24th Plenary of the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organisations (ICMLPO)
Mexico, November 2018
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Marxism-Leninism expressly affirms the necessity for the communist party as the organiser and leader of the revolutionary struggle of the working class for socialism; historical experience and the great struggles of the proletariat confirm the validity of this thesis.
The struggle of the working class for emancipation has a long history. Since the 19th century, the trade union struggle of the workers in Europe went beyond economic demands, took on a political character and moved towards a struggle for power; the understanding developed that they were the leaders and the protagonist of social revolution.
These events were the result of a process that put forward the struggle for the immediate objectives, for the reduction of the working day, for stability and wage improvements, against the exploitation and oppression of the employers, for labour rights and social reforms. At the same time, Marxism emerged and unified with the workers’ movement. There were intense battles in which the ideological and political elements of the union organisation were developed, of the unity of the workers from lower levels to the national level and further on to an international level, to the integration and practice of internationalism. There was the ideological and political confrontation, the unrelenting debate between the positions of scientific socialism and the anarchist theses and proposals, between Marxism and the opportunist positions. The development of the labour movement itself, its struggles and perspectives, contributed to the establishment of the principles of scientific socialism, of Marxism.
The revolutions that triumphed in the 20th century were possible due to the existence of an independent political party of the proletariat, a party equipped and guided by Marxism-Leninism. Such a party had the ability to develop a programme and draw up proposals, lines of action and slogans that genuinely represent the immediate and strategic interests of the working class, that had the willingness and wisdom to face the changing conditions in which the revolutionary process unfolds. Such a party is closely linked to the working masses and the whole of the labouring masses, it is a party with iron discipline, with a single leadership and a single will to action, which has a central, capable and decisive leadership, a battle-hardened and courageous party that knows how to face the class enemy in all circumstances.
The October Revolution was the first and greatest experience of the workers; it was able to develop and win victory under complex and harsh conditions, precisely due to the existence of the Bolshevik Party, to the theoretical and practical work of Lenin and Stalin, to the heroic struggle of millions of workers, peasant and soldiers. Counting on the guidance of the Party it was able to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat and begin and develop at significant levels the building of a new world, socialism.
The Albanian Revolution was possible due to the existence of the Communist Party, which placed itself at the head of the aspirations for freedom and democracy of the working class and people; it led the struggle against the Nazi and Italian occupiers and the reactionary classes; it led the struggle to victory and guided it along the road of the construction of socialism.
The other revolutions that took place in the 20th century were also an expression of the existence and struggle of workers and people guided by the communist party.
Various revolutionary processes that took place could not achieve victory, due fundamentally to the weaknesses of the communist party.
The struggle for national liberation that developed in a large number of colonial and dependent countries that achieved victory could not lead to full independence much less to socialism, because the party of the working class did not exist or was small and weak and did not have the ability to lead those processes.
The revolutionary party of the working class adheres to and is guided by the revolutionary principles of Marxism-Leninism.
The communist party is the independent political party of the working class; it represents its immediate and strategic interests, it is its conscious vanguard; since its final purposes are the abolition of all forms of social inequality, the elimination of social classes and the State, the communist party fights for the emancipation of all humanity.
The political party of the working class takes up the doctrine of the working class, Marxism-Leninism, as its ideology and politics, as its philosophical conception, as its economic and social program.
Marxism-Leninism arose as a consequence of dialectical materialist philosophy, political economy and historical materialism, of the scientific analysis of the nature of capitalism and its laws of development, of the determination of the historic mission of the working class and the theoretical abstraction of the struggle and organisation of that class.
Its creators were immersed in the organisation and struggle of the workers, in the ranks of the International Workers Association, they were trade union fighters and leaders, and organisers of the communist party. They developed the science of the revolution; this science has been and is being proven in social practice, in the struggle of the working class of each country and on an international scale, in the victory of the October Revolution and of the other socialist and national liberation revolutions. It is the revolutionary thought, the most advanced political doctrine developed by humanity throughout its extensive historical journey; its revolutionary principles have universal validity, they are relevant in all countries; of course, their application takes into account the concrete situation. Marxism-Leninism is a living, developing doctrine; each of the victorious revolutions contributed to its development; the various fights of the working class and the work of the communists in all countries are a contribution to that advance.
Marxism-Leninism is not a dogma, it is a guide to action; it is a philosophy to interpret the world and fundamentally to transform it.
The communist and workers’ parties arose under the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, in open struggle for its validity and development, in opposition to the opportunist and conciliatory positions that always threatened them. They are struggling for their orientation, they strive to apply it with initiative and boldness in the concrete situations of their countries, in the social and political dynamic, in the changing circumstances that take place at the national and international level, to defend this scientific ideology; they will persist in their principles of Marxism-Leninism, in the social and political struggle to carry the revolution through to the end.
The central objective of the party is the seizure of power by the working class
The policy, programmatic proposals, platforms and slogans are inscribed in this direction. The struggle for power is waged every day, in the concrete terrain of the society, in the heat of the class struggle.
The class struggle develops independently of the will of individuals, of the political parties. It is expressed in the confrontation between the workers and employers, between the labouring classes and the bourgeoisie, between the peoples and imperialism. Under certain conditions the class struggle becomes acute, of great magnitude; it involves the working class, the other labouring people and the peoples on the one hand, and the upper classes on the other, and it could lead to a political crisis. At other times this confrontation is of less intensity, it is carried out in isolated and scattered social struggles. At certain times it even seems that things are calm, that there is social peace. In any case, the class struggle does not disappear; it has different connotations, forms and levels.
Essentially the class struggle exists as the economic struggle, political struggle and ideological struggle. These are manifestations that do not occur in a compartmentalized way, they cannot be separated artificially from one another.
The economic struggle. The leading role of the party of the proletariat expresses itself in a specific way leading the organisation and fights of the working class, the peoples and the youth in the struggle for their immediate economic interests, using them as a lever to get to the real causes of the situation of the working masses, to identify their immediate enemies as well as the holders of power, to educate them politically and to point out the road to power.
