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Computer Serf posted:Formal and Informal Structures https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev/ch05.htm#s2 quote:Furthermore, during the transition from capitalism to communism suppression is still necessary, but it is now the suppression of the exploiting minority by the exploited majority. A special apparatus, a special machine for suppression, the “state”, is still necessary, but this is now a transitional state. It is no longer a state in the proper sense of the word; for the suppression of the minority of exploiters by the majority of the wage slaves of yesterday is comparatively so easy, simple and natural a task that it will entail far less bloodshed than the suppression of the risings of slaves, serfs or wage-laborers, and it will cost mankind far less. And it is compatible with the extension of democracy to such an overwhelming majority of the population that the need for a special machine of suppression will begin to disappear. Naturally, the exploiters are unable to suppress the people without a highly complex machine for performing this task, but the people can suppress the exploiters even with a very simple “machine”, almost without a “machine”, without a special apparatus, by the simple organization of the armed people (such as the Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies, we would remark, running ahead). Dictatorship of the proletariat is the formal structure that will maintain the condition of socialism until the formal and informal structure become indistinguishable and communism is achieved.
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Jun 12, 2020 08:29
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Hellblazer187 posted:Are there any recommended books about the history of the Soviet Union and/or modern China that are written by a Marxist or at least some other flavor of leftist? I'm working my way through studying Capital now. It's hard. I'm getting there. But like, OK, all of this sounds very right in theory. But the USSR committed atrocities and fell. Modern China sounds terrifying. So, I have a few thoughts on how to square these: You can try Stephen Kotkin's Paradoxes of Power. He is a neolib, but his concern is with documenting Stalin's rise to power and leadership not a take down of socialism. His account seems a lot more fair than what you usually get in english. For example the classic about famine and starvation in Soviet Union is presented as a product of economic and government policies, and not some ideological failing inherent to communism.
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Jun 24, 2020 00:03
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So this was a precursor to Blair Mountain?
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Jun 24, 2020 03:36
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