,*APT] #e 
,! ,IDEA ( ! ,COMMUNE 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,PAUL ,MATTICK 

,TEXT 3 

,! WORK]S' FAILURE TO MA9TA9 CONTROL OV] !IR [N DE/9Y WAS DUE 
MA9LY TO ,RUSSIA'S G5]AL OBJECTIVE UNREAD9ESS = A SOCIALI/ DEVELOPM5T1 
BUT ALSO TO ! FACT ?AT NEI!R ! SOVIETS1 NOR ! SOCIALI/ P>TIES1 KNEW 
H[ TO GO AB\T ORGANIZ+ A SOCIALI/ SOCIETY4 ,!RE WAS NO HI/ORICAL 
PREC$5T & ,M>XI/ !ORY HAD NOT S]I\SLY CONC]N$ ITSELF ) ! PROBLEM 
( ! SOCIALI/ RECON/RUCTION ( SOCIETY4 ,H[EV]1 PA/ REVOLUTION>Y 
OCCURR5CES HAD SOME RELEVANCE1 P>TICUL>LY AS REG>DS ,RUSSIA1 BECAUSE ( H] 
G5]AL BACKW>DNESS4 ,FOLL[+ ,M>X & ,5GELS1 ,RUSSIAN ,M>XI/S W]E APT TO 
PO9T TO ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE AS AN EXAMPLE ( A WORK+-CLASS REVOLUTION UND] 
SIMIL>LY UNFAVORABLE CONDITIONS4 ,TROTSKY WROTE1 = 9/ANCE1 ?AT 

IT IS NOT EXCLUD$ ?AT 9 A BACKW>D C\NTRY ) A LESS] 
DEGREE ( CAPITALI/ DEVELOPM5T1 ! PROLET>IAT %\LD SOON] REA* 
POLITICAL SUPREMACY ?AN 9 A HI<LY DEVELOP$ CAPITALI/ /ATE4 ,?US1 9 
MIDDLE-CLASS ,P>IS1 ! PROLET>IAT CONSCI\SLY TOOK 9TO ITS H&S ! 
ADM9I/RATION ( PUBLIC AFFAIRS 9 #a#h#g#a4 ,TRUE IT IS ?AT ! REIGN ( ! 
PROLET>IAT LA/$ ONLY = TWO MON?S2 IT IS REM>KABLE1 H[EV]1 ?AT 9 ! 
F> MORE ADVANC$ C5T]S ( ,5GL& & ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 ! PROLET>IAT 
NEV] WAS 9 P[] EV5 = ! DURATION ( ONE DAY47#a7 

,L591 TOO1 F\ND 9 ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE A JU/IFICATION = HIS [N ATTITUDE 
) RESPECT TO ! ,RUSSIAN ,REVOLUTION & ! ,SOVIET DICTATOR%IP4 ,QUOT+ 
,M>X1 HE CIT$ AS ! GREAT LESSON ( ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE ?AT ! B\RGEOIS /ATE 
CANNOT SIMPLY BE TAK5 OV] BY ! PROLET>IAT BUT MU/ BE DE/ROY$ & 
REPLAC$ BY A PROLET>IAN /ATE1 OR SEMI-/ATE1 :I* W\LD BEG9 TO WI!R AWAY 
AS SOON AS MAJORITY RULE HAD REPLAC$ ! M9ORITY RULE ( B\RGEOIS SOCIETY4 
0,OV]?R[ ! CAPITALI/S10 HE WROTE1 0CRU% ) ! IRON H& ( ! >M$ 
WORK]S ! RESI/ANCE ( !SE EXPLOIT]S1 BREAK ! BUREAUCRATIC MA*9E ( 
! MOD]N /ATE - & Y\ HAVE BE=E Y\ A ME*ANISM ( ! HI<E/ TE*NICAL 
EQUIPM5T1 FRE$ ( 'P>ASITES'1 CAPABLE ( BE+ SET 9 MOTION BY ! UNIT$ 
WORK]S !MSELVES :O HIRE !IR [N TE*NICIANS1 MANAG]S1 BOOKKEEP]S1 & 
PAY !M ALL1 AS1 9DE$1 EV]Y '/ATE' (FICIAL1 ) ! USUAL WORK]S' WAGES4 
,H]E IS A CONCRETE1 PRACTICAL TASK1 IMM$IATELY REALIZABLE 9 RELATION TO ALL 
TRU/S1 A TASK ?AT FREES ! WORK]S ( EXPLOITATION & MAKES USE ( ! 
EXP]I5CES 7ESPECIALLY 9 ! REALM ( ! CON/RUCTION ( ! /ATE7 :I* ! 
,COMMUNE BEGAN TO REVEAL 9 PRACTICE40 7#b7 

