The International Character of the October Revolution

Stalin’s article on the 10th anniversary of the victory of the October Revolution. It was first published in Pravda issue No. 255, November 6-7, 1927. The Chinese translation is included in Vol. 10 of the Complete Works of Stalin.

This article expounds the influence of the October Revolution throughout the world.

Firstly, Stalin pointed out that the October Revolution differs from these revolutions in principle, since its aim was not to replace one group of exploiters by another group of exploiters, but to abolish all classes of exploiters, to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat, to establish the power of the most revolutionary class among all the oppressed classes that have ever existed, and to organize a new, classless, socialist society.

Next, Stalin pointed out that the October Revolution cannot be regarded merely as a revolution “within national bounds”, but as a revolution which influences the development of the revolutionary movement throughout the world: (1) The October Revolution have breached the imperialist world front, overthrew the imperialist bourgeoisie in one of the biggest capitalist countries of the world and elevated the socialist proletariat to power. The proletariat began to build the new, socialist order, and Soviet socialism made remarkable achievements in the construction front. There is a growing sympathy of the proletarians of all countries for the working class of the USS.R. (2) The October Revolution struck at the periphery of imperialism, and undermined the rule of imperialism in the colonial and dependent countries. The October Revolution has ushered in new era, the era of colonial revolutions which are carried out in the oppressed countries of the world in alliance with the proletariat and under the leadership of the proletariat. The revolutionary movement of the oppressed peoples in China, Indonesia, India, etc. are growing. (3) The October Revolution put in jeopardy the very existence of world capitalism as a whole. The October Revolution inflicted a mortal wound on world capitalism that would never recover. The October Revolution created a beacon which illumines path and opens up prospects for the oppressed classes. The legend of the indestructibility of the bourgeois order passed away. (4) The October Revolution is at the same time a revolution in the minds, and a victory of Marxism over reformism. One of the great significant aspects of the victory of the October Revolution was that it demonstrated that Leninism is bound to triumph over social democracy in the world workers’ movement.