Mao Zedong’s “On condtradiction” study companion

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FOREIGN LANGUAGES PRESS Foreign Languages Press Collection “New Roads” #4 A collection directed by Christophe Kistler

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Paris, 2019

First Edition

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The Chinese word for “contradiction” is made up of two characters: “mao” or spear and “dun” or shield. The word’s origins are from a 3rd century China story where a traveling merchant selling spears and shields boasted to one customer that his spears were the best in the world and could pierce any shield and to another that his shields were impervious to any spear. When a bystander asked what would happen if the spear and shield came into contact the merchant was caught in the contradiction and thus the word “mao dun” was born – literally: spear shield.

This book is under license Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Content

Introduction 2

Chapter 1 The Two World Outlooks 4

Chapter 2 The Universality of Contradiction 14

Chapter 3 The Particularity of Contradiction 24

Chapter 4 The Principle Contradiction and the Principle 50 Aspect of the Contradiction

Chapter 5 The Identity and the Struggle of the Aspects of 64 a Contradiction

Chapter 6 The Place of Antagonism in Contradiction 78

Chapter 7 Conclusion 84

Endnotes 85

Introduction ’s “”

On Contradiction is part of the collection “Five Essays on Philosophy.” It is considered one of Mao’s most important works and a universal con- tribution to , because it develops and explains dialectical materi- alism in plain terms with everyday examples. For Maoists, it’s a text that lays the foundation for how we perceive the world and provides a scientific methodology to objectively understand the problems of society and how to confront them. However, while Mao wrote in simple language that Chinese could understand, the concepts of which he writes are quite complicated. Also, many of the examples he cites are both historical and specific to Chi- na. As such we believe that some further explanation, in modern language with modern examples, might prove helpful in grasping the universal as- pects of this work, so that communists today can further understand and internalize the scientific approach to analyzing the world around us and purport to begin to systematically address the contradictions – small and large – that we face. Mao first gave this lecture in August 1937. To give some context, that time was not quite two years after the end of the Long March (Octo- ber 1935), less than one year after the Xian Incident (December 1936) and just as the Japanese were invading Shanghai (August 1937). Mao’s writing and teaching of On Contradiction, and the emphasis on scientific analysis of complex situations, was in response to the struggle the Party faced against dogmatism, adventurism and subjectivism. In each instance, without Mao’s leadership based on a dialectical and historical materialist analysis of the principle contradiction – along with his creative approach and use of principled line struggle to address it – the Party would likely have suffered insurmountable defeat, within the Party itself or at the hands of imperialist powers. - - - has been in Yanan, it was Yanan, in law of the unity of law of the unity in the very essence of ob Deborin School Deborin In studying this law, therefore, we cannot but cannot we therefore, law, this studying In 2 Anti-Japanese Military and Political College Military and Political Anti-Japanese , is the basic law of materialist . Lenin said, “Dialectics “Dialectics of materialist dialectics. Lenin said, , is the basic law Lenin often called this law the essence of dialectics; he also called Lenin often called this law the essence The law of contradiction in things, that is, the The law of contradiction The criticism to which the idealism of the The criticism to which the idealism [This essay on philosophy was written by Comrade Mao Zedong after his Mao by Comrade was written [This essay on philosophy 1 .” 3 2 1 2 ent study of philosophy should therefore have the eradication of dogmatist have ent study of philosophy should therefore thinking as its main objective. the , and it cannot be said that the dogmatist the Chinese Communist Party, pres Our of that school. to the approach is unrelated thinking in our Party subjected in Soviet philosophical circles in recent years has aroused great great has aroused years in recent philosophical circles subjected in Soviet a veryhas exerted idealism in bad influence among us. Deborin’s interest contradiction, the identity and struggle of the aspects of a contradiction and the place of antagonism in contradiction. fundamental understanding of materialist dialectics. The problems are: the are: The problems dialectics. understanding of materialist fundamental of contradiction, the particularitytwo world outlooks, the universality of and the principal aspect of a the principal contradiction contradiction, it the kernel of dialectics. of kernel the it a number of philosophical prob of questions, upon touch upon a variety at a shall arrive we clear on all these problems, can become we lems. If jects opposites is the study of contradiction sense in the proper revised by the author on its inclusion in his Selected Works.] in his Selected the author on its inclusion by revised essay “” and with the same object of overcoming the serious error error serious the overcoming of object same the with and Practice” “On essay as delivered at the time. Originally found in the Party of dogmatist thinking at the lectures August 1937 August Contradiction On "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction education suchasliteracyandhistory, aswell aspoliticalanalysisofworld hensive publicinstitution in the Liberated Area of Yanan, providing basic the Japanese, "Big" – big school, or college) the college was a compre move gradually toward socialismonitsown. theDeborinite idealistideathatcapitalismwould tradiction, heputforth thatcapitalism andsocialismwillalwaysbeinanantagonisticcon theory ist peacefully at the fromsame time. Departing the dialectical materialist “peaceful co-existence,” ortheideathatcapitalism andsocialismcanex later. of In ledtheUSSRtorevisionism fact,Khrushchev withhistheory were denouncedasadeviation.However, hisinfluencepersistedeven years pointing outthat“difference itselfiscontradiction.” presence ofopposition.Mark Borisovich Mitin debunkedthisargument, exist simply“differences” thatonlydevelop intocontradictionswiththe contradictions are stage–thatin the beginning,there notpresent inevery singlething inexistenceismadeupofopposingforces. that every cadres, outdoorswithstudentssquattingorsittingonbricks. gave lectures there topeasants,red armyguerillasandcommunistparty strategy.events, philosophyandmilitary Mao andotherteachersregularly In 1929Deborin’s ideasandhisschool,called“Deborinite idealism,” 3 2 1 Abram Moisevich Deborin The unityofopposites Commonly known as“KangDa,” shorthand (literally"Against"– , explainedlaterinmore detail,istheconcept wasaSoviet philosopherwhoarguedthat Introduction 3 - - -

Comments ------. For a long peri . For emerged among the xuan-xue , occupied a dominant po world outlook sees things is evolutionism metaphysics vulgar evolutionist idealist world outlook 3 ty into mutually exclusive opposites and their reciprocal reciprocal opposites and their ty into mutually exclusive relation). The two basic (or two possible? or two historically ob historically or two two possible? The two basic (or are: servable?) (evolution) conceptions of development and as repetition, and increase, as decrease development uni of opposites (the division of a as a unity development The metaphysical or In China another name for In Here Lenin was referring to these two different world outlooks. two different to these Lenin was referring Here Throughout the history of human knowledge, there have been two have the history there Throughout of human knowledge, 4 3 2 1 mutable. Such change as there is can only be an increase or decrease in decrease or increase an be only can is there as change Such mutable. 4 as isolated, static and one-sided. It regards all things in the universe, their all things in the universe, regards as isolated, static and one-sided. It im and another one from isolated eternally as species, their and forms to oppose materialist dialectics. bourgeoisie to oppose materialist is part of the and parcel od in history whether in China or in Europe, this way of thinking, which thinking, of way this historyin od Europe, in or China in whether barefaced reactionary idealism, vulgar barefaced a level unprecedented in history, and as the industrial became proletariat and as the industrial in history, unprecedented a level the Marx arose there development, in historical force motive the greatest Then, in addition to open and ist world outlook of materialist dialectics. European countries advanced to the stage of highly developed , developed to the stage of highly countries advanced European the class struggle to of production, and the sciences developed as the forces sition in human thought. In Europe, the materialism of the bourgeoisie the materialism Europe, sition in human thought. In As the social economy of many in its early days was also metaphysical. conceptions concerning the law of development of the universe, the meta universe, of the the law of development conceptions concerning which form two op and the dialectical conception, physical conception Lenin said: posing world outlooks. Chapter 1 Chapter WorldOutlooks Two The "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction to defend a vision of the world where their privileges were either granted the bourgeoisie upheld this conception because it was in their class interest as Aristotle.During theMiddle AgesandtheRenaissance, thechurch and gle. curs inleapsthrough theopposition andunityofoppositesinclassstrug this mightbethecase,in otherdomainssuchassocialsciencechangeoc While sciencehasproved thatinsomescientificdomains,suchasgeology, and slow transformationandmechanically applying ittosocialscience. and interactionwiththeenvironment over generations. develop by aprocess ofchangeinarelationship between genetic makeup at. of the bourgeois class’of idealism in service oppression of the proletari thought andknowledge are basedonmaterialreality. thatallofour non-material (ideasandthought),ratherthanasserting that matter is not primary,asserts but dependent, and generated by the explains the world from a metaphysical or spiritual perspective. Idealism greedy andselfish. by bourgeoisieculture whenpeoplesaythathumannature isinherently by ofthenaturalorder God orjustpart ofanunchangingworld. You can hear the refrain of vulgar evolutionarism in modern times in 4 Evolutionism idealismistheapplication ofthemetaphysical“logic”Reactionary Idealism Today, you canseeevidenceofmetaphysical thinkingperpetuated 3 The metaphysical Vulgar evolutionism isaphilosophicalschoolofthoughtthatunderstandsand , or evolution refers to the theory thatalllivingthings , orevolution refers tothetheory conceptioncomesfrom ancientphilosopherssuch reduces allchangeinnature toalong,gradual Chapter 1- The Two Outlooks World 5 - - -

Comments - - - - - Me and 4 centuries th and 18 th and the beginning of the th , such as geography and climate. They , such as geography and vulgar evolutionism, which were imported from which were and vulgar evolutionism, Heaven changeth not, likewise the Tao changeth not,” Tao changeth not, likewise the Heaven factors external to society factors external to As opposed to the metaphysical world outlook, the world outlook of As opposed to the metaphysical world centuries. In China, there was the metaphysical thinking exemplified thinking exemplified was the metaphysical China, there centuries. In 5 th 6 and interactions with other things are secondaryand interactions with other things are causes. Thus materialist contradictoriness within the thing. There is internal contradiction in everywithin the thing. There contradictoriness Contradictoriness within single thing, hence its motion and development. while its interrelations a thing is the fundamental cause of its development, related and interacts with the things around it. The fundamental cause and interacts with the things around related external but internal; it lies in the of a thing is not of the development a thing we should study it internally and in its relations with other things; study it internally and in its relations should a thing we be seen as their internal of things should the development in other words, is inter while each thing in its movement and necessary self-movement, materialist dialectics holds that in order to understand the development of to understand the development order materialist dialectics holds that in it was supported feudal ruling the decadent by classes for a long time. chanical materialism supported the bourgeoisie. by are years, in the last hundred Europe and as vulgar evolutionism at the end of the 19 at the end and as vulgar evolutionism 20 in the saying “ phenomenon of one quality changing into another. In Europe, this mode this Europe, In into another. phenomenon of one quality changing in the 17 of thinking existed as mechanical materialism velopment, and they deny the theory and they velopment, dialectics, which holds of materialist inside a thing. Conse the contradictions from arises that development of things, nor the diversity qualitative quently they can explain neither the and will exist forever unchanged. They ascribe the causes of social devel They ascribe the causes unchanged. and will exist forever opment to de its of causes the for thing a outside way over-simplified an in search capitalist competition, the individualist ideology of capitalist society, and capitalist society, the individualist ideology of capitalist competition, society, in primitive or even society, in ancient slave so on, can all be found simply been increases or decreases in quantity. They contend that a thing They contend quantity. in or decreases increases simply been thing and cannot itself as the same kind of repeating can only keep on exploitation, capitalist opinion, their In different. anything into change is, the motive force is external. Metaphysicians hold that all the different all the different hold that Metaphysicians is external. force is, the motive been the have characteristics and all their things in the universe kinds of changes have All subsequent came into being. since they first same ever quantity or a change of place. Moreover, the cause of such an increase increase such an cause of the Moreover, of place. change or a quantity that them, but outside things not inside place is change of or or decrease "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction such asthe“inherent evilness” oftheboss,oridea that peoplewon’t contradictions insociety. individuals,ratherthanasthereflectionmental healthissuesofcertain of shootings occursoregularly intheUSisbecauseofmoralfailingsor can beagreed upon. ually, onelawatatime,basedonwhatever lowest commondenominator the argumentsof reformists who claim that real change can be won grad ism”), theyare position. guaranteed theirruling same”), except in quantity(“we justneedamore restrained, nicer capital ing canreally change(“the more thingschange,themore thingsstaythe the bourgeoisietodaybecausetheybenefitfrom thestatus quo –ifnoth “God saidit,Ibelieve it,thatsettlesit.” andrighteousness, likethepopularbumpersticker: spiritual immortality you justhavetruth; tounquestioninglyfollow hisword andyou willgain power’s is likethepriest,rabbi,imamorguru) self-proclaimed instrument action. about by contradictionsinsocietythatare behindpeople’s actionsorin “do theright thing,” rather thananalyzing the material reasons brought Mechanical materialism Likewise For example A metaphysicianmight,forinstance,arguethatthereason whymass inmostreligions onlythehigherpower’s word (orthehigher , activistsoftenblamethefailure ofacampaignonfactors andvulgarevolutionism are by stillsupported Chapter 1- The Two Outlooks World 7 - - - -

Comments ------dis Long dominated by Long dominated by , their quantitative develop quantitative , their manifest themselves in terms in themselves manifest same geographical and climatic conditions same geographical climatic changes climatic Simple growth in plants and animals in plants growth Simple , China has undergone great changes in the last hundred years years the last hundred changes in great has undergone , China 8 condition of change and internal causes are the basis of change, and that the basis of change, and that condition of change and internal causes are a suitable internal causes. In through external causes become operative for the supersession of the old society by the new. Does materialist dialec Does the new. by for the supersession of the old society the holds that external causes are at all. It external causes? Not tics exclude forces and the relations of production, the contradiction between classes between the contradiction of production, and the relations forces the old and the new; it is the development and the contradiction between the impetus society forwardof these contradictions that pushes and gives are due chiefly to the development of the internal contradictions in na of the due chiefly to the development are of the internal development due chiefly to the Changes in society are ture. productive the that is, the contradiction between contradictions in society, thousands, hundreds or tens of years, and even in a few or months in years and even or tens of years, thousands, hundreds changes in nature to materialist dialectics, According times of . every part of it, but they are insignificant when compared with changes in with changes every when compared insignificant part are it, but they of and geographical society; in changes manifest themselves while social of tens of thousands of years, and is now changing in the direction of a new China, liberated and free, of a newfree, China, liberated and in the direction changing and is now and climate. Changes in her geography no change has occurred and yet climate of the earthdo take place in the geography and as a whole and in curred in the geography and climate of either country. either country. in the geography and climate of curred feudalism geography and climate remain unchanged. Imperialist Russia changed into changed Russia Imperialist unchanged. remain geography and climate had locked its doors which and feudal Japan, Union, the socialist Soviet oc change no although Japan, imperialist into changed world, the against Countries with almost the Countries with almost great Moreover, development. in their and unevenness diversity play great country take place in one and the same social changes may although its ment, is likewise chiefly the result of their internal contradictions. Similar result of their internal contradictions. ment, is likewise chiefly the causes. not to external but to internal is due chiefly social development ly, why one thing changes into another. As a matter of fact, even mechanical mechanical even fact, of matter a As another. into changes thing one why contradictoriness internal the through occurs force external under motion of things. vulgar evolutionism. It is evident that purely external causes can only give only give causes can external that purely evident is It vulgar evolutionism. but quantity, in scale or that is, to changes motion, rise to mechanical of ways and in thousands differ qualitatively why things cannot explain dialectics effectively combats the theory the combats effectively dialectics an exter or of causes, of external and materialism mechanical metaphysical by advanced force, nal motive "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction trast, inJapan, lossoflife or infrastructure duetothesame disaster is their lives orhomesinfrastructure intheirtowns andvillages.In con the Philippines, thousands,even millionsofpeopleare affected;theylose Philippines. They sit along the same fault line, yet when the disaster strikes with thesamefrequency incloselysituatedcountrieslikeJapan andthe Without thisprocess growth/development couldn’t happen. viding and reproducing and growing, at the same time our cells are dying. through thelensofscience. Dogma would insistthatMao and Leninand dogmatism, demanding thatwe continuouslypass ourpastassessments interest. for profitability supersedes any consideration for the collective long-term interestnecessity toextracthigher ratesofprofit hasmeanttheshort-term the soilandbuildinfrastructure toprevent erosion. In ,the society begantoseeitintheircollective interest toreclaim land,enrich socialist China,thechangeineconomicsystem meantthatpeoplein but alsointermsoflarge-scale,long-termimpact on theenvironment. In the contradictionsinclasssocietynotonlyplayout insocialrelationships, climate wasunknown. Now we understandthat inlatestagecapitalism, rialist pressure from theoutside (from theUS). many people. Now many of the problems are also being blamed on impe as a result of establishing capitalism – existed because there were just too the capitalistroaders wasthatalloftheproblems inChina–thatemerged winnable becauseofNepal’s geographic position. provoke India intosendinginitsarmy–thatrevolution wouldnever be wasthatitwould argument theyusedagainstcontinuingarmedstruggle chanda/Bhattarai were negotiating the surrender of the People’s Army, the uncommon. The (dialectical) materialist world outlook intrinsically rejects all Mao gave thislecture In contrast Similarly, whenthepeople’s warinNepal wasinanimpasseandPra For instance 5 Life itself afterthecoupinChina,commonrefrain perpetuatedby isacontradiction. When we’re born,ourcellsare bothdi , natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes happen , naturaldisasters like typhoons andearthquakes atatimewhenthescaleofhumanimpacton Chapter 1- The Two Outlooks World 9 - - - -

