Why Communism is inevitable

There are many who dismiss Communism as ultimately impractical on the grounds that it is against human nature. They claim that Communism asks humans to be altruists, which they cannot become. It tries to treat all humans as equals, while they are not. It exhorts humans to live a peaceful life through cooperation and sharing as against competition and constant struggle for survival, which they cannot do due to their animal instincts.

I say that it is due to the very human nature (the way I see it), that I am convinced there is no other option before humans. They have to take the path towards Communism or perish.

Let us try to analyze it. Pro-capitalists say that the reason Capitalism triumphed over its rival (which they claim was Socialism/Communism) was that, simply, Capitalism used the inherent human nature to compete rather than forcing them to work cooperatively for the common good. They say that Capitalism was content in recognizing humans as unequal rather than unrealistically trying to tie them together as equals. In short, Capitalism recognized that some people deserved to be rich and privileged and the rest deserved to be poor and destitute.

The way I see it is different. In my view, it is Capitalism that is trying to unrealistically work against human nature in the long run. Capitalism stands for individualism. It celebrates individual successes, individual talents. Capitalism really doesn't want people to unite and work, because it will spell trouble for them. There is a reason why I can say this with confidence. I experience it daily at my workplace. Of course, companies goes to great length lecturing to employees about the importance of team work. They conduct "training sessions" for employees to horn their team working skills. They need it simple because the business demands it. There has to be proper coordination among all the team members to get the work done. But they rarely encourage team members to develop a greater intimacy than this. For example, once my Manager asked me to meet him personally. He praised my efforts at work, informed me that the company desires for a long-term relationship with me. (He must have said the same thing to others as well..) He informed me that in recognition of my efforts, I was going to receive a performance incentive. Before I left his room, he gave me a personal advice, which I believe is the norm in the corporate world : "DO NOT discuss this with your team mates. This info is confidential... just between you and me". Later, when I enquired to my team mates about this, they informed me that they too received the same incentive and, more importantly, the same advice. On the outset, this seems harmless enough. Pro-Capitalists may argue that this is essential for employees to remain competitive, and hence more productive for the company. I see something else. They want their workers to work as a team to get the job done, but they do not want the workers to develop a sense of unity, a sense of comradeship. They want the workers to remain as individuals, preferably insensitive to the concerns and worries of his team mates, except when it is essential for the work.

When you look around you, you recognize that Capitalism tries to address you as an individual. The mobile phone manufacturers entice you: "Here is our new model XXXX. With all kinds of features for YOU to enjoy."Or the Pizza company which tells you : "Enjoy this pizza.. with all sorts of toppings.. just for YOU". Look anywhere. You will almost never see a company encouraging you to work for others. Because, if you do, they fear that you might be smart enough to find the real culprit behind all the world's miseries. The Capitalists themselves. Capitalism wants humanity to stay divided. Not just between average individuals, but between haves and have-nots as well. It wants you to believe that you are superior than others. It wants to maintain the status quo. If the people on earth were to unite for some reason, Capitalism is doomed to fall.

So, what is the point I am trying to make. Why do I say that Capitalism works against human nature when it deals with individualism? The reality is that humans are not individuals in the way Capitalists want them to be. They can never be. Humans are social animals. Humans need fellow humans to be a human himself. A human can develop the human-traits and qualities only by association with other humans. There has been an astonishing real life incident in India where two young girls were found to be reared by a pack of wolves since their infancy! (like Mowgli in the Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book) This happened in Midnapore in 1920. When a missionary rescued these feral children, they discovered that the girls had hardly any human qualities. They could not talk. They could not walk like humans. They could not eat or drink like humans. They walked on all fours. They howled like wolves. They drank and ate like wolves do. They had a sense of hearing and smell far far superior to humans of similar age. They were nocturnal and nearly insensitive to cold or heat. They did not show any other human emotion other than fear. They treated their "rescuers" as captors. Both of them (named Kamala and Amala by the missionary) died within a year of their capture, presumably due to their inability to adjust to the human way of life. So, humans simply need the society to exist as humans. They need the care of mother at infancy, guidance of father during childhood and the company of friends all through his life. He needs the help of others to grow, learn and live.

This undeniable human requirement is the foundation of Communist thought.

And this is what Capitalism is trying to deny, ignore or destroy all along. You do not need to be a sociologist to discover how Capitalism is destroying human relationships all over the world in their never-ending pursuit of material profit. Relationships between parents and children, husband and wife, friendship, comradeship... all are facing the axe of Capitalist materialism. The lack of intimacy and commitment in relationships that have been plaguing the Western world since the advent of corporate Capitalism are seeping into the East as well. Human society simply cannot exist in an individualistic model, the way Capitalists want it to be. What humans need is cooperation, not mindless competition. Religions have been trying to set things right. But they simply lack the punch, the strong foundation, the clarity of vision that Communism has.

In the face of such looming threats to human society and nature, humans will be forced to take the bold step against Capitalist insanity. The only question is... when?

Bring back the USSR !! ... in the form it was meant to be..

Easier said than done.

Communism has been cast to the dust heap of history (to use a famous quote used by Trotsky against Mensheviks) , a state which I believe is wholly undeserved for such a beautiful ideal.

I am a person who believe that all which had happened in the past was meant to happen that way (a pragmatic approach I believe, as we cannot change the past anyway..) to serve as a lesson for the future generation. In that way, the past failures of Communist ideology should serve as an eye-opener to all those who genuinely wish to see a new Red Dawn.

