LeonTrotsky ResultsandProspects VII.ThePreRequisitesofSocialism TranscribedandHTMLmarkupfortheTrotskyInternetArchive,asubarchiveofthe MarxistsInternetArchive,bySallyRyanin1996. Marxismconvertedsocialismintoascience,butthisdoesnotpreventsomeMarxists fromconvertingMarxismintoaUtopia. Rozhkov,arguingagainsttheprogrammeofsocializationandcooperation,presentsthe necessaryprerequisitesofthefuturesociety,firmlylaiddownbyMarx,inthefollowing way:Aretherealreadypresent,asksRozhkov,thematerialobjectiveprerequisites, consistingofsuchadevelopmentoftechniqueaswouldreducethemotiveofpersonal gainandconcernforcash[?],personaleffort,enterpriseandrisk,toaminimum,and whichwouldtherebymakesocialproductionafrontrankquestion?Suchalevelof techniqueismostcloselyconnectedwiththealmostcomplete[!]dominationof largescaleproductioninall[!]branchesoftheeconomy.

Hassuchastagebeen reached?Eventhesubjective,psychologicalprerequisitesarelacking,suchasthe growthofclassconsciousnessamongtheproletariat,developedtosuchalevelasto achievethespiritualunityoftheoverwhelmingmassofthepeople.Weknow,continues Rozhkov,ofproducerassociationssuchasthewellknownFrenchglassworksatAlbi, andseveralagriculturalassociations,alsoinFrance,andyettheexperienceofFrance shows,asnothingelsecan,thateventheconditionsofsoadvancedacountryarenot sufficientlydevelopedtopermitthedominanceofcooperation.Theseenterprisesareof onlytheaveragesize,theirtechnicallevelisnothigherthanordinarycapitalist undertakings,theyarenotattheheadofindustrialdevelopment,donotleadit,but approachamodestaveragelevel. Onlywhentheexperienceofindividualproductiveassociationspointstotheirleadingrole ineconomiclifecanwesaythatweapproachinganewsystem,onlythencanwebe surethatthenecessaryconditionsforitsexistencehavebeenestablished.[1] WhilerespectingthegoodintentionsofComradeRozhkov,weregretfullyhaveto confessthatrarelyeveninbourgeoisliteraturehavewemetsuchconfusionashe betrayswithregardtowhatareknownastheprerequisitesofsocialism.Itwillbe worthwhiledwellingtosomeextentonthisconfusion,ifnotforthesakeofRozhkov,at leastforthesakeofthequestion. Rozhkovdeclaresthatwehavenotyetreachedsuchastageoftechnicaldevelopment aswouldreducethemotiveofpersonalgainandconcernforcash[?],personaleffort, enterpriseandrisk,toaminimum,andwhichwouldmakesocialproductionafrontrank question.

Itisratherdifficulttofindthemeaningofthispassage.ApparentlyRozhkovwishesto say,inthefirstplace,thatmoderntechniquehasnotyetsufficientlyoustedhuman labourpowerfromindustryand,secondly,thattosecurethiseliminationwouldrequire thealmostcompletedominationoflargestateenterprisesinallbranchesofthe economy,andthereforethealmostcompleteproletarianizationofthewholepopulation ofthecountry.Thesearethetwoprerequisitestosocialismallegedtohavebeenfirmly laiddownbyMarx. Letustryandimaginethesettingofcapitalistrelationswhich,accordingtoRozhkov, socialismwillencounterwhenitarrives.Thealmostcompletedominationoflargescale enterpriseinallbranchesofindustry,undercapitalism,means,ashasbeensaid,the proletarianizationofallsmallandmediumproducersinagricultureandindustry,thatisto say,theconversionofthewholeofthepopulationintoproletarians.Butthecomplete dominationofmachinetechniqueintheselargeundertakingswouldleadtothereduction oftheemploymentofhumanlabourpowertoaminimum,andthereforethe overwhelmingmajorityofthepopulationofthecountrysay,90percentwouldbe convertedintoareservearmyoflabourlivingattheexpenseoftheStateinworkhouses. Wesaid90percentofthepopulation,butthereisnothingtopreventusfrombeing logicalandimaginingastateofaffairsinwhichthewholeofproductionconsistsofa singleautomaticmechanism,belongingtoasinglesyndicateandrequiringasliving labouronlyasingletrainedorangoutang.Asweknow,thisisthebrilliantlyconsistent theoryofProfessorTuganBaranovsky.Undersuchconditionssocialproductionnot onlyoccupiesfrontrankbutcommandsthewholefield.Underthesecircumstances, moreover,consumptionwouldnaturallyalsobecomesocializedinviewofthefactthat thewholeofthenation,exceptthe10percentwhoownthetrust,willbelivingatthe publicexpenseinworkhouses.Thus,behindRozhkovweseesmilingthefamiliarfaceof TuganBaranovsky.Socialismcannowcomeonthescene.Thepopulationemerges fromtheworkhousesandexpropriatesthegroupofexpropriators.Norevolutionor