What is Marxist Leninist assessment and its process?
Why is it that
assessments are essential and important?
Every stand to be taken
for any given phenomenon is a tactical decision in different degrees of
importance and prepares the path for the success of a strategy. As
Stalin eloquently explains; “The strategy changes at moments of historical
turns, turning points, it embraces the period from one turn (turning point)
to another, therefore it directs movement towards a certain common goal that
embraces the interests of the proletariat for this entire period; it
strives to win the war between classes that fills the entire given period,
which is why it remains unchanged during this period.
Tactics, on the contrary, are determined by the ebb and flow of the tides based on a given turn, a given strategic period, the relationship of the contending forces, the forms of struggle (movement), the pace of movement, the arena of struggle at each given moment, in each given area, and since these factors change depending on the conditions of place and time from one turn to another, then tactics , embracing not the entire war, but only its individual battles leading to the winning or losing of the war, changes (can change) several times during the strategic period.
The strategic
period is longer than the tactical period. Tactics are subordinated
to the interests of strategy. Tactical successes, generally speaking, prepare
the way for strategic successes. The task of tactics is to lead the masses
into battle in such a way, to give such slogans, to lead the masses to new
positions, so that the struggle results in the total winning of the war, that
is, strategic success. But there are cases when tactical success
undermines or delays strategic success, which is why tactical successes should
be neglected in such cases.” (1)
The most important task
of tactics is to determine those ways and means, those forms and methods of
struggle that most closely correspond to the specific situation at a
given moment and most likely prepare strategic success. Therefore, the
actions of tactics and their results should be assessed not in
themselves, not from the point of view of the immediate effect, but
from the point of view of the tasks and capabilities of the strategy.” (2)
The dialectical
connection between the strategy, assessments and determining the tactics are
crucial for the success of struggle. However, we should not confuse the assessment
of tactics for a given particular phenomenon with the proletarian tactics; for
the former may be temporary and change drastically while the latter is a
tactical line of proletarian action. “An assessment of “mood”, therefore,” says
Lenin, “may be necessary to determine the moment for some action, step,
appeal, etc., but certainly not to determine proletarian tactics. To argue
differently would mean replacing sustained proletarian tactics by
unprincipled dependence on “mood”. And all the time, the point at issue was
that of a line and had nothing to do with a “moment”. Whether or not the
proletariat has at present recovered is
of importance in deciding the “moment” for action, but not in determining
the tactical line of action of the working class.
(3)
Marxism-Leninism
without the application of dialectics of Marxism turns it into a soulless theory where learned by rote abstract slogans and statements repeated on
any given issue. Application of dialectics, however, requires thorough analysis,
not application of ready-made schemas fitting all the conditions and situations
in all the countries regardless of their past and present. “Marx’s method
consists, first of all, in taking due account of the objective content
of a historical process at a given moment, in definite and concrete
conditions.” (4) “Genuine
dialectics,” Lenin wrote, "proceeds by means of a
thorough, detailed analysis of a process in all its concreteness. The
fundamental thesis of dialectics is: there is no such thing as abstract
truth, truth is always concrete.” (5)
Application of general
rules, learned by rote theories in most cases will not represent
the truth and thus the stand and tactics should be
determined not based on abstracts assumed to be the truth. “Marxism
requires of us a strictly exact and objectively verifiable
analysis of the relation of classes and of the concrete features
peculiar to each historical situation.” (6)
Marxists do not proceed from the generalized theories to
assessment of a given situation which renders subjectivity and arbitrariness
but proceed from the assessment of concrete situation to the
application of theories.” Marx”, says Lenin, "... speaks
only of the concrete situation; Plekhanov draws a general
conclusion without at all considering the question in its
concreteness.” (7)
Memorizing and
sloganizing some theories and applying them as prescription that fits all is
due to either a petty bourgeois laziness or the confusion and assumption that
theories are principles. Theories are simply the generalization of the
conclusion of a given specific analysis for a given subject under a given
condition and situation. “Principles are not an aim, a programme, a
tactic, or a theory. Tactics and theory are not principles…” (8)
“It is not enough to
learn the slogans by heart “ (9)
says Lenin, a Marxist "demands a strict historical examination of the
problem...to treat the problem as separate from the concrete historical
situation is an error of betrayal of the fundamental
principles of dialectical materialism." (10)
Marxist
must proceed not from what is possible, but
from what is real." (11)
The fundamental reason
for deducing wrong approach and drawing wrong conclusion from the right
theories is that the "theories" remain abstract and thus
prevents formulating any concrete tactics for the specific conditions and
situation, in a way that can be understood by the masses.
