A comrade
from the Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) delivered this talk at
a meeting held in Melbourne to commemorate the 1917 October Revolution in
Russia. The meeting was organised by the Communist Party of Australia and
hosted by the Democritus Club.
“I’d like
to thank the organisers and the hosts for this opportunity to say a few words
about the Great Russian Revolution of 1917.
“Throughout
history oppressed classes have launched revolts and revolutions against their
rulers and against the economic and political systems that supported them.
“The
Bolshevik revolution in 1917 was the first where class conscious proletarian
workers were the leading force, supported by allies in the peasant class and
more far-sighted elements of the petty-bourgeoisie and intellectuals. The core
of revolutionary organisation was the Bolshevik Party, led by Vladimir Lenin.
“This
revolutionary core was able to mobilise the working class and build the
necessary alliances with the peasants, with the soldiers and sailors, with
other progressive forces that carried the revolution to victory. What started
earlier as a popular demand for “bread, peace and land” became a
political-scientific demand; “All power to the Soviets!”
“After
the seizure of state power, Lenin and his comrades worked tirelessly to
consolidate the new working class state – to meet the expectations of the
people in a country devastated by feudalism, autocracy, war, famine and social
unrest. At the same time, they had to resist and defeat organised
counter-revolution and the intervention of foreign armies.
“Yet,
against all odds, the Soviet people were able to build an advanced industrial
base and establish an efficient system of collective agriculture and mechanised
farming. Education, art and culture flourished, and were accessible to every
citizen. Even then, the Soviet state faced sabotage and slander from the
imperialist powers and various attempts to derail the revolution from within.
“The
hatred of the reactionary forces culminated in the massive Nazi invasion of
June 1941. The Soviet Union was alert, and able to conserve enough strength and
resources to frustrate the German advance and to stall it on the approaches to
Leningrad and Moscow. When the heroic defenders of Stalingrad broke the siege
and counter-attacked, the Red Army routed the fascists. The die was cast, and
the Red Army moved forward to liberate half of Europe.
“Quite
rightly, the Soviet Union was an inspiration to all oppressed and struggling
working people. It showed that a revolution led by the working class could not
only destroy the old power structures of a bankrupt ruling class, but also
build and defend a socialist system where working people could enjoy a better
life. It raised the vision of a future world based on the dignity of collective
work and freeing the potential of humanity.
“Of
course, the Soviet Union made mistakes, and there are still different opinions
among communists and progressives about the ideological and political role of
leading persons such as Stalin, Khrushchev, Gorbachev and others, and the way
socialism can be won and consolidated.
“But
that’s enough history for now. I will finish with a few words about our
country.
“Revolutionary
change in Australia will take a much different path. The core of capitalism in
Australia is dominated by imperialism – the economic and finance/banking
sectors service the needs of the largest US, European and Asian corporations,
while the parliamentary leaders and military hierarchy sell themselves to US
imperialism.
“The CPA
(M-L), which celebrates its 50th year in March next year, has long had a
program of revolution by stages; the first stage being the struggle for
anti-imperialist national independence and the expulsion of imperialist
economic, political, military and cultural domination, the nationalisation of
the key industries and resources, and the establishment of participatory
democracy led by the working class.
“We see
these as the necessary steps to create the material and social conditions for
the revolution to continue on to the stage of socialism. Defeating US
imperialist domination of Australia is the most effective contribution the
Australian working class can make to internationalism.
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