For more than 70 years, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, founded by the great revolutionary and proletarian strategist V. I. Lenin, has been operating as an active political force for social progress. The emergence of a new type of party, radically different from the old social - democratic parties, marked a new era in the history of political parties. "The emergence of the Bolshevik Party," M. A. Suslov said in connection with the 70th anniversary of the Second Congress of the RSDLP,"is an event of world-historical significance, which marked the beginning of a new stage in the development of the Russian and world labor movement, the beginning of a radical turn from the old social - democratic parties to a new type of proletarian party on an international scale." 1
Based on the ideas of K. Marx and F. Having thoroughly studied the experience of the Russian and international revolutionary movement, Lenin created a coherent theory about the new type of proletarian party, its role and place in social development. The character of the political party of the working class, its type, was determined by the historical mission of the proletariat in the new epoch-the epoch of the collapse of the capitalist formation. The purpose of the party was to unite and rally the working class, to lead the revolutionary struggle of the struggling masses for the victory of the socialist revolution and the building of socialism.

In carrying out its historical mission, our party has passed a heroic path, and has gained vast experience in the revolutionary reconstruction of society. Under its leadership, the working class, in alliance with the working peasantry, committed the following acts in 1917: The Great October Socialist Revolution, which opened a new era of world history. The Party led the struggle of the Soviet people for the creation of a new society and led them to the triumph of socialism, to the building of a developed socialist society. The CPSU was the mastermind and organizer of the defeat of one of the most reactionary forces of imperialism - Hitler's fascism, which was trying to turn back the wheel of history. Under the influence of the victories won by the first state of socialism during the Second World War, and as a result of the socialist revolutions that took place in a number of European and Asian countries, the world system of socialism was formed.

The accumulated experience of the CPSU is the property of the entire international communist movement, because this experience contains not only national-specific, but also generally significant, universal features and laws of building a socialist and communist state.-

1 M. A. Suslov. The Second Congress of the RSDLP and its World-historical significance, Moscow, 1973, p. 15.

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the student society. Life has confirmed the validity of Lenin's statement that the historical experience of our country and our party "has gone down in history as the conquest of socialism, and on this experience the future international revolution will build its socialist edifice."2 The consolidation and expansion of the world socialist system, the rise of the revolutionary working - class movement in the capitalist countries, and the success of the national liberation struggle of the peoples convincingly confirm the world - historical significance of our party's experience. "The experience of the CPSU," pointed out E. Honecker, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the SED and Chairman of the State Council of the GDR, "is the experience of the leading and guiding force of the country that has been at the center of the international class struggle for six decades - first as the only socialist state in an imperialist environment and now as the main bulwark of world socialism." 3 First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Supreme Soviet Ya. Kadar, speaking at the XXV Congress of the CPSU, stressed: "The past of the Soviet Union is a great historical lesson, its present is an example to follow, and its future is a bright prospect for the peoples of the world." 4
*

A working-class party must have a scientific worldview and a scientifically sound strategy and tactics in order to meet its historical goals. Such a worldview has become for our party Marxism-Leninism - the only scientific revolutionary theory that reveals in all its depth the laws of social development, shows the ways of the revolutionary overthrow of the capitalist system, the conquest of political power by the proletariat, and the construction of a socialist society. Even at the time of the party's creation, Lenin emphasized that "we stand entirely on the basis of Marx's theory: it turned socialism for the first time from a utopia into a science", that "the role of an advanced fighter can be fulfilled only by a party led by an advanced theory" 5 . The historical experience of the CPSU has convincingly proved the greatest vitality of the Marxist-Leninist doctrine, its enormous revolutionary and transformative power. Marxism-Leninism serves the party as a true theoretical guide at all stages - from the moment of the emergence of Bolshevism to the building of developed socialism in our country.

The social practice and revolutionary activity of our party have confirmed the greatness and correctness of the fundamental principles, theoretical conclusions and propositions of Marxism-Leninism on the historical mission of the working class, on the new type of proletarian party, on the socialist revolution, on the construction of socialism and communism. Having mastered the Marxist-Leninist doctrine, the Russian proletariat and the Bolshevik Party implemented its most important provisions. In their hands, Marxism-Leninism has become a great force transforming the world. Modern reality, the processes taking place in the world social development testify to the triumph of the Marxist-Leninist doctrine, to its enormous potential in revealing the ways of further social progress, the movement of humanity towards communism.

One of the characteristic features of Marxism-Leninism is its indissoluble connection with life, with social practice, in an organic way.-

2 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 36, p. 383.

3 Pravda, 22. II. 1977.

4 "XXV Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union". Stenographic report, Moscow, 1976, vol. 1, p. 229.

5 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 4, p. 182; vol. 6, p. 25.

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the unity of the theory and revolutionary and transformative activity of the working class and its party. "A close, constant connection with practice, with real life, a strictly scientific approach to reality," said General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee L. I. Brezhnev, " constitute the living soul of Marxism-Leninism. And this is the secret of his eternal youth. " 6 A creative approach to theory and politics allowed Lenin to comprehensively develop and enrich the Marxist doctrine of revolution, the science of building socialism. Leninism became a new stage in the development of Marxism. On the basis of an in-depth analysis of the epoch of imperialism, Lenin enriched the Marxist doctrine of the socialist revolution with new conclusions and propositions. He discovered the law of uneven economic and political development of capitalism in the era of imperialism and in this connection concluded that the victory of socialism is possible initially in several or even in one country taken separately.

