ThirdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilfor FriendshipandSolidaritywithSovietPeople (CFSP)

ContributionbyCanadiansforPeaceandSocialism

DonCurrie,ChairCanadiansforPeaceandSocialism
July20,2011

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

DearComradesandFriends Canadians for Peace and Socialism (CPS) thank Chairman Michael Lucas and the Executive Committee of CFSP for the invitation to send delegates and participate in the Third World Congress of CFSP. CPS is pleased to accept the invitation and will attend as observer/delegates. InlieuofagreetingCPSoffersthefollowingstatementintendedtopresentonlyafragment ofwhatwebelieveisrequiredtobesaidabouttheimpactoftheRussianRevolutiononthe struggleforpeaceandsocialismtoday,focusingonsomemattersofprincipleCPSconsiders fundamentaltothediscussion. Introduction International solidarity with Soviet people through all of their struggles from 1917 to the present is a duty of all antiimperialist revolutionary fighters for peace and socialism. Detachmentfromthatduty,posingasobjectivity,isanaccommodationtoanticommunism and weakens the resistance of the laboring masses to the stratagems of state monopoly capitalism. Partisanship for the historical achievements of the USSR is the severest test of genuine internationalism. AntiSovietism in all of its forms and guises was and remains anti communism. Anticommunism is the ideology of imperialism, state monopoly capitalism. AntiSovietsocialismisimpossiblejustasanticommunistsocialismisimpossible. BecauseofthattruthCPSexpressesitssolidaritywithCFSPindefendingandpromotingthe historicalsignificanceoftheSovietUnionintheantiimperialiststrugglesoftoday. SovietSocialismAVictoryforHumanProgress TheRussianRevolutionof1917introducedanewprogressivecontenttoworlddevelopment thatlivesandinvigoratesthe21stcenturyantiimperialiststrugglesforpeaceandsocialism. The Russian Revolution altered historical development positively because it was the achievement of the most advanced class in society, the organized working class led by a matureCommunistPartytheBolshevikPartyatitsheadVladimirIlychLeninthecontinuer intheeraofimperialismoftheworkofMarxandEngels. TheRussianRevolutionprovedinpracticethehistoric,lawgoverned,consciousroleofthe working class in overthrowing capitalism leading the way to the next higher stage of
www.FocusOnSocialism.ca 3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP Page2of14

developmentofsocietysocialism.Allcapitalistpropagandafromthemomentofvictoryof the Great October Bolshevik Revolution to this day is designed to obscure that truth. Imperialists and the elite circles of wealth and privilege that cravenly support them fear Sovietsocialismbecauseitdemonstratedthatcapitalismhasoutliveditstime,isincapableof furtherprogressivehistoricaldevelopmentandoutofnecessitymustandcanbereplaced. TheHistoricRoleoftheWorkingClass Theexampleoftheworkingclassforthefirsttimeinitsrevolutionaryhistorycarryingouta revolutionforitselfinspiresworkersandthedowntroddeneverywhereontheplanettodo likewise.TheRussianworkingclassanditsalliesdemonstratedthatitwaspossibletobreak theimperialistsystematitsweakestlinkinonecountry.TheBolshevikRevolutionproved thatonlytheworkingclassledbyitsownparty,couldrallyallnoncapitalistforcesandhalt thecrimesofimperialism,theultimatecrimebeingworldwar. TheRussianRevolutionprovedthehistoricallyoutmodedprivatelyownedanarchiccapitalist economy can be replaced by a superior socially owned centralized planned economy guaranteeing that everything created by the combined labour of the urban and rural producers,theintelligentsia,thescientists,technologists,theartistsandartisanscanbefor theneedsofthepeopleandnotprimarilyforsmallelitesofwealthandprivilege. TheDictatorshipoftheProletariatandtheState The Russian Revolution demonstrated in practice that to build socialism it would be necessarytosmashtheoldcapitalistfeudalstate,aninstrumentofforceinthehandsofthe exploiters to suppress and enslave the proletariat while according complete freedom to capital. Lenin in his masterwork State and Revolution proved the necessity of creating a newstate,adictatorshipoftheproletariattosuppresstheexploitersandaccordfreedomto theproducers. Astateofthedictatorshipoftheproletariatwasnecessarytosuppresstheattemptsofthe counterrevolution,thecombinedforcesofthedefeatedcapitalistfeudalclassesofRussia and their international supporters, to reestablish the dominance of international finance capital.Acentralizedstateofthedictatorshipoftheproletariatwasnecessarytouniteallof the revolutionary forces to defeat imperialist interventionist armies, win the civil war and build up the defensive military forces of socialism that protected the people as they embarkedonthebuildingofanewsociety.

