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III. Socialism and Communism
Communism is at once a complete system of proletarian ideology
and a new social system It is different from any other ideological
and social system, and is the most complete, progressive, revolutionary
and rational system in human history. The ideological and social
system of feudalism has a place only in the museum of history. The
ideological and social system of capitalism has also become a museum
piece in one part of the world (in the Soviet Union), while in other
countries it resembles "a dying person who is sinking fast, like
the sun setting beyond the western hills", and will soon be relegated
to the museum. The communist ideological and social system alone
is full of youth and vitality, sweeping the world with the momentum
of an avalanche and the force of a thunderbolt.
--- "On New Democracy" (January 1940), Selected Works, Vol. II,
pp. 360-61.
The socialist system will eventually replace the capitalist system;
this is an objective law independent of man's will. However much
the reactionaries try to hold back the wheel of history, sooner
or later revolution will take place and will inevitably triumph.
--- "Speech at the Meeting of the Supreme Sov- iet of the U.S.S.R.
in Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist
Revolution" (November 6, 1957).
Taken as a whole, the Chinese revolutionary movement led by the
Communist Party embraces the two stages, i.e., the democratic and
the socialist revolutions, which are two essentially different revolutionary
processes, and the second process can be carried through only after
the first has been completed. The democratic revolution is the necessary
preparation for the socialist revolution, and the socialist revolution
is the inevitable sequel to the democratic revolution. The ultimate
aim for which all communists strive is to bring about a socialist
and communist society.
--- "The Chinese Revolution and the Chinese Communist Party" (December
1939), Selected Works, Vol. II, p. 330-31.
Socialist revolution aims at liberating the productive forces.
The change-over from individual to socialist, collective ownership
in agriculture and handicrafts and from capitalist to socialist
ownership in private industry and commerce is bound to bring about
a tremendous liberation of the productive forces. Thus the social
conditions are being created for a tremendous expansion of industrial
and agricultural production.
--- Speech at the Supreme State Conference (January 25, 1956).
The new social system has only just been established and requires
time for its consolidation. It must not be assumed that the new
system can be completely consolidated the moment it is established,
for that is impossible. It has to be consolidated step by step.
To achieve its ultimate consolidation, it is necessary not only
to bring about the socialist industrialization of the country and
persevere in the socialist revolution on the economic front, but
to carry on constant and arduous socialist revolutionary struggles
and socialist education on the political and ideological fronts.
Moreover, various contributory international factors are required.
--- Speech at the Chinese Communist Party's National Conference
on Propaganda Work (March 12, 1957), 1st pocket ed., p. 2. [Selected
Works, Vol. V, p. 423.]
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