The validity and vitality of this brilliant Lenin conclusion was confirmed by the Great October Socialist Revolution and the socialist revolutions in the countries of South-Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

At all stages of socialist construction, the CPSU creatively developed the Marxist-Leninist theory. Through the collective efforts of the party, Lenin's propositions on the possibility of building socialism in our country, on the internal and external aspects of this problem, and on the complete and final victory of socialism were concretized. Questions about the leading role of the CPSU in socialist construction, about the tasks and functions of the Soviet state, and about Soviet democracy received a comprehensive theoretical justification. Guided by Lenin's teaching, the party developed a program and methods of socialist industrialization, defined concrete ways and forms of socialist transformation of agriculture, and carried out the cultural revolution. The party made an important theoretical contribution to the elaboration of questions about the relationship between classes during the transition period, about the fundamental changes in the composition of the working class, peasantry and intelligentsia as a result of the construction of socialism, and about the ideological and political unity of the Soviet people. Theoretical thought was enriched by conclusions about ways and means of resolving the national question, ensuring full equality of the peoples of the USSR, eliminating their economic and cultural backwardness, and the transition of previously backward peoples to socialism, bypassing the capitalist stage of development.

The decisions of the XXV Congress of the CPSU provide a vivid example of the creative development of Marxism-Leninism, deep analysis and theoretical understanding of the processes of social life within the country and on the world stage. The Congress once again stressed that Marxism-Leninism is a revolutionary doctrine, guided by which the party has all the opportunities to learn the laws of social development, develop scientifically based strategies and tactics, and organize the broad working masses to fight for the bright ideals of communism. but, on the contrary, it becomes even bigger. The XXV Congress of the CPSU directed the theoretical cadres of social scientists to concentrate their efforts on the study of the world-historical experience of the CPSU, on the development of theoretical problems of a developed socialist society and the laws of its development into communism, on the study of problems related to the creation of the material and technical base of communism, on the improvement of-

6 L. I. Brezhnev's Lenin Course, vol. 2, Moscow, 1973, p. 139.

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social relations, the formation of a new person-the builder of communism, the development of a socialist way of life 7 .

The historical experience of the CPSU not only convincingly revealed the greatness of the revolutionary and transformative power of Marxist-Leninist theory, the significance of its creative development, but also showed the need to defend and defend the purity of Marxism-Leninism from all kinds of opportunist perversions and revisions. Scientific communism is under attack from reformists, right-wing and" left " revisionists, and petty-bourgeois ideologists who try to refute the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism, emasculate its revolutionary spirit, contrast Marxism with Leninism, and declare Leninism a specifically Russian phenomenon.

The struggle for the purity of the Marxist-Leninist doctrine, which expresses the fundamental interests of the working class and all working people, is the direct responsibility of the political party of the working class. The CPSU is also performing its duty with dignity in this respect, and its rich experience in the irreconcilable struggle against numerous ideological enemies-the economists, Bundists, Social Revolutionaries, Mensheviks, Trotskyists, right-wing opportunists, and national deviators-is of lasting importance.

Lenin's teaching about the socialist revolution and the possibility of building a socialist society in our country was fiercely attacked. Opportunists of all stripes argued that Russia was not ripe for a proletarian revolution, that socialism could only come from other, more advanced capitalist countries, and that building a socialist society in the U.S.S.R. without the State support of the international proletariat was hopeless. The CPSU revealed the petty-bourgeois nature of the opportunists ' theoretical concepts, defended the purity of Lenin's teaching, and, relying on the support of the broad masses of the working people, ensured the victory of socialism in our country. "Since the time of Lenin," L. I. Brezhnev pointed out, " the Communist Party of the Soviet Union has always considered the deep development of revolutionary theory, its creative development, and its consistent defense against all opponents to be among its most important and most urgent tasks. It is precisely this approach to theory that has enabled the party to win victories of which we are justly proud. This approach guarantees us further remarkable success in the coming years!"8 .

The consistent struggle of the CPSU for the purity of Marxism-Leninism is supported by the fraternal Communist and workers ' parties of the world.

The Marxist-Leninists resolutely repulse the opportunists and revisionists of all stripes, expose the inconsistency of their theoretical views, and reveal the practical harm they do to the development of the revolutionary movement. The experience of building socialism and communism in the U.S.S.R. and in other socialist countries, as well as the practice of developing the world revolutionary workers ' and communist movement, confirm the correctness and vitality of Marxism-Leninism and the inviolability of its scientific principles. "Marxism-Leninism, "the CPSU Central Committee resolution" On the 60th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution " notes, was and remains the only true science of communism, an unsurpassed art political leadership of the revolutionary creativity of the masses. Loyalty to Marxism-Leninism, its powerful, life-affirming creative spirit, is the most important condition and guarantee of success in communist creation and in the struggle for freedom.-

7 See "XXV Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union". Verbatim report, vol. 1, pp. 98-99.

8 L. I. Brezhnev. Lenin's Course, vol. 4, Moscow, 1974, p. 204.

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the interests of the working class, of all working people " 9 . Marxism-Leninism was, is, and will continue to be the compass that points the right way for all revolutionary and progressive forces in their struggle against imperialism, for social and national liberation, for democracy and socialism.

