Rev Left Radio [BEST OF] State and Revolution: Marx, Lenin, & the Dictatorship of the Proletariat
May 12, 2025
Alyson Escalante, a Marxist theorist and organizer from the Pacific Northwest, joins the discussion to dissect Lenin's pivotal work, State and Revolution. They delve into Lenin’s views on the state as a tool of class oppression and the urgent need to dismantle the bourgeois system. The conversation highlights the historical context of 1917, critiques social democracy, and emphasizes the relevance of Lenin's ideas for contemporary socialism. They also touch on the interplay of state power and revolution, advocating for new strategies to face today’s challenges, including ecological collapse.
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Capitalist State as Class Weapon
- The capitalist state functions as an organized force to maintain class domination and suppress the working majority.
- It stabilizes conflicts within the ruling class to prevent openings for proletarian uprisings.
Fascism as State's Auxiliary Force
- Fascist movements act as auxiliaries of state force, protecting capitalist interests against left-wing challenges.
- Fascists and police often collaborate openly to suppress workers' and oppressed peoples' movements.
Paris Commune: First Worker State
- The Paris Commune was the first concrete expression of proletarian power and dictatorship.
- It abolished bourgeois state privileges by making officials workers paid modest wages and revocable at any time.
