p The class struggle of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie in. the capitalist countries is now waged at a new stage of capitalism’s general crisis, when the world socialist system is turning into the decisive factor of world development. This situation has now become more favourable for the working-class movement due to the successes of the Soviet Union and the entire world socialist system, the deepening of the crisis of world capitalism, the growing influence of the Communist parties among the people, and 251 the ideological, bankruptcy of reformism. The possibilities for the working-class movement have been further extended by the people’s dissatisfaction with the reactionary policy of the imperialists, particularly the fanning of war psychosis and the arms race, the main brunt of which is borne by the people. More and more people are becoming convinced that socialism is the only way out of their predicament and this creates favourable conditions for drawing them into the active struggle against the bourgeoisie. The power of the proletarian movement is multiplied by the achievements of the socialist system, which clearly show socialism’s advantages over capitalism. These achievements inspire the workers in the capitalist countries in their struggle and make them confident in the coming victory of socialism.

p The struggle of the proletariat for socialism is now combined with the movement of the peoples for peace, national independence and democracy, and this is the main specific feature of the working-class movement today. We shall examine contemporary democratic movements in greater detail further on.

p In the struggle for its rights, for democracy and socialism, the proletariat employs the most diverse methods: strikes, demonstrations, meetings, conferences and so on. It also resorts to parliamentary struggle.

p The traditional form of struggle, the strike, is the most widely used method in present-day conditions. The fact that the strike movement in the capitalist countries is growing in size and strength refutes the assertions of bourgeois and reformist scribblers about the harmony of the interests of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. In 1976, more than 60 million working people took part in strikes in the capitalist world as compared with 36 million in 1965.

p The demands of the workers, it should be noted, go beypnd purely economic bounds and acquire a political character. The working class and its revolutionary vanguard, the Marxist parties, direct their main blow at the capitalist monopolies, the bulwark of reaction and aggression, which bear direct responsibility for the arms race and the hard lot of the working people.

p A distinctive feature of the contemporary working-class movement is that the workers acquire more and more allies in their anti-monopoly struggle. Their traditional ally is the 252 peasantry which is a major political force. The middle urban strata (petty entrepreneurs, artisans and traders) are defending their interests with increasing determination. As a result of the scientific and technical revolution the army of hired labour is being steadily swelled by the intelligentsia whose interests are becoming more and more linked with the struggle of the working class for democracy and socialism. Young people are displaying increasing activity: realising that they have no future under capitalism, the progressive part of the young people and students fight not only for their own rights but also against the mainstays of capitalist society. Masses of believers and women also oppose the monopolies.

p The exceptionally broad-scale and considerable intensification of the political activity of the working people in the struggle against imperialist reaction, for peace, democracy and socialism is a typical feature of the contemporary workingrdass movement.

p The growth of Communist and Workers’ parties convincingly attests to the profound change that has taken place in the consciousness of the working people. More than 60 years ago, when the Bolshevik Party led by Lenin rallied the people for the battle against capitalism, there were only 400,000 Communists in the world. Now the communist movement has tens of millions of fighters and is the most massive and influential political force.

p The reactionary imperialist circles employ the most brutal measures against the communist and democratic movement. They increasingly resort to methods of open dictatorship by the monopoly bourgeoisie, abolish the remaining elements of democracy and use an old means to suppress the people, a “strong-hand” government. Ominous symptoms of fascism are appearing in some capitalist countries.

p The broadening of the social base of the revolutionary movement creates a firm foundation for the united antimonopoly front. “In the course of anti-monopolist and antiimperialist united action,” states the Document of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties which took place in Moscow in 1969, “favourable conditions are created for uniting all democratic trends into a political alliance capable of decisively limiting the role played by the 253 monopolies in the economies of the countries concerned, of putting an end to the power of big capital and of bringing about such radical political and economic changes as would ensure the most favourable conditions for continuing the struggle for socialism. The main force in this democratic alliance is the working class.”  [253•* 

p Imperialist reaction and its henchmen in the labour movement, the anti-communist Right-wing Social-Democratic leaders and also opportunists of all shades, impede working-class unity, pursue a splitting policy, distort the essence of Marxist-Leninist theory and try to discredit the communist movement. In view of this, it has become highly important at the present stage to fight opportunist tendencies in the working-class and communist movement and resolutely overcome Right and “Left” revisionism inasmuch as neither the one nor the other is compatible with the basic principles of Marx ism-Leninism. Right or “Left” deviations from the Marxist-Leninist line are particularly dangerous when they are connected with manifestations of nationalism and hegemonism.

Consistent defence of the unity of the international working-class and communist movement and prevention of any actions which could undermine this unity are necessary conditions for victory in the struggle for national independence, democracy and peace, for the successful accomplishment of the tasks of the socialist revolution, socialist and communist construction.