Revisionism: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Nikita Khrushchev 1962.jpg|thumb|Image of [[Nikta Khruschev|Nikita Khrushchev]], a major [[Soviet revisionism|revisionist]] figure.]] | [[File:Nikita Khrushchev 1962.jpg|thumb|Image of [[Nikta Khruschev|Nikita Khrushchev]], a major [[Soviet revisionism|revisionist]] figure.]] | ||
'''Revisionism''' refers to the introduction of bourgeois and anti-[[Marxism|Marxist]] ideas into the revolutionary movement and corruption of its principles in favor of [[Capitalism|capitalist]], [[chauvinist]], [[Reformism|reformist]], and other [[Opportunism|opportunist]] ideas, often with the aim of liquidating [[Proletariat|working class]] organizations, parties, and [[socialist states]].<ref>Vladimir Lenin (1908). [https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1908/apr/03.htm ''Marxism and Revisionism'']. From the Marxists Internet Archive.</ref> Examples of past and present revisionist trends include [[Kautskyism]], [[Browderism]], [[left-communism]], [[Khrushchevism]], [[Maoism]], and [[Dengism]]. [[Marxist–Leninist]] opposition to revisionism is known as [[anti-revisionism]]. | '''Revisionism''' refers to the introduction of bourgeois and anti-[[Marxism|Marxist]] ideas into the revolutionary movement and corruption of its principles in favor of [[Capitalism|capitalist]], [[chauvinist]], [[Reformism|reformist]], and other [[Opportunism|opportunist]] ideas, often with the aim of liquidating [[Proletariat|working class]] organizations, parties, and [[socialist states]].<ref>Vladimir Lenin (1908). [https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1908/apr/03.htm ''Marxism and Revisionism'']. From the Marxists Internet Archive.</ref> Examples of past and present revisionist trends include [[Kautskyism]], [[Browderism]], [[left-communism]], [[Khrushchevism]], [[Maoism]], [[Hoxhaism]], and [[Dengism]]. [[Marxist–Leninist]] opposition to revisionism is known as [[anti-revisionism]]. | ||
Revisionism takes on many manifestations based upon the condition of the revolutionary movement. Revisionists commonly seek to make core Marxist theory superfluous by erroneously claiming it is obsolete relative to modern conditions, or they may make deviations under the guise of applying theory to local circumstances (e.g. [[Socialism with Chinese Characteristics]] or [[Juche]]). Regardless of what form revisionism takes, it always serves the interests of the [[bourgeoisie]] and is a tool on their side against the [[proletariat]] in [[class struggle]]. | Revisionism takes on many manifestations based upon the condition of the revolutionary movement. Revisionists commonly seek to make core Marxist theory superfluous by erroneously claiming it is obsolete relative to modern conditions, or they may make deviations under the guise of applying theory to local circumstances (e.g. [[Socialism with Chinese Characteristics]] or [[Juche]]). Regardless of what form revisionism takes, it always serves the interests of the [[bourgeoisie]] and is a tool on their side against the [[proletariat]] in [[class struggle]]. | ||
== Characteristics == | == Characteristics == | ||
<blockquote>" | <blockquote>"The dialectics of history were such that the theoretical victory of Marxism compelled its enemies to ''disguise themselves'' as Marxists." – [[Vladimir Lenin]], ''[https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1913/mar/01.htm The Historical Destiny of the Doctrine of Karl Marx]'' </blockquote> <!-- Replace with another quote from a Marxist classic if you would like --> | ||
=== Rejection of class struggle === | === Rejection of class struggle === | ||
{{See also|Class collaboration}} | {{See also|Class collaboration}} | ||
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=== Deviations from socialist construction === | === Deviations from socialist construction === | ||
Many revisionists ideologues and states such as the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1956–1991)|revisionist Soviet Union]] and [[People's Republic of China]] have concocted various justifications for their restoration of capitalism and deviation from the construction of socialism. One of which is the "[[theory of the productive forces]]," which asserts that the primary factor for the transition to socialism from capitalism is the degree of the development of the productive forces, with little reference to class struggle or social revolution. In China, such train of thought was used to justify the so-called "[[reform and opening-up]]." Similar events took place in other revisionist countries, such as [[Đổi Mới|Đổi Mới reforms]] in [[Vietnam]] and the [[New Economic Mechanism]] in [[Laos]]. | Many revisionists ideologues and states such as the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1956–1991)|revisionist Soviet Union]] and [[People's Republic of China]] have concocted various justifications for their restoration of capitalism and deviation from the construction of socialism. One of which is the "[[theory of the productive forces]]," which asserts that the primary factor for the transition to socialism from capitalism is the degree of the development of the productive forces, with little reference to class struggle or social revolution. In China, such train of thought was used to justify the so-called "[[reform and opening-up]]." Similar events took place in other revisionist countries, such as [[Đổi Mới|Đổi Mới reforms]] in [[Vietnam]] and the [[New Economic Mechanism]] in [[Laos]]. | ||
<!-- === Dogmato-revisionism === | <!-- === Dogmato-revisionism === | ||
{{Main|Dogmatism}} | {{Main|Dogmatism}} | ||
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=== Notes === | === Notes === | ||
{{Notelist}} | {{Notelist}} | ||
[[Category:Revisionism]] | [[index.php?title=Category:Revisionism]] | ||
Revision as of 09:23, 12 August 2024
Revisionism refers to the introduction of bourgeois and anti-Marxist ideas into the revolutionary movement and corruption of its principles in favor of capitalist, chauvinist, reformist, and other opportunist ideas, often with the aim of liquidating working class organizations, parties, and socialist states.[1] Examples of past and present revisionist trends include Kautskyism, Browderism, left-communism, Khrushchevism, Maoism, Hoxhaism, and Dengism. Marxist–Leninist opposition to revisionism is known as anti-revisionism.