,! PRACTICE ( ! PROLET>IAN /ATE AS REVEAL$ BY ! ,COMMUNE WAS A RA!R 
LIMIT$ ONE1 H[EV]1 NOT SO MU* 0CONSCI\SLY0 9TRODUC$1 AS ,TROTSKY ASS]T$1 
AS SPONTANE\SLY RELEAS$ BY ! P>TICUL> CONDITIONS ( ! ,FRANCO-,PRUSSIAN 
W>1 ! SIEGE ( ,P>IS1 & ! GREAT PATRIOTISM ( ! ,P>ISIAN POPULATION4 
,BUT :ATEV] ! CIRCUM/ANCES1 ! 9CORPORATION ( ! WORK]S 9TO ! 
,NATIONAL ,GU>D1 :I* !Y CAME TO DOM9ATE1 GAVE !M ! WEAPONS TO EXPRESS 
!IR OPPOSITION TO ! NEWLY E/ABLI%$ B\RGEOIS GOV]NM5T ?AT WAS TRY+ 
TO COME TO T]MS ) ! ,PRUSSIAN 9VAD]S4 ,!IR GREAT SUFF]+ DUR+ ! 
SIEGE ( ,P>IS HAD NOT DIM9I%$ ! PROLET>IAT'S PATRIOTIC >DOR BUT M]ELY 
9T5SIFI$ !IR HATR$ = ! B\RGEOISIE1 :I* WAS WILL+ TO ACCEPT ! 
CONSEQU5CES ( ! DEFEAT 9 ORD] TO SECURE ITS [N RULE ?R\< ! DIS>M+ 
( ! WORK+ CLASS4 ,9 VIEW ( ! 9CREAS+LY REVOLUTION>Y SITUATION 9 
,P>IS1 ! B\RGEOIS GOV]NM5T E/ABLI%$ ITSELF 9 ,V]SAILLES1 PREP>+ = 
! RECONQUE/ ( ! CAPITAL4 ,! ,P>IS MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS ( ,M>* #b#f1 #a#h#g#a1 
GAVE ! REPUBLICAN LEFT OPPOSITION A MAJORITY ( F\R TO ONE & L$ TO ! 
PROCLAMATION ( ! ,COMMUNE DE ,P>IS4 ,! ,COMMUNE %>$ ! RULE ( ! CITY 
) ! ,C5TRAL ,COMMITTEE ( ! ,NATIONAL ,GU>D1 RESPONSIBLE = ITS DEF5SE4 

,AL?\< ! ,COMMUNAL ,REVOLUTION SAW ITSELF AS 9AUGURAT+ A 0NEW POLITICAL 
]A0 & AS M>K+ ! 05D ( ! OLD GOV]NM5TAL & CL]ICAL WORLD1 ( 
MILIT>ISM1 ( MONOPOLISM1 ( PRIVILEGES TO :I* ! PROLET>IAT [ES ITS 
S]VITUDE1 ! ,NATION ITS MIS]IES & DISA/]S10 7#c7 ! =CE ( 
CIRCUM/ANCES1 AS WELL AS ! V>IETY ( OP9IONS :I* AGITAT$ ! ,COMMUN>DS1 
PRECLUD$ A F>-REA*+ OR CONSI/5T SOCIALI/ PROGRAM4 ,!RE W]E1 H[EV]1 
! DECREES ?AT ABOLI%$ ! ,>MY 9 FAVOR ( ! ,NATIONAL ,GU>D1 ! 
LIMITATION ( GOV]NM5T SAL>IES TO ! EQUIVAL5T ( WORK]S' WAGES1 ! 
EXPROPRIATION ( ,*UR* PROP]TY1 ! ELIM9ATION ( F9ES IMPOS$ UPON WORK]S 
BY !IR EMPLOY]S1 ! ABOLITION ( NI<TWORK 9 BAK]IES1 ! NATIONALIZATION 
( WORK%OPS AB&ON$ BY !IR B\RGEOIS [N]S1 & SO =?4 ,BUT !SE 
MEASURES DID NOT AS YET PO9T TO A RADICAL SOCIAL TRANS=MATION4 ,9 ! 
,EXECUTIVE ,C\NCIL ( ! ,COMMUNE1 MOREOV]1 WORK]S W]E /ILL 9 A M9ORITY4 ,( 
ITS #i MEMB]S1 ONLY #ba BELONG$ TO ! WORK+ CLASS1 :ILE ! RE/ W]E 
MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE SU* AS SMALL TRADESM51 CL]KS1 J\RNALI/S1 WRIT]S1 
PA9T]S1 & 9TELLECTUALS4 ,ONLY A FEW ( ! LEAD+ MEMB]S ( ! ,COMMUNE 
W]E ADH]5TS ( ! ,FIR/ ,9T]NATIONAL4 ,! MAJORITY WAS DIVID$ BETWE5 
,PR\DHONI/S1 ,BLANQUI/S1 & ,JACOB9S ( V>I\S DESCRIPTIONS1 :O W]E 
9T]E/$ MA9LY 9 POLITICAL LIB]TIES & ! PRES]VATION ( SMALL PROP]TY 
[N]S 9 A DEC5TRALIZ$ SOCIETY4 ,! ,COMMUNE WAS ?US OP5 TO DIFF]5T 
9T]PRETATIONS BY A V>IETY ( 9T]E/S OP]AT+ )9 IT4 

,ALL ! %ORTCOM+S ( ! ,COMMUNE1 P>TICUL>LY 9 ! LI<T ( ,M>X'S [N 
POSITION1 C\LD NOT ]ASE ! FACT ?AT IT WAS BASICALLY AN ANTI-B\RGEOIS 
GOV]NM5T1 ONE 9 :I* SOME WORK]S ACTUALLY EX]CIS$ GOV]NM5TAL FUNCTIONS 
& EXPRESS$ !IR WILL+NESS TO DOM9ATE SOCIETY4 ,?IS 9TR9SIC FACT WEI<$ 
F> HEAVI] 9 ,M>X'S E/IMATION ( ! ,COMMUNE ?AN ALL ITS O!R ASPECTS1 
:I* RAN C\NT] TO HIS [N CONCEPT ( SOCIALISM4 

