CPN(M) - Worker #10
The Worker, #10, May 2006
Guest Article
EXPERIENCE OF APPLYING MAOISM IN BANGLADESHAnwar Kabir
AND PROBLEM OF DEFENDING AND DEVELOPING IT
Secretary, Central Committee
Proletarian Party of Purbo Bangla (PBSP-CC/Bangladesh)
The Maoist movement in Bangladesh, like many other countries of the world, started in the last part of 60s of the last century. This movement had, by being influenced by the GPCR in China led by Mao Tse Tung, emerged by way of rebellion against the domestic collaborators of Khruschevite revisionism. However, from the very outset, the Maoist movement in this country was divided in several factions. Our party, to which martyr Comrade Siraj Sikdar had founded, was one of the important streams of this movement. Apart from our party, several other important streams were also active from the very beginning. These streams developed later along their own track—as our party did. Till now, the Maoist movement in our country has been unable to surmount this trend of splits. Therefore, our party's experience in the realm of applying Maoism in Bangladesh is partial in the overall context of the movement. The process of considering the Maoist movement as a whole, in which our party is participating actively, has been set off shortly in this country. But, the synthesis of that process has not yet been completed. Therefore, it is possible on our part to scrutinize mainly our party's own experience even though we will, in this article, try our best to include as much as possible the lessons of the whole movement.
The history of the Maoist movement in Bangladesh can be divided into three main phases. The first phase of this is the one of 60s and 70s, the period of uprising of the world revolution. During this phase, the Maoist movement took its root in this country and can be said that the first independent revolutionary movement developed in this period under communist leadership. The second phase started after the setback of this revolutionary upsurge, particularly after the total setback of the worldwide communist movement following Mao's demise in '76. This phase continued till the end of the last century. And, the third phase has started from the last part of the preceding century or beginning of this. Although, all of these phases can be divided into several sub-phases; even then it will be appropriate to divide the whole history of Maoist movement in the sphere of defence, and grasp and development of Maoism as well, in the aforesaid main three phases.
In the domain of applying Maoism, the aforesaid first phase was the period of adopting Maoism (the then Mao Thought) as the ideological foundation, and the period of initiating a new chapter of the communist movement and genuine revolutionary struggles based on Maoism. The main problem during this phase was that of grasping Mao Thought and adopting it as the third stage of our internationalist proletarian ideology. Apart from the genuine Maoists, several of progressives and leftists had in this period of upsurge upheld Mao; many had talked of Mao thought also but did never grasp it as the third stage of ideology. This section shortly started revealing themselves opposed to Mao thought one after another. Even, there was wide divergence and weakness in understanding among those who adopted Mao thought as the third stage of ideology. It was, in the sphere of defending and applying MLM, the main problem in this first phase.
The problem linked with this was that of creative application of MLM. On this issue, Lenin had mentioned quite before that Marxism is not a dogma, but a guide to action. Mao, through his philosophical contributions, in his discussion on the particularity of contradiction and epistemology, deepened this theory further. While using the particularity of contradiction in the field of social revolution, we observe that the societies of every country are different from those of others, and with the lapse of time, every society changes; although a fundamental uniformity exists among the societies the world over in a particular historic epoch. Therefore, debates emerged from the very beginning of the Maoist movement in this country over creative application of MLM in the society of Bangladesh. A dogmatist trend and deviation that adopted exactly the same line, with the assumption that it was the same kind of society like China and India, was present in the Maoist movement of this country from the very beginning and that was reflected in political and military lines. Comrade Siraj Sikdar struggled against this deviation.
However, while struggling against above-mentioned dogmatism and trying to apply MLM creatively we come to witness an opposite kind of deviation with Siraj Sikdar. This brought about a nationalist deviation in his political line that was associated with his weakness in seriously comprehending MLM and remaining firm in it. Therefore, in this first phase, our Maoist movement did not remain free from two kinds of problems, the dogmatism, on the one hand, and empiricism and pragmatism, on the other. Consequently, the revolution failed to march towards a successful result, despite there were glorious struggles. In this period, there prevailed a weakness of comprehending and mastering MLM correctly. Although, efforts were made to grasp and apply Mao's theories of New Democracy and People's War and Mao's philosophical contributions made before the revolution in China, but in fact, qualitative and comprehensive development attained during the GPCR under the leadership of Mao could not be so seriously mastered. Even the problem of agrarian revolution under New Democracy was not firmly grasped; because, one section was inclined towards nationalist deviation, while the others who focused on annihilation were inclined towards armed reformist & economist deviation. At the same time agrarian problem was taken by some other sections without rupturing from classical economism and reformism.
