p While arising under the influence of people’s definite social being and reflecting the material conditions of their life, social consciousness does not, however, behave passively. Social consciousrgyersp influence on the social De-

p ing that engendered it. This influence, too, pends on the character of social consciousness and on the nature of its component ideas, theories and outlooks. All ideas, different social theories and outlooks may be grouped according to their content into old reactionary and new progressive. The old ideas and theories reflect and express the interests of the obsolete classes and thus their influence on the life and development of society is negative. They hamper society’s advance. On the 436 other hand, the new progressive ideas and theories reflect the interests of the progressive classes and progressively-minded sections of society and conform to the needs for developing the people’s material condition. As a result, their influence on society’s life and on social being is positive, for they contribute to society’s progress.

p Taken to their essential and deepest source, new progressive ideas arise from the development of production and the aggravation of the contradictions between the new productive forces and the obsolete relations of production. After arising on the basis of definite contradictions in people’s material life, these new progressive ideas become a weapon in the hands of society’s progressive forces, which is used for resolving these contradictions. These new progressive ideas mobilise people for solving the tasks facing society.

p The influence of advanced ideas on social development is exercised through the practical revolutionary activity of the masses. New ideas can only lead people beyond the influence of the old ideas, but not beyond the bounds of the old system. In order to exert a material influence, they must become a material force. “The weapon of criticism,” Marx wrote, “cannot, of course, replace criticism by weapons, material force must be overthrown by material force; but theory also becomes a material force as soon as it has gripped the masses.”  [436•1 

One of the distinctive features of a progressive 437 ideology is its ability to grip the working masses, since it expresses their genuine interests. But it does not do so automatically. This occurs in a bitter struggle between the new and the old ideas that have taken root over many generations. The struggle is for the minds of the masses and for the spread of a definite ideology, and is waged as a rule, by political parties.