,! ,COMMUNE WAS NOT 9ITIAT$ BY ! ,9T]NATIONAL & HAD NO SOCIALI/ 
*>ACT] 9 ! ,M>XIAN S5SE4 ,?AT ,M>X NONE!LESS ID5TIFI$ HIMSELF & ! 
,9T]NATIONAL ) ! ,COMMUNE WAS SE5 BY HIS POLITICAL ADV]S>IES AS AN 
OPPORTUNI/ ATTEMPT TO ANNEX ! GLORY ( ! ,COMMUNE TO ,M>XISM47#d7 ,!RE IS NO 
NE$ TO QUE/ION ,M>X'S MOTIVATIONS 9 MAK+ ! CAUSE ( ! ,COMMUNE HIS [N4 
,! V]Y PASSIONS RELEAS$ BY ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE AMONG ! WORK]S AS WELL AS ! 
B\RGEOISIE 9DICATE ?AT ! SOCIAL CLASS DIVISION CAN COME TO OV]RULE & 
DOM9ATE ! IDEOLOGICAL & EV5 MAT]IAL DIFF]5TIATIONS )9 EA* SEP>ATE 
CLASS4 ,IT WAS NOT ! P>TICUL> PROGRAM ADOPT$ BY ! ,COMMUNE ?AT MATT]$ - 
:E!R IT WAS ( A C5TRALI/ OR A F$]ALI/ NATURE1 :E!R IT ACTUALLY OR 
ONLY POT5TIALLY IMPLI$ ! EXPROPRIATION ( ! B\RGEOISIE-BUT ! FACT ALONE 
?AT SEGM5TS ( ! WORK+ CLASS HAD MOM5T>ILY FRE$ !MSELVES FROM 
B\RGEOIS RULE1 HAD >MS AT !IR DISPOSAL1 & OCCUPI$ ! 9/ITUTIONS ( 
GOV]NM5T4 ,9 ! BRUTAL ANSW] ( ! B\RGEOISIE TO ?IS RA!R FEEBLE FIR/ 
ATTEMPT AT SELF-GOV]NM5T ON ! P>T ( ! ,P>ISIAN WORK]S1 ALL 
CLASS-CONSCI\S WORK]S RECOGNIZ$ ! F]OCITY & IRRECONCILABILITY ( ! 
CLASS 5EMY1 NOT ONLY 9 ,P>IS BUT ?R\<\T ! WORLD4 ,9/9CTIVELY AS WELL 
AS CONSCI\SLY1 !Y /OOD AT ! SIDE ( ! ,FR5* WORK]S1 QUITE 
9DEP5D5TLY ( ALL ! !ORETICAL & PRACTICAL ISSUES :I* O!RWISE 
DIVID$ ! WORK+-CLASS MOVEM5T4 ,= ?IS REASON ,M>X DESCRIB$ ! ,COMMUNE 
AS 0ESS5TIALLY A WORK+-CLASS GOV]NM5T0 & AS 0! POLITICAL =M1 AT LA/ 
DISCOV]$1 UND] :I* TO A*IEVE ! ECONOMIC EMANCIPATION ( LABOR10 =1 AS 
HE >GU$1 0! POLITICAL RULE ( ! PRODUC] CANNOT COEXI/ ) ! 
P]PETUATION ( HIS SOCIAL SLAV]Y4 ,! ,COMMUNE WAS !RE=E TO S]VE AS ! 
LEV] = UPROOT+ ! ECONOMIC F\NDATIONS UPON :I* RE/S ! EXI/5CE ( 
CLASSES1 & !RE=E ( CLASS RULE40 7#e7 

,! DE/RUCTION ( ! B\RGEOIS /ATE & ! CAPTURE ( POLITICAL P[] 
MADE S5SE ONLY ON ! ASSUMPTION ?AT IT W\LD BE US$ TO ELIM9ATE ! 
CAPITAL-LABOR RELATION AS WELL4 ,ONE CANNOT HAVE A WORK]S' /ATE 9 A CAPITALI/ 
SOCIETY4 ,M>X SEEM$ CONV9C$ ?AT1 HAD ! ,COMMUNE SURVIV$1 ITS [N 
NECESSITIES W\LD HAVE =C$ IT TO %$ ITS MANY 9ADEQUACIES4 0,! 
MULTIPLICITY ( 9T]PRETATIONS TO :I* ! ,COMMUNE HAS BE5 SUBJECT$1 & ! 
MULTIPLICITY ( 9T]E/S :I* CON/RU$ IT 9 !IR FAVOR10 HE WROTE1 0%[ 
?AT IT WAS A ?OR\<LY EXPANSIVE POLITICAL =M1 :ILE ALL PREVI\S =MS ( 
GOV]NM5T HAD BE5 EMPHATICALLY REPRESSIVE407#f7 ,! FALL ( ! ,COMMUNE 
PRECLUD$ FUR!R SPECULATION AB\T ITS EXPANSIVE QUALITY & ! DIRECTION IT 
W\LD TAKE4 ,BUT ,M>X SAW NO NE$ TO EMPHASIZE HIS [N DIFF]5CES ) ! 
,COMMUNE1 9/EAD /RESS+ ?OSE ( ITS ASPECTS ?AT C\LD S]VE ! FUTURE 
/RUGGLES ( ! PROLET>IAT4 