dictatorshipoftheproletariatisofcoursenecessary. Thesecondeconomicsignoftheripenessofacountryforsocialism,accordingto Rozhkov,isthepossibilityofthedominationofcooperativeproductionwithinit.Evenin FrancethecooperativeglassworksatAlbiisnotonahigherlevelthananyother capitalistundertaking.Socialistproductionbecomespossibleonlywhenthe cooperativesareintheforefrontofindustrialdevelopment,astheleadingenterprises. Theentireargumentfrombeginningtoendisturnedinsideout.Thecooperativescannot taketheleadinindustrialprogress,notbecauseeconomicdevelopmenthasnotgonefar enough,butbecauseithasgonetoofarahead.Undoubtedly,economicdevelopment createsthebasisforcooperation,butforwhatkindofcooperation?Forcapitalist cooperation,basedonwagelaboureveryfactoryshowsusapictureofsuchcapitalist cooperation.Withthedevelopmentoftechniquetheimportanceofsuchcooperation growsalso.Butinwhatmannercanthedevelopmentofcapitalismplacethe cooperativesocietiesinthefrontrankofindustry?OnwhatdoesRozhkovbasehis hopesthatthecooperativesocietiescansqueezeoutthesyndicatesandtrustsandtake theirplaceintheforefrontofindustrialdevelopment?Itisevidentthatifthistookplacethe cooperativesocietieswouldthensimplyhaveautomaticallytoexpropriateallcapitalist undertakings,afterwhichitwouldremainforthemtoreducetheworkingdaysufficiently

toprovideworkforallcitizensandtoregulatetheamountofproductioninthevarious branchesinordertoavoidcrises.Inthismannerthemainfeaturesofsocialismwouldbe established.Againitisclearthatnorevolutionandnodictatorshipoftheworkingclass wouldbeatallnecessary. Thethirdprerequisiteisapsychologicalone:theneedfortheclassconsciousnessof theproletariattohavereachedsuchastageastounitespirituallytheoverwhelming majorityofthepeople.Asspiritualunity,inthisinstance,mustevidentlyberegardedas meaningconscioussocialistsolidarity,itfollowsthereforethatComradeRozhkov considersthatapsychologicalprerequisiteofsocialismistheorganizationofthe overwhelmingmajorityofthepopulationwithintheSocialDemocraticParty.Rozhkov evidentlyassumesthereforethatcapitalism,throwingthesmallproducersintotheranks oftheproletariat,andthemassoftheproletariansintotheranksofthereservearmyof labour,willcreatethepossibilityforSocialDemocracyspirituallytouniteandenlighten theoverwhelmingmajority(90percent?)ofthepeople. Thisisasimpossibleofrealizationintheworldofcapitalistbarbarismasthedomination ofcooperativesintherealmofcapitalistcompetition.Butifthiswererealizable,thenof course,theconsciouslyandspirituallyunitedoverwhelmingmajorityofthenationwould crushwithoutanydifficultythefewmagnatesofcapitalandorganizesocialisteconomy withoutrevolutionordictatorship. Butherethefollowingquestionarises.RozhkovregardsMarxashisteacher.YetMarx, havingoutlinedtheessentialprerequisitesforsocialisminhisCommunistManifesto, regardedtherevolutionof1848astheimmediateprologuetothesocialistrevolution.Of courseonedoesnotrequiremuchpenetrationafter60yearstoseethatMarxwas mistaken,becausethecapitalistworldstillexists.ButhowcouldMarxhavemadethis error?Didhenotperceivethatlargescaleundertakingsdidnotyetdominateinall branchesofindustrythatproducerscooperativesdidnotyetstandattheheadofthe largescaleenterprisesthattheoverwhelmingmajorityofthepeoplewerenotyetunited onthebasisoftheideassetoutintheCommunistManifesto?Ifwedonotseethese thingsevennow,howisitthenthatMarxdidnotperceivethatnothingofthekindexisted in1848?Apparently,Marxin1848wasaUtopianyouthincomparisonwithmanyofthe presentdayinfallibleautomataofMarxism! WethusseethatalthoughComradeRozhkovbynomeansbelongsamongthecriticsof Marx,neverthelesshecompletelydiscardstheproletarianrevolutionasanessential prerequisiteofsocialism.AsRozhkovhasonlytooconsistentlyexpressedtheviews sharedbyaconsiderablenumberofMarxistsinbothtrendsofourparty,itisnecessary todwellonthebasesinprincipleandmethodoftheerrorshehasmade. OnemustobserveinpassingthatRozhkovsargumentconcerningthedestinyofthe cooperativesishisveryown.Wehaveneverandnowheremetsocialistswhoboth believedinsuchasimpleirresistibleprogressoftheconcentrationofproductionand proletarianizationofthepeopleandatthesametimebelievedinthedominatingroleof producerscooperativesocietiespriortotheproletarianrevolution.Tounitethesetwo prerequisitesismuchmoredifficultineconomicevolutionthaninonesheadalthough eventhelatterhadalwaysseemedtousimpossible.