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP

Page3of14

The Bolshevik Revolution proved that a workers state supported by the poor peasantry even at the earliest stages of its power could place restraints on the aggressiveness of imperialism,compelittocompromiseandretreat,andprovidespaceandtimeforthenew Soviet power to reorganize society to provide bread to the hungry, work to the unemployed,landtothepeasants. DialecticalandHistoricalMaterialismIsaScience Soviet power confirmed in practice the existence of objective lawsof the development of capitalism revealed by Marx and Engels in their time and by Lenin in the imperialist era of capitalismthatcreatetheprerequisitesforandnecessityofsocialism.Until1917whathad beenabrilliantdialecticalandhistoricalmaterialistscientifictheorybecamealivingreality. The establishment of Soviet power demonstrated in practice precisely what Marx and Engels had proven in theory, that capitalism had outlived its historical relevance, can be overthrown,endingforevertheprivateownershipofthemeansofproductionthusenabling theproductiveforcestodevelopinharmonywithnewrelationsofproduction.Theworking class taking possession of the instruments and means of production resolves the fundamentalcontradictionofcapitalistsocietysocialproductionandprivateappropriation sweepingitasideclearingthewayforthecentralizedplannedconstructionofsocialism. Peace,HappinessandWellBeingEverythingTrulyHumanfortheLabouringMassesofAll Countries The first worker and peasant state emblazoned on its banners, as its highest priority, the peace, happiness and well being not only for the laboring masses of Russia but of all countries,thusfulfillingtheinternationalcredooftheCommunistManifesto,Workersof AllCountriesUnite. Vladimir Ilych Lenin the theoretician, organizer, and quintessential political leader, of the BolshevikrevolutionandtheinternationalproletariatsaidoftheManifestowrittenin1848 byKarlMarxandFrederickEngels: Withtheclarityandbrillianceofgenius,thisworkoutlinesthenewworldoutlook,consistent materialism,whichalsoembracestherealmofsociallife,dialectics,asthemostcomprehensive and profound doctrine of development, the theory of the class struggle and of the world historicrevolutionaryroleoftheproletariatthecreatorofanew,communistsociety.