The political struggle. The communists are intentionally involved in the struggle for power that develops daily within society. They take sides for the cause of the working people, the poor, the exploited and oppressed; they confront the established institutions, against the anti-worker laws, in opposition to authoritarianism and repression, against the abuses of the judges, the police and armed forces. Together with the rejection of the policies of the capitalists, they put forward programmatic proposals, proclamations, paths and slogans that allow them to promote the policy of the working class, to position it among the labouring people, among the peoples and youth, but also among the whole of society.
Essentially this is the revolutionary policy of the party of the proletariat; it is expressed every day, in all circumstances and places. Obviously, in capitalist society, at certain moments, the political struggle for power, the confrontation to settle positions among different sectors of the ruling classes, intensifies. In general, these moments are resolved through elections under representative democracy. As a consequence of the sharpening of the contradictions between the exploited and exploiters, between the oppressed and oppressors, among the various groups of the ruling classes, political crises take place. These events involve the whole of society, all social classes and sectors of classes. Objectively, no one stands outside of them.
In all these events the Marxist-Leninist parties have been participating with their own positions, from the interests of the working class and peoples, from the positions of the oppressed peoples and nations.
The communist parties are clear about the need to politically educate the labouring masses, to show the class character of the government in office, to point out the historical mission of the working class, its responsibility to lead the struggle of all the workers and peoples, the perspective of the revolution and socialism, the necessity and possibility of the seizure of popular power.
These responsibilities are taken up by the parties of the working class with determination and boldness.
The ideological struggle. In capitalist society, there are objective reasons for the ideological struggle, which develops independently of the will of individuals; it expresses the confrontation of the interests of the antagonistic social classes, the working class and the bourgeoisie. It is waged between the objectives of the capitalists to preserve, protect, defend and increase their perks and privileges, and the proposals of the workers to defend their interests, for the winning of their rights, for the determination to change the established order, to overthrow the employers and to establish themselves as the ruling classes.
The capitalist class, like the ruling classes of the past, ascended to power and work daily to maintain and perpetuate itself in power. The power of the bourgeoisie is based on force, on the role of the police and the armed forces; it defends itself with reactionary coercion and violence. However, in order to maintain and develop its power, the class of capitalists essentially works for the legitimization of its domination.
The bourgeoisie justified its rise to power, its use of violence and terror by raising the banners of “freedom, equality and fraternity,” proclaiming the freedom of the serfs, the emancipation of the slaves. It drew up legislation that proclaims equality before the law, the law of universal suffrage, the alternation in office in the exercise of government, the existence and relevance of parliament, of representative democracy. In the stage of imperialism it declares itself the guardian of peace, freedom and democracy, and proclaims its willingness to intervene in any country where these principles are violated. According to these assumptions and all the advances that are evident in relation to time and events, the world is reaching the highest levels of development, of democracy and peace thanks to individual freedom, competition and free trade. The workers are part of this society, they take part in this democracy, they must be the leading forces of the incessant development and beneficiaries of that which corresponds to them, the wages to subsist and reproduce themselves.
With the advent of capitalism the industrial working class arose, the proletariat that creates the wealth, the transformation of the resources of nature into commodities, into material goods that make possible life and its unceasing development. The wealth produced by the workers is expropriated by the owners of private property of the means of production, by the capitalist class, turning them into wage slaves.
This situation places the main classes of capitalist society at opposite poles: the working class and the bourgeoisie.
The bourgeoisie, when it overthrew feudalism, established a new, revolutionary world; it gave a great impetus to science, technique and technology, it constantly revolutionized the instruments of production creating great amounts and also a great concentration of wealth. This new world was built on the foundations of the exploitation of the wage labour of thousands of millions of human beings, on social and political oppression, on the plunder of the natural resources of all countries. It was corrupt from its beginnings with the reasons for its aging and disappearance. That new world is now an old world, decaying and rotten.
By establishing itself on the basis of the exploitation and oppression of millions of human beings, it became a colossus with feet of clay, weak and vulnerable. As it grew it transformed the former serfs into “free” workers, it multiplied them numerically and expanded them throughout the earth, it placed them in direct relation to the advances of science and technology, it made them social subjects who were acquiring consciousness of their role in order to become gravediggers of the world of capital, the forgers of a new world, the workers’ society, socialism.
The bourgeoisie and the proletariat are opposites in capitalist society. They are in constant struggle to have the dominant role. For the time being, the capitalists are in power but the workers are struggling to overthrow them, to bring them down and become the new ruling class. This struggle will continue until finally the proletariat will definitively win out and create the material and psychological conditions for the elimination of social classes, including its own disappearance as a class, for the arrival of communism.
The ideological struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie exists in all circumstances; it is present in the various periods of the class struggle. It is expressed in the struggle of the revolutionary new against the reactionary and obsolete old; between the revolutionary traditions and the new proposals of the bourgeoisie, post-modernism and the theses that deny historical materialism, the existence of social classes, the role of the social classes; between “individual freedom,” selfishness and egoism against collective interests and solidarity; between bourgeois democracy that justifies the oppression of the working masses and the repression of trade unionists and revolutionaries; and proletarian democracy, the right to speak, decide and carry out the great achievements to benefit the great majority, direct democracy, the democracy of the masses; between representative democracy and revolutionary democracy that will take up the great achievements of socialism.
The communist party is the consistent standard bearer of the great ideals of the proletariat. It participates decisively in this ideological struggle, unfurling the principles of the revolution and socialism, popular power and the dictatorship of the proletariat.
The struggle for power. Of all the forms of the class struggle, the political struggle is the main one, it is the one that leads to the seizure of power, which allows all the achievements that the workers and peoples need and want to be concretized for their benefit.
The communist party makes the political struggle primary, it develops the economic struggle on a daily basis, it engages in the ideological struggle, it directs its main activities to the struggle for the seizure of power, it works to incorporate in that direction the workers and peasants, the progressive intellectuals, the oppressed peoples and nations. It works incessantly to build the popular front, the revolutionary united front, to isolate the class enemy, the big bourgeoisie and imperialism, to accumulate powerful revolutionary forces that will lead to the final battles to overthrow the power of the national and foreign capitalists, to establish power popular. It raises the banners of emancipation: the red banner of the workers, of the revolution and socialism, the banners of the national liberation of the dependent countries.
