Lenin’s Theory of Socialist Construction

Lenin’s series of important thoughts on how to build according to the socialist principles after the economically and culturally backward countries have obtained the power of the proletariat.

After the victory of the October Revolution, after the Soviet regime concluded the peace treaty and had a chance to take breathe, Lenin put forward a plan for socialist construction in “On the Immediate Tasks of the Soviet Government”, from destroying the old system to building a new society. After the end of the civil war, Lenin shifted the focus of his work to economic recovery and construction and changed the wartime communism policy into the new economic policy. Lenin’s theory of socialist construction mainly included: Firstly, starting from Russia’s relatively backward actual conditions, building socialism. Lenin argued that the construction of socialism requires cultural civilization and developed productive forces, but countries with relatively backward economy and culture can follow another path, i.e., first seize political power by revolutionary means, and then catch up with the people of other countries on the basis of the workers’ and peasants’ political power and the Soviet system. He warned: “If you lag behind, you will be beaten”. Lenin stressed that we should learn to manage and build as soon as possible. After winning the bloody front, we should also win on the most arduous bloodless front.

Secondly, correctly handle the relationship between different economic components and classes in the transitional period. Lenin argued that in those countries with backward economy and culture and wherein small production is predominant, after the proletariat seizes power, there would inevitably be a variety of economic components and variety of economic operation modes. We should adhere to the socialist economic leadership, adhere to the dictatorship of the proletariat, make use of the commodity market to develop commodity production, so as to establish a strong socialist economic foundation.

Thirdly, we should develop social productive forces as soon as possible and establish advanced large-scale industries. Lenin argued that in order to create a high level of labor productivity, socialism must vigorously develop modern machinery industry, realize national industrialization and electrification, and establish a strong socialist material foundation for arming agriculture and consolidating national defense. While carrying out the unified national economic plan, we should pay attention to giving full play to the enthusiasm and initiative of local governments and learn and make use of all the valuable achievements of capitalism.

Fourthly, we should implement the cooperative system and guide the peasants to take the socialist road. Lenin argued that peasants are both laborers and private owners, the proletarian party must not expel and deprive the peasants like the exploiting class, but can only live in harmony with the peasants, persuade them to transform the small-scale peasant economy, take the road of collectivization and build a comprehensive socialism. In his article “Qn Cooperatives”, Lenin pointed out that when the state dominates all major means of production, the proletariat holds the state power and maintains the correct leadership of the working class over the peasants, the nature of the cooperative economy in the agricultural sector would be socialist, and the development of the cooperative movement would be equal to the development of socialism.

Fifthly, carry out cultural revolution and vigorously develop scientific culture. Lenin argued that illiterate people were outside politics and could not build a communist society in an illiterate country. The development of industry and agriculture, the growth of labor enthusiasm, and the participation of the masses in the management of the state require universal education and improvement of scientific and moral standards. Therefore, we must transform the old culture, build a new socialist culture, treat the old intellectuals and experts correctly, and train a new type of intellectuals. Lenin repeatedly stressed the importance of improving the cultural level of the residents. Only by realizing the cultural revolution can the Soviet state become a complete socialist country.

Sixthly, reform state organs and strengthen the self construction of the ruling party. Lenin argued that the party is the leading core of the dictatorship system of the proletariat, and the Soviet is the organ of political power. We must clearly divide the responsibilities of the Party (and its Central Committee) and the Soviet regime, and prevent the party and government from being separated and substituting the party for the government. The party should carry out its own decisions through the Soviet organs within the scope of the Soviet constitution and correctly handle the relationship among the party, the government and the law. To strengthen the construction of the ruling party, first of all, we should improve the Marxist level of the party itself and maintain the unity of the whole party; we will continue to eliminate the aspirants, conspirators and those who seek benefits from the party but are unwilling to work for the party; correctly handle the relationship among the masses, classes, political parties and leaders, earnestly implement the principles of democratic centralism and collective leadership, extensively implement socialist democracy and keep close ties with the masses; we should restructure the inspection institutes for workers and peasants, strengthen the supervision system of the party and the state, and vigorously oppose bureaucracy, corruption and bribery. Only in this way can we persist in socialist construction in the complicated class struggle at home and abroad, and smash the conspiracy of the imperialists “to turn the peaceful economic construction into the peaceful disintegration of the Soviet regime”.