| Socialism In One Country |
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Socialism in One Country was a thesis put forward by Joseph Stalin in 1924 and further supported by Nikolai Bukharin . The thesis held that given the defeat of all Communist Revolution s in Europe from 1917-1921 except In Russia , the Soviet Union should begin to strengthen itself internally. This theory was in an opposition to Lenin 's beliefs that while a revolution may happen in one country, the final success of socialism in one country, especially in such a backward one as Russia is impossible without proletarian revolutions in other, advanced countries of Western Europe (see " World Revolution "). Mensheviks and Trotsky also came to the same conclusion, basing on Trotsky's theory of Permanent Revolution , disputed by Lenin. BACKGROUND According to Stalin and his supporters, the idea of socialism in one country was strengthened by the defeat of several Proletarian Revolution s in countries like Germany and Hungary , which ended Bolshevik hopes for an imminent World Revolution . Following those defeats, the Soviet Union changed the focus of its external policy from the Third International to Trade and peaceful relations with Capitalist states. In the first edition of the book ''Osnovy Leninizma'' (''Foundations of Leninism'', 1924 ), Stalin was still a follower of Lenin's idea that revolution in one country is insufficient. But by the end of that year, in the second edition of the book, his position started to turn around. "... Proletariat can and must build the Socialist society in one country". In April 1925 Bukharin elaborated the issue in his brochure ''Can We Build Socialism in One Country in the Absence of the Victory of the West-European Proletariat?'' The position was finalized as the state policy after Stalin's January 1926 article ''On the Issues of Leninism'' (К вопросам ленинизма). In his 1915 article "On the Slogan for a United States of Europe", Lenin stated the following: "...Uneven economic and political development is an absolute law of capitalism. Hence, the victory of socialism is possible first in several or even in one capitalist country taken separately. ...". After Lenin 's death, Stalin used this quote to argue that Lenin shared his view of ''Socialism in One Country'', even though Lenin's statement here is rather vague. Despite Stalin's stance, the Soviet government under his leadership did provide aid to sympathising communists in other countries at various times. CRITICISM AND REACTION The theory of Socialism in One Country was vigorously criticized by section of the Anti-fascist resistance forces in the Spanish Civil War was actually hinged on suppression of any "truly Revolutionary " activity that ran the risk of delegitimizing what they characterize as his one-man Dictatorship . This was why, when it proved possible to build certain aspects of socialism in the Soviet Union despite such objections, it temporarily threw Stalin's opposition into disarray. He later characterized Trotsky's position of Permanent Revolution as asking the world to "wait" for Western workers and " Simultaneous " Global Revolution , a position still carried by Anti-revisionists and other Communist s who oppose Trotskyism today. Stalin established several " Communist State s" in Eastern Europe after World War II , though some argue that this action was motivated more by the desire to create Russian " Satellite State s" than to spread the Workers' Revolution . In any case, neither the supporters of Stalin nor those of Trotsky succeeded in starting a revolution in The West . QUOTES "''Will it be possible for this revolution to take place in one country alone?'' No. By creating the world market, big industry has already brought all the peoples of the Earth, and especially the civilized peoples, into such close relation with one another that none is independent of what happens to the others. Further, it has co-ordinated the social development of the civilized countries to such an extent that, in all of them, bourgeoisie and proletariat have become the decisive classes, and the struggle between them the great struggle of the day. It follows that the communist revolution will not merely be a national phenomenon but must take place simultaneously in all civilized countries – that is to say, at least in England, America, France, and Germany. It will develop in each of the these countries more or less rapidly, according as one country or the other has a more developed industry, greater wealth, a more significant mass of productive forces. Hence, it will go slowest and will meet most obstacles in Germany, most rapidly and with the fewest difficulties in England. It will have a powerful impact on the other countries of the world, and will radically alter the course of development which they have followed up to now, while greatly stepping up its pace. It is a universal revolution and will, accordingly, have a universal range." Friedrich Engels , The Principles Of Communism , 1847 NOTES AND REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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