There are many who point out that it is obvious that Communism is unworkable, as it has failed wherever it was implemented. Aside from the question whether the system that was implemented had any semblance to Communist ideology, the question is whether the models implemented in various countries were distinct models. Forget what the Chinese says about "Socialism with Chinese characteristics" (more about this Chinese joke later..), to an astute observer it is evident that only one model of "Communism" was ever attempted: the Soviet model. Eastern Europe, China, North Korea, Vietnam, Cuba, Cambodia, Laos.. all implemented minor variations of the Soviet blue-print. Most of these "variations" were insignificant as the organizational structure of the systems remained same across nations. The following are a few of the aspects that were common for all these systems:

1. All of them have a great, all-powerful Communist Party. Out of respect for the Party, people will ensure that bourgeois parties do not function in the country.
   
2. The Communist Party have millions of dedicated members.
   
3. But 99% of these "millions" are ignorant and inexperienced in political and economic affairs. So, they only have to submit before the infinite wisdom of the Party leadership. The Party leadership will ensure their well-being.
   
4. The Communist Party follows a top-to-bottom flow of power, to ensure that those in the leadership could simply give up power from above and they will fall straight down to the masses. This much more easier and humane than a bottom-to-top structure where people needs to create power and push it to the top.
   
5. All decisions are taken by the wise central leadership of the Party (members of the Politburo and the Central Committee), and implemented by the dedicated local Party bosses.
6. The rest of the 99% needn't involve themselves in the functioning of the Party. All they have to do is to obey their superiors, repeat what they say, and do as they are told to do. No questions needs to be asked, since they cannot comprehend the grand schemes emanating out of the infinite wisdom of the Party leadership.
7. The Party have Gods whose holy bodies are preserved at Mausoleums, and whose mighty statues tower over the populace, to reassure the people that they are a lucky-lot unlike those wretched souls in the West who were not gifted with such visionary celestial beings.
8. The Party nominated members to the various legislative and judicial bodies, and protected the population by ensuring the reactionary, counter-revolutionary, bourgeois elements do not participate in elections.
9. The Party took upon itself the all-important and tedious task of framing policies out of compassion for the legislators and deputies. The legislative bodies merely had the duty of rubber-stamping them.
10. The Party had an obligation to keep the people well-informed of local and world affairs. So, they ran news agencies that informed people of how the glorious revolution is progressing well, how they have invented the wheel once again, and how Americans and West Europeans were living like dogs. To keep the people out of the danger of misinformation, they outlawed all bourgeois presses and news agencies.
11. The Party employed a secret police whose sole purpose was to defend the people from counter-revolutionaries among them. They also had the duty of "curing" people of the bourgeois diseases like doubt, scepticism and sanity.
12. The Party always may have minor ideological differences among his leaders. As a result, a respected leader may become counter-revolutionary all of a sudden, and will be consequently expelled from the Party. If he tries to sabotage the revolution again, he might be jailed or executed, out of concern for the people's safety and well-being.
13. The Party informs people that what they are having is the ultimate form of democracy. They can have what they want as long as the interest of the people coincides with those of the leadership. (Of course, leadership is always right. And what they say is for the larger benefits of the population.)
    

I would really like to meet and have one or two words with the moron who says that this system is some form of Socialism.

So, the question is : Were there a host of reasons why Communism failed? Or, was it just one subtle, root fault that spawned all others?

I tend to think the case is the latter. Then what is this "Mother of all faults". Earlier I thought it was "Dogmatism". The inability to the Party to accommodate views that were in variance with its official standpoints. This made the Party leadership feel that such dissenting voices were ruining the unity of the Party, resulting in suppression of all kinds of dissent. These effectively put to an end all kinds of creative , intellectual thoughts and discussions that was the life-blood of the Party of toiling masses. The Party leadership cracked down on all those who did not appear to be supporting their policies. This led to the creation of the infamous secret police and all other unfortunate developments that discredited the idea of Communism in the eyes of the sane. Maybe the Party leadership resorted to these initially with good intent: push forward much needed reforms without delay, defend against the attack of the imperialists and capitalists. However, in doing so, they created the necessary structures for a despotic regime to thrive. Communism's fate was sealed then and there. All that was needed then was a Stalin to come to power and pervert these structures to serve his will.

Reminds one of Star Wars, right? The cunning Chancellor Palpatine (Darth Sidious, a Sith lord) plotting secret wars against the Republic, so that the Senate will give him emergency powers to create Clone warriors that will take orders without question. He later destroys the Jedi order and the Republic using these same structures and authority that the Senate granted him to deal with the crisis. Though I think George Lucas did a clumsy job in creating the Star Wars, I really liked such underlying themes in the movie series. I really liked that part where the head-strong Jedi Anakin Skywalker gets seduced by the Dark side of the force (to save the life of his wife), becoming a Sith himself (Darth Vader) and finally turning back to the Good side before his death, due to the efforts of his son and Jedi Luke Skywalker.

Anyway, we are not discussing Star Wars here. So, "Dogmatism" seemed to be the fault I was searching for. That would have meant that there was no fault with the theory of Leninism at all. It was problem with implementation, not theory. Thats what we hear everyday, right? There are no problems with religious texts, only problems with those who interpret and implement them. But I doubt that. I believe that, almost always, it is some problem with theory that leads to disaster in implementation. So, was there another root fault behind even Dogmatism? A fault that lies in the realm of theory, not practice? Maybe so.

I believe that Leninism went wrong in one critical point where, probably, Luxemburgism was more correct : "Vanguardism". (Mind you, there is one thing I learned about Communism with awe. Communist theory is probably more complex than this entire Universe! As a result, studying the different opposing strains in Communism and Socialism could land you in a lunatic asylum.) So, what is vanguardism? Vanguardism is an idea that stresses the importance of a Party or Organization to lead the masses in a struggle. In the Communist world, this signifies the Leninist tendency in Communism. From what I understand, these are some of the assumptions of Leninism:

1. The masses are ignorant and inexperienced in executions of revolutions as they are toiling masses who struggle to make the ends meet. So, they are incapable of understanding the complexities of Communist philosophy. (Lenin once is reported to have commented that to educate the masses on Communism and engineer a mass revolution through them will take another 500 years!)
2. In this situation, the revolution should be executed by the Party using professional revolutionaries, on behalf of the working class. The proletariat needs to obey the leaders, as they take decisions for the larger benefit of the masses.

