TOPIC 5: THE RISE OF SOCIALISM
Socialism refers the fifth mode of production proposed by
Karl-max, 1818 – 1883 where by all major means of production like Land, bank,
industries etc. are public owned and there should not be Exploitation between
man and man and the highest stage of socialism is called Communism.
Therefore
socialism began in Europe after the industrial development led to the rise of
the two antagonistic social users which where the proletariat(workers) and the
capitalist or factory owners , especially after the industrial new there were
intensive exploitation of workers led workers to form their union /working
trade union to demand for their rights e.g. Britain there was the rise of
Chartism and Laddish and in France the inspiration of socialism was brought by
the French new of 1989 which advocated for liberty, equality and fraternity to
all.
Hence socialism was practiced in every part of the world , such as in
Europe, Asia and Africa and it was most successful in Russia and other parts of
eastern Europe, China, Northern Korea, Cuba and Africa.
AIMS / GOALS / OBJECTIVE OF SOCIALISM
1.Fulfilling its aim by placing all major means of
production in the hands of the people directly or through government ownership.
2. Making resource available i.e. Oil, natural resources
like minerals etc to be used according to the needs of the people.
3. Replacing capitalism with socialism where capitalism was
seen as an evil of mode of production in the society which used to make society
not to enjoy in their life.
4. To create a strong workers party; this will control the
government on behalf of all people in the society.
5. Eliminating exploitation of man by man, humiliation,
segregation, oppression in the society.
UTOPIAN SOCIALISM
UTOPIA
This means somewhere, no where land imaginary which
individual think of doing but it is not; therefore Utopia is like Smith
imaginary where things should be obtained imaginary and not practically while
Utopia socialism thought.
Refers to early ideas of socialism that developed in Europe
particularly in Britain and France Motivated mainly by the problem of
industrial class resulted from industrial revolution of the first phase, the
pro pounders /founders of autopian socialism thought were people like count
Henry de Saint Simon, Charter Fomlio Robert Owen, Louis Blano, Thomas more and
Tomes comparative.
THE MAIN IDEAS OF THESE SOCIALIST THINKERS
1. COUNT HENRY DE SEINT SIMON (1760 -1825).
He advocated the state ownership of pond process and
distribution of goods and the state should pay according to one attribute i.e.
paying base on experience skills and professional.
2. CHARLES FOURIER (1772 -1837).
He proposed the re-organization of the society into a
democratic self governing unit of about four hundred families which should be
self sufficient economically and that distribution of the profit must be done
in liberal minimum i.e. the profit must be given to each in definite proportion
to the community depending on labour, talent and capital.
3. ROBERT OWEN (1771 – 1838).
He advocated the re-organization of the society in a group
of about 500 – 3000 people; these society should own and use in common all
major means of production for the well being of all members of the community or
group and such community should be agricultural society and also carry out
other occupation so as to render it near self sufficient.
4. LOUIS BLANO.
He proposed that the state should be reconstructed or
re-organized on a democratic base, should supply working men with instruments
of labour and every individual had a natural right to work for his own benefits
but he cannot find employment on just terms at the hand of private individuals
rather the state should were to its help i.e. the state is responsible to find
a job for his people and replace or eliminate the private individuals/
capitalist; so if the state eliminate the private individual there should not
be competition among workers.
5. THOMAS MORE (1478 – 1535).
He was English states man and philosopher who saw capitalism
as an exploitative system. He concluded that equality and happiness was not
possible for women under capitalism he also advanced the ideas that the private
ownership of the major means of production should be abolished and the society
should be reorganized of collective ownership of means of production and
collective labour.
6. THOMASO COMPANELLA (1568 – 1639).
He named his imaginary society as “the city of the son”;
where in this society there should be no exploitation of man by man, people
should not be slavesbut the owners of capital, and social progress would be
base on science and the rules of such society and to be scientist too.
NOTE:-
Utopian socialism was a view which opposed class struggle
and revolutionary means because they believed that negotiations between the
capitalist and workers would be the solutions for the capitalist to change the
way of exploitation to workers and be a friendly mode of production to workers.
CONTRIBUTION OF UTOPIAN SOCIALISM TO THE RISE OF SOCIALISM
1.They criticized capitalism by showing that capitalism was
not a good mode of production because is too exploitative workers and majority
who do not own means of production. The Utopianist argued workers to
re–organize to the mode which will fit to their life.
2. They proposed on a move of human economic set up. The
Utopianist wanted reorganization of the society and mostly liked a society
characterized by collection.
3. Utopianist expressed the features of ideal society for
the good future of the society in which such ideal society must not be ex-send
by exploitation of man by man, oppression, humiliation, segregation and should
maintain natural rights.
4. They conscioutised and awake and the society to protest
against capitalism because capitalism is a bad mode of period which cannot feet
in the society due to its evils like humiliation, exploitation and segregation.
5. They lay a foundation to the rise of scientific socialism
which come into existence after it had learn the failure of utopian socialism
e.g. The failure to use class struggle and revolutionary means to overthrow
capitalism.
CONTRIBUTION OF UTOPIAN TO THE RISE OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIALISM
1. Utopianist concerned the evils of capitalism such as
exploitation, humiliation oppression, and segregation and exposed its weakness
to the society that; capitalism is the bad system and it should be fought in
the society by all people in order to end its evilslike exploitation,
humiliation, oppression and segregation.
2. Utopianist led to a foundation for the beginning of
scientific socialism where by Utopianist provided the over for scientific
socialism especially the idea of Utopian thinkers which was re-organization of
a society so once scientific socialism come in it based on such theories.
3. Utopianist socialism created awareness and consciousness
among the workers of the world by guiding and directing them to the directions
to be done in order to fight capitalism in the future e.g. workers were
consciotized to unite together and fight together for their common enemy until
they win because workers have nothing to lose except to gain.
