Contents: Individual or Collective Management?

The Trade Unions: Their Role & Problems On Bureaucracy & Self-activity of The Masses Appendix: Background on the Workers Opposition

Written: early 1921 First Published: Pravda, January 25, 1921. The text was banned in Soviet Russia in March of 1921, by resolution of the 1 th !on"ress of the !o##unist $arty. Source: Solidarity %&ondon' $a#(hlet no.), 19*1+ ta,en fro# the ori"inal -n"lish (ublication. Workers ' Dreadnought %by Sylvia $an,hurst', /(ril 22 0 /u"ust 19, 1921. Translated: fro# the Russian Transcription/Markup: Class Against Class 1 2rian 2as"en Cop le!t: 3ollantai 4nternet /rchive %#arxists.or"' 2 2. Permission is granted to copy and/or distribute this

2 document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. Alexandra "ollantai #nternet Archi$e

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Individual or Collective Management?

2efore #a,in" clear what the cause is of the ever0widenin" brea, between the 56or,ers7 8((osition5and the official (oint of view held by our directin" centres, it is necessary to call attention to two facts. %1' The 6or,ers7 8((osition s(ran" fro# the de(ths of the industrial (roletariat of Soviet Russia. 4t is an out"rowth not only of the unbearable conditions of life and labour in which seven #illion industrial wor,ers find the#selves, but it is also a (roduct of vacillation, inconsistencies, and outri"ht deviations of our Soviet (olicy fro# the clearly ex(ressed class0consistent (rinci(les of the !o##unist (ro"ra##e. %2' The 8((osition did not ori"inate in so#e (articular centre, was not a fruit of (ersonal strife and controversy, but, on the contrary, covers the whole extent of Soviet Russia and #eets with a resonant res(onse. /t (resent, there (revails an o(inion that the whole root of the controversy arisin" between the 6or,ers7 8((osition and the nu#erous currents noticeable a#on" the leaders consists exclusively in difference of o(inions re"ardin" the (roble#s that confront the Trade 9nions. This, however, is not true. The brea, "oes dee(er. Re(resentatives of the 8((osition are not always able clearly to ex(ress and define it, but as soon as so#e vital :uestion of the reconstruction of our Re(ublic is touched u(on, controversies arise concernin" a whole areas of cardinal econo#ic and (olitical :uestions. ;or the first ti#e, the two different (oints of view %as ex(ressed by the leaders of our (arty and the re(resentatives of our class0or"anised wor,ers', found their refection at the <inth !on"ress of our $arty when that body was discussin" the :uestion. collective versus (ersonal #ana"e#ent in industry. /t that ti#e, there was no o((osition fro# any well0for#ed "rou(, but it is very si"nificant that collective #ana"e#ent was favoured by all the re(resentatives of the Trade 9nions, while o((osed to it were all the leaders of our $arty, who are accusto#ed to a((raise all events fro# the institutional an"le. They re:uire a "ood deal of shrewdness and s,ill to (lacate the socially hetero"eneous and the so#eti#es (olitically hostile as(irations of the different social "rou(s of the (o(ulation as ex(ressed by (roletarians, (etty owners, (easantry, and bour"eoisie in the (erson of s(ecialists, and (seudo0s(ecialists, of all ,inds and de"rees. 6hy was it that only the 9nions stubbornly defended the (rinci(le of collective #ana"e#ent, even without bein" able to adduce scientific ar"u#ents in favour of it= /nd why was it that the s(ecialists7 su((orters at the sa#e ti#e defended the 5one #an #ana"e#ent77=. The reason is that in this controversy, thou"h both sides e#(hatically denied that there was a :uestion of (rinci(le involved, two historically irreconcilable (oints of view had clashed. The 5one #an #ana"e#ent7 is a (roduct of the individualist conce(tion of the bour"eois class. The 5one #an #ana"e#ent7 is in (rinci(le an unrestricted, isolated, free will of one #an, disconnected fro# the

D collective. This idea finds its reflection in all s(heres of hu#an endeavour 0 be"innin" with the a((oint#ent of a soverei"n for the State, and endin" with a soverei"n director of the factory. This is the su(re#e wisdo# of bour"eois thou"ht. The bour"eoisie do not believe in the (ower of a collective body. They li,e to whi( the #asses into an obedient floc,, and drive the# wherever their unrestricted will desires. The wor,in" class and its s(o,es#en, on the contrary, realise that the new !o##unist as(irations can be obtained only throu"h the collective efforts of the wor,ers the#selves. The #ore the #asses are develo(ed in the ex(ression of their collective will and co##on thou"ht, the :uic,er and #ore co#(lete will be the reali?ation of wor,in" class as(irations, for it will create a new. ho#o0"eneous, unified, (erfectly0arran"ed !o##unist 4ndustry. 8nly those who are directly bound to industry can introduce into it ani#atin" innovations. Re@ection of a (rinci(le 0 the (rinci(le of collective #ana"e#ent in the control of industry 0 was a tactical co#(ro#ise on behalf of our $arty, an act of ada(tation+ it was, #oreover, an act of deviation fro# that class (olicy which we so ?ealously cultivated and defended durin" that first (hase of the revolution. 6hy did this ha((en= Aow did it ha((en that our $arty, #atured and te#(ered in the stru""le of the revolution, was (er#itted to be carried away fro# the direct road, in order to @ourney alon" the roundabout (ath of ada(tation= for#erly conde#ned overtly and branded as 5o((ortunis#5= The answer to this :uestion we shall "ive later. Meanwhile we shall turn to the :uestion. how did the 6or,ers7 8((osition for# and develo(=

1. Growth of The Workers Opposition

The <inth !on"ress of the Russian !o##unist $arty was held in the s(rin" of 192 . Burin" the su##er, the a((ortion did not assert itself . <othin" was heard about it durin" the stor#y debates that too, (lace at the Second !on"ress of the !o##unist 4nternational. 2ut dee( at the botto#, there was ta,in" (lace an accu#ulation of ex(erience, of critical thou"ht. The first ex(ression of this (rocess, inco#(lete at the ti#e, was at the $arty !onference in Se(te#ber, 192 . ;or a ti#e, the thou"ht (reoccu(ied itself lar"ely with re@ections and criticis#s. The 8((osition had no well0for#ulated (ro(osals of its own. 2ut it was obvious that the $arty was enterin" into a new (hase of its life. 6ithin its ran,s, 5lower5 ele#ents de#and freedo# of criticis#, loudly (roclai#in" that bureaucracy stran"les the#, leaves no freedo# for activity or for #anifestation of initiative. The leaders of the $arty understood this undercurrent, and !o#rade Cinoviev #ade #any verbal (ro#ises as to freedo# of criticis#, widenin" of the sco(e of self0 activity for the #asses, (ersecution of leaders deviatin" fro# the (rinci(les of de#ocracy, etc. / "reat deal was said and well said+ but fro# words to deeds there is a considerable distance. The Se(te#ber conference, to"ether with Cinoviev7s #uch0 (ro#isin" s(eech has chan"ed nothin" either in the $arty itself or in the life of the #asses. The root fro# which the 8((osition s(routs, was not destroyed. Bown at the botto#, a "rowth of (articulate dissatisfaction, criticis# and inde(endence was ta,in" (lace. This inarticulate fer#ent was noted even by the $arty leaders and it :uite unex(ectedly "enerated shar( controversies. 4t is si"nificant that in the central $arty

5 bodies, shar( controversies arose concernin" the (art that #ust be (layed by the Trade 9nions. This, however, is only natural. /t (resent, this sub@ect of controversy between the 8((osition and the $arty leaders, while not bein" the only one, is still the cardinal (oint of our whole do#estic (olicy. &on" before the 6or,ers7 8((osition had a((eared with its Theses and for#ed that basis on which, in its o(inion, the dictatorshi( of the (roletariat #ust rest, in the s(here of industrial reconstruction, the leaders in the $arty had shar(ly disa"reed in their a((raisal of the (art that is to be (layed by the wor,in" class or"ani?ations re"ardin" the latters7 (artici(ation in the reconstruction of industries on a !o##unist basis. The !entral !o##ittee of the $arty s(lit into "rou(s. !o#rade &enin stood in o((osition to Trots,y, while 2u,harin too, the #iddle "rounds. 8nly at the -i"hth Soviet !on"resss and i##ediately after did it beco#e obvious that within the $arty itself there was a united "rou( ,e(t to"ether (ri#arily by the Theses of (rinci(les concernin" the Trade 9nions. This "rou(, the 8((osition, havin" no "reat theoreticians, and if s(ite of a #ost resolute resistance fro# the #ost (o(ular leaders of the $arty was "rowin" stron" and s(readin" all over labourin" Russia. 6as it so only in $etro"rad and Moscow= <ot at all. -ven fro# the Bonet? basin, the 9ral #ountains, Siberia, and a nu#ber of other industrial centres ca#e re(orts to the !entral !o##ittee that there also the 6or,ers 7 8((osition was for#in" and actin". 4t is true that not everywhere does the 8((osition find itself in co#(lete accord on all (oints with the wor,ers of Moscow. /t ti#es there is #uch indefinitness, (ettiness and absurdity in the ex(ressions, de#ands and #otives of the 8((osition. -ven the cardinal (oints #ay differ. Eet there is everywhere one unalterable (oint 0 and this is the :uestion . who shall develo( the creative (owers in the s(here of econo#ic reconstruction= Shall it be (urely class or"ans, directly connected by vital ties with the industries 0 that is, shall industrial unions underta,e the wor, of reconstruction 0 or shall it be left to the Soviet #achine which is se(arated fro# direct vital industrial activity and is axed in its co#(osition= This is the root of the brea,. The 6or,ers7 8((osition defends the first (rinci(le, where the leaders of the $arty, whatever their differences on various secondary #atters, are in co#(lete accord on the cardinal (oint, and defend the second (rinci(le. 6hat does this #ean= This #eans that our $arty lives throu"h its first serious crisis of the revolutionary (eriod, and that the 8((osition is not to be driven away by such a chea( na#e as 5syndicalis#5, but that all co#rades #ust consider this in all seriousness, 6ho is ri"ht, the leaders or the wor,in" #asses endowed with a healthy class instinct=

2. Causes of the Crisis

2efore considerin" the basic (oints of the controversy between the leaders of our $arty and the 6or,ers7 8((osition= it is necessary to find an answer to the :uestion. how could it ha((en that our $arty 0 for#erly stron", #i"hty and invincible because of its clear0cut and fir# class (olicy 0 be"an to debate fro# its (ro"ra##e=

* The dearer the !o##unist $arty is to us @ust because it has #ade such a resolute ste( forward on the road to the liberation if the wor,ers fro# the yo,e of ca(ital, the less ri"ht do we have to close our eyes to the #ista,es of leadin" centres. The (ower of the $arty #ust lie in the ability of our leadin" centres to detect the (roble#s and tas,s that confront the wor,ers, and to (ic, u( the tendencies, which they have been able to direct, so that the #asses #i"ht con:uer one #ore of the historical (ositions. So it was in the (ast, but it is no lon"er so at (resent. 8ur $arty not only reduces its s(eed, but #ore often %wisely7 loo,s bac, and as,s. have we not "one too far= 4s this not the ti#e to call a halt= 4s it not wiser to be #ore cautious and to avoid darin" ex(eri#ents unseen in the whole of history7=7 6hat was it that (roduced this wise caution7 %(articularly ex(ressed 4n the distrust of the leadin" $arty centres towards the econo#ic industrial abilities of the labour unions' 0 caution that has lately overwhel#ed all our centres= 6here is the cause= lf we be"in to dili"ently to search for the cause of the develo(in" controversy in our $arty, it beco#es clear that the (arty is (assin" throu"h a crisis which was brou"ht about by three funda#ental causes. The first #ain basic cause is the unfortunate environ#ent in which our $arty #ust wor, and act. The Russian !o##unist $arty #ust build !o##unis# and carry into life its (ro"ra##e. %a' in the environ#ent of co#(lete destruction and brea,down of the econo#ic structure + %b' in the face of a never di#inishin" and ruthless (ressure of the 4#(erialist States and 6hite Fuards7, %c' to the wor,in" class of Russia has fallen the lot of realisin" !o##unis#, creatin" new !o##unist for#s of econo#y in an econo#ically bac,ward country with a (re(onderant (easant (o(ulation, where the neccessary econo#ic (rere:uisites for sociali?ation of (roduction and distribution are lac,in", and where !a(italis# has not as yet been able to co#(lete the full cycle of its develo(#ent %fro# the unli#ited stru""le of co#(etition of the first sta"e of !a(italis# to its hi"hest for#. the re"ulation of (roduction by ca(italist unions 0 the trusts'. 4t is :uite natural that all these factors hinder the reali?ation of our (ro"ra##e %(articularly in its essential (art 0 in the reconstruction of 4ndustries on the new basis' and in@ect into our Soviet econo#ic (olicy diverse influences and a lac, of unifor#ity. 8ut of this basic cause follow the two others. ;irst of all, the econo#ic bac,wardness of Russia and the do#ination of the (easantry within its boundaries create that diversity, and inevitably detract the (ractical (olicy of our $arty fro# the clear0cut class direction, consistent in (rinci(le and theory. /ny (arty standin" at the head of a hetero"eneous Soviet state is co#(elled to consider the as(irations of (easants with their (etty0bour"eois inclinations and resent#ents towards !o##unis#, as well as lend an ear to the nu#erous (etty0 bour"eois ele#ents, re#nants of the for#er ca(italists in Russia and to all ,inds of traders, #iddle#en, (etty officials, etc. These have very ra(idly ada(ted the#selves

) to the Soviet institutions and occu(y res(onsible (otions in #e centres, a((earin" in the ca(acity of a"ents of different co##issariats etc. <o wonder that Caru(a, the $eo(le7s !o##isnr of Su((lies, at the -i"hth !on"ress :uoted fi"ures which showed that in the service of the !o##issariat of Su((lies there were en"a"ed 1)G of wor,ers, 1>G of (easants, less than 2 G of s(ecialists, and that of the re#ainin", #ore than 5 G were trades#en, sales#en, and si#ilar (eo(le, in the #a@ority even illiterate 7 %Caru(a7s own words'. 4n Caru(a7s o(inion this is a (roof of their de#ocratic constitution, even thou"h they have nothin" in co##on with the class (roletarians, with the (roducers of all wealth, with the wor,ers in factory and #ill. These are the ele#ents 0 the (etty0bour"eois ele#ents widely scattered throu"h the Soviet institutions, the ele#ents of the #iddle class, with their hostility towards !o##unis#, and with their (redilections towards the i##utable custo#s of the (ast, with resent#ents and fears towards revolutionary arts. These are the ele#ents that brin" decay into our Soviet institutions, breedin" there an at#os(here alto"ether re(u"nant to the wor,in" class. They are two different worlds and hostile at that. /nd yet we in Soviet Russia are co#(elled to (ersuade both ourselves and the wor,in" class that the (etty0bour"eoisie and #iddle classes %not to s(ea, of well0to0do (easants' can :uite co#fortably exist under the co##on #otto. 5/ll (ower to the Soviets5, for"etful of the fact that in (ractical everyday life, the interests of the wor,ers and those of the #iddle classes and (easantry i#bued with (etty0bour"eois (sycholo"y #ust inevitably clash, rendin" the Soviet (olicy asunder, and defor#in" its clearest class statutes. 2eside (easant0owners in the villa"es and bur"her ele#ents in the cities, our (arty in its Soviet State (olicy is forced to rec,on with the influence exerted by the re(resentatives of wealthy bour"eoisie now a((earin" in the for# of s(ecialists, technicians, en"ineers and for#er #ana"ers of financial and industrial affairs, who by all their (ast ex(erience are bound to the ca(italist syste# of (roduction. They cannot even i#a"ine any other #ode of (roduction, but the one which lies within the traditional bounds of ca(italist econo#ics.