One of the characteristic features of the new type of proletarian party is the organic unity of revolutionary theory and practice. "A new type of party," said L. I. Brezhnev, " is... the ultimate embodiment of the indissoluble unity of revolutionary theory and revolutionary practice. This is the greatest legacy left by Lenin to the world revolutionary movement, the builders of socialism and communism. " 10
Through the efforts of the CPSU, the scientific conclusions of Marxism-Leninism were translated into reality. And this is the world-historical significance of our party's experience. Under her leadership, the socialist Revolution took place in October 1917. The Great October Revolution ushered in a new era - the era of struggle "for the liberation of the peoples from imperialism, for the cessation of wars between peoples, for the overthrow of the rule of capital, for socialism."11
The objective course of events on the eve and during the October period developed in accordance with the provisions of Marxism-Leninism, which testified to the depth and strength of the Marxist-Leninist analysis of social development, knowledge of the laws of the class struggle and the revolutionary movement.

It is difficult to overestimate the significance of this historical event, which reflected in a classical form the triumph of the ideas of Marx, Engels, and Lenin about the inevitability of the death of the capitalist system. For the first time in history, the struggle of the working people against exploitation, social and national oppression has ended in complete victory.

If in the first program document of the working class, the Manifesto of the Communist Party, Marx and Engels wrote about the specter of communism that haunts Europe, then with the victory of October in 1/6 of the world, communism became a reality that capitalism could not ignore.

In the Great October Socialist Revolution, despite all the peculiarities of Russian conditions, the general laws inherent in the proletarian revolution were fully manifested. Analyzing the experience of the October Revolution, Lenin repeatedly drew attention to this fact. "Experience has proven that -.......He pointed out that in some very essential questions of the proletarian revolution, all countries will inevitably have to do what Russia has done, "that" some of the main features of our revolution are not local, not national-specific, not only Russian, but of international significance," and that " the Russian model shows all countries something that is very important." and very significant, from their inevitable and near future " 12 .

In the October Revolution, the great liberation mission of the working class, the most advanced and revolutionary class in modern society, the bearer of social progress, was profoundly and comprehensively revealed. He acted as a hegemon, rallying around him the semi-proletarians of the city and countryside, all the exploited.

The leading and organizing force of the socialist revolution was the Communist Party. Being the vanguard of the working class-

9 "On the 60th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution". Resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU of January 31, 1977, Moscow, 1977, p. 26.

10 L. I. Brezhnev. Lenin's Course, vol. 2, pp. 554-555.

11 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 37, p. 171.

12 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 41, pp. 13, 3, 4.

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Armed with the all-conquering teachings of Marx-Lenin, it roused the broad masses of the working people to the revolutionary struggle. Its political strategy and tactics, the application of various forms of struggle, legal and illegal, peaceful and non-peaceful, and its relentless political and organizational work ultimately made it possible to overthrow the power of capital and establish the power of the workers and peasants. Speaking about the role of the proletarian party in the revolution and in the struggle against capitalism, Lenin emphasized that "without a party that is iron and hardened in the struggle, without a party that enjoys the confidence of all who are honest in a given class, without a party that can monitor and influence the mood of the masses, it is impossible to conduct such a struggle successfully." 13
Our country was the first to build a socialist society. The Communist Party was in charge of this construction project. In solving the most important and most difficult task of the socialist revolution - the creative one - the CPSU has accumulated a wealth of experience, the significance of which is all the more important because in our country the science of socialism, the ways and means of achieving this goal, has been tested and further concretized and developed. The situation of the proletariat after the seizure of power was not easy. The working class and its party have theoretically determined the main direction of their activity. But if the bourgeoisie, once at the helm of the state leadership of society, as Lenin figuratively put it, received "a vehicle already tried, a road prepared in advance, mechanisms already tested earlier," then the situation of the working class was different. He had "no carriage, no road, nothing at all, absolutely nothing experienced before!" 14 .

The first and most responsible duty of the working class and its party was to consolidate and further develop the results of the socialist revolution. The capitalist world met the proletarian revolution with hostility and made every effort to stifle it. The task of defending the revolution and preserving the power of the workers and peasants in Soviet Russia, which was surrounded by capitalists, was extremely difficult. The October Revolution managed to stand up for itself. It withstood the fierce onslaught of internal counter-revolution and the military intervention of international capital. This was the first heroic feat of the working class, of all working people, accomplished under the leadership of the Leninist Party after the conquest of power.

During the interwar years, the CPSU correctly assessed the international situation of the Soviet state and did everything possible to protect the country and strengthen its defense capability, to strengthen international proletarian solidarity. As a result, during the Second World War, when imperialism once again made desperate efforts to destroy socialism, the Soviet Union not only defended its gains, but also made a decisive contribution to saving European and world civilization from being destroyed by fascist barbarians. His victory created favorable conditions for the formation of a world socialist system. The socialist Revolution not only managed to defend itself, but also showed the great power of revolutionary creativity and social progress. The complete and final victory of socialism is the result of Lenin's strategy and tactics of the CPSU in defending the socialist revolution and consolidating its gains.

The experience of our country, as well as of other socialist countries, shows that the ruling classes do not give up their positions without a fight, without fierce resistance. Therefore, in order to consolidate the victory of the revolution and consolidate the power it has won, the working class must establish

13 Ibid., p. 27.

14 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 44, p. 416.

