Collected Works of V. I. Lenin - Vol. 3 - From Marx to Mao

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V. I. LENIN
especially emphasised by Marx here. There remains Marx’s
reference to the “small peasant living by his own labour.”
None of the Narodniks who have referred to this point has
taken the trouble to explain how he understands this, has
taken the trouble to connect this point with the context, on
the one hand, and with Marx’s general theory of small-scale
agriculture, on the other.—In the passage quoted from Capital
the point dealt with is how considerably the prices
of raw materials fluctuate, how these fluctuations disturb
the proportionality and systematic working of production,
how they disturb the conformity of agriculture and industry.
It is only in this respect—in respect of the proportionality,
systematic working and planned operation of production—that
Marx places small peasant economy on a
par with the economy of “associated producers.” In this
respect, even small medieval industry (handicraft) is similar
to the economy of “associated producers” (cf. Misère de la
philosophie, edition cited, p. 90), whereas capitalism differs
from both these systems of social economy in its anarchy
of production. By what logic can one draw the conclusion
from this that Marx admitted the viability of small-scale
agriculture,* that he did not acknowledge the progressive
historical role of capitalism in agriculture? Here is what
Marx said about this in the special part dealing with agriculture,
in the special section on small peasant economy
(Chapter 47, §V):
“Proprietorship of land parcels by its very nature
excludes the development of social productive forces of
labour, social forms of labour, social concentration of capital,
large-scale cattle raising, and the progressive application
of science.
“Usury and a taxation system must impoverish it everywhere.
The expenditure of capital in the price of the land
withdraws this capital from cultivation. An infinite fragmentation
of means of production, and isolation of the producers
themselves. Monstrous waste of human energy.
* Let us recall that Engels, shortly before his death, and at a
time when the agricultural crisis connected with the drop in prices
was fully manifest, considered it necessary to protest emphatically
against the French “disciples,” who had made some concessions to
the doctrine of the viability of small-scale agriculture. 112