Enver Hoxha. Selected works.Volume IV.

Transcription

The electronic version of the book
is created by
http://www.enverhoxha.ru
************************
WORKERS
OF
ALL
COUNTRIES,
UNITE!
ENVER HOXHA
SELECTED WORKS
PUBLISHED BY DECISION OF THE CENTRAL
COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY OF
LABOUR OF ALBANIA
ENVER
HOXHA
THE
INSTITUTE
AT
OF
THE
MARXIST-LENINIST
CC
OF
THE
STUDIES
PLA
ENVER HOXHA
VOLUME
IV
FEBRUARY 1966 - JULY 1975
T H E «8 NËNTORI» P U B L I S H I N G HOUSE
T I R A N A , 1982
FOREWORD
The fourth volume of the «Selected Works» of Comrade Enver Hoxha in English includes documents of
the period 1966-1975, which deal with the consistent continuation of the complete construction of socialism in
the new conditions of the fierce struggle against imperialism and revisionism and, at the same time, with
the further revolutionization of the Party and the entire
life of the country.
In this volume are published speeches, discussions,
articles and talks of Comrade Enver Hoxha. They reflect
the correct policy of the Party of Labour of Albania for
the all-round development of the economy at rapid rates,
for the continuation of industrialization as one of the
vital tasks of socialist construction, for the development
of agriculture on the road of modernization and intensification; they reflect the measures taken by the Party for
participation of the working people in the governing of
the country in a broader and more organized way, for
the circulation of cadres, for the narrowing of differentials between the higher and lower wages, etc., measures
which served to close the way to the restoration of
capitalism as occurred in the Soviet Union and the
other former socialist countries.
Comrade Enver Hoxha replies to such questions as:
Why does the role of the masses in the governing of
the country and the management of the economy con-
VIII
FOREWORD
stantly grow, why is it important for the strengthening
of the socialist democracy to establish correct relations
between the masses and the cadres, what gave rise to the
great revolutionary movements of the masses, such as
that for the emancipation of women, for the revolutionization of the school, for placing the general interest above
the personal interest, the movement against backward
customs, etc., which broke out in 1967 under the leadership of the Party, and how are they developed, how is
direct worker control exercised, what is the interdependence between the technical-scientific revolution and the
active participation of the working people in it, etc.? All
these questions found their reflection in the successful
fulfilment of the 4th and 5th Five-year Plans, as the
deed of the working masses themselves.
He proves with scientific argument why the class
struggle will continue until the construction of communism and why the fate of socialism depends on the correct
understanding of this struggle which is waged in a coordinated manner on the internal and external plane, why
socialism is threatened not only from abroad, by a military aggression, but also from within the country, by
degeneration and peaceful counter-revolutionary evolution. Arguments are also brought to reveal the reactionary essence of the viewpoints of the Soviet and other
revisionists on the extinction of the class struggle, on the
«party of the entire people» and the «state of the entire
people», as well as of the viewpoints of the Chinese
revisionists, at that time still camouflaged, who held that
after the construction of the economic base of socialism
the bourgeoisie is not eliminated as a class. Significant
are his conclusions on the so-called Proletarian Cultural
Revolution, in which Chinese revisionism was emerging
more openly in practice.
It is stressed that a fundamental condition for the
FOREWORD
IX
writers and artists to create works of ideo-artistic value
is that they must sit cheek by jowl with the people. This
problem is treated in a comprehensive manner in the
report delivered at the 4th Plenum of the CC of the
PLA, which exposes the reactionary content of the currents of the bourgeois and revisionist literature and art
and shows what distinguishes them from the literature
and art of socialist realism.
To make the working people still more conscious of
the tasks which lie ahead of them, Comrade Enver Hoxha
calls on all communists and all the working people to
thoroughly understand and assess the imperialist-revisionist blockade in all its seriousness, to foil all the ideological,
political, economic and military pressures the imperialists
and social-imperialists exercise on socialist Albania, by
implementing the principle of self-reliance with ever
greater persistency. This is connected with the struggle
of the Party of Labour of Albania to expose the superpowers, the USA and the USSR, and the other imperialist
powers as aggressors and exploiters of the peoples. Following this policy unwaveringly, the PLA denounced and
exposed, without any reservation, the fascist-like aggression of the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Treaty allies
against Czechoslovakia, while ceaselessly continuing its
exposure of the aggressive war of American imperialism
in Vietnam.
In the materials of this volume is stressed the great
and inexhaustible strength of the peoples in the struggle
to win and defend their freedom and independence against
the savage common enemies, American imperialism, Soviet
social-imperialism and all their lackeys.
Educated in the spirit of proletarian internationalism,
the PLA has fulfilled its duties towards its own working
class and people in close connection with the tasks and
aims of the international proletariat, the cause of the
X
FOREWORD
triumph of socialism everywhere in the world. In many
articles, speeches and talks in this volume it is pointed
out how the relations between the Marxist-Leninist parties
should be built.
The documents of this volume are a clear testimony
of the correct revolutionary line of the PLA and its consistency in the faithful and creative implementation of
Marxism-Leninism, its contribution to the enrichment of
the theory and practice of scientific socialism.
Many materials
abridged form.
in
this
volume
are
published in
INVIGORATION OF T H E LIFE OF THE PARTY - T H E
MAIN PROBLEM
Orientations for the basic organizations of the Party
February 2, 1966
T h e v e r y l i v e l y debates w h i c h t o o k p l a c e i n t h e P a r t y
a n d a m o n g t h e people d u r i n g the d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e c a l l o f
the C e n t r a l Committee o f the P L A and the C o u n c i l o f M i n i s t e r s o f t h e P R A , ( 1 ) a s w e l l a s o f the d e c i s i o n o f the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f the C C o f t h e P a r t y « O n t h e s t r u g g l e
against b u r e a u c r a c y f o r a r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t y l e a n d m e t h o d
o f w o r k » , ( 2 ) d e m o n s t r a t e t h e correctness o f these h i s t o r i c
decisions a n d the m a t u r i t y of o u r P a r t y w h i c h , at the p r o pier m o m e n t , w a s a b l e t o seize o n t h a t l i n k w h i c h w o u l d
f u r t h e r r e v o l u t i o n i z e a l l t h e w o r k . T h e y are i n c o n t e s t a b l e
evidence of that healthy M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t force w h i c h the
P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a represents.
T h e communists and the w h o l e people supported the
Central Committee and our Party in this very important
undertaking w i t h a l l their might. T h i s is fresh evidence
o f those close b o n d s w h i c h e x i s t b e t w e e n the P a r t y a n d
_____________________________
1 Issued on October 23, 1965 for d r a w i n g the people's masses
in the discussion and d r a f t i n g of the 4th Five-year P l a n of the
development of the economy and culture d u r i n g 1966-1970.
2 T h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the CC of the P L A took this d e c i sion on December 24, 1965, by w h i c h it called attention to the
need for a more resolute struggle against the bureaucratic distortions in the state organs and in the P a r t y .
2
ENVER HOXHA
t h e people, o f t h a t u n s h a k e a b l e t r u s t w h i c h t h e y h a v e i n
e a c h other, a n d o f the l o f t y p a t r i o t i s m o f o u r h e r o i c people.
T h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u considers t h a t the m a i n p r o b l e m
today, i n o r d e r t o r e s p o n d t o t h i s g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y
e n t h u s i a s m o f the masses f o r c a r r y i n g o u t t h e m a j o r tasks
w i t h w h i c h w e a r e faced, i s t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d i n v i g o r a t i o n o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y .
THE BASIC ORGANIZATIONS OF THE PARTY SHOULD ASSUME
THE FULL LEADERSHIP OF EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE
IN THE SECTORS IN WHICH THEY OPERATE
F o r the P a r t y t o p e r f o r m i t s r o l e o f the o r g a n i z e d
v a n g u a r d d e t a c h m e n t o f t h e w o r k i n g class, a s the f o r c e
inspiring and leading the w h o l e life of the country, it is
e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , a s its s o l i d f o u n d a t i o n , f u l l y p l a y s i t s r o l e i n the e n t e r p r i s e , c o o p e r a t i v e , v i l lage, m i l i t a r y d e t a c h m e n t , a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d e v e r y w h e r e
else. T h i s m e a n s t h a t t h e f a t e o f t h e e n t e r p r i s e , c o o p e r a t i v e , d e t a c h m e n t , etc., i s i n t h e hands, not o f o n e p e r s o n ,
b u t of t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n as a w h o l e . To this e n d t h e
following matters must be made very clear:
1. — In a n y c o l l e c t i v e , w h a t d e t e r m i n e s w h e t h e r a f fairs r u n smoothly is the level of the ideological, political,
o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d m o b i l i z i n g w o r k o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y . W i t h o u t u n d e r r a t i n g t h e v e r y great
i m p o r t a n c e w h i c h the c a d r e s h a v e f o r t h e P a r t y , i t i s n o t
t h e secretary, t h e d i r e c t o r , t h e c h a i r m a n o r the c o m m a n d e r w h o are t h e r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e w o r k i n a c o o p e r a t i v e ,
e c o n o m i c e n t e r p r i s e , school, m i l i t a r y d e t a c h m e n t o r e l s e where, but m a i n l y the basic organization of the P a r t y . It
i s a l w a y s t h e c a r e f u l w o r k o f t h e P a r t y w h i c h has r a i s e d
o u r cadres f r o m t h e r a n k s o f t h e masses.
T h e task o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y i s not
INVIGORATION OF THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
3
j u s t t o s u p p o r t the o r d e r s o f the d i r e c t o r , t h e c h a i r m a n
o r t h e c o m m a n d e r . I t i s t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y that
guides all the w o r k , that decides w h a t must be done by
t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l the w o r k i n g p e o p l e t o c a r r y the
w o r k f o r w a r d , w h a t tasks m u s t b e f u l f i l l e d , h o w t o defeat
the e n e m y i n w a r , etc., a n d o n the basis o f this, each i n d i v i d u a l m u s t c a r r y out t h e d u t i e s e n t r u s t e d t o h i m . A l l the
o r g a n s , o r g a n i z a t i o n s o r o t h e r b o d i e s are l e v e r s o f t h e
P a r t y . A s s u c h t h e y m u s t w o r k t o p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e the
l i n e , d e c i s i o n s a n d t h e correct o r i e n t a t i o n s o f the P a r t y
w i t h o u t d e v i a t i n g i n t h e slightest f r o m a l l t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f the d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m o f t h e state a n d o t h e r
o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t h e masses.
T h e r e i s n o p r o b l e m i n w h i c h t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n
of the P a r t y is not interested, but it cannot c a r r y out a l l
t h e w o r k o n its o w n . I t has t o g u i d e a n d s h o u l d s t a n d i n
s u c h a p o s i t i o n t h a t it has a b r o a d v i e w of a l l the w o r k .
T h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t f i g h t against s e c t a r i a n i s m ,
against a n y a t t e m p t t o m o n o p o l i z e a f f a i r s . S e c t a r i a n i s m
i n h i b i t s t h e i n i t i a t i v e o f the cadres a n d t h e masses,
w e a k e n s a n d s h r i v e l s the P a r t y . T h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s
o f t h e P a r t y m u s t c o n t i n u a l l y e n h a n c e t h e i r a b i l i t y t o set
e v e r y t h i n g n e c e s s a r y i n m o t i o n s o t h a t its m e m b e r s a n d
l e v e r s a n d a l l t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e p e r f o r m t h e i r tasks f u l l y
w i t h t h e h i g h e s t sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y .
W h i l e w o r k i n g to develop the initiative and enhance
t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f cadres a n d v a r i o u s organs, t h e basic
organizations of the P a r t y m u s t not p e r m i t localist or
departmentalist tendencies or manifestations of technocracy, w h i c h a r e o t h e r m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c
pressure on the P a r t y .
N o t r i g i d f o r m s , b u t the i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d t e c h n i c a l u p l i f t o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f
the P a r t y must constitute the m a i n concern of the o r g a nizations of the P a r t y today.
4
ENVER HOXHA
2. — A n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n of l a c k of c o n f i d e n c e in.
the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y a n d o f tutelage
over them, any method of compulsion and rigid a d ministration which inhibit
their initiative should be
c o m b a t e d . I n s t e a d o f these, t h e r e s h o u l d b e q u a l i f i e d
assistance a n d c o n t r o l w h i c h w i l l o p e n b r o a d h o r i z o n s f o r
a c t i v i t y t o t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t h e p a r t y m e m b e r s
a n d the w o r k i n g masses. T h o s e p r o b l e m s w h i c h i t i s
u p t o t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n t o d e c i d e o n a n d solve, s h o u l d
b e l e f t t o i t t o d e c i d e a n d solve. P a r t i c u l a r c a r e m u s t b e
s h o w n t o assist t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n the c o u n t r y s i d e
w h e r e the t a s k s a r e m o r e d i f f i c u l t .
a) T h e dictation f r o m above of agendas for the meetings o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h r o u g h v a r i o u s decisions,
i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d orders, f o r e x a m p l e , p o l i t i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n
m u s t be d o n e once a m o n t h , the p r o b l e m of dues s h o u l d
b e e x a m i n e d once i n t h r e e m o n t h s , t h e p r o b l e m s o f l i v e s t o c k - f a r m i n g s h o u l d b e e x a m i n e d once i n s i x m o n t h s ,
etc., i s a h a r m f u l p r a c t i c e w h i c h s h o u l d b e e n d e d .
b ) T h e i n i t i a t i v e a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f t h e basic o r g a nizations of the P a r t y should be extensively developed,
e s p e c i a l l y i n the w o r k f o r t h e a n a l y s i s a n d t h e c r e a t i v e
a p p l i c a t i o n o f d i r e c t i v e s a n d o r i e n t a t i o n s o f the P a r t y .
T h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y m u s t react i m m e d i a t e l y w h e n v a r i o u s decisions, o r d e r s o r i n s t r u c t i o n s r u n
c o u n t e r t o t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y , t o its correct p o l i c y a n d
t h e interests o f t h e people. T h e P a r t y has n o i n t e r e s t s
other t h a n those o f t h e p e o p l e , t h e r e f o r e a n y t h i n g c o n t r a r y t o these i n t e r e s t s i s a t t h e s a m e t i m e c o n t r a r y t o
the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y . D u r i n g the d i s c u s s i o n s w h i c h h a v e
been h e l d i n t h e P a r t y a n d a m o n g t h e p e o p l e a b o u t t h e
struggle against b u r e a u c r a c y a n d f o r t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f
the m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k , i t e m e r g e d c l e a r l y t h a t t h e
basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e n o t b e e n t h o r o u g h l y o n g u a r d
against b u r e a u c r a t i c d i s t o r t i o n s . T h i s m u s t b e m a d e a
5
g o o d lesson. D e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m r e q u i r e s t h a t w e raise
o u r v o i c e l o u d l y , t h r o u g h p a r t y channels, a g a i n s t a n y
distortion of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t line of our Party.
3 . — A b o v e a l l , o u r P a r t y i s t h e leader, o r g a n i z e r ,
e d u c a t o r , a d v i s e r a n d i n s p i r e r o f the w o r k i n g masses a n d
i t e x i s t s a n d f i g h t s i n o r d e r t o d e f e n d t h e i r interests. T h e
basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y a n d e v e r y c o m m u n i s t
must devote all their m a i n activity to practical w o r k for
t h e e d u c a t i o n a n d m o b i l i z a t i o n o f people, l i s t e n i n g t o a n d
respecting their opinions. There ought to be no problem
w h i c h i s d i s c u s s e d i n t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y
i n w h i c h t h e o p i n i o n o f the masses, o f those m o s t i n t e rested i n c a r r y i n g out t h e tasks w h i c h the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n sets, i s n o t stressed. L i k e w i s e t h e r e o u g h t t o b e n o
d e c i s i o n , task o r o r i e n t a t i o n w h i c h d o e s not r e s p o n d t o
t h e c o n c e r n o f the masses a n d t h e s o l u t i o n o f t h e i r d e mands. It should become the rule that after the meeting
o f t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n the w o r k e r s a r e i n f o r m e d about
t h e m a t t e r s w h i c h are o f i n t e r e s t t o t h e m , a n d t h e m o s t
suitable means a n d forms for c a r r y i n g out the decisions
should be f o u n d together w i t h the w o r k e r s .
F r o m t i m e t o t i m e w h e n t h e n e e d arises, o p e n m e e t i n g s o f the b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d b e h e l d , too. T h e y
should play an important role in the education and mobil i z a t i o n o f the w o r k i n g people a n d i n the s t r e n g t h e n i n g
of links with them.
T h e a b i l i t y a n d s t r e n g t h o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y ,
t h e people's state p o w e r a n d o u r d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o letariat w i l l be more and more enhanced f r o m their links
w i t h the masses. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , a n y a c t i o n o r s t a n d w h i c h
w e a k e n s these l i n k s a t t h e s a m e t i m e w e a k e n s o u r P a r t y
a n d state p o w e r . A n y r e p l a c e m e n t o f the m e t h o d o f c o n v i c t i o n w i t h orders, d i c t a t e a n d a r r o g a n c e m u s t b e s t e r n l y
c o n d e m n e d . N o one c a n b e c o n v i n c e d b y s u c h m e t h o d s —
6
ENVER HOXHA
some w e a k l i n g m i g h t b e i n t i m i d a t e d t e m p o r a r i l y , b u t t h e
P a r t y a n d t h e people n e v e r .
T h e p a r t y m e m b e r m u s t w a g e t h e class s t r u g g l e
b a s i n g h i m s e l f o n the f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s o f M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , on the correct l i n e of the P a r t y , w h i l e r e l y i n g
o n t h e masses. H e m u s t b e c a p a b l e o f d i s t i n g u i s h i n g , a f t e r
a f u l l analysis, the g o o d f r o m the b a d , the d a n g e r o u s f r o m
the less d a n g e r o u s a n d o f u s i n g t h e m o s t a p p r o p r i a t e
m e t h o d i n h i s w o r k w i t h people.
THE MOST IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT FOR ENHANCING
THE ROLE OF THE BASIC ORGANIZATION OF THE PARTY
IS THE COMPLETE ACTIVATION OF A L L THE COMMUNISTS
1. — In o r d e r to e n h a n c e t h e sense of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
a n d increase the a c t i v i t y o f each c o m m u n i s t , w e m u s t e l i minate the sectarianism and formalism w h i c h we have
i n the a c t i v a t i o n o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d m o v e t o w a r d s a r e d i v i s i o n o f d u t i e s i n a l l t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e
P a r t y . W e s h o u l d act a s L e n i n teaches u s : a l o n g w i t h t h e
s o u n d c e n t r a l i z a t i o n i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y w e
s h o u l d decentralize the responsibility of each i n d i v i d u a l
m e m b e r o f the P a r t y , a d e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n w h i c h i s n o t h i n g
but the d i v i s i o n o f d u t i e s a m o n g s t p a r t y m e m b e r s . S u c h
a d e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n is an essential c o n d i t i o n f o r r e v o l u t i o n ary centralism.
a) No p a r t y m e m b e r should be left out of the activity
o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y . T h e c o m m u n i s t
m u s t n o t be, i n a n y w a y . i n d i f f e r e n t t o a n y p r o b l e m o f
t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people. A n a r r o w v i e w o f t h e w o r k
allocated, p e r s o n a l interest, e f f o r t s t o settle i n t o s o m e
« c o m f o r t a b l e corner», a r e a l i e n t o t h e c o m m u n i s t s . W h e r e v e r
a communist w o r k s he ought to be in the role of the
v a n g u a r d fighter struggling to apply the line of the P a r t y
a n d b e a n s w e r a b l e f o r its w o r k .
7
A t t h e s a m e time, t h e p a r t y m e m b e r m u s t b e a n o u t s t a n d i n g p o l i t i c a l a n d s o c i a l a c t i v i s t . F r o m a l l its f e a t u r e s ,
voluntary social w o r k is purely communist work. A n y o n e
w h o is not at the level to assume such a d u t y cannot be
a party member. The sectarianism w h i c h is displayed in
c h a r g i n g c o m m u n i s t s w i t h tasks, t h e i r d i v i s i o n i n t o « c a pable» a n d « i n c a p a b l e » has no basis, it is e v i d e n c e of t h e
s u b j e c t i v i t y a n d l a c k of ability of t h e l e a d e r s of the basic
organization themselves.
b) The division of duties amongst m e m b e r s of the
P a r t y should not be standardized, but should be done clos e l y l i n k e d w i t h the c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e w o r k , w i t h the n e w
requirements.
A p a r t f r o m the d i v i s i o n o f w o r k w e h a v e a l r e a d y i n
the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s , in the o r g a n i z a t i o n s of sectors
a n d t h e i r bureaus, t h e c o m m u n i s t s c a n also b e c h a r g e d
i n d i v i d u a l l y o r i n groups, i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e i r a b i l i t i e s
and qualities, w i t h responsibility for problems w h i c h c o n cern the organization, for e x a m p l e in r e g a r d to planning,
problems of finance, discipline, emulation, technical w o r k ,
savings, t h e c o l l e c t i o n of m a n u r e , etc., etc.
A t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e c o m m u n i s t s a r e p o l i t i c a l leaders,
first of all, therefore they must be charged to w o r k w i t h
a g i v e n mass o f citizens o r w o r k e r s s o t h a t n o w o r k i n g
man or w o m a n in t o w n or countryside is left without
l i v i n g contact w i t h t h e P a r t y , w i t h o u t b e i n g n u r t u r e d w i t h
i t s teachings. T h e c o m m u n i s t s c h a r g e d w i t h t h i s w o r k , a s
w e l l a s those w h o a r e c h a r g e d t o w o r k w i t h t h e people's
councils, the o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t h e masses, etc., are r e s p o n sible t o t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y t o w h i c h t h e y
m u s t r e p o r t r e g u l a r l y o n t h e t a s k s set t o t h e m . T h e c o m m u n ist m u s t n o t r e d u c e his r o l e s i m p l y t o seeing w h e t h e r o r n o t
this course o f e d u c a t i o n i s r u n o r this o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e
masses h o l d s its m e e t i n g s ; h e h a s n o m o r e r i g h t s t h a n t h e
others, c a n t a k e n o p a r t y o r state m e a s u r e s against a n y o n e ,
8
ENVER HOXHA
b u t i t i s h i s d u t y t o see t h a t the w o r k w i t h w h i c h h e i s
c h a r g e d goes w e l l , t h a t the p e o p l e a r e e d u c a t e d a n d a
healthy party spirit prevails everywhere.
c ) A s w e l l a s this, t h e d i v i s i o n o f p a r t y forces i s not
unchangeable. In no w a y should the communist feel himself
in this or that position fortuitously, but should feel himself
a m i l i t a n t m e m b e r of t h a t c e n t r a l i z e d o r g a n i s m of the
P a r t y w h i c h i n c l u d e s a l l aspects o f the l i f e o f the c o u n t r y .
T h e organizations of the P a r t y should m a k e a more
correct r e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f c o m m u n i s t s , n o t w h e r e t h e t a s k
i s easier b u t w h e r e t h e y a r e n e e d e d , o n t h e m a i n f r o n t
o f p r o d u c t i o n , s o t h a t t h e h a n d o f t h e P a r t y i s felt, its
voice, l i n e a n d a d v i c e a r e h e a r d e v e r y w h e r e , i n a l l the
sectors, l i n k s a n d o r g a n i s m s .
d ) T h e b u r e a u s o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y
should become real organizing nuclei for the activation
o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s . T h e y m u s t o r g a n i z e a n d d i v i d e the
w o r k w e l l a m o n g s t t h e i r m e m b e r s a n d , o n t h i s basis,
e n s u r e the a c t i v a t i o n o f a l l m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y a n d the
necessary a i d a n d c o n t r o l . T h i s d i v i s i o n s h o u l d b e a p p l i e d
also b y the c o m m i t t e e s o f t h e P a r t y w h i c h c a n c a l l the
m e m b e r s o f b u r e a u s o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y t o m e e t i n g s , s e m i n a r s , m e e t i n g s o f activists, etc., o n
g i v e n questions.
2. — O n e of t h e ugliest a n d m o s t d a n g e r o u s m a n i f e s t a tions of bureaucracy and sectarianism w h i c h has weakened
t h e m i l i t a n t s p i r i t o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,
i s t h e fact t h a t s o m e t i m e s c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m
w i t h i n t h e P a r t y are n o t a t t h e p r o p e r l e v e l .
Such manifestations must be condemned w i t h the
greatest s e v e r i t y . E a c h c o m m u n i s t m u s t e x a m i n e h i m s e l f
i n this d i r e c t i o n a n d i m m e d i a t e l y p u t h i m s e l f i n o r d e r t o
use t h e w e a p o n o f c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m c o r r e c t l y ,
without hesitation or restriction. T h e organizations of the
P a r t y are nests o f r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , w h i c h s h o u l d b e s e e t h i n g
9
w i t h v i g o r o u s l i f e a n d i n w h i c h the c o m m u n i s t s h o u l d
temper and educate himself. The communist should e x press h i s o p i n i o n s f r e e l y i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , because i n
t h i s w a y h e acts c o r r e c t l y , b e h a v e s h o n e s t l y t o w a r d s t h e
P a r t y , assists h i m s e l f a n d h i s c o m r a d e s a n d w h e n his o p i n i o n s are not r i g h t h e w i l l b e c o r r e c t e d .
T h e steel u n i t y o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s i s f o r g e d i n t h e
basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , n o t o n l y i n r e g a r d t o t h e g e n e r a l l i n e
o f the P a r t y , b u t also i n r e g a r d t o a l l the p r o b l e m s w h i c h
are raised and decided there. Without the clash of o p i nions, w i t h o u t d r a w i n g a l l t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n into this s t r u g g l e , t h e r e c a n n o t b e a s i n g l e s t e e l u n i t y
o f o p i n i o n a n d a c t i o n . F r o m this v i e w p o i n t the r i g h t s o f
the party m e m b e r must be defended as sacred a n d the
basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s m u s t d e f e n d a l l those w h o c r i t i c i z e
f a i r l y a n d severely.
T h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f c o n v i c t i o n s i n t h e P a r t y i s also
a n essential r e q u i r e m e n t o f d i s c i p l i n e , o f t h a t conscious,
steel d i s c i p l i n e w i t h o u t w h i c h the P a r t y c a n n o t e x i s t a n d
there can be no activity a n d life for the communists. Especially in the conditions of our country, surrounded by
i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t enemies, i n the c o n d i t i o n s w h e n
t h e P a r t y i s a l w a y s i n a state o f w a r , the c o n t i n u o u s
s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d t e m p e r i n g of conscious d i s c i p l i n e is a
d a i l y necessity w h i c h m a k e s the P a r t y i n v i n c i b l e .
3. — T h e organs a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s of t h e P a r t y m u s t
d i r e c t t h e a c t i v a t i o n o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s f r o m close a t h a n d ,
teach them h o w to w o r k so that t h e y proceed p r o p e r l y
on the r o a d of the P a r t y and are educated concretely
t h r o u g h t h e s t r u g g l e w i t h d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d the v i c t o r i e s
w h i c h are a c h i e v e d . T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y s h o u l d
educate a n d t e m p e r t h e c o m m u n i s t s t h r o u g h the issues
w h i c h emerge f r o m life, f r o m the d a i l y struggle and e x perience o f t h e P a r t y a n d the people.
Special w o r k must
be done w i t h the communists of
10
ENVER HOXHA
the countryside. H o r i z o n s of concrete w o r k , k n o w l e d g e
a n d activity should be opened to them a n d their initiative
d e v e l o p e d . T h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t use t h e i r o w n b r a i n s
a b o u t e v e r y t h i n g , o n t h e basis o f t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a n d
its o r i e n t a t i o n s a n d the d e c i s i o n s o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s
of the Party. T h e y themselves should organize the political
w o r k w h i c h t h e y h a v e t o d o w i t h t h e masses o n e a c h
problem in the forms most suitable for their conditions
a n d s h o u l d n o t w a i t f o r l e c t u r e s o r o r d e r s t o b e sent
f r o m above.
It should be kept w e l l in m i n d that just g i v i n g orders
i s t h e easiest t h i n g , b u t t h e r e are m a n y i n t r i n s i c e v i l s i n
this. A m o n g those w h o act i n t h i s w a y the i d e a i s c r e a t e d
t h a t « t h e y h a v e been b o r n » t o d i c t a t e t o o t h e r s . T h i s g i v e s
r i s e to conceit, a f e e l i n g of s u p e r i o r i t y , a n d d e v e l o p s a r rogance, a l l o f w h i c h a r e a l i e n t o t h e l i n e o f o u r P a r t y
a n d to be condemned.
