But Lenin wrote (in State and Revolution) that the withering away of
the state begins at the very instance when the proletariat ("the armed
working class") takes power. The Commune-state is "a state of a new
type." The soviet state, alas, though not "strangled at birth" by the
Wilsons and Churchills was subjected to grave injuries that led to its
violent death at the hands of the Stalinist counterrevolution in the
years 1935-1939.
Shane Mage
Comment
In my opinion history itself has revealed that Lenin was historically wrong
on more than a couple of propositions. For instance the famous proclamation
that Soviet Power + electrification of the country side = communism was never
correct. Lenin was also incorrect in stating "let us proceed to build the
socialist order." It was a good sentiment, but impossible as Lenin himself
discovered. Hence NEP. Then of course world communism was historically
incorrect
on the resolution of the agrarian question.
Questions of reform or revolution has been posted historically incorrect. Me
think that after 100 years it is high time we looked at matters with fresh
eyes and on the basis of a time frame the better part of 100 years since
Lenin's death.
I generally prefer Marx and Engels over Lenin . . . . all the time. .
How can the state wither away outside of that which is fundamental to what
gives rise to the state in the first place? Nor is the issue bounded primarily
by the existence of capitalist states.
WL.
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