Aggravation of Class-Struggle Under Socialism

Aggravation of Class-Struggle Under Socialism - In Marxism-Leninism class struggle is represented as the manifestation (typically through physical force) that necessitates from the dialectically opposed interests of the two predominant social classes in capitalist society (Bourgeois, Proletariat). It is from this struggle that socialism first takes form and naturally results from. However, does the class-struggle end with the ascension to political, economic, and social power by the proletariat? We have every reason, as did J.V. Stalin, to respond in the negative.

What then can be said of the class-struggle under socialism?

The class-struggle that proceeds under capitalism is one in which the proletariat declares itself conscious of its condition and struggles against the economic subjection forced upon them by the bourgeoisie. The nature of wage-labor that makes it so insidious in the eyes of the proletariat, essentially plants the seed for inevitable revolution. This can be said to be the essence of class-struggle in general.

Socialism, as understood by the revolutionary proletariat, does not mean the election of a socialist party or platform. Likewise, it does not mean the process of nationalization of certain industries on behalf of the bourgeois state, either. Socialism then should be best understood as political power to the proletariat. The proletariat assumes the tool of oppression (the state) and continues his struggle against the class enemies, i.e. the bourgeoisie. Since socialism is not merely the process of nationalization, but rather this transition, the proletariat (or its representative vanguard via the Party) uses the state for engineering society towards its historically necessitated path: socialism. This type of socialism is the process of eradicating the system of private ownership of the means of production (essentially the wage-labor system) and in its wake construct a system of production based on need (not exchange).

This becomes evident through the aggravation of class-struggle under socialism. After all, revolution is in itself the most authoritarian act one could possibly pursue. By its definition, revolution is the imposition of one's will over that of another (and in this case, the working peoples over their former class-antagonists). The institution of the bourgeois state is an institution of class-domination for the sake of capital and the preservation of the bourgeoisie. The transition to socialism leaves the infrastructure of the bourgeois state intact, but transcends it. The state is neither an end in itself nor desirable, but a useful tool towards other ends (in this case, communism). The state, when used for its natural purpose of class-domination and oppression, is in turn utilized against its former occupants: the bourgeoisie.

Stalin, in 1933, wrote on the nature of the struggle against the bourgeoisie sixteen years after the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics had established itself as the first workers' state. Rather than accept defeat, the bourgeoisie does not give up its efforts to reclaim what was once considered rightfully theirs. The bourgeoisie, if not properly dealt with, becomes more problematic the further a socialist society prospers down the path of socialism. Hence, the aggravation of class-struggle under socialism is the increased intensity of state repression against political enemies for the greater good of the socialist society. In other words, this means that repression in the form of suspension or rights, imprisonment, and even execution may be in order to equally reciprocate against the efforts of the class-enemies.

The very institution of the law exists for the purpose of class-struggle; for, in Marxism-Leninism there is no equality under the law, as the law is but an instrumental tool carried over from bourgeois society. There is no reason to believe it necessary to transition the law to contain any sort of naturally inclined (or inherent) value in and of itself, rather, to employ it for the purpose of eliminating class structure altogether. And, once this has been achieved, any sort institution resembling the bourgeois law will die away with drastic qualitative changes in the economic base. Any institution of law presupposes the class-dominated state to enforce and apply it, this is the case in bourgeois society and will likewise be so in proletariat society.

The need for the aggravation of class-struggle under socialism is the justification and reasoning behind the need for intensified use of the state against class-enemies.