In opposition to the bourgeois dictatorship we communists fight for the dictatorship of the proletariat
From its dawn, society divided into classes established the State as an expression of the institutions, as an instrument for the exercise of power, to subordinate and exploit the labouring classes and social sectors.
The capitalist State does not escape these conceptions; it is the instrument of the capitalist class and imperialism for the exercise of their economic power, for safeguarding, preserving and developing their interests. It is organised for the subordination of the working class and the other labouring classes; it becomes the guarantee for the perpetuation of their domination. The bourgeois State, regardless of its form, regardless of the level of social and political gains achieved by the workers and peoples, despite formal declarations, constitutional dogmas and laws in force, is an expression of the rule of the employers, the dictatorship of the capitalist class that proclaims freedom and democracy for the powerful, and institutionalizes exploitation, subordination and oppression for the workers.
Representative democracy, military dictatorship, fascism, authoritarian governments or reformist regimes are forms of the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, expressions of the supremacy of the privileges for a few and exploitation, poverty and oppression for the vast majority.
The working class and its party cannot not take over the bourgeois State and carry out their class aims with their content and purposes. They must destroy the state machinery established by the exploiters and, on its foundations, raise up the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, Popular Power, the Workers’ State that will take various forms, according to the concrete historical circumstances.
The dictatorship of the proletariat will always be the expression of the broadest democracy for the workers, and dictatorship over the capitalists and other reactionaries.
Historical experience shows various forms of the dictatorship of the proletariat, and in the future the workers and peoples will undoubtedly find the most effective forms to exercise the power of the proletariat and the other labouring classes over the former exploiters, over the forms of capital inside the country and to defend themselves from the threats of reaction and counterrevolution at the national and international level.
The driving forces of the revolution
The revolutionary party of the proletariat can and must fulfil its historic mission of organising and making the revolution to the degree that it permanently forges and nourishes its links with the working masses, the peoples and youth; in so far as it takes up, in actuality, the organisation and leadership of the working class and works for the leadership of the latter among the whole labouring classes and youth.
The linking of the party with the masses seeks to ensure that the programmatic proposals, policies and revolutionary slogans are understood and accepted by the advanced sectors of the working class, the other labouring classes, the youth and women. The great majority of the masses will be convinced of the need and correctness of the revolution with the achievements of socialism, an issue that can only be carried out from power.
The working class, the other sectors of the labouring classes, the women and youth can and should be involved in revolutionary work, in their advanced sectors, through the promotion of the theses and programme of the party, of the party’s ability to persuade them of the necessity, justice and viability of the revolution. They will affirm themselves in these ideas through social practice, in mobilizations and strikes, in land seizures and uprisings.
Other sectors of the masses will join in the course of the struggle; they will join their contingent, convinced of the correctness and strength of the revolutionary forces. And a good part of the masses will be won by the achievements of the revolution.
This means that the party of the proletariat must persist in its work of winning the masses for the revolutionary struggle, it must pay attention to the advanced sectors of the working class, the peoples, youth and women.
The Communist Party must focus its propaganda and agitation on the entire working class but clearly this work must be concentrated on the sections of workers employed in strategic areas of the economy, in large industrial enterprises, and on public sector workers. The Party must analyse, under concrete conditions, on which sections of the working class it should devote its attention and activity.
In its work to organise the working class and win it over to revolution and socialism, the party must directly engage in class struggle and trade union struggle, politically educate the working class, but above all, develop its own organisations and establish workplace units with workers who have distinguished themselves in political and trade union struggles. To the extent that the party organises itself in factories and workplaces, mines and the transport sector, the goal of the working class leading the revolution and assuming the role of the ruling class in society will be guaranteed.
In the great majority of countries dependent on imperialist domination, especially those where forms of pre-capitalist modes of production persist, where the development of the productive forces is slow, deformed by the international division of labour imposed by the monopolies and the imperialist countries, the peasantry, and within it a good part of the poor and middle peasants, are open to being incorporated into the revolutionary process. Therefore they deserve the attention of the party of the proletariat; together with them the worker-peasant alliance must be forged as the fundamental base of the revolutionary united front.
Among the public workers in many countries, the teachers are joining the struggle for their rights and thus confronting the bourgeois government, the capitalist class. They form part of the decisive sectors of the masses; they must be led by the revolutionary positions, by the party of the working class and projected to the struggle for power, for the revolution and socialism.
Half of the population, of the members of the labouring classes are women, they suffer multiplied oppression and capitalist explosion, they are victims of the backward and reactionary ideas nurtured by feudalism; they are taking up the struggle for their rights and social liberation in different ways. The party of the proletariat must actively integrate itself with these aspirations, mobilizations and struggles; to work for the organisation of working women, for their political education, for incorporating them into the organisation and the revolutionary struggle for socialism.
Young people from the working classes, wage earners in companies, and youth of the peasantry form a dynamic social segment and are open to quickly embracing the ideals of revolution and socialism. The proletarian party must take on the responsibility of organising and leading the struggle of high school students and university youth. These segments have played and continue to play an important role in society; their ability to take action can be combined with the revolutionary process. A significant portion of them occasionally lead rising struggles, and the most courageous and advanced among them can and should become members of the communist party. The proletarian party must strive to strengthen its ranks with young fighters from the student sector, alongside young workers and peasants.
In dependent countries, a patriotic and anti-imperialist movement is developing, comprising workers, youth, radicalised sections of the petty bourgeoisie, democratic sections of the bourgeoisie, oppressed peoples and nations. The bourgeoisie and petty bourgeoisie are attempting to lead this movement with nationalist proposals. The proletarian party must counter this with revolutionary proposals and actions. Only the communist party can steer this process towards national and social liberation.
The party of the proletariat must concentrate its forces to win the masses, to assert itself and grow, but it is necessary to go a little further, to specify who among those actors can advance faster, who with their own actions can and should create social and political reference points and at specific moments can play a determining role in the course of the revolution. To find them and work in a sustained manner to get them to know the party’s policy, to contribute to their social and union organisation, to build the Party and its forces among their most outstanding members; this will allow us to accumulate revolutionary forces, to build the revolutionary movement of the masses.