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP

Page4of14

The Russian Revolution lives today because it verified the new world outlook and in buildingsocialismtestedinpracticeitstenetsandprovedthemcorrect.Morethanthat,the richness of the experience of the Soviet people in building a modern socialist economy throughsuccessivefiveyearplansresultinginrisinglivingstandardsforthepeoplerevealed new objective laws that are relevant for current struggles to replace outmoded state monopolycapitalism. Internationalism Thefirstworkersstatefromtheoutset,acceptedtheresponsibilitytobecomethecentre andbastionoftheinternationalproletariatandalloftheantiimperialistmovementsofthe people,includingthenationalrevolutionarydemocraticstrugglesofthepeopleslivingunder colonial subjugation. All of the heroic struggles of the peoples oppressed by imperialism were undertaken with the active solidarity and support of the Soviet people under the leadership of the CPSU. The support of the USSR enabled many successful revolutionary advances of the oppressed peoples of all continents including those socialist states that aroseduringtheSovieteraandcontinueintothe21stcentury. Thehighestexpressionofinternationalistresponsibilitywasthedecisiveroleplayedbythe USSR and the CPSU in supporting the organization of the Communist International (Comintern).TheCominternwasorganizedundertheleadershipofLenin.TheComintern was instrumental in providing the theoretical guidelines and assisting in organizing and educatingtheyoungcommunistpartiesoftheworldtodevelopintopartiesofanewtype. Thesepartieswereattheforefrontofallthestrugglesoftheworkingclass,forpeaceand socialism,womensequality,afuturefortheyouth,andantifascismthroughthedecadesof antiimperialiststruggletothisday. The pinnacle of the achievement of the Comintern was the creative application of Lenins teachings on the united front. It was further developed under the leadership of Georgi DimitrovinclosecollaborationwithJosephStalinandthemostexperiencedleadersofallof the communist parties. It solved all of thetheoretical, strategic andtactical problemsthat enabled the international communist movement to organize the antifascist popular front and counter the mortal enemy of socialism, fascism, the open violent dictatorial rule of financecapital. The ultimate fulfillment of the international duty of the Soviet Union was the enormous sacrificesoftheSovietpeopleandtheRedArmy,ledbytheCPSUundertheleadershipof
3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

Page5of14

JosephStalininthedefeatofNaziGermany.AsGeneralZhukov,leaderoftheSovietArmed ForcessaidofStalin,Withouthissternexactingnesswecouldnothavewon. The antifascist alliance of states, led by the Soviet Union stands as the penultimate achievement of the USSR supported by the international communist movement foreshadowing the future, an imperishable contribution to human progress never to be extinguished. TheIMCWP TherichlegacyofSovietinternationalistfidelitytothecauseoftheinternationalproletariat and its allies lives today in the meetings, international campaigns and statements of the International Movement of Communist and Workers Parties (IMCWP) published and disseminatedinternationallybySolidnet(www.solidnet.org).. The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), the World Peace Council (WPC), the Womens International Democratic Federation (WIDF) and the World Federation of DemocraticYouth(WFDY)arethecontinuersinourtimeoftheworkingclassantiimperialist massmovementsofthelaboringmassesfirstinspiredorganizedandledbytheComintern that evolved and grew to maturity during the building of socialism and reemerged at a higher level after WW2 and continue today as antiimperialist movements for mass mobilizationofthemilitantforcesoflabour,peace,womenandyouth. CanadiansforPeaceandSocialismproposesthatthecallofthe13thInternationalMeetingof CommunistandWorkersParties(IMCWP)beadocumentfordiscussionandconsideration bythedelegatesofthe3rdCongressofCFSP.The13thmeetingoftheIMCWPwilltakeplace inAthensGreece,December911,2011. Undertheslogan,SocialismistheFuturethethemeoftheIMCWPmeetingwillbe: Theinternationalsituationandtheexperienceofthecommunists20yearsafterthecounter revolution in the USSR. The tasks for the development of the class struggle in conditions of capitalist crisis, imperialist wars, of the current popular struggles and uprisings, for working classpopularrights,thestrengtheningofproletarianinternationalismandtheantiimperialist front,fortheoverthrowofcapitalismandtheconstructionofsocialism. The above themes we are confident, will also be very much present in our discussion in September.

