“April Theses” by Lenin - Course on the Socialist Revolution

Our task is not to consider the consequences, but to determine the source. It will be about a single theoretical work - “April Theses” by Lenin. Today we are more than ever faced with a different vision of the role of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (Ulyanov) in the history of our country. Moreover, the points of view are often polar opposites. From the traditional Soviet view: “He is the leader of the world proletariat,” to direct accusations regarding the organization of repressions against the intelligentsia and the peasantry. The topic for discussion about this is bottomless, like our whole story. This article is not at all asked by her.

Only ten conceptual ideas reflect Lenin's April Theses. A summary of this document is provided below.

• The first thesis is strategic. He logically substantiates the need to overthrow the power of capital as the only way of Russia's vital exit from the meat grinder of the First World War.
• The second is tactical. Vladimir Ilyich considers the results of the bourgeois-democratic revolution of 1905 intermediate, unconvincing, since the bourgeoisie seized the initiative. “What happened is only the first stage,” Lenin’s April Theses state, “ahead is the transfer of power to the proletariat and the poorest peasantry.”
• The third determines the attitude to the existing parliamentary power - the Provisional Government: no support, as well as the consistent exposure of its bourgeois orientation.
  
• The fourth shows the process of forming new authorities. The Bolsheviks, on the one hand, declare their future function as an organ of power, and on the other, the Soviets, perceiving Bolshevik ideas “from within”, they themselves become party leaders.
• The fifth point of Lenin’s fifth point declares a unique, fundamentally new political system in Russia - the Republic of Soviets.
• Sixth solves the dual task of economic policy. Firstly, it indicates the priorities of land policy: confiscation, nationalization, land administration by the Soviets. Secondly, a complete reorganization of the entire executive branch, as well as the police and the army.
• Seventh - on the nationalization of financial institutions, the association of banks.
• The eighth generalizes the control function of the Soviets as the basic principle of the further construction of socialism. (Isn't it true, the depth of the theoretical elaboration is surprising: the Soviets are still Menshevik, and Lenin's “April Theses” already cover the new economic policy?)
• The ninth defines internal party organizational tasks, including the renaming of the party. Its essence is now "communist."
• The tenth takes into account interaction with the international labor movement, for which it is proposed to create a new International.

It is difficult to write in a more meaningful and concise way.

Obviously, this work by its essence transcends the dominant social-democratic theory. One single person was able to feel the dynamics of development in the midst of the political, economic, social collapse of an almost uncontrollable country, "similar to a man beaten to death." It is noteworthy that the start of the creation of communist parties in the world was determined precisely by the “April Theses” of Lenin. Briefly, this theoretical development outlines a unique path of development, at first incomprehensible even to the closest associates of Lenin, the Social Democrats.

I would also like to draw your attention to the obvious: the Lenin theorist is at the same time an outstanding organizer, convincing and inspiring. After all, there were also principled, influential, authoritative opponents of the ideas of the Theses: Kamenev, Plekhanov. Remaining incomprehensible by the All-Russian Congress of Soviets, and then by the Joint Congress of the RSDLP, Vladimir Ilyich tripled his energy, explaining, convincing. As a result, exactly 10 days later, the RSDLP (b) conference included Leninist ideas in its program.