Soviet Ideology and Soviet Reforms
Abstract
Marxism‐Leninism has played an instrumental role in the achievement and consolidation of a hitherto unparalleled concentration of power by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The key aspects of this ideology are: (1) the concept of a Vanguard Party led by professional revolutionaries which possesses the true Marxist class consciousness unattainable by the workers themselves; and (2) Lenin′s distinction between strategy and tactics. While the ultimate strategic goal is the worldwide overthrow of capitalism, the tactical steps by which this goal is to be achieved must continuously be adapted to the prevailing requirements of time, place and circumstances. There is no indication, so far, that perestroika represents the abandonment of the strategic goal of world revolution; rather, it is one more tactical response to the newest and most severe Soviet crisis. Like past “reforms”, it is aimed at saving the power of the Communist Party and the new class it has created.
Keywords
Citation
Tamedly Lenches, E. (1991), "Soviet Ideology and Soviet Reforms", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 18 No. 5/6/7, pp. 32-73. https://doi.org/10.1108/03068299110001037
Publisher
:MCB UP Ltd
Copyright © 1991, MCB UP Limited