3.The Growing Influence of The Specialists

The #ore Soviet Russia finds itself in need of s(ecialists in the s(here of techni:ue and #ana"e#ent of (roduction, the stron"er beco#es the influence of these ele#ents, forei"n to the wor,in" class, on the develo(#ent of our econo#y. Aavin" been thrown aside durin" the first (eriod of the revolution, and bein" co#(elled to ta,e u( an attitude of watchful waitin" or so#eti#es even o(en hostility towards the Soviet authorities, (articularly durin" the #ost tryin" #onths %the historical sabota"e by the intellectuals', this social "rou( of brains in ca(italist (roduction, of servile, hired, well0(aid servants of ca(ital, ac:uire #ore and #ore influence and i#(ortance in (olitics with every day fiat (asses. Bo we need na#es= -very fellow wor,er, carefully watchin" our forei"n and do#estic (olicy, recalls #ore than one such na#e . /s lon" as the centre of our life re#ained at the #ilitary fronts, the influence of these "entle#en directin" our Soviet (olicy, (articularly in the s(here of industrial reconstruction, was co#(aratively ne"li"ible. S(ecialists, the re#nants of the (ast, by all their nature closely, unalterably bound to the bour"eois syste# that we ai# to destroy, "radually be"in to (enetrate into our Red /r#y, introducin" there their at#os(here of the (ast %blind subordination, servile obedience, distinction, ran,s, and the arbitrary will of su(eriors

H in (lace of class disci(line, etc.'. 2ut their influence did not extend to the "eneral (olitical activity of the Soviet Re(ublic. The (roletariat did not :uestion their su(erior s,ill to direct #ilitary affairs, fully realisin" throu"h their healthy class instinct that in #ilitary #atters the wor,in" class as a class cannot ex(ress a new world, is (owerless to introduce substantial chan"es into the #ilitary syste# 0 to reconstruct its foundation on a new class basis. $rofessional #ilitaris# 0 an inheritance of (ast a"es 0 #ilitaris# and wars will have no (lace in !o##unist society. The stru""le will "o on alon" other channels, will ta,e :uite different for#s inconceivable to our i#a"ination Militaris# lives throu"h its last days, throu"h the transitory e(och of dictatorshi(, and therefore it is only natural that the wor,ers, as a class, could not introduce into the for#s and syste#s anythin" new and conducive to the future develo(#ent of society. -ven in the Red /r#y, however, there were innovatin" touches of the wor,in" class. 2ut the nature of #ilitaris# re#ained the sa#e, and the direction of #ilitary affairs by the for#er officers and "enerals of the old ar#y did not draw the Soviet (olicy in #ilitary #atters away to the o((osite side sufficiently for the wor,ers to feel any har# to the#selves or to their class interests. 4n the s(here of national econo#y it is :uite different however. $roduction, its or"ani?ation 0 this is the essence of !o##unis#. To debar the wor,ers fro# the or"ani?ation of industry, to de(rive the#, that is, their individual or"ani?ations, of the o((ortunity to develo(. their (owers in creatin" new for#s of (roduction in industry throu"h their unions, to deny these ex(ressions of the class or"ani?ation of the (roletariat, while (lacin" full reliance on the 7s,ill7 of s(ecialists trained and tau"ht to carry on (roduction under a :uite different syste# of (roduction 0 is to @u#( off the rails of scientific Marxist thou"ht. That is, however, @ust the thin" that is bein" done by the leaders of our $arty at (resent. Ta,in" into consideration the utter colla(se of our industries while still clin"in" to the ca(italist #ode of (roduction %(ay#ent for labour in #oney, variations in wa"es received accordin" to the wor, done' our $arty leaders, in a fit of distrust in the creative abilities of wor,ers7 collectives, are see,in" salvation fro# the industrial chaos. 6here= 4n the hands of scions of the bour"eois0 ca(italist (ast. 4n business#en and technicians, whose creative abilities in the s(here of 4ndustry are sub@ect to the routine, habits and #ethods of the ca(italist syste# of (roduction and econo#y. They are the ones who introduce the ridiculously naive belief that it is (ossible to brin" about !o##unis# by bureaucratic #eans. They 7decree7 where it is now necessary to create and carry on research. The #ore the #ilitary front recedes before the econo#ic front, the ,eener beco#es our cryin" need+ the #ore (ronounced the influence of that "rou( which is not only inherently forei"n to !o##unis#, but absolutely unable to develo( the ri"ht :ualities for introducin" new for#s of or"ani?in" the wor,, of new #otives for increasin" (roduction, of new a((roaches to (roduction and distribution. /ll these technicians, (ractical #en, #en of business ex(erience, who @ust now a((ear on the surface of Soviet life brin" (ressure to bear u(on the leaders of our $arty throu"h and within the Soviet institutions by exertin" their influence on econo#ic (olicy.

4. State And Party

9 The $arty, therefore, finds itself in a difficult and e#barrassin" situation re"ardin" the control over the Soviet state. 4t is forced to lend an ear and to ada(t itself to three econo#ically hostile "rou(s of the (o(ulation, each different in social structure. The wor,ers de#and a clear0cut, unco#(ro#isin" (olicy, a ra(id, forced advance towards !o##unis#+ the (easantry, with its (etty0 bour"eois (roclivities and sy#(athies, de#ands /fferent ,inds of 5freedo#5, includin" freedo# of trade and non0 interference in their affairs. The latter are @oined in this de#and be the bur"her clad in the for# of %a"ents7 of Soviet officials, co##issaries in the ar#y, etc., who have already ada(ted the#selves to the Soviet re"i#e, and sway our (olicy toward (etty0 bour"eois lines. /s far as the centre is conceded, the influence of these (etty0bour"eois ele#ents is ne"li"ible. 2ut in the (rovinces and in local Soviet activity, their influence is a "reat and har#ful one. ;inally, there is still another "rou( of #en consistin" of the for#er #ana"ers and directors of the ca(italist industries. These are not the #a"nates of ca(ital, li,e Riabushins,y or Rubli,off, who# the Soviet Re(ublic "ot rid of durin" the first (hase of the revolution, but they are the #ost talented servants of the ca(italist syste# of (roduction, the obtains and "enius7 of !a(italis#, its true creators and s(onsors. Aeartily a((rovin" the centralist tendencies of the Soviet "overn#ent in the s(here of econo#ics, well realisin" all the benefits of trustification and re"ulation of (roduction %this, by the way, is bein" carried on by ca(ital in all advanced 4ndustrial , countries', they are strivin" for @ust one thin" 0 they want this re"ulation to be carried on not throu"h the labour or"ani?ations %the industrial unions', but by the#selves0 actin" now under the "uise of Soviet econo#ic institutions 0 the central industrial co##ittees, industrial centres of the Su(re#e !ouncil of <ational -cono#y, where they are already fir#ly rooted. The influence of these "entle#en on the 7sober7 State (olicy of our leaders is "reat, considerably "reater than is desirable. This influence is reflected in the (olicy which defends and cultivates bureaucratis# %with no atte#(ts to chan"e it entirely, but @ust to i#(rove it'. The (olicy is (articularly obvious in the s(here of our forei"n trade with the ca(italist states, which is @ust be"innin" to s(rin" u(. these co##ercial relations are carried on over the heads of the Russian as well as the forei"n or"anised wor,ers. 4t finds its ex(ression, also, in a whole series of #easures restrictin" the self0activity of the #asses and "ivin" the initiative to the scions of the ca(italist world. /#on" all these various "rou(s of the (o(ulation, our $arty, by tryin" to find a #iddle "round, is co#(elled to steer a course which does not @eo(ardi?e the unity of the State interests. The clear0cut (olicy of our $arty, in the (rocess of identifyin" itself with Soviet State institutions, is bein" "radually transfor#ed into an u((er0class (olicy, which in essence is nothin" else but an ada(tation of our directin" centres to the hetero"eneous and irreconcilable interests of a socially different, #ixed, (o(ulation. This ada(tation leads to inevitable vacillation, fluctuations, deflations and #ista,es. 4t is only necessary to recall the ?i"0?a"0li,e road of our (olicy toward the (easantry, which fro# than,in" on the (oor (easant7, brou"ht us to (lacin" reliance on the industrious (easant0owner7. &et us ad#it that this (olicy is (roof of the (olitical soberness and 5statecraft wisdo#5 of our directin" centres. 2ut the future historian, analysin" without bias the sta"es of our do#ination, will find and (oint out that in this is evident a dan"erous di"ression7 fro# the class line toward 7ada(tation7 and a course full of har#ful (ossibilities or results.

1 &et us a"ain ta,e the :uestion of forei"n trade. There exists in our (olicy an obvious du(licity. This is attested by the constant, unendin" friction between the !o##issariat of ;orei"n Trade and the !o##issariat of ;orei"n /ffairs. This friction is not of ad#inistrative nature alone. 4ts cause lies dee(er. /nd if the secret wor, of the directin" centres were ex(osed to the view of ran, and file ele#ents, who ,nows what the controversy dividin" the !o##issariat of ;orei"n /ffairs and the trade re(resentatives abroad #i"ht lead to= This see#in"ly ad#inistrative friction is essentially a serious, dee(, social friction, concealed fro# the ran, and tile, and #a,es it absolutely necessary for Soviet (olitics to ada(t to the three hetero"eneous social "rou(s of the (o(ulation %wor,ers, (easants and re(resentatives of the for#er bour"eoisie'. This constitutes another cause brin"in" a crisis into our $arty. /nd we cannot but (ay attention to this cause. 4t is too characteristic, too (re"nant with (ossibilities. 4t is therefore the duty of our $arty, on behalf of $arty unity and future activity, to (onder over this cause and to learn the necessary lessons fro# the wides(read dissatisfaction "enerated by it in the ran, and file.

5. The Masses are not Blind

/s lon" as the wor,in" class, durin" the first (eriod of the revolution, felt itself to be the only bearer of !o##unis#, there was (erfect unani#ity in the $arty. 4n the days i##ediately followin" the 8ctober revolution, none could even thin, of 7u(s7 as so#ethin" different fro# 7downs7, for in those days the advanced wor,ers were busily en"a"ed in realisin" (oint after (oint in our class0 !o##unist (ro"ra##e.The (easant who received the land did not at the ti#e assert hi#self as a (art of and a full0 fled"ed citi?en of the Soviet Re(ublic. 4ntellectuals, s(ecialists, #en of affairs 0 the entire (etty0bour"eois class and (seudo0s(ecialists at (resent cli#bin" u( the Soviet ladder, run" by run", under the "uise of %s(ecialists7, ste((ed7aside, watchin" and waitin" but #eanwhile "ivin" freedo# to the advanced wor,in" #asses to develo( their creative abilities. /t (resent, however, it is @ust the other way. The wor,er feels, sees, and revises at every ste( that s(ecialists and %what is worse' untrained illiterate (seudo0s(ecialists, and un(ractical #en throw out the wor,er and fill u( all the hi"h ad#inistrative (osts of our industrial and econo#ic institutions. /nd the $arty, instead of (uttin" the bra,es on this tendency fro# the ele#ents which are alto"ether forei"n to the wor,in" class and !o##unis#, encoura"es it. The $arty see,s salvation fro# the industrial chaos, not in the wor,ers but in these very ele#ents. <ot in the wor,ers, not in their union or"ani?ations does the $arty re(ose its trust, but in these ele#ents. The wor,in" #asses feel it and instead of unani#ity and unity in the $arty, there a((ears a brea,. The #asses are not blind. 6hatever words the #ost (o(ular leaders #ilt use in order to conceal their deviation fro# a clear0cut class (olicy, whatever the co#(ro#ises #ade with the (easants and world !a(italis#, and whatever the trust that the leaders (lace in the disci(les of the ca(italist syste# of (roduction, the wor,in" #asses feel where the di"ression beans. The wor,ers #ay cherish an ardent affection and love for such (ersonalities as lenin. They #ay be fascinated by the inco#(arable flowery elo:uence of Trots,y and his or"ani?in" abilities. They #ay

11 revere a nu#ber of other leaders 0 as leaders. 2ut when the #asses feel that they and their class are not trusted, it is :uite natural that they say . <o, haltI 6e refuse to follow you blindly. &et us exa#ine the situation. Eour (olicy of (ic,in" out the #iddle "round between three socially o((osed "rou(s is a wise one indeed, but it s#ac,s of the well0tried and fa#iliar ada(tation and o((ortunis#. Today we #ay "ain so#ethin" with the hel( of your sober (olicy, but let us beware lest we find ourselves on a wron" road that, throu"h ?i"?a" and turns, will lead fro# the future to the debris of the (ast.7 Bistrust of the wor,ers by be leaders is steadily "rowin". The #ore sober these leaders "et, the #ore clever states#en they beco#e with their (olicy of slidin" over the blade of a shar( ,nife between !o##unis# and co#(ro#ise with the bour"eois (ast, the dee(er beco#es the abyss between the 7u(s7 and 7downs7 the less understandin" there isI and the #ore (ainful and inevitable beco#es the crises within the $arty itself. The third reason enhancin" the crisis in the $arty is that, in fact durin" these three years of the revolution, the econo#ic situation of the wor,in" class, of those who wor, in factories and #ills, has not only not been i#(roved, but has beco#e #ore unbearable. This nobody dares to deny. The su((ressed and widely0 s(read dissatisfaction a#on" wor,ers %wor,ers, #ind you' has a real @ustification.

