p The question of the concrete forms of- transition to socialism by various countries acquires great importance in our age, the age of the mankind s advance towards socialism. What are these forms? What do they depend upon?

p Marxism proceeds from the premise that the forms of transition from capitalism to socialism depend above all on the correlation of the class forces in a country. If the forces of the working class and its allies have a decisive 329 superiority over the forces of the bourgeoisie and if the latter realises the futility of resistance, then it may yield power peacefully. History, however, shows that the bourgeoisie is incapable of soberly appraising the correlation of forces; it does not voluntarily surrender its authority .and privileges, and resorts to all possible means, including force of arms, to uphold them. This means that the working class must be always prepared to repulse an armed attack by the bourgeoisie and take up weapons to defend its rights.

p This, of course, does not mean that a peaceful transition of political power into the hands of the working class is altogether impossible. Such a possibility has always existed, but it was very limited in the epoch of the undivided rule of the bourgeoisie.

p After the February Revolution in 1917 Lenin and the Bolsheviks raised the question of a peaceful development of the revolution. This did not happen then, but not through the fault of the proletariat.

p Now the situation is different. The new correlation of forces between capitalism and socialism which arose in the world after the last war greatly extended the possibilities of a peaceful transition to socialism. In the capitalist countries themselves these possibilities are rapidly expanding owing to the growth of the forces of democracy and socialism, and the greater influence of the working class and its Marxist parties among the people. In these conditions the working class of some countries, relying on the broad movement of the people against imperialism, has greater opportunities than ever to take power into its hands without bloodshed.

p The parliamentary road can be one of the ways for the peaceful development of the socialist revolution. If the working class in a number of capitalist countries enjoys the support of the majority of the people and resolutely fights the opportunists, it will be able to win a stable majority in parliament, turn parliament into an instrument serving the working people and, after breaking down the resistance of the reactionary forces, it will be able to create the necessary conditions for a peaceful socialist revolution. The parliamentary way is in this case by no means a reformist way. It is the road of irreconcilable class struggle, radical revolutionary changes leading to the building of a new, socialist society.

p The peaceful road to socialism, however, should not be absolutised. It ought to be borne in mind that the bourgeoisie is still in power in a large part of the world, that it has weapons which it uses and will continue to use against the working class, against the working people.

p Striking proof of this is the tragedy of Chile where the military-fascist dictatorship drowned the people’s revolution in the blood of the working people and progressives. Yet, as the Report of the CPSU Central Committee to the 25th Congress of the CPSU states, “the Chilean tragedy has by no means invalidated the communist thesis about the possibility of different ways of revolution, including the peaceful way, if the necessary conditions for it exist. But it has been a forceful reminder that a revolution must know how to defend itself. It is a lesson in vigilance against present-day fascism and the intrigues of foreign reaction, and a call for greater international solidarity vith all those who take the road of freedom and progress.”  [330•* 

The working class should always be ready to use both non-peaceful and peaceful forms of struggle. The mastery of all forms, the skilful implementation of those which cor respond more to the concrete situation, and the ability swiftly and unexpectedly to replace one form with another, are all essential for the victory of socialist revolution in all countries.