v i e w that the struggle for socialism can b e l e d b y o t h e r s o c i a l classes a n d forces, n o n - p r o l e t a r i a n ones, r a n g i n g f r o m t h e n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e p e t t y -
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bourgeoisie to the progressive patriotic intelligentsia. T h e s e v i e w s d o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t great h a r m , create confusion among some i m m a t u r e militants and different strata of the population, especially among the student y o u t h and the y o u n g intellectuals, w h o try to present themselves as an independent m a i n force of the revolution, w h o feel no need for the hegemony of t h e w o r k i n g class o r t h e p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s h i p o f i t s M a r x ist-Leninist party. T h e question of hegemony in the revolution is of g r e a t p r i n c i p l e d i m p o r t a n c e , because its d i r e c t i o n , its consistent development a n d outcome, depend on w h o is a t t h e h e a d o f it, w h o l e a d s i t . T h e i r a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s t h e w o r k i n g class a n d i t s l e a d i n g r o l e i s a t o u c h s t o n e f o r a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . A s L e n i n p o i n t e d out, r e j e c t i o n o f t h e i d e a o f t h e h e g e m o n y o f the p r o l e t a r i a t i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t today, is the most v u l g a r expression of r e f o r m i s m . T h e c o n d i t i o n s t h a t m a k e t h e w o r k i n g class t h e d e c i s i v e f o r c e i n c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t , the leading force in the struggle for the revolutionary transf o r m a t i o n o f the c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d , h a v e n o t c h a n g e d i n t h e least. D e s p i t e a l l t h e changes t h a t h a v e t a k e n place i n t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d , t h e w o r k i n g class i s s t r i p p e d of any k i n d of ownership over the means of production, has no say in the management, organization a n d p u r p o s e o f p r o d u c t i o n . T h e s o - c a l l e d c o n s u m e r society w a s c r e a t e d not t o m e e t t h e n e e d s o f t h e w o r k i n g people, but to intensify their exploitation a n d m u l t i p l y the profits o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s . T h e fact i s t h a t t h e p r o f i t s o f t h e monopolies, trusts a n d concerns, have reached astronomical figures, just as it is a fact that in recent years, a n d precisely in the most advanced capitalist countries, fierce clashes o f u n p r e c e d e n t e d p r o p o r t i o n s h a v e b r o k e n out
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b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s i e . I t i s n o t f r o m choice t h a t t h e w o r k e r s o f F r a n c e , I t a l y , B r i t a i n a n d A m e r i c a are coming out on strikes, demonstrating in t h e streets a n d o c c u p y i n g t h e factories, b u t because l i f e i s v e r y h a r d f o r t h e m , because t h e c a p i t a l i s t m a c h i n e oppresses t h e m , t u r n s t h e m i n t o m e r e tools, d e h u m a n i z e s them. Contrary to the sermons of the bourgeois and revisionist ideologists, c a p i t a l i s t society i s n o t b e i n g d e p r o l e tarianized, but it is being relentlessly proletarianized, the w e i g h t a n d t h e r o l e o f t h e w o r k i n g class i n p r o d u c t i o n is becoming more and more decisive and it remains the m a i n productive force of society. L i f e shows that the w o r k i n g class o n l y needs t o m o v e , t o k n o c k o f f w o r k even for a single day, f o r the entire bourgeoisie to be s h a k e n a n d a l l its i n s t i t u t i o n s p u t i n a state o f a l a r m . T h e w o r k i n g class i s a class w i t h r i c h t r a d i t i o n s o f s t r u g g l e a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n , i t has i t s p a r t y a n d i t s s c i e n t i f i c t h e o r y w h i c h g u i d e i t i n t h e class s t r u g g l e . A l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces t h a t f i g h t f o r t h e o v e r t h r o w of the bourgeois order can achieve v i c t o r y o n l y if they merge their efforts w i t h the struggle of the w o r k i n g class, i f t h e y a c k n o w l e d g e a n d accept its l e a d i n g r o l e and that of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t proletarian party. T h i s i s o b j e c t i v e l y i n d i s p e n s a b l e . A n y o t h e r a l t e r n a t i v e leads t o a d v e n t u r i s m a n d defeat. I t i s p r e c i s e l y t h i s g r e a t u n i t y o f a l l t h e forces o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y l e f t w i t h t h e w o r k i n g class t h a t f r i g h t e n s t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g else. On this question, the role played by social-democracy a n d the modern revisionists is particularly h a r m f u l , because, b y e n r o l l i n g t h e w o r k i n g class i n t h e i r r e f o r m i s t t r a d e - u n i o n s , t h e y t r y t o r e s t r a i n its r e v o l u t i o n a r y i m petus, t o p a r a l y z e its f i g h t i n g s p i r i t , t o t u r n i t i n t o a s e r v i l e class, o b e d i e n t a n d s u b m i s s i v e t o t h e c a p i t a l i s t
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e m p l o y e r s . I n these c o n d i t i o n s t h e a w a k e n i n g o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d its e m e r g e n c e i n t h e f o r e f r o n t o f t h e revolutionary struggle cannot be achieved without w a g i n g a resolute fight w i t h i n the ranks of the reformist tradeu n i o n s against t h e l i n e a n d stands o f t h e i r b o u r g e o i s c h i e f s s o a s t o e x p o s e a n d i s o l a t e t h e m f r o m t h e mass o f t h e workers. In the revolutionary movement today the youth, t h e students a n d the various strata of the intelligentsia o c c u p y an i m p o r t a n t place. In m a n y countries, such as F r a n c e a n d Italy, U S A a n d Japan, S p a i n and L a t i n A m e r ica, they h a v e s h o w n themselves v e r y active a n d h a v e g i v e n p r o o f s o f t h e i r courage, selflessness a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y spirit. B u t it must be admited that in the leftist m o v e m e n t s o f i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d students great i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l c o n f u s i o n can b e seen. T h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e i r p r o g r a m s a n d slogans, w h i c h are f r e q u e n t l y U t o p i a n , t h e l a c k of patience a n d spontaneous outbursts, have t h e i r source i n t h e i n f l u e n c e o f a l i e n ideologies a n d t h e h e t e r o g e n e o u s class c o m p o s i t i o n o f these m o v e m e n t s . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s give f u l l attention to the leftist movements of the y o u t h a n d intellectuals and, without i g n o r i n g t h e w e a k n e s s e s o f these m o v e m e n t s , s t r i v e t o w i n them over to correct revolutionary positions and to liberate t h e m f r o m t h e i n f l u e n c e s o f bourgeois, p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s and revisionist ideology. Despite the increased weight of the intelligentsia in p r e s e n t - d a y society, d e s p i t e t h e c h a n g e s t h a t a r e t a k i n g p l a c e i n t h e p o s i t i o n , c h a r a c t e r a n d r o l e o f its w o r k , a n d t h e class c o m p o s i t i o n of t h i s s t r a t u m , it is n o t a class in itself. T h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a i s a s t r a t u m t h a t c o m e s f r o m d i f ferent s o c i a l classes a n d s t a n d s b e t w e e n t h e d i f f e r e n t c l a s ses. F r o m its v e r y n a t u r e , i t i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y v a r i o u s political and ideological vacillations. These vacillations are f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e d because t h e b o u r g e o i s i e t r i e s i n e v e r y
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w a y t o c o r r u p t t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d e n r o l l i t i n its service. The intelligentsia, as L e n i n demonstrated a n d life i t s e l f c o n f i r m s , n e v e r has b e e n a n d n e v e r c a n b e a n i n d e p e n d e n t social a n d p o l i t i c a l force. Its r o l e a n d p l a c e i n society d e p e n d o n its class o r i g i n a n d s o c i o - e c o n o m i c status, the a l l i a n c e s o f v a r i o u s sections o f i t w i t h t h i s o r t h a t class. T h e r e f o r e , t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a c a n n e v e r r e p l a c e t h e w o r k i n g class a s t h e l e a d i n g class i n t h e r e v olution. T h e y o u t h , t h e students, a n d the p r o g r e s s i v e s e c t i o n o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , a r e close allies o f t h e w o r k i n g class, b u t n o t t h e o n l y ones. T h e h e g e m o n y o f t h e w o r k i n g class extends over other strata of the population w h i c h are a l s o i n t e r e s t e d i n the r e v o l u t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y t h e p e a s a n t r y , w h i c h in the overwhelming majority of the countries and r e g i o n s o f t h e w o r l d r e p r e s e n t s the m a i n , m o s t p o w e r f u l a n d r e s o l u t e a l l y o f t h e w o r k i n g class. T h e p r e s e n t - d a y r e v i s i o n i s t s t r y t o n e g a t e t h e great i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h t h e p e a s a n t r y u n d e r t h e p r e t e x t t h a t t h e l a t t e r does not p l a y a n y separate r o l e , e s p e c i a l l y i n a d v a n c e d c a p i t a l i s t c o u n tries, a n d i n s t e a d , b r i n g t o t h e f o r e f r o n t t h e a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a . I n s o m e o t h e r countries, the revisionists replace the alliance of the w o r k i n g class w i t h t h e p e a s a n t r y w i t h t h e a l l i a n c e b e t w e e n the w o r k i n g class a n d t h e o t h e r p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s s t r a t a o f t h e city a n d its environs. W i t h these theories a n d practices t h e y a i m t o d e t a c h f r o m t h e w o r k i n g class its closest a n d m o s t r e s o l u t e a l l y i n t h e struggle. T h e L e n i n i s t thesis t h a t t h e a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h t h e p e a s a n t r y i s t h e social f o r c e c a p a b l e o f o v e r t h r o w i n g t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m i s c o m p l e t e l y v a l i d i n o u r t i m e , too. Just as the fate of the revolution in each particular c o u n t r y d e p e n d s o n t h e a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h
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t h e p e a s a n t r y , s o i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a , t h e fate o f t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n depends o n t h e s a m e c o n d i t i o n , a n d . i n t h i s case, i s e x p r e s s e d a s a n a l l i a n c e o f t h e socialist countries and the w o r k e r s ' movement of the advanced capitalist countries w i t h the anti-colonial, liberation and d e m o c r a t i c m o v e m e n t o f t h e peoples o f A s i a , A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a . A n y stand disregarding and denigrating t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples o f these c o n t i n e n t s , w h i c h contain the overwhelming majority of the population of t h e w o r l d a n d w h e r e i m p e r i a l i s m i s b e i n g dealt the h e a v i e s t a n d m o s t d i r e c t b l o w s , i s i n essence a n o t h e r aspect o f t h e n e g a t i o n o f t h e r o l e o f t h e p e a s a n t r y , w h i c h does v e r y g r e a t h a r m t o t h e cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n . T h e basis f o r a l l i a n c e s becomes e v e n f u r t h e r e x t e n d e d w h e n it is a question of democratic anti-imperialist revo l u t i o n s , i n w h i c h , besides t h e p e a s a n t r y a n d t h e u r b a n petty-bourgeoisie, the national bourgeoisie can take part a s w e l l . B u t w h a t e v e r t h e w e i g h t o f t h e classes i n a n y revolution, they cannot p l a y that role of hegemony and l e a d e r s h i p w h i c h t h e w o r k i n g class a l o n e c a n p l a y . T h e national bourgeoisie, l i n k e d w i t h capitalist exploitation, is characterized by vacillation and a tendency to compromise w i t h f o r e i g n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d i n t e r n a l r e a c t i o n . A s such, it is incapable of carrying the national liberation w a r a n d the democratic revolution consistently through to the e n d . T h e representatives of the peasantry and other pettyb o u r g e o i s s t r a t a , also, h a v e o n l y l i m i t e d d e m a n d s , are under the influence of bourgeois ideology, and often w a v e r f r o m left t o r i g h t , s l i d i n g n o w i n t o o p p o r t u n i s m a n d n o w into adventurism. T h e r e f o r e , t h e w o r k i n g class, a s the m o s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y c l a s s o f society, c a n a n d m u s t c o m e t o t h e f o r e f r o n t a n d take the lead, not o n l y of the struggle for socialism, but also of the struggle for democracy and national independence. L e n i n a r g u e d this thesis s c i e n t i f i c a l l y m o r e t h a n
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h a l f a c e n t u r y ago. I t i s e v e n m o r e t r u e t o d a y w h e n t h e w o r k i n g class has been i n c r e a s e d , t e m p e r e d , e d u c a t e d , a n d o r g a n i z e d t o a h i g h e r degree, a n d w h e n t h e d e m o c r a t i c a n d socialist t a s k s h a v e b e c o m e e v e n m o r e c l o s e l y i n t e r w o v e n . I n t o d a y ' s c o n d i t i o n s , t h e w o r k i n g class i s t h e most i n t e r e s t e d o f a l l classes i n c a r r y i n g t h e d e m o c r a t i c and anti-imperialist revolution right through to the end. T h e s m a l l n u m b e r o f t h e w o r k i n g class i n s o m e c o u n tries i s n o a r g u m e n t t o negate its l e a d i n g r o l e , because t h e s t r e n g t h a n d r o l e o f t h a t class d o n o t d e p e n d o n i t s n u m b e r s . T h e w o r k i n g class p l a y s its l e a d i n g r o l e t h r o u g h its p a r t y w h i c h , a s t h e e x a m p l e o f o u r c o u n t r y d e m o n s t r a tes, c a n b e f o u n d e d a n d e m e r g e i n t h e f o r e f r o n t o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e e v e n w h e n t h e w o r k i n g class i s small in numbers and unorganized. T h e various theories w h i c h preach spontaneity in t h e revolutionary movement, w h i c h disparage the role of the conscious f a c t o r a n d w h i c h negate t h e r o l e o f t h e o r y a n d the p a r t y of the proletariat, have been r e v i v e d today. T h e d e g e n e r a t i o n o f the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s a n d t h e i r t r a n s formation into reformist parties, harmless to the b o u r geoisie, a n d t h e a n t i - M a r x i s t theses o f t h e S o v i e t , Y u g o slav, I t a l i a n a n d o t h e r m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s t h a t , consciously or unconsciously, capitalism is being gradually or r a d i c a l l y i n t e g r a t e d i n t o socialism, t h a t e v e n n o n - p r o l e tarian political parties and organizations m a y became b e a r e r s o f t h e ideals o f s o c i a l i s m a n d l e a d e r s o f t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e i r r e a l i z a t i o n , t h a t some c o u n t r i e s w h e r e the n e w national bourgeoisie is in p o w e r are also m o v i n g t o w a r d s s o c i a l i s m etc., h a v e b e c o m e a basis f o r t h e s p r e a d of the most extreme views that completely negate the r o l e o f t h e o r y a n d the n e e d f o r a p a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class. T h e r e a r e also those w h o pose a s p u r e r e v o l u t i o n aries, w h o g o s o f a r a s t o d e c l a r e t h a t i n M a r x ' s t h e o r y about the revolution there is neither a place n o r the need
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f o r a p a r t y , t h a t t h e v a n g u a r d o f socialist r e v o l u t i o n cannot be equated w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party, that the role of the p a r t y can be played by the active m i n o r i t y w h i c h emerges as a ferment in the spontaneous m o v e m e n t , t h a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y consciousness a n d r e v o l u tionary organization emerges f r o m the revolutionary action itself. A l l these theories cause i n c a l c u l a b l e h a r m t o t h e revolutionary movement, for they befuddle the minds of t h e w o r k i n g class a n d l e a v e i t d i s a r m e d i n face o f t h e onslaught of the bourgeoisie w h i c h , for its part, has r e a c h e d t h e a c m e o f p e r f e c t i o n i n its m e t h o d s a n d m e a n s o f p r o p a g a n d a a n d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the s t r u g g l e against the revolution and communism. I t has a l r e a d y b e e n p r o v e n h i s t o r i c a l l y t h a t w i t h o u t i t s p a r t y , t h e w o r k i n g class, w h a t e v e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h i t l i v e s o r w o r k s , c a n n o t a c h i e v e consciousness s p o n t a n e o u s l y . W h a t t u r n s t h e w o r k i n g class f r o m a class i n i t s e l f i n t o a class f o r i t s e l f i s its p a r t y . O f course, s t r u g g l e a n d a c t i o n t e m p e r a n d test t h e class, t h e masses a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d t e a c h t h e m m a n y things. B u t if they lack a political p a r t y w i t h a clear p r o g r a m a n d s c i e n t i f i c a l l y based s t r a t e g y a n d tactics, t h e s t r u g g l e w i l l e i t h e r stop h a l f - w a y o r f a i l a l t o g e t h e r . T h e experience of the present-day revolutionary movement a n d n u m e r o u s struggles o f the p e o p l e s o f v a r i o u s c o n t i n ents also teaches us this. E v e n w h e n some o f t h e v a r i o u s r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d o p portunists admit the need for the existence of the party, t h e y b a d l y d i s t o r t its r o l e a n d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s o n w h i c h i t i s b u i l t . T h e y p r o c l a i m L e n i n ' s ideas o n t h i s m a t t e r t o b e obsolete a n d left b e h i n d . I n p a r t i c u l a r t h e y assail the principle that the party is not o n l y the consc i o u s v a n g u a r d o f t h e class, b u t also t h e highest f o r m o f its o r g a n i z a t i o n , w h i c h i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y u n i t y o f t h o u g h t
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a n d a c t i o n a n d t o w h i c h belongs t h e l e a d i n g r o l e i n a l l the revolutionary activity in whatever field it m a y take place. S o m e o f t h e m r e d u c e t h e r o l e o f t h e p a r t y t o t h a t of an organization for political and ideological guidance a n d education, or a co-ordinating and i n f o r m a t i o n centre. Others identify it w i t h the guerilla u n i t or favour e q u a l partnership o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y w i t h t h e o t h e r p a r t i e s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses. T h e leading role of the p a r t y of the w o r k i n g class in the struggle for socialism, in the conditions of the existence of either one party or m a n y parties, is an objective law. T h e revolutionary transformation of capitalist society o n socialist f o u n d a t i o n s i s a b r o a d a n d v e r y complicated struggle waged in m a n y forms and in a l l the fields economic, political, ideological and m i l i t a r y . I n t h i s struggle, t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s e n t e r s i n t o a l l i a n c e s w i t h v a r i o u s s o c i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l forces. A l l t h e f o r m s o f struggle and organization, all the detachments of t h e revolutionary movement, should serve one aim. Hence t h e necessity f o r t h e p a r t y as a s i n g l e c e n t r e of d i r e c t i o n , leadership and organization. T h e s t r u g g l e f o r s o c i a l i s m has a s its t h e o r e t i c a l f o u n d a t i o n , t h e i d e o l o g y o f the w o r k i n g class, M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w h i c h is the scientific doctrine that provides the o n l y correct c o n c e p t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m a n d o f t h e w a y s t o a t t a i n it. N o o t h e r p a r t y o r o r g a n i z a t i o n c a n u p h o l d , e l a b o r a t e a n d implement this theory, except the communist p a r t y of the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e p a r t y o f t h a t class t o w h i c h t h e s o cialist a n d c o m m u n i s t f u t u r e belongs, w h i c h d e f e n d s a n d f i g h t s f o r t h e f u n d a m e n t a l interests o f t h e w o r k e r s a n d a l l t h e p r o g r e s s i v e forces o f society, t h e p a r t y o f the class w h i c h , a s M a r x said, cannot l i b e r a t e itself w i t h o u t l i b e r a t i n g a l l m a n k i n d . I f t h e fate o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s left t o a c e n t r e of g e n e r a l g u i d a n c e , to a s i m p l e c o - o r d i n a t i n g
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or guerilla organization, it w i l l be diverted into a b l i n d a l l e y a n d s u f f e r defeat. T h e o b j e c t i v e essence o f a l l theories w h i c h n e g a t e t h e n e e d f o r t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d its p a r t y , is, i n fact, t h e n e g a t i o n o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , o f s o c i a l i s m a n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . T h e s e concepts o n l y b r i n g g r i s t t o t h e m i l l o f the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e c o u n t e r revolution. Therefore, the unmasking of them and the determined defence of the Leninist teachings on the heg e m o n y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, o n t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e p a r t y of the proletariat and the principles on w h i c h it is built and organized, constitute a v e r y important current task to clear up the confusion a n d disintegration w h i c h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e c r e a t e d in. t h i s f i e l d , a n d t o c a r r y f o r w a r d the revolution and the struggle for socialism and communism.
THE REVOLUTION THE ROAD TO THE LIBERATION OF MANKIND T h e idea of revolution as the only means of t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e w o r l d , t h e o n l y r o a d t o escape t h e y o k e o f n a t i o n a l a n d s o c i a l bondage, has c a p t u r e d the m i n d s o f m i l lions o f p e o p l e o n a l l c o n t i n e n t s . N o w e v e r y b o d y s p e a k s o f r e v o l u t i o n . B u t t h e concepts a b o u t t h e content, t h e m o t i v e forces, a n d t h e w a y s a n d f o r m s o f c a r r y i n g i t out, a r e m o s t d i v e r s e . A l l these t h i n g s a r e t h e object o f great ideological struggle a n d polemics. O n t h i s m a t t e r o f v i t a l i m p o r t a n c e , too, t h e S o v i e t - l e d modern revisionists have come out in defence of the interests o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i n t h e i r service. T h e y a r e t r y i n g to sow confusion in the ranks of the revolutionaries and to u n d e r m i n e the revolution. As the demagogues they are, a l t h o u g h t h e y pose a s s u p p o r t e r s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , w i t h
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t h e i r v i e w s a n d deeds t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s are t r y i n g t o s t r a n g l e i t a t b i r t h o r sabotage i t w h e n i t has b u r s t o u t . T h e y h a v e r e d u c e d the e n t i r e t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e o f r e v o l u t i o n to reforms w i t h i n the capitalist order and are t r y i n g to p e r s u a d e t h e w o r k e r s that, i n o u r d a y s t h e d i v i d i n g l i n e between revolution and reform has allegedly been wiped o u t altogether. T h e y l o u d l y p r o p a g a t e t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class has t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o b r i n g a b o u t r a d i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s i n the e c o n o m i c base o f c a p i t a l i s m , t o o c c u p y i m p o r t a n t positions, t o seize a l l p o w e r a n d a c h i e v e s o c i a l i s m w i t h o u t violent revolution, without smashing the bourgeois state m a c h i n e a n d w i t h o u t e s t a b l i s h i n g the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the proletariat. In their practice the revisionists take up only d a y to-day demands. They have concentrated all their efforts on broadening the bourgeois democracy, on i m p r o v i n g its i n s t i t u t i o n s , a n d f o r t h e s a k e o f these t h i n g s t h e y s a c r i f i c e t h e i r u l t i m a t e o b j e c t i v e . T h e clearest d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f this is p r o v i d e d by the entire activity of the Italian, F r e n c h and other revisionists, w h o h a v e turned themselves i n t o a p p e n d a g e s o f the bourgeoisie, i n t o d e f e n d e r s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s o r d e r , h a v e b e t r a y e d the v i t a l i n t e r e s t s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d h a v e g o n e s o f a r a s t o f i e r c e l y c o n d e m n a n y r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i o n o f t h e masses w h i c h t h r e a t e n s the domination of the bourgeoisie. T h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n ists e x p r e s s t h e m s e l v e s a g a i n s t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i o l e n c e o f the masses a n d r e s o r t t o c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i o l e n c e w h e r e t h e y are i n p o w e r , a s i n t h e case o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d Poland, where they suppressed the Czechoslovak peop l e a n d t h e r e v o l t o f t h e P o l i s h w o r k i n g class w i t h f i r e a n d s w o r d . I t i s t h e r e , i n those c o u n t r i e s , t h a t t h e i r b e t r a y a l a n d c o m p l e t e d e g e n e r a t i o n are e v e n m o r e e v i d e n t . T h e failure of the peaceful evolutionist theories of t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s i s also c o n f i r m e d b y t h e p r e s e n t development of events in the w o r l d . T h e anti-imperialist
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a n d liberation wars that h a v e b r o k e n out i n A s i a , A f r i c a , a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a , t h e r e v o l t s o f the w o r k e r s a n d w o r k i n g masses i n t h e a d v a n c e d c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s themselves, p r o v e t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t r e f o r m i s t a l t e r n a t i v e does n o t r e s p o n d t o r e a l i t y o r t o t h e a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e masses. I n fact, t h e p r e s e n t r e v o l u t i o n a r y a c t i v i t y i s t a k i n g p l a c e w i t h o u t the revisionists a n d against their wishes. N e v e r theless, t h e d a n g e r o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t t h e o r i e s a n d p r a c t i c e s a n d t h e h a r m t h e y d o s h o u l d not b e u n d e r r a t e d . M a n y persons, i n c l u d i n g s o m e s i n c e r e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , w h i l e r e j e c t i n g a n d c r i t i c i z i n g t h e r e f o r m i s t c o u r s e o f the r e v i s i o n ists, h a v e a d o p t e d some o t h e r e r r o n e o u s concepts a b o u t the r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e w a y s t o d e v e l o p it. T h i s i s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e i r p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s class p o s i t i o n , t h e i r l a c k o f Marxist-Leninist ideological formation and the influence that anarchist, Trotskyite a n d putschist v i e w s exert on them. S o m e of them imagine the revolution as a m i l i t a r y coup, as t h e d e e d of a f e w heroes. T h e y o v e r r a t e a n d absolutize the role of subjective activity a n d t h i n k that t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s i t u a t i o n , as a c o n d i t i o n f o r t h e o u t b r e a k o f the r e v o l u t i o n , c a n b e c r e a t e d a r t i f i c i a l l y b y the a c t i v e o p e r a t i o n s of a m i l i t a n t g r o u p , w h i c h serves as a s t a r t e r m o t o r t h a t sets i n m o t i o n t h e m a i n m o t o r o f t h e masses. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m , the r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o t e n t i a l o f t h e masses i n c a p i t a l i s t s o c i e t y i s e v e r r e a d y t o e r u p t , i t o n l y r e q u i r e s a n i m p u l s e f r o m outside, o n l y needs a g u e r i l l a n u c l e u s to be c r e a t e d a n d the masses w i l l follow it automatically. T h e a r m e d struggle of a group of professional r e v o l u tionaries can exert an influence on the upsurge of the masses o n l y w h e n i t i s c o - o r d i n a t e d w i t h o t h e r o b j e c t i v e p o l i t i c a l , s o c i a l , a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l factors, w h i c h d e t e r m i n e t h e b i r t h o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s i t u a t i o n , w h e n i t i s based o n the b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e a n d e n j o y s t h e i r a c t i v e s y m p a t h y a n d support. Otherwise, as the tragic practice
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of certain L a t i n - A m e r i c a n countries shows, the activity of the armed minority, however heroic and self-sacrificing, comes u p against m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g f r o m t h e masses, i s i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e masses a n d s u f f e r s d e f e a t . R e v o l u t i o n s a r e m a t u r e d b y t h e s i t u a t i o n itself, w h i l e their t r i u m p h or failure depends on the condition and r o l e of t h e s u b j e c t i v e f a c t o r . J u s t a g r o u p of persons, no matter how conscious they m a y be of the need for revolution, cannot represent this factor. T h e r e v o l u t i o n is t h e d e e d o f t h e masses. W i t h o u t t h e c o n v i c t i o n , t r a i n i n g , m o b i l i z a t i o n , a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the masses n o r e v o l u t i o n can t r i u m p h . T h e subjective factor is not prepared by t h e actions o f t h e g u e r r i l l a nucleus o r b y p r o p a g a n d a a n d a g i t a t i o n alone. F o r this, a s L e n i n a n d l i f e i t s e l f t e a c h us, i t i s essential t h a t t h e masses are c o n v i n c e d t h r o u g h their o w n practical experience. T h e concept o f t h e d e c i s i v e r o l e o f t h e a r m e d m i n o r i t y i s associated w i t h v i e w s a b o u t c o n d u c t i n g t h e s t r u g g l e o n l y i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e o r o n l y i n t h e cities, t h a t w e s h o u l d engage o n l y i n the a r m e d s t r u g g l e a n d o n l y i n i l l e g a l w o r k . T h e T r o t s k y i t e thesis, too, w h i c h r e g a r d s t h e r e v o l u t i o n as a s u d d e n act a n d t h e g e n e r a l p o l i t i c a l s t r i k e a s t h e o n l y f o r m o f c a r r y i n g i t out, i s a l s o w i d e s p r e a d . T o be orientated towards the armed struggle in no w a y means y o u s h o u l d g i v e u p e v e r y o t h e r f o r m o f s t r u g g l e . I t does not mean that y o u must concentrate only on the countryside a n d a b a n d o n t h e s t r u g g l e i n t h e cities, o r v i c e - v e r s a , concentrate o n l y o n t h e f i n a l o b j e c t i v e t h e s e i z u r e o f p o w e r , a n d neglect t h e m i n o r s t r u g g l e f o r t h e u r g e n t economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d s o c i a l d e m a n d s o f t h e w o r k e r s . I t does n o t m e a n y o u s h o u l d engage o n l y i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a r m e d forces a n d d i s r e g a r d t h e w o r k w i t h the masses a n d i n t h e i r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , s h o u l d w o r k a n d f i g h t only in illegality and reject using the legal and semi-legal opportunities, a n d so on. T h e preparation of the revolution
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is n o t a q u e s t i o n of one d a y , b u t an a l l - s i d e d c o m p l e x job. F o r this it is necessary to w o r k and fight in all directions and in all forms, combining them correctly and changing t h e m w h e n s i t u a t i o n s change, b u t a l w a y s s u b j e c t i n g t h e m t o t h e a t t a i n m e n t o f t h e f i n a l goal. T h e r e v o l u t i o n i s n o t c a r r i e d out b y t h e w o r k i n g class a l o n e a n d , e v e n less, b y its v a n g u a r d p a r t y alone. I n o r d e r t o a c c o m p l i s h it, t h e w o r k i n g class, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e n a t u r e a n d stages o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , e n t e r s i n t o a l l i a n c e s w i t h o t h e r s o c i a l forces w i t h w h i c h i t h a s c o m m o n basic interests, sets u p b r o a d p o p u l a r f r o n t s w i t h d e f i n i t e p o l i t i c a l p r o g r a m s , i n w h i c h t h e p a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class does not m e r g e itself, b u t a l w a y s r e t a i n s i t s o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d p o l i t i c a l i n d e p e n d e n c e . N a r r o w , s e c t a r i a n elements c o n s i d e r a l l these t h i n g s e r r o n e o u s tactics w h i c h a l l e g e d l y open the door to the peaceful, reformist road. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m , the p r o g r a m s , f r o n t s a n d a l l i a n c e s a r e o n l y a r t i ficial machinations intended to distract attention f r o m and h i n d e r the armed struggle. These views echo the familiar theses o f t h e T r o t s k y i t e s w h o c o n s i d e r e v e r y a l l i a n c e a s class c o n c i l i a t i o n , w h o n e g a t e the stages of r e v o l u t i o n , a n d are f o r the p u r e d i r e c t p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n . T h e r e v o l u t i o n has its o w n l a w s , w h i c h are u n i v e r s a l a n d i n d i s p e n s a b l e f o r a n y c o u n t r y . D e n i a l o f these l a w s leads t o r e v i s i o n i s m . C a p i t a l i z i n g o n the changes t h a t are t a k i n g p l a c e i n t h e w o r l d a n d w i t h t h e s p e c i f i c n a tional conditions, the revisionists have replaced the u n i versal truths of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w i t h their o w n antiM a r x i s t a n d c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y theses a n d c o n c l u s i o n s . N o less h a r m f u l , h o w e v e r , a r e t h e d o g m a t i c concepts o f those w h o d i s r e g a r d t h e n a t i o n a l p e c u l i a r i t i e s , w h o d e v i a t e f r o m a n a l y s i s o f t h e r e a l s i t u a t i o n , a n d b u i l d u p schemes into w h i c h they t r y to fit the reality of different countries, w h o a b s o l u t i z e the e x p e r i e n c e o f o n e c o u n t r y a n d present it as universal, a n d w h o speak of a continental revolution
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a n d deny the possibility of the victory of revolution in one or in several i n d i v i d u a l countries. I n o u r days, w h e n t h e t i d e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s r i s i n g , w h e n the revolution is on the agenda in m a n y countries a n d regions, correct u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f i t s content, o f the w a y s and f o r m s of its development, is decisive. T h e strugg l e a g a i n s t r i g h t i s t a n d leftist, r e v i s i o n i s t a n d a n t i - M a r x i s t concepts, t h e s t r u g g l e f o r a c r e a t i v e a p p l i c a t i o n of the f u n d a m e n t a l t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o n t h i s quest i o n , is a c o m p o n e n t p a r t of t h e class struggle, an i n d i s pensable condition for the victory of the revolution.
SOCIALISM CAN BE BUILT ONLY ON THE BASIS OF THE MARXISTLENINIST THEORY T h e triumph of the October Revolution in Russia m a r k e d t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a great e p o c h i n t h e h i s t o r y of mankind, the epoch of the transition f r o m capitalism t o s o c i a l i s m . S i n c e t h a t t i m e s o c i a l i s m has b e e n t r a n s formed f r o m a scientific theory into a l i v i n g reality, w h i c h , despite t h e r e v i s i o n i s t b e t r a y a l , h a s f u l l y d e m o n s t r a t e d its i n d i s p u t a b l e s u p e r i o r i t y o v e r t h e c a p i t a l i s t o r d e r i n a l l fields. A l l t h e v i c t o r i e s o f s o c i a l i s m h a v e been a c h i e v e d o n t h e basis o f t h e s c i e n t i f i c t h e o r y o f M a r x i s m Leninism. A s a n e w s o c i a l order, w h i c h i s b u i l t i n c o n d i t i o n s of a f i e r c e class s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d the b o u r g e o i s i e o n a n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale, s o c i a l i s m cannot develop smoothly, without difficulties and contradictions. T h e struggle between the t w o roads of developm e n t , t h e socialist a n d c a p i t a l i s t roads, i s p r o t r a c t e d , a n d , s o l o n g a s i t c o n t i n u e s , the d a n g e r o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m a l w a y s exists. B u t t h i s r e s t o r a t i o n i s n o t i n e v i table, a s t h e b o u r g e o i s ideologists t r y t o p r e s e n t it. I t i s
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e n t i r e l y p o s s i b l e t o a v o i d it, i f t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y remains loyal to the teachings of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , if i t w a g e s t h e class s t r u g g l e r e s o l u t e l y a n d c o n s i s t e n t l y against t h e i n f l u e n c e s a n d p r e s s u r e s o f t h e o l d w o r l d , i f i t i s able t o s u c c e s s f u l l y solve t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d c o n t r a d i c t i o n s t h a t arise, i f i t closes a l l t h e l o o p h o l e s t o t h e possibility of bourgeois degeneration. T h e t u r n i n g back of the Soviet U n i o n and some other c o u n t r i e s i s l i n k e d p r e c i s e l y w i t h t h e fact t h a t t h e r e t h e t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w e r e a b a n d o n e d a n d the f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s o f socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n r e j e c t e d . There the victories of the revolution were smashed and the road was opened to the restoration of capitalism. B u t this i s n o t t h e o n l y g r e a t d a m a g e t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s did to socialism. To open the w a y to their betrayal, they l a u n c h e d f u r i o u s a t t a c k s o n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e p u r s u e d by the Bolshevik C o m m u n i s t P a r t y headed by Stalin a n d o n the w h o l e h i s t o r i c a l e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , a n d r a i s e d doubts a b o u t t h e v i t a l i t y of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t science in the solution of c u r r e n t p r o b l e m s , a b o u t t h e a b i l i t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f society, and about the leading role of the communist party. W i t h a l l these t h i n g s t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s p r o v i d e d t h e b o u r g e o i s ideologists w i t h p o w e r f u l w e a p o n s f o r t h e i r anti-communist propaganda. T h e y became a source of all types o f a n t i - M a r x i s t concepts a b o u t s o c i a l i s m . T h e c o n f u s i o n i s m a d e e v e n w o r s e because t h e K h r u s h chevite r e v i s i o n i s t s t r y t o p e d d l e the r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m i n the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d e l s e w h e r e a s s o c i a l i s m . T h i s d e m a g o g y m i s l e a d s m a n y honest people, w h o , w h i l e t h e y rightly criticize m a n y negative phenomena in the life of the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s , i d e n t i f y the o r d e r t h e r e w i t h s o c i a l i s m a n d a t t r i b u t e t h e consequences o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m t o s o c i a l i s m . T h e
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other revisionist trends w h i c h have contradictions w i t h the S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p c r i t i c i z e the S o v i e t m o d e l o f s o cialism as bureaucratic and totalitarian, a n d propagate t h e i r o w n so-called d e m o c r a t i c a n d h u m a n i t a r i a n m o d e l , w h i c h i s n o t h i n g but a n o t h e r v a r i a n t o f c a p i t a l i s m . T h e T r o t s k y i t e e l e m e n t s a n d g r o u p s also t r y t o e x p l o i t t h e bourgeois d e g e n e r a t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n the c o u n t r i e s w h e r e the r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e i n p o w e r t o s p r e a d t h e i r s l a n d e r s against socialism, w h i c h the revisionists themselves have encouraged w i t h their a n t i - M a r x i s t theories and practices. I n these c o n d i t i o n s , the d e f e n c e o f t h e t h e o r y a n d p r a c tice o f s c i e n t i f i c s o c i a l i s m f r o m the a t t a c k s a n d d i s t o r t i o n s of m o d e r n revisionists of various hues a n d tints a n d o t h e r bourgeois a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s t r e n d s i s one o f t h e most important tasks in the ideological struggle today. F i r s t o f a l l , the socialist m a s k w i t h w h i c h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s i n p o w e r , e s p e c i a l l y the S o v i e t chiefs, h a v e d i s g u i s e d t h e m selves, m u s t b e t o r n f r o m t h e m . I n the S o v i e t U n i o n the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d the party of the proletariat h a v e been liquidated. It i s n o l o n g e r t h e w o r k i n g class that i s i n p o w e r , b u t t h e n e w r e v i s i o n i s t bourgeoisie. T h e state a n d t h e p a r t y h a v e been turned into tools in the hands of the revisionists to defend a n d consolidate their political and economic d o m i n a t i o n . T h e socialist a n d c o m m u n i s t d i s g u i s e s i n w h i c h t h e y g a r b t h e i r state a n d p a r t y are m e r e l y t o d e c e i v e the people, because the c h a r a c t e r of t h e state or the p a r t y i s d e f i n e d n e i t h e r b y t h e l a b e l i t bears n o r b y its social content alone, b u t f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t , b y t h e p o l i c y p u r sued, w h o m i t serves a n d w h o b e n e f i t s f r o m i t . T h e change i n t h e c h a r a c t e r o f the p a r t y a n d state, the counter-revolutionary transformation of the political and ideological superstructure, could not but lead to t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e e c o n o m i c base o f s o c i a l i s m a s w e l l . The economic reforms undertaken by the Khrushchevites
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i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e i r a n t i - M a r x i s t i d e o l o g i c a l concepts led to r a d i c a l transformation of the relations of production. They introduced a system of organization and manag e m e n t i n the S o v i e t e c o n o m y i n w h i c h the a i m o f p r o d u c tion became the extraction of capitalist profit. The pres e n t - d a y S o v i e t state, as a c o l l e c t i v e capitalist, a d m i n i s t e r s t h e m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n o n b e h a l f a n d i n the interests o f t h e n e w S o v i e t b o u r g e o i s i e . T h e c o m m o n socialist o w n e r s h i p h a s b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a state c a p i t a l i s m of a n e w t y p e . H a v i n g s e i z e d t h e r e i n s o f the state a n d t h e e c o n o m y , t h e n e w S o v i e t bourgeoisie, c o m p o s e d o f b u r e a u c r a t s a n d t e c h n o c r a t s , uses t h e m t o e n s u r e p r i v i l e g e s a n d h u g e i n comes f o r itself. T h e g u l f b e t w e e n t h i s b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses i s b e c o m i n g e v e r deeper. P a y m e n t a c c o r d i n g t o w o r k d o n e h a s been r e p l a c e d b y a n e n t i r e s y s t e m o f the d i s t r i b u t i o n o f i n c o m e s w h i c h e n a b l e s t h e b o u r g e o i s i e t o a p p r o p r i a t e the t o i l a n d s w e a t o f t h e w o r k i n g masses, t o ensure, i n t h e m o s t v a r i e d w a y s , i n c o m e s m a n y t i m e s l a r g e r t h a n those o f t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants. I n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a process o f p r o f o u n d c o r r u p t i o n , d e c a d e n c e a n d d e g e n e r a t i o n i s d e v e l o p i n g i n a l l fields, i n ideology, morality, education and culture. A l l the m o r a l a n d s p i r i t u a l v a l u e s o f s o c i a l i s m are b e i n g t h r o w n out. B o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y , w i t h a l l i t s consequences, i s b e c o m i n g the dominant ideology. The norms of communist morality o f d e d i c a t e d s e r v i c e t o t h e c a u s e o f the p e o p l e a r e b e i n g r e p l a c e d w i t h r u n n i n g a f t e r p e r s o n a l interests, w i t h i n d i v i d u a l i s m a n d c a r e e r i s m . T h e b o u r g e o i s w a y o f l i f e has become widespread. T h e revolutionary spirit a n d prolet a r i a n p a r t i s a n s h i p i n a r t a n d c u l t u r e h a v e been a b a n doned. T h e Soviet school cultivates technocracy a n d intellectualism. trains n e w contingents for the revisionists. The restoration of capitalism in the Soviet Union
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c o u l d n o t b u t l e a d t o r a d i c a l changes i n its f o r e i g n p o l i c y . The present Soviet leaders have replaced proletarian i n t e r nationalism w i t h n a t i o n a l selfishness a n d great-state chauvinism. T h e Soviet U n i o n today has become an i m perialist p o w e r w h i c h pursues an aggressive policy. T h e S o v i e t U n i o n h a s b e e n t r a n s f o r m e d f r o m a base o f t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n i n t o a base o f c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n . A l l this shows that the present-day Soviet U n i o n c a n no l o n g e r be c a l l e d a socialist c o u n t r y , b u t a c a p i t a l i s t state a n d a n i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r . T h e e v i l s o f i t s i n t e r n a l and foreign policy are not evils of socialism, as the bourgeois p r o p a g a n d a a n d those w h o h a v e f a l l e n v i c t i m t o o r e c h o i t t r y t o m a k e out. T h e y a r e p r e c i s e l y e v i l s o f the c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m , w h i c h has b e e n r e s t o r e d i n t h e S o v i e t Union. No amount of patching up w i l l put them in order. A n y such illusion w o u l d be v e r y dangerous. T h e y w i l l be eliminated only w h e n the revisionists have been o v e r t h r o w n a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t has been re-established. I n t h e s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d b y the b e t r a y a l o f t h e S o v i e t revisionists and the anti-communist propaganda of the bourgeoisie, t h e Y u g o s l a v s y s t e m o f s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s b e i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y a d v e r t i z e d a s t h e best r o a d f o r t h e construction of socialism. M a n y revisionists in the Western c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , especially, a r e p a r t i s a n s o f t h i s r o a d . I t h a s its s y m p a t h i z e r s i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s o f Eastern Europe as well. The theoreticians of self-administrative socialism c l a i m that they express a n d a p p l y t h e a u t h e n t i c ideas o f M a r x a n d L e n i n a b o u t s o c i a l i s m , allegedly distorted in practice up t i l l now by Stalinism. In reality they have revived a n d come out in defence of the o l d a n a r c h o - s y n d i c a l i s t a n d B u k h a r i n i t e t h e o r i e s w h i c h M a r x and L e n i n criticized in their time. Their theoretical a r g u m e n t s are c o m p l e t e l y u n f o u n d e d , w h i l e the p r e s e n t -
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d a y Y u g o s l a v r e a l i t y i s t h e clearest p r o o f o f t h e f a i l u r e o f the s y s t e m o f s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . T h e basis o f t h e t h e o r i e s o f t h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s is the B u k h a r i n i t e idea about the integration of capitali s m i n t o socialism. In the international arena, according to them, post-Second W o r l d W a r capitalism, parallel w i t h i t s s t a b i l i z a t i o n a n d e v o l u t i o n t o state c a p i t a l i s m , i s b e i n g g r a d u a l l y t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a state t y p e socialism, t h u s w i p i n g out the demarcation line between the t w o systems and paving the w a y to a broad and all-round collaboration b e t w e e n t h e m , i n fact, t o u n d e r m i n e t r u e s o c i a l i s m . W i t h i n the country, the Y u g o s l a v revisionists, along w i t h the G o m u l k a variety, abandoned the collectivization of the countryside, and a l l o w e d the k u l a k s freedom to exploit and accumulate wealth, pretending that in this w a y they w o u l d be integrated into socialism a n d that the industrialization of the country w o u l d be carried out with t h e c a p i t a l s u p p l i e d b y t h e m . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , the Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s b r o k e u p the state p r o p e r t y o f t h e whole people and, by transforming it allegedly into the p r o p e r t y of the group, paved the w a y for the b i r t h of a n e w b o u r g e o i s i e , w h i c h s e i z e d the r e i n s o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d n o w r u l e s t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e p e o p l e s o f Yugoslavia. M e a n w h i l e , the revisionists perpetrated a hoax by presenting this line as a proletarianization of the r e g i m e , as a s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t b u r e a u c r a t i c state f o r m s of s o c i a l i s m , as a n e w r o a d f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e t r u e socialist society. B u t a l l t h i s has b e e n u n m a s k e d a n d l i f e h a s p r o v e d h o w r o t t e n i t is. T o escape f r o m t h i s s e r i o u s s i t u a t i o n , f r o m t h e great economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d s o c i a l d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , the o u t c o m e o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t r e s t o r a t i o n , a n d b e i n g u n a b l e to b u i l d s o c i a l i s m w i t h t h e a i d o f t h e i n t e r n a l b o u r geoisie a n d its c a p i t a l , t h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s h e l d out a b e g g i n g h a n d t o t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the
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c a p i t a l i s t s of o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . T h u s , t h e y i n v e n t e d a n e w t y p e o f socialism w h i c h c a n b e b u i l t w i t h t h e a i d o f credits a n d i n v e s t m e n t s f r o m t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o i s i e and, first of all, f r o m US i m p e r i a l i s m , the most ferocious e n e m y o f c o m m u n i s m . T h e fact i s t h a t i n p r e s e n t - d a y Yugoslavia the flood of capital and direct investments f r o m f o r e i g n c a p i t a l i s t states a n d f i r m s i s c a p t u r i n g t h e k e y p o i n t s of t h e n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y . A s i m i l a r process is t a k i n g p l a c e i n o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t countries, too. A n o t h e r manifestation of this course in Yugoslavia is the m a s s p h e n o m e n o n o f t h e e m i g r a t i o n o f t h e l i v i n g , c r e a t i v e forces, o f h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s o f w o r k e r s a n d t e c h n i c i a n s a n d specialists w h o a r e c o m p e l l e d t o a b a n d o n their families a n d h o m e l a n d a n d to sell the strength of their muscles a n d minds to the German, Belgian, F r e n c h a n d o t h e r capitalists. T h i s s e l l i n g o f t h e w o r k e r s , t h i s t r a d e i n h u m a n beings, t o secure a l i t t l e h a r d c u r r e n c y is one of t h e u g l i e s t aspects of t h e p r e s e n t - d a y Y u g o s l a v reality. In Yugoslavia there is no question of any integration of capitalism into socialism. W h a t has happened there, a n d w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i n t h e o t h e r c o u n t r i e s w h e r e the r e v i s i o n i s t s are i n p o w e r , i s t h e i n t e g r a t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n t o c a p i t a l i s m , t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e socialist v i c t o r i e s and the r e t u r n to the capitalist road. T h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s c l a i m t h a t t h e i r s y s t e m aff i r m s t h e t r u e r o l e o f w o r k e r s a n d o f t h e w o r k i n g class as a w h o l e , w h i c h a l l e g e d l y s e l f - a d m i n i s t e r s t h e m e a n s of production, manages the economy and distributes the s o c i a l p r o d u c t . I n fact, q u i t e t h e c o n t r a r y h a p p e n s t h e r e . T h e b r e a k i n g u p o f the state p r o p e r t y a n d t h e n e g a t i o n of the l e a d i n g r o l e of the socialist state m e a n s t h e d i v i s i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e n e g a t i o n o f its l e a d i n g r o l e i n t h e l i f e o f society. T h e Y u g o s l a v p r a c t i c e leads to c o u n t e r p o i s i n g the interests of v a r i o u s sections of
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t h e w o r k i n g class, t o c o m p e t i t i o n a n d s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n t h e w o r k e r s ' collectives. T h e r e , t h e n a r r o w m o m e n t a r y interests of the enterprise, commune, or the i n d i v i d u a l r e p u b l i c c o m e t o t h e f o r e a n d a r e opposed t o t h e g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t s of t h e society. In these c o n d i t i o n s , t h e w o r k i n g class cannot act as a class a t a l l , c a n n o t e x p r e s s a n d d e f e n d i t s g e n e r a l i n terests a s a class i n p o w e r . I n Y u g o s l a v i a , the w o r k i n g class h a s l o n g since lost i t s h e g e m o n i c role. I t h a s been t r a n s f o r m e d f r o m a l e a d i n g class i n p o w e r i n t o a class w h i c h is led, oppressed and exploited by the new bourgeoisie w h i c h h a s a l l p o w e r i n i t s o w n hands. T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class i n Y u g o s l a v i a has c o m p l e t e l y d e g e n e r a t e d , h a s become a h a v e n f o r t h e a n t i proletarian strata w h i c h represent and defend the cap i t a l i s t course. P r e s e n t - d a y Y u g o s l a v i a has a l l t h e f e a t u r e s of a bourgeois country and suffers f r o m the same grave chronic i l l s t y p i c a l of c a p i t a l i s m , s u c h as t h e d e e p e c o n o m i c crises, u n e m p l o y m e n t , c o m p e t i t i o n , a n a r c h y a n d i n f l a t i o n , severe s o c i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l c o n f l i c t s a n d n a t i o n a l feuds. T h i s s i t u a t i o n has l e d t o the c r e a t i o n a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f b o u r geois n a t i o n a l i s t g r o u p i n g s a n d tendencies, t o the s h a r p e n i n g o f the s t r u g g l e f o r h e g e m o n y a m o n g t h e m a n d a m o n g t h e r e p u b l i c s . T h e Great-Serb a n d G r e a t - C r o a t clans a r e d o m i n a n t o n the p o l i t i c a l scene i n Y u g o s l a v i a t o d a y . T h e f o r m e r h a v e b e e n l a b e l l e d s u p p o r t e r s o f the I n f o r m b u r e a u but, i n fact, t h e y h a v e been a n d are s w o r n e n e m i e s o f t h e I n f o r m b u r e a u , j u s t a s m u c h a s the Y u g o s l a v leaders t h e m s e l v e s a n d the S o v i e t K h r u s h c h e v i t e leaders. T h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e p l a c e d the peoples a n d the w o r k i n g class o f Y u g o s l a v i a i n the g r i p o f a p o w e r f u l p i n c e r s , the p i n c e r s o f t h e i n t e r n a l b o u r g e o i s i e a n d of foreign capitalism, w h i c h is becoming master of the house in Yugoslavia. Neither the economic a n d po-
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litical reforms acclaimed by the revisionists, n o r their hopes a n d i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h i s o r t h a t n a t i o n a l i s t g r o u p i n g can rescue t h e m f r o m this s i t u a t i o n . T h e e v i l i s d e e p r o o t e d a n d c a n b e e r a d i c a t e d o n l y w h e n t h e peoples o f Yugoslavia, on the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t road, smash the pincers w h i c h has gripped them. T o d a y , t h e r e i s also t a l k o f s o c i a l i s m i n c e r t a i n c o u n tries freed f r o m the old colonial rule of i m p e r i a l i s m . A d i f f e r e n t content i s i n t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e i d e a o f socialism, o r socialist society i n d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s . I n these t h e o ries t h e r e are m a n y o b s c u r e , c o n f u s e d , eclectic points, a m i x t u r e o f p r i n c i p l e s o f s o c i a l i s m w i t h those o f c a p i t a l i s m , o f socialist i d e o l o g y w i t h bourgeois, n a t i o n a l i s t , a n d r e l i gious i d e o l o g y . T h e S o v i e t a n d other r e v i s i o n i s t s also echo these u n s c i e n t i f i c theories. I n d e e d t h e y h a v e e v e n d i s c o v e r e d a n e w r o a d , t h e so-called n o n - c a p i t a l i s t r o a d o f d e v e l o p ment, w h i c h a l l e g e d l y leads t o s o c i a l i s m w i t h o u t t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d o f t h e c o m m u n i s t party, without the Marxist-Leninist theory, without the socialist r e v o l u t i o n a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . W i t h these s e r m o n s the K h r u s h c h e v i t e a n d o t h e r r e v i s i o n ists d i s o r i e n t a t e the g e n u i n e socialist t r e n d s i n these c o u n tries, a d d t o t h e i d e o l o g i c a l c o n f u s i o n a n d p a r a l y z e t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e p r o g r e s s i v e forces f o r s o c i a l i s m . P r e t e n d i n g t h a t these c o u n t r i e s h a v e a l l e g e d l y e n t e r e d t h e s o c i a l i s t r o a d o f d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s toss t h e m a few crumbs in order to keep them enslaved, to extend their imperialist influence over them and drag them along in their wake. The Marxist-Leninists welcome and support any sincere tendencies a n d a s p i r a t i o n s t o s o c i a l i s m , b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e y stress t h a t s o c i a l i s m has t r i u m p h e d a n d can t r i u m p h i n a n y c o u n t r y o n l y o n the basis o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d u n d e r the l e a d e r s h i p o f the w o r k i n g
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c l a s s a n d o f its p a r t y a r m e d w i t h t h e p r o l e t a r i a n w o r l d outlook. I n o u r t i m e , t h e p r o b l e m does n o t a r i s e o f c o p y i n g t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p s e u d o - s o c i a l i s t theories, o r o f i n v e n t i n g n e w s o c i a l i s t t h e o r i e s . S o c i a l i s m exists a n d i s d e v e l o p i n g b o t h as a t h e o r y a n d as a p r a c t i c e . It has a c c u m u l a t e d a w e a l t h of historical experience, s u m m e d up in the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y , t h e v i t a l i t y o f w h i c h has b e e n c o n f i r m e d in life. By relying on this scientific theory and a p p l y i n g it in the conditions of each country, the r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces w i l l f i n d t h e correct r o a d t o s o c i a l i s m . T h e correct u n d e r s t a n d i n g of socialism is a m a j o r q u e s t i o n o f p r i n c i p l e , because i t assists i n t h e c o r r e c t orientation of the aspirations and the struggle of the peoples f o r s o c i a l i s m , so t h a t t h e y a i m at a c l e a r o b j e c t i v e . T h e r e f o r e , t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a c l e a r l i n e of d e m a r c a t i o n b e t w e e n the g e n u i n e s o c i a l i s t c o u n t r i e s a n d those w h i c h o n l y b e a r the n a m e s o c i a l i s t i s o f s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , j u s t a s t h e d i s t i n c t i o n bet w e e n t h e g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a n d forces f i g h t i n g f o r s o c i a l i s m a n d those p a r t i e s w h i c h o n l y c a r r y the communist label is important. Thus, the r e v o l u tionaries w i l l k n o w better o n w h o m they can r e l y and w h o m they s h o u l d support. I n this w a y the real u n i t y o f the r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces i s s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d the s t r u g g l e f o r s o c i a l i s m i s m e r g e d i n t o a s i n g l e c u r r e n t , o n t h e basis of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism.
Principal
Documents vol. 6
of the
PLA.
NIXON'S JOURNEY TO CHINA, THE SINO-AMERICAN TALKS, THE FINAL COMMUNIQUE
March 21, 1972
T h e o u t w a r d s t a n d o f t h e C h i n e s e side t o w a r d s t h i s j o u r n e y , b o t h b e f o r e a n d d u r i n g t h e t i m e i t took p l a c e , has been d i f f e r e n t . T h e C h i n e s e side m e r e l y a n n o u n c e d once o r t w i c e t h a t t h e j o u r n e y o f t h e A m e r i c a n p r e s i d e n t w o u l d b e m a d e o n s u c h a n d s u c h a date, a n d n o t h i n g else. T h e C h i n e s e p r o p a g a n d a m a i n t a i n e d a b s o l u t e s i lence a b o u t t h i s event, a s i f it w e r e o f n o g r e a t i n t e rest. Of course, this did not represent the reality, did not represent the importance, indeed the great importance, which the Chinese placed on this journey and the results that would emerge from it. S u p e r f i c i a l l y , it s e e m e d as if the C h i n e s e w e r e n o t t a k i n g p r e p a r a t o r y m e a s u r e s , b u t this w a s n o t t r u e : t h e y c l e a n e d u p t h e c i t y , p a i n t e d t h e shops a n d houses, e s p e c i a l l y i n those streets a n d zones t h r o u g h w h i c h N i x o n w o u l d pass, r e m o v e d a l l the d a n g e r ous slogans w h i c h m i g h t a n n o y t h e notable guest, f i l l e d t h e shops w i t h a l l k i n d s o f goods, d i s p l a y e d b o o k s o f C h i n e s e a n d f o r e i g n classics, w h i c h u p t i l l y e s t e r d a y h a d disappeared f r o m circulation in the bookshops. All these things were done under the guise of the Chinese New Year. But no one swallowed this. These things were not done for the Year of the Rat, but for the coming of t h e . . . Paper Tiger.
NIXON'S JOURNEY TO CHINA
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T h e C h i n e s e p r e s s h a d ceased its p r o p a g a n d a against A m e r i c a n imperialism, but w h i l e w a i t i n g for N i x o n , it was o b l i g e d t o w r i t e s e v e r a l t i m e s i n defence o f V i e t n a m , w h i c h a t these p a r t i c u l a r m o m e n t s w a s b e i n g h e a v i l y b o m b e d b y t h e A m e r i c a n s . H e n c e , p r e c i s e l y a t t h i s time, w h e n the Chinese were a w a i t i n g N i x o n , the Vietnamese s t e p p e d u p t h e i r attacks, N i x o n stepped u p t h e b o m b i n g , w h i l e t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s c a m e o u t a s the o n l y sincere friends of the Vietnamese, as rabid anti-Americans. D u r i n g t h i s t i m e , the C h i n e s e k e p t t h e i r m o u t h s shut a n d d i d not reply to the Soviet propaganda, a n d it is easily u n d e r s t o o d w h y t h e y w e r e o b l i g e d t o d o this. T h e r e a s o n is that they found themselves in a weak position in regard to V i e t n a m and w a n t e d to avoid m a k i n g it appear that talks w i t h N i x o n w o u l d b e against the Soviet U n i o n . M e a n w h i l e , t h e o t h e r side, A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d t h e w h o l e c a p i t a l i s t w o r l d g a v e t h i s j o u r n e y v e r y great publicity, and dug up everything they could find to say o r guess a b o u t it. I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e y beat t h e d r u m so l o u d l y t h a t to a c e r t a i n d e g r e e t h e y m a n a g e d to create t h e i m p r e s s i o n i n t h e w o r l d that t h i s j o u r n e y w o u l d c h a n g e t h e course o f h i s t o r y , t h a t the r a b i d a n t i - c o m m u n i s t N i x o n w o u l d achieve that rapprochement w i t h C h i n a w h i c h n o o t h e r p r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a h a d m a n a g e d t o achieve. T h e b o u r g e o i s i e p u t N i x o n d o w n i n h i s t o r y a s t h e m a n o f peace, a n d t h e fact i s that d u r i n g a l l t h i s t i m e its p r o p a g a n d a b e c a m e so deafening in this direction that his terrible w o r k as a w a r c r i m i n a l w h o i s s l a u g h t e r i n g t h e peoples o f I n d o c h i n a , etc., w a s o b s c u r e d . C h i n a h a s g r e a t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i n t h e m a t t e r o f accepti n g N i x o n i n B e i j i n g w i t h o u t l a y i n g d o w n the slightest condition. B u t not o n l y C h i n a is responsible for this propaganda v i c t o r y of N i x o n . T h e Vietnamese themselves, w h o are a l l e g e d l y a n g r y w i t h t h e C h i n e s e o v e r N i x o n ' s
776
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g o i n g t o B e i j i n g , h a v e l o n g been e n g a g e d i n secret t a l k s w i t h t h e m u r d e r e r s o f t h e i r people. N o t t o m e n t i o n t h e Soviet revisionists, w h o are up to their necks in filth t h r o u g h t h e i r contacts a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e A m e r icans. W e , f o r o u r p a r t , d i d n o t cease o u r s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d N i x o n f o r one m o m e n t , r e g a r d less. T h i s w a s n o t i c e d b y t h e f o r e i g n n e w s agencies, too, w h i c h pointed out that our propaganda differed f r o m that of the Chinese. T h u s , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e fact that C h i n a s a i d n o t h i n g u n t i l N i x o n set foot o n its t e r r i t o r y , t h e p r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a r r i v e d i n C h i n a w i t h great p u b l i c i t y , w i t h a l a r g e t e a m of c o l l a b o r a t o r s , w i t h a l a r g e n u m b e r o f j o u r n a l i s t s , a n d w i t h a l l t h e necessary t e l e v i sion, r a d i o , c i n e m a a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n a p p a r a t u s e s , etc. T h e w h o l e w o r l d t a l k e d a b o u t this. One American journalist even described Nixon's arrival in China as a landing on the moon. N i x o n ' s w e l c o m e a t t h e a i r p o r t o n t h e p a r t o f the C h i n e s e w a s w i t h o u t c r o w d s , w i t h o u t speeches, w i t h o u t t h e presence o f t h e d i p l o m a t i c corps. O t h e r w i s e , i t w o u l d have been an open scandal a n d a challenge in any situation. The usual permanent group, comprised of Z h o u Enlai, Li X i e n - n i e n , the representative of the a r m y at the CC of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a , and the w h o l e series o f o f f i c i a l s w e l c o m e d h i m t h e r e . Z h o u E n l a i s e e m e d v e r y stiff, o f course, because h e k n e w t h a t t h e w h o l e world was watching him, while Nixon was grinning like a horse, h a p p y , l a u g h i n g , r e g a r d l e s s of t h e fact t h a t t h e streets t h r o u g h w h i c h h e passed w e r e e m p t y , c e r t a i n l y b y o r d e r s a n d d i r e c t i v e s . H o w e v e r , the A m e r i c a n p r o p a g a n d a a n d t e l e v i s i o n took great c a r e t o m a k e t h i s s i t u a t i o n seem warmer. T h e e x t e r n a l c o l d correctness o f t h e C h i n e s e , w h i c h
777
w a s a p p a r e n t a t t h e a i r p o r t a n d i n t h e streets t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e cortege passed, w a s n o t h i n g b u t a trompe l'oeil*. I n s t e a d o f c o n t i n u i n g t h i s w a y w i t h a n u n d e s i r e d guest, w h o h a d been a l l o w e d t o c o m e to e x c h a n g e o p i n i o n s o n p r o b l e m s o f i n t e r e s t t o t h e t w o countries, w i t h o u t l a y i n g d o w n a n y c o n d i t i o n w i t h t h e guest w h o u p t i l l yesterday h a d been described by the Chinese themselves as t h e m o s t v i c i o u s fascist c r i m i n a l , a m u r d e r e r , etc., etc., t h e p r o t o c o l o b s e r v e d a n d t h e s t a n d t o w a r d s N i x o n took a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn. T h e president of the United States of America had hardly rested after his journey, when he was received by Mao Zedong, and in his working office at that. As f a r a s w e k n o w , t h i s h a d n e v e r o c c u r r e d before. M a o Z e d o n g has a l w a y s r e c e i v e d o t h e r f r i e n d s a n d guests, e v e n t h e closest f r i e n d s a n d guests o f C h i n a , a t t h e e n d o f t h e i r v i s i t . H e h a s a l w a y s r e c e i v e d o u r delegations, too, a t the end. T h e A m e r i c a n journalists d i d not k n o w that M a o w o u l d receive N i x o n immediately he arrived, a n d app a r e n t l y n e i t h e r d i d the A m e r i c a n d e l e g a t i o n , t h e r e f o r e , t h e y d e s c r i b e d it as a b o m b s h e l l . A n d in fact this reception was a bombshell. In this way Mao wanted to display his special warmth and gratitude to Nixon for these contacts and talks, wanted to display intimacy, because he received him in his studio, and on the table where the president leaned his elbows, there was a pile of books, in order to let Nixon know that he was dealing with a great thinker. Mao Zedong also wanted to show Nixon that it was he, Mao, who opened this new era in the world, which is the question of Sino-American relations, and, on the other hand, to tell the Chinese people that this policy of friendship with American imperialism is my policy, and not Zhou Enlai's. If this policy does not turn
____________________________ * eyewash (French in the original).
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ENVER HOXHA
out well we have experience and lay the blame on Zhou. The communique issued after the M a o - N i x o n meeting s a i d o n l y the t a l k s w e r e sincere a n d f r a n k , hence, i t was neither fish nor fowl, w h i l e the Chinese television spoke in another language. M a o a n d N i x o n appeared on the s m a l l screen h a p p y a n d l a u g h i n g , c l a s p i n g e a c h other, n o t b y one, b u t b y b o t h h a n d s . K i s s i n g e r w a s l o l l i n g , smiling and happy, in an arm-chair, as if in his o w n home. Z h o u E n l a i w a s aux anges* laughing and chuckling so loudly that he became embarrassed and covered his mouth with his hand. Hence, the atmosphere was more than friendly and this atmosphere only the Chinese television, that is, a controlled television, had captured, and then it was shown on the small screen, and this was done by Zhou not without a purpose, but so that history would fix this historic moment, so that the Americans would see it and the Chinese people, too, would be orientated by this brilliant proletarian strategy and tactics of Mao Zedong. After this very significant act of Mao's, the atmosphere, which had appeared constrained, improved, the ice was broken, a hundred flowers began to bloom, and the long march of the great friendship began. T h e banquet put on by the Chinese w a s magnificent. W h a t d i d Z h o u E n l a i say at this banquet? A l l the good things, as if he w e r e a d d r e s s i n g n o t a n e w f r i e n d , b u t an o l d one, because the C h i n e s e p e o p l e a n d t h e A m e r i c a n p e o p l e a r e f r i e n d s , etc. H e n c e , Z h o u s a i d : W e m u s t seek the normalization of relations between our t w o countries and exchange opinions w h i c h are of interest to the t w o sides. I n t h e e n d , s a i d Z h o u , t h e d o o r s t o f r i e n d l y c o n t a c t s have been opened. T h i s means, in other words, that N i x o n is a f r i e n d
__________________________________ * in the seventh heaven (French in the original).
779
o f C h i n a a n d t h e peoples, because i t i s h e w h o o p e n e d these d o o r s o f f r i e n d s h i p . F o r Z h o u a n d those w h o t h i n k l i k e h i m , N i x o n ceased t o b e a n i m p e r i a l i s t , a fascist, a n e x e c u t i o n e r of peoples. This means to go over to the road of lackeys of imperialism. W e h a v e disagreements, s a i d Z h o u i n his speech, b u t t h e s e m u s t n o t b e c o m e obstacles t o o u r r e a c h i n g a g r e e m e n t a n d c o - e x i s t i n g , etc. M i n o r d i s a g r e e m e n t s exist!!! K h r u s h c h e v s p o k e l i k e t h i s i n t h e past, b u t h e w a s n o t s o genteel w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n guests a s Z h o u i s p r o v i n g t o be, t a k i n g t h e greatest care t o a v o i d s a y i n g a n y w o r d out of place w h i c h c o u l d be misinterpreted. F o r Z h o u , w h o i s t r y i n g t o c o n c e a l h i s aims, t h e A m e r i c a n p e o p l e a r e s o good t h a t t h e y c o u l d n o t b e better, the A m e r i c a n p e o p l e a r e f r i e n d s o f t h e C h i n e s e people, a n d Zhou continues this refrain up to the point that the orchestra at the banquet played the song America the Beautiful! The beautiful America of millionaires and multimillionaires! America, the centre of fascism and barbarous imperialism! America, the murderer of Vietnamese and Arabs, the suppressor of the peoples' freedom! The beautiful America of gangsters! The beautiful America, where the blacks, the unemployed and the communists are oppressed and murdered!!! A n d t h e y s i n g t o this A m e r i c a i n B e i j i n g s o a r d e n t l y that N i x o n , in his reply to Z h o u E n l a i at the banquet, s a i d : I have never heard American music played better than this in a foreign country. It was clear, even Nixon was surprised, and indeed, more or less would say: It seems I have been wrong. I thought you really were communists. I n h i s speech, N i x o n p r a i s e s C h i n a , too, a n d i t s great hospitality, praises the k i n d and eloquent words of Z h o u . He says without any reservation, What we are doing h e r e m a y c h a n g e t h e w o r l d ; . . . t h e chances o f p e a c e
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are endlessly increased; what unites us is that we have c o m m o n interests w h i c h o v e r r i d e these d i s a g r e e m e n t s . A n d N i x o n continues: Let us set out together on a long march, not on an aimless course, but on different roads which lead to the same objective, to the objective of building a new world structure of peace and justice, in which all can stand together with the same dignity and every nation, big or small, will have the right to decide for itself its form of government, without interference or domination from outside... N i x o n goes o n : There is no reason for us to be enemies, because neither of us is seeking the territory of the other, neither is seeking domination over the other, or to stretch his hands over and dominate the world. Together, we can build a new and better world. A n d h o w does Z h o u E n l a i r e p l y t o t h i s f i l t h y f a s c i s t ? He replies precisely a n d simply like this: . . . T h e w o r l d i s m o v i n g t o w a r d s progress, t o w a r d s t h e l i g h t a n d n o t t o w a r d s the darkness. Z h o u E n l a i e l i m i n a t e d the e x p r e s sion that the w o r l d is m o v i n g towards the revolution. T h e n e w s p a p e r s q u i t e r i g h t l y s a y : Zhou brushed aside the world revolution. T h i s is t h e s c a n d a l o u s a n d d i s g r a ceful propaganda and demagogy w h i c h Beijing is m a k i n g a b o u t the r a b i d fascist w h o has s h e d the b l o o d o f the peoples o f t h e w o r l d , the h e a d o f w o r l d i m p e r i a l i s m , N i x o n ! A n d w h o is doing this? Beijing, w h i c h claims to be the w o r l d centre of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m ! T h e i m p e r i a l i s t is s u c h a d e m a g o g u e t h a t he, too, s u p p o r t i n g Z h o u E n l a i , says that, T h e w o r l d i s m o v i n g t o w a r d s t h e l i g h t a n d n o t t o w a r d s the d a r k n e s s . A l l the A m e r i c a n propaganda aims to b r i n g out that N i x o n and A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m have become friends of C h i n a and the Chinese, friends of the people a n d their leaders. T h e ice was b r o k e n after N i x o n ' s meeting w i t h M a o . The
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Chinese newspapers were filled w i t h photographs of N i x o n , M a o , Z h o u , J i a n g Q i n g , etc. T h e p r o t o c o l m e e t i n g at the airport later t u r n e d into cordial meetings at banquets, t h e a t r e s a n d c o v e r e d s t a d i u m s , w h e r e t w e n t y t h o u s a n d people r i s e t o t h e i r feet a p p l a u d i n g N i x o n a n d Z h o u E n l a i , t h e architects o f t h i s h i s t o r i c m e e t i n g . J i a n g Q i n g , M a o ' s w i f e , has c h a n g e d h e r s t y l e o f dress a n d coifure.* S h e h a s h a d h e r h a i r c u t short i n urchin style, f l u n g h e r c a p w i t h t h e r e d s t a r i n t h e w a s t e p a p e r basket, a n d r e p l a c e d h e r m i l i t a r y u n i f o r m o f t h e r e v o l u tion w i t h gowns of black cashmere. At every performance J i a n g Q i n g sits beside N i x o n a n d , w h e n t h e y are not together, N i x o n a n d h i s w i f e c o m p l e t e t h e i r p r o g r a m s , v i s i t C h i n e s e k i t c h e n s , a r e s u r p r i s e d a n d a m a z e d , eat w i t h chopsticks, what marvels! T h e y visit communes, k i s s C h i n e s e c h i l d r e n , and visit also the Great Wall. We must pull down every wall, Nixon says. These are 7 days that changed the world. We, the United States of America and China, hold the fate of the world in our hands. A n d N i x o n ' s e l e c t o r a l p r o p a g a n d a , i n the c a m p a i g n f o r r e - e l e c t i o n a s p r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d States, c o n t i n u e s f r o m Chinese t e r r i t o r y ! M e a n w h i l e , Z h o u E n l a i , for his part, is satisfied and smiling. Reaction is praising h i m , l a u d i n g h i m t o t h e s k i e s , b u t h e seems t o b e i n d i f f e r e n t t o t h i s because, a l l e g e d l y , w i t h t h i s p o l i c y w h i c h h e i s p u r s u i n g , he i s a p p l y i n g t h e l i n e o f C h a i r m a n M a o w i t h t h e greatest s k i l l . Hence, d u r i n g the d a y s of the visit e v e r y desire of Nixon, M a o and Zhou was fulfilled. No contradiction was a p p a r e n t b e t w e e n the t w o sides, a p a r t f r o m those e x pressed i n a f e w u s u a l f o r m u l a s . I n the end, the S i n o - A m e r ican joint c o m m u n i q u e came out to c o n f i r m their u n i t y o n m a n y basic v i e w s . L e t u s e x a m i n e these.
___________________________ * F r e n c h in the original.
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Nixon's going to Beijing, the welcome he received there, and the Sino-American joint communique constitute a victory for American imperialism and for Nixon personally. M e a n w h i l e C h i n a d i d n o t a n d c o u l d n o t g a i n a n y t h i n g o u t o f t h i s ; o n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t lost i n t h e eyes o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples o f t h e w o r l d a n d t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t . China financed American imperialism with credibility in the eyes of the peoples. It told the peoples and the communists that even at these moments when American imperialism is sowing death and destruction, when it has occupied their territories, when it does not have and is not going to have diplomatic relations with them, and when its system is in crisis, still you can hold friendly talks with it, sit cheek by jowl with it, and recognize its right to deceive the peoples. T h i s is w h a t C h i n a has done. T h i s is impermissible and must be condemned. It is not on our Marxist-Leninist line. The Sino-American communique is the most disgraceful document conceivable. In t h i s c o m m u n i q u e the b e a u t i f u l v i e w s of t h e t w o sides are set out e q u a l l y , side b y side. T h e C h i n e s e feed u s l a r g e h e l p i n g s o f g e n e r a l p h r a s e s : T h e peoples w a n t f r e e d o m ; w h e r e t h e r e i s o p p r e s s i o n t h e r e i s r e s i s t a n c e ; t h e nations, b i g a n d s m a l l , must be equal; all troops must be w i t h d r a w n f r o m foreign countries, etc. T h u s , t h e C h i n e s e side c o n t i n u e s a l o n g tirade w i t h o u t a n y address or concrete allusion to anyone. O n l y J a p a n a n d B a n g l a d e s h are m e n t i o n e d b y n a m e , w h i l e e v e r y t h i n g else has b e e n e l i m i n a t e d . D o e s the f a m o u s p o l i teness of t h e C h i n e s e (?!) r e q u i r e t h i s since the guest is i n their house?! W h y d i d y o u i n v i t e h i m ? However, i t w o u l d be better to say that the new line y o u are following, a n d n o t g o o d b e h a v i o u r t o w a r d s t h e guest y o u h a v e i n v i t e d , r e q u i r e s this s t a n d . T h e A m e r i c a n side indulges in an even longer tirade i n t h e c o m m u n i q u e r e f e r r e d to. I t does n o t m a k e a n y
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commitment, but on the contrary, according to w h a t the c o m m u n i q u e says, b e a u t i f u l A m e r i c a i s t h e most peacef u l a n d d e m o c r a t i c c o u n t r y , t h e A m e r i c a n s a r e against aggression, are in f a v o u r of self-determination for the c o u n t r i e s o f I n d o c h i n a (!). T h e U n i t e d States i s r e a d y t o d o t h i s a n d that, w h a t e v e r y o u w a n t a n d w h a t e v e r y o u t h i n k ( p l e n t y o f b e a u t i f u l phrases), but, i n o t h e r w o r d s , s a y s t h a t i t i s g o i n g t o m a i n t a i n its f r i e n d s h i p w i t h C h i a n g Kaishek, w i t h the cliques of the countries of Indochina a n d t h e R e p u b l i c o f S o u t h K o r e a , t h a t i t w i l l w i t h d r a w its t r o o p s f r o m d i f f e r e n t r e g i o n s ( o n l y i n w o r d s , o f course) w h e n t e n s i o n h a s b e e n reduced, etc., etc. T h i s i s the tenor of the A m e r i c a n refrain in the joint communique. W h a t came out of all this? N o t h i n g ! A l m o s t no opposit i o n , a l t h o u g h t h e y stress t h a t m a j o r c o n t r a d i c t i o n s exist between t h e m . N o t the slightest sign of the polemic a p pears; but on the contrary, after they p e r f o r m e d this idyllic tableau before the w a i t i n g public, they came out w i t h w h a t they h a d i n their hearts. A n d the conclusion is t h i s : peaceful coexistence typical of Khrushchev, indeed more perfect than his, because according to the SinoAmerian communique, everything will be settled without conflicts, in other words, without weapons, without wars, will be settled with rose petals! T r u l y the tiger turned out to be a paper tiger. But one cannot work out who is the paper tiger. W h a t e m e r g e s f r o m t h i s c o m m u n i q u e ? C h i n a tells t h e w o r l d : I t a l k e d w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a i n a f r i e n d l y w a y , a n d as a r e s u l t of these t a l k s w a r b e t w e e n the t w o of us w i l l be avoided, the Asian-Pacific region w i l l n o t be a l l o w e d to b e c o m e a s p h e r e of i n f l u e n c e of a n y great p o w e r ( a fable), n e i t h e r p a r t y m u s t e n t e r i n t o a g r e e m e n t w i t h a t h i r d p a r t y a g a i n s t t h e other p a r t y ( a fable), a n d t h e w o r l d m u s t n o t b e d i v i d e d i n t o spheres o f i n f l u e n c e (again a fable).
