[BEST OF] State and Revolution: Marx, Lenin, & the Dictatorship of the Proletariat
Apr 2, 2022
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Lenin's 'State and Revolution' is explored, focusing on his critique of liberal social contract theory. The Paris Commune and its significance in establishing worker power and challenging the state apparatus are discussed. The differences in proletarian dictatorship between the USSR and China are analyzed, along with the challenges faced by US revolutionaries. Strategies for confronting ecological collapse and the importance of unity between Marxists and anarchists are also explored.
The state is not a neutral entity but an instrument of class oppression, serving the interest of the capitalist class.
The Paris Commune demonstrated the smashing and annihilation of the capitalist state, paving the way for worker power.
Opportunists distort the revolutionary theory of state power, failing to recognize the need for the complete smashing of the capitalist state.
Deep dives
The Marxist view of the state
Marx, Engels, and Lenin argue that the state is a product of class antagonisms and a special organization of force. It is not a neutral entity, but rather an instrument of class oppression. The capitalist state functions to maintain the domination of the capitalist class over the working class and mediate conflicts within the ruling class itself. Opponents of Marx and Lenin often distort this view, suggesting that the state can reconcile class interests or serve as a neutral arbiter. However, Marxists argue that the state is inherently partisan and cannot be reformed from within to serve the interests of the working class.
The significance of the Paris Commune
The Paris Commune, the first proletarian revolution, holds great importance for Marx and Engels. It displayed the beginnings of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the establishment of worker power. The Commune abolished the old state machinery and built new forms of governance that eliminated the separation between the ruling class and the working class. Marx and Engels analyzed the Commune to understand the smashing and annihilation of the capitalist state, the suppression of the standing army, and the substitution of the armed people. The lessons learned from the Commune informed Marx and Engels' understanding of the proletarian revolution and the future withering away of the state.
Distortions of the Marxist view of the state by opportunists
Marx and Lenin criticize opportunists who distort the Marxist view of the state. Opportunists misrepresent the state as an entity that can reconcile class interests and exist above class struggle. They advocate for the state to serve as a neutral mediator, blurring the lines between capitalist and working-class interests. This distorts the revolutionary theory of state power and fails to recognize the state's function as an instrument of class domination. Opportunists also discount the need for the complete smashing and annihilation of the capitalist state, mistakenly believing that it can be transformed from within. Lenin argues that these distortions undermine the revolutionary potential of the working class.
Marx and Engels' analysis of the Paris Commune
Marx and Engels thoroughly analyzed the Paris Commune and its implications. They recognized that the Commune marked the emergence of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the construction of a socialist republic. The Commune rejected the traditional state machinery, establishing new forms of worker power. It abolished the standing army and substituted it with armed workers. Although the Commune faced challenges in suppressing the bourgeoisie and solidifying worker power, it demonstrated the potential for the withering away of the state as the majority of the people themselves suppress their oppressors. Marx and Engels viewed the Commune as a crucial milestone in understanding proletarian revolution and the transformation of the state.
Dictatorship of the Proletariat
The podcast discusses the concept of the dictatorship of the proletariat, emphasizing its importance in making a successful revolution and defending it. It explains that while revolutions can be achieved, defending them against reactionary forces is crucial. The podcast highlights key historical examples such as the Paris Commune and the October Revolution in Russia, where the ruling class unified to crush the socialist projects. The concept of the dictatorship of the proletariat is contrasted with the bourgeois state, emphasizing the need for proletarian control and administration to work in the interest of all classes.
Democracy and the State
The podcast explores Lenin's understanding of democracy and its relation to the state. It highlights Lenin's view that democracy is an expression of the state, reflecting the interests of the majority against the interests of the minority. The podcast argues that under the dictatorship of the proletariat, true democracy is achieved as the state represents the interests of the workers and oppressed classes, actively suppressing the remaining capitalist minority. However, the podcast also notes Lenin's belief in the eventual withering away of both the state and democracy, as the class antagonisms are resolved and freedom is attained.
Alyson Escalante joins Breht to discuss Lenin's major work of political theory, State and Revolution. Here is a previous show we here at Rev Left did specifically on the Paris Commune entitled "The Paris Commune: A Brief Blossoming of Proletarian Power", for anyone interested in taking a deeper dive: https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/the-paris-commune-a-brief-blossoming-of-proletarian-power