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your dictatorship. However, the working class needs it not only and not so much to suppress the resistance of the overthrown classes. Its historical vocation, as the experience of our country and other socialist states has convincingly confirmed, is to ensure the construction of socialism, to create its material and technical base, to establish genuine freedom and democracy for the absolute majority of the working people, to organize a new political system, and to involve the broad masses of the people in the management of society's affairs. The historical experience of the CPSU has clearly shown that the state of the dictatorship of the proletariat was the main instrument by which the working people of our country not only suppressed the resistance of their class enemies, but also organized the construction of a new, socialist society. As L. I. Brezhnev emphasized, "the political power of the working class, led by its vanguard, the Communist Party, is an indispensable condition, a necessary prerequisite for building socialism." 15
The Leninist Party also has the merit of being the first among the political parties of the working class to lead the practical construction of a new society. As early as 1918, speaking about the experience of direct socialist construction in Soviet Russia, Lenin saw its great international significance. "When the country has embarked on the path of the greatest transformations," he pointed out, " then the merit of this country and the party of the working class, which has won in this country, is that we have come close to the tasks that were previously set in the abstract, theoretically, and practically. This experience will never be forgotten. " 16 And now, from the heights of today, the gigantic scale, complexity and novelty of the work that the CPSU has done for 60 years is revealed in all its grandeur.

After the conquest of power and the suppression of the exploiters were largely completed, the main task of the working class and its party was to create a new social and economic system. "This," Lenin pointed out, " is the most difficult task, for it is a question of organizing in a new way the most profound, economic foundations of the life of tens and tens of millions of people. And this is the most rewarding task, because only after it is solved (in its main and main features) will it be possible to say that Russia has become not only a Soviet, but also a socialist republic."17 . Based on the Marxist-Leninist doctrine, the party, as the leading and guiding force of the new Soviet society, immediately set about defining the main ways and means of building socialism. The Eighth Congress of the RCP(b) (March 1919) approved a new party Program - the program for building socialism (the Program of the RSDLP adopted in 1903 - the program for the struggle for the socialist revolution and the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat - was implemented).

In the incredibly difficult conditions of the then young Soviet State, Lenin armed the party with a concrete plan for building a socialist society. With all the power of scientific argument, he showed that Soviet Russia has all the necessary objective and subjective prerequisites for the creation of a new society, for its transformation into an advanced industrial-agrarian socialist power. Lenin's plan was based on such main directions as the implementation of socialist industrialization and the creation of heavy industry - the foundation of the material and technical base of socialism; the transformation of small-scale, large-scale industrial production.-

15 L. I, Brezhnev. Lenin's Course, vol. 2, p. 95.

16 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 36, p. 383.

17 Ibid., p. 173.

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the development of a large-scale, collective, mechanized socialist economy; the implementation of a national policy that would unite the peoples of all nations into a single powerful union; the implementation of the cultural revolution, the transformation of Russia into a country of complete literacy; the full strengthening of the Soviet State; the development of socialist democracy and the active involvement of the working people in the construction ensuring the party's leadership role.

Lenin's plan for the construction of socialism is an example of the creative development and concretization of scientific socialism, an integrated and realistic approach to solving problems of world-historical significance. It covered all areas of social life - the development of productive forces, the transformation of social relations, the restructuring of the spiritual world of people. The party's efforts to implement these goals were diverse. It collectively worked out a general line, determined the main directions of activity at every stage, raised and rallied the broad masses of the working people, overcame difficulties, and confidently led the Soviet people to their intended goal. The political wisdom, the skill of the organizer, the scientifically based strategy and tactics of the Communist Party, and the selfless work of the working class and the entire people ensured the victory of socialism in our country.

The construction of socialism in the USSR was a world-historical feat of the working class and the entire Soviet people, a triumph of Lenin's teaching about the leading role of the CPSU. This victory was recorded in the third Program of our party, adopted by its XXII Congress: "Socialism, the inevitability of which was scientifically predicted by Marx and Engels, socialism, the construction plan of which Lenin outlined, has become a real reality in the Soviet Union... As a result of the selfless work of the Soviet people, the theoretical and practical activities of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, humanity has received a real socialist society and a proven science of building socialism. " 18
The working people of the socialist states, under the leadership of their Marxist-Leninist parties, following the path laid out by the Soviet Union, also achieved a world-historic victory - they built a socialist society in their countries. Today, the doctrine of socialism has already been translated into reality in many countries. A rich and versatile collective experience of revolutionary reconstruction of social life on a socialist basis has been accumulated. The revolutionary experience of the CPSU, the Communist and Workers ' parties of all socialist countries confirmed the general laws of the transition to socialism: the leading role of the working class and its political party in carrying out the socialist revolution and building socialism; the alliance of the working class with the main masses of the peasantry and other strata of workers; the elimination of capitalist ownership and the establishment of public ownership of the means of production; the transformation of agriculture; the development of a socialist economy based on planning and meeting the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the working people; the implementation of the cultural revolution; the elimination of national oppression and the triumph of equality and fraternal friendship between peoples of different nationalities; international solidarity of the working people.

During the construction of socialism, the CPSU was steadily guided by the principles of proletarian internationalism, following the following principles:-

18 "The CPSU in resolutions and decisions of congresses, conferences and plenums of the Central Committee". Ed. 8-E. T. 8, pp. 104, 208.

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vu of the Communist Manifesto: "Proletarians of all countries, unite!", clearly realizing that proletarian solidarity is the most important and unconditional prerequisite for achieving the world-historical goal of the working class - building a communist society. Historical experience has shown that without the international solidarity of the working class, without the moral and political support of the proletariat of capitalist countries, and without its active struggle against the military and economic blockade of the Soviet State, it was impossible to ensure the construction of a socialist society in the USSR. At the same time, the world communist movement, the international working class, and the national liberation movement would not have achieved success in the struggle against imperialism, for peace, democracy, and social progress without the support and assistance of the Soviet Union.