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A l l these f a b l e s w r i t t e n i n t h e c o m m u n i q u e a r e a p p r o v e d b y t h e C h i n e s e , w h o t e l l t h e w o r l d : See, w e f o r c e d the A m e r i c a n s to accept a l l these t h i n g s , t h i s is a great v i c t o r y f o r s o c i a l i s m . T h e C h i n e s e t e l l t h e g u l l i b l e : See, the A m e r i c a n s a r e n ' t s o b a d a f t e r a l l a n d a l t h o u g h we concluded nothing about T a i w a n or the establishment of diplomatic relations, we shall c a r r y on trade w i t h the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , e x c h a n g e scientists, artists, j o u r nalists, etc. I n o t h e r w o r d s , w e o p e n e d the d o o r s f o r t h e i n v a s i o n o f C h i n a b y the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . T h i s i s r a t h e r a s t o u n d i n g , b u t t h i s i s w h a t w i l l occur i n fact. When Zhou Enlai returned to Beijing from Shanghai, w h e r e h e h a d gone t o see N i x o n off, h e r e c e i v e d a t r i u m p h a n t w e l c o m e w i t h gongs, w i t h f l o w e r s , a n d w i t h J i a n g Q i n g . Z h o u w a s the hero o f the d a y ! T h i s hero o f t h e day w i l l w o r k w i t h a l l his strength w i t h i n the country, w i t h the support of M a o , to strengthen the position of his group. H e w i l l r a p i d l y develop all-round relations w i t h the A m e r i c a n s , w i l l s u p p o r t t h e c a n d i d a t u r e o f N i x o n , because n o w h e i s his friend, and w i l l m a k e m a n y combinations w i t h h i m , but w i l l also t r y to avoid being b a d l y exposed i n t h e eyes o f t h e peoples. F o r t h e t i m e b e i n g t h e hero o f t h e d a y w i l l o p p o s e t h e S o v i e t s a s f a r a s h e has t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , b u t i n t h e e n d he, too, w i l l t h r o w o f f h i s d i s g u i s e , a s K h r u s h c h e v d i d . As for the world revolution, for communism and socialism, he will put the heavy lid on them, just as the revisionists in the Soviet Union and elsewhere did. This is where the road they have taken leads them to. M a y we p r o v e to be w r o n g , but the facts do not permit us to judge o t h e r w i s e ! M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , w h i c h i n s p i r e s a n d guides us, does n o t p e r m i t u s t o j u d g e the C h i n e s e a n d t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s d i f ferently.
Reflections on vol. 1
China,
HOW WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND AND FIGHT THE IMPERIALIST-REVISIONIST ENCIRCLEMENT OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE EFFECT OF ITS PRESSURE ON US
Speech delivered at the general meeting of the communists of the apparatus of the CC of the PLA to render account and hold elections
March 15, 1973
W e h a v e s p o k e n m a n y t i m e s a b o u t these questions o f v i t a l i m p o r t a n c e a t p a r t y m e e t i n g s a n d w i t h t h e people, i n various f o r u m s and w i t h i n d i v i d u a l comrades, whenever t h e y h a v e b e e n o n t h e a g e n d a o r h a v e been l i n k e d w i t h o t h e r questions. W e r a i s e d t h i s p r o b l e m a g a i n w i t h the c o m r a d e secretaries o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e i n p a r t i c u l a r , s o t h a t w e w i l l a l w a y s b e a r i t i n m i n d a n d r a i s e i t i n the P a r t y t i m e a n d a g a i n i n a concrete w a y , r e l a t e d t o l i f e , to the situation, a n d not m e r e l y as a political and ideological slogan. O u r P a r t y fights h a r d in this direction and that is w h y our internal situation is sound. B u t it is right to say, a n d w e m u s t l o o k s q u a r e l y a t t h e s i t u a t i o n , t h a t t h e r e are c o m r a d e s a n d c i t i z e n s w h o d o n o t g o d e e p l y i n t o t h i s reality. Some underestimate it w i t h amazing unconcern, s a y i n g : W e are v e r y s t r o n g , t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t h e y c a n d o t o us. O t h e r s t h i n k t h a t b y u s i n g these m a t t e r s m e r e l y a s p o l i t i c a l f o r m u l a e i n s o m e speeches a n d t a l k s , t h e y h a v e done t h e job, h a v e f o u g h t t h e e n c i r c l e m e n t , h a v e w e a k e n e d
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a n d e l i m i n a t e d t h e e n e m y i n f l u e n c e a n d c a n r e l a x , because t h e y h a v e m a d e t h e s i t u a t i o n c l e a r t o t h e masses. S o m e understand the struggle against the capitalist e n c i r c l e m e n t i n a o n e - s i d e d w a y a n d n o t i n its c o m p l e x i t y . T h e s e p e o p l e s p e a k a n d a r g u e m o r e o r less i n t h i s w a y : We A l b a n i a n s are bold a n d courageous and, if danger comes f r o m abroad, we shall m a k e short w o r k of the e n e m y w h o a t t a c k s us. I t i s e n o u g h f o r u s t o b e m i l i t a r i l y s t r o n g , t o h a v e a s t r o n g a r m y ; these t w o t h i n g s w e h a v e , a n d w e d e v e l o p a n d t e m p e r t h e m . H e n c e these c o n s t i t u t e an a r m o u r w h i c h the enemy cannot penetrate. T h i s is by no means the w h o l e matter, but e v e n if we consider these t w o f a c t o r s alone, t h e a r m o u r c a n b e p e n e t r a t e d b y the influence of the bourgeois-capitalist-revisionist pressure, i f w e d o n o t c o m b i n e t h e q u e s t i o n o f v a l o u r , defence and the a r m y w i t h the w h o l e development of the country. A m a n i s b r a v e i f h e i s t a u g h t a n d comes t o u n d e r stand w h y he is brave, what he must defend, w h y he s h o u l d d e f e n d it, t h a t w h a t h e i s t o d e f e n d h e h a s c r e a t e d h i m s e l f w i t h b l o o d a n d sweat, h a r d w o r k a n d e f f o r t , a n d does t h i s consciously, o f h i s o w n w i l l . T h e s e a i m s h a v e g u i d e d a n d i n s p i r e d t h e A l b a n i a n s i n t h e past, a n d t h a t i s w h y t h e y h a v e b e e n b r a v e . T h e s e s a c r e d i d e a l s o f the P a r t y a n d t h e p e o p l e m u s t g u i d e u s t o d a y , too. D u r i n g our history there have also been traitors w h o h a v e f o u g h t a g a i n s t these ideals, t h e class s t r u g g l e has e x i s t e d a n d s t i l l exists, t h e r e h a v e b e e n b r a v e m e n b u t t h e r e h a v e also b e e n c o w a r d s , t h e r e h a v e b e e n people w h o u n d e r s t o o d the issues c o r r e c t l y a n d f o u g h t f o r t h e m t o the death but there have been others w h o wavered, h e s i t a t e d a n d l a g g e d b e h i n d . S o m e o f these w e r e e n l i g h t e n e d a n d e d u c a t e d , o t h e r s f e l l a w a y . T h i s process i s g o i n g o n n o w f a v o u r i n g t h e p o s i t i v e side, b u t let u s n o t f o r g e t t h a t i t i s g o i n g o n a n d w i l l g o on, f o r p e o p l e a r e n o t a l l cast i n t h e s a m e m o u l d .
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T o d a y t h e P a r t y i s i n t h e l e a d , t h e w o r k i n g class is in power, we are b u i l d i n g socialism a n d educating the n e w m a n . B u t does t h i s n e w m a n w e a r e e d u c a t i n g a n d tempering properly understand the question of defence of the H o m e l a n d f r o m the m i l i t a r y angle? In general we c a n s a y t h a t h e does, a n d w e h a v e m a n y successes i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , b u t i t i s i m p e r m i s s i b l e f o r u s t o close o u r e y e s to the shortcomings that are observed in this matter. We have to fight encircled by m a n y enemies w h o are equipped w i t h weapons more modern and more numerous t h a n ours. So our People's A r m y must be trained to perf e c t i o n i n m o d e r n m i l i t a r y art, s h o u l d m a s t e r its w e a p o n s w e l l , k n o w h o w t o use t h e m p r o p e r l y , b e d i s c i p l i n e d , b r a v e , p o l i t i c a l l y a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l y capable, a n d t h e a r e a b e h i n d t h e l i n e s m u s t b e s o u n d , etc., etc. I n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , h o w ever, t h e r e a r e s h o r t c o m i n g s , l a x i t y , a n y a m o u n t o f defects in the teaching, in organization and in education, there is liberalism, bureaucracy and routine. D o w e f i g h t a g a i n s t these d e f e c t s ? U n d o u b t e d l y w e d o , b u t let u s n o t f o r g e t t h a t i t i s p r e c i s e l y these m a n i festations t h a t m a k e t h e a r m o u r o f o u r d e f e n c e p e n e t r a b l e . W h a t a r e these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s ? A r e t h e y h o s t i l e a n d deliberate, do the external or internal enemies have a h a n d i n t h e m , etc.? C a l l t h e m w h a t y o u please, b u t y o u are n e v e r w r o n g i f y o u c a l l these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s t o t a l l y a l i e n t o us, t h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t correct t h e m , c l e a n t h e m up, e l i m i n a t e t h e m , because t h e y e n d a n g e r t h e t r u e c o n cept o f b r a v e r y a n d t h e d e f e n c e o f t h e H o m e l a n d . I n a l l t h i s process o f e d u c a t i n g , c o r r e c t i n g a n d c l e a n i n g up, w e w i l l distinguish between w h a t i s d o n e w i t h hostile intentions and w h a t is done unintentionally, b u t w h i c h b r i n g s g r i s t t o t h e e n e m y ' s m i l l j u s t t h e same. T h e a i m o f the e n e m y i s f i r s t t o k n o w t h e t e r r a i n , t o f e e l y o u r pulse, to blunt y o u r vigilance in a thousand ways, to corrupt you, and then attack you.
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I n t h e present c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e e n e m i e s a r e u s i n g t h i s t a c t i c w h i l e s h o u t i n g t h a t peace a n d p e a c e f u l c o existence exist. L a t t e r comes the a t t a c k , a n d w e m u s t p r e p a r e o u r s e l v e s t o o p p o s e a n d f i g h t off t h i s e v e n t u a l attack. At no time can we say l i g h t l y : Oh, w e ' r e strong, t h e y can't d o a n y t h i n g t o us! b u t w e m u s t r e a l l y m a k e o u r s e l v e s s t r o n g . L i k e w i s e w e s h o u l d n e v e r say l i g h t l y : O h , w h e n t h e w a r comes, t h e n w e ' l l s h o w t h e m ! W e m u s t p r e p a r e ourselves f o r t h i s w a r , i f i t comes. T h e e n e m y exerts great p r e s s u r e to c o n v i n c e us t h a t no d a n g e r e x i s t s f o r socialist A l b a n i a a n d t h e r e f o r e , sleep p e a c e f u l l y . T h e enemies c a l l u s c o n s e r v a t i v e a n d w a n t u s t o b e liberal. I say to some of o u r p e o p l e : Y e s , t o w a r d s o u r e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l class e n e m y w e a r e c o n s e r v a t i v e , because w e w a n t t o c o n s e r v e t h e f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d sove r e i g n t y o f o u r H o m e l a n d , w h i c h h a v e cost o u r p e o p l e s o m u c h blood, generation after generation. We are conserv a t i v e because w e w a n t t o c o n s e r v e a n d d e v e l o p f o r o u r people the g r e a t a c h i e v e m e n t s w e h a v e a t t a i n e d . W e a r e c o n s e r v a t i v e also t o w a r d s t h e l i b e r a l i s m w h i c h causes soc i a l i s m , y o u t h , w o m e n , a r t a n d c u l t u r e t o degenerate, w h i c h the imperialists and revisionists have adopted and are a d v i s i n g u s t o adopt. S o m e , l i k e F a d i l P a r a m i a n d others, w e r e g r e a t l y c o n cerned t o k n o w w h i c h w a s t h e m a i n d a n g e r t o d a y , conserv a t i s m o r l i b e r a l i s m ? T h e P a r t y has s a i d l o n g ago t h a t b o t h are d a n g e r o u s , a n d t h a t w e m u s t f i g h t t h e p a i r o f t h e m , a n d t h e P a r t y h a s f o l l o w e d this c o u r s e . T h e h i s t o r y of our revolution w h i c h is developing is alive, continuous a n d t a n g i b l e . B u t d o these s h o r t - s i g h t e d c o m r a d e s w a n t u s t o assert t h a t t h e m a i n d a n g e r a t p r e s e n t i s c o n s e r v a t i s m ? T h e y m u s t e x c u s e m e , b u t this i s t h e thesis o f t h e e n e m y . A n d w e ask these c o m r a d e s : A r e y o u f o r t h e t h e s i s o f t h e P a r t y o r f o r t h a t o f t h e class e n e m y ? T h e s e c o m r a d e s
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w a n t u s t o assert t h a t l i b e r a l i s m i s n o t t h e m a i n e n e m y . B u t t h i s i s t h e thesis o f t h e e n e m y . W e a s k t h e m : A r e y o u f o r t h e theses o f t h e P a r t y o r f o r t h e theses o f t h e enemy? N o ! Y o u w i l l never catch our P a r t y unawares, i t w i l l n e v e r d i s t o r t its t h e o r y , e i t h e r in a c o n s e r v a t i v e or a in liberal direction, but it w i l l u p h o l d the p u r i t y of M a r x i s m Leninism and w i l l always fight guided by this unerring compass, j u s t a s i t is, p u r e , c r e a t i v e , p o i n t i n g t o t h e r i g h t course, a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y . T h e bourgeoisie, reaction, the imperialists and the revisionists apply a thousand a n d one epithets to our P a r t y and our internal and foreign policy: Stalinist, iron curtain, cold war, conservative, destroyers of religion and v e n e r a b l e t r a d i t i o n s , etc. R e c e n t l y voices are h e a r d s a y i n g : A l b a n i a has b e g u n t o o p e n its b o r d e r s , A l b a n i a has begun to liberalize, A l b a n i a is t u r n i n g its face towards t h e West, etc. R e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t s l o g a n s t h e y use, w e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d w h y o u r e n e m i e s use t h e m , w h a t t h e i r a i m is, a n d what they w a n t to achieve. Imperialism, revisionism and t h e r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i e w a n t a t a l l costs a n d w i l l use a n y means to break the resistance a n d struggle o u r people put up to defend their political, economic, ideological a n d cultural freedom, to defend their independence, sovereignty and socialism. F i r s t and foremost, they w a n t to smash the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t stand of our P a r t y w h i c h is t h e d e c i s i v e f a c t o r i n a l l these a c h i e v e m e n t s o f o u r people. W e are the o n l y country i n E u r o p e a n d the only c o m munist party fighting heroically and successfully resisting this great pressure w h i c h is exerted d a y a n d night. A l l the f o r m e r c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s o f E u r o p e , i n c l u d i n g t h a t o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n (we w i l l c o n f i n e ourselves t o E u r o p e and not extend to the w h o l e world) have betrayed M a r x -
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i s m - L e n i n i s m , t h e cause o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e i r o w n peoples. T h e y b e t r a y e d t h e cause o f s o c i a l ism a n d turned their countries into capitalist countries. T h e P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a d i d not betray, it stood its g r o u n d fearlessly, u n y i e l d i n g , i t u p h o l d s t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f a n d d e f e n d s s o c i a l i s m , its o w n c o u n t r y , a n d r e v o l u tion. Neither the imperialists nor the revisionist traitors c o u l d h a v e e x p e c t e d o r c o n c e i v e d this. Socialist A l b a n i a is a s m a l l country, the P a r t y of L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a i s a s m a l l p a r t y , some m a y say. N o , t h a t is n o t so, because t h e ideas t h e y u p h o l d are g r e a t a n d are t h e f u t u r e o f t h e w o r l d , t h e b e a c o n b l a z i n g c o n t i n u o u s l y i n socialist A l b a n i a n o t o n l y h i g h l i g h t s t h e treachery and h a r m plotted against the peoples by the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s , b u t b r a n d s t h e m as a h o t i r o n . P r e c i s e l y because t h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c a n d t h e P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a are small, they serve as a great e x a m p l e of a m i g h t y f i g h t e r a g a i n s t a m a n y - h e a d e d m o n s t e r . V i e w e d f r o m this r e a l i s t i c angle, t h e t a s k o f the imperialists and revisionists is to crush us; the task of the A l b a n i a n people and of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a i s t o resist, t o a v o i d b e i n g b r o k e n , a n d t o w i n this battle. B u t are the names w h i c h the imperialists a n d r e v i sionists a n d t h e i r o p e n a n d d i s g u i s e d l a c k e y s c a l l t h e A l b a n i a n people and the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a w e l l founded? C a n a people and a p a r t y l i k e ours, w h o i n a f e w decades d i d a w a y w i t h c e n t u r i e s o f d a r k n e s s and slavery, be called conservative? C a n a p a r t y and people l i k e ours, w h o fought arms in h a n d a n d defeated p o w e r f u l f o r e i g n e n e m i e s a n d t h e age-old i n t e r n a l e n e m ies, w h o seized p o w e r a n d e s t a b l i s h e d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of the proletariat in their country, w h o carried out a series o f t h e m o s t p r o g r e s s i v e m a j o r r e f o r m s , w h o c a r r i e d o u t the a g r a r i a n r e f o r m a n d b u i l t s o c i a l i s m i n t h e c o u n -
791
t r y s i d e , w h o l i q u i d a t e d t h e class o f f e u d a l l a n d l o r d s , c a p i t a l i s t s , k u l a k s a n d u s u r e r s , w h o a b o l i s h e d the e x ploitation of m a n by man, built up modern industry and a w h o l e w o r k i n g class w h i c h is guiding the destiny of t h e c o u n t r y , w h o set u p a n d w o r k e d o u t a n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a p p r o p r i a t e t o a s o c i a l i s t c o u n t r y a n d m o d e r n i z e d it, as they m o d e r n i z e d industry, agriculture, the a r m y and a l l t h e o t h e r sectors o f t h e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y , b e c a l l e d conservative? C a n a p a r t y and people w h o accomplished such a p r o f o u n d , p r o g r e s s i v e r e v o l u t i o n i n social l i f e , w h o b r o u g h t w o m e n out of obscurity a n d gave them all their rights a n d m a d e t h e m e q u a l w i t h m e n i n a l l spheres o f l i f e , w h o broke for all time the cruel chains w h i c h had m a d e w o m e n slaves o f m e n a n d society, w h o d i d a w a y w i t h t h e s a v a g e canons, l a w s , h a b i t s , a n d b a d customs, w h o o p e n e d t o w o m e n the broad vistas of a d i g n i f i e d life, opened the w a y to work, learning and knowledge, be called conservative? C a n o u r P a r t y , w h i c h brought happiness to the y o u t h , w h i c h o p e n e d schools a l l o v e r t h e c o u n t r y t o e q u i p them w i t h knowledge, culture, and lofty proletarian m o rality, w h i c h provided everything to enable them to grow up healthy, to become capable a n d w o r t h y to take up the torch of the revolution handed on to them, and to w o r k w i t h p u r e a n d l o f t y consciousness s o t h a t w h e n t h e y , i n t u r n , h a n d over this torch to the c o m i n g generations, it w i l l b e intact, n o t feeble, b u t s o u n d , a n d w i t h f u r t h e r successes a t t a i n e d s o l e l y o n t h e h o n o u r a b l e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course o f o u r people a n d P a r t y , b e c a l l e d c o n s e r v a t i v e ? W a s not the crushing b l o w dealt to religious dogma, t h a t a n c i e n t p l a g u e , t h a t p o i s o n o u s b l a c k spider, i n o u r c o u n t r y t h e m o s t h e r o i c , t h e m o s t d a r i n g , t h e wisest, t h e most well-considered a n d the most s k i l f u l act? W a s the abolition of the power of religion, along w i t h its a p p a r a -
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t u s a n d p e r s o n n e l , a n i n s i g n i f i c a n t , c o n s e r v a t i v e act? T h a t was a centuries-old, spiritual and material structure. O u r P a r t y a n d people d e s t r o y e d t h i s s t r u c t u r e w i t h i n a f e w decades, b u t t h e f i g h t t o e r a d i c a t e t h i s cancer f r o m t h e m e n t a l i t y of t h e people is s t i l l f a r f r o m e n d e d . A cure f o r cancer h a s n o t y e t b e e n d i s c o v e r e d , b u t f o r r e l i g i o n i t has been, a n d if a s t r u g g l e is w a g e d in t h i s d i r e c t i o n , consistently and w i t h conviction, the cure w i l l no longer t a k e c e n t u r i e s b u t a f e w decades, a f e w g e n e r a t i o n s . T h e f i g h t against r e l i g i o u s i d e o l o g y i s closely c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e f i g h t against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m , w i t h t h e fight for socialism and communism. W e c o u l d pose q u e s t i o n s s i m i l a r t o these, i n r e g a r d t o e v e r y f i e l d , e v e r y a c t i v i t y o f o u r n e w l i f e . So, i t i s n o t w e w h o are c o n s e r v a t i v e , b u t t h o s e w h o c a l l u s c o n s e r v a t i v e , the i m p e r i a l i s t s , t h e f e u d a l g e n t r y , t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , the capitalists, the clergy a n d a l l their followers. These e n e m i e s a i m t o seize b a c k f r o m u s w h a t o u r p e o p l e a n d P a r t y w o n and w i l l belong o n l y to our people and P a r t y . They want to rob us of our freedom, democracy, independence a n d s o v e r e i g n t y . T h u s , t h e y w a n t socialist A l b a n i a t o b e socialist n o l o n g e r , b u t t o t a l l y d e p e n d e n t o n t h e m . S o t h a t A l b a n i a w i l l n o l o n g e r b e socialist, t h e s e conservatives, reactionaries a n d bandits w a n t the l a n d returned to the kulaks, to the big landowners or to a new g e n e r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s t s , a n d thus, t o d e s t r o y t h e s o c i a l i s t system i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e a n d r e t u r n t h e p e a s a n t t o h i s f o r m e r c o n d i t i o n , o n l y t h i s t i m e , w i t h h i s h a i r o v e r his ears a n d d o w n t o h i s s h o u l d e r s l i k e a w o m a n , c l a d i n e x t r a v a g a n t s y n t h e t i c clothes a n d w i t h t h e s o u l o f a slave; they w a n t the factories to become the property of a n e w bourgeoisie, a n d t h e w o r k i n g class t o w o r k i n c h a i n s f o r t h e m a n d t h e i r f o r e i g n bosses; t h e y w a n t the Albanian women to be corrupted, spiritually and physically, to be w o r n out w i t h t o i l ; they w a n t the y o u t h to
FIGHT IMPERIALIST - REVISIONIST ENCIRCLEMENT
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b e c o m e degenerate, t o d a n c e c r a z y dances a n d use n a r cotics; t h e y w a n t the schools to be closed, h o o l i g a n i s m , crime, u n e m p l o y m e n t a n d emigration to become rife, and religion a n d the C h u r c h to dominate our minds and help in this degeneration w h i c h they call modernism and liberalism. T h e s e s w o r n e n e m i e s o f t h e a d v a n c e a n d progress o f m a n k i n d claim to be modern, progressive and civilized, w h i l e t h e y c a l l u s o l d - f a s h i o n e d , b a r b a r i a n s , savages, b a c k w a r d , c o n s e r v a t i v e s c l i n g i n g t o o u t d a t e d ideas and a l l e g e d l y b e h i n d t h e t i m e s . W e a r e a l l e g e d l y out o f s t e p w i t h the century. B u t w h i c h century? Obviously, their century of filth, degeneration, shame a n d slavery. H o w e v e r , i t i s w e w h o a r e m o d e r n i n the r e a l m e a n i n g o f t h e w o r d , because w e a r e f i g h t i n g i n t h e c e n t u r y d u r i n g w h i c h t h e r e v o l u t i o n has t r i u m p h e d , w e are f i g h ting for the revolution, for socialism, for communism, because w e are g u i d e d a n d i n s p i r e d i n e v e r y t h i n g a n d a t e v e r y m o m e n t b y the i m m o r t a l i d e a s o f M a r x , E n g e l s , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , because t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s t h e progress, the advance, and the future of m a n k i n d . But how is it that conservative black reaction w o r l d w i d e accuses u s o f b e i n g c o n s e r v a t i v e w h e n w e are n o t ? H o w can i t i d e n t i f y u s w i t h i t s e l f ? I s t h e r e n o t a c o n t r a d i c t i o n h e r e ? T h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n a p p a r e n t t o u s does not e x i s t f r o m the v i e w p o i n t o f w o r l d r e a c t i o n . I t c l a i m s t h r o u g h w i d e s p r e a d p r o p a g a n d a t h a t it i s n o t c o n s e r v a t i v e i n a n y t h i n g , t h a t i t i s p r o g r e s s i v e . I t alleges t h a t c a p i t a l i s m i s n o t t h e s a m e a s i t u s e d t o be. i t has c h a n g e d , has become m o r e p r o g r e s s i v e , m o r e l i b e r a l a n d m o r e h u m a n e , i t n o l o n g e r oppresses a n d bleeds t h e p e o p l e s o r hinders progress, it no longer incites wars, k i l l s people o r speculates w i t h t h e i r s w e a t a n d t o i l . A c c o r d i n g t o reaction, times h a v e c h a n g e d a n d people h a v e c h a n g e d , too, c a p i t a l i s m has d e v e l o p e d t h e forces o f p r o d u c t i o n ,
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has a l l e g e d l y g i v e n the p e o p l e m a n y f r e e d o m s a n d r i g h t s e v e n o v e r the c a p i t a l i s t e n t e r p r i s e s ; t h e c l a s s s t r u c t u r e has c h a n g e d , class a n t a g o n i s m s h a v e b e e n r e d u c e d a n d are b e i n g e l i m i n a t e d , the class s t r u g g l e i s d y i n g out, a n d is no longer the motive force of history. Other factors h a v e a p p e a r e d on t h e s o c i a l scene, s u c h as t h e t e c h n i c a l s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n etc., etc. I n o t h e r w o r d s , a c c o r d i n g t o r e a c t i o n , the t h e o r y of M a r x a n d L e n i n is outdated, has lost its value, a n d moreover as such it has become a t h e o r y w h i c h restricts advance, progress a n d w e l l - b e i n g a n d has b e c o m e a c o n s e r v a t i v e , a n a c h r o n i s t i c t h e o r e t i c a l concept. H e n c e , a c cording to them, all w h o r e m a i n f a i t h f u l to the theory of M a r x and L e n i n are conservative. In their v i e w there are d o g m a t i c c o n s e r v a t i v e c o m m u n i s t s , a n d w e a r e a m o n g t h e m , because w e r e m a i n l o y a l t o t h e t h e o r y o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d f i g h t f o r its t r i u m p h . T h e r e a r e also l i b e r a l c o m m u n i s t s w i t h a h u m a n face, w h o are the b e t r a y e r s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o f e v e r y h u e a n d category, h e a d e d b y t h e S o v i e t , T i t o i t e a n d o t h e r r e v i sionists. The seizure of power by the m o d e r n revisionists in t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s o f people's d e m o cracy w a s a m a j o r v i c t o r y for i m p e r i a l i s m and w o r l d reaction. M o d e r n revisionism is a variant of the reactionary bourgeois ideology, a n d its aim, w h i c h it achieved, was to b r i n g about the transformation of the M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t parties o f those c o u n t r i e s w h i c h w e r e b u i l d i n g soc i a l i s m i n t o r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s fascist p a r t i e s , a n d t h e transformation of their countries into capitalist countries. T h i s b e t r a y a l t o u c h e d off a c h a i n r e a c t i o n of b e t r a y a l s in a very large number of communist and workers' parties o n a l l c o n t i n e n t s . T h r o u g h t h e i r 20th C o n g r e s s a n d t h e i r s l a n d e r s a n d condemnation of Stalin, through their rehabilitation of
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traitors to the revolution a n d socialism, allegedly victims of Stalin, through the wide-scale liberalization of the life o f t h e p a r t y a n d t h e a l l e g e d l y o p p r e s s e d masses, t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists prepared the soil and opened t h e w a y f o r c a p i t a l i s m i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . T h i s process of transformation proceeded rapidly in the Soviet U n i o n a n d i n m a n y countries o f people's democracy w h i c h w e know. The Soviet U n i o n was quickly transformed into a big social-imperialist power, a partner and ally of US i m p e r i a l i s m in the d i v i s i o n of spheres of influence, d o m i n a t i o n of the w o r l d , a n d suppression of peoples' n a tional liberation wars and revolutions. W e h a v e l i v e d t h r o u g h a l l this process, o u r P a r t y has a n a l y s e d i t i n a l l i t s d e t a i l s , a n d , a t t h e h e a d o f o u r people, has w a g e d a n d c o n t i n u e s t o w a g e a v e r y f i e r c e and successful struggle against the traitors to M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m a n d their allies, the various imperialists, led by the A m e r i c a n s . I w i l l not enlarge here on this analysis, but f r o m w h a t w e h a v e done, a n d w e h a v e n o t d o n e i t b a d l y , o n t h e basis o f t h o s e g e n u i n e facts a n d d o c u m e n t s w e h a v e b e e n a b l e t o h a v e access to, a n d w h i l e r e j e c t i n g t h e t r u m p e d - u p charges, s l a n d e r s a n d f a l s i f i c a t i o n s o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists, we can say that the revisionist b e t r a y a l w a s a b l e t o t r i u m p h because, a f t e r S t a l i n ' s death, the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f the Soviet U n i o n w a s not i n s o u n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o s i t i o n s . I t h a d lost t h e r e v o l u tionary spirit of the glorious period of the Great October Revolution, o f the c i v i l w a r a n d the w a r against intervention, of the period of the struggle to accomplish the tasks o f t h e g r e a t f i v e - y e a r p l a n s , o f t h e c o r r e c t a n d f i e r c e class s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e T r o t s k y i t e s , B u k h a r i n i t e s , Zinovievites, the k u l a k s and the treason in the army, and the spirit of the period of the Second W o r l d War. A f t e r the w a r the Leninist norms were retained in
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t h e P a r t y a n d the state, b u t t h e y w e r e n o t p r o p e r l y i m plemented, there w a s a lack of revolutionary discipline, n o t e n o u g h w a s done t o c o m b a t b u r e a u c r a c y , r o u t i n e , s t e r e o t y p i s m a n d a series o f o t h e r e v i l s w h i c h w e a k e n e d t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e P a r t y a n d S o v i e t state. T h e r e , i n t h e d a r k corners, t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s arose a n d t h r i v e d , singing h y m n s of praise on the one h a n d and, on the other hand, m a k i n g concessions a n d p r e p a r i n g for the future. T h e most dangerous enemy is the one w h o is forgotten. T h e Bolshevik P a r t y forgot this and that is w h y the Soviet U n i o n suffered this catastrophe, a n d w h y i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s m s u f f e r e d t h i s great i n j u r y . The whole leitmotif of the Khrushchevite traitors was their ideological reconciliation w i t h US imperialism a n d w i t h capitalism, peaceful co-existence, the suppression of revolutionary wars, the assumption of power in parliamentary ways, extensive, sincere economic collaboration, the free exchange of experience, t a k i n g and g i v i n g e c o n o m i c credits, p r o m o t i n g t o u r i s m a n d t h e e x c h a n g e o f ideas, t h e w h o l e r a n g e o f u n r e s t r a i n e d d e g e n e r a t i n g l i beralism. A l l this is done under the slogan of protecting peace, o f a w o r l d w i t h o u t a r m a m e n t s a n d w i t h o u t w a r s , o f the p r o s p e r i t y a n d p r o g r e s s o f m a n k i n d , o f the t r i u m p h o f s o c i a l i s m w i t h a h u m a n face. It is clear that a b i g m a r k e t w a s opened for the r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y t o step i n ; r e v i s i o n i s m b e c a m e a z e a l o u s a p p r e n t i c e i n s p r e a d i n g it, a w o r t h y p a r t ner o f U S and w o r l d imperialism i n spreading, backing a n d u p h o l d i n g the A m e r i c a n w a y o f l i f e , t h e W e s t e r n w a y of t h i n k i n g and a l l the evils they b r i n g in t h e i r wake, l e a d i n g t o t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n o f society, t h e w o m e n a n d t h e y o u t h , etc. D e c a d e n t m u s i c , r a d i o broadcasts, l i t e r a t u r e , d a n c i n g a n d j a z z f e s t i v a l s , narcotics, m u r d e r , p r o s t i t u t i o n , p u t t i n g
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the interests of the H o m e l a n d up for auction, the i n f l u x of U S c a p i t a l , t h e b u y i n g o f secrets, p e o p l e a n d b r a i n s b e came the fashion, the prevailing currency, to such an e x tent t h a t the i n d i v i d u a l , t h e e n t e r p r i s e o r state t h a t does n o t act i n t h a t w a y is n o t i n i t s r i g h t m i n d , h a s n o b r a i n s , i s b a c k w a r d , i s n o t m o d e r n . T h e sea has t u r n e d i n t o y o u g h o u r t , a n d s u c h p e o p l e h a v e lost t h e i r spoons. C o m e o n ! t h e y say, let u s l i v e i n e u p h o r i a , i n g a i e t y , let t h e y o u n g amuse themselves, the y o u n g w a n t w h a t is n e w a n d m o d e r n ! W h o are these conservatives w h o hinder u s f r o m d o i n g w h a t w e please? W e w a n t freedom, w e w a n t d e m o c r a c y , w e w a n t t o sleep w i t h w o m e n i n t h e streets a n d p a r k s , w e b o y s w a n t t o let o u r h a i r g r o w l o n g l i k e w o m e n , t o w e a r crosses r o u n d o u r necks, t o g o t o c h u r c h , t o h a v e o u r p o r n o g r a p h i c c l u b s , t o h a v e a p r i v a t e car, and even hope to have an aeroplane at our disposal! This is w h a t life is l i k e there, this is h o w it is understood i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s . T h e r e are p e o p l e w h o are a m a z e d a t t h e A l b a n i a n s , b u t let u s n o t f o r get t h a t t h e r e a r e m a n y w h o a r e n o t o n l y a m a z e d , b u t a r e also b i t t e r enemies, a n d h a v e t h e b a r r e l o f t h e i r g u n p o i n t e d t o w a r d s us. W e d o n o t l a g b e h i n d either, w e h a v e our artillery trained on them. O l d and young in our country must understand clearly, and the P a r t y must always m a k e it clear to t h e m , t h a t socialist A l b a n i a i s a t h o r n i n the f l e s h o f t h e i m perialists, the revisionists a n d a l l the capitalists of the w o r l d , and not one of them, at a n y time, ever wishes it w e l l . A s r e g a r d s t h e i r a c t i v i t y a g a i n s t us, i t m a y a n d does differ in intensity, k i n d , method and circumstances. We m u s t a l w a y s b e p r e p a r e d t o cope w i t h , a v e r t a n d w i p e o u t this a c t i v i t y e v e n t e m p o r a r i l y , t o c o m b a t i t w i t h t h e s a m e i n t e n s i t y a s i t appears, a n d n e v e r r e a c h a g r e e m e n t s to the d e t r i m e n t of t h e cause, t h e interests of o u r H o m e land, and our principles. We must be vigilant, not o n l y
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we, the l e a d e r s h i p , b u t t h e w h o l e p e o p l e , e v e r y i n d i v i d u a l . The imperialists, the revisionists a n d the reactionary bourgeoisie m a k e their calculations i n this w a y : A l b a n i a is a small country, and at any moment we can change t h e face o f t h e r e g i m e t h r o u g h o u r i n t e r v e n t i o n ; e v e n though the Albanians are obstinate and brave and w i l l f i g h t , n o t h i n g c a n resist o u r f o r c e , e s p e c i a l l y n o w w h e n w e great p o w e r s h a v e r e a c h e d a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e t w e e n ourselves. H o w e v e r , these e v e n t u a l aggressors say, w e have tried a l l the methods of force a n d subversion, even the use o f a r m s a n d e c o n o m i c b l o c k a d e s a g a i n s t A l b a n i a , a n d the t r u t h i s t h a t w e h a v e h a d n o success. N o w , f o r the t i m e b e i n g , l e t u s r e s o r t t o a n o t h e r t a c t i c w h i c h has yielded such good results in certain countries: degeneration in peaceful ways, infiltration by other means, w i t h a s m i l e , some t r a d e e x c h a n g e s , b y p u b l i s h i n g a f e w o f t h e i r books, m a k i n g a f i l m , etc. T h i s w a s t h e w a y w e b r o k e the 'Stalinists' in the Soviet U n i o n a n d achieved o u r p u r pose i n the other socialist c o u n t r i e s , s o w h y s h o u l d w e n o t a c h i e v e i t i n A l b a n i a , t o o ? A f t e r a l l , these o l d p e o p l e w h o are hindering us w i l l die one day. So we can take our time. Let us w o r k f r o m w i t h i n , a n d of course we s h o u l d get a h o l d o n t h o s e w h o a r e s t i l l u n f o r m e d , get to k n o w their inclinations, encourage them in one w a y o r another, a n d let t h e s i t u a t i o n r i p e n s o a s t o t a k e t h e f o r t r e s s f r o m w i t h i n , because i t i s n o use b e a t i n g o u r heads a g a i n s t a wall. In broad outline, this is the reasoning of the external and internal enemies of o u r P a r t y a n d people. T h e n w h a t must w e do? W e must follow the opposite reasoning, the r e a l i s t i c a n a l y s i s o f t h e s i t u a t i o n , a n d act c o r r e c t l y and energetically to foil the plans of the enemy. B u t can these p l a n s b e f o i l e d ? T h e y c e r t a i n l y c a n i f w e f i g h t . I f w e don't, i f w e f a l l asleep, t h e n s o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a w i l l b e d o o m e d , i f not t o d a y , t o m o r r o w . L e t u s n o t f o r g e t t h e
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tragedy of the Soviet U n i o n , w h i c h should serve as a lesson to us. At present the external enemies a i m to w e a k e n our i n t e r n a l f r o n t , t h a t is, t o w e a k e n o u r socialist r e g i m e , a n d first a n d foremost its leading body, the P a r t y of L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a . T h e e x t e r n a l enemies a l w a y s c o - o r d i nate t h e i r o v e r t a n d c o v e r e d a c t i v i t i e s w i t h i n t e r n a l e n e m y e l e m e n t s , w h o act i n v a r i o u s w a y s a n d f o r m s to w e a k e n the regime of the proletariat w h i c h suppresses t h e m , a n d t h e y l i n k a l l t h e i r a c t i v i t y w i t h t h e p r o paganda, actions and political circumstances of their e x t e r n a l allies. T h i s a l l i a n c e m a y o r m a y n o t b e o r g a n i z e d w i t h secret c o n n e c t i o n s , b u t t h e a l l i a n c e a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n exist, a n d t h e y g r o w s t r o n g e r t h e m o r e careless w e are and the more we lack revolutionary vigilance. N o o n e s h o u l d t h i n k t h a t i t i s o n l y w e w h o w a g e the class s t r u g g l e against o u r e n e m i e s ; t h e y also w a g e i t a g a i n s t us. Of course, t h e r a t i o of forces a n d t h e b a l a n c e of v i c t o r i e s on t h e b a t t l e f i e l d of t h e class s t r u g g l e is p o s i t i v e l y i n f a v o u r o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t w i t h its a l l r o u n d p o t e n t i a l , w h i c h i s i n p o w e r i n o u r socialist c o u n t r y , b u t p r e c i s e l y b e c a u s e t h e class e n e m y w a n t s t o e m e r ge f r o m this struggle alive, so that he m a y hit harder l a t e r , h e has l e a r n e d t o f i g h t i n t h i s s i t u a t i o n w h i c h i s d i f f i c u l t f o r h i m ; h e operates u n d e r g r o u n d w h i l e b e i n g l e g a l , h e t h r o w s t h e stone a n d h i d e s t h e h a n d t h a t t h r e w it, h e beats h i s breast a n d s w e a r s t h a t h e s u p p o r t s t h i s r e g i m e w h i c h h e hates, h e has l e a r n e d t o d i s g u i s e h i m self a n d p r o t e c t h i m s e l f a g a i n s t s t o r m s a n d l i g h t n i n g , h e has t h e u m b r e l l a o f t h o s e good b u t v e r y n a i v e p e o p l e w h o . w h e n the P a r t y and the government raise acute problems, say: Oh, this is o n l y a passing w a v e w h i c h w i l l be forgotten in a month. He utilizes, inflates and spreads e v e r y t h i n g w h i c h comes t o his h a n d s o r r e a c h es h i s ear, he encourages people's weaknesses, uses
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s e l f - c r i t i c i s m i n h i s o w n interest, sows c o n f u s i o n , a n a r c h y a n d i n d i s c i p l i n e , e n c o u r a g e s e x a g g e r a t e d desires, t h e f t a n d h o o l i g a n i s m , a n d does n o t d o t h o s e t h i n g s o p e n l y f o r h e p r o t e c t s h i m s e l f , b u t lets o t h e r s , o f t e n p o s s i b l y t h e good p e o p l e , d o t h e m , i n o r d e r t o c o m p r o m i s e t h e m a n d i n this w a y a d d t h e m t o h i s r a n k s . . . Some w h o think very wrongly say: W h y should we r a i s e these p r o b l e m s ? W e s h o u l d n o t m a k e a fuss a b o u t them, should not spoil the j o y f u l atmosphere w h i c h e x i s t s ; we should not spoil the 'reputation of our y o u t h , our peasants, o u r w o r k e r s , w e s h o u l d not d o s u c h a t h i n g , f o r t h e p e o p l e w i l l s a y : ' W h a t has t h e P a r t y d o n e , w h y has t h e P a r t y a l l o w e d this, let u s t a k e m e a s u r e s o n t h e quiet,' etc. S u c h an idea is not revolutionary, it must be c o m bated. T h e p e o p l e h a v e n e v e r r e p r o a c h e d the P a r t y w h e n i t has s a i d t h i n g s , a s i t h a s a l w a y s s a i d t h e m , b l u n t l y , openly, just as they are; on the contrary, t h e y love the P a r t y a n d w o u l d l a y d o w n t h e i r l i v e s f o r it, p r e c i s e l y because i t speaks o u t o p e n l y . W h y s h o u l d t h e P a r t y n o t b o l d l y cure c e r t a i n diseases t h a t a p p e a r i n the h e a l t h y b o d y o f o u r socialist s o c i e t y ? O r s h o u l d i t a l l o w g a n g r e n e t o s p r e a d i n t h i s b e a u t i f u l b o d y ? C e r t a i n l y not, f o r t h e n w e w o u l d h a v e c o m m i t t e d the greatest c r i m e . T o p o i n t o u t t h e defects a n d d a n g e r s o p e n l y , t o c r i t i c i z e a n d f i g h t t h e m , this h a s a l w a y s c h a r a c t e r i z e d o u r P a r t y . H a s t h e h o n o u r o f t h e P a r t y s u f f e r e d because i t h a s acted i n t h i s w a y ? N o , its h o n o u r has been r a i s e d t o the s k i e s a n d s h i n e s l i k e t h e s u n . W h y should the reputation of the youth, the peasantry, the w o r k e r s and others be spoilt w h e n we speak of t h e i r defects a n d m i s t a k e s ? C a n t h e y b e f a u l t l e s s ? T h e r e i s a w i s e s a y i n g : H e w h o does n o t w o r k , d o e s n o t m a k e mistakes. I f i t i s t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants w h o w o r k , i t i s t h e y a n d n o one else w h o err. T h e n , s h o u l d w e c o v e r
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up o n e a n o t h e r ' s m i s t a k e s , a n d c r e a t e a f a l s e s i t u a t i o n ? N e i t h e r t h e P a r t y n o r t h e w o r k i n g class h a s a l l o w e d o r w i l l ever allow us to do this. O u r P a r t y should mobilize the public opinion of the w h o l e c o u n t r y a n d raise a n i r o n f r o n t a g a i n s t the f r o n t c o n s i s t i n g o f t h e e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l enemies, a n d people should understand correctly and profoundly that this enemy front, this pressure of the enemy, is neither i m a g i n a r y n o r h y p o t h e t i c a l , b u t r e a l a n d concrete, a n d t h e r e f o r e , the f i g h t a g a i n s t i t s h o u l d b e r e a l , concrete, p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o gical a n d practical. Conceit and arrogance on this key p r o b l e m lead to the course of forgetting the enemy a n d u n d e r r a t i n g the d a n g e r h e represents. G r o u n d l e s s e u p h o r i a creates d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n s a n d serves to cover up shortcomings a n d faults. It is l i k e the quilt used for protection f r o m the cold w h i c h has no effect o n h i m w h o i s s h i v e r i n g f r o m a h i g h f e v e r . It creates disillusionment, discontent and discouragement. We s h o u l d not be a f r a i d to look r e a l i t y in t h e eye a n d to take measures appropriate to this reality. T h e s t r u g g l e against p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s s u r v i v a l s i n p e o ple's consciousness i s o f t e n t h o u g h t o f l i g h t l y a n d r e d u c e d to an ideological struggle t h r o u g h lectures and meetings, a n d s i n c e i t i s a p r o t r a c t e d s t r u g g l e a n d these s u r v i v a l s a r e m a n i f e s t e d i n o u r people, a n d n o t o n l y a m o n g t h e r a n k - a n d - f i l e o f o u r people, but also a m o n g the w o r k i n g class a n d its v a n g u a r d t h e c o m m u n i s t s , t h e i d e a is created that we have t i m e to tackle t h e m s l o w l y and in a m i l d w a y , i n s t e a d o f s e e i n g t h a t t h i s i s t h e biggest, m o s t complicated, most h a r m f u l a n d most dangerous front of o u r s t r u g g l e , w h i c h r e q u i r e s t h e greatest a t t e n t i o n o f t h e P a r t y , t h e state a n d t h e masses, a n d t h e greatest m i l i t a n t strictness. C a l l i n g t h e m s u r v i v a l s s h o u l d not l e a d u s i n t o u n d e r e s t i m a t i n g t h e m . T h e w o r d s u r v i v a l s gives the i m p r e s s i o n
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of insignificant, transitory, speedily cured things w i t h o u t serious consequences, l e t alone d a n g e r o u s ones. T h i s is h o w m a n y people, i n c l u d i n g some c o m m u n i s t s , r e g a r d these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , s o d a n g e r o u s t o t h e f o r m a t i o n o f the new m a n a n d the construction of the socialist society, t h e y t a k e a v e r y l i b e r a l s t a n d t o w a r d s these m a n i festations, a n d d o n o t g o d e e p l y i n t o t h e i r essence, i n t o t h e i r consequences i n p r a c t i c a l l i f e . T h i s i s t h e b r o a d est f r o n t f o r h o s t i l e w o r k , because these s u r v i v a l s , a s w e call them, are manifestations of the ideology of the enem y w h o f i g h t s u s w i t h o u r o w n hands, w i t h o u r o w n men, who, intentionally or unintentionally, b r i n g grist to the m i l l of the enemy. W e c a l l these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s s u r v i v a l s o n l y w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e p e o p l e w h o a r e l o y a l t o o u r people's state p o w e r a n d o u r P a r t y , because a m o n g t e n g o o d q u a l i t i e s t h e y also h a v e some m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f t h i s k i n d . B u t i n r e g a r d t o t h e e n e m y e l e m e n t s these h a v e n e v e r b e e n a n d n e v e r w i l l b e s u r v i v a l s , b u t are t h e i r g e n u i n e i d e o l o g y a n d t h e g u i d e f o r a c t i o n . H o w e v e r , these p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s survivals are not just one or ten, n o r the same in k i n d , i n tensity, o r t h e w a y t h e y m a n i f e s t t h e m s e l v e s . T h e y h a v e only one thing in c o m m o n : they are harmful, very h a r m ful. O u r P a r t y a n d a l l i t s l e v e r s are e n g a g e d i n a c o l o s s a l , persistent and successful struggle against them. E v e r y w h e r e t h e r e i s h e r o i s m a t w o r k , conscientiousness, h o n e s ty. P e o p l e are b e i n g t e m p e r e d a n d e d u c a t e d w i t h p r o l e tarian morality. This is undeniable, evident and tangible. I n n u m e r a b l e d i f f i c u l t i e s are b e i n g o v e r c o m e w i t h h e r o i s m a n d m a t u r i t y , because t h i s i s a d a i l y s t r u g g l e , w h i c h does not a n d cannot proceed smoothly. A l l this is v e r y positive, real, encouraging and inspiring, and constitutes the u n breakable strength of our Party, of Marxist-Leninist ideology a n d the dictatorship of the proletariat.
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B u t this sound situation must not m a k e us underestim a t e the extent of the danger of these survivals a n d deal w i t h t h e m a n d t h e i r consequences i n a l i b e r a l w a y , f o r w e m u s t a d m i t that there is also l i b e r a l i s m in the w a y they are dealt w i t h , w h i c h m a y cause these survivals to t u r n i n t o b o u r g e o i s p h i l o s o p h i c a l concepts, r e s u l t i n g i n dangerous social ills. I have the impression that some people have a narr o w u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e class s t r u g g l e t h e P a r t y Wages, a s i f i t i s d i r e c t e d o n l y a g a i n s t t h e class e n e m y a s a p e r son, as an i n d i v i d u a l , a n d do not h a v e a deep grasp of i t s i d e o l o g i c a l essence, t h e i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e o f the w o r k i n g class a g a i n s t b o u r g e o i s a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y , w h i c h includes the famous survivals a n d a number of o t h e r t h i n g s w h i c h w e c u r r e n t l y c a l l errors, m i s t a k e s , dist o r t i o n s , i n d i s c i p l i n e , a n d s o o n . T h e b e a r e r s o f a l l these are people w h o live, w o r k and struggle in this l a n d of o u r s w h e r e s o c i a l i s m i s b e i n g b u i l t , w h e r e t h e n e w clashes w i t h t h e o l d , w h e r e t h i s class s t r u g g l e i s b e i n g w a g e d i n fact. T h e s e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s s h o w u p i n l i f e a n d w o r k a n d must be fought using a l l w a y s a n d means, at all times and i n e v e r y class o r s t r a t u m o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n i n w h i c h t h e y appear, but they appear to a greater extent a n d m o r e o f t e n a m o n g i n t e l l e c t u a l s , t h e n a m o n g peasants, a n d less s o a m o n g w o r k e r s . T h i s i s t h e c a s e i n g e n e r a l , b u t this categorization should not lead us to the conclusion that w e w i l l f i n d t h e s o u r c e o f these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o n l y a m o n g i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d t h e peasants, w h i l e o u r w o r k i n g class i s f r e e f r o m these d a n g e r o u s m a n i f e s t a t i o n s . . . A r e all the bearers of the alien anti-socialist views enemies o f s o c i a l i s m ? N o , c e r t a i n l y not, f o r i f this w e r e so, s o c i a l i s m w o u l d b e i n d a n g e r i n o u r c o u n t r y . D o e s t h e external, or even the internal enemy go and whisper into the e a r s o f p u p i l s a n d s t u d e n t s : V i o l a t e d i s c i p l i n e i n school, w h y r a c k y o u r b r a i n s t o s t u d y , l e a v e y o u r lessons
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w i t h o u t permission a n d go for a stroll? Or do they t e l l the t e a c h e r s a n d l e c t u r e r s o f these p u p i l s a n d s t u d e n t s : W h y do y o u need to e x t e n d your knowledge, w h y should y o u b e i n t e r e s t e d i n e d u c a t i n g y o u r p u p i l s o u t o f school?? Or do they tell the peasants not to a p p l y the l a w s of agricultural technique properly, or tell the workers, Instead o f e i g h t h o u r s , w o r k o n l y s i x . D o n ' t w o r r y a b o u t the q u a l i t y o r r a n g e , b u t t r y y o u r h a r d e s t t o e x c e e d the n o r m in order to gain more for yourself. No, certainly not! T h e n , w h y d o these t h i n g s h a p p e n ? E x t e r n a l p r e s sure, some say, as if t h i s e x p l a i n s e v e r y t h i n g . H o w e v e r , i t i s n o t e x a c t l y so. T h e e x t e r n a l e n e m y p r e s s u r e i s great, a n d i t i s i m p e r m i s s i b l e f o r u s t o u n d e r e s t i m a t e it, b u t w e m u s t r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e r e also seems t o b e i n t e r n a l p r e s sure deep d o w n i n o u r s e l v e s , w h i c h w e d o n o t f i g h t a s w e s h o u l d i n o u r conscience t h r o u g h s o u n d e d u c a t i o n , n o r do we fight it as we should w h e n this pressure is expressed i n w o r k a n d i n life, w i t h a l l its e v i l consequences. C a p i t a l i s m has its l a w s , its l a b o u r d i s c i p l i n e , w h i c h i t enforces w i t h t h e greatest strictness, o f course, f o r its o w n b e n e f i t a n d t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f t h e w o r k i n g class w h i c h i t oppresses a n d bleeds w h i t e . S o c i a l i s m , w h i c h i s t h e state o f t h e w o r k e r s i n a l l i a n c e w i t h the peasant class, has its o w n l a w s , i t s o w n l a b o u r d i s c i p l i n e , w h i c h i t must i m p l e m e n t s t r i c t l y f o r t h e good o f t h e class a n d t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e people, f o r t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f a l l , h e n ce, of each i n d i v i d u a l . . . P r e c i s e l y i n o u r socialist c o u n t r y people d o n o t starve, d o not s u f f e r f r o m u n e m p l o y m e n t ; t h e y h a v e m a t e r i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l b e n e f i t s w h i c h t h e y increase, m u s t a n d w i l l i n crease d a y b y d a y , t h r o u g h t h e i r w o r k , t o i l , s t r u g g l e , sacrifice and education. These v i t a l teachings of our M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t P a r t y , these l a w s o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t are p r e c i s e l y w h a t h a v e c r e a t e d t h i s s i t u a t i o n , a n d
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t h e r e f o r e , o u r w o r k i n g people s h o u l d s t u d y t h e m t h o r o u g h ly, understand t h e m thoroughly, and struggle h a r d to apply them and defend them in life. The laws and norms of the P a r t y must not be violated at any time, by anyb o d y , t h e l a w s o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t m u s t not be violated, our freedom and proletarian democracy m u s t n o t b e a b u s e d . A n y l a x i t y , a n y abuse, a n y l i b e r a l i s m , a n y u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n o f m i s t a k e s a n d e r r o r s , causes i n c a l c u l a b l e d a m a g e a n d leads t o d e c a y o f t h e s i t u a t i o n . N o n e but the e n e m y wants such a thing to happen. But it m a y happen, if we do not fight as a body u n i t e d a r o u n d o u r P a r t y a n d g o v e r n m e n t a g a i n s t these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s . T h e s e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a r e n o t n e w , a n d t h e y d i d not a n d d o n o t e m e r g e i n one d a y . T h e r e a r e c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h i c h f o s t e r some o f t h e m . T h e P a r t y reacts a n d p o i n t s out their danger and the w a y to fight them on a l l fronts. C e r t a i n p e o p l e , i n c l u d i n g l e a d i n g cadres, c o n s i d e r these r e a c t i o n s as campaigns, as u n e x p e c t e d t h i n g s a n d a s k : H o w d i d these t h i n g s c o m e about, h o w d i d w e f a i l t o see them? T h i s is a w r o n g unrealistic v i e w . T h e P a r t y saw t h e s e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s l o n g ago, w a r n e d a b o u t t h e m a n d m o b i l i z e d itself a n d f o u g h t against t h e m . H o w e v e r , those w h o express s u c h ideas o u g h t t o b e m o r e courageous a n d s a y : W e h a v e o p e r a t e d w i t h c a m p a i g n s , s o m e t i m e s superf i c i a l l y , h a v e left one a n d t a k e n u p a n o t h e r , h a v e a p p r e c i a t e d one p r o b l e m a n d h a v e u n d e r e s t i m a t e d another, a n d w h a t i s w o r s e , w e h a v e b e e n a f r a i d t o speak out t o express o u r o p i n i o n . W h e n y o u ask t h e m : W h a t w e r e y o u a f r a i d of?, t h e y r e p l y : W e w e r e a f r a i d w e m i g h t b e accused o f b e i n g c o n s e r v a t i v e . B u t w h a t sort o f a r e p l y i s t h a t ! ? T h e s e c o m r a d e s n e e d t o a n a l y s e t h e i r conscience a n d t h e i r w o r k o v e r t h i s issue. T h e q u e s t i o n w a s r a i s e d o f the t e l e v i s i o n a n d t h e r a d i o broadcasts, a n d t h e f e s t i v a l , i n short, o f a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s i n l i t e r a t u r e a n d art. S o m e o p e n e d t h e i r eyes
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w i d e in amazement, others said that Italian television was t o b l a m e , w h i l e o t h e r s a g a i n m i n i m i z e d the c o r r e c t r e a c tion of the Party, reducing it to the issue of long hair. There is no doubt that Italian television has h a d an i n f l u e n c e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , b u t t h e masses o f t h e p e o p l e have been w a t c h i n g it f o r only a few m o n t h s ; the directors o f t e l e v i s i o n a n d t h e a r t s h a v e l o n g b e e n w a t c h i n g television, listening to music of all kinds, a n d reading forei g n [decadent] books. T h e P a r t y i s n o t r a i s i n g these p r o b lems of art and culture for the first time. It has constantly c o m b a t e d d e v i a t i o n s i n l i n e , because t h e r e are people w h o have deviated f r o m the line of the P a r t y a n d have d e v i a ted p r e c i s e l y t o w a r d s l i b e r a l i s m , t o w a r d s m o d e r n i s m , imitating the ugly, the corrupt a n d degenerate, a n d t h e y h a v e d o n e t h i s because a l l e g e d l y t h i s i s w h a t t h e y o u t h w a n t , because t h e y o u t h w a n t t h e n e w , b e c a u s e t h e y o u t h w a n t to amuse themselves, e t c . . . We can say that the economic s i t u a t i o n of o u r c o u n t r y is not bad, but satisfactory. T h i s is due to the correct l i n e o f the P a r t y , t o the tireless e f f o r t s o f t h e p r o d u c ers, t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f these f o r c e s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e scientific laws of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , to the proper a d ministration of the national income, to the continuous increase i n i n v e s t m e n t s , a n d s o o n . O u r m a r k e t s h a v e been s u p p l i e d w i t h e v e r y t h i n g , p r i c e s h a v e n e v e r r i s e n , but have been reduced, w h i l e in the revisionist a n d c a p i talist countries, prices rise e v e r y day, a n d those c o u n t r i e s are i n the g r i p o f a g r e a t e c o n o m i c a n d m o n e t a r y c r i s i s . W e k n o w t h a t the p u r c h a s i n g p o w e r o f o u r p o p u l a t i o n i s h i g h , a n d t h e i r desires a n d needs a r e g r o w i n g . W e a l l w a n t these desires a n d needs t o b e f u l f i l l e d a n d s t r i v e f o r this, b u t n o t e v e r y b o d y u n d e r s t a n d s a n d acts c o r r e c t l y t o a c h i e v e t h i s , because t h e y v i e w these t h i n g s f r o m t h e i r p e r s o n a l angle, f r o m t h e a n g l e o f t h e i r m i c r o - w o r l d . In order to have m o r e y o u must produce more, in
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o r d e r t o h a v e good, b e a u t i f u l a n d c h e a p t h i n g s , y o u m u s t work well, be disciplined at work, acquire technical training, w o r k eight hours, a n d even longer sometimes, t u r n out good quality products according to the range a n d in t h e t i m e s p e c i f i e d , a n d d e l i v e r t h e goods, t h a t is, f u l f i l contracts, o b l i g a t i o n s a n d p l a n s . D o w e d o a l l this a s w e should? N o ! T h e n is it right to m a k e inordinate, unjust demands, w h e n we do not take strong measures to e n sure that the plans are properly f u l f i l l e d in agriculture, industry, mining, transport, education and trade? A l l these t h i n g s are l i n k e d . . . I s a i d e a r l i e r t h a t s o c i a l i s m a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the proletariat have their o w n laws. These laws must be strictly applied. Absolutely, no spirit of liberalism should be permitted. Strict proletarian discipline must be established everywhere, a n d punishment in accordance w i t h the l a w s h o u l d b e m e t e d o u t w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n t o a l l , w h o e v e r t h e y m a y be, w h o v i o l a t e t h i s l a b o u r d i s c i p l i n e i n production, i n education, o r i n offices, w h o violate d i s c i p l i n e a n d t h e p l a n i n a l l its r a n g e a n d aspects, w h o v i o l a t e t h e n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e l a w s o f t h e state. W o r k is an honour for the people of our country, and therefore, it is inconceivable and unacceptable that there s h o u l d b e some, e s p e c i a l l y y o u n g people, w h o a r e i d l e a n d s t r o l l u p a n d d o w n t h e streets w i t h o u t w o r k i n g . T h e f i n e s t sons a n d d a u g h t e r s o f o u r p e o p l e s h e d t h e i r b l o o d for this l a n d and this freedom we enjoy today, w h i l e i n d i v i d u a l s w h o loaf and do not w a n t to lift a finger f o r t h e i r c o u n t r y are s i m p l y a b u s i n g t h i s f r e e d o m . I s a y t o t h e m t h a t t h e y s h o u l d g o t o w o r k t o m o r r o w , a t the d o u b l e , a n d n o t w h e r e v e r t h e y please, b u t w h e r e v e r the c o u n t r y needs t h e m . L e t t h e i r o n d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o letariat hit h a r d without hesitation and mercilessly at parasites f o r t h e y are a m o n g t h e most d a n g e r o u s e n e m ies o f o u r socialist H o m e l a n d .
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T h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d its organs m u s t d e f e n d t h e r i g h t s o f c i t i z e n s t o t h e l e t t e r , but, a t t h e same t i m e , i t s h o u l d d e m a n d t h a t each c i t i z e n p e r f o r m s his d u t i e s t o the l e t t e r . T h e r e i s a n d c a n b e n o o n e - s i d e d ness i n t h i s m a t t e r . E v e r y o n e has r i g h t s , b u t a t t h e same t i m e h e has duties a s w e l l , t h e r e f o r e , n o one i s a l l o w e d t o d e m a n d his r i g h t s w h i l e n e g l e c t i n g h i s d u t i e s . I f s o m e one does n o t f u l f i l h i s d u t i e s a n d tries t o d i s g u i s e t h e fact, t h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e g o o d a d v i c e , the e d u c a t i o n a l a n d p o l i t i c a l w o r k a r e h a v i n g n o effect o n h i m , t h a t h e i s a b u s i n g t h e m . T h e n a n y o n e w h o breaches o r evades the l a w s , o r d i n a n c e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s i s s u e d b y t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the P a r t y s h o u l d b e p u n i s h e d w i t h o u t h e s i tation, and any one of the appointed or elected w o r k i n g people, w h o does n o t p r o p e r l y c a r r y o u t these l a w s , o r dinances and regulations should unhesitatingly be charged w i t h p e n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d b e t u r n e d o v e r t o the c o u r t . Strict proletarian discipline must be established at w o r k , i n c l u d i n g c o m i n g to w o r k on time, f u l l y observing the e i g h t - h o u r d a y , t a k i n g b r e a k s o n l y a t the t i m e set a n d for the length of t i m e specified, observing the discipline of production and of the plan, and so on. Measures must b e t a k e n a g a i n s t t h o s e w h o d o n o t i m p l e m e n t a n d respect these essential requirements, measures ranging from c a u t i o n i n g t h e m (and t h i s s h o u l d n o t b e abused) t o d i s m i s s i n g t h e m f r o m t h e i r jobs. T h e s e d i s c i p l i n a r y m e a s u r e s s h o u l d b e c l e a r l y r e c o r d e d i n t h e w o r k r e c o r d s o f such u n d i s c i p l i n e d w o r k e r s w h o c o m m i t abuses, a n d t h e y s h o u l d n o t t h i n k t h a t t h e y c a n g o out t h r o u g h t h e d o o r a n d come b a c k t h r o u g h t h e w i n d o w . T h e state o f the p r o l e t a r i a t w i l l n o t l e a v e t h e m w i t h o u t w o r k , b u t this t i m e t h e y w i l l g o t o w o r k w h e r e v e r t h e state c o n s i d e r s i t n e c e s s a r y . A l l those w o r k i n g p e o p l e w h o d a m a g e t h e c o m m o n socialist p r o p e r t y m u s t p a y c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h i s b y d e d u c t i o n s f r o m t h e i r p a y . I f t h e l a w s i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n are
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inadequate, measures should be taken to amend them. W e c a n n o l o n g e r a l l o w w h a t has b e e n h a p p e n i n g u p t o n o w , t h a t a f e w i r r e s p o n s i b l e i n d i v i d u a l s s h o u l d get a w a y w i t h abuses a n d t h i s b e c o v e r e d u p u n d e r the l a b e l o f educating them. T h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d its o r g a n s m u s t b e m e r c i l e s s t o w a r d s t h o s e w h o steal p u b l i c a n d p r i v a t e property. There must be no mercy or leniency for the enemies of the people a n d of socialism, a n d the thieves are included amongst them. There should be no pardon for t h o s e w h o c o m m i t s u c h c r i m e s n o r f o r those w h o t r y t o moderate punishment of t h e m . . . W i t h w h a t I have said a n d other things I have not mentioned, but w h i c h we must go into in more detail in e v e r y sector, i s t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y c h a n g e d ? N o t a t a l l . T h e P a r t y has s a i d these t h i n g s a n d c o n t i n u a l l y repeats t h e m t o us. W e w i l l f i n d t h e m i n e v e r y d i r e c t i v e o f t h e P a r t y a n d a t a l l t i m e s . T h e y h a v e b e c o m e l a w s , customs, regulations and ordinances. We w o r k and fight inspired by them. We w i l l never give up the policy of persuasion, of intensive a n d continuous political w o r k w i t h the people. F i r s t a n d foremost we must w o r k to educate our people ideologically w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory of our P a r ty. I n n o i n s t a n c e d o w e a b a n d o n t h i s course, w h i c h i s t h e p r i n c i p a l a n d d e c i s i v e one, i n o r d e r t o h a v e r e c o u r s e to administrative measures. Ideologically i m m a t u r e people m a y e a s i l y m a k e t h i s m i s t a k e . N a t u r a l l y these p e o p l e w i l l now w a k e n f r o m their opportunist and liberal slumber a n d t a k e u p the w h i p o n l y t o f a l l i n t o t h e i r o p p o r t u n ist sleep a g a i n . T h e s e m a t t e r s m u s t b e v i e w e d c o r r e c t l y and a correct attitude t a k e n towards them. It m u s t be a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t t h e r e is a l o t of l i b e r a l i s m a n d l e n i e n c y i n these m a t t e r s . S o m e l e a d a n e a s y life, n o t p u t t i n g t h e m s e l v e s o u t o r m a k i n g m u c h e f f o r t . S o m e o t h e r s t h i n k t h a t t h e great, d i f f i c u l t a n d g l o r i o u s
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s t r u g g l e that the P a r t y has been w a g i n g f o r decades i n order to revolutionize people and the life of the c o u n t r y i s over, t h a t i t has been w o n o n a l l f r o n t s a n d i n a l l t h e vicissitudes of life, and they continually b r i n g out c o m m u n i q u e s f u l l o f slogans w h i c h p u t p e o p l e t o sleep, p r e cisely w h e n a few are breaking the laws a n d regulations, s t e a l i n g a n d a d o p t i n g t h e detestable, r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s w a y of life. T h e thing is that people should shake themselves up, the overwhelmingly sound opinion in our country should p u t those w h o d o e v i l , w h o b e h a v e b a d l y a n d t h i n k b a d l y , w i t h their backs t o the w a l l . The good advice, the political and ideological educat i o n are f o r a l l t h e masses, w h i l e t h e p u n i s h m e n t s a r e o n l y f o r those w h o d e s e r v e t h e m , a n d n o t f o r g o o d p e o ple. The bad are a minority, the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y a r e good, a n d w h e r e t h e r e are b a d people, t h e r e i s e d u c a t i o n , b u t t h e r e a r e also m e a s u r e s t o b e t a k e n w h e n t h e e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k has n o effect o n t h e m . T h i s i s w h a t t h e P a r t y teaches, a n d w e s h o u l d n e v e r f o r g e t i t . H e n c e , w e should carry out the line of the P a r t y f u l l y , a n d not imperfectly. We must educate o u r people so that they have a deep ideological a n d political understanding of problems. We must never give up the policy of persuasion and clarificat i o n , b u t a t t h i s s t e r n p h a s e o f t h e class s t r u g g l e , i n this capitalist encirclement, the dictatorship of the proletariat and our ideology do no p e r m i t us to confine ourselves solel y t o this f o r m o f e d u c a t i o n f o r those w h o b r e a k t h e l a w s , f o r those w h o d o n o t h e s i t a t e t o d r o p w o r k w h e n t h e y please a n d r e t u r n w h e n t h e y please because n o b o d y asks them w h e r e they were, o r f o r those w h o produce w h a t they feel l i k e w h i l e receiving f u l l pay, or damage the c o m m o n socialist p r o p e r t y a n d get a w a y w i t h o n l y a selfcriticism. This liberalism and condemnable leniency must
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b e e n d e d a t once. T h e P a r t y a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t m u s t b e s t e r n i n t h e i r j u s t i c e o n these m a t t e r s , a n d s o m u s t the p e o p l e ' s c o u r t s . F o r m a l i s m a n d b u r e a u c r a t i c concepts m u s t not be p e r m i t t e d in our courts, but the r e v o l u t i o n a r y spirit s h o u l d d e v e l o p i n t h e m . E a c h person's r i g h t s m u s t b e defended, but not to the detriment of the collective. E a c h p e r s o n m u s t h a v e his r i g h t s e n s u r e d , b u t m u s t b e r e q u i r e d t o p e r f o r m his duties, a s w e l l . S o c i a l i n s u r a n c e b e n e f i t s f o r the w o r k i n g p e o p l e m u s t be protected a n d implemented, but the latter must f u l f i l t h e i r o b l i g a t i o n s t o w o r k t o t h e l e t t e r , o t h e r w i s e these benefits must not operate in their favour. In other words, the l a w s of the dictatorship must operate p r o p e r l y and not be covered w i t h the rust w h i c h , i n t h i s case, i s c a l l e d l i b e r a l i s m , i n d i f f e r e n c e , b u r e a u c r a c y , favouritism, nepotism, m o r b i d familiarity and friendship. A n d o f t e n these t h i n g s are c o v e r e d w i t h t h e excuse, W e a r e d o i n g p o l i t i c a l w o r k , t h e y are y o u n g a n d i n e x p e r i e n c e d , t h e y w i l l m a t u r e . T h e people say, S p a r e t h e r o d a n d s p o i l t h e c h i l d , t h e r e f o r e , w h e r e v e r necessary, a l o n g w i t h educational and persuasive work, the dictatorship of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e P a r t y m u s t use a l l m e a s u r e s w i t h p a t i e n c e a n d d i s c r e t i o n , b u t w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n , because they are for the good of o u r people, they are for socialism and a better future. S o l e t u s a l l set t o w o r k w i t h m u l t i p l i e d e f f o r t s , w i t h heroism, w i t h the m a t u r i t y and the revolutionary spirit w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e s o u r people, f i r m l y r e l y i n g o n a n d inspired by the correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t line of our P a r ty, s o t h a t e a c h o f u s i n d i v i d u a l l y a n d a l l o f u s together accomplish our allotted tasks in order to m a k e our socialist H o m e l a n d e v e r s t r o n g e r , m o r e p r o s p e r o u s a n d m o r e beautiful!
Against
INTENSIFY THE IDEOLOGICAL STRUGGLE AGAINST ALIEN MANIFESTATIONS AND LIBERAL ATTITUDES TOWARDS T H E M
From the Report submitted to the 4th Plenum of the CC of the PLA
June 26, 1973
Comrades, T h i s P l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e i s d e v o t e d t o a m a j o r p r o b l e m , v i t a l t o o u r P a r t y a n d the cause o f socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n : t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t the influences of alien bourgeois and revisionist ideology, i n o r d e r t o i m p l a n t the p r o l e t a r i a n i d e o l o g y o n a l l f r o n t s a n d a t a l l t i m e s , a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n the p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s of the hostile imperialist a n d revisionist encirclement of our country. T h i s problem w h i c h we have always been up against has b e c o m e m o r e acute r e c e n t l y , a n d t h e r e f o r e has a t t r a c t e d the p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n o f t h e P a r t y a n d o f a l l the w o r k i n g masses. A d h e r i n g t o M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e , the P a r t y b a d l y c r i t i c i z e d m a n y a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s w h i c h h a d appeared in certain spheres of o u r social l i f e as a r e s u l t o f i n f l u e n c e s o f t h e o l d society, a n d e s p e c i a l l y o f the p r e s s u r e o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d . T h e m e a s u r e s t h a t h a v e been t a k e n t o f i g h t these n e g a t i v e
INTENSIFY THE IDEOLOGICAL STRUGGLE
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p h e n o m e n a m a r k a f u r t h e r i m p o r t a n t step i n d e e p e n i n g t h e process o f r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g the w h o l e l i f e o f t h e c o u n try. A l t h o u g h o n l y a r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t t i m e has passed since t h e P a r t y r a i s e d these p r o b l e m s b e f o r e t h e w h o l e people, we note w i t h satisfaction that good w o r k has been done and v e r y positive results have been attained in a l l fields. T h e first thing to point out is the p r o f o u n d understanding, the unanimous a p p r o v a l a n d the readiness w h i c h the c o m m u n i s t s , the w o r k i n g class, t h e y o u t h a n d a l l t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e e x p r e s s e d o n this o c c a s i o n . A l i v e l y a t mosphere of debate a n d confrontation to criticize shortcomings, to expose weaknesses a n d alien manifestations in w o r k centres, c u l t u r a l a n d a r t i s t i c i n s t i t u t i o n s , a t s c h o o l a n d at home, a n d to determine effective w a y s to overcome t h e m has n o w b e e n c r e a t e d e v e r y w h e r e . A s o u n d s p i r i t o f m o b i l i z a t i o n t o f u l f i l the p l a n a n d c a r r y o u t tasks, t o strengthen proletarian discipline at work, and to protect the p r o p e r t y of the people is being created in t o w n a n d countryside. Ideological and political vigilance towards internal and e x t e r n a l enemies a n d m i l i t a r y training f o r the d e f e n c e o f t h e H o m e l a n d h a v e b e e n r a i s e d t o a n e w , higher level. I n t h i s r e v o l u t i o n a r y a t m o s p h e r e , a series o f v a l u a b l e i n i t i a t i v e s h a v e b u r s t f o r t h i n the spheres o f p r o d u c t i o n , ideology, c u l t u r e , etc. T h e y are a concrete e x p r e s s i o n of the correct u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l s i t u a tions i n w h i c h w e l i v e , o f t h e l o f t y m o r a l q u a l i f i e s t h e P a r t y has i m p l a n t e d i n t h e w o r k i n g people, a n d o f t h e i r s t e e l - l i k e u n i t y r o u n d t h e P a r t y a n d its c o r r e c t M a r x i s t Leninist line. A l l these t h i n g s a r e a p r e m i s e a n d a g u a r a n t e e f o r even g r e a t e r successes i n t h e f u t u r e . B u t w e c a n n o t rest content w i t h w h a t has been achieved, nor can we t h i n k that the problems recently raised by the P a r t y h a v e a l -
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r e a d y been f u l l y s o l v e d . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t i s e s s e n t i a l that we d w e l l on a n d go still deeper into certain i m p o r t a n t aspects o f t h e class s t r u g g l e i n o r d e r t o s m a s h a l l t h e i n f l u e n c e s o f the a l i e n i d e o l o g y o f t h e past a n d the present, b o t h b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t , i n o r d e r t o m a k e the dictatorship of the proletariat even stronger a n d e n s u r e t h e ceaseless a d v a n c e o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d o u r socialist construction.
Comrades, The struggle against alien ideology for the inculcation o f t h e socialist i d e o l o g y i n the consciousness o f a l l o u r w o r k i n g p e o p l e o n a l l f r o n t s has a l w a y s b e e n o n e o f t h e m a i n p r e o c c u p a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y i n a l l i t s a c t i v i t y . I t has always regarded this struggle as one of the fundamental c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e ceaseless d e v e l o p m e n t o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d the construction of socialism, for the f o r m a t i o n and t e m p e r i n g o f t h e n e w m a n o f t h e n e w society. I t has r e g a r d e d i t also a s a n e s s e n t i a l c o n d i t i o n f o r its v a r y existence a n d d e v e l o p m e n t as a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y c a p a b l e o f f u l f i l l i n g b o t h its n a t i o n a l a n d its i n t e r n a t i o n a l ist d u t i e s . T h e e m e r g e n c e o f r e v i s i o n i s m a n d its a d v e n t t o p o w e r in the Soviet U n i o n a n d certain other countries, where underestimation of the struggle against the influences of bourgeois i d e o l o g y b e c a m e one o f t h e i m p o r t a n t causes o f t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e s o c i a l i s t o r d e r a n d o f the p a r t y itself, a d d f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h t o o u r correct c o n v i c t i o n that, w i t h o u t a p e r s i s t e n t s t r u g g l e to e r a d i c a t e t h e i n f l u e n c e s of a l i e n ideologies, b o t h t h e o l d f e u d a l a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s a n d t h e p r e s e n t - d a y b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t ones, w i t h out achieving the decisive t r i u m p h of the socialist revo l u t i o n o n the i d e o l o g i c a l f r o n t , too, i t s a c h i e v e m e n t s o n
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t h e e c o n o m i c a n d p o l i t i c a l f r o n t c a n n o t b e secure. W e are a l l w i t n e s s e s t o the m a j o r successes o f h i s t o r i c importance w h i c h have been achieved in the determined struggle w a g e d by the P a r t y , at the head of the w o r k i n g masses, a g a i n s t b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g y , a g a i n s t r e l i g i o u s , p a t r i a r c h a l a n d f e u d a l i d e o l o g y . A great q u a l i t a t i v e s t r i d e has b e e n t a k e n t o w a r d s t h e c o m p l e t e e m a n cipation of w o m e n , i m p o r t a n t measures have been t a k e n f o r t h e f u r t h e r r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f t h e school, t h e e r a d i c a t i o n o f b u r e a u c r a c y , etc. G r e a t r e s u l t s h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d i n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y e d u c a t i o n o f t h e n e w m a n , a n d p r o f o u n d socialist ideological convictions about w o r k , property, s o c i e t y a n d t h e f a m i l y h a v e been c r e a t e d a m o n g t h e w o r k i n g people. T h e P a r t y ' s slogan, W e m u s t t h i n k , w o r k , fight and live like revolutionaries, inspires and mobilizes all o u r people. I n f u r t h e r d e e p e n i n g this process o f r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n , the 6th Congress of the P a r t y placed the emphasis m o r e f i r m l y on the need for a battle on all fronts, not only against t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e s u r v i v a l s a n d traces o f t h e past, but, i n p a r t i c u l a r , a g a i n s t t h e d a n g e r o u s i n f l u e n c e s o f t h e present-day bourgeois, revisionist a n d l i b e r a l ideology w h i c h exerts ceaseless a n d intense p r e s s u r e o n us. I t v e r y r i g h t l y described this battle on t w o fronts as a decisive condition to ensure lasting victories in the struggle against a l i e n ideologies. T h e victories achieved in the struggle against alien m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a n d i n f l u e n c e s a r e m a j o r ones. H o w e v e r , w e cannot fail to take i n t o account that, under the existing conditions of encirclement and all-round imperialist and revisionist pressure, we are v e r y far f r o m the point w h e n w e c a n c o n s i d e r o u r s e l v e s i m m u n e t o dangers. T h e s u c cesses o u r P a r t y h a s a c h i e v e d i n i t s s t r u g g l e t o u n m a s k imperialism and revisionism in the political and theoretic a l planes, e s p e c i a l l y t h r o u g h t h e great p o l e m i c w i t h m o d -
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e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , m u s t not l e a d us, i n a n y instance, t o t h i n k that they constitute a barrier impervious to the penetration of alien ideology in various fields of the life o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d t h e m i n d s o f o u r p e o p l e . T h e fact i s t h a t o u r e n e m i e s h a v e n o t i n a n y w a y ceased t h e f i g h t a g a i n s t us. T h e y h a v e c h a n g e d o n l y t h e i r tactics, c o n c e n trating their efforts especially on the ideological front. I n o r d e r t o p a v e t h e w a y f o r the d e g e n e r a t i o n o f o u r p e o p l e a n d o u r socialist o r d e r , t h e y m o s t l y p r e f e r t o e x p l o i t t h e l i n g e r i n g vestiges a n d beds o f o l d i d e o l o g i e s i n t h e consciousness o f o u r w o r k i n g people, e s p e c i a l l y p e t t y - b o u r geois, i n d i v i d u a l i s t i c c o n c e p t s a n d h a b i t s . O u r i n t e r n a l a n d external enemies encourage a n d support one another in various forms and ways, co-ordinating their activities a g a i n s t o u r people's state p o w e r a n d s o c i a l i s m . O n the o t h e r h a n d , t h e r e a r e s i t u a t i o n s i n t h e w o r l d w h i c h a u t o m a t i c a l l y pose the n e e d f o r a g r e a t m o b i l i z a tion to enhance the vigilance and muster a l l the forces against the ideology a n d policies, attitudes a n d activity of the enemy. The atmosphere is thick w i t h the stench of pacifism and capitulation. The A m e r i c a n imperialists and the Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s are t r y i n g t o s p r e a d a s p i r i t o f r e c o n c i l i a t i o n and compromise in Europe, Asia, A f r i c a and A m e r i c a . N o w the w a r in V i e t n a m is coming to an end, there is talk that the situation in the M i d d l e East can be settled i n a p e a c e f u l w a y , t a l k o f some s o r t o f s e c u r i t y a n d r e d u c t i o n o f t r o o p s i n E u r o p e , the r e s u l t s o f t h e i m p r o v e ment of the relations between the big powers are being proclaimed far a n d wide, the frequent contacts a n d talks o f s t a t e s m e n a r e g r e a t l y p u b l i c i z e d , etc. S u c h s i t u a t i o n s m a y create a s p i r i t o f d e m o b i l i z a t i o n , m a y c r e a t e t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e d a n g e r o f w a r i s r e m o t e , t h a t the w o r l d is simmering down. The tactic of spreading this phoney peaceful psy-