,= ?IS PURPOSE1 ,M>X SIMPLY SIDE-/EPP$ ! PROBLEM ( F$]ALISM & 
C5TRALISM1 :I*1 AMONG O!RS1 DIVID$ ! ,M>XI/S FROM ! ,PR\DHONI/S 
:OSE IDEAS DOM9AT$ ! ,COMMUNE4 ,HE DESCRIB$ ! LATT] & ITS AUTONOMY AS 
9/RUM5TAL 9 BREAK+ ! B\RGEOIS /ATE & REALIZ+ ! PRODUC]S' 
SELF-GOV]NM5T4 ,! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE1 HE WROTE1 WAS TO S]VE AS A MODEL TO ALL ! 
GREAT 9DU/RIAL C5T]S 9 ,FRANCE4 ,! COMMUNAL REGIME ONCE E/ABLI%$ 9 
,P>IS & ! SECOND>Y C5T]S1 ! OLD C5TRALIZ$ GOV]NM5T W\LD 9 ! 
PROV9CES1 TOO1 HAVE TO GIVE WAY TO ! SELF-GOV]NM5T ( ! PRODUC]S4 ,9 A 
R\< SKET* ( NATIONAL ORGANIZATION :I* ! ,COMMUNE HAD NO TIME TO DEVELOP 
IT /ATES CLE>LY ?AT ! COMMUNE WAS TO BE ! POLITICAL =M ( EV5 ! 
SMALLE/ C\NTRY HAMLET1 & ?AT 9 ! RURAL DI/RICTS ! /&+ >MY WAS 
TO BE REPLAC$ BY A NATIONAL MILITIA1 ) AN EXTREMELY %ORT T]M ( S]VICE4 
,! RURAL COMMUNES ( EV]Y DI/RICT W]E TO ADM9I/] !IR COMMON AFFAIRS BY 
AN ASSEMBLY ( DELEGATES 9 ! C5TRAL T[N1 & !SE DI/RICT ASSEMBLIES W]E 
AGA9 TO S5D DEPUTIES TO ! ,NATIONAL ,DELEGATION 9 ,P>IS1 EA* DELEGATE TO BE 
AT ANY TIME REVOCABLE & B\ND BY ! 9/RUCTIONS ( HIS CON/ITU5TS4 ,! FEW 
BUT IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS :I* /ILL W\LD REMA9 = A C5TRAL GOV]NM5T W]E 
NOT TO BE SUPPRESS$1 AS HAS BE5 9T5TIONALLY MIS/AT$1 BUT W]E TO BE 
DIS*>G$ BY COMMUNAL &1 !RE=E1 /RICTLY RESPONSIBLE AG5TS4 ,! UNITY ( 
! NATION WAS NOT TO BE BROK51 BUT1 ON ! CONTR>Y1 TO BE ORGANIZ$ BY ! 
,COMMUNAL ,CON/ITUTION1 & TO BECOME A REALITY BY ! DE/RUCTION ( ! ,/ATE 
P[] :I* CLAIM$ TO BE ! EMBODIM5T ( ?AT UNITY 9DEP5D5T (1 & 
SUP]IOR TO1 ! NATION ITSELF1 FROM :I* IT WAS BUT A P>ASITIC EXCRESC5CE4 
7#g7 

,BY M]ELY RELAT+ ! !ORETICALLY CONTEMPLAT$ NATIONAL F$]ATION ( ! 
AUTONOM\S COMMUNES1 ,M>X GAVE ! IMPRESSION ( G5]AL AGREEM5T ) ! PLAN 
& ITS WORKABILITY4 ,BUT ! :OLE ( ,M>X'S WORK SPEAKS AGA9/ ?IS 
CONCLUSION1 = HE HAD NEV] BE5 ABLE TO 5VISION ! RETURN ( POLITICAL =MS 
:I* HAD ALREADY BE5 SUP]S$$ BY MORE ADVANC$ ONES4 ,HE ?US F\ND IT 
NECESS>Y TO /ATE ?AT IT IS G5]ALLY ! FATE ( COMPLETELY NEW HI/ORICAL 
CREATIONS TO BE MI/AK5 = ! C\NT]P>T ( OLD] & EV5 DEFUNCT =MS ( 
SOCIAL LIFE1 TO :I* !Y MAY BE> A C]TA9 LIK5ESS4 ,?US1 ?IS NEW ,COMMUNE1 
:I* BREAKS ! MOD]N ,/ATE P[]1 HAS BE5 MI/AK5 = A REPRODUCTION ( ! 
M$IEVAL COMMUNES1 :I* FIR/ PREC$$1 & AFT]W>DS BECAME ! SUB/RATUM 
(1 ?AT V]Y ,/ATE P[]4 ,! COMMUNAL CON/ITUTION HAS BE5 MI/AK5 = AN 
ATTEMPT TO BREAK UP 9TO A F$]ATION ( SMALL /ATES1 AS DREAM$ ( BY 
,MONTESQUIEU & ! ,GIROND9S1 ?AT UNITY ( GREAT NATIONS :I*1 IF ORIG9ALLY 
BR\<T AB\T BY POLITICAL =CE1 HAS N[ BECOME A P[]FUL COEFFICI5T ( 
SOCIAL PRODUCTION4 ,! ANTAGONISM ( ! ,COMMUNE AGA9/ ! ,/ATE P[] HAS 
BE5 MI/AK5 = AN EXAGG]AT$ =M ( ! ANCI5T /RUGGLE AGA9/ 
OV]C5TRALIZATION4 7#h7 

,M>X'S OP9ION1 !N1 ! F$]AL *>ACT] ( ! ,COMMUNAL ,CON/ITUTION WAS 
NOT 9 OPPOSITION TO A C5TRALIZ$ SOCIAL ORGANIZATION BUT M]ELY REALIZ$ ! 
C5TRALI/ REQUIREM5TS 9 WAYS DIFF]5T FROM ?OSE ( ! CAPITALI/ /ATE1 9 
WAYS ?AT ASSUR$ ! SELF-RULE ( ! PRODUC]S4 ,9 %ORT1 AS ,L59 LAT] 
9SI/$1 ,M>X CONSID]$ 0! POSSIBILITY ( VOLUNT>Y C5TRALIZATION1 ( A 
VOLUNT>Y UNION ( ! COMMUNES 9TO A NATION1 A VOLUNT>Y FUSION ( ! 
PROLET>IAN COMMUNES 9 ! PROCESS ( DE/ROY+ B\RGEOIS SUPREMACY & ! 
B\RGEOIS /ATE MA*9]Y40 7#i7 