Butwewilldealwithtwootherprerequisiteswhichconstitutemoretypicalprejudices. Undoubtedly,theconcentrationofproduction,thedevelopmentoftechniqueandthe growthofconsciousnessamongthemassesareessentialprerequisitesforsocialism. Buttheseprocessestakeplacesimultaneously,andnotonlygiveanimpetustoeach other,butalsoretardandlimiteachother.Eachoftheseprocessesatahigherlevel demandsacertaindevelopmentofanotherprocessatalowerlevel.Butthecomplete developmentofeachofthemisincompatiblewiththecompletedevelopmentofthe others. Thedevelopmentoftechniqueundoubtedlyfindsitsideallimitinasingleautomatic mechanismwhichtakesrawmaterialsfromthewombofnatureandthrowsthematthe feetofmanintheformoffinishedarticlesofconsumption.Iftheexistenceofthe capitalistsystemwerenotlimitedbyclassrelationsandtherevolutionarystrugglethat arisesfromthem,weshouldhavesomegroundsforsupposingthattechnique, approachingtheidealofasingleautomaticmechanismwithintheframeworkofthe capitalistsystem,wouldtherebyautomaticallyabolishcapitalism. Theconcentrationofproductionarisingfromthelawsofcompetitioninherentlytends towardsproletarianizingthewholepopulation.Isolatingthistendency,weshouldberight insupposingthatcapitalismwouldcarryoutitsworktotheend,iftheprocessof proletarianizationwerenotinterruptedbyarevolutionbutthisisinevitable,givenacertain relationshipofforces,longbeforecapitalismhasconvertedthemajorityofthenationinto areservearmy,confinedtoprisonlikebarracks. Furtherconsciousness,thankstotheexperienceoftheeverydaystruggleandthe consciouseffortsofthesocialistparties,undoubtedlygrowsprogressively,and,isolating thisprocess,wecouldinimaginationfollowthisgrowthuntilthemajorityofthepeople wereincludedinthetradeunionsandpoliticalorganizations,unitedbyaspiritofsolidarity andsinglenessofaim.Ifthisprocesscouldreallyincreasequantitativelywithoutbeing affectedqualitatively,socialismcouldberealizedpeaceablybyaunanimous,conscious civilactsometimeinthe21storthe22ndcentury. Butthewholepointliesinthefactthattheprocesseswhicharehistoricallyprerequisite forsocialismdonotdevelopinisolation,butlimiteachother,and,reachingacertain stage,determinedbynumerouscircumstanceswhich,however,isfarremovedfrom themathematicallimitoftheseprocessestheyundergoaqualitativechange,andin theircomplexcombinationbringaboutwhatweunderstandbythenameofsocial revolution. Wewillbeginwiththelastmentionedprocessthegrowthofconsciousness.Thistakes place,asweknow,notinacademies,inwhichitmightbepossibleartificiallytodetainthe proletariatforfifty,ahundredorfivehundredyears,butinthecourseofallroundlifein capitalistsociety,onthebasisofunceasingclassstruggle.Thegrowthofthe consciousnessoftheproletariattransformsthisclassstruggle,givesitadeeperand morepurposefulcharacter,whichinitsturncallsoutacorrespondingreactiononthe partofthedominantclass.Thestruggleoftheproletariatagainstthebourgeoisiewill reachitsdenouementlongbeforelargescaleenterprisesbegintodominateinall

branchesofindustry. Further,itisofcoursetruethatthegrowthofpoliticalconsciousnessdependsuponthe growthofthenumbersoftheproletariat,andproletariandictatorshippresupposesthat thenumbersoftheproletariatwillbesufficientlylargetoovercometheresistanceofthe bourgeoiscounterrevolution.Butthisdoesnotatallmeanthattheoverwhelming majorityofthepopulationmustbeproletariansandtheoverwhelmingmajorityofthe proletariatconscioussocialists.Itisclear,ofcourse,thattheconsciousrevolutionary armyoftheproletariatmustbestrongerthanthecounterrevolutionaryarmyofcapital, whiletheintermediate,doubtfulorindifferentstrataofthepopulationmustbeinsucha positionthattheregimeofproletariandictatorshipwillattractthemtothesideofthe revolutionandnotrepelthemtothesideofitsenemies.Naturally,proletarianpolicymust consciouslytakethisintoconsideration. Allthisinitsturnpresupposesthehegemonyofindustryoveragricultureandthe dominationoftownovercountry. Wewillnowendeavourtoexaminetheprerequisitesofsocialismindiminishingorderof generalityandincreasingorderofcomplexity. 