6. Who has Gained From The Revolution?

8nly the (easants "ained directly by the revolution. /s far as the #iddle classes are concerned, they very cleverly ada(ted the#selves to the new conditions, to"ether with the re(resentatives of the rich bour"eoisieI who had occu(ied all the res(onsible and directin" (ositions in the Soviet institutions %(articularly in the s(here of directin" State econo#y, in the industry or"ani?ations and the re0establish#ent of co##ercial relations with forei"n nations'. 8nly the basic class of the Soviet Re(ublic, which bore all the burdens of the dictatorshi( as a #ass, e,es out a sha#efully (itiful existence. The 6or,ers7 Re(ublic controlled by the !o##unists, by the van"uard of the wor,in" class, which, to :uote &enin, has absorbed all the revolutionary ener"y of the class7, has not had ti#e enou"h to (onder over and i#(rove the conditions of all the wor,ers %those not in individual establish#ents which ha((ened to "ain the attention of the !ouncil of the $eo(le7s !o##issars in one or another of the so0called 7shoc, industries7' in "eneral and lift their conditions of life to a hu#an standard of existence. The !o##issariat of &abour is the #ost sta"nant institution of all the !o##issariats. 4n the whole of the Soviet (olicy, the :uestion was never seriously raised on a national scale and discussed. what #ust and can be done in the face of the utter colla(se of industry at ho#e and a #ost unfavourable internal situation to i#(rove the wor,ers7 conditions and (reserve their health for (roductive labour in the future, and to better the lot of the wor,ers in the sho(s= 9ntil recently, Soviet (olicy was devoid of any wor,ed out (lan for i#(rovin" the lot of the wor,ers and their conditions of life. /11 that was done in this field was done al#ost incidentally, or at rando#, by local authorities under the (ressure or the #asses the#selves. Burin" these three years of civil war, the (roletariat heroically brou"ht to the altar of the revolution their innu#erable sacrifices. They waited (atiently. 2ut now that the (ulse of life in the Re(ublic is a"ain transferred to the

12 econo#ic front, the ran, and file wor,er considers it unnecessary to 7suffer and wait7. 6hy= is he not the creator of life on a !o##unist basis= &et us ourselves ta,e u( this reconstruction, for we ,now better than the "entle#en fro# the centres where it hurts us #ost. The ran, and file wor,er is observant. Ae sees that so far the (roble#s of hy"iene, sanitation, i#(rovin" conditions of labour in the sho(s 0 in other words, the better#ent of the wor,ers7 lot has occu(ied the last (lace in our (olicy. 4n our solution to the housin" (roble#, we went no further than housin" the wor,ers7 fa#ilies in inconvenient bour"eois #ansions. 6hat is still worse, so far we have not even touched the (ractical (roble# of housin" in re"ard to wor,ers. To our sha#e, in the heart of the Re(ublic, in Moscow itself, wor,in" (eo(le are still livin" in filthy, overcrowded and unhy"ienic :uarters, one visit to which #a,es one thin, that there has been no revolution at a11. 6e all ,now that the housin" (roble# cannot be solved in a few #onths, even years, and that due to our (overty, its solution is faced with the serious difficulties. 2ut the facts of ever0"rowin" ine:uality between the (rivile"ed "rou(s of the (o(ulation in Soviet Russia and the ran, and file wor,ers,7the fra#e0wor, of the dictatorshi(7, breed and nourish the dissatisfaction. The ran, and file wor,er sees how the Soviet official and the (ractical #an lives and how he lives 0 he on who# rests the dictatorshi( of the (roletariat. Ae cannot but see that durin" the revolution, the life and health of the wor,ers in the sho(s co##anded the least attention+ that where (rior to the revolution there existed #ore or less bearable conditions, they are still #aintained by the sho( co##ittees. /nd where such conditions did not exist, where da#(ness, foul air and "ases (oisoned and destroyed the wor,ers7 health, these conditions re#ain unchan"ed. 56e could not attend to that+ (ray, there was the #ilitary front. 77 /nd yet whenever it was necessary to #a,e re(airs in any of the houses occu(ied by the Soviet institutions, they were able to find both the #aterials and the labour. 6hat would ha((en if we tried to shelter our s(ecialists or (ractical #en en"a"ed in the s(here of co##ercial transactions with forei"n ca(italists in those huts in which the #asses of wor,ers still live and labour= They would raise such a howl that it would beco#e necessary to #obili?e the entire housin" de(art#ent in order to correct 7the chaotic conditions7 that interfere with the (roductivity of our s(ecialists.

7. "Our Sorrows are not Theirs..."

The service of the 6or,ers7 8((osition consists in that it included the (roble# of i#(rovin" the wor,ers7 lot %to"ether with all the other secondary wor,ers7 de#ands' into the "eneral econo#ic (olicy. The (roductivity of labour cannot be increased unless the life of the wor,ers is or"anised on a new !o##unist basis. The less that is underta,en and (lanned %4 do not s(ea, of so#ethin" that has been carried out' in this s(here. the dee(er is the #utual distrust between leaders and wor,ers. There is no unity, no sense of their identity of needs, de#ands and as(irations. The leaders are one tan", and we are so#ethin" alto"ether different. Maybe it is true that the leaders ,now better how to rule over the country, but they fail to understand our needs, our life in the sho(s, its re:uire#ents and i##ediate needs+ they do not under0 stand and do not ,now. ;ro# this re?onin" follows the instinctive leanin" towards the unions, and the conse:uent dro((in" out of the $arty.

1> 4t is true they are a (art of us, but as soon as they "et into the centres, they leave us alto"ether+ they be"in to live differently+ 4f we suffer, what do they care= 8ur sorrows are not theirs any lon"er. /nd the #ore our industry establish#ents and unions are drained of their best ele#ents by the $arty %which sends the# either to the front or to the Soviet institutions', the wea,er beco#es the direct connection between the ran, and file wor,ers and the directin" $arty centres. / chas# is "rowin". /t (resent, this division #anifests itself even in the ran,s of the $arty itself. The wor,ers, throu"h their 6or,ers7 8((osition as,. 6ho are we= /re we really the (ro( of the class dictatorshi(= 8r are we @ust an obedient floc, that serves as a su((ort for those who, havin" severed all ties with the #asses, carry out their own (olicy and build u( industry without any re"ard to our o(inions and creative abilities under the reliable cover of the $arty label=

8.Objectives of The Opposition

6hatever the $arty leaders #i"ht do in order to drive away the 6or,ers7 8((osition, the latter will always re#ain that "rowin" healthy class force which is destined to in@ect vitalisin" ener"y into the rehabilitation of econo#ic life as well as into the !o##unist $arty, which be"ins to fade and bend low to the "round. There are thus three causes which brin" about a crisis in our $arty . there is first of all the overall ob@ective conditions under which !o##unis# in Russia is bein" carried out %the civil warI econo#ic bac,wardness of the country, its utter industrial colla(se as an after#ath of the lon" years of war'+ the second cause is the hetero"eneous co#(osition of our (o(ulation seven #illion wor,ers, the (easantry, the #iddle classes, and, finally, the for#er bour"eoisie, #en of affairs in all (rofessions, who issuance the (olicy of Soviet institutions and (enetrate into the $arty'+ the third cause is the inactivated of the $arty in the field of i##ediate i#(rove#ent of the wor,ers7 life cou(led with the inability and wea,ness of the corres(ondin" Soviet institutions to ta,e u( and solve these (roble#s. 6hat then is it that the 6or,ers7 8((osition wants= 6hat is its role= 4ts role consists in raisin" before the $arty all the (erturbin" :uestions, and in "ivin" for# to all that heretofore was causin" only a subdued a"itation in the #asses and led the non0(artisan wor,ers ever further fro# the $arty. 4t clearly and fearlessly shouted to the leaders . esto(, loo, and thin,s 6here do you lead us= /re we not "oin" off the ri"ht road= 4t will be very bad for the $arty to find itself without the foundation of the dictatorshi(. The $arty will be on its own and so will the wor,in" class. 4n this lies the "reatest dan"er to the revolution. 7 The tas, of the $arty at its (resent crisis is fearlessly to face the #ista,es and lend its ear to the healthy class call of the wide wor,in" #asses. Throu"h the creative (owers of the risin" class, in the for# of industrial unions, we shall "o forwards towards reconstruction and the develo(#ent of the creative forces of the country + towards (urification of the $arty itself fro# ele#ents forei"n to it + towards correction of the activity of the $arty by #eans of "oin" bac, to de#ocracy, freedo# of o(inion, and criticis# inside the $arty.

1D Worker%s Opposition Alexandra "ollontai &'(&

The Trade Unions: Their Role & Problems

1. Who shall build the Communist Economy?
4n a basic yet brief outline, we have already ex(lained what it is that causes the crisis in our $arty. <ow we shall #a,e clear what are the #ost i#(ortant (oints of the controversy between the leaders of our $arty and the 6or,ers7 8((osition. There are two such (oint7s. firstly, the (art to be (layed by, and the (roble#s confrontin", the trade unions durin" the reconstruction (eriod of the national econo#y, cou(led with the or"ani?ation of (roduction on a !o##unist basis, and secondly, the :uestion of self0 activity of the #asses. This :uestion is lin,ed with that of bureaucracy in the $arty and the Soviets. &et us answer both :uestions in turn. The (eriod of 7#a,in" theses7 in our $arty has already ended. 2efore us we find six different (latfor#s, six $arty tendencies. Such a variety and such #inute variations of shades in its tendencies our $arty has never seen before. $arty thou"ht has never been so rich in for#ulae on one and the sa#e :uestion. 4t is, therefore, obvious that the :uestion is a basic one, and very i#(ortant. /nd such it is. The whole controversy boils down to one basic :uestion . 6ho shall build the !o##unist econo#y, and how shall it be built= This is, #oreover. the essence of our (ro"ra##e. this is its heart. This :uestion is @ust as i#(ortant as the :uestion of sei?ure of (olitical (ower by the (roletariat. 8nly the 2ubnoff "rou( of so0called (olitical centralists is so nearsi"hted as to under0 esti#ate its i#(ortance and to say 5The :uestion concernin" trade unions at the (resent #o#ent has no i#(ortance whatsoever, and (resents no theoretical difficulties5 4t is, however, :uite natural that the :uestion seriously a"itates the $arty. The :uestion is really in what direction shall we turn the wheel of history+ shall we turn it bac, or #ove it forward= 4t is also natural that there is not a Sin"le !o##unist in the $arty who would re#ain non0co##ittal durin" the discussion of this :uestion. /s a result, we have six different "rou(s. 4f we be"in, however, carefully to analyse all the theses of these #ost #inutely diver"ent "rou(s, we find that on the basic :uestion 0 who shall build the !o##unist econo#y and or"anist (roduction on a new basis 0 there are only two (oints of view. 8ne is that which is ex(ressed and for#ulated in the state#ent of (rinci(les of the 6or,ers7 8((osition. The other is the view(oint that unites all the rest of the "rou(s differin" only in shades, but identical in substance. 6hat does the state#ent of the 6or,ers7 8((osition stand for, and how does the latter understand the (art that is to be (layed by the trade unions, or, to be #ore exact, the industrial unions, at the (resent #o#ent= 56e believe that the :uestion of reconstruction and develo(#ent of the (roductive forces of our country can be solved only if the entire syste# of control over the

15 (eo(le7s econo#y is chan"ed5%fro# Shlia(ni,offs re(ort, Bece#ber > '. Ta,e notice co#rades. only if the entire syste# of control if chan"ed.7 6hat does this #ean= %The basis of the controversy7, the re(ort continues, revolves around the :uestion. by what #eans durin" this (eriod of transfor#ation can our !o##unist $arty tarry out its econo#ic (olicy 0 shall it be by #eans of the wor,ers or"anised into their class union, or 0 over their heads 0 by bureaucratic #eans, throu"h canoni?ed functionaries of the State.7 The basis of the controversy is, therefore, this. shall we achieve !o##unis# throu"h the wor,ers or over their heads, by the hands of Soviet officials=/nd let us, co#rades, (onder whether it is (ossible to attain and build a !o##unist econo#y by the hands and creative abilities of the scions of the other class, who are i#bued with their routine of the (ast .4f we be"in to thin, as Marxists, as #en of science, we shall answer cate"orically and ex(licitly. 7<o I7