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP

Page6of14

TheExperienceoftheCommunists20YearsaftertheCounterrevolutionintheUSSR CPSgreetsthedecisionoftheIMCWPtodiscusstheinternationalsituationinthecontextof the20yearexperienceofourmovementsincethecounterrevolutionaryeventsof198990. CPS shares the standpoint of all those today who assert that the counter revolutionary defeat of Soviet socialism was due to the lack of vigilance and underestimation of the stratagems, both external and internal, of imperialism and its agents and apologists that activelypromotedtheriseofamarketeconomyintheUSSRandwithitacorruptclassof appropriatorscapitalistoligarchs.Statemonopolycapitalism,imperialism,wasrestoredin Russia using the same means by which it is maintained in all state monopoly capitalist countries,reactionaryviolence,corruption,deceptionanddemagogy. The phenomenon of counterrevolution needs deeper study since it is an inevitable consequenceofrevolution.Suchastudycannotbelimitedtodenunciationsofwhatisnow manifestlyobvious. The counterrevolutionary overthrow of Soviet power in 198990 was a combination of factorsatthecentreofwhichwerethehostile,violent,organizedandunrelentingovertand covert attacks of imperialism on emerging socialism. Imperialism unleashed a counter revolutionary offensive against the new socialist power from its inception, employing economic blockades, wars of intervention, mobilizing hostile diplomatic offensives, organizing military blocs of imperialist joint action, and resorting to fascism and war to attempt todestroy Soviet power. Imperialism continues those same methods against the remaining socialist states and all those countries that aspire to sovereignty, independence andsocialism. Imperialism only succeeded in overturning Soviet power when it found within the Soviet economyandstateandleadershipoftheCPSUtheremnantsoftheolddefeatedclasses,the lingering spores of market capitalism, the rank and rotten individualism of petty ambition andselfinterestofthosethatresentedandrejectedthedisciplineandselfsacrifice,morals and ethical precepts of revolutionary socialism. Such interests were attracted to the invitation of imperialism to live parasitically on the labour of others. Such interests were attracted to the glitter and sophistry of capitalism. Such forces consciously separated themselves from the masses and abused positions of political trust and power that engenderthecontemptofworkersinbothcapitalistandsocialistsocieties.

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP

Page7of14

Once identified, imperialism supported and encouraged the internal counter revolution by all means, including internal foreign intelligence and subversion while simultaneously supporting pseudo socialist ideological and theoretical deception, masquerading as a reformedsocialismcalledopeningandrestructuring. However, none of these factors could have led to the counter revolutionary overthrow of SovietsocialismwithouttheunderminingoftheleadingroleoftheCPSU.Revisionisttheory and practice led to the gradual separation and disruption of the revolutionary dynamic between the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and the working class. The necessity of a ruling Communist Party to constantly critically verify the effectiveness ofits leadershipbymergingasitwere,withthelivingexperienceoftheworkers,becameformal. (Incidentallythatisalsoalawofdevelopmentofcommunistpartiesnotinpower). The prestige and authority of the CPSU, as the leading political power in the state was underminedbythetolerationatthehighestlevelsofitsleadership,ofeffectsofrevisionist theses emerging from the 20th Congress of the CPSU giving rise to above class theories leadingtoanaccommodation,appeasement,andcollaborationwithimperialism. SecondWave21stCenturySocialismCentristReaction Todayrevisionismhasanewcloakofdeceptionmasqueradingasreformedsocialism,now defined as second wave 21st century socialism cleansed as it were and quietly divorced fromtheSovietera. We will not dwell at length on the antidialectical schematic approach of such a concept except to note that whether one approaches what happened in the Soviet Union from a philosophicaloreconomicpoliticalstandpoint,MarxismLeninismacknowledgestemporary retrogression in development while rejecting as undialectical the suggestion that it is absoluteordisconnectedfromfurtherprogressiveandupwarddevelopment. There is no doubt that socialismwill be reestablished in the former SovietUnion at some time.Itwouldbeundialecticaltosuggestthatitwillbeanexactreplicaofwhatitwas.The Soviet Union will be restored by the working class of Russia at a higher level of economic and political development utilizing everything progressive that wascreated in the building of socialism. What will be negated in the next stage of socialism in Russia is the retrogressioncausedbycapitalism,artificiallyreimposedbycounterrevolution.

