Unicorn
13th July 2008, 18:59
Lots of folks here have attacked the principle of peaceful coexistence without really understanding what it was (and is) about. This is an explanation from "Scientific Communism (A Popular Outline)" by V. Afanasyev, 1967.
The principle of peaceful coexistence of states with different social systems was propounded and comprehensively substantiated by Lenin. At the 2nd Congress of Soviets, convened a few hours after Soviet rule was established, he declared: “We reject all clauses on plunder and violence, but we shall welcome all clauses containing provisions for good-neighbourly relations and all economic agreements; we cannot reject these.”
He profoundly believed that sooner or later socialism would triumph throughout the world. But this victory, he wrote, could not be achieved at one and the same time in all countries. Depending on their economic level, the acuteness of the class struggle, the balance of forces between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie and other factors, some countries would attain socialism sooner than others. For a certain period, in addition to socialist states, there would be capitalist countries. Lenin was a partisan of peaceful coexistence, and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Government have always been guided by this principle in their foreign policy.
The peaceful coexistence of socialist and capitalist countries is an objective necessity of human development. Today when countries possess weapons of mass annihilation and means of delivering them to any part of the world, when a world war would involve colossal sacrifice and destruction, war and peace have become one of the central problems. The task of all peace-loving forces is to avert a thermonuclear war, to prevent it from breaking out.
Peaceful coexistence presupposes the renunciation of war as a means of settling outstanding issues between nations, the settlement of these issues by negotiation; equality, understanding and trust between countries with due account for each other’s interests; non-interference in internal affairs; the recognition of the right of every nation to resolve its own problems independently; punctilious respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries; the promotion of economic and cultural co-operation founded on complete equality and reciprocal benefit. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union and all other Marxist parties devote much of their attention and energy to these tasks.
The peaceful coexistence policy is founded on a sober, scientific analysis of the driving forces behind the development of contemporary society. General, world-wide economic relations are stronger than the desire, will and decisions of any hostile government or class. That is what compels them to have peaceful relations with the socialist countries. As for the nations building socialism, peace is a vital need. In socialist society the economic foundation of wars— private ownership—has been abolished and none of the social forces in it are interested in wars, plunder or the enslavement of other nations and states. Socialism implies the building of the new, and it is impossible to build and create without struggling for peace, against war. Peace and socialism are therefore inseparable. The struggle for peace is a struggle for socialism, and the achievements of socialism, in their turn, strengthen peace and peaceful coexistence.
The main concern of socialist society is to promote man’s welfare, to satisfy his material and cultural requirements as fully as possible, to provide him with facilities for spiritual and physical development. This activity may be pursued only when there is peace. For Soviet people every day of peace is a day of creative labour and heroic feats, bringing their country many tons of metal and fuel, grain and milk, many metres of fabrics and many pairs of footwear, and new schools and hospitals. Every day of peace sees the nuclear-powered ice-breaker cutting through unexplored expanses, spaceships hurtling through outer space, the birth of thousands of new citizens and the building of thousands of new homes.
The Marxist parties consistently adhere to their policy of peaceful coexistence in the knowledge that there are mighty forces capable of defending peace. These forces are:
Firstly, the world socialist system whose economic and military might is growing steadily; this system has now become the centre of attraction for all peace-loving forces in the world.
Secondly, a large group of peace-loving non-socialist countries, most of which are countries newly liberated from colonial rule; a growing number of countries are seeking to avert the threat harboured by participation in military blocs and pursue a policy of non-alignment.
Thirdly, the international working class, which is struggling for socialism and social progress against imperialism and its policy of aggression.
Fourthly, the world-wide anti-war movement which is growing ever more active in deciding the problem of war and peace.
The existence of these influential peace-loving forces has 143enabled the C.P.S.U. and other Marxist parties to suggest the theory that today mankind is in a position to renounce war as a means of settling international issues.
The Programme of the C.P.S.U. states: “It is possible to avert a world war by the combined efforts of the mighty socialist camp, the peace-loving non-socialist countries, the international working class and all the forces championing peace.”
The fact that the peace-loving forces can avert another world war does not mean that the possibility of war breaking out is completely ruled out. This possibility will remain as long as capitalism exists. Lasting peace will be established only by communism. Today the persevering and consistent struggle of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries and all other progressive forces for world peace and security is violently resisted by the forces of aggression headed by the U.S. military, who make every effort to aggravate the international situation, openly threaten the U.S.S.R. and other socialist countries, intensify the arms race and do not stop short of armed aggression. In face of the threat of another world war, the Soviet Union is forced to take steps to strengthen its defences in order to protect itself and the entire socialist community.
Peaceful coexistence does not imply the relinquishment of armed struggle in the event the imperialists violate peace by force of arms in an attempt to impose their rule on one nation or another. Coexistence is inapplicable to relations between oppressors and the oppressed, between the colonialists and the victims of colonial exploitation. Every nation has the sacred right of defending its independence and freedom, of fighting aggression or imperialist oppression.
The imperialists have not given up their predatory plans and this means that the peaceful coexistence of countries with different social systems can be ensured only through the dedicated struggle of all nations against the aggressive aspirations of the imperialists.