2. New Relations in Production & The Materialist Conception Of History

The root of the controversy and the cause of the crisis lies in the su((osition that 7(ractical #en7, technicians, s(ecialists, and #ana"ers of ca(italist (roduction ca( suddenly release the#selves fro# the bonds of their traditional conce(tions of ways and #eans of handlin" labour %which have been dee(ly in"rained into their very flesh throu"h the years of their service to !a(ital' and ac:uire the ability to create new for#s of (roduction,of labour or"ani?ation, and of incentives to wor,. To su((ose that this is (ossible is to for"et the incontestable truth that a syste# of (roduction cannot be chan"ed by a few individual "eniuses, but throu"h the re:uire#ents of a class. Just i#a"ine for a #o#ent that durin" the transitory (eriod fro# the feudal syste# %founded on slave labour' to the syste# of ca(italist (roduction %with its alle"edly free hired labour in the industries', the bour"eois class, lac,in" at the ti#e the necessary ex(erience in the or"ani?ation of ca(italist (roduction, had invited all the clever, shrewd ex(erienced #ana"ers of the feudal estates who had been accusto#ed to deal with servile chattel slaves, and entrusted to the# the tas, of or"ani?in" (roduction on a new ca(italist basis. 6hat would ha((en= 6ould these s(ecialists in their own s(here, de(endin" on the whi( to increase (roductivity of labour, succeed in handlin" a 7free7, thou"h hun"ry, (roletarian, who had released hi#self fro# the curse of involuntary labour and had beco#e a soldier or a day labourer= 6ould not these ex(erts wholly destroy the newly0born and develo(in" ca(italist (roduction= 4ndividual overseers of the chattel slaves, individual for#er landlords and their #ana"ers, were able to ada(t the#selves to the new for# of (roduction+ but it was not fro# their ran,s that the real creators and builders of the bour"eois ca(italist econo#y were recruited. !lass instinct whis(ered to the first owners of the ca(italist establish#ents that it was better to "o slowly and use co##on sense in (lace of ex(erience in the search for new ways and #eans to establish relations between ca(ital and labour= than to borrow the anti:uated useless #ethods of ex(loitation of labour fro# the old, outlawed syste#. !lass 7instinct :uite correctly told the first ca(italists durin" the first (eriod of ca(italist develo(#ent that in (lace of the whi( of the overseer they #ust a((ly another incentive 0rivalry, (ersonal a#bition of wor,ers facin" une#(loy#ent

1* and #isery./nd the ca(italists, havin" "ras(ed this new incentive to labour, were wise enou"h to use it in order to (ro#ote the develo(#ent of the bour"eois ca(italist for#s of (roduction by increasin" the (roductivity of 7free7 hired labour to a hi"h de"ree of intensity. ;ive centuries a"o, the bour"eoisie acted also in a cautious way, carefully listenin" to the dictates of their class instincts. They relied #ore on their co##on sense than on the ex(erience of the s,illed s(ecialists in the s(here of or"anised (roduction on the old feudal estates. The bour"eoisie was (erfectly ri"ht, as history has shown us. 6e (ossess a "reat wea(on that can hel( us to find the shortest road to the victory of the wor,in" class, 7 di#inish sufferin" alon" the way, and brin" about the new syste# of (roduction 0 !o##unis# 0 #ore :uic,ly. This wea(on is the #aterialistic conce(tion of history. Aowever, instead of usin" it, widenin" our ex(erience and correctin" our researches in confor#ity with history, we are ready to throw this wea(on aside and follow the encu#bered, circuitous road of blind ex(eri#ents. 6hatever our econo#ic distress ha((ens to be, we are not @ustified in feelin" such an extre#e de"ree of des(air. 4t is only the ca(italist "overn#ents, standin" with their bac,s to the wall that need feel des(air. /fter exhaustin" all the creative i#(ulses of ca(italist (roduction, they find no solution to their (roble#s. /s far as toilin" Russia is concerned, there is no roo# for des(air. Since the 8ctober revolution, un(recedented o((ortunities of econo#ic creation have o(ened new, , unheard0of for#s of (roduction, with an i##ense increase in the (roductivity of labours . 4t is only necessary not to borrow fro# the (ast, but, on the contrary, to "ive co#(lete freedo# to the creative (owers of the future. This is what the 6or,ers7 8((osition is doin". 6ho can be the builder and creator of !o##unist econo#y= that class 0 and not the individual "eniuses of the (ast 0 which is or"anically bound with newly0develo(in", (ainfully0born for#s of (roduction of a #ore (roductive and (erfect syste# of econo#y. 6hich or"an can for#ulate and solve the (roble#s in the s(here of or"ani?in" the new econo#y and its (roduction 0 the (ure class industrial unions, or the hetero"eneous Soviet econo#ic establish#ents= The 6or,ers7 8((osition considers that it can be done only by the for#er, that is, by the wor,ers7 collective, and not by the functional, bureaucratic, socially0 hetero"eneous collective with a stron" ad#ixture of the old ca(ita 7hat ele#ents, whoa #ind is cloned with the refuse of ca(italistic routine. 5The wor,ers7 unions #ust be drawn fro# the (resent (osition of (assive assistance to the econo#ic institutions into active (artici(ation in the #ana"e#ent of the entire econo#ic structure77%fro# 7Theses of the 6or,ers 7 8((osition '. To see,, find and create new and #ore (erfect for#s of econo#y, to find new incentives to the (roductivity of labour 0 all this can be done only by the wor,ers7 collectives that are closely bound with the new far#s of (roduction. 8nly these collectives fro# their everyday ex(erience, are ca(able of drawin" certain conclusions. /t first "lance, these conclusions a((ear to be only of (ractical i#(ortance, and yet exceedin"ly valuable theoretical conclusions #ay be drawn fro# the# concernin" the handlin" of new labour (ower in a wor,ers7 state where #isery, (overty, une#(loy#ent and co#(etition on the labour #ar,et cease to be incentives to wor,. To find a sti#ulus, an incentive to wor, 0 this is the "reatest tas, of the wor,in" class standin" on the threshold of !o##unis#. <one other, however, the wor,in" class itself in the for# of its class collectives, is able to solve this "reat (roble#. The solution to this (roble#, as (ro(osed by the industrial unions, consists

1) in "ivin" co#(lete freedo# to the wor,ers as re"ards ex(eri#entin", class trainin", ad@ustin" and discoverin" new for#s of (roduction, as well as ex(ressin" and develo(in" their !reative abilities 0 that is, to that class which can alone be the creator of !o##unis#. This is how the 6or,ers7 8((osition sees the solution to this difficult (roble#, fro# which follows the #ost essential (oint of their theses. 5or"anisation of control over the social econo#y is a (rero"ative of the /ll0Russian !on"ress of $roducers, who are united in the trade and industrial unions which elect the central body directin" the whole econo#ic life of the re(ublic5 %7Theses of the 6or,ers7 8((osition 7'. This de#and would ensure freedo# for the #anifestation of creative class abilities, not restricted and cri((led by the bureaucratic #achine which is saturated with the s(irit of routine of the bour"eois ca(italist syste# of (roduction and control. The 6or,ers7 8((osition relies on the creative (owers of its own class. the wor,ers. The rest of our (ro"ra##e follows fro# this (re#ise.

3.Who Will Manage Production?

2ut ri"ht at this (oint there be"in the differences between the 6or,ers7 8((osition and the line that is followed by the $arty leaders. Bistrust towards the wor,in" class %not in the s(here of (olitics, but in the s(here of econo#ic creative abilities' is the whole essence of the theses si"ned by our $arty leaders. They do not believe that by the rou"h hands of wor,ers, untrained technically, can be created those foundations of the econo#ic for#s which, in the course of ti#e, shall develo( into a har#onious syste# of !o##unist (roduction. To all of the# 0 lenin, Trots,y, Cinovieff, and 2u,harin 0 it see#s that (roduction is touch a delicate thin"7 that it is i#(ossible to "et alon" without the assistance of 7directors7. ;irst of all we shall 7brin" u(7 the wor,ers, 7teach the#7, and only 6hen they have "rown u( shall we re#ove fro# the, all the teachers of the Su(re#e !ouncil of <atural -cono#y and let the industrial unions ta,e control over (roduction. 4t is, after all, si"nificant that all the theses written by the $arty leaders coincide in one essential feature. for the (resent, we shall not "ive control over (roduction to the trade unions+ for the (resent we shall wait7. 4t is doubtless true that Trots,y, &enin, Cinovieff, and 2u,harin differ in their reasons as to why the wor,ers should not be entrusted with runnin" the industries @ust at (resent. 2ut they unani#ously a"ree that @ust at the (resent ti#e, the #ana"e#ent of the (roduction #ust be carried on over the wor,ers7 heads by #eans of a bureaucratic syste# inherited fro# the (ast. 8n this (oint all the leaders of our $arty are in co#(lete accord. 7The centre of "ravity in the wor, of the trade unions at the (resent #o#ent7 0 assert the Ten in their Theses 0 5#ust be shifted into the econo#ic industrial s(here. The trade unions as class or"ani?ations of wor,ers, built u( in confor#ity with their industrial functions, #ust ta,e on the #a@or wor, if or"ani?ation of (roduction.5 %Ma@or wor,7 is a too indefinite ter#. 4t (er#its of various inter(retations. /nd yet it would see# that the (latfor#s of the 7Ten7 "ives #ore leeway for the trade unions in runnin" the industries than Trots,y7s centralistic. ;urther, the theses of the 7Ten7 do on to ex(lain what they #ean by 7#a@or wor,7 of the unions. 5The #ost ener"etic (artici(ation in the centres which re"ulate (roduction and control, re"ister and

1H distribute labour (ower, or"anic exchan"e between cities and villa"es, fi"ht a"ainst sabota"e, and carry out decrees on different co#(ulsory labour obli"ations, etc.75This is all. <othin" new. /nd nothin" #ore than what the trade unions have already been doin". This cannot save our (roduction nor hel( in the solution of the basic :uestion 0 raisin" and develo(in" the (roductive forces of our country. 4n order to #a,e clear the fact that the (ro"ra##e of the 7Ten7 does not "ive to the trade unions any of the directin" functions, but assi"ns to the# only an auxiliary role in the #ana"e#ent of (roduction, the authors say. 54n a develo(ed sta"e %not at (resent, but at a develo(ed sta"e7' , the trade unions in their (rocess of social transfor#ation #ust beco#e or"ans of a social authority. They #ust wor, as such, in subordination to other or"ani?ations, and carry out the new (rinci(les of or"ani?ation of econo#ic life.7 2y this they #ean to say that the trade unions #ust wor, in subordination to the Su(re#e !ouncil of <ational -cono#y and its branches.

4.Trotsky's View
6hat is the difference, then, with that and 7@oinin" by "rowth7 which was (ro(osed by Trots,y= The difference is only one of #ethod. The theses of the JTenJ stron"ly e#(hasi?e the educational nature of the trade unions. 4n their for#ulation of (roble#s for the trade anions %#ainly in the s(here of or"ani?ation. industry and education', our $arty leaders as clever (oliticians suddenly !onvert the#selves into 7teachers7. This (eculiar controversy is revolvin" not around the syste# of #ana"e#ent in industry, but #ainly around the syste# of brin"in" u( the #asses. 4n fact, when one be"ins to turn over the (a"es of the steno"ra(hic #inutes and s(eeches #ade by our (ro#inent leaders, one is astonished by the unex(ected #anifestation of their (eda"o"ic (roclivities. -very author of the theses (ro(oses the #ost (erfect syste# of brin"in" u( the #asses. 2ut all these syste#s of 7education7 lac, (rovisions for freedo# of ex(eri#ent, for trainin" and for the ex(ression of creative abilities by those who are to be tau"ht. 4n this res(ect also all our (eda"o"ues are behind the ti#es. The trouble is that &enin, Trots,y, 2u,harin and others see the functions of the trade unions not as the control over (roduction or as the ta,in" over of the industries, but #erely as a school for brinin" u( the #asses. Burin" the discussion it see#ed to so#e of our co#rades that Trots,y stood for a "radual 7absor(tion of the unions by the state7 0 not all of a sudden, but "radually and that he wanted to reserve for the# the ri"ht of ulti#ate control over (roduction, as it is ex(ressed in our (ro"ra##e. This (oint, it see#ed at first, (ut Trots,y on a co##on "round with the 8((osition at a ti#e when the "rou( re(resented by &enin and Cinovieff, bein" o((osed to the 7absor(tion of the state7, saw the ob@ect of union activity and their (roble# as 7trainin" for !o##unis#7. 7Trade 9nions7, thunder Trots,y and Cinovieff, are necessary for the rou"h wor,7 %(. 22 of the re(ort, Bec. > '. Trots,y hi#self, it would see#, understands the tas, so#ewhat differently. 4n his o(inion, the #ost i#(ortant wor, of the unions consists in or"ani?in" (roduction. 4n this he is (erfectly ri"ht. Ae is also ri"ht when he says, 7inas#uch as unions are schools of !o##unis#, they are such schools not in carryin" on "eneral (ro(a"anda %for such activity would #ean they were (layin" the (art of clubs', not in #obili?in" their #e#bers for #ilitary wor, or collectin" the (roduce tax, but for the (ur(ose of all0round education of their #e#bers on the basis of their (artici(ation in (roduction7Trots,y7s re(ort, Bec. > '.

19 /11 this is true, but there is one "rave o#ission. the unions are not only schools for !o##unis#, but they are its creators as well. !reativeness of the class is bein" lost si"ht of. Trots,y re(laces it by the initiative of 7the real or"ani?ers of (roduction7, by !o##unists inside the unions %fro# Trots,y7s re(ort, Bec. > '. 6hat !o##unists= /ccordin" to Trots,y, by the !o##unists a((ointed by the $arty to res(onsible ad#inistrative (ositions in the unions %for reasons that :uite often have nothin" in co##on with considerations of industrial and econo#ic (roble#s of the unions'. Trots,y is :uite fran,. Ae does not believe that the wor,ers are ready to create !o##unis#, and throu"h (ain, sufferin" and blunder still see, to create new for#s of (roduction. Ae has ex(ressed this fran,ly and o(enly. Ae has already carried out his syste# of 7club education7 of the #as,s, of trainin" the# for the role of 7#aster7 in the !entral /d#inistrative 2ody of Railways ado(tin" all those #ethods of educatin" the #asses which were (ractised by our traditional @ourney#en u(on their a((rentices. 4t is true that a beatin" on the head by a boot0stretcher does not #a,e an a((rentice a successful sho(,ee(er after he beco#es a 7Journey#an7. /nd yet as lon" as the boss0teacher7s stic, han"s over his head, he wor,s and (roduces. This, in Trots,y7s o(inion, is the whole essence of shiftin" the central (oint 7fro# (olitics to industrial (roble#s7. To raise, even te#(orarily, (roductivity by every and ill #eans is the whole crux of the tas,. The whole course of trainin" in the trade unions #ust be, in Trots,y7s o(inion, also directed towards this end.