The vanguard role of the communist party
The Party must recognize itself as the vanguard; it must be so in fact. This is not a simple matter, much less an attribute that can be decreed. The Party is the vanguard because it represents, in theory and in practice, the genuine interests of the working class and that is the social class able to lead the other labouring classes in their struggle for their emancipation from capitalism. The role of vanguard is won because it is historically correct analysis and has a revolutionary Political Line, but above all because it devotes its thought and activity to the revolutionary struggle, to the persevering work of organising the workers, of uniting them, educating them politically and leading them in the small and large battles for their immediate demands and for their liberation. Under these circumstances the party is the leader, and that is a collective attribute of the organisation.
The Party must disseminate its proposals: what it is and what it proposes for today and tomorrow, for the new society. If the advanced sectors of the working masses and the youth know the policy of the party, if they are persuaded of its correctness, timeliness and viability, they will understand it, make it their own and decide to fight for its implementation and convert it into deeds in a great force for the work of the party among the whole of the masses. If we work to spread the revolutionary strategy, the necessity and probability of seizing power, the role of revolutionary violence for that end, socialism, its nature and its achievements, the workers, peoples and youth will transform themselves into leaders in the struggle for change, for the revolution, for people’s power and socialism. The strategy and tactics of the party, in fact, become a point of reference for the masses; they show the party’s vanguard role, the leadership of its policies.
In order to implement these proposals, the Party must continuously develop its propaganda work and understand that its fundamental activity in this area is the direct action of its members among the masses. In addition, the social forces, trade unions and other mass organisations led by communists must carry out their own propaganda work, which should be directed at their own specific segments as well as the whole society. The most effective way to spread revolutionary ideas and proposals is through the actions of the party and its forces; their importance to society lies in the struggle in which proletarian revolutionaries participate. Therefore, it is of great importance for the party to show its face and its leading role.
The revolutionaries, comrades and members must win the confidence of the masses, must take up with responsibility the leadership of the struggle in its various levels and circumstances. The struggle itself emphasizes the “special” people, those who have the basic conditions to take up the role of “leaders.” The communists and other revolutionaries must fully assume that their role is shown in their ability to bring together, unite, organise and lead the masses in their daily struggles. This activity is the test for the great revolutionary battles that will develop and in which each member must fulfil his/her role.
The personal leadership of communist leaders among the masses and their struggles does not come by decree, by the fact that they are communist militants or from the social forces involved in the revolution. No, that leadership must be won! In order to achieve this, it is necessary to want to do so and actually do it. Marxist-Leninist revolutionaries are able to see beyond the immediate circumstances; they see the causes, contradictions and perspectives. These analyses let them explain, persuade and convince the masses of the correctness of their proposals; they enable them to point out the way and the paths, to identify the goals of the struggle and how to provide the forces for combat. They make it possible for the various social sectors in which the communists are active to accept the party’s policy, to have confidence in the work, ability and courage of each one of its members and to fight for the party’s policy under its leadership.
In this way we communists will earn the honourable title of people’s leaders, which means mainly the assumption of new responsibilities that must be fulfilled in an upward spiral, towards new and higher tasks.
The leaders of the trade unions and associations, of the peasantry, of the youth and women, of the peoples must affirm themselves in their social environment; they must continually develop their ideological and political convictions and their cultural level. If they gain experience and prestige as leaders of their social sector they have a better possibility of projecting themselves within the political activity, to revolutionary action. Beginning as local leaders they must project themselves to general and national struggles, from their position as social leaders they must advance to the level of revolutionary leaders. In this field the Marxist-Leninist parties have significant experiences that need to be generalized.
In defence of Marxism-Leninism, in confrontation with reaction and opportunism
The party of the working class actively participates in the struggle of ideas that develops every day and in the most varied circumstances.
The bourgeoisie through its ideologues seeks to legitimize its rule before society as a whole, using the most varied means: religions, schools, academia, the bourgeois institutions, coercion and deception, the media.
The development of the productive forces, of the instruments of production, the advances in science and technology, the innovations and inventions that are created as a consequence of the accumulation and appropriation of the wealth created by the workers are used by reaction to extol capitalism, to claim that it is the highest form of historical development, beneficial to all humanity, for the progress of the countries.
They explore new ideas and proposals, new meta-narratives, the revision and interpretation of history to establish a “new” philosophical thought that allows the capitalists to appear as the standard-bearers of the new philosophical currents, of post-modernism that is seen as the synthesis of historical social development.
They even use the labour gains and rights, the democratic openings won by the workers in order to preach that it is possible to advance with the permission of the bourgeoisie, due to the democratic nature of capitalism.
Simultaneously they orchestrate a vast campaign of lies and distortions against the revolution and socialism, they demonize the communist party. They take advantage of the debacle of modern revisionism, of the dissolution of the former USSR to proclaim the failure and burial of socialism, to declare the end of ideologies and of the class struggle. They denounce the revolution and socialism as useless sacrifices paid for by the workers and peoples that gain them nothing, that lead back to capitalism.
Their poisonous darts are mainly directed at the existence and role of the communist party, at the role of the working class which, supposedly, without the revolution, has achieved huge benefits that can grow as capitalism develops.
Social-Democracy became a battering ram to attack the revolution and socialism, to attack the USSR and the socialist camp, to show itself to the working masses as the alternative to the revolution. “Democratic socialism” is only a face of the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, of capitalism.
So far in the new millennium, particularly in Latin America, so-called “21st century socialism,” basing itself on the long struggle of the workers, peoples and youth against neoliberal policies, has been presented as the alternative to scientific socialism, to the historical experience of the revolutionary processes that the working class and peoples led in the 20th century.
The various forms of opportunism join in the chorus of these distortions by the capitalist class: They align themselves with their attacks against Marxism-Leninism, they declare it obsolete. They preach the need to find and elaborate new proposals for the emancipation of the workers; they accuse the communist party of taking advantage of the trade union struggles and revolutionary combats. They demonize democratic centralism as a form of authoritarianism, that kills the initiatives of the proletarian revolutionaries.
