Lenin CW-Vol. 23.pdf - From Marx to Mao

46V. I. LENINFor that is the heart of the matter, once we are discussingeconomic unachievability or achievability under one oranother political form!Had Kievsky not evaded the heart of the matter, he wouldprobably have realised that the contradiction between imperialismand the republic is a contradiction between theeconomics of latter-day capitalism (namely, monopoly capitalism)and political democracy in general. For Kievsky willnever prove that any major and fundamental democratic measure(popular election of officials or officers, complete freedomof association and assembly, etc.) is less contradictory toimperialism (or, if you like, more “smiled” upon) than therepublic.What we have, then, is the proposition we advanced in ourtheses: imperialism contradicts, “logically” contradicts,all political democracy in general. Kievsky does not“smile” on this proposition for it demolishes all his illogicalconstructions. But what can we do about it? Are weto accept a method that is supposed to refute certainpropositions, but instead secretly advances them by usingsuch expressions as “imperialism far from smiles on therepublic”?Further. Why does imperialism far from smile on therepublic? And how does imperialism “combine” its economicswith the republic?Kievsky has given no thought to that. We would remindhim of the following words of Engels in reference to thedemocratic republic. Can wealth dominate under this formof government? The question concerns the “contradiction”between economics and politics.Engels replies: “The democratic republic officially knowsnothing any more of property distinctions [between citizens].In it, wealth exercises its power indirectly, but all the moresurely. On the one hand, in the form of the direct corruptionof officials, of which America provides the classical example;on the other hand, in the form of an alliance between governmentand stock exchange....” 26There you have an excellent example of economic analysison the question of the “achievability” of democracy undercapitalism. And the “achievability” of self-determinationunder imperialism is part of that question.