21ST CENTURY - THE CENTURY OF SOCIALISM Welcoming the new millennium and the new century The following statement was published in "The Guardian", newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, December 15th, 1999. Contact address: 65 Campbell Street, Surry Hills. Sydney. 2010 Australia. Phone: (612) 9212 6855 Fax: (612) 9281 5795. CPA Central Committee: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "The Guardian": <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Webpage: http://www.cpa.org.au> Subscription rates on request. ****************************** The second millennium is coming to an end. It was a period of enormous discovery and advances in societies throughout the world. Steam power played an important part in the industrial revolution. Scientists discovered that the earth was round, not flat. Darwin's theory of evolution was advanced and dealt a heavy blow at unscientific theories of natural and human development. There were many other scientific discoveries. It was the period of the renaissance. Feudalism came to an end in European countries to be replaced by capitalist class rule and capitalist societies. There were many peasant uprisings against feudalism and capitalist exploitation and its destruction of the common usage of land. It was a time of discovery and long and dangerous sea voyages. Marco Polo searched for a land route to Asia and Columbus established the first link between Europe and the Americas. His discovery was followed by the most savage conquest and occupation. The Inca civilisation was brought down and many indigenous people were massacred and enslaved. There was the period of the African slave trade. Scientific advances, discoveries and social developments were taking place on continents other than Europe - in the Middle East, China, in the Americas, Africa and elsewhere. In this period new nations came into existence and the modern working class emerged. In 1853, Karl Marx and Frederick Engels wrote the "Communist Manifesto" and put forward a program to bring an end to capitalist exploitation of one by another with the objective of building a society in which the interests of the working people were given priority. A great clash between philosophies raged. It was in this period too that the first steps towards the widespread ecological and environmental destruction commenced. As industrialisation developed, populations grew, land was cleared for agriculture, towns and cities expanded, communications were extended - often at the expense of the environment. The 20th century was a century characterised by its upheavals and revolutionary changes. With the overthrow of feudalism the new capitalist order was established. It unleashed tremendous productive forces, at the same time intensifying the exploitation of the masses of the people. The free competition of capitalism's earlier period was replaced by the development of monopoly, state monopoly capitalism and now, the domination of giant transnational corporations. Following World War I, which was a conflict between the main imperialist powers, a new period in human society was opened by the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the first successful socialist revolution and put on the agenda the possibility and task of building a society with the aim of fulfilling the economic and social needs of the working people, rather than those of a minority ruling class. A system of exploitation of the many by the few was brought to an end. In what was a war-ravaged, largely illiterate and poverty- stricken society, socialist ideas rapidly advanced in all spheres of human endeavour - the economy, education, health care and cultural pursuits. It replaced individualism with a collective concern for all. Instead of achieving its objectives by war, the socialist government and state became the most consistent advocate of peaceful relations between nations, the elimination of nuclear weapons and universal disarmament. It introduced a new form of democracy - a people's democracy. The Russian revolution was followed, after the defeat of Nazism in World War II, by further socialist revolutions in eastern Europe, China, Korea, Cuba and Vietnam. Other countries also began to thread the path of socialist construction. The fact that the socialist society of the Soviet Union has been replaced for the time being by a capitalist restoration does not diminish the validity and achievements of the socialist revolution of the Soviet Union and the countries of eastern Europe. The century now ending also saw many calamities imposed upon the people by capitalist crises and wars instigated by imperialism. World War I, the Great Depression of the 1930s and other periodical economic slumps, the monstrous fascist regimes of Germany, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries and now, the attempt to impose a New World Order dictated by the big corporations of the western world, all show that capitalism cannot fulfill the needs of millions of people who live in destitution, homelessness and unemployment. This century also brought dramatic scientific and technological advances, among them the ability to split the atom and computer and communications technology. The scientific and technological achievements have lengthened the life span of people overcoming many illnesses and plagues. All the material needs of the people for housing, food, health care, etc, can be produced. The means to preserve the environment and the ecology have also been provided. That these benefits are being denied to millions of people and misused is not the fault of science but the economic and social system of capitalism which diverts every human achievement to enrich a very small number of super rich and to increase their power over all others. Scientific achievements have also been diverted into the manufacture of devastating nuclear weapons capable of ending all life on earth. The century saw the spread of Marxism throughout the world and as a result of this, those who