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP

Page8of14

Definingthestruggleforsocialismtodayasasecondwave21stcenturysocialismisapetty bourgeois centrist concession to imperialist antiSoviet calumnies designed to establish a politically sanitized barrier between the victories won by Soviet socialism and current workingclassandantiimperialiststruggles,thuslimitingdiscussionofSovietachievements andtheirrelevancetofutileandbarrenpolemicswithimperialisthistoricalrevisionism.That isexactlywhatimperialistideologistswantustodo. Second wave 21st century socialism is an invitation to repudiate Lenins teachings that imperialismisasystem,anentireera,theeraofstatemonopolycapitalism,thefinalrungof capitalism, beyond which there is only socialism. State monopoly capitalism is an entire epochofthelifeanddeathstruggleoftheinternationalworkingclassanditsantiimperialist alliesconfrontingunstable,moribund,reactionaryandaggressiveimperialism. In the meetings of the IMCWP, the programs, strategies and tactics of the communist parties are being critically evaluated and gradually being brought into closer conformance withtherealityofthestatemonopolycapitalisterainwhichthestruggleforsocialismtakes place. SocialDemocracyandRealSocialism The source of the catch phrase second wave 21st century socialism is the divisive alien presenceinsidethecommunistmovementofsocialreformism,theadvocacyoflimitingthe struggles of organized labour and its natural allies to a restructuring of state monopoly capitalisminsteadofengaginginitsrevolutionaryoverthrowandreplacementbysocialism. That is why the theme of the 13th IMCWP Meeting, The tasks for the development of the classstruggleinconditionsofcapitalistcrisis,imperialistwars,ofthecurrentpopularstruggles and uprisings, for working classpopular rights, the strengthening of proletarian internationalism and the antiimperialist front, for the overthrow of capitalism and the constructionofsocialismisofsuchimportance. Ourmeetingtakesplaceinthemidstofthemostsevereglobalcrisisofthecapitalistsystem sincetheGreatDepressionofthedecadeofthe1930s.Duringthatworldwidecollapseof capitalism,theSovietpeoplewerefullyemployedintheconstructionofsocialism,creating social funds by their labour that accorded free health care, education, low cost housing, affordabletransportationandarichculturallifeofarts,sportandrecreationforall.

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP

Page9of14

In the capitalist states hundreds of millions were hungry and out of work compelled to engageinmassstrugglestosurvivealienatedfromtheabundancecreatedbytheirlabour. In the course of those struggles led by the communist parties, many countries including Canadabegantodiscussandconsiderthepathtosocialism. The current 21st century depression is another classic cyclical event of capitalism in the imperialiststage ofits development where the productive forces have created abundance wherever one looks, while the relations of production block its rational and planned development and distribution for the needs of the people, billions of whom live in abject poverty. Purchasing power in the form of wages and farm income in the hands of the working people is not enough absorb this enormous production. Mass unemployment in thedevelopedcapitaliststatesisnowchronic. The leading imperialist state the USA is exhibiting signs of internal economic and political instability foreshadowing a second deeper global economic crisis of the G7 states all of which are burdened with massive debt from predation by international finance capital on statetreasuriescompoundedbymassivearmsspending. ContrarytotheassurancesoftherightwingneoconservativegovernmentofPrimeMinister Stephen Harper and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Canada remains dangerously exposed andvulnerabletoadeepeningofthecrisis. Statemonopolycapitaliswellawareoftheconsequencesofcontinuedcrisisandhastaken measures to defend its system. The financial oligarchy in Canada as in other G7 states has chosen a form of right wing conservatism masquerading as democracy to replace the traditionalformofmonopolyruleliberalbourgeoisdemocracy.Thefinancialoligarchyhas chosen the route of subverting by stealth all legal, constitutional and parliamentary restraints imposed by the struggles of the democratic popular masses to its quest for maximumprofit.Rightwingconservatismhintsatfascismandistakingmeasurestoimpose amoreopendictatorialrulebyafinancialoligarchy. AtanothertimeinCanadianhistory,1937,inthemidstoftheGreatDepression,justpriorto the outbreak of WW2 the Communist Party of Canada made a presentation to the Royal Commission on Dominion Provincial Relations. It was at the time the most comprehensive statementofdemandsoftheworkingclassonstatemonopolycapitalism.TheCommunists saidtothecapitalistcommissioners:

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP

Page10of14

Economicdespotismseekspoliticaldespotism.Moreovertheeconomicdespotsalreadywield realpower.Socialandeconomicreformandfreelaborunionismwouldgiveagreaterpartof the national income to the people, cutting into their profits. Economic despotism therefore sets itself against democracy and progress. With its tremendous real power and with its representativesoccupyingthemajorityofseatsofgovernment,itsetsitselfaboveandagainst thenation.Reactiontendingtofascismisitsverysoul. Reaction is proceeding in the work of destroying Canadian democracy by undercutting with one hand the foundations of democracy and by giving encouragement to fascism with the otherhand. Whatneedstobekeptinmindtodaywhenreadingthisstatement,written74yearsago,is that similar statements of its kind were being made by communist parties in all capitalist countries.ThestatementwastheadaptationtoCanadianrealityoftheunitedworldwide struggleledbytheCominternagainsttheriseoffascism. Rightwingsocialdemocracyrebuffedalloftheattemptsofthecommuniststoforgeunityin actionagainstreactiontendingtofascismanditstilldoes. LabourandSocialDemocracy The World Federation of Trade Unions, (WFTU) and the Athens Pact adopted at the 16th WorldTradeUnionCongressAthens,610April2011hasprovidedtheinternationalworking class with a class struggle program that refutes the class collaborationist program of the reformist led International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). The WFTU and its affiliates have set an international class struggle path forward for the international trade union movementthatrequiresthecloseststudyandapplicationbyalllabourmilitants.TheAthens PactshouldbeadocumentavailabletoourmeetinginSeptember. InthesectiondealingwiththecurrenteconomiccrisistheWFTUcondemnstheleaderships of the ITUC for cooperation with the policies of state monopoly capital that relegates the role of organized labour to seeking less onerous terms from implementing the austerity demandsoftheInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF). TheWFTUstatescategorically: It is once again proved, looking at the position of various forces concerning the capitalist financial crisis, that the working class of any country cannot prosper, cannot shape it own independent/selfsufficient course towards the satisfaction of its needs, without a decisive
www.FocusOnSocialism.ca 3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP Page11of14

conflict and a break with the forces of compromise and defeatism within the trade union movement. We must not deceive ourselves that the leaderships of the yellow trade union movement can change route, neither can they be pushed by the working masses towards a positivedirection,norcantheyleadtheclassstruggle.Itisnecessarythatallhonestworkers whostillfollowthemaretobeconvincedbytheabove,inordertomakeastepforwardand join us, to unite inside and by the side of the class trade unions within a unified front of the workingclass,tojointheWorldFederationofTradeUnionsthathasopeneditsarmsanddoors toeveryonewhowantstostruggle.Tounitewithusinaction,inouraimsandprinciples. Ourmeetingneedstoconsiderwhatsupportcanbegiventoestablishingthepresenceand promotingtheworkoftheWFTUamongtradeunionists. TheAntiImperialistStruggleforPeaceandSolidarity It is beyond the scope of this statement to review everything that is unfolding in anti imperialiststrugglesaroundtheworld.Wewilllistenwithgreatinterestandseektolearn everythingwecanatourmeetinginSeptemberfromthosefromothercountriesengagedin suchstruggles. WewouldliketotouchononeissuethatweconsidertobeparamountforCanadians,the antiimperialist struggle for peace, nuclear disarmament, the campaign against foreign militarybases,andforthewithdrawalofCanadafromNATOandNORAD. CPS has been actively involved in the reestablishment of the Canadian Peace Congress (CPCon)theCanadianmemberorganizationoftheWorldPeaceCouncil(WPC).Ifthereis timewecanreportonthatwork. It is our view that WPC is gradually and with great energy and sacrifice reestablishing its presenceonallcontinentsandishavingsuccessinleadingtheantiimperialiststrugglefor peace.Weshouldconsiderdiscussingthesignificanceofthatfact. SovietPeace organizations were founding and active members of WPC. WPC enjoyed the generous support and solidarity of the Soviet people. Leading Soviet personalities in the arts, sciences, government and veterans of WW2 gave their energies to the work of the WPC.Sovietpeopletodaycontinuethatwork.Nopeopleontheplanetknowbetterthan theSovietpeople,thetruemeaningofworldpeace.

