V. I.

Lenin

THE QUESTION OF PARTY AFFILIATION AMONG DEMOCRATIC-MINDED STUDENTS

We noted in Pravda the other day (see
No.   ) [1] the article by the student M. which provides remarkably
valuable material about “student moods”. On students’ party affiliation, the writer says:

“ Of course, a comparatively limited section of the students are
members of Left-wing organisations. In existing conditions, it could
not be otherwise, and in general the strength of organisations is
determined not by the number of their members, but by their influence on
the masses. It is hard to make a guess about the future, but it should
be pointed out that today the Left-wing organisations are marching
in step with the mass of the students” ( Zaprosy Zhizni [2] No. 47).

The author is quite right when he says that with us in
Russia, particularly in the current political conditions,
“the strength of organisations is determined not by the
number of their members, but by their influence on the masses”.
This would not hold true for Europe; nor would it hold true for Russia in the autumn of 1905; but for
present-day Russia it is so true that one might even venture
what looks like a paradox: the number of members of an organisation should not exceed a definite minimum, if
its influence on the masses is to be broad and stable !

But what is the party attitude of these “Left-wing” organisations among the students? Student M. writes:

“ It should be particularly noted that one does not feel any
dissension among the individual Left-wing organisations. Such dissension
was particularly strong three or so years ago, during the period of lull
and inaction. There were cases when elections to canteen commissions
and the like were held according to party lists. Now these divisions
have almost disappeared, partly because everyone has realised the need
to join forces for common action, partly because the old party positions have been unsettled and the new ones have yet to be
consolidated.”

There can be no doubt that in this respect, as well, the
students provide a reflection of an all-Russia phenomenon.
Everywhere, throughout the democratic movement, and also among the workers, “the old party positions have
been unsettled and the new ones have yet to be consolidated ”.
What is liquidationism? It is either a pusillanimous concession to the spirit of the times, to the atmosphere
of “unsettlement” of the old party positions, or the malicious utilisation of this unsettlement by the liberals.

The task of the whole democratic movement is to fight with all its strength against this “unsettlement”, and to
achieve a precise, clear, definite, thoughtful “ consolidation” of the “new positions”. It would be a great mistake
to confuse the arguments and discussions on party (and inner-party) platforms with “dissensions”.

It is absolutely necessary “to join forces for common action”, including, for instance, those of Marxists and
Narodniks. This does not obviate a definite party stand,
but, on the contrary, demands it. It is possible to combine
action only when there is real unity of conviction as to
whether the particular action is necessary. That is as clear
as daylight. Russian democracy has been the worse for trying to “join forces” for democratic action with nondemocrats, with the liberals!

Try and “join the forces” of the supporters, shall we say,
of political strikes with the “forces” of their adversaries:
there will obviously be harm for the “action”. Hence, the first thing to do is to achieve a clear, definite, precise,
well-thought-out delimitation of “positions”, platforms and
programmes—and then to combine the forces that can march together by conviction and social nature; combine
them only for the action on which unanimity can be expected. Then, and only then, will any good come of the
undertaking.

V. I.

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Notes:
[1]
The article did not appear in Pravda .

[2]
Zaprosy Zhizni (Demands of Life)—a weekly, published in St.
Petersburg from 1909 to 1912. Cadets, Popular Socialists and
Menshevik-liquidators contributed to the magazine. The article
by student M., “Student Moods”, appeared in No. 47 on
November 23, 1912.