In the same way, there were serious weaknesses in comprehending the question of people's war too. More emphasis was laid upon the armed form of struggle than to the question of ideological and political nature and the content of people's war. One-sided stress was laid upon guerrilla struggle/actions instead of waging people's war as a broad mass-political activity by keeping the question of area-wise seizure of power i.e, establishment of base areas at centre and making the armed struggle principal with a mass line, mass base, mass struggle, mass organizations etc. On the other, through spontaneous activities, armed economist or reformist deviation took place in a new form that weakened revolutionary politics. On the one hand, by talking about mass insurrection or countrywide dispersion of struggles under the logic of particular condition, the essence of the base area in People's War was not understood and grasped correctly. On the other, without holding strategic regions with the objective of base areas, significant localised activities that continued spontaneously in the name of area-wise seizure of power were advanced.
Therefore, in this early period of adopting Maoism we can see that our movement had, in the name of concrete analysis of the concrete condition or in a dogmatic form, deviated from some of the fundamental principles of MLM. Moreover, for having been unable to comprehend and grasp Maoism well from the highest pinnacle of GPCR there were weaknesses and deviations in fundamental questions including philosophical outlook, party building, class line, mass line, front and methodology. And it gave rise to a failure in building an advanced Maoist party and revolution.
Following Mao's death in '76, Teng-Hua clique by usurping power in China degenerated the great Chinese party into a revisionist one; on the other, Hoxa from Albania carried out an all round attack upon Maoism in the plea of defending Stalin. In the mean time, the worldwide mass upsurge of 60s and 70s suffered a setback and ebb that acquired culmination in the course of aforesaid events. The Maoist movement underwent a worldwide setback from which the movement in Bangladesh also was not exception. In fact, the first revolutionary upsurge of the first phase in this country suffered a total setback within the first half of '75. During the period of new ideological great debate the world over, following '76, massive apostasy, degeneration, confusion and desperation appeared widely in this country too. In the face of attacks from all kinds of reactionaries, revisionists and opportunists the question of defence of Maoism became principal. The main form of which became the question of supporting to, taking side of and defending the past Maoist movements and revolutionary struggles. One section of erstwhile Maoists supported Teng line against the GPCR and imposed the revisionist three-world theory upon Mao's shoulder. On the other, in the pretext of opposing Teng line and the three-world theory a big section attacked upon Mao and the GPCR. The target of attack of both of these sections was Protracted People's War, GPCR and Maoism. At this complex and critical juncture, an insignificant section of Maoist revolutionaries in our country stood up in favour of the theory of protracted people's war and the past revolutionary struggles. They upheld GPCR and Maoism against Teng and Hoxa lines in the international ideological great polemic. At this time, in the process of new polarization of genuine Maoist revolutionaries in the international level, a big section of Maoist movement of this country along with our party united in RIM and that played again a very positive role in defence of Maoism in the national periphery.
When we want to now review the history of the second phase, by going back, we see that the higher level of understanding of Maoism, in relation to GPCR, compared to the first phase enabled Maoists to defend Maoism further. In fact, the struggle for defending Maoism created a necessity of deepening this understanding more and the line struggle itself enhanced it. During this period, Maoists went on mastering deeply the contributions of Mao on philosophy (dialectics), socialism (continuing revolution under the dictatorship of the proletariat), party (development through 2LS) etc. But, no qualitative development took place in the question of people's war except some reforms in the previous line. Even, weaknesses in understanding and applying Maoism continued to exist on the aforesaid three questions too. In our country, all these advances and weaknesses were reflected all along the course of new uprising of Maoist movement in 80's that defended Maoism, Maoist revolutionary legacy of the first phase, and developed line and a new revolutionary upsurge; but this upsurge again suffered a setback after traversing a certain course.
In the sphere of defending Maoist movement, the question of defence of revolutionary line, on the one hand, and its development, on the other, was very important in this phase. After the defeat of the first phase, when the principal task was to struggle against liquidationism abandoning Maoism, a strong purist trend emerged in the movement in relation to the first phase. It went on saying that our line was correct, there is no question on that; the struggle was defeated because of enemy repression, absence of leadership or betrayal, or deviation and weakness in application. This trend went on upholding the line of the first phase in such a way that it basically equaled to or became close of party's ideology. That thinking was manifested in the name of SS-teachings or CM-teachings. In that situation, the revolutionary Maoist movement had, on the one hand, to defend the revolutionary contributions of SS, CM and the first phase; on the other, to take in hand the task of overcoming their limitations, weaknesses and deviations. However, there prevailed an aforesaid purist line as a powerful trend and still exists in our Maoist movement, but, that in the futile attempt of reviving the defeated revolution of the past has now considerably lagged behind in the question of ideology and politics; or, it has transformed into a fairytale Maoism of dogmatic type dissociated from revolution. However, as a result of the development of a revolutionary line through the summation of the first phase, the advanced trend resumed motion in the movement and again developed line to a new and higher level. While going further, we can, after the setback of the second phase, say that the aforesaid summation too failed to rupture from the past line and created some new weaknesses. Consequently, the development of an appropriate and comprehensively correct line that enables to make revolution in this country remained incomplete. And, as a result of this second setback, an immense split along with desperation, confusion, degeneration and betray came about in the Maoist movement. In this new century, the Maoist movement of this country has entered into such a situation in which the question of higher understanding of MLM, learning humbly and creatively from the advanced international experiences and ideas, building a correct line in a new and higher level and based on it the necessity of reorganizing Maoist movement and revolutionary struggle is being raised forcefully. In this way, the movement has entered into the third phase.
The ongoing phase, in fact, has started from the beginning of the last decade of the preceding century, when our party started rupturing from the past in the specific line of people's war (PW) in this country, and adopted the formulation of Maoism, although some weaknesses still prevailed in the higher understanding of Maoism and there was also some backward conception that the adoption of Maoism was a case of mere change of formulation from Mao Thought. This phase has become more visible at the end of last and beginning of this century. So, the time is not yet ripe to make final evaluation of this phase. But, some new experiences on the part of our party can be mentioned here in relation to the defence of MLM.
In the past also, a stream that upheld the past teachings and experiences (among which some serious negative aspects too) in the application of MLM as party's ideology was present in this country. This is now appearing in a new form. This not only has hindered the summation of our movement on the basis of MLM, but has weakened MLM itself. Even, it brings in nationalist concept, though unconsciously.
The deviation that gave one-sided emphasis only on the armed form of revolutionary struggle in the past Maoist movement of our country is now being expressed itself in some theoretical line, which roughly subordinates MLM to armed struggle (AS) or PW. That is, it considers armed struggle as the only criteria for being a MLM. In this way, it has weakened MLM seriously.
On the question of Base Area, the historical weakness of Maoist Movement in this country is now being expressed in different forms from some of the groups. Wrong understanding of the correct policy of coordinating insurrection with protracted people's war (PPW) is weakening the fundamental line of area-wise seizure of power. In this case also, the question of defending MLM is being manifested by way of supporting the Maoist theory of PPW.
Another stream that in the name of siding with the general truth of MLM and international experiences weakens the task of developing a specific line suitable for this country and that negates the practical revolutionary struggle for the creative application of those, i.e. fusion of those with the domestic situation also exists. It reduces the struggle for defending MLM to a matter of coffee house discussion of petty-bourgeois intellectuals.
Besides these, another stream that supports Maoism on the one hand and carries on with the old economist-reformist deviation on the other also exists. It has, till now, not understood the task of initiating PW as soon as possible as a strategic question in countries like ours.
For defending Maoism, it is now important to struggle with the aforesaid deviations fighting side by side with revisionist streams, which are now weak both theoretically and subjectively in this country and are broadly exposed by way of their tailing behind the bourgeoisie.
In defending-and applying Maoism i.e. in developing revolutionary line of the MLM movement of this country in the past, some of our summations can be done in the following way.
When we speak of defending MLM, at that time, the first important thing is its correct understanding. For, without understanding its application is not possible. To speak of adopting MLM and being a MLM-ist is not the same, which is seen very often.
But this understanding again is related to its application. What it means is that the grasp of principle can only be deepened by means of revolutionary practice and makes possible to defend it too. MLM, at first, is the science of revolution, and as Mao said, only by eating a pear can one get idea about the taste of it, i.e., only by making revolution, we can acquire actual knowledge about MLM, the theory of revolution. Thus, it can be defended.
