The Debate Between Eduard Bernstein, Rosa Luxemburg And Lenin On The Problem Of "Revolution Or Reform"

At the late19century and the early20century, with the launching of the second technological revolution, the productive forces and production relations of capitalism have undergone great changes. Especially the social and historical aspects of capitalist production field, capitalism and the emergence of new changes in the workers’movement is beyond the scope of Marx’s theory of interpretation, which is a severe challenge to the Marxism; Meanwhile in the field of ideology and theory, with the transformation of the political rule of the bourgeoisie way, some of the international workers’ movement in the opportunist leaders trumpeted the positive significance of social improvement deny violent revolutionary rhetoric prevalent in the workers’ movement; Engels in his later years especially "<1848to1850French class struggle> Introduction" given the highly legitimate struggle for peace by some theorists distorted as Engels gave up violent revolution "certificate", which caused the guiding ideology in the labor movement disorder. How to treat the new changes of capitalism, Marxism is "out of date" as well as in the historical background of the "revolution or improvement" to achieve the transition to socialism the problem has also become a major problem concerns the Marxism and the future and destiny of the workers’ movement. Be concerned with these issues, the period of death of Engels in1895to1917the victory of the October revolution in this, have had several arguments between internal in Marxism and international workers’ movement, the "revolution or improvement" has become a fundamental problem throughout the whole period. This argument not only clarifies the scientific of Marxism, but also effectively safeguarding the unity of the working class, and pointed out the correct direction of the Communist movement and it plays an important role in the whole history of Marxism and International Communist movement. The Marx doctrine and the workers’movement strategy is also facing a similar situation, therefore, only research carefully on the debate of improvement or the revolution" can we grasp its ideological value.In this paper, in the turn of19th and20th century especially after the death of Engels in1895to October1917revolution period as an independent historical stage, Be concerned with these fundamental issues of internal of Marxism and international workers’ movement in this period----" revolution or improvement ";to understand the capitalist era; strategies of the proletarian struggle and understanding of Marxism----as the thread for the study.concurrently according to the logic of history to launch Independent study of three representative of scholars-by the changing times by Bernstein abandoned Marxism; adhere to Marxist principles and positions but did not find a way out of the revolution and Marxism in Luxembourg and accurately grasp the characteristics of the times under the conditions the principle of the revolution and its application to their specific practice of the victory of the revolution by Lenin. Use of historical literature study method, theory combined with logic and analysis and comparison and induction summary and explore the three revolution before and after of the revolution in October about difference of guidelines and positions. Ultimately find the contemporary value of judgment about era; the proletarian struggle strategy and treat to Marxism.In this debate, Bernstein was the first theorist to systematically answer this issue within the Social Democratic theorist. He ignored the facts of capitalist mode of production is still lie in the dominant and not changed. Besides he thinks the era has changed so Marxism is "outdated". On the proletarian struggle strategy, although social reform in19th and20th Century England have some reasonable, but Bernstein puts absolute social improvement and proposed to abandon violent revolution, the struggle for social improvement strategies adhere views under the dominance of the bourgeoisie while ignoring the conditions did not change, the importance of violent revolution of the proletariat. He uphold the point of view of struggle for social improvement strategy while ignoring the dominance of the bourgeoisie did not change the conditions of the importance of violent revolution of the proletariat. Moreover, in order to prove the correctness of the reformist, in the treatment of Marx’s attitude, he stand under the banner of "development" of Marx theory, launched a comprehensive "liquidation of the Marx doctrine". He start a strong criticism on Marx’s historical materialism and dialectics, the theory of surplus value and labor value theory. And also proposed the "ultimate goal of insignificant movement is everything" beside put forward the anti-Marxist slogans advocated by neo-Kantian "liquidation" and replace Marxism, which stood opposite of Marxism, became internal reformist workers’ parties "synthesizer " so bring the adverse effects on international communist movement and Marxism. After Bernstein reformism was put forward, in order to defend Marx’s science and strategy of the proletarian revolution, Luxemburg based on Germany’s basic national conditions and the Marx doctrine class stand to the anti Bernstein reformist "the forefront", not only for the long-term and the practice of struggle, but also carries out theoretical criticism system. In the era of judgment, Luxemburg opposed Bernstein’s thesis about age has changed also opposed the Marxism was "outdated" in her opinion, the capitalist era does not change so the Marx’s doctrine has not "out of date". In the struggle strategy, she was a strong critic of Bernstein abandon violent revolution, the social improvement of absolute struggle strategy, proposed the "peaceful reform is the auxiliary means, and violent revolution is the objective" ideas. In addition, in order to focus and systematic nature of Bernstein expose the anti-Marxist ideas of reformism, she again to Bernstein reformist theory essence, the internal logic and reasoning methods conducted in-depth expose and criticize. We can say that Luxembourg stand to defend the position of the Marxist critique of these expanded both for substantive and error Bernstein expose the reactionary reformism, or defend Marxism has important significance. However, in the final results, Luxemburg failed to persuade Bernstein improved activists, Bernstein reformism has spread as an international phenomenon, ultimately failed to find the right way for the transition to socialism in Germany. Obviously this result is also formed an important relationship with the limitations of Luxembourg’s own critical theory, but failed to stand in the era of highly creative use of Marxism, not really starting from a determined struggle against the policy of the proletarian struggle situation prevailing in Germany and failure to defend and develop Marxism combining theoretical limitations is its focus on performance.Also facing a "Revolution or Reform" issue, based on the Tsar Oriental despotism backward countries Lenin take an independent exploration. He not only made the system of judgment of the capitalist era and proposed the era of imperialism has come to view, but also demonstrates that imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism, reiterated the inevitability of the transition to socialism from capitalism so he obtained the conclusion of Marx’s doctrine is not "out of date". In the era of the judgment, he proposed conclusion of times have changed but the Marx’s doctrine is not "out of date".mistake not only effectively expose and criticize Bernstein insisted in the reformist era of knowledge and Marx’s point of view, but also the new changes of capitalism Luxemburg failed to respond to is the root of times, break through the limitation of Marx’s theory of Luxemburg defend to stand on a more solid theoretical basis. Not only effectively expose and criticize the wrong of Bernstein insisted on the reformist era of knowledge and ideas of Marxism, but also clarifies the new changes in the capitalist Luxembourg failed to respond to the root of the times, breaking the Luxembourg defend Marx theoretical limitations doctrine thus stand to a more solid theoretical foundation. In the proletarian struggle strategy, he was not deny any kind of in the violent revolution and social improvement two struggle strategy and will not absolutize any kind of fighting strategies, but insisted unifies the Marx’s doctrine and the Russian situation especially the proletarian struggle situation, through come into fight with the Russian populist, Marx nationalists and the legitimate struggle the Bernstein doctrine mutant, obtained conclusion of Russia as a feudal autocratic rule harsh, democratic ideas and system weak political conditions to achieve the transition to socialism through peaceful reform means is not realistic, but only through violent revolution. In this, after Lenin obtained judgment of the socialist era of "one country success", in turn applied to the concrete realities in Russia and demonstrates the possibility of the first socialist victory such economic and cultural backwardness of Russian imperialism weaknesses and in accurately determine the change of class forces in Russia after the October Revolution and launched a victory, thus found the transition to socialism in the right way. And this strategy is not only criticism and come to struggle with Bernstein’s mistakes of renounce violence and put absolutization of social revolution improved.but also corrected Luxembourg always too much emphasis on struggle "purpose" of the social revolution and the cognition of put the " supplementary means " as social improvement. On the attitude towards Marxism, Lenin concentrated expose and criticize Bernstein’s reformist reactionary theory and its essence, made the correct attitude towards Marxism that Marxism is not empty "dogma" but a guide to action; Analyze specific issues is its "essence"; Marxism was growing up in the struggle against all kinds of opportunism; Marxism has to change with the times and the specific situation changes; Marxism is the cannot abandoned science guide view in proletariat seek their own liberation movement. It is also depend on criticism of Marxism "outdated theory" proposed by Bernstein and wrong position of abandon Marxism shows that there is a wide difference between Reformism and the Lenin’s doctrine. In addition, also make up the Luxemburg on Marx’s stand on some methods of error, effectively safeguarding the science of the Marx doctrineAfter the victory of the October revolution, Bernstein, Luxemburg and Lenin take a centralized clash again about the revolutionary road. Because of their different class position and theoretical stances, so the problem of "revolution or improvement" to further deepen. Bernstein not only against the October revolution but also give sharp and strong attack on many policies of the new socialist regime, completely to counter Marx’s class position; nevertheless Luxembourg have adopted a different attitude, she broke out of the October Revolution and gave high praise, affirmation of the great historical significance of the October Revolution, but it has stood in the socio-economic policy of the Soviet theoretical positions of developed countries to implement proposed the objection. Lenin faced criticism comes from Bernstein and Luxembourg were given directly or indirectly response, but took a very different attitude, the distinction drawn between Lenin and Bernstein was "not to adhere to Marxism "the differences, the theoretical distinction between Lenin and Luxemburg is" how to adhere to Marxism "differences, highlighting the relationship between the three positions. Through the above described, we can get historical influence of this debate:to identify the Bernstein, Luxemburg and Lenin’s theoretical positions and differences; initially revealed the Bernstein error of reformism; promote Marxism and the international communist movement start to differentiation and rheology. The contemporary value is mainly reflected in four aspects:correctly understand and apply the Marxism; correctly understand and clarify the Engels’s thought on proletarian struggle strategy;correctly understand the policy of reform and opening up in China;and adapt the Marx doctrine into China and Era, enhance the "three confidence".