Polemic on General Line of International ... - From Marx to Mao

dictatorship of the proletariat and to represent the interestsof the whole people.What will happen if it is announced halfway before enteringthe higher stage of communist society that the party of theproletariat has become a “party of the entire people” and ifits proletarian class character is repudiated?Does this not fundamentally conflict with the teachings ofMarx and Lenin on the party of the proletariat?Does this not disarm the proletariat and all the workingpeople, organizationally and ideologically, and is it not tantamountto helping restore capitalism?Is it not “going south by driving the chariot north” to talkabout any transition to communist society in such circumstances?20. Over the past few years, certain persons have violatedLenin’s integral teachings about the interrelationship ofleaders, party, class and masses, and raised the issue of “combatingthe cult of the individual”; this is erroneous andharmful.The theory propounded by Lenin is as follows:a. The masses are divided into classes.b. Classes are usually led by political parties.c. Political parties, as a general rule, are directed bymore or less stable groups composed of the most authoritative,influential and experienced members, who are electedto the most responsible positions and are called leaders.Lenin said, “All this is elementary.”The party of the proletariat is the headquarters of the proletariatin revolution and struggle. Every proletarian partymust practise centralism based on democracy and establish astrong Marxist-Leninist leadership before it can become anorganized and battle-worthy vanguard. To raise the questionof “combating the cult of the individual” is actually to counterposethe leaders to the masses, undermine the party’s39