Proletarian internationalism is a pattern of the world revolutionary process, tested on the experience of the CPSU and other communist and workers ' parties. In today's conditions, when imperialism is working together to intensify its struggle against the communist movement and socialist countries, proletarian internationalism is very relevant. The Conference of Communist and Workers ' Parties of Europe, held in Berlin in 1976, once again stressed in its final document that Communists "will develop their internationalist voluntary cooperation and solidarity on the basis of the great ideas of Marx, Engels and Lenin, while strictly observing the equal rights and sovereign independence of each party, non-interference in internal affairs, and respect for freedom of choice." different paths in the struggle for progressive social transformation and for socialism. The struggle for socialism in one's own country and the responsibility of each party to its own working class and people are linked to the mutual solidarity of the working people of all countries, all progressive movements and peoples in the struggle for freedom and strengthening independence, for democracy, socialism and world peace. " 19 In this interrelation and interdependence lies the main content of proletarian internationalism.

Socialism-the first phase of the communist socio - economic formation-is growing and strengthening from year to year. The world of capitalism has been experiencing a deep crisis since the October Revolution. The victory of the Great October Revolution in Russia and the socialist revolutions in a number of other countries, as well as the formation of the world system of socialism, are clear evidence of this. In a relatively short period of time, the commonwealth of socialist countries has grown stronger and developed as a new socio-political community of states that clearly and convincingly demonstrates its advantages over the world of capitalism. A qualitatively new form of international relations in the field of State, economic and political relations is being formed between the socialist countries. Economic cooperation is growing and strengthening on the basis of a long-term comprehensive program of socialist economic integration, which serves as a material basis for strengthening the unity of the socialist countries. Ideological cooperation is being strengthened, and the joint development of actual theoretical and political problems of socialist and communist construction is being developed on a multilateral basis.

The activities of the socialist countries in the international arena serve to establish democratic principles in international relations and strengthen the struggle of peoples for peace, national independence and social progress. Cooperation of the countries of socialism is an integral part of-

19 "For peace and security, cooperation and social progress in Europe", N. 1970, p. 31.

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It is a powerful base for the development of the world revolutionary process and has a huge impact on all modern social development. "The development of the countries of socialism," L. I. Brezhnev noted, " the growth of their power, the strengthening of the beneficial influence of the international policy they pursue - this is now the main direction of social progress of mankind. The attraction of socialism has increased even more against the background of the crisis that has broken out in the capitalist countries"20 . Working people all over the world are showing great interest in the countries of socialism, where the age-old dream of humanity has found a real embodiment.

At present, the collective efforts of the CPSU and the fraternal Communist and workers ' parties have developed the concept of a developed socialist society, which is an important theoretical contribution to the treasury of Marxism-Leninism. A deep description of the society of mature socialism is contained in the materials of the XXV Congress of the CPSU, in the new Constitution of the USSR. This is a society in which powerful productive forces, advanced science and culture have been created, in which the welfare of the people is constantly growing, and more and more favorable conditions are being created for the comprehensive development of the individual. It is a society of mature socialist social relations, in which a new historical community of people - the Soviet people-has emerged on the basis of the convergence of all social strata and the de jure and de facto equality of all nations and nationalities. It is a society of highly organized, ideologically minded and conscious workers-patriots and internationalists. It is a society whose law of life is the concern of all for the well-being of everyone and the concern of everyone for the well-being of all. It is a society of genuine democracy, whose political system ensures the effective management of all public affairs, the increasingly active participation of workers in public life, and the combination of real human rights and freedoms with civic responsibility. It is a society dominated by a scientific, materialistic worldview, a society that has open prospects for all-round progress and development into a communist society .21
Soviet society is now a very complex and dynamically developing social organism. It is characterized by a rapid pace and optimal proportionality of socio-economic development, the correspondence of the level of productive forces to production relations, shifting the center of gravity to intensive factors of economic development, increasing the efficiency of social production and its quality indicators, combining the achievements of the scientific and technological revolution with the advantages of the socialist economic system. In the conditions of mature socialism, when production creates the necessary prerequisites for ensuring, in Lenin's words, the most "complete well-being and free all-round development of all members of society"22 , there is a profound turn towards solving social problems and further increasing the provision of the ever-increasing material and cultural needs of the Soviet people. The society of mature socialism is characterized by the existence of a well-established and well-functioning political system, the unity of all classes and social groups and the formation of social homogeneity on this basis, the flourishing of socialist democracy as the democracy of the whole people, its unity and unity.

20 "XXV Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union". Verbatim report, vol. 1, p. 51.

21 See the XXV Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Verbatim report, vol. 1, p. 113; "Constitution (Basic Law) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics", Moscow, 1977, pp. 4-5.

22 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 6, p. 232.

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moral, political and ideological cohesion based on the Marxist-Leninist ideology.

A characteristic feature of modern Soviet society is that it is undergoing an active process of improving mature socialism. The decisions of the XXV Congress of the CPSU were a comprehensive, comprehensive and scientifically grounded program that determines the socio-economic and political development of Soviet society in the near and longer term. They identified the key problems of the country's economic development, the goals and objectives of the party's economic strategy. Among them: creating the material and technical base of communism, increasing the efficiency of social production, labor productivity, and the quality of all work, accelerating scientific and technological progress, intensively developing science as a direct productive force, and raising agricultural production to a level that fully meets the country's needs.

The Congress outlined ways to further develop the political system of Soviet society, raise the level of activity of Soviets, trade unions, Komsomol and other public organizations of workers, improve the socialist statehood and democracy of the whole people, and strengthen the legal foundations of state and public life. The Congress put forward a broad social program aimed at further raising the material and cultural standard of living of the Soviet people, eliminating the differences between town and country, between mental and physical labor, forming social uniformity, and strengthening friendship between peoples. The Congress set the task of raising to a new level the communist education of the working people, the formation of a new person, the improvement of the socialist way of life, and the development of the spiritual culture of Soviet society.