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chosis, as a m e a n s to f a c i l i t a t e m i l i t a r y a n d i d e o l o g i c a l aggression, i s n o w s u p p o r t e d b y a host o f t h e o r i e s a n d doctrines w h i c h the imperialists a n d revisionists have c o n c o c t e d e s p e c i a l l y f o r this p u r p o s e . T h e y t a l k a g r e a t d e a l a b o u t p e a c e f u l coexistence, detente, n e g o t i a tions, a n d s o o n . T h e s e a r e not s i m p l y p r o p a g a n d a s l o gans. T h e y a r e also i d e o l o g i c a l devices, m e a n s t o c r e a t e a general psychology of fatalism t o w a r d s events w h i c h o c c u r i n the w o r l d , e f f o r t s t o p r e p a r e the peoples i d e o l o g i c a l l y t o accept t h e a r b i t r a r i t y o f t h e s u p e r p o w e r s a n d whatever future they m a y decide for them. T h e imperialists a n d revisionists t r y to inculcate this p a c i f i s t s p i r i t i n us, too, t h r o u g h h o n e y e d w o r d s , t h r o u g h proposals to normalize relations, t r y i n g to persuade us that no danger threatens us and that we can live d e m o bilized and off-guard. This diabolical and very dangerous tactics is intended to o v e r w h e l m our v i g i l a n c e a n d to incite and encourage liberalism and disintegration. It s h o u l d b e c l e a r t o u s t h a t e v e n i f some s o r t o f detente a c t u a l l y exists, t h i s c a n b e t r u e o n l y b e t w e e n t h e i m perialist superpowers, but there is not a n d w i l l not be d e t e n t e b e t w e e n t h e m a n d us, b e t w e e n the p e o p l e s o n the one h a n d a n d t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s o n the other. It is completely clear to us that the imperialist a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s t r a t e g y t o suppress t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggles a n d movements a n d any resistance to their heg e m o n y , t o d e s t r o y a n d c r u s h a n y force, state, o r p a r t y w h i c h opposes t h e i r d o m i n a t i o n , r e m a i n s u n c h a n g e d . O n l y the tactics a n d m e a n s t h e y use h a v e c h a n g e d , a n d n o w these h a v e b e c o m e m o r e n u m e r o u s a n d p e r f e c t e d . T h e a g r e e m e n t s a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n the b i g p o w ers, f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t , b e t w e e n t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a and the Soviet U n i o n , w h i c h are steadily e x t e n d ing, c a n n o t f a i l t o b e e x p r e s s e d a n d r e s u l t i n a n i n c r e a s e in their pressure on the small, independent countries, in
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t h e i r i n c r e a s e d e f f o r t s t o i n t e r f e r e i n the i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s of s o v e r e i g n states, in the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n of t h e i r s t r u g g l e t o f o r c e others i n t o a c c e p t i n g t h e i r d i c t a t e i n m a t t e r s o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s , a n d i n the e x t e n s i o n o f t h e i r a c t i v i t y t o i m p o s e t h e i r w a y o f t h i n k i n g a n d w a y o f l i f e o n other peoples a n d n a t i o n s . I t i s n a t u r a l t h a t i n t h i s n e w s i t u a t i o n the a l l - r o u n d i m p e r i a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l and m i l i t a r y pressure on o u r c o u n t r y w i l l become greater, w i t h the aim of stifling the o n l y voice in Europe w h i c h i s r a i s e d b o l d l y against t h e i r aggressive, e x p a n s i o n i s t p o l icy, a n d w h i c h b o l d l y tears the m a s k f r o m the s i n i s t e r plans, d e m a g o g y a n d d e c e p t i o n o f t h e s u p e r p o w e r s a g a inst t h e peoples a n d the r e v o l u t i o n . The imperialists and revisionists have always w a n t e d and still want to do away w i t h socialism in Albania. This we know. B u t what we must keep most clearly in m i n d is that for us there exists the danger not only of direct m i l i t a r y aggression, b u t also o f i d e o l o g i c a l a g g r e s s i o n . Moreover, the enemy's ideological pressure on and s t r u g gle against u s i s a p r e p a r a t i o n f o r a n d p r e c u r s o r t o a n e v e n t u a l m i l i t a r y assault. N o t f o r o n e m o m e n t m u s t w e f o r g e t t h a t w e a r e a s m a l l c o u n t r y , a n d because o f o u r p r i n c i p l e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y stands, t h e a l l - s i d e d i d e o l o g i c a l pressures o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d a r e f o cussed o n us. O n the other h a n d , w e c a n n o t l i v e i s o l a t e d f r o m the outside w o r l d , the influences of w h i c h penetrate i n t o o u r c o u n t r y a n d o u r p e o p l e t h r o u g h m a n y channels, through various means of information and propaganda, w h i c h today are more widespread and sophisticated than e v e r before, a n d t h r o u g h contacts w h i c h c a n n o t b e a v o i d e d . T h e r e f o r e , the P a r t y has f r e q u e n t l y e m p h a s i z e d that, a l o n g w i t h serious m i l i t a r y a n d e c o n o m i c p r e p a r a t i o n s t o cope w i t h a n y e v e n t u a l i t y , w e m u s t t a k e a l l m e a s u r e s a n d m o b i l i z e a l l o u r forces t o d e f e a t t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a g gression o f the e n e m y , too. I n t h i s l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g -
INTENSIFY THE IDEOLOGICAL
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gle we must bear in m i n d that the ideological pressure i s p e r m a n e n t , t h a t w e c a n n o t f i g h t a n d d e f e a t i t once a n d for all, but must fight it and t r i u m p h over it everyday, every m o n t h a n d every year. In t h e present c o n d i t i o n s , the essence of this i d e o l o g i c a l a g g r e s s i o n a n d the m a i n o b j e c t i v e o f t h e class e n e m y i s t o e n c o u r a g e l i b e r a l i s m o n a l l f r o n t s f o r the d e g e n e r a tion of the socialist order and the internal and e x t e r n a l p o l i c y o f o u r P a r t y a n d state. T h i s i s p r e c i s e l y t h e w a y i n w h i c h these c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y r e s u l t s w e r e b r o u g h t a b o u t i n the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d i n certain other countries, results w h i c h i m p e r i a l i s m h a d n o t been a b l e t o a c h i e v e e i t h e r b y a r m e d i n t e r v e n t i o n o r b y fascist aggression. U n d e r t h e s l o g a n of liberalism, S t a l i n a n d his w o r k were smeared and the dictatorship of the proletariat destroyed. U n d e r this slogan, the r o a d w a s opened to the revisionist economic reforms w h i c h led to the e l i m i n a t i o n of socialist relations of production, and to their replacement w i t h new c a p i t a l i s t r e l a t i o n s . I n s p i r i t u a l l i f e , l i b e r a l i s m b e c a m e the k e y w h i c h opened the door to the i n f l u x of the degenerate Western culture and w a y of life. A n d again, it was u n d e r the s a m e s l o g a n t h a t t h e l i n e o f d e t e r m i n e d s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m was rejected a n d replaced by the K h r u s h c h e v i t e policy of opening up to the West and a l l round collaboration w i t h US imperialism. L i b e r a l i s m m a y appear in the most v a r i e d fields and f o r m s . R e g a r d l e s s o f h o w o r w h e r e i t p r e s e n t s itself, i n essence i t i s a n e x p r e s s i o n o f i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l o p p o r t u n i s m , a r e j e c t i o n of c o n s i s t e n t class s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l enemies, against t h e b l e m i s h e s o f t h e o l d s o c i e t y a n d the p r e s e n t i n f l u e n c e s o f a l i e n i d e o l ogy, i s a c c e p t a n c e o f p e a c e f u l c o - e x i s t e n c e w i t h t h e e n e m y ideology. By encouraging liberalism, o u r enemies w a n t us to give up o u r p r i n c i p l e d stand a n d struggle against
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modern revisionism, to give up our d e t e r m i n e d struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d to open o u r borders to the f r e e c i r c u l a t i o n o f people, i d e a s a n d c u l t u r e s . T h e y w a n t to spread a liberal and anarchist interpretation of socialist d e m o c r a c y , w i t h a v i e w t o d i s r u p t i n g p r o l e t a r i a n d i s c i pline at w o r k and undermining the dictatorship of the proletariat. T h e y w a n t our people of culture and the arts to abandon proletarian partisanship, in order to open the w a y f o r a l l sorts o f d e c a d e n t b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t t r e n d s t o f l o u r i s h . T h e y w a n t o u r people, o u r y o u t h a n d a l l o u r w o r k i n g p e o p l e t o a d o p t the d e g e n e r a t e w a y s o f b e h a v i o u r , tastes a n d w a y o f l i f e o f t h e r o t t e n b o u r g e o i s revisionist w o r l d . Characteristic of the present ideological subversion of the bourgeoisie and revisionism against socialism is the combining in a single front of the basic counterr e v o l u t i o n a r y trends, r a n g i n g f r o m t h e p u r e b o u r g e o i s ideology of an openly anti-communist nature to the old traditional opportunism, from modern revisionism to the p r e s e n t s o - c a l l e d left o p p o r t u n i s t t r e n d s . R e g a r d l e s s o f the positions f r o m w h i c h they attack M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d s o c i a l i s m , r e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t slogans a n d a r g u ments t h e y use against t h e m , a l l these t r e n d s a r e u n i t e d o n t h e i r m a i n objective, o n t h e i r a i m t o s h o w t h a t c a p i t a l i s m has o v e r c o m e its c o n t r a d i c t i o n s , t h a t b o u r g e o i s society h a s been i m p r o v e d , t h a t c a p i t a l i s m a n d s o c i a l i s m a r e c o n v e r g i n g t o w a r d s o n e a n d t h e s a m e society, t h a t t h e r e is no l o n g e r a p l a c e f o r class s t r u g g l e , no l o n g e r a place for revolutionary upheavals, no longer a place for c o m m u n i s t ideals, etc. In order to propagate this out-and-out reactionary thesis, i n o r d e r t o c o n f u s e p e o p l e ' s m i n d s , t o b e f o g t h e i r outlook and to b r i n g about their degeneration, the b o u r geoisie a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e set u p a v e r y p o w e r f u l industry for poisoning public opinion, which, in terms of
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capital invested a n d the n u m b e r of people employed, exceeds e v e n t h e biggest b r a n c h e s o f the e c o n o m y . A t t h e i r d i s p o s a l t h e r e are the n u m e r o u s m e a n s o f mass c o m munication, a n d closely l i n k e d w i t h them are literature a n d art, f a s h i o n a n d a d v e r t i s i n g , the press, r a d i o , t e l e v i sion and films. T h e m i g h t y w a v e o f this p r o p a g a n d a crashes against o u r shores, too. I t l i n k s u p c l o s e l y w i t h m a n y b l e m i s h e s f r o m the p a s t i n t h e consciousness o f w o r k i n g people, especially w i t h manifestations of petty-bourgeois i n d i v i d u a l i s m . T h e s e t w o aspects n u r t u r e each other, t h e old a n d the modernist merge into a single front of struggle a g a i n s t s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t . C o n s e q u e n t l y , o u r s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t these t w o evils a l s o c o n s t i t u t e s a single, c o m p l e x a n d i n d i v i s i b l e f r o n t . O u r t a s k i s t o m u s t e r a l l o u r f o r c e s a n d m e a n s t o cope w i t h the pressure of alien ideological influences, w h i c h is e x e r t e d p r e c i s e l y u n d e r these n e w e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l circumstances, and to counter-attack actively. We must c o n s i d e r t h i s s t r u g g l e a s one o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t aspects o f t h e class s t r u g g l e f o r t h e t r i u m p h o f t h e s o c i a l ist r o a d over the capitalist road. T h e broad discussions in the P a r t y and among the masses about the struggle against alien influences a n d liberal manifestations c o n f i r m e d that the w o r r i e s of the P a r t y a n d those o f t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e w e r e f u l l y j u s t i f i e d . D u r i n g these d i s c u s s i o n s t h e r e e m e r g e d a c o n s i d e r a b l e number of ideological problems w h i c h have to do w i t h the development of art and literature, education and culture in the right way, w i t h the education of o u r youth, w i t h the strengthening of discipline, w i t h the further improvem e n t o f t h e a c t i v i t y o f t h e P a r t y itself, a n d t h e e n h a n c e m e n t o f its l e a d i n g r o l e . W e m u s t a n a l y s e a l l these p r o b l e m s a t t h i s p l e n u m i n a s p i r i t o f c r i t i c i s m a n d selfc r i t i c i s m a n d d e t e r m i n e t h e w a y s a n d the m e a s u r e s t o
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k e e p a l i v e the r e v o l u t i o n a r y a t m o s p h e r e t h a t has b e e n created a n d to carry the struggle of the P a r t y f u r t h e r ahead on all fronts.
STRENGTHENING PROLETARIAN PARTISANSHIP AN ESSENTIAL CONDITION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LITERATURE AND THE ARTS ON THE CORRECT COURSE O u r P a r t y h a s d i s p l a y e d constant c o n c e r n f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d t h e arts o n t h e correct course a n d h a s a l w a y s c o n s i d e r e d t h e m a s a p o w e r f u l m e a n s f o r t h e c o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n o f the masses, e s p e cially for their ideo-aesthetic formation. O u r literature a n d a r t s h a v e k e p t p a c e w i t h the w h o l e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e l i f e o f the c o u n t r y , w i t h the d e e p e n i n g o f t h e i d e o l o g i cal a n d c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n , a n d h a v e m a d e a m a j o r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o the f o r m a t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n o f t h e n e w m a n a n d t o r a i s i n g o u r n e w socialist c u l t u r e t o a h i g h e r l e v e l . G u i d e d by the teachings of the P a r t y a n d l o y a l to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , our w r i t e r s and artists have created i n s p i r e d w o r k s w i t h s o u n d c o n t e n t . O u r art, w i t h its s o c i a l i s t a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y content, bears t h e n a t i o n a l s e a l a n d expresses t h e consciousness o f o u r p e o p l e i n t h e g r e a t h i s t o r i c m o m e n t s w e h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d a n d are e x p e r i e n c i n g . T h e masses l i k e t h i s a r t a n d i t serves a s t h e i r s p i r i t u a l n o u r i s h m e n t . T h e p e o p l e l o v e a n d respect t h e i r o w n w r i t ers a n d artists. T h e successes o f o u r l i t e r a t u r e a n d a r t a r e c l e a r t e s t i m o n y t o t h e v i g o u r o f t h e m e t h o d o f socialist r e a l i s m and its fundamental principle of proletarian partisanship, t o its h a r m o n i z a t i o n w i t h t h e people's n a t i o n a l s p i r i t a n d s o u n d r e a l i s t t r a d i t i o n . O u r arts, l i k e a l l t h e s p i r i t u a l l i f e o f o u r society, h a v e d e v e l o p e d i n s t r u g g l e w i t h a l i e n ideological influences, old a n d new, conservative and m o d ernist, a n d e s p e c i a l l y b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i n f l u e n c e s .
INTENSIFY
THE
IDEOLOGICAL STRUGGLE
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T h e o r i e n t a t i o n s o f the 15th P l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , h e l d i n 1965,* h a v e been o f s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e in this struggle. In r e c e n t y e a r s , h o w e v e r , as a r e s u l t of t h e p r e s s u r e o f a l i e n i d e o l o g y , a n d e s p e c i a l l y o f s u b j e c t i v e weaknesses, some o v e r t i n f l u e n c e s o f b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l ogy h a v e a p p e a r e d i n l i t e r a t u r e , a r t a n d c u l t u r e , a n d a l i b e r a l a t t i t u d e has b e e n t a k e n t o w a r d s t h e m . T h e y h a v e h a r m e d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r l i t e r a t u r e a n d arts. A l l t h e d i s c u s s i o n s h a v e p o i n t e d o u t the d a n g e r o f these a l i e n i n f l u e n c e s as a m e a n s of i m p e r i a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g i c a l s u b v e r s i o n t o d i v e r t o u r l i t e r a t u r e a n d arts f r o m the correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y course of socialist realism and f r o m the sound national basis a n d to l e a d them a w a y f r o m the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a n d its c o r r e c t o r i e n t a t i o n s . T h e f u n d a m e n t a l cause f o r t h e s p r e a d o f these a l i e n influences is the failure to implement consistently and d e p a r t u r e f r o m the c o r r e c t o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y a b o u t w a g i n g a f r o n t a l ideological struggle in both directions, a g a i n s t c o n s e r v a t i s m a n d l i b e r a l i s m . T h e d a n g e r o f the current influences of bourgeois and revisionist ideology has b e e n u n d e r e s t i m a t e d b y c e r t a i n w o r k i n g p e o p l e a n d l e a d i n g c a d r e s i n t h e sector o f c u l t u r e , l i t e r a t u r e a n d arts. C e r t a i n old manifestations and traditions of a conservat i v e n a t u r e h a v e been c o n s i d e r e d a s t h e o n l y a c t u a l p r a c tical danger, w h i l e the danger f r o m liberalism has been v i e w e d o n l y as a p o s s i b i l i t y . T h e s i m p l i f i c a t i o n of the danger of bourgeois-revisionist influences, especially w h e n this i s d o n e b y l e a r n e d i n t e l l e c t u a l s , i s n o t a l a p s e o f memory, but an inclination, a tendency which, if it is not combated, w i l l grow and become dangerous. T h e corrupti n g liberal-modernist influence is not a potential danger, b u t a r e a l one.
_________________________________ * See E n v e r H o x h a , Selected W o r k s , v o l . 3, p. 832 (Eng. ed.)
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Certain elements contaminated by decadent m o d e r n i s m , p o s i n g a s c o m p e t e n t people, t r i e d t o o p e n t h e d o o r to anti-proletarian liberalism, to alien bourgeois-revisionist c u r r e n t s u n d e r the g u i s e o f f i g h t i n g c o n s e r v a t i s m . I n b o d y t h e y w e r e here, b u t t h e i r h e a r t s a n d m i n d s w e r e elsewhere. T h e y v i e w e d the life a n d development of our country in an inverted way, a n d tried to adapt decadent t r e n d s t o o u r s i t u a t i o n . T h e s e e l e m e n t s l a u n c h e d the d i v i s i v e thesis t h a t o u r g e n u i n e l i t e r a t u r e a l l e g e d l y b e g i n s i n the 60's, t h u s d i s p a r a g i n g a n d n e g a t i n g a l l e a r l i e r artistic creation. In the name of criticizing conservatism, they misdirected the struggle against certain i n d i v i d u a l w r i t e r s , especially against the o l d e r ones, s e r i o u s l y d a m a g i n g the c o m r a d e l y a t m o s p h e r e i n l i t e r a r y - a r t i s t i c circles. The theorizing against so-called conservatism in the d i f f e r e n t genres o f a r t has a p p e a r e d i n v a r i o u s f o r m s . I n t h e f i g u r a t i v e arts, o f t e n u n d e r t h e s l o g a n o f c o m b a t i n g scholasticism, an academic approach, n a t u r a l i s m and so on, w o r k s w i t h alien old and new modernist influences and even borrowings from impressionism and cubism were not o n l y legalized, but were often t a k e n as models of b o l d creativeness a n d i n n o v a t i o n . I n m u s i c , t h e p r e d o m inance of m e l o d y w a s called a manifestation of conserv a t i s m , j u s t a s r e l i a n c e o n t h e people's m u s i c a l c r e a t i v i t y w a s c a l l e d a r c h a i s m a n d f o l k l o r i s m . T h i s so-called f o l k l o r i s m has o f t e n b e e n p r e s e n t e d as a b o g y a n d as t h e m a i n obstacle t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f c u l t i v a t e d m u s i c . In recent years, there has been an underestimation o f the f i n e s t t r a d i t i o n s o f o u r f o l k m u s i c , a n d t h i s i s a p p a r e n t also i n t h e i n f r e q u e n c y o f p e r f o r m a n c e o f i t b y o u r best artists a n d , especially, i n the l a c k o f serious w o r k t o t r a i n n e w talents. T h i s u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n c a n n o t b e i s o l a t e d f r o m the p r e f e r e n c e s o m e p e o p l e h a v e h a d f o r socalled dynamic, r h y t h m i c music, w h i c h is allegedly the last w o r d i n m o d e r n m u s i c a n d t h e o n l y m u s i c w h i c h
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responds t o the d e m a n d s o f t h e t i m e a n d o u r y o u t h . No, we do not need such music. O n l y the bourgeoisie a n d the revisionists need it as a narcotic to stupefy the masses, e s p e c i a l l y t h e y o u t h . O u r y o u t h n e e d p u r e c u l t u r a l nourishment, really of the times, but i m b u e d w i t h h i g h ideals a n d a sound spirit. A n d o u r gifted composers have created m a n y beautiful a n d o r i g i n a l w o r k s w i t h a revolutionary, national spirit of the times. T h e y sing w i t h i n s p i r a t i o n a n d love to our country a n d people, to the b e a u t y o f t h e A l b a n i a n l a n d s c a p e , t o t h e socialist l i f e a n d p u r e s e n t i m e n t s o f o u r people. In the misrepresentations about archaism, folklori s m a n d so on, we h a v e to do w i t h an openly scornful s t a n d t o w a r d s f o l k l o r e i n g e n e r a l , t o w a r d s i t s great a r t i s t i c a n d s o c i a l v a l u e s , a n d t o w a r d s its r e l a t i o n t o c u l t i v a ted art. P r e c i s e l y s u c h stands a n d t h e o r i z i n g h a v e been o n e o f t h e causes f o r d e p a r t u r e s f r o m t h e s o u n d n a t i o n a l background and have served as arguments to justify these d e p a r t u r e s . T h e s e p s e u d o - t h e o r e t i c i a n s a t t a c h e d d i s paraging labels to everything good and beautiful in f o l k l o r e , labels w h i c h w e r e o f t e n i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e e v e n t o t h e m s e l v e s , because t h e y w e r e b o u r g e o i s t e r m s a n d c u r rents in literature and art w h i c h w i t h the passage of t i m e h a d been d i s c a r d e d . T h e s e so-called m o d e r n aesthetes a t t a c h e d i m p o r t a n c e t o f o r m a n d not a t a l l t o i d e o logy, p o l i t i c s or content. Elements w i t h l i b e r a l inclinations have often i d e n tified conservatism w i t h tradition. They divided presentday literary-artistic phenomena mechanically into traditional and innovative. Such confusion and division o p e n e d t h e w a y t o the n e g a t i o n o f t h e s o u n d aspects o f t r a d i t i o n . O n t h i s course, t h e a l i e n i n f l u e n c e s w e r e s p r e a d m o r e easily. N a t u r a l l y , these people c o u l d n o t base t h e m selves o n t r a d i t i o n , w h i c h t h e y c a l l e d regression, b u t o n so-called i n n o v a t i o n , w h i c h t h e y c a l l e d progress.
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T h e P a r t y has c o n t i n u a l l y s t r e s s e d t h e n e e d t o base ourselves on sound traditions a n d to cultivate them f u r ther. I t has p o i n t e d o u t t h e g r e a t v a l u e s , t h e p a t r i o t i c , democratic a n d popular spirit of our finest c u l t u r a l t r a d i tions. F o r us, h o w e v e r , t r a d i t i o n i s n o t o n l y the p o w e r f u l tradition of the patriotic literature of our national renaissance, o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e m o c r a t i c a n d p r o g r e s s i v e l i t e r a t u r e p r i o r t o L i b e r a t i o n , b u t a l s o the t r a d i t i o n o f the very r i c h and v a r i e d literature and art of our socialist realism, w h i c h is already thirty years old. O u r P a r t y has b e e n a n d r e m a i n s i n f a v o u r o f i n novative art, f i r m l y based on sound tradition, o l d a n d new, and on proletarian partisanship. F o r us Marxist-Leninists, the new is that w h i c h helps destroy everything outdated, regressive a n d reactionary, everything alien to o u r society a n d ideology, that w h i c h serves t h e a f f i r m a t i o n o f e v e r y t h i n g p r o g r e s s i v e a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f s o c i a l i s t society, o f its base a n d superstructure, production and spiritual life. We a l w a y s see t h e n e w , f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t i n c o n t e n t a n d t h e n i n f o r m . T h a t i s h o w w e see i t i n l i t e r a t u r e a n d a r t , too. O u r P a r t y , w h i c h i s a great a n d c o u r a g e o u s i n n o v a t o r , a fearless r e v o l u t i o n a r y , w h i c h does a w a y w i t h o u t d a t e d t h i n g s one a f t e r a n o t h e r , w h i c h i s l e a d i n g a n u n p r e c e dented r e v o l u t i o n in the m a t e r i a l and spiritual life of society, w i l l n e v e r a l l o w i t s e l f t o b e d e c e i v e d b y f a l s e i n n o v a t i o n , b y t h e glossy v e n e e r w h i c h conceals t h e p o i s o n ous r e a c t i o n a r y ideas o f b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t a r t a n d c u l t u r e , o r b y the s e n s a t i o n a l a d v e r t i s e m e n t o f t h e so-called innovations of that culture. O u r P a r t y is in f a vour of t r u l y m o d e r n development of the w h o l e of o u r s o c i a l l i f e , o u r e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e , l i t e r a t u r e a n d arts. B u t this has n o t h i n g i n c o m m o n w i t h the c o r r u p t i n g m o d e r n i s m o f the p r e s e n t - d a y c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d .
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M a n y deviations w h i c h we are criticizing have come a b o u t t h r o u g h d e p a r t u r e f r o m , i g n o r i n g a n d d e n y i n g , the n a t i o n a l s p i r i t . I n t h e n a m e o f the n e w , t h e d e m a n d s o f t h e t i m e s , a n d the f a c t t h a t w e l i v e i n E u r o p e , t h e s u p porters of l i b e r a l i s m began to distort the orientations of the P a r t y a b o u t a d i f f e r e n t i a t e d c r i t i c a l a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s foreign culture, a n d to serve up to us the monstrosities of the present decadent, modernist, bourgeois-revisionist culture as new and innovative. T h r o u g h m a n y s t o r m s o f t h e t i m e s , t h r o u g h endless b i t t e r battles, o u r p e o p l e c r e a t e d a c u l t u r e a n d a r t w i t h c l e a r n a t i o n a l features, w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e s a priceless asset. F o r us, t h e s e v a l u e s o f t h e p r o g r e s s i v e a r t o f o u r n a t i o n are a s o u r c e o f l e g i t i m a t e p r i d e . T h e y a r e o u r c o n t r i b u t i o n to the treasury of progressive w o r l d culture. Since our people preserved and further developed this culture t h r o u g h the centuries, t h e n i t f a l l s o n us, the g e n e r a t i o n s o f s o c i a l i s t society, t o s t r i v e w i t h t h e p a s s i o n o f c o m m u n ist m i l i t a n t s t o k e e p i t p u r e a n d t o d e v e l o p i t s t i l l f u r ther. T h e imperialist bourgeoisie has a l w a y s tried to denigrate or e l i m i n a t e the c u l t u r a l traditions of s m a l l peoples a n d the n a t i o n a l spirit of their art and culture. T h i s i s o n e o f t h e w a y s t o c a r r y o u t its c u l t u r a l a g g r e s s i o n a n d t o s u b j u g a t e t h e peoples. T h e a i m o f the r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s concept o f the i n t e r n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f c u l t u r e a n d art, t h e i d e a t h a t the stage o f n a t i o n a l schools has a l r e a d y b e e n superseded is to e l i m i n a t e t h e c u l t u r e s of o t h e r peoples. U n d e r these c o n d i t i o n s i t becomes e v e n more imperative for us to fight to safeguard the national f e a t u r e s o f art, t h e c u l t u r a l w e a l t h o f t h e people. W h i l e fighting to defend the national spirit of our literature a n d art, we always emphasize strongly their r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d s o c i a l i s t c h a r a c t e r . Its socialist c o n t e n t is t h e d i s t i n c t i v e a n d most essential f e a t u r e of o u r l i t -
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e r a t u r e a n d art. T h i s content has a c l e a r p r o l e t a r i a n class character. As such it must be achieved in u n i t y w i t h t h e n a t i o n a l f o r m , a n d t h i s w e see, too, i n t h e p r a c t i c e of our literary and artistic creativity. O u r P a r t y h a s s p o k e n a t o t h e r t i m e s , too, a b o u t o u r critical revolutionary stand towards foreign culture, of b o t h t h e past a n d t h e p r e s e n t . W e a r e o b l i g e d t o r e t u r n t o t h i s p r o b l e m once a g a i n because, d e s p i t e t h e P a r t y ' s correct instructions, in practice there have been misunders t a n d i n g s a n d d i s t o r t i o n s w h i c h h a v e b e e n one o f t h e causes o f t h e r e v i v a l o f a l i e n i n f l u e n c e s . Today, the phenomena of the decay and degenera t i o n o f bourgeois c u l t u r e a r e b e c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e p r o n o u n c e d . Its isms, w h i c h p o p u p l i k e m u s h r o o m s , a r e the clearest s y m p t o m s o f t h i s d e c a y . E v e r y d a y n e w schools a n d trends, w h i c h r e s e m b l e i n n u m e r a b l e r e l i g i o u s sects a n d heresies, a p p e a r . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e y h a v e a c o m m o n p h i l o s o p h i c a l b a s i s : i d e a l i s m , w i t h a l l i t s endless r e f i n e m e n t s . T h i s i s also t h e essence o f those t r e n d s w h i c h , a t f i r s t sight, a p p e a r t o b e leftist, r a d i c a l protests a g a i n s t t h e o f f i c i a l b o u r g e o i s society a n d its c u l t u r e a n d m o r a l i t y . U n d e r the guise of an art w h i c h allegedly recognises no social prejudices and ideological commitment, the cult o f v o i d content a n d u g l y f o r m , o f the d e s p i c a b l e a n d h o r r i b l e , i s created. T h e p r i n c i p a l heroes o f decadent, m o d e r n i s t a r t are m u r d e r e r s a n d prostitutes, a n d its t h e m e s i m m o r a l i t y a n d s o c i a l p a t h o l o g y . Its b a n n e r i s i r r a t i o n a l i s m , l i b e r a t i o n f r o m reason. Its i d e a l i s t h e p r i m i t i v i s m of t h e c a v e m a n . It is p r e c i s e l y t h i s c u l t u r e , coated w i t h a glossy v e neer, a c c o m p a n i e d b y s e n s a t i o n a l a d v e r t i s e m e n t , h a n d l e d in the most commercial w a y a n d backed up and financed b y t h e bourgeoisie, t h a t i n u n d a t e s t h e c i n e m a a n d t e l e v i s i o n screens, m a g a z i n e s , n e w s p a p e r s a n d r a d i o b r o a d casts, a l l t h e mass i n f o r m a t i o n a n d p r o p a g a n d a m e d i a .
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Its o b j e c t i v e i s t o t u r n t h e o r d i n a r y m a n i n t o a p a s s i v e c o n s u m e r o f p o i s o n o u s b o u r g e o i s ideas, a n d t o m a k e t h i s consumption an addiction. Not only have we nothing to learn f r o m this culture, no reason to impart it to our masses a n d y o u t h , b u t w e m u s t r e j e c t i t c o n t e m p t u o u s l y and fight it w i t h determination. We value o n l y the revolutionary, progressive and d e m o c r a t i c f o r e i g n art, b e i t o f t h e p a s t o r o f o u r c e n t u r y . W e s h a l l c o n t i n u e t o m a k e use o f i t i n a c r i t i c a l w a y , because t h i s i s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f the masses, f o r t h e i r ideo-aesthetic e d u c a t i o n , a s w e l l a s f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f those tastes w h i c h resist t h e d e generating and vulgar bourgeois-revisionist influence. A l l this requires careful, intelligent, and differentia t e d w o r k o n o u r part, r e q u i r e s a v o i d a n c e o f e x t r e m e a t t i t u d e s based o n x e n o m a n i a o r x e n o p h o b i a , l i b e r a l i s m o r sectarianism, the lack of a critical stand, or the desire t o b e o n t h e s a f e side. O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s been o p p o s e d t o a n y k i n d o f d i s t o r t i o n or u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n of its d i r e c t i v e s a n d f o r a consistent i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e o n b o t h f l a n k s , a g a i n s t b o t h l i b e r a l i s m a n d c o n s e r v a t i s m . I t h a s a l w a y s been o p p o s e d t o e v e r y k i n d o f s p e c u l a t i o n w h i c h , f o r t h e sake o f f i g h t i n g i n one d i r e c t i o n , neglects o r forgets t o f i g h t i n t h e other. T h e r e f o r e , i t w o u l d b e v e r y w r o n g f o r a n y o n e t o d a y t o t h i n k t h a t t h e c o r r e c t c r i t i c i s m w h i c h has b e e n made of manifestations of conservatism is invalid and that conservatism is no longer a problem for o u r literat u r e a n d arts. I n fact, i n t h e process o f t h e i r d e v e l o p m e n t , l i t e r a t u r e a n d art, besides t h e i n f l u e n c e s o f p r e s e n t d a y bourgeois a n d revisionist ideology, have clashed and continue to clash w i t h various conservative and restrict i v e legacies a n d t r e n d s w h i c h are e x p r e s s e d i n b o t h t h e i r content a n d t h e i r f o r m . T h e c o n s e r v a t i v e o r p r o g r e s s i v e , regressive or reactionary character of a literary or a r t i s -
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t i c w o r k depends, f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t , o n its class t e n d e n tiousness, o n t h e ideas i t bears a n d t h e i d e a l s f o r w h i c h i t m i l i t a t e s . C o n s e r v a t i s m i n this f i e l d has its o w n s p e c i f i c features a n d i s m a n i f e s t e d i n v a r i o u s f o r m s a n d w a y s w h i c h critical, theoretical, historical, a n d literary thought m u s t d i s c o v e r a n d f i g h t ceaselessly. T h e P a r t y has c o n t i n u a l l y p o i n t e d o u t t h e b r o a d p o l i t i c a l , s o c i a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l basis o f c o n s e r v a t i s m . F o r us, a c o n s e r v a t i v e s t a n d i s one w h i c h j u s t i f i e s , s u p p o r t s a n d upholds a n y t h i n g outdated, w h i c h is against progressive changes, against t h e n e w , w h i c h o b s t r u c t s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y d r i v e o f t h e masses a n d t h e i r a l l - r o u n d e m a n c i p a t i o n , w h i c h hinders our advance on the road of socialism. V i e w e d f r o m s u c h a r e v o l u t i o n a r y class p o s i t i o n , f r o m a broad political a n d social viewpoint, not only the o l d i d e o l o g i e s e m e r g i n g f r o m t h e d e p t h s o f the centuries, b u t also the present degenerate bourgeois a n d revisionist culture, all their l i b e r a l i s m and modernism, have a c o n servative character. W e n e e d q u a l i f i e d , s c i e n t i f i c c r i t i c i s m , w h i c h has b o t h t h e n e c e s s a r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y f e e l i n g s o essential t o t h e d i s c o v e r y o f t h e o u t s t a n d i n g v a l u e s o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d art, and the spirit of irreconcilability w i t h any distortion or alien manifestation in their development. We need criticism w h i c h w i l l speak w i t h courage a n d competence about every literary and artistic phenomenon. However, professional l i t e r a r y criticism is not the o n l y judge of l i t e r a r y a n d artistic activity. In the f i n a l analysis, the o p i n i o n of t h e readers, of t h e p u b l i c , of s o c i e t y as a w h o l e , is t h e best j u d g e o f t h i s a c t i v i t y . B o t h the c r e a t i v e a r t i s t s a n d the critics should always bear this truth in m i n d . In order to develop critical and ideo-aesthetic thought, it is necessary to take measures to extend the scientific research w o r k in the field of the theory and history of l i t e r a t u r e a n d art, o f aesthetics, b y s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e e x i s -
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t i n g n u c l e i a n d c r e a t i n g n e w ones. T h i s w o r k c a n n o t b e d o n e s u c c e s s f u l l y w i t h o u t t a k i n g i m m e d i a t e steps f o r t h e s y s t e m a t i c t r a i n i n g o f n e w s c i e n t i f i c cadres f o r aesthetics, t h e t h e o r y a n d h i s t o r y o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d art, a n d l i t e r a r y and artistic criticism. C r i t i c i s m , l i k e a l l o u r l i t e r a t u r e a n d arts, s h o u l d a l ways be guided by the principles of the method of socialist r e a l i s m , w h i c h h a v e e m e r g e d f r o m t h e w o r l d e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y a r t o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , a n d h a v e b e e n e l a b o r a t e d b y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t aesthetics a n d c o n f i r m e d by the l i t e r a r y and artistic practice of our country. These principles are unshakeable a n d adherence to them i s essential, f o r o t h e r w i s e w e f a l l u n d e r f o r e i g n i n f l u e n c e s a n d d e p a r t f r o m r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a d i t i o n s . I n n o v a t i o n has nothing to do w i t h violation of principles, but applies t h e m i n t h e correct w a y . T h e c r e a t i v e d e v e l o p m e n t o f socialist r e a l i s m has a l s o c o m e u p a g a i n s t some m i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a n d false t h e ories a r i s i n g f r o m v a r i o u s sources. T h e s e h a v e a p p e a r e d especially in the treatment of the problem of contradict i o n s a n d o f the h e r o i n art. T h e r e h a v e b e e n cases t h a t the contradictions of our society have been presented as h a v i n g no solution, w i t h a gloomy feeling of pessimism w h i c h is typical of the bourgeois-revisionist w a y of t h i n k i n g . T h e s u p e r i o r i t y o f t h e socialist forces a n d i d e a l has n o t a l w a y s b e e n p r o p e r l y p o i n t e d out. T h e r e h a v e also b e e n cases o f c o n f u s i n g t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a m o n g t h e people w i t h the contradictions between us and our enemies. T h i s leads t o serious e r r o r s o f p r i n c i p l e , i n t o w h i c h F a d i l P a r a m i tried to lead our art w h e n he said that w e h a d a l r e a d y dealt s u f f i c i e n t l y w i t h t h e s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n us a n d t h e e n e m y a n d t h a t f r o m n o w o n w e s h o u l d t a l k m a i n l y o f t h e s t r u g g l e a m o n g ourselves. H e n c e , w e s h o u l d l e a v e t h e e n e m i e s i n peace a n d t r e a t o u r people as enemies.
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T h e P a r t y has stressed that the d i c l o s u r e o f c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d t h e i r r e f l e c t i o n i n art, i n c l u d i n g t h e c r i t i c i s m of negative phenomena, m u s t be done correctly, f r o m the position of proletarian partisanship, so that they w i l l be o v e r c o m e a n d society a d v a n c e a n d n o t r e m a i n i n t h e g r i p of contradictions. O n the o t h e r h a n d , t h a t t h e o r i z i n g a b o u t t h e p o s i t i v e hero, dissecting h i m , i d e n t i f y i n g h i m w i t h everything, a n d m a k i n g an artificial separation between the tradit i o n a l h e r o a n d the i n n o v a t o r y hero, etc., a r e n o t h i n g but views w h i c h lead to anti-heroism in literature a n d art, to retreat f r o m life and f r o m m a n . T h e stereotyped t h e o r i e s o f the hero, c o n c e i v e d i n a n i d y l l i c a n d s e n t i m e n tal way, are also h a r m f u l a n d lead art a w a y f r o m t r u t h a n d r e a l i s m . W h i l e c r i t i c i z i n g the s t e r e o t y p e d h e r o , i d e a l i z e d i n a b o o k i s h w a y w i t h o u t a n y basis i n o u r r e a l i t y , a t t h e s a m e t i m e w e c a n i n n o w a y accept t h e n e w scheme o f a w a v e r i n g h e r o w h i c h is, i n fact, a n o p e n bourgeois-revisionist influence. These views and attitudes have nothing in common w i t h our principles, they i n d i cate t h e o r e t i c a l c o n f u s i o n . In order to fight successfully against alien influences a n d m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , t h e P a r t y m u s t d o a great d e a l o f w o r k w i t h the w r i t e r s a n d artists, not only to f u r t h e r d e v e l o p t h e m i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d a e s t h e t i c a l l y , b u t also t o ensure that they lead an intensive ideological life, l i v e close t o t h e masses, are l i n k e d c l o s e l y w i t h t h e i r p r e o c c u p a t i o n s a n d struggle, a n d t a k e a n a c t i v e p a r t i n the great e c o n o m i c a n d social a c t i o n s o f the w o r k i n g p e o p l e . C o n t a c t s w i t h the masses a r e a b s o l u t e l y e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e people o f a r t a n d c u l t u r e , b u t these s h o u l d n o t b e c o n c e i v e d as s i m p l e slogans, as l i t e r a t u r e or sightseeing, b u t as w o r k o n w h i c h t h e y w i l l base t h e i r c r e a t i v e a c t i v i t y , w h i c h must be positive, and w i t h i n the line and n o r m s of the P a r t y . I n t h i s process t h e c r e a t i v e a r t i s t s are e d u c a t e d
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a n d tempered in a revolutionary way, a n d a fight is w a g e d against intellectualism a n d megalomania, against i n d i v i d u a l i s m a n d petty-bourgeois pride, against mistaken v i e w s t h a t w e are s u p e r i o r t o t h e others, t h a t w e a r e f r e e t o create w h a t w e w a n t a n d w h e n w e w a n t o u t s i d e a n y social requirement a n d discipline, outside any c o n t r o l o r n o r m . I n this w a y t h e m i s t a k e s a r e c o r r e c t e d , not o n l y in words, not o n l y t h r o u g h self-criticism, but t h r o u g h creative activity, through work, through willpower and t h r o u g h m u l t i p l i e d c o n f i d e n c e i n one's o w n e f f o r t s a n d the correctness of the line of the P a r t y . T h e organizations of the P a r t y must do serious w o r k to create a healthy atmosphere of activity a n d comradely r e l a t i o n s a m o n g t h e w o r k i n g people o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d a r t . T h e y and the w r i t e r s a n d artists themselves m u s t fight w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t u n h e a l t h y passions, against bias i n j u d g i n g one a n o t h e r ' s w o r k , w h i c h leads t o gossip, t o d a n g e r o u s d i v i s i o n s a n d g r o u p i n g s a m o n g t h e artists. T h e r e m u s t b e n o d i v i s i o n b e t w e e n the y o u n g a n d the old, j u s t a s n o w w e s h o u l d n o t a l l o w t h e s p r e a d o f the v i e w s t h a t y o u w e r e w r o n g , w e w e r e not, y o u accused u s o f b e i n g c o n s e r v a t i v e , n o w i t i s o u r t u r n t o accuse y o u o f b e i n g l i b e r a l . O f course, t h e m i s t a k e s a n d f a u l t s m u s t be disclosed and admitted, they must be criticized. But, as the P a r t y teaches us, i t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t the c r i t i c i s m s h o u l d always be fair, constructive and never denigrating. W h e r e v e r m i s t a k e s a p p e a r , t h e y s h o u l d a l w a y s b e seen f r o m t h e viewpoint of the P a r t y a n d corrected by joint efforts. We communists do not correct mistakes by t a k i n g revenge a n d s h o w i n g p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s spite, b u t i n t h e s p i r i t o f communist principles and partisanship. People must be helped and encouraged, especially the young writers and artists, t o w a r d s w h o m w e s h o u l d s h o w w a r m t h , tact a n d care i n the correct p a r t y s p i r i t . O u r P a r t y is v e r y d e m a n d i n g in this direction, es-
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p e c i a l l y o n t h e c o m m u n i s t w r i t e r s a n d artists, w h o s h o u l d set a n e x a m p l e o f p a r t i s a n s h i p , o f a d h e r e n c e t o p r i n c i p l e , o f c o m m u n i s t ethics a n d s o c i a l d i s c i p l i n e . F o r t h e c o m m u n i s t t h e r e a r e n o t t w o k i n d s o f stands, o n e w i t h i n t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d a n o t h e r outside it. T h e n o r m s o f the P a r t y in line, in w o r k , and in life are essential for a l l a n d n o one c a n b e a l l o w e d t o v i o l a t e o r e v a d e t h e m . W e are f u l l y c o n f i d e n t that, w h i l e f i g h t i n g against alien influences, o u r writers, artists and all the creative w o r k e r s i n t h e f i e l d o f c u l t u r e a n d art, w i l l , a s a l w a y s , close t h e i r r a n k s e v e n m o r e t i g h t l y r o u n d t h e P a r t y , w i t h w h i c h they are l i n k e d l i k e flesh to bone. W i t h the a i d o f the P a r t y a n d t h r o u g h t h e i r o w n r e v o l u t i o n a r y efforts, t h e y w i l l c l e a n o u t those n o x i o u s w e e d s w h i c h h a v e appeared in our literary, artistic a n d c u l t u r a l life, a n d w i l l b o l d l y c a r r y f o r w a r d t h e great cause o f o u r s o c i a l i s t c u l t u r e , l i t e r a t u r e a n d art. In dealing w i t h the alien ideological influences a n d their manifestations in literature and art at this P l e n u m , i t i s essential t o p o i n t o u t o n c e a g a i n that, i n g e n e r a l , o u r l i t e r a t u r e a n d art are s o u n d , t h a t t h e y h a v e d e v e l o p e d o n the correct c o u r s e a n d h a v e b e e n i n s p i r e d b y t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y a n d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e p e o p l e a n d s o c i a l i s m . The l i v i n g reality of the development of our literature a n d arts i n g e n e r a l , a n d o f the recent p e r i o d i n p a r t i c u l a r , p r o v e s this. T h e good w o r k s o f o u r w r i t e r s a n d artists a r e l i k e d v e r y m u c h a n d f o l l o w e d w i t h great i n t e r e s t b y t h e m a s ses a n d h a v e m a d e a n d are m a k i n g a v a l u a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n t o the g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n o f o u r y o u t h a n d t h e people as a whole. These works, w h i c h have added to the golden t r e a s u r y o f t h e n e w socialist c u l t u r e , a r e a v e r y valuable reflection of the patriotic, progressive and democratic content of the spiritual c r e a t i v i t y of the A l b a n i a n people. B y r e f l e c t i n g t h e g l o r i o u s e p o c h o f t h e
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N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , the g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s formations and the construction of socialism, and being a n a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a n t i n these m a j e s t i c battles, o u r present l i t e r a t u r e a n d arts w i l l c e r t a i n l y be a source of i n s p i r a t i o n f o r t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n s a n d those t h a t c o m e after them. W e are c e r t a i n t h a t i n t h e f u t u r e , t h e c r e a t i v e a c t i v i t y o f o u r w r i t e r s a n d artists w i l l b e i n s p i r e d b y o u r m a r v e l l o u s socialist reality, by the heroic struggle of our p e o p l e , t h e w o r k i n g class a n d o u r l a b o u r i n g p e a s a n t r y , by the lofty revolutionary ideals of the Party, just as t h e y h a v e been h i t h e r t o . T h e y w i l l a l w a y s t a k e t h e i r i n s p i r a t i o n f r o m the centuries-long struggle of our people for freedom and enlightenment, f r o m their powerful democratic and progressive traditions, f r o m the inexhausti b l e s p r i n g o f t h e i r a r t i s t i c e x p e r i e n c e a n d genius. G u i d e d by the great p r i n c i p l e of communist partisanship, our w r i t e r s and artists w i l l certainly t u r n out even worthier w o r k s about the heroic struggle our P a r t y and people a r e w a g i n g t o d a y f o r t h e cause o f r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m , w o r k s c l e a r a n d u n d e r s t a n d a b l e t o t h e masses, w i t h l o f t y c o m m u n i s t ideas, c l e a r n a t i o n a l f e a t u r e s , a n d a n ever higher artistic level. WE MUST FORM REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPTS ABOUT TASTE, CONDUCT AND LIFESTYLE T h e s o c i a l i s t r e v o l u t i o n has b r o u g h t r a d i c a l changes i n t h e s p i r i t u a l l i f e o f o u r society, i n t h e t h i n k i n g , p s y c h o l o g y a n d w a y o f l i f e o f o u r p e o p l e . O u r P a r t y has d e v o t e d c o n t i n u o u s care t o t h e f o r m a t i o n a n d t e m p e r i n g of the n e w m a n w i t h a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w o r d outlook, w i t h a lofty spirit of patriotism, proletarian internationalism and socialist collectivism, w i t h the spirit of sacrifice a n d h e r o i s m , w i t h n e w concepts a b o u t w o r k a n d l i f e ,
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a n d w i t h h i g h r e v o l u t i o n a r y ideals. T o d a y , w e c a n s p e a k o f the r i c h s p i r i t u a l l i f e o f o u r people, a p u r e l i f e t h a t i s d e v e l o p i n g i m p e t u o u s l y , i n w h i c h d e v o t i o n t o t h e great cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m , h e r o i c deeds, h i g h m o r a l v i r t u e s a n d s o u n d tastes a r e o u t s t a n d i n g . T h i s i s a c o m p l i c a t e d a n d c o n t i n u o u s process w h i c h t a k e s p l a c e through an ideological class struggle against a n y alien i n fluence. O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s w a g e d a battle on a l l f r o n t s against a l l t h e ideologies o f e x p l o i t i n g classes. B u t in recent years, w h e n a heavy b l o w has been dealt t o the old r e l i g i o u s , f e u d a l , p a t r i a r c h a l a n d c o n s e r v a t i v e concepts a n d p r e j u d i c e s , the s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e present i n f l u e n c e s o f b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g y a n d t h e i r m a n i f e s t a t i o n i n o u r l i f e has b e e n s o m e w h a t n e g l e c t e d a n d u n d e r e s t i m a t e d . L i b e r a l concepts a n d a t titudes appeared, giving rise to certain h a r m f u l p h e n o mena among certain people and especially among some of the youth. T h o s e i n f l u e n c e s i n l i t e r a t u r e a n d art, a b o u t w h i c h w e spoke, c a n n o t b e v i e w e d a p a r t f r o m c e r t a i n a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s w h i c h h a v e been o b s e r v e d i n t h e tastes, conduct a n d u n s e e m l y b e h a v i o u r o f a f e w y o u n g p e o p l e . These, a n d t h e c o n t i n u o u s p r e s s u r e f r o m a b r o a d , a r e t h e f u n d a m e n t a l causes o f t h e s p r e a d o f c e r t a i n v u l g a r , a l i e n tastes i n m u s i c a n d art, t h e a d o p t i o n o f e x t r a v a g a n t a n d u g l y fashions, a n d u n p l e a s a n t b e h a v i o u r c o n t r a r y t o socialist ethics a n d t h e p o s i t i v e t r a d i t i o n s o f o u r p e o ple. O u r social opinion quite r i g h t l y strongly condemned s u c h degenerate i m p o r t a t i o n s a s l o n g h a i r , e x t r a v a g a n t dress, s c r e a m i n g j u n g l e m u s i c , coarse l a n g u a g e , s h a m e l e s s behaviour and so on. If the influences and manifestat i o n s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s - r e v i s i o n i s t w a y o f l i f e are n o t nipped in the bud, they open the w a y to the corruption a n d d e g e n e r a t i o n o f p e o p l e w h i c h are s o d a n g e r o u s t o the cause of s o c i a l i s m .
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T h e all-round s p i r i t u a l development and the m o r a l i m a g e o f o u r n e w m a n c a n n o t b e c o n c e i v e d w i t h o u t the f o r m a t i o n o f s o u n d i d e o - a e s t h e t i c tastes a b o u t w h a t i s b e a u t i f u l i n art, i n n a t u r e , i n w o r k a n d i n l i f e . T h e p r o b l e m of tastes is n o t a p u r e l y p e r s o n a l m a t t e r f o r individuals, w h i c h allegedly cannot even be discussed. Despite the presence of the i n d i v i d u a l element in them, tastes a l w a y s h a v e a social character, being f o r m e d u n d e r the direct influence of social a n d economic relations, ideology and culture and social psychology. Hence, it is c l e a r t h a t t h e y h a v e a class c h a r a c t e r . T h e r e f o r e , in essence, o u r tastes a r e t h e c o m p l e t e opposite of b o u r g e o i s r e v i s i o n i s t tastes. O u r c o m m u n i s t taste i s i m b u e d w i t h the revolutionary ideal, w i t h proletarian simplicity, w i t h noble sentiments a n d pure m o r a l virtues. W h i l e f i g h t i n g a g a i n s t t h e p e n e t r a t i o n o f base, v u l gar, b o u r g e o i s - r e v i s i o n i s t tastes, w e have, a t t h e s a m e time, fought and continue to fight against outdated and a n a c h r o n i s t i c tastes i n h e r i t e d f r o m f o r e i g n o c c u p a t i o n s a n d the o l d f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s society, i n t e r w o v e n w i t h t h e old w a y o f l i f e a n d b a c k w a r d , p a t r i a r c h a l customs a n d t r a d i t i o n s . W e s u p p o r t e v e r y n a t u r a l e v o l u t i o n o f tastes in the conditions of our r a p i d socialist development, in compliance w i t h the new requirements of this development, in the spirit of our M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology and o u r s o u n d n a t i o n a l t r a d i t i o n s . W e are opposed t o those c o n servative attitudes of some w h o fail to understand this process a n d r e g a r d i t a s a n e g a t i v e p h e n o m e n o n a n d a n alien influence. T h e f o r m a t i o n of content also r e q u i r e s of the new man, and cate h i m ideologically also achieved t h r o u g h ficial, narrow cultural s o u n d tastes w i t h a c l e a r socialist the all-round cultural development especially systematic efforts to e d u a n d a e s t h e t i c a l l y . T h e s e a i m s are a continuous fight against a s u p e r h o r i z o n a n d f o r a deeper a p p r e c i -
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a t i o n o f the o u t s t a n d i n g v a l u e s o f n a t i o n a l a n d w o r l d culture. Great possibilities have been created in our country today for the continuous uplift of the c u l t u r a l a n d ideoaesthetic l e v e l o f a l l t h e w o r k i n g masses a n d o f t h e y o u t h i n p a r t i c u l a r . A l o n g w i t h t h e schools, b o t h t h e specialized cultural a n d artistic institutions a n d the other means of mass propaganda have been greatly increased a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d , a n d these p l a y a r o l e o f p r i m a r y i m p o r t a n c e i n t h i s process. B u t these means, w h i c h h a v e been e x t e n d e d t o t h e f a r t h e s t c o r n e r s o f t h e c o u n t r y , a r e not utilized in an intensive a n d qualified way. For us Marxist-Leninists our w a y of life is an integral part of our w h o l e socialist social life, w h i c h develops i n close c o n n e c t i o n w i t h o u r w h o l e r e v o l u t i o n , i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h o u r socialist i d e o l o g y a n d the n o r m s o f c o m munist morality. This is how we conceive the material well-being and the spiritual w o r l d of m a n , the assertion of his individuality, emancipation, personal happiness a n d f a m i l y life. T h e revolutionary communist ideal is the one and only ideal w h i c h guides us in a l l o u r activities a n d life. T h e bourgeois-revisionist concept of life, the most typical manifestations of w h i c h are unrestrained i n d i v i d u a l i s m a n d egoism, aimlessness a n d v a n i t y , t h e p u r suit of l u x u r y and fulfilment of every w h i m , dissipation and degeneration, parasitism and crime, w h i c h have become i n c u r a b l e m o r a l a n d s o c i a l i l l s o f p r e s e n t - d a y c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t society, i s u t t e r l y a l i e n t o us. W e see the w a y o f l i f e i n constant d e v e l o p m e n t , c o n ditioned by a l l the social, economic and c u l t u r a l t r a n s formations, and by the rise in the general well-being. I n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e r a p i d s o c i a l a n d d e m o g r a p h i c changes, the g r o w t h o f t o w n s a n d t h e c r e a t i o n o f n e w i n h a b i t e d centres, t h e i n c r e a s e i n t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e a l l - r o u n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , e s p e c i a l l y its s o c i a l a n d
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c u l t u r a l development, the break-up of the patriarchal f a m i l y , the great development of education and culture a n d the evolution of the social psychology, h a v e l e d to radical changes in the w a y of life. A v e r y i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n t h i s respect has b e e n p l a y e d by the great ideological actions against religion, backw a r d c u s t o m s a n d o u t d a t e d t r a d i t i o n s , actions w h i c h h a v e dealt h e a v y blows to anachronistic concepts a n d practices. T h e s e p o s i t i v e r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e v e l o p m e n t s h a v e also been accompanied by the emergence of new problems, by i n c r e a s e d d e m a n d s o f t h e masses i n m a t e r i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l life, and especially for culture a n d education. In order t o r e s p o n d t o these d e m a n d s a n d f u l f i l t h e m g r a d u a l l y , in accord w i t h the existing conditions a n d possibilities, it i s n e c e s s a r y t o b r o a d e n o u r concept o f a c u l t u r e d l i f e i n a l l its aspects, f r o m the i n t e l l e c t u a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f m a n to the environment w h e r e he lives and w o r k s . On the other h a n d , our P a r t y also strikes hard against all those who, in the n a m e of the struggle against conservatism, in the n a m e of meeting the demands o f t h e t i m e s a n d o f the y o u t h , o f f r e e d o m a n d d e m o c r a c y , attempt and strive to introduce among us the spirit of bourgeois corruption a n d degeneration. N o w , our w o r k i n g masses a n d o u r y o u t h h a v e gone o n t h e a t t a c k against this c o r r u p t i n g i n f l u e n c e , against a n y l i b e r a l s t a n d t h a t p a v e s t h e w a y t o its p e n e t r a t i o n . T h i s s t r u g g l e i s b e i n g waged by revolutionizing public opinion, by enhancing its vigilance a n d sensitivity. L i b e r a l attitudes towards alien influences cannot be eliminated w i t h o u t fighting against manifestations of indifference in public opinion, against passivity, toleration a n d negligence. These are open and typical petty-bourgeois attitudes and have nothing in common w i t h the revolutionary spirit of communist i r r e c o n c i l a b i l i t y w i t h a n y n e g a t i v e p h e n o m e n o n a n d alien manifestation.
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We m u s t create a severe a t m o s p h e r e i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h any breach of our ideology, morality, laws, must create a u n i f i e d f r o n t of e d u c a t i o n by m e r g i n g i n t o one t h e j o i n t e f f o r t s o f t h e school, a l l t h e m a s s m e a n s o f c u l t u r e and propaganda, the social organizations, the f a m i l y and p u b l i c o p i n i o n as a w h o l e . The results achieved in the struggle our P a r t y and t h e masses a r e n o w w a g i n g a g a i n s t a l i e n i n f l u e n c e s a n d m a n i f e s t a t i o n s are a n i m p o r t a n t step a h e a d . B u t i t i s t h e d u t y o f t h e P a r t y , r e l y i n g o n these results, t o c o n t i n u e the fight against liberalism on a l l fronts, to implant r e v o l u t i o n a r y concepts d e e p i n t h e consciousness o f t h e masses a n d m a k e these p a r t o f t h e i r w o r l d o u t l o o k . We regard and must always regard the w o r k for t h e c o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g people, f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e i r c o m m u n i s t tastes a n d c o n d u c t , f o r t h e t r i u m p h o f socialist m o r a l i t y a n d t h e n e w w a y o f l i f e , as a v e r y i m p o r t a n t aspect of t h e class s t r u g g l e on the ideological front. It is through this p r i s m that we s h o u l d assess a l l the e d u c a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y w h i c h i s c o n ducted under the direction of the Party, all the activity o f its l e v e r s a n d o f t h e v a r i o u s e d u c a t i o n a l a n d c u l t u r a l means. I w a n t t o speak r a t h e r m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y o n t h e w o r k of the youth organization. As a lever and militant reserve of the P a r t y , t h r o u g h o u t its e x i s t e n c e it h a s p l a y e d a v e r y important role in educating and mobilizing the younger g e n e r a t i o n f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d defence o f the H o m e l a n d . T h e P a r t y has a l w a y s e n t r u s t e d t h e y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h r e s p o n s i b l e tasks, a n d i t has a l w a y s f u l l y j u s t i f i e d t h i s t r u s t w i t h its t i r e l e s s s t r u g g l e a n d w o r k i n the service of the people and the revolution. T h e exposure of the mistakes and the self-criticism w h i c h the youth organizations m a d e a r e a v e r y good sign, i n d i c a t i n g t h a t u n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f t h e P a r t y t h e y
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w i l l soon i m p r o v e t h e i r s i t u a t i o n a n d w i l l s t a n d a s m i l i tant detachments g u i d i n g the impetus of the youth. B u t o u r P a r t y a s a w h o l e , a n d t h e cadres a n d m i l i t a n t s o f the y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t d r a w lessons f r o m t h e m i s t a k e s that have occurred a n d not allow t h e m to be repeated. W e s h o u l d n e v e r f o r a m o m e n t f o r g e t t h a t the y o u t h h a v e been a n d a l w a y s r e m a i n a t a r g e t o f the a c t i v i t y o f a l l o u r e n e m i e s . T h e r e f o r e , the y o u t h m u s t b e c o n tinually tempered and moulded as revolutionaries, both b y s p e a k i n g t o t h e m a b o u t t h e past, a b o u t the s t r u g g l e a n d the d i f f i c u l t i e s t h a t h a v e b e e n o v e r c o m e , a s w e l l a s b y l a u n c h i n g t h e m i n t o actions, m a k i n g t h e m w o r k s e r i o u s l y : w h e n t h e y are p u p i l s a n d students, a n d w h e n they leave school, in production w o r k or w h e r e v e r they a r e a p p o i n t e d . I n a l l the w o r k t h e P a r t y i s d o i n g t o d a y f o r t h e g e n e r a l c o n s o l i d a t i o n of t h e s i t u a t i o n , a s p e c i a l p l a c e s h o u l d b e o c c u p i e d b y the s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the L a bour Y o u t h U n i o n of A l b a n i a and the strengthening of t h e w o r k w i t h y o u t h i n g e n e r a l . W e m u s t see t o i t t h a t the schools, t h e a r t i s t i c a n d c u l t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , a l l the m e a n s o f p r o p a g a n d a , sports, etc. a r e p l a c e d m o r e c o m pletely at the service of the revolutionary education of our youth. As always, the y o u t h have understood the advice and teachings o f t h e P a r t y c o r r e c t l y a n d a r e p u t t i n g t h e m i n t o practice w i t h all their might. This is another proof of the close l i n k s o f t h e y o u t h w i t h the P a r t y . T h e q u e s t i o n n o w i s t o i n t e n s i f y o u r w o r k w i t h y o u t h s o t h a t these p r o b l e m s are u n d e r s t o o d b e t t e r f r o m t h e i d e o l o g i c a l s t a n d point, s o t h a t t h e y e n g a g e t h e m s e l v e s m o r e e x t e n s i v e l y a n d a c t i v e l y i n t h e class struggle, i n s t u d y t o m a s t e r the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y , science a n d t e c h n o l o g y , i n w o r k a n d mass a c t i o n s f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m , a n d i n physical and m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g for the defence of the H o m e l a n d a n d . o n t h i s s o u n d basis, t o t e m p e r t h e m f u r -
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ther as an invincible revolutionary force in the struggle the P a r t y is leading for the construction of socialism in our country.
THE ORGANIZATIONS OF THE PARTY AND THE COMMUNISTS SHOULD STAND IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE STRUGGLE AGAINST MANIFESTATIONS OF ALIEN IDEOLOGY Our P a r t y has never concealed shortcomings and weaknesses, has not hesitated to denounce t h e m openly a n d c o u r a g e o u s l y b e f o r e t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d the p e o p l e . T h i s i s h o w i t has a c t e d i n t h e past, a n d t h i s i s h o w i t i s acting today. O u r criticisms in no w a y obscure the m a g n i f i c i e n t successes a n d v i c t o r i e s the P a r t y has scored i n a l l spheres of t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n of the c o u n t r y . T h e y are f u r t h e r p r o o f of the seriousness of o u r P a r t y , of its s t r e n g t h a n d its close ties w i t h t h e people. T h e a u t h o r i t y o f the P a r t y a n d t h e people's t r u s t i n i t h a v e n e v e r b e e n higher or stronger t h a n today. T h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y h a s b e e n a n d i s correct, r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t , b u t its d i r e c t i v e s o n c e r t a i n i m p o r t a n t issues dealt w i t h i n this r e p o r t h a v e not a l w a y s been i n t e r p r e t e d a n d i m p l e m e n t e d c o r r e c t l y a n d , i n d e e d , h a v e e v e n b e e n d i s t o r t e d . A l l these t h i n g s h a v e h a p p e n e d b e f o r e t h e v e r y eyes o f m a n y c o m m u n i s t s , c a d res, o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d c o m m i t t e e s o f t h e P a r t y . B u t w h y have they been allowed? W h y have certain comrades t e n d e d towards a one-sided interpretation of p a r t y directives? W h y have m a n y alien manifestations been u n d e r e s t i m a t e d a n d t h e s t r u g g l e against t h e m s l a c k e n e d ? T h e m a i n source o f the e v i l m u s t b e s o u g h t i n the l i b e r a l i z a t i o n of concepts a n d a t t i t u d e s on a n u m b e r of i m p o r t a n t issues. A n d t h i s e v i l m u s t b e e r a d i c a t e d . L i b e r a l i s m does not f a l l f r o m the s k y : i t i s a p r o d uct o f the i d e o l o g i c a l p r e s s u r e o f i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l
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e n e m i e s w h o a i m t o u n d e r m i n e t h e people's state p o w e r a n d socialism. B u t the appearance of this phenomenon a n d especially the extent to w h i c h it spreads depend, to a l a r g e degree, o n h o w t h e P a r t y w o r k s , o n t h e e x t e n t to w h i c h the danger is recognized, a n d on the struggle the P a r t y wages for the r e v o l u t i o n a r y education a n d t e m p e r i n g o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d w o r k i n g people. T h e f a c t t h a t t h i s p h e n o m e n o n has n o t become a w i d e s p r e a d d i s ease i n o u r P a r t y i s clear t e s t i m o n y t o its v i g i l a n c e a n d t h e c o r r e c t f i g h t i t has w a g e d a n d c o n t i n u e s t o w a g e . Nevertheless, the manifestations of liberalism in the life o f o u r society, w h i c h w e a r e c r i t i c i z i n g t o d a y , m u s t b e v i e w e d i n close c o n n e c t i o n w i t h those m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f l i b e r a l i s m w h i c h have appeared in the life and activity o f t h e P a r t y itself. I t m u s t b e stressed, h o w e v e r , t h a t t h i s p r o b l e m has b e e n d e a l t w i t h s l i g h t l y i n t h e m e e t i n g s of t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s . W h e r e is liberalism expressed in the life of the P a r t y ? In the first place, in the fact that in m a n y basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h e r e is not a l w a y s a f u l l sense of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , b o t h on t h e p a r t of t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n as a w h o l e a n d in each i n d i v i d u a l communist, about i m p l e m e n t i n g the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y i n a l l t h e spheres o f l i f e w i t h i n its j u r i s d i c t i o n . I n c e r t a i n sectors, l i k e those o f art, c u l t u r e a n d e d u c a t i o n , t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y h a v e not always p l a y e d their leading role in the forefront of the w o r k . T h e y h a v e n o t t a k e n u p t h e f u n d a m e n t a l p r o b l e m s o f t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e a c t i v i t y o f these i n s t i t u t i o n s and have not exerted their influence and exercised their control to ensure that the line of the P a r t y is correctly i n t e r p r e t e d a n d a p p l i e d . H a r m h a s been d o n e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n b y e r r o n e o u s concepts a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h t h e p r o b l e m s o f art a n d c u l t u r e are q u e s t i o n s w h i c h m a i n l y c o n c e r n specialists, a n d t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e n o r e a s o n t o i n v o l v e t h e m s e l v e s m u c h i n these m a t t e r s .
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U n d o u b t e d l y the o p i n i o n of the specialists m u s t be l i s t e n e d t o a n d respected, f o r t h e y h a v e e m e r g e d f r o m t h e people, a r e m e n o f t h e P a r t y , e d u c a t e d w i t h its t e a c h ings. In e v e r y instance, however, the basic organizations bear f u l l responsibility for the correct application of the line of the Party. The communists cannot be required to k n o w t h e t e c h n i c a l a n d a r t i s t i c aspects i n d e t a i l , b u t i t is their fundamental d u t y to defend the line. E v e r y c o m m u n i s t m u s t be a specialist of the line of the P a r t y . A n d t h e fact i s t h a t w h e n t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e c u l tural-artistic institutions seriously involve themselves in a n a l y s i n g t h e w o r k o f these i n s t i t u t i o n s , t h e y s h o w t h a t they are f u l l y capable of d e a l i n g p r o f o u n d l y w i t h the p r o b l e m s of the i d e o - a e s t h e t i c content of t h e a c t i v i t y of t h e i r sector a n d s o l v i n g t h e m c o r r e c t l y . It must be thoroughly understood in principle a n d applied w e l l in practice that strengthening the leading r o l e o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s i s a p e r m a n e n t a n d v i t a l t a s k o f t h e P a r t y , because its l e a d i n g r o l e i s r e a l i z e d through them. A s w e h a v e stressed a t o t h e r t i m e s , t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the P a r t y is p r i m a r i l y a political-ideological leadership. This means that the P a r t y must carry on extensive ideopolitical w o r k for a correct understanding of its directives, a n d t o m a k e w o r k e r s c o n s c i e n t i o u s i n c a r r y i n g t h e m out. T h i s i s a v e r y w i d e f i e l d o f p a r t y w o r k , w i t h decisive importance. M a n y weaknesses a n d shortcomings w h i c h w e are c r i t i c i z i n g h a v e t h e i r s o u r c e p r e c i s e l y i n t h e defects i n t h i s w o r k , i n its s u p e r f i c i a l i t y a n d o n e sidedness, l a c k o f c o n t a c t w i t h l i f e , f o r m a l i s m , a n d its frequently general character. If there have been n a r r o w a n d one-sided i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t a n d r e visionist geographical encirclement, of centralism and democracy, o f state c o n t r o l a n d w o r k e r c o n t r o l , o f r i g h t s a n d duties, of the e m a n c i p a t i o n of w o m e n , if there h a v e been
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m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g s a n d d i s t o r t i o n s o f c e r t a i n issues i n t h e f i e l d o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d art, e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e , t h i s s h o w s t h a t i n m a n y cases t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y h a v e not been analysed in a f u l l a n d a l l - r o u n d way, theoretically a n d practically, and hence they have not been p r o p e r l y embodied in the d a i l y activity of the communists a n d w o r k i n g people, a n d t h e r e h a v e been v a c i l l a t i o n s f r o m o n e s i d e t o t h e o t h e r , t a k i n g u p o n e aspect a n d neglecting the other. These one-sided interpretations a n d attitudes, the l u r c h e s f r o m o n e side t o t h e o t h e r , f r o m c o n s e r v a t i s m t o l i b e r a l i s m a n d v i c e v e r s a , a l s o h a v e a r e a l basis i n o u r country in the petty-bourgeois character inherited f r o m t h e past, w h i c h w e c a n n o t s a y has b e e n t o t a l l y e l i m i n a t e d . T h e petty-bourgeois tends t o l e a v e one p r o b l e m a n d t a k e u p a n o t h e r , t o seize u p o n o n e aspect a n d neglect another, to go f r o m one extreme to the other. T h e pettybourgeois ideology a n d psychology, w h i c h are deep-rooted i n o u r c o u n t r y , a r e a basis o f s u p p o r t b o t h f o r t h e o l d p a t r i a r c h a l , f e u d a l a n d r e l i g i o u s ideologies, a n d f o r t h e bourgeois-revisionist ideology of the present day. T h e y constitute the bridge w h i c h connects conservatism a n d liberalism a n d w h i c h n u r t u r e a n d encourage them. This means that the committees and organizations of the P a r t y must go more deeply into ideological p r o b l e m s a n d d e a l w i t h t h e m better, f o r w e see t h a t i n practice the directives of the P a r t y are not explained a n d understood properly, the problems a n d phenomena are not analysed p r o f o u n d l y f r o m the ideological a n d political p o i n t o f v i e w , f e w issues o f t h i s n a t u r e a r e t a k e n u p for discussion, a n d often the committees a n d organizat i o n s are o v e r w h e l m e d b y t h e r o u t i n e o f m i n o r d a i l y issues. T h i s w e m u s t see a s o n e o f t h e m a i n s h o r t c o m i n g s in the w o r k of the P a r t y in regard to the problems we are d i s c u s s i n g . I f t h i s s h o r t c o m i n g i s n o t t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r -
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stood, i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o correct t h e defects a n d w e a k nesses w e are c r i t i c i z i n g a n d t o h a v e o u r a f f a i r s r u n smoothly. We must f o r m a m o r e correct understanding of the w o r k of the P a r t y in general a n d of its educational w o r k in particular. Despite the great role education plays, it cannot be absolutized. In fact, o v e r e s t i m a t i o n of e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k a n d the l e v e l o f consciousness l e d , i n m a n y cases, to t h e w e a k e n i n g of o r g a n i z a t i o n a l , a d m i n i s t r a t i v e , t e c h n i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c measures, w h i c h b e c a m e the cause o f v a r i o u s l i b e r a l m a n i f e s t a t i o n s i n t h e a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s w o r k a n d p r o p e r t y , t o w a r d s lesson, t h e p e r f o r m ance of duties, t o w a r d s o r g a n i z a t i o n of c h e c k u p , dem a n d i n g the rendering of account a n d so on. T h e w o r k of the P a r t y is v e r y complex, because life itself, w h i c h i t directs a n d leads, i s c o m p l e x . T h i s m e a n s that various problems cannot be solved simply by app e a l i n g t o p e o p l e ' s conscience, i n d e e d e d u c a t i o n i t s e l f connot be achieved only t h r o u g h lectures a n d conferences. In l i f e , p r o b l e m s a r e solved t h r o u g h a c o m p l e x of political, economic, educational and c u l t u r a l organizational and administrative measures. People are educated a n d their r e v o l u t i o n a r y consciousness i s t e m p e r e d i n this complex. The d u t y of the P a r t y is to raise the masses to its l e v e l o f consciousness. B u t w e m u s t b e r e a l i s t i c , m u s t t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t t h e l e v e l o f consciousness r e a c h e d b y the masses a n d n o t c o n f o u n d it w i t h the consciousness of the vanguard, o r d e m a n d o f them w h a t w e c a n and should d e m a n d of the most a d v a n c e d section of the class a n d o f the masses w h i c h i s o r g a n i z e d i n t h e P a r t y . This must never be forgotten whenever we put f o r w a r d new tasks, o t h e r w i s e t h e v a n g u a r d goes t o o f a r a h e a d a n d detaches itself f r o m t h e masses, w h i c h , i n t u r n , leads to serious consequences.
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L i k e a l l t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y , its d i r e c t i v e s f o r m a single u n i t y and should never be taken in isolation from one another. It w o u l d be a mistake to t h i n k that earlier d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y o n t h e s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c racy and for the development of democracy, on w o r k e r c o n t r o l a n d t h e f i g h t against a r b i t r a r i t y , o n t h e correct r e l a t i o n s t h a t s h o u l d e x i s t b e t w e e n t h e P a r t y , t h e class a n d t h e masses, o n t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f t h e s c h o o l a n d the a r m y , etc., a r e n o w n o l o n g e r v a l i d . T h e s t a n d o f t h e P a r t y i s consistent, a n d t h e r e a r e n o c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n its d i r e c t i v e s . I t w o u l d b e a n e n t i r e l y e r r o n e o u s p r a c t i c e i n o u r m e t h o d o f w o r k if, w h e n a n e w d i r e c t i v e is issued, a n e w d e c i s i o n t a k e n or a n e w speech d e l i v e r e d , a l l t h e p r e v i o u s ones a r e l e f t aside. T h i s leads both to w o r k by campaigns, and to v i e w i n g problems one-sidedly. T h e r e f o r e , t h e s t r u g g l e against l i b e r a l i s m a n d c o n s e r v a t i s m , too, m u s t b e w a g e d i n a c o r r e c t w a y . C o n s e r v a tive elements w o u l d l i k e the struggle against liberalism to be waged f r o m their position, just as the liberal e l e m e n t s t r i e d t o e x p l o i t t h e s t r u g g l e against c o n s e r v a t i s m i n o r d e r t o s p r e a d l i b e r a l i s m . T h e o n l y correct s t a n d o n t h i s issue i s t h a t b o t h t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t l i b e r a l i s m a n d t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t c o n s e r v a t i s m s h o u l d b e w a g e d successf u l l y o n l y f r o m a principled Marxist-Leninist position. If t h i s p r o b l e m is n o t u n d e r s t o o d c o r r e c t l y t h e r e is a danger that now, w h e n we are fighting against m a n i festations of bourgeois and revisionist ideology and against l i b e r a l attitudes, we m a y m a k e mistakes a n d take a n inflexible, sectarian a n d extremist attitude. W e e m p h a s i z e t h i s because t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n people, i n c l u d i n g cadres, w h o t h i n k t h a t t h e t i m e has n o w c o m e t o t i g h t e n u p , w h o are i n c l i n e d t o w a r d s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e measures, w h o want to revive arrogance and arbitrarity and to substitute
848 t h e m f o r the convictions.
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T h e issues w e are r a i s i n g a t t h i s P l e n u m a r e c l o s e l y l i n k e d w i t h a m a j o r c a r d i n a l p r o b l e m , t h a t o f the u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e class s t r u g g l e i n t h e proper way. T h e P a r t y has long m a d e it clear that the class s t r u g g l e is one of the m a i n m o t i v e forces of o u r socialist society, t h a t i t i s a v e r y b r o a d s t r u g g l e w h i c h i s w a g e d i n a l l f i e l d s , b o t h against i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l enemies a n d w i t h i n the ranks of the people a n d the P a r t y , a n d t h a t i n t h e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n s t h e class s t r u g gle on t h e ideological f r o n t assumes s p e c i a l importance. I n o u r c o u n t r y the class s t r u g g l e has b e e n w a g e d c o r rectly, a n d t h a t i s w h y a l l t h e p l a n s o f t h e e n e m y h a v e f a i l e d a n d o u r r e v o l u t i o n has a l w a y s f o r g e d a h e a d . I n t h i s struggle t h e P a r t y has b e e n s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d t e m p e r e d , t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t has b e e n c o n s o l i d a t e d , t h e s o l i d a r i t y o f t h e P a r t y w i t h t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the w o r k i n g masses has b e e n f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n e d , a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r y consciousness o f t h e p e o p l e has b e e n r a i s e d . B u t t h i s does n o t m e a n t h a t t h e r e are n o f a u l t s a n d w e a k n e s s e s i n t h e w a y t h e class s t r u g g l e i s u n d e r stood a n d w a g e d . I n p r a c t i c e w e h a v e c o m e u p a g a i n s t m a n y superficial, n a r r o w and one-sided interpretations, t o n i n g d o w n o f t h e class s t r u g g l e a n d u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n of the enemies, lack of p r o f o u n d k n o w l e d g e of their present tactics, a n d i n d i f f e r e n t a n d o p p o r t u n i s t stands. T o s t i c k o r n o t t o s t i c k t o t h e class s t r u g g l e , t o h a v e a f u l l or s u p e r f i c i a l k n o w l e d g e of it, to w a g e it on a l l f r o n t s o r i n a o n e - s i d e d w a y , t o w a g e i t i n a correct, r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y o r t o w e a k e n i t a n d m a k e concessions this i s a v i t a l p r o b l e m o n w h i c h t h e f u t u r e o f s o c i a l ism depends. O u r enemies w a n t us to slacken our v i g i lance a n d a l l o w t h e class s t r u g g l e t o d i e d o w n . B u t w h a t should w e do? T h e opposite. W e s h o u l d enhance o u r v i -
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g i l a n c e a n d w a g e t h e class s t r u g g l e c o n s i s t e n t l y i n o r d e r to defend the victories achieved, a n d to m a k e our H o m e l a n d , socialist A l b a n i a , e v e n stronger, e v e n m o r e i n v i n cible, f o r t h e g o o d of the people a n d the cause of c o m munism.
Against
THE TRAGIC EVENTS IN CHILE A LESSON FOR THE REVOLUTIONARIES OF THE WHOLE WORLD

