My Dad was clearing out the attic the other day and was about to throw out a box of old books and pamphlets.
I asked him to put them aside so I could take a quick look and was amazed at what I found…..
He went to Russia in 1961 when he was 21, where he picked up an English translation of the ‘Programme of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Adopted by the 22nd Congress of the C.P.S.U. October 31, 1961’.
Fascinated, I had a flick through….
It opens with the infamous slogan, “Workers of all countries, unite !”.
To get an idea of it’s lunacy, here’s the contents…. what on earth were they thinking !
CONTENTS
Introduction
Part One
THE TRANSITION FROM CAPITALISM TO COMMUNISM IS THE ROAD OF HUMAN PROGRESS
I. The Historical Necessity of the Transition from Capitalism to Socialism
II. The Historic Significance of the October Revolution and of the Victory of Socialism in the U.S.S.R
III. The World Socialist System
IV. Crisis of World Capitalism
V. The International Revolutionary Movement of the Working Class
VI. The National-Liberation Movement
VII. The Struggle Against Bourgeois and Reformist Ideology
VIII. Peaceful Coexistence and the Struggle for World Peace
Part Two
THE TASKS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE SOVIET UNION IN BUILDING A COMMUNIST SOCIETY
Communism - the Bright Future of All Mankind
I. The Tasks of the Party in the Economic Field and in the Creation and Promotion of the Material and Technical Basis of Communism
1. The Development of Industry, Building, Transport, and Their Role in Creating the Productive Forces of Communism
2. The Development of Agriculture and Social Relations in the Countryside
3. Management of the National Economy and Planning
II. The Tasks of the Party in Improving the Living Standard of the People
III. The Tasks of the Party in the Spheres of State Development and the Further Promotion of Socialist Democracy
1. The Soviets and Development of the Democratic Principles of Government
2. The Further Heightening of the Role of Social Organisations. The State and Communism
3. The Strengthening of the Armed Forces and the Defence Potential of the Soviet Union
IV. The Tasks of the Party in the Field of National Relations
V. The Tasks of the Party in the Spheres of Ideology, Education, Instruction, Science, and Culture
1. In the Field of Development of Communist Consciousness
2. In the Field of Public Education
3. In the Field of Science
4. In the Field of Cultural Development, Literature and Art
VI. Communist Construction in the U.S.S.R. and Co-operation of the Socialist Countries
VII. The party in the Period of Full-Scale Communist Construction
The programme ends with a rousing message to the people:
"We are for communism!" It is not through war with other countries, but by the example of a more perfect organisation of society, by rapid progress in developing the productive forces, the creation of all conditions for the happiness and well-being of man, that the ideas of communism win the minds and hearts of the masses.
The forces of social progress will inevitably grow in all countries, and this will assist the builders of communism, in the Soviet Union.
The Party proceeds from the Marxist-Leninist proposition: history is made by the people, and communism is a creation of the people, of its energy and intelligence. The victory of communism depends on people, and communism is built for people. Every Soviet man brings the triumph of communism nearer by his labour. The successes of communist construction spell abundance and. a happy life to all, and enhance the might, prestige and glory of the Soviet Union.
The Party is confident that the Soviet people will accept the new Programme of the C.P.S.U. as their own vital cause, as the greatest purpose of their life and as a banner of nation-wide struggle for the building of communism. The Party calls on all Communists, on the entire Soviet people - all working men and women, collective farmers and workers by brain - to apply their energies to the successful fulfillment of the historic tasks set forth in this Programme.
UNDER THE TRIED AND TESTED LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY, UNDER THE BANNER OF MARXISM-LENINISM. THE SOVIET PEOPLE HAVE BUILT SOCIALISM.
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PARTY, UNDER THE BANNER OF MARXISM-LENINISM, THE SOVIET PEOPLE WILL BUILD COMMUNIST SOCIETY.
THE PARTY SOLEMNLY PROCLAIMS: THE PRESENT GENERATION OF SOVIET PEOPLE SHALL LIVE IN COMMUNISM !
Imagine the poor old CIA analysts who had to interpret that lot….. No wonder the cold war went on so long !
Another thing my Dad had was a rather wacky 1960 pamphlet titled, The Heart, Mind and Soul of Communism and the Christian Answer.
It was written by an Australian and published in South Africa… phew !
So yeah... 