I will reproduce here a excerpt from the Wikipedia article on "Leninism".

In his book What is to be Done? (1903), Lenin argued that the proletariat can only achieve a successful revolutionary consciousness through the efforts of a Communist Party comprised of full-time professional revolutionaries. Lenin further believed that such a party could only achieve its aims through a form of disciplined organization known as democratic centralism, wherein Communist Party officials are elected democratically, but once they are elected, all party members must abide by their decisions.

Leninism holds that capitalism can only be overthrown by revolutionary means; that is, any attempts to reform capitalism from within, such as Fabianism and non-revolutionary forms of democratic socialism, are doomed to fail. The goal of a Leninist party is to orchestrate the overthrow of the existing government by force and seize power on behalf of the proletariat, and then implement a dictatorship of the proletariat. The party must then use the powers of government to educate the proletariat, so as to remove the various modes of false consciousness the bourgeois have instilled in them in order to make them more docile and easier to exploit economically, such as religion and nationalism.

The dictatorship of the proletariat is theoretically to be governed by a decentralized system of proletarian direct democracy, in which workers hold political power through local councils known as soviets (see soviet democracy). (In practice, the Bolsheviks banned other political organizations and removed all real political power from the soviets during the Russian Civil War that followed the October Revolution.)

On the outset, it seems to be with good intent. But how it turned out in the end is pretty obvious. This kind of Vanguardist approach (as against the insistence of mass action as envisioned by Rosa Luxemburg) is a breeding ground for dogmatism, due to absence of an effective correcting force. Such a correcting mechanism is the advantage of a democratic structure (though in a bourgeois democracy, it is impotent before the might of brute money power). No mortal can chart the course of revolution. There are always unforseen factors, things which we earlier brushed aside as insignificant become all too important. In these situations, our earlier assumptions could become null and void. In short, rather than making prophetic statements about how the revolution is going to dawn on us, or creating a despotic (even if "enlightened") structure to bring this vision to reality, a truly grass-root democratic structure with adequate mechanisms for checks and balances, that is capable of dealing with any kind of unforseen hurdles is what is needed.

This might give the impression that I propose of doing away with the Communist Party altogether. Never. The revolution needs a direction, which can be provided only by an influential, democratic, proletarian organization. A sort of think-tank. A cauldron where ideas meet and mix. A forum of intellectual debates and discussions. A council which discuss the progress of the revolution, the challenges it faces, the mistakes that have been made, propose corrective measures to rectify them, and provide a general direction for future action. The influence of this council is solely due to the respect the masses give to its purpose and sanctity. Those deputed by the people to handle administrative duties of the country will heed the proposals and opinions of such an organization, out of respect and not compulsion. In other words, the role of this council is purely on counsel. Anything more than this is disaster. Anything less than this is impotent.

So, how can we bring back the USSR? Should we take the red flags and lead a peaceful rally calling for the creation of Soviets? Or take up guns and fight against imperialists? Probably, neither. Let's face it. we Socialists doesn't have a workable alternative to Capitalism, yet. Capitalism might be destructive and corrupting. But it works. It operate on the principles of demand and supply, using material profit as the incentive for production, thereby tapping human creativity. "Hey, wait a minute. Are you now trying to justify Capitalism after saying so much against it?" Nope. I was trying just to say that we need a workable alternative before shouting "Down with Capitalism" or "Down with Imperialism". "State-controlled Socialism" is not a viable option. It never works efficiently, lacks creativity and, most importantly, is NOT Socialism at all. It simply does not place the means and resources of production in the hands of the workers. An alternative could be Co-operatives in which workers have substantial control and share in the profit. But they probably have their own limitations as well. Socialism must be a more humane form of Capitalism which works on profit, but these profits are owned by the workers themselves. In short, the crucial point where Socialism differs from Capitalism would not be on whether the system works on profit motive, but on who owns the profit. From what I understand, these are the pre-requisites for a successful Socialist model :

1. Absorbs the best of Capitalism, i.e a strong incentive for human creativity, stress on quality while at the same time incorporating social responsibility. (Some might jump up at this last point saying that modern Corporate Capitalism lays emphasis on social responsibility. My answer: Its the greatest joke I have ever heard. Tell me Hitler was a compassionate human being or that Earth is flat. I'll rather believe them.)
2. The aspect of Social responsibility arises not out of philanthropy, but out of the ownership of the profit by those who deserve it, the workers themselves.
3. Emphasis on co-operation between workers rather than competition.
4. Mechanism for research and development, and for creation for new products and ventures, at least as effective as in Capitalism.
5. An enlightened working class who knows best what is good for them and their fellow beings.
   

Also, so far, the Communist movement had a fault in its approach to popularizing Communism. It portrayed Communism as some kind of paradise which we should try to achieve. But, we cannot work towards to a system simply because it imbibes a more lofty ideal. Humans are not a bunch of altruists to work selflessly for the common good. Instead, the urge to move towards Socialism should come out of necessity, the necessity to remove the current system. In short, the people should take their step towards a Socialist society not because some prophet or a Party of prophets tell them of a divine revelation or of the need to create a paradise here, but because they have no choice. Things should reach such a point where the people realize that Capitalism has gone too far; if allowed to exist any longer, Capitalism will destroy all that we have cherished.