1.Socialismisnotmerelyaquestionofequaldistributionbutalsoaquestionofplanned production.Socialism,thatis,cooperativeproductiononalargescale,ispossibleonly whenthedevelopmentofproductiveforceshasreachedthestageatwhichlarge enterprisesaremoreproductivethansmallones.Themorethelargeenterprises outweighthesmaller,i.e.,themoredevelopedtechniquehasbecome,themore advantageouseconomicallydoessocializedproductionbecome,and,consequently,the highermusttheculturallevelofthewholepopulationbeasaresultofequaldistribution baseduponplannedproduction. Thisfirstobjectiveprerequisiteofsocialismhasbeeninexistencealongtimeever sincethetimewhensocialdivisionoflabourledtothedivisionoflabourinmanufacture.It hasexistedtoanevengreaterextentsincethetimewhenmanufacturewasreplacedby factory,machineproduction.Largeundertakingsbecamemoreandmoreadvantageous, whichalsomeantthatthesocializationoftheselargeundertakingswouldhavemade societymoreandmorewealthy.Itisclearthatthetransitionofallthehandicraft workshopstothecommonownershipofallthehandicraftsmenwouldnothavemadethe latteronewhitricher,whereasthetransferofmanufacturestothecommonownershipof theirdetailworkers,orthetransferofthefactoriesintothehandsoftheworkers employedinthemor,itwouldbebettertosay,thetransferofallthemeansoflarge factoryproductionintothehandsofthewholepopulationwouldundoubtedlyraisethe peoplesmateriallevelandthehigherthestagereachedbylargescaleproduction,the higherwouldbethislevel. InsocialistliteraturetheinstanceisoftenquotedoftheEnglishMemberofParliament, Bellers[2]who,in1696,i.e.,acenturybeforetheconspiracyofBabeuf,submittedto Parliamentaprojectforestablishingcooperativesocietieswhichshouldindependently supplyalltheirownrequirements.Accordingtothismeasure,theseproducers cooperativesweretoconsistoffromtwotothreehundredpersons.Wecannotheretest

hisargument,norisitnecessaryforourpurposewhatisimportantisthatcollective economy,evenifitwasconceivedonlyintermsofgroupsof100,200,300or500 persons,wasregardedasadvantageousfromthestandpointofproductionalreadyatthe endofthe17thcentury. Atthebeginningofthe19thcenturyFourierdrewuphisschemesforproducerconsumer associations,phalansteries,eachconsistingoffrom2,000to3,000persons.Fouriers calculationswereneverdistinguishedbytheirexactnessbutatallevents,the developmentofmanufacturebythattimesuggestedtohimafieldforeconomic collectivesincomparablywiderthanintheexamplequotedabove.Itisclear,however, thatboththeassociationsofJohnBellersandthephalansteriesofFourieraremuch nearerintheircharactertothefreeeconomiccommunesofwhichtheAnarchistsdream, theutopianismofwhichconsistsnotintheirimpossibilityorintheirbeingagainst naturethecommunistcommunesinAmericaprovedthattheywerepossiblebutin thattheyhavelagged100to200yearsbehindtheprogressofeconomicdevelopment. Thedevelopmentofthesocialdivisionoflabour,ontheonehand,andmachine productionontheother,hasledtothepositionthatnowadaystheonlycooperativebody whichcouldutilizetheadvantagesofcollectiveproductiononawidescaleistheState. Morethanthat,socialistproduction,forbotheconomicandpoliticalreasons,couldnotbe confinedwithintherestrictinglimitsofindividualstates. Atlanticus[3],aGermanSocialistwhodidnotadopttheMarxistpointofview,calculated attheendoflastcenturytheeconomicadvantagesthatwouldaccruefromapplying socialisteconomyinaunitsuchasGermany.Atlanticuswasnotatalldistinguishedby flightsoffancy.Hisideasgenerallymovedwithinthecircleoftheeconomicroutineof capitalism.Hebasedhisargumentsonthewritingsofauthoritativemodernagronomists andengineers.Thisdoesnotweakenhisarguments,ratherisithisstrongside,because itpreserveshimfromundueoptimism.Inanycase,Atlanticuscomestotheconclusion that,withproperorganizationofsocialisteconomy,withemploymentofthetechnical resourcesofthemidninetiesofthe19thcentury,theincomeoftheworkerscouldbe doubledortrebled,andthattheworkingdaycouldbehalved. Oneshouldnotimagine,however,thatAtlanticuswasthefirsttoshowtheeconomic advantagesofsocialism.Thegreaterproductivityoflabourinlargeundertakings,onthe onehand,and,ontheother,thenecessityfortheplanningofproduction,asprovedby theeconomiccrises,hasbeenmuchmoreconvincingevidenceforthenecessityof socialismthanAtlanticusssocialisticbookkeeping.Hisserviceconsistsonlyinthathe expressedtheseadvantagesinapproximatefigures. Fromwhathasbeensaidwearejustifiedinarrivingattheconclusionthatthefurther growthofthetechnicalpowerofmanwillrendersocialismmoreandmore advantageousthatsufficienttechnicalprerequisitesforcollectiveproductionhave alreadyexistedforahundredortwohundredyears,andthatatthepresentmoment socialismistechnicallyadvantageousnotonlyonanationalbuttoanenormousextent alsoonaworldscale. Themeretechnicaladvantagesofsocialismwerenotatallsufficientforittoberealized.