October 2, 1973
I n C h i l e the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t o r m c o n t i n u e s t o rage against the w o r k i n g masses, t h e p a t r i o t s a n d f i g h t e r s o f t h a t c o u n t r y . T h e r i g h t i s t forces w h i c h seized p o w e r as a r e s u l t of t h e S e p t e m b e r 11 coup d'tat h a v e e s t a b lished a reign of terror w h i c h even the Hitlerites w o u l d have envied. People are being ruthlessly m u r d e r e d a n d m a s s a c r e d e v e r y w h e r e , i n the streets o r a t w o r k , w i t h o u t t r i a l , a n d o n a n y p r e t e x t . T h e sports s t a d i u m s h a v e been transformed into concentration camps. Progressive c u l ture is being trampled underfoot. M a r x i s t books are being b u r n t i n b o n f i r e s i n t h e squares, n a z i s t y l e . W h i l e t h e democratic parties, trade-unions, a n d democratic o r g a n i z a tions have been outlawed, m e d i a e v a l obscurantism is spreading over the w h o l e country. The most fanatical, u l t r a - r e a c t i o n a r y forces o f darkness, the agents o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m are s t r u t t i n g o n t h e p o l i t i c a l stage. T h e democratic freedoms w h i c h the people h a d w o n through struggle and bloodshed w e r e w i p e d out w i t h i n one day. but T h e events i n C h i l e a f f e c t n o t o n l y the C h i l e a n people, all the revolutionary, progressive and peace-loving
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forces o f t h e w o r l d , t h e r e f o r e , the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e n o t o n l y o f C h i l e , b u t also o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , o u g h t t o d r a w c o n c l u s i o n s f r o m these events. O f course, w e a r e n o t t a l k i n g o f a n a n a l y s i s o f p u r e l y n a t i o n a l d e t a i l s a n d aspects, o r o f s p e c i f i c actions, s h o r t comings or mistakes of the Chilean revolution, w h i c h do not go beyond the internal f r a m e w o r k of this revolution. W e a r e s p e a k i n g o f those u n i v e r s a l l a w s w h i c h n o r e v olution can avoid and w h i c h every revolution is obliged t o a p p l y . T h e p r o b l e m i s t o e x a m i n e a n d assess i n t h e light of the events in C h i l e w h i c h views p r o v e d correct a n d w h i c h d i s t o r t e d o n t h e issues o f t h e t h e o r y a n d p r a c tice o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t o v e r i f y w h i c h theses are r e v o l utionary and w h i c h are opportunist, and to determine w h i c h a t t i t u d e s a n d a c t i o n s assist t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d w h i c h assist t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n . I n t h e f i r s t place, i t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t t h e p e r i o d d u r i n g w h i c h the A l l e n d e government remained in power is not a p e r i o d w h i c h can easily be erased f r o m the life of the C h i l e a n people or f r o m the w h o l e history of L a t i n A m e r i c a . Interpreting the demands and wishes of the b r o a d e s t p o p u l a r masses, t h e P o p u l a r U n i t y g o v e r n m e n t a d o p t e d a series of m e a s u r e s a n d c a r r i e d o u t a n u m b e r of r e f o r m s w h i c h w e r e i n t e n d e d t o s t r e n g t h e n the n a t i o n a l f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f the c o u n t r y a n d the i n d e pendent development of its economy. This government struck heavy blows at the local oligarchy and the A m e r i c a n monopolies w h i c h held all the key positions and were m a k i n g the l a w in the country. T h e inspirer of this progressive and anti-imperialist c o u r s e w a s P r e s i d e n t A l l e n d e , one o f t h e noblest f i g u r e s to emerge f r o m L a t i n America, an outstanding patriot a n d d e m o c r a t i c f i g h t e r . U n d e r his l e a d e r s h i p t h e C h i l e a n people struggled for the l a n d r e f o r m , struggled for the nationalization of foreign companies, struggled for the
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d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f the l i f e o f the c o u n t r y a n d f o r t h e freedom of Chile f r o m A m e r i c a n influence. Allende strongly supported the anti-imperialist liberation movements in L a t i n A m e r i c a and made his country an a s y l u m for all the freedom fighters persecuted by the thugs a n d m i l i t a r y juntas of L a t i n A m e r i c a . He gave the peoples' liberation and anti-imperialist movements his unreserved support and was in f u l l solidarity w i t h the struggle of the V i e t n a mese, C a m b o d i a n , P a l e s t i n i a n a n d o t h e r peoples. C o u l d t h e b i g C h i l e a n l a n d o w n e r s , w h o s a w t h e i r estates d i s t r i b u t e d t o t h e p o o r peasants, f o r g i v e h i m f o r p u r s u i n g t h i s course a n d t h i s a c t i v i t y ? C o u l d t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r s of Santiago, w h o were expelled f r o m their nationalized plants, t o l e r a t e t h i s ? O r t h e A m e r i c a n c o m p a n i e s w h i c h lost t h e i r p o w e r ? I t w a s c e r t a i n t h a t one d a y t h e y w o u l d u n i t e t o o v e r t h r o w h i m a n d r e g a i n t h e i r lost p r i v i l e g e s . Here a natural question arises: W a s A l l e n d e aware of the a t m o s p h e r e w h i c h s u r r o u n d e d h i m , d i d h e see t h e conspiracies being hatched up against h i m ? Of course, h e d i d . R e a c t i o n o p e r a t e d o p e n l y . I t assassinated c a b i n e t ministers, functionaries of government parties a n d r a n k and-file officials. It instigated a n d directed the o r g a n i z a tion of the counter-revolutionary strikes of the t r u c k d r i v e r s , m e r c h a n t s , doctors a n d o t h e r p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s s t r a t a . F i n a l l y i t t r i e d its s t r e n g t h i n t h e m i l i t a r y c o u p i n J u n e , which proved abortive. Several plans of the C I A for the overthrow of the l a w f u l government were discovered. These attacks by internal and external reaction w o u l d h a v e been s u f f i c i e n t t o s o u n d t h e a l a r m a n d m a k e A l l e n d e reflect. T h e y w o u l d h a v e been a m p l e r e a s o n t o i m p l e m e n t t h e great l a w o f e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n , t h a t c o u n t e r - r e v olutionary violence must be opposed w i t h revolutionary violence. B u t President A l l e n d e d i d nothing, m a d e n o move. Certainly, he cannot be accused of lack of ideals. H e l o v e d t h e cause f o r w h i c h h e f o u g h t w i t h a l l h i s h e a r t
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a n d , t o t h e e n d , h e b e l i e v e d i n t h e j u s t i c e o f t h a t cause. He d i d not lack personal courage a n d was ready to make, a n d d i d in fact make, the supreme sacrifice. B u t his t r a gedy was that he believed he could convince the reactiona r y forces through reason to give up their activity and r e l i n q u i s h t h e i r past p o s i t i o n s a n d p r i v i l e g e s o f t h e i r o w n good w i l l . In C h i l e it w a s believed that the relatively oldestablished democratic traditions, parliament, the legal a c t i v i t y o f p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s , t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a f r e e press, etc., w e r e a n i n s u r m o u n t a b l e obstacle t o a n y r e a c t i o n a r y f o r c e w h i c h m i g h t a t t e m p t t o seize p o w e r b y v i o l e n c e . T h e r e a l i t y , h o w e v e r , p r o v e d t h e opposite. T h e coup d'tat o f t h e r i g h t i s t forces p r o v e d t h a t the b o u r g e o i s i e w i l l t o l e r a t e c e r t a i n f r e e d o m s j u s t s o l o n g a s its e s s e n t i a l i n terests a r e n o t a f f e c t e d , b u t w h e n i t sees t h a t these i n terests a r e t h r e a t e n e d , i t i s n o l o n g e r c o n c e r n e d a b o u t ethics. T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d p r o g r e s s i v e forces i n C h i l e h a v e s u f f e r e d a defeat. T h i s i s v e r y serious, b u t t e m p o r ary. A constitutional government m a y be overthrown, t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e m a y b e k i l l e d a n d scores o f c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s set u p , b u t t h e s p i r i t o f f r e e d o m , t h e p e o ple's spirit of revolt, c a n be neither k i l l e d n o r imprisoned. T h e people are resisting, and this proves that the w o r k i n g masses a r e not r e c o n c i l e d t o defeat, t h a t t h e y a r e d e t e r m i n e d t o d r a w c o n c l u s i o n s f r o m this a n d t o a d v a n c e o n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y r o a d . T h e l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e against r e a c t i o n a n d i m p e r i a l i s m h a s its zigzags, its ups a n d downs. There is no doubt that the Chilean people w h o have given so m a n y proofs of their lofty patriotism, w h o h a v e d i s p l a y e d s u c h l o v e f o r f r e e d o m a n d justice, a n d w h o hate i m p e r i a l i s m and reaction so profoundly, w i l l k n o w h o w t o m o b i l i z e t h e i r forces a n d f i g h t t h e e n e m i e s b l o w for b l o w to ensure the final victory for themselves.
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F o r the C h i l e a n people this is a grave, although temporary, misfortune, but for the m o d e r n revisionists i t constitutes a n a l l - r o u n d defeat, a c o m p l e t e o v e r t u r n i n g of their opportunist theories. A l l the revisionists, f r o m those o f M o s c o w t o those o f Italy, F r a n c e a n d e l s e w h e r e , p r e s e n t e d t h e C h i l e a n e x p e r i e n c e as a c o n c r e t e e x a m p l e w h i c h p r o v e d their new theories about the peaceful r o a d o f the r e v o l u t i o n , the t r a n s i t i o n t o s o c i a l i s m u n d e r the l e a d e r s h i p o f m a n y p a r t i e s , the m o d e r a t i o n o f the n a t u r e o f i m p e r i a l i s m , t h e d y i n g out o f t h e class s t r u g g l e i n the c o n d i t i o n s o f p e a c e f u l coexistence, etc. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t press m a d e great p l a y w i t h the C h i l e a n r o a d i n o r d e r t o a d v e r t i s e the o p p o r t u n i s t theses o f t h e 20th C o n gress o f t h e C P S U a n d t h e r e f o r m i s t a n d U t o p i a n p r o g r a m s of the T o g l i a t t i s t t y p e . F r o m the Chilean experience the revisionists e x pected n o t o n l y c o n f i r m a t i o n o f t h e i r theories a b o u t the p a r l i a m e n t a r y road, b u t also a classical e x a m p l e o f the b u i l d i n g o f s o c i a l i s m u n d e r the l e a d e r s h i p o f a coalition of M a r x i s t and bourgeois parties. T h e y expected c o n f i r m a t i o n o f t h e i r thesis that t h e t r a n s i t i o n t o s o c i a l i s m is possible through p a r l i a m e n t a r y elections a n d w i t h o u t revolution, that socialism can be built, not only w i t h o u t s m a s h i n g t h e o l d state a p p a r a t u s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , b u t e v e n w i t h its a i d . n o t o n l y w i t h o u t e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y people's p o w e r , b u t b y n e g a t i n g it. T h e t h e o r i e s o f p e a c e f u l coexistence a n d t h e peacef u l p a r l i a m e n t a r y road, p r o p o u n d e d b y the S o v i e t r e v i sionists, i n t h e f i r s t place, a n d b y t h e I t a l i a n a n d F r e n c h revisionists and their other supporters, are responsible to a v e r y considerable extent for the spread of pacifist i l l u s i o n s a n d o p p o r t u n i s t stands t o w a r d s t h e b o u r g e o i s i e and deviation f r o m the revolutionary struggle. A l l the p r o g r a m m a t i c d o c u m e n t s w h i c h t h e W e s t e r n r e v i s i o n i s t parties h a v e a d o p t e d since the 20th C o n g r e s s of
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t h e C P S U , a b s o l u t i z e the p a r l i a m e n t a r y r o a d o f t r a n s i t i o n f r o m capitalism to socialism, w h i l e the non-peaceful road is definitely excluded. In practice this has brought about that these parties h a v e f i n a l l y r e n o u n c e d the r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e a n d s t r i v e f o r o r d i n a r y r e f o r m s o f a n a r r o w econ o m i c or administrative character. T h e y have t u r n e d into bourgeois opposition parties and have offered to undertake the administration of the w e a l t h of the bourgeoisie, just as the old social-democratic parties have done hitherto. T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i l e , w h i c h w a s one o f t h e m a i n forces o f the A l l e n d e g o v e r n m e n t , f e r v e n t l y a d h e r e d t o t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e theses o f p e a c e f u l t r a n s i tion, b o t h i n t h e o r y a n d practice. F o l l o w i n g i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m Moscow, it c l a i m e d that the n a t i o n a l bourgeoisie a n d i m p e r i a l i s m h a d n o w b e e n t a m e d , h a d become t o l e r a n t a n d r e a s o n a b l e , a n d t h a t i n t h e n e w class c o n d i tions, allegedly created by the p r e s e n t - d a y w o r l d d e v e l o p ment, they w e r e no longer able to go over to counterrevolution. H o w e v e r , a s t h e case o f C h i l e p r o v e d once a g a i n these a n d s i m i l a r t h e o r i e s m a k e t h e w o r k i n g masses irresolute and disorientated, w e a k e n their revolutionary s p i r i t , a n d k e e p t h e m i m m o b i l i z e d i n t h e face o f t h e t h r e a t s o f t h e bourgeoisie, p a r a l y s e t h e i r c a p a c i t y a n d make it impossible for them to carry out decisive revo l u t i o n a r y actions a g a i n s t t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y p l a n s a n d actions o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e . As the genuine Marxist-Leninist parties had predicted a n d a s t i m e c o n f i r m e d , t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s w e r e against t h e revolution and aimed to t u r n the Soviet Union, as t h e y d i d , i n t o a c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r y , f r o m a base of t h e revolution into a base of counter-revolution. They w o r k e d for a very long time to sow confusion in the r a n k s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d u n d e r m i n e t h e r e v olution. Everywhere and at every moment they have
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acted t o e x t i n g u i s h the f l a m e s o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y battles a n d n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n struggles. A l t h o u g h f o r d e m a g o g i c a l purposes t h e y p r e t e n d t o b e f o r the r e v o l u t i o n , w i t h t h e i r v i e w s a n d a c t i v i t i e s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t r y t o n i p i t i n the b u d o r sabotage i t w h e n i t b u r s t s out. Their deviation f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , their abandonm e n t of t h e class i n t e r e s t s of the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e i r b e t r a y a l of t h e cause of n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n of the peoples, h a s l e d the r e v i s i o n i s t s t o c o m p l e t e d e n i a l o f the r e v o l u t i o n . F o r t h e m , t h e t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e o f the r e v o l u t i o n h a v e been reduced to a few reformist demands, w h i c h can be met w i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k of the capitalist order, w i t h o u t a f f e c t i n g its basis. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t r y t o p r o v e t h a t t h e d i v i d i n g l i n e b e t w e e n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d r e f o r m s has been w i p e d out, t h a t i n t o d a y ' s c o n d i t i o n s o f w o r l d d e v e l o p m e n t t h e r e is no l o n g e r a n y n e e d f o r a r e v o l u t i o n a r y o v e r t h r o w , because, t h e y allege, t h e present t e c h nical-scientific revolution is doing a w a y w i t h the social class c o n t r a d i c t i o n s of b o u r g e o i s society, is a l l e g e d l y a means for the integration of capitalism i n t o socialism, a means to create a new society of p r o s p e r i t y for all. T h u s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h i s c o n f u s i n g logic, o n e c a n n o l o n g e r speak a b o u t e x p l o i t e r s a n d e x p l o i t e d , h e n c e a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m , social r e v o l u t i o n , t h e s m a s h i n g o f t h e b o u r g e o i s state m a c h i n e a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of the proletariat become unnecessary. U n d e r the m a s k o f L e n i n i s m a n d its c r e a t i v e d e v e l o p ment the revisionists aimed at w o r l d domination, t u r n i n g themselves into social-imperialists. They began w i t h K h r u s h c h e v i t e p e a c e f u l coexistence, w i t h p e a c e f u l c o m petition, w i t h a w o r l d w i t h o u t w e a p o n s a n d w i t h o u t w a r s , w i t h t h e p a r l i a m e n t a r y road, etc., a n d e n d e d up w i t h the restoration of capitalism in the Soviet U n i o n a n d the d e g e n e r a t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n t o s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m . Hence, t h e y w e r e against t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e s t r u g -
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g l e o f t h e p e o p l e s f o r l i b e r a t i o n , a n d w e r e a g a i n s t the communist parties w h i c h remained loyal to and defended M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . I n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e t h e i r a i m s , esp e c i a l l y the e x t i n g u i s h i n g o f l i b e r a t i o n struggles a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t s , the r e v i s i o n i s t s m a d e the p e a c e f u l road the foundation of their theory. By revising the f u n d a m e n t a l question of M a r x i s m , such as the theory of r e v o l u t i o n , a n d p r o p a g a t i n g t h e i r o p p o r t u n i s t theses, t h e y wanted to convince the w o r k e r s to give up their revolu t i o n a r y class s t r u g g l e , to s u b m i t to the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d accept c a p i t a l i s t s l a v e r y . O n the other h a n d , p e a c e f u l coexistence, w h i c h the Soviet leaders p r o c l a i m e d as the f u n d a m e n t a l line of their foreign policy and w h i c h they w a n t e d to impose on the whole w o r l d communist and national liberation m o v e m e n t , w a s a c o m p l e t e s t r a t e g i c p l a n to r e a c h a broad agreement w i t h i m p e r i a l i s m , to strangle the r e v olutionary movements and to quell the liberation struggles, t o p r e s e r v e a n d e x t e n d t h e i r spheres o f i n f l u e n c e . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s w a n t e d t o use, a n d d i d i n fact use, this k i n d o f coexistence, w h i c h w a s e n t i r e l y s u i t a b l e t o i m p e r i a l i s m a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s i e , as a great d i v e r s i o n to d i s a r m t h e masses i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y , t o b l u n t their revolutionary vigilance and immobilize them, to l e a v e t h e m defenceless i n f a c e o f f u t u r e a t t a c k s o f t h e imperialists and social-imperialists. T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , a s w e l l a s t h e other r e v i s i o n ists w h o m a n a g e d t o u s u r p state p o w e r , d e s t r o y e d the p a r t y b y s t r i p p i n g i t o f its r e v o l u t i o n a r y t h e o r y , rejected and trampled underfoot all the Leninist norms, and paved the w a y to liberalism and degeneration in the country. I n s p r e a d i n g t h e i r a n t i - M a r x i s t theses t h a t c a p i t a l i s m i s b e i n g i n t e g r a t e d i n t o socialism, t h a t n o n - p r o l e t a r i a n p a r t i e s , too, c a n b e t h e b e a r e r s o f t h e ideals o f s o c i a l i s m a n d l e a d e r s o f t h e s t r u g g l e f o r socialism, t h a t even
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those c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o i s i e i s i n p o w e r are m o v i n g towards socialism, the revisionists not o n l y aimed to deny the theory of the v a n g u a r d p a r t y of the w o r k i n g class, b u t also w a n t e d t o l e a v e t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h o u t l e a d e r s h i p i n t h e face o f t h e o r g a n i z e d a t t a c k s o f the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d r e a c t i o n . H i s t o r y has p r o v e d , a n d the e v e n t s i n C h i l e , w h e r e i t w a s not yet a q u e s t i o n of s o c i a l i s m b u t of a d e m o c r a t i c r e g i m e , a g a i n m a d e clear, t h a t t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f s o cialism through the parliamentary road is utterly impossible. I n t h e f i r s t place, i t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t u p t i l l n o w i t has n e v e r h a p p e n e d t h a t t h e b o u r g e o i s i e h a s a l l o w e d the c o m m u n i s t s t o w i n a m a j o r i t y i n p a r l i a m e n t a n d f o r m their o w n government. E v e n in the occasional instance w h e r e the communists a n d their allies h a v e m a n a g e d to ensure a b a l a n c e i n t h e i r f a v o u r i n p a r l i a m e n t a n d e n t e r t h e g o v e r n m e n t , t h i s has n o t l e d t o a n y change i n t h e bourgeois character of the p a r l i a m e n t or the government, a n d t h e i r a c t i o n has n e v e r gone s o f a r a s t o s m a s h t h e o l d state m a c h i n e a n d e s t a b l i s h a n e w one. I n the c o n d i t i o n s w h e n t h e b o u r g e o i s i e c o n t r o l s t h e bureaucratic-administrative apparatus, securing a parliamentary majority that w o u l d change the destiny of the c o u n t r y i s n o t o n l y i m p o s s i b l e b u t also u n r e l i a b l e . T h e m a i n p a r t s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s state m a c h i n e a r e t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c p o w e r a n d t h e a r m e d forces. A s l o n g as these f o r c e s r e m a i n intact, i.e., as l o n g as t h e y h a v e n o t been d i s s o l v e d a n d n e w forces c r e a t e d i n t h e i r stead, as l o n g as t h e o l d a p p a r a t u s of the police, t h e secret i n t e l l i g e n c e services, etc., is r e t a i n e d , t h e r e is no g u a r a n t e e t h a t a p a r l i a m e n t or a d e m o c r a t i c g o v e r n m e n t w i l l be a b l e t o last l o n g . N o t o n l y t h e case o f C h i l e , b u t m a n y others h a v e p r o v e d t h a t the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y coups d'tat h a v e b e e n c a r r i e d out p r e c i s e l y b y t h e a r m e d forces c o m m a n d e d b y the b o u r g e o i s i e .
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T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists have deliberately created great confusion concerning Lenin's v e r y clear and precise theses o n t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f c o m m u n i s t s i n t h e b o u r geois p a r l i a m e n t a n d o n t h e s e i z u r e o f state p o w e r f r o m the bourgeoisie. It is k n o w n that L e n i n d i d not d e n y the participation of the communists in the bourgeois p a r l i a ment at certain moments. B u t he considered this participation o n l y as a tribune to defend t h e interests of the w o r k i n g class, t o e x p o s e t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d its s t a t e power, to force the bourgeoisie to take some measure in f a v o u r o f t h e w o r k i n g people. A t t h e s a m e t i m e , h o w e v e r , L e n i n w a r n e d t h a t , w h i l e f i g h t i n g t o m a k e use o f p a r l i a m e n t i n t h e interests o f t h e w o r k i n g class, one s h o u l d g u a r d against the creation of p a r l i a m e n t a r y illusions, the f r a u d of bourgeois parliamentarianism.
Participation in the bourgeois parliament, said L e n i n , is necessary for the party of the revolutionary proletariat to enlighten the masses, enlightenment which is achieved through elections and the struggle of the parties in the parliament. But to limit the class struggle to the struggle within the parliament, or to consider this struggle as the ultimate, the decisive form, to which all other forms of struggle are subordinate, means in fact to go over to the side of the bourgeoisie, against the proletariat.*
C r i t i c i z i n g the parliamentary cretinism of the representatives of the Second International, w h o turned their parties into electoral parties, L e n i n clearly showed w h e r e p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n i s m leads t o i n i d e o l o g y , p o l i c y a n d p r a c tice. H e stressed that,
_______________________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 30, pp. 304-305 (Alb. ed.).
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the proletarian state (the dictatorship of the proletariat) cannot replace it through its 'gradual withering away', but as a general rule, only through violent revolution.*
H e s t r e s s e d that
the need to this idea, and is the basis Engels.**
systematically educate the masses with precisely this idea of violent revolution, of the entire doctrine of Marx and
B y s t i l l a d v o c a t i n g the p a r l i a m e n t a r y road, t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s are s i m p l y b l i n d l y f o l l o w i n g t h e course of K a u t s k y and company. B u t the f u r t h e r they proceed o n this course, t h e m o r e t h e y expose t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h e m o r e defeats t h e y s u f f e r . T h e w h o l e h i s t o r y o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r m o v e m e n t has p r o v e d that violent revolution, the smashing of the bourgeois state m a c h i n e a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of the proletariat, constitute the universal l a w of proletarian revolution.
The advance, that is, towards communism, Lenin stressed, runs through the dictatorship of the proletariat and it cannot follow any other course, because there is no other class and no other way to smash the resistance of the capitalist exploiters.***
I n t h e stage o f i m p e r i a l i s m , b o t h a t its c o m m e n c e ment a n d n o w , too, t h e d a n g e r of t h e establishment of a fascist m i l i t a r y d i c t a t o r s h i p w h e n e v e r t h e c a p i t a l i s t m o n ___________________________________ * V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 25, p. 473 ( A l b . ed.). ** Ibidem. *** Ibidem, p. 548.
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opolies t h i n k t h a t t h e i r i n t e r e s t s are t h r e a t e n e d a l w a y s exists. M o r e o v e r , i t has b e e n p r o v e d , e s p e c i a l l y f r o m t h e end of the Second W o r l d W a r to this day, that A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , B r i t i s h i m p e r i a l i s m a n d others have gone to the assistance of the bourgeoisie of various countries to e l i m i n a t e those g o v e r n m e n t s o r t o s u p p r e s s those r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces w h i c h , i n one w a y o r a n o t h e r , o f f e r e v e n t h e s l i g h t e s t t h r e a t t o t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f the c a p i t a l i s t system. A s l o n g a s i m p e r i a l i s m exists, t h e r e s t i l l e x i s t s t h e basis a n d p o s s i b i l i t y f o r , a n d its u n c h a n g e a b l e p o l i c y of, interference in the i n t e r n a l affairs of other countries, c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y plots, t h e o v e r t h r o w o f l a w f u l g o v ernments, the liquidation of democratic and progressive forces, a n d t h e s t r a n g l i n g o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n . I t i s A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m w h i c h p r o p s u p the f a s cist r e g i m e s i n S p a i n a n d P o r t u g a l , w h i c h i n c i t e s t h e revival of G e r m a n fascism and Japanese militarism, w h i c h supports the racist regimes of S o u t h A f r i c a a n d Rhodesia a n d keeps u p t h e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e b l a c k p e o p l e i n its o w n c o u n t r y . I t i s A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m t h a t h e l p s the reactionary regimes of S o u t h K o r e a and the Saigon a n d P n o m P e n h p u p p e t s , w h i c h has i n s t i g a t e d t h e Z i o n i s t aggression a n d h e l p s I s r a e l t o m a i n t a i n its o c c u p a t i o n o f the A r a b territories. A l l the furious winds of a n t i - c o m munism, national oppression and capitalist exploitation b l o w f r o m t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . T h r o u g h o u t L a t i n A m e r i c a , w i t h some r a r e exceptions, A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has e s t a b l i s h e d t y r a n n i c a l fascist regimes, w h i c h m e r c i l e s s l y s u p p r e s s a n d e x p l o i t t h e people. O n t h a t c o n tinent, all the weapons used against demonstrations, t h e w e a p o n s w h i c h k i l l t h e w o r k e r s a n d peasants, a r e m a d e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d s u p p l i e d b y it. T h e fascist m i l i t a r y coup in C h i l e is not the deed of l o c a l r e a c t i o n alone, b u t a l s o o f i m p e r i a l i s m . F o r t h r e e
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y e a r s o n end, d u r i n g t h e w h o l e t i m e P r e s i d e n t A l l e n d e w a s in power, the C h i l e a n rightist forces w e r e incited, organized a n d encouraged in their counter-revolutionary a c t i v i t y b y t h e U n i t e d States. C h i l e a n r e a c t i o n a n d t h e A m e r i c a n monopolies took revenge against President A l lende for the progressive and anti-imperialist policy he followed. T h e u n d e r m i n i n g activity of the r i g h t - w i n g p a r ties a n d a l l t h e r e a c t i o n a r y forces, t h e i r acts o f v i o l e n c e a n d terror w e r e closely coordinated w i t h the pressures exerted f r o m outside by the A m e r i c a n monopolies, w i t h the e c o n o m i c b l o c k a d e a n d the p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e t h e A m e r i c a n government w a g e d against C h i l e . B e h i n d the m i l i t a r y j u n t a was the C I A , the same c r i m i n a l h a n d that h a d c a r r i e d o u t s o m a n y coups d'tat i n L a t i n A m e r i c a , I n d o n e s i a , I r a n , etc. T h e events i n C h i l e o n c e a g a i n r e v e a l e d t h e t r u e face o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e y p r o v e d once m o r e t h a t A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m r e m a i n s a r a b i d e n e m y o f a l l t h e peoples, a savage e n e m y o f j u s t i c e a n d progress, o f struggles f o r f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e , of the revolution and socialism. B u t the counter-revolution in Chile is a deed not o n l y o f the a v o w e d r e a c t i o n a r y forces a n d t h e A m e r i c a n i m perialists. T h e A l l e n d e government w a s also sabotaged a n d savagely opposed by the Christian-democratic a n d other factions of the bourgeoisie, so-called r a d i c a l d e m o c r a t i c forces s i m i l a r t o those t o g e t h e r w i t h w h i c h t h e communist parties of Italy and F r a n c e c l a i m that they w i l l advance to socialism through reforms a n d the peacef u l p a r l i a m e n t a r y road. T h e F r e y p a r t y i n C h i l e does not bear only intellectual responsibility, as some claim, because i t r e f u s e d t o h o l d t a l k s o r c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h t h e A l l e n d e g o v e r n m e n t , o r because i t w a s l a c k i n g i n l o y a l t y to the l e g a l g o v e r n m e n t . It bears r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a l s o b e cause it used a l l possible means to sabotage the n o r m a l a c t i v i t y o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t , because i t u n i t e d w i t h t h e
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forces o f t h e R i g h t t o u n d e r m i n e the n a t i o n a l i z e d e c o n o m y a n d t o create c o n f u s i o n i n t h e c o u n t r y , because i t p e r p e t r a t e d a t h o u s a n d a n d o n e acts of s u b v e r s i o n . It fought to create that s p i r i t u a l a n d p o l i t i c a l climate that was the prelude to the counter-revolution. T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , too, w e r e i m p l i c a t e d i n the events in C h i l e . A thousand threads l i n k the Soviet l e a d ers i n i n t r i g u e s a n d p l o t s w i t h A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e y d i d not i n t e n d or desire to help the A l l e n d e governm e n t w h e n i t w a s i n p o w e r , because t h i s w o u l d h a v e brought them into conflict and damaged their cordial r e l a tions w i t h A m e r i c a n imperialism. These stands of the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists towards Chile and the theory of revolution h a d been conf i r m e d before the C h i l e a n events. T h e y h a d been conf i r m e d in the repeated tragic events in I r a n : w h i l e the local reaction was k i l l i n g and imprisoning hundreds and thousands of communists and progressive revolutionaries, t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s d i d n o t l i f t a f i n g e r , l e t alone severe d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s ! T h e s e stands w e r e c o n f i r m e d i n t h e s h o c k i n g e v e n t s i n I n d o n e s i a , w h e r e a b o u t 500,000 communists a n d progressives w e r e k i l l e d and massacred. Once again the Soviet revisionists d i d nothing, took no action and d i d not consider w i t h d r a w i n g their embassy f r o m D j a k a r t a . ( 1 ) T h e s e stands o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s are n o t a c c i d e n t a l . T h e y t e s t i f y to t h e e x i s t e n c e of a secret c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s t o s a b o t a g e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t s a n d t o p u t d o w n the p e o p l e s ' l i b e r a t i o n struggles. This stand sheds light on the demagogic character
_________________________________ 1 T h e Soviet revisionists expelled the correspondent of H a r j a n Rakjat, organ of the CP of Indonesia, f r o m the Soviet U n i o n a n d w e l c o m e d the visit of A d a m M a l i k , then foreign minister of the Indonesian fascist regime. T h e y also continued to supply Soviet weapons to Indonesia.
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o f the m u c h p u b l i c i z e d s e v e r a n c e o f d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s with Chile now. S u c h i s the r e a l i t y . T h e i r f i n e w o r d s a b o u t t h e i r a l leged s o l i d a r i t y w i t h the C h i l e a n people, l i k e a l l t h e i r o t h e r d e m a g o g i c catch-cries, are s i m p l y t o deceive p u b l i c o p i n ion and to conceal their betrayal of the revolution a n d the peoples' l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t s . The Soviet government severed diplomatic relations w i t h C h i l e in o r d e r to exploit the o p p o r t u n i t y to pose as a s u p p o r t e r of t h e v i c t i m s of r e a c t i o n , as if it is on t h e side o f those w h o s t r u g g l e f o r f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e and the revisionists are defenders of progressive regimes. The Soviet revisionists help any progressive regime j u s t s o l o n g a s t h i s assists t h e i r i m p e r i a l i s t interests. B u t t h e y g o n o f u r t h e r . I n d e e d , t h e y are not a s h a m e d t o m a i n t a i n r e g u l a r d i p l o m a t i c ties w i t h s u c h a d i s c r e d i t e d a n d bankrupt regime as that of L o n Nol, w h i l e they keep s i l e n t a b o u t s u c h a g r e a t l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e as t h a t of t h e C a m b o d i a n people. T h e e v e n t s i n C h i l e once a g a i n r e v e a l e d a l l o f t h e g r a v e t r a g e d y t h e peoples o f L a t i n A m e r i c a a r e e x p e r i e n c ing. Likewise, they brought to light again the s h o r t c o m ings, l i m i t a t i o n s a n d w e a k n e s s e s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n o n that continent, the v e r y great difficulties a n d hardships it is undergoing. B u t they p r o v i d e a lesson not o n l y for the revolutionaries o f L a t i n A m e r i c a . A l l the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s o f the w o r l d , a l l those w h o f i g h t f o r n a t i o n a l a n d s o c i a l l i b e r a t i o n against i m p e r i a l i s t i n t e r f e r e n c e a n d v i o l e n c e , for democracy and the progress of m a n k i n d should d r a w lessons f r o m t h e m . T h i s i n c l u d e s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s o f the S o v i e t U n i o n , w h o m u s t r i s e a g a i n s t the r e v i s i o n i s t rulers and overthrow them along w i t h all their opportunist a n d anti-Leninist theories. L i k e w i s e , the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s o f Italy, F r a n c e a n d o t h e r d e v e l o p e d c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s ought t o d r a w lessons f r o m t h e C h i l e a n e v e n t s , a n d f i g h t
THE TRAGIC EVENTS
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revisionism resolutely, rejecting the reactionary theories of the peaceful p a r l i a m e n t a r y roads w h i c h the Togliattists a n d t h e o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t s p r o p a g a t e . W e b e l i e v e t h a t t h e e v e n t s i n C h i l e , t h e fascist attack of reaction against the democratic victories of the C h i l e a n people, the b r u t a l interference o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d its s u p p o r t f o r t h e m i l i t a r y j u n t a w i l l e n courage a l l the peoples of the w o r l d to be vigilant, to resolutely reject the demagogic slogans of the imperialists, r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d o p p o r t u n i s t s o f e v e r y hue, a n d m o b i l i z e a l l t h e i r forces i n c o u r a g e o u s d e f e n c e o f t h e i r n a t i o n a l f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e , peace a n d s e c u r i t y .
Against
OUR POLICY IS AN OPEN POLICY, THE POLICY OF PROLETARIAN PRINCIPLES
From the speech at the meeting with the electors of the Tirana No. 209 precinct
October 3, 1974
Comrades, T h e foreign policy of the People's Republic of A l b a n i a is t h e p o l i c y of a socialist c o u n t r y w h e r e t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of the proletariat is in power, w h i c h is led by the P a r t y o f L a b o u r a n d i s i n s p i r e d b y a n d stands l o y a l t o t h e doctrine of M a r x , Engels, L e n i n and Stalin. T h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a has its o w n o p i n i o n s a n d i m p l e m e n t s its c o n s t r u c t i v e p o l i c y o p e n l y , i n t h e l i g h t of the sun. There is no p r o b l e m about w h i c h it is unconc e r n e d , a n d i t does n o t a l l o w a n y o n e t o s h u t its m o u t h . A n y state, a n y n a t i o n , has t h e r i g h t t o e x p r e s s its o p i n i o n s f r e e l y , to oppose those of o t h e r s w h e n it does n o t agree w i t h t h e m , j u s t a s others h a v e t h e r i g h t t o oppose y o u r v i e w s w h e n t h e y d o n o t agree w i t h t h e m . I t i s u t t e r l y w r o n g t o sit w i t h f o l d e d a r m s a n d c l o s e d m o u t h w h e n others are a c t i n g t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f peoples a n d states, or to accept, as s o m e m i g h t desire, t h a t s i n c e y o u a r e a s m a l l state o r people, i t i s sheer a r r o g a n c e t o t r y t o h a v e y o u r say, t o d e f e n d y o u r r i g h t s o r those o f y o u r f r i e n d s
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or to come out w i t h y o u r opinions before the mighty. False modesty a n d the slavish opportunist spirit are alien t o t h e p o l i c y o f t h e A l b a n i a n state a n d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of the proletariat. T h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s , t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a r e i m p e r i a l i s t aggressor p o w e r s . T h e y a r e d i v i d i n g t h e w o r l d i n t o spheres o f i n f l u e n c e a n d proceeding to the division and capture of w o r l d markets. T h e i r u l t i m a t e a i m i s t o d o m i n a t e a l l t h e w o r l d , a l l the p e o p l e s a n d a l l states. H e n c e , t h e i r r e c o n c i l a b l e c o n t r a d i c tions between t h e m w h i c h m a y lead to another major w o r l d w a r . T h e i r h e g e m o n i s m , t h e i r r e c k l e s s a r m s race, are not taking place smoothly and quietly, but through great upheavals w h i c h keep the w o r l d simmering. T h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s a r e i n t h e g r i p o f a great e c o n o m i c , c u l t u r a l a n d s p i r i t u a l crisis. T h e i r r e g i m e s a n d i d e o l o g i e s a r e r i d d l e d w i t h c o r r u p t i o n . N o one t r u s t s t h e m any longer, but by means of force and demagogy they impose themselves on the other capitalists w h o have b e c o m e s o c o m p l e t e l y c a u g h t u p i n t h e w e b s the t w o i m perialist superpowers have spun that without a general u p r i s i n g o f t h e p e o p l e t h e y w i l l h a r d l y b e a b l e t o free t h e m s e l v e s o f these b o n d s . N a t u r a l l y , t h e t w o i m p e r i a l i s t s u p e r p o w e r s a n d t h o s e w h o h a v e been c a u g h t i n t h e i r w e b s w a n t t o l o a d t h e t e r r i b l e consequences o f t h e crises o n t o t h e w o r k i n g people o f t h e i r c o u n t r i e s . T h i s gives rise t o t h e c o n f l i c t s b e t w e e n states a n d b e t w e e n r u l e r s a n d peoples. B u t t h e p e o p l e m u s t not e x p e c t others t o rescue t h e m f r o m t h e i r s u f f e r i n g s . T h e y m u s t save themselves, because, w h e n i t comes t o d e f e n d i n g t h e m s e l v e s against t h e people's r e v o l u t i o n , t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s always unite w i t h one another. W h e n t h e y see t h e g a m e i s u p , t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t h r o w o f f a l l d i s g u i s e a n d e s t a b l i s h t h e fascist d i c t a t o r s h i p . S o m e states a r e d o i n g t h i s n o w , w h i l e some o t h e r s d i d i t l o n g
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ago. T h e r e a r e a l l sorts o f s l o g a n s a n d d e m a g o g y , b u t people m u s t b e j u d g e d b y t h e i r deeds a n d n o t b y a p p e a r ances. T h e two superpowers have a r m e d themselves to the teeth, w h i l e m a k i n g p r o p a g a n d a f o r o t h e r s t o d i s a r m . Besides, they have become the biggest dealers in a r m s . T h i s m a y seem c o n t r a d i c t o r y , b u t i t isn't. I n fact, t h e y s e l l a r m s t o others, b u t t h e m o d e r n w e a p o n s t h e y keep for themselves, always preserving d u e proportions to maintain their superiority. A n d they supply weapons only t o those o n w h o m t h e y f e e l t h e i r g r i p i s s u r e . T h e y e x p l o i t a r m s sales, o n the o n e h a n d , t o s u c k t h e i r b l o o d a n d plunder their wealth, w h i l e posing as friends so as to w o r m their w a y into their homes w h e r e they t a k e over, and on the other hand, to incite them to fight their neighbours. T h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d the S o v i e t U n i o n s t i r u p s t r i f e e v e r y w h e r e , r e v i v e a n c i e n t feuds, a n d t r y t o w e a k e n a n y resistance t h e y m i g h t meet. M e a n w h i l e , i n t h e i r o w n interests, t h e y s t i r u p c o n f l i c t s , a c c o m p a n y i n g these w i t h allegations i n d e f e n c e o f o n e o r t h e o t h e r , b e a t i n g t h e i r breasts a n d s w e a r i n g great oaths, d e m a n d i n g t h e c o n v e n i n g o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l w i t h t h e greatest o f f e r v o u r u n t i l , at last, the b u b b l e bursts. Peace w a s a l l e g e d l y r e s t o r e d i n V i e t n a m , b u t t h e w a r is still going on there. The V i e t n a m question was allegedly solved, b u t t h e w a r b e g a n i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t . P e a c e w a s a l l e g e d l y m a d e there, too, b u t t h e w a r c o n t i n u e s i n m a n y w a y s . T h e A r a b - I s r a e l i w a r w a s s u p p o s e d t o b e o v e r , but t h e C y p r u s p r o b l e m f l a r e d u p . T h e process w e m e n t i o n e d above is still going o n . W h o is hatching up a l l these conflicts? The t w o imperialist superpowers, Soviet and A m e r i can, w h i c h are g a m b l i n g w i t h t h e fate o f t h e peoples of the w o r l d . T h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a
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g o i n t o o u t e r space a n d l a u n c h i n n u m e r a b l e e a r t h satellites. T h e r e a r e people a n d states w h o c h a n t t h a t these i n v e n t i o n s b e l o n g t o m a n k i n d , t h a t they a r e f o r t h e g o o d o f h u m a n i t y . I n t h e m s e l v e s t h e y r e a l l y a r e colossal i n v e n t i o n s , b u t one c a n n o t h e l p a s k i n g : I n w h o s e h a n d s are they? W h o enjoys t h e m and for w h a t purpose are t h e y u s e d ? A r e t h e y e m p l o y e d f o r t h e good o f m a n k i n d , o r a s m e a n s f o r t h e s u p e r p o w e r s t o s p y o n t h e peoples a n d states? C a n i t b e s a i d t h a t t h e d a n g e r o f aggressive w a r s has d i m i n i s h e d ? N o t i n t h e l e a s t ! A r e the h u n g e r a n d poverty in the w o r l d being w i p e d out? On the contrary, t h e y a r e b e c o m i n g w o r s e ! H a s t h e l i f e o f t h e p o o r been i m p r o v e d or the p o w e r of the r i c h been liquidated? The o p p o s i t e is o c c u r r i n g . T h u s , to g l o r i f y the successes of m a n k i n d means to m a k e yourself a mouthpiece of capitalist and revisionist superpowers. O n w h a t does t h e s e c u r i t y o f t h e peoples o f E u r o p e a n d the w o r l d depend? Does it depend on the public or m y s t e r i o u s j o u r n e y s of a c e r t a i n K i s s i n g e r , a c e r t a i n G r o m y k o , or the scheming of a Brezhnev, w h o has made t h e S o v i e t a n d o t h e r peoples bleed, o r t h e t r a v e l s o f a N i x o n w h o d r o w n s t h e w o r l d i n b l o o d a n d leads t h e A m e r i c a n m a f i a in the most disgraceful Watergate scandal, w h i c h shook t h e w h o l e o f A m e r i c a ? S h o u l d i t b e left t o s u c h p e o p l e a s these t o e n s u r e t h e f u t u r e o f t h e w o r l d ? A fine future it w o u l d b e ! O f course, those w h o b e l i e v e i n t r a g i c i l l u s i o n i s t s are free to go to meetings in V i e n n a , H e l s i n k i , or anywhere t h e y l i k e . L e t t h e m p a l a v e r w i t h one a n o t h e r . B u t f o r o u r p a r t , w e , too, a r e f r e e n o t t o g o t o t h o s e m e e t i n g s , a n d w e a r e n o t g o i n g . A t these m e e t i n g s a n d conferences i t i s n o t o n l y w e . b u t also t h e peoples, w h o a r e absent. T h i s i s s i g n i f i c a n t f o r us. B u t someone w i l l a s k : W h a t d o t h e A l b a n i a n s suggest, h o w s h o u l d w e act? T h e A l b a n i a n s state t h e i r v i e w s e v e r y d a y . T h e y a r e c l e a r t o a l l w h o
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w a n t t o hear. T h e A l b a n i a n s s a y : A n y d i s h m i x e d w i t h p o i s o n s h o u l d n o t b e e a t e n because i t w i l l k i l l y o u . I t s h o u l d b e rejected a n d t h r o w n out. T h e r e a r e those w h o say: B u t w h a t c a n w e d o a b o u t the A m e r i c a n s a n d the Soviets? They are p o w e r f u l should we shut the door to them? The Albanians say: Not only should we shut them out, b u t w e m u s t isolate t h e m a n d p u t t h e m i n a s t r a i g h t jacket. T h i s i s a w i s h , t h e y say, b u t t h e r e a l i t y i s another matter. B u t we A l b a n i a n s declare that we must t u r n this w i s h i n t o r e a l i t y . I f y o u s u b m i t t o t h e S o v i e t A m e r i c a n dictate, t h e n y o u c a n n o t escape t h e i r y o k e . W e A l b a n i a n s accept n e i t h e r t h e i r d i c t a t e n o r t h e i r y o k e . W e are d e t e r m i n e d t o f i g h t o n t o v i c t o r y . T h e r e are some w h o , w h e n t h e y h e a r us, s m i r k a n d sneer: H o w s w e l l - h e a d e d these A l b a n i a n s a r e ! T h e y w a n t t o p u t t h e w o r l d t o r i g h t s ! B u t w h o a r e these w h o speak l i k e t h i s ? T h e y a r e t h e v e r y ones w h o w a n t t o d o m i n a t e t h e w o r l d a n d its peoples, w h o d o n o t l i k e i t w h e n t h e peoples r a i s e t h e i r v o i c e against t h e m , t h e ones w h o a r e used t o l o o k i n g d o w n o n t h e peoples a n d o r d e r i n g t h e m a r o u n d w i t h b u l l e t s a n d w h i p s . A n d i t i s t h e y w h o pose a s t h e most u n p r e t e n t i o u s p e r s o n s o n e a r t h ! W e say t o t h e m t h a t w e a r e n o t s w e l l - h e a d e d , b u t w e a r e t h e soldiers o f t h a t great a n d p o w e r f u l a r m y w h i c h is m a k i n g the revolution of w h i c h they are so afraid a n d w h i c h w i l l be the end of t h e m ! This revolution is not a m o v e m e n t o f yes-men a n d slaves, o f b o w i n g a n d s c r a p i n g , but i s t h e p o w e r f u l b l o w , t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n o f t h e Great October Revolution, the peoples' liberation wars. A l l this t h e y c a l l p r e t e n s i o n a n d arrogance. T h e y d o n ' t l i k e i t because i t cuts t h e g r o u n d f r o m u n d e r t h e m , a n d d e s t r o y s t h e s t r u c t u r e t h e y h a v e e r e c t e d o n h u m a n corpses. E r o d e d b y its i n t e r n a l c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d g r i p p e d i n g r a v e a l l - r o u n d crises u n d e r t h e r e l e n t l e s s b l o w s o f t h e forces o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n , d e m o c r a c y a n d
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s o c i a l progress, t h e c a p i t a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d i s staggering towards ever greater degeneration and decomposition. T h e b o u r g e o i s i e i s t r y i n g t o r e s t r a i n t h e present c r i s i s a n d t o s a v e itself f r o m c a t a s t r o p h e b y s h i f t i n g t h e b u r d e n onto t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e masses, w h i l e k e e p i n g its p r o f i t s i n t a c t . T h i s l i n e i s b o u n d t o b r i n g a b o u t the r e v o l t o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d a l l those o p p r e s s e d a n d e x ploited by capital. T h e w o r k i n g masses, t h e i r m o s t conscious forces, w i l l a s s u r e d l y r i s e t o t h e i r feet t o d e f e n d t h e i r v i t a l interests and t u r n this situation of crisis into one favourable to the a d v a n c e o f t h e cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n . T h e revolution and the struggle for political and economic independence constitute an unceasing historical process. T h e p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e w o r l d d r i v e t h e m f o r w a r d w i t h e v e r g r e a t e r force a n d m a k e t h e m i n d i s p e n s a b l e . A n d t h i s constitutes a r e liable guarantee for their t r i u m p h . W i t h its f o r e i g n p o l i c y , t h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a d e f e n d s t h e interests o f o u r c o u n t r y o n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a , defends a n d struggles, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e socialist a n d p r o g r e s s i v e d e m o c r a t i c c o u n t r i e s , f o r f r e e d o m , progress and genuine democracy a l l over the w o r l d , for the freedom of those w h o w o r k w i t h h a n d and brain. T h e People's Republic of A l b a n i a fights A m e r i c a n imperialism, Soviet social-imperialism, all other imperialists a n d r e a c t i o n a r i e s i n t h e w o r l d , w h o cause t h e m i s f o r t u n e s o f m a n k i n d , w h o cause w a r s o f o p p r e s s i o n a n d p l u n d e r , q u a r r e l s a n d dissensions, s u b v e r s i o n a n d plots a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d , w h o cause h u n g e r a n d p o v e r t y o n a w o r l d scale. S o c i a l i s t A l b a n i a m a k e s its m o d e s t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h i s s t r u g g l e a n d t o these g r e a t e f f o r t s o f m a n k i n d , a m o d e s t h e l p , b u t g i v e n openly, w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n a n d f e a r i n g n o b o d y . A n d these nobodies m a y b e great a n d p o w e r f u l , but t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e p o l i c y o f o u r P e o -
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p i e ' s R e p u b l i c consists i n t h e fact t h a t i t d e f e n d s its j u s t cause, a s a c r e d cause d e a r to a l l peoples. Y o u m u s t k n o w h o w t o seek a n d f i n d t h i s cause, t o m a k e i t y o u r o w n and defend it w i t h a l l your might. B u t to defend it w i t h a l l y o u r might means, first of all, to be prepared t o accept a n y s a c r i f i c e . T h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a has chosen t h i s course t h a n k s t o i t s g l o r i o u s l e a d e r s h i p , t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r , a n d n o s t o r m has e v e r m a d e it, o r w i l l e v e r m a k e i t w a v e r f r o m its c o u r s e . T h e p o l i c y o f the P a r t y o f L a b o u r a n d t h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a i s o p e n a n d a b o v e b o a r d : i t states t h e t r u t h b e f o r e t h e w o r l d , r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r someone o r o t h e r m a y n o t l i k e it. O u r p o l i c y c o m p l i e s w i t h t h e interests o f peoples a n d n o t o f c l i q u e s a n d i d e o l o g i e s t h a t o p p r e s s t h e peoples. It seeks t h e f r i e n d s h i p of t h e s e p e o p l e s a n d n o t t h a t of t h e i r o p p r e s s o r s . It is n o t a p r a g m a t i c p o l i c y , b u t a p r i n c i p l e d p r o l e t a r i a n p o l i c y . It does n o t s t e m f r o m secret d i p l o m a c y b e h i n d t h e scenes, f r o m m y s t e r i o u s t a l k s , f r o m p u t t i n g its o w n i n t e r e s t s a n d those o f other countries up for auction. T h e p o l i c y o f o u r c o u n t r y i s n o t the p o l i c y o f a state w i t h a h u n d r e d f l a g s u p its sleeve. O u r P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c does n o t l o w e r its c o l o u r s e i t h e r t o b l a c k m a i l a n d i n t i m i dation or to the r u b l e a n d the dollar. Is this correct, p r i n c i p l e d a n d courageous p o l i c y w h i c h s h o u l d b e f o l l o w e d , o r t h a t o f g o i n g d o w n o n y o u r knees, o f c r a w l i n g t o t h e A m e r i c a n s a n d t h e S o v i e t s , of b e c o m i n g a p r o s t i t u t e state? T h e f o r m e r course s h o u l d b e f o l l o w e d w h i l e t h e other should be mercilessly exposed and combated. Such is the policy of our P a r t y and Government, and that is w h y we have hundreds and hundreds of millions o f people w i t h us, a n d A l b a n i a , f o r its p a r t , i s i n u n i t y o f t h o u g h t a n d action, w i t h those h u n d r e d s a n d h u n d r e d s of m i l l i o n s . W e , t h e p e o p l e o f the P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a .
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a s m a l l c o u n t r y i n t h e B a l k a n s w h i c h has s u f f e r e d g r e a t l y through the centuries at the hands of barbarous imperialist i n v a d e r s a n d w h i c h w o n its f r e e d o m a n d e v e r y t h i n g i t e n j o y s t o d a y t h r o u g h a r m e d s t r u g g l e , issue a w a r n i n g t o all the c o m m o n people of the w o r l d : T a k e care! US imperialism and Russian imperialism are leading the w o r l d into another w o r l d war, m o r e terrible than any other! T h e s e t w o a r e t o b l a m e f o r t h e p r e s e n t great c r i s e s ; t h e y are v y i n g w i t h each other for w o r l d hegemony, are fighting to capture markets, w h i c h means to occupy count r i e s a n d e n s l a v e peoples. I t i s p r e c i s e l y t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s t h a t a r m t h e a n t i - p o p u l a r cliques a n d g o v e r n m e n t s t o use t h e m a s g e n d a r m e s a n d p r o v i d e r s o f c a n n o n - f o d d e r f o r t h e i n e v i t a b l e s l a u g h t e r t h e y a r e p r e p a r i n g i f w e let them have their way. S e e w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g i n t h e w o r l d ! T h e peoples o f the Soviet U n i o n are being oppressed a n d p u m p e d f u l l of a g g r e s s i v e n a t i o n a l i s m ; t h e peoples o f t h e pseudo-socialist countries of E u r o p e are being oppressed a n d their r u l i n g cliques s u b o r d i n a t e t h e interests of t h e i r peoples to those of the Soviet U n i o n and the W a r s a w Treaty. T h e K r e m l i n oppresses t h e m a n d t h r e a t e n s : E i t h e r y o u act t h e w a y I w a n t a n d as I o r d e r , or I s h a l l i n v a d e a n d c r u s h y o u a s I d i d w i t h C z e c h o s l o v a k i a . T h i s i s h o w H i t l e r acted. H e started w i t h A u s t r i a first, then w i t h Czechoslovakia, a n d c o n t i n u e d w i t h t h e others. S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m s t a r t e d l i k e this, too, a n d w i l l e n d u p t h e s a m e w a y . J u s t as H a a began and finished up, so Husak, B e k - G i e r e k , Z h i v k o v - F i l o v and Co. have begun, and they w i l l end up the s a m e w a y , too. U S i m p e r i a l i s m i s g r i n d i n g t h e peoples u n d e r its b l o o d y i r o n heel. It has t h e p r e s s u r e on its allies, s t r i v i n g at a l l costs t o k e e p t h e m u n d e r t h e constant m e n a c e o f the e c o n o m i c crisis, t h e a t o m i c b o m b , t h e S o v i e t d a n g e r , o f intrigues and subversion. It is t r y i n g to preserve the
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A t l a n t i c a l l i a n c e , t o s t i r u p r i v a l r i e s t o its o w n a d v a n t a g e w i t h i n it, a n d t o c r e a t e a c l i m a t e o f i n s e c u r i t y i n t h e c o u n t r i e s a n d g o v e r n m e n t s o f its s o - c a l l e d a l l i e s . T h e U n i t e d States a t t a c k s V i e t n a m a n d C a m b o d i a , a n d the A m e r i c a n s a n d the Soviets, the t w o in solidarity, interfere i n P a k i s t a n a n d Afghanistan, p r o v o k e Wars i n the M i d d l e East and hatch up the tragedies of C h i l e a n d Cyprus. The whole w o r l d waits in anguish. Where w i l l they strike next? N o w the w o r l d is buzzing w i t h rumours s p r e a d b y agents p r o v o c a t e u r s , v e n a l j o u r n a l i s t s , t h e diplomats of the drawing-rooms a n d clubs, w h o are a l l sowers of confusion, b l a c k m a i l a n d fear in the service o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s . T o m o r r o w , t h e y say, it w i l l be Yugoslavia's turn. What w i l l happen after Tito? Yugoslavia w i l l be a n n e x e d either to the Soviet or to the A m e r i c a n sphere o f i n f l u e n c e ; R u m a n i a w i l l b e g o b b l e d up by the Soviets; A l b a n i a w i l l not go unscathed. W h i c h side w i l l Greece take n o w it has w i t h d r a w n from N A T O ? etc., etc. A l l these r u m o u r s e x p r e s s t h e w i s h e s a n d p l a n s o f the t w o superpowers. T h e y are not o n l y a d e m o r a l i z i n g p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r e p a r a t i o n , b u t also a n e f f e c t i v e m i l i t a r y p r e p a r a t i o n t o w e a k e n t h e resistance o f the peoples a n d then d r o w n them in a blood-bath. T h e psychosis o f fear a n d w a r i s f o s t e r e d b y t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s . T h e y use i t t o a d v e r t i z e t h e t w o u m b r e l l a s , the one A m e r i c a n , the other Soviet, as the only hope of salvation. A c c o r d i n g to them, if y o u w a n t to save yourself you must take your pick between them. Don't think for y o u r s e l f a n y m o r e y o u r f r e e d o m a n d fate a r e b o u n d u p w i t h these t w o monsters. O v e r a l l t h i s p s y c h o s i s o f blackmail, intimidation and terror reigns a dense p a l l of meetings, contacts, t a l k s , b i l a t e r a l a n d m u l t i l a t e r a l c o m missions. E v e r y t h i n g i s d i s c u s s e d b u t n o t h i n g i s s o l v e d ;
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e v e n w h e n some decision is taken, nothing is certain. E v e n that m i n i m a l bourgeois morality of the diplomatic acts o f d a y s g o n e b y h a s t u r n e d i n t o h i d e o u s f i l t h a n d c o r r u p t i o n t o d a y . D e g e n e r a t i o n , f a l s e h o o d , a n d deceit p r e v a i l i n the p o l i c i e s o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s a n d t h e i r allies. S h o u l d t h e p e o p l e s s i t i d l y by, a w a i t i n g t h e c a t a s t r o p h e these c r i m i n a l cliques are p r e p a r i n g f o r m a n k i n d ? C e r tainly not! T h e n w h a t should be done? We say it is n e c e s s a r y t o f i g h t . B u t i n w h a t w a y ? T h r o u g h messages a n d t e l e g r a m s o f c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s a n d g o o d w i s h e s t o those w h o are trying to dig your grave? By saying nothing p u b l i c l y but singing praises to the Soviet revisionists w h o w a n t to b u r y y o u or to gobble y o u up, by tossing bouquets at the US imperialist butchers, a n d by seeking a n d a c c e p t i n g e n s l a v i n g l o a n s f r o m the t w o s u p e r p o w e r s , and then pretending y o u are fighting them? No, no one w i l l swallow such demagogy and lies! If y o u are to carry out a p o l i c y t h a t i s c o r r e c t a n d r e a l i s t i c t o w a r d s y o u r o w n country a n d towards other countries, y o u must free yourself f r o m the complexes w h i c h the two superpowers a n d t h e i r agents c o n t i n u e t o create. T h e s e p o w e r s o f d a r k n e s s accuse u s A l b a n i a n s o f s h u t t i n g o u r s e l v e s off. B u t f r o m w h o m h a v e w e s h u t ourselves off a n d w h a t d o they m e a n b y shut-off? A n d next, what w o u l d they have us do? They advise us not to shut ourselves off f r o m the imperialists a n d the r e v i s i o n i s t s , t o accept t h e i r l o a n s a n d m a k e those w h o have a l w a y s oppressed us a n d sucked o u r blood business partners in our country. They advise us to turn o u r country into an inn, w i t h the doors w i d e open to pigs a n d sows i n p a n t s o r w i t h n o p a n t s a t a l l , w i t h h a i r d o w n to their shoulders, and to hippies to b r i n g in their crazy dances to supplant the b e a u t i f u l dances of our people. T h e y t r y t o c o r r u p t o u r people, t o p o k e t h e i r spy's noses
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into o u r affairs, to organize putsches a n d plots, to occupy t h e strategic p o i n t s i n t h e c o u n t r y , t o e s t a b l i s h m i l i t a r y bases, to m a k e o u r c o u n t r y a c o l o n y b e l o n g i n g to f o r e i g n e r s a n d t u r n o u r f r e e p e o p l e i n t o slaves. I f y o u d o not d o a l l this, t h e y say, t h e n y o u h a v e s h u t y o u r s e l f o f f f r o m this w o n d e r f u l w o r l d , f r o m this marvellous c i v i l i z a t i o n . I f y o u m a k e s u c h concessions t o these m o n s t e r s , they w i l l even allow y o u to insult them, to call yourself a c o m m u n i s t a n d e v e n pose as a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t , or a f o l l o w e r of M a o Z e d o n g . B u t t h a t ' s a l l a b l u f f , because they have y o u by the throat a n d y o u cannot m o v e ; y o u a r e t h e i r slave, t h e i r agent, a n d h a v e s o l d o u t y o u r people and your country. T h e y w a n t u s t o b e c o m e slaves o f t h i s sort, o t h e r w i s e w e s h a l l not b e c o n s i d e r e d c i v i l i z e d o r f a s h i o n a b l e . T h i s w a y o f l i f e , t h i s w a y o f t h i n k i n g w e reject w i t h c o n t e m p t , a n d t h e y n e e d c h e r i s h n o hopes t h a t t h i s a t t i t u d e w i l l change. O u r g l o r i o u s p e o p l e a n d t h e h e r o i c P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a , the t w o in absolute u n i t y of thought and action, are the reliable guarantee of that. Rogues, e n e m i e s , agents i n t h e p a y o f f o r e i g n e r s h a v e come up n o w and then w i t h the a i m of impeding the construction of socialism and sabotaging t h e splendid, steell i k e defence of our country, but they have a l l been w i p e d o u t a n d l i q u i d a t e d a s soon a s t h e y h a v e d a r e d t o r a i s e t h e i r heads. T h e class s t r u g g l e t h a t i s b e i n g w a g e d w i t h s u c h success, d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d v i g i l a n c e b y Our P a r t y a n d p e o p l e m e r c i l e s s l y discloses a n d d e s t r o y s these specks o f rot i n o u r society. W h e n t h e i r o n b r o o m sweeps o u r r a n k s c l e a n o f t h e m , the e x t e r n a l a n d internal enemies p r i c k up t h e i r ears a n d t i m i d l y w h i s p e r some r u m o u r , M a y b e t h i s i s t h e e n d ; t h e y are s p l i t ; t h e w o r m o f d i s s e n s i o n has d o n e its w o r k , a n d so on. B u t w h a t do the P a r t y a n d the people say? W e m u s t c r a c k d o w n o n t h e m , because t h i s w i l l m a k e
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u s a h u n d r e d t h o u s a n d t i m e s stronger. T h e r u m o u r s spread by the enemy are merely their wails of defeat. O u r people and our P a r t y are neither surprised, confused, n o r a l a r m e d b y s u c h r u m o u r s , because t h e y a r e u s e d t o them. Not only do our people and government k n o w w h o these p e o p l e a r e w h o s p r e a d v e n o m w h e n t h e e n e m y h a s b e e n d e a l t c r u s h i n g b l o w s , b u t t h e y also k n o w h o w t o administer the appropriate remedy to such individuals. A n d t h i s m a k e s o u r p o s i t i o n e v e n s t r o n g e r , because t h e diabolical plots of the enemy, both external and internal, a r e f o i l e d , a n d those i n v o l v e d i n t h e m a r e c a u g h t r e d handed. H e r e i n lies the strength of the dictatorship of the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e s t r e n g t h o f o u r socialist c o u n t r y , t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideas o f o u r P a r t y . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t K r e m l i n a n d its stooges are s c r e a m i n g , W e w a n t contacts, w e w a n t d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s , w e w a n t f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e A l b a n i a n people, w i t h t h a t p e o p l e w e l o v e s o d e a r l y . T h e s e w o l v e s i n sheep's c l o t h i n g s w e a r by their most sacred things that they w a n t to embrace us or better to strangle us. T h e y w a n t to kiss us three times, according to the custom of the Russian church, to d i s p a t c h u s t o h e a v e n . B u t w e say t o these e n e m i e s o f s o c i a l i s m a n d L e n i n i s m , these s w o r n enemies o f o u r p e o p l e a n d the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a , that we w i l l n e v e r be reconciled w i t h them, w i l l never be friends w i t h t h e m , but everlasting enemies! A n d they should not i m a g i n e t h a t these a r e j u s t t h e o p i n i o n s o f a f e w A l b a n i a n l e a d e r s w h o are alive today but w i l l be dead tomorrow. N o ! T h e A l b a n i a n people and the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a w i l l n e v e r d i e ! W e a r e t h e i r soldiers, w e a r e m i l l i o n s , a n d w e are of one m i n d , one u n w a v e r i n g stand. Neither y o u r guns, y o u r m i s s i l e s , y o u r a i r c r a f t , n o r y o u r a t o m i c b o m b s c a n s h i f t us, t o d a y o r e v e r . O u r P a r t y a n d people are not d e c e i v e d b y the d e m a gogy of R a d i o M o s c o w w h i c h weeps nostalgic crocodile
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tears e v e r y n i g h t o v e r t h e e r s t w h i l e A l b a n i a n - S o v i e t f r i e n d ship. O u r friendship w a s in the t i m e of the great S t a l i n . We have not hidden and never w i l l hide this friendship, b u t it w a s violated precisely by those w h o betrayed the cause of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , of Bolshevism, w h o betrayed t h e ideas o f L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m , a n d t h e f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e A l b a n i a n people. T h e P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a a n d the A l b a n i a n people w i l l never b e a t peace w i t h t h e m , b u t a t w a r . W e a r e p r e p a r e d t o w i n t h i s w a r , a n d i f n o t today, t o m o r r o w w e s h a l l c e r t a i n l y triumph over them. T h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g else t h e y s h o u l d r e a l i z e , too, a n d in saying this I speak in the n a m e of the A l b a n i a n people a n d the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a . We are not afraid, either of t h e m or of their weapons. We say to the K r e m l i n traitors and their running-dogs that we k n o w h o w to distinguish between the Soviet people a n d the r e v i s i o n ist chiefs, b u t w e d o not a n d w i l l n o t d i f f e r e n t i a t e b e t w e e n t h o s e c h i e f s a n d those w h o f o l l o w t h e m . W e l u m p a l l t r a i t o r s together. T h e y w i l l n o t b e a b l e t o d e a l w i t h so cialist A l b a n i a a n d the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a the w a y t h e y dealt w i t h P r a g u e a n d t h e p a r t y o f D u b e k . W i t h t h e m e g a l o m a n i a a n d d e s p o t i s m o f a great fascist state, t h e r u l e r s i n t h e K r e m l i n , k n i t t i n g t h e i r h i s t r i o n i c b u s h y e y e b r o w s , m a y ask, W h e r e d o these L i l l i p u t i a n s f i n d the strength to stand up to the Soviet U n i o n ? Do y o u w a n t t h e a n s w e r ? P i c k u p M a r x , E n g e l s a n d L e n i n (be cause you have condemned Stalin), read t h e m the right w a y u p f o r a m i n u t e (because y o u r e a d t h e m u p s i d e down) and there y o u w i l l f i n d the precise answer as to w h e r e t h e s o u r c e o f o u r s t r e n g t h lies. D o y o u agree, d e a r electors, w i t h t h e a n s w e r w e g i v e these t r e a c h e r o u s e n e m i e s ? (The hall echoes with a powerful Yes!, applause and ovations.) N o w , too, the Soviet revisionists and Brezhnev are
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p u r s u i n g t h e s a m e e n d s , a d o p t i n g t h e s a m e tactics, a n d m a i n t a i n i n g t h e s a m e p r o p a g a n d a p o s i t i o n a s i n the t i m e of Khrushchev. F o l l o w i n g the course of the K h r u s h c h e v i t e betrayal, the revisionist C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the Soviet U n i o n is n o w organizing a meeting of the revisionist p a r t i e s o f E u r o p e w i t h t h e a i m o f i m p o s i n g its v i e w s o n t h e m , keeping t h e m under control, a n d s h o w i n g that allegedl y i t i s n o t isolated, b u t i s t h e c e n t r e o f w o r l d c o m m u n ism. The other parties w h i c h take part in this meeting w i l l prove that they are on the road of betrayal, and w i l l make themselves accomplices of the e v i l , counter-revolutionary a c t i v i t y of the Soviet revisionist leaders. T h e P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a sternly condemns such a meeting of c o n s p i r a t o r s , b u t o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t i s a good t h i n g t h a t t h e peoples a n d t h e c o m m u n i s t s o f t h e w o r l d w i l l h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y once a g a i n t o see t h e t r u e face o f those parties w h i c h are meeting to plot. T h e K r e m l i n chiefs and their running-dogs pretend that they are the embodiment of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , and t h e i r countries of socialism. Whoever is w i t h them they sanctify as s u c h ; w h o e v e r is against t h e m is stigmatized, not o n l y as not a Marxist-Leninist, but as linked w i t h , s o l d o u t to, a n d i n t h e s e r v i c e o f U S i m p e r i a l i s m . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e y say, E i t h e r w i t h u s o r w i t h t h e m . B u t t o b e against b o t h U S i m p e r i a l i s m a n d S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s m i s s o m e t h i n g t h e y c a n n o t accept. K h r u s h c h e v accused us of h a v i n g sold out to i m p e r i a l ism. B u t w h o sold out we or he? Since we have not s u b m i t t e d t o h i m , B r e z h n e v accuses u s o f p l a y i n g t h e Americans' game at a time w h e n he himself and his f o l l o w e r s a r e close f r i e n d s a n d c o l l a b o r a t o r s o f t h e A m e r i cans, w h o a r e k i s s i n g t h e A m e r i c a n s a n d g e t t i n g i n t o b e d w i t h t h e m e v e r y d a y , w h i l e a c c u s i n g u s w h o are a t daggers d r a w n w i t h the A m e r i c a n s . N o b o d y believes the l i e s o f t h e s e t r a i t o r s , because honest p e o p l e w i t h b r a i n s
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i n t h e i r heads a r e a b l e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e p o l i c y a n d stands of our People's R e p u b l i c a n d the P a r t y of L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a , t o see. t h i s p o l i c y i n its d e v e l o p m e n t a n d a p p l i c a t i o n . W e r e l y o n these p e o p l e a n d w e t h a n k t h e m for their fair judgement of our policy. A n d people like this, communists a n d non-communists, people of v a r y i n g p o l i t i c a l o p i n i o n s , i n c l u d i n g some w h o m a y n o t agree w i t h o u r course, a r e t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y . B u t t h e r e a r e also some w h o b e l i e v e t h e c a l u m n i e s o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t renegades o f t h e K r e m l i n . W h a t c a n w e d o ? S u c h people e x i s t . H i t l e r h a d s u c h people, too, b o t h inside and outside G e r m a n y . T h r o u g h demagogy a n d terror h e e v e n l i n e d u p t h e G e r m a n people. T h i s i s w h a t i s happening in the Soviet U n i o n today. B u t can it be said that A l b a n i a is an isolated country, as our enemies trumpet? N o t at a l l ! T h e w h o l e w o r l d k n o w s socialist A l b a n i a ; countless people, f r i e n d s f r o m a l l c o u n t r i e s , c o m e t o v i s i t it. W e h a v e d i p l o m a t i c , t r a d e , a n d c u l t u r a l relations w i t h 65 countries (1). T h e f r a n k and loyal policy of the People's R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a towards its friends a n d well-wishers is respected, just as the art and culture of our people are respected, just as the a l l - r o u n d progress o f o u r c o u n t r y i s f a i r l y a n d p o s i t i v e l y assessed. C a n i t b e t h a t w e a r e i s o l a t e d because w e d o n o t h a v e d i p l o m a t i c l i n k s w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a ? It is true that in the US Senate, neither T r u m a n , N i x o n , nor F o r d have spoken in favour of diplomatic relations w i t h A l b a n i a , nor about the ardent love they allegedly have for A l b a n i a , as the hypocrites of M o s c o w are doing. B u t f r o m t i m e t o t i m e t h e S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t sends u p a test b a l l o o n a n d w a i t s f o r the response. E v e r y d a y w e are giving A m e r i c a n imperialism o u r answer. F o l l o w i n g the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r , i n w h i c h w e f o u g h t
______________________________ 1 See footnote on p. 137 of this volume.
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t o g e t h e r against H i t l e r , A l b a n i a e x p r e s s e d its desire t o establish diplomatic relations w i t h the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a . B u t it did not deign to establish relations w i t h a g o v e r n m e n t b o r n i n the m o u n t a i n s ; i t w a n t e d a g o v e r n ment o f drawing-rooms and Coca-Cola established i n A l bania. H o w e v e r , the A l b a n i a n people were not greatly b o t h e r e d a b o u t it. T h e y e n j o y e d t h e i r p l a c e i n t h e s u n a n d p r o s p e r e d , w h e t h e r o r n o t i t pleased t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a . A t that t i m e they d i d not w a n t t o establish diplom a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h u s ; n o w w e d o not w a n t t o e s t a b l i s h s u c h r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e m . A l o t o f p e o p l e m i g h t say t h a t i t doesn't m a t t e r t o t h e U n i t e d States t h a t w e d o n ' t w a n t t o e s t a b l i s h d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h it. T h i s i s t r u e . B u t it is e q u a l l y t r u e t h a t it doesn't m a t t e r to us, e i t h e r . T h e B r i t i s h g o v e r n m e n t , too, w h i c h m a i n t a i n s t h e same stand towards us as the A m e r i c a n government, f r o m t i m e t o t i m e sends u p a test b a l l o o n f o r d i p l o m a t i c r e l a tions, b u t w e say t o t h e m , B e f o r e y o u send u p s u c h b a l l o o n s release t h e g o l d t h a t y o u h a v e r o b b e d f r o m the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e a n d send i t b a c k , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e a c c u m u l a t e d interest. T h i s i s w h a t w e h a v e t o say t o the B o n n g o v e r n m e n t , too, w h i c h i s c a r r y i n g o u t a r e v a n c h i s t p o l i c y a n d w h i c h owes A l b a n i a billions of m a r k s in w a r reparations. A r e t h e y , p e r h a p s , e x p e c t i n g u s t o b o w l o w t o these governments w h i c h have committed so m a n y evils, so m a n y injustices, against us? N e v e r ! T h e y are just as m i s t a k e n a s a l l those w h o accuse u s o f b e i n g p i g - h e a d e d . We have s y m p a t h y for the w o r k i n g people of A m e r i c a , G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d G e r m a n y , b u t n o t f o r those w h o t r a m p l e u n d e r f o o t t h e peoples' r i g h t s , f r e e d o m a n d s o v e r e i g n t y . W e f i g h t those g o v e r n m e n t s a n d those persons w h o have enslaving aims. We have m a n y friends a n d well-wishers in France, Belgium, the Nordic and Scand i n a v i a n countries, a n d i n m a n y other c o u n t r i e s a r o u n d t h e
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w o r l d . W e respect t h e m a n d t h e y respect us, despite the d i f f e r e n c e s i n o u r r e g i m e s a n d ideologies. W e respect t h o s e peoples a n d those g o v e r n m e n t s w h o d o not b o w t o t h e dictates a n d d e s i r e s o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s , w h o c a r r y out a n i n d e p e n d e n t a n d s o v e r e i g n policy. T h e well-wishers of the People's R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a respect o u r p o l i c y r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e fact t h a t t h e y m a y n o t agree w i t h u s o n a l l m a t t e r s , b u t t h e y u n d e r s t a n d that, j u s t a s t h e y h a v e t h e r i g h t t o c o n d u c t t h e i r o w n p o l i c y , w e , too, h a v e t h e r i g h t t o c o n d u c t ours. I n t h e past, d i s t i n g u i s h e d persons h a v e e m e r g e d f r o m t h e b o s o m o f these peoples w h o h a v e w r i t t e n a n d s p o k e n w i t h s y m p a t h y a b o u t t h e A l b a n i a n people. N o w , too, i n t h i s n e w period, workers, well-known professors, doctors, p h i l o s ophers, d i p l o m a t s a n d j o u r n a l i s t s are s p e a k i n g a n d w r i t i n g w i t h s y m p a t h y a b o u t o u r s m a l l a n d courageous n a t i o n t h a t has never harmed anybody. W e are friends w i t h the neighbouring Y u g o s l a v a n d G r e e k peoples. T h e i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s a n d t h e i r agencies h a v e l a i d t h e i r fuses a n d d e t o n a t o r s a m o n g u s t o set u s s q u a b b l i n g w i t h one a n o t h e r . B u t t o us, t h e B a l k a n peoples, these t h i n g s h a v e b e c o m e lessons a n d , i n t h e face of the c o m m o n danger, e v e n though we m a y not a g r e e w i t h one a n o t h e r i n m a n y respects, w e h a v e f o u n d a n d m u s t f i n d a c o m m o n l a n g u a g e . T h e facts o f h i s t o r y cannot b e w i p e d out. W h e n one has b e e n a t t a c k e d , t h e o t h e r h a s b e e n a t t a c k e d , too, b y t h e s a m e e n e m y . T h e s a m e e n e m y has i n c i t e d o n e o r t h e o t h e r t o w e a k e n t h e t h i r d . T h e enemies o f o u r people a n d t h e c l i q u e s s o l d o u t t o t h e m h e l d t h e fuse o f t h e p o w d e r b a r r e l . T h e A l b a n i a n , Y u g o s l a v a n d G r e e k peoples h a v e n e v e r s u b m i t t e d t o t h e f o r e i g n i n v a d e r s . T h e s e peoples h a v e n o slavish spirit, and they have demonstrated this o v e r a n d over again throughout the centuries of their history. T h e Albanians, the Yugoslavs a n d the Greeks are not the k i n d
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o f p e o p l e w h o k e e p a p i s t o l i n t h e i r belt j u s t f o r s h o w , w h e n t h e A m e r i c a n s , t h e S o v i e t s o r a n y o n e else t r y t o a t t a c k t h e m a n d r o b t h e m o f t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d sovereignty. Therefore, however much the two superpowers o r t h e i r c a p t i v e a i r c r a f t - c a r r i e r states m a y d a y - d r e a m , neither the Yugoslav, Greek, nor A l b a n i a n people w i l l ever a l l o w t h e m s e l v e s t o b e t r o d d e n u n d e r f o o t b y the Soviets, t h e A m e r i c a n s , o r t h e I t a l i a n a n d G e r m a n fascists. I f they e m b a r k on such adventures, our countries w i l l become their grave. We have said and we say again to the Y u g o s l a v and G r e e k peoples t h a t A l b a n i a ' s b o r d e r s w i t h t h e m w i l l a l w a y s be quiet. T h e enemy w i l l first have to do battle w i t h us Albanians, w i l l be broken here and w i l l find i t h a r d t o r e a c h t h e i r b o r d e r s . W e t r u s t t h a t t h e same w i l l o c c u r f r o m t h e i r side t o w a r d s us. W e w a n t t o live free i n o u r countries. T h e enemies should not think that they w o u l d be able to deal w i t h u s e a s i l y . W e A l b a n i a n s w i s h t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d Greece w e l l . W e m u s t promote our friendship i n the w a y m o s t s u i t a b l e t o e a c h w i t h o u t i n t e r f e r i n g i n one a n o t h e r ' s i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s , a n d w e m u s t not p e r m i t a n y t h i n g w i t h i n o u r territories w h i c h , for one reason or another, m a y violate or threaten the interests of good neighbourl i n e s s . . . W e w e l c o m e the e f f o r t s o f the G r e e k g o v e r n m e n t t o w i t h d r a w f r o m N A T O . T h e Greek people d i d not p e r m i t themselves to be trampled underfoot, a n d anyone w h o t h i n k s t h a t W a s h i n g t o n ' s d e p a r t m e n t a l secretaries a n d Moscow's foreign ministers can strike bargains and plot at the expense of the G r e e k people is sadly mistaken. T h e w o r l d r e m e m b e r s v e r y w e l l h o w G r e e c e s h e d its blood in the fight for freedom w h i l e others looked on and turned their thumbs. We say to o u r neighbours that in o u r country there a r e a n d t h e r e w i l l b e n o f o r e i g n m i l i t a r y bases, b u t w e w i s h
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t h a t t h e y , too, w o u l d get r i d o f t h e f o r e i g n m i l i t a r y bases i n t h e i r c o u n t r i e s . T h e r e i s n o v a l i d p r e t e x t f o r t h e fleets o f the t w o s u p e r p o w e r s t o b e p e r m i t t e d e v e n t h e r i g h t t o a n c h o r , t o b e r e p a i r e d , o r s u p p l i e d , let a l o n e t o h a v e p e r m a n e n t bases i n these c o u n t r i e s . T h i s i s v e r y dangerous, b o t h t o the c o u n t r y t h a t m a k e s these concessions a n d t o its n e i g h b o u r s . W e c a n n o t agree t o a n y o n e m a k i n g s u c h concessions. W e h a v e d e c l a r e d o u r s t a n d t o w a r d s the p r e s ence o f aggressive U S a n d S o v i e t fleets i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n a n d w e r e m a i n l o y a l t o a n d consistent w i t h t h i s p o l i c y . W e w i s h t h e B u l g a r i a n p e o p l e w e l l . W e h a v e been and are friends, but this friendship is being clouded t h r o u g h n o f a u l t o f ours. T h e B u l g a r i a n p e o p l e s h o u l d o p e n t h e i r eyes, because t h e i r r u l e r s a r e t u r n i n g B u l g a r i a into a real colony of the Soviet social-imperialists. T h e M o s c o w c h i e f s a n d t h e i r B u l g a r i a n agency, h e a d e d b y T o d o r Z h i v k o v , h a v e t u r n e d B u l g a r i a i n t o a m i l i t a r y base against o u r c o u n t r i e s . T h e S o v i e t s w a n t t o use t h e B u l g a r i a n people as c a n n o n - f o d d e r against o u r peoples. T o d o r Z h i v k o v a n d h i s c l i q u e i n t h e h a n d s o f the S o v i e t s h a v e become d a n g e r o u s p r o v o c a t e u r s against Y u g o s l a v i a , A l b a n i a , Greece, T u r k e y , a n d s o o n . T h e d r e a m s o f the o l d czars h a v e b e c o m e i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e desires o f t h e n e w R u s s i a n - B u l g a r i a n czars a n d T o d o r Z h i v k o v , w h o has a m b i t i o n s t o a G r e a t e r B u l g a r i a , a n d does n o t c o i n t h e slogan T h r o u g h t h e c e n t u r i e s w i t h R u s s i a f o r n o t h i n g . W e s a y t o the B u l g a r i a n p e o p l e t h a t f r i e n d s h i p i s f r i e n d ship, a n d w e r e m a i n l o y a l t o t h e f r i e n d s h i p w i t h t h e B u l g a r i a n p e o p l e o f t h e great D i m i t r o v , b u t t h i s f r i e n d s h i p has its r u l e s . I f the B u l g a r i a n p e o p l e h a r b o u r b a n dits in their country, a n d p e r m i t t h e m to attack us f r o m t h e r e , t h e n o u r sincere a n d p u r e f r i e n d s h i p n o l o n g e r exists. W e w a n t good, f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s w i t h I t a l y . B u t W e o b s e r v e t h a t n o w the fascists are r a i s i n g t h e i r heads
885
there, l a u n c h i n g a widespread campaign of crimes and threats, seeking to r e v i v e the old M u s s o l i n i spirit of a d v e n t u r i s m . A c t s o f fascist t e r r o r h a v e b e e n c a r r i e d o u t i n R o m e against the embassy of the People's R e p u b l i c of A l b a n i a , w h i c h i s i n v i o l a b l e . A l l those actions w h i c h h i n d e r the n o r m a l development of good neighbourly relations between our two countries must be condemned a n d stopped. A close f r a t e r n a l f r i e n d s h i p b i n d s o u r p e o p l e w i t h t h e h e r o i c people o f V i e t n a m . O u r c o u n t r y has a l w a y s r e s o l u t e l y s u p p o r t e d the j u s t w a r o f t h e V i e t n a m e s e people f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f S o u t h V i e t n a m , t h e defence o f the D e m o cratic R e p u b l i c of V i e t n a m and the re-unification of the homeland. T h e Party, the government, and the entire A l b a n i a n people forcefully condemn the aggressive policy f o l l o w e d b y t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a t o w a r d s V i e t n a m w h e r e i t i s c o n t i n u i n g its m i l i t a r y i n v o l v e m e n t , u r g i n g t h e Saigon administration to violate the Paris Agreements, a n d inciting it to grave provocations against the V i e t n a m e s e p e o p l e . W e e x p r e s s o u r u n s h a k e n c o n f i d e n c e that, t h r o u g h their resolute struggle, the fraternal Vietnamese people w i l l achieve all their national aspirations a n d t h e i r j u s t cause w i l l t r i u m p h c o m p l e t e l y . W e h a i l the h i s t o r i c v i c t o r i e s w h i c h t h e v a l i a n t C a m bodian people are achieving u n d e r the leadership of the National United Front i n t h e i r s t r u g g l e against t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t aggressors a n d t h e p u p p e t r e g i m e o f L o n N o l . We are convinced that the ultimate v i c t o r y of t h e C a m b o d i a n p e o p l e o v e r t h e f o r e i g n aggressors a n d the P h n o m - P e n h traitors is inevitable. F r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s a n d close c o l l a b o r a t i o n e x i s t b e t w e e n our country and the People's Democratic Republic of K o r e a , a n d t h e y are b e i n g s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d d e v e l o p e d c o n t i n u o u s l y , W e d e e p l y r e j o i c e a t t h e successes t h e f r a t e r n a l K o r e a n people are achieving in the construction of socialism. O u r people support the just stand of the P a r t y and government
886
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of the People's Democratic R e p u b l i c of K o r e a on the w i t h d r a w a l of foreign troops f r o m S o u t h K o r e a and the reunification of the country. Currently, the M i d d l e East constitutes one of the p r o b l e m s w o r r y i n g , n o t j u s t t h e peoples o f t h i s a r e a , b u t public opinion throughout the w o r l d . As a result of the i n t e r f e r e n c e o f t h e s u p e r p o w e r s , g e n u i n e peace t h e r e i s far from being established. There is no r a p i d solution in v i e w w h i c h w o u l d c o n f o r m to the genuine sovereign i n terests o f t h e A r a b peoples, a n d w h i c h w o u l d r e t u r n t o t h e m a l l the l a n d stolen f r o m t h e m a n d restore to the P a l e s t i n i a n s the r i g h t s t h e y h a v e been d e n i e d . T h e s o - c a l l e d peace p l a n s f a b r i c a t e d i n t h e c h a n c e l leries of Moscow a n d Washington have the a i m of b u r y i n g t h e g e n u i n e A r a b cause. E v e r y i n i t i a t i v e t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a and the Soviet U n i o n take in the M i d d l e East aims at strengthening the position of the imperialists a n d enhancing their influence there. B u t a n y a n t i - A r a b h a l f peace l i k e t h a t w h i c h t h e U n i t e d States a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n seek t o i m p o s e c a n n o t be long-lived. The four Arab-Israeli wars so far have p r o v e n this. W e a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t the A r a b peoples, w h o have ancient traditions and a freedom-loving and progressive s p i r i t w i l l f o i l a l l t h e a n t i - A r a b i n t r i g u e s a n d p l a n s o f Israel a n d the t w o superpowers, a n d w i t h their u n i t e d forces w i l l a t t a i n a l l t h e i r l o f t y n a t i o n a l o b j e c t i v e s . Recently, the flames of w a r were k i n d l e d in C y p r u s , too. A f r e s h t h r e a t t o p e a c e a n d s e c u r i t y i n t h e E a s t M e d i t e r r a n e a n a n d the B a l k a n s w a s c r e a t e d . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f e v e n t s t o date s h o w s t h a t the n e w C y p r u s t r a g e d y arose o n t h e b a c k g r o u n d o f t h e S o v i e t - U S r i v a l r y , i n t h e a t m o s p h e r e o f plots a n d i n t r i g u e s t h a t t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s , i n d i v i d u a l l y o r j o i n t l y , h a t c h u p against t h e peoples. T h e U S i m p e r i a l i s t s seek t o e s t a b l i s h t h e m s e l v e s p o l i t i c a l l y and m i l i t a r i l y on the island, w h i l e the social-imperialists
OURS IS AN OPEN POLICY want to of the and to pansion
887
fish in troubled waters. They are taking advantage situation to revive the o l d T u r k i s h - G r e e k feuds create conditions w h i c h w i l l facilitate their e x or justify their intrusion.
The problems of C y p r u s are numerous and are cert a i n l y n o t easy t o r e s o l v e , b u t w e are o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e C y p r i o t people, G r e e k a n d T u r k , a r e a b l e a n d h a v e the possibilities to decide their o w n future, free f r o m o u t s i d e p r e s s u r e a n d o n t h e basis o f t h e i r s o v e r e i g n i n terests. C y p r u s i s a n i n d e p e n d e n t a n d s o v e r e i g n state, a m e m b e r of the U n i t e d Nations a n d recognized by the m a j o r i t y o f t h e w o r l d ' s states. I t s h o u l d r e m a i n so, a n d n o b o d y has t h e r i g h t t o a t t a c k i t u n d e r a n y p r e t e x t a t a l l , t o m e d d l e i n its i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s a n d t o i m p o s e s o l u t i o n s w h i c h do not c o n f o r m to the freely expressed w i l l of the C y p r i o t people. These events w h i c h are t a k i n g place not far a w a y f r o m u s i m p o s e o n u s t h e necessity f o r s t i l l g r e a t e r r e v olutionary vigilance, even greater mobilization for a more p o w e r f u l a n d a l l - s i d e d s t r u g g l e against a l l e n e m i e s o n a l l the fronts. A s hitherto the People's R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a w i l l continue to stand in the forefront of the struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m , revisionism a n d reaction, a n d w i l l g i v e its s u p p o r t t o a l l those p e o p l e s a n d c o u n t r i e s t h a t fight for national freedom and independence, for e m a n c i pation and social advancement. I n t h e f u t u r e , too, w e s h a l l f o l l o w t h e s a m e f o r e i g n p o l i c y t h a t has e n s u r e d o u r c o u n t r y s o u n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l positions, p o w e r f u l f r i e n d s a n d n u m e r o u s w e l l - w i s h e r s , a n d has w o n i t a n h o n o u r e d n a m e a n d h i g h p r e s t i g e .
WRITERS AND ARTISTS ARE ASSISTANTS OF THE PARTY FOR THE COMMUNIST EDUCATION OF OUR PEOPLE
Speech delivered at the meeting of the Secretariat of the C of the PLA concerning the implementation to date of the tasks in literature and art set by the 4th Plenum of the CC of the PLA
December 20, 1974
I a s k e d t h e c o m r a d e s of the M i n i s t r y of E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e as w e l l as the comrades of the apparatus of the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e e n g a g e d i n p r o b l e m s o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d a r t h o w t h e y a c t i v a t e t h e w r i t e r s , poets a n d artists, because t h e y s h o u l d n o t b u r d e n t h e m w i t h o f f i c e r o u t i n e , i n v o l v i n g t h e m i n one w a y o r the o t h e r in the machinery of bureaucracy. I asked this question because I t h i n k t h a t t h e L e a g u e o f A r t i s t s a n d W r i t e r s s h o u l d not be turned into a bureaucratic organ. On the c o n t r a r y , it m u s t be a c e n t r e w h e r e t h e r e is a l i v e l y t h r e s h i n g o u t o f p h i l o s o p h i c a l , a r t i s t i c , aesthetic a n d o t h e r o p i n i o n s . W e m u s t n o t a l l o w the L e a g u e o f A r t i s t s a n d W r i t e r s t o b e t u r n e d i n t o a n o r g a n f o r c o n t r o l o v e r the v a r i o u s w r i t i n g s o f a l l t h e w r i t e r s a n d poets o f t h e c o u n t r y , but, p r i m a r i l y , i t s h o u l d w o r k i n m a n y d i f f e r e n t w a y s a n d forms to inspire t h e m to w r i t e better a n d b e t t e r . . .
WRITERS AND ARTISTS ARE ASSISTANTS OF THE PARTY
889