4. Utopianist provided some ideologieslike command economy;
where by the state should control the economy and organize the economy but also
state should be able to organize the formation of organization to the ideal
society, hence scientific socialism come to existence because on those
ideologies like the state should be the one that controlled the economy on
behalf of the people.
5. Utopianist provided a lessons to the capitalist to get
prepared in the future of exploitation of workers would continue because worker
would not tolerate with such exploitation rather they have to protest such
exploitation and if possible to over throw the system hence scientific
socialism come to base on such lesson provided by Utopianist.
6.Utopian duped a theory of scientific socialism out of an
experience of utopian thinking hence socialism become scientific socialism when
the two variables were adopted in its value i.e. this were directs and
historical materialism.
7.Utopian socialism feared bloodshed and that is why they
depended on moral persuasion to being about socialism because they feared war
as the only alternative way to remove capitalism system in the society.
8. Utopian were too theoretical and idealistic without any
clear means to achieve and implement the ideology and theories.
9. Utopian lacked mass support from the mass because they
occurred during the premature workers period of the early phase of industrial
revolution which most workers were still illiterates /ignorant to know and
fight for their rights e.g. during Luddism where majority of workers were
ignorant.
SOURCES OF UTOPIAN SOCIALISM
The source of Utopian socialism was due to industrial and
its effects during the development of capitalism in Europe as follows:-
1.Poor conditions of the facing system e.g.there were long
working hours,Absence of model service, low wages, poor transport, child labor
etc.
2.Poor working conditions and living conditions problem.
People lived in congested house with poor ventilation, sleeping on the Float a
socialist theory of Michael Hegel a Germany philosopher.
THE FAILURE / WEAKNESS OF UTOPIAN SOCIALISM
Utopian socialism had pointed out many problem social,
economic, and political problems which faced the society but had one solutions
or answers to those problems faced a society could be achieved through so
utopian socialism failed to achieve their goals which they aimed as discussed
below.
1. The use of wrong method of reforming the system. This was
because Utopianist prefer the use of discussion , morality ,negotiation or
persuasions so it could be practically impossible to achieve socialism by using
negotiations because capitalism is based on exploitation, limitation oppression
and segregation and it could not totally to be removed or formed by using wrong
method or reformed by using wrong method unless through class struggle and
revolutionary likewise Utopian socialist hated class struggle and evolutional
means as one of the way to achieve socialism.
2. Utopian socialist had a false way of hoping the attain /
achieve better society by relying on the good will of the rich or capitalism to
change the life of poor people in the society and sometimes on the lavender but
also they were faced with problem of famine and hunger while living in acute
poverty.
3. Advancement is science and technologies which removed
many workers from their employment during the industrial rev. Many workers went
on losing their jobs and the chances of getting bank their employment were
limited.
4. Mass dispossession. Majority of people were deprived from
owning the major means of period and they were made as laborers for industrial
owners.
5. Refer to the effect of industrial revolution to workers.
OBJECTIVES / AIMS / OF A UTOPIAN SOCIALIST
Utopian socialist addressed themselves to the problems which
were created by industrial revolution therefore the general objectives were to
reform the capitalist system and make it possible to the needs of poor people
in the society as elaborated below,;-
1. It aimed at elimination of private property which
insists/instigate on exploitation, oppression and segregation to the majority
in the society.
2. It aimed at creation of society under which exploitation
and oppression do not exist but people in such society will live in harmonious
life.
3. It aimed at provision of social welfare to the people
especially the poor people. This can be verified when the utopians wanted the
owners of the capital to care for the poor people by providing them with social
welfare such as free milled , free, settlement, free medicine, free education
etc.
In short the major aim of a utopian socialism was to reform
the capitalist by eliminating all evils created in the society by capitalism
& make people in the society living in harmonious life where by life which
are full of happiness, equality etc.
SCIENTIFIC SOCIALISM
This was advocated by Karl Max (1818 – 1883) and his friend
Fredrick Angles who was born in (1820 – 1895) who was aimed at destructing
capitalism and establishing a dictatorship state of workers (proletarians)
hence scientific socialism was the one which put socialism into practicein the
world as the case study was in Russia after the Russian revolution of Oct.
1917. Scientific socialism contained scientific principles of building
socialism and philosophical basisof the class struggle and revolution e.g. act
(means). These founders of scientific socialism believed that socialism can be
attained through class struggle and revolutionary means so there should be the
struggle between the workers and the capitalist in which workers should
struggle to take control of the state and the major means of production while
the capitalist wanted to remain dominant.
Ultimately there should be the revolution by workers
(proletariats) to take control of the state and major means of production, so
Karl max, Fredrick Engels and Later Vladimir Lenin succeeded to make a
revolution and build socialism in Russia in Oct. 1917 after the Bolshevik
revolution. Following the Bolshevik revolution in Russia Oct. 1917 Socialism
came into reality/existence through class struggle and revolution action in
which the capitalist was overthrown in Russia.
Max and Angels wanted workers to make revolution and
establish dictatorship state of workers in which worker could seize or get
political power and establish socialism but later socialism should transform to
its highest stage of communism , hence Max , Angels, Lenin and other socialist
theorists saw socialism as a traditional stage so they wanted a society to
establish communism in which a society would be classless, state less and would
be no private ownership of the major means of production. Society under
communion would be provided with all needs and each individual will contribute
according to his talent or ability. Also under communism there should be ideal
society whereby would be no exploitation of man by man, labor power of workers
would stop to be a commodity because workers will be working for themselves and
for their society as a whole. The private property under socialism after
proletariat revolution must be nationalized by the state controlled by workers
and the major means of production such as banks, miner, transport and
communication, industries and plantations must be under the control of workers
through state super vision.
Large scale of import – export should be also under the
public control in a society for the benefit of all people especially poor
people in the society, under socialism after scientific socialism, property
must be divided into two i.e. personal property and public property in which
the public property must include all nationalized properties from the
capitalist like banks, factories etc while the other personal property must
product and labour intended for personal consumption.
