cullinane
9th November 2001, 22:15
Socialism is not to be found down the bureaucratic model. This is primarily the theoretical concept behind the application of the Cultural Revolution in China between 1966-1976.
With the coming of socialism, anatagonistic contradictions within the masses will continue to exist. For Mao Tse Tung, we'll consider him the chief architect of the Cultural Revolution for simplicity sake, revisionism - the death of the revolutionary process- was the disease of the Soviet model. An irreconcilable and antagonistic class contradiction has emerged between the Soviet people and the bureaucratic stratum. Contradictions existed within the masses themselves. A tiny number of bureaucrats reap high salaries, rewards and a variety of personal subsidies. These people are divorced from the working people. Within the masses, bourgeois 'ideas' are prevalent. Material incentives have been substituted for the socialist principle - from each according to his ability, to each according to his need. Stalin's flaw was he only emphasized technology, no politics, no masses.
Mao analysed how a bourgeoisie is inevitably generated under socialism and that thus it is necessary to repeatedly arouse the masses from below, to strike down the bourgeoisie within the Communist Party and dig away at the capitalist economic and ideological soil that was generating new "capitalist roaders". For Mao the proletariat can not simple delegate the dictatorship of the proletariat to the Communist Party.
Therefore Mao places emphasis on the continuation of the class struggle under the dictatorship of the proletariat during the socialist phase than on the development of the productive forces.
So Mao understood the question of centralised planning in a dialectical way, he understood the unity and struggle of opposites.
Seizure of power only opens the door to the struggle to transform the ways in which people interact with each other in all social apects and dimensions. Ideas and practices which have grown up on the basis of thousands of years of class society will not disappear overnight. In the early stages its possible that they may ultimately transform a socialist society.
Socialism does not come naturally. There must be revolution on the political, ideological and cultural fronts- not just economic. Revolution must be uninterrupted.
I'll come back to some more of the general ideas of the CR later on if I get a chance. Its just an opportunity to get discussions going. Regards.
With the coming of socialism, anatagonistic contradictions within the masses will continue to exist. For Mao Tse Tung, we'll consider him the chief architect of the Cultural Revolution for simplicity sake, revisionism - the death of the revolutionary process- was the disease of the Soviet model. An irreconcilable and antagonistic class contradiction has emerged between the Soviet people and the bureaucratic stratum. Contradictions existed within the masses themselves. A tiny number of bureaucrats reap high salaries, rewards and a variety of personal subsidies. These people are divorced from the working people. Within the masses, bourgeois 'ideas' are prevalent. Material incentives have been substituted for the socialist principle - from each according to his ability, to each according to his need. Stalin's flaw was he only emphasized technology, no politics, no masses.
Mao analysed how a bourgeoisie is inevitably generated under socialism and that thus it is necessary to repeatedly arouse the masses from below, to strike down the bourgeoisie within the Communist Party and dig away at the capitalist economic and ideological soil that was generating new "capitalist roaders". For Mao the proletariat can not simple delegate the dictatorship of the proletariat to the Communist Party.
Therefore Mao places emphasis on the continuation of the class struggle under the dictatorship of the proletariat during the socialist phase than on the development of the productive forces.
So Mao understood the question of centralised planning in a dialectical way, he understood the unity and struggle of opposites.
Seizure of power only opens the door to the struggle to transform the ways in which people interact with each other in all social apects and dimensions. Ideas and practices which have grown up on the basis of thousands of years of class society will not disappear overnight. In the early stages its possible that they may ultimately transform a socialist society.
Socialism does not come naturally. There must be revolution on the political, ideological and cultural fronts- not just economic. Revolution must be uninterrupted.
I'll come back to some more of the general ideas of the CR later on if I get a chance. Its just an opportunity to get discussions going. Regards.