p In the face of inhuman exploitation by the imperialist predators the peoples of the colonies and dependent countries launched a liberation struggle against colonial oppression, for freedom and national independence.

p The Great October Socialist Revolution in Russia which awakened the colonial world and drew the colonial peoples into the general stream of the world revolutionary movement gave a mighty stimulus to the national liberation movement. The Soviet Union, the world’s first socialist state, became an inexhaustible source of political and moral support for the oppressed.

p The new correlation of forces on the international scene after the Second World War, the triumph of socialist revolutions in a number of European and Asian countries, and the emergence of the world socialist system created especially favourable conditions for the successful national liberation struggle of the peoples. Imperialism suppressed the national independence and freedom of the majority of the peoples and put the fetters of brutal colonial slavery on them, says the CPSU Programme, but the rise of socialism marks the advent of the era of emancipation of the oppressed peoples. A powerful wave of national liberation revolutions is sweeping away the colonial system and undermining the foundations of imperialism. Young sovereign states have arisen, or are arising, in one-time colonies or semi-colonies.

p Radical changes have taken place in Asia and Africa. Latin America, where US imperialists held undivided sway for decades, is rising for the struggle against the domination of foreign monopolies. Heroic Cuba, where a people’s 271 revolution was accomplished, has become a beacon for the peoples of Latin America in their just struggle for national freedom and social progress. It wifl not be long now before colonialism, that infamous phenomenon in human history, will be wiped out for ever. The complete collapse of colonialism is inevitable. The downfall of the system of colonial slavery under the onslaught of the national liberation movement ranks second in historical importance to the formation of the world system of socialism. The significance of the disintegration of the colonial system of imperialism lies in the fact that it awakens fresh hundreds of millions of people to the task of moulding their own history. The peoples of the sovereign states that have emerged on the ruins of the colonial empires are now building a new life and actively participating in world politics, and are one of the mighty revolutionary forces that are destroying capitalism.

p The peoples that have rent the yoke of colonialism are destined to play a great role in averting another world war and preserving and strengthening peace. Together with the peoples of the socialist countries they comprise two-thirds of humanity which is a great force that can compel the imperialist aggressors to retreat.

p Many complex tasks confront the peoples of the liberated countries. The most important of them is to choose the path of further development. The bourgeoisie endeavours to direct the development of the nations along the capitalist road and thus preserve private ownership and exploitation. As regards the masses, the working people, they are beginning to realise that socialism is the only road that leads to freedom and happiness.

It is up to the peoples themselves to choose their path of development. Today, in view of the growth of revolutionary forces in the world and the existence of the world socialist system upon whose support and assistance the newly-free peoples can rely, they can advance towards socialism bypassing capitalism, by taking the path of socialist orientation. In order to accomplish this great social leap they have to struggle and to work with the utmost dedication, building up material (modern production) and social (working class and its party) conditions for the socialist transformation of society.