In the Maoist movement of Bangladesh, those, who have played vanguard role in the revolutionary practice of applying Maoism, have done so in their grasp and defence too. Without waging a revolutionary practice, without connecting theory with this, and without incorporating with its necessity, one cannot comprehend and defend MLM.
But in relation to this, a mechanical and one-sided idea, tendency and deviation and a stream exists historically in the revolutionary Maoist movement of this country and it is still strong. We have line, and the only problem is in its application, such a vulgar pragmatism actually negates the dynamism of line. As a result, it makes the defence of MLM difficult by making hindrance to the development of line. The development of a line is the summation of experiences and synthesis. This brings in the importance of theoretical work. That is why, the importance of theoretical work, which has widely been neglected in different streams of the Maoist movement in this country, is vital in defending Maoism. Weaknesses in developing line are related to the aforesaid problems of summing up of own revolutionary experiences, learning from international experiences and deepening theoretical study and research.
Application of MLM is creative, not mechanical or dogmatic. It has been mentioned before that societies of different countries in the world are of different specificities—their history, heritage, socioeconomic condition, culture and geography are different. Time continuously flows, and each of the societies is also regularly changing with the passing of time. Therefore, universal general principle of MLM can be applied in different countries only in a creative way. In this way, as Mao says, MLM takes a particular shape through revolutionary application in different countries that is manifested itself in the specific program, strategy and tactics etc. of revolution of each country.
Like other countries, dogmatism has caused a big damage to MLM in the Maoist movement of Bangladesh. The effort to defend MLM in a dogmatist way fails to do that. This trend does not incorporate theory with the particularity of revolutionary practice. As a result, general discussion of theory/MLM, which does not resolve any specific debate, and never makes any higher synthesis, is isolated from the reality. In this way it fails to develop a line.
But, the creative application of MLM, of course, is complex and arduous. That also brings in the risk of deviation from the principles of MLM that has always been a fundamental problem of struggle for defending MLM.
So, we see, defence of MLM is connected to the correct grasp of MLM; and the grasp of MLM is connected to its creative application. Defence of MLM and its creative application is a contradiction. Its correct handling is very much important for defence and development of MLM. MLM can't be defended in a dogmatist and mechanical way; again creative application of MLM cannot take place by being derailed from the basic principles of MLM. This is why, in order to defend and apply MLM, it is very much important to know about and take side of its basic principles by connecting these theories to revolutionary practice and making creative development through concrete analysis of the concrete reality.
While coming at this point, a problem arises that what do we mean by principles of MLM, deviation from what means a deviation from MLM? And what do we mean by creative application and development of that? The debate between these two is endless and can only be resolved through the development of world revolution and reaching to communism. Here, from our experience, we can put forward in short some of our ideas on making development of MLM. MLM is a science, that is, the science of revolution, which goes on developing like all other sciences. Actually, without developing MLM it cannot maintain its living character as the science of revolution. For this very reason, Marxism once developed to ML, and later to MLM. This is why, as a Maoist, what we should recognize is that MLM compels to develop in the course of and for the sake of world revolution—firstly, by resolving newer problems of world revolution; secondly, by summing up the limitations, weaknesses and deviations of past proletarian revolutions. These two are again inter-related problems.
But the main problem of defending MLM is the problem of its proper grasp and correct application, not the problem of development, although their relation is dialectical. We do not make revolution to develop MLM; rather MLM develops in the course of revolution. That means; we do not first develop MLM and then make revolution; rather, we start revolution on the basis of MLM and in its way of carrying forward MLM develops for the sake of revolution itself. Of course, this development of MLM does not occur spontaneously or automatically. It has to be developed through summation and synthesis of experiences of revolution by way of arduous thinking, research and debate. But what is especially important is that only the application of MLM to resolve the problems of revolution can develop it. Because, when we speak of the development of MLM, we say about no other things but MLM.
But, as it has been discussed before and the experience of Maoist revolutionary movement of our country is that revolutionary line cannot be defended without its development. Defence and development is a contradiction. Correct handling of this contradiction determines whether the correct development of line that can defend revolution comes about or gives rise to a deviation that in the name of development leads finally to the failure of revolution. The same is applicable for the universal ideology of MLM. Only the development of MLM can defend MLM. But the resolution of the question is important of how can that development occur and how do we look at it. Problem of development and problem of deviation from principle are often confusing.