,H[EV]1 ! TRU? ( ! MATT] SEEMS TO BE ?AT ON ?IS PO9T ,M>X DID NOT 
/RIVE = GREAT PRECISION 9 ! =MULATION ( HIS IDEAS4 ,WRITT5 9 GREAT 
HA/E & 9 COMMEMORATION ( ! DEFEAT$ ,COMMUNE1 HIS ADDRESS ON ! CIVIL W> 
WAS NOT REALLY DESIGN$ AS A LESSON ON & SOLUTION TO ! PROBLEMS ( ! 
PROLET>IAN REVOLUTION & ! =MATION ( A SOCIALI/ SOCIETY1 ESPECIALLY AS 
BE=E1 DUR+1 & AFT] ! ,COMMUNE1 ,M>X DID NOT BELIEVE 9 ! POSSIBILITY 
( ITS SUCCESS1 :I* ALONE W\LD HAVE L5T SOME REALITY TO ! PROBLEMS POS$ 
9 HIS ADDRESS T5 YE>S AFT] ! ,COMMUNE HE DESCRIB$ IT AS AN 0UPRIS+ ( A 
S+LE CITY UND] V]Y SPECIAL CONDITIONS1 ) A POPULATION :I* NEI!R WAS 
NOR C\LD BE SOCIALI/IC40 7#a7 ,?\< ! /RUGGLE HAD BE5 HOPELESS1 IT WAS 
/ILL 9/RUCTIVE BY PO9T+ TO ! NECESSITY ( A PROLET>IAN DICTATOR%IP TO 
BREAK ! P[] ( ! B\RGEOIS /ATE4 ,BUT ?IS DID NOT MAKE ! ,COMMUNE1 AS 
,L59 CLAIM$1 A MODEL = ! CON/RUCTION ( ! COMMUNI/ /ATE4 ,IT IS NOT A 
COMMUNI/ /ATE1 AT ANY RATE1 ?AT ! PROLET>IAT HAS TO BUILD1 BUT A COMMUNI/ 
SOCIETY4 ,ITS REAL GOAL IS NOT ANO!R /ATE1 :E!R F$]ALI/ OR C5TRALI/1 
DEMOCRATIC OR DICTATORIAL1 BUT A CLASSLESS SOCIETY & ABOLITION ( ! /ATE4 

,! LABOR MOVEM5T IS NO LESS PRONE TO MY?OLOGIZE ITS [N HI/ORY ?AN IS 
! B\RGEOISIE4 ,HI/ORIC EV5TS APPE> DIFF]5T FROM :AT !Y ACTUALLY W]E 
& !IR DESCRIPTIONS >E DIRECT$ MORE TO ! EMOTIONAL RECEPTIVITY ( PEOPLE 
?AN TO !IR NE$ = ACCURACY4 ,! CLASS /RUGGLE1 LIKE ANY O!R1 PRECLUDES 
OBJECTIVITY4 ,M>X & ,5GELS W]E NOT ABOVE MY?-MAK+1 EV5 IF COV]$ UP BY A 
GREAT AM\NT ( SOPHI/RY4 ,:5 ,L59 CONCEIV$ ( ! ,RUSSIAN REVOLUTION AS AN 
EMULATION ( ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE1 HE WAS APPEAL+ TO A MY?OLOGICAL ,COMMUNE1 NOT 
TO ITS ACTUAL *>ACT]4 ,! ,COMMUNE WAS ( SO GREAT AN 9T]E/ TO ,L59 NOT 
BECAUSE ( :AT IT ACTUALLY IMPLI$1 BUT BECAUSE ( :AT HAD BE5 SAID AB\T IT 
BY ,M>X & ,5GELS4 ,REPRES5T+ A W+ )9 ! ,M>XI/ MOVEM5T1 HE FELT ! 
NE$ TO JU/IFY HIS [N POSITION 9 T]MS ( ,M>XIAN IDEOLOGY4 ,:ILE HID+ 9 
,F9L& HE WROTE HIS PAMPHLET ,/ATE & ,REVOLUTION ON A PROBLEM HE HAD POND]$ 
MANY YE>S BE=E BUT :I* N[1 AFT] ! ,FEBRU>Y ,REVOLUTION1 SEEM$ TO HIM NO 
LONG] M]ELY ( !ORETICAL BUT ALSO ( PRACTICAL IMPORTANCE4 ,DESPITE HIS GREAT 
RESPECT = !ORY1 ,L59 WAS PREEM95TLY A PRACTICAL POLITICIAN4 ,:ILE !RE 
C\LD BE NO PRACTICE )\T !ORY1 ONLY ?AT !ORY \T ( MANY WAS ACCEPTABLE 
:I* SUIT$ HIS P>TICUL> PRACTICE - ?AT IS1 ! CAPTURE ( POLITICAL P[] 
UND] ! GIV5 CONDITIONS4 ,AT ! SAME TIME - AS AN EXCUSE AS WELL AS A 
SUPPORT - ! ACCEPTANCE ( A !ORY MU/ BE BAS$ ON AU?ORITY2 EV5 AN ,EMP]OR 
IS !RE BY ! GRACE ( ,GOD4 ,= ,L591 ! UNQUE/ION$ AU?ORITIES W]E ,M>X 
& ,5GELS4 ,9 ?IS RESPECT HE WAS =TUNATE BECAUSE BO? W]E DEAD & UNABLE 
TO TALK BACK1 & ALSO BECAUSE DUR+ !IR LIVES !Y HAD COMM5T$ ON A GREAT 
NUMB] ( HI/ORICAL EV5TS1 & HAD SUGGE/$ MEASURES TO DEAL ) !M1 9 
ACCORDANCE ) !IR [N TIME-CONDITION$ APPREH5SION ( !SE EV5TS4 ,A 
DOGMATIC ACCEPTANCE ( ,M>XISM WILL ?US ALL[ ! FAI?FUL ,M>XI/ TO F9D 
SUPPORT = HIS [N CONVICTIONS BY M]ELY PICK+ ONE OR ANO!R /ATEM5T \T 
( ! F\ND+ FA!RS' WIDE-RANG+1 ?\< (T5 ]RONE\S1 PRON\NCEM5TS ON 
ISSUES ?AT1 DUE TO *ANG$ ECONOMIC & POLITICAL CONDITIONS1 HAVE LONG LO/ 
!IR MEAN+4 ,AL?\< ,L59 WROTE A GREAT DEAL1 HE DID NOT CONTRIBUTE1 & HAD 
NO 9T5TION TO CONTRIBUTE1 TO ! MA9 BODY ( ,M>XIAN DOCTR9E - NOT BECAUSE ( 
A LACK ( ABILITY TO DO SO1 BUT BECAUSE1 = HIM1 ,M>X & ,5GELS 7& EV5 
,KAUTSKY1 UP TO #a#i#a#d7 HAD SAID ALL ?AT NE$$ TO BE SAID = ! COMPREH5SION 
( HI/ORY1 CAPITALISM1 & ! PROLET>IAN REVOLUTION4 