In this work the various representatives of modern revisionism, the Khrushchevites, stand out. They betrayed communism under the pretext of changing times, of superseding Marxism-Leninism, they betrayed and condemned the dictatorship of the proletariat. Specifically, they directed their diatribes against Stalin and transformed themselves into reformist parties, into tools of capitalism and imperialism for class conciliation, for the ideological and political disarming of the working class, for the destruction of the communist parties that once played a consistent revolutionary role. They became the ones who destroyed the socialist states. Some of these parties, preserving their opportunist essence, are developing a pseudo-revolutionary verbiage in order to continue with the deception, to appear as “modern” communists.
Since their expulsion and condemnation by the Bolsheviks, Trotskyism and its followers have always been a spearhead of reaction and the bosses to line up with their attacks on the Bolshevik revolution, joining the chorus of the capitalists who denounced it as the dictatorship of the party, as a manifestation of bureaucracy, as an expression of Stalinism which they blamed for all the evils that existed and now exist.
A series of groups of petty-bourgeois revolutionaries and progressive intellectuals participate in the diatribes against communism, the dictatorship of the proletariat and the role of Stalin. Starting from their idealistic conceptions they condemn the great feats of the working class, the revolution, the dictatorship of the proletariat, which they call Stalinism.
The communist party does not reject the theoretical and political debate with the bourgeoisie and reaction, with the various manifestations of opportunism. It resolutely takes up the defence of Marxism-Leninism, the historical experience of the revolutions of the 20th century, the role of the communist party, and the validity of the dictatorship of the proletariat. It always puts forward the study of the revolutionary processes, of their successes and victories, as well as the reasons that allowed for the triumph of the policies of imperialism and reaction, and the destruction of the former USSR and other revolutions.
Although the main form of the defence of Marxism-Leninism is the commitment and concrete practice of following its teachings and, under its guidance reopening the road to the revolution and socialism, the proletarian revolutionaries must participate in the theoretical debate that arises. It is not enough to refer to the teachings of the classics; one must intervene actively in the discussion, in the concrete conditions in which it arises, one must also respond to the new challenges in the field of revolutionary theory.
The ideological struggle galvanizes the proletarian party
The party is built in the great laboratory of the class struggle, in the midst of the theoretical and political combat between the working class and the bourgeoisie, between the peoples and imperialism.
Starting from the revolutionary proletarian conceptions and practices that the communists take up, the Marxist-Leninist parties and organisations have been affirmed and developed.
In spite of this, or rather, due to this circumstance, the class struggle is also waged within the party, in the field of ideas, of the revolutionary conceptions and practice of its members.
In the midst of its revolutionary activity errors and mistakes are made, there are difficulties and obstacles to be overcome. The impact of the ideology of imperialism and the bourgeoisie, of the theses of opportunism and revisionism must also be faced.
To ensure the correction of errors and to overcome the difficulties, to resolve the problems that arise among the communists, one must make use of the tool of criticism and self-criticism. In order to reaffirm their ideological and political unity, to isolate and defeat the incorrect ideas and positions, the party and its members are champions of the ideological struggle.
The ideological struggle is the expression of the class struggle within the party; it is a confrontation that must be carried out to the end, to the affirmation of proletarian conceptions. Ideological and political unity is reached and must be pursued under all circumstances, with the unmasking and elimination of the incorrect ideas, of the infiltration of the theses of reaction and opportunism. Conciliation in the field of ideological struggle leads to weakening the class nature of the party, to sowing illusions about reformism, to deviation from the objectives of communism.
Proletarian internationalism corresponds to the class nature of the communist party
The working class is a single class, in all countries it takes part in a leading way in the process of production; a good part of it is integrated into the big industrial complexes; another sector, dispersed in small and medium enterprises endowed with the latest technology; it is in direct relation with innovations and new inventions, with science and technology; it is the creator of the wealth that is accumulated and concentrated in the big monopolies, in the imperialist countries and bourgeois groups in all regions of the Earth.
Capitalist society, the monopolies and imperialist countries are the expropriators of the surplus value created by thousands of millions of workers of all countries; they impose regulations, laws, oppression and exploitation, the repressive systems throughout the globe. Despite the division of the capitalist class into large monopoly groups, into various imperialist countries, into various economic groups in each country, they all make use of the wealth created by the workers; they act as a single front against the working class and peoples.
The working class is an international class; it confronts the capitalist class on a global scale. From the very beginning of its condition as a class for itself, from the early days of the trade union organisation it had the understanding and consciousness of the character of capitalist exploitation, of the need to forge the unity of the workers, to build the international organisation of the proletariat.
The workers’ movement and its struggle set the stage for the emergence and strengthening of the communist parties that join in as internationalist fighters for socialism.
The Communist Party has always been the fighting force of the international proletarian revolution, and its long history is filled with the great and heroic deeds of communists who fought for revolution and socialism, regardless of the country in which they were born.
The Marxist-Leninist Party approaches proletarian internationalism as a conception: this is the understanding that the proletarian revolution has an international character; it is the decision to fight against capitalism and imperialism and to destroy them in order to build socialism towards communism; it is the common march of workers and peoples, communists and revolutionaries in all countries and on an international scale. The Party educates its militants and the working class in the spirit and practice of proletarian internationalism.
The Marxist-Leninist parties that have come together within ICMLPO have once again affirmed their internationalist identity and their position as vanguards of the international socialist revolution. The birth, existence, and struggle of the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organisations are proof of the theory and practice of proletarian internationalism.
The communist newspaper
The policy of the party of the proletariat, its general and specific expressions must be known by the working class, by the other labouring classes, the women and youth, and must be spread throughout society.
Party activity cannot be developed except through the propaganda of revolutionary ideas. It will not be possible to achieve socialism if the Marxist-Leninist conceptions and proposals are not spread among the working class and the masses.
The propagandist work must be directed towards winning the broad masses of the workers for the revolution and socialism and, secondly, it must denounce and condemn bourgeois society, imperialist domination, capitalist corruption and decadence and, of course, it must unmask the reformist positions of social-democracy, opportunism and revisionism.