KARL MAX MAJOR IDEAS
In his analysis Max observed the followings:-
(i) Exploitation of man by man was a feature of capitalism.
(ii) It could not be possible to persuade the capitalist to
stop its evils like exploitation, humiliation, oppression and segregation.
(iii) What was to be done to put an end of capitalism in
which the major means of production was to be put under the control of workers
for their benefits and was only through class struggle and revolutionary
actions.
(iv) History has been a process of change through class
struggle, so workers and other people in a society should struggle to end the
system of capitalism and write a new history in a society.
(v) Capitalist are to be over threw by the exploited class
who are oppressed, humiliated and exploited, in order to establish socialism.
(vi) All wealth and property in the society is created by
labor of the working class who in capitalism own neither factory nor tools of
production, hence workers should write together to own and control wealth and
property created by labor power.
(vii) The personal greatly and selfishness at the people
must be replaced by religion and other ideas of ideal society.
(viii) Workers own only their labor power which they do sell
to the capitalist as a commodity so they live only by working to the capitalism
hence they must unit together to fight capitalism and eliminate all like bank
industries etc in order for workers to enjoy for their life. Max argued that
capitalism was creating condition to socialism to exist because of the evils of
capitalism in the society and also argued that once all capitalist class had
been broken and overthrown then no longer any exploitative class in society
rather socialism would have reduced in climax (peak) and dictatorship of
proletariat would not be necessary in the society rather socialism had to
transform to its highest stage known as communism in which the following
characteristics, features or elements should be observed.
(i) Production is at the highest stage and according to his
needs.
(ii) Classless society would come to existence.
(iii) Manual and intellectual labor would have no
difference.
(iv) The difference between town and country (rural) would
be eliminated.
(v) All other qualities produced by capitalism would be
eliminated.
(vi) There must be high science and technology in society.
(vii) There would be no law, police, prison or army because
under communalism there is no need of having state and instruments of force.
MAX AND PROLETARIATES (working class)
Socialism has propounded by Karl Max become attractive to
working class more than other socialist in the world, hence the following were
the suggestions of Max to the workers.
(i) Max organized the first group of socialist from
different countries which was known as International working class of the
socialist formed on 1864 in London.
(ii) Max manifests become wide spread as the socialist
document in the world, calling all workers of the world to unite together and
fight capitalism with its evils until they win because labor (chains).
(iii) From 1848 there were a lot of revolutions in the world
including France, China etc. where by the workers were demanding for their
rights 15 years after the end of the first international , 2 nd international
workers must was found under Fredrick Engels because Max has died so in 1893
the 2 nd international workers must was put into practice in Switzerland which
was attended by socialist must of different countries who represented their
countries e.g. in Russia there was the social democratic party which was under
V.I Lenin. Later on VI Lenin carried out the first socialist revolution in
Russia.
Generally Max interpretation of history indicated that
socialist revolution could take place first in the most highly development
countries like Britain and France however this did not happen due to many
reasons such as;-
(i) Improvement of working condition of workers.
(ii) Introduction of collective bargaining.
(iii) Introduction of Western democracy etc.
With those factors the first socialism occurred in Russian
in Oct. 1917 after the Bolshevik revolution.
THE THEORY OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIALISM
This was written as scientific socialism when the communist
manifest was published by KarlMax and Fredrick Engels. The philosophical bases
of scientific socialism is class struggle and revolutionary action as the most
effective way of building socialism, according to Max and Engels in the absence
of class struggle and revolutionary action if is impossible to build scientific
socialism. From the analysis of Karl Max (1883 -1818) and Engels (1820 -1895)
the following were observed.
(i) Destruction of capitalism can only be achieved by
revolutionary actions and class struggle since exploitative class i.e.
capitalist would not voluntarily surrender.
(ii) The working class is the only revolutionary force
capable of overthrowing capitalism because workers has the majority in the
society but there the one who are exploited, humiliated, oppressed and own
nothing except their labor power until they win.
(iii) The working class will have to form a common front
with its alliance with peasant and other progressive social groups must join
together to over throw capitalism.
(iv) Overthrown of capitalist state will be replaced by
dictatorship of the proletariat which must defend and protect the interest of
masses.
(v) The government of workers must ensure the followings:-
(a) The major means of period and distribution of wealth and
property are put in hands of workers and peasants.
(b) Labor is no longer treated as a commodity.
(c)The economic structure must dissolve the contradictions
in the society because the socialist government of workers must plan the
economy for all people in the society.
THE ORIGIN /GENESIS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIALISM
(i) German Ideology of dialectics.
(ii) The contribution of French revolution of 1789.
(iii) Utopian socialism with its ideal.
(iv) The English political economist.
(v) The contribution of Karl Max and Fredrick Engels.
1. Contribution of Germany Ideology of dialectics.
This Ideology was put forward philosopher known as Michael
Hegel whereby Hegel with his Ideology of dialect insisted on changes in the
society is inevitable and always this changes arise out of contradictions,
Hegel used three concepts to verify the theory of dialects which are thesis
–Antithesis thesis from the German Ideology Max borrowed. The concept of
dialects - and used them to develop the concept of Historical and direction
materialism which is called correct outlook of the world, the concept of
historical materialism stated that matter is in a constant motion or change and
people should understand the laws governing nature. Max Later concluded that
the change from capitalism to socialism was inevitable even by revolution
because the society as a matter keeps on a constant change.
2. Contribution of French revolution of 1789 in building
socialism.
The French revolution which advocated for equality force for
the rise of scientific socialism, this was because after French had made a
revolution it managed to establish French socialism which stay for start time
of only 72 days but it collapsed so Karl max fear its weaknesses involved in
French socialism that the French socialism after the revolution of 1789 failed
because it was led by idealistic way of thinking and not scientific approach.