What is the subject matter of principles of MLM? This is a wide and complex subject, and always is a fertile arena of hot debate. In spite of that, the fundamental basics, which are the sources of all principles, are important. MLM is the science of proletarian revolution, philosophy of which is dialectical materialism. Therefore, the irrefutable basic principle of MLM is to work for establishing classless society—communism worldwide. Proletarian revolution is a world revolution; proletarian class is an international class whose interest is identical worldwide; therefore internationalism is the fundamental aspect of its ideology in all the spheres of theory, politics and organization. And, as MLM is the science of revolution, so it is established on the basis of the principle of violence viz. revolutionary dictatorship. But, the resolution of these basic principles is not at all simple. For more than long hundred and fifty years, Marxism has been developed by fighting against innumerable erroneous thinking, ideas, policy, tactics etc. that has ultimately been concentrated in theoretical struggle. Therefore, during this long period, the treasury of Marxism has been enriched by many important theories, which have established the basic principles of MLM. This is why, to defend MLM means to support and take side of its fundamental theories and develop MLM on that basis.
But, theory also is not eternal; many theories are not final and so theory is of developing character. Many apparently correct theories break down in the course of time and situation. It becomes necessary to change it for the sake of its basic outlook. On the other side, incompleteness remains in the basically correct theory also and sometimes even some erroneous aspects lie within it. Therefore, new theories not only enrich the treasury of MLM, but sometimes raise basic theory to a higher stage by negating the old one.
So, as Mao taught us, for the development of MLM we must "pull down the lot from the head and set the machine in motion". Revolutionary Maoists must dare to think, have to be vanguard in waging research and debate by putting ahead the necessity of advancing proletarian revolution and resolving its problems. Revolutionary line, theory, doctrine is such that it will boost up international interest and world revolution for the proletariat class. Its final solution is possible in the furnace of revolutionary practice, though primarily it is resolved through theoretical debate and struggle.
During the imperialist era, proletarian revolution is taking a domestic form. Therefore the task of developing MLM starts in the course of carrying out revolution in a particular country as part of world revolution. But the concrete experience of concrete country and the internationalist ideology are not the same. There exists a contradiction here too. MLM is a doctrine and ideology of an international character. This is why it is very much important how the particular experiences develop this general ideology. Generalization from particular is a long coursed matter, which can proceed only through the complex process of synthesis and generalization.
On the other, MLM cannot develop nationally, because it is international, and it cannot develop domestically for a particular country until it develops as a general theory of international sphere. It is directly related to the internationalist character of our ideology.
The creative application of MLM in each successful revolution enriches the experience, knowledge and armory of the international proletariat. Even though it is so, there is no guarantee that general lessons of international significance will come out. And if some lessons of international significance come up, that obligatorily does not make development of our universal ideology. That means, the creative application of MLM in a particular country or some lessons of international significance emerged from that, and the development of MLM are not the same. It is because; MLM is a universal proletarian ideology that is manifested in its theories. So, development of MLM means the development in those theories, which is of qualitative character. The role of such new theoretical contributions that enrich MLM can be to be quantitative development in the overall context of MLM. Because, in that case too, MLM immediately does not reach to a new stage until it is raised up as a whole to a qualitatively new stage in all of its three basic components.
Following the worldwide setback of communist movement in '76, almost 30 years have passed where there is no socialist country in the world. After the total setback of revolutionary movement of 60s and 70s various changes have occurred in the world situation. Some of the most important aspects of those are—the collapse of Soviet-led imperialist bloc and emergence of US-led unipolar imperialist camp, massive penetration of imperialism in third world countries especially through "globalization", "liberalization" and "privatization", immense development and change in technology, communication and transport system including computer etc. All these have brought about new different thinking in the rank of revolutionary Maoists in connection with functioning of imperialism, socioeconomic changes in the third world, strategy and tactics of revolution etc.
In the context of the problems of imperialist penetration, development of technology, change in classes and transformations in agriculture in our country, our party has specified our whole economy including agriculture as the "imperialist depended distorted capitalism", instead of 'semi-feudalism'. This has created a wide debate in the Maoist movement. It is true that we have still not been able to place this line-position on a good theoretical basis. But, our party thinks that important changes have occurred in the classical Maoist lines of principal contradiction (contradiction between feudal landlord class and the peasants), class orientation in rural areas (especially feudal landlord class), and the central question of programme (seizure of lands of feudal landlords and distributing those to the tillers). Nevertheless, we think that the stage of revolution is New Democratic; the questions like rural area the main arena, peasantry the main force and 'land to the tillers' should continue. Whatever final conclusion on this question may be in our country and worldwide Maoist movement, a position that the existing situation now is not like China of 40s or India of 60s is being strongly expressed in Maoist movement of this country and we have to very much emphatically analyze imperialist penetration in the whole economy including agriculture and the transformations created by it (which is related with the functioning of imperialism world-wide), and we have to raise the Maoist line to a higher level in our country.