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP

Page12of14

TheforerunnerofCFSP,theCanadaUSSRSocietyworkedcloselyonmanypeacecampaigns with the Canadian Peace Congress and the WPC. We need to revisit that experience and considerwhatcanbedonetoreinvigoratethoseconnections. Part of that discussion must involve a review of the growing aggressiveness of Canadian imperialism. CPS has for some time drawn attention to the fact that Canadian finance capital seeks a greater presence at the roundtables of imperialism, in particular at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Canadian governments, both Liberal and Conservative increase arms spending, militarize the economy and promote the integration and interoperability and active engagement of Canadian armed forces in USNATOEU instigated wars. The right wing conservative government of Prime Minister Harper and Defense Minister Peter McKay are directly engaged in implementing in Parliament the aggressive international policies of NATO. TheNDPwhichformanyyearscalledforCanadianwithdrawalfromNATOhasnowmuted and dropped that demand from its program, and in so doing now supports NATO wars of regimechange,themostrecentbeingtheUSEUNATOaggressionagainstLibya. The need for a new Canadian foreign and defense policy of peace and disarmament, disengagement fromimperialistmilitary alliances and aggression has public support in our country. More Canadians see the connection between arms spending and the decline in fundingtopublichealthcare,educationandpensions. Thestruggleforpeaceisindivisiblefromthestruggleoftheworkingclassforsocialism. Conclusion All gatherings such as the 3rd Congress of CFSP are opportunities to assess the level of strugglesin our respective countries. Canadians for Peace and Socialism looksforward to that discussion. All such discussion must take into account the historic role of the Soviet Union.The Soviet Union was a state of a new type. It was not the first to emerge from revolution, but it was the first to emerge from a revolution in the era of state monopoly capitalism, imperialism, and in the midst of an imperialist war. The Bolshevik revolution demonstratedthattheworkingclassanditsallies,inonecountry,couldbreakthroughthe globalsystemofimperialismandestablishpoliticalpowerandbegintheworkofbuildinga socialist economy. This fact alone is of enormous significance for evaluating all
www.FocusOnSocialism.ca 3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP Page13of14

revolutionaryeventsthatfollowedthatinitialtriumph.Becauseitwasthefirstrevolutionary stormingofcapitalistpowerintheeraofimperialismtheRussianrevolutionestablishedin practicewhatwasuniversalinitsexperience,andthatisapplicabletoallsocialistrevolutions inthepresentera. Soviet power continues to influence modern human development because it imbedded in human consciousness the imperishable idea that it is possible, given political power, for workers,peasants,thepoorandilliteratetocreateastateofandfortheoppressedandto buildanentirelynewsocialsysteminthecourseofwhichallofthepeoplewouldnotonlybe liberatedbuttransformedfromtheirstatusasservantsanddependentsofprivatefinance capitalintotrulyfreemastersofsociety. That new quality is inextinguishable, now merged with the struggles of all of the modern progressive forces that today comprise the antiimperialist, anticapitalist, prosocialist workingclassmovementsofthemasses. The attempt of imperialism to eradicate the achievements of real socialism from the consciousnessofhumanitybydeclaringthatitbelongstoanotherera,arelicofhistory,isa failure.Everydayhumanityisremindedbythecrimesofimperialismthatthereisahistoric precedentforthrowingoverboardthesystemofhumanexploitation,degradation,warand environmentaldisasterandthathistoricprecedentisthesocialistsystemofstatesasthey emerged in Europe, Asia, North America and South America and within which the Soviet Unionisitsmostadvancedexpression.

www.FocusOnSocialism.ca

3rdWorldCongressInternationalCouncilforCFSP

Page14of14