The validity of the tactical guidelines, the correctness of the revolutionary proposal, of popular power and socialism, the forms of organisation and the ways to advance to the seizure of power; the revolutionary nature of the party and its forces, their ability and consistency, their audacity and determination; the role and democratic character of the revolutionary leaders and chiefs, their ability to lead the popular struggles, and their skill in carrying out the mandates of the masses must be the motives and contents of revolutionary propaganda.
The activity of revolutionary propaganda should be directed, first of all, towards the working class, towards the popular sectors that form the social base of the party, secondly towards the most impoverished social sectors of society, and, thirdly, towards the progressive intelligentsia of the middle strata of the population.
The social base of the revolution, essentially, the working class, the labourers and peasants, the poor neighbourhood residents and small business owners, teachers, secondary and university student youths, the democratic and patriotic men and women able to align themselves with revolutionary positions, must constantly be exposed to Marxist-Leninist ideas.
The working class, the other labouring classes, the women and youth are victims of the reactionary offensive; they are susceptible to ideological and political manipulation by reaction and opportunism. The propaganda of the party must take these elements into account and seek and find the ways and means to reach them and affirm the conception of change, the understanding of the problems and their leading role in the organisation and popular struggle.
The majority of the population are victims of the exploitation and oppression of the capitalists, they suffer the ravages of poverty; their situation is exacerbated daily by the lack of employment and the high cost of living. These are the explosive social sectors, susceptible to desperate actions; they are manipulated in the elections by the populist trends that promise them the whole world, salvation, but they are struck by these unfulfilled promises. These poor people, the shirtless ones, must be exposed to the party propaganda in order to win them to the struggle for the change that they want, but that they believe will come from a Messiah.
One part of the intelligentsia of the middle strata of the population, of the petty bourgeoisie, the professionals, teachers and students have progressive and democratic conceptions; they have not been absorbed by the system as their “organic intellectuals.” They are capable of understanding and adhering to revolutionary proposals; they generally are part of the reformist, social-democratic formations, but there is a radical group. The nature of the activity of these social sectors makes them opinion makers. The propaganda of the party must also be directed towards these sectors. Its contents must show its theoretical validity, it must provide arguments that show its correctness, its validity and timeliness. We should not forget to give them an opportunity not only to read our positions but also to express them, as leaders in making revolutionary propaganda.
The experiences in the field of propaganda and, above all, the need to advance by leaps and bounds should help to increase their quality and magnitude in order to reach millions of human beings, the whole of society, the social base of the party, the dispossessed and the progressive intelligentsia; they should give rise to the many-sided use of the written press, the leaflet, wall propaganda, the internet and computers, radio and television, but they also should use the openings that can be gained from the commercial media through interviews, debates, statements, bulletins, calls, etc.
The fundamental instrument of the propaganda of the Marxist-Leninist party must be the central newspaper, the organ of the Central Committee. Leninism stresses the extraordinary role of the party newspaper. From “Iskra” to “Pravda” it was a bulwark of the revolutionary action of the masses, it played the role of propagandist and agitator for the struggle of the working class and peasantry, of the trade union organiser and the party; it was the vehicle that gave the call for the assault on power.
Certainly the media has developed hand in hand with the development of the productive forces, the innovations of science and technology, in recent times above all with the role played by the internet and social networks. However, without renouncing the use of these various forms, the party must insist on the newspaper, on its regular publication, on its capacity as a vehicle for the political unification of the party, for the organisation of the masses, for the class combats of the workers.
Revolutionary violence is the midwife of history
The liberation of the slaves was the result of their rebellion, of great revolts and revolutions that broke the chains and gave rise to a new stage of development of human society, to the autocracy of the feudal lords, to absolutism, and the serfdom of millions of peasants who as “free men” were yoked to bondage. Obscurantism was eliminated by the revolution of the artisans and peasants who were taken advantage of by the bourgeoisie in order to ascend to political power and establish the capitalist system. The repeated attempts by the feudal aristocracy and reaction to restore their privileges also made use of violence, but they were defeated again and again by the revolutionary violence wielded by the bourgeoisie, counting on the workers and peasants as their troops. The bourgeoisie in power uses violence to preserve its interests, to increase and perpetuate them. Imperialism affirms its economic and political domination with wars of aggression, with the establishment of puppet regimes, with occupation troops.
The first victorious proletarian revolution, the Paris Commune, established the first workers’ government, the first form of the dictatorship of the proletariat accompanied by the armed insurrection of the workers; it defended itself through revolutionary violence until it succumbed to the superiority of the capitalists. The Great October Revolution was born from the armed insurrection of October 25, 1917, it survived the counterrevolutionary offensive and defeated it after a bloody civil war, relying on the Red Army, with the workers and peasants armed and fighting for their destiny. The Albanian revolution, the Chinese revolution, the war of liberation of Vietnam and all the revolutions that seized power and once formed the great socialist camp were a consequence, the result of revolutionary war, of guerrilla warfare and insurrections.
In the area of social and political forces that struggle against capitalism, for change and for socialism, various conceptions and practices on the use of revolutionary violence are present. We Marxist-Leninists must clarify and differentiate proletarian conceptions from the ideas and voluntarist practices, from the guerrilla foco, from the vanguardist views, from the individual heroes, from the liberators of the masses, from the anarchists of the ideas of the radical petty bourgeoisie. The communists demarcate their positions regarding the conceptions and practices of individual terrorism; we condemn the reactionary and fascist terrorism.
The liberation of the workers, their true independence can only come with the organisation and victory of the organised violence of the masses led by the party of the proletariat. The Marxist-Leninist communists are supporters of revolutionary violence, they strive to organise it in the concrete historical conditions.
To conceive of revolutionary violence as the form of struggle that leads to power presupposes for the proletarian party the use of all other forms of struggle: economic contention, battles of trade unions and associations, the democratic mobilizations of the people, the enterprise strike and general strike, popular uprisings, street fighting, marches, protests, the seizure of roads and lands, the participation in elections under representative democracy.