From this weakness Max disposed a scientific theory of building socialism which
insisted workers to struggle not make revolution/ in order to remove the
capitalist more scientifically and not by emotion or immorality.
3. Contribution of Utopian socialism.
This intended to build socialism through moral approach /
discussion / persuasion to the capitalist. Karl Max criticized their wrong way/
approach that it was practically impossible to ask the exploiters to stop
exploitation and oppression since they were the one who benefited of the
capitalist system and usually capitalism operated through exploitation from
this weakness Karl Max and Engels depend the method of class struggle and
revolutionary action as the scientific way of building socialism in the world.
4. The contribution of the English political economist The
contribution of the English political economic from the English political
economist Karl Max criticized them because of their weakness and because they
were emphasizing capitalism in the society, there were like Adam Smith, David
Ricardo and Robert Malthus because their theory justified capitalist
exploitation in the society.
(a) Adam Smith
In his book of the “wealth of the nations” published in 1776
said that all business and economic activities are regulated by the natural
Laws which are the Law of supply and demand & the Law of competition that
is in any business price will be fixed by the supply and demand; so Smith
argued that every man should be free to do what he thought to be the best for
himself e.g. to involve in business or to involve in capitalism.
(b) Robert Malthus.
He was an Anglican clergyman who become a professor of
economics in his book titled as “An essay on the principle of population”
published in 1798 he wrote that the greatest obstacle to human progress was the
increase of population, therefore he argued that population was increasing
geometrically while production and food supply was increasing arithmetically
e.g.
Population Production and food supply according to each individual.
Then he comes out with the possible solutions to the
problems.
(i) He advocated wars, famine and hunger, diseases
especially epidemic diseases etc. all these aimed to reduce population size.
(c) David Ricardo.
He advocated the theory of comparative advantages where in
his book titled as “principle of political economy and taxation” of 1870 he
recommended that each region as to dwell/continue on producing what is suitable
for each region i.e. Agrarian societies should remain agrarian and industrial
societies should remain industrial.
Therefore Karl Max come out with the theory of scientific
which aspired for building a socialist state under exploitation of man by man,
oppression, and segregation of people in a society should not exist.
5. The contribution of Karl max and Fredrick Engels.
These thinkers were the initiatives of scientific socialism
who advocated their time to write and expand the idea of building socialism
through the principle of scientific socialism hence the ideas of Max and Engels
were taken and put into practice by people who aimed and volunteered to build
socialism in the world history e.g. Lenin, who built socialism in Russia after
the Bolshevik revolution of Oct. 1917.
According to Karl Marx, construction of scientific socialism
must be led by scientific principles these are economic base, mode of
production, class conflict and class struggle, revolution strategy, agent of
revolution.
1. Economic base
The contribution of scientific socialism depended on
economic base of particularly society according to Max if the economic is weak
do not dream to build scientific socialism but if the economic base of a
particular society is strong the scientific socialism will be constructed base
in a society were economy, therefore the poor struggle to achieve better
economic situation but if the economic base is weak no struggle of the society.
2. Mode of production.
This is one of the determinant factor for building
scientific socialism because mode of production determines human nature at a
particular stage & conflict tend to exist in such mode of production e.g.
in capitalism exploitation, humiliation and segregation are very high this led
to antagonistic class struggle between the capitalists and the workers so the
class conflict in capitalism become sharper and sharp created a conducive
environment for socialism revolution. Max concluded that scientific socialism
is possible to be launched successful under capitalism because of its evils in
the society.
3. Class conflict and class struggle.
According to Max the production process determined the
existence of class and class conflict which these two led to the rise of class
struggle in the society and according to him the class difference and conflict
is the result of economic factor or reasons therefore the class conflict. Class
struggle and class are related to the questions like who produce what and who
has got what. This resulted to scientific socialism in order to end the class
conflict and class struggle which the result of capitalism and its evils in the
society.
4. Revolution strategy.
By revolution we means the total overthrow of the rulling
class from power and those who were rolled by that ruling class, so Max wanted
workers to have a clear strategylike what time should the revolution take place
and where to start the revolution and who should take power after the
revolution.
5. Agents of the revolution.
According to Max scientific socialism must be led by most
exploited and oppressed people who are the proletariat class because this class
is the once which feels the pains of the capitalist like humiliations,
segregation, oppression and exploitation. This class where they get tired of
capitalism they must decide to overthrow the capitalism and thus why for Max
the exploited class is the correct agent for the socialist revolution.
SOCIALISM IN PRACTICE
RUSSIAN REVOLUTION IN OCT. 1917
A revolution is a political term which can be defines as the
total over throw of the existing government by those who were previously
subjected to it. The Russia socialist revolution took place in 26 th Oct. 1917
under the Bolsheviks. This revolution however preceded by another revolution
which took place in Feb. 1917 but this was not successful like the Bolsheviks’
because of its weakness in the society/ to the Russians but both of these
revolution come into existence because of the problems faced Russians b4 and
during 1917.
THE RUSSIAN SOCIETY BEFORE AND DURING 1917
1. Peasants
This were the majority in Russia who used primitive method
of cultivation like hand hoe without any mechanizationin agriculture like the
use of tractors, no use of machines for planting and harvesting;
(i) The economy of the peasant was very Low because of the
use of primitive methods of cultivation.
(ii) At the beginning of the 19 th Russian agriculture was
still low in comparison with other western European countries.
(iii)Land distribution was unfair because a large number of
acres of land which belongs to the millions of peasants were taken by the
ruling class and given to the few Land Lords who were about 30,000 hence there
were serious Land shortage among the peasants which led them to support the
Oct. 1917 revolution in Russia.
2. The Proletariat
(i) This was a very small number of people in the 20 th C.
(ii) This group of workers was concentrated in very few
areas especially in towns.
(iii) They had very Low standard of Living because they earn
a little.