Comments ------cen th The famous Later, the Chi Later, and early 19 th , who lived in the late 18 , who lived again suffered severe setbacks at the hands of the enemy, at the hands of the enemy, setbacks severe again suffered The dialectical world outlook emerged in ancient times both in Chi The dialectical world outlook emerged 6 10 ry of human knowledge and, in particular, critically absorbed the rational critically ryparticular, and, in knowledge of human theory the great of dialectical dialectics and created elements of Hegelian was idealist. It was not until Marx and Engels, the great protagonists of the of protagonists great the Engels, and Marx until not was It idealist. was in the histo achievements the positive synthesized movement, proletarian fully explain the world and was supplanted by metaphysics. by fully explain the world and was supplanted philosopher Hegel German turies, made most important contributions to dialectics, but his dialectics na and in Europe. Ancient dialectics, however, had a somewhat sponta Ancient dialectics, however, na and in Europe. in the social and historical conditions then pre character; neous and naive system, hence it could not able to form a theoretical it was not yet vailing, ness of its own political line and the solidity of its own organization. line and the solidity of its own political ness of its own because adventurism had risen within our Party. When we liquidated this When we our Party. had risen within because adventurism Thus it can be seen that to once again. our cause advanced adventurism, a political party on the correct must depend to victory, lead the revolution opportunism, the Chinese revolution resumed its advance. its advance. resumed opportunism, the Chinese revolution nese revolution in 1927, the defeat of the proletariat by the big bourgeoisie came about by in 1927, the defeat of the proletariat the opportunismthrough be found within the Chinese proletari then to liquidated this When we Party). at itself (inside the Chinese Communist is strong or because of its competent generalship, the other is vanquished the other is vanquished of its competent generalship, or because is strong is it generalship; incompetent its of because or weak is it because either China In causes become operative. internal causes that external through army is victorious and the other is defeated, both the victory and the other is defeated, both the army is victorious and the defeat victorious either because it causes. The one is internal by determined are the world and, similarly and in a particularly profound way, on internal and in a particularlythe world and, similarly way, profound the in effected through were These changes, however, changes in China. battle, one In of these countries, China included. ner laws of development economic and cultural spheres are extremely great. The October Socialist October The great. extremely are and cultural spheres economic in a new epoch in world history ushered as in Russian as well Revolution in the other countries in changes on internal influence exerted It history. interaction between the peoples of different countries. In the era of capi countries. of different the peoples between interaction revolution, and proletarian era of imperialism especially in the talism, and political, countries in the impact of different and mutual the interaction temperature an egg changes into a chicken, but no temperature can change can change temperature but no a chicken, into egg changes an temperature constant is basis. There a different each has because chicken, into a a stone "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction to theintensifyingcontradictionsinsocietythattheyface. and have yet topresent themasseswitharelevant analysisofandsolutions ties inEurope are makinggainsbecausetheLeftforces are relatively weak forces that opposed it were stronger. in current Likewise, times fascist par talism promotes environmental devastation. Marx andEngels’ we canseeevidence oftheirearlyrecognition thatcapi they didn’t predict it,itisn’t happening.But even still,lookingbackat Marx allpredicted thislevel ofenvironmental damage–orworse,because because hesawhumanideas asthemotorofthismovement. he usedasabasistoformulate dialectics.Still, Hegel’s dialecticwasidealist position canalsobelinkedtoPlato’s “theory ofthedividedline,” which Parmenides istotalityandsingular. who believed that everything Hegel’s change anddifference (“no onecanstepinthesameriver twice”) and cient philosophers,suchasHeraclitus is whobelieved thateverything 6 In 1978 Hegel developed hisconcept ofdialectics , theChineserevolution suffered defeatbecausetheRightist Chapter 1- basedontheideasofan The Two Outlooks World 11 - - -

Comments - This theoryThis by further was developed . As soon as it spread to China, it wrought tremendous tremendous it wrought to China, as it spread . As soon This dialectical world outlook teaches us primarily how to observe primarily how teaches us world outlook This dialectical 7 12 is therefore most important understand the law of contradiction for us to is therefore way. in things in a concrete and analyze the movement of opposites in different things and, on the ba things in different of opposites the movement and analyze It contradictions. to indicate the methods for resolving sis of such analysis, Lenin and Stalin Lenin and thought. in the world of Chinese changes and historical materialism that an unprecedented revolution occurred in occurred revolution an unprecedented that materialism historical and the history knowledge. of human "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction what peopleoutsideChinacallMarxism-Leninism- today. tions intheChineserevolution into ledtothedevelopment ofthetheory and put it into practice in China – just as analyzing the internal contradic The sameprocess continued when Mao further developed this theory continuedwhenMao developed thistheory further Chapter 1- The Two Outlooks World 13 -

Comments ------Lenin defined the law 5 Are these ideas correct? Yes, they Yes, these ideas correct? Are 6 that it is precisely in the particularity of that it is precisely , “Motion itself is a contradiction.” , “Motion They do not understand For convenience of exposition, I shall deal first with the universality with the universality I shall deal first of exposition, convenience For Engels said Engels The universality or absoluteness of contradiction has a twofold mean or absoluteness of contradiction The universality

3 2 1 14 and the struggle and these aspects determine the life of all things between ry, mutually exclusive, opposite tendencies in all phenomena and processes and processes opposite tendencies in all phenomena mutually exclusive, ry, (including mind and society).” of nature of the contradictory in all things The interdependence aspects present are. of the unity of opposites as “the recognition (discovery) of the contradicto (discovery) recognition of the unity of opposites as “the ing. One is that contradiction exists in the process of development of all of development in the process is that contradiction exists ing. One of each thing a of development process things, and the other is that in the beginning to end. of opposites exists from movement tradiction. in our analysis of the law of contradiction in things, we shall first analyze shall first analyze in things, we in our analysis of the law of contradiction on analyzing the then place special stress of contradiction, the universality of con return to the universality particularityand finally of contradiction, is in the concrete things confronting us for guiding the course of revolu things confronting is in the concrete it is necessarytionary the study of the particu to stress practice. Therefore, this reason, it at adequate length. For larity of contradiction and to explain tists. do they Nor contradiction resides. of contradiction that the universality important the study of the particularityunderstand how of contradiction Engels, Lenin and Stalin; whereas the particularitythe still is contradiction of whereas Stalin; and Lenin Engels, the dogma by many comrades, and especially by not clearly understood outstanding success to analyzing many aspects of human history to analyzing many aspects of human outstanding success and nat ural history (as in the nature many aspects of society and and to changing – Marx, continuers of Marxism and creators great the by Union) Soviet The reason is that the universality of contradiction can be explained more explained more of contradiction can be universality reason is that the The materialist-dialec since the ever recognized for it has been widely briefly, with and materialist dialectics applied was discovered tical world outlook of contradiction and then proceed to the particularityand then proceed of contradiction of contradiction. Chapter 2 Chapter of Contradiction Universality The "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction happened inqualitatively different conditions. In China’s case, many dog lessons from past victories and failures, because they believe them to have ticular conditionsandgarnerthesameresults. Many alsorefuse tolearn all ofthestrategiesandtacticsfrom othermovements totheirown par specifics. the current timeperiod.In doingso,theyfailtoseetheuniversality inthe gle canwork becauseithasn’t beentriedinexactlythesameconditions have beencrushed. Yet strug someactivistsstillarguethatparliamentary and allmovements struggle thathave limitedthemselves toparliamentary Marx predicted ground forrevolution. wouldbethemostfertile dominated by peasants,conditionsradicallydifferent thattheones a socialistrevolution becauseitwasasemi-feudal,semi-colonialcountry matists refused toacknowledge thatChinacouldactuallylaunchandwin of thecontradiction,thing slows down. contradiction, the thing moves is the principle aspect faster; when inertia momentum v. inertia. When momentumistheprincipleaspect ofthe 3 Also, historically, allrevolutions have occurred through theuseofarms 1

Anything inmotion For example, alotofactivistsbelieve theycanmechanicallyapply isatthesametimemoving andslowing down: Chapter 2- The Universality ofContradiction 15 - - -

Comments - - - - - 8 7 : the class struggle. In mathematics: + and -. Differential and integral. mathematics: + and -. Differential In mechanics: action and reaction. In electricity. negative and physics: positive In chemistry:In the combination and dissociation of atoms. social science In the contradiction that in certain straight circumstances math lower even lines and curves same.... But may be the ematics teems with contradictions. externally limited and possess limited cognition finds its externally limited and possess limited for us – an endless solution in what is – at least practically, progress. succession of generations, in infinite higher mathematics is ...[O]ne of the basic principles of originates and resolves itself; and as soon as the contra the as soon as and itself; resolves and originates an end, and death steps diction ceases, life, too, comes to of thought we likewise saw that also in the sphere We in. that for example the could not escape contradictions, and unlimited capacity inherently man’s contradiction between are men who in only actual presence its and knowledge for of matter, and especially of organic life and its develop life and its of organic especially and of matter, and primarily in this – that precisely ment... [L]ife consists else. something moment itself and yet a being is at each in which is present also a contradiction Life is therefore which constantly and themselves, things and processes If simple mechanical change of place contains a contradic a contains place of change mechanical simple If true of the higher forms of motion more tion, this is even Contradiction is the basis of the simple forms of motion (for in forms of motion of the simple is the basis Contradiction Lenin illustrated the universality of contradiction as follows: Lenin illustrated the universality

5 Engels explained the universality of contradiction as follows: of contradiction the universality explained Engels 4 16 stance, mechanical motion) and still more so of the complex forms of of the complex so and still more motion) stance, mechanical motion. push their development forward. There is nothing that does not contain contain not does that nothing is forward. There development their push would exist. nothing contradiction without contradiction; "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction always incontradiction. ism). One classcannotexistwithout theother, andiftheyexistare ways, suchasthecontradiction between oppressed nationsandimperial bourgeoisie andtheproletariat (althoughitcanmanifestgloballyinother 5

The universal contradiction in our times is class struggle between the inourtimesisclassstruggle Chapter 2- The Universality ofContradiction 17 -

Comments - - - - - , it If there there If French Revolution French . In analyzing the . In Bukharin in the Party and no ideological struggles to resolve and no ideological strugglesresolve to in the Party As can be seen from the articles written by Soviet philosophers the articles Soviet As can be seen from written by Is there a movement of opposites from beginning to end in the beginning of opposites from a movement there Is

Thus it is already clear that contradiction exists universally and in clear that contradiction exists universally Thus it is already Every difference in man’s concepts should be regarded as reflecting as regarded be concepts should in man’s difference Every In war, offense and defense, advance and retreat, victoryretreat, and defeat and advance defense, and offense war, In Opposition and struggle between ideas of different kinds constantly and struggle different ideas of Opposition between

8 7 6 10 11 9 18 workers, the peasants and the bourgeoisie. These views of the Deborin the peasants and the bourgeoisie. These views of the workers, entirely agreeing with agreeing entirely but likewiseonly differences were there the Revolution before holds that Estate, which was composed of the not contradictions within the Third nism. Applying this view in the analysis of concrete problems, the Deborin the Deborin problems, this view of concrete in the analysis nism. Applying the kulaks and but not contradictions between School sees only differences thus Union, Soviet the in conditions existing under general in peasants the cess before that stage would be external and not internal. Deborin thus and not internal. Deborin that stage would be external cess before and of mecha causality of external theories to the metaphysical reverts criticizing it, the Deborin School maintains that contradiction appears not School maintains criticizing it, the Deborin to a certain when it has developed but only at the inception of a process of the pro then the cause of the development the case, this were stage. If process of development of every of development single thing? process whether in objective phenomena or ideological phenomena. But does con phenomena. But phenomena or ideological whether in objective of each process? tradiction also exist at the initial stage all processes, whether in the simple or in the complex forms of motion, whether in the simple all processes, tions between classes and between the new and the old in society. the new in society. and between and the old classes tions between no contradictions were come to an end. life would them, the Party’s occur within the Party; this is a reflection within the Party of contradic within the this is a reflection Party; occur within the jective thinking, and this process constitutes the contradictory movement constitutes the contradictory this process thinking, and jective movement of thought, and ceaselessly forwardof concepts, pushes the development thinking. in man’s problems solves an objective contradiction. Objective contradictions are reflected in sub reflected contradictions are Objective contradiction. an objective other. The two aspects are at once in conflict and in interdependence, and and interdependence, in and conflict in once at are aspects two The other. forward and its development pushes of a war, the totality this constitutes its problems. solves are all mutually contradictory all mutually are exist without the cannot One phenomena. "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction ants andthebourgeoisiewere only different, not contradictory. believed thatbefore theFrench Revolution theinterests ofworkers, peas of theclergyandnobility, thosewhoascribedto theDeborin school ing there wasnoneedtoappropriate theirlandforcollectivization. under theNEP, kulaks(landlords) wouldbewonover tosocialism, mean the policyofcollectivizationbegunby Stalin in1928.His ideawasthat He oftheNew wasastrong supporter Economic Policy (NEP)andopposed communist societywouldbringforth. contradiction only in class society, contradictions that but based on new istheuniversal asclassstruggle tions wouldnotbebasedinclassstruggle, a communistsocietywithitsown setofcontradictions.Thosecontradic is nomore classsociety. The State wouldwitherawayand we wouldenter Because thesectors 11 8

In the same way

Bukharin wasaUSSRpolitburo memberinthe1920sand1930s. , if there are no more class contradictions, then there withintheThird Estatedidnothave theprivileges Chapter 2- The Universality ofContradiction 19 - - -

Comments - - - - - ? The old unity ? The old have established have have been in contradiction ever since ever in contradiction been have emergence of a newemergence process the workers and the peasants the workers , Marx first analyzed the simplest, most ordinary the simplest, most and first analyzed , Marx Labor and capital Labor and In Capital In What is meant by the meant by What is As Lenin pointed out, Marx’s Capital gave a model analysis of this gave Capital As Lenin pointed out, Marx’s

14 13 12 20 this society in the [summation] of its individual parts,beginning its individual its of the [summation] in society this from to its end. contradictions) of modern society. The subsequent exposition shows us the us shows exposition subsequent The society. of modern contradictions) of these contradictions and of and movement) (both growth development modity) society, a relation encountered billions of times, viz. the exchange exchange the viz. times, of billions encountered relation a society, modity) of bour this very simple phenomenon (in this “cell” of commodities. In all the germs of (or the all the contradictions reveals geois society) analysis fundamental, most common and everyday relation of bourgeois (com everydayfundamental, most common and relation of things from beginning to end. This is the method that must be em beginning to end. This of things from Lenin, too, employed of all things. in studying the development ployed to it in all his writings. and adhered this method correctly movement of opposites, which runs through the process of development of development of opposites, which runs the process through movement process ends and the new The new contains newprocess one begins. process con history of contradic tradictions and begins its own of the development tions. with its constituent opposites yields to a newwith its constituent opposites yields unity with its constituent the old. The old emerges to replace a new process opposites, whereupon and absolute; it is present in the process of development of all things and of development in the process present and absolute; it is beginning to end. permeates every from process resolving this contradiction in the course of the advance from from of the advance in the course contradiction this resolving contradiction, kinds of The question is one of different to . is universal absence of contradiction. Contradiction or not of the presence the form of class struggle;the form of class gradually the course of socialist constructiona firm alliance in and are Union, there is a difference between workers and peasants and this veryand this and peasants workers between a difference is there Union, between although, unlike the contradiction is a contradiction, difference antagonism or assume it will not become intensified into labor and capital, is contradiction. is contradiction. yet had not the contradiction being, only at first came into the two classes Soviet the in existing conditions the social under intense. Even become School are anti-Marxist. This school does not understand that each and each that not understand does school This anti-Marxist. are School itself difference that and contradiction contains every already difference "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction workers inthecitiesgettingfoodatsubsidized costs,andthepeasantsin a classwithunifiedinterests. The resultinginterdependence –withthe worker- alliance,implementingpoliciesthatwouldunitethemas workers. Mao went togreat ofthe lengthstoemphasize theimportance movements there. aboutclassstruggle –todevelop histheory intheworker analysis,andparticipation was able–through observation, ital occurred with industrialization in Western Europe, which is why Marx tance –helpedsolidifythealliance. gettingsubsidized agriculturalinputsandtechnicalassis the countryside further intensifythecontradiction. Thisintensifying contradictionactually further italism’s “rational” response, that is, to more commodification, only serves sharpens, theconsequences ofalienatedlaboralsosharpen.However, cap of production andtheprivate nature ofownership. Asthiscontradiction has onlythrown itsinherent contradictionintosharperrelief. singlethinginhumansociety to commodifyandthenputupforsaleevery ther intocapitalistsocietythaninMarx’s orMao’s time.Capitalism’s drive with thegreat massesofthepeople. processbureaucratica new emerged–thatof classincontradiction tradictions were resolved (orwere intheprocess ofbeingresolved) when The inherent contradictionin capitalist production isthesocialnature 14 12 In China too The greatest intensification Aftertherevolutions The everyday , there were big contradictions between peasants and exchange ofcommoditieshaspermeatedmuchfur were wonintheUSSRandChina,manycon ofthecontradictionbetween laborandcap Chapter 2- The Universality ofContradiction 21 - - - - -

Comments 9 Lenin added, “Such must also be the method of exposition (or exposition of the method also be must “Such added, Lenin they only then will learn this method; communists must Chinese 16 15 22 revolution and infer its future. and infer revolution be able correctly to analyze the history to analyze the Chinese state of be able correctly and the present study) of dialectics in general.” study) of "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction to try toresolve thatcontradiction. to try the hegemonicstructure ofcapitalisteconomic development cameabout by lowering production costs.Thewholeglobalsupplychainthatisnow and selltheminforeign markets, somethingthatcouldonlybeachieved resolve the contradiction by increasing production to make cheaper goods markets couldnotafford tobuythecommoditiesitproduced, itsoughtto the limitsofnationalexpansionandreached apointwhere itsnational acts asthedrivingforce ofcapitalism.For instance,whencapitalismfaced Chapter 2- The Universality ofContradiction 23

Comments , ------knowledge of its forms of motion of its forms knowledge , every form of ideology, has its own particular own has its , everyform of ideology, The sciences are differentiated precisely on the basis of the particular the of basis the on precisely differentiated are sciences The First, the contradiction in each form of motion of matter has its par the contradiction in each form First, Contradiction is present in the process of development of all things; of development process in the is present Contradiction Every form of society Every 3 This problem should be studied on several levels. on several should be studied This problem 2 1 tradiction peculiar to a certain the object field of phenomena constitutes 24 contradiction and particular essence. Thus the con objects of study. in their respective contradictions inherent holds true not only for nature but also for social and ideological phenom but also for social and ideological holds true not only for nature ena. ciation, combination and so on. All these forms are interdependent, but in interdependent, these forms are ciation, combination and so on. All The particular the others. from essence of each its essence each is different particularThis contradiction. its own form of motion is determined by thing from another. It is the internal cause or, as it may be called, the basis be it may as or, is the internal cause It another. thing from of many forms are There the world. of things in for the immense variety disso heat, electricity, light, sound, motion, mechanical nature, in motion motion contains within itself its own particular contradiction. This particmotion contains within itself its own particularular contradiction constitutes the essence that distinguishes one what is particular to this form of motion of matter, namely, to observe the namely, what is particular of motion of matter, to this form Only this form of motion and other forms. between difference qualitative form of things. Every distinguish between done so can we have when we of matter, we must observe we with other the points that it has in common of matter, consti important what is especially and necessary, But of motion. forms of a thing, is to observe our knowledge tuting as it does the foundation of because there is nothing in this world except matter in motion and this matter in motion in this world except is nothing because there considering each form of motion motion must assume certainforms. In ticularity. Man’s knowledge of matter is of matter knowledge Man’s ticularity. end. This is the universality and absoluteness of contradiction, which we absoluteness of contradiction, which and universality end. This is the of particularitythe discuss us let relativity and Now above. discussed have contradiction. it permeates the process of development of each thing from beginning to beginning to of each thing from of development process it permeates the Chapter 3 Chapter ParticularityContradiction of The "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction differences inimperialistsocieties. and Chinainthegeneral sense, usingformsthataddress thevast (specific) mostly unsuccessfully:replicating thesocialistrevolutions oftheUSSR challenges thatrevolutionaries inimperialist countries have wrestled with eral sensebutdifferent inthespecificsense.Thisisfactoneof themain Consequently, takesisthesameingen theformthat theclassstruggle on itsown contradictionssuchasgeography, particular population,etc. society, thatcontradictionhasitsown specificcharacteristics,depending geoisie andtheproletariat. That’s theuniversal aspectofit. Yet inevery sciences; primarilyclassstruggle. in motion,althoughitissubmittedtodifferent forces thaninthe natural es inthequantumworld,etc.).In thesocialscienceshumanknowledge is tational forces orelectromagnetic forces forthelargerobjects,nuclearforc down anddecomposing. made upofcellsthatare puttogetheratthesametimetheyare breaking ofinanimateobjectsthataremotion, itceasestoexist.Thisiseven true In capitalistsociety every All matter in the universe is in motion because of different forces (gravi 2

Every singlething intheworldismotion–ifitnolonger themaincontradictionisbetween thebour Chapter 3- The ofContradiction Particularity 25 - - - -

Comments ------: one, from the : one, from two processes of cognition two processes When man attains the knowledge of this common essence, he uses it When man attains the knowledge As regards to the sequence in the movement of man’s knowledge, knowledge, of man’s to the sequence in the movement As regards 5 4 26 contradiction and the common essence of things, and that, on the other contradiction and the common essence of things, and that, on the this question is that, on the one hand, they do not understand that we have have they do not understand that we this question is that, on the one hand, the particularto study the particularity essence of contradiction and know of the universality can adequately know we of individual things before Thus cognition always moves in cycles and (so long as scientific method and (so long in cycles Thus cognition always moves higher step a knowledge human advances cycle each to) adhered strictly is our dogmatists err on Where profound. and more and so makes it more ing or petrifying. These are the ing or petrifying. These are the general to the particular. from particularthe other, to the general, and been studied, or studied thoroughly, and to discover the particular essence and to discover been studied, or studied thoroughly, his knowl enrich and develop of each; only thus is he able to supplement, wither from such knowledge prevent edge of their common essence and as a guide and proceeds to study various concrete things that have not yet not yet have that things concrete various study to proceeds and guide a as particular things to the knowledge of things in general. Only after man after of things in general. Only particularthings to the knowledge to proceed he can things particularthe different many of essence knows the common essence of things. generalization and know there is always a gradual growth from the knowledge of individual and the knowledge from is always a gradual growth there way of discovering the particular or particular cause basis for the move way of discovering one thing of a thing, and no way of distinguishing ment or development the fields of science. another or of demarcating from versal basis for the movement or development of things; however, unless of things; however, development or basis for the movement versal of determining no way study the particularity have we we of contradiction, no other things, it from the particular essence of a thing that differentiates and particular essence. Of course, unless we understand the universality of the universality understand and particularwe unless course, Of essence. cause or uni universal the no way of discovering have contradiction, we terialism, the metaphysical outlook and the dialectical outlook, in philos dialectical outlook, outlook and the the metaphysical terialism, branches of the objects of study of different all these are ophy; and so on – particular contradiction each branch has its own because science precisely negative electricity in physics; dissociation and combination in chemistry; combination in dissociation and in physics; electricity negative class struggle, classes and of production, and relations of production forces and defense in militaryscience; offense in social and ma science; idealism of study for a specific branch of science. For example, positive and negative negative and positive For example, of science. branch specific for a of study and positive in mechanics; reaction and action in mathematics; numbers "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction thing asacompletely separatephenomenon. leap togeneralknowledge, apersonisstuckin theparticular, seeingevery and differentiating itfrom otherkinds of animals. Without makingthe of recognizing a Golden Retriever as a dog, having never seen one before leap togeneralknowledge, thepersoncanmove knowledge toaparticular vidual animalstheyknow toageneralconceptof“dog.” Aftermakingthe and another, Dot thePitbull, canthepersonmakeleapfrom theindi named Floppy. Not untilthepersonseesanotherdog,Fluffy theCollie, creature,they justseetheobjectinfront ofthem,theparticular aBeagle “dog?” Thefirsttimeaperson seesadog,theyhave noconceptof “dog”; bound upinconceptionsofscientificmethod. For instance, how doesa person understandthegeneralconceptof 5

Both oftheseprocesses ofcognitionare typesofinductive reasoning, Chapter 3- The ofContradiction Particularity 27 - -

Comments , ------In Russia In Our dogmatists dogmatists Our . They refuse to undertake any painstaking study of concrete to undertakerefuse concrete study of any painstaking . They Qualitatively different contradictions can only be resolved by qual resolved can only be contradictions different Qualitatively It is necessaryis particularthe study to only not the and contradiction It 7 6 28 Revolution, as well as between the methods used to resolve them. The used to resolve the methods as between as well Revolution, and the methods of resolving contradictions differ accordingly. differ accordingly. contradictions and the methods of resolving by resolved the contradiction between was a fundamental difference there the October by and the contradiction resolved Revolution the February the contradiction between society and nature is resolved by the method of by is resolved nature society and the contradiction between old and processes old change, Processes forces. productive the developing new new and contradictions emerge, processes contradictions disappear, lectivization and mechanization in agriculture; contradiction within the agriculture; lectivization and mechanization in self-criticism; and of criticism method the by is resolved Party Communist tradiction between the colonies and imperialism is resolved by the method the method by is resolved the colonies and imperialism tradiction between class the working of national revolutionary war; the contradiction between the method of col by is resolved and the peasant class in socialist society proletariat and the bourgeoisie is resolved by the method of socialist rev by and the bourgeoisie is resolved proletariat masses of the people and the great the olution; the contradiction between the con revolution; the method of democratic by feudal system is resolved itatively different methods. For instance, the contradiction between the between For instance, the contradiction methods. different itatively matter. In every form of motion, each process of development that is real real is that every development of process each motion, of form In matter. emphasize Our study must (and not imaginary) different. is qualitatively and start this point. from of matter, but also to study the particular but also to study the the essence of contradiction and of matter, of motion of of each form course of development in the long each process knowledge. of every the forms of motion system of great thereby essence determined in cognition – from the particular the gen in cognition – from and then from to the general Marxist theory understand nothing of the They of eral to the particular. them into purely abstract unfathomable formulas, and thereby complete thereby and formulas, unfathomable abstract purely into them to know which man comes sequence by the normal ly deny and reverse two processes of the do they understand the interconnection truth. Nor yet been thoroughly studied or have only just emerged. only just emerged. have studied or been thoroughly yet lazybones are truths general turn they out of the void, as emerging regard things, they hand, they do not understand that after knowing the common essence of essence common the knowing that after not understand they do hand, not that have things go further must we things, the concrete and study "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction without thinking about its effect on the people with whom they are trying without thinkingaboutitseffectonthepeoplewithwhomtheyare trying did –withoutunderstandingwhythePeruvians madethatdecisionand ature beprintedinred, becausethatiswhatthePeruvian revolutionaries instance, someorganizationsgosofarasmandatingthatalloftheirliter in imperialist countries. For to apply it to their idea of struggle cepts, try it was defeated by con the 1990s) and, without examining the particular revolution asthemostmilitant,Reddest, Maoist (even though struggle Peruvian revolution. Dogmatists takeasageneralconceptthePeruvian tacticsandstrategiesofthe Left isthewholesaleadoptionofparticular in thecenterswhere imperialism originates. olution canresolve thecontradictionsbrought by current dayimperialism revolutionaries inimperialistcountrieshave yet toprove how socialistrev global contradictions that impacted Marx’s original formulations. Today, China proved thatthe advance ofcapitalism to imperialism developed new production wouldbethemostripeforsocialistrevolution, Russia and tions previously resolved by socialistrevolution in thepast. contradiction isafundamentallydifferent onethananyofthecontradic try, becausealthoughthemethodissame–socialistrevolution –the tradiction between theproletariat andthebourgeoisieinacapitalistcoun to communicateintheirown countries. While Marx predicted thatsocietieswithcompletecapitalistmodesof 7 One ofthemostextreme

Revolutionaries inimperialistcountries examplesofdogmatisminthemodernday Chapter 3- The ofContradiction Particularity have yet toresolve thecon 29 ------

Comments ------arbi , there exist the , there , which only causes setbacks to the revolution or setbacks to the revolution , which only causes the conditions are exceedingly complex exceedingly the conditions are There are many contradictions in the course of development of any of development many contradictions in the course are There In order to reveal the particularitythe pro any in the contradictions of reveal to order In 9 8 30 two are both interdependent and in contradiction, and also after the in both interdependent two are specific position each aspect occupies, what concrete forms it assumes in what concrete specific position each aspect occupies, and in its contradiction with its opposite, and what its interdependence in the struggle with its opposite, when the employed methods are concrete connections, but should also study the two aspects of each contradiction connections, but should also study speak of un When we the totality. as the only means of understanding mean understanding what we derstanding each aspect of a contradiction, are engaged in the Chinese revolution should not only understand the understand only not should revolution Chinese the in engaged are is, in their inter that particularity in their totality, of these contradictions dictions cannot be treated in the same way since each has its own partic way since each has its own in the same dictions cannot be treated the two aspects of each contradiction cannot be treated ularity; moreover, who We characteristics. own has its aspect since each way the same in the contradiction between the peasantrythe contradiction between and the urban petit bourgeoi the contradiction on the other, sie on the one hand and the bourgeoisie reactionary the various ruling and so on. These contra between groups perialism, the contradiction between the great masses of the people and the great perialism, the contradiction between and the bourgeoisie, the proletariat feudalism, the contradiction between major thing. For instance, in the course of China’s bourgeois-democratic bourgeois-democratic instance, in the course of China’s major thing. For where revolution, classes in Chinese society and im all the oppressed contradiction between cess. This likewise requires the utmost attention in our study. the utmost requires cess. This likewise that is, in order to reveal the essence of the process, it is necessary of the process, the essence to reveal to reveal that is, in order the particularityin that aspects of each of the contradictions of the two of the pro the essence otherwiseprocess; it will be impossible to discover cess in the development of a thing, in their totality or interconnections, interconnections, or totality their in thing, of a development in the cess invariably adopt what they imagine to be an unalterable formula and formula to be an unalterable what they imagine adopt invariably trarily apply it everywhere makes a sorry done. what was originally well mess of observe in dif differ conditions that not understand do they principle; this methods different understand that and so do not revolution kinds of ferent they on the contrary, contradictions; different used to resolve should be principle of using different methods to resolve different contradictions is contradictions different resolve to methods different of using principle observe. strictly must that Marxist-Leninists one do not dogmatists The "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction mulas from thepast. for tomechanicallyapply what theyseeastriedandtrue errors by trying of people’s actionsbasedontheiropposingclassinterests. olution’s advance orretreat, he hadanobjective waytoanticipateagroup analysis ofthedifferent contradictionsthat were thecausebehind rev to guessbasedonhissubjective feelings.But withthiskindofsystematic why different groups ofpeopleacted indifferent ways andwould have had different contradictions,itwouldhave beenimpossibleforhimtoknow (and manymore) thathelisted. Without athorough understandingofthe cratic revolution, Mao hadtotakeintoaccountallofthecontradictions 9 As describedabove

In analyzingacomplexsituation , moderndaydogmatistsare stillstuckinthesame Chapter 3- suchasChina’s bourgeois-demo The ofContradiction Particularity 31 - - -

Comments ------they never never they , one-sidedness he was referring to he was referring 11 , Song Jiang thrice at Jiang , Song subjectivity , and in their writings and their writings and , and in , and so they often run into of the Tang Dynasty also understood also Dynasty Tang the of 12 Twice he was defeated because he was ignorant of the Twice Shuihu Zhuan [Water Margin] Zhuan [Water Shuihu 13 look at problems one-sidedly look at problems Our dogmatists have violated Lenin’s teachings; Lenin’s violated have dogmatists Our 10 In studying a problem, we must shun we a problem, studying In 10 32 od; first he investigated the situation, and he familiarized himself with the the situation, and he familiarized od; first he investigated snags. In the novel the novel snags. In tacked Zhu Village. method. Later he changed his meth local conditions and used the wrong be enlightened, heed only one side and you will be benighted.” But our But will be benighted.” and you be enlightened, heed only one side comrades often can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat,” battles with no danger can fight a hundred Zheng Wei battle. a in sides two the will when he said, “Listen to both sides and you of one-sidedness the error accomplish the tasks of the revolution, to carry or to accomplish the tasks of the revolution, out assignments well said in Tzu When Sun ideological struggle correctly. inner-Party develop and you yourself, discussing military the enemy and know science, “Know not the whole, seeing the trees but not the forest. That way it is impos the forest. but not not the whole, seeing the trees a contradiction, it is impossible to resolving sible to find the method for revolutionary work and so on. In a word, it means not to understand the a word, and so on. In revolutionary work by we mean contradiction. This is what characteristics of both aspects of a it may be called seeing the part Or but one-sidedly. looking at a problem only the past but not the future, only individual parts only individual but not the whole, only the past but not the future, case but only the plaintiff’s only the defects but not the achievements, but not open revolutionary work only underground not the defendant’s, only the proletariat but not the bourgeoisie, only the peasants but not but not the bourgeoisie, only the only the proletariat but not the difficult ones, conditions only the favorable the landlords, I have discussed this in my essay “On Practice.” To be one-sided means one-sided be To Practice.” “On essay in my this discussed I have to understand only Chi for example, all-sidedly, not to look at problems not the Kuomintang, but Party only the Communist na but not Japan, and superficiality. To be subjective means not to look at problems objec means not to look at problems To be subjective and superficiality. viewpointmaterialist the use to not is, that problems. at looking in tively, speeches they always use stereotypes devoid of content, thereby creating a creating thereby of content, devoid stereotypes they always use speeches very Party. in our of work bad style Marxism, the living soul of Marxism, is the concrete analysis of concrete analysis of concrete concrete is the Marxism, living soul of the Marxism, conditions. concretely anything brains to analyze use their terdependence breaks down. It is of great importance prob these to study is of great It down. breaks terdependence in thing essential the most that he said this when just Lenin meant lems. "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction People’s Wa withtheirwork asidefrom shouting,“Longlivebeginning intheircountry and how itmanifeststoday?Andwhatisthepathtodefeatingimperialism or shoutstheseslogansprovide aclearexplanationofwhatimperialismis one thingtosay, “Down withimperialism!”But whowrites caneveryone resorting torhetoricandsloganeeringratherthanconcrete analysis.It’s ideology. of Trotsky’s publications after his exile in order to clearly understand his of thosewhoopposedtheirline.Stalin, forexample,carefully studiedeach Mao theycouldtounderstandthethinkingandanalysis read everything and therefore defend their own line. In contrast, Marx, Engels, Lenin and they willdisagree with,whichleadstoareal inabilitytodeeplyunderstand it. Dogmatists oftenfallintothetrapofnotreading anythingtheythink it, itsideology, tacticsandoverall strategy, we have nohopeofdefeating rience isthemeasure oftruth. that theirpriorconceptionsare correct andthattheirown personalexpe individual doesnotdothorough socialinvestigation andinsteadassumes and guesswork. Subjectivism iscommonandcanbedevastating whenan Hating theenemy 10 This phenomenon

Subjectivism r!” isbasedonfeelings,faith,superstition,assumptions occursregularly in modern times withorganizations isnotenough.If we dosowithout understanding Chapter 3- The ofContradiction Particularity 33 -

Comments - - - - means to con To be superficial To , of which the episode of the three attacks on the three the episode of , of which 14 Shuihu Zhuan Shuihu The fundamental contradiction in the process of development of development The fundamental contradiction in the process Not only does the whole process of the movement of opposites in of opposites of the movement only does the whole process Not We should remember his words. words. his should remember We Lenin said: ...[I]n order really to know an object we must embrace, an object we to know really order Lenin said: ...[I]n 14 13 12 11 34 tal contradiction will not disappear until the process is completed; but completed; is process the until disappear not will contradiction tal of a thing and the essence of the process determined by this fundamen by determined the process of and the essence thing of a the aspects, have particular features to which we must give attention, but attention, but must give to which we particularthe aspects, have features give must to which we has its particulareach stage in the process features attention too. the development of a thing, both in their interconnections and in each of interconnections of a thing, both in their the development really are some people only look at things one-sidedly or superficially and some people only look at things one-sidedly are really nor their inner laws, and so their neither their interconnections who know method is subjectivist. things. To be one-sided and superficial is at the same time to be subjective. to be subjective. be one-sided and superficial is at the same time To things. by governed and are actually interconnected things are all objective For things as they inner laws, but instead of undertaking the task of reflecting the dogmatist and empiricist comrades in China have made mistakes lies made mistakes comrades in China have the dogmatist and empiricist and superficial way of looking at in their subjectivist, one-sided precisely ing the rough outline, immediately to try outline, immediately to the contradiction (to ing the rough to resolve a military or direct work, a question, settle a dispute, handle op answer reason The is bound to lead to trouble. eration). This way of doing things characteristics of each of its aspects; it means to deny the necessity for each of its aspects; it means to characteristics of characteristics of a thing and minutely studying the deeply into probing glimps after and, afar from look to merely instead but contradiction, its sider neither the characteristics of a contradiction in its totality nor the characteristics of a contradiction sider neither the study, all its sides, all connections and “mediations.” We shall never achieve achieve shall never We and “mediations.” all its sides, all connections study, against for all-sidedness is a safeguard but the demand this completely, mistakes and rigidity. Zhu Village is one of the best. is one of the Village Zhu using a stratagem similar to that of the Trojan Horse in the foreign story. story. in the foreign Horse Trojan to that of the similar using a stratagem of materialist many examples are There occasion he won. third And on the in dialectics maze of roads, then he broke up the alliance between the Li, Hu and Zhu and Hu Li, the between alliance the up broke he then roads, of maze wait, to lie in camp enemy into the in disguise men sent his and Villages "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction as aresult. gains withoutanyfundamentalchange–andbecomeeasilydemoralized the State islargelyunaffectedormakesmall ourefforts, easilycrushes tive analysisofwhyandhow thoseinjusticespersist,are surprisedwhen tries. We ourcampaignsagainstinjusticeswithoutobjec oftenconstruct 12

This isanother commonproblem withactivistsinimperialistcoun Chapter 3- The ofContradiction Particularity 35 - -

Comments ------has fun proletarian leadership proletarian Take the process of China’s bourgeois-democratic revolution, revolution, bourgeois-democratic China’s of the process Take For instance, when the capitalism of the era of free competition free of era the of capitalism the when instance, For 16 15 36 cratic revolution to the socialist revolution and so on. None of these was and so on. None to the socialist revolution cratic revolution new alignment of classes, given rise to a tremendous upsurge in the peasant to a tremendous new rise alignment of classes, given against imperialism imparted to the revolution thoroughness revolution, the demo the possibility of the transition from and feudalism, created the revolution in its period of proletarian leadership represent two vastly two vastly leadership represent in its period of proletarian the revolution In other words, historical stages. different about a has brought of the revolution, damentally changed the whole face which began with the Revolution of 1911; it, too, has several distinct stag of 1911; it, too, has several which began with the Revolution leadership and in its period of bourgeois the revolution particular, es. In correctly formulated the theory and tactics of the proletarian revolution formulated the theorycorrectly revolution and tactics of the proletarian for their resolution. the Marxism of the era of imperialism and proletarian revolution precisely precisely revolution era of imperialism and proletarian of the the Marxism explained these contradictions and correctly have because Lenin and Stalin contradiction among the capitalist countries resulting from their uneven uneven their from resulting countries capitalist the among contradiction particularmanifested itself with development sharpness, and thus there is the stage of imperialism. Leninism the special stage of capitalism, arose tradiction between these two classes became intensified, the contradiction contradiction the intensified, became classes two these between tradiction capital emerged, the contradic monopoly and non-monopoly between and the colonies became intensified, the colonial powers the tion between the two classes in fundamental contradiction, namely, the proletariat and the proletariat fundamental contradiction, namely, the two classes in the con however, or in the capitalist essence of society; the bourgeoisie, thing, they cannot deal with its contradictions properly. thing, they cannot of class nature was no change in the there into imperialism, developed and some new ones emerge; hence the process is marked by stages. If peo stages. If by is marked and some new ones emerge; hence the process a of development of to the stages in the process ple do not pay attention In addition, among the numerous major and minor contradictions that contradictions major and minor the numerous addition, among In some be- by the fundamental contradiction, determined or influenced are or mitigated, resolved temporarily or partially some are come intensified, process of development of a thing and the essence of the process remain remain of the process and the essence of a thing of development process in more and becomes more contradiction the fundamental unchanged, process. in the lengthy one stage to another as it passes from tensified in a lengthy process the conditions usually differ at each stage. The rea The stage. at each differ usually conditions the process lengthy in a the in contradiction the fundamental of the nature is that, although son "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction puppets orbeforced togive upChinaasanationaltogether. been subverted astheircolonial by imperialistsandeithermadetorule forces towingenuinenationaldemocracy. Asaresult, theywouldhave dead end. The national bourgeoisie wastoo weak towithstand imperialist 16

Without proletarian leadership Chapter 3- therevolution inChinawasata The ofContradiction Particularity 37

Comments ------, how in De , the estab of the land After 1927 the first national united national first the the Xian Incident confiscation of the land confiscation the Agrarian Revolutionary War the Agrarian Revolutionary For instance, consider the Kuomintang and the Communist Party. and the Communist Party. instance, consider the Kuomintang For In studying the particularities contradictions at each stage of the In and the revolution of 1924-27, the breakup of the united front and front united the of breakup the 1924-27, of revolution the and 18 17 war and cooperating with the Communist Party for joint opposition to war and cooperating with the Communist Party 38 ever, the Kuomintang changed into its opposite and became a reactionary the Kuomintang ever, and big bourgeoisie. After bloc of the landlords of ending the civil cember 1936, it began another change in the direction with Russia, cooperation with the Communist Party and assistance to the and assistance Party with the Communist cooperation with Russia, was an it hence it was revolutionary and vigorous, peasants and workers; revolution. classes for the democratic alliance of various Take one aspect, the Kuomintang. In the period of the first united front, of the first united front, the period In one aspect, the Kuomintang. Take Policies of alliance Great Three Yat-sen’s carried out Sun the Kuomintang in their interconnections or their totality, we must also examine the two must also examine we or their totality, in their interconnections aspects of each contradiction. in the process of development of a thing, we must not only observe of a thing, we development them of in the process lords), and the emergence of yet other contradictions (e.g., the conflicts other contradictions and the emergence of yet lords), the after land the of recapture landlords’ the and newthe among warlords, in the south). loss of our revolutionary base areas partial or temporary of other contradictions (e.g., the destruc resolution our and warlords tion of the Northern Against Japan. These stages are marked by particular features such as the such as the by particular features marked These stages are Against Japan. Revolutionary certain of intensification Agrarian the (e.g., contradictions the four northeastern the of invasion provinces), the Japanese and War lishment of the second national united front and the War of Resistance of Resistance War and the national united front lishment of the second the desertion of the bourgeoisie to the side of the counterrevolution, the the desertion the counterrevolution, of the bourgeoisie to the side of wars among the new warlords, gime of the Northern warlords, the formation of formation the warlords, the Northern of gime front has passed through several stages of development in the course of more of more in the course of development stages several through has passed place taken have events this time many great during years; than twenty of the re establishment the of 1911 and of the Revolution – the failure contradiction in the process as a whole, i.e., in the anti-imperialist, an in the anti-imperialist, as a whole, i.e., in the process contradiction opposite of (the of the process democratic-revolutionaryti-feudal, nature this process nonetheless and semi-feudal nature), its semi-colonial which is possible in the period when the revolution was under bourgeois leadership. leadership. under bourgeois was revolution when the period in the possible fundamental of the nature in the place has taken change no Although "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction when theKMTwasledby ChiangKai-shek.Thatfront wasbroken up the onlyones fightingthe Japanese, there wasa real dangerthat China to kill of the communists, and the communists weretionalists kept trying order todrive theJapanese outofChina;they recognized thatifthena kidnapped ChiangKai-shek toforce himtounitewiththecommunistsin of communists. senting theinterests ofthebigbourgeoisie,whichcarriedoutslaughter repre andchangeditfrom anationalistalliancetoparty nationalist party tributed tothepeasants. held Liberated Areas, where the land was seized from landlords and redis their lives tofightforthepromise of“landtothetiller.” forthecommunists: thepeasantswhoweresupport ready tolaydown when Chiangpurgedandkilledthecommunists. The Xian Incident 18 The confiscation ofland The Agrarian Revolutionary War The firstunited front

After Sun Yat-Sen’s death in 1927 refers totheconfrontation where twoKMTgenerals wasbetween thecommunistsandnationalists refers to the Land Reform in the communist Chapter 3- refers tothefoundationofmass , Chiang Kai-shek took over the The ofContradiction Particularity 39 - - -

Comments ------of , the Kuomintang , the Kuomintang In the present period present the In both these sets of features both these sets of features anti-Communist war anti-Communist Without studying Without , which brought about very about losses both , which brought great with the Communist Party, the Kuomintang the Kuomintang with the Communist Party, , which appeared during the latter part of this revolution, the latter part during of this revolution, , which appeared first cooperation adventurist errors adventurist 40 thereby intensified its contradictions with them. with contradictions its intensified thereby stands in contradiction to Japanese the Kuomintang war, the anti-Japanese collaborated with imperialism and feudalism against the great masses of feudalism against the great collaborated with imperialism and and the people and wiped out all the gains they had won in the revolution, of the people within the country – although in words it promised many many countrythe promised within it people the of words in although – In nothing. or little them gave it fact in people, working the to benefits the carried on when it the period period of its anti-im and was therefore imperialism stood in contradiction to foreign masses in contradiction to the great perialist; on the other hand, it stood sis of the two parties and the resultant contradictions that have arisen be contradictions that have sis of the two parties and the resultant For instance, in the periods. each party at different tween and other forces of a united front, the break-up of the united front, and the establishment front, of the united the break-up of a united front, fundamental for the study of more What is even of another united front. of the two partiesthe particular is the examination of the class ba features arisen from a variety of causes. a variety arisen from the two parties between cannot understand the particularwe relations establishment the namely, development, their of stages various the during acquired a wealth of experience. Such have been the particular features of been the particular have features Such of experience. a wealth acquired too, have stages. These features, in the three the Chinese Communist Party errors and has been leading the new united front for resistance to Japan; to Japan; resistance for leading the newbeen and has front united errors stage, the Commu the present At developing. struggle is now this great and the test of two that has gone through is a Party nist Party created the revolutionary army and revolutionary base areas; however, it however, the revolutionary revolutionary army and base areas; created committed these has corrected 1935 the Party Since the base areas. to the army and to to assert itself and bring about the defeat of the revolution. After 1927, the to assertrevolution. of the and bring about the defeat itself and War the Agrarian Revolutionary courageously led Communist Party revealed its immaturity in its understanding of the character, the tasks and the tasks character, of the in its understanding its immaturity revealed it became possible for and consequently revolution, the methods of the -ism a variety of causes. Now take the other aspect, the Chinese Communist Chinese Communist other aspect, the take the causes. Now of a variety Par the Chinese Communist united front, period of the first the In Party. but of 1924-27 the revolution led its infancy; it courageously ty was in Japanese imperialism. Such have been the particular features of the Kuo of the particular been have features Such imperialism. Japanese from arisen have features these course, Of stages. three in the mintang "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction in the materialreality of the masses. Rather than acting on the objective defeat. resulted from itledtothecommunistssufferingdevastating defeatafter olution wastheworkers. His wrong analysisandthepolitical line that uated theincorrect classanalysisthatthemainforce oftheChineserev would ceasetoexistasanation. heart, and also that in recent history they had slaughtered and also that in recent their comrades, heart, history aside thefact thattheKMTdidnot have the interests ofthe peopleat principle contradiction, the communists had to both remember and put position towinthesubsequent civilwar. letting thecommunistsdo mostofthefighting,inorder tobeinabetter nese, theystilldidwhatcouldtoweaken thecommunists, including killing over 80percent ofthemembers. the leadershipofSun Yat-Sen. king. threat to their class, so they turned into their opposite and restored the the revolution asectionofthebourgeoisiesawthatpeasantsposed against theking.However, thekingwasquicklyrestored becauseafter tion, there wasaunitedfront between thebourgeoisieandpeasants tion toadvancing therevolution. andintegrationasanecessitythefounda ing toseetheirparticipation ahead ofthemassesintheiractions,fail united inaction,adventurists run conditions andmaterialreality ofwhatisactuallypossibleandwhocanbe In correctly identifyingtheJapanese imperialist threat asthemainor Although theKMT This refers to Here Mao In anotherhistoricalexample Adventurist errors Chen Duxiu wastalkingaboutthetimeperiodwhenKMT was under was one of the Communist Party’s founders and perpet thetimeperiod when theKMTpurged the communists, are errors thatare madebecausetheyare notbased joinedwiththecommunistsinopposingJapa , inthebeginningofFrench Revolu Chapter 3- The ofContradiction Particularity 41 ------

Comments ------alliance between the the alliance between and now in struggle between them, and even during the peri in struggle and even them, between and now Marx and Engels were the first to provide us with excellent models us with excellent to provide the first were and Engels Marx in things applied the law of contradiction and Engels When Marx It can thus be seen that in studying the particularity in studying seen that can thus be kind of of any It 21 20 19 42 ferent kinds of class society. ferent its superstructure (politics, ideology, etc.), and they discovered how these how etc.), and they discovered (politics, ideology, its superstructure in dif revolution kinds of social lead to different inevitably contradictions tion between the productive forces and the relations of production, they of production, and the relations forces the productive tion between the exploiting and exploited class the contradiction between discovered the economic base and contradiction between es and also the resultant to the study of the socio-historical process, they discovered the contradic they discovered process, to the study of the socio-historical tions. analysis. of such concrete can be no knowledge of the particularity of any contradiction. We must We of the particularity of any contradiction. can be no knowledge condi analysis of concrete the concrete words, Lenin’s always remember cess, and the two aspects of the contradiction at each stage – in studying cess, and the two aspects of the contradiction and the particularity must not be subjective we of all these contradictions, analysis there concrete Without arbitrary it concretely. but must analyze contradiction – the contradiction in each form of motion of matter, the in each form of motion of matter, contradiction – the contradiction the two aspects of of development, contradiction in each of its processes contradiction at each stage of a pro the the contradiction in each process, parties. and struggle. If we do not study the particular features of both aspects both of particularthe study not do features struggle. and we If of the relations shall fail to understand not only we of the contradiction, two the between each partyrelations the but also other forces, the with two parties alliance been a complicated state of simultaneous has ods of alliance there has adopted a moderate policy towards the Kuomintang and the domestic and the domestic the Kuomintang towards a moderate policy has adopted of resisting itself in favor has pressed the Kuomintang because feudal forces in resulted now have circumstances The above Japan. or its oppression of them. As for the Communist Party, it has always, in it has Party, the Communist of them. As for or its oppression every imperial of the people against masses with the great period, stood it war, the anti-Japanese period of the present feudalism, but in ism and imperialism and wants cooperation with the Communist Party, without without Party, Communist the with cooperation wants and imperialism the people and struggle its Party Communist against the relaxing however "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction unity andactingaccordingly, thewarwouldhave beenlost. agreement withoutanalyzingthecomplicatedcontradictionswithinthat all by Chiang Kai-Shek. However, if the CCP had blindly followed this cally putunderthecommandofKMTandwarwasdirected over taken over Chinaandwouldhave becomeaJapanese colony. identify the principle contradiction, the Japanese likely would have very families andfriends.If thecommunistshadnotbeenabletocorrectly At thetimeofUnited Front Chapter 3- , thecommunistsoldierswere techni The ofContradiction Particularity 43 - -

