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p By mid-19th century capitalism had replaced feudalism in many countries. Together with it the proletariat, the most progressive and consistently revolutionary class whose mission was to put an end to exploitation of man by man and establish a new, communist society, emerged on the historical scene. The proletariat’s liberation movement confronted science with the exceptionally important tasks of formulating a scientific theory that would help it accomplish its historic mission and become its ideological weapon in the fight against capitalism, for socialism and communism. Science fulfilled this insistent demand of history: the brilliant leaders of the working class and of all working people Marx and Engels evolved Marxism whose component and theoretical foundation is Marxist philosophy—-dialectical and historical materialism.

p Marxist-Leninist philosophy is the sole scientific theory and method of cognising and explaining reality. It proves beyond all doubt that by its very nature the world is material, that everything in it changes, develops and inexorably moves forward, from the lower to the higher, from the old to the new. Presenting as it does a true picture of the world and disclosing the more general laws of development of nature and society, Marxist philosophy is a mighty instrument of revolutionary action. It reflects history’s objective dialectics and is the theoretical foundation of the strategy and tactics of the Marxist parties. The main demands of dialectical materialism which guide Marxist parties in their titanic work of the revolutionary reorganisation of the world are to conduct a trenchant analysis of the contradictions of social development, to be able to disclose and cope 399 with these contradictions in good time and in the interests of historical progress, to approach the solution of crucial social problems from concrete historical positions and to be able to discern in life all that is new, to rely upon it and to secure its triumph. Marxist philosophy is the keenest theoretical weapon of the working class in its struggle against bourgeois ideology, revisionism and dogmatism, nationalism and sectarianism.

p Marxist-Leninist philosophy is a living, creative teaching. It does not stand still, but constantly moves forward keeping abreast of the changing life and enriching itself with scientific achievements and socio-historical practice. Lenin upheld and developed Marxist philosophy in conditions of an unexampled social change, humanity’s transition from capitalism’to socialism, in conditions of the latest revolution in natural science. Today the victorious banner of creative Marxism is held aloft by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Marxist parties in other countries.

p Marx’s teaching is all-powerful because of its truth, Lenin wrote. The great truth of Marxism has been confirmed by life, by the greatest revolution ever to take place in the world and the socialist reorganisation of society. The rise and development of the world socialist system, the complete and final victory of socialism in the USSR, mankind’s inexorable advance towards the bright communist morrow, convincingly attest to the triumph of the mighty ideas of Marxism-Leninism. The new historical epoch witnessed the full triumph of the proletariat’s revolutionary world outlook. Marxism-Leninism dominates the thoughts of progressive humanity.

p Socialism’s gains are enormous and undeniable. But it should not be forgotten that capitalism still exists in many countries. And by no means the last role in keeping it alive is played by the reactionary ideology of the contemporary bourgeoisie which does all it can to whitewash capitalism and defer the death sentence which history has pronounced upon it. The current bitter struggle between communist and bourgeois ideologies will be won by communist ideology. Behind it is the truth of life, and truth is invincible. This great truth are the ideals of communism which are winning the minds and hearts of all honest people in the world. As regards bourgeois ideology, it has not passed the test of 400 history. Its downfall is just as inevitable as the demise of the social system which it represents.

Mankind has discerned the real image of capitalism and does not want and will not tolerate its further existence. Moribund capitalism will be replaced by the new and most just society—communism. Such is the objective law of social development, such is the objective dialectics of history.