,AL?\< !RE IS REALLY NO?+ POSITIVE TO BE LE>N$ FROM ! ,P>IS 
,COMMUNE EXCEPT ! OBVI\S - ?AT ! PROLET>IAT CAN NOT UTILIZE BUT MU/ 
OV]?R[ ! CAPITALI/ /ATE - :AT ATTRACT$ ,L59 TO ,M>X'S COMM5TS ON ! 
,COMMUNE WAS ! /ATEM5T ?AT 0! POLITICAL RULE ( ! PRODUC]S IS 
9COMPATIBLE ) ! ET]NALIZATION ( !IR SOCIAL S]VITUDE02 ?AT IS1 ?AT 
?IS POLITICAL RULE1 IF MA9TA9ABLE1 WILL LEAD TO A SOCIALI/ SOCIETY4 ,= 
,L591 ?IS POLITICAL RULE WAS ( C\RSE EMBODI$ 9 ! NEW /ATE1 EM]G+ \T 
( ! REVOLUTION1 :I* W\LD !N S]VE AS ! VEHICLE ( ! SOCIALIZATION 
PROCESS4 ,P]HAPS1 C>RI$ AWAY BY HIS [N REVOLUTION>Y >DOR - & QUITE 9 
CONTRA/ TO HIS [N DOCTR9E1 :I* D5I$ ! PROLET>IAT ! 9DEP5D5T 
CAPACITY TO MAKE A REVOLUTION1 NOT TO SPEAK ( BUILD+ SOCIALISM - ,L59 
AFFIRM$ 9 ,/ATE & ,REVOLUTION ! PROLET>IAT'S ABILITY TO CON/RUCT A REALLY 
DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY & TO MANAGE ITS [N PRODUCTION UND] AN EGALIT>IAN SY/EM 
( DI/RIBUTION4 0,CAPITALI/ CULTURE10 HE WROTE N[1 

HAS CREAT$ L>GE-SCALE PRODUCTION1 FACTORIES1 ! PO/AL 
S]VICES1 TELEPHONES1 ETC41 & ON ?IS BASIS ! GREAT MAJORITY ( FUNCTIONS 
( ! 0OLD /ATE P[]0 HAS BECOME SIMPLIFI$ & CAN BE R$UC$ TO SU* 
SIMPLE OP]ATIONS ( REGI/RATION1 FIL+ & *ECK+1 ?AT !Y WILL BE 
QUITE )9 ! REA* ( EV]Y LIT]ATE P]SON1 & IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO 
P]=M !M = 0WORK+M5'S WAGES10 :I* CIRCUM/ANCES CAN 7& MU/7 
/RIP ?OSE FUNCTIONS ( EV]Y %AD[ ( PRIVILEGE1 ( EV]Y APPE>ANCE ( 
0(FICIAL GR&EUR40 ,ALL (FICIALS1 )\T EXCEPTION1 ELECT$ & SUBJECT TO 
RECALL AT ANY TIME1 !IR SAL>IES R$UC$ TO 'WORK+M5'S WAGES0 - !SE 
SIMPLE & SELF-EVID5T DEMOCRATIC MEASURES1 :ILE COMPLETELY UNIT+ ! 
9T]E/S ( ! WORK]S & ! MAJORITY ( ! PEASANTS1 AT ! SAME TIME 
S]VE AS A BRIDGE LEAD+ FROM CAPITALISM TO SOCIALISM40 7#a#a7 

,BUT1 AS WE HAVE SE5 BE=E1 9 ,L59'S VIEW 0WORK]S' MANAGEM5T0 F9DS ITS 
ACTUAL REALIZATION ?R\< ! POLITICAL & ECONOMIC P[] ( ! /ATE4 ,IT IS 
! LATT] ?AT MANAGES ! RELATIONS ( PRODUCTION & DI/RIBUTION2 ONLY ?IS 
/ATE IS N[ EQUAT$ ) ! WORK+ CLASS ITSELF4 ,IT IS NECESS>Y1 ,L59 
WROTE1 