The Soviet people are successfully implementing the tasks set by the Congress. The rich experience of the CPSU in leading the modern stage of communist construction is appreciated by the world communist movement and all progressive humanity.

The experience of the CPSU confirmed the theoretical conclusion of the founders of Marxism-Leninism that the working class cannot achieve its goal without a political party. Only the existence of a party that has knowledge of the laws of social development and is able to organize the broad masses of the working people on this basis can ensure the solution of the problems of social progress. The leading and guiding role of the Communist Party is an obligatory and indispensable subjective factor in the victory of the proletarian revolution and in the construction and functioning of a socialist society. "By educating the workers' Party, "Lenin pointed out," Marxism educates the vanguard of the proletariat, capable of taking power and leading the whole people to socialism, directing and organizing the new system, and being the teacher, leader, and leader of all the working people and exploited in organizing their social life without the bourgeoisie and against the bourgeoisie. " 23
Under the conditions of socialist construction, one of the most important functions of the CPSU - political leadership of the development of Soviet society-was revealed in all its glory. Noting the success in building a new society during the first years of the Soviet state, Lenin attributed it primarily to "the correctness of the political process."-

23 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 33, p. 26.

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the leadership carried out by this vanguard (the party - F. V.), the correctness of its political strategy and tactics, provided that the broadest masses are convinced by their own experience of this correctness."24 The task of the party was to develop a political line based on Marxism-Leninism, the implementation of which would ensure the practical implementation of the theory of scientific socialism in real socialism.

The art of political leadership is the most complex and responsible duty of the working class party, which for the first time in history has set itself the goal of building socialism in practice. The CPSU has successfully mastered this complex art. Applying the general principles of Marxism-Leninism to the specific conditions of our country, she skillfully identified promising and current problems and the most effective ways and means of solving them. The documents of the party's congresses and conferences, as well as the plenums of its Central Committee, reflect the theoretical wisdom, political realism, and practical organizational skills of the party as a political leader and leader of Soviet society. Its politics are the result of the collective creativity of communists and non-partisans, the scientific embodiment of the known laws of social development. "By deeply and thoroughly studying the situation and trends in development, boldly exposing difficulties and contradictions, and pointing out ways to overcome them," noted Leonid Brezhnev, "the party is paving the way for building communism, putting forward urgent tasks for the people, and inspiring the masses to labor and creative feats." 25
One of the most important regularities in the functioning of the Communist Party is the constant growth of its leading role in Soviet society. This is due to certain objective and subjective factors: the scale and complexity of the socio - economic and political problems being solved, the depth of the revolutionary transformations and the participation of the broadest masses of workers in them, the constant improvement and strengthening of the political and economic system, socialist democracy, the involvement of all workers in the management of society's affairs, the further development of Marxist-Leninist theory, and the communist education of workers. The growing leadership role of the CPSU is an objective historical process dictated by the entire course of social development. "The dynamism of the development of Soviet society," L. I. Brezhnev pointed out,"the growing scale of communist construction, and our activities in the international arena urgently require continuous improvement of the level of party leadership in the development of the economy and culture, the education of people, and the improvement of organizational and political work among the masses." 26
The Communist Party, being the vanguard of the working class, unites in its ranks its best representatives, the most class-conscious, politically mature, devoted to the revolutionary cause, who devote their energies to serving the interests of their class. V. I. Lenin emphasized that "the party is the conscious, advanced stratum of the class, its vanguard"27 . Throughout the entire period of socialist construction, the CPSU functioned as a political party of the working class. The regularity of its further development in the process of building mature socialism consisted in the fact that, being a party of the working class, it also became a party of the entire Soviet Union.

24 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 41, p. 7.

25 L. I. Brezhnev. Lenin's Course, vol. 2, p. 581.

26 "XXV Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union". Verbatim report, vol. 1, p. 91.

27 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 24, p. 34.

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It expresses the interests and aspirations of all classes and strata of our society, and does everything necessary to satisfy their interests.

The XXV Congress of the CPSU pointed out that the transformation of the party into the vanguard of the entire people does not change its social nature. "In the conditions of developed socialism," said L. I. Brezhnev, " when the Communist Party has become the party of the whole people, it by no means loses its class character. By its very nature, the CPSU was and remains a party of the working class. " 28 This conclusion is of fundamental importance for a correct understanding of the essence of the party and its basic social base. Over the past three decades, the number of the CPSU has grown almost 3 times. The growth of its ranks is an objective trend that follows from the entire course of development of Soviet society. Its defining feature was and still is the predominant replenishment of the party ranks at the expense of advanced representatives of the working class. And this is natural, since the working class is the leading force in Soviet society.

The Communist Party acts as the core of the political system of a socialist society. The party, as the highest form of social and political organization of the working people, is entrusted with the ideological and political leadership of state and public organizations, the coordination of their activities, and the development of their creative independence and activity. The place and role of the CPSU in the political system of Soviet society are clearly defined in the new Constitution of the USSR. It states that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union is the guiding and guiding force of Soviet society, the core of its political system, and of all State and public organizations. The CPSU exists for the people and serves the people. Armed with the Marxist-Leninist doctrine, the Communist Party defines the general perspective of the development of society, the line of internal and foreign policy of the U.S.S.R., directs the great creative activity of the Soviet people, and gives a systematic, scientifically grounded character to their struggle for the victory of communism. The leadership of the Communist Party over all the components of the political system of a socialist society is a regular feature of the period of construction of socialism and communism.

