## Variant 1.

Commodity production is developing ever more rapidly in Russia, its participation in international trade exchange is intensifying, and the capitalist mode of production is gaining ever more complete dominance in it.

An ever-increasing majority of the population can support its existence in no other way than by the sale of its labour-power. It thus finds itself in a (position of economic dependence) dependent position of wage-workers (proletarians) upon the comparatively small class of capitalists and big landowners, who concentrate in their hands the most important part of the means of production and circulation of commodities.

The most important part of the social means of production and circulation (land, factories, mines, machines, railways, etc.) is increasingly concentrated as private property in the hands of a tiny number of capitalists and big landowners, as their private property. The increasing majority of the population can exist in no other way than by means of sale. An ever greater number of workers, losing the means of production, are compelled to resort to the sale of their labour-power. They thus find themselves in a dependent position of wage-workers (proletarians), who by their labour create the income of the owners.

Continuous improvement of technology. The development of capitalism ever more increases the number, size and economic importance of large capitalist enterprises, lowers the living standard of small independent producers (peasants, handicraftsmen, artisans), turns some of them into servants and tributaries of capital, and pushes others into the ranks of the propertyless class of the proletariat, deprived of the means of production.

The further technical progress goes, the more the possibilities for capitalists to raise the level of exploitation of the workers lag behind, the more the increase in the demand for labour-power lags behind the increase in its supply. The growth of poverty, insecurity of existence, unemployment, exploitation, oppression and humiliation is the result of the basic tendencies of capitalism, the lot of ever wider strata of the working population. Insecurity of existence, unemployment, the yoke of exploitation and every kind of humiliation become the lot of ever wider strata of the working population.

This process is further aggravated by industrial crises, which are inevitably caused by the basic contradictions of capitalism indicated above. The poverty and destitution of the masses are combined with the waste of social wealth due to the impossibility of finding a market for the goods produced.

Thus the gigantic development of the productive forces of social and ever more socialised labour is accompanied by the fact that all the main advantages of this development are monopolised by a tiny minority of the population. Alongside the growth of social wealth, social inequality grows, the abyss between the class of owners (the bourgeoisie) and the class of proletarians deepens and widens.

(A) § III. Large-scale Small-scale production is increasingly supplanted by large-scale. Small independent producers (peasants, handicraftsmen, artisans) turn either into full proletarians, or into servants and tributaries of capital.

The continuous improvement of technology leads to the fact that small-scale production is increasingly supplanted by large-scale. The most important part of the means of production (factories and plants, tools and machines, railways and other means of communication) is concentrated in the hands of a comparatively insignificant number of capitalists and big landowners, as their private property*). Small independent producers (peasants, handicraftsmen, artisans) are increasingly ruined, completely losing the means of production and thus turning into proletarians or becoming servants and tributaries of capital. An ever-increasing majority of the population of workers is compelled to resort to the sale of its labour-power.

[First variant.]
They thus become wage-workers, who are in a dependent position towards the owners, creating their wealth incomes by their labour.

[Second variant.]
These wage-workers (proletarians) thus find themselves in a dependent position towards the owners, creating their incomes by their labour.

*) In the manuscript this part of the phrase is written above in pencil by the author, Lenin; therefore the word "Small-scale" following this part of the phrase began with a capital letter. Ed.
**) "As their private property" is added to the above phrase in pencil, in the hand of V. I. Lenin. Ed.

In this variant of V. I. Lenin some points have two formulations: the original and the corrected one. We present them in parallel. All original formulations in the manuscript are crossed out. The corrected formulations were apparently sketched after Martov's remarks, which we have given in footnotes.

## Variant 2.

[Original formulation.]
A.
D). The economic development of Russia and its ever greater (intensified) involvement in international trade exchange leads to the ever greater spread in it and the ever more complete dominance of the capitalist mode of production **).

And
Continuous improvement of technology steadily ever more increases ****) Under the dominance of capitalism the economic importance of large enterprises, reduces the role of small independent producers

[Corrected formulation.]
I.
The intensified involvement of Russia in international trade exchange and the growth of commodity production within the country lead to the ever more complete dominance in it of the capitalist mode of production, which is distinguished by the following basic features.