TO ORGANIZE ! :OLE NATIONAL ECONOMY LIKE ! PO/AL SY/EM1 
9 SU* A WAY ?AT ! TE*NICIANS1 MANAG]S1 BOOKKEEP]S AS WELL AS ALL 
(FICIALS1 %\LD RECEIVE NO HI<] WAGES ?AN 0WORK+M5'S WAGES02 ALL UND] 
! CONTROL & LEAD]%IP ( ! >M$ PROLET>IAT - ?IS IS \R IMM$IATE 
AIM4 ,?IS IS ! K9D ( /ATE & ECONOMIC BASIS WE NE$4 ,ALL CITIZ5S >E 
TRANS=M$ 9TO HIR$ EMPLOYES ( ! /ATE1 :I* IS MADE UP ( >M$ 
WORK]S4 444 ,! :OLE SOCIETY BECOMES ONE (FICE & ONE FACTORY ) EQUAL 
PAY & EQUAL WORK40 7#a#b7 

,( C\RSE1 ,L59 WAS TOO WELL V]S$ 9 ,M>XIAN !ORY TO LEAVE ! MATT] AT 
?IS PO9T4 ,HE KNEW ?AT SOCIALISM EXCLUDES /ATE RULE1 & HE EV5 QUOT$ 
,5GELS'S REM>K ?AT 0! FIR/ ACT 9 :I* ! /ATE REALLY COMES =W>D AS 
! REPRES5TATIVE ( SOCIETY AS A :OLE - ! SEIZURE ( ! MEANS ( PRODUCTION 
9 ! NAME ( SOCIETY - IS AT ! SAME TIME ITS LA/ 9DEP5D5T ACT AS A 
/ATE40 7#a#c7 ,IT %\LD FOLL[ ?AT ! SOCIALI/ ORGANIZATION ( PRODUCTION IS 
A FUNCTION NOT ( ! /ATE1 BUT ( SOCIAL 9/ITUTIONS ?AT PROGRESSIVELY 
ELIM9ATE ! FUNCTIONS ( ! /ATE1 F9ALLY TO 5D !M ALTOGE!R4 ,BUT ,L59 
SAW ! 0WI!R+ AWAY0 ( ! /ATE 9 A QUITE DIFF]5T LI<T4 0,FROM ! 
MOM5T10 HE WROTE1 0:5 ALL MEMB]S ( SOCIETY1 OR EV5 ONLY ! OV]:ELM+ 
MAJORITY1 HAVE LE>N$ TO GOV]N ! /ATE !MSELVES1 HAVE TAK5 ?IS BUS9ESS 
9TO !IR [N H&S1 HAVE E/ABLI%$ CONTROL OV] ! 9SIGNIFICANT M9ORITY 
( CAPITALI/S1 OV] ! G5TRY ) CAPITALI/IC LEAN+S1 & ! WORK]S 
?OR\<LY DEMORALIZ$ BY CAPITALISM-FROM ?IS MOM5T ! NE$ = GOV]NM5T 
BEG9S TO DISAPPE>40 7#a#d7 ,9/EAD ( DISSOLV+ ! /ATE1 I4E41 ! 
0DICTATOR%IP ( ! PROLET>IAT10 )9 ! SOCIALIZATION PROCESS1 IT IS ! 
PROLET>IAN /ATE ITSELF1 9 ,L59'S VIEW1 ?AT ACTUALIZES ! SOCIALIZATION 
PROCESS4 ,! /ATE HAS TO GOV]N 9 ORD] = ! GREAT MAJORITY TO LE>N H[ TO 
GOV]N ! /ATE4 

,BEH9D ?IS REASON+1 IF SU* IT IS1 HIDES ,L59'S RECOGNITION ( ! 
OBJECTIVE DIFFICULTIES 9 ! WAY ( ! SOCIALI/ RECON/RUCTION ( ,RUSSIAN 
SOCIETY4 ,ALL ?AT C\LD BE ACCOMPLI%$ WAS ! CAPTURE ( /ATE P[] & ! 
/ATE'S 9T]V5TION 9 ! ECONOMY4 ,L59 WAS CONV9C$ ?AT ,RUSSIA'S 
0MOD]NIZATION0 C\LD BE MORE EFFECTIVELY REALIZ$ ?R\< ! AG5CY ( ! 
/ATE ?AN BY PRIVATE-5T]PRISE 9ITIATIVE1 & HE SEEMS TO HAVE CONV9C$ 
HIMSELF ( ! POSSIBILITY ( IMBU+ ! WORK]S ) ! SAME IDEA1 SO ?AT 
!Y MI<T ID5TIFY !MSELVES ) ! ,BOL%EVIK /ATE AS ! LATT] ID5TIFI$ 
ITSELF ) ! PROLET>IAT4 ,H[EV]1 :5 ,L59 WAS WRIT+ ,/ATE & 
,REVOLUTION1 ! ,BOL%EVIK /ATE WAS ONLY A M]E POSSIBILITY ?AT MI<T OR MI<T 
NOT BECOME A REALITY4 ,! EXI/+ ,PROVISIONAL ,GOV]NM5T HAD FIR/ TO BE 
OV]?R[N1 & ! WORK]S HAD TO BE 5C\RAG$ TO UND]TAKE ?IS TASK1 OR AT 
LEA/ NOT TO 9T]F]E ) ?OSE :O W\LD4 ,!Y HAD TO BE CONV9C$ ?AT !RE 
WAS NO NE$ TO LEAVE ! ORGANIZATION ( SOCIETY TO ! B\RGEOISIE1 BUT ?AT 
!Y W]E QUITE CAPABLE1 BY !MSELVES1 ( H&L+ ! MATT]4 ,! V]Y 
LANGUAGE ( ,/ATE & ,REVOLUTION1 AS WELL AS ! RA!R PRIMITIVE SUGGE/IONS ON 
H[ TO GO AB\T BUILD+ ! NEW SOCIETY1 9DICATE ?AT ?IS PAMPHLET WAS NOT 
CONCEIV$ AS A S]I\S DISCUSSION ( ! RELATIONS BETWE5 ! /ATE & 
REVOLUTION1 BUT AS A PROPAG&A 9/RUM5T TO 9DUCE ,L59'S FOLL[]S & ! 
WORK]S G5]ALLY TO MAKE AN 5D ( ! EXI/+ /ATE4 ,AS SU* IT CAME TOO LATE 
TO AFFECT ! SEIZURE ( P[]1 ?\< IT C\LD /ILL S]VE AS A 0,M>XI/0 
JU/IFICATION = ! ,BOL%EVIK 9ITIATIVE4 