5. The Views of Lenin, Zinoviev & Bukharin

!o#rades &enin and Cinovieff , however, disa"ree with hi#. They are 7educators7 of the #odern trend of thou"ht7. 4t has been stated #any a ti#e that the trade unions are schools for !o##unis#. 6hat does that #ean 0 7schools for !o##unis#7= 4f we ta,e this definition seriously, it will #ean that in schools for !o##unis#, it is necessary first of all to teach and brin" u(, but not to co##and %this allusion to Trots,y7s views #eets with a((lause. ;urther on, Cinovieff adds. the trade unions are (erfor#in" a "reat tas,, both for the (roletarian and the !o##unist cause. This is the basic (art to be (layed by the trade unions. /t (resent, however, we for"et this, and thin, that we #ay handle the (roble# of trade unions too rec,lessly, too rou"hly, too severely. 4t is necessary to re#e#ber that these or"ani?ations have their own (articular tas,s 0 these are not tas,s of co##andin", su(ervisin" or dictatin", but tas,s in which all #ay be reduced to one . drawin" of the wor,in" #asses into the channel of the or"anised (roletarian #ove#ent. Thus, teacher Trots,y went too far in his syste# of brinin" u( the #as,s. 2ut what does !o#rade Cinovieff hi#self (ro(ose= To "ive, within the unions, the first lessons in !o##unis#. %to teach the# %the #asses' the basic facts about the (roletarian #ove#ent7 . Aow= Throu"h (ractical ex(erience, throu"h (ractical creation of the new for#s of (roduction= Just what the 8((osition wants= <ot at all. Cinovieff0&enin7s "rou( favours a syste# of brin"in" u( throu"h readin", "ivin" #oral (rece(ts and "ood, well0 chosen exa#(les. 6e have 5 ,

2 !o##unists %a#on" who#, we re"ret to say, there are #any %stran"ers7 0 stra""lers fro# the other world' to seven #illion wor,ers. /ccordin" to !o#rade &enin, the $arty 7has drawn to itself 7the (roletarian van"uard7. The best !o##unists, in co0o(eration with s(ecialists fro# the Soviet econo#ic institutions, are searchin" hard in their laboratories for the new for#s of !o##unist (roduction. These !o##unists, wor,in" at (resent under the care of 7"ood teachers7 in the Su(re#e !ouncil of <ational -cono#y or other centres, these $eters and Johns are the best (u(ils it is true. 2ut the wor,in" #asses in the trade unions #ust loo, to these exe#(lary $eters and Johns and learn so#ethin" fro# the# without touchin" with their own hands the rudder of control, for it is7%too early7as yet7. They have 7not yet learned enou"h7. 4n &enin7s o(inion the trade unions 0 that is, the wor,in" class or"ani?ations 0 are not the creators of the !o##unist for#s of (eo(le7 econo#y, for they serve only as a connectin"0lin, between the van"uard and the #asses. 7the trade unions in their everyday wor, (ersuade #asses, #asses of that class ... 7 etc. That is not Trots,y7s 7club syste#7, not a #ediaeval syste# of education. This is the ;roebel0(estalo??i7s Fer#an syste# founded on studyin" exa#(les. Trade #ust do nothin" vital in the industries. 2ut they (ersuade the #asses. They #ust ,ee( the #asses 4n touch with the van"uard, with the $arty which %re#e#ber thisI' does not or"ani?e (roduction as a collective, but only creates Soviet econo#ic institutions of a hetero"eneous co#(osition , whereto it a((oints !o##unists. 6hich syste# is better= This is the :uestion. Trots,y7s syste#, whatever it #ay lac, in other res(ects, is clearer and therefore #ore real. 8n readin" boo,s and studyin" exa#(les ta,en fro# downhearted $eters and Johns, one cannot advance education too far. This #ust be re#e#bered, and re#e#bered well. 2u,harin7s "rou( occu(ies the #iddle "round. 8r rather, it atte#(ts to co0ordinate both syste#s of u(brin"in". 6e #ust notice, however, that it too fails to records the (rinci(le of inde(endent creativeness of the unions in industry. 4n the o(inion of 2u,harin7s "rou(, the trade unions (lay a double role %so it is (roclai#ed in their thesis'. 8n the one hand it %obviously %the role7' ta,es on itself the function of a 7school for !o##unis#7. /nd, on the other hand, it ta,es on the functions of an inter#ediary between the $arty and the #asses %this is fro# &enin7s "rou('. 4t ta,es on, in other words, the role of a #achine. in@ectin" the wide (roletarian #as,s into the active life %notice, co#rades 0 7into the active life7 0 but not into the creation of a new for# of econo#y or into a search for new for#s of (roduction'. 2esides that they %obviously the unions' in ever increasin" de"ree, #ust beco#e the co#(onent (art both of the econo#ic #achine and of the State authority. This is Trots,y7s @oinin" to"ether7. The controversy a"ain revolves not around the trade union (roble#s but around the #ethods of educatin" the #asses by #eans of the unions. Trots,y stands, or rather stood, for a syste# which, with the hel( of that introduced a#on" the railway wor,ers, #i"ht ha##er into the or"anised wor,ers7 heads the wisdo# of !o##unist reconstruction. 2y #eans of 7a((ointees7, 7sha,e0u(s7, and all ,inds of #iraculous #easures (ro#ul"ated in confor#ity with 7the shoc, syste#7, it would re0#a,e the unions so that they #i"ht @oin the Soviet econo#ic institutions by "rowth, and

21 beco#e obedient tools in realisin" econo#ic (lans wor,ed out by the Su(re#e !ouncil of <ational -cono#y, Cinovieff and &enin are in no hurry to @oin u( the trade unions to the Soviet econo#ic #achine. The unions, they say, shall re#ain unions. /s re"ards (roduction, it wlll be run and #ana"ed by #en who# we choose. 6hen the trade unions have brou"ht u( obedient and industrious $eters and Johns, we will 7in@ect7 the# into the Soviet -cono#ic institutions. Thus the unions will "radually disa((ear, dissolve. The creation of new for#s of national econo#y they entrust to the Soviet bureaucratic institutions. /s to the unions, they leave the# the role of 7schools7. -ducation, education and #ore education. Such is the &enin0Cinovieff slo"an. 2u,harin, however, wanted 7to ban,7 on radicalis# in the syste# of union education, and, of course, he fully #erited the rebu,e fro# &enin to"ether with the nic,na#e of 7si#idico#ist7. 2u,harin and his "rou(, while e#(hasi?in" the educational (art to be (layed by the unions in the (resent (olitical situation, stand for the #ost co#(lete wor,ers7 de#ocracy inside the unions, for wide elective (owers to the unions 0 not only for the elective (rinci(le "enerally a((lied, but for non0conditional election of dele"ates no#inated by the unions. 6hat a de#ocracyI This s#ac,ed of the very 8((osition itself, if it were not for one difference . The 6or,ers 8((osition sees in the unions the #ana"ers and creators of the !o##unist econo#y, whereas 2u,harin, to"ether with &enin and Trots,y, leave to the# only the role of 7schools for !o##unis# 7and no #ore. 6hy should 2u,harin not (lay with the elective (rinci(le, when everybody ,nows that will do no "ood or bad to the syste# of runnin" industry= ;or, as a #atter of fact, the control of industry will still re#ain outside the unions, beyond their reach, in the hands of the Soviet institutions. 2u,harin re#inds us of those teachers who carry on education in confor#ity with the old syste# by #eans of 7boo,s7. 7Eou #ust learn that far and no further7, while encoura"in" 7self0 activity7 of the (u(ils . . . in or"ani?in" dances, entertain#ents etc. 4n this way, the two syste#s :uite co#fortably live to"ether and s:uare u( with one another. 2ut what the outco#e of all this will be, and what duties will the (u(ils of these teachers of eclectics be able to (erfor# 0 that is a different :uestion.4f !o#rade &unachars,y were to disa((rove at all the educational #eetin"s of 7eclectic heresy7 li,e this, the (osition of the $eo(le7s !o##issariat on -ducation would be (recarious indeed.

6. Restricting Creativeness
Aowever, there is no need to underesti#ate the educational #ethods of our leadin" co#rades in re"ard to the trade unions. They all, Trots,y included, realise that in the #atter of education, 7self0activity7 of the #asses is not the least factor. Therefore, they are in search of such a (lan where trade unions, without any har# to the (revailin" bureaucratic syste# of runnin" the industry, #ay develo( their initiative and their econo#ic creative (owers. The least har#ful s(here where the #asses could #anifest their self0activity as well as their 7(artici(ation in active life7 %accordin" to 2u,harin' is the s(here of better#ent of the wor,ers7 lot. The 6or,ers7 8((osition (ays a "reat deal of attention to this :uestion, and yet it ,nows that the basic s(here of class creation is the creation of new industrial econo#ic for#s, of which the 7better#ent of the wor,ers7 lot is only a (art.

22 4n Trots,y and Cinovieffs o(inion, all (roduction #ust be initiated and ad@usted by the Soviet institutions, while the trade unions are advised to (erfor# a rather restricted, thou"h useful. wor, of i#(rovin" the lot of the wor,ers. !o#rade Cinovieff, for instance, sees in distribution of clothin" the 7econo#ic role7 of the unions, and ex(lains. 7there is no #ore i#(ortant (roble# than that of econo#y+ to re(air one bathhouse in $etro"rad at (resent is ten ti#es #ore i#(ortant than deliverin" five "ood lectures. 6hat is this= / naive, #ista,en view= 8r a conscious substitution of or"ani?in" creative tas,s in the s(here of (roduction and develo(#ent of creative abilities, by restricted tas,s of ho#e econo#ics, household duties, etc.= 4n so#ewhat different lan"ua"e, the sa#e thou"ht is ex(ressed by Trots,y. Ae very "enerously (ro(oses to the trade unions to develo( the "reatest initiative (ossible in the econo#ic field. 2ut where shall this initiative ex(ress itself 4n 7(uttin" "lass7 in the sho( window or fillin" u( a (ool in front of the factory %fro# Trots,y7s s(eech at the Miners7 !on"ress'= !o#rade Trots,y, ta,e (ity on usI ;or this is #erely the s(here of house0 runnin".4f you intend to reduce the creativeness of the unions to such a de"ree, then the unions will beco#e not schools for !o##unis#, but (laces where they train (eo(le to beco#e @anitors. 4t is true that !o#rade Trots,y atte#(ts to widen the sco(e of the 7self0activity of the #asses7 by lettin" the# (artici(ate not in an inde(endent i#(rove#ent of the wor,ers7 lot, on the @ob %only the7insane7 6or,ers7 8((osition "oes that far', but by ta,in" lessons fro# the Su(re#e !ouncil of the <ational -cono#y on this sub@ect. 6henever a :uestion concernin" wor,ers is to be decided, as for instance about distribution of food or labour (ower, it is necessary that the trade unions should ,now exactly, not in "eneral outline as #ere citi?ens, but ,now thorou"hly the whole current wor, that is bein" done by the Su(re#e !ouncil of <ational -cono#y %s(eech of Bec. > '. The teachers fro# the Su(re#e !ouncil of <ational -cono#y not only force the trade unions7to carry out7 (lans, but they also 7ex(lain to their (u(ils their decrees7. This is already a ste( forward in co#(arison with the syste# that functions at (resent on the railways. To every thin,in" wor,er, it is clear, however, that (uttin" in "lass, useful as it #ay be, has nothin" in co##on with runnin" industry7, (roductive forces and their develo(#ent do not find ex(ression in this wor,. The really i#(ortant :uestion still is. how to develo( the (roductive forces. Aow to build such a state of econo#y by s:uarin" the new life with (roduction, and how to eli#inate un(roductive labour as #uch as (ossible. / $arty #ay brin" u( a Red soldier, a (olitical wor,er or an executive wor,er to carry out the (ro@ects already laid out. 2ut it cannot develo( a creator of !o##unist econo#y, for only a union offers an o((ortunity for develo(in" the creative abilities alon" new lines. Moreover, this is not the tas, of the $arty. The $arty tas, is to create the conditions 0 that is, "ive freedo# to the wor,in" #asses united by co##on econo#ic industrial ai#s 0 so that wor,ers can beco#e wor,er0creators, find new i#(ulses for wor,, wor, out a new syste# to utilise labour (ower, and discover how to distribute wor,ers in order to reconstruct society, and thus to create a new econo#ic order of thin"s founded on a !o##unist basis. 8nly wor,ers can "enerate in their #inds new #ethods of or"ani?in" labour as well as runnin" industry.