(iv) Workers had to supplement their wages with cultivation
of small plots in the country side but also the cultivation was done by
primitive way (hand hoe) hence they supported a revolution seriously in order
to get out all these problems.
3. The big Land Lords (Land Lords)
This group comprised of the rural capitalist who own rural
farms and most of the peasant had to work in their forms for their benefits and
this group was small in number in Russian society.
4. The capitalist class / Bourgeoisie class.
This class was weak and small which operated its economic
activity by using foreign capital because Russia by that time were very much
behind of the western industrial stage of capitalism so their influence to the
ruling class was negligible.
5. The Russian Orthodox Church.
This comprises the bishops and upper clergy this Orthodox
Church (class) had cooperated with the ruling class in Russia to oppress the
normal Russians.
6. The Adminisrators.
This class composed of the Tsa (csar) or the King and the
nobility, in this class the parliament (DUMA) had unlimited power because it
based only on restricted electorate and its role was to make Laws and order
only while all the powers of implementing those powers were given to the ruling
class under the Tsay. The revolution intended to overthrow the ruling class,
hence the revolution of Russia was took place when Russian was partially feudal
state in Rural areas and partiality a capitalist state especially in urban
areas however a large percent of Russia was under feudalism.
Socialist ideas were introduced in Russia by political
socialist who were in exile and who made socialist from other countries.
NOTE: The Russia Revolution was led by a social democratic
Labor party which some years before revolution had already split into two
groups which are the Bolsheviks and Men shevicks however both of them agreed
that at feudal and at capitalist revolution was necessary for establishing
socialist.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN SHEVICKS AND BOLISHEVICKS
Men shevicks, these socialist thought that contradictions in
Russia were not ripe for socialist revolution due to Lack of Large industrial
working class and industrial sector, So they felt that capitalist should led
the revolution against feudalism in the country and later on workers will be
able to gain experience for Later socialist revolution.
Bolsheviks, these are extreme socialist, this group was led
by V.J. Lenin. The Bolshevik criticized the men shevicks for treating Marxism
as a dogma (doctrine) which means theories said by Marx should not be changed
VI Lenin argued that Karl-max once said. In time of revolution there must be
flexibility.
This group believed that the capitalist could not play a
progressive ant feudal lord in Russia because the capitalist asked with the
ruling class under Tsa Nicholaus II to oppress, humiliateand exploit the normal
Russians (Majority) hence Lenin and his group believed that the revolution
should be Learn by the party of the working class which must make alliance with
the poor peasant.
In short the problems faced the Russians between 1860 up to
1917.
1. The peasants were not independent because they had no
Land, they were exploited by the ruling feudal class, they were terribly living
in poor conditions where by their life were very bad under acute poverty.
2. There was not real freedom to the serfs who usually they
offered their works to the feudal Lord but their life was in Low standard.
3. Serfs were almost slaves where they had no rights in
their life, in spite of the emancipation of 1861 movement to demand for their
rights but they were not given their rights but they were not given their
rights e.g. not given Land, freedom of human rights etc and they continued to
pay a fee for 49 years for the benefit of the ruling class.
4. The Russian society also faced a lot of problem in their
life e.g. humiliation, segregation, exploitation oppression etc. where by the
feudal ruling class in collaboration with capitalist and feudal lords used to
humiliate, segregate and exploit the normal Russians.
5. Workers were not allowed to form their trade unions in
order to demand for their rights despite of the problems they faced while working
in industries.
6. Russia was not well developed and it was characterized by
backwardness economy and under development because during this the Russia was
still depending on Agrarian economy.
7. Russian people were forced to pay high taxation which led
them to be deprived their rights and freedom of speech by Tsa regime, orthodox
church and the feudal lords because Russians who had nothing to own were forced
by the ruling class to pay high tax for their benefit.
8.There was a miserable life to all Russians e.g. people
lived and sleeping in congested houses with no ventilation no sufficient food,
no education to children, people were punished publicly by the feudal Lords
etc, all these problems Led the people of Russia to support the Oct. 1917
revolution in Russia.
CAUSES / FACTORS / REASONS / BACKGROUND FOR RUSSIAN
REVOLUTION OF 1917
1. A poor leadership of Tsa Nicholaus II.
The poor leadership led to the Russian revolution of 1917.
This is because when Russia was under the rule of Tsa Nicholaus II the capitalist
and feudal Lords allied with the Tsa Nicholaus to exploit and oppress the
ordinary people in Russian this ordinary people were poor, having no land,
faced poor working condition hence the intensive exploitation and oppression by
Tsa led the Russians to support the revolution in Oct. 1917.
Moreover the Tsa regime refused to introduce Reforms and
changes in Russia, These led Tsa Nicholaus to adopt a bogus or sham democracy
which increased the problem in the society because in this democracy the Tsa would
dissolve the DUMA at any time he wish to do so e.g. The fist DUMA was
introduced in 1906 but dissolved in the same year by Tsa Nicholaus II other
Dumas which was introduced in 1907 lived for short period be being dissolved
again, these led the increase of strikes, boycott and demonstrations and blood
killings increased in Russia especially from 1905 which paved a way for Oct.
1917 revolution.
2.The effects of the World War 1 of 1914 –1918.
The World War 1 accelerated to the Oct, revolution in Russia
because during this war Russia allied with the triple entente of Britain,
France and USA to fight against the triple alliance of Germany, Italy and
Austria-Hungary. In the war Russian army which fought in the two general fronts
which was in the East against Germany and South against Austria-Hungary but in
his front Russian army was defeated by Germany, where by many soldiers were
lived and many others were wounded. But also the war increased expenditure
which led the decline of economy in Russia while the coast of living increased
e.g. workers in factories for long working hours to earn little in order for
them to survive and goods distribution was inefficient which led long lines for
bread in Russia cities especially in petrograd.
