Jean-Germain Gros



				Transformation Lecture

Socialism and Equality. Both the hierarchical world of conservatism and the
individualistic, self-serving world of classical liberalism result in
societies in which there are huge disparaties between the classes. The
ideology of socialism centers in a deep commitment to use the power and
policies of the statete to increase the material as well as the social and
political equality of all of its members, that is at least the theory.

There are variations within the ideology of socialism. I will talk about
two variations for now.

Marxism-Leninism.  The Marxist-Leninist, which is more Leninist than it is
Marxist, begins with the assumption that the socioeconomic order will
resist change by every means available, therefore, change will require a
violent overthrow of the old order. At the core of the strategy for coming
to  and maintaining power is the notion of the Vanguard Party. In the life
of Leninist regime three distinct periods may be identified: those of
transformation, consolidation and inclusion.

Transformation - the period during the vanguard party fights to come to
power and the period immediately following its accession to power. This is
where the regime attempts to (a) overthrow the existing regime and (b)
create a new one. Society is seen as contamining, therefore, there is a
desire to keep fifth-columns and enemy of the revolution at bay.

Consolidation - the period during which power is obtained but not quite yet
secured. Society is seen as contamining, but it is beginning  to look more
like the desired society.

Inclusion - During this period the regime succeeds to transform society to
its own image. It is now ready to embrace it by relaxing the rules. There
is a deemphasis on the corrosive and corrupt nature of society.

The problem for most Leninist regimes  has been that they have tended to
remain  'stuck' in the transformation stage. They are always afraid that
they have not changed  society to the ideal communist  image, therefore, it
is necessary  for them, or  so they  feel, to remain authoritarian in order
to defend  the revolution. It may well be  that the reason why communism
has not  succeeded in achieving this ideal image  is   because  it is
fundamentally at  odds with  human  nature. The notion of  human beings as
self-less and  altruistic species is rooted in  the romantic period  of
18th and 19th  century Europe  and  does  not appear to approximate our
true nature. Marxism-Leninism failed  in the former  Soviet Union   because
it turned out to be   incapable   to deliver on its promises. So when
Gorbachev opened up the system (inclusion), rather than embracing it people
rejected it.

Democratic Socialism. This variant assumes egalitarianism as its primary
goal, but it assumes that the changes can be effected by a government that
comes to power and rules by democratic means, not by violence and
repression. In democratic socialism, the state's policies emphasize the
substantial reduction of inequalitties and material conditions, but do not
attempt to achieve complete equality. The government may own and regulates
the economic system, but it does not attempt to plan and control allaspects
of economic life.