(Some aspects of the question of the dictatorship of the proletariat).
The question of the dictatorship of the proletariat.
The exit from class society to non-class, classless society.
Three main groups, classes: exploited, exploiters, middle; workers, capitalists, petty bourgeoisie.
How to exit? (<"Majority"> in general from different classes?
Not class struggle, but majority?
Continuation of class struggle in a different form: the ruling class (the exploited; and the proletariat, not the exploited in general).
The middle, wavering, led.
The capitalists (exploiters), suppressed, their resistance is suppressed.
Dictatorship of the proletariat, as a new form of class struggle, of transition (transitional stage of society) from capitalism to socialism.
Two basic, further arising, questions:
a) Majority of the proletariat in the population, as a condition, i.e., the dictatorship of the proletariat is admissible only when the proletariat constitutes the majority of the population.
β) Forms of class struggle in this special *) stage. Old forms or new? What is the newness?
Ad a

*) After the word "special" a comma is placed in the manuscript.
Ed.

and if e.g.: 20% proletariat
75% petty bourgeoisie
5% capitalists.
30 poor!
30 middle!
15 rich!

The proletariat in an imperialist country % of imperialists among the proletariat? à l'anglaise *)? (Cf. Engels 1852 — 1892).
They discard the new and essential, the concrete, and chew over old stuff about the "proletariat" in general.
[2-]
Some theoretical aspects of the question of the dictatorship of the proletariat.
Dictatorship of the proletariat as leadership of the working masses (and of the whole of society) by the proletariat.
Two basic tasks (and, correspondingly, two new forms) of class struggle under the dictatorship of the proletariat:
(1) Suppression of the resistance of the exploiters (and of every relapse, return to capitalism and to capitalist traditions).
(2) Systematic guiding influence (also = struggle, but of a special kind, overcoming a certain, admittedly quite different resistance and an overcoming of a completely different kind) on all working people except the proletariat *).
The dictatorship of the proletariat is its transformation into the ruling [materially] class. The rule of one class excludes freedom and equality.
NB: Freedom and equality — either a kritiklose repetition of bourgeois democracy, or a nebulously dreamy (echt kleinbürgerlich) striving towards some completely new system, towards socialism in abstracto.
The revolutionary proletariat needs (both in general and now especially) a concrete definition of its tasks of transition, of gradual steps from the old to the new.

*) To the right of paragraphs (1) and (2) Vladimir Ilyich added in his hand: "Towards liberation from exploitation 'in general'."
Ed.