A m o n g s t those w h o r e c e i v e o r d e r s a n d d i r e c t i v e s this
h a r m f u l m e t h o d creates t h e h a b i t o f i s s u i n g o r d e r s a n d
d i r e c t i v e s themselves. T h u s a r o t t e n , b u r e a u c r a t i c v i c i o u s
c i r c l e i s c r e a t e d , one s t r a t u m w h i c h i s s u e s o r d e r s a n d
another stratum w h i c h has to apply them. A stern and
merciless struggle m u s t be w a g e d by the basic organizat i o n s o f t h e P a r t y a g a i n s t s u c h v i e w s a n d actions, because
sometimes they begin u n w i t t i n g l y , innocently, but if they
are n o t c o m b a t e d t h e y b e c o m e a v e r y d a n g e r o u s l i n e .
S u c h a m e t h o d o f w o r k stops p e o p l e t h i n k i n g w i t h
their o w n brains, makes them inert, cowardly and servile
i n f r o n t o f t h e i r s u p e r i o r s , stops t h e m e m b e r o f t h e P a r t y
f r o m using his o w n brains and reflecting deeply. As a
r e s u l t p e o p l e lose the i n i t i a t i v e t h a t is so necessary, t h e i r
v a l u a b l e p r o p o s a l s a r e s c o r n e d , a n d i n s u c h cases t h e r e c a n
be no talk of Marxist-Leninist criticism or self-criticism.
W e m u s t e n h a n c e t h e v i g i l a n c e o f the c o m m u n i s t s , t h e i r
m i l i t a n t s p i r i t , t o c l e a n a w a y the a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d a l i e n
11
m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a s soon a s t h e y c r o p u p . O u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y
vigilance must not be an e m p t y f o r m u l a w h i c h is prated
d a y in a n d d a y out to no purpose. N o ! It must be d e veloped in all directions to defend everything sound in the
Party and in our country a n d to uncover and eradicate
everything evil. T h i s w i l l b e achieved only w h e r e the w o r k
o f t h e P a r t y i s c a r r i e d o u t o n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y m a s s scale,
w h e r e t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e p e o p l e get r i g h t d o w n t o
the essence o f p r o b l e m s , t h a t i s t o say, b o t h t h e g o o d
aspects a n d t h e b a d , a n d w o r k , t h i n k a n d f i g h t o n t h e
basis o f t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a s its g e n u i n e f i g h t e r s . N o
p a r t y m e m b e r m u s t e v e r f o r g e t this.
4. — We must put f u l l y into practice the w e l l - k n o w n
t e a c h i n g o f t h e P a r t y t o m a k e the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h e
m o s t i m p o r t a n t centres o f t h e e d u c a t i o n a n d t e m p e r i n g o f
the communists. T h e education of communists is p r i m a r i l y
t h e task o f t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y ; t h e y a r e
t h e places w h e r e t h e l i n k i n g o f t h e o r y w i t h p r a c t i c e i s
e m b o d i e d best. I n t h i s w a y , t h a t f o r m a l i s m a n d d o g m a t i s m
which we have in o u r ideo-political w o r k w i l l be combated
more successfully.
W e should e x a m i n e a l l the problems w e discuss a n d
every measure we take f r o m the standpoint of the general
line of the Party, should always analyse their ideological
a n d p o l i t i c a l content a n d i n t h i s w a y disclose t h e i r roots.
W e s h o u d a l w a y s p r o c e e d o n l y f r o m correct p r i n c i p l e d p o s i tions, f r o m t h e g e n e r a l interest, f r o m t h e great o b j e c t i v e s
of our P a r t y : the construction of socialism and c o m m u n i s m , t h e d e f e n c e o f t h e v i c t o r i e s o f o u r people, t h e d e fence o f t h e socialist H o m e l a n d .
W h e n e v e r i t i s c o n s i d e r e d necessary, p r o b l e m s w h i c h
have to do w i t h the education and tempering of c o m m u n i s t s , w i t h t h e i r v a n g u a r d role, l i n k e d c l o s e l y w i t h t h e
l i f e o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d the c o m m u n i s t s , s h o u l d b e
12
ENVER HOXHA
discussed i n the m e e t i n g s o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the
Party.
WE SHOULD COMBAT THE NARROW SECTARIAN CONCEPT
OF FORMS OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE PARTY AND STERILE
OFFICIAL FORMALITY IN THE MEETINGS
OF THE BASIC ORGANIZATIONS
W e s h o u l d a l w a y s r e m e m b e r t h a t the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l
f o r m s a n d n o r m s h a v e t h e i r basis i n l i f e a n d t h e y d e m o n strate t h e i r v i t a l i t y i n l i f e . R e s p o n d i n g t o its d e m a n d s , t h e y
s h o u l d b e e n r i c h e d a n d , i f n e e d be, a l t e r e d . O n e cannot
s t a n d s t i l l i n l i f e : one m u s t a d v a n c e o r o t h e r w i s e f a l l
b e h i n d . R e a l relations, teaches V . I . L e n i n , are n o t s o m e t h i n g
i n a n i m a t e , t h e y are a l i v e a n d d e v e l o p . J u r i d i c a l d e f i n i t i o n s
c a n r e s p o n d t o the p r o g r e s s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t o f these r e l a tions, b u t (if these d e f i n i t i o n s a r e bad) t h e y c a n also
«respond» to r e g r e s s i o n or s t a g n a t i o n .
L i f e r e q u i r e s t h a t w e m a k e t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f
the P a r t y m o r e r e s p o n s i v e a n d s w i f t - a c t i n g i n t h e i r s t r u c t u r e a n d w o r k , get r i d o f u n n e c e s s a r y f o r m s a n d l i n k s a n d
a p p l y those f o r m s w h i c h s t r e n g t h e n the w o r k o f the P a r t y .
T h i s i s o f great i m p o r t a n c e i n p r i n c i p l e a n d p r a c t i c e .
1. — We m u s t f i g h t h a r d to f u r t h e r e n l i v e n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y . N o t t h e i r f o r m , b u t t h e i r content
should be our m a i n concern. In this direction we must c o m p l e t e l y change o u r m e t h o d a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s . T h e t h i n g s that
d e t e r m i n e t h e content a n d the success o f t h e w o r k o f the
basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the P a r t y a r e n e i t h e r the p l a c e o f the
m e e t i n g , its e m p t y s o l e m n i t y , n o r t h e w r i t t e n r e p o r t s . T h e
result of holding meetings s h o u l d be measured w i t h their
thorough examination of urgent problems, w i t h their d r a w i n g a l l t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y i n t o the s o l u t i o n o f the
p r o b l e m s , w i t h the w o r k i n g o u t o f measures w h i c h l e a d
13
t o the s o l u t i o n o f t h e p r o b l e m s a n d , f i n a l l y , w i t h t h e c o m p l e t e a p p l i c a t i o n o f these m e a s u r e s . A l l m e m b e r s m u s t
p r e p a r e t h e m s e l v e s s e r i o u s l y f o r t h e m e e t i n g s o f t h e basic
organization of the Party. T h i s is the m a i n thing. The
m e t h o d o f t h e p r e p a r a t i o n a n d t h e e x a m i n a t i o n o f the
problem m a y vary, the report m a y be complete in w r i t i n g
o r w i t h notes, p e r h a p s o n l y t h e d r a f t o f m e a s u r e s w h i c h
s h o u l d b e t a k e n i s presented, u n s c h e d u l e d m e e t i n g s can
be held for matters that cannot wait, or questions not on
the a g e n d a c a n b e r a i s e d f o r d i s c u s s i o n , the i m p l e m e n t a tion of decisions or other matters can be examined. T h e
p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n m u s t settle these m a t t e r s itself, j u s t a s
i t m u s t settle t h e m e t h o d o f h o l d i n g the m e e t i n g , t h e w a y
i t i s r u n , etc. T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t h e content o f the
a n a l y s i s a n d e s p e c i a l l y the c o n c l u s i o n . T h r e e q u a r t e r s o f
the proceedings of the m e e t i n g s of the b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n
o f t h e P a r t y s h o u l d b e o c c u p i e d w i t h w o r k i n g out, d i s c u s sing and checking up on measures w h i c h must be taken
t o solve p r o b l e m s . T h e d e c i s i o n o u g h t t o b e t h e synthesis
o f a l l t h e proceedings, o f t h e t h r e s h i n g out o f o p i n i o n s
a n d the p r o p o s a l s m a d e i n the m e e t i n g s .
T h e p r o c e e d i n g s of m e e t i n g s of the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s
s h o u l d not b e p u s h e d t h r o u g h h a s t i l y , but n e i t h e r s h o u l d
t h e y b e d r a g g e d out u n n e c e s s a r i l y . T h e y m a y last h a l f
a n h o u r o r t e n h o u r s . T h e t i m e r e q u i r e d depends o n t h e
p r o b l e m , the w a y i t i s p r e s e n t e d , o n its p r e p a r a t i o n , etc.
There is nothing more important than the meetings of
the Party, therefore no underestimation can be permitted.
2. — T h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s of the districts, r e l y i n g on
t h e basic p r i n c i p l e s , o n t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e P a r t y ,
f r o m n o w o n s h o u l d decide t h e s t r u c t u r e o f basic o r g a n i z a tions o f the P a r t y o n t h e i r o w n i n i t i a t i v e .
T h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the
P L A considers it in order to re-emphasize that the f u n d a m e n t a l r u l e i n t h e s t r u c t u r e o f basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the
14
ENVER HOXHA
P a r t y i s a l w a y s the u n i t i n g o f a l l m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y
w h o w o r k in an enterprise, a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperative, i n s t i t u t i o n , etc., i n a s i n g l e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y .
T h e essential n u m b e r f o r s e t t i n g u p a basic o r g a n i z a t i o n
i s t h r e e p a r t y m e m b e r s . T h e g e n e r a l m e e t i n g o f t h e basic
o r g a n i z a t i o n i s s u m m o n e d n o t less t h a n once a m o n t h . A t
t h e same t i m e , t i l l the c o m i n g C o n g r e s s , u n t i l t h e r e s p e c tive amendments are made to the Constitution of the
P a r t y , the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e also
advises these p r e l i m i n a r y m e a s u r e s :
a ) T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y o f sectors a n d t h e
g r o u p s o f t h e P a r t y s h o u l d b e set u p w h e r e v e r s u c h a
t h i n g i s c o n s i d e r e d u s e f u l , r e g a r d l e s s o f the t o t a l n u m b e r
o f c o m m u n i s t s i n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n . I n t h i s case the
m a i n c o n c e r n o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d c o m m i t t e e s o f
t h e P a r t y s h o u l d be, n o t h o w t o ensure the necessary n u m b e r o f c o m m u n i s t s t o set t h e m u p , b u t h o w t h e forces o f
the P a r t y can be organized most usefully. T h e y m u s t be
c o n s t r u c t e d c o r r e c t l y a c c o r d i n g t o sectors o f t h e w o r k ,
wherever the communists wage the most active struggle
f o r the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y , c a n b e set
u p f o r m o r e t h a n o n e u n i t o f p r o d u c t i o n , a s f o r one, t w o
o r three b r i g a d e s o f a v i l l a g e i n t h e u n i t e d c o o p e r a t i v e s , etc.
W h e r e v e r t h e y w o r k , i n the sector, d e t a c h m e n t , v i l lage, etc., t h e c o m m u n i s t s , i n d i v i d u a l l y o r j o i n t l y , h a v e
t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o see t h a t t h e w o r k r u n s s m o o t h l y .
N o m a t t e r h o w m a n y t h e y are, t h e y m u s t t h i n k , discuss
w i t h one another and w o r k to determine their c o m m o n
stands. L i k e w i s e t h e y m u s t set i n m o t i o n t h e a c t i v i s t s
w h o are n o t p a r t y m e m b e r s , c o n s u l t w i t h t h e m a n d Organize t h e c a r r y i n g o u t o f tasks t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m .
T h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y itself s h o u l d h a v e
t h e r i g h t t o set u p o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y i n t h e
sectors a n d g r o u p s o f t h e P a r t y .
b ) I n the b i g o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h e n t h i s i s c o n s i d e r e d
15
appropriate by the p a r t y committee of the district and by
its d e c i s i o n , o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y i n sectors a n d d e t a c h m e n t s c a n b e g i v e n a l l t h e r i g h t s o f basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e P a r t y . I n these cases, a p a r t f r o m m e e t i n g s
f o r r e n d e r i n g a c c o u n t a n d e l e c t i o n s the g e n e r a l m e e t i n g
o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d b e c a l l e d w h e n a n d a s
f r e q u e n t l y a s i s c o n s i d e r e d necessary.
c) T h e s e c r e t a r y , a s s i s t a n t s e c r e t a r y (more t h a n o n e
w h e n necessary) o r t h e b u r e a u o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n
a r e elected t o l e a d a l l t h e w o r k o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n
o f t h e P a r t y . I n a l l cases t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e
P a r t y decides t h i s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e n e e d a n d t h e n u m b e r
o f m e m b e r s o f the P a r t y . The: b u r e a u c r a t i c w o r k o f s e c r e taries a n d bureaus should be combated. T h e y should
e s t a b l i s h d i r e c t r e l a t i o n s w i t h the c o m m u n i s t s a n d w o r k e r s .
As a rule there s h o u l d no longer be f u l l - t i m e secretaries
o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s .
In those cases w h e n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s of a s e c t o r h a v e
the r i g h t s of a basic o r g a n i z a t i o n of the P a r t y , t h e b u r e a u s
o f the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s also h a v e the r i g h t t o e x a m i n e
the decisions o n a d m i s s i o n s i n t o a n d e x p u l s i o n s f r o m t h e
P a r t y . W h e n these a r e c o n s i d e r e d correct t h e y a r e sent f o r
a p p r o v a l t o the h i g h e r o r g a n .
d ) I n s p e c i a l cases, w h e n t h e e n t e r p r i s e s o r i n s t i t u t i o n s
are v e r y d i s p e r s e d , w i t h e x t e n s i v e a n d i s o l a t e d w o r k sectors a n d w i t h a l a r g e n u m b e r o f c o m m u n i s t s , m o r e t h a n
o n e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y c a n b e c r e a t e d a c c o r d i n g
t o sectors. T h e s e m u s t b e l i n k e d d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e p a r t y
c o m m i t t e e o f the d i s t r i c t o r t h e r e g i o n , o r b y s p e c i a l d e c i s i o n o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y f o r these
organizations, p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s w i t h t h e r i g h t s o f p a r t y
c o m m i t t e e s o f r e g i o n s o r peasant zones c a n b e created.
e ) O n t h e basis o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e P a r t y , i n
p r o d u c t i o n c e n t r e s o r o t h e r w o r k c e n t r e s w h e r e t h e r e are
fewer than three p a r t y members, groups of the P a r t y and
ENVER HOXHA
16
y o u t h can b e set u p . L i k e w i s e , w h e r e necessary, g r o u p s
o f the P a r t y a n d t r a d e - u n i o n s c a n b e set u p . T h e m e m b e r s
a n d c a n d i d a t e m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y a n d some o f t h e
members of the basic organization of the trade-unions
should take part in them. Such a group should be led by
a p a r t y m e m b e r a p p o i n t e d b y the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e o f t h e
d i s t r i c t , r e g i o n o r zone.
W i t h these g u i d e l i n e s t h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P L A d o e s n o t i n t e n d t o r e p l a c e one
set o f f o r m s w i t h another, o r t o set o u t a series o f f o r m s
a n d m e t h o d s o f w o r k r e a d y f o r a n y occasion, o r a n y t h i n g
w h i c h m a y c r o p u p i n p r a c t i c e . I f w e w e r e t o act i n t h a t
way, instead of achieving the proper aims a n d further i n v i gorating the life of the Party, we w o u l d w e a k e n it and
m a k e i t bureaucratic. W e m u s t bear this i n m i n d i n all
our work.
T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a i s the p a r t y o f the
r e v o l u t i o n . Its o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s a n d n o r m s d o not
c o n s t i t u t e a n a i m i n themselves, b u t s e r v e its r e v o l u t i o n a r y
d e v e l o p m e n t t o assist the r e a l i z a t i o n o f t h e m a j e s t i c p l a n s
w h i c h i t d r a f t s f o r the t r i u m p h o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n ism.
N o w t h e p r i m a r y task i s t o e n h a n c e t h e r o l e o f the
vanguard fighter,
enthusiasm of
to
enhance
the communists
the
creative revolutionary
a n d the organizations
of
t h e P a r t y s o that t h e y w i l l l e a d f o r w a r d t h e g r e a t m o v e ment w h i c h has swept
a l l t h e w o r k i n g people,
as
they
h a v e a l w a y s d o n e i n t h e past.
T h e P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the
P L A t h i n k s t h a t these g u i d e l i n e s w i l l s e r v e t h i s great p u r pose. T h e r e f o r e , l e t u s r a i s e e v e n h i g h e r t h e r o l e o f t h e
basic organizations
as m i l i t a n t centres of o u r P a r t y ,
as
17
nests to r a i s e t r u e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , as great schools to t e m per the m e m b e r s .
F i r s t S e c r e t a r y o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e
of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a
Enver
Hoxha
Works, vol. 31
T H E FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA AND THE
LESSONS COMMUNISTS DRAW FROM IT
Article published in the newspaper
«Zëri i popullit»
M a y 11, 1966
. . . T h e t r a g e d y w h i c h t h e I n d o n e s i a n people a n d c o m m u n i s t s a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g s h o u l d shock t h e conscience o f
a l l p r o g r e s s i v e people. T h e I n d o n e s i a n fascists, assisted
openly and indirectly by the US imperialists and the
K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , are r e p e a t i n g , o n a n e v e r
l a r g e r scale, w h a t t h e n a z i s d i d i n the past a f t e r t h e y
t o o k p o w e r . T h e i r h a n d m u s t b e s t a y e d . E v e r y honest
m a n , every revolutionary, every anti-fascist should raise
his voice in p o w e r f u l protest against the massacre of
communists and progressives in Indonesia. T o d a y this is
t h e most e l e m e n t a r y d u t y o f a l l , because i t i s a r e a l c r i m e
t h a t t h e most r a b i d r e a c t i o n a r i e s s h o u l d m u r d e r h u n d r e d s
o f t h o u s a n d s o f i n n o c e n t people ( p r o b a b l y i n n o w a r ,
e x c e p t the w o r l d w a r s , h a v e t h e r e been s o m a n y v i c t i m s )
and go unpunished.
T h e A l b a n i a n people a n d c o m m u n i s t s e x p r e s s t h e i r
internationalist solidarity w i t h the Indonesian communists,
v i c t i m s o f the fascist t e r r o r . W e are c o n v i n c e d t h a t r e gardless o f the g r e a t d a m a g e i t has s u f f e r e d , t h e I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y w i l l r e p l y t o t h e fascists w i t h
THE FASCIST COUP IN INDONESIA
19
a d e t e r m i n e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e f o r t h e t o t a l defeat
of reaction. N o w it is clear that there is but one w a y
o p e n t o I n d o n e s i a n c o m m u n i s t s a n d p a t r i o t s t o oppose
f a s c i s m a n d t h e t e r r o r : t h e y m u s t r e s p o n d t o the c o u n t e r revolutionary violence w i t h revolutionary violence, w i t h
t h e a r m e d s t r u g g l e o f w o r k e r s a n d peasants i n d e f e n c e
of freedom a n d democracy.
T h e d e v e l o p m e n t s i n I n d o n e s i a a r e a b i t t e r fact f o r
the communists and for all revolutionaries. However, what
has happened in Indonesia constitutes a m a j o r experience
w h i c h m u s t b e c a r e f u l l y s t u d i e d a n d v a l u a b l e lessons
m u s t b e d r a w n f r o m it. T h e r e v o l u t i o n n e v e r goes s t r a i g h t
a h e a d . I t a d v a n c e s t h r o u g h t r i u m p h s a n d setbacks. I t i s
the d u t y o f r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s t o c o n s o l i d a t e the v i c t o r i e s , w h i l e they m u s t l e a r n f r o m t h e
t e m p o r a r y s e t b a c k s a n d d r a w the necessary c o n c l u s i o n s
so that the r e v o l u t i o n is raised to a higher level a n d
w a g e d w i t h e v e n g r e a t e r force. T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f a r e v o l u t i o n i s u s e f u l , n o t just t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d c o m m u n i s t s o f o n e c o u n t r y alone, b u t t o a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s ,
t o a l l the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s o f t h e w o r l d . T h e r e f o r e , n o t
only the Indonesian communists, but all the revolutionaries and communists of the various countries should d r a w
t h e a p p r o p r i a t e lessons f r o m the I n d o n e s i a n events. T h i s
is of first-rate importance.
The Indonesian C o m m u n i s t P a r t y grew up and dev e l o p e d as a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y in s t e r n class s t r u g g l e
against i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l e n e m i e s . A f t e r t h e h e a v y
b l o w s i t r e c e i v e d f r o m r e a c t i o n i n 1927 a n d 1948, w h e n
t h o u s a n d s o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d the w h o l e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e
party w e r e massacred, the Indonesian Communist Party
w a s r e b u i l t t h r o u g h s t r u g g l e a n d e f f o r t u n t i l i t became,
s u c h a force that, f r o m t h e n u m b e r o f i t s m e m b e r s , i t
r e p r e s e n t e d t h e biggest c o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t
20
ENVER
HOXHA
countries. T h e r e i s n o d o u b t that, d e s p i t e the m a j o r losses
it is suffering now, little by little, through courageous and
consistent
revolutionary
Marxist-Leninist
struggle
it
will
r e c o v e r once a g a i n . W e A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s are f i r m l y
convinced
that t h e I n d o n e s i a n c o m m u n i s t s w i l l c a r e f u l l y
a n a l y s e t h e i r w o r k u p t o date, that t h e y w i l l d i s c o v e r the
shortcomings, mistakes a n d weaknesses w h i c h h a v e been
m a n i f e s t e d i n the w o r k o f t h e P a r t y , a n d w i l l d r a w t h e
necessary conclusions, s o t h a t i n t h e f u t u r e , t h e I n d o n e sian
Communist
Party
will
lead
the
Indonesian
people
t o success i n t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n . N o o n e c a n d o t h i s b e t t e r
than
the
Indonesian communists
T h e events in
themselves.
Indonesia are not an isolated pheno-
m e n o n . T h e y are l i n k s of
a single
chain, a
p a r t o f t h e assault o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c t i o n
component
against the
c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d t h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e .
T h e y are l i n k e d w i t h t h e aggressive a c t i v i t y o f U S i m p e rialism i n V i e t n a m and elsewhere, w i t h
perialist
intervention
Latin America, with
in
San
Domingo
the bloody i m and
throughout
the organization of counter-revolu-
t i o n a r y coups against s e v e r a l n e w states i n A f r i c a , w i t h
the subversive,
chevite
disruptive activities
revisionists
have
long
which
been
the
engaged
Khrushin
within
the ranks of the international communist movement, w i t h
t h e i r sabotage o f t h e peoples' n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e ,
with
the active support
they are g i v i n g US
imperialism
a n d a l l the v a r i o u s r e a c t i o n a r i e s , a n d s o o n .
For
this
reason
the
revolutionaries
of various countries must give
and
communists
these p h e n o m e n a s e r i o u s
consideration, must analyse them carefully a n d d r a w the
necessary
conclusions so
that
the
revolutionary
w i l l advance s t e a d i l y f r o m v i c t o r y t o v i c t o r y .
struggle
21
HOW MUCH ARE «DEMOCRATIC FREEDOMS» WORTH
IN A BOURGEOIS STATE AND HOW SHOULD
THEY BE UTILIZED
T h e bourgeoisie a n d , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e m , the m o d e r n
r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e a lot t o s a y a b o u t a n d c o u n t h e a v i l y
o n the s o - c a l l e d d e m o c r a t i c f r e e d o m s . I n fact, f o r the
sake o f appearances, i n e v e r y b o u r g e o i s state c o n s i d e r e d
democratic there are certain relatively democratic «freedoms». W e say r e l a t i v e l y , because t h e y n e v e r g o b e y o n d
the b o u n d s o f the b o u r g e o i s concept o f « f r e e d o m » a n d
«democracy», because t h e y e x t e n d j u s t s o f a r a s w i l l not
j e o p a r d i z e the v i t a l interests o f the b o u r g e o i s i e i n p o w e r .
N a t u r a l l y , the w o r k i n g class a n d p r o g r e s s i v e people
u t i l i z e these c o n d i t i o n s t o o r g a n i z e themselves, t o p r o p a g a t e t h e i r v i e w s a n d ideology, a n d t o p r e p a r e f o r the
o v e r t h r o w o f the e x p l o i t i n g classes a n d t h e s e i z u r e o f p o w e r .
F o l l o w i n g the S e c o n d W o r l d W a r , as a r e s u l t of the
v i c t o r y o v e r f a s c i s m a n d t h e r o l e p l a y e d b y the c o m m u n ist p a r t i e s i n the a n t i - f a s c i s t w a r , c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s i n
m a n y capitalist countries of E u r o p e succeeded in t a k i n g
p a r t i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t (as i n F r a n c e , I t a l y , F i n l a n d a n d
s o on), i n h a v i n g a l a r g e n u m b e r o f d e p u t i e s i n the p a r l i a m e n t , i m p o r t a n t posts i n the state a p p a r a t u s a n d e v e n
i n the a r m y , a n d s o o n .
L i k e w i s e , at v a r i o u s p e r i o d s d u r i n g the past 15 y e a r s
f a v o u r a b l e c o n d i t i o n s f o r the p a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class
a n d p r o g r e s s i v e forces w e r e c r e a t e d i n c e r t a i n c o u n t r i e s
o f the M i d d l e East, s u c h a s I r a n a n d I r a q ; i n L a t i n A m e r ica, s u c h a s G u a t e m a l a , B r a z i l , E c u a d o r , V e n e z u e l a , etc.
A v e r y favourable situation was created in Indonesia. T h e
Indonesian C o m m u n i s t P a r t y grew rapidly, it took part
i n the g o v e r n m e n t , e x e r t e d a m a j o r i n f l u e n c e i n the i n t e r n a l a n d f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f the c o u n t r y , a n d s o o n .
22
ENVER
HOXHA
B u t even in the conditions of «democratic freedoms»,
a b i t t e r class struggle, a s t r u g g l e f o r l i f e or d e a t h , goes
o n b e t w e e n the r e v o l u t i o n a n d r e a c t i o n , b e t w e e n the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e bourgeoisie. I f the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e i r
p a r t y s t r i v e t o consolidate t h e i r positions, r e a c t i o n a n d the
bourgeoisie, o n t h e i r p a r t , a r e n o t asleep. O n t h e c o n t r a r y ,
b y u s i n g t h e b o u r g e o i s state a p p a r a t u s , the p o l i c e a n d
a r m e d forces, c o r r u p t i o n a n d s u b v e r s i o n , b y n u r t u r i n g
opportunism and reformist and pacifist illusions w i t h i n
t h e r a n k s o f t h e w o r k i n g class, a n d s o o n , t h e y m a k e
serious p r e p a r a t i o n s t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r p o s i t i o n s a n d t o
s m a s h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces.
T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f events a f t e r t h e S e c o n d W o r l d
W a r s h o w s that, w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f « d e m o c r a t i c
freedoms», t h e b o u r g e o i s i e has acted e n e r g e t i c a l l y i n v a r i o u s
ways to liquidate the revolutionary movement of the
w o r k i n g class.
W h e n the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d r e a c t i o n h a d c o n s o l i d a t e d
t h e i r positions, t h e y o u s t e d t h e c o m m u n i s t s f r o m the
g o v e r n m e n t , f r o m i m p o r t a n t state posts a n d f r o m t h e
army, as in Italy, F r a n c e and F i n l a n d . In B r i t a i n , A u s t r i a
and elsewhere the communists w e r e left w i t h not even
one seat i n p a r l i a m e n t , w h e r e a s i n G r e e c e t h e y w e r e
t h r o w n i n t o p r i s o n o r shot.
W h e n the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d r e a c t i o n see t h a t t h e i r
p o w e r i s i n j e o p a r d y a s a consequence o f t h e m o u n t i n g
prestige a n d s t r e n g t h o f t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d t h e
r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f t h e masses, t h e y p l a y t h e i r
last c a r d : t h e y set t h e a r m e d forces i n m o t i o n , o r g a n i z e
p o g r o m s i n o r d e r t o s m a s h a n d l i q u i d a t e the r e v o l u t i o n a r y
m o v e m e n t a n d t h e c o m m u n i s t parties, a s t h e y d i d i n
I r a n a n d I r a q , a n d n o w r e c e n t l y , i n I n d o n e s i a , w h e r e these
t r a g i c e v e n t s took place. I n s u c h cases t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d
reaction of one country have directly employed the a i d of
23
w o r l d r e a c t i o n a n d e v e n o f its a r m e d forces, a s i n S a n
Domingo and elsewhere.