Comments ------and the The Founda The in individual in individual social character of production social character organized character of production organized , it manifests itself in the contradiction between in the contradiction between , it manifests itself , he analyzed the international situation in which Lenin , he analyzed Since the particular and since the uni universal is united with the Since Because the range of things is vast and there is no limit to their de is no limit to their and there things is vast of the range Because When Marx applied this law to the study of the economic structure structure economic of the the study law to this applied Marx When 24 23 22 44 culmination under imperialism, and showed how these contradictions how culmination under imperialism, and showed explained the historical roots of Leninism in his famous work, in his famous work, of Leninism explained the historical roots tions of Leninism their those contradictions of capitalism that reached analyzed ism arose, interconnection, to discover both particularity and also and universality to discover interconnection, the inter and to discover itself, within the object their interconnection When Stalin many objects outside it. connections of this object with the thing, universality residing in particularity, we should, when studying we in particularity, residing thing, universality particular both the and their an object, try and the universal to discover class society in general. in every as the particularity as well of contradiction is inherent versality contradictions in capitalist society, Marx gave a still more profound, more more profound, a still more gave Marx contradictions in capitalist society, of the contra of the universality complete elucidation adequate and more in of production relations and the forces the productive diction between society as a whole is concerned, it constitutes the particularitysociety as a whole is concerned, it of contra the course of dissecting the particularity in all these of diction. However, But this contradiction of capitalism belongs only to a certain only to a belongs of capitalism this contradiction historical But the contradic as far as society; class of development stage in the general in class of production and the relations forces the productive tion between of production and the private ownership of the means of production is the means of production of ownership private and the of production as far as capitalism exists and develops; where common to all countries of contradiction. the universality capitalism is concerned, this constitutes Conversely, what is particular in anoth becomes universal in one context Conversely, the social character system between in the capitalist The contradiction er. the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. the bourgeoisie and particularbecomes context one in another. in universal is what velopment, enterprises and the anarchic character of production in society as a whole. whole. a as society in production of character anarchic the and enterprises terms of class relations In ety is the contradiction between the contradiction between ety is the the in itself manifests contradiction This ownership. of character private the between contradiction of capitalist society, he discovered that the basic contradiction of this soci of this that the basic contradiction discovered he society, of capitalist "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction in termsofthewholesociety, thepurposeofBoeing’s planningisnotto organized intermsofproduction, marketing, salesandinvestment. But also largersocietytoeducate,feed,houseandsocialize theworkers. the planes(and weapons) requires notjust the large groups of workers, but Boeing isowned by asmallnumberofmajorstockholders,butmaking ual (orinamoderndaycorporation,Board ofDirectors). For instance, ship, andthegainstobemadefrom ownership, isrelegated totheindivid ets, etc.). case, notnecessarilybuyingtheplanesthemselves, butbuying planetick not havingenoughmoneytopurchase thethingstheyproduce (in this increasing amountsofsurplusvalue from worker laborresults inworkers priated by thebourgeoisiefrom theproletariat asprofit. which they can sell it. That difference is called surplus value and is appro money thatBoeingputsintoeachplaneisfarless thantheamountfor geoisie extractsthesurplusvalue tomakeprofit. Thewagesandallofthe several planeskilledhundreds ofpeople. safety features asoptional extra cost purchases. The resulting crashing of when theyproduced high-techmodernplanes,but soldthemwithcritical ing over its market share. This results in thesituation leading up to 2019 topreventstant drive forhigherprofits, anothercompanyfrom trying tak corporation exists in competition with other plane manufacturers in a con provide enoughhighquality, efficientandsafeplanesforthepeople. The Crisis incapitalismoccursoftenwhenthedrive forprofit toextract That is,theproletariat To continue 22

Producing anything with the same example, Boeing, as a corporation, is highly sellsitslaboratthemarket rate,andthebour toscalerequires socialengagement.But owner Chapter 3- The ofContradiction Particularity 45 ------

Comments ------The relationship between the universality and the particularity the and of universality the between relationship The On the question of using dialectics in the study of objective phe using dialectics in the study of objective the question of On 26 25 46 character arises. All individual character exists conditionally and temporar exists conditionally All individual character character arises. individual character; without individual character there can be no general can be no general there character individual character; without individual what general character removed, individual character were all If character. is because each contradiction is particular that individual It would remain? tradiction is to deny everything. truth This is a universal for all times and the abso character, the general Hence all countries, without exception. character is contained in every this general luteness of contradiction. But tradiction exists in and runs through all processes from beginning to end; from tradiction exists in and runs all processes through deny con To contradictions. all are thinking – motion, things, processes, contradiction is the relationship between the general character and` the and` character the general between relationship is the contradiction con that mean we former the By contradiction. of character individual get anything right. We must take warning from their failure and learn to their failure warning from must take We get anything right. study. one in which is the only correct this attitude, acquire cover their concrete contradictions, the concrete position of each aspect of position contradictions, the concrete their concrete cover contradictions. the of inter-relations everyconcrete the and contradiction can never this attitude in study and therefore dogmatists do not have Our nomena, Marx and Engels, and likewise Lenin and Stalin, always enjoin and likewise Lenin and Stalin, and Engels, nomena, Marx arbitraryand subjective way any in be concrete to the not people from but, of these phenomena, to dis movement conditions in the actual objective contradiction and their interconnection. contradiction and the theory and tactics of proletarian revolution and how the universality the universality and how the theory revolution of proletarian and tactics analysis provides Stalin’s is contained in this particularity. of contradiction understanding the particularityus with a model for of and the universality same time analyzed the particularity of tsarist Russian imperialism within the particularity same time analyzed of tsarist Russian became the birthplace of why Russia showing this general contradiction, of the international revolutionary proletariat. Thus, Stalin analyzed the Stalin analyzed Thus, revolutionaryof the international proletariat. is the why Leninism in imperialism, showing of contradiction universality the and at revolution, proletarian and imperialism era of the of Marxism he analyzed the reasons why Russia became the cradle of Leninism, why Leninism, why the cradle of became why Russia the reasons he analyzed of imperialism, of all the contradictions the focus became tsarist Russia become the vanguard to proletariat the Russian it was possible for and why made proletarian revolution a matter for immediate action and created created and action immediate for a matter revolution proletarian made more, What is on capitalism. onslaught a direct for conditions favorable "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction Chapter 3- The ofContradiction Particularity 47

Comments - This truth concerning general and individual character, concerning concerning truthThis character, individual and general concerning 27 48 absoluteness and relativity, is the quintessence of the problem of contra of the problem is the quintessence and relativity, absoluteness to abandoning is tantamount it to understand failure things; in diction dialectics. ily, and hence is relative. hence is and ily, "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction Chapter 3- The ofContradiction Particularity 49

Comments ------against such a coun imperialism launches a war of aggression

When In a semi-colonial country between In as China, the relationship such For instance, in capitalist society the two forces in contradiction, the two forces instance, in capitalist society For There are many contradictions in the process of development of a of development of process the in contradictions many are There There are still two points in the problem of the particularity the problem still two points in of con are There 5 4 3 2 1

50 the principal contradiction and the non-principal contradictions presents non-principal contradictions presents the principal contradiction and the a complicated picture. between imperialism and the colonies, are all determined or influenced by all determined or influenced and the colonies, are imperialism between this principal contradiction. sie, between the proletariat and the peasant petit bourgeoisie, between the and the peasant petit bourgeoisie, between the proletariat sie, between bour monopoly capitalists, between non-monopoly capitalists and the among the capitalist countries and geois democracy and bourgeois fascism, the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, form the principal contradiction. The and the bourgeoisie, form the proletariat feudal class and the remnant between other contradictions, such as those petit bourgeoisie and the bourgeoi the peasant the bourgeoisie, between and development of the other contradictions. and development complex thing, and one of them is necessarily the principal contradiction principal necessarily the of them is one thing, and complex the existence determines or influences and development whose existence tradiction that must be singled out for analysis, namely, the principal con the principal be singled out for analysis, namely, tradiction that must principal aspect of a contradiction. tradiction and the egated to a secondary and subordinate position. So it was in China in the egated to a secondary position. So and subordinate Yihetuan the and 1894 of War Sino-Japanese the 1840, of War Opium in the country what was the principal contradiction, between (including temporarily rel masses of the people) are the feudal system and the great in a national war against imperialism. At such a time, the contradiction At in a national war against imperialism. imperialism and the countrybetween concerned becomes the principal classes with while all the contradictions among the various contradiction, try, all its various classes, except for some traitors, can temporarily unite classes, except all its various try, cipal Aspectcipal of a Contradiction Chapter 4 Chapter Prin the and Contradiction Principal The "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction between imperialismand theChinesenation. (temporarily) totheone atthetime,itbecame secondary was primary contradiction incapitalism between thebourgeoisieandproletariat the bourgeoisie and the proletariat once again. Thus, though the universal contradictionbecame theonebetween threat wasdefeated,theprimary because oncetheimperialist the proletariat. Theunitywastemporary anese aggression uniteddifferent classes,includingthebourgeoisieand Chapter 4-The Principal Contradictionandthe Principal AspectofaContradiction 5

This wasthecase inChinaduring WWII whenthewaragainstJap 51 -

Comments ------the present Sino-Jap the present rather than direct ac than direct rather the revolutionary front. . imperialism often employs indirect methods indirect often employs imperialism Hence, if in any process there are a number of contradictions, one are there if in any process Hence, But whatever happens, there is no doubt at all that at every there happens, stage in whatever But When a revolutionary civil war develops to the point of threaten a revolutionaryWhen civil war develops But in another situation, the contradictions change position. When position. change situation, the contradictions in another But 9 8 7 6 52 cisive role, while the rest occupy a secondary position. while the rest role, and subordinate cisive of them must be the principal contradiction playing the leading and de of them must be the principal contradiction playing the leading and the development of a process, there is only one principal contradiction principal is only one there a process, of the development that plays the leading role. example of armed intervention. Chiang Kai-shek’s betrayal in 1927 is an is 1927 in betrayal intervention. armed of example Kai-shek’s Chiang example of splitting the principal contradiction, which determines or influences the develop the principal contradiction, which various capitalist by assistance given The other contradictions. ment of the is an Revolution after the October reactionaries countries to the Russian sends armed forces to help the domestic reactionaries directly. At such a At directly. reactionaries to help the domestic sends armed forces stand quite openly at one and domestic reaction imperialism time, foreign stand at the other pole, thus forming pole while the masses of the people reactionaries, imperialism often adopts other methods in order to main other methods in order imperialism often adopts reactionaries, within or tain its rule; from split the revolutionary it either tries to front fall into the same category. ing the very and its running existence of imperialism dogs, the domestic ary War after 1927. Wars among the various reactionary various the rulingamong in groups Wars 1927. after aryWar in China, the warlords countries, e.g., the wars among the semi-colonial the people, and thus the internal contradictions become particularly sharp. particularlybecome contradictions internal the and thus people, the sharp. War of 1911, the Revolutionary in China in the This is what happened Revolution of Agrarian ten years the of 1924-27, and War Revolutionary resort to civil war against the alliance of imperialism and the feudal classes, the alliance of imperialism to civil war against resort while to oppress in the semi-colonial countries reactionaries tion in helping the tries capitulate to imperialism, and the two form an alliance for the joint for the an alliance form two and the imperialism, to capitulate tries masses often such a time, the of the people. At of the masses oppression imperialism carries on its oppression not by war, but by milder means – milder means but by war, not by oppression carries on its imperialism – the ruling economic and cultural political, coun classes in semi-colonial War [Boxer Rebellion] of 1900, and so it is now in is now so it 1900, and of Rebellion] [Boxer War War anese "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction doing thebiddingofUSandactinginitsinterest inAsia.This results purposes isasemi-colonyoftheUS,withbourgeoisieinSouth Korea instance South Korea issupposedlyasovereign statebutforallpractical found indirect muchmore rule efficientthandirect ruleof colonies. For imperialist rulers. would have becomethecontradictionbetween colonized Chinaandits up between different imperialist interests, then the principle contradiction Sandinistas, etc. dealers to aid the Contras againstUS the recruiting and financing drug to Cuban exilesintheBay ofPigs, CIAaidtothe Tibetan class, ruling front. Some aid ofthemostinfamousexamplesare: financialandmilitary bourgeoisie, andsoon. Korea, the South Korean bourgeoisie and the North Korean bureaucratic ple andUSimperialism,thesemi-colonyofSouth Korea andNorth the nationalbourgeoisieandproletariat, thegreat massesofthepeo in more complicatedcontradictionswithinSouth Korea –amongthem, Chapter 4-The Principal Contradictionandthe Principal AspectofaContradiction 7 6 If Chinahadlost

The USisnotorious This iswhathappened toJapan andbecomeitscolonyorhadbeenbroken foritscovert actionstosplittherevolutionary inthemajorityofworld:imperialists 53 -

Comments ------and the finding its principal contra its principal finding transform themselves into each other transform themselves . Once this principal contradiction is grasped, all problems can be can all problems is grasped, principal contradiction this . Once We often speak of “the new superseding the old.” The supersession new superseding the old.” speak of “the often We But this situation is not static; the principal and the non-principal this situation is not static; the principal But As we have said, one must not treat all the contradictions in a in contradictions the all treat not must one said, have we As 12 11 10 54 ferent forms in accordance with its essence and external conditions – this forms in accordance ferent is con each thing there of the newis the process superseding the old. In of the old by the new eternal and inviolable law of the uni of the old by is a general, dif of leaps through another, into thing one of transformation The verse. in the force of each aspect in its strugglein the force against the other in the course of of a thing. the development is the non-principal aspect; at another stage or in another process the roles the roles stage or in another process is the non-principal aspect; at another or decrease the increase the extent of – a change determined by reversed are aspects of a contradiction or at a given process a given In of the thing changes accordingly. nature A is the principal aspect and B of a contradiction, stage in the development the aspect that has gained the dominant position. the aspect that has gained the dominant tory aspects, one must be principal and the other secondary. The principal The principal toryand the other secondary. principal aspects, one must be in the contradiction. The nature role aspect is the one playing the leading principal aspect of a contradiction, the of a thing is determined mainly by no. In any contradiction the development of the contradictory any contradiction the development aspects is In no. only they seem to be in equilibrium, which is however Sometimes uneven. the two contradic is basic. Of temporary while unevenness and relative, principal one. But, in any given contradiction, whether principal or sec contradiction, whether principal given in any principal one. But, should the two contradictory as equal? Again, aspects be treated ondary, process as being equal but must distinguish between the principal and the but must distinguish between as being equal process the secondary attention to grasping the contradictions, and pay special unable to get to the heartunable to get to the naturally cannot find a way to and a problem of its contradictions. resolve ied imperialism and the general crisis of capitalism and when they studied and when crisis of capitalism and the general ied imperialism action of scholars and men of thousands are There economy. the Soviet are is that, lost in a fog, they it, and the result who do not understand diction Marx in his study of capitalist taught us is the method This solved. readily stud method when they taught us this LikewiseLenin and Stalin society. Therefore, in studying any complex process in which there are two or more more two or are there in which process any complex studying in Therefore, everydevote must effort we contradictions, to "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction industries thattheclimatechange“crisis” hasspawnedare makingmore the bourgeoisieinformofsurplusvalue orprofits. In factmanyofthe theinterestsprinciple ofcapitalismisthatitexistsanddevelops of toserve the problem becausetheroot iscapitalism.Thefundamentaloperating of theworsteffectsclimatechange,buttheyultimatelyfailto resolve are spearheadingtoaddress climatechangemightmitigateordelaysome rent situationisastark example.Allofthereform thatactivists efforts first. For instance,cancapitalismsolve theenvironmental crisis?Thecur or not,thinkofwhetheritcanbereally solved withoutsolvingothers was dramatically reflected inthecommunists’ recognition that they hadto andbackagain, tosecondary along withtheir manyaspects,from primary its share of “twists and turns.” The changing nature of the contradictions, tionalists to fight the with moreJapanese, a time period of struggle than socialism canprevent nuclearwar!” would beplantingaflagintheashesofnuclear winter shouting,“Only the othercontradictionsunsolvable. Thedogmaticcommunist caricature ciple contradiction–thethatunless solved, makesallof well sharpentoapoint wherecapitalism couldvery itbecomes theprin product havingtoturnaprofit.absent thedemandofevery need, whattheplanetcansustainandhow besttomakethoseproducts – dispose of. Socialism, ontheotherhand,takesintoaccountwhatpeople helping save theenvironment are actuallyhighlytoxic tomanufacture and carsmarketedlithium batteries.Thesenew totheconcernedconsumeras to mentionthatitcreates anentire environmental new problem withtheir all of which take an enormous amount of resources to manufacture – not responsibility” market has opened a whole new for electric and hybrid cars, the carindustry, government new regulations andthepushfor“consumer solar energyinthe1980s).For instance,althoughthere isovercapacity in at thehandsofexploitedlabor(e.g.bigoilcompaniesbeganinvesting in gies todiversify, andproduce atremendous amountofwasteandpollution profit forbusinessesthatare ofthefossilfuelindustriesstrate oftenpart Chapter 4-The Principal Contradictionandthe Principal AspectofaContradiction 11 That said,thecontradictionbetween destroying theenvironment and 9

To figure out

Mao gave thislecture ifthecontradiction in the midst of theunited front with the Na you identifyistheprincipleone 55 - - - -

