First Published: Unite!, Vol. 3, No. 8, September 1977.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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In the past several months an issue with momentous consequences has arisen within the international communist and workers movement. The debate is over the basic strategy and tactics of the proletariat.
On one side, Marxism-Leninism holds that a correct understanding of the present imperialist era begins with the four fundamental contradictions (see The Theory of the “Three Worlds” Opposes Marxism-Leninism). These contradictions define the era as the transition from capitalism to socialism, and the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat, This stand places the proletariat firmly in the leadership of the class struggle, allied with the national liberation movements fighting for revolution against imperialism, social imperialism, bourgeois reaction and feudal remnants. In opposition to Marxism-Leninism, a new anti-Leninist chorus is emerging that complements modern revisionism headquartered in the Soviet Union–in the guise of attacking modern revisionism. This chorus has assembled in defense of the theory of the “Three Worlds”. No simple matter of geography, the view of the “Three Worlds” distorts the nature of our era, revises the four basic contradictions and liquidates dictatorship of the proletariat and suggests that the proletariat is incapable of preventing imperialist war.
Today, this chorus collaborates with such reactionaries as Mobutu of Zaire, and praises the revisionist Tito of Yugoslavia–long ago condemned around the world as a complete traitor to the working class and Marxism-Leninism.
Today, this chorus calls for the working class to form a united front against only one superpower, the Soviet Union, ignoring U.S. imperialism and bourgeois reaction in the rest of the world. This can only mean pursuit of a policy of class collaboration with the U.S. bourgeoisie, and monopoly capitalism world wide.
Under this flag of support for the fatherland, this trend applauds NATO and the European Common Market, which has been used historically to exploit and oppress the working people of Europe. Today some preach that we must be cautious in opposing this new anti-Leninist trend, that we must go slow, lest we blunt the attack on the two superpowers. But exactly the opposite is the case. Only by combating this reactionary theory of the “Three Worlds” in defense of proletarian revolution and national liberation, can the battle against all imperialism, including the two superpowers be waged successfully.
To consistently fight for revolution and the defense of Marxism-Leninism requires breaking with wrong positions from the past. From the outset, the MLOC has correctly upheld the revolutionary role of the proletariat, the nature of our era, and grounded its analysis in the four contradictions. But we have also incorrectly lent support to the alleged role of the “Third World” countries, confused the governments of certain countries with national liberation movements, and helped to foster the illusion of a “new economic order” as something apart from socialism. These mistakes have served to teach us about the absolute necessity to resolutely follow the course of Marxism-Leninism and the obligation to find one’s own independent bearings on each and every question. This is the only genuine basis for proletarian internationalism. This is a question that each and every genuine Marxist-Leninist party and organization must address.
In great service to proletarian revolution, the Party of Labour of Albania, led by Comrade Enver Hoxha, has courageously exposed and laid bare the nature and real danger the “Three Worlds” represents to the cause of socialism and national liberation. Marxist-Leninists should especially read the Report of the 7th Party Congress and ZERI I POPULLIT, editorial of July 7th, The Theory and Practice of Revolution. (Both are available from UNITE!)
In this issue of UNITE! and in future publications, the MLOC will step up the criticism and exposure of this emerging anti-Leninist chorus, and all shades of modern revisionism. In the world today we are at a very critical point. There can be no complacency in the defense of proletarian internationalism and Marxism-Leninism, in the interests of revolution at home and around the world.