I doubt if the destructive power of Capitalism has reached such a stage. In other words, the society is ready to work towards Socialism only if it satisfies the following two conditions:

1. Capitalism has reached its most destructive phase were it becomes an incurable cancer afflicting human society by corruption, destruction and exploitation of humans, nature and human-nature, human-human relationships.
2. A clear, workable, efficient, creative, humane, superior alternative to Capitalism exists in the form of Socialism.
3. The masses are, by and large, convinced that they have no other option, but to move towards a better life under Socialism at all costs, or live as eternally damned under Capitalism.
   

Only then, I say ONLY THEN, will Capitalism fall, once and for all......... And a beautiful Red Star of a new Union of Soviet Socialist Republics of Earth will dawn upon humankind.

The Tale of the Unimplemented Soviet Constitutions

If you are one of those people who regard Communism as inherently flawed, unworkable or even evil, the contents of the Soviet Constitutions will genuinely surprise you.

I will present here the prominent wordings in the various Soviet constitutions adopted at various periods. The "problematic parts" (references to the Communist Party) are marked in Red. Its enough to just scan through them to see my point.

So, get ready to start rubbing your eyes.. Yes, what I mentioned here is genuine.

Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the R.S.F.S.R.

Adopted by the Fifth All-Russia Congress of Soviets 10 July 1918
(Courtesy: Soviet-Empire.com)
Part One: Declaration of Rights of the Working and Exploited People

Chapter One

Article 1. Russia is hereby proclaimed a Republic of Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies. All power, centrally and locally, is vested in these Soviets.

Article 2. The Russian Soviet Republic is established on the principle of a free union of free nations, as a federation of Soviet national republics.

Chapter Three

Article 4. Expressing firm determination to wrest mankind from the clutches of finance capital and imperialism, which have in this most criminal of wars drenched the world in blood, the Third Congress of Soviets unreservedly endorses Soviet policy of denouncing the secret treaties, organizing most extensive fraternization with the workers and peasants of the combatant armies and achieving at all costs by revolutionary means a democratic peace for the working people, without annexations of indemnities, on the basis of free self-determination of nations.

Chapter Four

Article 7. The Third All-Russia Congress of Soviets holds that now, in the hour of the people's resolute struggle against the exploiters, there should be no room for exploiters in any governmental agency. Power must belong fully and exclusively to the working people and their plenipotentiary representatives - the Soviets of Workers', Soldiers' and Peasants' Deputies.

Part Two: General Provisions of the Constitution of the R.S.F.S.R.

Chapter Five

Article 10. The Russian Republic is a free socialist society of all the working people of Russia. All power in the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic belongs to the entire working population of the country united in urban and rural soviets.

Article 13. In order to ensure genuine freedom of conscience for the working people, the church is separated from the State, and the school from the church: and freedom of religious and anti-religious propaganda is recognized for all citizens.

Article 14. In order to ensure genuine freedom of expression for the working people, the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic abolishes the dependence of the press on capital, and places at the disposal of the working class and the poor peasantry all the technical and material requisites for the publication of newspapers, pamphlets, books and all other printed matter, and guarantees their unhindered circulation throughout the country.

Article 22. The Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, recognizing the equality of rights of all citizens, irrespective of their race or nationality, declares the establishment or toleration on this basis of any privileges or advantages, or any oppression of national minorities or restriction of their equality, to be contraventions of the fundamental laws of the Republic.

Part Three: The Structure of Soviet Government

A. Organization of the central authority

Chapter Six

The All-Russia Congress of Soviets of Workers', Peasants, Cossacks' and Red Army Soldiers' Deputies

Article 24. The All-Russia Congress of Soviets is the supreme authority of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic.

Article 25. The All-Russia Congress of Soviets is composed of representatives of urban Soviets on the basis of one deputy for every 25,000 electors, and representatives of gubernia congresses of Soviets on the basis of one deputy for every 125,000 of the population.

Part Four: Active and Passive Suffrage

Chapter Thirteen

Article 64. The right to elect and to be elected to soviets is enjoyed, irrespective of religion, nationality, sex, domicile, etc. by the following citizens of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic who have reached the age of eighteen by polling day:

All those who earn a living by productive and socially useful labour (as well as persons engaged in housekeeping which enables the former to work productively), viz. wage and salaried workers of all groups and categories engaged in industry, trade, agriculture, etc. and peasants and Cossack farmers who do not employ hired labour for profit;

Soldiers of the Soviet army and navy;

Citizens belonging to categories listed in Paragraphs (a) and (b) of the present article who have been to any degree incapacitated.

Article 65. The right to elect and to be elected is denied to the following persons, even if they belong to one of the categories listed above:

Persons who employ hired labour for profit;

Persons living on unearned income, such as interest on capital, profits from enterprises, receipts from property, etc.;

Private traders and commercial middle-men;

Monks and ministers of religion;

Employees and agents of the former police, the special corps of gendarmerie and the secret political police department, as well as members of the former imperial family;

Persons declared insane by legal proceeding, as well as persons in ward;

Persons condemned for pecuniary and infamous crimes to terms established by law or by a court decision.

1936 Constitution of the U.S.S.R.

Adopted December 1936
(Courtesy: Soviet-Empire.com)

Chapter I
The Organization of Soviet Society

Article 1. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a socialist state of workers and peasants.

Article 3. In the U.S.S.R. all power belongs to the working people of town and country as represented by the Soviets of Working People's Deputies.

Article 5. Socialist property in the U.S.S.R. exists either in the form of state property (the possession of the whole people), or in the form of cooperative and collective-farm property (that of a collective farm or property of a cooperative association).

Article 6. The land, its natural deposits, waters, forests, mills, factories, mines, rail, water and air transport, banks, post, telegraph and telephones, large state-organized agricultural enterprises (state farms, machine and tractor stations and the like) as well as municipal enterprises and the bulk of the dwelling houses in the cities and industrial localities, are state property, that is, belong to the whole people.