O v e r these t h i r t y y e a r s o f a f r e e e x i s t e n c e i n a c o u n t r y s u c h a s ours, i n w h i c h s o c i a l i s m i s b e i n g b u i l t , w e h a v e a c h i e v e d m a n y successes i n t h e f i e l d s o f t h e e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e . T h e r e i s n o d o u b t w h a t e v e r t h a t these successes w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t t h e existence o f t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r , w i t h o u t its correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t line, w i t h o u t the establishment of the people's power, without the dictatorship of the proletariat and without t h e c o n t i n u o u s w a g i n g o f t h e class s t r u g g l e . A l l these f a c tors have resulted in m a j o r transformations being carried o u t i n t h e s o c i o - e c o n o m i c f i e l d a n d , l i n k e d w i t h t h e m , i n the a l l - r o u n d e d u c a t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n g people. T h e e c o n o m i c a n d c u l t u r a l l i f e o f o u r people has c h a n g e d , has p r o g r e s s e d . O u r people w o r k , p r o d u c e , create, l e a r n a n d c o n s u m e . In a l l this development the P a r t y has continually m a d e a l l - r o u n d analyses of k e y moments, w h i c h have h e l p e d the c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e t o see t h e g o o d aspects, as w e l l as the w e a k ones, d u r i n g t h e process o f t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t . S o m e p e o p l e h a v e n o t a p p r e c i a t e d these analyses m a d e b y t h e P a r t y a s m u c h a s t h e y s h o u l d . T h e y h a v e n o t seen i n t h e m t h e essence o f t h e p o l i c y a n d p h i l o s o p h y o f t h e P a r t y , t o p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e r e s u l t s o f a g i v e n stage h a v e t h e i r g o o d aspects, b u t also h a v e w e a k aspects associated w i t h t h e m ; there are positive and negative factors a n d these factors are both objective and subjective. In the o p i n i o n o f these people, s o c i a l l i f e d e v e l o p s o u t s i d e t h e i r w i l l , because, t h e y allege, e v e n t s w i l l t a k e t h e i r p r e d e s t i n e d course w i l l y - n i l l y . S u c h p e o p l e d i f f e r i n a p p e a r a n c e f r o m those w h o p h i l o s o p h i z e i n a n idealist a n d m y s t i c a l w a y , but they do not differ at all in their w o r l d outlook. At one time, people said and believed that this or that h a d b e e n o r d a i n e d , it w a s b o u n d to h a p p e n so, there is a s u p e r n a t u r a l power, the decisions of w h i c h cannot be opposed. T h e y c a l l e d t h i s e x t r a o r d i n a r y force, G o d ,
890
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Heaven, Christ, Mohammed and a l l kinds of saintly names. E v e n n o w there are people w h o t h i n k metaphysic a l l y a n d b e l i e v e i n c e r t a i n forces w h i c h t h e y r a i s e a s factors t h a t a l l e g e d l y set d e v e l o p m e n t i n m o t i o n , s u c h a s the b u r e a u c r a c y , t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , selfishness, the sense o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y , a m b i t i o n , p o s i t i o n , etc.. F o r t h e m h e a v e n has been t r a n s f o r m e d a n d t a k e n r o o t p r e c i s e l y i n those w o r l d o u t l o o k s a n d s i g n p o s t s i n l i f e w h i c h h a v e consolidated the idealist i n s p i r a t i o n a n d the life of the capitalist, merchant o r m o n e y - l e n d i n g bourgeoisie. N a t u r a l l y under our regime, the sphere of action of such people has b e e n n a r r o w e d a n d i s b e c o m i n g n a r r o w e r , b u t their h a r m f u l mentalities are not w i t h o u t effect in life. These v i e w s operate i n life i n various forms, frequently seem t o b e q u i t e h a r m l e s s a n d n o r m a l , a n d l i e h i d d e n under a mentality w h i c h allegedly conforms to the laws, the customs and even to the n e w patriotism of the epoch of the P a r t y . T h i s is that petty-bourgeois mentality, these are those b o u r g e o i s a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s r e m n a n t s , w h i c h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party fights and w i l l continue t o f i g h t u n t i l t h e classless s o c i e t y i s a c h i e v e d . I t m u s t n o t b e i m a g i n e d t h a t the people h a v e s h a k e n o f f these r e m n a n t s , w e s h o u l d n o t t h i n k t h a t a f t e r a f e w m o r a l i z i n g a r t i c l e s these d a n g e r o u s v i c e s a n d w o r l d o u t l o o k s d i s a p p e a r w i t h o u t a trace, w e s h o u l d n o t t h i n k that, w i t h t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e l i v i n g s t a n d a r d s o f t h e people, o u r m e n a n d w o m e n b e c o m e i m m u n e t o these diseases. O t h e r w i s e , w e m a y h a v e a r e m i n d e r o f t h e m , and this time shouting long l i v e the P a r t y w h i c h created a b u n d a n c e f o r us. B u t t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e a b u n d a n c e a n d w e l l - b e i n g , the Party must create in individuals and in society precisely that world outlook, those customs, those feelings, those tastes, those ethics, that revolutionary philosophy, which will not permit the revival or the spread of petty-bourgeois and bourgeois world outlooks, either.
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O f course, t h i s i s n o t a n e a s y t a s k a n d t h a t i s j u s t w h a t the bourgeoisie, capitalism, relies on w h e n it hopes f o r t h e f a i l u r e o f socialist society, the defeat o f c o m m u n i s m . I t i s p r e c i s e l y t h a t p h i l o s o p h y , those w o r l d o u t looks and those economic relations on w h i c h the developm e n t a n d c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f i t s state p o w e r a r e based, t h a t c a p i t a l i s m i s c o u n t i n g o n . Its w h o l e s t r u c t u r e a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e h a v e , o f course, o p p r e s s e d m a n i n a t w o f o l d w a y : both spiritually and physically. D u r i n g the entire course of history, the reign of capital, of religion, of t h e a r i s t o c r a c y a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s i e has c l a s h e d w i t h t h e p r o g r e s s i v e forces, w i t h progress, a n d has lost m a n y l i m b s i n these w a r s . N o w i t h a s r e a c h e d t h e stage o f i t s d e c a y . C a p i t a l i s m , i m p e r i a l i s m , has lost its e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l p o s i t i o n s one a f t e r a n o t h e r . T h e r e v o l u t i o n , t h e peoples, a r e e r o d i n g its f o u n d a t i o n s . M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i s l e a d i n g t h e peoples t o w a r d s the n e w l i f e , s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m , but w e must not t h i n k that i n face o f t h e defeats it is suffering, w o r l d capitalism has l a i d d o w n its a r m s . I n i t s objectives, c a p i t a l i s m r e l i e s p r e c i s e l y o n i t s barbarous attacks and on predatory imperialist w a r s against t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e peoples f r o m its y o k e , b u t i t a l s o c o u n t s o n t h a t w o r l d o u t l o o k a n d o n those r e m n a n t s w h i c h b u r d e n t h e consciousness o f m e n a n d h a v e k e p t t h e m as its slaves for life. In this direction, the propaganda of imperialism for t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n o f m e n a n d w o m e n a n d society a s a w h o l e , f o r t h e r e v i v a l o f e v e r y f o r m a n d aspect o f t h e f o r m e r vices, f e e l i n g s , s e n t i m e n t s , appetites, selfishness, r o b b e r y , a n d g a n g s t e r i s m o f those i n d i v i d u a l s a n d t h o s e societies t h a t s u p p o r t e d its p o w e r , h a s n e v e r b e f o r e k n o w n such a broad extension a n d range as it has at the present t i m e . A l l t h i s i s a r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e savage face o f c a p i t a l , a r e f l e c t i o n o f its d e g e n e r a t i o n . N e v e r t h e l e s s , w i t h t h i s w a y o f l i f e i t i s s t i l l s t r i v i n g t o p r o l o n g its e x i s t e n c e a n d
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d o m i n a t i o n , b y i n f l u e n c i n g t h e peoples w i t h its p r o p a ganda in order to demoralize them, to divert them f r o m the road of the revolution. Capitalism and imperialism are afraid of the revolution, of the proletariat, but not of the l u m p e n elements o r o f those d e m o c r a t s a n d socialists w h o f i g h t t h e m w i t h k i d gloves, n o r o f t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , l i k e those o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d others, w h o h a v e b e t r a y e d t h e i d e a s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . A l l these, d r e s s e d u p i n v a r i o u s p s e u d o - r e v o l u t i o n a r y ideologies, a r e forces a n d m e a n s o f the counter-revolution w h i c h capitalism and imperialism use f o r t h e i r o w n p u r p o s e s . I n v i e w o f these t h i n g s , a n d b e i n g a w a r e o f t h e d a n g e r o f t h e m a t e v e r y m o m e n t , o u r P a r t y teaches a n d educates t h e people, t h r o w s t h e m i n t o s t r u g g l e f o r t h e construction of socialist society a n d the consolidation of t h e victories achieved, a n d to prepare the g r o u n d for t h o s e n e w objectives w h i c h m u s t b e a c h i e v e d . H e n c e , e v e r y citizen of o u r c o u n t r y must reflect deeply on w h a t t h e P a r t y m e a n s w h e n i t says t h a t w e m u s t f i g h t w i t h a l l o u r s t r e n g t h against t h e e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l p r e s s u r e of the bourgeois and revisionist ideology. This double and, at the same time, single e n e m y is not i m a g i n a r y but r e a l . T h e s t r u g g l e m u s t b e w a g e d e v e r y day, m u s t b e active and take place in all the manifestations of life, in t h e p h i l o s o p h y o f a l l these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s . T h e s t r u g g l e m u s t b e w a g e d w i t h a l l t h e means, t h r o u g h e d u c a t i o n i n schools, i n factories, i n f i e l d s , a t w o r k a n d a t h o m e , w i t h t h e f a m i l y a n d tte t t e w i t h t h e m o t h e r , t h e w i f e , t h e sister, t h e c h i l d r e n , t h e n e i g h b o u r s , i n a l l t h e i r m a n i f e s tations, p o i n t i n g out and encouraging the good things and c o n d e m n i n g t h e b a d t h i n g s . I f w e act i n t h i s w a y , w e h a v e t r i u m p h e d step b y step o v e r t h e e n e m y . W e m u s t n o t a l l o w h i s e v i l seed t o g e r m i n a t e , a n d , a s soon a s i t p u t s u p a sprout, w e m u s t n i p i t o f f a t once.
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T h e w r i t e r s a n d a r t i s t s h a v e a n e x c e p t i o n a l l y great role in this direction. T h e people a n d the P a r t y need t h e m . T h r o u g h t h e i r c r e a t i v i t y a n d talents t h e y s h o u l d g i v e m o r e h e l p i n e l i m i n a t i n g those r e m n a n t s I s p o k e o f e a r l i e r f r o m t h e d a r k c o r n e r s o f h u m a n consciousness a n d s h o u l d b r i n g o u t t h e m a j e s t y o f t h e socialist w o r l d a n d t h e v i r t u e s o f its n e w m e n a n d w o m e n . U n d e r t h e l e a d e r ship of the P a r t y , our w o r k e r s of literature and art should do that p r o f o u n d ideological, political, moral, and ethical w o r k w h i c h is needed to combat the influences a n d poisons of the o l d w o r l d and of the present-day capitalist a n d revisionist w o r l d , to b r i n g out the l o f t y c o m m u n i s t virtues and implant them in the character of our men a n d women. They should struggle to always play the role o f t h e assistant o f t h e P a r t y i n t h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e n e w man. I regret to have to say that m a n y communists a n d l e a d e r s o f p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s a n d state i n s t i t u t i o n s d o n o t properly understand the importance of literature a n d art. In their reports they repeat Lenin's golden words about t h e r o l e o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d a r t i n e d u c a t i n g the masses, b u t w h e n it comes to practice, they underrate or forget them. In the direction of the development of literature a n d a r t t h e P a r t y h a s h e l p e d t o b r i n g a b o u t a great q u a l i t a t i v e l e a p f o r w a r d . L i f e i n o u r c o u n t r y i s s o great, s o b r o a d , s o varied, so beautiful and so open that if you immerse yourself in it y o u cannot f a i l to be inspired to w r i t e w h a t e v e r y o u l i k e novels, poems, p l a y s , m u s i c , comedies, etc. T h e c o m r a d e w r i t e r s , poets, m u s i c i a n s , artists, a c t o r s a n d d i r e c t o r s o f d r a m a , o p e r a a n d b a l l e t theatres, c i n e m a t o g r a p h y , etc., i n s p i r e d b y t h e w o r k a n d h e r o i c deeds o f t h e people, h a v e a c h i e v e d v e r y g r e a t p r o g r e s s i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d a r t i n o u r c o u n t r y . T h e best evidence of this is the creative literary-artistic w o r k done o n t h e o c c a s i o n o f t h e 30th a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n of o u r H o m e l a n d . Inspired by the decisions of the 4th
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P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A , our artists a n d writers came to that great jubilee w i t h a l l those beautiful w o r k s . T h e s e a c h i e v e m e n t s , i n t h e series o f o t h e r s , t e s t i f y , a m o n g other things, to the possibilities created w h e n the people a r e i n p o w e r a n d are l e d b y a r e v o l u t i o n a r y M a r x i s t Leninist party, such as our P a r t y of Labour. A m o n g the w o r k s of foreign authors of various countries w h i c h I have read, there are some that I have liked, f o r instance, t h e w o r k s o f c l a s s i c a l p o e t r y a n d o u t s t a n d i n g F r e n c h a n d o t h e r prose w r i t e r s , b u t t h e r e a r e also s o m e w h i c h I h a v e not l i k e d a t a l l , s u c h a s m a n y n e w n o v e l s w h i c h I have happened to pick up and tried to read, but w h i c h , t o t e l l t h e t r u t h , I h a v e t h r o w n a w a y , because t h e y a r e worthless. L e t alone the m o d e r n poetry w h i c h I have read, w h i c h is unimaginably a w f u l . Reading such p o e t r y I ask m y s e l f , w h o are these p e o p l e w h o w r i t e s u c h stuff. M e a n w h i l e , c o m p a r e d t o t h i s c o r r u p t a n d worthless creativity, the magnificence of our literature and a r t o f socialist r e a l i s m , t h e v a l u e o f o u r e x c e p t i o n a l l y b e a u t i f u l f o l k songs a n d dances, becomes e v e r g r e a t e r . A m o n g o u r poets a n d p r o s e w r i t e r s t h e r e a r e a u t h o r s w h o t u r n out literary a n d artistic creations of value, others w h o p r o d u c e w o r k s o f less v a l u e ; t h e n t h e r e are those w h o write materials without any special value. W h o is g o i n g t o h e l p t h e latter, p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e y o u n g poets a n d writers, progress? We must pay great attention to this question, we must encourage a n d help t h e m , a n d our aff i r m e d w r i t e r s a n d poets, a s w e l l a s those w h o h a v e h a d m o r e t r a i n i n g t h a n t h e y o u n g ones, h a v e a s p e c i a l d u t y in this direction. B u t the first and continuing aid we m u s t g i v e t h e m i s t o o p e n t h e eyes o f t h e i r consciousness t o t h e r e a l i t y o f o u r c o u n t r y a n d o u r people. T h e y t h e m selves m u s t l e a r n t o see w i t h t h e i r o w n e y e s a n d f e e l w i t h their o w n hearts the vigorous development of the
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life of o u r people a n d f a i t h f u l l y reflect it in their diverse creativity. We must understand the most profound and d i v e r s e aspects o f t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t , w h i c h a r e d i s c o v e r e d t h r o u g h k n o w l e d g e of the m a t e r i a l life a n d the feelings w h i c h arise in each period, through the clash of opinions created b y i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l antagonisms, w h i c h were a n d a r e i n s e p a r a b l e i n t h e l i f e o f a people, i n w h a t e v e r period a n d in w h a t e v e r c o m e r of the continents this peop l e m a y l i v e a n d f i g h t f o r i t s existence, f o r a b e t t e r l i f e , a life in freedom and economic and political independence. A poet w h o does n o t k n o w the r e a l i t y is q u i t e u n a b l e to produce a p o w e r f u l poem, no matter h o w developed h i s i m a g i n a t i o n m a y be. B u t i f h e c o m b i n e s h i s i m a g i n a tion w i t h the objective reality of the country, w i t h the v i v i d l i f e o f t h e people, i f i n h i s w r i t i n g s h e combats e x p r e s s i o n s f u l l of p o m p o u s phrases, he, too, c a n become a talented writer. W e m u s t n o t b e d i s c o u r a g e d because, a l o n g s i d e the r e c o g n i z e d p o e t s a n d w r i t e r s , w e d o n o t see n e w talents o f h i g h c a l i b r e e m e r g i n g , a s w a s s a i d here. I t m u s t b e borne in m i n d that it is not easy to create w o r t h w h i l e l i t e r a r y pieces, poems, novels, etc. i n a s h o r t t i m e . Y o u n e e d t i m e t o w r i t e v a l u a b l e w o r k s ; besides, y o u m u s t l i n k y o u r s e l f w i t h m e n a n d w o m e n , w i t h t h e people, m u s t g o d e e p i n t o t h e h e a r t o f t h e masses, n o t j u s t t o f i n d t h e subject for y o u r novel or p o e m and then immediately l e a v e t h e v i l l a g e o r t h e f a c t o r y , c o n s i d e r i n g the b i r t h o f t h e i d e a t o b e s u f f i c i e n t . N o f i n e w o r k , n o a c h i e v e m e n t , can c o m e o u t i n t h i s w a y , t h a t i s w h y i t i s r e q u i r e d o f the w r i t e r t o r e a l l y get t o k n o w people, t o k n o w t h e i r lives, t h e i r d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d w o r r i e s , t h e i r p l e a s u r e s a n d hopes, etc.. as I s a i d e a r l i e r . T h e majority of our y o u n g writers have a cultural horizon, but their task is to l i n k this culture w e l l w i t h
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the l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y , w i t h t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y . I a m c o n v i n c e d that, b y d r a w i n g i n s p i r a t i o n f r o m t h e l i f e o f t h e people a n d the c o r r e c t l i n e o f t h e P a r t y , i n t i m e t h e y o u n g w r i t e r s , too, w i l l m a t u r e a n d succeed i n w i n n i n g recognition. There are t w o w a y s of v i e w i n g the development of l i f e : one i s t h e i d e a l i s t , m y s t i c a l , p e s s i m i s t i c a n d c o n s e r v a t i v e v i e w , and the other is the realist view, with a revolutionary spirit, fruit of a materialist analysis of events and history, a view full of optimistic feelings about a further positive change and development of history and about the advancement of society, of a classless society. T h i s v i e w becomes t h e p r o p e r t y a n d o u t l o o k o f t h o s e m e n a n d women with pure revolutionary virtues, who, uniting w i t h t h e p r o g r e s s i v e classes, s t r i k e p o w e r f u l b l o w s a t t h e entire abhorred ideological a n d political-moral arsenal of t h e r e a c t i o n a r y forces. In order to educate and help the young writers and artists, it is essential that we teach them, and make understandable to them, the ideology that guides our Party and our working class MarxismLeninism. We must teach our y o u n g w r i t e r s a n d artists h o w to r e a d t h e o p e n b o o k o f t h e socialist l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y , h o w to study a n d grasp the content of this w o n d e r f u l book. W e m u s t m a k e t h e m l o v e e v e r y letter o f t h i s book o f life, m a k e t h e m see a n d f e e l the p o w e r f u l p u l s e o f t h e s t r e n g t h , feelings a n d a r d e n t d e s i r e s o f o u r people. W e m u s t w o r k t o m a k e t h e m see a n d h a n d l e t h e colossal a c h i e v e m e n t s o f o u r p e o p l e i n a l l f i e l d s , see h o w o u r n e w m a n o f socialist society, l e d b y a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , has t r a n s f o r m e d the p l a i n s , t h e m o u n t a i n s , h a s h a r n e s s e d the f l o w o f r i v e r s , a n d b u i l t e n t i r e cities f r o m n o t h i n g . W e m u s t m a k e these y o u n g p e o p l e see a l l these b e a u t i e s , a l l t h i s r i c h c o l o u r o f o u r people a n d n a t u r e . F r o m t h i s w o n d e r f u l book, w h i c h i s the l i f e o f t h e people, t h e y
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s h o u l d m a k e d e d u c t i o n s a n d p u t a l l these g r e a t t r e a s u r e s o f o u r socialist l i f e i n t h e i r books, n o v e l s a n d p o e m s , i n t h e i r songs a n d p l a y s , i n t h e p a i n t i n g s a n d s c u l p t u r e s t h e y create. If our artists and writers proceed in these directions and are imbued with these teachings, if they immerse themselves completely in the revolutionary current of life with all their strength of character and the depth of their pure and ardent feelings, they will certainly give the people and their Homeland wonderful works which will be a reflection of the mighty work being done in our country for the construction of socialism and the formation of the new man. As to their usefulness and majesty, their works will be like the giant hydro-power stations, factories and combines, the beautiful wheat fields and the hills covered with fruit trees; they will be like the beauties of our cities, schools and creches, where the happy children of our socialist country laugh and sing, where our working class, cooperativist peasantry and people's intelligentsia, with their minds and skills, are creating and building a new, happy, and prosperous life. I t h i n k t h a t a n o t h e r s p e c i a l sort o f h e l p w h i c h s h o u l d b e g i v e n t o t h e y o u n g , less e x p e r i e n c e d a n d a s y e t u n formed writers, apart f r o m the friendly advice of the o u t s t a n d i n g poets, w r i t e r s , p a i n t e r s a n d m u s i c i a n s , o r t h e comments they w i l l m a k e about the creative w o r k of the y o u n g people, w i l l b e t h e b e a u t i f u l a n d r i c h c r e a t i v i t y o f o u r g r e a t talents, t h e s p l e n d i d w r i t i n g s a n d c o m p o s i t i o n s t h e y b r i n g out, w h i c h w i l l i n s p i r e those w h o a r e y o u n g e r a n d w i t h less t r a i n i n g f r o m t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a n d a r t i s t i c v i e w p o i n t . T h e w o r k s o f p o e t r y , prose, m u s i c , p a i n t i n g , etc., p r o v i d e d b y o u r w e l l - k n o w n w r i t e r s a n d artists, s h o u l d b e c o m e m a j o r subjects f o r s t u d y t o i n s p i r e a l l those e n g a g e d i n l i t e r a t u r e a n d art, i n r e g a r d t o t h e i r ethics, content, t r e a t m e n t o f p r o b l e m s , etc. T h i s c r e a t i v i t y i s a n d
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w i l l r e m a i n a g r e a t s c h o o l a n d assistance p r o v i d e d f o r t h e y o u n g b y t h e r e c o g n i z e d artists, f r o m w h o s e w o r k s n o t o n l y those w h o h a v e j u s t b e g u n t o w r i t e , b u t also t h e readers, a l l those w h o a r e n o t e n g a g e d i n w r i t i n g , l e a r n a n d g a i n e d u c a t i o n , because t h e y i n s p i r e us, too. T h e f i n e w o r k s o f t h e o u s t a n d i n g w r i t e r s , poets a n d a r t i s t s please us, because t h e y are p e r m e a t e d b y v a l u a b l e ideas a n d t h o u g h t s , w h i c h d o n o t d r o p f r o m t h e skies, b u t s t e m f r o m k n o w l e d g e o f the r e a l state o f t h i n g s , o f o u r r e a l i t y , o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d social l i f e o f o u r people. T h e s e ideas a n d t h o u g h t s c o r r e c t l y a n d a c c u r a t e l y r e f l e c t t h e desires, j o y s a n d s o r r o w s , t h e l i f e a n d d e p t h o f t h e t h i n k i n g o f t h e people, t h e y a r e l i n k e d w i t h o u r f u t u r e , t h e r e f o r e , t h e y n o t o n l y please us, b u t also i n s p i r e u s a n d i n v i g o r a t e o u r w o r k . H e n c e , t h e successful w o r k s of the outstanding authors should become t h e m a i n s o u r c e o f assistance t o t h e y o u n g creators, r a t h e r than any schematic organization of giving help on their part. W h e n the w o r k s of the w r i t e r s a n d artists, their paintings a n d musical compositions, express the profound t h i n k i n g a n d great-heartedness of the people a n d portray r e a l c h a r a c t e r s f r o m life, t h i s m a k e s those w h o a r e r e f l e c t e d i n these c r e a t i o n s t h i n k : W i t h t h e w o r k w e c a r r y Out, d o w e d e s e r v e t h i s h o n o u r ? A n d t h i s q u e s t i o n w h i c h they ask themselves inspires t h e m a n d multiplies their strength to w o r k even harder. T h e w o r k s o f o u r w r i t e r s , i n c l u d i n g the y o u n g ones, c o n t a i n i n s p i r a t i o n , ideas, taste, a r t . A l l these t h i n g s m a y not be a l w a y s profound, m a y not be perfect. It is k n o w n t h a t t h e t r e e does n o t y i e l d f r u i t a s s o o n a s i t s p r o u t s f r o m t h e s o i l . I t i s l i k e t h i s also w i t h t h e y o u n g w r i t e r s a n d artists, b u t i n t i m e t h e y , too, w i l l g r o w u p , w i l l m a t u r e i n t h e i r t h o u g h t s a n d w i l l k n o w h o w t o create w o r k s w h i c h are m o r e b e a u t i f u l , o f g r e a t e r a n d m o r e l a s t i n g value.
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In their creative w o r k the y o u n g w r i t e r s must d r a w inspiration, first of all, f r o m the line of the P a r t y and t h e c o l o s s a l a c t i v i t y of t h e m e n of l a b o u r , b u t , as I said, t h e y m u s t also l e a r n f r o m t h e i r o l d e r a n d m o r e e x p e r i e n c e d w r i t e r , poet, a n d a r t i s t c o m r a d e s . A m o n g the y o u n g a r t i s t s a n d m e n o f letters, i n d e e d a l s o a m o n g the o l d e r ones, t h r o u g h s y s t e m a t i c e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k , w e m u s t p a t i e n t l y f i g h t a n d e l i m i n a t e e g o i s m , a m b i t i o n a n d conceit, w h i c h l i n g e r a m o n g u s a s s t a i n s f r o m t h e society w i t h a n t a g o n i s t i c classes. T h i s w o r k i s i n d i s p e n s a b l e f o r a m a s sive development and blooming of the beautiful, fragrant, multi-coloured flowers of a socialist garden such as ours. But, I think, we cannot expect that all talents w i l l reach that level of development at the same time. Therefore, we must not make unwarranted comparisons between i n d i v i duals engaged in creative w o r k , saying that the product i o n s o f t h i s o n e o r t h a t a r e s u p e r l a t i v e , w h i l e those o f t h e o t h e r s a r e n o t h i n g ! N o , w e m u s t n o t act i n t h i s w a y . T h e l i t e r a t u r e , a r t , m u s i c , a n d i n d e e d t h e e c o n o m y , the sciences a n d t h e e n t i r e c u l t u r e o f t h e c o u n t r i e s a n d peoples o f t h e w o r l d h a v e n o t d e v e l o p e d a l l a t one t i m e , b u t h a v e passed, step b y step, f r o m t h e l o w e s t stages t o t h e h i g h e s t . D i f f e r e n c e s , o f course, h a v e a l w a y s e x i s t e d , n o t o n l y w h e n h i g h l e v e l s o f science, l i t e r a t u r e a n d c u l t u r e h a v e b e e n a t t a i n e d , b u t also w h e n t h e y h a v e not. T i m e a n d life themselves w i l l m a k e the differentiation. In the w o r l d literature of different epochs a n d centuries, m e n t i o n is made of m e n who, in their o w n time, have been a m o n g the most renowned, but in the later centuries t h e i r v a l u e has fallen right a w a y a n d they have been f o r g o t t e n . A b o o k a b o u t t h e F r e n c h A c a d e m y w r i t e s of those outstanding F r e n c h a n d w o r l d authorities w h o were never admitted to the A c a d e m y , such as Molire. R o u s s e a u , D i d e r o t , B a l z a c , etc. I t says t h a t m a n y o f t h e m w e r e t u r n e d d o w n w h e n they presented their candidatures
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for membership of the Academy. B u t w h o turned them d o w n a n d w h o w a s chosen i n t h e i r stead? T h e a u t h o r s o f t h e b o o k s h o w t h a t those w h o w e r e e l e c t e d i n s t e a d o f these a u t h o r i t i e s w e r e m e n w h o s e c r e a t i v e w o r k h a d n o great v a l u e , t h e r e f o r e , w i t h t h e passage o f t i m e , m a n y o f t h e m h a v e been f o r g o t t e n a n d some h a v e d i s a p p e a r e d w i t h o u t a trace. In t h i s book, o n e of these a u t h o r s , H i m s e l f a n a c a d e m i c i a n , presents t h e g r a n d e u r a n d i m m o r t a l i t y of Molire who was never admitted to the Academy. I n t h e f i n a l account, w h a t d i d M o l i r e w a n t w i t h t h e luxurious a r m c h a i r of the F r e n c h A c a d e m y when, even today, millions of m e n and w o m e n go a n d respectfully touch the o l d armchair i n w h i c h h e died, p l a y i n g his i m m o r t a l comedies? I mentioned the instance of the F r e n c h A c a d e m y to i l l u s t r a t e t h e i d e a t h a t t i m e i s w h a t does t h e s o r t i n g out of m a n y people a n d works. Those w h i c h are of the greatest v a l u e , t h e m a s t e r p i e c e s , last t h r o u g h c e n t u r i e s a s i m m o r t a l m o n u m e n t s w h o s e g l o r y n e v e r fades. O t h e r s , o f a certain mediocre value, are talked about for a time, w h e r e a s those w h i c h a r e w o r t h l e s s a r e e n t i r e l y r e j e c t e d and nobody even mentions them. Thus, do what you w i l l to impose a valueless w o r k , it w i l l be short-lived. T h e opposite is just as true, do whatever y o u like, organize cabals, i n v e n t baseless c r i t i c i s m i n a s p i r i t o f a m b i t i o n a n d denigration about a fine work, nevertheless it w i l l not d i s a p p e a r , its w o r t h i s n o t r e d u c e d b u t resists a n y a c t i o n , a n d , f i n a l l y , i t i m p o s e s itself t h r o u g h its g r e a t v a l u e s .
I t h i n k t h a t a w o r k , of w h a t e v e r genre, has its g o o d aspects, b u t i t has also its w e a k aspects. T h i s i s p r e c i s e l y w h y c r i t i c i s m i s necessary, b u t n o t d e n i g r a t i n g c r i t i c i s m i m p e l l e d b y a m b i t i o n a n d o t h e r u n h e a l t h y feelings, butf a i r , objective, c o n s t r u c t i v e c r i t i c i s m .
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I m a k e n o c l a i m a t a l l , t h r o u g h these f e w e l e m e n t a r y t h o u g h t s I a m e x p r e s s i n g , t o pose as, o r p l a c e m y s e l f , in the role of a literary critic. No, I am not in that c a t e g o r y , b u t I t h i n k t h a t a w o r k , of w h a t e v e r genre, must have its essence in the correct political, ideological, moral road and present the situation, its general and typical aspects realistically. F i r s t of a l l , t h e w o r k m u s t i n s p i r e , educate, a n d e n t h u s e the r e a d e r . T h e f o r c e a n d i n t e n s i t y w i t h w h i c h i t w i l l d o this, d e p e n d s o n t h e p r o f u n d i t y o f its i d e o l o g i c a l content a n d o n t h e f o r m s , style, f i g u r e s , colours, etc., u s e d b y t h e a u t h o r . In t h e i r colossal w o r k , o u r great classical teachers M a r x , Engels, L e n i n and Stalin, have dealt w i t h the p r o b l e m s o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d art, too. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d Trotskyites t r y to m i n i m i z e this m a j o r contribution of the classics. T h e y d o t h i s w i t h a v i e w t o o p e n i n g b r o a d f i e l d s f o r t h e i r f i l t h o f a l l genres w h i c h t h e y a r e p o u r i n g out in all directions. I a d v i s e t h e w r i t e r s a n d artists, p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e l i t e r a r y a n d a r t c r i t i c s t h a t a l o n g w i t h t h e i r s t u d y o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory they should read w i t h especially great care those m o r e t h a n a f e w i n s t a n c e s i n w h i c h o u r classics m a k e criticism of writers a n d artists. They a r e p r o f o u n d analyses a n d m o d e l s o f h o w w e s h o u l d judge a literary-artistic work. A s I h a v e said, I d o n o t w a n t t o g o i n t o d e t a i l a b o u t w h a t a c r i t i c s h o u l d be, b u t I h o p e y o u w i l l f o r g i v e me, because I w o u l d l i k e to m a k e a c r i t i c i s m of o u r l i t e r a r y critics. Sometimes their criticism is neither simple nor u n d e r s t a n d a b l e , t h u s i t c a n n o t a l w a y s b e g r a s p e d b y those w h o r e a d i t a n d w h o w a n t t o l e a r n . M a n y o f these c r i t i c i s m s are v e r b o s e , w h a t s h o u l d b e p o i n t e d out i s d r o w n e d i n a f l o o d o f a n a l y s i s a n d . f r e q u e n t l y , a b s t r u s e a n d specific phrases a n d terminology are used to give the i m p r e s s i o n o f competence a n d o f h a v i n g t h o r o u g h l y s t u d i e d
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the work. B u t in acting in this way, they forget the r e a d e r , o n w h o m t h i s k i n d o f c r i t i c i s m has n o g r e a t effect. If I m a y g i v e s o m e a d v i c e , t h i s is t h a t o u r c r i t i c s s h o u l d a b a n d o n a n y i n c l i n a t i o n s , i f these a p p e a r a m o n g some o f t h e m , t o i m i t a t e t h e b o u r g e o i s m o d e r n i s t c r i t i c s o f t h e present t i m e w h o m a k e t h e i r c r i t i c i s m s o b s c u r e , confused, a n d corrupting, u n d e r the pretext that they must allegedly adapt their criticism to the w o r k s of the times. In the field of the literary and artistic criticism of t h e b o u r g e o i s i e i n v a r i o u s epochs, too, w e s h a l l see v a r i o u s stages a n d f o r m s o f it. W i t h o u t a s p i r i n g t o t h e h e i g h t s o f the c r i t i c i s m s o f V o l t a i r e , w h i c h w e r e a s i n c i s i v e a n d profound as they were simple and understandable, but j u s t t a k i n g t h e c r i t i c i s m s o f t h e e a r l y decades o f our century, we shall notice that they w e r e not so doubledistilled, so tangled and twisted, to the degree to w h i c h t h e present b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t art, l i t e r a t u r e a n d criticism have degenerated. O u r literary-artistic criticism must be inspired by and p u r s u e t h e p r i n c i p l e d course o f t h e g r e a t c l a s s i c a l teachers and our Party. O u r criticisms should be realist, l i k e the works they analyse; they should be simple, understandable, concise a n d a b l e t o b e g r a s p e d b y t h e p u b l i c . C r i t i c i s m must be educational, therefore, he w h o makes it must not r e g a r d h i m s e l f a s s p e a k i n g f r o m t h e peak o f O l y m pus, b u t s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e a u t h o r of a w o r k as a comrade, to w h o m he talks to give h i m advice, always w i t h good i n t e n t i o n s . W e m u s t also s h o w a l i t t l e tact, c o m r a d e s , i n t h e h e l p g i v e n t o those w h o create. W e s h o u l d b e a r i n m i n d the psychology and feelings of a person. T h e observation m a d e h e r e c o n c e r n i n g s u b j e c t i v e c r i t i c i s m i s correct. S o m e times the criticisms m a d e about l i t e r a r y or musical w o r k s are e x a g g e r a t e d a n d s u b j e c t i v e . W e m u s t d e m a n d
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f r o m o u r w r i t e r s , poets a n d a r t i s t s t h a t t h e content, the essence o f t h e i r w o r k s h o u l d b e o n a c o r r e c t p a r t y r o a d a n d b e i n s p i r e d b y a s o u n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t i n the service of socialism. T h i s is the m a i n thing w h i c h our a u thors must bear i n m i n d i n their creative w o r k . A s t o h o w one o r t h e o t h e r w i l l c o n s t r u c t t h e t h e m e h e has chosen, t h e characters, t h i s i s t h e business o f t h e w r i t e r , the poet, o r the m u s i c i a n . H e , b e t t e r t h a n a n y o n e else, f i n d s f o r h i m self t h e a r t i s t i c f i g u r e s w h i c h p l e a s e h i m , k n o w s w h i c h m o ment must be underlined to f u r t h e r strengthen the ideol o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l c o r e o f h i s w o r k , a n d s o o n . O n quest i o n s l i k e these, each m u s t decide f o r h i m s e l f . I t w o u l d n o t be advisable at all, for example, to say to one w r i t e r or a n o t h e r : If y o u w i l l r e m o v e t h i s i d e a o r l i n e a n d a d d t h a t other one, i f y o u w i l l s h o r t e n i t a l i t t l e h e r e a n d e x t e n d i t t h e r e , r e m o v e t h i s a r t i s t i c f i g u r e a n d p u t i n another, etc. I n s u c h a case t h e w r i t e r w o u l d h a v e the r i g h t t o retort: Then w h y don't y o u w r i t e y o u r o w n verse the w a y y o u w a n t i t a n d stop m e s s i n g m e a b o u t ? W e m u s t n e v e r i n t e r f e r e expressively w i t h u n c a l l e d f o r c r i t i c i s m o f l i t e r a r y - a r t i s t i c w o r k s , because s u c h s u b j e c t i v e i n t e r f e r e n c e i s n o t assistance, b u t m a s s a c r e . C r i t i c i s m s m u s t not b e made in this way. If we allow others to make one comm e n t a f t e r another, e n d l e s s l y , a b o u t t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of a p o e m , a p l a y , etc., t h e w o r k w i l l e n d u p a disaster a n d b e t u r n e d i n t o a R u s s i a n salad. W e s h o u l d b e p a r t i c u l a r l y c a r e f u l t o p u r s u e a correct p o l i c y o f a i d a n d c r i t i c i s m i n r e g a r d t o t h e y o u n g w r i t e r s , i n t h e sense t h a t w e s h o u l d neither depress n o r i n t i m i d a t e t h e m by telling them baldly, Y o u r p o e m i s w o r t h l e s s , Y o u r w r i t i n g i s v e r y poor, etc. W e s h o u l d also b e a r i n m i n d t h e o t h e r aspect, t h a t w e s h o u l d n o t t u r n t h e i r heads w i t h u n d u e p r a i s e o t h e r w i s e t h e y m i g h t get stuck up. T h e a i m i s t o h e l p t h e m a d v a n c e , s o t h a t t h e y , l i k e a l l t h e others, serve t h e people w i t h d e v o t i o n .
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I n a f e w w o r d s , w h e n a w o r k i s correct i n l i n e a n d d o e s n o t l a c k a r t i s t i c v a l u e s , b u t w h i c h m a y b e a bit l a m e s o m e w h e r e w i t h r e g a r d t o t h i s o r t h a t aspect, t h e r e s h o u l d n o t b e too m u c h h e s i t a t i o n t o p u b l i s h , e x h i b i t , p e r f o r m , o r stage it. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , I w a n t t o r e - e m p h a s i s e t h a t i t w o u l d not b e r i g h t a n d p r o p e r f o r the people o f a r t a n d l i t e r a t u r e t o t a k e a c o n t e m p t u o u s a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s the f a i r c r i t i c i s m s a n d suggestions o f a n e s s e n t i a l l y i d e o l o g i c a l a n d artistic character m a d e by the critics or the readers. O u r theatre, b o t h o f d r a m a a n d o f o p e r a a n d ballet, has g a i n e d e x p e r i e n c e a n d has c r e a t e d a t r a d i t i o n , b u t e f f o r t s m u s t n e v e r cease t o f i n d other, n e w e r , w a y s a n d means w i t h a revolutionary spirit to enrich and further i m p r o v e t h i s e x p e r i e n c e a n d these t r a d i t i o n s . O u r t h e a t r e m u s t r e f l e c t o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y r e a l i t y , the d e m a n d s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d c o o p e r a t i v i s t p e a s a n t r y t o consolidate the n e w society. Of course, f o r us t h e t h e a t r e is a p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l w e a p o n f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n o f people, therefore, it must be understandable and, in order to be so. i t m u s t express t h e i r f e e l i n g s a n d desires. It is essential that o u r d r a m a t u r g y should be raised t o t h e highest p o s s i b l e l e v e l o f p e r f e c t i o n , s h o u l d a v o i d banality, and not only respond to the present level of c u l t u r e of t h e masses w h o f r e q u e n t o u r theatre, but should be, at the same time, the inspirer of a further advance in the tastes and revolutionary impulse for a more cultured life. N a t u r a l l y , w e are o p p o s e d t o t h e l i t e r a t u r e o f m o d e r n ist d r a m a t i c a r t w h i c h t r i e s t o e n t a n g l e a n d e n s l a v e p e o p l e i n t h e c o n s u m e r society, t o d e p r i v e t h e m o f t h e i r p u r e f e e l ings a n d of a revolutionary h u m a n morality in thoughts a n d actions. O f course, o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y t h e a t r e does n o t a n d c a n n o t h a v e t h e i n d i v i d u a l features o f o n e artist, b u t has t h e f i n e s t features o f o u r masses, o f o u r socialist society. T h i s
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in no w a y means that our revolutionary theatre lovers, u n derrates, or entirely eliminates the personality a n d creative t a l e n t of t h e a r t i s t , as t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d its theories about theatre claim. On the contrary, our revolutionary t h e a t r e opens t o t h e artists a v e r y w i d e f i e l d o f feelings and thoughts w h i c h greatly enrich their creative spirit and possibilities. T h e i n n e r w o r l d o f o u r a r t i s t s does n o t k n o w those r e s t r i c t i o n s w h i c h are i m p o s e d o n t h e a r t i s t i n b o u r g e o i s society. S u c h artists i n b o u r g e o i s s o c i e t y h a v e o n l y t h e i l l u s i o n o f f r e e d o m o f c r e a t i o n , w h i l e , i n fact, t h e i r a c t i v i t y i s c o n d i t i o n e d a n d , o f course, o r i e n t a t e d b y t h e b o u r geois r e a l i t y , b y a l i f e f u l l o f a b n o r m a l , a m o r a l , e x t r a v a g a n t p h e n o m e n a . I t i s p r e c i s e l y these c o r r u p t i n g p h e n o mena a n d this extravagance that give the bourgeois writers a n d artists t h e i m p r e s s i o n o f h a v i n g f r e e d o m t o create. T h e d a r k e n e d halls of their cinemas a n d theatres are d o minated by the a i m of creating anguish in the hearts of t h e audiences, s o t h a t t h i s a n g u i s h w i l l s t a y w i t h t h e m the w h o l e day a n d the w h o l e week a n d become their s e c o n d l i f e . T h i s content, t h i s a i m , t h i s f o r m a n d these aesthetics are r e j e c t e d a n d c o m b a t e d b y o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y aesthetics, i n s p i r e d b y t h e p u r e f e e l i n g s o f o u r p e o p l e a n d i n t e n d e d to serve t h e masses of t h e people. I n t h i s sense w e s h o u l d g i v e a g r e a t i m p u l s e t o o u r p o p u l a r art t h r o u g h the development of the amateur art m o v e m e n t , too, a n d w i t h t h i s w e s h o u l d n o t t h i n k o n l y o f o u r f o l k songs a n d dances. W e m u s t e x t e n d a n d e n r i c h these t w o genres w h i c h t h e p e o p l e l o v e . N o w we have people w h o are masters of the pen. I am not saying that they should not w r i t e novels a n d poems, because t h e y a r e a s o u n d a n d i n d i s p e n s a b l e n o u rishment for the education of our men and w o m e n of socialist society, b u t I n o t i c e t h a t t h e r e is a m a r k e d i n c l i n a t i o n a m o n g t h e l i t e r a r y p e o p l e t o f o l l o w those w h o h a v e
906
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b l a z e d the t r a i l i n c r e a t i v i t y w i t h n o v e l s a n d poems, a n d a trend to underestimation or lack of interest in w r i t i n g plays, f i l m l i b r e t t o s a n d scripts a n d sketches f o r the variety theatre. I have heard people say: What can w e do, o n e c a n n o t w r i t e w i t h o u t t h e desire, t h e r e a r e n o i n c l i n a t i o n s , n o t a l e n t s f o r these genres. W h a t u n founded and h a r m f u l ideas! These people are m a k i n g a great m i s t a k e , because t h e y a r e n e g l e c t i n g or, w h a t i s worse, u n d e r r a t i n g these genres, w h i c h are also o f i n c a l c u l a b l e i m p o r t a n c e f o r the e d u c a t i o n o f o u r people. L i t t l e b y l i t t l e , e v e n those w h o h a v e h a d i n c l i n a t i o n s f o r these genres a n d w h o h a v e d i s t i n g u i s h e d t h e m s e l v e s i n t h i s f i e l d of literary a n d artistic creativity, have begun to neglect t h e m . W e see o u r theatres f i l l e d t o c a p a c i t y . O u r c i n e m a s , likewise, are packed every night. B u t w h a t do the audiences see? T h e r e p e r t o i r e s a r e o l d , n o t i n t h e sense t h a t t h e y are useless, b u t t h e y h a v e n o n e w subjects. W e m a k e f e w films, v e r y few. We should not expect to have theat r i c a l pieces i n p e r f e c t f o r m . S u c h a r e q u i r e m e n t w o u l d c e r t a i n l y l e a d u s t o close d o w n t h e t h e a t r e a n d w o u l d m a k e u s see t h e d r a m a t i z a t i o n o f t h e n o v e l T h e G a d f l y d a y a n d n i g h t , a s w e do. W h y s h o u l d w e n o t p u t o n m o r e o f o u r o w n w o r k s b u t a l w a y s persist w i t h T h e G a d f l y t i l l o u r eyes a r e s t i c k i n g o u t f r o m w a t c h i n g i t o n t e l e v i s i o n ? T h e G a d f l y , w i t h a subject f r o m t h e history of the carbonari, hasn't so m u c h v a l u e that it should be put on so often. O u r cinemas are screening bad foreign, capitalist and revisionist, films. H o w do our people endure the showing of revisionist Czechoslovak, R u m a n i a n or H u n g a r i a n films, for example, How I Became a Policeman, and similar vile r u b b i s h ? N o t o n l y is the selection of foreign f i l m s d o n e b a d l y , w h i c h does great h a r m t o t h e e d u c a t i o n o f o u r people a n d our y o u t h , b u t h a c k n e y e d e x c u s e s a r e m a d e : W h a t are w e t o do? W e h a v e n o f i l m s , t h e y say.
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My opinion is that the films produced by our film-studio are v e r y good, they are marvellous in comparison w i t h those d i s h e d u p t o u s f r o m a b r o a d , w i t h b a n d i t s a n d cowboys. W e h a v e w o n d e r f u l artists w h o m , w i t h o u t t h e least h e s i t a t i o n , I c o n s i d e r t o b e o f w o r l d c a l i b r e . W i t h these w o n d e r f u l actors a n d t h e t a l e n t e d d i r e c t o r s w e have, w e can produce not t w o or three films a year, but m a n y m o r e , p r o v i d e d w e p r e p a r e the s c r i p t s f o r t h e m a n d t h e i r w o r k i n g a n d l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s . T h e s e t r e a s u r e s w e possess b u t d o n o t k n o w t o use t h e m p r o p e r l y . W e h a v e w o n d e r f u l singers w h o m w e s a y b e l o n g t o t h e o p e r a . I t m a y b e so, b u t these a n d t h e v a r i e t y s h o w singers, a s w e l l a s s i n g e r s f r o m t h e r a n k s o f t h e p e o p l e , greatly please the public w i t h the concerts they give. W e l l , these g r e a t artists a n d others, a l i t t l e less g r e a t , c o u l d t h e y n o t p l a y i n f i l m s ? C o u l d n ' t w e use t h e m i n films in w h i c h they w o u l d sing to this beautiful life b l o o m i n g b e f o r e o u r eyes, t o t h i s l i f e w h i c h w e a r e b u i l d i n g w i t h o u r o w n h a n d s ? O f course, w e c o u l d . In no w a y must our v a r i e t y theatres in districts conf i n e t h e m s e l v e s to a f e w songs, a f e w sketches w h i c h t h e y p u t o n i n t h e cities w h e r e t h e y h a v e b e e n set u p . My opinion is that the professional variety shows and theatres o f t h e d i s t r i c t s m u s t b e t u r n e d i n t o p o w e r f u l c e n tres a n d m e a n s f o r o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d p r o p a g a n d a t o e n c o u r a g e a great d e v e l o p m e n t , b o t h i n e x t e n t a n d q u a l i t y , in the setting up of theatrical and v a r i e t y groups in w o r k centres, schools, a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o operatives. W e a r e f i l l e d w i t h great e n t h u s i a s m w h e n w e see o n t h e stages o f t h e O p e r a a n d B a l l e t T h e a t r e o f t h e c a p i t a l , i n t h e concerts a n d v a r i e t y s h o w s o f t h e districts, h u n d r e d s upon hundreds of young girls and boys w h o play so perf e c t l y a n d s i n g w i t h s u c h fine, h a r m o n i o u s a n d m e l o d i o u s
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voices t h a t w e f o r g e t t h a t t h e y a r e l a t h e o p e r a t o r s , w o r k e r s of the Migjeni artistic products entreprise, or t h e Stalin t e x t i l e c o m b i n e , w o o l w o r k e r s f r o m K u k s , g i r l students f r o m S h k o d r a , o r school girls f r o m G r a m s h . W h a t great d e v e l o p m e n t o u r a r t has a c h i e v e d ! T h e s e t a l e n t e d y o u n g people a r e c a p a b l e o f stage p e r f o r m a n c e s f u l l o f f e e l i n g a n d pathos, o f p l a y i n g i m p o r t a n t r o l e s i n f i l m s , o f l e a r n i n g a l l sorts o f songs a n d dances. I a m s p e a k i n g o f a l l those w h o h a v e n o t b e e n t h r o u g h schools o f art. W e h a v e o p e n e d schools a n d w e s h a l l e x t e n d t h e m , b u t w e s h o u l d n o t forget a n d s h o u l d n o t u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e great a r t w h i c h i s l i k e a p r e c i o u s j e w e l i n t h e b o s o m o f t h e people, a n d w h i c h i s d e v e l o p i n g f r o m d a y t o d a y t o w a r d s n e w h e i g h t s . T h i s w e m u s t o r g a n i z e e v e n better. I am aware of the instructions given, according to w h i c h o u r p r o f e s s i o n a l v a r i e t y s h o w s a n d theatres o f t h e c i t i e s m u s t g i v e p e r f o r m a n c e s i n t h e v i l l a g e s , too. F r o m w h a t I h a v e h e a r d , h o w e v e r , these i n s t i t u t i o n s a r e n o t y e t implementing this directive of the P a r t y properly, because even today they give few performances in v i l l a g e s a n d the greater p a r t o f t h e m i n v i l l a g e s n e a r t h e cities. It is the d u t y of o u r professional theatres and v a r i e t y shows to e x t e n d their activity even to the most r e m o t e areas, c o v e r i n g o u r e n t i r e c o u n t r y s i d e w i t h t h e i r artistic performances. Today, in a l l the a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives e v e r y w h e r e i n o u r c o u n t r y , t h e r e are g r o u p s o f o u t s t a n d i n g f o l k s i n g e r s a n d dancers, t h e r e are t a l e n t e d i n s t r u m e n t a l i s t s w h o please a n d e d u c a t e t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s w i t h t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e s , a n d n e w ones a r e e m e r g i n g e v e r y d a y . T h e r e is no doubt that along w i t h them in the villages t h e r e a r e also t a l e n t s w i t h i n c l i n a t i o n s t o w a r d s d r a m a t i c art, p e o p l e c a p a b l e i n this f i e l d , f i n e h u m o u r i s t s , w i t h w h o m variety groups could be created in every agricultural cooperative to give theatrical and variety performances
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t h e r e . T h e r e f o r e , w h e n t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l theatres a n d v a r i e t y s h o w s o f t h e cities g o t o t h e v i l l a g e s , t h e y s h o u l d d i s c o v e r these t a l e n t s i n t h e r a n k s o f the masses, s h o u l d u r g e t h e m a n d encourage them, and organize amateur theatre troupes w i t h t h e m , h e l p t o o r g a n i z e t h e m a n d get t h e m g o i n g , appoint artistic leaders f r o m a m o n g their o w n c o m p a n y , w h o w i l l l o o k a f t e r these a m a t e u r g r o u p s a n d h e l p t h e m u n t i l t h e y a r e a b l e t o s t a n d o n t h e i r o w n feet. T h u s i n o u r socialist c o u n t r y s i d e a m a t e u r d r a m a t i c a r t w i l l f l o u r i s h , too, n e w p e o p l e a n d n e w talents w i l l emerge w h o w i l l e n r i c h t h e stages a n d the r e p e r t o i r e o f o u r p r o f e s sional theatres. T h e teachers w h o w o r k i n a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, c o m m u n i s t s a n d n o n - p a r t y people, a r t - l o v i n g b o y s a n d girls, must help to extend the artistic activity in the countryside. A l l - a r o u n d t h e m are people w i t h rare d r a m a t i c talents, c a p a b l e people, w i t h a k e e n sense o f h u m o u r w h i c h i s b o t h e d u c a t i v e a n d a m u s i n g . T h e houses o f culture in the cooperatives should become real c u l t u r a l centres i n t h e f u l l m e a n i n g o f t h e t e r m . S e e t h e great t a l e n t w i t h w h i c h o u r p e o p l e p e r f o r m f o l k dances a n d songs! These cooperative farmers are able to p l a y theat r i c a l p a r t s , too. T h e y k n o w l i f e w e l l a n d , i f w e o r g a n i z e t h e m properly, they w i l l f i n d great satisfaction for t h e m selves, a n d t h e y w i l l p l e a s e o t h e r s a n d m a k e t h e m h a p p y , too. B u t we must go still further. In every period, talented a r t i s t s h a v e e m e r g e d i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e people, w h o . t h o u g h i l l i t e r a t e , h a v e c r e a t e d w o r k s o f a great a r t i s t i c v a l u e , e v e n i n c l u d i n g some m a s t e r p i e c e s . B u t n o w , w h e n all the boys and girls have seven- and eight-year schooling c a n t h i s n o t o c c u r ? O f course, i t c a n . T h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t w o r k , look for them, encourage them, support t h e m w h e r e v e r t h e y are, o n t h e jobs, i n p r o d u c t i o n , i n t h e villages, a n d then we shall have lots of cooperativists,
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lathe operators, textile w o r k e r s and w o m e n workers, l i k e t h o s e o f the M i g j e n i e n t e r p r i s e , w h o w i l l create a r t i s t i c w o r k s s o b e a u t i f u l t h a t t h e y w i l l e n t h u s e a n d i n s p i r e the p r o f e s s i o n a l artists, too. L e t u s s m a s h t h e r i g i d w a l l s o f a c a d e m i c i s m , t h e p e t r i f i e d f o r m s , l e t u s t h a w the ice w h i c h keeps s o m a n y n e w t a l e n t s p a r a l y s e d because, a l l e g e d l y , y o u n e e d s c h o o l f o r t h i s a n d s c h o o l f o r that. T h e P a r t y i s n o t opposed t o school, but e v e n w h e n w e d i d n o t h a v e s p e c i a l schools f o r p o e t r y , m u s i c , p a i n t i n g , etc., o u r p e o p l e h a v e c r e a t e d a n d c o n t i n u e t o create, t o p r o d u c e w o n d e r f u l talents f r o m t h e i r r a n k s . P e r s o n a l l y I f e e l a s a t i s f a c t i o n w h e n I l i s t e n to m u s i c , whether that of the great classical a n d progressive compos e r s o f the w o r l d , o r the m u s i c a l w o r k s o f o u r o w n c o m posers. B u t , t o t e l l t h e t r u t h , t h e b e a u t i f u l songs a n d d a n c e s o f t h e p e o p l e please m e most, m o v e m e w i t h t h e i r beauty and power and, at the same time, w i t h their s i m p l i c i t y . I a m n o t s a y i n g t h i s j u s t because I a m a n A l b a n i a n . N o , b u t because o u r f o l k songs a n d dances are really beautiful, v e r y beautiful indeed. T h e P a r t y has d o n e a great t h i n g t h a t it e l e v a t e d to a h i g h p e d e s t a l a n d p e r p e t u a t e d a l l this r a r e w e a l t h w e h a v e i n h e r i t e d f r o m t h e past. S i n c e t h e f i r s t y e a r s o f L i b e r a t i o n , w h e n o u r p e o p l e w e r e s t i l l p o o r a n d l i v i n g i n g r e a t p r i v a t i o n , i t set a b o u t this w o r k v i g o r o u s l y , i n s i s t i n g t h a t f o l k i n s t r u m e n t s s h o u l d b e p r o d u c e d a n d t h a t the f o l k s o n g s a n d d a n c e s s h o u l d n o t b e neglected. D o y o u r e m e m b e r , c o m r a d e s , w h e n t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s w e r e g i v e n o n these m a t t e r s ? A n d t o d a y t h e f o l k songs a n d i n s t r u m e n t s h a v e b e c o m e a v e r y h e a l t h y s p i r i t u a l n u t r i m e n t f o r o u r w o r k i n g masses a n d our youth. I f the w r i t e r o r p o e t d e s i r e s t o w r i t e , o r t h e m u s i c i a n t o compose a m u s i c a l piece i n s p i r e d b y t h e s u f f e r i n g s o f t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e i n t h e past a n d t h e i r joys, let h i m t u r n t o the songs a n d m e l o d i e s o f the people, i n w h i c h h e w i l l
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f i n d a p o w e r f u l source o f i n s p i r a t i o n . R e c a l l , f o r instance, t h e song I w a s l e f t t h e r e c o m r a d e s , left t h e r e ! w h i c h D r i t e r o A g o l l i has i n c l u d e d i n h i s p o e m M o t h e r A l b a n i a . T h i s i s a song o f v a l u e n o t o n l y f o r the w o r d s ' c h o s e n w i t h rare artistic mastery, for its great spiritual power, but also because i t s c o n t e n t is a p r o f o u n d s y n t h e s i s a n d r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e p a s t s u f f e r i n g o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. Y o u never tire of hearing this song interpreted w i t h such r a r e m a s t e r y b y the f o l k s i n g e r s o f the S k r a p a r d i s t r i c t , D e m i r Z i k o , M e d i K u s h i , a n d others. O u r p e o p l e h a v e a l w a y s been o p t i m i s t i c . I n s o r r o w s a n d j o y s t h e y h a v e n e v e r lost t h e i r f a i t h i n the f u t u r e , a n d t h i s g r e a t o p t i m i s m has b e e n p e r p e t u a t e d i n t h e r i c h h e r i t a g e o f o r a l l i t e r a t u r e , i n t h e i r songs, i n t h e i r dances, in t h e i r costumes a n d t h e i r other w o n d e r f u l traditions. T h i s i s s o m e t h i n g great w h i c h o n l y t h e g e n i u s o f t h e p e o p l e r e a l i z e s p e r f e c t l y i n art. S o m e t i m e s I see c o n c e r t s by t h e g r o u p s of f o l k s i n g e r s of various districts on T V . A m o n g t h e m there are m a n y b e a u t i f u l pieces o f a r e a l l y h i g h l e v e l o f c o n t e n t a n d melody. In m a n y instances I have noticed that they have managed to achieve a logical and attractive integration b e t w e e n the f o r m o f t h e f o l k m e l o d y a n d t h e n e w content o f t h e song. F o r instance, I a m v e r y f o n d o f the songs w h i c h the folk singer F a t i m e S o k o l i sings w i t h so m u c h feeling and love about the hero of Dragobia, B a j r a m C u r r i , a n d a b o u t t h e h e r o i c feats o f t h e w a r r i o r p e o p l e o f those regions. In another television p r o g r a m m e I v e r y m u c h l i k e d s o m e songs b y f o l k s i n g e r s f r o m t h e t o w n o f K a v a j a about the girls w i t h golden hands w h o weave carpets, a b o u t t h e w o r k e r s o f t h e glass w o r k s w h o d e c o r a t e vases w i t h d e s i g n s o f s u c h b e a u t i f u l roses, t h a t w h e n y o u h e a r t h e m s i n g , i t seems t h e i r f r a g r a n c e i s w a f t i n g r o u n d y o u . I h e a r d a n o t h e r p r o g r a m m e o f songs w i t h singers f r o m Elbasan, a city w i t h musical traditions, where
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6 0 y e a r s ago t h e N o r m a l S c h o o l w a s e s t a b l i s h e d , one o f t h e i m p o r t a n t e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s , w h i c h , besides a w h o l e a r m y o f p a t r i o t i c teachers, also t u r n e d o u t m u s i c i a n s a n d composers. B u t , t o t e l l t h e t r u t h , w i t h o u t w a n t i n g t o underrate them, the arranged melodies of the folk song f e s t i v a l o f this d i s t r i c t s e e m e d t o m e feeble a n d c o l d i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h the c o l o u r , f r e s h n e s s a n d b e a u t y o f t h e songs f u l l o f s p i r i t o f f o l k art. T h i s does n o t m e a n t h a t o u r c o m p o s e r s s h o u l d g i v e u p the a r r a n g e m e n t o f f o l k songs o r dances, c u l t i v a t e d m u s i c , a s i t i s c a l l e d , b u t these arrangements and cultivations should a l w a y s be based on the n a t i o n a l heritage, not just here a n d there w i t h a c h o r d o r m o t i f , b u t s h o u l d b e f o r m e d f r o m the v e r y s o i l o f this land, should be inspired by the creativity, the w o r k a n d a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h i s people, a n d b e d e d i c a t e d t o t h e m , please t h e m a n d a r o u s e t h e i r s p i r i t . I f y o u d e p a r t f r o m t h i s b a c k g r o u n d , y o u n e i t h e r s e r v e y o u r o w n people, n o r g i v e o t h e r p e o p l e s a n y r e a s o n t o v a l u e y o u , because y o u are not b r i n g i n g a n y t h i n g n e w to the c o m m o n treasury of the world's progressive culture a n d art. A n o t h e r e v e n i n g I h e a r d o n t e l e v i s i o n the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f some f o l k m o t i f s f o r c e l l o a n d p i a n o . N o t o n l y w a s I g r e a t l y pleased, b u t I s a i d : H o w b e a u t i f u l l y o u r c u l tivated music can be developed on the basis of folk m o t i f s ! O n t h i s correct r o a d v a l u a b l e w o r k s h a v e b e e n c r e a t e d l i k e those c o m p o s e d b y e s k Z a d e j a , T i s h D a i j a , a n d m a n y others. Songs like the one entitled F o r Y o u , M y H o m e land, composed by Pjetr G a c i a n d interpreted by the People's A r t i s t M e n t o r X h e m a l i , w i l l r e m a i n i m m o r t a l i n t h e t r e a s u r y o f o u r n e w art. T h i s song i s a h y m n t o o u r socialist H o m e l a n d , t o o u r u n c o n q u e r a b l e people a n d P a r t y . It was born at the difficult moments of the revisionist blockade, and is permeated by a lofty r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d o p t i m i s t i c s p i r i t . I f n o t e v e r y d a y , a t least e v e r y t w o o r t h r e e days, i n m o m e n t s o f j o y o r d i f f i c u l t y , I l i k e t o l i s t e n
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t o i t o n m y tape r e c o r d e r a n d i t a l w a y s m o v e s m e a n d inspires me to w o r k . . . O n n o a c c o u n t m u s t w e n e g l e c t o u r f o l k songs; o n t h e contrary, we s h o u l d strive to h a v e o u r composers base t h e m s e l v e s f i r m l y p r e c i s e l y o n these songs. I t i s n o t r i g h t that at the J o r d a n M i s j a secondary school of art the pupils begin to l e a r n foreign classical music first, a n d A l b a n i a n folk music later. T h e r e m a r k made on this question by Comrade R a m i z A l i a is quite right. H o w e v e r m u c h effort m a y be m a d e to teach the pupils foreign music, they w i l l not reach the heights of Liszt, for e x a m ple, w h o became a f a m o u s c o m p o s e r p r e c i s e l y because he k n e w h o w to r e v i v e the H u n g a r i a n folk rhapsodies. T h e s a m e c a n b e s a i d o f C h o p i n , B i z e t , etc., w h o w o n r e n o w n w i t h f o l k m u s i c a s t h e i r basis. T h e b r o a d a n d v a r i e d l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y needs a m u l t i t u d e o f p e o p l e w o r k i n g i n art, i n m u s i c . L e t u s d i s c o v e r t h e m , s u p p o r t t h e m , p u t t h e m o n t h e stage, a n d some a m o n g t h e m w h o d i s t i n g u i s h t h e m s e l v e s w i l l b e sent t o s p e c i a l s c h o o l s a n d t h e n r e t u r n i n l a r g e n u m b e r s t o t h e b o s o m o f o u r a r t - l o v i n g people. O u r P a r t y w a n t s e v e r y w o r k w h i c h comes o u t t o b e a s n e a r l y p e r f e c t a s p o s s i b l e f r o m a l l aspects, a n d i t s t r i v e s f o r this, b u t p e r f e c t i o n i s n o t e a s y t o a t t a i n . I t takes t i m e , r e q u i r e s e x p e r i e n c e , r e q u i r e s a b i l i t y , too, t h i n g s w h i c h a r e n o t i n n a t e i n m a n b u t are d e v e l o p e d a n d w o r k e d u p d u r i n g the process o f the c o n t i n u o u s e d u c a t i o n o f h i s i n c l i n a tions. O u r p e o p l e h a v e m a n y i n c l i n a t i o n s w h i c h o u g h t t o b e u t i l i z e d a n d d e v e l o p e d f o r t h e g o o d o f o u r socialist society. I n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , a s i n e v e r y t h i n g , t h e P a r t y m u s t p l a y t h e d e c i s i v e r o l e , not o n l y f r o m the m a t e r i a l aspect, b u t e s p e c i a l l y f r o m the aspect o f ideas, b y i n s p i r i n g p e o p l e w i t h its i d e o l o g y , w i t h M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . O u r poets, w r i t e r s , m u s i c i a n s , etc., a l l o u r artists, s h o u l d l e a r n
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M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m n o t o n l y f r o m b o o k s , b u t also f r o m l i f e , t h e r e w h e r e i t i s c o n c r e t e l y a p p l i e d b y t h e people. B o o k s h a v e great i m p o r t a n c e f o r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d e d u cation of man, therefore, o u r people must have books and r e a d t h e m z e a l o u s l y . B u t t o i n s p i r e people, t o f o r m t h e i r w o r l d outlook and their education, this cannot be confined t o b o o k s alone. M o r e o v e r , i n the case o f p e o p l e l a c k i n g i n ideological and political development, w h o have e x t r a v a g a n t i n c l i n a t i o n s c o n t r a r y t o the o r i e n t a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y , it is even m o r e necessary that they should not be g i v e n b o o k s o f a n y o l d k i n d , p a r t i c u l a r l y those w i t h a h a r m f u l , p o i s o n o u s content, f o r this h a s a n e g a t i v e i n f l u e n c e o n their formation. We must provide our readers w i t h that literature w h i c h has a revolutionary character. However, we must bear in m i n d that there are writers of other c o u n t r i e s w h o seek t o a r o u s e t h e w o r k i n g c l a s s t o r e v o l u t i o n , b u t w h o d o n o t c o n c e i v e the r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e w a y M a r x i s t s d o ; c o n s e q u e n t l y , t h e y are u n a b l e t o h a n d l e t h e question of the revolution, in prose or poetry, l i k e our w r i t e r s , poets a n d artists. T h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t a l w a y s b e v e r y careful to continually m o u l d o u r y o u n g artists and w r i t e r s w i t h t h e ideas o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m s o that, u n d e r the leadership of the Party, they w i l l mature, create for the people a n d t h i n k l i k e t h e people. I f w e act i n this w a y , w h a t fine, h e a l t h y f r u i t w e s h a l l h a v e ! In our post-Liberation literature many Albanian w r i t e r s a n d poets h a v e d i s t i n g u i s h e d t h e m s e l v e s . A g o o d m a n y of t h e m have long w o n recognition, therefore, I t h i n k t h a t the w o r k s o f v a l u e w h i c h t h e y h a v e p r o d u c e d a n d w h i c h p l e a s e u s s o m u c h s h o u l d b e c o m e subjects f o r study, not in an amateurish w a y , but systematically. I r e m e m b e r h o w in the F r e n c h school that I w e n t through, we were given a thorough systematic foundation k n o w l e d g e o f the w o r k s o f F r e n c h w r i t e r s a n d poets. B u t o u r poets a n d w r i t e r s also h a v e w o n d e r f u l t a l e n t s a n d a r e
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l i n k e d c l o s e l y w i t h t h e people, are i n s p i r e d a n d l e a r n f r o m t h e m and, on this healthy soil, create p o p u l a r w o r k s of ideological a n d artistic value. Therefore, it is essential that t h e i r w o r k s s h o u l d n o t be s i m p l y s k i m m e d just to say we have read them, or read once a n d then put back on t h e shelf, b u t s h o u l d b e s t u d i e d a t t e n t i v e l y a n d p e r s i s t e n t l y , because t h e m i g h t y r e a l i t y o f l i f e , t h e h e r o i s m o f o u r p e o p l e w h o are b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m i s r e f l e c t e d in them. T h e b e a u t i f u l w o r k s o f o u r w r i t e r s n o t o n l y please us, b u t f o r e i g n e r s l i k e t h e m , too. H e r e I a m n o t s p e a k i n g o n l y of Ismail Kadare's novels or Dritro Agolli's poems and those o f some o t h e r s o f o u r l i t e r a r y m e n , w h i c h h a v e b e e n t r a n s l a t e d i n t o f o r e i g n languages, b u t o f t h e w o r k s o f m a n y o t h e r w r i t e r s a n d poets. I f w e c a n m a n a g e t o t r a i n o u r o w n r e a l l y a b l e t r a n s l a t o r s i n f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e s (because foreigners have always ignored o u r beautiful language a n d t h a t i s w h y y o u d o n o t f i n d people i n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s w h o h a v e mastered the A l b a n i a n language thoroughly), w e s h a l l h a v e g r e a t success i n p o p u l a r i z i n g A l b a n i a n l i t e r a r y - a r t i s t i c w o r k s a b r o a d . T h e r e f o r e , let's get d o w n t o t h e j o b o f t r a i n i n g o u r o w n cadres w h o w i l l r e a l l y master other languages so that they are capable of translating the w o r k s of our writers into them. W e h a v e been i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e e x h i b i t i o n A l b a n i a n A r t T h r o u g h the Centuries w h i c h w e opened i n Paris has aroused great interest a m o n g the progressive F r e n c h public. We h a v e been told that thousands u p o n thousands o f people, i n c l u d i n g critics, l i t e r a r y m e n , artists, p h i l o s o p h e r s , d i p l o m a t s , etc., h a v e gone e a g e r l y t o v i s i t o u r e x h i b i t i o n , w h i c h t h e y h a v e a p p r a i s e d a s o n e o f t h e best p u t on in the F r e n c h capital. T h e visitors were astounded at t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r art, j u s t a s f o r e i g n a u d i e n c e s w e r e astonished at the Second National Folklore Festival in G j i r o k a s t r a w h e n they saw it on f i l m , or a few years ago
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a t o u r f o l k m u s i c a n d d a n c e s a t the D i j o n F e s t i v a l w h e r e our w o n d e r f u l folk art w a s presented. Imagine w h e n the f o r e i g n e r s are a b l e t o get r e a l l y g o o d t r a n s l a t i o n s o f t h e w o r k s o f o u r poets a n d w r i t e r s , t h e y w i l l d i s c o v e r a n d get t o k n o w m a n y aspects o f t h e m a t e r i a l a n d s p i r i t u a l l i f e o f o u r people, w h o are b u i l d i n g the n e w l i f e o f a g e n u i n e socialist society. Thus, in this direction we must w o r k v e r y h a r d indeed. I t i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t t o p u b l i c i z e a b r o a d the g r a n d e u r o f t h e A l b a n i a n people i n t h e f i e l d o f n a t i o n a l t r a d i t i o n s alone, b u t w e m u s t also m a k e w o r l d o p i n i o n a c q u a i n t e d w i t h the great struggle a n d w o r k of the Party, of this M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t P a r t y w h i c h i s b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m i n its o w n c o u n try, quite u n a f r a i d of the all-sided struggle w h i c h the b o u r geoisie a n d the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s w a g e a g a i n s t it. W e m u s t m a k e t h e b o u r g e o i s - r e v i s i o n i s t w o r l d see t h e g r e a t force of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m in A l b a n i a , not only in the e c o n o m i c f i e l d , b u t also i n t h a t o f a r t a n d c u l t u r e . W e are b u i l d i n g i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s w i t h t h e m a x i m u m w e h a v e , a n d o u r f r i e n d s c a n see t h i s i n t h e w o r k s p r o d u c e d a n d d r a w inspiration f r o m the heroism of o u r people. T h e r e are m a n y f o r e i g n e r s w h o , e v e n t h o u g h t h e y a r e bourgeois, speak w e l l o f o u r c o u n t r y . I n t h e past, A l b a n i a w a s a b l a n k space t o f o r e i g n e r s , a b o u t w h i c h t h e y k n e w n o t h i n g . N o w , w h e n t h e y see the d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r a r chaeology a n d t h e s c i e n t i f i c l e v e l o f o u r r e s e a r c h w o r k i n t h i s f i e l d , t h e y are a m a z e d a n d a s k : H o w i s i t p o s s i b l e t h a t a l l these t r e a s u r e s h a v e l a i n h i d d e n i n t h i s c o u n t r y ? ! It i s a g o o d t h i n g t h a t y o u h a v e d i s c o v e r e d t h e m f o r yourselves, t h e y t e l l us, because h a d y o u sought t h e h e l p o f o t h e r s t h e y w o u l d h a v e r o b b e d y o u o f them. I n t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d t h e r e a r e people w i t h great a r tistic c u l t u r e w h o have the Byzantine culture and art, f o r instance, a t t h e i r f i n g e r tips. T h e a p p r a i s a l w h i c h t h e s e
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critics m a k e of the m u r a l paintings of O n u f r i (1) a m i the w o r k s o f o t h e r A l b a n i a n artists i s e x c e p t i o n a l l y h i g h . I n these a r t i s t i c w o r k s t h e y d o n o t see t h e p l a s t i c q u a l i t i e s o f B y z a n t i n e art. I n these p a i n t i n g s , i n t h e c o l o u r s , e v e n in the rocks of o u r soil w h i c h are reflected in them, they o b s e r v e a special l i v i n g q u a l i t y . E v e n t h e s a i n t s t h e y say, h a v e h u m a n faces a n d are p r e s e n t e d l i k e t h e m o u n t a i n eagles.
__________________________________ 1 A l b a n i a n painter of the 16th century. H i s w o r k s are d i s t i n guished by the positive s p i r i t of the European Renaissance art and by the special red colour, w h i c h is k n o w n in the history a n d c r i t i c i s m of art as O n u f r i red.
CADRES MUST BE TRAINED IN THE SCHOOL OF THE WORKING CLASS
From his contribution to the discussion at the meeting of the party basic organization of which he is a member
March 31, 1975
C a d r e s , t h e P a r t y a d v i s e s us, m u s t a c q u i r e k n o w l e d g e a n d science, b u t first of all they must be educated in the school of the working class. If a c a d r e does n o t g r a d u a t e t h i s school, h e i s w o r t h l e s s . A c a d r e w h o i s n o t e q u i p p e d w i t h t h e e d u c a t i o n a n d s p i r i t o f t h e class, s o o n e r or later, if he finds the possibility, is ready to r i d e r o u g h s h o d o v e r t h e P a r t y a n d t h e masses. W h e n w e s a y t h a t t h e cadres s h o u l d t e a c h t h e class, this in no w a y means that intellectuals or people w i t h higher schooling are the most appropriate to educate the class a n d , t h e r e f o r e , t h e y c a n i m p o s e t h e m s e l v e s u p o n i t . O u r P a r t y l o n g ago u n d e r s t o o d a n d w i l l u n d e r s t a n d e v e n b e t t e r i n t h e f u t u r e t h a t t h e p e o p l e o f t h e class s h o u l d b e e d u c a t e d f i r s t , a n d t h e n t h e others s h o u l d b e e d u c a t e d t h r o u g h t h e m . T h e w o r k i n g class has t h e r i g h t t o i m p o s e its l a w o n those w h o a r e n o t o f t h a t class. B u r e a u c r a t i c intellectuals must never be allowed to impose their l a w o n t h e class a n d t h e P a r t y . T h i s i s a m a j o r issue o f p r i n c i p l e o f great t h e o r e t i c a l a n d p r a c t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e . T h e
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P a r t y l o n g ago t a u g h t u s t h i s serious lesson, b u t w e see that it is not applied properly in practice. I n r e g a r d t o t h e e d u c a t i o n o f cadres t h e p r o b l e m i s not raised that we should be satisfied m e r e l y w i t h t a k i n g s o m e o n e - s i d e d m e a s u r e s , b u t t h e r e i s one t h i n g t h a t t h e c a d r e s s h o u l d a l w a y s b e a r i n m i n d : t h e y s h o u l d engage in the study of o u r Marxist-Leninist theory and implement it thoroughly in practice, t a k i n g a look at themselves a n d t h e w o r k t h e y d o e v e r y d a y a n d j u d g i n g w h e t h e r o r not the action they p e r f o r m serves the cause of the revolution. I f t h e y f a i l t o d o this, t h e n t h e y f a l l i n t o t h e m i r e . T h e P a r t y p r o t e c t s its cadres because i t has been h a r d to raise t h e m a n d train t h e m ; but if ten or twenty w h o d o n o t l i s t e n t o t h e P a r t y f a l l i n t o t h e m i r e , i t does t h e P a r t y l i t t l e h a r m . I f t h e P a r t y does n o t s u p e r v i s e t h e w o r k o f t h e c a d r e s w i t h g r e a t a t t e n t i o n a n d does n o t correct those w h o e r r i n t i m e , t h e n g r a v e e v e n t s w h i c h a r e caused b y serious f a u l t s w i l l o c c u r . T h e e d u c a t i o n o f cadres m u s t b e m a d e a n object o f daily w o r k and struggle by the P a r t y among the c i v i l i a n p o p u l a t i o n a n d e v e n m o r e i n t h e A r m y . A m o n g the c i v i l i a n p o p u l a t i o n w e h a v e a l l the c o n c r e t e c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e P a r t y a n d t h e w o r k i n g class t o e l i m i n a t e t h e w e a k nesses o f c a d r e s a n d t h e n e g a t i v e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s i n t h e i r activity, w h i l e in the A r m y the problem is somewhat diff e r e n t : a s t e r n e r s t r u g g l e against t e c h n o c r a t i s m a n d b u r e a c r a c y i s r e q u i r e d t h e r e . I f t h e p a r t y cadres p r a c t i c e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m e t h o d a n d s t y l e i n w o r k a n d study, then it w i l l be m o r e difficult for the alien ideology w i t h its u g l y m a n i f e s t a t i o n s t o p e n e t r a t e i n t o t h e i r r a n k s . T h e P a r t y has a l w a y s stressed that the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t h a n d l i n g o f p r o b l e m s o f t h e A r m y a n d its cadres i s n o t a n easy task. W e , c o m r a d e s , s h o u l d g u a r d against u s i n g s u c h p h r a s e s a s T h e r e a r e m a r v e l l o u s cadres i n t h e A r m y , etc. T h i s i s n o t because t h e m i l i t a r y cadres a r e n o t
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g o o d o n the c o n t r a r y , b u t t h i s i s d o n e t o g u a r d t h e m f r o m b e c o m i n g conceited, w h i c h i s a d a n g e r t h a t c o u l d b r i n g d i s a s t e r t o the H o m e l a n d . I t w a s p r e c i s e l y those cadres w h o h a d f o r g o t t e n t h e r o a d o f t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e t e a c h i n g s o f L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , t h a t c a r r i e d out t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n . These teachings are v a l i d today a n d w i l l r e m a i n i m m o r t a l for the true revolutionaries, but the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y i s n o l o n g e r B o l s h e v i k , n o l o n g e r L e n i n i s t , i t has t u r n e d i n t o a fascist r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y , a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n into a capitalist country. W h y did this regressive process o c c u r ? B e c a u s e t h e cadres i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n g r a d u a l l y b e c a m e b o u r g e o i s a n d s t i f l e d the P a r t y . L e a r n i n g f r o m t h e b i t t e r e x p e r i e n c e o f others, t h e P a r t y m u s t n o t s o l v e the p r o b l e m o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f cadres t h e o r e t i c a l l y o n l y , but s h o u l d a p p l y i t i n p r a c tice. F o r some t h i r t y y e a r s o r s o n o w , t h e P a r t y h a s been leading o u r people gloriously. T h e r e are m a n y persons w h o h a v e p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t w o m a j o r struggles d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d : i n t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r a n d i n the s t r u g g l e for the construction of socialism, w h i c h is a m u c h greater s t r u g g l e t h a n t h e f o r m e r . T h e P a r t y , the w o r k i n g class, t h e masses, h a v e w a g e d these p r o l o n g e d struggles. T h e cadres h a v e p l a y e d a n d a r e p l a y i n g t h e i r p a r t i n these struggles, b u t t h i s i n n o w a y m e a n s t h a t t h e y c a n d o w h a t t h e y please a n d b e h a v e a s t h e y l i k e , d i s r e g a r d i n g t h e interests o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people. T h a t c a d r e w h o acts c o n t r a r y t o these interests i s a n s w e r a b l e t o t h e class i n p o w e r , w h i c h i s i n a p o s i t i o n t o d i c t a t e its w i l l t o everybody. T h e struggle against dangerous symptoms w h i c h s h o w u p i n t h e cadres does not m e a n a n y d i s r e g a r d for their role. On the contrary, this stand is clear e v i d e n c e o f t h e great c o n c e r n o f t h e P a r t y t o p r o t e c t cadres f r o m a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s . The comrades reported to me that at the meeting of
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a c t i v i s t s i n t h e o i l sector h e l d i n F i e r t o a n a l y s e t h e hostile activity that was carried out there, the w o r k i n g c l a s s rose t o t h e i r feet. W h a t s h o u l d w e d o w i t h these saboteurs? t h e r e v o l t e d w o r k e r s a s k e d . W h a t y o u y o u r selves decide, r e p l i e d t h e delegates f r o m t h e centre, b e cause the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e has instructed that y o u w h o are masters of the job should decide. Dismiss the e n e m i e s a n d p l a c e a t t h e h e a d o f a f f a i r s t h e best p e o p l e o f t h e class, w h o m , w i l l y - n i l l y , t h e t e c h n o c r a t s a n d b u r e a u c r a t s w i l l h a v e t o obey. T h e r e are leaders like K o o Theodhosi (1) w h o have gone t h e r e m a n y t i m e s a n d h a v e g i v e n o r d e r s , but s t i l l the interests of the P a r t y a n d the H o m e l a n d w e r e sab o t a g e d b y t h e e n e m i e s . A r e w e g o i n g t o protect K o o T h e o d h o s i f r o m severe c r i t i c i s m f o r h i s g r a v e m i s t a k e s , s i m p l y because h e i s a m i n i s t e r , etc.? B y n o means. S u c h a s t a n d w o u l d not b e M a r x i s t . C r i t i c i s m s h o u l d n o t b e hindered w i t h the distorted reasoning that the comrade w h o h a s e r r e d h o l d s a v e r y i m p o r t a n t t a s k or is a l e a d e r . L e t h i m b e w h a t e v e r h e is, t h e o n e w h o has e r r e d w i l l b e c r i t i c i z e d . I n o u r P a r t y a n d state t h e r e a r e n o t t w o k i n d s o f d i s c i p l i n e b u t o n l y one. A m o n g s t u s t h e r e i s a n d s h o u l d b e love, p r i n c i p l e d s o l i d a r i t y a n d m u t u a l respect, because w e are c o m m u n i s t s , b u t n o t u n h e a l t h y f r i e n d s h i p , u n j u s t s u p p o r t , because, above all and ahead of everything, we put neither ourselves n o r o u r c o m r a d e , b u t t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people. F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s t h e s i t u a t i o n i s good a n d w e h a v e a s o u n d P a r t y , b u t w e also o b s e r v e s h o r t c o m i n g s , weaknesses, m i s t a k e s a n d grave faults of the nature I mentioned. W e are s p e a k i n g a great d e a l a b o u t b u r e a u c r a c y , t e c h _______________________________ 1 F o r m e r minister of industry a n d m i n i n g , a member of the enemy traitor group in the economic sector, w h o s e activity was analysed a n d frustrated by the 7th P l e n u m of the CC of the P a r t y , held f r o m M a y 26-29, 1975.
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n o c r a t i s m , a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m , b u t these v e r y n e g a t i v e manifestations, w h i c h are the offspring of alien ideology, a r e not u n d e r s t o o d p r o f o u n d l y . W h e n w e s p e a k a b o u t the technocrats, f o r e x a m p l e , w e t h i n k o n l y o f the m e c h a n i c s , c h e m i s t s a n d engineers, b u t w e f o r g e t t h a t m a n y o f u s here, w h o a b s o l u t i z e t h e r o l e o f science, t e c h n i q u e a n d the t e c h n i c a l i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , g r a d u a l l y t u r n i n t o t e c h n o c r a t s . H a s this t h o u g h t e v e r crossed y o u r m i n d ? I f w e d o n o t understand and practise our profession as party w o r k e r s properly, if we are not placed in the iron grip of the w o r k i n g class a n d d o n o t v a l u e t h e r o l e o f t h e masses highly, if we underrate policy in relation to technique a n d d i s r e g a r d t h e needs o f people, etc., t h e n w e a r e n o t i n o r d e r w i t h t h e t a s k s e n t r u s t e d t o us. B u t w h a t i s o u r t a s k a s p a r t y w o r k e r s ? I t i s a p r o f e s s i o n w i t h its o w n p e c u l i a r i t i e s , l i k e t h a t o f t h e teacher, e n g i n e e r , etc., a n d i t m u s t b e p r a c t i s e d w i t h a great sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d revolutionary spirit. We observe w i t h regret that s o m e cadres d o n o t r a c k t h e i r b r a i n s t o w o r k i n t h e m o s t revolutionary and appropriate manner, therefore, irrespect i v e o f the fact t h a t t h e y speak w i t h p a r t y t e r m i n o l o g y t h e y have turned into bureaucrats. Y o u m a y speak w i t h p a r t y t e r m i n o l o g y but, nevertheless, m a y n o t be a r e v o l u t i o n a r y . Has it ever occurred that w h e n y o u have been a m o n g workers you have made self-criticism before them? H a v e y o u ever said, Comrades, I h a v e m a d e this or that mistake? C a n anyone of y o u raise his h a n d to show t h a t h e has d o n e s o m e t h i n g i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , e v e n o n c e ? Not o n e ! H a v e you, comrades, asked the w o r k e r s w h a t opinions they have about y o u and y o u r w o r k , i n v i t i n g t h e m s i n c e r e l y t o speak w i t h o p e n h e a r t s ? N o , y o u h a v e not asked them. T h i s stand of the cadres i n e v i t a b l y creates a v e r y g r a v e s i t u a t i o n . W h y d o w e f a i l t o c a r r y o u t t h i s task, c o m r a d e s ? W h y , f o r e x a m p l e , d o n ' t w e s e n d 4 0 w o r k e r s t o w o r k i n the m i n i s t r y i n o r d e r t o m a k e
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u p h a l f t h e staff o f t h e d e p a r t m e n t ? T h e P a r t y s h o u l d e d u c a t e cadres t o t h e l e v e l t h a t t h e y t h e m s e l v e s s a y , C o m r a d e w o r k e r , c o m e a n d t a k e m y place, because I , t h e v i c e - m i n i s t e r , a m g o i n g t o w o r k i n y o u r place, o n y o u r l a t h e , where I shall learn y o u r trade, the beauty, satisfaction and difficulties of this job, and I shall w o r k there as l o n g a s t h e P a r t y needs m e there. A n d d u r i n g t h i s t i m e I s h a l l get y o u r wages. I f t h e v i c e - m i n i s t e r does n o t d o this, t h e n i t w i l l b e the w o r k e r w h o w i l l t e l l h i m , C o m r a d e v i c e - m i n i s t e r , o r d i r e c t o r , c o m e a n d sweat a b i t h e r e a s I d o ! Y o u a r e a n e n g i n e e r , b r a v o ! M y w o r k , too, i s h i g h l y h o n o u r e d a n d I have gained experience, since I am the one w h o w o r k s d i r e c t l y i n p r o d u c t i o n a n d p r o d u c e s m a t e r i a l blessings w i t h h i s o w n hands. What is y o u r plan of work, comrade vice-minister, w h a t are you going to do tomorrow? the workers asked a c o m r a d e . I h a v e n o p l a n , y o u h a v e c a u g h t m e there. he replied. H o w is it possible y o u h a v e no plan, w h e n all this w o r k is done here and we have so m a n y problems t o solve? t h e w o r k e r s q u i t e r i g h t l y c r i t i c i z e d h i m . T h e w o r k e r w h o is going to w o r k in the central organs, not reconciling himself to the bureaucratic spirit a n d w o r k i n g w i t h a r e v o l u t i o n a r y m e t h o d a n d style, w i l l close t h e d o o r o f h i s o f f i c e a n d g o f r o m p l a n t t o p l a n t , t o t h e p e o p l e o f h i s class, t o see h o w t h e w o r k i s g o i n g a t t h e base. I f s o m e o n e says t o t h e w o r k e r : H a n g o n a moment, comrade, w h e r e are y o u going? Stay here, because w e h a v e a m e m o r a n d u m t o p r e p a r e , h e w i l l reply, I need no m e m o r a n d u m . I shall consult directly w i t h t h e w o r k e r s , t o see h o w t h e y w o r k , w h a t desires a n d d e m a n d s t h e y have, w h a t obstacles a n d d i f f i c u l t i e s they encounter, a n d I am not going to put t h e m off w i t h e m p t y w o r d s o r c o n s i d e r m y task p e r f o r m e d b y s e n d i n g a m e m o r a n d u m j u s t to s h o w I k n o w of the p r o b l e m . T h e
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worker appointed an employee of the central department w o u l d have the courage to r e p l y to his superior properly, w i t h o u t servility. He w o u l d ask the w o r k e r s of the plant o r t h e e n t e r p r i s e , W e l l , c o m r a d e s , h o w does y o u r d i r e c tor w o r k , w h a t d o y o u t h i n k o f h i m , d o y o u agree w i t h h i s a p p o i n t m e n t t o t h e j o b ? I f h i s class c o m r a d e s r e p l y t h a t the p a r t y committee appointed the director w i t h o u t consulting them, he w o u l d raise his voice demanding to k n o w w h y the d i r e c t i v e o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e Party, according to w h i c h , in appointing the director of a n e n t e r p r i s e , t h e w o r k i n g c o l l e c t i v e m u s t f i r s t g i v e its approval, was violated. S o m e m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f t h e n a t u r e o f these I m e n t i o n e d , a s w e l l a s others o b s e r v e d h e r e a n d t h e r e a m o n g u s , p r o v e that, d e s p i t e the s t e r n s t r u g g l e w h i c h the P a r t y has waged and is w a g i n g for the revolutionization of the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n cadres a n d masses, f o r t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f the masses, f o r t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l t e m p e r i n g o f t h e people, t h e c o n t i n u o u s s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f s o c i a l i s t d e m o c r a c y , etc., a n d d e s p i t e t h e u n d e n i a b l e successes i t has h a d i n these d i r e c t i o n s , n e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e struggle against bureaucracy w i l l continue as long as classes a n d the class s t r u g g l e e x i s t . O u r people m u s t w o r k e n e r g e t i c a l l y w i t h c o u r a g e a n d o n t h e i r o w n i n i t i a t i v e i n a l l f i e l d s o f socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n . W o r k i s t h e o n l y source o f w e l l - b e i n g i n socialist A l b a n i a . T h e r e f o r e , e v e r y o n e i n h i s o w n job, i n his b r i g a d e , sector, s c i e n t i f i c o r c u l t u r a l i n s t i t u t i o n , w o r k a n d p r o d u c t i o n centre, should w o r k e v e r y d a y a n d every hour w i t h a h i g h sense o f d u t y a n d p r o l e t a r i a n d i s c i p l i n e f o r t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e t a s k s . T h i s i s one aspect o f t h e p r o b l e m . T h e o t h e r e s p e c i a l l y i m p o r t a n t aspect i s t h a t o f t h e defence of our w o r k and the victories achieved f r o m t h e enemies, b o t h i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l . I t i s senseless t o t o i l w h e n y o u do not take measures to defend the fruit
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of the toil a n d sweat of the people, a n d defend it w i t h b l o o d s h e d i f n e e d be. P e o p l e s h o u l d l i v e s i m p l y a n d t h i n k first about the welfare of the Homeland, and then about their o w n welfare. We have to look ahead, therefore we should f u r t h e r increase o u r activity so that o u r w o r k w i l l be more f r u i t f u l , o u r d e v e l o p m e n t w i l l p r o c e e d a t t h e rates e n v i s a g e d by the P a r t y , and the rise of the standard of l i v i n g w i l l be almost equal for all, w i t h o u t creating privileges f o r certain strata. U n d e r the leadership of the P a r t y , our people liberated t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h e y l o v e s o c i a l i s m . B u t i t i s o f great i m p o r tance t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t s o c i a l i s m is, h o w i t i s b u i l t a n d w h a t are the l a w s w h i c h guide this construction. T h i s c o n struction does not take place w i t h o u t difficulties, since soc i a l i s m i s e n d a n g e r e d n o t o n l y f r o m w i t h o u t , b u t also f r o m w i t h i n , n o t o n l y f r o m declassed e l e m e n t s f r o m t h e o v e r t h r o w n b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e aghas, b u t also f r o m e l e m e n t s of the n e w bourgeoisie to w h i c h the terrain contaminated by bourgeois and petty-bourgeois remnants on w h i c h socialism is built, gives birth. T h i s n e w bourgeoisie m a y spring up among us l i k e weeds in a clean field of wheat. T h e people w h o take the bourgeois road of t h i n k i n g a n d acting, h i d e t h e m s e l v e s u n d e r t h e n a m e o f the P a r t y a n d use t h e d i c t a torship allegedly of the proletariat to distort it in favour of the creation of the most extensive a n d f r u i t f u l field f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e i r l i b e r a l - b o u r g e o i s ideas a n d the creation of the conditions for their personal gain. If t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t does n o t w a g e a s t e r n a n d m e r c i l e s s s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t these m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , t h e n the danger of the restoration of capitalism in our country becomes i m m i n e n t . T h e w o r k i n g class a n d its P a r t y m u s t a l w a y s s u b j e c t the situations that are developing to scientific analysis and study the inequalities w h i c h exist and w i l l exist in
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c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e d i f f e r e n c e s i n wages a c c o r d i n g t o t h e w o r k done, b u t m u s t n o t a l l o w a g r e a t d i f f e r e n c e i n income between t o w n and countryside to exist, or worse still, consider this to be something politically a n d ideologically right. S o m e t i m e ago t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u d e c i d e d t h a t t h e p r e s e n t wages s y s t e m s h o u l d b e r e - e x a m i n e d , b u t t h e s t u d y has not y e t b e e n p r e s e n t e d . T h e d i f f e r e n t i a l s m u s t b e r e d u c e d , t h e h i g h salaries s h o u l d b e c u t d o w n f u r t h e r s o t h a t the r a i s e d s t a n d a r d s o f l i v i n g f o r a c e r t a i n c a t e g o r y o f p e o p l e w i l l n o t e n c o u r a g e the d e s i r e f o r a b o u r g e o i s w a y of life, the desire for m a t e r i a l gain and stimulus. The communists, the genuine workers, the patriotic peasants a n d t h e l o y a l s i m p l e e m p l o y e e s , p a r t y o r n o n p a r t y m e m b e r s , m u s t n o t forget t h a t i f y o u get i n t o t h e h a b i t o f l i v i n g l i k e t h e b o u r g e o i s i e (because u n r e s t r i c t e d personal property, the struggle to have ever greater comf o r t a n d gains l e a d y o u t o t h e bourgeoisie), t h i s i s a great d a n g e r l o o m i n g o v e r u s w h i c h w e m u s t f i g h t a n d n o t just w i t h words.
LETTERS FROM T H E PEOPLE THE FRESH BREEZE OF OUR SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY
Speech delivered at the meeting of the Secretariat of the CC of the PLA