,EV]Y?+ ,L59 WROTE PRIOR TO ,/ATE & ,REVOLUTION1 & EV]Y /EP TAK5 
AFT] ! SEIZURE ( P[]1 TURNS ! APP>5T RADICALISM DISPLAY$ 9 ?IS 
PAMPHLET 9TO A M]E OPPORTUNI/IC MOVE TO SUPPORT ! IMM$IATE AIM ( GA9+ 
P[] = ! ,BOL%EVIK ,P>TY4 ,IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE ?AT ,L59'S ID5TIFICATION 
) ! PROLET>IAT WAS SUBJECTIVELY HONE/1 9 ?AT HE ACTUALLY BELIEV$ ?AT 
! LATT] MU/ COME TO SEE 9 HIS CONCEPTION ( ! REVOLUTION>Y PROCESS !IR 
[N TRUE 9T]E/S & !IR REAL CONVICTIONS4 

,ON ! O!R H&1 ! AMBIGUITIES )9 HIS REVOLUTION>Y PROPOSALS 
9DICATE ?AT1 :ILE TRU/+ HIS [N REVOLUTION>Y PR9CIPLES1 ,L59 DID NOT 
TRU/ ?OSE ( ! WORK+ CLASS1 :I* W\LD FIR/ HAVE TO BE $UCAT$ TO 
CONT9UE TO DO = !MSELVES :AT1 MEAN:ILE1 W\LD BE DONE = !M BY ! 
,BOL%EVIK /ATE4 ,:AT HE ALL[S ! WORK]S ) HIS LEFT H&1 HE TAKES AWAY 
AGA9 ) HIS RI<T4 ,IT WAS !N NOT A MOM5T>Y EMOTIONAL AB]RATION ON ! 
P>T ( ,L59 ?AT 9DUC$ HIM TO GRANT SO MU* REVOLUTION>Y SELF-DET]M9ATION 
TO ! WORK]S1 BUT A PRAGMATIC MOVE 9 ! MANIPULATION ( ! REVOLUTION 9 
ACCORDANCE ) HIS [N P>TY CONCEPT ( ! SOCIALI/ /ATE4 

,NOTES 

  
#a4 ,L4 ,TROTSKY1 ,\R ,REVOLUTION 7,NEW ,YORK1 #a#i#a#h71 P4 #h#e4 

  
#b4 ,L591 ,/ATE & ,REVOLUTION 7,NEW ,YORK3 ,9T]NATIONAL1 #a#i#c#b71 P4 #d#d4 

  
#c4 ,QUOT$ BY ,A4 ,HOME1 ,! ,FALL ( ,P>IS 7,NEW ,YORK3 ,P5GU91 #a#i#f#e71 ,P #c#c74 

  
#d4 ,ACCORD+ TO ,BAKUN91 = 9/ANCE1 ! IMPRESSION MADE BY ! ,COMMUNE WAS 
SO P[]FUL ?AT 0EV5 ,M>XI/S1 :OSE IDEAS W]E OV]?R[N BY ! UPRIS+1 
SAW !MSELVES =C$ TO LIFT !IR HATS BE=E IT4 ,NOT ONLY ?AT1 9 
CONTRADICTION TO ALL LOGIC & !IR [N TRUE FEEL+S1 !Y ADOPT$ ! PROGRAM 
( ! ,COMMUNE AS !IR [N4 ,IT WAS A COMICAL BUT UNAVOIDABLE TRAVE/Y1 = 
O!RWISE !Y W\LD HAVE LO/ ALL !IR FOLL[]S DUE TO ! MI<TY PASSION ! 
REVOLUTION >\S$ ALL OV] ! WORLD40 ,QUOT$ BY ,F4 ,BRUPBA*]1 ,M>X UND 
,BAKUN9 7,MUNI*3 ,DIE ,AKTION1 #a#i#b#b71 PP4 #a#a-#a#b4 

  
#e4 ,M>X1 ,! ,CIVIL ,W> 9 ,FRANCE1 9 ,POLITICAL ,WRIT+S1 ,VOL4 #c 
7,H>MONDSWOR?3 ,P5GU91 #a#i#g#d71 P4 #b#a#b4 

  
#f4 ,IBID4 

  
#g4 ,IBID41 P4 #b#a4 

  
#h4 ,IBID41 P4 #b#a#a4 

  
#i4 ,L591 ,/ATE & ,REVOLUTION1 P4 #d#f4 

  
#a4 ,M>X TO ,DOMELA ,NIEUW5HUIS1 ,M>X-,5GELS ,W]KE1 ,VOL4 #c#e1 P4 #a#f4 

  
#a#a4 ,/ATE & ,REVOLUTION1 PP4 #c#h-#d4 

  
#a#b4 ,IBID41 PP4 #d#d1 #h#c1 #h#d4 

  
#a#c4 ,IBID41 P4 #a#f4 

  
#a#d4 ,IBID41 P4 #h#d4 

,FROM 3 ,M>XI/S4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,M>* #c1 #bba 3 ,*APT] #e -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/