2>

7. Technique & Organisation

This is a si#(le #arxist truth, and yet at (resent the leaders of our $arty do not share it with us. 6hy= 2ecause they (lace #ore reliance on the bureaucratic technicians, descendants of the (ast, than on the healthy ele#ental class0creativeness of the wor,in" #asses. 4n every other s(here we #ay hesitate as to who is to be in control 0 whether the wor,ers7 collective or the bureaucratic s(ecialists, be it in the #atter of education, develo(#ent of science, or"ani?ation of the /r#y, care of $ublic Aealth. 2ut there is one (lace, that of the econo#y, where the :uestion as to who shall have control is very si#(le and clear for everyone who has not for"otten history. 4t is well ,nown to every #arxist that the reconstruction of industry and the develo(#ent of the creative for#s of a country de(end on two factors. on the develo(#ent of techni:ue and on the efficient or"ani?ation of labour by #eans of increasin" (roductivity and findin" new incentives to wor,. This has been true durin" every (eriod of transfor#ation fro# a lower sta"e of econo#ic develo(#ent to a hi"her one throu"hout the history of hu#an existence. 4n a wor,ers7 re(ublic the develo(#ent of the (roductive forces by #eans of techni:ue (lays a secondary role in co#(arison with the second factor, that of the efficient or"ani?ation of labour, and the creation of a new syste# of econo#y. -ven if Soviet Russia succeeds in carryin" out co#(letely its (ro@ect of "eneral electrification, without introducin" any essential chan"e in the syste# of control and or"ani?ation of the (eo(le7s econo#y and (roduction, it would only catch u( with the advanced ca(italist countries in the #atter of develo(#ent. Eet, in the efficient utili?ation of labour (ower and buildin" u( a new syste# of (roduction, Russian labour finds itself in exce(tionally favourable circu#stances. These "ive her the o((ortunity to leave far behind all bour"eois ca(italist countries in the :uestion of develo(in".the (roductive forces. 9ne#(loy#ent as an incentive to labour in socialist Russia has been done away with. <ew (ossibilities are o(en for a wor,in" class that had been freed fro# the yo,e of ca(ital, to have its own creative say in findin" new incentives to labour and the creation of new for#s of (roduction which will have had no (recedent in all of hu#an history. 6ho can, however, develo( the necessary creativeness and ,eenness in this s(here=4s it the bureaucratic ele#ents, the heads of the Soviet institutions or the industrial unions, whose #e#bers in their ex(erience of re"rou(in" wor,ers in the sho( co#e across creative, useful, (ractical #ethods that can be a((lied in the (rocess of re0or"ani?in" the entire syste# of the (eo(le7s econo#y= The 6or,ers7 8((osition asserts that ad#inistration of the (eo(le7s econo#y is the trade unions7 @ob and, therefore, that the 8((osition is #ore #arxist in thou"ht than the theoretically trained leaders. The 6or,ers7 8((osition is not so i"norant as wholly to underesti#ate the "reat value of technical (ro"ress or the usefulness of technically trained #en. 4t does not, therefore, thin, that after electin" its own body of control over industry it #ay safely dis#iss the Su(re#e !ouncil of <ational -cono#y, the central industrial co##ittees, econo#ic centres, etc. <ot at 21. The 6or,ers7 8((osition thin,s that it #ust assert its own control over these technically valuable ad#inistrative centres, "ive the# theoretical tas,s, and use their services as the ca(italists did when they hired the technicians in order to carry out their own sche#es. S(ecialists can do valuable wor,

2D in develo(in" the industries7, they can #a,e the wor,ers7 #anual labour 4 easier+ they are necessary, indis(ensable, @ust as science is indis(ensable to every risin" and develo(in" class. 2ut the 2our"eois s(ecialists, even when !o##unist labels are (asted on the#, are (owerless (hysically and too wea, #entally to develo( the (roductive forces in a non0ca(italist state+ to find new #ethods of labour or"ani?ation and to develo( new incentives for intensification of labour. 4n this, the last word belon"s to the wor,in" class 0 to the industrial unions. 6hen the risin" bour"eois class, havin" reached the threshold leadin" fro# #ediaeval to #odern ti#es. entered into the econo#ic battle with the decayin" class of feudal lords, it did not (ossess any technical advanta"es over the latter. The trader 0 the first ca(italist 0 was co#(elled to buy "oods fro# that crafts#an or @ourney#an who by #eans of hand files, ,nife, and (ri#itive s(indles was (roducin" "oods7 both for his 7#aster7 %the landlord' and for the outside trader, with who# he entered into a 7free7 trade a"ree#ent. ;eudal econo#y havin" reached a cul#inatin" (oint in its or"ani?ation, ceased to "ive any sur(lus, and there be"an a decrease in the "rowth of (roductive forces. Au#anity stood face to face with the alternatives of either econo#ic decay or of findin" new incentives for labourI of creatin", conse:uently, a new econo#ic syste# which would increase (roductivity, widen the sco(e of (roduction, and o(en new (ossibilities for the develo(#ent of (roductive forces. 6ho could have found and evolved the new #ethods in the s(here of industrial reor"ani?ation= <one but those class re(resentatives who had not been bound by the routine of the (ast, who understood that the s(indle and cutter in the hands of a chattel slave (roduce inco#(arably less than in the hands of su((osedly free hired wor,ers, behind whose bac, stands the incentive of econo#ic necessity. Thus the risin" class, havin" found where the basic incentive to labour lay, built on at a co#(lex syste# "reat in its own way. the syste# of ca(italist (roduction. The technicians only co#e to the aid of ca(italists #uch later. The basis was the new syste# of labour or"ani?ation, and the new relations that were established between ca(ital and labour. The sa#e is true at (resent. <o s(ecialist or technician i#bued with the routine of the ca(italist syste# of (roduction can ever introduce any new creative #otive and vitalisin" innovation into the yields of labour or"ani?ation, in creatin" and ad@ustin" a !o##unist econo#y. Aere the function clan"s to the wor,ers7 collectives. The "reat service of the 6or,ers7 8((osition is that it brou"ht u( this :uestion of su(re#e i#(ortance fran,ly and o(enly before the $arty. !o#rade &enin considers that we can (ut throu"h a !o##unist (lan on the econo#ic field by #eans of the $arty.4s it so= ;irst of all, let us consider how the $arty functions. /ccordin" to !o#rade &enin, 5it attracts to 7itself the van"uard of wor,ers7 s then it scatters the# over various Soviet institutions %only a (art of the van"uard "ets bac, into the trade unions, where the !o##unist #e#bers, however, are de(rived of an o((ortunity of directin" and buildin" u( the (eo(le7s econo#y'. These well0trained, faithful, and (erha(s very talented !o##unist0econo#ists disinte"rate and decay in the "eneral econo#ic institutions. 7in such an at#os(here, the influence of these co#rades is wea,ened, #arred7, or entirely lost. Kuite a

25 different thin" with the trade unions, There, the class at#os(here is thic,er, the co#(osition #ore ho#o"eneous, the tas,s that the collective is faced with #ore closely bound with the i##ediate life and labour needs of the (roducers the#selves, of the #e#bers of factory and sho( co##ittees, of the factory #ana"e#ent and the unions7 centres. !reativeness and the search for new for#s of (roduction, for new incentives to labour, in order to increase (roductivity, #ay be "enerated only in the boso# if this natural class collective. 8nly the van"uard of the class can create revolution, but only the whole class can develo( throu"h its everyday ex(erience the (ractical wor, of the basic class collectives. 6hoever does not believe in the basic s(irit of a class collective 0 and this collective is #ost fully re(resented by the trade unions 0 #ust (ut a cross over the !o##unist reconstruction of society. <either 3restins,y or $reobra@ens,y, &enin or Trots,y can infallibly (ush to the forefront by #eans of their $arty #achine those wor,ers able to find and (oint out new a((roaches to the new syste# of (roduction. Such wor,ers can be (ushed to the front only by life0ex(erience itself, fro# the ran,s of those who actually (roduce and or"anise (roduction at the sa#e ti#e.This consideration, which should be very si#(le and clear to every (ractical #an, is lost si"ht of by our $arty leaders. it is i#(ossible to decree !o##unis#. 4t can be treated only in the (rocess of (ractical research, throu"h #ista,es, (erha(s, but only by the creative (owers of the wor,in" class itself.

8. The Programme of The Opposition

The cardinal (oint of the controversy that is ta,in" (lace between the $arty leaders and the 6or,ers7 8((osition is this. to who# will our $arty entrust the buildin" of the !o##unist econo#y 0 to the Su(re#e !ouncil of <ational -cono#y with all its bureaucratic branches= 8r to the industrial unions= !o#rade Trots,y wants 7to @oin7 the trade unions to the Su(re#e !ouncil of $eo(le7s -cono#y, so that, with the assistance of the latter, it #i"ht be (ossible to swallow u( the for#er. !o#rades &enin and Cinovieff, on the other hand, wanted to 7brin" u(7 the #asses to such a level of !o##unist understandin" that they could be (ainlessly absorbed into the sa#e Soviet institutions. 2u,harin and the rest of the factions ex(ress essntially the sa#e view. Lariations exist only in the way they (ut it + the essence is the sa#e. 8nly the 6or,ers7 8((osition ex(resses so#ethin" entirely different, defends the (roletarian class view(oint in the very (rocess of creation and reali?ation of its tas,s. The ad#inistrative econo#ic body in the wor,ers7 re(ublic durin" the (resent transitory (eriod #ust be 7a body directly elected by the (roducers the#selves. /ll the other ad#inistrative econo#ic Soviet institutions should serve only as executive centres of the econo#ic (olicy of the all0i#(ortant econo#ic body of the wor,ers7 re(ublic. 7 /ll else is "oose0ste((in", that shows distrust towards the creative abilities of the wor,ers, distrust which is not co#(atible with the (rofessed ideals of our $arty, whose very stren"th de(ends on the (erennial creative s(irit of the (roletariat. There will be nothin" sur(risin" if at the a((roachin" $arty con"ress, the s(onsors of the different econo#ic refor#s, with the sin"le exce(tion of the 6or,ers7 8((osition, will co#e to a co##on understandin" throu"h #utual co#(ro#ise and concessions, since there is no essential controversy a#on" the#. The 6or,ers7 8((osition alone will not and #ust not co#(ro#ise. This does not, however, #ean that it is ai#in" at a s(lit7. <ot at all. 4ts tas, is entirely different. -ven

2* in the event of defeat at the !on"ress, it #ust re#ain in the $arty, and ste( by ste( stubbornly defend its (oint of view, save the $arty, clarify its class lines. 8nce #ore in brief . what is it that the 6or,ers7 8((osition wants= %1' To for# a body fro# the wor,ers 0 (roducers the#selves 0 for ad#inisterin" the (eo(le7s econo#y. %2' ;or this (ur(ose, %i.e. for the transfor#ation of the unions fro# the role of (assive assistance to the econo#ic bodies, to that of active (artici(ation and #anifestation of their creative initiative' the 6or,ers7 8((osition (ro(oses a series of (reli#inary #easures ai#ed at an orderly and "radual cessation of this ai#. %>' Transferrin" of the ad#inistrative functions of industry into the hands of the union does not ta,e (lace until the /ll0Russian !entral -xecutive !o##ittee of the trade unions has found the said unions to be able and sufficiently (re(ared for the tas,. %D' /ll a((oint#ents to the ad#inistrative econo#ic (ositions shall be #ade with consent of the union. /ll candidates no#inated by the union to be non0re#ovable. /ll res(onsible officials a((ointed by the unions are res(onsible to it and #ay be recalled by it. %5' 4n order to carry out all these (ro(osals, it is necessary to stren"then the ran, and file nucleus in the unions, and to (re(are factory and sho( co##ittees for runnin" the industries. %*' 2y #eans of concentratin" in one body the entire ad#inistration of the (ublic econo#y %without the existin" dualis# of the Su(re#e !ouncil of <ational -cono#y and the /ll0Russian -xecutive !o##ittee of the trade unions' there #ust be created a sin"leness of will which will #a,e it easy to carry out the (lan and (ut 7to life the !o##unist syste# of (roduction. 4s this syndicalis#= 4s not this, on the contrary, the sa#e as what is stated in our $arty (ro"ra##e, and are not the ele#ents of (rinci(les si"ned by the rest of the co#rades deviatin" fro# it= Worker%s Opposition

On Bureaucracy & el!"activity o! The Masses

1. Initiative... & The Roots of Apathy
4s it to be bureaucracy or self0activity of the #asses= This is the second (oint of the controversy between the leaders of our $arty and the 6or,ers7 8((osition. The :uestion of bureaucracy was raised and only su(erficially discussed at the ei"hth Soviet !on"ress. Aerein, @ust as in the :uestion on the (art to be (layed by the trade

2) unions and their (roble#s, the discussion was shifted to a wron" channel. The controversy on this :uestion is #ore funda#ental than it #i"ht see#. The essence is this. what syste# of ad#inistration in a wor,ers7 re(ublic durin" the (eriod of creation of the econo#ic basis for !o##unis# secures #ore freedo# for the class creative (owers= 4s it a bureaucratic state syste# or a syste# of wide (ractical self0activity of the wor,in" #asses= The :uestion relates to the syste# of ad#inistration and the controversy arises between two dia#etrically o((osed (rinci(les. bureaucracy or self0activity. /nd yet they try to s:uee?e it into the sco(e of the (roble# that concerns itself only with #ethods of ani#atin" the Soviet institutions7. Aere we observe the sa#e substitution of the sub@ects discussed as the one that occurred in the debates on the trade unions. 4t is necessary to state definitely and clearly that half0#easures, chan"es in relations between central bodies and local econo#ic or"ani?ations, and other such (etty non0essential innovations %such as res(onsible officials or the in@ection of $arty #e#bers into the Soviet institutions, where these !o##unists are sub@ected to all the bad influences of the (revailin" bureaucratic syste#, and disinte"rate a#on" the ele#ents of the for#er bour"eois class' will not brin" 7de#ocratisation7 or life into the Soviet institutions. This is not the (oint however. -very child in Soviet Russia ,nows that the vital (roble# is to draw the wide toilin" #asses of wor,ers, (easants and others, into the reconstruction of econo#y in the (roletarian state, and to chan"e the conditions of life accordin"ly. The tas, is clear. it is to arouse initiative and self0activity in the #asses. 2ut what is bein" done to encoura"e and develo( that initiative= <othin" at all. Kuite the contrary. /t every #eetin" we call u(on the wor,in" #en and wo#en to 7create a new life, build u( and assist the Soviet authorities7. 2ut no sooner do the #asses or individual "rou(s of wor,ers ta,e our ad#onition seriously and atte#(t to a((ly it in real life than so#e bureaucratic institution, feelin" i"nored, hastily cuts short the efforts of the over0?ealous initiators. -very co#rade can easily recall scores of instances then wor,ers the#selves atte#(ted to or"anise dinin"0 roo#s, day nurseries for children, trans(ortation of wood, etc. -ach ti#e a lively, i##ediate interest in the underta,in" died fro# the red ta(e, inter#inable ne"otiations with the various institutions that brou"ht no results, or resulted in refusals, new re:uisitions etc. 6herever there was an o((ortunity under the i#(etus of the #asses the#selves 0 of the #asses usin" their own efforts 0 to e:ui( a dinin"0roo#, to store a su((ly of wood, or to or"anise a nursery, refusal always followed refusal fro# the central institutions. -x(lanations were forthco#in" that there was no e:ui(#ent for the dinin"0roo#, lac, of horses for trans(ortin" the wood, and absence of an ade:uate buildin" for the nursery Aow #uch bitterness is "enerated 7/#on" wor,in" #en and wo#en when they see and ,now that if they had been "iven the ri"ht, and an o((ortunity to act, they could the#selves have seen the (ro@ect throu"h. Aow (ainful it is to receive a refusal of necessary #aterialI when such #aterial had already been found and (rocured by the wor,ers the#selves. Their initiative is therefore slac,enin" and the desire to act is dyin" out. 7lf that is the case7 , (eo(le say, 7let officials the#selves ta,e care of us.7 /s a result, there is "enerated a #ost har#ful division. we are the toilin" (eo(le, they are the Soviet officials, on who# everythin" de(ends. This is the whole trouble.