W h a t c o n c l u s i o n s c a n b e d r a w n f r o m this h i s t o r i c a l
experience?
F i r s t , the s o - c a l l e d « b o u r g e o i s freedoms» a n d « d e m o cratic freedoms» in the capitalist countries are not such
as to allow communist parties and revolutionary groups
to attain their objectives. No. T h e bourgeoisie a n d reaction
a l l o w the a c t i v i t y o f r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s j u s t s o l o n g a s i t
does n o t e n d a n g e r t h e class r u l e o f the b o u r g e o i s i e . W h e n
this r u l e i s e n d a n g e r e d , o r w h e n r e a c t i o n f i n d s t h e o p p o r t u n e m o m e n t , i t suppresses these d e m o c r a t i c f r e e d o m s
a n d e m p l o y s e v e r y m e a n s t o c r u s h the r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r ces, w i t h n o m o r a l o r p o l i t i c a l scruples. I n a l l c o u n t r i e s
where the communist parties are allowed to w o r k openly,
the bourgeoisie a n d r e a c t i o n u t i l i z e t h i s s i t u a t i o n t o get
t o k n o w a l l the a c t i v i t i e s , t h e persons a n d the m e t h o d s
of w o r k and struggle of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties and
the revolutionaries. Therefore, the communists a n d their
genuine Marxist-Leninist parties w o u l d be m a k i n g a fatal
mistake if they were to put a n y trust in the «freedoms»
w h i c h it suits the bourgeoisie to allow them temporarily,
and advertize everything openly, if they f a i l to keep their
o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d p l a n s secret. T h e c o m m u n i s t s s h o u l d t a k e
a d v a n t a g e o f c o n d i t i o n s o f l e g a l w o r k a n d use t h e m t o
c a r r y out e x t e n s i v e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d p r o p a g a n d a w o r k ,
b u t a t t h e same t i m e , t h e y m u s t b e p r e p a r e d f o r i l l e g a l
work.
Second, the o p p o r t u n i s t i l l u s i o n s a b o u t the « p e a c e f u l
r o a d » to t h e t a k i n g of p o w e r are a f r a u d a n d a great
d a n g e r t o the r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t . F r o m t h e outside,
the I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y seemed t o h a v e t h e
most f a v o u r a b l e t e r r a i n f o r a c h i e v i n g its a i m o n t h i s
r o a d . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e I n d o n e s i a n c o m m u n i s t s h a d dec l a r e d m o r e t h a n once t h a t t h e y h a d n o i l l u s i o n s a b o u t
24
ENVER HOXHA
t h e « p e a c e f u l road.» I n t h e g r e e t i n g o f the d e l e g a t i o n o f
t h e C C o f the I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y t o the congress
o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f N e w Z e a l a n d t h e y c o n f i r m e d
t h a t «the e v e n t s i n I n d o n e s i a p r o v e d once a g a i n that there
is no r u l i n g class. . . a n d r e a c t i o n a r y f o r c e w h i c h w i l l
p e r m i t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces t o a c h i e v e v i c t o r y t h r o u g h
t h e ' p e a c e f u l road.'» F r o m t h e t r a g i c e v e n t s i n I n d o n e s i a
t h e c o m m u n i s t s d r a w the lesson t h a t i t i s n o t e n o u g h
s i m p l y t o reject t h e o p p o r t u n i s t i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e «peacef u l road», o r t o r e c o g n i z e t h a t t h e o n l y w a y t o seize p o w e r
i s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y o f a r m e d struggle. T h e p a r t y o f
the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s a n d e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y must take effective measures to prepare for the revo l u t i o n , f r o m the e d u c a t i o n o f the c o m m u n i s t s a n d the
masses i n a m i l i t a n t r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t d o w n t o c o n c r e t e p r e p a r a t i o n s t o cope w i t h t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y
v i o l e n c e o f r e a c t i o n t h r o u g h the r e v o l u t i o n a r y a r m e d
struggle of the p o p u l a r masses.
T h i r d , regardless of the favourable conditions and
positions w h i c h it m i g h t enjoy for a certain time, the party
of t h e w o r k i n g class m u s t n e v e r f o r a m o m e n t d i m i n i s h
its r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e , o v e r - e s t i m a t e its o w n s t r e n g t h
a n d t h a t o f i t s allies a n d u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e s t r e n g t h o f
its opponents, the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d r e a c t i o n . T h e I n d o n e s i a n
C o m m u n i s t P a r t y h a d great i n f l u e n c e i n the c o u n t r y , but
it seems it over-estimated and h a d u n w a r r a n t e d faith
i n the p o l i t i c a l s t r e n g t h o f S o e k a r n o i n p a r t i c u l a r a n d t h a t
o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e t h a t s u p p o r t e d h i m . A t the s a m e t i m e ,
apparently it h a d underestimated the strength of reaction,
e s p e c i a l l y t h e s t r e n g t h o f r e a c t i o n i n the a r m y . I t seems
that the I n d o n e s i a n c o m r a d e s h a d the i d e a t h a t w h o e v e r
h a d S o e k a r n o o n h i s side h a d t h e k e y o f I n d o n e s i a i n
his hand, and this without h a v i n g thoroughly analysed
w h e r e the s t r e n g t h o f S o e k a r n o l a y a n d h o w r e a l i t w a s ,
e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g the people. T h e recent e v e n t s i n I n d o n e -
25
sia h a v e s h o w n c l e a r l y t h a t t h e r e w a s n o s o u n d social,
e c o n o m i c o r p o l i t i c a l base f o r S o e k a r n o ' s p r e s t i g e a n d
authority. T h e reactionary generals managed to neutralize
Soekarno, a n d even to utilize h i m to the extent they
n e e d e d h i m f o r t h e i r c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y purposes.
F o u r t h , the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y a n d e v e r y g e n u i n e
revolutionary must consistently and resolutely pursue a
r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e a n d f i g h t c o u r a g e o u s l y against o p p o r t u n i s m a n d its m o s t h i d e o u s m a n i f e s t a t i o n s — K h r u s h chevite and Titoite m o d e r n revisionism. T h e opportunists
a n d modern revisionists have taken up as their banner the
struggle for bourgeois «freedoms» and have renounced
t h e r e v o l u t i o n . T h e y a d v o c a t e t h e « p e a c e f u l r o a d » a s the
o n l y w a y t o t a k e p o w e r . I t i s p r e c i s e l y the o p p o r t u n i s t
and revisionist line, the influence of K h r u s h c h e v i t e and
other revisionists, that have turned m a n y communist p a r ties, w h i c h once r e p r e s e n t e d a m a j o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y force,
i n t o parties o f s o c i a l r e f o r m , i n t o a p p e n d a g e s a n d assistants o f t h e r e a c t i o n a r y bourgeoisie. T h i s has o c c u r r e d i n
the Italian, French, F i n n i s h , British, A u s t r i a n and other
c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s . F o l l o w i n g t h e o p p o r t u n i s t l i n e o f the
20th Congress o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s l e d t h e C o m m u n i s t
P a r t y of Iraq, the B r a z i l i a n C o m m u n i s t Party, the C o m munist P a r t y of A l g e r i a and others to catastrophe a n d
l i q u i d a t i o n . T h e I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y opposes
modern revisionism. T h e recent events in Indonesia and
the u n d e r m i n i n g r o l e w h i c h t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s
played there show that a genuine r e v o l u t i o n a r y party,
loyal to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and determined to carry the
revolution f o r w a r d courageously, must have a clear-cut
stand towards opportunism, towards K h r u s h c h e v i t e and
Titoite revisionism. It is not enough just to be in solidarity
w i t h the s t r u g g l e o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s against r e v i s i o n i s m , b u t the p a r t y m u s t f i g h t u n c o m p r o m i s i n g l y a n d
o p e n l y against the r e v i s i o n i s t b e t r a y a l , because o n l y i n
26
ENVER HOXHA
t h i s w a y are t h e c o m m u n i s t s e d u c a t e d i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y
spirit and the p a r t y protected f r o m any danger of revisionism. Without fighting courageously a n d consistently against
opportunism and Khrushchevite revisionism, imperialism
c a n n o t be fought, r e a c t i o n c a n n o t be fought, a n d t h e cause
of the revolution and socialism cannot be carried forward.
COMMUNISTS AND ALLIANCES WITH THE PROGRESSIVE FORCES
Historical experience shows that in their revolutionary
struggle the communists a l w a y s enter into alliances w i t h
v a r i o u s p r o g r e s s i v e forces, because, e s p e c i a l l y i n the case o f
democratic revolutions or struggles for n a t i o n a l liberation
f r o m imperialist a n d colonialist oppression, other broad
strata of the population, r a n g i n g f r o m w o r k e r s a n d peasants t o the n a t i o n a l b o u r g e o i s i e a n d o t h e r p r o g r e s s i v e
people a p a r t f r o m t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , are also i n t e r e s t e d . I t w o u l d b e w r o n g , s e c t a r i a n
a n d h a r m f u l t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n i f a l l those t h a t c a n b e
u n i t e d are n o t u n i t e d t o c a r r y i t t h r o u g h . T h e c o m m u n i s t s
a n d genuine revolutionaries, as the most courageous
fighters a n d most f a i t h f u l representatives of the broad
masses o f people, a r e a l w a y s i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e u n i t y o f
a l l those w h o w a n t t o c a r r y the r e v o l u t i o n f o r w a r d .
T h e events i n I n d o n e s i a a r e a s i g n i f i c a n t l e s s o n also i n
regard to the question of alliances. N A S A C O M , w h i c h
represented the alliance of nationalist, religious a n d c o m m u n i s t forces, h a d been i n e x i s t e n c e f o r a l o n g t i m e i n
Indonesia. T h e I n d o n e s i a n C o m m u n i s t P a r t y d i d w e l l t o
take part i n N A S A C O M . B y this means i t strengthened
its p o s i t i o n a n d t h a t o f t h e w o r k i n g class i n t h e w h o l e
l i f e o f the c o u n t r y . B u t a s t h e e v e n t s s h o w , s o u n d o r ganizational and r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k w a s not done there.
27
H a r m f u l e u p h o r i a w a s p e r m i t t e d a n d N A S A C O M itself,
t h e a l l i a n c e o f its t h r e e c o n s t i t u e n t forces a n d « f r e e d o m »
o f a c t i o n w e r e b o o s t e d e x c e s s i v e l y . T h e fact i s t h a t o n e
storm was sufficient to bring the whole N A S A C O M structure t u m b l i n g d o w n . N A S A C O M w a s not a d y k e strong
enough to withstand the tide of counter-revolution.
I n t h e i r struggle, t h e r e f o r e , t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s s h o u l d n e v e r content t h e m s e l v e s w i t h the f o r m a l conclusion of alliances. T h e y should not be overenthused by declarations about the «vitality» of such a l liances, b u t s h o u l d w o r k t o e n s u r e t h a t these a l l i a n c e s
are of m a x i m u m benefit to the revolution.
F o r this, i t i s essential t h a t i n the v a r i o u s p o p u l a r ,
democratic, national and national liberation fronts, the
g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s s h o u l d w i n the t r u s t o f
t h e i r a l l i e s t h r o u g h t h e i r w o r k a n d struggle, s h o u l d e m e r g e
a t the h e a d o f these f r o n t s a n d e x e r t e f f e c t i v e l e a d e r s h i p
over them. The leadership of the Marxist-Leninist party,
its correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e b r o a d
masses u n i t e d i n t h e f r o n t , i s the g u a r a n t e e o f t h e s t r e n g t h
and vitality of fronts and their major role in achieving
the o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n . I t has been p r o v e n m o r e
t h a n once that w h e n these f r o n t s a r e l e d b y other s o c i a l
forces a n d p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s t h e y d o n o t last, d o n o t f o l l o w
a consistent r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e , a r e o f t e n u s e d f o r c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y purposes, a n d b u r s t l i k e a soap b u b b l e a t
their first encounter w i t h reaction.
I n f o l l o w i n g t h e l i n e o f u n i t y w i t h a l l those t h a t c a n
b e u n i t e d i n the f r o n t , M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, c o n t r a r y
t o the v i e w s o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , m u s t n o t o n l y p r e s e r v e
their independence and their role of leadership but must,
a t the same t i m e , s t r u g g l e against t h e v a c i l l a t i o n s o f
v a r i o u s allies, a g a i n s t t h e i r r e a c t i o n a r y tendencies, a g a i n s t
t h e i r attempts t o s p l i t t h e f r o n t a n d start m a k i n g d e a l s
w i t h the forces o f r e a c t i o n . T h e l i n e o f u n i t y a n d s t r u g g l e
28
ENVER HOXHA
helps strengthen the fronts, purges t h e m of reactionary
c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y e l e m e n t s , increases t h e i r s o l i d a r i t y
a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t , a n d assists t o a t t a i n a h i g h e r
level of u n i t y on sounder foundations. F o l l o w i n g the line
o f u n i t y a l o n e a n d n e g l e c t i n g s t r u g g l e creates a false,
f o r m a l u n i t y a n d enables r e a c t i o n a r y e l e m e n t s a n d forces
t o u n d e r m i n e a n d e l i m i n a t e i t easily, d e a l i n g a h e a v y
b l o w t o t h e cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n itself.
In their alliances w i t h various social strata a n d forces t o a c h i e v e o n e o b j e c t i v e o r a n o t h e r i n t h e v a r i o u s
stages o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t n e v e r lose
s i g h t of t h e i r u l t i m a t e g o a l — the t r i u m p h of s o c i a l i s m .
«One must know how to unite the struggle for
democracy with the straggle for the socialist revolution, subjecting the former to
the
latter,» says
Lenin.
« Herein
lies the whole difficulty; herein lies
the whole essence... Don't forget
the main thing
(the
socialist revolution); put
it
in
the
forefront...;
subject to it and co-ordinate it with all your demands
for
democratic
rights...»*
T h e c o m m u n i s t s are s i n c e r e i n t h e i r a l l i a n c e s w i t h o t h e r
s o c i a l forces. T h e y a r e r e s o l u t e f i g h t e r s f o r p u t t i n g i n t o
p r a c t i c e t h e p r o g r a m s o f u n i t e d f r o n t s , b u t a t t h e same
t i m e , t h e y m a k e n o secret o f t h e i r ideals, a n d once t h e y
h a v e a c c o m p l i s h e d t h e i r d e m o c r a t i c a n d n a t i o n a l tasks,
t h e y a r e d e t e r m i n e d not t o stop h a l f - w a y , b u t t o c a r r y
the revolution f o r w a r d to the t r i u m p h of socialism and
communism.
T h e struggle of o u r P a r t y d u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , i t s a g r e e m e n t s , t a l k s w i t h p r o g r e s s i v e elements,
a n d even w i t h the factions of the reactionary bourgeoisie,
___________________________
* V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 35, pp. 260-261 (Alb. ed.).
29
taught us h o w to f i n d o u r bearings successfully in this
labyrinth. This experience gained in the w a r has been
a n d i s o f i m m e n s e assistance t o o u r P a r t y i n its c o r r e c t
p o l i c y w i t h the b r o a d masses o f w o r k e r s , helps the P a r t y
i n its i n t e r n a l p o l i c y a n d i n t h e o r i e n t a t i o n o f its f o r e i g n
policy, in studying and resolving antagonistic and n o n antagonistic contradictions both inside and outside the
c o u n t r y a n d i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t .
THE INTERNATIONAL UNITY OF MARXIST-LENINISTS
MUST BE STRENGTHENED
T h e w o r l d p r o l e t a r i a t , the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a n d
a l l genuine revolutionaries are engaged in a stern struggle
against i m p e r i a l i s m , against t h e r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i e ,
against the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d a g a i n s t t h e i r i d e o l o g y .
T h i s is a l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e , a s t r u g g l e of g r e a t i n t e r national importance. T h e struggle between us and o u r
enemies is a b i t t e r , m e r c i l e s s class s t r u g g l e , w i t h no
q u a r t e r s o u g h t o r g i v e n . T h i s class s t r u g g l e i s n o t w a g e d
i n the s a m e w a y e v e r y w h e r e , n o t o n l y a s t o i t s i n t e n s i t y
but also as to its f o r m s , t h e v i g o u r of i t s d e v e l o p m e n t ,
the w o r l d o u t l o o k o f i t s p a r t i c i p a n t s , t h e c h a n g i n g c i r cumstances, the u p s a n d d o w n s , t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t h e t e m p o r a r y retreats, its o f f e n s i v e s p i r i t , a n d
m a n y other objective a n d subjective factors.
I t i s the i m p o r t a n t a n d e s s e n t i a l d u t y f o r a l l M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r s ' p a r t i e s t o b e a r a l l these
t h i n g s i n m i n d , t o a n a l y z e t h e m s c i e n t i f i c a l l y i n the l i g h t
of creative M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a p p l i e d n o t as a d o g m a b u t
as a l i v i n g revolutionary theory in action, always keeping
pure the basic p r i n c i p l e s a n d t h e u n i v e r s a l l a w s o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d n o t a l l o w i n g r i g h t wing opportunism or h a r m f u l sectarianism to be hidden
30
ENVER HOXHA
u n d e r the s l o g a n o f a l l e g e d « r e a l c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e c o u n t r y » o r «the s p e c i a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e t i m e o r o f t h e
moment.»
T h e recent events, the savage a t t a c k o f t h e i m p e r i a l ists, o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d d i f f e r e n t r e a c t i o n a r i e s against s o c i a l i s m , against t h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n
struggle, against the c o m m u n i s t and r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r ties o f v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s , s h o w t h a t i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y w h i c h i s a l w a y s necessary, i s n o w m o r e
e s s e n t i a l t h a n ever. H e w h o d o e s not u n d e r s t a n d t h i s
great t r u t h , d o e s n o t u n d e r s t a n d M a r x ' s great slogan,
« W o r k e r s o f a l l countries, u n i t e ! » . M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m
teaches u s that a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s m u s t u n i t e against
t h e enemies o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d t h e peoples, against
t h e capitalists, i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e i r a l l i e s , a g a i n s t t h e
r e a c t i o n a r y bourgeoisie, a g a i n s t v a r i a n t s o f its i d e o l o g y ,
one of w h i c h at the present time is modern revisionism,
headed by Soviet revisionism.
T h e enemies of the proletariat a n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m
h a v e fought international Marxist-Leninist unity w i t h all
t h e i r m i g h t . T o t h i s e n d t h e y h a v e b r o u g h t i n t o use a l l
the means at their disposal and co-ordinate all their actions. T h i s i s w h a t w o r l d i m p e r i a l i s m , h e a d e d b y t h a t o f
the U S A , is doing today; this is what modern revisionism,
headed by Khrushchevite revisionism, is d o i n g ; this is
w h a t a l l the v a r i o u s r e a c t i o n a r i e s o f t h e w o r l d a r e d o i n g ,
because t h e u n i t y o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s o f t h e w o r l d i s
fatal to them, while for us Marxist-Leninists it is our
salvation.
The traitors to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , the K h r u s h c h e v i t e
a n d Titoite revisionists and their lackeys, have w o r k e d to
a well-defined plan to h i n d e r the u n i t y of the M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t s , a n d i n g e n e r a l , t o d i s c r e d i t t h e o b j e c t i v e necess i t y f o r this u n i t y . I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , w i t h a v i e w t o
a c h i e v i n g t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s goals, t h e y a t t a c k e d t h e i d e a
31
of any international organization of communists. The
r e v i s i o n i s t s h a d t o d o t h i s i n o r d e r t o r e h a b i l i t a t e the
traitors and the Trotskyite betrayal, a n d particularly to
d i s c r e d i t the i d e a o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y ,
w h i c h constitutes t h e greatest d a n g e r t o t h e m a t a n y t i m e .
T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s set a b o u t d i s c r e d i t i n g e v e r y s o u n d
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t thing so that they could b u i l d a new k i n d
o f u n i t y o n the basis o f r e v i s i o n i s m a n d u n d e r t h e K h r u s h chevite dictate. O f course, t h i s w a s a castle b u i l t o n s a n d ,
for no genuine u n i t y can exist outside M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m .
T h e preaching of the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists about
«unity» i s a i m e d e n t i r e l y against the i d e a o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
u n i t y a n d this i s done f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f h i n d e r i n g a c h i e v e ment of this unity. T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists preach
this k i n d o f « u n i t y » i n o r d e r t o oppose t h e t r u e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t u n i t y f o r w h i c h w e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s are f i g h t i n g
and w i l l fight to the end, and we shall certainly achieve
o u r o b j e c t i v e . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t a l k a b o u t t h e i r « u n i t y » , but
developing day by day w i t h i n this «unity» are m a n y
f o r m s a n d ideas o f d i s i n t e g r a t i o n , c e n t r i f u g a l ideas, w h i c h
w i l l lead to the open degeneration of pseudo-Marxists,
u n d e r w h a t e v e r guise t h e y m a y b e h i d d e n . T h e h e r o i c a n d
consistent f i g h t o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s w i l l t e a r o f f m a n y
a m a s k . S o o n e r o r l a t e r t h e r e w i l l also b e a n u n m a s k i n g
o f the g a m e o f those w h o w a n t t o p l a y the r o l e o f c e n trists (1), w h o defend principles in words, but who, in
r e a l i t y , d i s t o r t t h e m u n d e r the guise o f «independence»,
o f «specific c o n d i t i o n s » w h i c h t h e y a r e s t i l l u s i n g t o c o n ceal t h e i r g r a d u a l d e p a r t u r e f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m ,
their deviation f r o m the internationalist unity of M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t s i n the w o r l d . M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s m u s t c o n s o l i d a t e
their u n i t y without heeding the slanders and opinions
________________________________
1 A l l u s i o n to the Communist P a r t y of R u m a n i a , the C o m munist P a r t y of J a p a n and the W o r k e r s ' P a r t y of K o r e a .
32
ENVER HOXHA
of revisionists. As to the organizational forms this unity
s h o u l d take, t h e y m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d a n d w o r k e d o u t i n
concrete f o r m .
T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists are m a k i n g a lot of
noise a b o u t the thesis o f t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e c o m munist a n d workers' parties and their acting in conformity
w i t h t h e concrete c o n d i t i o n s o f each c o u n t r y . I n fact, t h i s
i s a L e n i n i s t thesis t o w h i c h o n l y w e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s
r e a l l y a d h e r e c o n s i s t e n t l y . B u t the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e
t r y i n g t o m i s r e p r e s e n t the s o - c a l l e d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f p a r ties. T h e y accept i t o n l y i n w o r d s , because i n r e a l i t y , the
K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s w a n t the w h o l e m o v e m e n t t o
be dependent on them a n d under their leadership. T h e y
conceive independence apart f r o m internationalism so that
Marxist-Leninists should not have a c o m m o n line on
t h e m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l issues, l i k e the a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s
i m p e r i a l i s m a n d t h e renegades f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m ,
observance of the universal laws of the revolution and
socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d s o o n . W h i l e s t r i c t l y r e s p e c t i n g
the i n d e p e n d e n c e o f e v e r y p a r t y i n d e t e r m i n i n g its o w n
l i n e a n d p o l i c y , t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s m u s t , a t t h e same
time, submit to the principles of proletarian internationali s m , t o t h e u n i v e r s a l l a w s o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d socialist
c o n s t r u c t i o n , m u s t w o r k out a c o m m o n l i n e a n d a c o m m o n
s t a n d o n the m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l issues, e s p e c i a l l y i n r e g a r d
t o t h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d t h e s t r u g g l e t o
d e f e n d the p u r i t y o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m f r o m m o d e r n r e v i sionism.
T h e e v e n t s i n I n d o n e s i a a n d t h e j o i n t attack o f the
i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s against the
peoples, against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d s o c i a l i s m , s h o w
that w e m u s t s t r e n g t h e n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l u n i t y o f the
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s . A l l r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m m u n i s t s , a l l the
genuine Marxist-Leninist parties must boldly and unhesit a t i n g l y s u r m o u n t a n d c r u s h once a n d f o r a l l a l l the
33
obstacles t h a t t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e r a i s e d t o o u r
course o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y . T h e y w i l l accuse u s o f
setting u p n e w i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n s ; t h e y w i l l b e - d o i n g
us an honour.
T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s o f t h e w o r l d c o n s t i t u t e a steel
bloc. T h i s b l o c t e r r i f i e s t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s ,
a n d t h a t i s w h y t h e y are s t r i v i n g a t a l l costs t o f i g h t us,
s t r i v i n g t o confuse t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s w i t h t h e i r slogans
about w h i c h w e h a v e b e e n s p e a k i n g .
T h e i r e f f o r t s a r e i n v a i n : t h e L e n i n i s t slogan, « W o r k e r s o f a l l c o u n t r i e s a n d o p p r e s s e d peoples, u n i t e ! » w i l l
triumph.
«Against
Modern
Revisionism
1965-1967»
OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE TO W A G E THE CLASS
STRUGGLE AS IT HAS ALWAYS DONE —
CONSISTENTLY, COURAGEOUSLY
AND WITH MATURITY
From a conversation with Zhou Enlai (1)
June 24, 1966
•••
O u r p e o p l e h a v e a s a y i n g , the w a t e r s m a y sleep but
not t h e e n e m y . W o e b e t i d e those w h o f a l l asleep. T h i s
w i l l never occur w i t h the Marxist-Leninist parties and
a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s i f t h e y k e e p the s w o r d o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e class s t r u g g l e a n d the r e v olutionary vigilance sharp, if they continue their struggle
against i m p e r i a l i s m , m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , i n t e r n a l a n d
external reaction without interruption.
T h e class e n e m y i s c u n n i n g a n d savage, t h e r e f o r e w e
m u s t b e e x t r e m e l y severe a n d m e r c i l e s s w i t h h i m , i n
life-and-death struggle w i t h h i m . T h e enemy is remorseless, t h e r e f o r e w e m u s t h a v e n o c o m p u n c t i o n b u t s h o u l d
destroy h i m root a n d branch. We must have no illusions
a b o u t t h e e n e m y a n d m a k e n o concessions t o h i m . T h i s
i s t h e p r i n c i p l e w h i c h has a l w a y s g u i d e d o u r P a r t y .
We must not allow that catastrophe w h i c h occurred in
t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , the E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s o f people's d e ______________________________
1 Z h o u E n l a i paid a visit to A l b a n i a f r o m J u n e 24 to 28, 1966.
OUR PARTY WILL CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE
35
mocracy and in m a n y communist and workers' parties of
the w o r l d , t o t a k e p l a c e i n o u r c o u n t r i e s a n d parties. N o t
o n l y m u s t t h i s n e v e r occur, b u t it is a v i t a l d u t y , a m a j o r
i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t t a s k f o r us, t o g e t h e r w i t h the o t h e r M a r x ist-Leninist parties of the w o r l d , w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
revolutionary groups and all the Marxist-Leninists (2), in
Marxist-Leninist unity of thought and revolutionary unity
of action, to l e a d t h e peoples to b a t t l e against t h e c u r r e n t ,
to overthrow this situation in the international communist
m o v e m e n t , t o expose, defeat a n d f i n a l l y d e s t r o y t h e r e v i sionists a n d t h e i r i m p e r i a l i s t bosses.
I r r e s p e c t i v e o f the p u t s c h i s t a n d fascist m e t h o d s t h a t
t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s u s e d w h e n t h e y seized
power, what happened in the Soviet U n i o n w a s certainly
not a s p o n t a n e o u s p h e n o m e n o n , b u t s o m e t h i n g p r e p a r e d
i n advance. T h e f a c t t h a t b e f o r e t h e d e a t h o f S t a l i n ,
K h r u s h c h e v a n d his m a i n c o l l a b o r a t o r s i n t h e p u t s c h w e r e
some o f the t o p leaders w h o w o r k e d u n d e r t h e l a p , w h o
made preparations and w a i t e d for the suitable m o m e n t to
act o p e n l y a n d on a l a r g e scale, s h o w s this. T h e fact is
that these t r a i t o r s w e r e c o n s p i r a t o r s h a r d e n e d w i t h t h e
________________________________
2 T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties and groups put great hope in
the support of the CP of C h i n a as «a great M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
party» and in C h i n a as «a great socialist country». B u t they were
disillusioned. In connection w i t h this C o m r a d e Enver H o x h a ,
speaking to a Chinese delegation, stressed: « . . . I t is up to us, to
both your big party and our Party, in the first place, to take the
first steps to concretize closer, more effective links w i t h the
w h o l e w o r l d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t movement, so that our M a r x i s t Leninist unity is further tempered and our joint activity against
our common enemies is strengthened.» («Reflections on China»,
vol. 1, p. 305, T i r a n a 1979, E n g . ed.)
