p The victory of socialism in the Soviet Union resulted in the abolition of the exploiting classes and of the causes that give rise to the exploitation of man by man, in the elimination of the antithesis between town and country, between manual and mental labour. The community of fundamental interests of the workers, peasants and the intelligentsia formed the basis for the socio-political and ideological unity of the Soviet people. Friendship among the many Soviet peoples struck firm root and grew stronger. As the USSR advances to communism this unity is further strengthened, the nations and social groups draw closer together, they enrich each other and the distinctions between them gradually disappear. This, however, does not mean that there are no contradictions under socialism. Socialist society develops continuously and where there is development there always exists the old and the new and, consequently, struggle between them. “Antagonism and contradiction,” Lenin wrote, “are not one and the same thing. Under socialism the first will vanish, the second will remain.”  [92•* 

p Lenin pointed not only to the existence of contradictions under socialism, but also disclosed their major distinction, their non-antagonistic character. This is because there are no hostile classes and no exploitation in socialist society where public ownership of the means of production unites the people. The contradictions of socialist society are contradictions and difficulties of growth connected with the rapid advance of the socialist economy and the rise in the material and cultural requirements of the people. These are contradictions between the new and the old, the progressive and the backward.

p The contradictions of Soviet society are overcome by the common effort of all the working people led by the Communist Party and the Soviet Government. The Party’s correct, scientifically substantiated policy, the unity of the Party and the people, the full support given by the people to steps taken by the Party and the Government ensure the timely disclosure and elimination of all contradictions. That is why contradictions of socialism do not turn into conflicts, do not assume the character of social upheavals. Under capitalism the solution of contradictions leads to its doom, while the elimination of socialism’s contradictions actually strengthens the socialist system and facilitates the Soviet Union’s advance to communism.

p In socialist society production relations correspond to the nature of productive forces inasmuch as the social nature of productive forces corresponds to social ownership of the means of production and social forms of distribution. Means of life are distributed not depending on capital possessed, but in accordance with the quantity and quality of work done. This correspondence between productive forces and production relations, however, does not preclude the existence of certain contradictions between them.

p Production relations under socialism are a chain of economic interaction of people whose separate links do not always manage to keep abreast of the growth of the productive forces and thus become obsolete. As a result they enter into a contradiction with the productive forces and may arrest economic development.

p The Communist Party and the Soviet state continuously improve socialist production relations, replace their old links with new, advanced ones, and in this way overcome 94 the contradictions of socialist production. Here is an example. In the period when the mechanisation of agriculture in the Soviet Union was still low, small agricultural production co-operatives with relatively small cultivated areas were set up. Later the level of mechanisation of agriculture increased immensely, but owing to small size of the co-operatives it was impossible to effectively employ farm machinery. This gave rise to certain contradictions in agricultural production. But they were solved by means of enlarging the co-operatives, and agricultural production increased.

p The development of socialist society is accompanied by the rise and solution of contradictions between the new dimensions and objectives of the national economy, the new tasks which confront society, and the mechanism of management, the forms and methods of running the economy and administering society in general. The Party and the socialist state solve this contradiction by keeping on improving the economic mechanism and the entire system of administration. To this end the 25th Congress of the CPSU adopted a comprehensive programme for raising the level of management envisaging the further improvement of planning and organisational structure and methods of management, more skilful use of economic stimuli, and deepening democratic centralism and democracy in management.  [94•* 

p The vast majority of the Soviet people actively participate in building communism, but there are individuals who still cling to the old, obsolete methods of production, to backward technology, etc. There are also those whose minds are infected with survivals of capitalism. The interests and actions of these individuals run counter to the interests of society. These individuals are re-educated by the efforts of the people and the Communist Party, while penalties are imposed on the more incorrigible ones.

p It should be stressed that contradictions between the vast majority of Soviet people and individuals who carry survivals of the old do not stem from the nature of the socialist system but from the legacy and influence of capitalism, from shortcomings in ideological work, education, etc. These contradictions are temporary and will be fully 95 eliminated in the course of communist construction.

p How are the contradictions of socialism brought to light and solved?

p The method of disclosing the contradictions of socialist society lies in criticism and self-criticism. But, having brought to light contradictions, the method of criticism and self-criticism by itself is unable to resolve them. Their solution depends on the labour efforts of the entire nation and the competent organisational and educational work both of the Party and the Government. Constant development and improvement of production, active participation of the people in communist construction, the painstaking and multifarious work of the Party in educating the Soviet citizen—such are the main means of eliminating contradictions of socialist society.

p Besides internal contradictions, the Soviet Union and the entire world socialist community are in antagonistic contradiction with the world capitalist system. Although this contradiction is external, it considerably affects the country’s development and it must not be underestimated. The CPSU and the Soviet Government are doing all they can to solve this contradiction in a peaceful way, on the basis of peaceful coexistence of states with different social systems. A world thermonuclear war would result in colossal loss of human life and destruction and greatly retard mankind’s progress. That is why the struggle to prevent another world war and to preserve universal peace is the overriding duty of all honest people.

Struggle for peace is an essential requisite of social progress and of the successful building of socialism and communism.