Article 8. The land occupied by collective farms is secured to them for their use free of charge and for an unlimited time, that is, in perpetuity.

Article 9. Alongside the socialist system of economy, which is the predominant form of economy in the U.S.S.R., the law permits the small private economy of individual peasants and handicraftsman based on their personal labour and precluding the exploitation of the labour of others.

Article 8. The land occupied by collective farms is secured to them for their use free of charge and for an unlimited time, that is, in perpetuity.

Article 12. In the U.S.S.R. work is a duty and a matter of honour for every able-bodied citizen, in accordance with the principle: "He who does not work, neither shall he eat."

The principle applied in the U.S.S.R. is that of socialism: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his work."

Chapter III
The Highest Organs of State Authority of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Article 30. The highest organ of state authority of the U.S.S.R. is the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R.

Article 31. The Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. exercises all rights vested in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in accordance with all articles of the Constitution, in so far as they do not, by virtue of the Constitution, come within the jurisdiction of organs of the U.S.S.R. that are accountable to the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., that is, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., the Council of People's Commissars of the U.S.S.R. and the People's Commissariats of the U.S.S.R.

Article 32. The legislative power of the U.S.S.R. is exercised exclusively by the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R.

Article 33. The Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. consists of two Chambers: the Soviet of the Union and the Soviet of Nationalities.

Article 56. The Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. at a joint sitting of both Chambers, appoints the Government of the U.S.S.R., namely, the Council of People's Commissars of the U.S.S.R.

Chapter IV
The Highest Organs of State Authority of the Union Republics

Article 57. The highest organ of state authority of a Union Republic is the Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic.

Article 58. The Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic is elected by the citizens of the Republic for a term of four years.

The basis of representation is established by the Constitution of the Union Republic.

Article 59. The Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic is the sole legislative organ of the Republic.

Article 63. The Supreme Soviet of a Union Republic appoints the Government of the Union Republic, namely, the Council of People's Commissars of the Union Republic.

Chapter X
Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens

Article 118. Citizens of the U.S.S.R. have the right to work, that is, are guaranteed the right to employment and payment for their work in accordance With its quantity and quality.

The right to work is ensured by the socialist organization of the national economy, the steady growth of the productive forces of Soviet society, the elimination of the possibility of economic crises, and the abolition of unemployment.

Article 119. Citizens of the U.S.S.R. have the right to rest and leisure. The right to rest and leisure is ensured by the reduction of the working day to seven hours for the overwhelming majority of the workers, the institution of annual vacations with full pay for workers and employees and the provision of a wide network of sanatoria, rest homes and clubs for the accommodation of the working people.

Article 120. Citizens of the U.S.S.R. have the right to maintenance in old age and also in case of sickness or loss of capacity to work. This right is ensured by the extensive development of social insurance of workers and employees at state expense, free medical service for the working people and the provision of a wide network of health resorts for the use of the working people.

Article 121. Citizens of the U.S.S.R. have the right to education. This right is ensured by universal, compulsory elementary education; by education, including higher education, being free of charge; by the system of state stipends for the overwhelming majority of students in the universities and colleges; by instruction in schools being conducted in the native language, and by the organization in the factories, state farms, machine and tractor stations and collective farms of free vocational, technical and agronomic training for the working people.

Article 122. Women in the U.S.S.R. are accorded equal rights with men in all spheres of economic, state, cultural, social and political life. The possibility of exercising these rights is ensured to women by granting them an equal right with men to work, payment for work, rest and leisure, social insurance and education, and by state protection of the interests of mother and child, pre-maternity and maternity leave with full pay, and the provision of a wide network of maternity homes, nurseries and kindergartens.

Article 123. Equality of rights of citizens of the U.S.S.R., irrespective of their nationality or race, in all spheres of economic, state, cultural, social and political life, is an indefeasible law. Any direct or indirect restriction of the rights of, or, conversely, any establishment of direct or indirect privileges for, citizens on account of their race or nationality, as well as any advocacy of racial or national exclusiveness or hatred and contempt, is punishable by law.

Article 126. In conformity with the interests of the working people, and in order to develop the organizational initiative and political activity of the masses of the people, citizens of the U.S.S.R. are ensured the right to unite in public organizations--trade unions, cooperative associations, youth organizations,' sport and defence organizations, cultural, technical and scientific societies; and the most active and politically most conscious citizens in the ranks of the working class and other sections of the working people unite in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks), which is the vanguard of the working people in their struggle to strengthen and develop the socialist system and is the leading core of all organizations of the working people, both public and state.

Chapter XI
The Electoral System

Article 134. Members of all Soviets of Working People's Deputies--of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics, the Soviets of Working People's Deputies of the Territories and Regions, the Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republics, and Soviets of Working People's Deputies of Autonomous Regions, area, district, city and rural (station, village, hamlet, kishlak, aul) Soviets of Working People's Deputies--are chosen by the electors on the basis of universal, direct and equal suffrage by secret ballot.

Article 135. Elections of deputies are universal: all citizens of the U.S.S.R. who have reached the age of eighteen, irrespective of race or nationality, religion, educational and residential qualifications, social origin, property status or past activities, have the right to vote in the election of deputies and to be elected, with the exception of insane persons and persons who have been convicted by a court of law and whose sentences include deprivation of electoral rights.

Article 136. Elections of deputies are equal: each citizen has one vote; all citizens participate in elections on an equal footing.

Article 137. Women have the right to elect and be elected on equal terms with men.

Article 138. Citizens serving in the Red Army have the right to elect and be elected on equal terms with all other citizens.

Article 139. Elections of deputies are direct: all Soviets of Working People's Deputies, from rural and city Soviets of Working People's Deputies to the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., inclusive, are elected by the citizens by direct vote.

Article 140. Voting at elections of deputies is secret.