The party of the proletariat fights for revolution under all circumstances, openly and using bourgeois legality, in conditions of semi-legality and illegality, in clandestinity.
The proletarian party’s expertise is developed to the degree that it can make use of all forms of struggle, to use them to accumulate forces, to contribute to the organisation of the workers and youth, to educate them politically, always keeping in mind power and victory. It uses all forms of struggle, combines them appropriately according to the strategic objectives; the use of the revolutionary violence of the masses enables the working class and its party to organise the revolution, the seizure of power, and then the exercise of leadership and the realization of the great task of building socialism.
Democratic centralism is the pillar of the party of the working class
The communist party is a system of organisations, Lenin pointed out from the first days of building a revolutionary party of the working class.
This statement refers to the need for an organised party, endowed with iron discipline and a centralized leadership. It is an organisation of militants that carries out revolutionary activity together with the masses under the guidance of a single political orientation, that displays initiative without losing its course.
Democratic centralism combines democracy and centralism, freedom and discipline, creative initiative and planned and controlled activity.
Between democracy and centralism, the latter takes precedence, defining and characterising the proletarian party. In the Communist Party, there is an integral relationship between democracy and centralism. The different political conditions in which party activities develop affect the relationship between centralism and democracy. In situations where oppression intensifies, centralism necessarily comes to the fore; however, in conditions where democratic freedoms develop, it is possible and necessary for democracy to come to the fore in the party as well.
As a centralized organisation, the Marxist-Leninist party does not allow for parallel leaderships, nor does it recognize factions of any kind. As a democratic organisation it establishes equality of rights and duties for all its members, elections at all levels, the right of recall, constant information and consultation with the rank-and-file by the higher bodies, the right to criticize and make suggestions to those bodies and the individual leaders, using the relevant channels.
The validity of revolutionary democracy in the life of the party is expressed in the broadest but organised political discussion of important problems, in the participation of all bodies and members in the formulation of the Political Line, of the Declaration of Principles, of the Programme and Statute of the Party; in the enthusiastic and creative activity in order to boldly apply and develop the orientations emanating from the leading bodies, in the permanent and correct exercise of criticism and self-criticism, in the practice of collective leadership and personal responsibility.
For these norms to be really effective, work must be done to create an atmosphere of equality and camaraderie between leaders and rank-and-file. The most important thing to achieve this is the attitude of respect that the leaders must have for the members.
Centralism arises from the need to elaborate, synthesize and convert the opinions and initiatives of the rank-and-file into a single orientation, to adopt practical measures that make viable the unrestricted implementation and application of agreements and resolutions taken, to unite and distribute the forces of the Party according to the needs of the struggle and to ensure a single will of action of all the members.
The Khrushchevite revisionists, all sorts of left and right opportunists, and of course the ideologues of reaction and the bourgeoisie denounce democratic centralism as a form of rigidity, of the authoritarianism of the omnipotent central committee, as a manifestation of what they call Stalinism. A large number of petty-bourgeois revolutionary groups and individuals condemn it as anti-democratic and demand freedom of political opinion and action.
Historical experience shows the correctness and validity of democratic centralism to build and forge the Marxist-Leninist party. Only a party guided by Marxism-Leninism and galvanized by democratic centralism was able in the past to organise and lead the October Revolution and the other proletarian revolutions of the 20th century, to build socialism. Only such a party can continue the grandiose task of leading the working class and people to bring down capitalism and establish the new world, the society of the workers, socialism.
The Marxist-Leninist parties and organisations that close ranks in the ICMLPO are consistent champions of the validity of democratic centralism.
The building of the revolutionary party of the proletariat
The organisation of the revolution demands a powerful communist party, a large and capable party composed of thousands and thousands of proletarian revolutionaries, men and women who adhere to and fight for the cause of communism.
The need for ideological and political unity, for a single will of action, for an iron discipline, arises in conditions indispensable for the activity of the revolutionary party of the proletariat, but at the same time they are expressions of the serious and unrestricted practice of proletarian democracy.
The conception that the party is not just the sum of individuals, but a system of bodies, is a particular characteristic of the party of the proletarians.
The ideological, political and organisational relationship of the party with the masses is another pillar of the building of the party, it is affirmed in the materialist conception that the masses are the makers of history, that social being determines consciousness, of the theory of knowledge and the negation of spontaneity.
The dialectical relation of theory to practice. The conviction that without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary practice, the role of the party in the elaboration and discussion of theory, the need to equip the working class and the masses with revolutionary theory are an indispensable component in the life and building of the party.
The validity of criticism and self-criticism in order to resolve problems, correct errors and overcome difficulties within the party; the correct use of the ideological struggle to defeat positions and practices within the party that are alien to proletarian ideology and politics, ensure the class character of the party.
These fundamental principles have guided the communists throughout several decades, in various countries and conditions, and they have shown themselves to be correct and revolutionary; they have allowed several parties to fulfil their historical role of leading the revolution, seizing power and beginning the building of socialism.
The Marxist-Leninists affirm adherence to these principles which are the basis of the party of a “new type”; they strive to apply them in the building of the party of the proletariat.
The parties that are part of the ICMLPO are still small organisations, with problems in their functioning, insufficiently linked to the masses. These are parties and organisations that grow slowly, lagging behind the needs of the revolution, behind the possibilities; they exist and fight in a small number of countries. The organisational development is insufficient in regard to the political work carried out by the party.
In the current conditions of the revolutionary process, the question of how to advance in the growth of the party is put forward as a very important problem.
For a party great in quality and quantity
The role of organiser of the revolution can only be fulfilled victoriously by a large and skilled communist party, rooted in the ranks of the working class, in the factory enterprises, in the peasant communes, in the mines and poor neighbourhoods, among women and youth.
The party cell constitutes the main nucleus that links the party with the class; the cell in the enterprise characterizes the ideological, political and organisational ideological nature of the communist party.
