quote of the issue

The Russian Revolution

Capitalist society is manifestly at an impasse, wracked by economic crises that devastate working people everywhere. The Bolshevik-led Revolution of 1917 was the first proletarian insurrection to break the chains of capitalist exploitation. Speaking to a meeting in New York on November 8, 1942, in the midst of the second imperialist world war, James P. Cannon, a founding leader of the U.S. Communist Party and then the Trotskyist movement, highlighted the crucial significance of this revolution for workers around the world. Notwithstanding the destruction of the Soviet Union in 1991-92—after decades of Stalinist betrayal—the 1917 revolution embodies the essential program for working-class emancipation today.

The Russian Revolution of November 1917 served notice that a more powerful class than the class of capitalists had come to maturity. The modern proletariat, the progressive force in modern society, the herald and representative of a new social order–this class, as demonstrated by the revolution, took the offensive in the class battle that can only end in worldwide victory.

November 7, 1917. The death sentence on the old order of capitalism and the beginning of the new order of world socialism were both proclaimed on that day. And whatever vicissitudes, whatever setbacks, betrayals or defeats may overtake the proletariat on the road to that final goal; however sharp and deep may be the zigzags in the line which charts the course of the struggle through which humanity shall pass from capitalism to socialism; whatever may befall: the starting point in the line of development will always be traced to that great day which we commemorate tonight—November 7, 1917.

I can remember the dark days of the First World War, 1914-1918. Then as now, all the hopes for humanity’s progress seemed to be drowned in the blood of the war. Reaction seemed to be triumphant everywhere. The enemies of the proletariat gloated over the treachery and capitulation of the socialist parties; and to many—to the great majority, I venture to say—the theory and the hope of socialism seemed vanished like a utopian dream. And then, as now—as has already been remarked here tonight—fainthearts and deserters mocked at those who continued the stubborn struggle and held on to the revolutionary faith. The whole world labor movement was overcome with depression and despair in 1914-1917.

But the Russian Revolution of November 7 changed all that overnight. At one blow, the revolution lifted the proletariat of Europe to its feet again. It stirred the hundreds of millions of colonial slaves who had never known political aspiration before, who had never dared to hope before. The Russian Revolution awakened them to the promise of a new life.

Here in the United States, the progressive sections of the socialist and labor movements were reinvigorated by the Russian Revolution. The morale of the movement grew stronger than ever before. For the first time, concentrated in revolutionary action, we had a demonstration of the real meaning of the doctrines of Marxism. For the first time we learned, from the example and teachings of Lenin and Trotsky and the leaders of the Russian Revolution, the real meaning of a revolutionary party. Those who remember that time, whose lives became welded to the Russian Revolution, must think of it today as the greatest inspiring and educating force that the oppressed class of the world has ever known.

Marx and Engels lifted the conception of socialism from utopia to science. The Russian Revolution developed scientific socialism from theory into action, and proved several things that before had been abstract generalizations and predictions. The Russian Revolution proved in action that certain things were true beyond all further doubt. The first of these things proved by the revolution was that it is possible for the workers to take power. It is possible for the workers to forge out of their ranks a party that is capable of leading the struggle to victory. And the workers in all countries will everlastingly remember that. Nothing can erase from history that example. Victory of the proletariat is possible—the Russian Revolution in action, in blood and fire, proved that it is so....

We alone know the full extent of the bureaucratic degeneration that has taken place in the Soviet Union since the death of Lenin. And we, following Trotsky, exposed it and explained it before others without any embellishments whatever. We know the full extent of the degeneration, but we also know the limits of the degeneration. We know that the basic conquests of the revolution, the nationalized industry and the planned production, remain at the base of the Soviet state. That is why the revolution stays alive in spite of all the premature announcements to the contrary.

—James P. Cannon, “The Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the Russian Revolution,” Speeches for Socialism (1971)