Article 141. Candidates for election are nominated according to electoral areas. The right to nominate candidates is secured to public organizations and societies of the working people: Communist Party organizations, trade unions, cooperatives, youth organizations and cultural societies.

Article 142. It is the duty of every deputy to report to his electors on his work and on the work of the Soviet of Working People's Deputies, and he is liable to be recalled at any time in the manner established by law upon decision of a majority of the electors.

Chapter XIII Procedure for Amending the Constitution Article 146. The Constitution of the U.S.S.R. may be amended only by decision of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R. adopted by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast in each of its Chambers.

1977 Constitution of the U.S.S.R.

Adopted October 1977
(Courtesy: International Constitutional Law )

Part I Principles of Social Structure and Policy

Chapter 1 Political System

Article 1
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is a socialist state of the whole people, expressing the will and interests of the workers, peasants, and intelligentsia, the working people of all the nations and nationalities of the country.

Article 2

(1) All power in the USSR belongs to the people.
(2) The people exercise state power through Soviets of People's Deputies, which constitute the political foundation of the USSR.
(3) All other state bodies are under the control of, and accountable to, the Soviets of People's Deputies.

Article 3
The Soviet state is organized and functions on the principle of democratic centralism, namely the electiveness of all bodies of state authority from the lowest to the highest, their accountability to the people, and the obligation of lower bodies to observe the decisions of higher ones. Democratic centralism combines central leadership with local initiative and creative activity and with the responsibility of the each state body and official for the work entrusted to them.

Article 4

(1) The Soviet state and all its bodies function on the basis of socialist law, ensure the maintenance of law and order, and safeguard the interests of society and the rights and freedoms of
citizens.
(2) State organizations, public organizations and officials shall observe the Constitution of the USSR and Soviet laws.

Article 5
Major matters of state shall be submitted to nationwide discussion and put to a popular vote (referendum).

Article 6

(1) The leading and guiding force of the Soviet society and the nucleus of its political system, of all state organizations and public organizations, is the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The CPSU exists for the people and serves the people.
(2) The Communist Party, armed with Marxism-Leninism, determines the general perspectives of the development of society and the course of the home and foreign policy of the USSR, directs the great constructive work of the Soviet people, and imparts a planned, systematic and theoretically substantiated character to their struggle for the victory of communism.
(3) All party organizations shall function within the framework of the Constitution of the USSR.

Article 7
Trade unions, the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League cooperatives, and other public organizations, participate, in accordance with the aims laid down in their rules, in managing state and public affairs, and in deciding political, economic, and social an cultural matters.

Chapter 7 Basic Rights, Freedoms, Duties

Article 39 [Freedom]

(1) Citizens of the USSR enjoy in full the social, economic, political and personal rights and freedoms proclaimed and guaranteed by the Constitution of the USSR and by Soviet laws. The socialist system ensures enlargement of the rights and freedoms of citizens and continuous improvement of their living standards as social, economic, and cultural development programs are fulfilled.
(2) Enjoyment by citizens of their rights and freedoms must not be to the detriment of the interests of society or the state, or infringe the rights of other citizens.

Article 43 [Welfare]

(1) Citizens of the USSR have the right to maintenance in old age, in sickness, and in the event of complete or partial disability or loss of the breadwinner.
(2) The right is guaranteed by social insurance of workers and other employees and collective farmers; by allowances for temporary disability; by the provision by the state or by collective farms of retirement pensions, disability pensions, and pensions for loss of the breadwinner; by providing employment for the partially disabled; by care for the elderly and the disabled; and by other forms of social security.

Article 44 [Housing]

(1) Citizens of the USSR have the rights to housing.
(2) This right is ensured by the development and upkeep of state and socially-owned housing; by assistance for cooperative and individual house building; by fair distribution, under public control, of the housing that becomes available through fulfillment of the program of building well-appointed dwellings, and by low rents and low charges for utility services. Citizens of the USSR shall take good care of the housing allocated to them.

Article 45 [Education]

(1) Citizens of the USSR have the right to education.
(2) This right is ensured by free provision of all forms of education, by the institution of universal, compulsory secondary education, and broad development of vocational, specialized secondary, and higher education, in which instruction is oriented toward practical activity and production; by the development of extramural, correspondence and evening courses, by the provision of state scholarships and grants and privileges for students; by the free issue of school textbooks; by the opportunity to attend a school where teaching is in the native language; and by the provision of facilities for self-education.

Article 46 [Culture]

(1) Citizens of the USSR have the right to enjoy cultural benefits.
(2) This rights is ensured by broad access to the cultural treasures of their own land and of the world that are preserved in state and other public collections; by the development and fair distribution of cultural and educational institutions throughout the country; by developing television and radio broadcasting and the publishing of books, newspapers and periodicals, and by extending the free library service; and by expanding cultural exchanges with other countries.

Article 47 [Research]

(1) Citizens of the USSR, in accordance with the aims of building communism, are guaranteed freedom of scientific, technical, and artistic work. This freedom is ensured by broadening scientific research, encouraging invention and innovation, and developing literature and the arts. The state provides the necessary material conditions for this and support for voluntary societies and unions of workers in the arts, organizes introduction of inventions and innovations in production and other spheres of activity.
(2) The rights of authors, inventors and innovators are protected by the state.

Article 48 [Public Affairs]

(1) Citizens of the USSR have the right to take part in the
management and administration of state and public affairs and in the discussion and adoption of laws and measures of All-Union and local significance.
(2) This right is ensured by the opportunity to vote and to be elected to Soviets of People's Deputies and other elective state bodies, to take part in nationwide discussions and referendums, in people's control, in the work of state bodies, public organizations, and local community groups, and in meetings at places of work or residence.