2H

2.The Essence of Bureaucracy

Meanwhile, what are our $arty leaders doin"= Bo they atte#(t to find the cause of the evil= Bo they o(enly ad#it that their very syste# which was carried out into life throu"h the Soviets, (aralyses and deadens the #asses, thou"h it was #eant to encoura"e their initiative= <o, our. $arty leaders do nothin" of the ,ind. Just the o((osite. 4nstead of findin" #eans to encoura"e the #ass initiative which could fit (erfectly into our flexible Soviet institutions, our $arty leaders all of a sudden a((ear in the role of defenders and ,ni"hts of bureaucracy. Aow #any co#rades follow Trots,y7s exa#(le and re(eat that 7we suffer, not because we ado(t the bad sides of bureaucracy, but because we have failed so far to learn the "ood ones7 %78n one co##on (lan 7, by Trots,y'. 2ureaucracy is a direct ne"ation of #ass self0activity. 6hoever therefore acce(ts the (rinci(le of involvin" the #asses in active (artici(ation as a basis for the new syste# of the wor,ers7 re(ublic, cannot loo, for "ood or bad sides in bureaucracy. Ae #ust o(enly and resolutely re@ect this useless syste#. 2ureaucracy is not a (roduct of our #isery as !o#rade Cinovieff tries to convince us. <either is it a reflection of blind subordination7 to su(eriors, "enerated by #ilitaris#, as others assert. This (heno#enon has dee(er roots. 4t is a by0(roduct of the sa#e cause that ex(lains our (olicy of double0dealin" in relation to the trade unions, na#ely, the vowin" influence in the Soviet institutions of ele#ents hostile in s(irit not only to !o##unis#, but also to the ele#entary as(irations of the wor,in" #asses. 2ureaucracy is a scour"e that (ervades the very #arrow of our $arty as well as of the Soviet institutions. This fact is e#(hasised not only by the 6or,ers7 8((osition. 4t is also reco"nised by #any thou"htful co#rades not belon"in" to this "rou(. Restrictions on initiative are i#(osed, not only in re"ard to the activity of the non0 (arty #asses %this would only be a lo"ical and reasonable condition, in the at#os(here of the civil war'. 7the initiative of $arty #e#bers the#selves is restricted. -very inde(endent atte#(t, every new thou"ht that (asses throu"h the censorshi( of our centre, is considered as 7heresy7, as a violation of $arty disci(line, as an atte#(t to infrin"e on the (rero"atives of the centre, which #ust 7foresee7 everythin" and 7decree7 everythin" and anythin".4f anythin" is not decreed one #ust wait, for the ti#e will co#e when the centre at its leisure will decree. 8nly then, and within shar(ly restricted li#its, will one be allowed to ex(ress one7s 7initiative7. 6hat would ha((en if so#e of the #e#bers of the Russian !o##unist $arty 0 those, for instance, who are fond of birds 0 decided to for# a society for the (reservation of birds= The idea itself see#s useful. 4t does not in any way under#ine any -state (ro@ect7. 2ut it only see#s this way. /ll of a sudden there would a((ear so#e bureaucratic institution which would clai# the ri"ht to #ana"e this (articular underta,in". That (articular institution would i##ediately 7incor(orate7 the society into the Soviet #achine, deadenin", thereby, the direct initiative. /nd instead of direct initiative, there would a((ear a hea( of (a(er decrees and re"ulations which would "ive enou"h wor, to hundreds of other officials and add to the wor, of #ails and trans(ort. The har# in bureaucracy does not only lie in the red ta(e as so#e co#rades would want us to believe 0 they narrow the whole controversy to the sanitation of Soviet institutions7. The har# lies in the solution of all (roble#s, not by #eans of an o(en exchan"e of o(inions or by the i##ediate efforts of all concerned, but by #eans of

29 for#al decisions handed down fro# the central institutions. These decisions are arrived at either by one (erson or by an extre#ely li#ited collective, wherein the interested (eo(le are :uite often entirely absent. So#e third (erson decides your fate. this is the whole essence of bureaucracy. 4n the face of the "rowin" sufferin" in the wor,in" class, brou"ht about by the confusion of the (resent transitory (eriod, bureaucracy finds itself (articularly wea, and i#(otent. Miracles of enthusias# in sti#ulatin" the (roductive forces and alleviatin" wor,in" conditions can only be (erfor#ed by the active initiative of the interested wor,ers the#selves, (rovided it is not restricted and re(ressed at every ste( by a hierarchy of 7(er#issions7 and 7decrees7. Marxists, and 2olshevi,s in (articular, have been stron" and (owerful in that they never stressed the (olicy of i##ediate success of the #ove#ent %This line, by the way, has always been followed by the o((ortunists0 co#(ro#isers'. Marxists have always atte#(ted to (ut the wor,ers in such conditions as would "ive the# the o((ortunity to te#(er their revolutionary will and to develo( their creative abilities. The wor,ers7 initiative is indis(ensable for us, and yet we do not "ive it a chance to develo(. ;ear of criticis# and of freedo# of thou"ht, by co#binin" to"ether with bureaucracy, often (roduce ridiculous results. There can be no self0activity without freedo# of thou"ht and o(inion, for self0activity #anifest itself not only in initiative, action and wor,, but in inde(endent thou"h as well. 6e "ive no freedo# to class activity , we are afraid of criticis#, we have ceased to rely on the #asses. hence we have bureaucracy with us. That is why the 6or,ers7 8((osition considers that bureaucracy is our ene#y, our scour"e, and the "reatest dan"er to the future existence of the !o##unist $arty itself.

3.Against The Bureaucracy in The Party

4n order to do away with the bureaucracy that is findin" its shelter in the Soviet institutions, we #ust first "et rid of all bureaucracy in the $arty itself. That is where we face the i##ediate stru""le. /s soon as the $arty 0 not in theory but in (ractice 0 reco"nised the self0activity of the #asses as the basis of our State, the Soviet institutions will a"ain auto#atically beco#e livin" institutions, destined to carry out the !o##unist (ro@ect. They will cease to be the institutions of red ta(e and the laboratories for still0born decrees into which they have very ra(idly de"enerated. 6hat shall we do then in order to destroy bureaucracy in the $arty and re(lace it by wor,ers7 de#ocracy= ;irst of all it is necessary to understand that our leaders are wron" when they say. 7Just now we a"ree to loosen the reins so#ewhat, for there is no i##ediate dan"er on the #ilitary front, but as soon as we a"ain feel the dan"er we shall return to the #ilitary syste# in the $arty. 6e #ust re#e#ber that herois# saved $etro"rad, #ore than once defended &u"ans,, other centres, and whole re"ions. 6as it the Red /r#y alone that (ut u( the defence= <o. There was, besides, the heroic self0activity and initiative of the #asses the#selves. -very co#rade will recall that durin" the #o#ents of su(re#e dan"er, the $arty always a((ealed to this self0 activity, for it saw in it the sheet0anchor of salvation. 4t is true that at ti#es of threatenin" dan"er, $arty and class disci(line #ust be stricter. There #ust be #ore self0sacrifice, exactitude in (erfor#in" duties, etc. 2ut between these #anifestations of class s(irit and the 7blind subordination7 which is bein" advocated lately in the $arty, there is a "reat difference.

> 4n the na#e of $arty re"eneration and the eli#ination of bureaucracy fro# the Soviet institutions, the 6or,ers7 8((osition, to"ether with a "rou( of res(onsible wor,ers in Moscow, de#and co#(lete reali?ation of all de#ocratic (rinci(les, not only for the (resent (eriod of res(ite but also for ti#es of internal and external tension. This is the first and basic condition for the $arty7s re"eneration, for its return to the (rinci(les of its (ro"ra##e, fro# which it is #ore and #ore deviatin" in (ractice under the (ressure of ele#ents that are forei"n to it. The second condition, the vi"orous fulfil#ent of which is insisted u(on by the 6or,ers7 8((osition, is the ex(ulsion fro# the $arty of all non0(roletarian ele#ents. The stron"er the Soviet authority beco#es, the "reater is the nu#ber of #iddle class, and so#eti#es even o(enly hostile ele#ents, @oinin" the $arty. The eli#ination of these ele#ents #ust be co#(lete and thorou"h. Those in char"e of it #ust ta,e into account the fact that the #ost revolutionary ele#ents of non0(roletarian ori"in had @oined the $arty durin" the first (eriod of the 8ctober revolution. The $arty #ust beco#e a 6or,ers7 $arty. 8nly then will it be able vi"orously to re(eal all the influences that are now bein" brou"ht to bear on it by (etty0bour"eois ele#ents, (easants, or by the faithful servants of !a(ital 0 the s(ecialists. The 6or,ers7 8((osition (ro(oses to re"ister all #e#bers who are non0wor,ers and who @oined the $arty since 1919, and to reserve for the# the ri"ht to a((eal within three #onths fro# the decisions arrived at, in order that they #i"ht @oin the $arty a"ain . /t the sa#e ti#e, it is necessary to establish a 7wor,in" status7 for all those non0 wor,in" class ele#ents who will try to "et bac, into the $arty, by (rovidin" that every a((licant to #e#bershi( of the $arty #ust have wor,ed a certain (eriod of ti#e at #anual labour. under "eneral wor,in" conditions, before he beco#es eli"ible for enrol#ent into the $arty. The third decisive ste( towards de#ocrati?ation of the $arty is the eli#ination of all non0wor,in" class ele#ents fro# ad#inistrative (ositions. 4n other words, the central, (rovincial, and county co##ittees of the $arty #ust be so co#(osed that wor,ers closely ac:uainted with the conditions of the wor,in" #asses should have the (re(onderant #a@ority therein. !losely related to this de#and stands the further de#and of convertin" all our $arty centres, be"innin" fro# the !entral -xecutive !o##ittee and includin" the (rovincial county co##ittees, fro# institutions ta,in" care of routine, everyday wor,, into institutions of control over Soviet (olicy. 6e have already re#ar,ed that the crisis in our $arty is a direct outco#e of three distinct crosscurrents, corres(ondin" to the three different social "rou(s. the wor,in" class, the (easantry and #iddle class, and ele#ents of the for#er bour"eoisie 0 that is, s(ecialists, technicians and #en of affairs. $roble#s of State0wide i#(ortance co#(el both the local and central Soviet institutions, includin" even the !ouncil of $eo(le7s !o##issars and the /ll0Russian !entral -xecutive !o##ittee, to lend an ear to, and confor# with, these three distinct tendencies, re(resentin" the "rou(s that co#(ose the (o(ulation of Soviet Russia. /s a result, the class line of our "eneral (olicy is blurred, and the necessary stability is lost. !onsiderations of State interests be"in to outwei"h the interests of the wor,ers.

>1 To hel( the !entral !o##ittee and $arty !o##ittees stand fir#ly on the side of our class (olicy, to hel( the# call all our Soviet institutions to order each ti#e that a decision in Soviet (olicy beco#es necessary %as, for instance, in the :uestion of the trade unions' it is necessary to disassociate the (rero"atives of such res(onsible officials who, at one and the sa#e ti#e, have res(onsible (osts both in the Soviet institutions and in the !o##unist $arty centres. 6e #ust re#e#ber that Soviet Russia has not so far been a socially ho#o"eneous unit. 8n the contrary, it has re(resented a hetero"eneous social con"lo#eration. The State authority is co#(elled to reconcile these, at ti#es #utually hostile, interests by choosin" the #iddle "round. The !entral !o##ittee of our $arty #ust beco#e the su(re#e directin" centre of our class (olicy, the or"an of class thou"ht and control over the (ractical (olicy of the Soviets, and the s(iritual (ersonification of our basic (ro"ra##e, To ensure this, it is necessary, (articularly in the !entral !o##ittee, to restrict #ulti(le office0holdin" by those who, whilst bein" #e#bers of the !entral !o##ittee, also occu(y hi"h (osts in the Soviet "overn#ent ;or this (ur(ose, the 6or,ers7 8((osition (ro(oses the for#ation of $arty centres, which would really serve as or"ans of ideal control over the Soviet institutions, and would direct their actions alon" clear0cut class lines. To increase $arty activity, it would be necessary to i#(le#ent everywhere the followin" #easure. at least one third of $arty #e#bers in these centres should be (er#anently forbidden to act as $arty #e#bers and Soviet officials at the sa#e ti#e . The fourth basic de#and of the 6or,ers7 8((osition is that the $arty #ust reverse its (olicy in relation to the elective (rinci(le. /((oint#ents are (er#issible only as exce(tions. &ately they have be"un to (revail as a rule. /((oint#ents are very characteristic of bureaucracy, and yet at (resent they are a "eneral, le"ali?ed and well0reco"nised daily occurrence. The (rocedure of a((oint#ents (roduces a very unhealthy at#os(here in the $arty. 4t disru(ts the relationshi( of e:uality a#on"st the #e#bers by rewardin" friends and (unishin" ene#ies, and by other no less har#ful (ractices in $arty and Soviet life. /((oint#ents lessen the sense of duty and res(onsibility to the #ales in the ran,s of those a((ointed, for they are not res(onsible to the #asses. This #a,es the division between the leaders and the ran, and file #e#bers still shar(er. -very a((ointee, as a #atter of fact, is beyond any control. The leaders are not able closely to watch his activity while the #asses cannot call hi# to account and dis#iss hi# if necessary. /s a rule every a((ointee is surrounded by an at#os(here of officialdo#. servility and blind subordination, which infects all subordinates and discredits the $arty. The (ractice of a((oint#ents co#(letely re@ects the (rinci(le of collective wor,. 4t breeds irres(onsibility. /((oint#ents by the leaders #ust be done away with and re(laced by the elective (rinci(le at every level of the $arty. !andidates shall be eli"ible to occu(y res(onsible ad#inistrative (ositions only when they have been elected by conferences or con"resses. ;inally, in order to eli#inate bureaucracy and #a,e the $arty #ore healthy, it is necessary to revert to the state of affairs where all the cardinal :uestions of $arty activity and Soviet (olicy were sub#itted to the consideration of the ran, and file, and only after that were su(ervised by the leaders. This was the state of thin"s when the $arty was forced to carry on its wor, in secret 0. even as late as the ti#e of the si"nin" of the 2rest0&itovs, treaty.