Comments - - - - - Look at China, for instance. Imperialism occupies the principal po Look at China, for instance. Imperialism In capitalist society, capitalism has changed its position from being from position its has changed capitalism society, capitalist In 14 13 56 iat will inevitably change China from a semi-colony into an independent a semi-colony into an independent iat will inevitably change China from an independent country this state of affairs into a semi-colonial one. But of will inevitably change; in the struggle the two sides, the power between under the leadership of the proletar the Chinese people, which is growing sition in the contradiction in which China has been reduced to a semi-col to has been reduced China in which in the contradiction sition Chinese people, and China has been changed from the ony; it oppresses new socialist society. This is the path already taken by the Soviet Union, a Union, Soviet by the taken This is the path already new socialist society. take. path that all other countries will inevitably strength, becomes an independent class playing the leading role in history, in history, role the leading playing class becomes an independent strength, the and becomes ruling class. Thereupon political power and finally seizes changes and the old capitalist society becomes the of society the nature the bourgeoisie and grows simultaneously with it but under its rule, simultaneously is a the bourgeoisie and grows to the bourgeoisie, gradually gains initially subordinate that, new force is finally overthrown by the proletariat and becomes a class deprived of class deprived and becomes a by the proletariat overthrown is finally when it, too, of power, and stripped means of production owned privately than numerous which is much more gradually dies out. The proletariat, case, for example, in Britain and France. With the development of the development the With and France. case, for example, in Britain being a new changes from class playing the bourgeoisie forces, productive old class playing a reactionary to being an until it role role, a progressive the new, capitalist era, the feudal forces changed from their former dom changed from forces capitalist era, the feudal the new, the was Such one, gradually dying out. a subordinate inant position to a subordinate force in the old feudal era to being the dominant force, and force, the old feudal era to being the dominant in force a subordinate In feudal to capitalist. changed from accordingly of society has the nature principal aspect that has gained predominance changes, the nature of a of nature the changes, predominance gained has that aspect principal thing changes accordingly. the old, the old thing changes qualitatively into a new thing. It can thus be can thus into a new It thing. qualitatively old thing changes the old, the aspect principal the by determined mainly is thing a of nature the that seen When the the aspect that has gained predominance. of the contradiction, new aspect changes from being minor to being major and rises to predom to rises and major being to minor being newfrom changes aspect minor and being major to being changes from the old aspect inance, while moment the new dies out. And the gradually dominance over aspect gains tradiction between its new and its old aspects, and this gives rise to a series to a series rise new its gives and this aspects, and its old between tradiction struggles, of these of struggles the a result turns. As and many twists with "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction forces changedthemselves intheprocess; thecommunistsgainedsupport with thedefeatofJapanese, andthecommunistsnationalist becausethenationalsituationchanged but, atthesametime,itwasnew positionagain.Thiswasthesamecontradiction nists tooktheprimary between thebourgeoisieledNationalists andtheproletarian ledCommu positionbetween ChinaandJapanmary wasresolved, thecontradiction contradiction.Afterthecontradiction that hadtakenthepri- a secondary families, butatthetimeofattemptedJapanese conquest,constituted same enemythathad betrayed them andslaughtered their comrades and form afront andfightonthesamesideasKMT. TheKMTwasstillthe conditions thatexistedbefore theAnti-Japanese War. fairlyquickly,the communiststoachieve victory compared tothematerial eyes anditssoldiersbecameincreasingly demoralized. Thissetthestagefor and strength andexperience,theKMTlostcredibility inthepeople’s Chapter 4-The Principal Contradictionandthe Principal AspectofaContradiction 57 -

Comments ------Long March of Long March the nature of Chinese society Chinese of nature the . In the present Sino-Japanese War, China is again War, Sino-Japanese the present . In and the old, semi-colonial and semi-feudal society will change and semi-feudal society and the old, semi-colonial At certain At times in the revolutionary struggle, the difficulties out Instances of such reciprocal transformation are found in our past found are transformation of such reciprocal Instances The change of old China into New China also involves a change a NewChina also involves into of old China The change 17 16 15 58 failure of the revolution in China in 1927 and during the of the revolution failure Army the Chinese Red culties step-by-step and open up a favorable new situation; thus a difficult and open up a favorable culties step-by-step the one. This is what happened after situation yields place to a favorable weigh the favorable conditions and so constitute the principal aspect of conditions and so the favorable weigh conditions constitute the secondary the contradiction and the favorable the diffi overcome can revolutionaries their efforts through the aspect. But new emerging out of the old. rulers, while the landlords have undergone a reverse transformation. It is transformation. It undergone a reverse have rulers, while the landlords always so in the world, the new displacing the old, the old being supersed and the the old being eliminated to make way for the new, the new, ed by but with the elimination of opportunism within their ranks they gradually Communist leadership, under the revolutionary base areas again. In grew being the ruled from been transformed to being the the peasants have overthrown. In 1927, the people’s forces led by the Communist Party were were Party the Communist led by forces 1927, the people’s In overthrown. reaction, of Kuomintang numerically under the attacks reduced greatly revolutionary forces of the Communist-Kuomintang alliance in the south alliance in of the Communist-Kuomintang revolutionary forces and won victory to being strong being weak the Northern in changed from who once ruled were the roost warlords while the Northern Expedition, dred years was overthrown in the Revolution of 1911, and the revolution the 1911, and of Revolution in the overthrown was years dred leader Yat-sen’s under Sun League Society] [Combined Tongmenghui ary the of 1924-27, War the Revolutionary ship was victorious for a time. In experience. The Ching Dynasty which ruled China for nearly three hun Ching Dynasty which experience. The China for nearly three ruled letariat, will become the rulers. Thereupon, rulers.the become will letariat, Thereupon, will change into a new democratic society. from being the ruler being from the ruled; change into being it will and this class, too, being the ruled the pro people, led by the out. From die will gradually in the relation between the old feudal forces and the new popular forces new and the forces popular forces the old feudal between in the relation and overthrown, will be class feudal landlord old The country. within the country, whereas imperialism will be overthrown and old China will inev will old China and be overthrown will imperialism whereas country, China. into New change itably "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction reaucratic capitalistclass. and theownership ofthemeansproduction wastransferred tothebu society waschangedintocapitalistwhentherightistsseized power the individualtocollective ortheState. Then,afterthecoup, socialist society whentheownership ofthemeansproduction changedfrom launched the Civil War andeventually defeated theKMT. tablish abaseintheremote hillsofShaanxi Province, from whichthey of theseevents, however, thecommunistswere abletoregroup andes on theLongMarch, losingover halfof the peoplealongway. Because effectively took over leadershipofthe andledthosewho Party remained cies beginningin1927,theKMTencircled themtowipe out.Mao Chapter 4-The Principal Contradictionandthe Principal AspectofaContradiction 17 15

From there After thecommunists , the new democraticsocietywaschangedintosocialist , thenew suffered heavylossesintheurbaninsurgen 59 - - -

Comments - - - - . The creation and advo and . The creation the change in the relations of the change in the relations When a task, no matter which, has to be 15 Some people think that this is not true people think that of certain Some contradictions. When we engage in study, the same holds true the same for the contradiction engage in study, When we 19 18 60 development of the economic base, political and cultural changes become of the economic base, political and cultural changes become development performed, but there is as yet no guiding line, method, plan or policy, the no guiding line, method, plan or policy, is as yet performed, but there thing is to decide on a guiding line, method, plan principal and decisive etc.) obstructs the (politics, culture, When the superstructure or policy. cacy of revolutionaryof cacy theoryin those role decisive and principal the plays times of which Lenin said, “Without revolutionary theorybe can there no revolutionary movement.” change in the relations of production, then of production, change in the relations role plays the principal and decisive production conditions, such aspects as the relations of production, theory of production, conditions, such aspects as the relations and the in the principal and decisive in turn manifest themselves super-structure without a to develop forces When it is impossible for the productive role. dialectical materialist conception. True, the productive forces, practice and forces, the productive True, dialectical materialist conception. whoever role; the principal and decisive the economic base generally play also be admitted that in certain it must denies this is not a materialist. But the economic base is the principal aspect; and there is no change in their aspect; and there the economic base is the principal not the materialist conception, is the mechanical positions. This respective lations of production, the productive forces are the principal aspect; in the the principal are forces the productive lations of production, theorycontradiction between and practice, practice is the principal aspect; base and the superstructure, the economic in the contradiction between For instance, in the contradiction between the productive forces and the re forces the productive instance, in the contradiction between For study, ignorance can be transformed into knowledge, scanty knowledge scanty knowledge into knowledge, ignorance can be transformed study, in the application of Marxism and blindness into substantial knowledge, into mastery of its application. in the passage from ignorance to knowledge. At the veryAt of our beginning knowledge. ignorance to the passage from in Marx with acquaintance scanty or of ignorance our Marxism, of study assiduous by But of Marxism. to knowledge ism stands in contradiction 1927 had all suffered defeat by 1934. by defeat all suffered 1927 had conditions can be transformed into difficulty if the revolutionaries make revolutionaries if the into difficulty can be transformed conditions Thus the victorymistakes. turned into defeat. of 1924-27 revolution of the after provinces up in the southern revolutionary that grew The base areas in a difficult position, but we can change this and fundamentally trans and fundamentally this can change we but position, difficult in a favorable Conversely, Japan. and China between as the situation form "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction if theywere successfuloneseason,there wasonlysomuchtheycould precarious; apeasantincrisis mighthave– wasvery toselltheirland.Even the relations ofproduction –individualownership ofasmallpieceland siastic aboutit.But pointproduction ratesstagnated,because atacertain land forthefirsttime. Production increased becausepeople were enthu and peasants ownedgave their own the land to the tiller in the countryside locking further development oftheproductivelocking further forces. and werethe relations ofproduction thekeytoun had becomeprimary forces first and foremost, while for the socialist line – that Mao struggled his capitalistlinewasalways thatChinaneededtodevelop theproductive Deng’s coup and his subsequent economic reforms. Deng’s justification for of this dialectical relationship proved of the basis for to be a critical part and thesuperstructure. In fact,the lack ofunderstandingoracceptance dogmatic understandingoftherelationship between theeconomicbase nomic basewassignificantbecauseoftheprevalence ofthemechanicaland positioninthecontradictionwitheco ture couldassumetheprimary thatthesuperstruc contradiction. Thisdialecticalmaterialistarticulation contradiction. The Cultural to resolveRevolution the waslaunchedtotry the development oftheeconomicbaseandtherefore becametheprimary bureaucrat class.Theseissuesinthesuperstructure begantobeabarrier culture new as well created asareactionary from thecreation ofanew were stillmanybackwards customsandhabitsleftover from feudalism, sity. Because althoughby 1956China’s economicbasewassocialist,there the , butthisparagraphexplainsthebasisforitsneces and production skyrocketed. one ofcollective ownership, whichthenunleashedtheproductive forces shared between first small groups then larger ones, the relationship became behind thecollectivizationofagriculture. Once toolsandfinallyland were of production constrainedtheproductive forces. Thatwastheimpetus produce onasmallpieceoflandwithhoe.At thatpoint,therelations Chapter 4-The Principal Contradictionandthe Principal AspectofaContradiction Mao wrote thiswell 19

This wastrue whenaftertherevolution waswon,LandReform before heunderstoodthenecessityoflaunching 61 - - - - -

Comments - - - - and firmly recognize the reaction the reaction recognize . mechanical materialism , of social consciousness on social being and social being and consciousness on , of social All communists must give it attention All communists must give In studying the particularity examine we of contradiction, unless In 20 62 affairs. the principal and the non-principal aspects of a contradiction constitutes the principal and the non-principal de which a revolutionary political partyan essential method by correctly both in political and in militarytermines its strategic and tactical policies new superseding the old. The study of the various states of unevenness in various states of unevenness newstudy of the superseding the old. The non-principal contradictions and of contradictions, of the principal and of equilibrium. Moreover, it is these concrete features of a contradiction features it is these concrete of equilibrium. Moreover, and non-principal aspects of a contra and the changes in the principal of the that manifest the force diction in the course of its development ity of these two facets of contradiction represents the unevenness of the the unevenness represents ity of these two facets of contradiction absolutely in this world develops Nothing in contradiction. that are forces the theory must oppose or the theory we development evenly; of even understand contradiction concretely and consequently be unable to find and consequently be unable to concretely understand contradiction or particular character distinctive it. The method of resolving the correct process, and the principal and the non-principal aspects of a contradiction and the non-principal aspects and the principal process, character of these two facets examine the distinctive we – that is, unless in abstractions, be unable to shall get bogged down we of contradiction, these two facets – the principal and the non-principal contradictions in a in contradictions non-principal and the principal the – facets two these of the superstructure on the economic base. This does not go against ma This does not the economic base. on of the superstructure it avoids contrary, terialism; on the materialism. upholds dialectical of historydetermines and social being the mental material determines the – – and indeed must also we social consciousness, on material things of mental principal and decisive. Are we going against materialism when we say this? say this? we when materialism against going we Are decisive. and principal development general that in the recognize we that while reason is The No. "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction tionary struggle. At that point, race and gender become the primary aspect At thatpoint,raceandgenderbecometheprimary struggle. tionary the organizationwillbecomeabarriertodevelopment oftheirrevolu tain point,thecontradictionofnothavingnon-whitemenandwomenin wards classbutisonlyever madeupofworking classwhitemen,atacer organization intheUShasacorrectinstance, ifarevolutionary lineto movements contradictions.For andthenbecome–temporarilyprimary contradictions likeraceandsexprevent thedevelopment ofrevolutionary contradiction. However,ways the primary there are moments when other organizations istheinsistencethatcontradictionbetween classesisal and not true dependingonwhataspectisprimary.and nottrue earth’s rotation and distance from the sun. So “the sky is blue” is both true different waves ofcolorunderdifferent conditionsandforces suchasthe color oftheskyisdependent onhow theatmosphere/hemisphere refracts are also factsthattheskyisnotalwaysblue,and that observation understand athingfully. “Theskyisblue” isafactualstatement. But inside analyzeOur andtestwhatwe taskistoobserve, seeandbelieve inorder to singlethingexistsbecause ofthecontradictions of whichitconsists. every in thepost-modernsense,where there isnoreason toanything,butthat actually facts and science are else, not constantly in motion like everything tion of“materialism” isthatit’s rigid:factisfact;sciencescience.But physical) anddialecticalmaterialismiscritical,because oftenthepercep contradictionstolittleavail. ary again, we are oftenmired mightilyagainstsecond inconfusion,struggling andback canchangeintothesecondary and thefactthatprimary Because peoplefailtounderstandthechangingnature ofcontradictions classcontradictionofcapitalism. tity withoutrelating themtotheprimary those inthepost-modernistleftare oftenmired around iden instruggles and gendercontradictionscannotbefundamentallyresolved. Similarly, aspect of the contradiction; without resolving the class contradiction, race between classandracegender, classisstillalmostalwaystheprimary of thecontradictioninorganization.However, inthecontradiction Chapter 4-The Principal Contradictionandthe Principal AspectofaContradiction 20 An exampleofmechanicalmaterialism

This distinction between mechanical(whichwe canalsocallmeta thatwe oftenseeincommunist 63 ------

Comments ------the pairs of opposites opposites of pairs the . 16 Dialectics is the teaching that shows how opposites can opposites can how is the teaching that shows Dialectics should take these opposites not as dead, rigid, but as living, should take these opposites not as into one an themselves conditional, mobile, transforming other. be and how they happen to be (how they become) identi they become) they happen to be (how be and how transform identical, are cal – under what conditions they mind – why the human into one another, ing themselves

What does this passage mean? Lenin said: Identity, unity, coincidence, interpenetration, interpermeation, in coincidence, interpenetration, interpermeation, unity, Identity, When we understand the universality and the particularity and the understand the universality of contra we When 4 struggle The contradictory other, each aspects in every exclude process 3 2 1

while a complex process contains more. And in turn, in And more. contains process complex a while in contradiction to one another are 64 they are contained in the process of development of all things and in all in and things all of development of process the in contained are they contains only a single pair of opposites, human thought. A simple process with each other and are in opposition to each other. Without exception, exception, Without to each other. in opposition with each other and are ty. presupposes the existence of the other aspect, and both aspects coexist in the existence of the other presupposes each of the two contradictory conditions, a single entity; second, in given identi of meaning is the This opposite. into its itself transforms aspects refer to the following two points: first, the existence of each of the two first, the existence of each two points: to the following refer of a thing of the development in the process aspects of a contradiction terdependence (or mutual dependence for existence), interconnection or dependence for existence), interconnection (or mutual terdependence same thing and terms mean the – all these different mutual cooperation diction, we must proceed to study the problem of the identity and struggleand the identity of the problem to study proceed must we diction, contradiction. of the aspects of a of a Contradiction Chapter 5 Chapter Struggle of the Aspects and Identity The "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction that die. generated from thedeathofoldcellsand thenthemselves become oldcells primary. At cellsare eachstage,cell turnsintoitsopposite–new In thetimecellsdiemore thantheygrow, deathanddisease are the cells are growing more than theydie,lifeandgoodhealthare theprimary. grow anddieatthesametimeinaunityofopposites. In thetimewhen 4

In theexampleofhumanbody Chapter 5-The Identity and oftheAspectsaContradiction Struggle andcellulargrowth/death, cells 65