This increased strikes of workers who demanded for bread,
The war also led soldiers who were living in villages to increase strikes
demanding for their rights which they were promised to be given after the war
hence the increase of boycotts, demonstrations and strikes which become the all
of the day in major cities led Tsa Nicholaus II to resign from power on March
1917 officially 15/03/1917 and his power was taken by prince Lvov.
3. The weakness of the formed provisional government.
This was formed after the resignation of Tsa Nicholaus II
had a lot of weakness revolution, Prince Lvov who assumed leadership on July
1917 and thereafter Kerensky led the provision government not interested to
make changes in Russia and become un popular to the majority in Russia due to
the followings:-
(a) This government was in favor of continuous WWI which
could not loving peace in Russia while people were no longer with the war.
(b) This government could not provide food and guarantee
land to the majority in Russia.
(c) The government failed to solve the fundamentals of
Russians who were the majority like to remove inflection, un employment hence
once Bolshevik come in exposed the weakness of the provisional government to
the majority and succeeded to mobilize them for more support in 1917 Oct. revolution
e.g. V.I Lenin who a lived in Russia April 1917 from exile in Switzerland
through Germany he organized the Bolshevikwho promised them food, peace and
land restoration therefore in Oct. 1917 the Masses allied with him in Bolshevik
revolution.
4. The good and strong leadership of V.I Lenin and other
committed socialist to make a revolution.
The strong and committed leadership under the Bolshevik
party led the revolution of Oct 1917 because these Bolshevik leaders wanted
nothing except the revolution e.g. Leaders like V.I Lenin, Joseph Stalin and
Trotsky worked likea five in order to active a socialist revolution regardless
a number of obstacle they faced like improvement, exile in Finland and Later on
Switzerland, Trotsky escaped to America and Joseph escaped worked day and night
even in exile and even when they come back secretly they did not surrender
rather they continued until they succeeded to make a revolution in Oct. 1917.
E.g. Lenin when he arrived from exilehe outlived his program
to the Bolshevikat the railways station in April 1917.
(i) Breads for workers, Land for workers,good life for
Russians, good education for Russian children hence his program attracted the
majority in Russia who supported him in a revolution.
5. The teaching of Karl-max and Engels.
Contributed much in the Oct. 1917 Russian revolution because
Max and Engels inspired a lot in the development of socialist thought in
Russian e.g. in their famous books “ Das capital” and “Communist manifesto” Max
and Engels spread the revolution ideas of establishing a communist state which
would be out of capitalist evils hence it was those ideas that V.I Lenin used
to implement in consciously Russians to participate in the Oct. 1917 Russian
revolution. In fact if Karl-max and Engels had not propounded the ideas of
socialism then it could not be possible for socialism to be successful in
Russia.
6. The Russia – Japanese war (conflict) 1905.
In this conflict/ war Russian was miserable defeated by
Japan, this accelerated to Oct. 1917 revolution in Russia because many Russian
become annoyed and disappointed with Tsar regime (government) and they lost
hope with Tsa’s regime due to the fact that this war led to the decline of
Russian economy, the life of normal Russian become difficult. Most of the soldiers
were not given their good economic aspects like Land which were promised to be
given after the war Russian government had to borrow money to run the
government from the capitalist so all the people in Russia were to look for
another alternative way to remove the Tsa regime from political power hence
they supported Oct. 1917 revolution.
7. The miserable economic condition of Russia.
Before the revolution Russia was under feudalism in most
parts of Russia except the few towns where a small number of workers worked
under a foreign capitalist invested in Russia. So majority of Russians lived in
acute poverty, faced with hunger and famine, natural calamities was common to
the people of Russia all these miserable economic conditions in Russia promised
people to ask for change so as to be in better life. The only way for a change
was through the Oct. 1917 Revolution.
THE EFFECTS OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION TO RUSSIANS
1. The revolution managed to over throw the provisional
government of Kerensky and established the Bolshevik government under VI Lenin.
2. Russia was immediately able to restore peace, security
and bring unity among Russians after withdrawing from World War 1.
3. Russia was nationalized all the private properties such
as crow land, Land Lord Land, churches Land without compensation and gave it to
the peasant through peasant committee. Likewise the foreign investments which
was industries were nationalized but because the industries nationalized
belongs to western power it led to the occurrence of the war between the white
(Army of Western investors) against the Reds (Bolshevik army) from 1918 – 1920
however the Bolshevik won.
4. The Church and the state were separated while religions
and education in school was abolished (secular state).
5. Class differences in the society were abolished in which
equality between man by man, sexes was observed and a decree (Law) was passed
against inheritance of property.
6. The revolution led the communist of the Bolshevik party
to be able to consolidate themselves in power by using different mechanism e.g.
using special secret police called cheka, to imprison, to killor exile anti
communist leadership where by some people exiled early and all anticommunist
element in Russian society was eliminated.
7. In 1921 Lenin introduced a special program known as the
new economic policy (NEP) by which a limited degree of capitalism was allowed
e.g. people were allowed to own small enterprises, small scale industry, not
allowed to own and control the key economic sectors e.g. banking, heavy
industries, foreign trade etc.
Addition: In promoting the development of the country the
five years development plan was started by the Bolshevik starting from (1928 –
1932, 1932 –1937, 1937 – 1942, 1942 – 1947, 1947 – 1952). In this program the Bolshevik
mobilized people but also the Bolshevik were responsible to evaluate the
success of the goals by directing people to involve in expected goals of
development.
8. The Bolshevik party had a socialist democratic structure
for mass participation in discussion, decision making and implementation of the
goals, this structure was from the grass root levelto the national level which
always ensured discipline and national unit within the party but it also
directed Russian foreign policy, education and others in Russian society.