II.
The continuous improvement of technology ever more increases the number, size and economic importance of large capitalist enterprises, lowers the living standard of small independent producers

(peasants, handicraftsmen, artisans, etc.) in the economic life of the country, lowering their living standard, turning some of them directly or indirectly into servants and tributaries of capital, pushing others into the ranks of *) the propertyless class, deprived of the means of production (the proletariat).

(peasants, handicraftsmen, artisans), turns some of them into servants and tributaries of capital, completely ruins others, pushing them into the ranks of the propertyless class, deprived of the means of production (the proletariat).

III. The most important part of the means of production and circulation of commodities is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a comparatively small class of persons, while an ever-increasing majority of the population can support its existence in no other way than by the sale of its labour-power. Consequently, it finds itself in a dependent position of wage-workers (proletarians), who by their labour create the income of the owners of the means of production and circulation of commodities (capitalists and big landowners).

IV. Technical progress, raising the productivity of labour, allows the capitalists to raise the level of exploitation of the workers, causing a relative (i.e., not proportional to the magnitude of capital) ***) decrease in the demand for labour-power (i.e., an increase in demand not proportional to the increase in capital) simultaneously with a relative and absolute increase in its supply. This, as well as the above-indicated basic tendencies of capitalism, leads to the growth of unemployment, poverty, exploitation, oppression and degradation ****).

*) Proletariat. [L. M.]
**) [Insert] characterisation of the capitalist mode of production.] [L. M.]
***) In the manuscript a rearrangement of paragraphs is indicated: II is crossed out in blue pencil and III is placed. This was apparently done following Martov's indication, who wrote "put II" against § III, and "put III" against § II. Ed.
****) Under the existence of private property in the means of production. [L. M.]
*****) devaluing the professional knowledge of the worker, drawing female and child labour into production and causing a relative (i.e., not proportional to the growth of capital) decrease in the demand for labour-power simultaneously with a relative and absolute increase in its supply. Thus the development of capitalism places the worker in an ever more insecure position, constantly creating at the same time ever new cadres of the permanently unemployed, replenished by the small producers it ruins. [L. M.] Between this formulation by Martov and paragraph IV of V. I. Lenin, the latter wrote "express differently". Ed.

V. Industrial crises, which are inevitably caused by the indicated contradictions of capitalism, by the absence of plan in production inherent in it (and irremovable by any associations of entrepreneurs), by the growth of mutual rivalry of capitalist countries on the world market, lead to an even stronger deterioration of the position of the working class and small producers. The poverty and destitution of the masses is complemented by the waste of social wealth due to the impossibility of finding a market for the goods produced *).

[Original formulation.]
VI. Thus the development of the productive forces of social labour is accompanied **)

[Corrected formulation.]
VI. Thus the gigantic development of the productive forces of social and ever more socialised labour is accompanied by the fact that all the main ***) advantages of this development are monopolised by a tiny minority of the population, and the growth of social wealth goes hand in hand with the growth of social inequality, with the increase in the distance between the propertied and the propertyless, with the deepening and widening of the abyss between the class of owners (the bourgeoisie) and the class of proletarians.

VII. But at the same time as all these inevitable contradictions of capitalism grow and develop,

[Original formulation.]
the discontent and indignation of the working class also grows, its cohesion increases due to the very conditions of the capitalist mode of production, its struggle of the working class with the class of capitalists intensifies, the striving (within its midst) to free itself from the unbearable yoke of capitalism grows.

[Corrected formulation.]
the number and cohesion, discontent and indignation of the proletarians grow, the struggle intensifies

[Original formulation.]
VIII. The emancipation of the working class can be the work only of the working class itself *). For the overthrow of the yoke of capitalism a social revolution is necessary **) i.e.

