TÜRKİYE KOMÜNİST PARTİSİ Arşiv

Some Questions on Marx’s thinking?

S. Can

Anybody who has cast a look at the legal CPT’s (the previous Socialist Government Party that took up the name of CPT at their congress) programme, theses and the documents of their last congress would easily grasp that their language is foreign to Marxism. One needs special training in patience and perseverance to overcome all the burdens of reading them. I tried and still try my best to do this. I follow the writings of previous leading ‘official’ factions of CPT as well. What follows from this is that several ‘communist’, socialist groupings and parties have amazingly similar views on communism, socialism... It is hard to understand why all these comrades keep themselves so far from Marx.

Being aware of the sensitivity of the question of being near to / far from Marx, I would like to raise some questions to these comrades, and communists at large. Answers to these questions are welcome.

1. What is “communism’’ according to Marx? Where and how does Marx explain communism?

2. Where does Marx talk about “socialism”? In which works of Marx can we find the debate on socialism?

3. Relying on Marx’s writings, is it possible to have communism in one country out of the Marx’s definitions?

4. Is socialism in one country possible? Which works of Marx can we read on this issue?

5. In which work(s) does Marx present socialism as a separate socio-economical formation from communism? In other words, where does Marx mention “socialism” as a necessary stage before communism?

6. In which work does Marx take up “socialism” as a period where State and classes exist at the same time?

7. What sort of a stage is the dictatorship of proletariat? Where does Marx take up this notion and in which context?

8. Scientific-technological revolution (STR) was an all-important issue in Soviet publications before its demise. As not many communist publications take up this issue I would like to ask this: What happened to STR? Was it an issue only bound with Soviet Union?

9. According to Marx, can capitalism develop the productive forces in society? Can/does present-day bourgeoisie develop the productive forces?

10. How will the end of capitalism come, according to Marx? What is the difference between the social revolution and political revolution in Marx’s works?

11. What are Marx’s criteria to distinguish between “epoch”s? Which “epoch” are we living in now, according to Marx?

12. What is the significance of the Marx’ theory of value?

13. How can we explain the relation between workings of the law of value and communism? Or to put it more bluntly, is there law of value under communism? How does the law of value function under socialism?

14. Again, is the proletariat according to Marx, patriotic? Where does he write about proletariat’s patriotism?

Dear comrades, my questions are of course not restricted to these few... However, it is my humble opinion that they are the ones which need urgent clarification because of the utmost importance attached to the answers for the future of communist movement over the world. We are going through a very, very difficult period. Theoretical debate will help us to choose the right alliances...

I know there are lot of comrades who would volunteer with answers from other masters who lived after Marx. But I think it is utterly important to remember what Marx was saying on these issues before we continue our journey.

As Marxists, it is highly of utmost importance that we know the theory as presented by Marx himself...

4 February 2005

	COMMUNIST PARTY OF TURKEY
	Some Questions on Marx’s thinking? S. Can Anybody who has cast a look at the legal CPT’s (the previous Socialist Government Party that took up the name of CPT at their congress) programme, theses and the documents of their last congress would easily grasp that their language is foreign to Marxism. One needs special training in patience and perseverance to overcome all the burdens of reading them. I tried and still try my best to do this. I follow the writings of previous leading ‘official’ factions of CPT as well. What follows from this is that several ‘communist’, socialist groupings and parties have amazingly similar views on communism, socialism... It is hard to understand why all these comrades keep themselves so far from Marx. Being aware of the sensitivity of the question of being near to / far from Marx, I would like to raise some questions to these comrades, and communists at large. Answers to these questions are welcome. 1. What is “communism’’ according to Marx? Where and how does Marx explain communism? 2. Where does Marx talk about “socialism”? In which works of Marx can we find the debate on socialism? 3. Relying on Marx’s writings, is it possible to have communism in one country out of the Marx’s definitions? 4. Is socialism in one country possible? Which works of Marx can we read on this issue? 5. In which work(s) does Marx present socialism as a separate socio-economical formation from communism? In other words, where does Marx mention “socialism” as a necessary stage before communism? 6. In which work does Marx take up “socialism” as a period where State and classes exist at the same time? 7. What sort of a stage is the dictatorship of proletariat? Where does Marx take up this notion and in which context? 8. Scientific-technological revolution (STR) was an all-important issue in Soviet publications before its demise. As not many communist publications take up this issue I would like to ask this: What happened to STR? Was it an issue only bound with Soviet Union? 9. According to Marx, can capitalism develop the productive forces in society? Can/does present-day bourgeoisie develop the productive forces? 10. How will the end of capitalism come, according to Marx? What is the difference between the social revolution and political revolution in Marx’s works? 11. What are Marx’s criteria to distinguish between “epoch”s? Which “epoch” are we living in now, according to Marx? 12. What is the significance of the Marx’ theory of value? 13. How can we explain the relation between workings of the law of value and communism? Or to put it more bluntly, is there law of value under communism? How does the law of value function under socialism? 14. Again, is the proletariat according to Marx, patriotic? Where does he write about proletariat’s patriotism? Dear comrades, my questions are of course not restricted to these few... However, it is my humble opinion that they are the ones which need urgent clarification because of the utmost importance attached to the answers for the future of communist movement over the world. We are going through a very, very difficult period. Theoretical debate will help us to choose the right alliances... I know there are lot of comrades who would volunteer with answers from other masters who lived after Marx. But I think it is utterly important to remember what Marx was saying on these issues before we continue our journey. As Marxists, it is highly of utmost importance that we know the theory as presented by Marx himself... 4 February 2005