The validity and current relevance of the October Revolution of 1917 for the 21st century
Brussels, 4-6 May 2007
www.icsbrussels.org , ics[at]icsbrussels.org
By Mikko Vartiainen
Finland, Communist Workers’ Party for Peace and Socialisme
Dear Comrades!
In the first place I would like to address my thanks to the Workers Party of Belgium for the invitation to take part in the work of this seminar. Secondly, dear comrades, In the name of the Central Council of our party I welcome all the delegates present at this seminar.
Along with the subject of today’s seminar I would like to raise few items like the influence of the October Revolution on the development of the world and on the workers’ class struggle. To make them all known today and in the future is a duty of every revolutionary communist party. It is very important that all the experiences that the Russian October Socialist Revolution and the building of the first workers’ socialist state had given us still exist and are known to us and are even usable. It is also from Marxism-Leninism point of view very important for us to know the reasons that led into havoc in the Soviet Union and in the East European socialist countries. Consciousness of these facts will help us when we plan our party activities for the working class and also for our youth.
On the large world scale the setback which was taken in the end of last century was quite a long, though a sudden and quite a short step, it didn’t take long. The taken setback cannot dim the real meaning of the Russian socialist revolution year 1917 nor the achieved results during the years of constructing and building up socialism.
The great victory of the October revolution opened the road to a society free from exploitation. The soviet society ruled by its workers and peasants was able to raise the backward country into a industrial and high agricultural country with enormous achievements. The depression and crisis experienced in the capitalist countries had no influence on the soviet economy during years 1920-1930.
The high value of the worker’s and peasant’s work increased along with the revolution, the distribution of food products, people began to read and learn and even to understand their rights to health care for all. Precondition for developing industry and technology was to raise the standard of education for future need, like conquesting the space.
The October socialist revolution was an example for the people living under slavery and colonialism. In those days the European capitalist states had created colonialism. This must not be forgotten, when we estimate the present existing European Union which is being developed into an imperialist power. The final freedom from colonialism became possible when the Socialist Soviet Union gained victory over fascism May the 9th 1945. This victory was a significant event in the world history. It showed and proved the readiness of the October revolution, of the socialist society order, of the working class and also its capability when at the head there is a revolutionary party. The sacrifices made in the name of victory and the gone through sufferings are great lessons for all the working people, for all, who fight for equality against exploitation and oppression.
Soviet Union’s victory over fascism and capitalism during world war 2nd made it possible for the workers in the capitalist countries to expand democracy for the workers. Soviet Union existed as an invisible resource that was present in the capitalist countries as a third partner between the workers and the bourgeoisie.The achievements of the October socialist Revolution and the ideology of socialism were always present in a form of real socialism supporting always the workers of other countries in their anti-capitalist struggles.
Even before and after the October Revolution Lenin’s nationality and peace policy got strong support from the Russian workers and the soldiers and even internationally. It was quite clear that war disperses and splits the working class in the most brutal way. In war the working class is forced to fight among themselves and against each other, by defending the capitalist interests.
The victory of socialism in the 2nd world war made the capitalist countries take closer steps toward each other when they wanted to build up a counterforce against socialism, like in Europe when established was the beginning of the present European Union. The European and USA and many other capitalist countries of the world have come to mutual agreement to weaken their mutual enemy - socialism. They brought in mind and spirit the cold war with the military build up against socialism. The strength of socialism prevented the beginnings of wars. We may also say that because of inheritance from October revolution the peaceful period after the second world war has lasted so long.
Today we are obliged to state that socialism as such is not in its’ former strength and we also are obliged to state how the accumulation of capital has got stronger and greater all over the world, which means that European Union is to become an imperialistic superpower, which will take part in dividing the economic resources and re-establishing colonialism. Socialism has not at present been able to prevent this development.
Although we may be satisfied to say that new steps towards socialism have been taken in Venezuela and elsewhere in South-America where the people are striving away from the imperialism. We may also be satisfied that Cuba and North-Korea are giving us an example of the workers classs-struggle in these countries.
The taken steps in building socialism in the South-American countries are of great importance for the world society, in inspiring the struggle against capitalism and in building socialism in many countries.
And now the following question: what kind of a party do we need to lead the working class in the 21st century?
As an example I would like to bring forward our old Finnish party from the beginning of year 1900 and its combat experiences. Finland was under the principality of the Russian tsar from 1809 and up till 1917. During these years the struggle of the working people for improvement of their economical conditions was connected with the political struggle for political freedom and national independence. From here on began also the revolutionary cooperation of the Finnish workers with the Russian proletariat and its’ vanguard theRussian Social Democratic Workers’ party. Frightened by the October Revolution the Finnish bourgeoisie was afraid of loosing power and therefore agreed to accept the workers former demand for national independency. So on the last day of 1917 the Peoples Commisaariat at the head of Lenin recognized the independence of Finland to the representatives of the Finland Bourgeois government. We would have rather given the independence to the leader of the working class, was Lenin’s comment. But according to the national policy it had to be given to the bourgeois government.
It is noticeable for us to know that the leadership of the old workers’ party was in doubts in its doings and it even stopped the general strike which had begun in November 1917. The bourgeoisie became madly frightened that their power is beginning to totter and therefore they began to prepare contra-attacks on the workers. The organized workers’ movement began to understand that the situation was for them in a deadlock and that they were unable to defend themselves. Only later in January 1918 the party took back its’ leadership of the workers’ revolution. The situation was so complicated that if the leadership would have refused to lead the woker’s battle January 1918 it would not have been able to stop the workers from the self defence combat. Yet less it would have not been able to control the bourgeoisies’ temper. and class struggle which started January 27th and was already solved by spring1918 by the help of the invited German army troops. After war over 80 000 red comrades or suspected were gathered into prison camps. The bourgeois revenge was dreadful. More then 15 000 were executed. Over 35 000 prisoners died of hunger or illness. Less than 10 % of the fighters died during the war but the amount increased after the battle was over when the whites began their revenge.
By studying and examining the revolutionary history of the old workers’ party and mainly during the years 1917-1918, this history shows us that at the head of the workers struggle we need a true revolutionary, ideological, undivided party devoted to its purpose and organizationally solid.
Lenin has taught us in his books and writings and speeches, that a rebellion should be started only when the revolutionary situation is completely ripe so that it will lead to victory, which means when the workers and peasants are solidly united and at the head of the rebellion there is a proletarian party and around there is crowded masses. Lenin himself attentively followed the development of the crisis in the Russian society, and when the time was ripe, he demanded without delay the party to take the leadership of the revolution.
Though the capitalist societies have today changed in many ways, the leading facts to start a revolution are yet to be present and they have not changed. The working masses will initiate the revolution. Since the communist party has a great responsibility and crucial role in preparing large masses, this also requires diversification of forms and course of actions, since the workers jobs and tasks are at their workplaces. The present society has gone through significant changes meaning that the relations between the workers at their working jobs have been seperated and this makes it more difficult to unite the workers to combat the capitalists.
The battle field of the workers, when it concerns problems outside their job, means that we have to now gather them outside their working places. The participation of communists in the peoples’ movements to overthrow capitalism in different organizations makes it possible for communists to do educational work among the people in different organizations.
Also among the youth there has been an increase of interest towards the revolutionary party, but it may succeed only by the help of marxism-leninism. And here the class struggle is crucial, when explaining and pointing out, that the activity inside the society has to be regulated by the laws of nature. The whole future of mankind and the life on this planet is linked to the form of the society. Making head for socialism and communism is the only resolution.