G e n Biao, then director of the foreign department of the CC of
the CP of C h i n a , in a talk he had w i t h comrades of our P a r t y in
1973, has s a i d : « C h i n a does not approve the creation of
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties and does not w a n t the representatives
of these parties to come to China.» (Enver H o x h a , «Imperialism
and the Revolution» p. 442, T i r a n a 1979. E n g . ed.)
36
ENVER HOXHA
experience of various Russian
counter-revolutionaries,
the experience of the anarchists, the Trotskyites and the
B u k h a r i n i t e s , a n d the e x p e r i e n c e o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d
t h e B o l s h e v i k P a r t y . T h e y d i d n o t h i n g f o r the r e v o l u t i o n ,
b u t o n the c o n t r a r y , d i d e v e r y t h i n g i n t h e i r p o w e r t o
undermine the revolution and socialism, w h i l e escaping
the blows of the revolution and the dictatorship of the
proletariat. In a w o r d , they w e r e counter-revolutionaries
a n d o p e r a t e d i n a t w o - f a c e d w a y . O n t h e one h a n d , t h e y
sang the p r a i s e s o f s o c i a l i s m , t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t h e B o l s h e v i k
C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , w h i l e o n the o t h e r
h a n d , t h e y p r e p a r e d the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n .
A l l o f u s m u s t a s k o u r s e l v e s : W h y w e r e t h e y not
discovered and dealt w i t h in time? T i m e l y discovery and
treatment are of decisive importance in preventing the
m i c r o b e o f a disease f r o m p r o l i f e r a t i n g a n d g a t h e r i n g
s t r e n g t h i n a b o d y i n f e c t e d b y the illness. T o c o m b a t a n d
eradicate t h e disease, t o p r e v e n t i t f r o m b r e a k i n g out
a n d b e c o m i n g a d a n g e r a g a i n , a precise d i a g n o s i s is i n d i s pensable.
O u r P a r t y has b e e n w a g i n g a s t e r n , ceaseless a n d
u n f l i n c h i n g struggle against Titoite m o d e r n revisionism
f o r about 2 0 y e a r s o n e n d a n d i s a b s o l u t e l y c l e a r a b o u t
t h e o r i g i n , t h e l i n e , t h e strategy, t h e tactics a n d t h e
methods by w h i c h this agency of the bourgeoisie and
i m p e r i a l i s m c o n d u c t s its s t r u g g l e . O u r P a r t y has been
f i g h t i n g a c t i v e l y w i t h a l l i t s m i g h t against K h r u s h c h e v i t e
r e v i s i o n i s m e v e r since i t f i r s t a p p e a r e d . I t h a s g a i n e d g r e a t
e x p e r i e n c e i n t h i s struggle, a n e x p e r i e n c e w h i c h h a s been
a d d e d t o t h a t g a i n e d i n t h e s t r u g g l e against t h e T i t o i t e s .
O u r P a r t y is of the o p i n i o n that the line followed
b y S t a l i n d u r i n g h i s l i f e t i m e w a s a correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n ist r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i n e .
L e t u s t a k e t h e q u e s t i o n o f class s t r u g g l e . N o t the
slightest c r i t i c i s m c a n b e m a d e o f S t a l i n f o r a n o p p o r t u n i s t
37
stand towards the capitalist a n d imperialist powers. On
t h e c o n t r a r y , he w a g e d a s t e r n , merciless, b l o w - f o r - b l o w
struggle against t h e m . H i s t h e o r e t i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l w o r k s ,
a s w e l l a s the a c t i v i t i e s o f the S o v i e t U n i o n i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a c o n f i r m this. I f s o m e w e a k p o i n t s o f tactics
c a n b e f o u n d i n the p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n d u r i n g
t h e w h o l e p e r i o d o f S t a l i n , tactics d i c t a t e d b y v a r i o u s c i r cumstances, b y t a c t i c a l w i t h d r a w a l s o r i n a d e q u a t e j u d g m e n t s d u e to l a c k of facts a n d c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n a l y s e s of
v a r i o u s circumstances, these do n o t c o n s t i t u t e t h e essence.
T h e essence w a s correct. T h i s w a s a c o l o s s a l v i c t o r y f o r
t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , f o r the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d f o r t h e peoples w h o f o u g h t a n d a r e f i g h t i n g
against the i m p e r i a l i s t p o w e r s a n d f a s c i s m . I n t h e l i g h t
o f c u r r e n t events i t becomes e v e n c l e a r e r t h a t t h e c o r r e c t ness o f t h i s class s t a n d w a s t h e m e r i t o f S t a l i n , because
after h i s d e a t h h i s close c o l l a b o r a t o r s , w i t h t h e K h r u s h chevites a m o n g s t t h e m , t h r e w t h i s b a n n e r i n t h e m u d .
L e t u s e x a m i n e i n b r o a d o u t l i n e t h e class s t r u g g l e
w i t h i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a f t e r the R e v o l u t i o n a n d d u r i n g
the w h o l e o f S t a l i n ' s l i f e t i m e . I n t h e o p i n i o n o f o u r P a r t y
t h e r e w e r e n o e r r o r s o f p r i n c i p l e i n t h e l i n e o f the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y i n t h e t i m e o f S t a l i n , w h i l e i n t h e tactics,
forms and methods errors can be found, but we must take
account o f the c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f the t i m e
a n d not judge them f r o m o u r present v i e w p o i n t a n d in
the l i g h t o f t h e r i c h e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d b y o u r p a r t i e s .
I t cannot b e s a i d t h a t t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e tariat withered a w a y or slackened d u r i n g the lifetime of
S t a l i n . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t h i t t h e class e n e m y p o l i t i c a l l y ,
economically a n d militarily and liquidated it without
m e r c y . A f t e r t h e t r i u m p h o f t h e R e v o l u t i o n , a f t e r the
seizure o f p o w e r , a f t e r t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n a n d N E P , w e c a n
s a y t h a t t h e c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t i n g classes o f t o w n a n d
c o u n t r y s i d e i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n h a d been d e a l t a c r u s h i n g
38
ENVER HOXHA
m o r t a l blow. Economically, they w e r e left biting their
k n u c k l e s , as t h e s a y i n g goes.
However, we cannot say that as long as Stalin was
alive the dictatorship of the proletariat in the Soviet
U n i o n operated onesidedly a n d w a s directed solely at the
e l i m i n a t i o n o f the e c o n o m i c s t r e n g t h o f t h e e x p l o i t i n g c l a s ses a n d t h a t t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t
t h e m w a s n e g l e c t e d o r w e a k e n e d . O n the c o n t r a r y , t h e
p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l struggle, too, w a s t r e m e n d o u s .
A b u n d a n t proof of this is the concrete d a i l y struggle of
S t a l i n , the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y a n d the e n t i r e S o v i e t p e o p l e ,
S t a l i n ' s p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l w r i t i n g s , the d o c u m e n t s
a n d decisions o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n ,
t h e press a n d m a s s i v e p r o p a g a n d a o f those t i m e s a g a i n s t
the T r o t s k y i t e s , B u k h a r i n i t e s , Z i n o v i e v i t e s , t h e T u k h a c h e v s kies and thousands of other traitors. This cannot be
c a l l e d a n y t h i n g b u t a s t e r n p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l class
s t r u g g l e i n defence o f s o c i a l i s m , t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e
proletariat, the p a r t y a n d the principles of M a r x i s m Leninism.
S t a l i n has great m e r i t s i n t h i s s t r u g g l e . H e s h o w e d
h i m s e l f t o b e a great M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w i t h c l e a r p r i n ciples, w i t h g r e a t c o u r a g e a n d cool-headedness, w i t h t h e
m a t u r i t y and foresight of a M a r x i s t revolutionary. We
need o n l y t h i n k o f t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e e x t e r n a l a n d
i n t e r n a l enemies of the Soviet U n i o n , the o n l y socialist
c o u n t r y i n t h e w o r l d a t t h a t t i m e , o f t h e schemes t h e y
concocted, t h e u n r e s t r a i n e d p r o p a g a n d a a n d t h e c u n n i n g
tactics t h e y used, t o a p p r e c i a t e p r o p e r l y t h e correct a c t i o n s
of Stalin at the head of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of the
Soviet U n i o n .
W e r e t h e r e m i s t a k e s , excesses, d e f i n i t i o n s n o t a l w a y s
rigorously exact? Of course there were. N o w we can
analyse and evaluate t h e m more correctly in their context,
in the existing circumstances and can say w h a t the con-
39
sequences w o u l d h a v e b e e n i f s o m e d i f f e r e n t a c t i o n h a d
been t a k e n . B u t the essence w a s a n d i s c o r r e c t . I t i s
h a r d l y possible to criticize S t a l i n of v i o l a t i o n of a n d failure
to defend the Leninist principles, it is difficult or impossible t o accuse h i m o f o p p o r t u n i s t m a n i f e s t a t i o n s i n l i n e ,
o f l a c k o f p r o l e t a r i a n p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l foresight
Stalin's revolutionary vigilance is c o n f i r m e d even in the
last y e a r s o f h i s l i f e . H e d i s c o v e r e d a n d e x p o s e d the t r e a cherous r e v i s i o n i s t a c t i v i t y o f T i t o a n d T i t o i s m . ( 3 ) T h i s i s
a great m e r i t of S t a l i n ' s .
Before he died, a n d K h r u s h c h e v himself has admitted
this, S t a l i n t o l d t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h e w a s a f r a i d t h e y w o u l d
c a p i t u l a t e t o i m p e r i a l i s m . A n d that i s p r e c i s e l y w h a t h a p pened. W a s this l a c k o f v i g i l a n c e o n t h e p a r t o f S t a l i n ?
W a s t h i s j u s t a f o r t u i t o u s r e m a r k or w a s it a c o n c l u s i o n
f r o m the p r o f o u n d r e f l e c t i o n o f a great r e v o l u t i o n a r y w h o
foresaw the future a n d w a r n e d the P a r t y a n d the people
that t h e y m u s t k e e p t h e i r eyes o p e n , b e v i g i l a n t a n d face
up to the dangers w h i c h m i g h t threaten them in the
future? O u r P a r t y holds the latter to be true.
Then the question arises: if this is how matters stood,
why did the Bolshevik Communist Party and the Soviet
people allow the Soviet revisionists to seize power?
The seizure of power by the Soviet modern revisionists from within, without using weapons or violence, is
so to speak, a new phenomenon. We t h i n k t h a t in fact
S t a l i n h a d n o t e n v i s a g e d this, f o r t h e S o v i e t U n i o n least
of all. He never underrated the ferocity of the elements
left o v e r f r o m t h e e x p l o i t i n g classes w h o , t h e c l o s e r t h e y
___________________________
3 A l l u s i o n to the mistaken views of the Chinese on
Titoism and Stalin, w h i c h M a o Zedong himself expressed to
Comrade Enver H o x h a in 1956, in B e i j i n g , d u r i n g the proceedings of the 8th Congress of the CP of C h i n a . (See E n v e r H o x h a ,
«The Khrushchevites» (Memoirs), pp. 241-243, T i r a n a 1980,
Eng. ed.)
40
ENVER HOXHA
d r a w to their grave, the m o r e fiercely they fight sociali s m a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , b u t w e t h i n k
that c o n s i d e r i n g t h e state these r e m n a n t s w e r e i n , S t a l i n
assessed t h e i n t e r n a l s i t u a t i o n a s s o u n d a n d c o r r e c t l y
f o r e s a w t h a t the a l l y w h i c h c o u l d r e v i v e these r e m n a n t s
was foreign imperialism.
S t a l i n p u t t h e stress o n t h e d a n g e r f r o m outside,
w h i l e w e c a n say t h a t h e d i d not foresee t h e f u l l i m p l i c a t i o n of the d a n g e r of t h e r e v i s i o n i s t e l e m e n t s w h o , as a
result of m a n y subjective and objective circumstances,
m i g h t emerge w i t h i n the p a r t y a n d t h e socialist state a n d
b e g r a d u a l l y t r a n s f o r m e d , w i t t i n g l y o r u n w i t t i n g l y , consciously or unconsciously, w i t h or without a premeditated
plan, into an a n t i - M a r x i s t trend, especially w i t h i n the
C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e S o v i e t
U n i o n itself. H e w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t i f some a n t i - p a r t y
hostile activity emerged w i t h i n the party, this m i g h t be
developed and organized in the u s u a l ways, but he was
also f i r m l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h i s a c t i v i t y w o u l d b e a t t a c k e d
a n d l i q u i d a t e d b y the same m e t h o d s a n d f o r m s t h a t h a d
b e e n u s e d t o expose a n d l i q u i d a t e a l l s u c h a c t i v i t i e s i n the
past. T h e fact is, h o w e v e r , t h a t t h i s t i m e m a t t e r s d i d n o t
follow the usual course w i t h the anti-party w o r k of the
m o d e r n revisionist's.
As regards the activities of the Y u g o s l a v C o m m u n i s t
P a r t y and the Titoite group, Stalin's v i e w w a s more
penetrating a n d he d r e w correct conclusions. Proof of
t h i s are t h e l e t t e r s sent t o T i t o a n d the d o c u m e n t s o f the
C o m i n f o r m w h i c h are o f great i m p o r t a n c e a n d w h e n w e
read them, n o w especially, we can f o r m a better judgment
o f h o w c o r r e c t S t a l i n ' s class v i e w s w e r e .
T h e Khrushchevite revisionist chiefs concealed their
schemes v e r y i n t e l l i g e n t l y b y a c t i n g u n d e r c o v e r o f t h e
red flag of Stalin.
We think that there were contradictions and frictions
41
i n the l e a d e r s h i p o f the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d w e cannot a c cept the a b s u r d thesis o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s t h a t n o n e
o f the leaders c o u l d o p e n h i s m o u t h t o e x p r e s s his o p i n i o n
for fear of Stalin. F r o m what we h a v e heard, S t a l i n c a l led Khrushchev a narodnik, criticized Voroshilov, M o lotov a n d others. Hence, on the one h a n d we must c o n clude that S t a l i n w a s not politicaly short-sighted w h i l e
o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h a t h e d i d not a l w a y s use b u l l e t s a n d
t e r r o r a s his e n e m i e s c l a i m , b u t o n the c o n t r a r y u s e d
conviction and exchange of opinions.
A l t h o u g h w e h a v e n o access t o the i n t e r n a l d o c u m e n t s
w h i c h w o u l d v e r i f y m a n y things, it is a fact that S t a l i n
d i d n o t detect t h e d a n g e r p o s e d b y the t r a i t o r s K h r u s h chev, M i k o y a n a n d others, a n d t h a t the P a t r i o t i c W a r
e x e r c i s e d a great i n f l u e n c e in t h i s d i r e c t i o n . If t h e r e is
a n y t h i n g f o r w h i c h w e c a n b l a m e S t a l i n i t i s the fact
t h a t after the w a r , a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e last y e a r s o f h i s
life, h e d i d n o t r e a l i z e that the p u l s e o f h i s P a r t y w a s not
b e a t i n g a s before, t h a t i t w a s l o s i n g i t s r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g our, w a s b e c o m i n g sclerotic a n d , d e s p i t e the h e r o i c deeds
o f the G r e a t P a t r i o t i c W a r , i t n e v e r r e c o v e r e d p r o p e r l y
a n d t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e t r a i t o r s t o o k a d v a n t a g e o f this.
H e r e , i f I a m n o t m i s t a k e n , i s w h e r e w e m u s t seek t h e
o r i g i n o f the t r a g e d y t h a t o c c u r r e d i n the S o v i e t U n i o n .
The construction of socialism in the Soviet U n i o n
a n d the f i g h t against b o t h e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l enemies
w e r e c a r r i e d o u t b y the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f the S o v i e t
Union and Stalin w h o led it in a lofty revolutionary
spirit. The merciless blows justly dealt to the Trotskyites,
the B u k h a r i n i t e s a n d o t h e r s w e r e t h e l o g i c a l c o n c l u s i o n
of t h i s great class s t r u g g l e .
A l l this c o m p l e x , m a n y - s i d e d s t r u g g l e r i g h t l y e n hanced the a u t h o r i t y o f S t a l i n a n d t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e
o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n ( B o l s h e v i k ) .
T h i s w a s positive, b u t t h e m e t h o d s a n d f o r m s o f w o r k
42
ENVER HOXHA
w h i c h w e r e u s e d i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the P a r t y h a d a n
opposite r e s u l t .
If a m i n u t e analysis is m a d e of the political, ideological and organizational directives of S t a l i n on the leadership and organization of the Party, the struggle a n d
work, generally speaking, no errors of principle w i l l be
f o u n d , b u t w e s h a l l see t h a t l i t t l e b y l i t t l e the P a r t y w a s
becoming bureaucratized, that it was becoming o v e r w h e l m e d
w i t h routine w o r k and dangerous formalism w h i c h p a r a l y z e the p a r t y a n d s a p its r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d v i g o u r .
The P a r t y h a d been covered by a heavy layer of rust, by
political apathy and the mistaken idea spread that only
t h e h e a d , the l e a d e r s h i p , acted a n d s o l v e d e v e r y t h i n g .
I t w a s t h i s concept o f w o r k t h a t l e d t o t h e s i t u a t i o n i n
w h i c h everybody, everywhere, said about every question:
« T h e l e a d e r s h i p k n o w s this», «the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e
k n o w s e v e r y t h i n g » , «the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e does not m a k e
m i s t a k e s » , « S t a l i n s a i d this a n d t h a t ' s the e n d o f it». M a n y
t h i n g s w h i c h S t a l i n m a y not h a v e s a i d a t a l l w e r e a t t r i b u t e d
t o h i m . T h e apparatuses a n d o f f i c i a l s b e c a m e « o m n i p o t e n t » ,
«infallible», and operated in bureaucratic ways, misusing
the formulae of democratic centralism and Bolshevik c r i ticism and self-criticism w h i c h were no longer Bolshevik.
T h e r e is no doubt that in this w a y the B o l s h e v i k P a r t y
lost its f o r m e r v i t a l i t y , i t l i v e d b y correct f o r m u l a e , b u t
o n l y f o r m u l a e ; i t c a r r i e d o u t o r d e r s , b u t d i d n o t act o n
its own initiative.
In such conditions, bureaucratic administrative m e a sures b e g a n t o p r e v a i l o v e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y m e a s u r e s .
A f t e r t h e a d o p t i o n o f these b u r e a u c r a t i c m e t h o d s a n d
f o r m s o f w o r k , t h e correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y m e a s u r e s t a k e n
against t h e class e n e m y a c h i e v e d a n effect opposite t o
that desired and w e r e used by the bureaucrats to spread
fear i n the P a r t y a n d the people. T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e n o l o n g e r o p e r a t e d , because i t h a d ceased t o b e r e v -
43
o l u t i o n a r y , a l t h o u g h i t w a s a d v e r t i z e d a s such. I t w a s
being transformed f r o m a vigilance of the p a r t y and the
masses i n t o a v i g i l a n c e of t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c a p p a r a t u s e s
a n d , i f n o t i n a l l aspects, a t least i n f o r m , i n t o a v i g i l a n c e
of the s e c u r i t y o r g a n s a n d the c o u r t s .
It is understandable that in s u c h conditions, s e n t i ments and views w h i c h w e r e non-proletarian, not of the
w o r k i n g class, took r o o t a n d d e v e l o p e d i n the C o m m u n i s t
P a r t y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n , i n t h e r a n k s o f the c o m m u n i s t s
a n d i n the consciousness o f m a n y o f t h e m . C a r e e r i s m , s e r vility, charlatanism, cronyism, anti-proletarian morality,
etc. d e v e l o p e d a n d e r o d e d t h e P a r t y f r o m w i t h i n , s m o t h e r e d t h e s p i r i t o f t h e class s t r u g g l e a n d s a c r i f i c e a n d
e n c o u r a g e d t h e h a n k e r i n g after a «good», c o m f o r t a b l e l i f e
w i t h p e r s o n a l p r i v i l e g e s a n d g a i n , a n d w i t h the least p o s s i b l e w o r k a n d t o i l . «We w o r k e d a n d f o u g h t f o r t h i s s o cialist state a n d w e w o n . N o w let u s e n j o y i t a n d p r o f i t
f r o m it. W e are u n t o u c h a b l e , o u r p a s t covers e v e r y t h i n g . »
This w a s the bourgeois and petty-bourgeois m e n t a l i t y
w h i c h was being created in the Soviet U n i o n and the
great d a n g e r w a s t h a t t h i s w a s d e v e l o p i n g i n the o l d
cadres o f the P a r t y w i t h a n i r r e p r o a c h a b l e past a n d o f
p r o l e t a r i a n o r i g i n , cadres w h o o u g h t t o h a v e b e e n e x amples o f p u r i t y f o r t h e o t h e r s . M a n y o f those w h o u s e d
beautiful words, the revolutionary phrases and theoretical
formulae of L e n i n and Stalin, w h o reaped the laurels
f r o m t h e w o r k o f o t h e r s a n d w h o set a n d e n c o u r a g e d t h e
bad example, w e r e in the leadership, in the apparatuses.
A w o r k e r a r i s t o c r a c y m a d e u p o f b u r e a u c r a t i c cadres w a s
b e i n g created i n t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e U S S R .
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h i s process o f d e g e n e r a t i o n d e v e l o p e d
under the «happy» a n d «hopeful» slogans that «everything
is going w e l l , n o r m a l l y , w i t h i n the norms a n d l a w s of t h e
P a r t y » w h i c h i n fact w e r e b e i n g v i o l a t e d u n d e r t h e s l o gans that «the class s t r u g g l e goes on», t h a t « d e m o c r a t i c
44
ENVER HOXHA
c e n t r a l i s m is preserved», that «criticism and self-criticism
c o n t i n u e a s before», t h a t « a s t e e l u n i t y e x i s t s i n the p a r t y » ,
t h a t «there a r e n o m o r e f a c t i o n a l i s t s a n d a n t i - p a r t y e l e m e n t s » , t h a t «the T r o t s k y i t e , B u k h a r i n i t e g r o u p s a r e a
t h i n g of the past», etc., etc. S u c h a d i s t o r t e d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the s i t u a t i o n , a n d t h i s i s w h e r e t h e essence o f the
t r a g e d y a n d the f a t a l m i s t a k e lies, w a s c o n s i d e r e d e v e n
b y the r e v o l u t i o n a r y e l e m e n t s a s a n o r m a l r e a l i t y o v e r a l l ,
a n d that is w h y the idea existed that there w a s nothing
t o b e a l a r m e d a b o u t because t h e e n e m i e s , t h i e v e s a n d
v i o l a t o r s o f m o r a l i t y w e r e c o n d e m n e d b y the courts, the
u n w o r t h y p a r t y m e m b e r s w e r e e x p e l l e d f r o m the P a r t y i n
the u s u a l w a y a n d n e w m e m b e r s a d m i t t e d , t h a t the p l a n s
w e r e f u l f i l l e d , a l t h o u g h some w e r e not, t h a t people w e r e
criticized, condemned, praised and so on a n d so forth.
A c c o r d i n g to them life w a s proceeding n o r m a l l y and it
w a s r e p o r t e d t o S t a l i n t h a t « e v e r y t h i n g i s i n order.» W e
are c o n v i n c e d t h a t h a d S t a l i n , a s the g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y
h e w a s , been a w a r e o f t h e r e a l s i t u a t i o n i n the P a r t y , h e
w o u l d h a v e d e a l t a c r u s h i n g b l o w t o this u n h e a l t h y s p i r i t
a n d t h e S o v i e t P a r t y a n d people w o u l d h a v e r i s e n i n h i s
s u p p o r t , because t h e y r i g h t l y h a d great f a i t h i n S t a l i n .
But w h y d i d Stalin not deal this blow? C o u l d it be
that he h a d reconciled himself to this unhealthy situation,
that he was m a k i n g political and ideological mistakes of
principle? Not by any means! We t h i n k that on this question Stalin must be defended to the end. S t a l i n can be
c r i t i c i z e d because i n the last y e a r s o f h i s l i f e h e w e a k e n e d
h i s l i n k s w i t h t h e masses o f the P a r t y a n d the people, b u t
he d i d so only physically and never ideologically and
p o l i t i c a l l y . S t a l i n h a d c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e cadres, b u t o n e
c a n n o t s a y that h e h a d c o n f i d e n c e o n l y i n t h e cadres a n d
d i d not h a v e o r h a d lost h i s c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e o r d i n a r y
people, the masses o f p a r t y m e m b e r s a n d the people.
T h e apparatuses not o n l y m i s i n f o r m e d S t a l i n a n d b u -
45
r e a u c r a t i c a l l y d i s t o r t e d h i s correct d i r e c t i v e s , b u t h a d also
created s u c h a s i t u a t i o n a m o n g the p e o p l e a n d i n t h e P a r t y
that e v e n w h e n S t a l i n w e n t a m o n g t h e masses o f p a r t y
m e m b e r s a n d the people, t o the e x t e n t t h a t h i s age a n d
h e a l t h p e r m i t t e d , the masses d i d n o t i n f o r m h i m o f t h e
s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d m i s t a k e s w h i c h o c c u r r e d , because t h e
apparatuses h a d i n c u l c a t e d i n t h e m t h e i d e a t h a t « w e
s h o u l d not w o r r y S t a l i n » .
A s r e g a r d s the s o - c a l l e d cult o f S t a l i n , the K h r u s h c h e v ite traitors propagated it deliberately in order to use it
e x t e n s i v e l y a g a i n s t M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a s t h e y d i d i n fact.
W e t h i n k that S t a l i n w a s a g r e a t M a r x i s t o n account o f
his w o r k a n d h i s s t r u g g l e . H e w a s m o d e s t a n d t h e r e w a s
n o need f o r the S o v i e t press a n d p r o p a g a n d a t o i n f l a t e
h i s f i g u r e i n the w a y t h e y d i d a s l o n g a s h e w a s a l i v e .
O n this q u e s t i o n w e t h i n k t h a t S t a l i n p e r s o n a l l y d i d n o t
t a k e severe m e a s u r e s t o e n s u r e t h a t t h i s p r o p a g a n d a w a s
balanced in a Marxist-Leninist manner and to avoid the
m a n y n e g a t i v e a n d d a n g e r o u s aspects o f t h i s p r o p a g a n d a
w h i c h c o u l d conceal a n d , a s t h e facts s h o w e d , d i d c o n c e a l
great dangers, because t h i s u n b a l a n c e d p r o p a g a n d a a b o u t
S t a l i n served to conceal such enemies a n d traitors as
K h r u s h c h e v and company, w h o shouted louder than the
others and covered the plot u n d e r this disguise. A f t e r the
d e a t h o f S t a l i n , i t b e c a m e c l e a r t h a t these t r a i t o r s u s e d
this u n b r i d l e d propaganda as a w e a p o n not only against
S t a l i n a n d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t also against M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m o n a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale.
W e m u s t n o t b l a m e S t a l i n f o r those f a u l t s a n d m i s takes w h i c h h e d i d n o t c o m m i t , d i d n o t w a n t o t h e r s t o
commit and w h i c h , if he h a d detected them, he w o u l d
h a v e a t t a c k e d m e r c i l e s s l y as a r e v o l u t i o n a r y . H e n c e , t h e
g r a v e g u i l t f a l l s o n m a n y others, g r e a t a n d h u m b l e , a n d
o n the C P S U a s a w h o l e , beacuse i t d i d n o t k n o w h o w
to fight and react p o w e r f u l l y , in a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y
46
ENVER HOXHA
a n d o n t h e basis o f the m i l i t a n t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y ,
against bureaucratic distortions, a n d this led to ideol o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l d i s t o r t i o n s , t o the c r e a t i o n o f the
current of m o d e r n revisionists who, by awaiting the opportune moment, the death of Stalin, took power f r o m w i t h i n .
M i k o y a n admitted to us that at one time they h a d
d e c i d e d t o assassinate S t a l i n , b u t l a t e r h a d a b a n d o n e d t h e
idea. This is proof not o n l y of the c r i m i n a l intentions of
these b a n d i t s , b u t also o f the f a c t that, w h e n t h e y d e c i d e d
to k i l l Stalin, they m u s t have been in danger of being d i s c o v e r e d . H a d t h e y c a r r i e d o u t t h i s attempt, t h e y w o u l d
c e r t a i n l y h a v e lost a n d b e e n d e s t r o y e d , because t h e e n t i r e
P a r t y a n d people w o u l d h a v e t o r n t h e m t o pieces. A p parently they decided to w a i t a little longer. Hence, this
g r o u p o f c o n s p i r a t o r s , p u t s c h i s t s a n d t r a i t o r s k n e w the
s i t u a t i o n i n the P a r t y , k n e w the cadres a n d t h e i r s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d weaknesses, h a d q u i e t l y p l a c e d these cadres
in k e y positions and h a d devised their tactics a n d strategy w e l l in advance. It is v e r y important to analyze
this.
