V.I. Lenin
(August 1915)
From Socialist Appeal, Vol. III No. 21, 4 April 1939, p. 3. Transcribed & marked up by Einde OâCallaghan for ETOL.
In 1915 Lenin and Zinoviev collaborated in writing a pamphlet, Socialism and War, from which the excerpt below is taken. The great majority of the leaders of the international socialist movement had turned traitor to the workers and become rabid patriots, but Lenin and Zinoviev in exile, with a small group of other loyal socialists, continued to oppose the war. Two years later, in 1917, Lenin returned to Russia and led the magnificent revolution of Russiaâs toiling people against their oppressors. Lenin died in 1924. Although Zinoviev worked as one of Leninâs closest collaborators in the leadership of the revolution, he was shot by Joseph Stalin in 1936 as a âfascist mad dog.â Just as the Social Democratic organization in 1914â18 stood for support of the capitalist democracies against âKaiserismâ so its spiritual off-spring today, Stalinism, stands for patriotic support of capitalism under the slogan âFight to Save Democracy from Fascism.â Leninism stands for uncompromising struggle against capitalist war.
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Social-chauvinism is adherence to the idea of âdefending the fatherlandâ in the present war. From this idea follows repudiation of the class struggle in war time, voting for military appropriations, etc. In practice, the social chauvinists conduct an anti-proletarian bourgeois policy, because in practice they insist not on the âdefense of the fatherlandâ in the sense of fighting against the oppression of a foreign nation, but upon the ârightâ of one or the other of the âgreatâ nations to rob the colonies and oppress other peoples. The social-chauvinists follow the bourgeoisie in deceiving the people by saying that the war is conducted for the defense of the freedom and the existence of the nations; thus they put themselves on the side of the bourgeoisie against the proletariat.
Betrayal of Past
To the social-democrats belong those who justify and idealize the government and the bourgeoisie of one of the belligerent groups of nations, as well as those who, like Kautsky, recognize the equal right of the Socialists of all belligerent nations to âdefend the fatherland.â Social-chauvinism, being in practice a defense of the privileges, prerogatives, robberies and violence of âoneâs ownâ (or any other) imperialist bourgeoisie, is a total betrayal of all Socialist conviction and a violation of the decisions of the International Socialist Congress in Basle (1912, Ed.) ...
The war has undoubtedly created the acutest crises and has incredibly intensified the sufferings of the masses. The reactionary character of this war, the shameless lie of the bourgeoisie of all countries which covers its predatory aims with ânationalâ ideology, all this inevitably creates, on the basis of an objective revolutionary situation, revolutionary sentiments in the masses. Our duty is to help make these sentiments conscious, to deepen them and give them form. The only correct expression of this task is the slogan âTurn the imperialist war into civil war.â All consistent class struggle in time of war, all âmass actionâ earnestly conducted must inevitably lead to this. We cannot know whether in the first or in the second imperialist war between the great nations, whether during or after it, a strong revolutionary movement will flare up. Whatever the case may be, it is our absolute duty systematically and unflinchingly to work in that particular direction ...
Duty of Revolutionists
A mass sentiment for peace often expresses the beginning of a protest, an indignation and a consciousness of the reactionary nature of the war. It is the duty of all Social-Democrats to take advantage of this sentiment. They will take the most ardent part in every movement and in every demonstration made on this basis, but they will not deceive the people by assuming that in the absence of a revolutionary movement it is possible to have peace without annexations, without oppression of nations, without robbery, without planting the seed of new wars among the present governments and the ruling classes. Such deception would only play into the hands of the secret diplomacy of the belligerent countries and their counter-revolutionary plans, Whoever wishes a durable and democratic peace must be for civil war against the governments and the-bourgeoisie.
Socialism and War, August 1915
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production and the pursuit of profit. It emerged as a dominant economic system after the decline of feudalism. In capitalism, individuals and businesses operate in competitive markets, and the allocation of resources is primarily determined by supply and demand. Capitalism is different from feudalism as it replaces the feudal hierarchy with a market-based system where capital accumulation and profit maximization are the driving forces.
Fascism
Fascism is a political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, strong nationalism, suppression of dissent, and the control of society and economy by a centralized authoritarian government. It emerged as a response to economic and social unrest during the early 20th century. Fascism is different from capitalism as it rejects the idea of free markets and advocates for state control over the means of production. It also emphasizes the primacy of the nation-state and promotes a hierarchical social order.
Socialism
Socialism is an economic and political system that aims to establish a more equitable society by redistributing wealth and power. It advocates for collective ownership or control of the means of production and the pursuit of social welfare. Socialism is different from capitalism as it seeks to address the inequalities and exploitation inherent in capitalist systems. It aims to prioritize the needs of society as a whole over individual profit and to ensure that resources are distributed in a more equitable manner.
Communism
Communism is a political and economic ideology that envisions a classless society where the means of production are collectively owned and controlled by the community as a whole. It is considered as the ultimate stage of societal development, following socialism. Communism is different from socialism as it seeks to eliminate all forms of social hierarchy and establish a stateless and moneyless society. It aims to create a system where resources are distributed according to the principle of "from each according to their ability, to each according to their needs."