Likewise, on strategy, the discussion that is going on among the Maoists in our country is related to the research and debate in the international arena. Even in the 60s and 70s, com. CM and com. SS said about simultaneous armed struggle in rural and urban areas and they applied it. Com. SS applied countrywide armed struggle and armed general strike and he strongly raised the question of armed insurrection. Of course, during that long period of Maoist struggle and even till the last part of preceding century, the question of Base Area, which in our opinion acted as a big reason behind not being able to develop a successful people's war, has been ignored in this country. In spite of that, we think that simultaneous armed struggles in rural and urban areas, countrywide people's war, intervention in national politics, tactical programmes, connecting insurrection with protracted people's war etc. are very much important questions. In this case, we take into account the experience of PW in Nepal with much more importance. It is also our idea that revolution cannot be successfully carried forward in today's changed situation by taking and applying Chinese experience in a conservative and traditional way, though, we think PPW and Rural Base should be continued firmly as a strategy. But it needs development in the light of aforementioned questions. Moreover, our party firmly thinks that this development is related to imperialist penetration in the third world; new changes in socioeconomic conditions—computer, technology etc.—are only their manifestations, though it is disputed whether the economy will be characterized as "semi feudal" or "imperialist depended distorted capitalism".
Apart from the aforesaid points, the fundamental question that is knocking the door of world proletariat is the question of proletarian dictatorship. The proletarian revolution in Nepal has created a real possibility of victory, which will lead again the world proletariat to the experience of dictatorship of the proletariat after a long period of time. In the last century, in spite of a great, glorious and huge advance in the socialist states under the proletarian dictatorship, a little time has passed where revolution has been defeated soon after the absence of especially the main leadership. The question of summing up this has come up. What Mao had initiated, during the GPCR, must be carried forward and developed. But this question of development is of MLM, of revolution, i.e. proletarian dictatorship and proletarian internationalism; nothing else.
Therefore, the revolutionary Maoists must have to face these questions with free mind. Mao said Marxism is wrangling-ism. As Maoists, we must have to be courageous to carry out debate on newer questions for the sake of proletarian world revolution. And, only in that course, line of revolution will develop, revolution will win and advance and development of our ideology will also come about. Certainly theoretical work will have to be advanced and development of theory will also occur. But, that should be done by standing upon the fundamental theoretical base of Marxism by preserving the valuable and historical teachings that were exchanged with huge sacrifice, labor and blood of revolution of one and half a century. In the name of creative application or development of Marxism, its basic truth is often ignored or deviation occurs from that, and later on it acts as the basis for the total rejection of revolution. Innumerable times, in the history of one hundred and fifty years of Marxism, it has been observed. Many times it is seen in the history of Maoist movement of Bangladesh too, where revolution has been ignored in the name of correcting line errors. On the other hand, revolution could not be defended without developing a line. Rather, through dogmatism it turned into reformism or a coffee house discussion divorced from revolutionary practice, or even vulgar revisionism. This is why, the correct handling of this contradiction is very much important. And that can only be done by not, in any way, deviating from proletarian class interest and class character, proletarian internationalism, revolution viz., proletarian dictatorship and the final goal of world-wide communism. And, if deviation happens, it can be rectified by developing a humble and courageous, self-reviewing and self-critical spirit as soon as possible.
World is changing constantly. In accordance with that, regular development and upgrading of theory is necessary. That is possible by taking part in revolutionary transformation of the world for the sake of world proletariat, making Marxist summation of experiences and taking that again to the revolutionary practice. Only after numerous rotations in that course, knowledge about a concrete question can achieve its completeness.
"As, therefore, the state is only a transitional institution which is used in the struggle, in the revolution, to hold down one's adversaries by force, it is sheer nonsense to talk of a 'free people's state'; so long as the proletariat still needs the state, it does not need it in the interests of freedom but in order to hold down its adversaries, and as soon as it becomes possible to speak of freedom the state as such ceases to exist." —Engels, Letter to A. Bebel, March 18-28, 1875.