Duringthe18thand19thcenturiestheadvantagesoflargescaleproductionshowed themselvesnotinasocialistbutinacapitalistform.NeithertheschemesofBellersnor thoseofFourierwerecarriedout.Whynot?Becausetherewerenosocialforces existentatthattimereadyandabletocarrythemout. 2.Wenowpassfromtheproductivetechnicalprerequisitesofsocialismtothe socialeconomicones.Ifwehadtodealherenotwithasocietysplitupbyclass antagonism,butwithahomogeneouscommunitywhichconsciouslyselectsitsformof economy,thecalculationsofAtlanticuswouldundoubtedlybequitesufficientforsocialist constructiontobebegun.Atlanticushimself,beingasocialistofaveryvulgartype,thus, indeed,regardedhisownwork.Suchapointofviewatthepresentdaycouldbeapplied onlywithinthelimitsoftheprivatebusinessofasinglepersonorofacompany.Oneis alwaysjustifiedinassumingthatanyschemeofeconomicreform,suchasthe introductionofnewmachinery,newrawmaterials,anewformofmanagementoflabour, ornewsystemsofremuneration,willalwaysbeacceptedbytheownersifonlythese schemescanbeshowntoofferacommercialadvantage.Butinsofaraswehavetodo herewiththeeconomyofsociety,thatisnotsufficient.Here,opposinginterestsarein conflict.Whatisadvantageousforoneisdisadvantageousforanother.Theegoismof oneclassactsnotonlyagainsttheegoismofanother,butalsotothedisadvantageofthe wholecommunity.Therefore,inordertorealizesocialismitisnecessarythatamongthe antagonisticclassesofcapitalistsocietythereshouldbeasocialforcewhichis interested,byvirtueofitsobjectiveposition,intherealizationofsocialism,andwhichis powerfulenoughtobeabletoovercomehostileinterestsandresistancesinorderto realizeit. Oneofthefundamentalservicesrenderedbyscientificsocialismconsistsinthatit theoreticallydiscoveredsuchasocialforceintheproletariat,andshowedthatthisclass, inevitablygrowingalongwithcapitalism,canfinditssalvationonlyinsocialism,thatthe entirepositionoftheproletariatdrivesittowardssocialismandthatthedoctrineof socialismcannotbutbecomeinthelongruntheideologyoftheproletariat. ItiseasytounderstandthereforewhatatremendousstepbackwardsAtlanticustakes whenheassertsthat,onceitisprovedthat,bytransferringthemeansofproductioninto thehandsoftheState,notonlycanthegeneralwellbeingbesecured,butthe workingdayalsoreduced,thenitisamatterofindifferencewhetherthetheoryofthe concentrationofcapitalandthedisappearanceoftheintermediateclassesofsocietyis confirmedornot. AccordingtoAtlanticus,immediatelytheadvantagesofsocialismhavebeenproved,itis uselessrestingoneshopesonthefetishofeconomicdevelopment,oneshouldmake extensiveinvestigationsandstart[!]acomprehensiveandthoroughpreparationforthe transitionfromprivatetostateorsocialproduction.[4] InobjectingtothepurelyoppositionaltacticsoftheSocialDemocratsandsuggestingan immediatestartinpreparingthetransitiontosocialism,AtlanticusforgetsthattheSocial Democratsstilllackthepowerneededforthis,andthatWilhelmII,Blowandthe majorityintheGermanReichstag,althoughtheyhavepowerintheirhands,havenotthe slightestintentionofintroducingsocialism.ThesocialistschemesofAtlanticusareno

moreconvincingtotheHohenzollernsthantheschemesofFourierweretotherestored Bourbons,notwithstandingthefactthatthelatterbasedhispoliticalutopianismon passionatefantasiesinthefieldofeconomictheory,whereasAtlanticus,inhisnotless utopianpolitics,basedhimselfonconvincing,philistinelysoberbookkeeping. Whatlevelmustsocialdifferentiationhaveattainedinorderthatthesecondprerequisite forsocialismmayberealized?Inotherwords,whatmustbetherelativenumerical weightoftheproletariat?Mustitmakeupahalf,twothirdsorninetenthsofthe population?Itwouldbeanabsolutelyhopelessundertakingtotrytodefinethebare arithmeticallimitsofthissecondprerequisiteforsocialism.Inthefirstplace,insucha schematiceffort,weshouldhavetodecidethequestionofwhoistobeincludedinthe categoryproletariat.Shouldweincludethelargeclassofsemiproletarian semipeasants?Shouldweincludethereservemassesoftheurbanproletariatwhoon