M o l o t o v and his comrades w e r e o l d revolutionaries,
honest communists, but were the typical representatives
o f t h a t b u r e a u c r a t i c r o u t i n e , that b u r e a u c r a t i c « l e g a l i t y » ,
a n d w h e n t h e y m a d e f e e b l e a t t e m p t s t o use i t against t h e
e v i d e n t p l o t o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s , * i t w a s a l r e a d y too
late. I n s t e a d the b u r e a u c r a c y a n d the b u r e a u c r a t i c « l e g a l i ty» were used by the traitors w h o covered up their
p a l a c e i n t r i g u e w i t h this
«legality» and m a n o e u v r e d
through their network and the entire stratum of bureaucrats of proletarian, and not kulak, capitalist or feudal,
o r i g i n t o seize t h e r e i n s o f the P a r t y a n d the o r g a n s o f
state p o w e r .
_____________________________
* See E n v e r H o x h a , « T h e Khrushchevites» (Memoirs), pp.
29-32, 185-187, T i r a n a 1980, (Eng. ed.).
47
Immediately after the death of Stalin, the K h r u s h c h e v i t e p l o t t e r s m a n o e u v r e d d e f t l y w i t h t h i s «legality»,
w i t h the «rules o f the p a r t y » a n d « d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m » ,
w i t h t h e i r c r o c o d i l e tears o v e r t h e loss o f S t a l i n , w h i l e
gradually preparing to torpedo his work, his figure and
Marxism-Leninism, until all their activity was crowned
w i t h success a t the 20th C o n g r e s s a n d i n t h e c r e m a t o r i u m
where the body of S t a l i n was burned. T h i s is a period
f u l l o f lessons f o r u s M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , because i t h i g h l i g h t s the b a n k r u p t c y o f b u r e a u c r a t i c « l e g a l i t y » w h i c h i s
a great d a n g e r to a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , b r i n g s o u t the
m e t h o d s w h i c h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s use t o t u r n t h i s b u r e a u c r a t i c « l e g a l i t y » t o t h e i r a d v a n t a g e , s h o w s h o w honest
leaders, w h o h a v e e x p e r i e n c e b u t h a v e lost t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y class s p i r i t , f a l l i n t o the t r a p s o f c o n s p i r a t o r s a n d
m a k e concessions, s u b m i t t o t h e p r e s s u r e a n d r e t r e a t i n
face o f the b l a c k m a i l a n d d e m a g o g y o f r e v i s i o n i s t t r a i t o r s
disguised w i t h revolutionary phraseology.
I n this t r a n s i t i o n a l p e r i o d f o r t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f
t h e i r p o w e r w e see h o w t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s , w i t h great
boasting about h o w they w e r e acting in a «lofty party
s p i r i t » , « f r e e d f r o m the f e a r o f S t a l i n » , a n d «in t r u l y d e mocratic and Leninist forms», w o r k e d actively to spread
the m o s t m o n s t r o u s s l a n d e r s w h i c h o n l y t h e b o u r g e o i s i e
has d a r e d t o use against the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d S t a l i n . T h i s
whole campaign of slanders supported and tried to prove
w i t h a l l e g e d l y l e g a l d o c u m e n t s t h e s l a n d e r s w h i c h a l l the
capitalists h a d been m a k i n g f o r y e a r s against M a r x i s m Leninism. Everything was used by the Khrushchevites.
T h e y searched t h r o u g h t h e a r c h i v e s , d o c u m e n t s a n d m i n u t e s w h i c h c o v e r e d decades o f w o r k a n d f r o m w h i c h t h e y
e x t r a c t e d i s o l a t e d ideas a n d p h r a s e s w h i c h t h e y q u o t e d
t o i n t e r p r e t t h e tactics u s e d i n t h e w a y t h a t s u i t e d t h e m ,
t h e y e v e n u s e d anectodes a b o u t p e o p l e ' s p r i v a t e l i v e s , i n
one w o r d , t h e y u s e d t y p i c a l T r o t s k y i t e m e t h o d s o f w o r k .
48
ENVER HOXHA
A l l this w a s done i n o r d e r t o a t t a c k the c o r r e c t r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r a t e g y o f S t a l i n , t o a t t a c k a n d u n d e r m i n e the
Leninist norms, to attack the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology
w i t h pseudo-legal forms and to discredit S t a l i n a n d soc i a l i s m i n the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e w o r l d .
T h e subsequent development of the treacherous w o r k
o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s i s w e l l k n o w n . T h e y
h a v e t a k e n c o n t r o l o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t
U n i o n a n d e n j o y the s u p p o r t o f a l a r g e s t r a t u m o f the
P a r t y w h i c h has been b u r e a u c r a t i z e d , w h i c h has b e e n a n d
is b e i n g s y s t e m a t i c a l l y t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a n e w b o u r g e o i sie. T h e r e m n a n t s o f the c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t i n g classes i n
the S o v i e t U n i o n c o u l d n o t a t t a c k the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the
p r o l e t a r i a t because t h e y w e r e p o w e r l e s s a n d d e f e a t e d ,
b u t the l a c k o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e , t h e w e a k e n i n g o f
the class s t r u g g l e i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e the P a r t y , the e n f e e b ling of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y spirit in everything, lack of
profound revolutionary political and ideological w o r k on
a mass scale a n d the b u r e a u c r a t i z a t i o n of the P a r t y b r o u g h t
a b o u t t h a t a w h o l e s t r a t u m o f t h e P a r t y c o m p l e t e l y lost
the features of the proletariat, of revolutionaries, and bec a m e bourgeois, c r e a t e d its o w n cadres i n t h e P a r t y a n d
t h e state a n d t o o k p o w e r i n t o its o w n h a n d s . T h e y d i d
w h a t t h e r e m n a n t s o f the e x p l o i t i n g classes w e r e q u i t e
unable to do and now, in this revisionist legality in
p o w e r t h e class f u s i o n o f these e l e m e n t s a g a i n s t t h e
revolution, M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and socialism
is faking
place.
A l t h o u g h the m o d e r n revisionists in the other count r i e s w h e r e t h e y a r e i n p o w e r u s e d t h e same m e a n s a n d
f u r t h e r e d the same e n d s a s t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s w h o h e l p e d t h e m t o seize p o w e r b y a l l m a n n e r o f m e a n s , i t i s o f
great interest t o u s M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s t o s t u d y t h e s t r a tegy a n d tactics u s e d b y t h e t r a i t o r s t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m
a n d the r o l e the b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t classes p l a y e d i n each
49
o f these countries. W h y ? B e c a u s e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n there
are m a r k e d d i f f e r e n c e s , d i f f e r e n c e s i n the w a g i n g o f the
class s t r u g g l e , i n the i n t e n s i t y o f t h e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n
struggle, i n t h e r o l e o f t h e p a r t i e s i n t h i s s t r u g g l e , i n
t h e i r l i n e i n the s t r u g g l e f o r v i c t o r y , f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f
t h e c o u n t r y , f o r the s e i z u r e a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n o f state
p o w e r a n d the c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f the people's d e m o c r a c y .
A l l this process d i d n o t t a k e p l a c e i n the s a m e w a y e v e r y w h e r e . I t took p l a c e i n d i f f e r e n t w a y s i n d i f f e r e n t c o u n tries.
L e t u s t a k e Y u g o s l a v i a , f o r instance. W e l o n g ago
came to t h e c o n c l u s i o n not o n l y that s o c i a l i s m is not b e i n g
built in Yugoslavia now, but that it had never started to
b e b u i l t , t h a t the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a w a s
never a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party, not o n l y since T i t o came
t o the h e a d o f i t b u t also i n t h e t i m e o f t h e C o m i n t e r n a n d
b e f o r e t h e w a r . F r o m the l e g a l d o c u m e n t s o f the C o m i n t e r n
we are acquainted w i t h the r a m p a n t factionalist and
T r o t s k y i t e a c t i v i t y t h a t t o o k p l a c e i n it. A l l e g e d l y i t
achieved stability w i t h the emergence of Tito, but the
fact is t h a t T i t o w a s n o t h i n g b u t a d i s g u i s e d , l o n g - s t a n d i n g T r o t s k y i t e agent o f c a p i t a l .
T h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a w a g e d a h e r o i c w a r . T h i s
i s a fact. T h e r e w e r e r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m m u n i s t s i n t h e
Communist P a r t y of Yugoslavia w h o fought heroically.
T h i s , too, is a fact. It is also a fact t h a t T i t o w a s at t h e
head of the party, at the head of the leadership of the
war, but he was not a M a r x i s t . He w a s a disguised b o u r geois agent w h o k n e w h o w t o c h a n n e l t h e w i l l a n d m i litant vigour of the people for the liberation of Y u g o s l a v i a
t o f u r t h e r h i s o w n p u r p o s e s , h o w t o i n v o l v e the c o m m u n ists i n t h i s w a r a n d , a t t h e same t i m e , t o l i q u i d a t e t h e m ,
to select the r i g h t i n d i v i d u a l s a n d create a w h o l e t e a m
of m i l i t a r y and political leaders sharing his o w n views.
D u r i n g the w a r , h e c r e a t e d a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d h i s s t a f f a n d
50
ENVER HOXHA
h i s o w n prestige. T i t o a n d h i s s t a f f w e r e d i s g u i s e d b o u r g e o i s n a t i o n a l c h a u v i n i s t s w h o a c t e d u n d e r the g u i d a n c e
of B r i t i s h policy. A l t h o u g h Tito posed as a M a r x i s t and
pro-Soviet, if we read those few o f f i c i a l Y u g o s l a v d o c u m e n t s f r o m t h e t i m e o f t h e w a r , w e s h a l l see t h a t h e h a d
c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e S o v i e t s a n d a f t e r l i b e r a t i o n , espec i a l l y on the question of V e n e z i a G i u l i a and Trieste, r e gardless o f w h e t h e r h e w a s r i g h t o r w r o n g o n t h e e t h n i c a l
aspect i n r e g a r d t o these places, h i s s t a n d w a s o p e n l y
chauvinist, anti-Soviet a n d anti-Stalin.
L a t e r , t h e n a t u r e o f T i t o ' s secret close l i n k s w i t h the
i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d h i s p u r s u i t o f a h e g e m o n i c p o l i c y i n the
Balkans and C e n t r a l Europe, of course in collaboration
w i t h the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n s , t o h i n d e r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d
consolidation of socialism in the countries of Eastern E u r o p e a n d the B a l k a n s a n d t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e b r e a k i n g o f
their friendship w i t h the Soviet Union, became clear.
Nowadays, Tito pursues this policy in other forms. The
zadruga ( a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives) of the b e g i n n i n g w e r e
only a hoax and w e r e q u i c k l y broken up. Hence, sociali s m in the Y u g o s l a v countryside never got started, but
o n t h e c o n t r a r y the p r i v a t e sector w a s s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d
the k u l a k class d e v e l o p e d . C o n f i s c a t i o n s a n d n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s w e r e c a r r i e d o u t i n i n d u s t r y too, b u t these w e r e not
f o r socialist aims, a l t h o u g h t h e y w e r e c a r r i e d o u t i n the
n a m e of socialism. It w a s o n l y n a t u r a l that the p r o p e r t y
o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e w o u l d pass « i n t o t h e h a n d s o f the p e o ple» w h o f o u g h t , b u t this p r o p e r t y w a s t o serve t o c o n s o lidate the p o w e r of the clique, a n d v e r y quickly, after
t h e i r b r e a k w i t h us, i n t h e f o r m o f s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,
was to become the property of the n e w exploiting a n d
o p p r e s s i n g class h e a d e d b y T i t o . A f t e r the w a r , the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f Y u g o s l a v i a b e c a m e a n a u x i l i a r y o f the
U D B , o f the a p p a r a t u s o f s u p p r e s s i o n , a n d h u n d r e d s o f
thousands of revolutionaries w h o militated in it w e r e
51
accused o f b e i n g « I n f o r m b u r e a u i s t s » a n d w e r e l i q u i d a t e d .
H o w t h i n g s a r e d e v e l o p i n g i n Y u g o s l a v i a n o w i s a l l too
clear.
T h e t i m e a n d the m o m e n t d o n o t a l l o w u s t o s p e a k
even b r i e f l y a b o u t B u l g a r i a , R u m a n i a , C z e c h o s l o v a k i a ,
P o l a n d , etc., as I d i d a b o u t Y u g o s l a v i a . Y o u , of course,
h a v e a n a l y z e d t h e m , b u t t h e fact i s t h a t a l t h o u g h the
process of d e g e n e r a t i o n in each of these c o u n t r i e s h a s a
g e n e r a l l y s i m i l a r c h a r a c t e r a n d features, i t also has its
o w n nuances and characteristics of development dependi n g on the c o n d i t i o n s I m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r .
I n r e g a r d t o o u r c o u n t r y , I d o n o t w i s h t o speak
about t h e great s t r u g g l e o u r P a r t y h a s w a g e d f o r the
construction of socialism, but I w a n t to d w e l l briefly on
the process o f the class s t r u g g l e t h a t o u r P a r t y has
w a g e d a n d o n the course i t h a s f o l l o w e d f o r t h e l i q u i d a t i o n of t h e e x p l o i t i n g classes.
A l l o w m e , c o m r a d e s , t o c o n t i n u e t h e expose I d i d
not f i n i s h y e s t e r d a y .
The elimination of exploiting capitalist classes as classes is a complicated process which is completed with the
construction of the economic base of socialism. H o w e v e r ,
the s t r u g g l e against r e m n a n t s o f these o v e r t h r o w n classes
and their ideology and w o r l d outlook is a long, complicated
a n d v e r y d i f f i c u l t process. H o w h a s t h i s process been c a r r i e d out i n o u r c o u n t r y a n d w h a t r e s u l t s h a v e n been
achieved?
T h e e x p l o i t i n g classes c o u l d n o t b e e l i m i n a t e d i m mediately, e i t h e r i n o u r c o u n t r y o r i n t h e o t h e r socialist
countries. A f i e r c e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l f i g h t , a v i o l e n t
w a r w i t h a r m s , a s t e r n a n d c o n t i n u o u s class s t r u g g l e
under the u n w a v e r i n g l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
p a r t y is n e e d e d for the proletariat to wrest political power
by violence from the hands of the exploiting capitalist
52
ENVER HOXHA
class and establish the state of the dictatorship of the
proletariat in order to eliminate the economic base of the
exploiting class and private property in general, to eliminate the capitalist relations of production and establish
socialist social ownership and the socialist relations of
production, to turn the existing socialist property into the
property of the entire people; a n d s i m u l t a n e o u s l y , to
b u i l d a n e w socialist s u p e r s t r u c t u r e , b y r a d i c a l l y p u r g i n g
every remnant of bourgeois and petty-bourgeois policy
a n d i d e o l o g y f r o m t h e consciousness o f t h e people.
T h e process o f t h e a b o l i t i o n o f the e x p l o i t i n g classes
n o t o n l y i s e x t r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t , but i t also d e p e n d s o n
several factors:
1) The strength and all-round organization of the capitalist exploiting class.
2) The violence and severity of the armed struggle
for the seizure of power by the proletariat, the clarity
of the line, the determination and intelligence with which
it is consistently and unwaveringly applied by the M a r x ist-Leninist communist or workers' party which heads the
struggle for liberation, the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the construction of socialism
after the seizure of power a n d t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y
d e f e a t o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t i n g classes.
3) The consistent construction of a new socialist structure and superstructure, on the basis of the principles of
Marxism-Leninism and the actual material conditions of
the country, a l w a y s k e e p i n g t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t as a s h a r p w e a p o n a n d h a v i n g t h e class s t r u g g l e
a s the m a i n m o t i v e f o r c e u n t i l the a b o l i t i o n o f w o r l d
capitalism and the establishment of communism.
In order to really understand the development of the
s t r u g g l e f o r t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f the e x p l o i t i n g classes i n
o u r c o u n t r y , w e m u s t k n o w the s i t u a t i o n o f these classes
b e f o r e t h e w a r a n d d u r i n g the w a r , t h e i r e c o n o m i c , p o -
53
litical and ideological strength, their influence among
t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e b e f o r e a n d a f t e r L i b eration.
1) A l b a n i a h a s a l w a y s b e e n a c o u n t r y o c c u p i e d by
f o r e i g n e n e m i e s a n d e x p l o i t e d t o t h e bone. Its « i n d e pendence» w a s g a i n e d late, a n d e v e n t h e n , i f i t w a s n o t
occupied de jure, it w a s o c c u p i e d e c o n o m i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y de facto. T h i s s i t u a t i o n d e t e r m i n e d t h e n a t u r e , the
s t r e n g t h a n d the d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e O t t o m a n f e u d a l i s m
o f the e x p l o i t i n g class o f the c o u n t r y w h i c h s u p p o r t e d the
policy of the occupiers, the colonial policy of foreigners
towards a country w i t h a v e r y b a c k w a r d economy, in
w h i c h n o t the slightest e f f o r t w a s m a d e t o e m b a r k o n the
r o a d of c a p i t a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t . Hence, although the feudal
lords retained their domination over the land, their estates
and the peasantry, thanks to the armies of various occupiers, they had degenerated as a class and were heading towards total elimination.
2) For centuries the Albanian people had been in continual struggle, in uprisings and revolts against the occupiers, against the feudal lords as well as against religion. We can s a y t h a t t h i s w a s a c o n t i n u o u s a n t i - c o l o n i a l ,
a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t w a r a n d a t the s a m e t i m e a n a n t i - f e u d a l
class struggle.
The struggle of our people, a people of peasants and
herdsmen, is very interesting as regards their twofold,
or better threefold liberation from the foreigners, the
local landowners and feudal lords and from religion, which
served the former two. H e n c e , t h e p e o p l e w e r e c o n t i n u a l l y
i n s t r u g g l e against t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d t h e s u p e r s t r u c t u r e
o f the f e u d a l - o c c u p i e r o r d e r , i n a r m e d s t r u g g l e o r passive
struggle, i n p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e . T h i s k e p t
t h e flames of t h e s t r u g g l e f o r l i b e r a t i o n , of t h e class
struggle a n d t h e s t r u g g l e against f e u d a l i s m a b l a z e a n d
c o n t r i b u t e d to the collapse of the O t t o m a n E m p i r e , but
54
ENVER HOXHA
it also affected the economic-political power of the feudal class which was becoming extremely weak from the
economic aspect and beginning to sell its land and estates
p a r t l y t o t h e m i d d l e peasants a n d p a r t l y t o c i t y m e r chants w h o were gaining strength.
3) The proclamation of the independence of Albania
in 1912 and the entire activity of the country up to the
Italian occupation in 1939 did not result in great changes
in the ratio of classes. A f t e r a s e r i e s of u p s a n d d o w n s ,
Z o g , the b a n k r u p t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f b a n k r u p t f e u d a l i s m ,
seized power. T h e clique of Z o g w a s supported by a small
a r m y o f m e r c e n a r i e s a n d b y fascist Italy, t o w h i c h i t s o l d
m i n i n g a n d l a n d concessions a n d h a n d e d o v e r t h e o r ganization of the a r m y and the gendarmerie, allowing it
t o p r e p a r e o u r c o u n t r y f o r the i m p e n d i n g o c c u p a t i o n a n d
f o r use a s a n a r m e d base f o r t h e f u t u r e w a r s o f f a s c i s m .
T h e population of the cities was relatively increased
with the unemployed peasants abandoning the countryside which became even more impoverished than before.
Those landowners and feudal lords around Zog lived on
the rent of the land still in their hands, which they continued to sell to the rich peasants who oppressed the poor
and middle peasants. These aghas of the countryside and
the cities became the supporters of the Zog regime.
I n t h e cities t r a d e b e g a n t o r e v i v e t h r o u g h t e r r i b l e
s p e c u l a t i o n w i t h the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y side, u s u r y , t h e p u r c h a s e a n d sale o f l a n d , a n d t h e
e x p l o i t a t i o n o f the l a n d r e n t , w i t h o u t e v e n t h e smallest
i n v e s t m e n t b e i n g m a d e i n a g r i c u l t u r e . Those speculator
merchants, who supported the feudal semi-colonial regime,
were relatively few in numbers and had no great economic power. The main activity of the big merchants who
constituted the support of the regime was usury and the
monopoly they enjoyed over imports and exports, to the
extent the speculation by the Italian fascist trading com-
55
panies and the deplorable economic situation of the country allowed them.
This merchant bourgeoisie w h i c h was prospering gave
little or no consideration to investments of capital for the
d e v e l o p m e n t o f some s o r t o f l o c a l i n d u s t r y , a n d t h a t i s
w h y we see t h a t d u r i n g t h i s e n t i r e p e r i o d not even a
modest industry was set up, with the exception of a few
small cigarette factories, a small cement plant, a brewery
or an oil-press, and even those were owned jointly with
Italian capitalists. T h e d u m p i n g o f I t a l i a n goods i m p o v e r i s h e d o u r shops, a l l o w e d s p e c u l a t i o n b y u s u r o u s m e r chants w h o , i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h Z o g a n d h i s c l i q u e , l i n e d
their purses by a c q u i r i n g the riches of the country a n d
exporting them to Italy. Handicraft p r o v i d e d the only
local industrial products, but it was v e r y b a c k w a r d a n d
r e l e n t l e s s l y i m p o v e r i s h e d as a r e s u l t of t h e i m p o v e r i s h m e n t o f t h e people, t h e h e a v y t a x e s a n d I t a l i a n d u m p i n g .
The urban petty-bourgeoisie was in a deplorable situation,
its o n l y m e a n s o f l i v e l i h o o d b e i n g s m a l l - s c a l e s p e c u l a t i o n
a n d e m p l o y m e n t a s c l e r k s . A s f o r t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s , the
o n l y source o f l i v e l i h o o d w a s e m p l o y m e n t i n the b u r e a u c r a t i c a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f the r e g i m e , a b a n k r u p t b u r e a u cracy w h i c h d i d not p a y their salaries for ten months
on end.
T h e great m a s s o f t h e people, t h e p o o r a n d m i d d l e
peasantry, t h e b r o a d w o r k i n g masses o f t h e t o w n , t h e
poor, the w o r k e r s a n d c r a f t s m e n , w e r e i n o p e n class
struggle against t h e c l i q u e o f Z o g , t h e s p e c u l a t o r m e r c h a n t s a n d the s e m i - m e r c h a n t s , t h e s e m i - f e u d a l r i c h b o u r geoisie of t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e . Hence the period was too
short for and the remnants of the feudal class and the
bourgeoisie which were building up in the countryside
and the town proved incapable of strengthening their
positions as a dominant class, first of all because of the
class resistance of the proletarian masses of town and
56
ENVER HOXHA
countryside, and because of the economic weakness of the
feudal class and the new bourgeois class, their great cultural and technical backwardness, their mediaeval world
outlook and their policy of enslavement to Italian fascist
capital, which had its own pre-determined aims for the
complete colonization of Albania, a i m s w h i c h it t r i e d to
a c h i e v e l a t e r , b u t w h i c h e n c o u n t e r e d the h e r o i c s t r u g g l e
o f the A l b a n i a n p e o p l e l e d b y t h e i r C o m m u n i s t P a r t y .
In short, we c a n s a y that the occupation of our country by fascist Italy found the capitalist exploiting class
of the town and countryside in a state of chaos, politically
and economically weak; it w a s n o t the o w n e r of the
m i n i n g i n d u s t r y , because I t a l y h a d concessions o v e r a l l
the e x i s t i n g m i n e s ; it h a d no i n d u s t r y , because, as I
said, it dealt o n l y in trade, u s u r y a n d the rent of land.
T h i s n e w bourgeoisie of t o w n and countryside w h i c h was
developing, w a s backward, without culture and education,
m i s e r l y i n t h e basest sense, w i t h o u t a p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a tion and savage and barbarous towards the broad masses o f the p e o p l e ; i t closed its r a n k s a r o u n d t h e Z o g
c l i q u e a n d its a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , f r e q u e n t l y n o t because i t
f u l l y a g r e e d w i t h it, b u t because t h a n k s t o t h i s c l i q u e , t o
its gendarmerie a n d the l i n k s it h a d w i t h fascist Italy,
t h e n e w b o u r g e o i s i e o f o u r c o u n t r y c o u l d c o n t i n u e its
speculations a n d e n r i c h itself.
Thus, the ideology of the regime of Zog and the capitalist exploiting class of the country was robbery, speculation, plunder, the knout, terror and treachery. T h e
d e v e l o p m e n t of the e x p l o i t i n g c l a s s of o u r c o u n t r y as a
c a p i t a l i s t class c a n n o t b e e q u a t e d w i t h t h a t o f t h e o t h e r
capitalist countries of Europe.
After the occupation of Albania, fascist Italy tried to
hitch these remnants of feudalism, this class of bourgeois
merchants, the aghas of the town and countryside, to its
chariot to further the interests of colonization and war.
57
I n fact i t w o n t h e m o v e r a n d p l a c e d t h e m i n its s e r v i c e
against t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r o f t h e p e o p l e l e d
by the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a .
Fascist Italy was economically unable to make investm e n t s i n t h e e c o n o m y o f A l b a n i a , a n d i n a n y case, t h e
c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e w a r d i d n o t p e r m i t s u c h a t h i n g , so,
after t h e o c c u p a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y , i t i n t e r e s t e d itself
m a i n l y i n m i l i t a r y projects, i n s t e p p i n g u p t h e e x t r a c t i o n
o f o i l t o s o m e extent, b u t o n l y i n K u ç o v a , i n e n s u r i n g
peace i n its r e a r i n A l b a n i a a n d i n p l u n d e r i n g w h a t e v e r
i t c o u l d l a y its h a n d s o n i n o u r c o u n t r y . I t a l y h o p e d t h a t
i t w o u l d w i n the w a r a n d that A l b a n i a w o u l d r e m a i n its
p e r m a n e n t c o l o n y . The impulse which the occupiers gave
the Albanian exploiting classes was only by means of
speculative trade between Albania and Italy and through
this speculation they turned this class into an agent of
theirs to strengthen the Italian domination in Albania,
to sell land to Italians, to recruit mercenaries and to
hurl them into the war against the people who were
fighting.
Thus, the Italian occupation enriched some speculators,
who never thought about m a k i n g investments in the
country, b u t o n l y a b o u t a c c u m u l a t i n g g o l d , h o a r d i n g it, o r
depositing i t a b r o a d f o r t h e b a d t i m e s t h a t w o u l d come.
Fascism tried to hand this class the banner of the fascist
ideology and to rally people around it with the aim of
consolidating the political positions of this class. H o w e v e r ,
our f i g h t u t t e r l y d e f e a t e d t h i s s c h e m e . The banner of the
fascist party was replaced with the banner of Balli
Kombëlar and of some other mushrooming «parties». On
the urging of Italian and German fascism, Albanian reaction tried to create a class «ideology» of its own through
these traitor organizations which it set up to assist the
occupiers and to fight our Party and the National L i b eration Front. T h i s w a s t h e f i n a l d e s p e r a t e a t t e m p t w h i c h
58
ENVER HOXHA
fascism a n d A l b a n i a n reaction m a d e against the w a r of
o u r people w h i c h w a s l e d b y t h e P a r t y . This attempt o f
theirs was drowned in blood, and Albanian reaction, together with the occupiers, received the final lethal blow.
T h e e x p l o i t i n g classes o f o u r c o u n t r y s u f f e r e d t h e greatest
i m a g i n a b l e defeat, p o l i t i c a l , m i l i t a r y a n d e c o n o m i c . T h e y
lost t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y p o w e r f o r e v e r . T h e r e v olution triumphed. The National Liberation War, led by
the Party, routed the occupiers a n d traitors a n d the
r e g i m e o f people's d e m o c r a c y , t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e
proletariat was established.
Hence, the National Liberation War exposed in the
eyes of the people the exploiting class which had sold itself
to the bloodthirsty occupiers and oppressors of the people.
The policy and activity of our Party at the head of the people forced this class to take a stand and tore off its disguises, fought it mercilessly with arms, dealt it countless blows
in the direction of physically liquidating a large number
of its leaders (the remainder were obliged to flee the
country on the ships of the occupiers), it made a deep
and sharp differentiation and thus prepared the terrain
for the consolidation of the dictatorship of the proletariat,
for the construction of socialism and the complete liquidation of the exploiting capitalist classes as classes in our
country.
