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p The united forces of socialism are opposed by world capitalism. The basic contradiction of the present epoch is, thus, that between these forces, between the opposing social systems.

p What is the substance of this contradiction, what are its major features and what role does it play in the development of contemporary society?

p First and foremost, it must be noted that the 65 contradiction between labour and capital, between the working class and the bourgeoisie has been and remains the principal class contradiction of capitalist society. The contradiction between the two opposing systems is a development of the contradiction between labour and capital, between the working class and the bourgeoisie. This is the class substance, the chief distinguishing feature of the main contradiction of the present epoch.

p Today, while remaining an exploited class within the capitalist system, the working class is the dominant class in the socialist system. This dominant class, which acts in a united front with the proletariat of the non-socialist countries, is opposed by another class, the bourgeoisie, which still stands at the helm of state in the capitalist countries. Behind the international working class and the bourgeoisie are mighty communities of states with opposing social systems. One of these is the world socialist system, the creation of the international working class, the product of its dedicated struggle and labour. The other is the capitalist system, where the state administration is in the hands of the bourgeoisie, the capitalists. The basic contradiction of the present epoch is testimony that today the class struggle has reached beyond the framework of the capitalist system, that it has acquired international importance and is being waged on the level of powerful social systems.

p There is yet another feature of the class substance of this contradiction, namely, its depth and sharpness. This feature mirrors the fundamental antithesis between capitalism and socialism, the antithesis between the class interests of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The parties of this contradiction personify two opposing trends of world development. One, represented by world socialism, is the trend towards progress, construction and peace. The other, represented by capitalism, is the trend of reaction, destruction and war. The relations between the parties of this contradiction are those of irreconcilable struggle. The nature of this struggle depends upon concrete historical conditions, but, essentially, it always remains a relentless class struggle. A specific form of the struggle between the two systems is the peaceful coexistence of socialist and capitalist countries, which by no means implies a 66 repudiation of the class struggle. On the contrary, this coexistence is a continuation of the class struggle under new historical conditions.

p Expressing the substance of the present epoch as that of transition from capitalism to socialism, as an epoch of struggle between two opposing social systems, the contradiction between socialism and imperialism tremendously influences the course of world development. The reason for this is that it is not a side, local contradiction of some part of modern mankind, but a social contradiction of human society as a whole. The fact that besides the socialist and capitalist states there is a large group of countries that have liberated themselves from colonialism and have not yet fully determined their road of development does not make the basic contradiction of the epoch any less universal. The peoples fighting colonialism objectively come forward as a revolutionary, anti-imperialist force. Moreover, we observe a continuous differentiation and stratification of the liberated countries: some gradually go over to the building of socialism, while others take the capitalist road. The developing countries are not a third force nor some intermediate zone between socialism and capitalism. They align themselves with or are drawn to one of the parties in the basic contradiction.

p This contradiction, it may be added, is mobile and dynamic, and (herein lies yet another of its major features) as it develops it changes the balance of forces in the world in favour of socialism, to the detriment of reactionary, imperialist forces. This change occurs as the result of the strengthening and development of the world socialist system and the growth of its economic and military might; the aggravation of the general crisis of world capitalism and the exacerbation of all the antagonisms in it; the upswing of the international communist and working-class movement; the growth of the national liberation movement and the disintegration of the imperialist colonial system; and the broadening out of the democratic movement, primarily of the struggle for peace. The world socialist system attracts all contemporary revolutionary forces, for it provide^ them with an immense material, political and spiritual basis facilitating the success of the struggle against imperialism, for socialism and social progress.

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p The time when imperialism undividedly ruled the world has gone, never to return. Today it is not imperialism but the forces combating it, the forces working for peace, socialism and social progress, chiefly the world socialist system, that define the main direction, the principal content and the chief features of world progress. The, oncemighty capitalist system is gradually (though perhaps not as quickly as would have been desirable but, nonetheless, inexorably) crumbling and falling apart under the irresistible pressure of world socialism. The new system replacing it is bringing all peoples Peace, Labour, Freedom, Equality, Fraternity and Happiness.

p Today no problem of any importance can be satisfactorily settled without the active participation of world socialism. The growth of the world socialist system into the decisive factor of mankind’s development is the fundamental feature distinguishing the present epoch. As the socialist system moves from success to success it plays an ever more important role in the economic, political and ideological life of mankind.

This in no way means that the world capitalist system should be completely discounted. Imperialism possesses an enormous economic, political and military potential which allows it to interfere in the affairs of different peoples and countries, to impose reactionary regimes upon them and to suppress forces of revolution and progress. Imperialism, particularly U.S. imperialism, has become more aggressive than ever before. However, as it was pointed out at the 23rd Congress of the C.P.S.U., this does not mean that the balance of world forces has changed in its favour. On the contrary, this aggressiveness shows that contemporary capitalism is encountering increasingly greater difficulties and contradictions. Developments convincingly show that no matter what methods and means imperialism resorts to, it is unable to halt progress or the growing influence of the world socialist system.