wish to hold back human progress and freedom have waged a ferocious campaign to combat, distort, revise and lie about Marxism. Belief in a supernatural is spread in many forms. The basest of human characteristics are legitimised. Instead of accepting the processes of change, the ruling classes attempt to stop changes which threaten even in the slightest, their rule over others. Despite their efforts, however, the truths of the Marxist understanding of nature and human society are steadily spreading as the difference between what the ruling class says and what it does becomes ever more apparent. Another main feature of the 20th century was the overthrow of the colonial system which had imposed foreign domination over many countries and whole continents. The inspiration of the Russian revolution and the defeat of fascism in WW2, stimulated the national liberation struggles of the people of former colonial territories who were able to win their political liberation. As the century ends, the dismemberment of the Soviet Union and the victory of a capitalist counter-revolution has set back the forward march of history for a time. The gains made by the Soviet people and the former socialist states of eastern Europe are being destroyed. The imposition of economic rationalist policies in all the capitalist countries by both conservative and social democratic governments is also taking back the gains made by the working people and their organisations in this century. Democratic rights, working conditions, publicly owned enterprises and institutions are experiencing a great offensive of take-back by the transnational corporations and the governments which represent them. The people, particularly those in developing countries, are experiencing mass poverty, unemployment and social degradation. Environmental destruction is spreading as the blind grab for profits endangers the climates of the world. Natural resources are being plundered and soils devastated. Water courses are polluted and forests cut down. Floods, drought, fires, cyclones and melting snows are the consequence. While socialism has suffered a grievous setback in a number of countries, the capitalist and imperialist offensive failed to destroy socialism everywhere. The communist parties, which are the banner-bearers of Marxist- Leninist ideas have survived the assault against them. Marxism continues to extend its influence despite the ideological offensive of the ruling class and those who either deliberately or through ignorance, obscure the truth and attempt to re-write history. As the new century opens, the working class which has grown enormously in all countries in the past century is strengthening its fight-back against the capitalist assault. Working class internationalism is opposing transnational globalisation. Disillusionment with the political parties of capital - whether the outright parties of capital or those who promote social democratic illusions - is considerable. Many are looking for an alternative which speaks for and in their interests. The concepts of the united front, of alliances and of internationalism are being taken up as necessary forms through which to rally all the progressive forces in society to oppose the mean and destructive policies of the big corporations. Countries threatened with a new colonialism, are struggling to maintain their independence and freedom. This means adopting economic and social policies which oppose the domination of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation. These are the international organisations by which imperialism attempts to re-impose its control and domination. The new century will see the continuation of struggle, - the overthrow of capitalism and the construction of new socialist societies. The achievement of this objective demands that the social forces opposed to capitalism be continuously strengthened. Together with the working class, professionally trained people, small farmers and small business men and women have a common interest in opposing the control and domination of the big corporations. It is vital that the Communist Party be also strengthened by better organisation, by putting forward practical policies, by applying Marxism and by combatting the ideology and misleading arguments of the ruling class. Some of the main policies around which many can be organised into struggle include the maintenance and expansion of democratic rights, the expansion of public ownership and the independence and sovereignty of Australia and other countries, protection of the environment and solidarity. Economic policies which improve the living standards of the people must be advanced. Another main task is to advance the ideas of the internationalism of the working class, showing that in all countries the working people have a common enemy in the transnational corporations and the conservative political parties which represent them. The Communist Party has an indispensable role to play in all these struggles leading to a successful revolutionary transition which commences the task of building a socialist society in Australia. Socialist society calls for the establishment of working class political power together with that of the social allies of the working class. It means the implementation of policies which give priority to fulfilling the needs of the ordinary people rather than the profit interests of today's capitalist ruling class. As well as helping to organise the struggles of the working people, the Party has the main responsibility to spread far and wide, knowledge of Marxism-Leninism and its enlightening and liberating ideas. At every step, the false ideology and arguments of the ruling class have to be combatted and exposed. We confidently look forward to the future convinced that many more countries will take the socialist path in the 21st century. -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:ART: 21ST CENTURY -- THE CENTURY OF SOCIALISM
Communist Party of Australia Tue, 14 Dec 1999 22:26:32 +1100