Lenin was warning
against such practice of applying general
principles and rules as prescription for the determination of the
tactics and stands to be taken. “Of course, in politics, in which sometimes
extremely complicated—national and international—relationships … have to be
dealt with...” says Lenin, but “it would be absurd to concoct a recipe,
or general rule... that would serve in all cases. One must have the
brains to analyze the situation in each separate case.”(12)
The approach...cannot
be based on the generalization of “era” and prescriptive
application of to all. “To hold such a view “says Lenin, “is
to reduce the whole thing to an absurdity and apply a ridiculous stereotype in
place of a concrete analysis.. (13)
Marx and Engels always
used to say, rightly ridiculing the learning and repetition by rote of 'formulas'
which at best are only capable of outlining general tasks that are
necessarily liable to be modified by the concrete economic and political
conditions …It is essential to realize the incontestable truth that a Marxist must
take cognizance of real life, of the concrete realities, and must not
continue to cling to a theory of yesterday."(14)
Practice of applying general principles and rules as prescription formulas for
the determination of the tactics and stands to be taken in a given situation is
a betrayal to the sole of Marxism and its dialectics.
Marxist analysis
proceeds from the analysis of economic and political situation in any given particular
with direct connection to the same for world in general. “In order to make a
genuinely Marxist assessment of the revolution, from the standpoint of
dialectical materialism, it has to be assessed as the struggle of live social
forces, placed in particular objective conditions, acting in a particular way, and applying with greater or less success particular forms of struggle. It is on
the basis of such an analysis, and only on that basis of course, that it
is appropriate and indeed essential for a Marxist to assess the technical
side of the struggle, the technical questions which arise in its course.” (15)
Not the doctrinaire and
pedantic assessments based on learned by rote and sloganized general theories
and application of ready-made schemas, but objective assessments sets the
foundation for drawing correct practical
conclusions. “Marxist dialectical method forbids the employment of
“ready-made schemes” and abstract formulas, but
demands the thorough, detailed analysis of a process in all its concreteness, basing
its conclusions only on such an analysis. The dialectical method
demands, first, that we should consider things, not each by
itself, but always in their interconnection with other things. “This sounds
“obvious.” Nevertheless, it is an “obvious” principle which is very
often ignored and is extremely important to remember. We have already
considered it and some examples of its application in discussing metaphysics,
since the very essence of metaphysics is to think of things in an
abstract way, isolated from their relations with other
things and from the concrete circumstances in which they
exist. (16) “ we do regard it as our duty to help as far as possible to
arrive at a correct theoretical assessment of the new forms of struggle
engendered by practical life. (17)
To give a proper
assessment of the significance of any phenomena, we must consider them in
conjunction with the whole. Part is dialectically connected to the whole
and subordinated the interests of the whole. If the subject is war, for
example, a correct assessment of diplomacy followed by belligerent countries
depends on a correct general assessment of that given war. Material used for
the assessment covered up by “Left” and supposedly revolutionary phrases cannot
bring about a correct conclusion. That type of subjective assessments will not come
as a practical conclusion from a class analysis and assessment of a
particular moment in history, but as a charm with which a tendency has been
provided through ready made schemes. They, inevitably, be vague for the
large masses to understand the abstract repeated theoretical slogans.