[Corrected formulation.]
VIII. The emancipation of the working class can be the work only of the working class itself, for all other classes of contemporary society are doomed to destruction by the development of capitalism and therefore stand for the preservation of the foundations of the existing economic order. The emancipation

*) These contradictions of capitalism, in connection with the constantly growing mutual rivalry of capitalist countries on the world market, lead to the fact that the sale of goods necessarily lags behind their production and the absence of plan inherent in every commodity producer manifests itself in the form of periodically recurring industrial crises, accompanied by more or less prolonged periods of stagnation. This convulsive course of industrial development leads to an even greater increase in the dependence of wage-workers on the capitalists and an even greater deterioration of their position and, aggravating the insecurity of existence for an ever greater part of the population, is accompanied by the useless waste of social wealth. [L. M.]
**) Between the original and corrected formulations of the beginning of § VI, V. I. Lenin wrote: "Express differently". Ed.
***) Originally in the manuscript it was: "almost all", then this was crossed out and "main?" was placed. Then this last word with a question mark was crossed out, and "all the main" was written instead. Ed.
*) The exponent of this class movement of the proletariat is social democracy. It reveals to the workers the irreconcilable opposition of their interests to the interests of the ruling classes and to the very existence of capitalist society, it organises the proletariat into a class revolutionary party for continuous struggle against the whole bourgeois society and clarifies to it the historical significance, character and conditions of its liberation movement. [L. M.] On the cited remark of L. Martov, in its first line, after the word "movement", V. I. Lenin wrote: "The conscious exponent?.. of this striving..." Ed.
**) The ultimate goal of this movement is the social revolution, i.e., the destruction of the capitalist mode of production, the destruction of private property in the means of production, their transfer to public ownership and the replacement of the capitalist mode of production, etc. (see VIII). [L. M.]

of the working class can be real only... The real emancipation of the working class can be achieved only by means of a social revolution, which follows naturally from the whole development of the capitalist mode of production, i.e., by means of the destruction...
For the real emancipation of the working class a social revolution is necessary, which follows naturally from the whole development of the capitalist mode of production, i.e., the destruction of private property in the means of production, their transfer to public ownership and the replacement of the capitalist production of commodities by the socialist organisation of the production of products for the account of the whole of society, for ensuring the complete well-being and free all-round development of all its members.

IX. To accomplish this social revolution, the proletariat must conquer political power, which will make it master of the situation and allow it to remove all obstacles standing in the way of its great goal. In this sense, the dictatorship of the proletariat constitutes the necessary political condition for the social revolution.

X. The revolution of the proletariat will be the emancipation of all humanity now oppressed and suffering, for it will put an end to all forms of oppression and exploitation of man by man.

XI. The Russian Social-Democracy sets itself the task — to reveal to the workers the irreconcilable opposition of their interests to the interests of the capitalists, — to clarify to the proletariat the historical significance, character and conditions of that social revolution which it is to accomplish, — to organise a revolutionary class party capable of directing all manifestations of the struggle of the proletariat against the entire contemporary social and political order **).

*) In this place, in brackets, a correction in the author's hand, Lenin: (its forces). Ed.
**) Against this paragraph, in Martov's hand, is written: "remove". Ed.

XII. But the development of international exchange and production for the world market has established *) such a close connection between all the peoples of the civilised(?) world that the great goal of the liberation struggle of the proletariat can be achieved only through the united efforts of the proletarians of all countries. Therefore the modern working-class movement had to become and has long since become international, and the Russian Social-Democracy regards itself as one of the detachments of the world army of the proletariat, as a part of the international Social-Democracy.

B.
I. The immediate aims **) of the Russian Social-Democracy are, however, considerably modified by the fact that the numerous remnants of the pre-capitalist, serf, social order in our country retard the development of the productive forces to the strongest degree, lower the living standard of the working population, cause Asiatic-barbaric forms of extinction of the multimillion peasantry ***), keep the entire people in darkness, lack of rights and oppression. The Russian Social-Democracy still has only to achieve those free civil and political institutions which already exist in the advanced capitalist countries and which are absolutely necessary for the full and all-round development of the class struggle of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie ****)

[Original formulation.]
II. Tsarist autocracy represents the most significant remnant of the serf order, the most powerful bulwark of all that barbarism and all those

