The Dictatorship of the Proletariat: what does it mean?

Paris Commune 1871 -- the first workers state

by John Maryon

The qualitative transfer of society from obsolete capitalism to progressive socialism is the historical mission of the working class. Karl Marx, Frederick Engels and Vladimir Lenin developed an essential and powerful ideological theory to achieve scientific communism.  A cornerstone of Marxism-Leninism is the need for a revolutionary change to bring about the dictatorship of the proletariat.  Those opposed to Marxism-Leninism are at pains to deny this essential process and foster an illusion of gradual transformation using the bourgeois state apparatus. In effect tinkering with a collapsing system and incorrectly assuming that the working class will grow in terms of knowledge and understanding. In practice the power of the bourgeoisie needs to be challenged by the united efforts of all sections of the working class.
To fully understand the dictatorship of the proletariat it is important to be aware that it does not imply the use of force or threats against others. In Marx and Engel’s days the term "dictatorship" didn’t mean autocratic one-man rule in the way we understand it today. They used the term to mean class rule. In the capitalist era we live under the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. The dictatorship of the proletariat means the working class taking power to establish a new type of democracy.  To organise the economy to benefit the former exploited classes.  To raise political and social awareness of the masses.  And to stimulate progressive cultural developments. This would see an end to identity politics, elevation of trivial diversions above matters of substance, the greed and corruption of lobby groups and the politics of hate, blame and exclusion that we experience in Britain today. The Paris Commune gave a first glimpse of the dictatorship of the proletariat in action. Tinkering with the bourgeois machinery of the state will achieve nothing. It must be replaced with a new management apparatus as an essential prerequisite for building true sustainable socialism. 
The basis of the dictatorship of the proletariat lies in the creative organisational activity in leading the masses towards building a new form of society. Lenin emphasised that it is the rule of the working class through strength of organisation and discipline using all the achievements of culture, science and technology.  Also to develop proletarian affinity with all working people to develop prestige and respect.  It may take different forms and methods depending on the nature of the socialist revolution, the existing social structure, the level of economic development and cultural background.  Proletarian democracy systemically creates a state of the whole people with the working class playing the leading role.
 Lenin said that capitalism condemns the masses to a downtrodden, crushed, anxious existence. A gigantic apparatus of falsehood and deception hoodwinks the workers sowing confusion, fostering ignorance and stultifying their minds. We see this in Britain today. It is obvious that we have reached a great watershed in our political system. As the capitalist crisis has developed the establishment is no longer able to govern in in the traditional manner.  There is an increasing risk of neo-fascists gaining power and influence. Today the population of Britain is largely politically ignorant, is incapable of critical or analytical thinking and has sadly becoming brainwashed by continuing propaganda.  Multiple colour leaflets issued by Reform reflected the politics of blame and hostility but ignored austerity, affordable housing, crumbling infrastructure, a collapsing health service or job security. 
So what political forces are there left in Britain today that can defend workers rights, educate and enthuse the masses for something better? The Labour party has for the past century been the main political party for workers in Britain forming an essential component of the labour movement.  Sadly it has always been dominated by its right wing with affinity to social democracy. It has a long history of betrayal.  Ramsay Macdonald, the first Labour prime minister, started progressively by recognising the Soviet Union shortly after Lenin's death and by opposing imperialist wars but was to later betray the party by forming a National Government with the Conservatives. The tremendous social progress made immediately following the Second World War was implemented only because of the pressure of the people who demanded change. Sadly the party has gone downhill since those halcyon times. With the abandonment of clause four and the establishment of New Labour the Labour Party abandoned any pretence of socialism.
We have always gritted our teeth and supported Labour because of its link to the trade unions. Today we face unprecedented changes which may forge new alliances in a totally different political landscape. If they can get their act together Your Party may play an important role for the left in Britain but will be limited in what it can achieve if it becomes just another hopeless social- democratic institution. Keir Starmer is on the way out but will his successor be any different? I very much doubt it.
One thing becomes immediately obvious. The urgent need is to build unity among all progressive forces to put forward the case for socialism. This is where a vanguard party like the New Communist Party of Britain has an important role to play.  We must grow to be more effective in motivation of the working class.  Don't delay join us today and help put Britain on the road to socialism. 

Eastbourne hosts conference on Engels

  

The seaside resort of Eastbourne in East Sussex hosted an international conference titled Engels in Eastbourne in June. Nearly a hundred professors, experts and scholars from more than 20 universities and research institutions in more than ten countries, including the United Kingdom, China, Germany, the United States, Ireland, Spain, Romania, Denmark, Turkey and India, held in-depth discussions to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Communist Manifesto.
The conference was co-hosted by the University of Brighton and the International Association of Marx & Engels Humanities Studies (MEIA).
The subjects discussed include Friedrich Engels' life and experiences, his contribution to the development of Marxism, the influence of Engels' theories on the development of the contemporary world, and the influence of Marxism on China's modernisation path.
"It's an incredible opportunity to have so many Chinese scholars of Marxism here in Britain and to have those dialogues and make connections at a conference," said Christian Hogsbjerg, senior lecturer in the School of Humanities & Social Science at the University of Brighton.
Terrell Carver, professor of political theory at the University of Bristol, said that he expected the conference to promote communication between Western and Chinese scholars on Marxism. "I think this is a really good occasion," Carver said.
Engels contributed substantially to Marxist theory, not least with his acute observation of workers' conditions and the exploitation by capitalists. Karl Marx and Engels co-authored The Communist Manifesto and co-founded the first proletarian party in the world to change the fate of the working class.
After the death of Marx, Engels took on the role of leading the international workers' movement, sorting out and publishing Marx's unfinished work, including Das Kapital while continuing to defend and develop the Marxist theory.  After the death of Engels, Marx's daughter, among others, threw Engels' ashes into the sea near Eastbourne.
The international conference was originally scheduled in 2020 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the philosopher's birth, but was postponed due to the Covid pandemic.
"For me, probably the most significant element is the celebration of the 175th anniversary of  the Communist Manifesto. Has there been a more epoch-making and significant publication for social revolutionaries, for social radicals, for the history of the world than that publication? How incredibly fitting that this event celebrates that and reflects on where we are now," Professor Stephen Maddison, dean of the School of Humanities & Social Science at the University of Brighton, said.
Several Chinese scholars took the stage to share their academic research results. Wang Binglin, professor of the School of Marxism at Beijing Normal University, delivered a speech titled Marxism and Chinese Modernisation at the event.
He said that Chinese modernisation not only has the common features of modernization of other countries but also has Chinese characteristics. He introduced this to foreign scholars at the conference, hoping it will help them better understand the development and practice of Marxist theory in China.
Wang Xinyan, professor of humanities and social sciences at Wuhan University, shared his findings on Engels' conception of nature and its contemporary significance.
He said that Engels not only understood the division and opposition between humans and nature, but also explored the coordination and unity of humans and nature in practice, which has outstanding significance in today's times and is an important guiding theory for Chinese moderniSation.
"This conference provides a platform for Chinese scholars to discuss with their foreign counterparts the common problems facing mankind and to provide Chinese wisdom to solve them," he said.
"As a Western politician, I can see that Marxism works and has made China great," George Pippas, a former mayor of Cambridge, said at the conference.
Pippas said he has visited China more than 20 times and was impressed by the high-speed railway technology, the high level of education, history and tradition blended beautifully with the political system, which are examples of how well Marxism works in China.
Xinhua