Revisionism takes on many manifestations based upon the condition of the revolutionary movement. Revisionists commonly seek to make core Marxist theory superfluous by erroneously claiming it is obsolete relative to modern conditions, or they may make deviations under the guise of applying theory to local circumstances (e.g. Socialism with Chinese Characteristics or Juche). Regardless of what form revisionism takes, it always serves the interests of the bourgeoisie and is a tool on their side against the proletariat in class struggle.
Characteristics
"The dialectics of history were such that the theoretical victory of Marxism compelled its enemies to disguise themselves as Marxists." – Vladimir Lenin, The Historical Destiny of the Doctrine of Karl Marx
Rejection of class struggle
Revisionists have often undermined and rejected and nature of class struggle as an inherent aspect of the capitalist system and lower stage of socialism,[a] or suggest that the class struggle between the bourgeoisie and proletariat can be ultimately resolved with a class truce, peace, and collaboration instead of expropriation of the capitalists. The revisionist have often employed nationalism to support these stances in favor of class collaboration.[2] For instance, Chinese revisionist Mao Zedong stated:[3]
“The contradiction between the national bourgeoisie and the working class is one between exploiter and exploited, and is by nature antagonistic. But in the concrete conditions of China, this antagonistic contradiction between the two classes, if properly handled, can be transformed into a non-antagonistic one and be resolved by peaceful methods. However, the contradiction between the working class and the national bourgeoisie will change into a contradiction between ourselves and the enemy if we do not handle it properly and do not follow the policy of uniting with, criticizing and educating the national bourgeoisie, or if the national bourgeoisie does not accept this policy of ours.” [Emphasis added]
Other instances of this include Nikita Khrushchev's concepts of "peaceful co-existence" and the "peaceful transition to socialism," which omitted the inherent antagonisms between socialist and imperialist states and propagated reformist, counter-revolutionary stances.[4]
Denial of the role of the proletariat and vanguard party
Revisionists have denied the leading role of the proletariat in the struggle for socialism and the need for a working class vanguard party and dictatorship of the proletariat. They have sought to strip from the proletariat its political and organizational independence and to make it subservient to capitalist interests. An example of this would include Earl Browder's liquidation of the Communist Party of the United States and its replacement with the Communist Political Association in 1944.[2] On a wider basis, this also includes Nikita Khrushchev's dissolution of the Soviet proletarian dictatorship and its replacement by the so-called "socialist state of the whole people" as well as Mao Zedong's concept of "new democracy," both of which denied the role of leadership to the proletariat and instead empowered the bourgeoisie.[5]
Deviations from socialist construction
Many revisionists ideologues and states such as the revisionist Soviet Union and People's Republic of China have concocted various justifications for their restoration of capitalism and deviation from the construction of socialism. One of which is the "theory of the productive forces," which asserts that the primary factor for the transition to socialism from capitalism is the degree of the development of the productive forces, with little reference to class struggle or social revolution. In China, such train of thought was used to justify the so-called "reform and opening-up." Similar events took place in other revisionist countries, such as Đổi Mới reforms in Vietnam and the New Economic Mechanism in Laos.
See also
References
- ↑ Vladimir Lenin (1908). Marxism and Revisionism. From the Marxists Internet Archive.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 William Z. Foster et al. (1946). Marxism–Leninism vs. Revisionism. Available on the Marxists Internet Archive.
- ↑ Mao Zedong (1957). On The Correct Handling of Contradictions Among The People. Available on the Marxists Internet Archive.
- ↑ Nikita Khrushchev (1961). On Peaceful Co-Existence: A Collection. Moscow Foreign Languages Publishing House. Available on the Internet Archive.
- ↑ Jim Washington (1979). Socialism Cannot be Built in Alliance with the Bourgeoisie. November 8th Publishing House.