[Corrected formulation.]
The most significant of these remnants of the serf order, the most powerful bulwark of all this barbarism is tsarist autocracy. It

*) Above this word, in the hand of V. I. Lenin, is written: "created". Ed.
**) But its immediate aims. [L. M.]
***) lead to the fact that the contradictions connected with the growth of capitalism acquire a particularly acute character in Russia, accompanied by the impoverishment and degeneration of millions of handicraftsmen and peasants and keep etc. [L. M.]
****) From the words "The Russian Social-Democracy" to the end of the paragraph, it is crossed out in the manuscript by V. I. Lenin. Ed.

calamities from which the free political countries have already freed themselves; it is the most evil and dangerous enemy of the liberation movement of the proletariat.

is the most evil and dangerous enemy of the liberation movement of the proletariat and the cultural development of the entire people.

Therefore the Russian Social-Democracy sets itself the immediate political task of overthrowing the tsarist autocracy and replacing it with a republic on the basis of a democratic constitution, ensuring:
1) sovereignty of the people, i.e..........................*)

I — VI. A) The economic development of Russia and the basic features of capitalism.
VII — XII. B) The class struggle of the proletariat and the tasks of Social-Democracy.
C) The immediate aims of the Russian Social-Democrats and their political demands.
D) Social (factory) reforms.
E) Financial reform and demands with a view to destroying the remnants of serf society.
F) Conclusion. ("Tail".)

A) The economic development of Russia and the general tasks of Social-Democracy.
B) Special political tasks and political demands of Social-Democracy.
C) Social reforms.
D) Financial and peasant transformations (reforms).

*) At this point the text of the second variant breaks off, and further in the manuscript follows a brief exposition of the general plan of the draft programme, which we have given here immediately after the text of the second variant.

## Variant 3.

Commodity production is developing ever more rapidly in Russia, the capitalist mode of production is acquiring ever more complete dominance in it.

The most important part of the means of production (land and factories, tools and machines, railways and other means of communication) is concentrated in the hands of a comparatively insignificant number of capitalists and big landowners, as their private property.

[First formulation.]
An ever greater number of workers, losing the means of production, are compelled to resort to the sale of their labour-power. These wage-workers (proletarians) thus find themselves in a dependent position towards the owners, creating their incomes by their labour.

[Second formulation.] *)
An ever greater number of workers are compelled to resort to the sale of their labour-power, become wage-workers, who are dependent on the owners, creating their wealth by their labour.

The development of capitalism ever more increases the number, size and economic importance of large enterprises, worsens the position of small independent producers (peasants, handicraftsmen, artisans), turns some of them into servants and tributaries of capital, pushes others into the ranks of the proletariat.

The further technical progress goes, the more possibilities the capitalists have to raise the level of exploitation of the workers, the more the increase in the demand for labour-power lags behind the increase in its supply. Insecurity of existence and unemployment, the yoke of exploitation and every kind of humiliation become the lot of ever wider strata of the working population.

This process is further aggravated by industrial crises, which are inevitably caused by the basic *) contradictions of capitalism. The poverty and destitution of the masses is combined with the waste of social wealth due to the impossibility of finding a market for the goods produced.

Thus the gigantic development of the productive forces of social and ever more socialised labour is accompanied by the fact that all the main advantages of this development are monopolised by a tiny minority of the population. Alongside the growth of social wealth, social inequality grows, the abyss between the class of owners (the bourgeoisie) and the class of the proletariat deepens and widens **).

*) The second formulation is written in the original on the side in pencil. The first formulation remained uncrossed out. Ed.
**) The word "losing" is written above the word "losing" and neither of these words is crossed out. Ed.
*) Originally in the manuscript it was "indicated", then this was crossed out and "all" was written, then this too was crossed out and "basic" was added in pencil. Ed.
**) On the reverse of the manuscript, a note by Lenin in pencil: "...decisively rejecting all those reformist projects which are connected with any extension or consolidation of police-bureaucratic tutelage over the working masses...." This formulation entered the "Draft Programme of the R.S.-D.L.P." See document No. 5, point E. Ed.