Marxist Leninist
analyzer must be objective in the
light of the present objective conditions and of an assessment of social
forces. “Naturally, there are individual cases of exceptional difficulty
and complexity when the greatest efforts are necessary for a proper
assessment.. Of course, in politics, where it is sometimes a matter of extremely
complex relations—national and international—between classes and parties,
very many cases will arise that will be much more difficult”. (18)
And this requires that, in the interests of the movement as a whole, one
must analyze the situation in each separate case, deciding what policy
to pursue in each case in the light of the concrete circumstances. On
general questions, too, the greatest confusion can arise from
forgetting the dialectical principle that things must not be considered
in isolation but in their inseparable inter-connection. Hence, in
order not to err in policy, in order not to find itself in the
position of idle dreamers, the party of the proletariat must not base
its activities on abstract "principles of human reason,"
but on the concrete conditions of the material life of
society, as the determining force ; not on the good wishes of
"great men," but on the real needs of development …The
fall of the utopians… was due, among other things, to the fact that they did
not recognize the primary role which the conditions of the material life of
society play … and, sinking to idealism, did not base
their practical activities on the needs of the development of the
material life of society, but, independently of and in spite of these
needs, on "ideal plans" and "all-embracing
projects" divorced from the real life of society.” (19)
Theoretical or from the
practical aspect, an assessment can only be equally correct if the assessment
is based on correct and validated data and the assessment considered the
particular and general with the application of dialectics of Marxism.
What is this
“assessment” of concrete situation and the process of assessment?
To understand any given
situation and determine the required tactics and the stand
correctly is only possible by means of a careful, concrete, profound
analysis and understanding of this process. The process cannot be cut
short and drawn a conclusion, but the concrete totality of the
situation must be the result and the final stage of
conclusions.
An assessment is a
systematic evaluation process used to analyze specific conditions and
situations. Assessment is not made to promote, confirm and satisfy one’s own ideological
perception. It is an objective process in search of the truth which starts with
establishing clearly why the assessment is being conducted and what specific
aspects or criteria need to be evaluated. This sets the foundation for the
entire assessment process.
Assessment process fundamentally
contains two studies in it, each of which contains numerous dialectically
related collection of data and studying the collected data. That follows with
determination.
1) Analyzing;
Analysis is the process
of breaking a complex issue into smaller related parts and the in-depth
study of each and all -in any given particular and in general - in
order to gain a better understanding of the issue at hand.
Study of each given
situation will differ with new material for the evaluation
of the tactical approach and stand.
Determining the purpose
and the criteria is followed by gathering relevant objective data through various
methods chosen which should align with the nature of the condition or situation
being assessed. The criteria here is the theories of Marxism Leninism against
which the condition or situation will be measured. This ensures that the
assessment is focused and objective.
Analysis of collected data
against the established criteria is a long process after which comes summarizing
and outlining the findings in a clear and actionable manner to ensure that the
assessment is well-rounded and that feedback can be implemented effectively if
there are team members to include into discussion.
2) Evaluation;
Evaluation, following the core analysis made and based on the conclusions thereof, is the process of analyzing the issue’s merit and significance
as far as the interests of the laboring people and of their struggle is
concerned- in that given particular and in general. Identifying the options
for dealing with the issue on hand based on the analysis.
Communists are guided
by Marx’s principle that “they always and everywhere represent the interests
of the movement as a whole.” (20)
By following these
steps, an assessment can provide valuable insights that lead to informed
decision-making and proactive improvements.
The evaluation
is not the starting point but follows the process of
analyzing.
Only then can
we determine the tactics to be used and/or stand to be taken regarding that
issue. That is, drawing the practical conclusions from the
assessment and determining which option is likely be serving best to
the interests of laboring people.
Assessment, thus, is
the process of the concrete calculation of the concrete
conditions of a concrete situation which always derives from and dialectically
connected to the interests of the laboring people and of their struggle,
their demand. Determination follows the assessment.
“If there are no
isolated phenomena in the world, if all phenomena are interconnected and
interdependent, then it is clear that every social system and every social
movement in history must be evaluated not from the standpoint of
"eternal justice" or some other preconceived
idea, but from the standpoint of the conditions which gave
rise to that system or that social movement and with which
they are connected.” (21)
And thus; “A
concrete analysis of the status and the interests of the different classes must
serve as a means of defining the precise significance … when applied to this or
that problem. “ (22)
Conclusion
It is not which
option that fits the prescribed principles of a
memorized and sloganized theoretical formulation which ends up in
subjectivity and arbitrariness (unfortunately, this is the current
dominant practice) but it is the conclusion of the concrete
assessment process that determines the correct practice and stand to be taken.