THE IMPACT OF RUSSIAN REVOLUTION OF OCT. 1917 WORLD WIDE
1. The revolution led to spread of socialist & communist
ideas in different parts of the world especially in eastern Europe Asia,
Southern America and in Africa e.g. the spread of Asia to Asian where by
several states emerged as a socialist statelike China, North Korea, Cambodia,
Vietnam, Raos, Northern America to Cuba, Southern America it spread to Chile
and in Africa was in Mozambique, Tanganyika, Angola, Ghana, Egypt etc.
2. The Oct. revolution of 1917 Led to cold war politics in
the world between the Eastern camp led by USSR and the Western camp under U.S.A
where by these two camps followed different ideology thus why led to the
emergence of cold war politics.
3. Revolution of 1917 led to the formation of military
alliance between the eastern camp and western camp where each camp formed a
military alliance to defend and e.g. the eastern camp with socialist ideology
formed the WARSAW PACT in (1950’s) while the western camp with capitalism
ideology formed NATO in 1948.
4.The revolution of 1917 led to decolonization process in
the colonized areas in Africa and Asia; where by Russia helped the nationalist
morally and materially like provided food, money, advice and guns to the nationalist
in order to defeat colonialism because Russia believed that colonialism and
capitalism is like brother and sister due to the fact that it colonized people,
humiliating them, looking for labor, raw materials, expanding market in
different colonized areas for the world.
5. Russian revolution of 1917 led to nationalization of all
private properties and wealth in other socialist countries in the world e.g.
private property are land, bank, factory were nationalized and put under the
control of the government in different socialist country for the benefit of the
people in those countries .
6. The revolution of 1917 led to formation of NAM (Non
Aligned Movement) in the third world countries or poor nations where by these
poor countries formed NAM in order to government economic, political, social
and technical assistance from both socialist and capitalist countries.
7. The revolution of 1917 led to the emergence of the two
enmity blocks in the system of production and administration where by the
socialist invited themselves under the eastern bloc while capitalism led the
followers of the system to unite themselves under the western block, this two
block existed until early 1990’s when socialism collapsed in Russia due to
economic and political reforms occurred in the world.
EFFECTS OF RUSSIAN REVOLUTION IN AFRICA
1. It intensified/ increased ant colonial struggles for
those who were fighting for self determination and self rule whereby Russia
provided more support and moral support to African nations in order to fight
against colonialist due to the fact that colonialism and capitalism are two
sides of the same coin.
2. It intensified / increased to spread of socialist
ideology and adoption of socialism in various African nation e.g. Ujamaa
village which was the result of family hood in Tanzania, common mans charter in
Uganda Harambee (Kenya) and Humanism in Zambia.
3. Created a political awareness in Africa especially when
many Africans began to go in Russia for education, this was because Russia
provided scholarship to Africans to go in Russia to study many things including
socialism.
4. In increased the enmity in African nations due to the
fact that there some African nations which followed capitalist ideology and
others followed socialism. Those nations which followed socialism were not in
good learning with those nation followed capitalism e.g. Due to that ideology
in East Africa let to the collapse of former EAC in 1977.
SIGNIFICANCE OF RUSSIAN REVOLUTION OF OCT. 1917 IN THE WORLD
1. The Russian revolution brought a new social and political
system in the world because after Russian revolution which witnessed at the
first time the theory of scientific socialism to put into practice in the world
history led the birth of socialism as a new social and political system.
2. The Russian led to polarization of the world in to
conflicting ideological camps; which were socialism in one hand with Eastern
black and capitalism with western block so there was a great advantage to
different nations of the world because those nations which were under socialism
were to get assistance both material support and moral from USSR, and those
nations which were under capitalism were to get assistance from U.S.A for both
economic, social, political and technical development.
3.The Russian led to demonstration that socialism can be
build even under unprompted conditions that is can be built anywhere because by
that time of socialist revolution in Russia, Russia was still dominated by
feudal mode of production in large parts but it managed to build socialism.
4.The Russian led to the formation of NAM in the LDC in
which the intention of formation of NAM was to look for a middle cause of the
cold war politics involved in the super powers but also it aimed to attract
economic, social, political and technical assistance from both super powers of
the world in that time which was USSR and U.S.A to the power nation.
5. The Russian inspired and accelerated liberation struggles
and decolonization process in colonized areas of Africa and Asia by providing
both material and moral support to the nationalist e.g. the concept of the
national question advocated by Joseph Stalin called upon the colonized people
to fight against colonialism as well as imperialism led by U.S.A which wanted
colonies to be free for her to invest, to exploit, to get labor, market and raw
materials.
6. There was ideological reliance, this advocated by Russia
after the revolution of Oct 1917 led newly nation in Africa and Asia to rely on
USSR in matters related to socialist construction all wise Russia provided
tangible support to the newly nations of African and Asia by providing those
newly nations grants and aids also Asia vice technical assistance, military
assistance of so that these newly nation could defect colonialism and imperialism
led by U.S.A.
7. There.....
TO BE CONTINUE...
THE CHINESE REVOLUTION 1949
The situation in China before Revolution:-
1. Before the revolution; China was ruled by oppressive and
exploitation feudal system which were disliked by the workers. This feudal
class comprised the feudal dynasty (class) at home but also there were
imperialist powers which had invested in China, these imperialist powers
exploited the workers by giving them low wages Working long hours and living in
poor condition or situation.
2. The serfs were tortured, harassed and over worked by the
Land Lords.
3. All the land belong to the land Lords and majority of the
peasants were land less hence they obliged to work under the feudal lords who
paid them low wages and made them to work long hours etc this increased enmity
among the Chinese.
4. Geographical condition; China had harsh climatic
conditions which led droughts, famine hunger and starvation but also floods and
epidemic diseases were common among the Chinese.
5. There were rampant unemployment among the people in China
hence the huge number or majority of China had no employment and they lived
like beggars.
6. There were poor provision of infrastructure and social
services in China. E.g. there were no good roads, ports and harbor,
telecommunication no education facilities which made majority illiterates and
poor medical care which led massive death among the people in China.
