Revolution against Stalinism

REVOLUTION wants to overthrow capitalism. But that is not the end of the struggle. We want to be free - we want to build a classless society without privilege and oppression.

The Russian revolution of 1917 was the greatest victory the working class has yet had. The working class overthrew capitalism and put power into the hands of its own democratic councils of delegates - the soviets.

But the revolution degenerated - it went backwards and finally collapsed altogether. We must learn the lessons of this to avoid it next time.

REVOLUTION declares its complete hostility to the Stalinist bureaucracy that took power in the Soviet Union and that ruled in every 'socialist' state built on the Stalinist model - including China, Eastern Europe, Cuba, North Korea and Vietnam.

Down with privilege. All officials in a working class state to earn no more than the average income of those they represent.

Down with bureaucracy. Rotation of all official bureaucratic posts.

For real workers' council power. Genuine democratic workers' councils must have the power, with recallable delegates regularly elected from the workplace and local areas with no privileges.

Put all economic planning and all state-owned enterprises under the control of the working class themselves, not just under direction from bureaucrats at the centre.

For international struggle for socialism in every country as the only way to abolish capitalism worldwide.

The Stalinists stole from the working class, gave themselves big homes, cars and special shops and refused to allow themselves to be controlled by the working class. They reintroduced oppressive laws against women, lesbians and gays and minority nationalities. They smashed all independent organisations of the working class.

In Stalinist states today, like Cuba and North Korea, REVOLUTION demands:

Full rights for workers to organise unions and their own parties.

Free speech.

The right to vote.

Equality for women.

End all laws against homosexuality.

For the right for all nations to determine their own future, including the right to separate from a Stalinist state if they so wish.

The Stalinist state apparatus blocked the road to socialism. To re-open the road and enable the workers themselves to exercise power, the Stalinist secret police, police, bureaucracy and standing armies must be smashed:

For working class revolution to smash the Stalinist state apparatus and give all power to workers' councils.

The Stalinist states were not socialist. But nor were they capitalist. They were workers' states in which the bureaucrats blocked the transition to a classless socialist society and moved ever backwards to capitalism. They are finishing the job today in their attempts to restore capitalist exploitation.

REVOLUTION will defend everything in Stalinist states that exists as a result of the positive gains of the Russian Revolution.

No to the restoration of the capitalist market system.

End the imperialist blockade of Cuba.

Defend Cuba and North Korea against all attempts to restore the capitalist system, whether by invasion from without by imperialist states, or by market 'reforms' by the Stalinist leaders from within. To stop the final restoration of capitalism, fight for workers' revolution and an end to Stalinist rule.