The cell is the basic organisation of the party. It is a core group of communists who are in constant contact with the working masses, their lives and problems, and who know and understand their aspirations, demands, needs, level of consciousness and state of mind. It is a group of revolutionary propagandists who carry the ideas of communism to the masses, agitate, persuade, and prepare them for revolutionary struggle. It is the general staff that will organise the struggle of the masses and lead it to victory, politically educate the people, and strengthen their social and revolutionary organisation. The unit is a communist school where members are steeled, revolutionary brotherhood and proletarian solidarity are developed. It is the centre for organising and training new communists, the centre for building the party. The cell represents the party, its programme and ideas, its daily policies and strategic goals; it is an expression of the vanguard role in the struggle for revolution and socialism.
The selection, formation of nuclei and training of popular fighters in the various organisations of the masses should be understood as steps for the organisation of groups of candidates for members of the party.
Of course, not all grassroots members of these organisational cores will be members of the Communist Party. This great honour and responsibility will belong to the most stable and self-sacrificing leaders of the people who advance by grasping the fundamental doctrines of Marxism-Leninism and use them in the mass struggle and revolutionary struggle. This in no way means that members of trade unions and mass organisations cannot be revolutionary without being party members. On the contrary, they are components of revolutionary forces, organisers, and leaders of the mass struggle. Communists, on the other hand, must strengthen the ideological, political, and organisational unity between them, respect their ideas and specific characteristics, and work together with them to strengthen the various detachments of the proletarian revolution.
The new members of the Communist Party will be from among these social activists, specifically those who are the most consistent and sincere, who are most committed to their own interests, who see beyond their own circles and move forward, and who seek new paths and solutions. Among these leaders of the masses, attention should be paid to the youngest and most determined, the bravest, those who demonstrate intelligence and initiative, and those who demand change; they are the seeds of revolution and socialism, the present and the future.
It is not to be expected that these potential communists will be clear about the situation, the cause of the problems, much less the solution. They should not be required to fully understand Marxism-Leninism, the revolutionary political line of the party and its policies and proposals as a condition for entry into the party. All this they will know and learn within the party, in the process of their assimilation and training as communists.
The building of the party demands a leading nucleus
To resolve the problem of party leadership, principally of its Central Committee, is the indispensable condition for the growth of the party, for its consolidation and development.
It is a task and a responsibility that demands tenacity and perseverance and that develops in a more or less complex process.
The fundamentals for the consolidation of this leading nucleus are:
– in the knowledge and assimilation of revolutionary theory, of Marxism-Leninism; in the ability of that same nucleus to know and interpret, in the light of principles and from the interests of the working class, the complex and changing situation in which society and the country are immersed, in which the international struggle of the working class unfolds.
– in its ability to elaborate politically for the working class, for society as a whole
– in the willingness to integrate itself into the organisation and struggle of the working class, in the political struggle unfolding in society
– in its decisiveness in taking on the tasks of leading the party, to involve itself directly in the relations of the leadership with the rank-and-file
– in the consistent practice of criticism and self-criticism, of ideological struggle
– in the willingness to confront and resolve the problems of the life of the party, to listen to the concerns of the members and to give them revolutionary and timely answers
– the leaders of the party must be fearless, bold, timely, they must show the way by example, with revolutionary simplicity and passion.
The forging of a Central Committee that recognizes and takes up its responsibilities and tasks will be expressed daily, it will have its ups and downs, but it will guarantee the building of the party and the leadership of the revolutionary struggle of the working class for socialism.
The building of the party has to do with the promotion of the party, its politics and its cadres among the masses
It is necessary to work tirelessly to spread the revolutionary politics of the party, its current and strategic proposals, what the communists propose in order to face and resolve the crisis in favour of the workers and peoples, what they propose for today and tomorrow. It is essential to promote the name of the Party, its symbols, its slogans; the communists must be present directly, out loud among the masses, among the people’s fighters; in short, the promotion of the party, its policies and its cadres among the proletariat and the other working classes, the youth and women, is necessary, essential,.
It is not possible to claim that the workers and peasants, the teachers and youth, the social fighters, those people, men and women, who aspire to a better tomorrow and who want to do something for this, could recognize the Party as the way, as the means for the struggle for liberation, if they do not know it, if they do not know its proposals and its capacity for struggle.
How do we make the Party known among the masses?
The policy of the party should be spread among the masses by all means; it is necessary to publicly show the name of the party; the cadres and militants of the party must win the recognition of the masses and other social fighters, they must do so in theory and in practice, showing clarity and soundness in the proposals, firmness and courage in the leadership of the union organisations, loyalty and consistency towards the interests of the workers.
The dissemination of the central newspaper of the party, the propaganda of the cell, the flyer, the pamphlet, the wall newspaper, the conversation with the masses, are activities that must deserve the regular attention by the organisations of the rank-and-file and the leadership.
Proceeding in this way, a favourable environment will be created for the process of the building of the party; it will work to make the Party a reference point for the masses and the people’s fighters.
The training of new and numerous party cadres
The communist parties must have a significant number of cadres, of popular leaders who have a well-earned leadership among the masses, who are cherished and respected.
This is a reality recognized by ourselves and others. But it is also true that the present requirements of the mass movement and, above all, the prospects and needs of its development demand multiplying the number of revolutionary cadres.
The new cadres will not be produced spontaneously; they will be the result of the existence of many members, men and women communists who have the qualities and willingness to assume the leadership of the masses in the process of the revolution.
The training of cadres demands persistent work of the leadership of the party but it also demands the willingness of each member to take up a new stage.
The study of revolutionary theory, the cultural formation, cultivation of skills and abilities and social practice are indispensable to forge the leaders of the masses; the membership, the life of the party, the practice of proletarian democracy, of criticism and self-criticism, of ideological struggle, as well as the integration and participation in union organisation and struggle, in the social and political combats of the working masses contribute to affirming and strengthening the revolutionary consciousness of the cadres, to projecting them as political leaders of the masses.
The teaching of revolutionary theory, cultural formation, development of talent, ability, capacity and social practices are indispensable for leaders to shape the masses. Membership, party life, the practice of proletarian democracy, criticism and self-criticism, ideological struggle, as well as trade union organisation and struggle, contribute to the political and social participation of the working masses in struggle, strengthening the revolutionary consciousness of cadres and preparing them to become the political leaders of the masses.