p Marxism was the first to prove that the class division of society is historically transient and that such a division is only typical of the epochs in which private ownership dominates. However, the abolition of classes is not a single act but an entire historical epoch. The first and very important step in this direction is the transition period from capitalism to socialism. All countries which have opted for socialist transformation must go through this stage.

p Socialist revolution causes a radical change in the class structure of society.

p In the period of transition from capitalism to socialism the economic system becomes multistructural. Three classes exist in most countries in this period: the working class, primarily connected with the socialist economic structure; the working peasants, mostly representing the small- 105 scale economic structure; and capitalist elements in town and countryside, attached to the capitalist economic structure. The class of feudal lords ceases to exist. The working class becomes the leading force in society. Capitalist elements, though they do exist, have greatly undermined positions (they are deprived of political power, a considerable part of their property is nationalised, etc.).

p Since antagonistic classes exist in the period of transition from capitalism to socialism, struggle between them is unavoidable. But here the correlation of class forces differs from that obtaining prior to the socialist revolution: the working class possesses political power, while the bourgeoisie is deprived of it. The forms of the class struggle are also different since they reflect the specific character of the transition period.

p In summing up the experience gained over the first few years of socialist development in Soviet Russia, Lenin named the following forms of the class struggle: 1) suppression of the resistance of the exploiters; 2) civil war; 3) “neutralisation” of the petty bourgeoisie, particularly the peasantry; 4) the use of bourgeois experts; and 5) introduction of a new labour discipline. The first form is universal and inevitable for all countries. The second form is not inevitable. It occurred in Rus- sia, where domestic and foreign counter- revolution had succeeded in imposing civil war on the 106 workers. In Vietnam and Korea the people had to wage a war of liberation against US interventionists and their local accomplices. In several other countries, however, class struggle has not been so acute. Asian and African countries have their own specific features in the development of class relations in the transition period from capitalism to socialism. Prior to socialist revolution, the class structure in these countries was very complicated because their economies had been warped by imperialism, and in some, capitalist relations were intertwined with feudal, pre- capitalist and even pre-feudal relations. Lenin repeatedly said that in highly-developed capitalist countries it is more difficult to start a socialist revolution, but, after the revolution has been consummated, it is easier to achieve socialism, and less time is required to build it.  [106•1  At the same time, in backward countries, where it is often easier to start the revolution, "it is extremely difficult to continue it and consummate it".  [106•2  Lenin formu- 107 lated the following dependence: "The more backward the country which, owing to the zigzags of history, has proved to be the one to start the socialist revolution, the more difficult is it for that country to pass from the old capitalist relations to socialist relations."  [107•1  The tasks which characteristically face such countries in the period of transition from capitalism to socialism are the formation of national contingents of the working class, the strengthening of its economic and political positions, the overcoming of the economic and cultural backwardness of the country, the fight against tribal or racial egoism, etc.

p Building a socialist society means abolishing private ownership of the means of production and the exploiter classes. The class structure of society undergoes a radical change. Socialist society is a society of the workers. The community of the workers’ vital interests enhances their socio- political and ideological unity. The establishment of this type of society is a historic triumph and a great step towards a classless society. However, the abolition of the exploiter classes and class antagonisms does not signify the elimination of classes in general. Even at the initial stage of 108 developed socialism classes and class distinctions are still in evidence.

p The existence of classes under socialism is based on the distinctions that are still manifest in their relation to the means of production and on the substantial differences in the nature of work. The working class is attached to public ownership, and works at public enterprises. The peasantry under socialism is also attached to socialist ownership, but in the form of group, co-operative ownership. Because of the distinction between those engaged in intellectual and manual work, the intelligentsia also continues to exist as an independent social group. The intelligentsia comprises people engaged in intellectual work.

