p The concepts objective conditions and subjective factor of history reflect the correlation between the objective logic of history and its laws, on the one hand, and man’s conscious activity, on the other. Study of these concepts is important for understanding the processes of revolutionary transformation and socialist construction.

p Objective conditions include conditions of historical activity that are independent, at a given 212 stage, of the will and consciousness of individuals, classes, or parties making history. The organisation, awareness, single-mindedness, and will involved in carrying out historical tasks constitute the subjective factor.

p The environment, social and natural, the totality of inner and outer circumstances, make up the objective conditions. Primarily, the objective conditions for social development are material and economic conditions (the level of the productive forces and the production relations), as well as the social structure and the class and national relations. The correlation of class forces shaping inside the country, for example, is of immense significance for the advance of revolution. There are other objective conditions independent of the will of people in a given historical period : the state of political relations, the level of culture, etc.

p The subjective factor is made up of scientific knowledge of social phenomena, of the laws of history and any other conscious forms whereby man exercises influence on the social conditions of life. Although in the past the workers had no knowledge of the laws of history, most of them took part in the revolutionary struggle consciously, for they had empirical knowledge (based on experience) of the necessity of overthrowing the ruling exploiter class.

p When building socialism, the subjective factor first of all includes the leadership of the Com- 213 munist Party guided by Marxism-Leninism and relying on the people’s socio-political awareness, good organisation, and the ability of the people’s vanguard and the people itself to carry out the tasks set by the Party; society’s ethics; scientific achievements, etc.

p What is the correlation between the objective conditions and the subjective factor? Historical materialism is against underestimating either of them. The objective factor plays the determining part in social development. It governs:

p (a) the necessity of development as well as the various ways, forms and potentials of development;

p (b) the tasks, aims, and motives of activity. Mankind sets itself only those tasks which it is able to carry out in the obtaining conditions;

p (c) the arsenal of means for carrying out these tasks.

p It is mostly the objective conditions that shape the character and results of activity. As already mentioned, conscious activity on the scale of society as a whole is only possible under certain socio-economic conditions, i. e. in the absence of antagonistic classes.

p While the objective conditions play the determining role, the subjective factor, in its turn, exerts a reverse influence on the objective conditions. Without it progress is impossible. Objective necessity is not realised by itself, but through the 214 struggle of classes, nations, and states for their own interests and goals. Ignoring the subjective factor is characteristic of vulgar (one-sided, unscientific) economic materialism.

p Under certain conditions, the subjective factor may even play a determining role. For example, the subjective factor (revolutionary party, revolutionary consciousness, good organisation of the workers) is decisive when the objective conditions for the triumph of the revolution have already taken shape.

The Marxist-Leninist understanding of the correlation between the objective conditions and the subjective factor in history is a trustworthy beacon for revolutionaries combatting arbitrariness, spontaneity, and belief in predestination of events. Past experience shows that the workers and their vanguard can be victorious in the struggle for the new society if they understand the laws of social development and have learned to apply them in the specific conditions obtaining in their country, and if they are organised into a closebuilt army of fighters for socialism.