The October Revolution and the Tactics of the Russian Communists

by Joseph Stalin

WORKERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!

PREFACE TO THE BOOK
On the Road to October

Publisher's Note
This translation of J.V. Stalin's The October Revolution and the Tactics of the Russian Communists has been made from the text given in the Collected Works of J.V. Stalin Vol. 6, prepared by the Marx-Engels-Lenin Institute (Gospolitizdat, Moscow, 1947).

CONTENTS
I. The Internal and External Setting for the October Revolution...7
II. Two Peculiar Features of the October Revolution - Or October and Trotsky's Theory of "Permanent" Revolution... 12
III. Certain Peculiar Features of the Tactics of the Bolsheviks During the Period of Preparation for October...36
IV. The October Revolution as the Beginning of and the Groundwork for the World Revolution...57
Notes...65

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

66 pages, Paperback

First published December 17, 1924

About the author

Joseph Stalin, originally Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili, was a Soviet revolutionary, politician and statesman who became the leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1922–1952) and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union (1941–1953).

Initially governing the country as part of a collective leadership, he consolidated power to become an informal dictator by the 1930s. Ideologically adhering to the Leninist interpretation of Marxism, he formalised these ideas as Marxism–Leninism, while his own policies are called Stalinism.

Reviews

[Herrmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I now have a better understanding of what other failures Trotsky had and a reinforced understanding of the necessity of socialism in one country.

A short but sweet one, as you might say, though as is standard from me, a great book that should be read by many more.

[Clemens Schrage · Rating 4 out of 5]

this dude knows whatsupp

[c h r i s · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stalin’s pamphlet, The October Revolution and the Tactics of the Russian Communists in part explains the origins of Socialism in one Country, as Stalin continuing Lenin’s political line. In this case, when continuing the former's work, Stalin is to Lenin as Engels is to Marx. Stalin explains Lenin’s theory of proletarian revolution as the spark for Socialism in one Country. For example, Stalin writes:

“As far back as the period of the war, Lenin, taking as his basis the law of the uneven development of the imperialist states, opposed to the opportunists his theory of the proletarian revolution on the victory of socialism in one country, even if that country is one in which capitalism is less developed.” [J.Stalin, The October Revolution and the Tactics of the Russian Communists (1924), p.24-25, Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, 1950]

Stalin quotes from Lenin's writing on the United States of Europe Slogan (1915):

"'The victory of Socialism is possible first in several or even in one capitalist country'" [V.I. Lenin, Selected Works, Moscow 1950, p. 416-17] [Stalin, p.24]

We can trace even further back in Lenin's writing:

“socialism cannot achieve victory simultaneously in all countries. It will achieve victory first in one or several countries, while the others will remain bourgeois or pre-bourgeois for sometime.” [V.I. Lenin, Marx Engels Marxism, Military Programme of Proletarian Revolution (1916), p.386, Foreign Languages Press, Peking, 1978]

Further, Stalin builds on Lenin’s theoretical framework:

“This law proceeds from the following:
1) "Capitalism has grown into a world system of colonial oppression and of the financial strangulation of the overwhelming majority of the population of the world by a handful of 'advanced' countries" (Lenin, Preface to French edition of Imperialism, Vol. XIX, p.74);
2) "This 'booty' is shared between two or three powerful world marauders armed to the teeth (America, Great Britain, Japan), who involve the whole world in their war over the sharing of their booty" (ibid.);
3) In consequence of the growth of contradictions within the world system of financial oppression and the inevitability of armed clashes, the world front of imperialism becomes easily vulnerable to revolution, and a breach in this front in individual countries becomes probable;
4) This breach is most likely to occur at those points, and in those countries, where the chain of the imperialist front is weakest, that is to say, where imperialism is least consolidated, and where it is easiest for a revolution to expand;
5) In view of this, the victory of socialism in one country, even if this country is less developed in the capitalist sense, while capitalism is preserved in other countries, even if these countries are more highly developed in the capitalist sense — is quite possible and probable.
Such, briefly, are the foundations of Lenin's theory of the proletarian revolution.” [Stalin, p.22-23]

The historical experience of Socialism in one country of the USSR allows us to base our practice on Stalin's framework. Otherwise, the second chapter of this pamphlet is dedicated to combating Trotsky’s “theory of permanent revolution.” Stalin contrasts Trotsky with Lenin. In short, we see how Stalin is continuing Lenin’s struggle against Menshevism. Referring to Trotsky’s preface of his book titled: The Year 1905, written in 1922, Stalin writes:

“Lenin speaks of the alliance between the proletariat and the labouring strata of the peasantry as the basis of the dictatorship of the proletariat. Trotsky sees a ’hostile collision’ between ‘the proletarian vanguard’ and ‘the broad masses of the peasants.’” [Stalin, p.19]

“According to Lenin, the revolution draws its strength primarily from among the workers and peasants of Russia itself. According to Trotsky, the necessary strength can be found only ‘in the arena of the world proletarian revolution.’” [Stalin, p.19-20]

Very clear, is Trotsky's neglect for the peasantry. Not to forget, Trotsky, being the militarist he is, the crux of 'permanent revolution' is just a thin veil for German imperialism.

[Sophie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What is the fundamental strategic rule of Leninism?

It is the recognition of the following:

1) the compromising parties are the most dangerous social support of the enemies of the revolution in the period of the approaching revolutionary outbreak;

2) it is impossible to overthrow the enemy (tsarism or the bourgeoisie) unless these parties are isolated;

3) the main weapons in the period of preparation for the revolution must therefore be directed towards isolating these parties, towards winning the broad masses of the working people away from them."

Some anti revisionist inspiration for today

[Timothy Morrison]

Not really sure what to make of the whole permanent revolution thing

[Achilles Morato · Rating 5 out of 5]

resumo: trotski era um vacilão