theonehandmergeintotheparasiticalproletariatofbeggarsandthieves,andonthe otherfillthecitystreetsassmalltradersplayingaparasiticalroleinrelationtothe economicsystemasawhole?Thisquestionisnotatallasimpleone. Theimportanceoftheproletariatdependsentirelyontheroleitplaysinlargescale production.Thebourgeoisierelies,initsstruggleforpoliticaldomination,uponits economicpower.Beforeitmanagestosecurepoliticalpower,itconcentratesthe countrysmeansofproductioninitsownhands.Thisiswhatdeterminesitsspecific weightinsociety.Theproletariat,however,inspiteofallcooperativephantasmagoria, willbedeprivedofthemeansofproductionrightuptotheactualsocialistrevolution.Its socialpowercomesfromthefactthatthemeansofproductionwhichareinthehandsof thebourgeoisiecanbesetinmotiononlybytheproletariat.Fromthepointofviewofthe bourgeoisie,theproletariatisalsooneofthemeansofproduction,constituting,in conjunctionwiththeothers,asingleunifiedmechanism.Theproletariat,however,isthe onlynonautomaticpartofthismechanism,andinspiteofalleffortsitcannotbereduced totheconditionofanautomaton.Thispositiongivestheproletariatthepowertoholdup atwill,partiallyorwholly,theproperfunctioningoftheeconomyofsociety,throughpartial orgeneralstrikes.Fromthisitisclearthattheimportanceofaproletariatgivenidentical numbersincreasesinproportiontotheamountofproductiveforceswhichitsetsin motion.Thatistosay,aproletarianinalargefactoryis,allotherthingsbeingequal,a greatersocialmagnitudethanahandicraftworker,andanurbanworkeragreater magnitudethanacountryworker.Inotherwords,thepoliticalroleoftheproletariatisthe moreimportantinproportionaslargescaleproductiondominatessmallproduction, industrydominatesagricultureandthetowndominatesthecountry.Ifwetakethehistory ofGermanyorofEnglandintheperiodwhentheproletariatofthesecountriesformedthe sameproportionofthenationastheproletariatnowformsinRussia,weshallseethat theynotonlydidnotplay,butbytheirobjectiveimportancecouldnotplay,sucharoleas theRussianproletariatplaystoday. Thesamething,aswehaveseen,appliestotheroleofthetowns.When,inGermany, thepopulationofthetownswasonly15percentofthewholepopulationofthecountry, asitisinRussiatoday,therecouldbenothoughtoftheGermantownsplayingthatrole intheeconomicandpoliticallifeofthecountrywhichtheRussiantownsplaytoday.The concentrationoflargeindustrialandcommercialinstitutionsinthetowns,andthelinking ofthetownsandtheprovincesbymeansofasystemofrailways,hasgivenourtowns

animportancefarexceedingthemerenumberoftheirinhabitantsthegrowthoftheir importancehasgreatlyexceededthegrowthoftheirpopulation,whilethegrowthofthe populationofthetownsinitsturnhasexceededthenaturalincreaseofthepopulationof thecountryasawhole...InItalyin1848thenumberofhandicraftsmennotonly proletariansbutalsoindependentmastersamountedtoabout15percentofthe population,i.e.,notlessthantheproportionofhandicraftsmenandproletariansinRussia atthepresentday.Buttheroleplayedbythemwasincomparablylessthanthatplayed bythemodernRussianindustrialproletariat. Fromwhathasbeensaiditshouldbeclearthattheattempttodefineinadvancewhat proportionofthewholepopulationmustbeproletarianatthemomentoftheconquestof politicalpowerisafruitlesstask.Insteadofthat,wewillofferafewroughfiguresshowing therelativenumericalstrengthoftheproletariatintheadvancedcountriesatthepresent time.TheoccupiedpopulationofGermanyin1895was20,500,000(notincludingthe army,stateofficialsandpersonswithoutadefiniteoccupation).Outofthisnumberthere were12,500,000proletarians(includingwageworkersinagriculture,industry,commerce andalsodomesticservice)thenumberofagriculturalandworkersbeing10,750,000. Manyoftheremaining8,000,000arereallyalsoproletarians,suchasworkersin domesticindustries,workingmembersofthefamily,etc.Thenumberofwageworkersin agriculturetakenseparatelywas5,750,000.Theagriculturalpopulationcomposed36per