The Discussion on Self Determination Summed Up (1916)

  • Author: Lenin
  • Date: October 1916
  • Location: Russia
  • Link: www.marx2mao.com/Lenin/SD16.html
  • PDF: see attachment at the bottom of this page.

We have affirmed that it would be a betrayal of socialism to refuse to implement the self-determination of nations under socialism. We are told in reply that "the right of self-determination is not applicable to a socialist society". The difference is a radical one. Where does it stem from?

  • Author: Lenin
  • Date: October 1916
  • Location: Russia
  • Link: www.marx2mao.com/Lenin/SD16.html
  • PDF: see attachment at the bottom of this page.

We have affirmed that it would be a betrayal of socialism to refuse to implement the self-determination of nations under socialism. We are told in reply that "the right of self-determination is not applicable to a socialist society". The difference is a radical one. Where does it stem from?

"We know," runs our opponents' reasoning, "that socialism will abolish every kind of national oppression since it abolishes the class interests that lead to it. . . ." What has this argument about the economic prerequisites for the abolition of national oppression, which are very well known and undisputed, to do with a discussion of one of the forms of political oppression, namely, the forcible retention of one nation within the state frontiers of another? This is nothing but an attempt to evade political questions! And ….

 

Share and Enjoy !

Shares

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *