A Study Of Engels' Theory Of The Russian "Crossing The Kafting Gorge"

From the 1860s,Russia entered a stage of capitalist development.At that time,Russia had entered the stage of capitalism with one foot,but was still mired in primitive "public ownership" with the other.Russian populists proposed that Russia could move into socialist society on the basis of rural communes.In the process of responding to the populists' views,Marx proposed the idea of Russia "crossing the Caudine Valley".Engels further improved it in his later years,and put forward the theory of Russia and other backward countries.Engels believed that the process of Russia and other backward countries entering socialist society could be divided into four stages.First,the Russian Revolution broke out and became the "signal" of socialist revolution in the West.At the end of the 19 th century,the social contradictions and class contradictions in Russia became increasingly acute,and the bourgeois revolution that overthrew the autocratic system of the tsar was approaching.Russia,Engels said,was like a landmine ready to explode.All what it needed was the ignition line.The Russian Revolution would overthrow the Tsarist despotism,and it would inspire and propel socialist revolutions in the West.The Russian revolution will surely be followed by proletarian socialist revolutions in the West.Second,the outbreak of proletarian socialist revolution in western countries and the establishment of socialist society.At this time in the West,the periodic crisis of capitalist overproduction continued to break out,the workers' movement and the socialist movement continued to rise.After the outbreak of the Russian Revolution,the western countries will be affected by the revolutionary wave,the outbreak of the proletariat to seize the power of the revolution.Socialist societies will be established after the victory of the proletarian revolution in every country.Thirdly,with the support and help of western socialism,the Russian people moved towards socialist revolution and established socialist society.Western socialist societies set an example to Russia,so that the Russian people know how to build a socialist society.In addition,the Russian people could get the help of western socialism,so they would certainly turn the revolution into a socialist revolution and move towards a socialist society.Fourth,other backward countries in the East have taken the road to socialism.Western socialism and Russian socialism will surely provide assistance and assistance to the people of other backward countries in the East and spread the influence of socialism to the people of these regions.With the aid and assistance of western socialism and Russian socialism,the people of the backward countries in the East will surely take the road to revolution and the establishment of a socialist society.The later international communist movement did not follow Engels' idea and theory completely,especially the western capitalist countries did not embark on the road of socialist revolution and establish a socialist society.Because of this,the later socialist countries under the leadership of the Communist Party were surrounded,blockaded and politically penetrated by capitalism,and even experienced the dramatic change of the Soviet Union and East China.This fact makes people think: if Engels' s vision had been realized,the West would have been the West of a socialist society.Besides there would not have been the consequences of the Soviet upheaval.Therefore,the Soviet east upheaval contrasts with the correctness and necessity of Engels' s assumption.Engels' idea of mutual assistance and complementation between eastern and western countries in revolution and construction is still of reference and guiding significance to the cause of socialist construction with Chinese characteristics today.