How
of power
lead the
exploiting
w a s this process d e v e l o p e d a f t e r t h e s e i z u r e
by the people? H o w d i d the P a r t y organize a n d
restriction and, finally, the l i q u i d a t i o n of the
classes as s u c h ?
T h e d i f f e r e n t stages o f t h i s g r e a t process h a v e b e e n
analysed in a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y in m a n y important
documents of our P a r t y . I shall d w e l l b r i e f l y on the m a i n
points.
T h i s p o l i t i c a l process a g a i n s t r e a c t i o n a n d t h e c o l l a b o r a t o r s w i t h t h e o c c u p i e r s c o n t i n u e d its u n i n t e r r u p t e d
59
b u i l d - u p f r o m t h e f i r s t d a y s a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n . B e s i d e s the
h e a v y b l o w s t h e e x p l o i t i n g classes w e r e d e a l t t h r o u g h o u t
the w a r , i n w h i c h t h e y s u f f e r e d t o t a l defeat, they were
dealt other crushing blows by the people's courts which
were set up all over Albania immediately after Liberation.
A l l t h e c o l l a b o r a t o r s w i t h the o c c u p i e r s w e r e a r r e s t e d
and brought to trial.
Their continual political unmasking and their fear and
t e r r o r o f the people's c o u r t s s h a t t e r e d t h e r a n k s o f t h e
enemy. The dictatorship of the proletariat struck the
enemies of the people mercilessly, discovered the A n g l o A m e r i c a n plots, p u t t h e i r agents o n t r i a l a n d c o n d e m n e d
them.
T h e resolute, just, r e v o l u t i o n a r y b l o w s against t h e
e n e m i e s o f the p e o p l e f u r t h e r e n h a n c e d t h e e n t h u s i a s m
a n d t r u s t o f the people i n t h e P a r t y , i n t h e state a n d i n
t h e w e a p o n s o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , a n d
c r e a t e d a h i g h r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e a m o n g t h e people
w h i c h is tempered every d a y a n d has become a p o w e r f u l
p o l i t i c a l w e a p o n o f the b r o a d masses a g a i n s t t h e class
enemy and enemies f r o m abroad.
I shall not speak at length about the large-scale n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s carried out a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n , b u t I s h a l l
d w e l l o n those p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c m e a s u r e s w h i c h
w e r e t a k e n against t h e c a p i t a l i s t class o f t h e c i t y a n d
t h e c o u n t r y s i d e a n d w h i c h f u r t h e r p r o p e l l e d t h e process
o f its l i q u i d a t i o n a s a n e x p l o i t i n g class.
Extraordinary taxes were imposed on all the merchants and industrialists who had made great profits during the war at the people's expense. T h i s w a s a r a d i c a l
e c o n o m i c m e a s u r e w h i c h , i n fact, l e d t o t h e c o n f i s c a t i o n o f
a l l t h e i r f i x e d a n d l i q u i d assets. T h e m a j o r i t y o f these p e o p l e w e r e p u t o n t r i a l a n d i m p r i s o n e d , because t h e p r o p e r t y
confiscated d i d n o t c o v e r t h e a m o u n t o f t a x e s i m p o s e d
on them and the court's verdict w o u l d be reviewed o n l y
60
ENVER HOXHA
w h e n t h e d e f e n d a n t h a d c o m p l e t e d p a y m e n t o f t h e taxes,
i.e. o n l y w h e n h e b r o u g h t o u t t h e g o l d h e h a d h o a r d e d u p .
This was a measure of great economic and political i m portance, because it removed a major capitalist element
without, however, as yet liquidating the bourgeoisie as
a class.
W e d i d not f o l l o w t h e p o l i c y o f l i q u i d a t i o n t o w a r d s
t h o s e m e r c h a n t s w h o d i d n o t q u a l i f y f o r the e x t r a o r d i n a r y
taxes a n d w h o w e r e m a i n l y s m a l l traders, however, i n
conformity w i t h the economic and political conditions of
the time, we established strict control a n d restrictions on
them, w i t h the a i m of b a r r i n g the w a y to speculation.
A l o n g w i t h the e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e
socialist sector, w e f o u g h t t o a c h i e v e t h e socialist t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of the small-scale producers of the city. T h e
opportunist Sejfulla M a l ë s h o v a tried to distort this correct
process b y a d v o c a t i n g t h a t «the p r i v a t e sector s h o u l d b e
g i v e n a i d i n c r e d i t s a n d m a t e r i a l s b y t h e s o c i a l i s t sector,
b y t h e s t a t e ; t h e s o c i a l i s t s e c t o r s h o u l d c o m p e t e w i t h the
p r i v a t e sector, a n d t h e p e a c e f u l i n t e g r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m
i n t o s o c i a l i s m w o u l d b e c a r r i e d o u t i n t h i s w a y . » His
anti-Marxist theory was rejected by the Party, was
exposed among the people and Sejfulla Malëshova was
expelled from the Political Bureau of the Central C o m mittee and the Party.
A f t e r a t i m e , the shops o f t h e s m a l l a n d m i d d l e m e r chants, w h o d e a l t i n i n d u s t r i a l goods left o v e r f r o m t h e
p e r i o d o f t h e w a r a n d b e f o r e it, w e r e e m p t i e d ; t h e y
c o u l d n o l o n g e r b u y goods a b r o a d because f o r e i g n t r a d e
a n d w h o l e s a l e t r a d e w a s t h e m o n o p o l y o f t h e s t a t e ; the
h a n d i c r a f t s sector, w h i c h h a d n o t y e t become c o o p e r a t i v e ,
w a s n o t in a p o s i t i o n to s u p p l y t h e m ; thus, after many
vain efforts, most of them were compelled to close their
shops, abandon trade and work in production.
During
this
time,
besides
the
socialist
state
sector,
61
the people's s o c i a l i s t c o n t r o l l e d sector o f c o n s u m e r c o o peratives w a s also c r e a t e d e v e r y w h e r e , t h e h a n d i c r a f t s
cooperatives w e r e o r g a n i z e d a n d thus, as we shall see,
the state socialist sector and cooperation gradually eliminated the overwhelming majority of the private capitalist elements in the sphere of commodity circulation. Thus
we can say that in 1955 small-scale industrial production
had been almost totally liquidated and its place taken by
the handicraft cooperatives. Unable to survive any longer,
small private trade gave way to state trade and consumer
cooperatives. E v e n those f e w s m a l l s h o p k e e p e r s s e l l i n g
fruit, vegetables a n d meat that we a l l o w e d to continue
w i t h their trade, w e r e organized in t r a d i n g collectives
c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e state.
That is how the process of the liquidation of the
exploiting classes in the city developed and, as a result of
this, the capitalist elements, defeated politically and economically, no longer constitute an exploiting class on their
own as before. T h a t is w h y we s a y t h a t e x p l o i t i n g classes
n o l o n g e r e x i s t i n o u r c o u n t r y , because t h e y h a v e been
l i q u i d a t e d as such, t h a t o n l y r e m n a n t s of these classes
exist, but despite the b l o w s t h e y h a v e r e c e i v e d , these e l e ments still dream of restoration.
How did this process develop in the countryside?
Our w o r k i n g peasantry is very patriotic and ardently revolutionary. It participated broadly in the National L i b e r a t i o n W a r . I t h a d g r e a t t r u s t i n the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y
to w h i c h it remains loyal. It was and is whole-heartedly
f o r the a l l i a n c e w i t h the w o r k i n g class, u n d e r s t a n d s c l e a r l y
a n d accepts w i t h o u t t h e slightest h e s i t a t i o n t h e l e a d e r s h i p
o f this a l l i a n c e b y the w o r k i n g class. I t i s l o y a l t o t h e
dictatorship of the proletariat.
__________________________
4 They w e r e created in 1958 in order to strengthen state
control on the private owners to create the necessary conditions
for them to enter the state sector. T h e y w e r e abolished in 1968.
62
ENVER HOXHA
I n these c o n d i t i o n s o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y p e a s a n t r y w i t h
a n c i e n t t r a d i t i o n s , became, u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e
P a r t y , o n e o f the d e c i s i v e f a c t o r s i n the v i c t o r y : t h e l i b eration of our country a n d the construction of socialism,
especially in the countryside.
I shall not d w e l l at length on the L a n d R e f o r m w h i c h
was completed in the first years after Liberation, a r e f o r m w h i c h expropriated both the l a n d and the livestock
o f t h e beys a n d aghas o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , d i s t r i b u t e d
t h e l a n d a n d l i v e s t o c k t o t h e p o o r peasants, a n d a t t h e
same time created the premises for the establishment of
t h e socialist sector of a g r i c u l t u r e .
I n this p e r i o d , t h e o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y f o r t h e
all-round political isolation and economic restriction of
t h e k u l a k s w h o c o n s t i t u t e d t h e last e x p l o i t i n g class a n d
t h e p o t e n t i a l s u p p o r t f o r class r e s i s t a n c e a g a i n s t the
L a n d R e f o r m a n d , l a t e r , against t h e c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n o f
agriculture, was applied thoroughly a n d w i t h o u t hesitation. T h e L a n d R e f o r m also somewhat restricted certain
m i d d l e peasants w h o w e r e not kulaks, but w h o tended
to enrich themselves. However, a correct struggle w a s
w a g e d successfully to unite the m i d d l e peasants w i t h the
p o o r peasants against the k u l a k s a n d i n s u p p o r t o f c o l lectivization. T h e P a r t y carried out a correct political,
ideological a n d economic struggle of differentiation in the
countryside.
T h e c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e w a s a great r e v olution of the countryside w h i c h continued for some years.
I t w e n t t h r o u g h s e v e r a l stages a n d w a s c a r r i e d out p r u d e n t l y , w i t h great care, b y c o n v i n c i n g t h e p e a s a n t s a n d
w i t h o u t a n y c o m p u l s i o n o r violence, b y d o i n g a great d e a l
of intensive and continuous political work, beginning in
t h e l o w l a n d s , i n t h e zones w i t h t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e s o c i o e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s . T h e p e a s a n t s r e c e i v e d great e c o n o m i c
a i d f r o m t h e state, w e r e p r o v i d e d w i t h a g r i c u l t u r a l c r e d -
63
i t s a n d l a n d p r o t e c t i o n a n d i r r i g a t i o n schemes, etc., etc.
were undertaken. In this w a y the collectivization was
c o m p l e t e d w i t h success. T h e l a n d w a s not n a t i o n a l i z e d
d i r e c t l y , b u t t h r o u g h t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f the L a n d
R e f o r m large-scale ownership of l a n d was abolished, the
basis f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f c a p i t a l i s m i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e
was extremely restricted a n d cooperation was brought
a b o u t w i t h o u t u s i n g i n t e r m e d i a t e f o r m s based o n r e n t ,
etc. b u t d i r e c t l y , t h r o u g h c o m p l e t e l y socialist f o r m s .
P a r a l l e l w i t h t h e class s t r u g g l e i n the c i t y , t h e class
s t r u g g l e i n the c o u n t r y s i d e w a s w a g e d s u c c e s s f u l l y t h r o u g h out t h i s g r e a t process. T h i s class s t r u g g l e l e d t o t h e g r a d u a l liquidation of the k u l a k s as an exploiting capitalist
class i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e .
The following are some figures to illustrate this process of the isolation and liquidation of the kulaks:
The Land Reform expropriated nearly 5,000 kulaks
(kulak economies). In 1947, t h e r e w e r e s t i l l a b o u t 2,000
k u l a k economies. T h e taxes i m p o s e d o n these economies
w e r e 50-100 p e r cent h i g h e r t h a n n o r m a l , n o t t o m e n t i o n
the other restraints, obligations a n d political restriction.
Nearly 500 kulak families left the countryside in 19501951. In 1955 t h e l a n d o w n e d by t h e k u l a k s c o n s t i t u t e d
1.7 p e r cent of t h e t o t a l a g r i c u l t u r a l l a n d of the c o u n t r y ;
g r a i n p r o d u c t i o n f r o m t h i s l a n d m a d e u p 1.9 p e r cent
o f t h e t o t a l ; t h e y h a d 2,200 o x e n a n d b u f f a l o e s , 1,900
cows a n d 20,000 sheep a n d goats.
By 1955, more than 560 out of the original 2,000 kulak
families owned no animals at all a n d h a l f of t h i s t o t a l
o w n e d 2 to 3 h e c t a r e s of l a n d a n d no m o r e t h a n 10 h e a d
of sheep.
In 1962 there were 1,326 kulak families in all, w h o
o w n e d a t o t a l of 2,391 hectares of l a n d , 1,645 h e a d of
cattle a n d 12,432 sheep a n d goats. They comprised about
0.7 per cent of the total number of peasant economies.
64
ENVER HOXHA
This percentage has been further reduced in recent
years.
As a conclusion, the capitalist element does not constitute a class in the countryside either.
I am n o t g o i n g to speak h e r e a b o u t t h e class s t r u g g l e
in the countryside w h i c h continues a n d w i l l continue, or
a b o u t t h e i n t e n s i v e p o l i t i c a l w o r k o f the P a r t y a m o n g
these elements, a n d e s p e c i a l l y a m o n g the y o u t h o f k u l a k
o r i g i n , f o r t h e i r r e - e d u c a t i o n , d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n , etc., etc.
As a result of this great struggle, the situation and
composition of classes in our coutry in 1960 w a s as f o l l o w s :
W o r k i n g class
Cooperativist peasantry
Intelligentsia
R e m n a n t s of e x p l o i t i n g classes
divided into:
Kulaks
S p e c u l a t o r elements in the c i t y
22.5
62.7
13.6
1.1
per
per
per
per
cent
cent
cent
cent
0.8 p e r cent
0.3 p e r cent
The specific weight of the socialist sector in 1960.
National income
Total industrial output
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Total agricultural output
90
99
100
90
80
per
per
per
per
per
cent
cent
cent
cent
cent
T h e s e are t h e concrete a c h i e v e m e n t s i n r e g a r d t o the
s i t u a t i o n o f classes i n o u r c o u n t r y , a c h i e v e m e n t s w h i c h
a l l o w u s t o s a y t h a t the b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t class o f o u r
c o u n t r y has been l i q u i d a t e d a s the m a i n e x p l o i t i n g class.
H o w e v e r , t h e elements a n d r e m n a n t s o f t h i s class d o
exist. T h e y have not been liquidated physically and no
q u e s t i o n o f t h i s has e v e r b e e n r a i s e d . W h a t m a t t e r s i s
65
t h a t these e l e m e n t s d o not r a i s e t h e i r heads, b u t s u b m i t
t o the l a w s o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n state a n d g i v e u p t h e i r
hostile a c t i v i t y . W e h a v e c r e a t e d the p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e m
t o w o r k a n d l i v e l i k e e v e r y o n e else, b u t w i t h o u t s l a c k e n ing our vigilance or clamping d o w n on them w h e n necessary; a s f o r t h e i r c h i l d r e n , w e t a k e care t o e d u c a t e
them in the n e w spirit.
A s r e g a r d s t h e p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e , the i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g gle, t h e e d u c a t i o n o f t h e masses i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y
spirit, w i t h t h e i d e o l o g y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , a s r e g a r d s
the class s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e class e n e m y , against the
capitalist a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e a l i s t i d e o l o g y a n d i m p e r i a l i s m ,
a s w e l l a s t h e c o n t i n u o u s e d u c a t i o n o f t h e masses f o r
the e l i m i n a t i o n o f vices, s u p e r s t i t i o n s a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s
h a n g o v e r s i n a l l f i e l d s a n d sectors, these a r e b i g c o n t i n u i n g p r o b l e m s w h i c h m u s t b e t h e f i r s t c o n c e r n o f the
P a r t y and a p r i m a r y objective of the struggle of the
P a r t y a n d t h e w o r k i n g class. I f t h e P a r t y a t t h e h e a d o f
the masses does n o t c o n t i n u e t h i s g r e a t s t r u g g l e o n a l l
fronts, t h e n t h e d a n g e r arises o f the r e v i v a l a n d r e g r o u p i n g of e l e m e n t s of t h e h o s t i l e classes, t h e d a n g e r of t h e
creation o f a n e w r e v i s i o n i s t class w h i c h , a s i n t h e S o v i e t
U n i o n a n d t h e o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t countries, seizes p o w e r
a n d t r a n s f o r m s t h e c o u n t r y f r o m a socialist c o u n t r y i n t o
a c a p i t a l i s t one.
H e n c e , o u r P a r t y believes that, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h a t
the e x p l o i t i n g classes h a v e b e e n l i q u i d a t e d , t h e d a n g e r o f
bourgeois a n d r e v i s i o n i s t r e s t o r a t i o n a l w a y s e x i s t s i f y o u
rest o n y o u r l a u r e l s a n d d o n o t a d v a n c e a t a great r e v o l u t i o n a r y tempo, i f y o u are n o t g u i d e d i n e v e r y t h i n g b y
M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , i f y o u cease t h e class s t r u g g l e i n s t e a d
of waging it consistently and uninterruptedly, if y o u
weaken the dictatorship of the proletariat instead of f u r ther s t r e n g t h e n i n g it, i f y o u d i v o r c e y o u r s e l f f r o m t h e
people i n s t e a d o f l i n k i n g y o u r s e l f w i t h t h e m a s c l o s e l y
66
ENVER HOXHA
a s possible, i f y o u p r o v e c o w a r d l y i n s t e a d o f b e i n g v a l i a n t
a n d courageous a n d i n c o n t i n u o u s , dauntless, u n r e l e n t i n g
s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m , r e v i s i o n i s t s o f a l l hues a n d
a l l lackeys of the bourgeoisie a n d capital.
W i t h its u s u a l courage, v a l o u r a n d m a t u r i t y , o u r P a r t y
w i l l c o n s i s t e n t l y p u r s u e its correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course.
O u r P a r t y , a t t h e h e a d o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, i s
a w a r e o f t h e g r e a t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y i t has i n this l i f e - a n d d e a t h s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m , m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m
a n d r e a c t i o n . T h e m a i n t a s k i t has set i t s e l f i s t o k e e p
the revolutionary spirit consistently high, to temper and
r e t e m p e r itself i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y d a y b y d a y , t o
k e e p its r a n k s p u r e , t o p u r g e i t s e l f o f r o t t e n e l e m e n t s ,
s l u g g a r d s , m e r e t a l k e r s , careerists a n d i n c o r r i g i b l e b u r e a u c r a t s t h r o u g h a n a c t i v e s t r u g g l e w i t h i n the P a r t y a n d t h e
r e a l a n d f a c t u a l v e r i f i c a t i o n o f the a c t i v i t y o f e a c h p a r t y
m e m b e r in struggle and life.
W h a t h a p p e n e d i n the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t
U n i o n w i l l n e v e r h a p p e n i n o u r P a r t y , because i t does
a n d w i l l do continuous, intensive political and ideological
w o r k i n d e p t h a n d b r e a d t h w i t h the masses, w i t h t h e a i m
o f e n s u r i n g t h a t the e n t i r e p e o p l e u n d e r s t a n d a n d a p p l y
e v e r y d i r e c t i v e o f t h e P a r t y a n d its correct p o l i c y i n a
creative manner, that they w o r k a n d live every d a y a n d
e v e r y h o u r a s i n battle, a s i n r e v o l u t i o n . O n l y i n t h i s
w a y can every attack of the internal and e x t e r n a l e n e m y
be smashed. O n l y in this w a y w i l l the activity of any
e n e m y , h o w e v e r s o p h i s t i c a t e d a n d d i s g u i s e d , w h o tries
t o r e s t o r e c a p i t a l i s m , b e n i p p e d i n the b u d a n d d e f e a t e d .
F o r such a struggle and in such a struggle we are fighting
a n d t e m p e r i n g o u r P a r t y a n d people. A r o u s e d , i n r e v o l u t i o n a r y u n i t y o f t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n , t h e P a r t y a n d the
people a r e i n v i n c i b l e .
T h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s t h o u g h t that
the Party of Labour of A l b a n i a w o u l d be only a morsel
OUR PARTY WILL, CONTINUE THE CLASS STRUGGLE
67
t h e y c o u l d dispose o f a t one bite. H o w e v e r , i t t u r n e d o u t
t o b e a n u n c o n q u e r a b l e a n d i n v i n c i b l e steel fortress, b e cause its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g y a n d p o l i c y i s i n v i n c i b l e ,
is supported and applied by an invincible, fighting, revo l u t i o n a r y people.
In the euphoria of their t r i u m p h in the Soviet U n i o n
a n d o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , h e a d e d b y
t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , t r i e d t o t h r o w d u s t i n o u r eyes,
t o f l a t t e r a n d d e c e i v e us, b u t t h e y f a i l e d , r e c e i v e d h e a v y
blows f r o m us and were badly exposed. T h e y still retain
t h e i r m a t e r i a l p o w e r a n d a r e m a n o e u v r i n g w i t h it, b u t
t h e y h a v e lost t h e i r m o r a l a n d p o l i t i c a l p o w e r , n o t o n l y
o v e r us, b u t also o v e r t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s o f t h e w h o l e
w o r l d a n d a l l t h e p r o g r e s s i v e peoples.
T h e m o d e r n revisionists are capitalist bourgeois a n d
the states w h i c h t h e y a r e l e a d i n g h a v e b e e n a n d a r e b e i n g
t r a n s f o r m e d i n essence i n t o o u t r i g h t b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t
countries. O n l y if an a r m e d revolution breaks out w i t h i n
these c o u n t r i e s w i l l t h i s c o u r s e b e s t o p p e d a n d r e v e r s e d .
W e a r e h e l p i n g a n d m u s t h e l p t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y course
t o r e v e r s e this a n t i - M a r x i s t , a n t i - p r o l e t a r i a n c a p i t a l i s t
course in the communist a n d w o r k e r s ' movement.
We t h i n k that K i m Il S u n g and his comrades are m i s t a k e n i n c e r t a i n s t a n d s o f theirs t o w a r d s S o v i e t m o d e r n
revisionism and, unfortunately for the Workers' P a r t y of
K o r e a a n d t h e K o r e a n people, i f t h e y d o n o t c h a n g e t h e
course t h e y h a v e t a k e n , t h e y w i l l b e c o m e m o d e r n r e v i sionists l i k e t h e rest. T h e t r u t h i s b i t t e r b u t i t m u s t
b e t o l d b e f o r e i t i s too late. T h e t h e o r i e s o f K i m I l S u n g
a n d t h e J a p a n e s e t h a t « K h r u s h c h e v w h o w a s b a d has
been r e m o v e d , b u t t h e r e i s r e a s o n t o h o p e t h a t those
i n p o w e r n o w w i l l correct t h e m s e l v e s a n d one o f t h e
ways to help t h e m do so is to unite w i t h them» (5) allegedly
_____________________________
5 T h e Chinese leaders have also expressed this v i e w . Z h o u
68
ENVER HOXHA
a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m , s h o w t h a t t h e y d o n o t see the issue
correctly, t h a t t h e y a r e n o l o n g e r a b l e t o m a k e t r u e c l a s s
analyses a n d a r e e m b a r k i n g o n a d u b i o u s course.
A s f o r t h e R u m a n i a n leaders, t h e y a r e s h a m e - f a c e d
r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o are t r y i n g t o steer a m i d d l e c o u r s e w h i c h
they proclaim as a «wise and flexible» policy, although
i n fact i t i s a p o l i c y d i c t a t e d b y t h e g r e a t f e a r t h a t h a u n t s
t h e m . T h e R u m a n i a n s are a f r a i d o f t h e S o v i e t s , t h e B u l garians and the H u n g a r i a n s and that is w h y they h a v e
l i n k e d themselves w i t h Tito, w i t h the imperialists a n d
even smile at us w h e n it suits them. This is what t h e
R u m a n i a n s c a l l a «special authentic M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t »
course. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e m t h e l i n e s o f t h e S o v i e t s , t h e
Titoites, the Bulgarians, of K i m Il S u n g , of the Japanese
a n d m a n y others are a l l « a u t h e n t i c M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t » l i n e s .
T h e R u m a n i a n s r a i s e a h u e a n d c r y against t h e W a r s a w
T r e a t y and present themselves as «boldly independent».
This is the line of T i t o and the imperialists. If R u m a n i a left
the W a r s a w T r e a t y that w o u l d be fine. B u t w h e r e w o u l d it
go? I t w o u l d get o u t o f the b e d o f o n e e n e m y t o get i n t o
b e d w i t h another. W h e t h e r i n N A T O o r t h e W a r s a w
T r e a t y , i t ' s a l l t h e s a m e t o us. A s l o n g a s these treaties
r e m a i n w h a t t h e y are, i t m a k e s n o d i f f e r e n c e t o u s b e cause b o t h o f t h e m a r e f i g h t i n g us. E v e n i f t h e y f u s e
i n t o one, t h e y a r e s t i l l o u r e n e m i e s because t h e y a r e
u n i t e d a g a i n s t us. I f o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e y d i s i n t e g r a t e
and break up they do not do this in the interests of the
r e v o l u t i o n . W h a t t h e n i s t h e p u r p o s e o f the R u m a n i a n l e a d e r s h i p i n r a i s i n g t h i s h u e a n d c r y ? T o s h o w the S o v i e t
U n i o n t h a t t h e y a r e «strong», because t h e y are w i t h T i t o
______________________________
E n l a i expressed this v i e w to our P a r t y w h e n he was on a
visit to A l b a n i a f r o m December 31, 1963 to J a n u a r y 9, 1964,
and s o d i d L i u Shaoqi t o a n A l b a n i a n delegation i n B e i j i n g ,
(See «Reflections on C h i n a » , v o l . 1, p p . 116-124, T i r a n a 1979,
Eng. ed.).
69
a n d t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s . T h e y d o s o t o assert t h e i r t e r r i t o r i a l
claims, (6) to get m o n e y f r o m t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s as a r e w a r d f o r
a c t i n g t o w e a k e n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , a s w e l l a s t o c a r r y out
t h e c a p i t a l i s t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f R u m a n i a b e f o r e the S o v i e t s
c a n l a u n c h a n y attack. T h e y p l a y the C h i n e s e c a r d o n l y
f o r this p o l i t i c a l e x p e d i e n c y a n d t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t i t does
not h a r m t h e p o l i c y a n d g e n e r a l s t r a t e g y o f i m p e r i a l i s m .
T h e R u m a n i a n s a r e s m i l i n g a t u s too, t h e y h a v e
invited me, several ministers a n d p a r t y w o r k e r s for
holidays, they invite us privately to the meeting of the
W a r s a w T r e a t y a n d s i m i l a r nonsense. W e d o n o t s w a l l o w
such b a i t . W e s h a l l r e p l y t o t h e m o p e n l y s o t h a t t h e y
u n d e r s t a n d t h a t these m a n o e u v r e s w i l l get t h e m n o where.
T h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s o f a l l hues a r e e n g a g e d i n
all k i n d s of manoeuvres not o n l y to dodge the blows
t h e y are r e c e i v i n g a n d a v o i d f u r t h e r e x p o s u r e , b u t also
to create the impression that «something is happening,
there i s s o m e t h i n g i n t h e a i r » , b e s t o w i n g a s m i l e h e r e ,
a s m i l e there, u n d e r t a k i n g a « d e m o c r a t i c » a c t i o n or a
diplomatic one. These are a l l f o r m s of an outdated bourgeois d i p l o m a c y t o w h i c h t h e y r e t u r n f o r l a c k o f a n y t h i n g
better, a n d use t h e m i n t h e n e w c i r c u m s t a n c e s a f t e r d r e s sing t h e m u p i n a n e w c l o a k . T h e s e l a c k e y s a r e r e a d y
to kiss y o u r h a n d today so as to bite it t o m o r r o w . H o w ever, w e d o n o t a l l o w t h e m t o k i s s o u r h a n d , let a l o n e
bite i t ! T h e y a r e t e r r i f i e d o f o u r s t a n d s because these
____________________________
6 Two
years
before t h i s
talk
took place,
Comrade
Enver H o x h a wrote o n this p r o b l e m : « Z h o u E n l a i i s m a k i n g
a grave mistake that he is i n c i t i n g the R u m a n i a n s to m a k e
territorial claims on the Soviet U n i o n . . . T h i s is neither the
time nor the occasion to raise such problems w h i c h p r o v i d e
K h r u s h c h e v w i t h a w e a p o n to accuse us of being chauvinists.
T h e ideological and p o l i t i c a l struggle against K h r u s h c h e v must
not be diverted into delicate questions of t e r r i t o r i a l claims.»