A p r i l 11, 1975
T h e letters w h i c h t h e c o m m o n p e o p l e s e n d m e a r e i n v a l u a b l e t o m e . N o t o n l y d o I r e a d t h e m w i t h great care, b u t I r e f l e c t on t h e m d e e p l y to m a k e a p r e l i m i n a r y a n a l y s i s o f the c h a r a c t e r o f t h e p r o b l e m , w h e t h e r p e r s o n a l o r o f g e n e r a l interest, o f t h e c h a r a c t e r o f t h e p e r s o n w h o w r i t e s it, a s f a r a s I c a n g a t h e r f r o m t h e letter, a n d f r o m this to consider to w h a t extent the things w r i t t e n there are really true. This is the preparatory w o r k I do and, in g e n e r a l , I p o i n t o u t t o those w h o are g o i n g t o v e r i f y t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e letter, w h i c h p o i n t s t h e y m u s t c h e c k u p o n for me. T o r e c e i v e a n d r e a d t h e letters o f t h e p e o p l e i s fascinating to me. It w o u l d be physically impossible for me t o m e e t a n d t a l k face t o f a c e w i t h a s m a n y p e o p l e a s I w o u l d l i k e , a n d t h e people w o u l d n o t b e able t o t e l l m e o r a l l y a s m u c h a s t h e y r a i s e i n t h e i r letters. W h a t b r o a d h o r i z o n s t h e letters f r o m t h e p e o p l e o p e n , w h a t i n t e r e s t i n g t h i n g s t h e y r e v e a l a b o u t people, a b o u t t h e i r c h a r a c t e r , their work, the justice and injustice, the favouritism and u n d e r h a n d d e a l i n g s o f some o f t h e m ! W h a t v a l u a b l e t h i n g s
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they m a k e k n o w n , intentionally or unintentionally, about t h e social s i t u a t i o n , t h e s p i r i t w h i c h p r e v a i l s , the g o o d a n d w e a k aspects o f t h e o r g a n s o f the state a n d t h e P a r t y i n t h e places w h e r e t h e a u t h o r s l i v e a n d f r o m w h i c h t h e y w r i t e these letters. It s o m e t i m e s h a p p e n s t h a t a s i m p l e letter p r o v o k e s such an impulse in me that it helps me to understand a situation in a district that no report of the p a r t y comm i t t e e has p r e s e n t e d p r e v i o u s l y . A n o r d i n a r y p e a s a n t f r o m Z a l l d a r d h a , D i b r a d i s t r i c t , i n a s h o r t l e t t e r h e sent m e recently, said that on the orders of the c h a i r m a n of the cooperative, the brigade-leader w i t h several agricultural w o r k e r s w e n t t o m y house a n d seized the m a n u r e f r o m m y p e r s o n a l plot, a n d h e d e m a n d e d j u s t i c e . Y o u see h o w s i m p l e t h i s letter is, b u t t h e i n j u s t i c e a n d t h e c r i m e c o m m i t t e d against t h i s p e r s o n a r e v e r y clear. I n t h e m a r g i n o f t h i s letter I w r o t e t o t h e f i r s t s e c r e t a r y o f t h e P a r t y C o m m i t t e e o f t h e D i b r a d i s t r i c t , Is t h i s true and w h y are things like this permitted? A r e m e a sures t a k e n a g a i n s t s u c h c r i m e s ? A r e t h e t h i n g s t h e peasant says a b o u t t h e c h a i r m a n o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e t r u e ? I f so, w h a t class s t r u g g l e a r e y o u w a g i n g ? P l e a s e , r e p l y t o a l l these q u e s t i o n s , g i v i n g m e y o u r o p i n i o n o n w h a t m e a s u r e s y o u w i l l take. T h e first secretary of the district answered in detail, m a k i n g an analysis of t h e situation of the P a r t y in the d i s t r i c t , a n d t o l d me, o f t h e m e a s u r e s h e t h o u g h t w e a t the centre and they at the level of their district should take. These measures are important not o n l y for the life of the P a r t y in the D i b r a district, but for the entire P a r t y . A n d . just the simple letter of a cooperativist brought this about. L i s t e n : t h e e v e n t t h e peasant d e s c r i b e d t u r n e d out to be true and the culprit was handed over to the court.
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A l l the things he w r o t e about the c h a i r m a n of the cooperative t u r n e d out to be true. W h o w a s this c h a i r m a n o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e ? A p e r s o n w h o h a d t h r e e k u l a k uncles, a c o u s i n e x e c u t e d , a n e p h e w an a g e n t of t h e Y u g o s l a v U D B , and his wife's uncle a condemned political criminal. A n d s u c h a p e r s o n goes f r o m one f u n c t i o n t o t h e o t h e r a n d not only is he a party member, but f o r f o u r years he has b e e n c h a i r m a n o f the a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e . T h i s i s scandalous. W h y has t h i s o c c u r r e d ? T h e a n s w e r g i v e n i s t h a t h e has c o n c e a l e d a l l these t h i n g s i n h i s b i o g r a p h y , a s i f h e had not come f r o m the village, but f r o m South A f r i c a , so nobody k n e w his b i o g r a p h y ! T h e s t a n d s o f those c o m r a d e s o f t h e P a r t y a n d state w h o p a y v e r y little, or no attention at a l l , to the letters o f t h e p e o p l e are t o b e t o t a l l y c o n d e m n e d . A p a r t f r o m t h o s e letters w h i c h a r e sent t o u s a n d o v e r w h i c h t h e comrades in the districts m a k e efforts f o r better v e r i f i c a t i o n a n d m o r e r a p i d a n d j u s t m e a s u r e s , a t t h e base l e t t e r s are n o t g i v e n t h e p r o p e r a t t e n t i o n , serious i n v e s t i g a t i o n i s n o t c a r r i e d out, b u t t h e y a r e g i v e n a s u p e r f i c i a l s o l u t i o n . T h e r e a r e cases o f f a v o u r i t i s m , i n j u s t i c e a n d a r r o g a n c e i n s o l v i n g p r o b l e m s , a n d a l l these t h i n g s create discontent w h i c h is expressed in t h e anonymous letters w h i c h I receive. T h e s e a n o n y m o u s l e t t e r s are n o t a l l sent by enemies. N o , it is v e r y rare for b a d elements to send m e a n o n y m o u s letters. T h e w r i t e r o f t h e a n o n y m o u s l e t t e r i s n o t a l w a y s a n e n e m y s i m p l y because h e sends a n a n o n y m o u s letter. M o s t l y these letters a r e w r i t t e n t o e x plain an unhealthy situation, an injustice committed by s o m e o n e i n p o w e r w h o acts b a d l y , a g a i n s t t h e l a w , a n d since he violates the law, the w r i t e r of the anonym o u s l e t t e r i s a f r a i d t o r e v e a l his n a m e lest t h e p e r son against w h o m he complains takes revenge against h i m . It w o u l d be better for the author to sign his
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name, but we must realize that there are people in r e s p o n s i b l e posts w h o act b a d l y a n d t a k e r e v e n g e i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e l a w , n o r m s , etc. I n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h m a n y a n o n y m o u s l e t t e r s w h i c h I s e n d t o t h e base f o r v e r i f i c a t i o n , I n o t i c e s o m e t h i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c : i n t h e i r replies, t h e c o m r a d e s o f t h e d i s t r i c t s w r i t e t h a t this, t h a t a n d t h e o t h e r a r e t r u e , b u t n o t c o m p l e t e l y , because i t o c c u r r e d l i k e t h i s o r l i k e that, etc. S i n c e t h e letter i s a n o n y m o u s , t h i s is a t e n d e n c y to m a k e t h i n g s easier f o r t h e accused and thus avoid a confrontation. To my m i n d , and I recommend this to the comrades as w e l l , a l e t t e r f r o m t h e p e o p l e is one of the f r a n k e s t , most v a l u a b l e a n d m o s t b e n e f i c i a l t a l k s , w h i c h m a k e s t h i n g s clear t o us, r e v e a l s t h i n g s t o us, c r i t i c i z e s us, a d v i s e s u s a n d s t r e n g t h e n s t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state, d e n o u n c e s enemies, swindlers and liars. Therefore, he w h o underrates these letters, u n d e r r a t e s t h e d i r e c t i v e o f the P a r t y a n d t h e role o f t h e masses w h o a r e b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m . T o underrate the directive of the P a r t y means to leave the f i e l d t o b u r e a u c r a c y , d e s p o t i s m , a r r o g a n c e , t o the c r e a t i o n o f t h e n e w b o u r g e o i s i e w h i c h w a n t s t o d o m i n a t e t h e class a n d t h e P a r t y . T o u n d e r r a t e t h e letters o f t h e p e o p l e m e a n s t o u n d e r r a t e t h e v o i c e o f t h e masses. I w o u l d l i k e t o r e c e i v e m o r e letters, n o t o n l y those a r i s i n g f r o m a personal p r o b l e m , discontent, or injustice done t o a p a r t i c u l a r p e r s o n , b u t letters i n w h i c h t h e p e r s o n w h o writes takes the trouble to give me his critical opinion about a problem w h i c h he considers important and necessary, to m a k e a good or b a d a n a l y s i s of a s i t u a t i o n j u s t a s h e sees it, t o t e l l m e w h a t h e t h i n k s s h o u l d b e done, w h a t m e a s u r e s s h o u l d b e t a k e n f o r t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f w o r k , etc. W h a t g r e a t b e n e f i t t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state w i l l h a v e f r o m these l e t t e r s ! I a s k : h a v e I t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t o m a k e contact w i t h a l l these p e o p l e w h o h a v e s o m e t h i n g t o s a y t o t h e P a r t y
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t h r o u g h m e ? N o , I d o n o t h a v e the p o s s i b i l i t y ! B u t I h a v e t h e p o s s i b i l i t y to s t u d y , a n d I do s t u d y , a l l the l e t t e r s of the people; and I do not read t h e m to w h i l e a w a y the t i m e , b e c a u s e I h a v e no t i m e to w a s t e , b u t I a m , a n d a l w a y s w i l l be, v e r y h a p p y t o s p e n d a g o o d p a r t o f m y w o r k i n g d a y t a l k i n g t o t h e people, c o n s u l t i n g t h e people, learning f r o m the people t h r o u g h the letters they send me. I receive m a n y reports on affairs and I judge f r o m t h e m , t h e c o m r a d e s a n d I c o n s u l t together, h o l d discussions, d r a w conclusions a n d take decisions. B u t w h e n I r e a d a letter f r o m f i v e cooperativists of Gjergjevica, K o r a district, f r a n k l y , I w a s m u c h clearer about the situation of the united cooperative of Gjergjevica, Voskopoja, K r u s h o v a a n d S h i p s k a t h a n I h a d been f r o m w h a t I h a d r e a d i n the reports of the P a r t y C o m m i t t e e of the K o r a district. I k n o w t h o s e v i l l a g e s a n d t h e peasants there, because I have been there a n d fought w i t h t h e m d u r i n g the war. I k n o w they l i v e better now, but still not as they should. Oh, t h a t ' s t h e m o u n t a i n s , i s w h a t i s a l w a y s said, and t h e n t h e t a l k goes o n a b o u t t h e p l a i n o f K o r a . B u t the m o u n t a i n o u s regions must be given m o r e help. These highlanders are forced to go elsewhere to w o r k as bricklayers a n d then the officials impose fines on them t h i n k i n g t h a t t h r o u g h a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m e a s u r e s t h e y c a n solve these problems of the political economy of socialism. B u t what is the P a r t y Committee of the K o r a district doing? N o t h i n g , it just looks on. F o r t w o years on end they have b e e n s a y i n g , w e s h a l l a n n u l t h e fines, a n d s t i l l t h e y h a v e not done s o . . . I w a n t these o p i n i o n s t o r e a c h t h e ears o f t h e people. S o m e say, a n d t h i s I h a v e h e a r d , W e c a n w r i t e t o C o m r a d e E n v e r , but the letters don't reach h i m , they don't give t h e m to him. There is not a shred of t r u t h in this. I r e c e i v e a l l t h e letters. I h a v e c o m r a d e s e s p e c i a l l y t o h a n d l e them, w h o prepare them for me and I read them all, take
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notes o n t h e m , s e n d p e o p l e t o i n v e s t i g a t e , because i t i s necessary t o v e r i f y m a n y t h i n g s o n t h e spot, s i n c e o f t e n there are subjective things, a n d exaggerations a n d sometimes it turns out that some people w h o w r i t e to me do not tell the t r u t h . Therefore, attention must be paid at t h e base to t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of i n s t r u c t i o n s . P e r h a p s s o m e t i m e s t h e r e m a y b e gaps i n m y j u d g ments and in the investigation that I order, the p a r t y committees of t h e districts m a y not be objective in a l l cases i n t h e r e p l i e s t h e y s e n d m e o r m a y n o t c a r r y o u t t h e correct i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d decisions w h i c h a r e r e c o m mended to them in the proper way. W h a t should be done i n these cases? T h e p e r s o n i n t e r e s t e d s h o u l d w r i t e t o m e again, but objectively, correctly, to i n f o r m me h o w the question was solved, what he was and w h a t he w a s not told, otherwise a vicious circle w i l l be created a n d the problems w i l l never be solved. T h e w r i t e r of the letter m u s t be objective, therefore, w h e n he writes the letter he himself must think how to facilitate the proper solution of the problem, be it personal or of a general character. It is v e r y important not o n l y to study a n d solve correctly the problems w h i c h are raised in the letters of t h e people, b u t also t o p r e s e r v e a n d c l a s s i f y t h e letters, because t h e y a r e i n v a l u a b l e t o t h e sociologists, e c o n o m i s t s , h i s t o r i a n s , s c h o l a r s a n d specialists i n p a r t y a f f a i r s , because f r o m t h e m c o n c l u s i o n s c a n b e d r a w n a b o u t the d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e class s t r u g g l e , of a n t a g o n i s t i c a n d n o n - a n t a g o nistic contradictions, about the progress as w e l l as about the u n d e s i r a b l e acts a n d m e t h o d s w h i c h h i n d e r t h i s p r o g r e s s . T h e letters o f t h e p e o p l e s h o w t h e l e v e l o f p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e p e o p l e i n p a r t y a n d state a f f a i r s , t h e y r e f l e c t the level of development of the proletarian people's democracy in our country, they show the people in action a n d a c t i v i t y , t h e i r close, i n t i m a t e a n d s i n c e r e contacts w i t h t h e i r e l e c t e d leaders. W h o e v e r h i n d e r s s u c h a n a c -
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tivity, whoever disparages or smothers it must be severely punished. This must be understood a n d openly denounced a s a n e v i l . I f i t occurs, i t does s o o n l y because t h e r e a r e people w h o direct badly. Then, w h a t s h o u l d be done a g a i n s t those w h o lead b a d l y , w h o u n d e r r a t e , d i s p a r a g e o r s t i f l e t h i s source o f p o p u l a r s t r e n g t h , t h i s s t r o n g f r e s h b r e e z e o f the people's d e m o c r a c y ? T h e y m u s t b e r e m o v e d f r o m t h e l e a d i n g p o s i t i o n s a n d b e r e p l a c e d b y honest, s i m p l e , d i l i g e n t p e r s o n s w h o c a r e f o r t h e people. O u r p e o p l e u n d e r s t a n d t h a t the state p o w e r i s t h e i r s , t h a t a l l l a w s a n d r u l e s o p e r a t e a n d m u s t operate f o r t h e i r b e n e f i t . F a c e d w i t h a n i n j u s t i c e done b y someone i n p o w e r , t h e c o m m o n m a n , w h o has j u s t i c e o n h i s side i n o u r country, must never feel isolated and t h i n k that he is in a p o s i t i o n o f i n e q u a l i t y : o n t h e one side t h e o f f i c i a l v e s t e d w i t h p o w e r w h i c h h e misuses, a n d o n the o t h e r side h e w h o i s n o t i n p o w e r , b u t has j u s t i c e o n h i s side. N o ! T h e m a n w h o has j u s t i c e o n his side i s a colossus, because h e has t h e e n t i r e people, t h e P a r t y , t h e state p o w e r o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n s w i t h h i m , w h i l e h e w h o h a s got i n t o p o w e r d i s h o n e s t l y , o r has d e g e n e r a t e d , a m o u n t s t o n o m o r e t h a n a f l y , a m a g g o t w h i c h m u s t be got r i d of. T h e P a r t y s h o u l d w o r k t o erase f r o m t h e people's m e n t a l i t y t h e b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y a b o u t state p o w e r a n d t h e o m n i p o t e n c e o f those i n p o w e r . T h e p e o p l e m u s t l e a r n , understand and apply in practice the Marxist-Leninist t h e o r y o n t h e s t a t e p o w e r o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n s . N o one should think that we know, understand and implement t h i s p r o p e r l y . W e m u s t b e r e a l i s t i c . A l l o f u s a r e elected. B u t , b y w h o m ? B y the people among w h o m w e work. I r r e s p e c t i v e o f o u r r a n k t h e p e o p l e elect a n d a p p r o v e o f us, t h e r e f o r e , t h e y s h o u l d also d i s m i s s u s w h e n w e d o n o t w o r k well. B u t is this procedure carried out properly? N o ! W h y ? B e c a u s e b u r e a u c r a c y does not p e r m i t it. T h e r e m u s t b e t h e d i r e c t o r y a n d t h e cadres o f f i c e t o p r o p o s e t h e cadre,
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t o d r a w u p h i s b i o g r a p h y , b u t t h e n w h e n i t comes t o a c c e p t i n g h i m o r not, let t h e masses t h r a s h t h e q u e s t i o n o u t t h o r o u g h l y a n d t h e d e c i s i o n t o a p p o i n t h i m m u s t not b e t a k e n s i m p l y because t h i s i s w h a t t h e d i r e c t o r , t h e c o m mittee, o r t h e m i n i s t e r w a n t . A l l these i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d directives, t h i s c o r r e c t l i n e , t h e P a r t y has m a d e clear. T h e n w h y i s i t n o t c a r r i e d out p r o p e r l y ? B e c a u s e people d o n o t have sufficient understanding of the philosophy, the ideology, t h e p o l i c y a n d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l f o r m s o f t h e P a r t y . T h e r e f o r e , a l l o f u s m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h e m a n d a l l must fight hard to see that they are applied.
T H E CONFERENCE OF THE INSECURITY OF EUROPE

