Page:Building Up Socialism - Nikolai Bukharin (1926).pdf/59

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BUILDING UP SOCIALISM
51

We will quote another extract from Lenin's article "On Co-operation." Here Lenin says that we possess "all that is necessary for the construction of complete Socialist society?"[1]

Further on he says:

"This is not the construction of Socialism, but it is all that is necessary and sufficient for this construction."[2]

Hence, there is not the slightest doubt that Lenin considered the construction of complete Socialist society quite possible, i.e., he considered possible not only the attempt to construct Socialism, but the construction itself. We are building Socialism and can complete the construction because we possess "all that is necessary and sufficient" for this purpose.

Now let us compare all that is said in these quotations. On the one hand it is said that the final victory of Socialism in Russia alone is impossible; on the other hand it is stated that we can organise Socialist production and that all the necessary conditions exist for the complete achievement of the new Socialist system of society. How can these two seemingly contradictory assertions be reconciled? But does Lenin contradict himself? Did he hold one point of view at one time and another point of view at another? Or perhaps something is concealed here which our opposition has failed to observe? If one follows the speeches and writings of our comrades of the opposition, it will be observed that they strive to emphasise the first series


  1. Lenin: “Collected Works," Vol. XVIII., Part II., p. 140.
  2. Ibid.