centoftheentirepopulationofthecountry.Thesefigures,werepeat,referto1895.The elevenyearsthathavepassedsincethenhaveunquestionablyproducedatremendous changeinthedirectionofanincreaseintheproportionoftheurbantotheagricultural population(in1882theagriculturalpopulationwas42percentofthewhole),anincrease intheproportionoftheindustrialproletariattotheagriculturalproletariat,and,finally,an increaseintheamountofproductivecapitalperindustrialworkerascomparedwith1895. Buteventhe1895figuresshowthattheGermanproletariatalreadylongagoconstituted thedominantproductiveforceinthecountry. Belgium,withits7,000,000population,isapurelyindustrialcountry.Outofeveryhundred personsengagedinsomeoccupation,41areinindustryinthestrictsenseoftheword andonly21areemployedinagriculture.Outofthe3,000,000oddgainfullyemployed, nearly1,800,000,i.e.,60percent,areproletarians.Thisfigurewouldbecomemuch moreexpressiveifweaddedtothesharplydifferentiatedproletariatthesocialelements relatedtoitthesocalledindependentproducerswhoareindependentonlyinformbut areactuallyenslavedtocapital,thelowerofficials,thesoldiers,etc. Butfirstplaceasregardsindustrializationoftheeconomyandproletarianizationofthe populationmustundoubtedlybeaccordedtoBritain.In1901thenumberofpersons employedinagriculture,forestryandfisherieswas2,300,000,whilethenumberin industry,commerceandtransportwas12,500,000.Wesee,therefore,thatinthechief Europeancountriesthepopulationofthetownspredominatesnumericallyoverthe populationofthecountryside.Butthegreatpredominanceoftheurbanpopulationliesnot onlyinthemassofproductiveforcesthatitconstitutes,butalsoinitsqualitativepersonal composition.Thetownattractsthemostenergetic,ableandintelligentelementsofthe countryside.Toprovethisstatisticallyisdifficult,althoughthecomparativeage compositionofthepopulationoftownandcountryprovidesindirectevidenceofit.The latterfacthasasignificanceofitsown.InGermanyin1896therewerecalculatedtobe

8,000,000personsemployedinagricultureand8,000,000inindustry.Butifwedividethe populationaccordingtoagegroups,weseethatagriculturehas1,000,000ablebodied personsbetweentheagesof14and40lessthaninindustry.Thisshowsthatitisthe oldandtheyoungwhopreeminentlyremaininthecountry. Allthisleadsustotheconclusionthateconomicevolutionthegrowthofindustry,the growthoflargeenterprises,thegrowthofthetowns,andthegrowthoftheproletariatin generalandtheindustrialproletariatinparticularhasalreadypreparedthearenanot onlyforthestruggleoftheproletariatforpoliticalpowerbutfortheconquestofthispower. 3.Nowwecometothethirdprerequisiteofsocialism,thedictatorshipoftheproletariat. Politicsistheplaneuponwhichtheobjectiveprerequisitesofsocialismareintersected bythesubjectiveones.Undercertaindefinitesocialeconomicconditions,aclass consciouslysetsitselfacertainaimtheconquestofpoliticalpoweritunitesitsforces, weighsupthestrengthoftheenemyandestimatesthesituation.Eveninthisthird sphere,however,theproletariatisnotabsolutelyfree.Besidesthesubjectivefactors consciousness,preparednessandinitiative,thedevelopmentofwhichalsohavetheir ownlogictheproletariatincarryingoutitspolicycomesupagainstanumberof objectivefactorssuchasthepolicyoftherulingclassesandtheexistingState institutions(suchasthearmy,theclassschools,theStatechurch),international relations,etc. Wewilldealfirstofallwiththesubjectiveconditions:thepreparednessoftheproletariat forasocialistrevolution.Itis,ofcourse,notsufficientthatthestandardoftechniquehas renderedsocialisteconomyadvantageousfromthepointofviewoftheproductivityof sociallabour.Itisnotsufficient,either,thatthesocialdifferentiationbasedonthis techniquehascreatedaproletariatwhichisthemainclassbyvirtueofitsnumbersand itseconomicrole,andwhichisobjectivelyinterestedinsocialism.Itisfurthernecessary thatthisclassshouldbeconsciousofitsobjectiveinterestsitisnecessarythatitshould understandthatthereisnowayoutforitexceptthroughsocialismitisnecessarythatit