Comments on the Article “Several New Proposals by Soviet Scholars on Theoretical Issues in the Construction of Communism” (November 25, 1958) Comrade Xiaoping [1]: Please have this document [2] circulated. Mao Zedong November 25

Afterward, Mao’s signature was added. Printed from the manuscript.

Notes [1] Xiaoping refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at that time served as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

[2] Refers to the article “Several New Proposals by Soviet Scholars on Theoretical Issues in the Construction of Communism,” published in No. 10 of “Dynamics of Philosophy and Social Sciences” in 1958. The article states: Recently, Pravda published two articles—one by the economist Ostrovyanov and one by the philosopher Mitin—containing some new propositions on the following points.

1. Ostrovyanov explicitly emphasizes the role of relations of production and points out that contradictions exist between socialist relations of production and the productive forces, as well as ways to resolve these contradictions.

2. The question of what path collective farms should follow to develop into communism remains unresolved. Many in the Soviet Union had previously argued that the first step toward solving this problem was to “nationalize” collective farms and transform them into state-owned farms. This time, however, Ostrovyanov suggests that “the cooperative ownership of collective farms may, without passing through state ownership, directly transition to the communist system of all-people’s ownership.”

3. Ostrovyanov believes that during the period of transition to communism, the role of commodity-money relations will continue to strengthen rather than weaken; collective farms will also be required to implement economic accounting, and the incomes of collective farm members will increasingly take a monetary form. The state’s purchase of agricultural products and its supply of large quantities of machinery and daily necessities to agriculture will both be conducted through trade. Consequently, the influence of the law of value will likewise intensify.

4. In his own article, Mitin stresses that conducting extensive education among the masses on the communist work ethic is of “utmost importance” for the construction of communism. He notes that “serious shortcomings” still exist in this regard, particularly among certain young people. The author further elaborates on the profound significance of labor in transforming people’s ideological consciousness and moral outlook.

Following this article, Mao Zedong wrote: “See ‘Dynamics of Philosophy and Social Sciences,’ 1958, No. 10.” Both Mao’s comments and the article were distributed at the expanded meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held in Wuchang as official documents. 5£¸