1. The primary source of misunderstanding of the dictatorship of the proletariat by "socialists" is their failure to carry through the idea of class struggle (cf.[13] Marx 1852){97}.

The dictatorship of the proletariat is a continuation of the class struggle of the proletariat, in new forms. This is the crux, and it is not understood.

The proletariat, as a distinct 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![14].

Old prejudices about the state (cf. "The State and Revolution"[15]). New forms of the state = the subject of Section B; here is only an approach to this.

3. The forms of the class struggle of the proletariat, under its dictatorship, cannot be the old ones. Five new (principal) tasks and respective[16] new forms:

4. ((1)). Suppression of the resistance of the exploiters. This, as a task (and content) of the era, is completely forgotten by opportunists and "socialists."

5. ((2)) (γγ) Civil war.

Revolution in general and civil war (1649, 1793.)

98 Lenin apparently refers to Kautsky's pamphlet "The Dictatorship of the Proletariat."

99 Lenin refers to the letter from K. Marx to L. Kugelmann on December 13, 1870 (see K. Marx and F. Engels. Selected Letters, 1953, p. 253).

100 See "The Eighth Congress of the RCP(b). March 1919. Proceedings," Moscow, 1959, p. 393; V. I. Lenin. Collected Works, 5th ed., vol. 38, p. 113.

6. ((3)) "Neutralization" of the petty bourgeoisie, especially the peasantry.

101 See K. Marx and F. Engels. Collected Works, 2nd ed., vol. 4, p. 434.

102 Lenin refers to the letter from F. Engels to A. Bebel on March 18–28, 1875 (see K. Marx and F. Engels. Collected Works, 2nd ed., vol. 19, p. 2).

* "Agrarian question." Ed.

** Worsened under the guise of improvement; literally: obalgoronennaia (see Collected Works, 5th ed., vol. 6, p. 67). Ed.

7. ((4)). "Utilization" of the bourgeoisie.

"Experts." Not only suppression of resistance, not only "neutralization," but also taking them into service, compelling them to serve the proletariat.

Cf. Program of the RCP. "Military experts"{98}.

8. ((5)). Education of a new discipline.

(α) The dictatorship of the proletariat and trade unions.

(β) Bonuses and piece-rate wages.

(γ) Cleansing of the party and its role.

(δ) "Communist Saturdays."