The Communist and Workers’ Parties are in the forefront of this struggle. They expose all the manipulations and intrigues of the imperialists, keep the peoples vigilant and firmly and consistently implement the Leninist line of peaceful coexistence.
http://leninist.biz/en/1967/SC342/05.2.1-Leninist.Principle.of.Peaceful.Coexistence
The principle of peaceful coexistence of states with different social systems was propounded and comprehensively substantiated by Lenin. At the 2nd Congress of Soviets, convened a few hours after Soviet rule was established, he declared: “We reject all clauses on plunder and violence, but we shall welcome all clauses containing provisions for good-neighbourly relations and all economic agreements; we cannot reject these.”
He profoundly believed that sooner or later socialism would triumph throughout the world. But this victory, he wrote, could not be achieved at one and the same time in all countries. Depending on their economic level, the acuteness of the class struggle, the balance of forces between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie and other factors, some countries would attain socialism sooner than others. For a certain period, in addition to socialist states, there would be capitalist countries. Lenin was a partisan of peaceful coexistence, and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Government have always been guided by this principle in their foreign policy.
The peaceful coexistence of socialist and capitalist countries is an objective necessity of human development. Today when countries possess weapons of mass annihilation and means of delivering them to any part of the world, when a world war would involve colossal sacrifice and destruction, war and peace have become one of the central problems. The task of all peace-loving forces is to avert a thermonuclear war, to prevent it from breaking out.
Peaceful coexistence presupposes the renunciation of war as a means of settling outstanding issues between nations, the settlement of these issues by negotiation; equality, understanding and trust between countries with due account for each other’s interests; non-interference in internal affairs; the recognition of the right of every nation to resolve its own problems independently; punctilious respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries; the promotion of economic and cultural co-operation founded on complete equality and reciprocal benefit. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union and all other Marxist parties devote much of their attention and energy to these tasks.
The peaceful coexistence policy is founded on a sober, scientific analysis of the driving forces behind the development of contemporary society. General, world-wide economic relations are stronger than the desire, will and decisions of any hostile government or class. That is what compels them to have peaceful relations with the socialist countries. As for the nations building socialism, peace is a vital need. In socialist society the economic foundation of wars— private ownership—has been abolished and none of the social forces in it are interested in wars, plunder or the enslavement of other nations and states. Socialism implies the building of the new, and it is impossible to build and create without struggling for peace, against war. Peace and socialism are therefore inseparable. The struggle for peace is a struggle for socialism, and the achievements of socialism, in their turn, strengthen peace and peaceful coexistence.
The main concern of socialist society is to promote man’s welfare, to satisfy his material and cultural requirements as fully as possible, to provide him with facilities for spiritual and physical development. This activity may be pursued only when there is peace. For Soviet people every day of peace is a day of creative labour and heroic feats, bringing their country many tons of metal and fuel, grain and milk, many metres of fabrics and many pairs of footwear, and new schools and hospitals. Every day of peace sees the nuclear-powered ice-breaker cutting through unexplored expanses, spaceships hurtling through outer space, the birth of thousands of new citizens and the building of thousands of new homes.
The Marxist parties consistently adhere to their policy of peaceful coexistence in the knowledge that there are mighty forces capable of defending peace. These forces are:
Firstly, the world socialist system whose economic and military might is growing steadily; this system has now become the centre of attraction for all peace-loving forces in the world.
Secondly, a large group of peace-loving non-socialist countries, most of which are countries newly liberated from colonial rule; a growing number of countries are seeking to avert the threat harboured by participation in military blocs and pursue a policy of non-alignment.
Thirdly, the international working class, which is struggling for socialism and social progress against imperialism and its policy of aggression.
Fourthly, the world-wide anti-war movement which is growing ever more active in deciding the problem of war and peace.
The existence of these influential peace-loving forces has 143enabled the C.P.S.U. and other Marxist parties to suggest the theory that today mankind is in a position to renounce war as a means of settling international issues.
The Programme of the C.P.S.U. states: “It is possible to avert a world war by the combined efforts of the mighty socialist camp, the peace-loving non-socialist countries, the international working class and all the forces championing peace.”
The fact that the peace-loving forces can avert another world war does not mean that the possibility of war breaking out is completely ruled out. This possibility will remain as long as capitalism exists. Lasting peace will be established only by communism. Today the persevering and consistent struggle of the Soviet Union and other socialist countries and all other progressive forces for world peace and security is violently resisted by the forces of aggression headed by the U.S. military, who make every effort to aggravate the international situation, openly threaten the U.S.S.R. and other socialist countries, intensify the arms race and do not stop short of armed aggression. In face of the threat of another world war, the Soviet Union is forced to take steps to strengthen its defences in order to protect itself and the entire socialist community.
Peaceful coexistence does not imply the relinquishment of armed struggle in the event the imperialists violate peace by force of arms in an attempt to impose their rule on one nation or another. Coexistence is inapplicable to relations between oppressors and the oppressed, between the colonialists and the victims of colonial exploitation. Every nation has the sacred right of defending its independence and freedom, of fighting aggression or imperialist oppression.
The imperialists have not given up their predatory plans and this means that the peaceful coexistence of countries with different social systems can be ensured only through the dedicated struggle of all nations against the aggressive aspirations of the imperialists.
The Communist and Workers’ Parties are in the forefront of this struggle. They expose all the manipulations and intrigues of the imperialists, keep the peoples vigilant and firmly and consistently implement the Leninist line of peaceful coexistence.
http://leninist.biz/en/1967/SC342/05.2.1-Leninist.Principle.of.Peaceful.Coexistence