“What Methods Should Be Adopted to Achieve Our Goals?”

First, Mao Zedong reported Comrade Cai Heshen’s proposal from Paris. He stated: “There are roughly the following methods for solving social problems in the world:

1. Social policy
2. Social democracy
3. Radical communism (Leninism)
4. Moderate communism (Russell’s view)
5. Anarchism

We may draw upon these as references in determining our own approach.”

He Shuheng: “I advocate radicalism. A single upheaval is worth twenty years of education. I am deeply convinced of this.”

Mao Zedong: “My views are broadly the same as Comrade He’s. Social policy is merely a stopgap measure and cannot serve as a viable solution. Social democracy seeks to use parliament as an instrument of transformation; however, in practice, parliamentary legislation invariably protects the interests of the propertied classes. Anarchism denies all forms of authority, but such a system will likely remain unattainable forever. Moderate communism, as advocated by Russell—extreme freedom and laissez-faire toward capitalists—is likewise impossible to realize. By contrast, radical communism, or what is known as labor–peasant socialism, employs the dictatorship of the proletariat and can be expected to yield concrete results. Therefore, it is the most appropriate course to adopt.”