“Any law and any formula does not contain “indications” of the manifestation of its own substance in specific circumstances. A formula may be drawn only from experience, and experience alone takes it from realm of formulas into the realm of reality, endowing it with flesh and blood, making it concrete, and thereby modifying it. It is extremely important to take this into account today when social life has become incomparably more complex, when laws as the predominant trend force a road for themselves through a mass of concrete and frequently contradictory phenomena that modify the operation of these laws and must be taken into consideration in the practice of applying them.
From this,
proceeds the principle of the concrete situation, which is of the
utmost importance... A concrete analysis of the concrete situation makes
it possible to avoid subjectivism, harebrained schemes, and arbitrariness…
(23)
Preferring abstract
theories and reasoning them for the conclusions rather than
relying on the concrete assessment not based on the facts but based on
memorized theories and application of it is a betrayal of Marxism Leninism,
it is liberalism which is the worst kind of opportunism.
“Abstract theoretical
reasoning” says Lenin “may lead to
the conclusion at which Kautsky has arrived—in a somewhat different fashion but
also by abandoning Marxism..” (24)
Although it is a
different subject, but the same “prescription” approach with cherry-picked
sloganized theories and disregarding the dialectics of Marxism is applied to
the question of imperialism and war. In these subject, there is really no objective assessment
but ambiguities and use of ready made schemes which inevitably concluded with
abstract at best, wrong at worse determinations. “It goes without saying, that
there can be no concrete historical assessment of the current war, unless it
is based on a thorough analysis of the nature of imperialism, both
in its economic and political aspects… From the standpoint of Marxism,
which states most definitely the requirements of modern science on this
question in general, one can merely smile at the “scientific”
value of such methods as taking the concrete historical assessment of
the war to mean a random selection of facts which the ruling
classes of the country find gratifying or convenient, facts taken at
random from diplomatic “documents”, current political developments,
etc.… The scientific concept of imperialism, moreover, is reduced
to a sort of term of abuse applied to immediate competitors, rivals,
and opponents...(24)
Marxist Leninist objective assessment is the study of concrete conditions and situation which prevents subjective, learned by rote sloganized theories, arbitrary conclusions that has no bearing with the interests of laboring people and of their struggle, neither in particular nor in general. Abstract slogans repeated and presented as "evaluation" and "determination of a stand" on a given subject or event has no value as far as the masses are concerned. Contrary, they are harmful because in most cases they are either wrong or do not tell anything about the subject other than repetition of the memorized slogans that most working class people are tired of hearing since they are disconnected from the current realities of laboring people. As once said, memorized and sloganized theories tell everything in general but tells nothing in specific conditions to the masses.
Erdogan A
February 9, 2025
Bangkok
Notes;
1- Stalin, "On Political Strategy and Tactics"
2- Stalin, "On the question of strategy and tactics"
3- Lenin, On the Question of a Nation-Wide Revolution
4- Lenin: Under a False Flag
5- Lenin, One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
6- Lenin, Letters on Tactics
7- Lenin, Plekhanov's Reference to History
8- Lenin, Speech In Defence Of The Tactics Of The Communist International
9- Lenin, A caricature of Bolshevism
10- Lenin, Guerrilla War
11- Lenin, Letters on Tactics
12- Lenin, Left-wing Communism
13- Lenin, A Caricature of Marxism and Imperialist Economism
14- Lenin-The Tasks of The Proletariat in Our Revolution
15- Lenin, The Assessment of the Russian Revolution
16- Maurice Cornforth, Materialism, and the Dialectical Method
17- Lenin, Guerrilla Warfare
18- Lenin, “Left-Wing” Communism: an Infantile Disorder“
19- Stalin, History of Communist Party of The Soviet Union (B)
20- Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto,
21- Stalin, Dialectical and Historical Materialism
22- Lenin, The Development of Capitalism in Russia
23- Lenin Principles Underlying the Scientific Direction of Communist Construction
24- Lenin, Preface to N. Bukharin’s Pamphlet, Imperialism, and the World Economy
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