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p Modern machine production is the material and technical basis of socialism, the first phase of communism. However, socialist production has as yet not reached the state and level enabling it abundantly to satisfy the people’s steadily growing material and spiritual requirements. Without having reached that level society cannot enter communism, whose basic dictum is: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” The cup of communism is a cup of abundance, which must be constantly filled to the brim, because only in that case is it possible to provide each person with everything he needs.

p No principles are finer, loftier or more attractive than those of communism. But in order to implement these 213 principles there must be abundance. There is only one way to accomplish this, and it is to secure the development of the productive forces on a mammoth scale; in other words, to build the material and technical basis of communism. When this basis is built and abundance is achieved, and when every member of society learns to apply his capabilities to the utmost it will be easy to go over to communist distribution according to needs.

p The function of the material and technical basis of communism is thus primarily to provide an abundance of material and spiritual values and thereby create the conditions for the implementation of the communist principle of distribution and the achievement of complete economic equality for all people. This is the sole foundation for securing the highest possible labour productivity, putting an end to the old division of labour and reforming its very process, turning it into a vital need and a source of joy, inspiration and desire to create.

p The material and technical basis of communism is the only foundation on which it is possible to transform socialist into communist social relations, and erase the essential distinctions between the working class and the peasants, between town and country and between mental and physical work.

p Only with the existence of this basis is it possible to bring up the new man, a man with a rich intellect, lofty moral principles and magnificent physical development. This can well be appreciated, because to have the opportunity to develop fully man must be absolutely secure materially, his spiritual requirements must be fully satisfied and he must have plenty of leisure time, after work, in order to participate actively in the administration of society and improve himself physically and culturally. The amount of free time a person has depends on the productivity of his labour, in other words, on the quantity of products he can produce within the shortest possible working time. This is achieved only with the existence and skilful utilisation of the most perfect implements and means of labour designed in accordance with the latest scientific and technical advances. The material and technical basis of communism is thus the economic prerequisite for the moulding of the fully developed man, which is the goal of social development.

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p Communism is an efficiently organised society with an extremely mobile and rationally marshalled industry that can effectually readjust itself in order speedily to satisfy constantly growing social and personal requirements. But efficiency in administration and management likewise rests on modern technology, on the latest means of control, information and communication.

p Another vital function of the material and technical basis of communism is that it allows winning the economic competition with capitalism, increasing the impact of the new society on international affairs, and strengthening the country’s defence capacity, thereby giving Soviet people the possibility of working in peace without fear of aggressive encroachment by the imperialists.

Thus, the building of this basis is the main objective of communist construction.