(«Reflections on China», v o l . 1, p. 74, T i r a n a 1979, E n g . ed.).
70
ENVER HOXHA
correct a n d d e t e r m i n e d s t a n d s h a v e s m a s h e d a n d d e f e a t e d
t h e m . To pursue this Marxist-Leninist policy in a consistent, resolute and revolutionary way means to continue
to wage the class struggle in the international arena, to
defeat t h e i m p e r i a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t a l l i a n c e s against t h e s o cialist countries for the d o m i n a t i o n of the w o r l d by c a p i t a l i s m u n d e r a l l k i n d s o f m a s k s a n d disguises.
T h e W a r s a w T r e a t y meeting is of no interest to us
o t h e r t h a n a s a n o b j e c t t o serve t h e u n m a s k i n g o f t h e
r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o m w e a r e g o i n g t o expose.
T h e contradictions between the revisionist cliques
w h i c h are g r o w i n g d e e p e r are p a r t o f the i m p e r i a l i s t chess
game, p a r t o f t h e process o f b r e a k i n g , p a t c h i n g u p a n d
establishing new bridges between the various imperialists
a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e process o f a n e w i n t e g r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m i s d e v e l o p i n g a l o n g s i d e the process o f t h e i r
disintegration.
I n E u r o p e , c a p i t a l i s t F r a n c e , i n its o w n interests, i s
o p e r a t i n g against t h e A m e r i c a n h e g e m o n y , e x e r t i n g p r e s sure on Great B r i t a i n and especially on B o n n to detach
t h e m f r o m the U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a a n d w i n t h e m
o v e r to its side. Its t a c t i c i s : t h e closest p o s s i b l e r a p p r o c h e m e n t w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , t o use i t n o t o n l y a s a m e a n s
of b l a c k m a i l against the U n i t e d States of A m e r i c a a n d
B o n n , but also as a means of penetration into the r e v i s i o n ist c o u n t r i e s o f E a s t e r n E u r o p e .
T h e S o v i e t U n i o n o n its p a r t , w h i l e s a f e g u a r d i n g i t s
m a j o r interests w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a , i s
p l a y i n g the c a r d o f F r a n c e a s b l a c k m a i l f o r t h e o p p o r t u n ist s e t t l e m e n t o f the G e r m a n q u e s t i o n a n d t h e V i e t n a m e s e
q u e s t i o n t h r o u g h the c a p i t u l a t i o n o f V i e t n a m , w h i c h w o u l d
save t h e face a n d p r e s t i g e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a
i n A s i a . W h a t i t has i n m i n d is, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e U n i t e d
States o f A m e r i c a , t o a c h i e v e the e n c i r c l e m e n t o f C h i n a
p o l i t i c a l l y a n d m i l i t a r i l y i n n e w c o n d i t i o n s , i.e. t h a t N o r t h
71
K o r e a , too, s h o u l d b e b r o u g h t i n t o t h e s p h e r e o f t h i s
e n c i r c l e m e n t . T h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d t h e U n i t e d States o f
A m e r i c a , w h i c h are h e a v i l y i n f l u e n c e d b y false e u p h o r i a
about t h e c a p i t u l a t i o n o f V i e t n a m , w i l l n o t f a i l t o p r o c l a i m
this c a p i t u l a t i o n as a « g r e a t v i c t o r y f o r p e a c e f u l c o e x i s t e n c e
a n d the peace p o l i c y o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d J o h n s o n » .
W e are o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t a l l these p o l i t i c a l d e velopments in the w o r l d and especially in Europe w i l l
not t a k e p l a c e q u i e t l y , w i t h o u t s h a r p c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e tween the various imperialists and revisionists. H o w e v e r ,
these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i l l also g i v e r i s e t o o t h e r c o n t r a d i c tions w i t h i n c l i q u e s o f d i f f e r e n t t e n d e n c i e s ; c o n t r a d i c t i o n s
b e t w e e n c l i q u e s a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
parties a n d g r o u p s w h i c h h a v e b e e n a n d are b e i n g f o r m e d ;
contradictions between the revisionist cliques a n d the
peoples o f t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e y a r e i n p o w e r .
T h e fact i s t h a t t h e process o f t h e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f
the r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t r i e s h a s not o n l y c r e a t e d p o l i t i c a l
chaos a m o n g t h e p e o p l e t o t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e o f t h e c l i ques i n p o w e r , b u t h a s also r a i s e d p r o b l e m s i n i n d u s t r y ,
a g r i c u l t u r e , the e c o n o m y , the s u p p l y system, etc.
T i t o p l u n g e d t h e c o u n t r y i n t o e c o n o m i c chaos d e s p i t e
the b i l l i o n s ( 7 ) w i t h w h i c h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a
and others have p r o v i d e d h i m . T h e other revisionist c o u n tries, w h i c h a r e t u r n i n g t h e i r socialist a g r i c u l t u r e i n t o a
capitalist a g r i c u l t u r e ( Y u g o s l a v i a h a s n e v e r h a d a socialist
a g r i c u l t u r e ) , a r e e n c o u n t e r i n g resistance a n d p o l i t i c a l a n d
economic d i f f i c u l t i e s . T h e a b o l i t i o n o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d
the process o f t h e i r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n t o k u l a k p r o p e r t y
has r e s u l t e d i n t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e , s p e c u l a t i o n a n d i m p o v e r i s h m e n t , a n d together w i t h this, a m o u n t i n g w a v e o f resistance.
_________________________________
7 U n t i l 1981, Yugoslavia's foreign
b i l l i o n dollars (Tanjug, J u n e 26, 1982).
debt
amounted
to
20,1
72
ENVER HOXHA
I n i n d u s t r y a n d t h e e c o n o m i c sector t h e r e v i s i o n i s t
c l i q u e s h a v e b e g u n t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f the socialist
state p r o p e r t y i n t o t h e p r o p e r t y o f c a p i t a l i s t g r o u p s a c cording to the Titoite pattern or w i t h a slight touch-up.
Just by l o o k i n g at the Titoite economy we can envisage
w h a t is occurring and w i l l occur in the other revisionist
countries w h i c h have p i n n e d their hopes o n U S a i d t o
e n a b l e t h e m t o f o l l o w this p a t t e r n . T h e A m e r i c a n s f i nanced the Titoites generously and achieved their aim.
T h e Y u g o s l a v peoples are n o w at the e n d of their tether
a n d t h i s w i l l increase t h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d t h e i r r e sistance, b u t the A m e r i c a n s w i l l b e m o r e t i g h t - f i s t e d a n d
merciless w i t h the other cliques w h i c h f i n d themselves
b e t w e e n t w o fires, t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the peoples o f
their o w n countries. T h i s contradiction w i l l become m o r e
a n d more pronounced.
The formation of M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t communist parties
i n t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e the r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e i n p o w e r w i l l
p l a y a decisive role, therefore we must help the n e w
f r a t e r n a l M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a t a l l costs, a n d t h i s i s
our p r i m a r y internationalist duty, our revolutionary duty.
W e t h i n k t h a t t h e n e w b o u r g e o i s i e w h i c h h a s come
t o p o w e r t h r o u g h t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n the S o v i e t
U n i o n , Poland, Czechoslovakia, the G e r m a n Democratic
Republic, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Rumania, M o n g o l i a , etc., a n d w h i c h d i s g u i s e s itself w i t h M a r x i s t p h r a seology, cannot be o v e r t h r o w n except by m e a n s of a
revolution. The m o d e r n revisionists are determined to supp r e s s the r e v o l u t i o n w i t h a r m s , t h e r e f o r e , i n those c o u n t r i e s especially, g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
p a r t i e s m u s t b e c r e a t e d t o p r e p a r e a n d l e a d the r e v o l u t i o n . W e t h i n k t h a t w i t h o u t the f o r m a t i o n o f these p a r ties w h i c h h a v e m a s t e r e d t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n
r e v o l u t i o n , t h e past a n d p r e s e n t e x p e r i e n c e o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle, w h i c h a r e c l e a r a b o u t t h e s t r u g g l e against
73
imperialism a n d m o d e r n revisionism a n d wage it correctly,
the r e v o l u t i o n c a n n o t b e c a r r i e d o u t successfully. T h e r e v o l u t i o n needs a l e a d e r s h i p w i t h e x p e r i e n c e , t e m p e r e d a n d
determined to carry it through to the end.
O f course, w e a r e n o t g o i n g t o e x p o r t r e v o l u t i o n o r
g i v e o r d e r s t h a t others m u s t d o t h i s o r that. N e i t h e r i s i t
u p t o u s t o s u p p o r t t h e r e v o l u t i o n i n these c o u n t r i e s b y
a r m e d i n t e r v e n t i o n . T h i s i s v e r y c l e a r t o us.
However, we have a p r i m a r y d u t y to help the prolet a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n i n a l l c o u n t r i e s , a n d i n the r e v i s i o n i s t
countries i n p a r t i c u l a r . T h e o b j e c t i v e a n d basis o f o u r
a l l - r o u n d assistance o f e v e r y k i n d s h o u l d b e t h e s t e r n a n d
u n c o m p r o m i s i n g s t r u g g l e against t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , h e a d e d
b y t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , a n d against t h e m o d e r n r e v i sionists, h e a d e d b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . ( 8 ) T h e M a r x ist-Leninists all over the w o r l d , the new M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
parties a n d g r o u p s w h i c h h a v e b e e n a n d a r e b e i n g c r e a t e d ,
are i n g r e a t n e e d o f o u r p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l assistance.
The A m e r i c a n imperialists a n d the Soviet revisionists
operate o n t h e basis o f a n i d e n t i c a l s t r a t e g y a n d c o - o r d i nate t h e i r tactics, i r r e s p e c t i v e o f the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w h i c h
they h a v e a n d w h i c h a r e i n c r e a s i n g . T h e y a r e p r e p a r i n g
for w a r a g a i n s t u s a n d o t h e r p e a c e - l o v i n g peoples, t h e y a r e
fighting w i t h every means to prepare the counter-revolut i o n i n o u r c o u n t r i e s a t a n y cost, t o l i q u i d a t e t h e staffs o f
the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n i n a n y p a r t o f the w o r l d . T h e i r
____________________________
8 T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a d i d not come out
immediately and openly against the revisionists. Since A p r i l
1962 C o m r a d e E n v e r H o x h a u n d e r l i n e d : « T h e revolutionary
communists
expect
China
to
come
out openly against
Khrushchevite revisionism.» B u t even w h e n it took an open
stand against both the Soviet revisionists and the Y u g o s l a v
revisionists,
the
Communist
Party
of
China
displayed
pronounced opportunist waverings in l i n e and w e n t so far as to
seek reconciliation w i t h them. (See «Reflections on C h i n a » ,
vol. 1, p. 7, T i r a n a 1979, E n g . ed.).
74
ENVER HOXHA
«non-interference in i n t e r n a l affairs, defence of a n d respect f o r t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e o f others», etc., a r e n o t h i n g b u t
e m p t y slogans, d e m a g o g y , a n d these a n d m a n y o t h e r s o f
t h i s k i n d are b e i n g u s e d a s a great h o a x t o c o n c e a l t h e i r
plots, p u t s c h e s a n d a n y o t h e r i n t e r f e r e n c e o f t h e i r s i n
o u r countries a n d parties. On the other hand, the m o d e r n
revisionists indulge in political and ideological moralizing,
t r y i n g t o d e s c r i b e o u r correct, e f f e c t i v e a n d p o w e r f u l
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t support for the revolution in the w o r l d
as interference in their internal affairs.
W h a t m u s t o u r t w o p a r t i e s a n d states, i n t h e f i r s t
place, a n d a l l t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s o f the w o r l d
do? We think that we must be f u l l y a r m e d politically,
ideologically, economically a n d m o r a l l y a n d should c o n tinue our struggle u n t i l we t r i u m p h o v e r the imperialists
a n d m o d e r n revisionists, should continue our ideological,
p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c s t r u g g l e , a n d i f t h e n e e d arises,
we should w a g e even an a r m e d struggle in defence of
o u r countries and the victories of the revolution.
O n e o f t h e aspects o f p r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h i s l i f e - a n d d e a t h s t r u g g l e i s the s u c c e s s f u l p r e p a r a t i o n a n d t h e assistance w e s h o u l d g i v e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a l l o v e r t h e
w o r l d a n d the revolution in the revisionist countries in
p a r t i c u l a r . B y t h i s w e b y n o m e a n s d i m i n i s h t h e colossal,
u n s p a r i n g a n d a l l - r o u n d assistance w e s h o u l d g i v e t o t h e
peoples w h o a r e f i g h t i n g a n d t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s
and groups of the countries of A s i a , A f r i c a , A u s t r a l i a and
L a t i n A m e r i c a . T h i s i s o n e o f t h e m a j o r questions, b u t
the revolution w h i c h m u s t be prepared a n d break out in
the Soviet U n i o n and the other revisionist countries is
also a m a j o r q u e s t i o n . . .
A s t o h o w t h i s assistance s h o u l d b e o r g a n i z e d , h o w
this struggle should be w a g e d on a more concentrated,
w o r l d scale against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , o u r P a r t y h a s
c o m m u n i c a t e d some o f its ideas t o y o u r P a r t y , e i t h e r
75
d i r e c t l y o r p u b l i c l y t h r o u g h t h e press. O f course, t h e y
are n o t n e c e s s a r i l y c o m p l e t e a n d a l w a y s precise, b u t w e
still persist in our o p i n i o n that o u r t w o parties should
s t u d y this g r e a t a n d u r g e n t q u e s t i o n d e e p l y a n d c o m e
u p w i t h a d e c i s i o n o n t h e basis o f facts a n d the n e w s i t u a t i o n s w h i c h h a v e b e e n created.
T h e m o d e r n revisionists are w o r k i n g actively, i n v e n t i n g n u m e r o u s «theories» a n d d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g i n
their p o w e r to fight the international proletarian M a r x i s t Leninist u n i t y w h i c h spells death for them. F r o m the
K h r u s h c h e v i t e s t o the R u m a n i a n s t h e y h a v e d i s c r e d i t e d
the g r e a t i d e a o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y i n
order t o r e p l a c e i t w i t h t h e i r r e v i s i o n i s t h e g e m o n y . Therefore, we must raise high the great banner of M a r x ,
Engels, Lenin and Stalin, the banner of the steel international proletarian unity and smash any revisionist hegemony.
Works, vol. 33
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRIMES
OF GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?
Article published in the newspaper «Zëri i popullit»
August 31, 1966
T o save t h e i r o w n s k i n s , t o s a v e t h e s y s t e m o f t e r r o r ,
o p p r e s s i o n a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n w h i c h i s b e i n g s h a k e n t o its
foundations, J . B . T i t o and his clique have «sacrificed»
t h e i r closest c o l l a b o r a t o r R a n k o v i ć o n w h o m t h e y l o a d e d
a l l the b l a m e a n d m a d e t h e scapegoat f o r a l l t h e f a i l u r e s ,
mistakes, crimes and defeats of the Titoite regime to
date.
W i t h the d i s m i s s a l o f R a n k o v i ć f r o m a l l state a n d
p a r t y f u n c t i o n s i n Y u g o s l a v i a , w i t h i n the T i t o i t e c l i q u e
t h e s t r u g g l e f o r p o w e r b u r s t out o p e n l y b e t w e e n t h e C r o a t S l o v e n i a n a n d G r e a t - S e r b i a n clans, w h i c h a r e s u p p o r t e d
r e s p e c t i v e l y b y the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d the S o v i e t
r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h i s is a c l e a r e x p r e s s i o n of the deep class
a n d national contradictions w h i c h have long been eroding
a n d c r u m b l i n g Tito's k i n g d o m , a n d of the decay, dege
neration and decomposition of the Titoite system.
T h e recent e v e n t s s h o w e d once a g a i n t h a t T i t o i t e
Yugoslavia is on the horns of a d i l e m m a . T h e betrayal of
M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m by the Titoite clique
w h i c h gave
Y u g o s l a v i a a l l the f e a t u r e s of a b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE IN KOSOVA?
77
state, b r o u g h t splits w i t h i n its r a n k s , a s i t w a s b o u n d t o
do, a n d l e d i n e v i t a b l y t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f n a t i o n a l i s m
and c h a u v i n i s m a m o n g t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e c l i q u e a n d ,
c o n s e q u e n t l y , a m o n g the d i f f e r e n t n a t i o n a l g r o u p i n g s
i n Y u g o s l a v i a , w h i c h t r i e d t o assert t h e m s e l v e s , t o s t r e n g
t h e n t h e i r p o s i t i o n s i n t h e state, t h e e c o n o m y a n d t h e
a r m y , e a c h t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f the o t h e r a n d the s t r o n g e s t
against the weakest. T h e old national-chauvinist S e r b Croat rivalries were r e v i v e d and became more pronounced.
T h e entire national policy of the T i t o clique d u r i n g
these 20 or so y e a r s t o w a r d s the d i f f e r e n t n a t i o n a l i t i e s
has b e e n c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y o p p r e s s i o n a n d i n e q u a l i t y ,
exploitation and economic and cultural discrimination. In
particular the Titoites have applied the most ferocious
bloody terror, m a i m i n g and p h y s i c a l l i q u i d a t i o n against
the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e b l o o d y o p p r e s
sion w h i c h t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a h a s
suffered f r o m the chauvinist denationalization policy of
the e n s l a v i n g T i t o i t e r e g i m e , i s a p o w e r f u l i r r e f u t a b l e
i n d i c t m e n t o f the p o l i c e o r d e r o f B e l g r a d e . P e r s e c u t i o n o f
the fascist t y p e , p h y s i c a l a n d s p i r i t u a l t o r t u r e a n d t h e
crime of genocide have been applied on a w i d e scale
against t h i s p o p u l a t i o n .
F o l l o w i n g the 4th P l e n u m of the so-called League of
Communists of Yugoslavia, the T i t o clique is striving w i t h
a l l its m e a n s t o s a v e t h e T i t o i t e r e g i m e f r o m t h e c a
tastrophe t o w a r d s w h i c h i t i s h e a d i n g , b y t r y i n g t o l o a d
the b l a m e f o r t h e h o p e l e s s mess c r e a t e d i n Y u g o s l a v i a
onto the f o r m e r c h i e f o f the U D B , T i t o ' s closest c o l l a b o r a
tor, R a n k o v i ć . A l l o v e r Y u g o s l a v i a e f f o r t s a r e b e i n g m a d e
to put the U D B , that infamous organization of bloodthirsty
assassins, m o r e t h o r o u g h l y i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e T i t o i t e
t e r r o r i s t r e g i m e , b y e l i m i n a t i n g f r o m it, f o r the s a k e o f
appearances, a f e w g r o s s l y c o m p r o m i s e d c r i m i n a l s . T h u s
o n T i t o ' s o r d e r s s o m e «purges» h a v e b e e n c a r r i e d o u t
78
ENVER HOXHA
w i t h i n t h e l e a d i n g h i e r a r c h y o f the U D B . S o m e m i n i s t e r s
o f i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s h a v e b e e n r e m o v e d i n those r e p u b l i c s
a n d provinces where the chauvinist policy of national
oppression and genocide has been most ferocious a n d
w h e r e the possibility of the eruption of popular anger
h a s p l a c e d the v e r y e x i s t e n c e o f t h e T i t o i t e r e g i m e i n
danger. This is what happened in Serbia, Montenegro, M a
c e d o n i a , B o s n i a a n d H e r c e g o v i n a a n d e l s e w h e r e . T h u s , ac
c o r d i n g t o t h e r e p o r t s o f t h e Y u g o s l a v press, c h a n g e s h a v e
been made in the leadership of the U D B in the province
o f K o s o v a , too. M i č a M i j u š k o v i ć a n d S t a n i s l a v G e r k o v i ć ,
w h o h a d been i n charge o f the U D B i n K o s o v a u p till
n o w , h a v e b e e n d i s m i s s e d a n d r e p l a c e d b y o t h e r «specialists» o f t h e U D B , h e n c h m e n o f T i t o , s u c h a s X h e v d e t
H a m z a a n d D u š k o Rustić. B u t t h e Y u g o s l a v peoples a r e
n o t f o o l e d a n d t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e i n Y u g o s l a v i a least
o f a l l . T h i s c a m p a i g n o f a l l e g e d «purges» i s j u s t a c o n
f i d e n c e t r i c k , i n t e n d e d t o d r a w a v e i l o v e r the g l a r i n g
a n d unpardonable crimes of the Titoite regime, to exone
r a t e f r o m guilt the T i t o - K a r d e l j - B a k a r i ć clique, w h i c h
has temporarily emerged victorious in the struggle for
power. In the f i n a l analysis, it is being done to present
T i t o a s the « s a v i o u r o f t h e s i t u a t i o n » , w h o i s a l l e g e d l y
c o n c e r n e d t o r e - e s t a b l i s h the « r u l e o f l a w » e l i m i n a t e d b y
the T i t o i t e system itself a n d the fascist U D B - m e n , that
have always operated u n d e r the orders of T i t o and his
clique.
B u t n o m a n o e u v r e c a n save t h e T i t o i t e c l i q u e . T h e
c r i m e s o f genocide w h i c h h a v e b e e n c o m m i t t e d a g a i n s t t h e
A l b a n i a n population in Kosova, the D u k a g j i n Plateau,
M a c e d o n i a a n d M o n t e n e g r o , a r e a p r o d u c t o f the p o l i c y
o f savage n a t i o n a l i s m a n d c h a u v i n i s m w h i c h t h e T i t o i t e
regime has implemented. Tito himself a n d together w i t h
h i m his entire clique, f r o m the big sharks l i k e R a n k o v i ć ,
w h o is drenched in the blood of the A l b a n i a n people in
79
Yugoslavia, K a r d e l j , B a k a r i ć , L . K o l i š e v s k i a n d others, d o w n
t o t h e m i n o r ones l i k e D u š a n M u g o š a , X h a v i t N i m a n i , A l i
S h u k r i u , G j o k o Pajković, Čedo M i j o v i ć , Čedo Topalović,
S i n a n H a s a n i , X h e v d e t H a m z a a n d others m u s t b e m a d e
to answer for w h a t has happened.
A l w a y s proceeding f r o m correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n
c i p l e d p o s i t i o n s , t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a has l o n g
been d e n o u n c i n g w i t h t h e greatest d e t e r m i n a t i o n a l l t h e
hideous c r i m e s w h i c h t h e t r a i t o r c l i q u e o f T i t o has c o n
t i n u e d t o c a r r y o u t t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f t h e peoples o f
Yugoslavia and especially to the detriment of the A l b a n i a n
population in that country.
We have never interfered in the internal affairs of
Y u g o s l a v i a , a n d n e v e r s h a l l d o so, b u t t h e T i t o r e v i s i o n i s t
clique, o n t h e c o n t r a r y , h a s r a i s e d i n t e r f e r e n c e i n t h e
internal affairs of A l b a n i a a n d other countries to a
system. F o r m o r e t h a n t w e n t y y e a r s i t has s t o p p e d a t
n o t h i n g i n i t s f i g h t a g a i n s t t h e A l b a n i a n people, a g a i n s t
the P L A , a g a i n s t t h e P R A , a n d a g a i n s t t h e s o c i a l i s t state
and social order established in A l b a n i a . T h e interference
o f the T i t o i t e c l i q u e i n A l b a n i a , its ceaseless p l o t t i n g a n d
s u b v e r s i v e a c t i v i t y , its a l l i a n c e s w i t h t h e m o s t f e r o c i o u s
e n e m i e s o f t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e — f r o m t h e fascists, t h e
Ballists, the Zogites to the A m e r i c a n imperialists, the
Greek monarcho-fascists and the Khrushchevite revision
ists, a g a i n s t t h e P R A , a r e n o w n o t o r i o u s t h r o u g h o u t the
w o r l d . N a t u r a l l y , a l l these acts o f i n t e r f e r e n c e o f t h e
Titoite clique in the internal affairs of A l b a n i a have
e n c o u n t e r e d t h e r e s o l u t e o p p o s i t i o n o f o u r people, h a v e
been s m a s h e d t o s m i t h e r e e n s a g a i n s t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i
lance and u n i t y of the A l b a n i a n people w h o are united
l i k e f l e s h t o b o n e w i t h t h e i r P a r t y . B u t i f the T i t o r e v i
sionist c l i q u e m a k e s u c h a p r o v o c a t i v e d i s p l a y , a s t h e y
did over the p o m p o u s f u n e r a l they gave such an inveterate
and notorious enemy of the A l b a n i a n people a n d the
80
ENVER HOXHA
P L A a s P a n a j o t P l a k u , ( 1 ) s o m u c h the m o r e d o w e h a v e
the r i g h t t o r a i s e o u r v o i c e t o d e f e n d t h e v i t a l i n t e r e s t s
o f the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n l i v i n g i n Y u g o s l a v i a , u n d e r
t h e t e r r o r o f the T i t o c l i q u e a n d the U D B , u n d e r t h e
permanent threat of denationalization a n d mass exter
mination.
T h e c r i m e s , the m u r d e r s , t h e p h y s i c a l a n n i h i l a t i o n
o f the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a b y t h e T i t o i t e
c l i q u e , a s w e l l a s t h e p o l i c y o f its d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n , c o m
p r i s e a consistent l i n e w h i c h b e g a n i n t h e f i r s t d a y s a f t e r
L i b e r a t i o n and has continued w i t h ever more hideous
ferocity to this day. These crimes and this policy of
g e n o c i d e cannot b e w i p e d f r o m t h e m e m o r y o f a n y h o n e s t
p e r s o n i n t h e w o r l d , l e t alone f r o m t h e m e m o r y o f those
who have suffered and are still suffering f r o m them. T h e
A l b a n i a n population i n Y u g o s l a v i a w i l l never forget the
t r a g i c e v e n t o f a u t u m n 1944 w h e n t h e T i t o - R a n k o v i ć
g a n g a r r e s t e d 10,000 A l b a n i a n s i n T e t o v a a n d shot 1,200
o f t h e m out o f h a n d w i t h o u t t r i a l , n o t t o m e n t i o n those
w h o died in the prisons. C y n i c i s m , savagery a n d f u r y to
exterminate the Albanians have always characterized the
actions o f t h e T i t o i t e b a n d i t s . W h e n a g r o u p o f A l b a n i a n
p a t r i o t s p r o t e s t e d t o t h e T i t o i t e c o m m a n d a b o u t these
crimes, G e n e r a l Apostolski, the then commander of the
First Macedonian Brigade, answered: «This is nothing, we
are just doing a clean-up. Those that w e r e k i l l e d h a d to
b e got r i d of.» A n d V u k m a n o v i ć - T e m p o w h o w a s p r e s e n t
at that time o r d e r e d : « A r e y o u s t i l l h o l d i n g people in
c a m p s ? T h o s e y o u h a v e t o get r i d of, c l e a n t h e m o u t
quickly.» This order f r o m the personal representative of
_________________________________
1 Secret agent
of the latter and
f l e d to Y u g o s l a v i a
A l b a n i a , too, just
people's democracy
of the Y u g o s l a v state security. On orders
in collusion w i t h the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s he
in 1957, in order to carry out their plans in
as they w e r e d o i n g in a l l the countries of
after the 20th Congress of the C P S U .
81
T i t o w a s c a r r i e d o u t w i t h great z e a l . I n N o v e m b e r 1944
thousands o f i n n o c e n t A l b a n i a n p e a s a n t s w e r e shot d o w n
i n t h e streets i n M a c e d o n i a , b u r n t t o d e a t h , o r d e l i b e r a t e l y
infected w i t h typhoid w h i c h killed them.
Generation after generation the A l b a n i a n people in
Yugoslavia w i l l remember w i t h irrepressible hatred for
the b l o o d y T i t o i t e c l i q u e , t h e m a s s a c r e o f D r e n i c a i n
w i n t e r 1944
w h e n the Yugoslav divisions, under the
pretext of cleaning up e n e m y elements, surrounded the
l i b e r a t e d z o n e o f D r e n i c a a n d m a s s a c r e d a b o u t 30,000 A l
banian men, women and children. T h e event at Drenica
w a s sheer b u t c h e r y , a s y s t e m a t i c o r g a n i z e d a n n i h i l a t i o n
o f the p o p u l a t i o n o f A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l i t y i n these regions.