p Developed socialist society is characterised by the drawing together of classes and social groups and the gradual disappearance of the distinctions between them. Economically this process is based above all upon the rapprochement between the two forms of socialist ownership and the prospect of their merging into common ownership by the whole people. The considerable distinctions between people engaged in intellectual and manual work are also gradually disappearing. The workers and peasants have always been mostly engaged in manual work. Under socialism, however, and especially with the spread of the scientific and technological revolution, it is becoming increasingly intellectual: greater scien- 109 tific knowledge and intellectual contribution to the work process are now required of workers. For its part, intellectual work (i. e. the work of engineers, scientists, doctors, etc.), is becoming increasingly technological, requires sophisticated machinery, etc. Developed socialist society in the Soviet Union has already taken a great stride towards a classless society. In connection with this, it was announced at the 26th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union that the classless structure of society will mainly be established within the historical framework of developed socialism.

p The process of the elimination of class distinctions is not spontaneous, but it is being organised and directed by the Communist Party and the socialist state. The formation of a homogeneous society will be accomplished with the triumph of communism.

p The theory of classes and class relations presupposes an important requirement of Marxist methodology, to wit, to give a class analysis of social phenomena in class society. In order to comprehend and assess correctly a social phenomenon or historical event, it is necessary to elucidate its class content or class aspects, to understand which classes stand behind it and whose interests it ultimately serves. As Lenin said: "People always have been foolish victims of deception and selfdeception in politics, and they always will be un- 110 til they have learnt to seek out the interest. of some class or other behind all moral, religious, political and social phrases, declarations and promises.”   [110•1 

p All the political parties that have ever existed represented the interests of certain classes, but by no means all of them have openly professed their class affiliation and genuine goals. Exploiter classes and parties more often than not try to camouflage themselves with a fafade of non- partisanship and “objectivity”. The ideological defenders of obsolete social relations direct their efforts chiefly at blurring class contradictions and the class content of social phenomena. Lenin therefore insisted that parties should not be judged by their names, declarations or programmes, but by their deeds.  [110•2 

p Communists openly admit the class orientation of their ideology and politics. Indeed they have no need to hide their party commitment, since this stand is entirely in line with Marxist-Leninist theory. The objective course of social development coincides with the aspirations of the workers led by the most revolutionary class, the proletariat, for they are interested in the replacement of capitalism by a new, communist system and must 111 carry out this historically necessary act. In order to achieve its fundamental aims the working class requires the laws of the development of social reality to be reflected in the most adequate and precise way.

p Marxists-Leninists proceed from the fact that the more consistently the principle of a class approach to social knowledge is implemented, the more precise and effective the results will be. At the same time, the deeper the knowledge of the laws of social development, the fuller that development corresponds to the interests of the working class and its party.

p In his works Lenin gave an analysis of social phenomena and processes which is noted for an organic unity of scientific objectivity and a lucid assessment from the standpoint of the working class.

p This is clearly manifested in his elaboration of the issue of democracy and dictatorship, which had always been crudely distorted by all kinds of opportunists and renegades. Exposing their idle talk about "pure democracy”, "democracy for all”, and "freedom in general”, Lenin showed that there is no supra-class democracy, nor can there be any: there is either bourgeois or socialist democracy. The character of democracy is determined by the property relations prevailing in the given society and by the class which holds power.

p Bourgeois democracy is the implementation of 112 the power of the propertied minority over the exploited majority. It is also wrong to speak of dictatorship "in general”. Dictatorship is always exercised by a definite class-the dominant onewith the aim of maintaining and strengthening its own positions. Any kind of bourgeois democracy is dictatorship by an exploiting minority over the workers. The dictatorship of the proletariat, on the other hand, is political domination carried out by the proletariat in the interests of the workers, and in alliance with them; it is directed against an insignificant minority-the overthrown propertied classes.

A class approach to the study of social phenomena is also important for a correct analysis of the complicated and contradictory processes within contemporary international relations. It is the key to studying reality and a reliable guide for tackling urgent tasks of social development.