p The twentieth century has become a turning-point in world history. It has ushered in the radical change of mankind from pre-history to the true history of its ascending, progressive development. In all spheres of social life—economic, political and ideological—there is now the struggle of two socio-economic formations: the recently emerged communist formation, which represents the peak of world civilisation, and the declining but still powerful capitalist formation, which concludes the pre-history of mankind.

p The birth of communism has not only its own real history, but also the logic of struggle and victory. This history and logic are indissolubly connected with the struggle of the Russian proletariat, the whole Soviet people, the CPSU and the architect of the new world—Lenin.

In his report “Lenin’s Cause Lives On and Triumphs”, Leonid Brezhnev said: “Today when the entire course of social development inexorably hastens the downfall of capitalism, Lenin’s words that Marxism raises questions ’not only in the sense of explaining the past but also in the sense of a bold forecast of the future and of bold practical action for its achievement’ resound with particular force. While being occupied with the present and working on contemporary day-to-day problems, we compare our actions with our ideals, with immediate and distant prospects of social development. We think of and build the future."  [343•1