II. LENIN.
ON THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT.

Real steps towards "freedom and equality" (i.e. (sonst Phrase, lauter Phrase!)) towards the abolition of classes. In one way, along one line, it is possible and necessary to abolish the class (and classes) of exploiters.
They can be "overthrown".
It is impossible to "overthrow" non-exploiting or not directly exploiting classes (bourgeois intelligentsia; petty bourgeoisie, which qua Eigentümerin der Produktionsmittel is to that extent an exploiter in potentia et partialiter in praxi).
[3.]
Themes on the dictatorship of the proletariat:
1.
The dictatorship of the proletariat is the continuation of the class struggle (in a new form).
2.
The state = only an instrument in it.
3.
The form of this instrument cannot be the old one. In particular, formal equality cannot be the form of struggle for material equality, against actual inequality.
4.
Two main lines (or forms or types) of class struggle under the dictatorship of the proletariat:
5.
A) Suppression of the exploiters. = A more ruthless war than others.
6.
B) "Neutralisation" *) of the middle elements of the petty bourgeoisie, peasantry.
Neutralisation consists of persuasion, example, teaching by experience, suppression of deviations by violence, etc.
7.
C) Subordination *) of the hostile element for positive work ("specialists").
8.
D) Education of a new discipline **).
9.
Dictatorship vs democracy.
Dictatorship is the negation of democracy (in general). Dictatorship of the oppressed class is the negation of democracy for the oppressing class, its extension for the oppressed.
10.
Democracy, concretely, =
11.
a) equality of all citizens before the law. — There can be no equality with the exploiter when he is overthrown.
12.
β) political freedom for all citizens. — There can be no political freedom for the exploiters.
13.
γ) decision by majority of all citizens. — No: except the exploiters and despite the waverers.
14.
Decision by voting, such is the essence of peaceful or pure democracy.
In reality, by money under bourgeois democracy. By class struggle, civil war during liberation from capital, during the overthrow of capital.
15.
One class leads, under capitalism, the class struggle with capital.
Idem in its continuation in the form of the dictatorship of the proletariat. Petty bourgeoisie — "to a certain extent" (cf. Communist Manifesto).
16.
Decision by voting, i.e., by formal expression of will while preserving capitalist determinants (motivations) of will = bourgeois democracy.
Decision by class struggle and civil war against the exploiters =
= proletarian democracy.
The proletariat, by its struggle, revolutionary struggle, destroys capitalist relations of property, ergo capitalist determinants (and motivations) of will and decision for the waverers.
17.
Decision by voting = all equal, "not counting" money, capital, private property.
Decision by class struggle and civil war: first destroy the yoke of money, capital, private property, then let the non-exploiters vote.
In proportion to the first — the second.
In connection with the successes of the first — the second.
18.
Decision by voting to the end would be possible given universal conscientiousness (ergo, already in a classless society), given the absence of resistance from the exploiters. = Utopia of reformism.
19.
Democracy under the dictatorship of the proletariat: congresses, meetings, local self-government, decision by the will of the working people, religion, women, oppressed nations: "Heaven and earth". Teaching the working people to do without capitalists = democracy under the dictatorship of the proletariat.

II. LENIN. — ON THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT.
497
20.
Deception of the working people by formal equality while preserving the oppression, yoke, slavery of capitalism = bourgeois democracy.
21.
The dictatorship of the proletariat is the teaching by one class, the proletariat, of all working people, idem leadership.
To lead. The ruling class = the proletariat, one.
Rule excludes freedom and equality.
22.
The peasantry, as working people = ally; as owners and speculators = enemy.
"To a certain extent".
This is not a matter of voting, but of the course of the revolution, the course of the civil war, its lessons, its outcome.
23.
The proletariat not in general, not in abstracto, but in the 20th century, after the imperialist war, a split with the upper strata is inevitable.
Avoiding the concrete, deception by abstractions.
(Dialectics versus eclecticism).
24.
Engels
1852 on England.
1852 — 1892.
Cf.
1914-9.
Dictatorship of the proletariat = overthrow of its opportunist upper strata, transition from the aristocracy of the working class to the mass, "struggle for influence".
Not without a split.
25.
Soviets = proletarian democracy = dictatorship of the proletariat.
Workers and peasants in the Soviet constitution.
"Equality of labour democracy".
§ 23 of the constitution.
"Dictatorship of one party".
26. Resistance of the exploiters begins before their overthrow and intensifies with overthrow.
Intensification of struggle from 2 sides or evasion of struggle (Kautsky).
27.
There was a time (e.g. 1871-1914), when it was necessary to develop the backward by universal suffrage, without revolution (+ strikes etc.). — The time of revolutions has come (1917—
*)), when the course of the revolution of the proletariat, its civil war, develops.
28.
The developed proletariat and "moderne Barbaren".
Experience of the revolution.
To draw in and direct.
Authority of the revolutionary proletariat among the working people.
29.
The wavering and the weary versus the proletariat.
30.
Imperialism = coarsening of capitalism, its decay, military rule over the backward (cf.
Hobson and my "Imperialism").

