: What is required is a blue print for a new state with definite immediate changes and long term changes considered. Once this has been done any violence or pacifist direct action would be effective because it would be more than just demonstrating dissatisfaction.I agree, Leninism more than anything else provides a blue print for action. It's all well and good to know what you want to replace capitalism with, but how will it happen?
One of the basic tenets of Leninism is that the working class will not achieve class consciousness spontaneously, only trade union consciousness. Basically, as soon as their economic interests are satisfied they cease the struggle. A class consciousness defends the interests of the entire class.
So a revolutionary organisation (Rev Org) is needed. For education. For agitation. For a scientific method of achieving socialism, not some utopian "lets hope it works" version. For neccessity in a society where ruling class ideology dominates, and so commonly co-opts, by simple bribes, leading members of the social movements.
A Rev Org intervenes wherever struggle takes place to propagate revolutionary marxist ideas. An example of the need for a Leninist party is shown up in a particular common mistake found in different struggles today.
It is the question of who we are appealing to when the working class engages in struggle, the Government or the masses? For marxists that question is an easy one, but ask the "moderate" left and the petition and letter writing campaigns are top of the list in terms of activity. The Rev Org appeals and agitates to and for the masses. Marxism is a science and so must be the nature of class struggle.
To say that Leninism has failed is to under-analyse the question of what happened to the Soviet Union. Essentially Lenin is blamed for the rise of Stalin. To say this, you would have to dismiss the 3 year "civil war" (it was not a civil war but a class war) which left the country in ruins (and destroyed the second most important requirement for socialism - abundance) and the failure of international socialism (the most important requirement of socialism).
One of the most maligned Leninist ideals is the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Put simply, it is seen as an unacceptable way to "seize power" (and hold it). And this is the mistake. If a socialist revolution occurs, by its very definition, democratic control by the masses exists and the socialist restructuring of society proceeds.
There can be no more "minority coups" where the majority already holds power. (Don't forget under capitalism & Fuedalism a tiny minority holds power and so allows the possibility of a coup)
So the only way to defeat a socialist revolution is class warfare. The 1918-1921 Russian civil war included 18 armies from 14 countries with the support of the petty bourgeois socialists (white army). How the Red Army managed to win has passed into legend but in reality the seeds of defeat were sown.
In a world where the Left is slowly regrouping after the disasters of the (so called) fall of Communism, and the long, long decade of greed (wasn't that an ideologial blow!) the need for Leninist organisations has never been greater.
And to end - some inspiration from the man himself, on the tasks of the Rev Org after the revolution:
"Strictly speaking, there is only "one" thing we have left to do and that is to make people so "enlightened" that they understand all the advantages of everybody participating in the work of the cooperatives and organise this participation. "Only" that. There are now no other devices needed to advance socialism."
It seems we have to do that right now. Join up!