7. China was highly divided into two classes whereby at the
top there was King, group of literate, Land Lords and at the bottom were the
serfs who were the majority being exploited by the land Lords.
8. Chinese industries were poorly developed; whereby these
industries used low and poor technology but also industries were un evenly
developed and distributed however these industries were owned by the capitalist
in the West who invested in China and therefore industries played a minimal
role in national economy because they were very backwardness and they were not
own by the people of China rather foreigners.
9. Japan was a traditional enemy of China where she used to
attack China for raw materials e.g. In 1931 Japan attacked Manchuria which was
the part of China etc.
CAUSES OF THE CHINESE REVOLUTIONIN 1949
1. Good leadership of Mao Tse-Tung.
Mao managed to mobilize the peasants in the country side to
against the feudal dynasty and later they succeeded to make a revolution in
1949.
2. The philosophy of Confucianism.
These philosophies developed among the people in China which
was insisting on cooperation, unit working hard and resting exploitation,
humiliation and oppression of the feudal class and the foreign imperialist;
hence the philosophy of Confucianism led people in China to unite themselves
under the comrade of Mao Tse-Tung to make the Chinese Revolution in 1949.
3. An autocratic rule of the feudal class in China; during
the feudal class the Chinese were oppressed exploited, tortured, harassed by
the feudal class in their country, they had no freedom to talk and propose
anything about the development of their country therefore they united under the
leadership of Mao Tse-Tung to make the Chinese revolution in 1949.
4. The problems of the Chinese /Massive.
During the feudal rule the Chinese society faced with a lot
of problems like unemployment, Famine and hunger, floods in the country,
droughts, epidemic diseases, poor provision of social /services and Chinese
society to be unsatisfied with the ruling feudal class therefore decided to
unite together under the leadership of Mao Tse-Tung to make Chinese revolution
in 1949.
5. The teaching of Karl-max and Engels accelerated to
Chinese revolution because Mao who was a founder of Chinese revolution read the
books of Karl max and Engels which was about the revolution as the solution to
establish socialism in the world history; therefore Mao understand well the
theory of Max and Engels who insisted on revolution to insist socialism hence
Mao used the teachings of Karl-max to mobilize and unite his fellow Chinese to
make the revolution in 1949.
6. The failure of Chinese rule to end the conflict with
Japan was also another cause for Chinese revolution 1949. During the feudal
rule in China; Japan which was the traditional enemy of China used to attack
and annex some parts of China for raw materials likecoal and iron ore and the
Chinese rule kept quite during those enormities e.g. In 1931 when Japan
attacked Manchuria, 1937, 1936 and 1940’s hence the people accrued the feudal
ruling class for failure to dissolve the conflict hence they have support Mao
Tse-Tung for Chinese revolution in 1949.
POLITICAL & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA SINCE 1949
The revolution in China which was conducted by Chinese
communist party under comrade Mao Tse-Tung for almost 30 years (from 1921 –
1949) was mostly centered in struggle in rural areas, hence it was peasant
based revolution and therefore far within 30 years Mao Tse-Tung become popular
and government large mass support.
NB; - There was no specific training for those who wanted to
join the revolution; it involved all peasants. It started in the rural areas
and spread to town; this is because the revolution in China involved more
peasants rather than the working class and this is why Marxist scholars have
argued that the Chinese revolution was against the Marxist way of conducting a
socialist revolution.
After the revolution, the following political and economic
development was seen in China, this was due to the various strategies adopted
in order to build China.
1. Industrialization policy
This policy Chinese did the followings:-
(a) Nationalized all the industries which were previously
under, the imperialist and Japanese control, these industries were put under
the control of the government in Municipalities and rural areas.
(b) At Shanghai and Hong Kong a modification of the control
of the private own of industries were done whereby workers were allowed to
supervise their employers activities, working conditions, raw material and sell
the finished goods.
(c) The soviets (USSR) model of heavy industries was adopted
during 1953 to 1957 that is there were five years development plan;this was
capital intensive which led to heavy industrialization in China.
(d) The great leap forward of 1958-1960 was adopted; this
policy was first industrialization whereby people were allowed to use their own
initiatives towards industrialization.
2. On Land policy
The Chinese government under the communist party led by Mao
Tse-Tung did the following strategies on land;
(i) All the land was taken from the land lords and given to
the peasants.
(ii) The great revolution on land was done where by the
rapid change in agricultural period was adopted such as to improve the
varieties of seeds in order to increase production, the use of fertilizers,
prevention of soil erosion, land reclamation, deep ploughing, plant protection,
close plating, floods control in the river of Yang Tse– Kiang, Si-Kiang and
HwangHo, pest and diseases control, irrigation system and seeds improvement.
1. Industrialization policy
This policy Chinese did the followings:-
(a) Nationalized all the industries which were previously
under, the imperialist and Japanese control, these industries were put under
the control of the government in Municipalities and rural areas.
(b) At Shanghai and Hong Kong a modification of the control
of the private own of industries were done whereby workers were allowed to
supervise their employers activities, working conditions, raw material and sell
the finished goods.
(c) The soviets (USSR) model of heavy industries was adopted
during 1953 to 1957 that is there were five years development plan;this was
capital intensive which led to heavy industrialization in China.
(d) The great leap forward of 1958-1960 was adopted; this
policy was first industrialization whereby people were allowed to use their own
initiatives towards industrialization.
2. On Land policy
The Chinese government under the communist party led by Mao
Tse-Tung did the following strategies on land;
(i) All the land was taken from the land lords and given to
the peasants.
(ii) The great revolution on land was done where by the
rapid change in agricultural period was adopted such as to improve the
varieties of seeds in order to increase production, the use of fertilizers,
prevention of soil erosion, land reclamation, deep ploughing, plant protection,
close plating, floods control in the river of Yang Tse– Kiang, Si-Kiang and
HwangHo, pest and diseases control, irrigation system and seeds improvement.
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