*) Here Vladimir Ilyich left a blank space. Ed.
3*24
98

31.
Transformation of the imperialist war into civil war.
Marx 1870:
teach to handle weapons.
Cf.
Kautsky 1914-8.
32.
"Majority"?
51% (αα)
proletariat less than 20% (ββ) proletariat, if in αα there is more imperialist infection and resistance of the petty bourgeoisie.
33.
"One reactionary mass".
Engels 1875.
Refers to the Commune and to every dictatorship of the proletariat.
Four main sections (A, B, C, D); A B C — general; D — "Russian".
A. Dictatorship of the proletariat as a new form of class struggle of the proletariat (and a new stage with new tasks).
Dictatorship of the proletariat is | as | *) continuation of the class struggle of the proletariat / 1.
The state, under the dictatorship of the proletariat, is merely a new instrument of its class struggle / 2.
Dictatorship of the proletariat means new tasks and new forms of this struggle /3. 4.
Four main new tasks of class struggle under the dictatorship of the proletariat /5. 6. 7. 8. + 26.
B. Dictatorship of the proletariat as destruction [negation] of bourgeois and creation of proletarian democracy.
Dictatorship of the proletariat as negation of bourgeois democracy /9.10.11 .12 .13 .14 .16 .17 .18 . 20. + 32.
Dictatorship of the proletariat as creation of proletarian democracy.
|
Successes of democratism under the dictatorship of the proletariat 19.
Ad 6. Dictatorship of the proletariat and the wavering petty bourgeoisie, especially the peasantry /15.21.22. + 25.28.29.33,
Dictatorship of the proletariat is the dictatorship of the revolutionary elements of the exploited class (there is a split
with the opportunist upper stratum of the proletariat) /23.24.
C.
Dictatorship of the proletariat and the peculiarities of imperialism /30.
colonies
split of socialism *)

*) In the manuscript the word "as" is written above the word "is". Ed.

N. LENIN.
ON THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT.

Dictatorship of the proletariat and civil war./31. cf. 27.
Ad D.
Dictatorship of the proletariat and the "abolition" of the revolutionary party of the proletariat (cf.
Kautsky).
D. Dictatorship of the proletariat and the Soviet constitution./25
[SEPARATE NOTES] **).
89.
Dictatorship vs democracy ("Pure democracy".)
Allgemeines.
10.
(a) Equality (11).
11.
(β) Political freedom (12)
12.
(γ) and freedoms in general.
13.
(δ) Decision by majority (13) by voting.
14.
Its conditions equality
15.
conscientiousness
16.
deception
17.
bureaucratism.
18. Dictatorship of the bourgeoisie.
19. Decision by struggle in the sharpest forms (16).
20. Majority and force (32).
21. Successes of democratism (19).
[4].
On the dictatorship of the proletariat.
For development in a brochure, the question breaks down into 4 large sections:
A)) Dictatorship of the proletariat, as new forms of class struggle of the proletariat (otherwise: a new stage of it with new tasks).
B)) Dictatorship of the proletariat as destruction of bourgeois and creation of proletarian democracy.

*) These two lines were written by Vladimir Ilyich in ink, in contrast to the rest of the text written in pencil, and represent a later addition.
Ed.
**) What we have called "separate notes" represents an independent rough note by Vladimir Ilyich (in ink) on the same page where the manuscript "Themes on the dictatorship of the proletariat" ends.
Ed.
32*

LENIN COLLECTION.
C)) Dictatorship of the proletariat and the peculiarities of imperialism (the imperialist stage of capitalism).
D)) Dictatorship of the proletariat and Soviet [constitution of the R.S.F.S.R.] power *).
Plan of development according to these 4 sections:
I.
(A) Dictatorship of the proletariat as new forms of class struggle of the proletariat.
1. The main source of misunderstanding of the dictatorship of the proletariat by "socialists" is their failure to carry the idea of class struggle to its conclusion (cf.
Marx 1852).
The dictatorship of the proletariat is the continuation of the class struggle of the proletariat, in new forms.
This is the crux. They do not understand this.
The proletariat, as a special class, alone, continues to wage its class struggle.
2. The state is merely =
an instrument of the proletariat in its class struggle.
A special club, rien de plus!
Old prejudices about the state (cf. "State and Revolution").
New forms of the state = theme of section B; here only the approach to this.
3. The forms of class struggle of the proletariat, under its dictatorship, cannot be the old ones.
Five new (main)
tasks and respective new forms:

*) In the manuscript "constitution of the R.S.F.S.R." is crossed out and "power" is written above.
Ed.