u/BetterInThanOut - originally from r/GenZhou
I’m not an ML by any stretch of the word. In fact, I think I’m closer to a classical libertarian despite being a Marxist, if that makes any sense. However, I do have critical support for the Soviet Union in many things, while simultaneously criticizing them for many other things. One thing I’ve supported them for was Soviet Democracy, which I believed was an amazing accomplishment and an interesting topic on its own. That being said, a user pointed out that my understanding of the power of the soviets is flawed, saying that:
Soviets in bolshevik sence were more instrument of party-control, than democracy. Soviet democracy died twice, in time of October revolution, when different parties more often than not were repressed from soviets, and in time of Civil war, when soviets were subjugated by party. Trade unions were subjugated too. Independent socialist parties were repressed and banned. Bolsheviks attacked socialist Georgia and destroyed menshevist government there, and occupied ukrainian leftist government than to extract resources and have full political and cultural control of the country. XII party conference officially banned party fractions and destroyed any notion of inner-party democracy (multy-party democracy was destroyed before). And then, logically from this, it gave ground for crimes against humanity. When worker class was have no power left whatsoever, national self-determination destroyed and political parties outlawed, nobody cant put up a fight to a collectivization and mass purge, that happened after. It was truly an totalitarian state, not a democratic in any sence. And there is no point in critical support of it. Democracy — is the most left wing value, and strengthening democracy by overcoming capitalism — it is the point. Totalitarian ways have nothing in common with this, and, as such, there is no point supporting it.
What do you people, as Marxist-Leninists, think of this assessment? Any critiques or comments? Many thanks!