For New October Revolutions!

(Quote of the Week)

The workers of Russia rose to power under the leadership of V.I. Lenin and Leon Trotsky’s Bolshevik Party on 7 November 1917 (October 25 in the old Russian calendar) with the perspective that the Russian Revolution would be the opening shot of world socialist revolution. In a 1942 speech, American Trotskyist leader James P. Cannon described the significance of the October Revolution, which demonstrated in practice how the proletariat, led by a Leninist vanguard party, can seize state power and sweep away the capitalist system. Fatally undermined by nearly seven decades of Stalinist betrayal, the Soviet Union was ultimately destroyed through capitalist counterrevolution in 1991-92. The International Communist League aims for new October Revolutions throughout the world.

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....

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.

—James P. Cannon, “The 25th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution” (November 1942)