Article 49 [Proposals]

(1) Every citizen of the USSR has the right to submit proposals to state bodies and public organizations for improving their activity, and to criticize shortcomings in their work.
(2) Officials are obliged, within established time-limits, to examine citizens' proposals and requests, to reply to them, and to take appropriate action.
(3) Persecution for criticism is prohibited. Persons guilty of such persecution shall be called to account.

Article 50 [Expression]

(1) In accordance with the interests of the people and in order to strengthen and develop the socialist system, citizens of the USSR are guaranteed freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly, meetings, street processions and demonstrations.
(2) Exercise of these political freedoms is ensured by putting public buildings, streets, and squares at the disposal of the working people and their organizations, by broad dissemination of information, and by the opportunity to use the press, television, and radio.

Article 51 [Association]

(1) In accordance with the aims of building communism, citizens of the USSR have the right to associate in public organizations that promote their political activity and initiative and satisfaction of their various interests.
(2) Public organizations are guaranteed conditions for successfully performing the functions defined in their rules.

Article 52 [Religion]

(1) Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed freedom of conscience, that is, the right to profess or not to profess any religion, and to conduct religious worship or atheistic propaganda. Incitement of hostility or hatred on religious grounds is prohibited.
(2) In the USSR, the church is separated from the state, and the school from the church.

Article 53 [Family, Marriage]

(1) The family enjoys the protection of the state.
(2) Marriage is based on the free consent of the woman and the man; the spouses are completely equal in their family relations.
(3) The state helps the family by providing and developing a broad system of child-care institutions, by organizing and improving communal services and public catering, by paying grants on the birth of a child, by providing children's allowances and benefits for large families, and other forms of family allowances and assistance.

Article 54 [Personal Freedom]
Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed inviolability of the person. No one may be arrested except by a court decision or on the warrant of a procurator.

Article 55 [Home]
Citizens of the USSR are guaranteed inviolability of the home. No one may, without lawful grounds, enter a home against the will of those residing in it.

Article 56 [Privacy]
The privacy of citizens, and of their correspondence, telephone
conversations, and telegraphic communications is protected by law.

Article 57 [Legal Remedies]

(1) Respect for the individual and protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens are the duty of all state bodies, public organizations, and officials.
(2) Citizens of the USSR have the right to protection by the courts against encroachments on their honor and reputation, life and health, and personal freedom and property.

Article 58 [Complaint]

(1) Citizens of the USSR have the right to lodge a complaint against the actions of officials, state bodies and public bodies. Complaints shall be examined according to the procedure and within the time-limit established by law.
(2) Actions by officials that contravene the law or exceed their powers, and infringe the rights of citizens, may be appealed against in a court in the manner prescribed by law.
(3) Citizens of the USSR have the right to compensation for damage resulting from unlawful actions by state organizations and public organizations, or by officials in the performance of their duties.

Article 59 [General]

(1) Citizens' exercise of their rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of their duties and obligations.
(2) Citizens of the USSR are obliged to observe the Constitution of the USSR and Soviet laws, comply with the standards of socialist conduct, and uphold the honor and dignity of Soviet citizenship.

Article 60 [Duty to Work]
It is the duty of, and matter of honor for, every able-bodied citizen of the USSR to work conscientiously in his chosen, socially useful occupation, and strictly to observe labor discipline. Evasion of socially useful work is incompatible with the principles of socialist society.

Article 61 [Socialist Property]

(1) Citizens of the USSR are obliged to preserve and protect socialist property. It is the duty of a citizen of the USSR to combat misappropriation and squandering of state and socially-owned property and to make thrifty use of the people's wealth.
(2) Persons encroaching in any way on socialist property shall be punished according to the law.

Article 63 [Military Service]
Military service in the ranks of the Armed Forces of the USSR is an honorable duty of Soviet citizens.

Article 64 [Peacekeeping Duty]
It is the duty of every citizen of the USSR to respect the national dignity of other citizens, and to strengthen friendship of the nations and nationalities of the multinational Soviet state.

Article 65 [Social Behavior]
A citizen of the USSR is obliged to respect the rights and lawful interests of other persons, to be uncompromising toward anti-social behavior, and to help maintain public order.

Article 66 [Childcare]
Citizens of the USSR are obliged to concern themselves with the upbringing of children, to train them for socially useful work, and to raise them as worthy members of socialist society. Children are obliged to care for their parents and help them.

Article 67 [Protection of Nature]
Citizens of the USSR are obliged to protect nature and conserve its riches.

Article 68 [Preservation of Culture]
Concern for the preservation of historical monuments and other cultural values is a duty and obligation of citizens of the USSR.

Article 69 [Internationalist Duties]
It is the internationalist duty of citizens of the USSR to promote friendship and cooperation with peoples of other lands and help maintain and strengthen world peace.

Chapter 13 Electoral System

Article 95
Deputies to all Soviets shall be elected on the basis of universal, equal, and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

Article 96

(1) Elections shall be universal: all citizens of the USSR who have reached the age of 18 shall have the right to vote and to be elected, with the exception of persons who have been certified insane.
(2) To be eligible for election to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR a citizen of the USSR must have reached the age of 21.

Article 97
Elections shall be equal: each citizen shall have one vote; all voters shall exercise the franchise on an equal footing.

Article 98
Elections shall be direct: deputies to all Soviets of People's Deputies shall be elected by direct vote.

Article 99
Voting at elections shall be secret: control over voters' exercise of the franchise is inadmissible.

Article 100

(1) The following shall have the right to nominate candidates: branches and organizations of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, trade unions, and the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League; cooperatives and other public organizations; work collectives, and meetings of servicemen in their military units.
(2) Citizens of the USSR and public organizations are guaranteed the right to free and all-round discussion of the political and personal qualities and competence of candidates, and the right to campaign for them at meetings, in the press, and on television and radio.
(3) The expenses involved in holding elections to Soviets of People's Deputies shall be met by the state.