shouldcombineinanarmysufficientlypowerfultoconquerpoliticalpowerinopenbattle. Itwouldbestupidatthepresenttimetodenythenecessityfortheproletariattobe preparedinthismanner.OnlyoldfashionedBlanquistscanhopeforsalvationfromthe initiativeofconspiratorialorganizationswhichhavetakenshapeindependentlyofthe massesortheirantipodes,theanarchists,mighthopeforaspontaneous,elemental outburstofthemasses,theendofwhichnoonecantell.SocialDemocratsspeakofthe conquestofpowerastheconsciousactionofarevolutionaryclass. Butmanysocialistideologues(ideologuesinthebadsenseofthewordthosewho standeverythingonitshead)speakofpreparingtheproletariatforsocialisminthesense ofitsbeingmorallyregenerated.Theproletariat,andevenhumanityingeneral,mustfirst ofallcastoutitsoldegoisticalnature,andaltruismmustbecomepredominantinsocial life,etc.Asweareasyetfarfromsuchastateofaffairs,andhumannaturechanges veryslowly,socialismisputoffforseveralcenturies.Suchapointofviewprobably seemsveryrealisticandevolutionary,andsoforth,butasamatteroffactitisreally nothingbutshallowmoralizing.

Itisassumedthatasocialistpsychologymustbedevelopedbeforethecomingof socialism,inotherwordsthatitispossibleforthemassestoacquireasocialist psychologyundercapitalism.Onemustnotconfuseheretheconsciousstrivingtowards socialismwithsocialistpsychology.Thelatterpresupposestheabsenceofegotistical motivesineconomiclifewhereasthestrivingtowardssocialismandthestruggleforit arisefromtheclasspsychologyoftheproletariat.Howevermanypointsofcontactthere maybebetweentheclasspsychologyoftheproletariatandclasslesssocialist psychology,neverthelessadeepchasmdividesthem. Thejointstruggleagainstexploitationengenderssplendidshootsofidealism,comradely solidarityandselfsacrifice,butatthesametimetheindividualstruggleforexistence,the everyawningabyssofpoverty,thedifferentiationintheranksoftheworkersthemselves, thepressureoftheignorantmassesfrombelow,andthecorruptinginfluenceofthe bourgeoispartiesdonotpermitthesesplendidshootstodevelopfully.Forallthat,inspite ofhisremainingphilistinelyegoistic,andwithouthisexceedinginhumanworththe averagerepresentativeofthebourgeoisclasses,theaverageworkerknowsfrom experiencethathissimplestrequirementsandnaturaldesirescanbesatisfiedonlyon theruinsofthecapitalistsystem. Theidealistspicturethedistantfuturegenerationwhichshallhavebecomeworthyof socialismexactlyasChristianspicturethemembersofthefirstChristiancommunes. WhateverthepsychologyofthefirstproselytesofChristianitymayhavebeenweknow fromtheActsoftheApostlesofcasesofembezzlementofcommunalpropertyinany case,asitbecamemorewidespread,Christianitynotonlyfailedtoregeneratethesouls ofallthepeople,butitselfdegenerated,becamematerialisticandbureaucraticfromthe practiceoffraternalteachingoneofanotheritchangedintopapalism,fromwandering beggaryintomonasticparasitisminshort,notonlydidChristianityfailtosubjecttoitself thesocialconditionsofthemilieuinwhichitspread,butitwasitselfsubjectedbythem. Thisdidnotresultfromthelackofabilityorthegreedofthefathersandteachersof Christianity,butasaconsequenceoftheinexorablelawsofthedependenceofhuman psychologyupontheconditionsofsociallifeandlabour,andthefathersandteachersof Christianityshowedthisdependenceintheirownpersons. Ifsocialismaimedatcreatinganewhumannaturewithinthelimitsoftheoldsocietyit wouldbenothingmorethananeweditionofthemoralisticutopias.Socialismdoesnot aimatcreatingasocialistpsychologyasaprerequisitetosocialismbutatcreating socialistconditionsoflifeasaprerequisitetosocialistpsychology. Notes 1.N.Rozhkov,OntheAgrarianQuestion,pp.21and22.L.T. 2.JohnBellerswasnotanMP,butaQuakerlandowner,whopublishedhisplaninthe formofanaddresstoparliament. 3.G.Jaegkh

4.Atlanticus,TheStateoftheFuture,publishedbyDyelo,St.Petersburg1906,pp.22and 23.L.T. LastChapter|Results&ProspectsIndexPage|NextChapter return Lastupdatedon:3.3.2007