p The experience of broad sections of the people, of the labouring masses in the newly-free countries irresistibly convinces them that the capitalist road is a road of suffering and that socialism alone can bring them freedom and happiness, put an end to the age-old backwardness of their countries, rapidly promote their economy and culture, satisfy their material and culture requirements and forever rid them of exploitation, poverty and hunger and the threat of another world war.

p As the revolution gains in depth the bourgeoisie which champions capitalist development proves to be less and less capable of leading the struggle against imperialism and for social progress; moreover, in some countries it has failed to ensure political independence. As regards socio-economic transformations, here, too, it proved to be fatally insolvent. 348 Being an exploiting class it is scared of forfeiting its property and privileges, and is afraid of the revolutionary people. It opposes nationalisation, makes no decisive moves to solve the agrarian question, break up the colonial structure in the economy and public life, and to introduce extensive democratisation. As a result, bourgeois policy is viewed with disappointment and distrust by the people and spurs them to more decisive actions not only against foreign imperialism, but also against the local bourgeoisie.

p New life in countries that had liberated themselves from colonial oppression is born in fierce battles against the insidious imperialist opponent, against the forces of internal reaction which with the help of imperialism strive to steer the young states along the capitalist road. But the peoples more and more resolutely link the prospect of full victory of the national liberation revolution, liquidation of age-old backwardness and improvement of life with non-capitalist development.

p Expressing the will of the people, their intense desire to build socialism and a new and happy life, the leaders of Ethiopia, Algeria, Syria, Guinea, Congo (Brazzaville), Angola, Mozambique, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries have made it known that their peoples wish to follow the path of socialist orientation. In Africa and Asia alone socialist-oriented countries, the vanguard of the national liberation movement, have an aggregate population of 150 million. In Africa these countries represent 25 per cent of the population and 30 per cent of the territory of the continent.

p These countries are carrying out anti-capitalist, socialist reforms. By means of nationalisation they build up the state sector and introduce planning principles into economic development. Foreign capital is ousted from the economy; exploitation is restricted; the economic positions of the local bourgeoisie are undermined; the exploiting classes are deprived of the possibility of influencing politics; a national economy is built on the basis of industrialisation; agrarian changes are introduced, particularly agricultural cooperation; an independent, anti-imperialist foreign policy is pursued; friendly relations and cooperation with socialist countries are established, etc.

p Much is being done to raise the living standards and 349 culture, promote enlightenment, education, health and the training of technical and scientific personnel.

p In the course of the establishment of the national economy, industry in the first place, material prerequisites of socialism—a modern material and technical base—are formed. But the creation of material prerequisites also signifies the maturing of social prerequisites of socialism: the development of industry is accompanied by the rise and growth of the working class which comes to play an increasing role in society and forms and strengthens its alliance with the non-proletarian strata, especially the peasantry.

p The fact that the working class plays an ever greater role does not mean that always and everywhere, at all stages of the movement along the non-capitalist road it is society’s guiding force. Insofar as in a considerable majority of the developing countries the working class is numerically small and organisationally and ideologically weak and is only beginning to enter the arena of political activity, the leadership of the non-capitalist development, especially at its initial stage, may be exercised by revolutionary democratic forces and not by the working class.

p The choice of the path of development of the newlyindependent countries is accompanied by an acute ideological struggle. Among other things this struggle finds its expression in the fact that different classes have their own concept of socialism and the ways and means of building it. At times these views are very far removed from scientific socialism and are often used to mask the bourgeoisie’s efforts to steer the development of one country or another along the capitalist road.

p Nevertheless, this does not mean that Marxists, Communists, completely rule out non-Marxist concepts of socialism. These concepts may contain the progressive desire to put an end to capitalism and exploitation and to build a society based on collective ownership. This progressive content, this anti-imperialist and anti-colonial trend of different socialist theories is unconditionally supported by the Communists. At the same time Communists do not merge with diverse social forces working for socialism, and endeavour to bring the theory and practice of truly scientific socialism into any socialist movement.

p It is important that the socialist views of the leaders of 350 some developing countries changed markedly in the course of the national liberation revolution. At first these views were, as a rule, a fantastic mixture of elements of scientific socialism with Utopian socialism and religious views, whereas now the leaders of a number of these countries are gradually shifting to positions of scientific, Marxist-Leninist socialism.

p The evolution to Marxism-Leninism, scientific socialism, is a natural process dictated by the entire course of the national liberation revolution and the objective needs of the developing countries. A truly people’s revolution aimed at achieving a country’s independence and flourishing, at freedom and the well-being of the people can win only on the basis of Marxism-Leninism, scientific socialism. “Our revolution has made Marxism-Leninism its banner,” said Fidel Castro, the national hero of Cuba and head of the Cuban Government. “No one forced us and no one guided us from another continent. Life itself showed us the way and we followed it without hesitation. Every real revolution must inevitably lead to Marxism-Leninism, the only genuine revolutionary truth which repudiates colonial slavery, imperialist domination and exploitation of man by man.”

Of course, the progressive part of the revolutionary democracy which is in power does not immediately master Marxism-Leninism. At first it assimilates the individual aspects of Marxism and this is itself a difficult process which is not without deviations and vacillations. But all these vacillations and difficulties can be surmounted only when the revolutionary process whose objective logic has raised a certain part of the revolutionary democracy to power deepens and broadens, and when this objective development of the revolution is correctly reflected in its consciousness.