engels’ reinterpretation revisionism (bernstein) – evolutionary theory lenin’s...

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Engels’ reinterpretation Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory of imperialism Stalin’s reinterpretation of Marxism-Leninism Mao Zedong’s reinterpretation of Marxism-Leninism

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Page 1: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Engels’ reinterpretation Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary

theory Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard

party,” critique of revisionism, theory of imperialism

Stalin’s reinterpretation of Marxism-Leninism

Mao Zedong’s reinterpretation of Marxism-Leninism

Page 2: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Marx dies (1883), Engels chief spokesman for Marxist theory

Simplifies, recasts as “deterministic” and “materialist” Marx’ emphasis = choices and options;

Engels’ = necessity and inevitability Marx = social foundation for material

production and social change (“materialist conception of history”); Engels = older, outmoded philosophical “materialism,” reducing social, economic phenomena to “matter in motion”

Page 3: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Revisionist Marxists revise, update Marxist theory Revolution politically unnecessary, morally

undesirable Working class not immiserated Power of labor unions, socialist parties

workers better off economically, politically Peaceful political and economic evolution of

capitalism socialism morally preferable “Evolutionary” Marxism becomes

dominant in German socialist circles

Page 4: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

A.k.a., Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov Russia unripe for revolution

Workers = agricultural, suspicious, superstitious, religious

“Vanguard” party educate, enlighten workers about real, true class interests Small, tightly knit organization Secretive and conspiratorial

“Democratic centralism” organizing principle Members free to discuss and disagree until

decision made and agreed to Party of bourgeois intellectuals knowledge and

acumen to inform, educate workers

Page 5: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Lenin’s, Imperialism (1916) WWI, workers (England and Germany)

volunteer to fight each other rather joining to fight ruling bourgeoisie

Workers in advanced capitalist countries share in “super-profits” generated by imperialism (Africa, Latin America, Asia)

Capitalists pay higher wages, raise living standards of workers, put off immiseration

Not Bernstein’s “evolution” WWI = war among capitalist countries

for larger share of super-profits from imperialism

Page 6: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Russia enters war against Germany March 1917, riots break out Tsar Nicholas orders troops to put down

revolt, they refuse Tsar steps down, replaced by coalition

government Lenin leaves exile in Switzerland Rallies Bolshevik forces to topple

provisional government of non-Bolshevik socialist Alexander Kerensky (October 1917)

Page 7: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Lenin premier; Russia withdraws from war “War communism” -- Bolshevik government seizes

mines, mills, farms, and factories; gives land, bread to peasants

Wealthy landowners “White” counterrevolution against “Reds”

Brief civil war takes heavy toll, Reds victorious Lenin (1921) institutes New Economic Policy (NEP)

Peasants allowed to farm own land and sell produce for profit

Secret police (Cheka) formed to root out dissidents, potential counterrevolutionaries

Page 8: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Lenin dies (1924) Joseph Stalin powerConsolidates hold over party (1929)Mid-1930s, lays groundwork for

purge trials (late 1930s), imprisonment , death of leading Bolsheviks, millions of ordinary Soviet citizens

Page 9: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Party (like working class) likely to suffer “false consciousness” Must be led by all-knowing, all-powerful,

infallible genius (guess who?) “Socialism in one country”

Socialism must be consolidated in Soviet Union before being spread elsewhere

Communist parties elsewhere subservient to Soviet Communist Party; national Soviet hegemony

“Scientific socialist” theory of “dialectical materialism” Crude, reductionist; inspired by Engels

Page 10: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Mao attracted to Lenin’s views China economically underdeveloped

primarily agricultural; mostly peasants, few industrial workers; lacked sizable proletariat

Vanguard party could lead successful revolution against ruling class

Adapted Lenin’s arguments to Chinese conditions

Provided ideological justification for Chinese Revolution and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) (1949)

Page 11: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Bypasses urban proletariat, taps reservoir of resentment among peasants

Downplays “objective,” “material” conditions, stresses importance of revolutionary “consciousness” or “will”

Class covers economic and social strata within China and between nations U.S. = bourgeois, China = proletarian China and other proletarian nations surround

bourgeois nations Cut off from resources, cheap labor, vast

markets, and super-profits in “proletarian” (“Third World,” developing, Global South) countries, bourgeois nations capitulate

Page 12: Engels’ reinterpretation  Revisionism (Bernstein) – evolutionary theory  Lenin’s reinterpretation, “vanguard party,” critique of revisionism, theory

Anarcho-communists Criticize Marx’s revolutionary seizure of state

power State ought to be abolished; oppressive State power in hands of communists corrupts

them, making them new, more oppressive masters

Examples: Bakunin and Kropotkin Fabian Society (G.B.)

Eschewed revolution altogether, favored peaceful parliamentary path to socialism

View taken by most American socialists (Edward Bellamy Michael Harrington)