The historical experience of the CPSU confirmed the vitality of Lenin's principles of organizational construction of the party, the laws of its internal development, and the norms of party life. During the construction of socialism and communism, the position that the party represents the highest degree of organizational perfection, scientifically based democratic forms and methods of activity, rules and norms of internal life was fully revealed. It shows other public organizations of working people examples of organization and active involvement of their members in social and political life.

The fundamental principle on the basis of which the entire internal party life of the CPSU is built is democratic centralism. Strict observance of it, and the creation of conditions necessary for its practical implementation, ensures the full-blooded activity of the entire party, of every communist. Lenin's proposition that "all party affairs are conducted, directly or through representatives, by all party members, with equal rights and without any exception; moreover, all officials, all governing boards, and all party institutions - elected, accountable, and replaceable" 29 forms the basis of the internal life of the parties-

28 "XXV Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union". Verbatim report, vol. 1, p. 88.

29 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 14, p. 252.

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tii. The Party is doing everything necessary to fully expand the activity of the Communists. "The consistent development of internal party democracy," L. I. Brezhnev noted, " increasing demands on each member of the party - these Leninist principles have not passed the stage. This is the basis of the party's development even today. " 30 The implementation of the principle of democratic centralism at all stages of the historical path of our party has been a determining factor in its successful activity.

The supreme principle of party leadership was and still is collectivity, which follows from the very nature of the party. In the collective discussion of all questions of its activity (congresses, conferences, plenums, meetings), in the collective elaboration and adoption of a political course, in the determination of strategy and tactics, in the collective work of party bodies - the key to a scientifically based, most correct approach to solving the problems of socialist and communist construction. The party is armed with a proven arsenal of Leninist norms, forms and methods of organizing internal party life, which ensures the active activity of every communist and all party organizations.

Among the regularities inherent in the CPSU as a new type of party, a special place is occupied by the solidity of its ranks. The party of the proletariat, Lenin pointed out, "is essentially a certain organizational unity, and people who do not obey the discipline of this organization, neglect it, and trample on its decisions do not belong to it. This is the basic rule. " 31 This rule was strictly observed by the CPSU. During the period of building socialism, the "left communists", Trotskyists, Zinovievites, and right deviators tried to destroy this unity and throw the party off its Leninist course. The Party resolutely fought against opportunism and emerged from this struggle even more united. Ideological, political, and organizational unity among the party ranks, strict party discipline, unconditional compliance by every Communist with generally accepted decisions, and uncompromising struggle against various opportunist trends and factionalism - such is the immutable law of the CPSU's internal party life, the correctness of which has been proved by its historical experience.

Modern revisionists direct the main fire against the Marxist-Leninist doctrine of the party as a political organization and a leading force in the revolutionary movement, in the construction of socialism and communism. The question of the party became a key point in the struggle between Marxist-Leninists and representatives of various forms of revisionism. Right-wing and "left" opportunists incessantly attack Lenin's doctrine of the party of the proletariat, trying to prove that it is unacceptable today, because it was formed under the influence of specific conditions characteristic of Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century, that the current situation allegedly requires a radical change in the role of parties other in type and character than the existing Marxist-Leninist parties and a place in the class struggle and the construction of a new society. The revisionists attack the organizational principles of the communist parties, demanding the rejection of democratic centralism, unity of party ranks, and other Leninist norms of party life. However, all these opportunist attacks are inevitably defeated.

The experience of the communist and workers ' parties shows that ideological, political, and organizational principles were and still are one of the decisive prerequisites for the viability of these parties and the growth of their leading role in revolutionary activities. "Verified-

30 "XXV Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union". Verbatim report, vol. 1, p. 90.

31 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 24, p. 103.

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L. I. Brezhnev pointed out,"Lenin's ideas about the party as the leader of the revolutionary masses, as the guiding force of the new society, and Lenin's principles of party building are now the property of not only the CPSU, but also of the fraternal Communist parties." 32
The strength and invincibility of our party lies in its indissoluble connection with its class, with all the working people. The CPSU has always proceeded from the Marxist-Leninist position that the creator of history is the masses of the people, that their activity is the determining force of material production, the development of spiritual culture, and social progress in general. "Only a communist party," Lenin noted, " if it is really the vanguard of the revolutionary class, if it includes all its best representatives, if it consists of fully conscious and devoted communists, enlightened and hardened by the experience of a stubborn revolutionary struggle, if this party has managed to link itself inextricably with the whole life of its class only such a party is capable of leading the proletariat in the most merciless, decisive, and final struggle against all the forces of capitalism. On the other hand, only under the leadership of such a party can the proletariat unleash the full force of its revolutionary onslaught."33
At all stages of its activity, our party has worked out concrete ways and means to win over the broad masses of the working people to its side. This was especially evident both in the period of preparation for the Great October Revolution and in the years of socialist construction. Lenin repeatedly pointed out that the vanguard alone, that is, the party, cannot build socialism, and that this task will be successfully accomplished only if the party succeeds in convincing the working class and all working people of the correctness of its policy and in encouraging them to put it into practice .34 The CPSU has accumulated considerable experience in strengthening ties with the masses, guiding them, and involving them in the construction of socialism and communism. In its practical activities, it was steadily guided by Lenin's instructions that" the vanguard only fulfils the tasks of the vanguard when it is able not to detach itself from the masses it leads, but to really lead the whole mass forward"; that the communist vanguard must have " the ability to connect, to draw closer, to a certain extent, if you will, to merge with the very essence of the vanguard." a broad mass of working people, primarily proletarian, but also with the non-proletarian working masses. " 35
As experience has shown, an indissoluble link with the masses is possible only if the party expresses the fundamental interests of the working class and the working peasantry, if its policy meets their aspirations and requests. "We can govern only when we correctly express what the people are aware of," Lenin taught. Without this, the Communist Party will not lead the proletariat, and the proletariat will not lead the masses. " 36 During the period of socialist construction, the party's policy was based on taking into account the fundamental interests of the working class and its allies, and proceeded from the need to build a society of social justice. The experience of the CPSU convincingly confirmed Lenin's thesis that "there is no fundamental divergence between the interests of wage workers and the interests of working and exploited peasants. Socialism may well satisfy the interests of both. " 37
32 L. I. Brezhnev. Lenin's Course, vol. 2, p. 583.

33 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 41, p. 187.

34 See, for example, V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 37. pp. 425-426.

35 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 45, p. 23; vol. 41, p. 7.

36 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 45, p. 112.

37 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 35, p. 102.

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In its efforts to strengthen ties with the masses, the party maintained a principled, strictly class-based position both before the revolution and during the construction of socialism. It waged a struggle not for the masses in general, but for the working class, the laboring peasantry, and the progressive intelligentsia, that is, for the majority of the people represented by its working section. Already at the stage of launching socialist construction, the party developed the principle of balancing class forces during the transition period. In the construction of socialism, the working class, being the main revolutionary and creative force, firmly relying on the poorest peasantry, strengthened its alliance with the middle peasantry in every possible way and waged a decisive struggle against the capitalist elements, in particular the kulak. The Party carried out a great deal of political and organizational work, and carried out important economic measures with the aim of winning over the main masses of the working people to the side of the working class. A strong alliance was formed between the working class and the working peasantry. As a result of the victory of socialism, the moral and political unity of the Soviet people emerged, an indissoluble organic link between the party and the people.

In the course of its practical activities, the party has created a rich arsenal of means, forms and methods for developing and strengthening ties with the broad working masses. The main channels of this communication are party organizations, councils, trade unions, Komsomol, cooperation and other public organizations. The party used political agitation, mass media, cultural and educational institutions, etc. to strengthen its ties with the masses. In this work, it was guided by Leninist principles: a thorough explanation of the essence of the party's policy, convincing the masses of its correctness, unconditional voluntary and conscious participation of the people in the implementation of the measures planned by the party, strict consideration of the interests of the masses, and the transition to solving the next tasks only to the extent that all working people are The CPSU acted as Lenin taught: "In order to serve the masses and express their correctly recognized interests, the vanguard, the organization, must conduct all its activities in the masses, attracting all the best forces without exception, checking at every step, carefully and objectively, whether communication with the masses is maintained, whether it is alive. Just like that thus, the vanguard educates and enlightens the masses, expressing their interests, teaching them how to organize, and directing all their activities along the path of conscious class policy. " 38
The profound socio-economic transformations that took place in our country during the construction of socialism and communism ensured the unity of all classes and social groups around the CPSU, and strengthened its connection with the masses. Drawing on the accumulated experience, the CPSU continues to improve its activities in the field of further strengthening ties with the people. The more complex and large-scale the tasks to be solved, the greater the party's responsibility to develop communication with the masses who carry them out in practice. This truth, tested in the course of the revolutionary struggle and socialist construction, is revealed with particular force in the conditions of the development of socialism into communism. In the new historical conditions, the party takes even more full account of the interests of all classes and social groups, of all the nations and nationalities of the country, and of all generations of Soviet people. The fundamental vital interests of the working masses are clearly expressed in the socio-economic and political program of communist construction adopted by the XXV Congress of the CPSU. The Congress has defined specific tasks

38 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 24, p. 37.

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ways to further expand and strengthen the party's connection with the people and their unity, which is a solid guarantee of the successful implementation of plans for the accelerated progress of Soviet society towards communism.

Relations between the party and the people have entered a qualitatively new stage in our time. The Soviet people have learned from many years of experience that they have no other leading political force than the Leninist Party. In their minds, the CPSU is the personification of all that is honest, truly heroic, humane and just, selfless devotion and selfless service to the interests of the working people. The Communists and the party, for their part, are well aware that the people who have entrusted them with the leadership of the country are people of exceptional hard work, courage, endurance, generosity of soul, talent and intelligence, sincerely and completely devoted to the great ideals of communism. "The whole world sees," said L. I. Brezhnev, " that the activities of our party and its aspirations are aimed at doing everything necessary for the good of man, in the name of man. It is precisely this highest, humane goal of the party that unites it with the people, and unites it with all Soviet people by strong, indissoluble ties. The Soviet people know that where there are difficulties, the Communists are ahead. The Soviet people know: No matter what happens, the Communists won't let you down. Soviet people know that wherever the party is, there is success, there is victory! " 39
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union is honourably fulfilling its historical mission. It has been and remains the guiding and guiding force of social progress. The entire history of our Motherland in the twentieth century is inextricably linked with the titanic activity of the Leninist Party. Under her leadership and with her direct participation, fundamental qualitative changes have taken place in our country, a giant leap has been made from backwardness to the heights of social progress. The Communist Party is "the mind, honor ,and conscience of our era." 40 The historical experience of the CPSU has confirmed the validity of this Leninist definition.

39 "XXV Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union". Verbatim report, vol. 1, p. 114.

40 V. I. Lenin. PSS. Vol. 34, p. 93.

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