Article 101

(1) Deputies to Soviets of People's Deputies shall be elected by constituencies.
(2) A citizen of the USSR may not, as a rule, be elected to more than two Soviets of People's Deputies.
(3) Elections to the Soviets shall be conducted by electoral commissions consisting of representatives, and of meetings of servicemen in military units.
(4) The procedure for holding elections to Soviets of People's Deputies shall be defined by the laws of the USSR, and of Union and Autonomous Republics.

Article 102

(1) Electors give mandates to their Deputies.
(2) The appropriate Soviets of People's Deputies shall examine electors' mandates, take them into account in drafting economic and social development plans and in drawing up the budget, organize implementation of the mandates, and inform citizens about it.

These are just snapshots from the text of the Constitutions. But it does give us an idea what the USSR should have been, had not the "Respected Leaders" in the Communist Party superceded the authority of the institutions mentioned here. Seeing the provisions in these Constitutions, the institutions they create, and the rights of Soviet citizens enshrined by them, I'm not sure even the Constitutions of "democracies" like US or India were so liberal as these! It truly looks like the Constitution for a true Liberal, Socialist, Welfare-oriented paradise! But the truth is that these institutions were mere rubber stamps to the decisions taken by the CPSU leadership.

On the other hand, it could be argued that the very purpose of these Constitutions, and the institutions they created, were to merely act as a legal face to the autocratic decisions taken by the Party. Nobody can say for sure if the fate of USSR would have been very different, had these institutions were given the importance and power they deserved.

But I wish to believe that it would have been, and a lot of tragedies that happened in the world could have been averted...

Introduction to my Communist fantasy

I have basically three interests in life: Tolkien mythology, Linux and.. ahem.. Communism(!). And I have two alter egos: Sometimes, I am the arrogant Elven King Feanor of Tolkien's mythology. At other times, I am Sergei Nikolayevich Ilyushin, the equally arrogant Communist.

What many may find weird is not that I believe in Communism in this Age, but I do so while remaining an employee of an IT company in Bangalore!

Hypocritical.. eh? Maybe.. Anyway, I find the IT industry damn boring. Maybe I should try to get a govt job.. Who doesn't want to enjoy life?

Anyways, that's not what I wish say here.. I do believe that being here (in the so-called "hi-tech" IT industry in the Silicon "valley" (or plateau) of India) was very much beneficial for me. Not just in monetary sense, but in ideological sense as well, as my stay here was a great learning experience for me as a self-declared Communist.

I am an arm-chair ideologue.. I am not prepared to fight till death for the "oppressed millions of the world" against "Capitalist vampires" like Che or anyone else.

Why? Number one, I am not brave. Number two, I am very much clumsy and indecisive. Number three, it's not worth it.

I hear a lot from the people around me, like how good the people are and how bad the politicians are. Politics is such a dirty word nowadays. If Indians show disdain towards politics, and elect corrupt and inept people to rule over them, who is ultimately to be blamed? This is not the case of just Indians. Americans deserve George.W.Bush. Russians deserve Putin. North Koreans deserve Kim-Jong-Il. Iraqis deserved Saddam Hussein and deserve their current American over-lordship. I read somewhere that Democracy is a system that ensure that people do not get a better administration than they deserve. I think it's not the case with just Democracy. I am person who believe that people, world over, irrespective of nationalities, irrespective of religion, irrespective of ideologies, irrespective of systems of government, get the Government they deserve.

Somebody might ask: "Are you trying to tell me that the millions of North Koreans, Cubans and Chinese are responsible for some monsters ruling over them?". In my perspective, Yes, they are.
Reason? No dictator can rule over corpses. No administration can survive without the direct or indirect consent of the population. If these people want to be liberated, it is their duty to organize and arm themselves with whatever they have, be it guns, spears or stones, and fight till death against those who oppress them. If they don't have the guts, or are taking refuge behind some convenient excuses, or even are waiting for some Messiah from across the border (or within) for deliverance, they do not deserve anything better than the state they are in.

Same is my perspective regarding Communism. The reason why Communism ended up in a ditch is, I believe, not because of Capitalist conspiracy, nor of failures in implementations. But its because of what I see as inherent faults in traditional Marxist-Leninist theory.

I have found that there have been two major streams for traditional Communism: Leninism and Luxemburgism. While Lenin stressed the vanguardism of the Communist Party, Rosa Luxemburg believed that the Revolution that overthrow the bourgeoisie has to be spontaneous. The duty of the Party is merely to educate the masses and suggest possible directions to the revolution.

True, the Luxemburgist path maybe utopian. (It has never garnered much support among Communists and has never been implemented anywhere.) But it does reveal a flaw in traditional Communist thought. If a Party is allowed to become a vanguard, if the uneducated working class are instructed to follow the diktats of the supposedly educated Party ideologues and leaders, the Party theories eventually lose their scientific characteristics and become dogmas. From there, the route is quite predictable. To get rid of the Bourgeoisie remnents in society, secret police are created. The flow of power is directed from the top of the Party hierarchy to the bottom. The cadre and the working class are instructed to follow the Party decrees to ensure discipline, and facilitate the speedy execution of the revolution. In short, we have all the mechanisms in place for a cunning, influential, power-hungry chap to usurp the throne of the Party leadership and use the Party for his own ends.

Without a Party to provide direction, the Revolution would be direction-less. But if it acts as a vanguard and takes decisions "on behalf" of the uneducated working class, the revolution is ultimately doomed...

The Army of Workers and Peasants

"You were born under the red banner in the stormy year of 1918"

- A poster produced in the 1970s for the annual Red Army Day holiday in the USSR. I am reproducing it here in the belief that Soviet propaganda art were never copyrighted by anyone, in the true Communist spirit!