4. Discuss The Problems Openly

>2 /t (resent, the state of thin"s is alto"ether different. 4n s(ite of the widely circulated (ro#ises #ade at the /ll Russian $arty !onference held in Se(te#ber %192 ' a no less i#(ortant :uestion than that of concessions was :uite arbitrarily decided for the #asses. 8nly due to the shar( controversy that arose within the $arty centres the#selves was the :uestion of the trade unions brou"ht out into the o(en, to be thrashed out in debate. 6ide (ublicity, freedo# of o(inion and discussion, the ri"ht to criticise within the $arty and a#on" the #e#bers of the trade unions 0 such are the decisive ste(s that can (ut an end to the (revailin" syste# of bureaucracy. ;reedo# of criticis#, ri"ht of different factions freely to (resent their views at $arty #eetin"s, freedo# of discussion 0 are no lon"er the de#ands of the 6or,ers7 8((osition alone. 9nder the "rowin" (ressure fro# the #asses, a whole series of #easures that were de#anded by the ran, and file lon" before the $arty !onference are now reco"nised and officially (ro#ul"ated. 8ne need only read the (ro(osals of the Moscow !o##ittee in re"ard to $arty structure to be (roud of the "reat influence that is bein" exerted on the $arty centres.4f 4t were not for the 6or,ers7 8((osition, the Moscow !o##ittee would never have ta,en such a shar( 7turn to the left7. Aowever, we #ust not overesti#ate this 7leftis#7, for it is only a declaration of (rinci(les to the !on"ress. 4t #ay ha((en, as it has #any a ti#e with decisions of our $arty leaders durin" these years, that this radical declaration will soon be for"otten. /s a rule, these decisions are acce(ted by our $arty centres only @ust as the #ass i#(etus is felt. /s soon as life a"ain swin"s into nor#al channels, the decisions are for"otten. Bid not this ha((en to the decision of the ei"hth !on"ress which resolved to free the $arty of all ele#ents who @oined it for selfish #otives, and to use discretion in acce(tin" non0wor,in" class ele#ents= 6hat has beco#e of the decision ta,en by the $arty !onference in 192 , when it was decided to re(lace the (ractice of a((oint#ents by reco##endations= 4ne:uality in the $arty still (ersists, in s(ite of re(eated resolutions (assed on this sub@ect. !o#rades who dare to disa"ree with decrees fro# above are still bein" (ersecuted. There are #any such instances. 4f all these various $arty decisions are not enforced, then it is necessary to eli#inate the basic cause that interferes with their enforce#ent. 6e #ust re#ove fro# the $arty those who are afraid of (ublicity, strict accountability before the ran, and file, and freedo# of criticis#. <on0wor,in" class #e#bers of the $arty, and those wor,ers who fell under their influence, are afraid of all this. 4t is not enou"h to clean the $arty of all non0 (roletarian ele#ents by re"istration or to increase the control in ti#e of enrol#ent, etc. 4t is also necessary to create o((ortunities for the wor,ers to @oin the $arty. 4t is necessary to si#(lify the ad#ission of wor,ers to the $arty, to create a #ore friendly at#os(here in the $arty itself, so that wor,ers #i"ht feel the#selves at ho#e. 4n res(onsible $arty officials they should not see su(eriors but #ore ex(erienced co#rades, ready to share with the# their ,nowled"e, ex(erience and s,ill, and to consider seriously wor,ers7 needs and interests. Aow #any co#rades, (articularly youn" wor,ers, are driven away fro# the $arty @ust because we #anifest our i#(atience with the# by our assu#ed su(eriority and strictness, instead of teachin" the# brin"in" the# u( in the s(irit of !o##unis#= 2esides the s(irit of bureaucracy, an at#os(here of officialdo# finds a fertile "round in our $arty.4f there is any co#radeshi( in our $arty it exists only a#on" the ran, and file #e#bers.

>>

5.Historical Necessity of The Opposition

The tas, of the $arty con"ress is to ta,e into account this un(leasant reality. 4t #ust (onder over the :uestion. 6hy is the 6or,ers7 8((osition insistin" on introducin" e:uality,on eli#inatin" all (rivile"es in the $arty, and on (lacin" under a stricter res(onsibility to the #asses those ad#inistrative officials who are elected by the#= 4n its stru""le for establishin" de#ocracy in the $arty, and for the eli#ination of all bureaucracy, the 6or,ers7 8((osition advances three cardinal de#ands. %1' Return to the (rinci(le of election all alon" the line with the eli#ination of all bureaucracy, by #a,in" all res(onsible officials answerable to the #asses. %2' 4ntroduce wide (ublicity within the $arty, both concernin" "eneral :uestions and 6here individuals are involved. $ay #ore attention to the voice of the ran, and file %wide discussion of all :uestions by the ran, and file and their su##ari?in" by the leaders+ ad#ission of any #e#ber to the #eetin"s of $arty centres, exce(t when the (roble#s discussed re:uire (articular secrecy'. -stablish freedo# of o(inion and ex(ression %"ivin" the ri"ht not only to criticise freely durin" discussions, but to use funds for (ublication of literature (ro(osed by different $arty factions'. %>' Ma,e the $arty #ore of a wor,ers7 $arty. &i#it the nu#ber of those who fill offices, both in the $arty and the Soviet institutions at the sa#e ti#e. This last de#and is (articularly i#(ortant. 8ur $arty #ust not only build !o##unis#, but (re(are and educate the #asses for a (rolon"ed (eriod of stru""le a"ainst world ca(italis#, which #ay ta,e on unex(ected new for#s. 4t would be childish to i#a"ine that, havin" re(elled the treason of the 6hite Fuards and of 4#(erialis# on the #ilitary fronts, we will be free fro# the dan"er of a new attac, fro# world ca(ital, which is strivin" to sei?e Soviet Russia by roundabout ways, to (enetrate into our life, and use the Soviet Re(ublic for its own ends. This is the "reat dan"er that we #ust stand "uard a"ainst. /nd herein lies the (roble# for our $arty . how to #eet the ene#y well0(re(ared, how to rally all the (roletarian forces around clear0cut class issues %the other "rou(s of the (o(ulation always "ravitate to ca(italis#'. 4t is the duty of our leaders to (re(are for this new (a"e of our revolutionary history 4t will only be (ossible to find correct solutions to these :uestions when we succeed in unitin" the $arty all alon" the line, not only to"ether with the Soviet institutions,but with the trade unions as well. The fillin" u( of offices in (arty and trade unions not only tends to deviate $arty (olicy fro# clear0cut class lines but also renders the $arty susce(tible to the influences of world ca(italis# durin" this co#in" e(och, influences exerted throu"h concessions and trade a"ree#ents. To #a,e the !entral !o##ittee one that the wor,ers feel is their own is to create a !entral !o##ittee wherein re(resentatives of the lower layers connected with the #asses would not #erely (lay the role of u("radin" "enerals7, or a #erchant7s weddin" (arty, The !o##ittee should be closely bound with the wide non0(arty wor,in" #asses in the trade unions. 4t would thereby be enabled to for#ulate the slo"ans of the ti#e, to ex(ress the wor,ers7 needs, their as(irations, and to direct the (olicy of the $arty alon" class lanes. Such are the de#ands of the 6or,ers7 8((osition. Such is its

>D historic tas,. /nd whatever derisive re#ar,s the leaders of our $arty #ay e#(loy, the 6or,ers7 8((osition is today the only vital active force with which the $arty is co#(elled to contend, and to which it will have to (ay attention. 4s the 8((osition necessary= 4s it necessary, on behalf of the liberation of the wor,ers throu"hout the world fro# the yo,e of ca(ital, to welco#e its for#ation= 8r is it an undesirable #ove#ent, detri#ental to the fi"htin" ener"y of the $arty, and destructive to its ran,s= -very co#rade who is not (re@udiced a"ainst the 8((osition and who wants to a((roach the :uestion with an o(en #ind and to analyse it, even if not in accordance with what the reco"nised authorities tell hi#, will see fro# these brief outlines that the 8((osition is useful and necessary. 4t is useful (ri#arily because it has awa,ened slu#berin" thou"ht. Burin" these years of the revolution, we have been so (reoccu(ied with our (ressin" affairs that we have ceased to a((raise our actions fro# the stand0(oint of (rinci(le and theory. 6e have been for"ettin" that the (roletariat can co##it "rave #ista,es and not only durin" the (eriod of Stru""le for (olitical (ower. 4t can turn to the #orass of o((ortunis#. -ven durin" the e(och of the dictatorshi( of the (roletariat such #ista,es are (ossible, (articularly when on all sides we are surrounded by the stor#y waves of i#(erialis# and when the Soviet Re(ublic is co#(elled to act in a ca(italist environ#ent. /t such ti#es, our leaders #ust be not only wise, %states#an0li,e7 (oliticians. They #ust also be able to lead the $arty and the whole wor,in" class alon" the line of class creativeness. They #ust (re(are it for a (rolon"ed stru""le a"ainst the new for#s of (enetration of the Soviet Re(ublic by the bour"eois influences of world ca(italis#. 12e ready, be clear 0 but alon" class lines7 + such #ust be the slo"an of our $arty, and now #ore than ever before. The 6or,ers7 8((osition has (ut these :uestions on the order of the day, renderin" thereby an historic service. The thou"ht be"ins to #ove. Me#bers be"in to analyse what has already been done. 6herever there is criticis#, analysis, wherever thou"ht #oves and wor,s, there is life, (ro"ress, advance#ent forward towards the future. There is nothin" #ore fri"htful and har#ful than sterility of thou"ht and routine. 6e have been retirin" into routine, and #i"ht inadvertently have "one off the direct class road leadin" to !o##unis#, if it were not for the 6or,ers7 8((osition in@ectin" itself into the situation at a ti#e when our ene#ies were about to burst into @oyful lau"hter. /t (resent this is already i#(ossible. The !on"ress, and the $arty, will be co#(elled to contend with the (oint of view ex(ressed by the 6or,ers7 8((osition. They will either co#(ro#ise with it or #a,e essential concessions under its influence and (ressure. The second service of the 6or,ers7 8((osition is that it has brou"ht u( for discussion the :uestion as to who, after all, shall be called u(on to create the new for#s of econo#y. Shall it be the technicians and #en of affairs, who by their (sycholo"y are bound u( with the (ast, to"ether with Soviet officials and so#e !o##unists scattered a#on" the#, or shall it be wor,in" class collectives, re(resented by the unions= The 6or,ers7 8((osition has said what has lon" a"o been (rinted in the !o##unist Manifesto by Marx and -n"els. the buildin" of !o##unis# can and #ust be the wor, of the toilin" #asses the#selves. The buildin" of !o##unis# belon"s to the wor,ers. ;inally, the 6or,ers7 8((osition has raised its voice a"ainst bureaucracy. 4t has dared to say that bureaucracy binds the win"s of self0activity and the creativeness of the wor,in" class+ that it deadens thou"ht, hinders initiative and

>5 ex(eri#entin" in the s(here of findin" new a((roaches to (roduction + in a word that it hinders the develo(#ent of new for#s for (roduction and life. 4nstead of a syste# of bureaucracy, the 6or,ers7 8((osition (ro(oses a syste# of self0activity for the #asses. 4n this res(ect, the $arty leaders even now are #a,in" concessions and 7reco"nisin"7 their deviations as bein" har#ful to !o##unis# and detri#ental to wor,in" class interests %the re@ection of centralis#', The Tenth !on"ress, we understand, will #a,e another series of concessions to the 6or,ers7 8((osition. Thus, in s(ite of the fact that the 6or,ers7 8((osition a((eared as a #ere "rou( inside the $arty only a few #onths a"o, it has already fulfilled its #ission. 4t has co#(elled the leadin" $arty centres to listen to the wor,ers7 sound advice. /t (resents whatever #i"ht be the wrath toward the 6or,ers7 8((osition, it has the historical future to su((ort it. Just because we believe in the vital forces of our $arty, we ,now that after so#e hesitation, resistance and devious (olitical #oves, our $arty will ulti#ately a"ain follow that (ath which has been bla?ed by the ele#ental forces of the (roletariat. 8r"anised as a class, there will be no s(lit. 4f so#e "rou(s leave the $arty, they will not the ones who #a,e u( the 6or,ers7 8((osition.8nly those will fall out who atte#(t to evolve into (rinci(les the te#(orary deviations fro# the s(irit of the !o##unist (ro"ra##e, that were forced u(on the $arty by the (rolon"ed civil war, and hold to the# as if they were the essence of our (olitical line of action. /ll those in the $arty who have been accusto#ed to reflect the class view(oint of the ever0"rowin" (roletariat will absorb and di"est everythin" that is wholeso#e, (ractical and sound in the 6or,ers7 8((osition. <ot in vain will the ran,0and0file wor,er s(ea, with assurance and reconciliation. 74lyich %&enin' will (onder, he will thin, it over, he will listen to us. /nd then he will decide to turn the $arty rudder toward the 8((osition. 4lyich will be with us yet7 The sooner the $arty leaders ta,e into account the 8((osition7s wor, and follow the road indicated by the ran,0and0file #e#bers, the :uic,er shall we overco#e the crisis in the $arty. /nd the sooner shall we ste( over the line beyond which hu#anis#s havin" freed itself fro# ob@ective econo#ic laws and ta,in" advanta"e of all the richness and ,nowled"e of co##on wor,in"0class ex(erience, will consciously be"in to create the hu#an history of the !o##unist e(och. Worker%s Opposition