Comments ------But is it enough to say merely that each of the contradictory is it enough to say merely aspects But The fact is that no contradictory aspect can exist in isolation. With no contradictory that is The fact isolation. in exist can aspect This being so, there is an utter lack of identity or unity. How then can How unity. lack of identity or is an utter so, there This being That is how all things in the objective world and all human thought thought human all and world objective in the all things is how That 8 7 6 5 66 other. That is to say, in given conditions, each of the contradictory conditions, in given aspects That is to say, other. to position its changes opposite, its into itself transforms thing a within not. The matter does not end with their dependence on each other for not. The matter does not end with their dependence on each other important is their transformation into each their existence; what is more is the condition for the other’s existence – that there is identity between is identity between existence – that there is the condition for the other’s it is can coexist in a single entity? No, them and that consequently they cal? Because each is the condition for the other’s existence. This is the first the other’s each is the condition for cal? Because meaning of identity. they also possess the character of identity and hence are interconnected. interconnected. identity and hence are they also possess the character of oppo “how studies that dialectics says he when Lenin means is what This then can they be identi How they become identical.” sites can be and how interpermeating and interdependent, and this character is described as interpermeating and interdependent, conditions, all contradictory given aspects possess the charac In identity. as being in contradiction. But described ter of non-identity and hence are semi-colonies, there would be no imperialist oppression of nations. It is so of nations. It would be no imperialist oppression semi-colonies, there opposed on the one hand they are conditions, with all opposites; in given interpenetrating, interconnected, and on the other they are to each other, letariat, there would be no bourgeoisie. Without imperialist oppression of imperialist oppression Without be no bourgeoisie. would letariat, there semi-colonies; without colonies or would be no colonies or nations, there difficulty, there would be no facility. Without landlords, there would be would there Without landlords, would be no facility. there difficulty, be no landlords. would without tenant-peasants, there no tenant-peasants; without the pro proletariat; would be no the bourgeoisie, there Without no “below”; without “below,” there would be no “above.” Without misfor Without be no “above.” would there without “below,” no “below”; would be no good fortune; without good fortune,tune, there these would without would be no difficulty; there facility, Without be no misfortune. human mind exist independently? Without life, there would be no death; would be no there life, Without independently? mind exist human be would there “above,” Without life. no be would there death, without out its opposite aspect, each loses the condition for its existence. Just for its existence. Just aspect, each loses the condition out its opposite contradictorythink, can any one of a concept in the aspect of a thing or one speak of identity or unity? one speak are constituted and how they are set in motion. set they are and how constituted are "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction Chapter 5-The Identity and oftheAspectsaContradiction Struggle 67

Comments - - - - - This has already already This has , as it will take place throughout the world. the throughout place take it will as , To consolidate the dictatorship of the proletariat or the dictator the dictatorship of the proletariat consolidate To Our agrarian revolution has been a process in which the landlord landlord the in which a process been has revolution agrarian Our The Kuomintang, which played a certain positive role at a certain a certain Kuomintang, which played positive The Why is there identity here, too? You see, by means of revolution the the means of revolution by see, You too? here, identity Why is there 12 11 10 9 68 political parties. To build a revolutionary army under the leadership of the To political parties. dictatorship and advancing to the higher stage when all state systems are to the higher stage when all state systems are dictatorship and advancing is in fact to pre establish and build the Communist Party To eliminated. and all the conditions for the elimination of the Communist Party pare ship of the people is in fact to prepare the conditions for abolishing this the conditions ship of the people is in fact to prepare place everywhere else. There is a bridge leading from private property to private from leading bridge a is everywhereplace There else. or transformation which in philosophy is called identity, public property, or interpenetration. into each other, peasant ownership is transformed into the public ownership of socialist of ownership public the into transformed is ownership peasant as it will take Union, taken place in the Soviet already this has agriculture; holders who have acquired land, and it will be such a process once again. once again. land, and it will be such a process acquired holders who have in acquiring and losing, are conditions having and not having, given In private socialism, sides. Under is identity of the two there terconnected; class owning the land is transformed into a class that has lost its land, the land is transformed into class owning transformed into small their land are while the peasants who once lost of the united front (these being the conditions). Things in contradiction being the conditions). (these of the united front lies a definite identity. and herein change into one another, blandishments (these being the conditions); but it has been compelled being the conditions); but blandishments (these of the contradiction because of the sharpening Japan to resist to agree policy Party’s and because of the Communist China and Japan between stage in modern Chinese history, became a counter-revolutionarya became party history, Chinese modern in stage imperialist and because of class nature of its inherent after 1927 because If there were no interconnection and identity of opposites in given condi and identity of opposites in given interconnection no were there If change take place? could such a tions, how its position to that originally occupied by its opposite. its occupied by to that originally its position Union Soviet the in place taken proletariat, at one time the ruled, is transformed into the ruler, while the while at one time the ruled, proletariat, ruler, into the is transformed ruled into the is transformed changes and ruler, the erstwhile bourgeoisie, that of its opposite. This is the second meaning of the identity of contra identity of the meaning second is the This of its opposite. that diction. "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction transformation –waslost. solidified afterthe Cultural againstthis Revolution –launchedtostruggle the bourgeoisie.ThishappenedtooinChina,atransformationthatwas 9

And thenintheUSSR Chapter 5-The Identity and oftheAspectsaContradiction Struggle , theproletariat onceagaintransformedinto 69

Comments - - - - - seeking to perpet . The task of communists is to expose the fallacies of the the fallacies expose is to . The task of communists In speaking of the identity of opposites in given conditions, what speaking of the identity of opposites in given In Why is it that “the human mind should take these opposites not human Why is it that “the All contradictory co not only do they interconnected; are things War and peace, as everybody knows, transform themselves into each into themselves transform peace, as everybody and knows, War 16 15 14 13 70 things, and so accelerate the transformation of things and achieve the goal of things and achieve things, and so accelerate the transformation of revolution. everywhere delude the masses of the people, thus to ruleuate their in the dialectics inherent and metaphysicians, to propagate reactionaries the past and present and the metaphysicians in their service who regard in their service and the metaphysicians the past and present who regard mobile and transforming themselves opposites not as living, conditional, this fallacy but as dead and rigid, and they propagate into one another, its opposite. Reflected in man’s thinking, this becomes the Marxist world this becomes the thinking, in man’s its opposite. Reflected is only the reactionary ruling classes of outlook of materialist dialectics. It The fact is that the unity or identity of opposites in objective things is is things objective in opposites of identity or unity the that is fact The mobile, temporarynot dead or rigid, but is living, conditional, and rela conditions, every in given tive; contradictory aspect transforms itself into as dead, rigid, but as living, conditional, mobile, transforming themselves mobile, transforming themselves as dead, rigid, but as living, conditional, reality. in objective things are how that is just into one another?" Because “how they happen to be (how they become) identical – under what condi they become) identical they happen to be (how “how into one another.” transforming themselves identical, tions they are exist in a single entity in given conditions, but in other given conditions, given conditions, but in other in given exist in a single entity This is the full meaning each other. into themselves they also transform is what Lenin meant when he discussed of the identity of opposites. This dictory conditions. identity in given an and peace have things as war instance, the Kuomintang-Communist cooperation was transformed into cooperation was transformed instance, the Kuomintang-Communist peace may be transformed into situation of world today’s war in 1927, and society such contra in class Why is this so? Because a second world war. transformed into the post-war peace, and the civil war in China has now has now the civil war in China peace, and into the post-war transformed is transformed into war; for to internal peace. Peace stopped, giving place at the same time complementary. at the same was War World the First peace; for instance, transformed into is War other. Communist Party and to carry on revolutionary war is in fact to prepare to carry and on revolutionaryfact to prepare is in war Party Communist are opposites These war. of elimination permanent the for conditions the "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction do notbehave, you mightbereborn asacockroach. reborn intoabetterlife–maybethatofrichperson.Thethreat isif you unrebellious and grateful life, with the promise that after you die, you can to practice acceptance of allthehardships you face in life,tolive aquiet, than objective reality. In Buddhism forinstance,your lifelongobjective is status quo,becauseitrelies onbeliefinthemetaphysical–faithrather ically religion classtomaintainthe hascommonlybeenusedby theruling 15

Religion isthestarkest example Chapter 5-The Identity and oftheAspectsaContradiction Struggle ofthispurposefuldelusion.Histor 71 -

Comments - - - - - of The 21 the numer 19 ], the Monkey King’s King’s Monkey the 18 , Yi’s shooting down of nine down shooting Yi’s legendary transformations 17 , Journey to the West to the Journey [ Yiyouji etc. But these etc. But 20 , Huainanzi [The Writings of Huainan Masters] Huainan of Writings [The Huainanzi Why is it that in Russia in 1917 the bourgeois-democratic Feb in 1917 the bourgeois-democratic Why is it that in Russia Why can an egg but not a stone be transformed into a chicken? Why can an egg but not a stone be transformed into a chicken? 18 17 72 that the Chinese revolution can avoid a capitalist future and be directly and be directly future a capitalist avoid can that the Chinese revolution linked with a socialist revolution and the of 1871 ended Commune of 1871 and the Paris linked with a socialist revolution Mon system of nomadic the that hand, the other on is it, Why failure? in it is Why socialism? with linked directly been has Asia Central and golia ruary Revolution was directly linked with the proletarian socialist Octo linked with the proletarian ruary was directly Revolution was not directly revolution the bourgeois France while in ber Revolution, in necessary given conditions. Without these necessaryWithout conditions in necessary given conditions. given can be no identity whatsoever. there Why is there identity between war and peace and none between war and a war and war and peace and none between between identity Why is there birthWhy can human beings give only to human beings and not to stone? identity of opposites exists only reason is that the anything else? The sole the identity in real transformations is Marxist dialectics. transformations is Marxist the identity in real and therefore are not a scientific reflection of reality. That is to say, in say, to is That reality. of reflection scientific a not are therefore and myths or nursery only aspects constituting a contradiction have tales the reflection of The scientific identity. not a concrete an imaginary identity, and the best myths possess “eternal charm,” as Marx put it; but myths are put it; but myths are as Marx charm,” and the best myths possess “eternal conditions contradictions existing in given not built out of the concrete disappears as soon as man gains mastery over the forces of nature.” the forces as man gains masterydisappears as soon over in mythology (and also in nurserymyriads of changes tales) delight people of nature, conquest of the forces man’s picture because they imaginatively in men’s minds by innumerable real and complex transformations of oppo and innumerable real minds by in men’s masters and dominates mythology “All said, Marx sites into one another. hence it the imagination; through in and of nature and shapes the forces opposites are not concrete changes reflecting concrete contradictions. They contradictions. concrete reflecting changes concrete not are opposites up conjured transformations conceived subjectively imaginary, naive, are seventy-two metamorphoses in metamorphoses seventy-two beings in metamorphosed into human and foxes ous episodes of ghosts Liao Zhai Tales of Strange The transformations in mythology, for instance, Kuafu’s race with the sun in race with the sun Kuafu’s for instance, in mythology, transformations Seas] and [Book of Mountains Jing Hai Shan suns in we are referring to is real and concrete opposites and the real and concrete and concrete real and the opposites and concrete is real to referring are we innumerable are There another. one into opposites of transformations "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction dict thislawofnature. is universal toallsciences;mythologicaltransformationsdirectly contra “Nothing is lost, nothing is is transformed.”created, everything rule This they believe enough. the people will be saved from hunger and thirst by faith in magic – if only scientifically, cementsinthemindideathat atthesametimethisstory tion. No one has ever been able to explain how this might have happened multiplication ofbread andfishisanexampleofmythologicaltransforma French chemistAntoineLaurent deLavoisier saidthatintheworld 16

The story inthe Bible The story Chapter 5-The Identity and oftheAspectsaContradiction Struggle aboutJesus feedingthemultitudesby the 73 - -

Comments ------22 , it is undergoing only quantitative and not qualitative not qualitative and , it is undergoing only quantitative ment and motion are absolute. are ment and motion The unity (coincidence, identity, equal action) of opposites opposites of action) equal identity, (coincidence, unity The struggle The relative. transitory, temporary, is conditional, as develop just absolute, is opposites exclusive mutually of There are two states of motion in all things, that of relative rest and relative that of two states of motion in all things, are There What does this passage mean? Such is the problem of identity. What then is struggle?What then And what is of identity. is the problem Such 21 20 transform all processes an end, and a beginning have processes All 19 Lenin said: 74 tion, harmony, balance, stalemate, deadlock, rest, constancy, equilibrium, constancy, balance, stalemate, deadlock, rest, tion, harmony, all the solidity and attraction, and the change of each into its opposite are pearances of things in the state of quantitative change. On the other hand, change. On quantitative pearances of things in the state of combina that is, the destruction of this solidarity, the dissolution of unity, ensues, hence the appearance of a conspicuous change. Such unity, solidar unity, change. Such of a conspicuous the appearance ensues, hence constancy, rest, balance, stalemate, deadlock, harmony, combination, ity, ap all the see in daily life, are attraction, etc., as we equilibrium, solidity, When the thing is in the second state of motion, the quantitative change of motion, the quantitative When the thing is in the second state rise to point and gives reached a culminating of the first state has already change a qualitative and thereupon the dissolution of the thing as an entity first state of motion appearance of being at rest. the outward change and consequently presents that of conspicuous change. Both are caused by the struggle the caused by between are that of conspicuous change. Both two contradictoryWhen the thing is in the elements contained in a thing. themselves into their opposites. The constancy of all processes is relative, relative, is constancy of all processes into their opposites. The themselves into process of one the transformation in mutability manifested but the another is absolute. the relation between identity and struggle? between the relation terdependent and become transformed into one another; otherwise into one another; become transformed and terdependent none possible. of this would be sole reason is the concrete conditions of the time. When certainWhen necessary time. the of conditions concrete the is reason sole certain of devel in the process arise contradictions present, are conditions in in them are opposites contained the of things and, moreover, opment linked with socialism without taking the old historical road of the Western Western of the road old historical taking the without with socialism linked The dictatorship? of bourgeois period a through passing without countries, "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction ball – momentum vs. inertia isresolvedball –momentumvs.inertia inthe secondstate. dissolution oftheballitselfasitbreaks down. Thecontradictionofthe state ofmotion,where there isqualitative change:thebeginningof quantitative. When theballstopsrolling completely, itreaches the second quickly or slowly, speeding up or slowing down. The state of motion is 21

For instance Chapter 5-The Identity and oftheAspectsaContradiction Struggle , aballinthefirststateofmotioniseither rolling 75

Comments ------That is, things opposed to each other have identi other have That is, things opposed to each 24 23 In identity there is struggle, in particularity there is universality, is struggle, is universality, in particularity identity there there In The combination of conditional, relative identity and uncon relative The combination of conditional, “Things that oppose each other also com Chinese often say, We When we said above that two opposite things can coexist in a single things can coexist in a single that two opposite said above When we 25 24 23 22 76 and in individuality there is generality. To quote Lenin, “...there is an ab quote Lenin, “...there To is generality. and in individuality there solute in the relative.” identity and without struggle there can be no identity. identity and without struggle there other” refers to the mutual exclusion or the struggle of two contradictory to the mutual exclusion refers other” conditions the two means that in given aspects. “Complement each other,” in struggle is inherent Yet contradictory identity. aspects unite and achieve plement each other.” is dialectical and contrary This saying each “Oppose to metaphysics. ty. ditional, absolute struggle constitutes the movement of opposites in all ditional, absolute struggle the movement constitutes things. unconditional and absolute. conditional and relative. We may add that the struggleopposites between We conditional and relative. trans beginning to end and makes one process from permeates a process and that struggleform itself into another that it is ubiquitous, is therefore cannot transform themselves into one another. It is because the identity identity the because is It another. one into themselves transform cannot identity is said have conditions that we only in given of opposites obtains en conditions two contradictoryen conditions two and can transform things can be united they in the absence of these conditions, but other, into each themselves and entity same the in coexist cannot contradiction, a constitute cannot entity and can transform themselves into each other because there is iden is there because other each into themselves transform can and entity giv in say, to is that conditionality, of speaking were we them, between tity temporary and relative, while the struggle of mutually exclusive opposites temporary while the struggle exclusive of mutually relative, and is absolute. from the first into the second state of motion; the struggle the motion; of state second the into first the opposites of from the sec through is resolved the contradiction in both states but goes on conditional, of opposites is that the unity we say That is why ond state. appearances of things in the state of qualitative change, the transformation the transformation change, of qualitative in the state things of appearances themselves transforming constantly are Things another. into process of one "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction Chapter 5-The Identity and oftheAspectsaContradiction Struggle 77

Comments ------in class society and inevitable , a bomb is a single entity in which opposites coex , a bomb is a single entity in which . Our answer is that antagonism is one form, but not is that antagonism answer . Our antagonism

Before it explodes Before However, we must make a concrete study of the circumstances of of the circumstances study must make a concrete we However, It is highly important to grasp this fact. It enables us to understand is highly important to grasp this fact. It It

In human history, antagonism between classes exists as a particular classes exists as antagonism between human history, In The question of the struggle The question of the question of of opposites includes 5 4 3 2 1

