Write on the "Revolution in Permanence" in about 150 words. (10 Marks). UPSC MAINS 2022
- The Marxian theory basically emphasised the idea of ‘Permanent Revolution’. The Marxists opined that a social revolution takes place when the existing relations of production begin to act as a fetter on the future development of forces of production. Thus, for Marx, the major political revolutions of the modern age up to this time are to be explained as the result of long-term social and economic developments in which new forms of economic exploitation come up. For him, ‘a political revolution is a social revolution when it involves the conflict of social classes.’
- Thus, Marx hails the ‘bourgeoisie revolution’ whereby the ‘feudal state is overthrown by the middle class that has grown up inside it and a new state created as the instrument of the bourgeoisie rule.’ He hoped that in a democratically advanced country (like England, Holland, France and America) a socialist revolution might take place through the battle of the ballot box. In the main, however, the burden of Marxian theory is on the use of violent means. Not merely this, it also envisages that the ideas, beliefs, convictions, customs and the ways of life of the people are changed so as to make them in tune with the norms of the socialist system. In this way, a ‘Cultural Revolution’ is launched to brainwash the people.
- The course of revolution does not stop even here. It is a permanent affair, which calls for the final stage of a ‘stateless society’. This also implies ‘export of revolution’, which means establishment of international socialism. The Communist Manifesto ends with these words of exhortation: ‘Workers of all countries unite. You have nothing to lose but chains. You have a world to win.’
- Fifty-five years after Marx and Engels raised the call to “make the revolution permanent” in Western Europe, Trotsky re-introduced the phrase in reference to underdeveloped nations, based on events in his homeland. Leon Trotsky used it to foresee key elements of the world’s first successful overturn of capitalism, the Russian Revolution of 1917, in which he was a central leader. Trotsky’s concept of permanent revolution is firmly grounded in the Marxist fundamental that human society advances through conflicts of classes.
Criticisms
- A major criticism leveled against this theory is that, it stops after the occurrence of the ‘Socialist Revolution.’ Revolution basically means a change for the better. But in a socialist state, any change is a taboo. Opposition is suppressed and the people are forced to change themselves, which may not necessarily amount to a change for the better. Thus, Marx’s vision can be termed as limited.
- Another weakness in this theory is that the precise relationship between revolutionary political action and Marx’s general theory of socio-economic development is optimistically vague. It stands on the elaboration of class war. The theory is problematic as we find controversy among the thinkers. While Trotsky desired ‘export of revolution’, Stalin cried for ‘Socialism in One Country’. Khruschev, on the other hand, reiterated the principle of peaceful coexistence with the capitalist state.
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