July 29, 1975
A f t e r t w o years of wearisome talks, backstage bargainings and combinations, it w a s decided to convene w h a t is called the European Security Conference in Helsinki, a t t h e e n d o f t h e m o n t h . O n J u l y 30, n o s m a l l n u m b e r o f d o c u m e n t s , f u l l o f b e a u t i f u l w o r d s a n d sweet p r o m i s e s , w i l l b e p l a c e d b e f o r e t h e heads o f E u r o p e a n states f o r their signatures. T h e p e r f o r m a n c e i s b e i n g l o u d l y a d v e r t i z e d , b u t its clamour cannot conceal the dangers this perilous SovietA m e r i c a n u n d e r t a k i n g poses f o r t h e E u r o p e a n peoples a n d the entire world. It cannot remove the doubts and hesit a t i o n s t h a t t h e H e l s i n k i C o n f e r e n c e has a r o u s e d a m o n g the o r d i n a r y people of the continent, a m o n g a l l those w h o r e a l l y c h e r i s h peace a n d s e c u r i t y i n E u r o p e . Before the talks on the European Security Conference b e g a n , t h e r e w a s j u s t one q u e s t i o n w h i c h p r e s e n t e d itself, a question w h i c h is being asked today and w h i c h always w i l l be asked: W h o is threatening Europe? F r o m w h o m m u s t t h e E u r o p e a n peoples b e s e c u r e d ? C a n i t b e s a i d t h a t peace a n d s e c u r i t y i n E u r o p e a r e e n d a n g e r e d b y B e l g i u m or Switzerland, F i n l a n d or Austria, and that, t h e r e f o r e , t h e necessity arises t h a t t h e y , o r o t h e r s u c h
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E u r o p e a n countries, should officially pledge themselves to r e n o u n c e the t h r e a t a n d t h e use o f force? T h e a n s w e r i s n o t d i f f i c u l t , i t i s k n o w n a n d does n o t r e q u i r e the d i s c o v e r y o f a n y u n k n o w n factor. T h e peace a n d security of E u r o p e are threatened directly and permanently by A m e r i c a n imperialism and Soviet social-imp e r i a l i s m , b y t h e i r aggressive, e x p a n s i o n i s t policies, b y t h e i r m i l i t a r y blocs, b y t h e a r m i e s a n d bases t h e y m a i n t a i n i n other c o u n t r i e s . T h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e E u r o p e a n peoples a r e t h r e a t e n e d a n d e n d a n g e r e d b y t h e spheres o f i n f l u e n c e a n d t h e p o l i c y p u r s u e d b y t h e superpowers, by their imperialist practices of political clients a n d their interference in the i n t e r n a l affairs of others, b y t h e i r n e o - c o l o n i a l i s t course a n d i n s a t i a b l e a p petite to subjugate and dominate countries a n d nations. The Soviet-American atomic blackmail, their military adventures, their feverish preparations for a t h i r d w o r l d war, endanger and threaten Europe. F r o m those p a r t s o f t h e d o c u m e n t s w h i c h h a v e been m a d e k n o w n t o t h e p u b l i c s o f a r , i t seems t h a t t h e papers to be signed in H e l s i n k i contain no obligatory p o l i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s , m i l i t a r y c o m m i t m e n t s , etc. F r o m t h e e x t e r n a l aspect, f r o m t h e f o r m a l s t a n d p o i n t , i t seems a s i f n o b o d y i s a s s u m i n g a n y concrete o b l i g a t i o n a n d t h a t n o b o d y ' s h a n d s are t i e d . I n r e a l i t y , h o w e v e r , e v e r y b o d y c a n see t h a t t h r o u g h t h e H e l s i n k i C o n f e r e n c e , t h e S o v i e t U n i o n and the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a have imposed on others an international document in w h i c h the present status q u o o f E u r o p e i s r e c o g n i z e d a n d accepted i n fact, i.e., t h e spheres o f i n f l u e n c e are r e c o g n i z e d a n d a c c e p t e d , the political, m i l i t a r y and economic d o m i n a t i o n of m a n y countries of our continent by the A m e r i c a n imperialists a n d S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s are r e c o g n i z e d a n d a c c e p t e d . F r o m the w a y the talks have developed so far it follows quite clearly that the Soviet U n i o n a n d the
THE CONFERENCE OF THE INSECURITY OF EUROPE
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U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a h a v e n o t been c o n c e r n e d about t h e r e a l s e c u r i t y of E u r o p e , b u t a b o u t t h e security of t h e i r spheres o f i n f l u e n c e , t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y bases, t h e r e m o v a l o f those b a r r i e r s w h i c h h i n d e r t h e e x t e n s i o n o f t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c h e g e m o n y , the p a c i f i c a t i o n o f t h e i r r e a r areas i n o r d e r t o d i r e c t t h e m s e l v e s m o r e f o r c e f u l l y a n d w i t h g r e a t e r w e i g h t t o zones w h e r e vacuums are created or where the revolution and the l i b e r a t i o n struggles o f the peoples are t a k i n g place. W h a t h a v e t h e E u r o p e a n peoples g a i n e d , w h a t i s t h e a d v a n t a g e t o g e n e r a l peace? C a n it be said that the domination of the Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s i n t h e E a s t - E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s n o w becomes less o n e r o u s t h r o u g h t h i s E u r o p e a n security, h a v e t h e S o v i e t t r o o p s b e e n w i t h d r a w n f r o m those c o u n t r i e s , o r has t h e i r p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y i n t e g r a t i o n i n t o t h e S o v i e t U n i o n b e e n i n t e r r u p t e d , has M o s c o w ' s p r e s s u r e o n t h e n a t i o n a l c u l t u r e o f these c o u n t r i e s a n d its a t t a c k on their national traditions diminished? W i l l the s u f f o c a t i n g pressures o f the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a o n t h e W e s t - E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s p e r h a p s b e eased w i t h the European Conference, or the interference of the m o n o p o l i e s f r o m across the A t l a n t i c i n t h e i r i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s cease, w i l l t h e y escape t h e i n f l a t i o n a n d c r i s i s imported f r o m the U n i t e d States? T h e H e l s i n k i C o n f e r e n c e b r i n g s n o t h i n g else a p a r t f r o m h i g h - s o u n d i n g w o r d s a n d false i l l u s i o n s . W h a t w e w a r n e d a b o u t l o n g ago a n d w h a t w a s s p e l l e d o u t c l e a r l y i n t h e s t a t e m e n t o f t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e P R A has o c c u r r e d , i.e., t h a t t h e s u p e r p o w e r s w o u l d s t r i v e t o t u r n the E u r o p e a n Security Conference into a means to spread their liberal-pacifist spirit on the grounds that allegedly t o d a y a l l t h e w o r l d p r o b l e m s , t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l class c o n flicts, c a n b e s o l v e d t h r o u g h peace t a l k s a n d i n d i v i d u a l
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contacts, because t h e p r e s e n t S o v i e t a n d A m e r i c a n leaders a r e m e n o f peace a n d w o r k f o r peace. T h e table at H e l s i n k i is for the A m e r i c a n s a n d the Soviets the others p a y the b i l l . T h e documents to be s i g n e d t h e r e d o n o t e v e n r e m o t e l y r e f l e c t t h e interests, desires, o r w o r r i e s o f t h e E u r o p e a n peoples. T h e h o p e o f those p e o p l e w h o t h o u g h t t h a t t h e E u r o p e a n S e c u r i t y C o n f e r e n c e w o u l d s t r e n g t h e n the i n d e p e n d e n c e o f some countries w h i c h are under the domination a n d influence o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n o r t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , t h a t it w o u l d encourage some others towards autonomy, turned out t o b e o n l y a n i l l u s i o n , a v a i n hope. T h e facts s h o w e d t h a t i n setting the o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e , i n d r a f t i n g t h e r e s o l u t i o n s , i n f o r m u l a t i n g t h e theses a n d concepts, t h e w e i g h t o f t h e o t h e r p a r t i c i p a t i n g states has b e e n v e r y slight a n d their role very insignificant. T h e superpowers discussed a n d d e c i d e d a b o u t t h e c o n f e r e n c e o u t s i d e it, a t b i l a t e r a l m e e t i n g s , not o n l y f a r f r o m t h e eyes a n d e a r s o f t h e others, b u t also against t h e i r interests. I n d e e d , e v e n the f i n a l date o f t h e m e e t i n g w a s d e c i d e d o n l y a f t e r t h e Gromyko-Kissinger talks in Geneva. N o w , w h e n the t w o superpowers are caught up in g r a v e crises a n d h a v e s u s t a i n e d a l l - r o u n d defeats, w h e n the a n t i - A m e r i c a n and anti-social-imperialist tide in the w o r l d has b e g u n t o rise, t h e y f e e l great n e e d f o r each other's s u p p o r t . T h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y s o o f t h e B r e z h n e v clique, the initiator of this conference, w h i c h has l i n k e d E u r o p e a n s e c u r i t y , t h e r e l a x a t i o n o f tension, w i t h its p e r s o n a l p o l i t i c a l f u t u r e . I t has t o a p p e a r b e f o r e t h e 25th Congress of the Soviet revisionist party, scheduled for the b e g i n n i n g o f t h e c o m i n g y e a r , w i t h a success t o s h o w t h a t its f o r e i g n p o l i c y i s l i s t e n e d to a n d respected. B y m e a n s o f d i p l o m a t i c m a n o e u v r e s i t a i m s t o c o n s o l i d a t e its positions a t h o m e a n d i n the satellite c o u n t r i e s , a n d t o p u r s u e its h e g e m o n i c p o l i c y i n o t h e r r e g i o n s w i t h a f r e s h i m p u l s e .
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T h e c o n c l u s i o n o f the H e l s i n k i C o n f e r e n c e i s also seen b y B r e z h n e v a s a f a v o u r a b l e c o n d i t i o n f o r s u m m o n i n g the c o n f e r e n c e o f the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s o f E u r o p e i n the immediate future and transforming it into a means to strengthen his d o m i n a t i o n over them, to b i n d t h e m s t i l l m o r e t i g h t l y t o the c h a r i o t o f S o v i e t f o r e i g n p o l i c y . T h e U n i t e d States, too, h a s n o less n e e d f o r a d i p l o m a t i c success. F o l l o w i n g its i g n o m i n i o u s defeats i n V i e t n a m a n d C a m b o d i a , f o l l o w i n g K i s s i n g e r ' s f a i l u r e i n the M i d d l e East, f o l l o w i n g t h e g r e a t d e c l i n e o f its a l l i e s ' f a i t h i n it, A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m needs t o r a i s e its f a l l e n p o l i t i c a l p r e s t i g e a n d t o e s t a b l i s h o r d e r i n its s h a k y a l l i a n c e s through the fear of S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n collaboration. F o r d gave the green light to the European Security C o n f e r e n c e , because h e w a n t s t o h e l p t h e p r o - A m e r i c a n B r e z h n e v group in Moscow, just as the clique n o w r u l i n g in the K r e m l i n wants the N i x o n line of rapprochement w i t h the Soviet U n i o n , w h i c h F o r d follows, to be carried o n b y t h e n e w a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w h i c h w i l l b e elected n e x t year. I t i s w e l l k n o w n t h a t a n y s e c u r i t y i s closely c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e m i l i t a r y aspects, w i t h the q u e s t i o n a s t o w h a t real conditions it offers to avoid or repel an eventual a g g r e s s i o n . B u t w h y d i d t h e s u p e r p o w e r s r e f u s e t o discuss t h e m i l i t a r y aspects of security, despite t h e insistence of s o m e o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s ? T h e y d i d t h i s because t h e y w a n t t h e E u r o p e a n p e o p l e s to be i n s e c u r e a n d w e a k , so as to i m p o s e t h e i r w i l l a n d d i c t a t e o n t h e m m o r e easily, b e c a u s e t h e y w a n t t o d e p r i v e t h e E u r o p e a n peoples o f t h e possibility a n d p o w e r of self-defence and the ability to oppose t h e l a w the s u p e r p o w e r s w a n t t o m a k e i n E u r o p e . T h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s seek t o c o m p e l o t h e r c o u n t r i e s t o r e m a i n u n a r m e d o r w i t h o n l y l i m i t e d a r m a m e n t , i n e f f e c t i v e i n f a c e o f the ever-increasing m i l i t a r y strength of the t w o superpowers,
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t o r e m a i n passive a n d p o w e r l e s s b e f o r e t h e e v e r g r e a t e r i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e i r a r m a m e n t s , b e f o r e t h e increase o f t h e i r m i l i t a r y bases a n d w a r budgets. T h e m i l i t a r y aspects o f s e c u r i t y w e r e l e f t o u t i n H e l s i n k i , because t h e s u p e r p o w e r s w a n t a t a l l costs t o p r e s e r v e t h e p s y c h o s i s o f f e a r a n d w a r a m o n g t h e peoples. T h e superpowers w a n t to put the m i l i t a r y security of the European countries under their t w o umbrellas, and their a i m is that the peoples a n d countries w i l l have no altern a t i v e o t h e r t h a n t o see t h e i r s a l v a t i o n l i n k e d w i t h e i t h e r t h e one o r t h e o t h e r s u p e r p o w e r , w i l l n o t t h i n k i n d e p e n dently, so that their w i l l a n d freedom w i l l be l i n k e d w i t h these t w o m o n s t e r s . T h e European security agreements are a n e w w e b o f t h e t w o s u p e r p o w e r s t o e n t a n g l e t h e i r allies a n d o t h e r s e v e n m o r e t h o r o u g h l y . T h i s i s t h e greatest m i s u s e t h a t has e v e r been m a d e o f t h e E u r o p e a n p e o p l e s ' d e s i r e f o r peace a n d security, c o o p e r a t i o n a n d g o o d n e i g h b o u r l y r e l a t i o n s . H o w c a n one s p e a k o f a s e c u r e E u r o p e w h i l e i t i s b u l g i n g w i t h f o r e i g n m i l i t a r y bases a n d t h e a t o m bombs of the superpowers, w i t h hundreds of thousands of soldiers, a n d i n n u m e r a b l e S o v i e t a n d A m e r i c a n t a n k s a n d aircraft? The superpowers d i d not w a n t the m i l i t a r y p r o b l e m s t o b e discussed, because t h e y w a n t t o k e e p t h e i r gendarmerie intact in Europe, to preserve their permanent m i l i t a r y pressure and blackmail, and to keep E u r o p e besieged a n d i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e o t h e r p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d . H o w c a n one speak o f t h e s e c u r i t y o f E u r o p e w i t h o u t t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n , w i t h o u t t h e M i d d l e East, w i t h o u t N o r t h A f r i c a ? H i s t o r y has proved more than once that even w h e n the conflicts that have b r o k e n out in E u r o p e have not been over the Mediterranean, N o r t h A f r i c a , or the M i d d l e East, these r e g i o n s h a v e a l w a y s b e e n c a u g h t u p i n t h e i r f l a m e s . T h e fates o f these zones a r e v e r y c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h those o f E u r o p e a n d t h e s e p a r a t i o n m a d e o f t h e m
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b y t h e E u r o p e a n S e c u r i t y C o n f e r e n c e seems a r t i f i c i a l a n d ill-intentioned. T h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n furiously opposed the l i n k i n g of E u r o p e a n security w i t h that of the Mediterranean, N o r t h A f r i c a a n d the M i d d l e East, because t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f t h e i r fleets f r o m the Mediterranean w o u l d have arisen, the barbarous g u n b o a t p o l i c y t h e y c a r r y o u t a r o u n d t h e shores o f t h i s b a s i n w o u l d h a v e been e x p o s e d , t h e i r b r u t a l i n t e r f e r e n c e in the A r a b - I s r a e l i conflict w o u l d have been thoroughly u n m a s k e d , a n d their savage r i v a l r y in this area, w h i c h e n d a n g e r s t h e peace a n d s e c u r i t y o f a l l t h e peoples, w o u l d h a v e been d r a g g e d o u t i n t o t h e l i g h t o f d a y . T h e a t t i t u d e of the superpowers on this question is proof that they w a n t t o f u r t h e r e x t e n d t h e i r d o m i n a t i o n i n these areas, t o m a k e it complete a n d permanent. Therefore, the participants in the H e l s i n k i meeting should not be too hasty in singing about the triumph o f peace a n d s e c u r i t y a n d the r e l a x a t i o n o f t e n s i o n i n Europe. T h e agreements, treaties, concessions a n d c o m p r o m i s e s w h i c h are manipulated and concluded under the direction o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a c a n n e v e r c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f peace a n d s e c u r i t y e i t h e r o n a r e g i o n a l scale o r o n a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale. T h i s E u r o p e a n s e c u r i t y not o n l y does n o t e l i m i n a t e the i n t e r - i m p e r i a l i s t r i v a l r y , w h i c h constitutes o n e o f t h e m a i n sources o f t h e o u t b r e a k o f aggressive w a r s , but, being a product of the expansionist a n d hegemonic policy o f t h e s u p e r p o w e r s , i t w i l l c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e increase o f t h e e x i s t i n g c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d tensions i n e v e r y zone a n d on a l l the continents. I t gives t h e s u p e r p o w e r s p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o act m o r e f r e e l y o n t h e o t h e r c o n t i n e n t s , t o increase t h e i r p r e s s u r e s a n d i n t r i g u e s , i n o r d e r t o d i v i d e t h e peoples a n d set t h e m
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against o n e a n o t h e r w i t h a v i e w t o c a p t u r i n g m a r k e t s , t a k i n g o v e r n e w zones o f i n f l u e n c e a n d e x t e n d i n g t h e i r hegemony. T h e y have already begun to enter the Indian O c e a n a n d e x t e n d i n A f r i c a , t o cast g r e e d y eyes o n the r i c h e s o f the A r a b i a n G u l f a n d t o s h o w t h e i r c l a w s i n A s i a and Latin America. T h u s , the e x i s t i n g s i t u a t i o n becomes m o r e i n s e c u r e , w h i l e the p o s s i b i l i t y o f t h e a c c u m u l a t i o n o f n e w e x p l o s i v e elements i s i n c r e a s i n g a n d t h e t h r e a t s a n d d a n g e r s t o the i n t e r e s t s o f t h e peoples a n d n a t i o n s are g r o w i n g e v e r y where. A t t h e m o m e n t , t h e zealous p r o p a g a n d i s t s o f t h i s E u r o p e a n s e c u r i t y are h a v i n g a g r e a t d e a l to say a b o u t h o w , b y m e a n s o f this agreement, t h e v i o l a t i o n o f b o r d e r s w i l l b e stopped a n d t h e use o f f o r c e w i l l b e a v o i d e d . A s a g u a r a n t e e f o r this t h e y o f f e r F o r d ' s solemn d e c l a r a t i o n s a n d B r e z h n e v ' s w o r d o f h o n o u r . B u t c a n t h e peoples o f E u r o p e base t h e i r s e c u r i t y o n s u c h p a l a v e r ? T h e y h a v e s u f f e r e d too m u c h f r o m i m p e r i a l i s t aggressions a n d t h e p e r f i d y o f the s u p e r p o w e r s t o a l l o w t h e m s e l v e s t o b e d e c e i v e d b y some b i t s o f paper, b y d e m a g o g i c a g r e e m e n t s a n d treaties. Tens of times H i t l e r signed solemn promises that he w o u l d n e v e r v i o l a t e the b o r d e r s o f F r a n c e , B e l g i u m , o r H o l l a n d . W i t h t e a r s i n h i s eyes h e s w o r e t h a t a f t e r r e c e i v i n g t h e S u d e t e n l a n d h e w o u l d not t o u c h C z e c h o s l o vakia, even remotely. E v e r y b o d y k n o w s what happened l a t e r . A n d B r e z h n e v , too. less t h a n one m o n t h b e f o r e he sent his t a n k s i n t o P r a g u e , h a d s i g n e d a l e n g t h y d o cument at Bratislava in w h i c h the non-use of force was l a u d e d t o the skies. N o t o n l y t h r o u g h t h e U N O C h a r t e r , b u t also i n a n endless n u m b e r o f treaties, t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a has p l e d g e d i t s e l f n o t t o v i o l a t e b o r d e r s a n d n o t t o resort t o force. B u t i t has n o t f a i l e d t o i n tervene in Greece and attack K o r e a , to occupy V i e t n a m
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a n d to land in Lebanon, to interfere in San Domingo and f i g h t t h e C a m b o d i a n people. O n l y t h e n a i v e a n d t h e s h o r t - s i g h t e d c a n b e l i e v e t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s ' sweet w o r d s a n d p r o m i s e s a b o u t peace, o n l y t h e y c a n b u i l d t h e i r hopes o n t h e p o w e r o f d e c l a r a t i o n s a n d g e n e r a l agreements, o r o n t h e f a l s e m o r a l i t y o f t h e aggressors. B u t t h e peoples p u t no trust in words and are not deceived by the imperialist and revisionist demagogy. T h e so-called policy of relaxation of tension, about w h i c h the A m e r i c a n imperialists a n d the Soviet sociali m p e r i a l i s t s are n o w m a k i n g s o m u c h fuss, i s a c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the c o l d w a r , b u t i n a n o t h e r f o r m . I t i s the o l d p o l i c y o f s t r e n g t h , b u t c a m o u f l a g e d w i t h s m i l e s a n d lullabies. P e a c e f u l coexistence, a s c o n c e i v e d a n d i n t e r p r e t e d b y t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s , is a counter-revolutionary a n d anti-national ideology and practice; it is anti-popular and anti-democratic f r o m start to finish. As an expression of the expansionist and hegemonic policy of t h e s u p e r p o w e r s , it r e p r e s e n t s a d a n g e r o u s i n s t r u m e n t to p u t the peoples in bondage, to subjugate a n d colonize t h e m . T h e s o - c a l l e d s p i r i t o f detente, w h i c h i s p r o pagated especially by the revisionists, is the spirit of submission and passivity, w h i c h aims to slacken the r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e o f t h e peoples, t o c o m p e l t h e m t o r e n o u n c e t h e d e f e n c e o f t h e i r v i t a l n a t i o n a l interests a n d l e a v e t h e m p o l i t i c a l l y a n d s p i r i t u a l l y d i s a r m e d i n face of the attacks of the t w o superpowers. T h e r e has b e e n a l o n g - s t a n d i n g i l l u s i o n i n E u r o p e w h i c h has cost i t d e a r . M a n y p o l i t i c i a n s h a v e t h o u g h t t h a t concessions c o u l d b e m a d e t o aggressors o n t h i s continent, t o d i r e c t w a r t o w a r d s f a r - o f f f i e l d s . H i s t o r y , h o w e v e r , has p r o v e d t h a t peace i s i n d i v i s i b l e . I n t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e p r e s e n t - d a y w o r l d , t h i s i s t r u e r t h a n ever. T h e aggressors h a v e n o t b e e n stopped, a n d n e v e r w i l l b e stopped w i t h concessions a n d . e v e n less, w i t h i l l u s i o n s . R e t r e a t b e f o r e
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t h e m has o n l y w h e t t e d t h e a p p e t i t e o f those w h o h a v e sought to attack a n d occupy. T r u e r e l a x a t i o n of tension, r e m o v a l of the danger of w a r , i s n o t a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h i l l u s i o n s a n d h o p e s based o n t h e reasonableness a n d r e a l i s t i c a t t i t u d e o f t h e A m e r i c a n imperialists and the Soviet social-imperialists. T h e y constitute an objective w h i c h must be attained b y the peoples themselves, b y f i g h t i n g t h e h e g e m o n i c and expansionist policy of the superpowers, by e x posing and hindering their deceitful diplomatic manoeuvres, b y c o m b a t i n g the s h a m p a c i f i s t psychosis t h e y s p r e a d , by s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e s e n t i m e n t s of defence of t h e f r e e d o m a n d n a t i o n a l d i g n i t y o f t h e peoples a n d i n d e p e n d e n t states, a n d a b o v e a l l , b y s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n i t y o f the p r o l e t a r i a t and the w o r k i n g people throughout the w o r l d . A y e a r ago w e d e c l a r e d ( 1 ) : O n w h a t does t h e s e c u r i t y o f t h e peoples o f E u r o p e o r t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d depend? On the public or mysterious travels of a certain K i s s i n g e r , of a c e r t a i n G r o m y k o , or on t h e w i l e s of a c e r t a i n B r e z h n e v w h o has m a d e t h e S o v i e t a n d o t h e r peoples b l e e d , o n t h e t r a v e l s o f a c e r t a i n N i x o n w h o h a s d r o w n e d the w o r l d in blood and led the A m e r i c a n M a f i a in the shameful Watergate scandal w h i c h has shaken the w h o l e o f A m e r i c a ? S h o u l d i t b e left t o s u c h i n d i v i d u a l s t o e n s u r e the f u t u r e o f t h e w o r l d ? A f i n e f u t u r e , i n d e e d ! O f course, those w h o p u t t h e i r t r u s t i n t r a g i c i l l u s i o n ists are free t o a t t e n d t h e m e e t i n g s i n V i e n n a , H e l s i n k i and anywhere they like. Let them indulge in their p a l a v e r s ! B u t f o r o u r p a r t , w e a r e f r e e n o t t o g o t o those meetings, a n d w e w i l l n o t g o t h e r e . A n d i t i s n o t o n l y w e w h o are absent f r o m those m e e t i n g s a n d conferences, b u t t h e peoples, too. T h i s has i m p o r t a n c e f o r us.
________________________________ 1 See p. 866 of this volume.
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T h i s c l e a r s t a n d o f o u r P a r t y , g o v e r n m e n t a n d people c o n c e r n i n g E u r o p e a n s e c u r i t y r e s p o n d s n o t o n l y t o the s u p r e m e interests o f A l b a n i a , b u t a l s o t o t h e cause o f s t r e n g t h e n i n g peace a n d s e c u r i t y o n t h e E u r o p e a n c o n tinent. We have pointed out openly and sincerely that t h e s o v e r e i g n states m u s t i n n o w a y b e t a k e n i n b y t h e p l a n s o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d i m p e r i a l i s t s , because these p l a n s a r e t o the d e t r i m e n t o f t h e i r n a t i o n a l s o v e r e i g n t y a n d t h e s e c u r i t y o f t h e peoples. N o w m a n y of the participating countries, w h i c h went to the talks in the hope that a dialogue among equal states a b o u t s e t t l i n g E u r o p e a n a n d w o r l d p r o b l e m s w o u l d t a k e p l a c e t h e r e , a r e left d i s i l l u s i o n e d . B u t t h e y w e r e d r a g g e d i n t o t h e dance b y t h e S o v i e t s a n d t h e A m e r i c a n s a n d w e r e q u i t e u n a b l e t o get out o f it. I n d e e d , e v e n m a n y o f t h e i r e f f o r t s o v e r p r o c e d u r a l m a t t e r s a n d requests f o r some m o d e r a t i o n o f t h e f o r m u l a t i o n s w e r e a r r o g a n t l y rejected and brutally squashed by the super-mighty. R e a l peace a n d s e c u r i t y o f E u r o p e i s n o t s o m e t h i n g w h i c h can be donated by the superpowers, or be ensured b y some w o r t h l e s s b i t s o f paper, b y d e m a g o g i c statements and false promises of the A m e r i c a n imperialists and the S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s . F i r s t o f a l l , t h e m i l i t a r y bases a n d f o r e i g n t r o o p s w h i c h are s t i l l i n m a n y c o u n t r i e s o f Europe must be removed, the superpowers' policy of armaments, threats and m i l i t a r y b l a c k m a i l must be opp o s e d a n d c o m b a t e d , t h e aggressive blocs a n d o t h e r agreements w h i c h are utilized by the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a and the Soviet U n i o n to pursue their policy of domination a n d s u b j u g a t i o n o f t h e E u r o p e a n peoples m u s t b e s m a s h e d . O f course, t h e t h r e a t s a n d d a n g e r s a r e great, b u t t h e y must not be v i e w e d in a fatalist spirit as inevitable. T h e b a t t l e s w i l l b e severe, b u t t h e y c a n b e w o n i f t h e p a c i f i s t i l l u s i o n s , t h e i m p e r i a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t lies a n d deceptions a r e forcibly rejected, if the chains w i t h w h i c h the super-
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p o w e r s seek t o b i n d t h e peoples o f E u r o p e a r e s e v e r e d w i t h the s w o r d . T h e r e c a n n e v e r b e r e l a x a t i o n o f t e n s i o n b e t w e e n t h e peoples, o n t h e one h a n d , a n d t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the S o v i e t s o c i a l - i m p e r i a l i s t s , o n t h e other h a n d , j u s t a s t h e r e c a n b e n o r e a l peace a n d s e c u r i t y as l o n g as t h e present h e g e m o n i c p o l i c y of t h e s u p e r p o w e r s continues to exist. Peace a n d s e c u r i t y , t h e r e l a x a t i o n o f t e n s i o n a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n are p r o b l e m s w h i c h m u s t b e s o l v e d , a n d c a n be s o l v e d , o n l y by the peoples, by m e a n s of a p e r m a n e n t , consistent a n d d e t e r m i n e d s t r u g g l e against those i m p e r i a l i s t a n d e x p a n s i o n i s t forces w h i c h seek t o r o b t h e c o u n t r i e s a n d n a t i o n s o f t h e t h i n g s t h e y h o l d m o s t dear, t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e , the p r o s p e c t o f t h e i r future.
Against
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
VII
1966 INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE P A R T Y T H E M A I N P R O B L E M (Orientations for the basic organizations o f the Party) (February 2 , 1966) . . . .
The basic organizations of the Party should assume the full leadership of every aspect of life in the sectors in which they operate . . . The most important requirement for enhancing the role of the basic organization of the Party is the complete activation of all the communists We should combat the narrow sectarian concept of forms of the structure of the Party and sterile official formality in the meetings of the basic organizations
T H E FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA A N D THE L E S S O N S C O M M U N I S T S D R A W F R O M I T (Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit) (May 11, 1966)
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How much are democratic freedoms worth in a bourgeois state and how should they be utilized
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Communists forces
and
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with of the
the
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26
The international unity ists must be strengthened
Marxist-Lenin29
OUR P A R T Y W I L L CONTINUE TO W A G E T H E CLASS STRUGGLE AS IT HAS A L W A Y S DONE CONSISTENTLY, COURAGEOUSLY AND WITH M A T U R I T Y (From a conversation w i t h Zhou Enlai) (June 24, 1966) WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIMES OF GENOC I D E I N K O S O V A ? (Article published i n the newspaper Zri i popullit) (August 31, 1966) SOME P R E L I M I N A R Y IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE P R O L E T A R I A N C U L T U R A L R E V O L U T I O N (Speech at the 18th P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A ) (October 14, 1966) ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE O F T H E P A R T Y O F L A B O U R O F A L B A N I A (Report to the 5th Congress of the P L A ) (November 1, 1966)
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I THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION POLICY of SOCIALIST ALBANIA AND THE FOREIGN
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II THE FULFILMENT OF THE 3rd FIVE-YEAR P L A N AND THE MAIN TARGETS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY AND CULTURE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS B. The main directions and tasks of the socialist construction for the new five-year plan 1966-1970
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CONTENTS 1. The continuation of the industrialization of the country remains one of the v i t a l tasks for the socialist construction 2. The development of agriculture the most important l i n k for the fulfilment of the main economic tasks of the 4th Five-year P l a n . .
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IV THE FURTHER DEEPENING OF THE IDEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL REVOLUTION 1. The struggle for the t r i u m p h of the socialist ideology is a struggle for the triumph of socialism and communism 3. We must radically improve the method and style of the educational w o r k
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V THE STRUGGLE OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA AGAINST MODERN REVISIONISM AND IN DEFENCE OF THE PURITY OF MARXISMLENINISM 1. M o d e r n revisionism an offshoot and ally o f the bourgeoisie and imperialism . . . . 2. The strategic sionism aims of Khrushchevite revi190
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4. Intensify the struggle against Khrushchevite and Titoite modern revisionism
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THE FURTHER REVOLUTIONIZATION OF THE P A R T Y A N D T H E S T A T E (Speech delivered a t the joint meeting of the basic party organizations of the K r r a b a coal mine, the Enver plant, the W i l h e l m Pieck agricultural cooperative, the army detachment No. 5009 and the University of Tirana) (February 6, 1967)
209 221 238
On the implementation of the norms of the Party More about bureaucracy

REFLECTIONS ON THE C U L T U R A L REVOLUTION. ANARCHY CANNOT BE COMBATED WITH A N A R C H Y (April 28, 1967) ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE P R O B L E M OF THE A L B A N I A N W O M A N (Speech delivered at the 2nd P l e n u m o f the C C o f the P L A ) (June 15, 1967) . . . ON THE ROLE AND TASKS OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT IN THE S T R U G G L E FOR THE C O M P L E T E T R I U M P H O F S O C I A L I S M I N A L B A N I A (From the Report to the 4th Congress of the Democratic Front of Albania) (September 14, 1967)
252
261
285
I THE HISTORIC ROLE OF THE FRONT IN THE LIBERATION OF THE COUNTRY, THE DEFENCE OF NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF SOCIALISM 1. The Party of Labour of A l b a n i a the sole leading force and political party in our country 2. The Front as the m a i n l i n k in the political unity of our people
285
286 292
CONTENTS 3. The role of the Front in the struggle for the construction of socialism II 2. The role of the Democratic Front in further strengthening the dictatorship of the proletariat and extending socialist democracy . . ON COOPERATION AND THE TECHNICAL-SCIENTIF I C R E V O L U T I O N (From the closing speech delivered at the 3rd P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A ) (October 14, 1967) 1968 FOR THE FURTHER REVOLUTIONIZATION OF OUR S C H O O L (Speech delivered at the meeting of the P o l i tical Bureau of the Central Committee of the P L A ) (March 7, 1968) T H E B U D A P E S T C A R N I V A L S (Article published i n the newspaper Zri i popullit) (March 15, 1968) . . . THE W O R K I N G CLASS IN THE REVISIONIST COUNTRIES MUST T A K E THE FIELD A N D RE-ESTABLISH T H E D I C T A T O R S H I P O F T H E P R O L E T A R I A T (Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit) (March 24, 1968) W O R K I N G C L A S S C O N T R O L (Speech delivered at a meeting of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the P L A in connection w i t h the report submitted by the Central Council of the Trade Unions of A l b a n i a on the activity of the trade-union organizations concerning the w o r k i n g class control) (April 9, 1968) . . WHERE IS CZECHOSLOVAKIA HEADING? (Article
951
300
309
315
338 379
397
430
952
CONTENTS
published in the newspaper Zri i popullit) (April 21, 1968) OK THE PRESENT INTERNATIONAL SITUATION (From the Report to the 5th P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A ) (September 5, 1968) T H E FIST O F T H E M A R X I S T - L E N I N I S T C O M M U NISTS M U S T A L S O S M A S H L E F T A D V E N T U R I S M , THE OFFSPRING OF MODERN REVISIONISM (From a conversation w i t h two leaders of the C o m munist Party (Marxist-Leninist, of Ecuador) (October 21, 1968) AN ACT WHICH LEGALIZES THE TRANSFORMATION OF C Z E C H O S L O V A K I A INTO A C O L O N Y OF T H E S O V I E T R E V I S I O N I S T (Article published i n the newspaper Zri i popullit) (October 23, 1968) . . .
449
474
498
515
1969
HOW TO UNDERSTAND AND SOLVE CERTAIN PROBLEMS OF OUR SOCIALIST ECONOMY CORRECTLY (Speech delivered at the meeting w i t h workers, cooperativist and cadres of the district of Berat) (February 26, 1969) INTEGRATION WITH THE BOURGEOISIE THE NEW C O U R S E O F T H E I T A L I A N R E V I S I O N I S T S ' 12th C O N G R E S S (Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit) (March 2, 1969) THE CORRECT UNDERSTANDING AND ORGANIZATION OF I L L E G A L AND L E G A L W O R K BY THE P A R T Y A F U N D A M E N T A L QUESTION OF T H E R E V O L U T I O N (From the talk w i t h a comrade from Ceylon) (May 17, 1969)
522
549
562
CONTENTS
953
1970 DIFFICULTIES ARE OVERCOME AND VICTORY IS ACHIEVED ONLY WITH A CORRECT POLITICAL L I N E A N D S O U N D U N I T Y (From the talk w i t h a delegation of the Al-Fatah Movement for the Nation a l Liberation of Palestine) (August 3, 1970) . . . . ON T H E I M P L E M E N T A T I O N OF THE DECISIONS OF T H E 6th P L E N U M O F T H E C C O F T H E P L A F O R THE STRUGGLE AGAINST MANIFESTATIONS OF I N T E L L E C T U A L I S M A N D T E C H N O C R A C Y (From the speech delivered at the meeting of the Secretariat of the CC of the P L A ) (September 28, 1970) . . . STUDY MARXIST-LENINIST THEORY, L I N K I N G IT CLOSELY WITH REVOLUTIONARY PRACTICE (Speech delivered at the meeting commemorating the 25th anniversary of the founding of the V. I. L e n i n Party School) (November 8, 1970)
576
601
615
1971 THE CONGRESS OF THE RESTORATION OF CAPIT A L I S M A N D S O C I A L - I M P E R I A L I S M (Article p u b l i shed in the newspaper Zri i popullit) (April 17, 1971) A n t i - M a r x i s m and anti-communism the ideological basis of Khrushchevite revisionism . . . Great-state chauvinist and neocolonialist course Extinguishers of the flames of the revolution and the peoples' liberation movement . . . . A policy of a superpower for w o r l d hegemony expansion and 655 661
638 639 646 651
Rabid hostility to the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces .
954
CONTENTS
IT IS NOT RIGHT TO RECEIVE N I X O N IN BEIJING. WE DO N O T S U P P O R T IT (Letter to the CC of the CP of China) (August 6, 1971) ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE O F T H E P A R T Y O F L A B O U R O F A L B A N I A (Report to the 6th Congress of the P L A ) (November 1, 1971)
665
683
I THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION AND THE FOREIGN POLICY_OF_THE_PEOPLE'S_REPUBLIC_OF_ALBANIA The trend of present-day w o r l d development is to the revolution and the t r i u m p h of socialism True peace and security for the peoples are achieved through struggle against A m e r i c a n imperialism and Soviet social imperialism . . .
683
684
699
II DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY AND THE TASKS OF THE_PARTY The main directions of our Party's policy for the development of agriculture
710
722
Further improve the management of the economy
728
III STRENGTHENING THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT AND THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIALIST_DEMOCRACY
731
CONTENTS VI MARXISM-LENINISM TIFIC_DOCTRINE AN EVER YOUNG AND SCIEN-
955
744
The leadership of the w o r k i n g class and its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party a fundamental condition for the defeat of the bourgeoisie and imperialism The revolution the road to the liberation of mankind Socialism can be built only on the basis of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory 1972 NIXON'S JOURNEY TO CHINA, THE SINO-AMERIC A N T A L K S , T H E F I N A L C O M M U N I Q U E (March 21, 1972)
750 759 764
774
1973 HOW WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND AND FIGHT THE IMPERIALIST-REVISIONIST ENCIRCLEMENT OF O U R C O U N T R Y A N D T H E E F F E C T O F ITS P R E S S U R E ON US (Speech delivered at the general meeting of the communists of the apparatus of the CC of the P L A to render account and hold elections) (March 15, 1973) INTENSIFY THE IDEOLOGICAL STRUGGLE AGAINST ALIEN MANIFESTATIONS AND LIBERAL ATTITUD E S T O W A R D S T H E M (From the Report submitted to the 4th P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A ) (June 26, 1973)
785
812
Strengthening
proletarian
partisanship
an
956
CONTENTS
essential condition for the development of rature and the arts on the correct course . We must form revolutionary taste, conduct and life-style concepts
lite. about
832 835
The organizations of the Party and the communists should stand in the forefront of the struggle against manifestations of alien ideology
THE TRAGIC EVENTS IN CHILE A LESSON FOR THE REVOLUTIONARIES OF THE WHOLE WORLD (Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit) (October 2, 1973)
842
850
1974 OUR POLICY IS AN OPEN POLICY, THE POLICY OF P R O L E T A R I A N P R I N C I P L E S (From the speech at the meeting w i t h the electors of the T i r a n a No. 209 precinct) (October 3, 1974) WRITERS AND ARTISTS A R E ASSISTANTS OF T H E P A R T Y FOR THE COMMUNIST E D U C A T I O N OF O U R P E O P L E (Speech delivered at the meeting of the Secretariat of the CC of the P L A concerning the implementation to date of the tasks in literature and art set by the 4th P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A ) (December 20, 1974)
866
888
1975 CADRES MUST BE TRAINED IN THE SCHOOL OF T H E W O R K I N G C L A S S (From his contribution t o the discussion at the meeting of the party basic organization of w h i c h he is a member) (March 31, 1975)
918
CONTENTS LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE THE FRESH B R E E Z E O F O U R S O C I A L I S T D E M O C R A C Y (Speech delivered at the meeting of the Secretariat of the CC of the P L A ) (April 11, 1975) THE CONFERENCE OF THE INSECURITY OF EUR O P E (Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit) (July 29, 1975)
957
927
935

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PUBLISHED BY DECISION OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA

MARXIST-LENINIST CC OF THE PLA

FEBRUARY 1966 - JULY 1975

T H E 8 NNTORI P U B L I S H I N G HOUSE T I R A N A , 1982

INVIGORATION OF T H E LIFE OF THE PARTY - T H E MAIN PROBLEM

Orientations for the basic organizations of the Party

INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

discussed i n the m e e t i n g s o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the Party.

INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

nests to r a i s e t r u e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , as great schools to t e m per the m e m b e r s . F i r s t S e c r e t a r y o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a

T H E FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA AND THE LESSONS COMMUNISTS DRAW FROM IT

Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit

THE FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA

the organization of counter-revoluwhich the in Khrushwithin

consideration, must analyse them carefully a n d d r a w the w i l l advance s t e a d i l y f r o m v i c t o r y t o v i c t o r y .

THE FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA

THE FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA

THE FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA

THE FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA

THE FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA

THE FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA

THE FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA

Modern Revisionism 1965-1967

From a conversation with Zhou Enlai (1)

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

0.8 p e r cent 0.3 p e r cent

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL, CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIMES OF GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?

Article published in the newspaper Zri i popullit

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?