78 understand that social revolution is not only entirely necessary is not only entirely but also en understand that social revolution and that the whole history practicable, tirely of mankind and the triumph confirmed this scientific have truth. Union of the Soviet the deceitful propaganda of the reactionaries, such as the assertionthe as such that reactionaries, the of propaganda deceitful the is unnecessarysocial revolution and impossible. They must firmly uphold theory and enable the people to the Marxist-Leninist of social revolution velopment and to overthrow the reactionary ruling classes and therefore reactionary the ruling classes and therefore and to overthrow velopment Communists must expose power. impossible for the people to win political that revolutions and revolutionary wars are and revolutionary wars are that revolutions to accomplish any leap in social de that without them, it is impossible phenomena that finally assume the form of open conflict to resolve old resolve the form of open conflict to phenomena that finally assume new things. contradictions and produce ist in given conditions. The explosion takes place only when a new conditions. The explosion condi ist in given situation arises in all those natural An analogous tion, ignition, is present. the contradiction between the two classes develops to a certain develops the two classes stage that the contradiction between The revolution. into develops and antagonism open of form the assumes it of peace into war in class society. same holds for the transformation coexist for a long time in the same society, be it slave society, feudal society society, be it slave time in the same society, coexist for a long struggle and they it is not until with each other; but or capitalist society, manifestation of the strugglemanifestation of the contradiction be of opposites. Consider contradictory classes and the exploited classes. Such the exploiting tween what is the strugglethe only form, of of opposites. tion Chapter 6 Chapter in Contradic of Antagonism Place The "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction than acontradictionamongthepeople. communist societywillappear. ciety. In contradictionsthatwilldrive theirplace,new thedevelopment of revolutions warsare andrevolutionary notinevitable,i.e.communistso class societyceasestoexistandbecomessomething new, inwhich qualitative changewhere theprevious contradictionhasresolved. exploding withignition.At suchtimeitceasestobeabomb;there isa 4 3 1

Antagonism To follow A bomb canalsodegradeover time,untilitisnolongercapableof theprevious analogy, atsuchtime classes no longerexist, in class struggle meansan“enemy” inclassstruggle contradictionrather Chapter 6-The Place ofAntagonisminContradiction 79 -

Comments ------is an . contradiction between town and country town contradiction between develop into antagonism develop Economically, the Economically, As already mentioned, so long as classes exist, contradictions between between contradictions exist, as classes long so mentioned, As already 7 6 80 of the bourgeoisie the towns ruthlessly countryside,the plunder towns the bourgeoisie the of the in and contradiction will under the rule where antagonistic one both in capitalist society, extremely struggle is obviously inappropriate. But if the people who have committed have who if the people But struggle inappropriate. is obviously this that is the possibility there them, aggravate in them and persist errors Therefore, the Party wage a serious struggle must on the one hand against the Therefore, com the comrades who have give thinking, and on the other erroneous This being the case, excessive ample opportunitymitted errors to wake up. the contradiction between correct and incorrect thinking in our Party does thinking in our Party and incorrect correct the contradiction between form, and if comrades who have not manifest itself in an antagonistic into antagonism. it will not develop them, correct mistakes can committed Duxiu, Zhang Guotao and others also did not manifest themselves in an in and others also did not manifest themselves Zhang Guotao Duxiu, present into antagonism. At develop antagonistic form, but later they did op into antagonism. There are similar cases in the history similar cases are of the Chinese op into antagonism. There think correct the between the contradictions first At Party. Communist Chen of thinking fallacious the and comrades Party our of many of ing that the contradictions between the correct thinking of Lenin and Stalin thinking of Lenin and Stalin correct the that the contradictions between first at not did others and Bukharin Trotsky, of thinking fallacious the and form, but that later they did devel in an antagonistic manifest themselves development of the class struggle, they may grow and become antagonis and become struggle,class of the development they may grow us Union shows Soviet Party of the tic. The history Communist of the correct and incorrect ideas in the Communist Party are reflections within within reflections are Party ideas in the Communist and incorrect correct to certain issues, such regard first, with contradictions. At of class the Party with the But as antagonistic. not manifest themselves may contradictions op into non-antagonistic ones. op into non-antagonistic tagonism, others are not. In accordance with the concrete development of development the concrete with accordance not. In others are tagonism, develop non-antagonistic originally were that some contradictions things, devel originally antagonistic ones, while others that were into antagonistic universal and absolute, but the methods of resolving contradictions, that contradictions, methods of resolving absolute, but the and universal in the nature to the differences of struggle,is, the forms differ according open an by characterized are contradictions Some of the contradictions. each specific struggle specific each the apply arbitrarily not and should opposites of to everything. and struggle Contradiction are above discussed formula "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction in thecitieswho lived offthat wealth. by asmall minority andwasruled and produced thewealth ofthecountry urban slums) the great majority of the population lived in the countryside to of capitalismandthegreat migrationof people from thecountryside whelmingly ofinternalcontradictionsturnedantagonistic. organizationsinimperialistcountriesisover ofrevolutionary destruction and tacticstoresolve themare perhapslessclear. Hence,ofthe thehistory the State isfeltlessacutelythaninoppressed countries,andthestrategies be more difficulttoperceive becausetheantagonisticcontradictionwith onistic andnon-antagonisticcontradictionsinimperialistcountriescan ty tounderstandtheirerrors. Determining thedifference between antag often becomemore entrenched, becausetheyare notgiven theopportuni wrong ideasthatare immediatelyregarded as antagonisticcontradictions debate will clarify the wrong ideas. On the other hand, comrades with rades whohave wrong ideasmayjusthave wrong ideasanddiscussion dogma infavor offriendlyandprincipleddebateamongcomrades.Com 7 6

In China This point is important , historically (and currently, althoughlesssoaftertheonset Chapter 6-The Place ofAntagonisminContradiction , because it opposes the idea of rhetoric and 81 - - - -

Comments

- - - 25 , the first will disappear, the second will remain.” second will the , the first will disappear, Under socialism Under Lenin said, “Antagonism and contradiction are not at all one and the not are and contradiction Lenin said, “Antagonism 8 82 everywhere. same. of the strugone form, but not the only form, antagonism is That is to say, be arbitrarily applied the formula of antagonism cannot gle of opposites; ished. plunder the countryside.plunder country in a socialist But revolution and in our ary is into one that has changed contradiction this antagonistic base areas, abol be will it reached is society communist when and non-antagonistic; Kuomintang areas in China, where under the rule of foreign imperialism imperialism ruleunder the of foreign where in China, areas Kuomintang rapaciously most towns the bourgeoisie comprador big the Chinese and "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction China embarking onthecapitalistroad. and, infact,theresult ofthosecontradictionsinsocialistChinaledto we now know thatthere canexistantagonisticcontradictionsinsocialism 8

Through thebreadth oftheexperienceChineserevolution, Chapter 6-The Place ofAntagonisminContradiction 83

Comments - - - - - We may now say a few words to sum up. The law of contradiction in of contradiction The law to sum up. a few say words may now We 1 84 from our study of the law of contradiction. from practical experience will be able to organize their experience into principles organize practical experience will be able to a few simple conclusions These are empiricist errors. repeating and avoid derstanding of the essentials explained above, we shall be able to demolish shall we of the essentials explained above, derstanding contrarydogmatist ideas that are to the basic principles of Marxism-Le ninism and detrimental to our revolutionary cause, and our comrades with of contradiction and the struggle must of opposites in contradiction, we forms of struggle. the different attention to the distinction between give un a real achieve we study, through Otherwise If, make mistakes. shall we pal contradictions and to the distinction between the principal aspect and and aspect the principal between to the distinction and pal contradictions in studying the universality the non-principal aspect of a contradiction; again is the universality and absoluteness of contradiction. In studying of contradiction. In and absoluteness again is the universality attention to must give we of contradiction, the particularity and relativity contradiction and the non-princi the principal the distinction between is ceaseless; it goes on both when the opposites are coexisting and when the opposites are is ceaseless; it goes on both when becomes especially and other, into each transforming themselves they are This into one another. themselves transforming conspicuous when they are conditions, opposites possess identity, and consequently can coexist in a and consequently can conditions, opposites possess identity, the is again this other; each into themselves transform can and entity single the struggle of opposites But of contradiction. particularity and relativity tion. Each contradiction and each of its aspects have their respective char respective their and each of its aspects have tion. Each contradiction given In of contradiction. the particularityacteristics; this is and relativity materialism, contradiction is present in all processes of objectively existing of objectively in all processes is present materialism, contradiction from and permeates all these processes thought things and of subjective of contradic and absoluteness this is the universality beginning to end; nature and of society and therefore also the fundamental law of thought. also the fundamental therefore and of society and nature a great represents world outlook. It stands opposed to the metaphysical It to dialectical in the history According revolution human knowledge. of things, that is, the law of the unity of opposites, is the fundamental law of law of the unity of opposites, is things, that is, the Chapter 7 Chapter Conclusion "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction

, - , Russian , Russian , Russian , Russian Anti-Duhring Collected Works Collected Works Collected Works of Mao Zedong, Vol. I. Vol. Zedong, of Mao , Russian ed., Moscow, 1958, Vol. Vol. 1958, ed., Moscow, Russian , ), a famous 14th century Chinese novel, famous 14th century), a novel, Chinese Selected Works Selected , Russian ed., Moscow, 1958, Vol. XXXVIII, p. p. XXXVIII, Vol. 1958, ed., Moscow, , Russian Collected Works Collected Water Margin Water of Mao Zedong, Vol. I. Vol. Zedong, of Mao ( Collected Works Collected Selected Works Selected Shuihu Zhuan Shuihu 86 Zhu Village was in the vicinity of Liangshanpo, where Song Jiang, leader Jiang, Song was in the vicinity of Liangshanpo, where Village Zhu established his base. Zhu of the novel, of the peasant uprising and hero 13. Dynasty. Sung Northern the end of the war towards describes a peasant 11. See ibid., Note: p. 249, p. ibid., Note: 11. See Tang of the Zheng (A.D. 580-643) was a statesman and historian Wei 12. Dynasty. 9. Ibid., pp. 358-59 pp. 9. Ibid., p. 10, Note War,” Revolutionary China’s in of Strategy “Problems See 10. 251, 8. V. I. Lenin, “On the Question of Dialectics,” of Dialectics,” the Question I. Lenin, “On V. 8. 357. XXXVIII, p. Vol. 1958, ed., Moscow, 6. V. I. Lenin, “On the Question of Dialectics,” of Dialectics,” the Question I. Lenin, “On V. 6. 357-58. XXXVIII, pp. Vol. 1958, ed., Moscow, 166-67. cit., pp. op. Engels, 7. Frederick Confucianism in the Han Dynasty. Confucianism in the Han and Quality,” Quantity “Dialectics. Engels, 5. Frederick 166. 1959, p. Moscow, ed., FLPH, English 3. V. I. Lenin, “On the Question of Dialectics,” of Dialectics,” the Question I. Lenin, “On V. 3. 358. XXXVIII, p. Vol. 1958, ed., Moscow, exponent of known B.C.), a well Zhongshu (179-104 4. A saying of Dong opposites. This grasps the kernel of dialectics, but it requires explanations requires it grasps the kernel of dialectics, but opposites. This 215.) p. (Ibid., and development.” features) of dialectics.” ( dialectics.” of features) Science of Logic,” The of Hegel’s his “Conspectus 357.) In XXXVIII, p. unity of be defined as the doctrine of the dialectics can brief, he said, “In the quotation from Philo on Heraclitus at the beginning of Section Three Three at the beginning of Section on Heraclitus Philo the quotation from of is the essence (one book on Heraclitus) in Lassalle’s Cognition’ ‘On or characteristics not the principal, if one of the principal, the ‘essentials,’ 2. In his essay “On the Question of Dialectics,” Lenin said, “The splitting “The Lenin said, Dialectics,” of the Question “On his essay 2. In whole and the cognition of its contradictoryin two of a single parts (see 1. V. I. Lenin, “Conspectus of Hegel’s Lectures on the History of Phi the History on Lectures of Hegel’s I. Lenin, “Conspectus V. 1. losophy” 249. Endnotes "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction and theMistakes of Trotsky andBukharin,” 14. V. I. Lenin, “Once Again on the Trade Unions, the Present Situation Chaofeng, theheadofthisvillage,wasadespoticlandlord. ed., Moscow, 1958, Vol. XXXVIII,p. 358. 24. V. I.Lenin,“On theQuestion ofDialectics,” saying. A.D.Ita celebratedhistorianin the 1stcentury haslongbeenapopular other,” firstappeared in the 23. Thesaying,“Things thatopposeeachotheralsocomplement ed., Moscow, 1958, Vol. XXXVIII,p. 358. 22. V. I. Lenin,“On theQuestion ofDialectics,” 1904, pp. 310-11. Contribution totheCritique ofPolitical Economy 21. , “Introduction to the Critique of Political Economy,” fox spirits. century, isawell known collection of431tales,mostlyaboutghostsand 20. into seventy-two different shapes,suchasabird, atree andastone. is themonkeygodSong Wukong. He couldmiraculouslychangeatwill 19. archer issaidtohave shotdown nineofthetensuns. down. In anotherlegendrecorded by Wang A.D.),the Yi (2ndcentury caused by thesescorching suns,Emperor Yao ordered Yi toshootthem in thedaysofEmperor Yao. To putanendtothedamagevegetation ters) chery. According toalegendin heroes18. ofancientChina,famousforhisar Yi isoneofthelegendary formed intotheforest ofDeng. overtook thesun.But hediedofthirst,whereupon hisstaffwastrans the Warring States (403-221B.C.).In oneofitsfablesKuafu pursuedand 17. Works 16. V. I.Lenin,“ConspectusofHegel’s TheScienceofLogic,” Moscow, 1961, Vol. V, p. 369. 15. V. Is I.Lenin,“What toBe Done?”, International Publishers, New York, 1943, Vol. IX,p. 66. Yiyouji (Journey tothe Yiyouji (Journey West) Shan Hai Jing , compiled in the 2nd century B.C., there were, compiledinthe2ndcentury tensunsinthe sky The Strange Tales of Liao Zhai , Russian ed.,Moscow, 1958, Vol. XXXVIII,pp. 97-98.

(Book ofMountains andSeas) History oftheEarlierHistory Han Dynasty is a 16th century novel, isa16thcentury thehero ofwhich Huainanzi (The Writings of Huainan Mas , writtenby Pu Songling in the17th Collected Works Selected Works waswrittenintheeraof Collected Works Collected Works , English ed.,Chicago, , Eng. ed.,FLPH, , English ed., by Ban Gu, , Russian , Russian Collected Endnotes 87 A - - -

Comments - , Russian ed., Moscow-Leningrad, 1931, Vol. Vol. 1931, Moscow-Leningrad, ed., , Russian Selected Works Selected 88 XI, p. 357. XI, p. 25. V. I. Lenin, “Remarks on N. I. Bukharin’s Economics of the Transi of the Economics N. I. Bukharin’s on “Remarks Lenin, I. V. 25. Period,” tional "On Contradiction" Study Companion Study Contradiction" "On

On Contradiction

Books on the topic from Foreign Languages Press

Mao Zedong Five Essays on Philosophy This compilation contains Mao Zedong's most important philosophical writings, covering topics on dialectical mate- rialism, the importance of practice, and how to differentiate between antagonistic and non-antagonistic contradictions and how to resolve them.

Dao-yuan Chou Silage Choppers and Snake Spirits Silage Choppers and Snake Spirits follows the journey of two Americans who left the United States to join the Chinese revolution. Sid Engst came from a poor farming family in up- state New York and found himself on the run from Chiang Kai-shek’s generals in the barren hills of northern China. Joan Hinton went from working on the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos to wearing disguises and ducking the Nationalist gov- ernment in the Chinese communist underground. This biography follows their experiences working alongside ordinary Chinese people in the countryside. Their participation in the struggle for production and in the many dynamic mass movements is a rare window into the daily work and study to build a new society, culminating in their fight in the Cultural Revolution against special privilages for foreign revolutionaries – a fight that Mao himself recognized and approved.

Foreward by Julie de Lima-Sison Deng-yuan Hsu & Pao-yu Ching Rethinking Socialism This essay succinctly answers the question "Is China still socialist?" and tries to give an objective analysis of the reasons behind the defeat of socialism in China.

This essay was revised with a new introduction by professor Pao-yu Ching.

Pao-yu Ching From Victory to Defeat How can a country that developed the most advanced so- cialist society in the history of the world change directions so quickly and so completely? In From Victory to Defeat Pao-yu Ching dissects this question, providing economic analysis of what it means to actually “build socialism” with all of the neces- sary contradictions and obstacles that must be overcome. Addressing seven commonly asked questions, Pao-yu Ching gives accesible explanations to the complicated issues China faced in its socialist transition and the material basis for its cap- italist reversal.

Introduction by J. Moufawad-Paul Collection “New Roads”

1. From Victory to Defeat: China’s Socialist Road and Capitalist Reversal - Pao-yu Ching 2. Silage Choppers and Snake Spirits - Dao-yuan Chou 3. Which East is Red? - Andrew Smith 4. Mao Zedong’s “On Contradiction” Study Companion - Redspark Collective Collection “Colorful Classics”

1. Marxism-Leninism-Maoism Basic Course - Communist Party of India (Maoist) Also available in German, Arabic, Italian 2. Philosophical Trends in the Feminist Movement - Anuradha Ghandy 3. Minimanual of the Urban Guerrilla - Carlos Marighella 4. The Communist Necessity - J. Moufawad-Paul 5. Maoists in India : Writings & Interviews - Azad 6. Five Golden Rays - Mao Zedong 7. Stand for Socialism against Modern Revisionism - Armando Liwanag 8. Strategy for the Liberation of Palestine - PFLP 9. Against Avakianism - Ajith 10. Specific Characterics of our People’s War - 11. Rethinking Socialism: What is Socialist Transition? - Deng-Yuan Hsu & Pao-yu Ching 12. Fedai Guerillas speak on Armed Struggle in Iran - Dehghani, Ahmadzadeh, Habash, Pouyan, Ashraf 13. Revolutionary Works - Seamus Costello 14. Urban Perspective - Communist Party of India (Maoist) 15. Five Essays on Philosophy - Mao Zedong 16. Post-Modernism Today - Siraj Collection “Works of Maoism”

1. Collected Works (1968-1987) Communist Party of Peru

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