"Left-Wing" Communism: An Infantile Disorder
"Left-Wing" Communism: An Infantile Disorder
"Left-Wing" Communism: An Infantile Disorder
An Infantile Disorder
By V.I. Lenin
Written in 1920, in the midst of the Russian Civil War, with the Bolsheviks
in power, “Left-Wing” Communism: An Infantile Disorder, was written by
Lenin as a theoretical appeal to communists internationally, on whom the
Russian Revolution was depending, to do what was required to seize and
retain power.
Not only did Lenin have an uncontested mind for theory, but having
himself led the Russian working class to power, he had the unique
experience from which to draw the lessons which he spells out in this
work.
In a position of life-and-death struggle, civil war, and barbarism it is
understandable that Lenin saw the need to dismiss the stubborn
principles and rigid tactics of the so called “left-wing” communists. He
instead called for theoretical firmness but flexible tactics in order to deal
with the brutal reality that he and the Russian people faced.
Chapter 5:
Lenin dismisses the confused fretting of the German Communist Party
over ‘the dictatorship of the party’ as opposed to ‘the dictatorship of the
proletarian class’. He argues that the political struggle can and will only
ever be a generalisation of the entirety of the class struggle, and that the
formation of parties is the expression of historical necessity. The focus
must be on the class nature of the party, and maintaining the correct
theory.
The latter part of the chapter describes the magnitude of the task that
revolutions inevitably face, and that a party is required to maintain the
workers’ control of industry and of government, against the bourgeoisie -
domestic and foreign.
Lenin explains that revolutionary Russia is only in a transitional phase
from capitalism to the lower stage of communism (socialism), in which
the bourgeoisie and its tendencies have not yet been dissolved into the
sphere of communist production and culture.
Study Questions:
- What was the position of the “left-wing” communists in the
German Communist Party on the question of trade unions,
“workers’ unions” and parliaments?
- What is meant by the ‘labour aristocracy’?
- How does the labour aristocracy cause ‘divergence between
“leaders” and “masses” ’?
- What is the party’s role in the transition from capitalism to
socialism... ?
a) ... in general
b) ... in relation to small commodity-producers
Chapter 6: Should Revolutionaries work in
Reactionary trade Unions?
Lenin points out that because of the Russian workers’ long period of
struggle, and their personal role in the establishment of their mass
organisations, they are well aware of the need for strong and decisive
leadership, unlike the German ‘opposition on principle’ and the
‘Left-Wing’ Communists. He opposes the ‘ultra-left’’s tendency to isolate
themselves from the masses with “childishly ‘left’ slogans” and by
rejecting the mass organisations (i.e. trade unions).
Study Questions:
- What is the relationship between the workers party and the trade
unions?
- The German Left-Wing Communists call for abandoning the
reactionary trade unions and establishing workers unions. Why
does Lenin oppose this approach?
- Why does Lenin oppose the policy of only organising with the
masses who “recognise the soviet system and the dictatorship of
the proletariat”?
Chapter 8: No Compromises?
In this chapter, Lenin implores the reader to recognise how fragile the
proletarian revolution is against capitalist counter-revolution. He
describes how vital it is that the leadership of the proletariat are prepared
to adapt to the weaknesses of their class enemy, who will be prepared, in
turn, to do whatever it takes to destroy their class enemy; the proletariat.
It is from this standpoint that Lenin argues that compromises should be
weighed-up on a case by case basis, for the benefit of the class struggle as
a whole.
“Our theory is not a dogma, but a guide to action”
Lenin explains that the German Communists, who oppose any coalition
with the Left Social-Democrats are making a mistake, as such
‘compromises’ are necessary steps in the raising of the class
consciousness of the proletarians and semi-proletarians, who are diverse
in their political tendencies and their prejudices.
Study Questions:
- How does Lenin distinguish between compromises enforced by
‘objective conditions’ and compromises based on opportunism?
- Why is the Proletariat weaker than the Bourgeoisie, even after its
conquest of power?
- Why does Lenin say that their position on The Treaty of Versailles
should be dependent on the “Soviet movement in Germany”?
Appendix
The appendix to this polemic is equally as important as the Conclusions
chapter before it. Here Lenin takes a closer look at some key lessons to
take from the struggle in Germany and Italy. He also gives his best
summary of the importance of this work, and the importance of the
struggle against “Left-Wing” doctrinairism.