V. I.

Lenin

A Tactical Platform for the Unity Congress of the R.S.D.L.P.

Draft Resolutions for the Unity Congress of the R.S.D.L.P.

Soviets of Workers’ Deputies

Whereas:

(1) Soviets of Workers’ Deputies spring up spontaneously in the course of mass
political strikes as non-party organisations of the broad masses of the
workers; (2) in the course of the struggle, these Soviets inevitably undergo a change
both as regards their composition, by absorbing the more revolutionary
elements of the petty bourgeoisie, and as regards the nature of their
activities, by growing from purely strike organisations into organs of the
general revolutionary struggle; (3) insofar as these Soviets are rudiments of revolutionary authority, their
strength and importance depend entirely on the strength and success of the
insurrection; We are of the opinion, and propose that the Congress should agree:

(1) that the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party should participate in
non-party Soviets of Workers’ Deputies, unfailingly form the strongest
possible groups of Party members in each Soviet, and direct the activities
of these groups strictly in accordance with the general activities of the
Party;

(2) that the formation of such organisations for the purpose of increasing
Social-Democratic influence on the proletariat, and the influence of the proletariat on the course and outcome of the
democratic revolution, may, in certain conditions, be left to the local
organisations of our Party; (3) that the broadest possible sections of the working class, and also of
representatives of the revolutionary democrats, particularly peasants,
soldiers and sailors, should be induced to take part in the non-party
Soviets of Workers’ Deputies; (4) that as the activities and sphere of influence of Soviets of Workers’
Deputies expand, it must be pointed out that these institutions are bound to
collapse unless they are backed by a revolutionary army and unless the
government authorities are overthrown (i.e., unless the Soviets are
transformed into provisional revolutionary governments); and that therefore one
of the main tasks of these institutions in every revolutionary situation
must be to arm the people and to strengthen the military organisations of
the proletariat.

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