Russia changed classical Marxism doctrine

[Lionel]

Initially Marxism was pursued in Russia as an extreme form of Westernism (the doctrine of applying the Western society principles to the development of Russia). The first generations of Russian Marxists fought and undermined all outdated principles of pro-revolution intelligentsia, such as its "populists" movement (intelligentsia's making unity with common people by living and working alongside with them).

Russian Marxists hoped industrial development of Russia will result in liberation, the idea not accepted by "populists". Development of industry under capitalism was supposed to establish and develop the working class, which is the future liberator. For this reason, Marxists supported the idea of turning peasants into industrial workers v proletariat, yet "populists" opposed it. Marxists believed they found a genuine social basis for revolutionary struggle for liberation. They said the only social force they could count on is proletariat. The revolutionary character should be developed in this social class. Revolutionaries should not address peasants who rejected their ideas, but go to factories and speak with workers. Marxists in Russia were pragmatists because they lived under conditions of establishing capitalism in the country. The first Russian Marxists wanted to lean for the objective laws of society and economics, they did not believe in the role of personality in history.

Marxists attacked in contempt the Utopian socialist ideas of "populists". While the character type of a Russian revolutionary "populist" was emotional, a Russian Marxists was of an intellectual type. Because of the conditions in Russia which resulted in spreading of Marxism, Russian Marxists emphasized the elements of determinism and evolution in Marx's doctrine. They argued with the Utopist ideas, hated day-dreaming and were proud that they were able to discover the truth of scientific socialism which guarantees them victory founded on the objective laws of the society. The economic necessity and laws of the society development will result in establishing Socialism, Russian Marxists believed. They liked to speak about the development of producing forces which were their main hope. They were interested not only in Russia economic development as the positive purpose and good, but also in establishing the instrument for revolutionary struggle. These were the principles of the revolutionaries' psychology.

One could think the purposes of Russian revolution oriented intelligentsia stayed the same as they used to be. However, it obtained a new instrument for struggle, new ground under its feet.

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