W h y , to w h a t purpose did the Titoites h u r l themselves
l i k e w i l d beasts o n t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n a n d d r e n c h e d
m a r t y r e d K o s o v a w i t h A l b a n i a n blood again? T h e o n l y
«crime» o f t h i s p o p u l a t i o n w a s its A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l i t y ,
w h i l e t h e a i m o f the T i t o i t e s has b e e n a n d s t i l l i s t h e
w i p i n g out of the whole A l b a n i a n population. (2) T h e y are
__________________________________
2 In post-Second W o r l d W a r Y u g o s l a v i a Vaso Č u b r i l o v i ć
was minister, member of the A c a d e m y of Sciences and A r t of
Serbia, i n his m e m o r a n d u m
« T h e E x p u l s i o n o f the A l
banians», presented on M a r c h 7, 1937, he w r i t e s : « W e should
distribute weapons to our colonists, as need be. T h e old forms
of četnik action should be organized and secretely assisted.
. . . A tide of Montenegrins should be launched f r o m the m o u n
tain pastures, in order to create a large-scale conflict w i t h
the A l b a n i a n s in M e t o h i j a . . . F i n a l l y , local riots can be incited.
These w i l l b e bloodily suppressed w i t h t h e most e f f e c t i v e
means, but by colonists f r o m the M o n t e n e g r i n clans and t h e
četniks rather than by means of the army.
« T h e r e remains one more means, w h i c h Serbia employed
w i t h great practical effect after 1878 by secretly b u r n i n g d o w n
A l b a n i a n villages and city quarters.» (Dr. Vaso Č u b r i l o v i ć , « T h e
E x p u l s i o n of the A l b a n i a n s » , p. 13, E n g . ed.)
Hence, the same chauvinist policy has been pursued against
the A l b a n i a n s i n both p r e - w a r and post-war Y u g o s l a v i a . T h e
82
ENVER HOXHA
p u r s u i n g this course relentlessly to this v e r y day. M o r e
t h a n 2,000 A l b a n i a n s i n M i t r o v i c a , m o r e t h a n 1,000 o t h e r s
i n G j i l a n , t h o u s a n d s o f A l b a n i a n s w h o j o i n e d the Y u g o s l a v
b r i g a d e s a s p a r t i s a n s t o f i g h t t h e fascists, w e r e t r e a c h e r o u s l y shot o n t h e o r d e r s o f t h e Y u g o s l a v h e a d q u a r t e r s .
H u n d r e d s of other A l b a n i a n s recruited as soldiers by the
Y u g o s l a v s w e r e shot b y t h e m o n t h e r o a d f r o m P r i z r e n
to Tivar. One thousand t w o hundred A l b a n i a n youths who
s u r v i v e d this t r a g i c j o u r n e y w e r e shot a t T i v a r . A t G o r i c a
o f T r i e s t e , m o r e t h a n 2,000 A l b a n i a n b o y s f r o m M a c e donia, m o b i l i z e d i n labour brigades, w e r e p u t t o death
w i t h p o i s o n gas. T h e p h y s i c a l l i q u i d a t i o n o f the A l b a n i a n s
in Kosova, Macedonia and Montenegro was carried out
systematically. It emerges f r o m the testimony of witnesses
a n d d o c u m e n t a l facts t h a t m o r e t h a n 40,000 i n n o c e n t
persons f e l l v i c t i m t o t h e b u l l e t s , b a y o n e t s a n d p o i s o n
o f T i t o ' s secret s e r v i c e d u r i n g t h e y e a r s 1944-1948.
B u t this c a m p a i g n o f e x t e r m i n a t i o n b y t h e T i t o i t e
c l i q u e against t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n K o s o v a , t h e
Dukagjin Plateau, Macedonia and Montenegro continued
w i t h even greater ferocity a n d in a m o r e organized w a y
a f t e r 1948. A f t e r the p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e R e s o l u t i o n o f t h e
C o m i n f o r m i n 1948 i n w h i c h T i t o ' s b e t r a y a l o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e cause o f s o c i a l i s m w a s d e n o u n c e d ,
t h e Y u g o s l a v r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p s t e p p e d u p its s a v a g e
all-round oppression of the A l b a n i a n population in Y u g o s l a v i a , w h o d u r i n g t h e y e a r s 1948-1950 a n d a g a i n i n t h e
p e r i o d f r o m 1951-1966
were subjected to a w a v e of
k i l l i n g s , arrests a n d i n h u m a n t o r t u r e s .
T h e Titoites use every means to incite fratricide among
t h e A l b a n i a n s , t h e y n o t o n l y r e v i v e t h e o l d b l o o d feuds,
_______________________________
fact that f r o m 1912 to 1976, over 277 thousand A l b a n i a n s have
been exterminated physically in the A l b a n i a n territories a n nexed by Yugoslavia, is significant.
83
b u t also c r e a t e n e w o n e s t h r o u g h v a r i o u s m a n o e u v r e s .
T o i n c r e a s e these feuds, t h e U D B officers, t h r o u g h t h e i r
agents, o r g a n i z e t h e k i d n a p p i n g a n d r a p e o f K o s o v a g i r l s
and women, and then incite the A l b a n i a n s to k i l l each
other, w h i l e t h e l a w s e n v i s a g e l i g h t sentences f o r these
crimes, i n o r d e r t o e n c o u r a g e t h e m .
B u t can words be f o u n d to describe the unprecedented
crimes a n d barbarities w h i c h the Titoite clique committed
d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r 1955-1956 against t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n
during the so-called action to confiscate weapons? T i t o
charged R a n k o v i ć personally a n d f o r m e d a staff to w h i c h
the people most notorious for their barbarity, the most
rabid chauvinists, hardened criminals whose hands were
stained w i t h the blood of the A l b a n i a n people of Kosova,
w e r e a p p o i n t e d t o c a r r y o u t the c r i m i n a l o p e r a t i o n t o t h e
l e t t e r a n d d i r e c t t h e p u n i t i v e e x p e d i t i o n s . T h i s staff w a s
led b y D u š a n Mugoša, G j o k o Pajković, U D B colonel
Čedo Mijović, Čedo Topalović, X h a v i t Nimani Xhevdet
H a m z a a n d others.
T h e R u g o v a region w a s the first to be struck by
the terror. T h e punitive expedition w i t h the U D B officer
B o g o l u b R a d i ć a t t h e h e a d , o n the p r e t e x t o f s e a r c h i n g
for weapons, barbarously tortured n e a r l y all the m e n of
this r e g i o n . T h e y beat t h e m a l m o s t t o d e a t h , t o r t u r e d
t h e m w i t h e l e c t r i c s h o c k s a n d l e f t t h e m n a k e d a l l the
night in the snow. T h e n they l i n e d them up a n d drove
t h e m i n t o a d i t c h w h e r e t h e w a t e r h a d f r o z e n i n the
t e m p e r a t u r e o f m o r e t h a n 1 5 d e g r e e s b e l o w zero. T h e y
c o n t i n u e d t h e i r t o r t u r e s a n d massacres ( 3 ) i n s i m i l a r s t y l e
_______________________________
3 A K o s o v a emigrant f r o m the v i l l a g e of Drenoc, G j a k o v a
region, says among other things: « W i t h i n one night the U D B
took 34 of us m e n and held us in a house, w h e r e d u r i n g the
night the U D B officer Drago K i l e v i ć and four Serbian m i l i t i a
m e n beat us one by one, in one of the rooms of this house,
w i t h a rubber hose weighted w i t h pieces of metal, k i c k e d us,
84
ENVER HOXHA
in Junik, Deçan, Suhareka, L l a p , Vuçiterna, Drenica,
M i t r o v i c a , etc.
Hundreds died under torture b y the U D B executioners
o r a f e w d a y s later. M a n y others, u n a b l e t o w i t h s t a n d
t h e t o r t u r e s f o r a second o r t h i r d t i m e , t r a g i c a l l y t o o k
their o w n lives. Thousands w e r e left crippled and u n a b l e
t o w o r k a n d a r e s u f f e r i n g t o t h i s d a y f r o m the i n j u r i e s
caused a t t h a t t i m e . A n d t o cap t h e i r a c t i v i t y o f h a n g m e n ,
the Y u g o s l a v a u t h o r i t i e s i s s u e d a c a t e g o r i c a l o r d e r t h a t
the A l b a n i a n s i n j u r e d d u r i n g the tortures of the years
1955-1956 w e r e n o t t o b e a d m i t t e d t o the h o s p i t a l s f o r
treatment.
A s i f t h e p u n i t i v e e x p e d i t i o n s , the c r i m i n a l m a s s
operations, the k i l l i n g a n d a n n i h i l a t i o n o f t h o u s a n d s o f
A l b a n i a n s w e r e not enough, the Titoite clique p u t into
p r a c t i c e t h e basest m e t h o d s o f p r o v o c a t i o n . I t h a s set u p
a broad network of organizations a n d professional p r o v o
cateurs b y m e a n s o f w h i c h i t h a s l i q u i d a t e d h u n d r e d s o f
Albanians.
__________________________________
p u n c h e d us w i t h their fists, beat us w i t h the butts of t h e i r
guns and w i t h clubs. T h e beatings began w i t h the search
for weapons, but that was only the beginning. A f t e r t h a t
the U D B interrogated each of us every t h i r d or f o u r t h d a y
about w h a t we had done 20 years a g o . . . »
A n emigrant f r o m Istok o f P e j a testified: «In the v i l l a g e
of Dubovic the U D B has committed terrible tortures u n d e r
the pretext of the search for weapons. T h e tortures took
place in the m i l i t i a post. F o r 5 months on end, 50 men f r o m
t h e 50 houses of the village w e r e tortured.» As a result of
the tortures many of them died or w e r e permanently c r i p p l e d .
L e t us take the testimony of another emigrant f r o m the v i l l a g e
of Bog, R u g o v a (Peja): «In J a n u a r y 1956, the U D B o f f i c e r s
of the P e j a district, Bogolub R a d i ć and V l a d o Dažič, r o u n d e d
up 65 men in one day, held us in the village-store and began
to torture us. T h e tortures and humiliations of the U D B w e r e
imposed not only on us men, but also on the A l b a n i a n w o m e n ,
a thing that neither the Sultans of T u r k e y nor the K i n g s of
Serbia and Montenegro w e r e able to do in our mountains.»
85
T h e A l b a n i a n prisoners are kept in i n h u m a n condit i o n s i n t h e T i t o i t e gaols. I n t h e g a o l o f N i s h a l o n e t h e r e
are m o r e t h a n 2,000 A l b a n i a n p r i s o n e r s . I n t h e g a o l o f
S r e m s k a M i t r o v i c a , w h i c h i s also a c e n t r a l p r i s o n , t h e r e
are m o r e t h a n 700 p r i s o n e r s , o n e t h i r d o f w h o m are o f
A l b a n i a n n a t i o n a l i t y . I n S r e m , h a l f o f those sentenced
f o r p o l i t i c a l offences a r e A l b a n i a n s . T h e T i t o i t e s h a v e
transformed the A l b a n i a n regions i n Y u g o s l a v i a into p r i sons a n d c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s f o r m a s s e x t e r m i n a t i o n . T h e
gaols a t N i s h a n d S r e m , I d r i z o v a o f M a c e d o n i a , P r i s h t i n a ,
G j u r a k o v c , S u h a r e k a , G o l i O t o k , etc. a r e p r o o f o f this.
A l l over Yugoslavia, the A l b a n i a n s l i v e w i t h the fear of
insecurity for the morrow. Death is hanging over their
heads l i k e t h e s w o r d o f D a m o c l e s . ( 4 )
T h e prisons of Yugoslavia, especially in K o s o v a , are
supplied w i t h the last w o r d i n m o d e r n equipment. T h e y
are equipped w i t h freezer rooms and hot rooms. People
arrested are p u t n a k e d in the freezer rooms and kept
t h e r e a t t e m p e r a t u r e s w e l l b e l o w zero, f o r t w o o r t h r e e
h o u r s o n e n d . T h e n t h e y are p u t s t r a i g h t i n t o t h e h o t
rooms. T h i s is done to destroy their health a n d break
t h e i r w i l l , s o t h a t t h e y a d m i t baseless a c c u s a t i o n s a n d
place t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e T i t o i t e s . T h e r e are
s u c h r o o m s i n the P r i s h t i n a , N i s h a n d I d r i z o v a gaols.
Is this treatment of the A l b a n i a n prisoners in the
T i t o i t e p r i s o n s n o t r e m i n i s c e n t o f the t r e a t m e n t o f a n t i _______________________________
4 A prisoner recalls w i t h terror: «I have seen many k i n d s
of crimes against the Albanians,» he said. «I have seen them
cut a man's throat as if he w e r e a l a m b . B u t w h a t I saw one day
at the P r i s h t i n a gaol I dare not describe. E v e n n o w I
am terrified w h e n I t h i n k of those crimes. T h e r e w e r e three
A l b a n i a n s in the gaol. O n e of them had been hacked to pieces,
the other two were alive, but they had b r o k e n the arms and
legs of one of them, w h i l e as for the other, they had cut off
one ear, put out one eye and cut off one side of his moustache
together w i t h his lip.»
86
ENVER HOXHA
fascists i n the c o n c e n t r a t i o n c a m p s o f t h e G e r m a n n a z i s ?
A n d it could not he otherwise because the director of the
N i s h gaol h a d the same job i n the t i m e o f the Serb K i n g
a n d the G e r m a n o c c u p i e r s a n d n o w i n t h e t i m e o f the
Titoites. T h e same can be said of the director of the prison
of S r e m , w h o is k n o w n as a č e t n i k a n d a p r o f e s s i o n a l
killer and torturer. T h e patriotic K o s o v a w r i t e r A d e m
Demaçi, (5) a n d hundreds of other patriots w h o , together
w i t h the A l b a n i a n population i n K o s o v a , the D u k a g j i n
Plateau, M a c e d o n i a a n d Montenegro, h a v e not s u b m i t t e d
and never w i l l submit to the y o k e of Tito, the violent
extermination, national discrimination a n d genocide w h i c h
h a v e b e e n r a i s e d t o a state s y s t e m b y t h e T i t o i t e r e g i m e ( 6 ) ,
are suffering the most ferocious tortures in such prisons.
W e a s k : W h o i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r these t e r r i b l e c r i m e s
of genocide w h i c h have been carried out systematically
f o r decades b y t h e T i t o i t e r e g i m e against t h e A l b a n i a n
population in Yugoslavia? Is it only Ranković and his
U D B g a n g ? N o . N o t o n l y the m a i n e x e c u t o r s , n o t o n l y
the lackeys, b u t in the first place their master in crimes,
the hangman Tito, and all his criminal clique must answer
f o r these a n d o t h e r c r i m e s .
One of the objectives of the general line
tional policy of the T i t o clique, apart f r o m
m u r d e r s o n a m a s s scale, h a s b e e n a n d s t i l l
nationalization of the A l b a n i a n population in
of the n a
crimes and
is the de
Yugoslavia
___________________________
5 F r o m 1958 he has been condemned several times for
patriotic activity and is s t i l l kept in p r i s o n in Y u g o s l a v i a .
6 A w o r k e r f r o m V u ç i t e r n a w a s able to escape f r o m the
T i t o i t e h e l l only seven days after the B r i o n i «turn». He came
to A l b a n i a , but his j a w was broken and he was c r i p p l e d by
the tortures o f t h e U D B i n B u d v a . H e was b r u t a l l y beaten b y
seven T i t o i t e agents s i m p l y because d u r i n g the l u n c h break
from his tiring w o r k he and t w o friends sitting in a p a r k
sang a song in their mother tongue! T h a t w a s enough for t h e
men of the U D B to c r i p p l e this w o r k e r and t h r o w h i m out
on the street. Hundreds of such cases are o c c u r r i n g to this day.
87
by any means and in any way. To this end they h a v e
combined their administrative measures a n d police terror
w i t h intense propaganda activity, the a i m of w h i c h is
expressed in the suppression of the patriotic spirit, the
d e n i a l o f a u t o c h t h o n y («you h a v e c o m e t o these l a n d s ,
t h e r e f o r e y o u m u s t l e a v e here»), w i t h t h e e x c l u s i o n o f t h e
A l b a n i a n masses f r o m political life a n d the denial of
their national demands, w i t h the corruption and de
generation w i t h religious opium and the incitement of
enmities and fratricide, according to the imperialist p r i n
ciple o f « d i v i d e a n d rule.»
D u r i n g t h e last d e c a d e t h e T i t o i t e p r o p a g a n d a h a s
t r i e d w i t h a l l its m e a n s «to j u s t i f y » a n d s a n c t i o n t h e
f o r c e d r e g i s t r a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n masses a s S l a v s a n d
Turks, the attempts to change A l b a n i a n place names to
Slavonic names and, u n d e r the pressure of economic p r i
vations, t o d i s p e r s e t h e A l b a n i a n s o v e r a l l p a r t s o f Y u g o
slavia a n d b r i n g about their alleged v o l u n t a r y e m i g r a
tion to foreign countries. (7)
_________________________________
7 In his m e m o r a n d u m Č u b r i l o v i ć w r i t e s : «Another means
w o u l d be coercion by the state apparatus. T h e l a w must be
enforced to the letter so as to m a k e staying intolerable for t h e
A l b a n i a n s : fines, imprisonment, . . . compulsory labour and any
other measure that an experienced police force can contrive.
F r o m the economic aspect: the w o r k w i t h the l a n d register
should immediately i n c l u d e the ruthless collection of taxes a n d
the payment of a l l p r i v a t e and p u b l i c debts, the requisitioning
of a l l state a n d c o m m u n a l pastures, . . . the w i t h d r a w a l of
permits to exercise a profession, dismissal f r o m state, private,
and c o m m u n a l offices etc. . . . H e a l t h measures: the b r u t a l
application of a l l the dispositions even in the homes, the p u l l i n g
d o w n of encircling w a l l s and h i g h hedges around the houses,
the rigorous application of veterinary measures, w h i c h w i l l
result in i m p e d i n g the sale of livestock on the market, etc.»
(Dr. Vaso C u b r i l o v i ć , « T h e E x p u l s i o n of the A l b a n i a n s » , p. 12,
Eng. ed.)
T h e data obtained f r o m the publications made i n Y u g o
slavia show that, after the Second W o r l d W a r , d u r i n g 1955-1958,
ENVER HOXHA
88
I n essence, t h e s l o g a n o f « f r e e d o m t o l i v e w h e r e v e r
y o u like» and to «call yourself w h a t e v e r y o u like» consti
tutes the political-economic imposition on the A l b a n i a n
to leave his birthplace and live in the remote interior
of Yugoslavia or to emigrate to Italy, A u s t r i a , West
G e r m a n y , etc., as a slave of m o n o p o l y c a p i t a l i s m . B u t
f o r the Titoites any means to achieve their a i m is ac
ceptable. I t w a s not f o r n o t h i n g a n d not a c c i d e n t a l t h a t
G j o k o P a j k o v i ć , m e m b e r o f t h e C C o f the L C Y , f o r m e r
s e c r e t a r y o f the L C Y f o r K o s o v a , p r o c l a i m e d a s a n o b l i
gatory official line the «freedom» of the A l b a n i a n s to
r e n o u n c e t h e i r n a t i o n a l i t y . A t t h e 2 n d session o f t h e 3 r d
l e g i s l a t u r e o f the p r o v i n c i a l c o u n c i l o f K o s o v a , o p e n l y
a l l u d i n g t o the r e g i s t r a t i o n o f A l b a n i a n s a s T u r k s , o r
r a t h e r the d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n s , h e s a i d :
« N o b o d y c a n stop m e g o i n g t o a T u r k i s h s c h o o l i f I w a n t
t o . . . T h i s is my freedom. I can be a Serb, a T u r k , an
A m e r i c a n o r w h a t e v e r I please.» T h e c o s m o p o l i t a n i s m
o f the r e v i s i o n i s t s has n o l i m i t s , b u t this c o s m o p o l i t a n i s m
i s e x p r e s s e d i n a v e r y d e f i n i t e d i r e c t i o n : t o d e n y the
A l b a n i a n s the right to be Albanians, u n d e r the so-called
f r e e d o m «to choose» a n y o t h e r n a t i o n a l i t y .
I n o r d e r t o f o r c e the m a s s o f A l b a n i a n s t o d i s p e r s e i n
t h e i n t e r i o r o f t h e Y u g o s l a v t e r r i t o r y , i n the e c o n o m i c
f i e l d the T i t o i t e s m a k e e x t e n s i v e use o f e c o n o m i c p r e s s u r e
a n d h e a v y taxes. F r o m t h e e c o n o m i c s t a n d p o i n t a l l the
A l b a n i a n regions in Y u g o s l a v i a are v e r y b a c k w a r d , be
cause most o f t h e m a i n i n d u s t r i a l objects a r e c o n c e n t r a t e d
in Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia.
I n K o s o v a , t h e D u k a g j i n P l a t e a u a n d the o t h e r A l
b a n i a n r e g i o n s t h e T i t o i t e state h a s g i v e n i m p o r t a n c e
o n l y t o those sectors o f the economy, t h r o u g h w h i c h i t
______________________________
the Titoites
banians.
removed
to
Turkey
about
203
thousand
Al
89
c a n e x p l o i t t h e g r e a t r i c h e s o f these regions, a n d i t sends
these r i c h e s t o t h e i n t e r i o r o r t o t h e West, t h u s i m p o v e r
ishing the mass of the A l b a n i a n population. S u c h m e
thods o f t y p i c a l c o l o n i a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n a r e u s e d i n the
r i c h m i n e s o f T r e p ç e , D e v a , G o l e s h , etc. A t these m i n e s ,
the a d m i n i s t r a t i v e staff a n d t h e specialists are a l l S e r b s
and M o n t e n e g r i n s . I f y o u l o o k f o r t h e A l b a n i a n i n these
mines, y o u w i l l f i n d h i m a s a n u n q u a l i f i e d w o r k e r . A t
the T r e p ç e m i n e , f o r e x a m p l e , 9 0 p e r cent o f the A l b a n i a n
w o r k e r s are u n q u a l i f i e d . E v e n i n t h e f e w e x i s t i n g i n d u s
trial objects the S l a v element dominates; for example,
out o f 400 w o r k e r s a t t h e tobacco f a c t o r y i n G i l a n , o n l y
90 a r e A l b a n i a n s .
T h e r e g i o n s i n h a b i t e d b y A l b a n i a n s h a v e been t r a n s
f o r m e d i n t o colonies a n d a r e b e i n g e x p l o i t e d i n t e n s i v e l y
by the Serbs, the Montenegrins and the Macedonians.
Unemployment is increasing rapidly. In connection w i t h
this, S l o b o d a n P e n e z i ć stated c l e a r l y i n P r i s h t i n a : « D e s p i t e
the progress, t h e p r o b l e m o f u n e m p l o y m e n t i s n o t b e i n g
s o l v e d , t h e w o r k e r s m u s t g o t o o t h e r regions.» W h e r e a s
later D u š a n M u g o š a , t h e t h e n s e c r e t a r y o f t h e L C Y f o r
K o s o v a , o p e n l y d e c l a r e d : « W e a r e s t i l l u n a b l e t o ensure
w o r k f o r a l a r g e n u m b e r o f people. E a c h y e a r a b o u t 7,000
i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h i s r e g i o n , K o s o v a , g o t o seek w o r k i n
other r e g i o n s o f the c o u n t r y , o u t s i d e K o s o v a a n d M e t o h i a . »
E a c h y e a r 14,000 n e w w o r k e r s a r e a d d e d t o t h e a r m y o f
the u n e m p l o y e d . T h i s p h e n o m e n o n h a s c o n t i n u e d a t the
same rates. O n A u g u s t 20, 1966, T a n j u g r e p o r t e d t h a t
at the meeting of the Executive Council of K o s o v a and
M e t o h i a i t w a s o b s e r v e d t h a t «the n u m b e r o f p e o p l e w h o
get jobs i n t h i s r e g i o n i s s t e a d i l y d e c l i n i n g a n d t h e p o s
s i b i l i t i e s f o r n e w w o r k e r s t o f i n d j o b s a r e b e c o m i n g less
a n d less. A c c o r d i n g t o statistics a t t h e e n d o f M a y t h i s
y e a r 5,000 w o r k e r s less t h a n last M a y w e r e e m p l o y e d . »
I n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,
displacement
to
the interior
90
ENVER HOXHA
o f Y u g o s l a v i a i s the m a i n f o r m o f d e n a t i o n a l i z i n g t h e
A l b a n i a n regions. A s a result, s i n c e 1958 tens o f t h o u s a n d s
of A l b a n i a n inhabitants have been d r i v e n f r o m their
territories to the n o r t h e r n regions of Yugoslavia, V o j v o d i n a , C r o a t i a , o r S l o v e n i a , a p a r t f r o m t h e fact t h a t u p
t i l l n o w , a c c o r d i n g t o press r e p o r t s , m o r e t h a n 250,000
Albanians (8) have been forced to leave their homeland for
T u r k e y . T h i s i s a c a t a s t r o p h i c o u s t i n g o f the A l b a n i a n s
from Yugoslavia.
T h e savage G r e a t - S e r b a n d a n t i - A l b a n i a n c h a u v i n i s m
o f t h e T i t o i t e s i s also e x p r e s s e d i n t h e f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n
and culture. T h e regions of K o s o v a have the highest percentage o f i l l i t e r a c y i n Y u g o s l a v i a a n d E u r o p e . U n d e r
different pretexts, the Titoites recently closed d o w n a
g o o d n u m b e r o f t h e f e w schools w h i c h e x i s t e d i n K o s o v a
a n d the D u k a g j i n Plateau, w h i l e most of the A l b a n i a n
schools i n M a c e d o n i a a n d M o n t e n e g r o , w i t h f e w e x c e p tions, h a v e b e e n c l o s e d a n d c o m p l e t e e l i m i n a t i o n o f t h e m
seems t o b e t h e a i m ; i n s t e a d o f A l b a n i a n schools, T u r k i s h
a n d S e r b schools a r e o p e n e d .
E n t i r e A l b a n i a n regions, w h i c h are u n d e r t h e a d m i nistration of Montenegro and Macedonia, such as U l q i n ,
T i v a r , P l a v a , G u c i a , T u t i n a , R o z h a j a , O h r i , etc., h a v e n o
A l b a n i a n schools.
I n face o f s u c h a s i t u a t i o n t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : W h o
is responsible for the savage denationalization, for the typ i c a l l y colonialist oppression and exploitation of K o s o v a ,
f o r the e x p u l s i o n o f the p e o p l e o f K o s o v a f r o m t h e i r
l a n d and homes to the interior of Yugoslavia or outside
Yugoslavia? W h o is responsible for the great economic
_________________________________
8 D u r i n g 1913-1941, 500 thousand A l b a n i a n s w e r e removed
from the A l b a n i a n territories in Y u g o s l a v i a , 380 thousand of
w h o m migrated to T u r k e y , and the rest to A l b a n i a , whereas
after the Second W o r l d W a r the Titoites have compelled over
400 thousand A l b a n i a n s to leave for T u r k e y .
91
b a c k w a r d n e s s , t h e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n against t h e l a n g u a g e ,
culture a n d traditions of the people of K o s o v a ? Is it only
the c r i m i n a l R a n k o v i ć a n d t h e U D B w h i c h , u n t i l y e s t e r d a y ,
w a s c o m m a n d e d b y h i m ? A r e o n l y the l a c k e y s a n d t h e
tools o f t h e T i t o c l i q u e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e v i c i o u s p o l i c y
o f d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n ? T h e T i t o c l i q u e itself, the T i t o i t e r e
gime, f r o m w h i c h the chauvinist national policy and the
d e n a t i o n a l i z a t i o n o f K o s o v a s t e m , a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the
a n t i - A l b a n i a n course of denationalization and the a l l - r o u n d
national oppression of the people of Kosova.
T h e A l b a n i a n population i n Y u g o s l a v i a are convinced
f r o m t h e i r l o n g e x p e r i e n c e that, d e s p i t e t h e «sweet» w o r d s ,
d e s p i t e t h e m a s k s , t h e p r e s e n t m a n o e u v r e s o f the T i t o
clique have o n l y one a i m : to strengthen the shaken p o w e r
of the Titoite clique, to intensify the national oppression,
exploitation and denationalization of Kosova. F o r the
A l b a n i a n p e o p l e i n Y u g o s l a v i a a n d the o p p r e s s e d peoples
of Yugoslavia, the deep crisis w h i c h has hit the Tito clique
w a s s o m e t h i n g e x p e c t e d , because i t i s a n i n e v i t a b l e c o n
sequence of the antagonistic contradictions w h i c h have
been s i m m e r i n g f o r y e a r s a m o n g t h i s c l i q u e o f renegades.
T h i s c r i s i s has s e v e r e l y s h a k e n t h e T i t o c l i q u e , w h i c h
i s f e e l i n g t h e e a r t h s l i p p i n g f r o m u n d e r i t s feet, f e e l i n g
insecurity, feeling the approach of the fatal end w h i c h
h i s t o r y has i n store f o r e v e r y r e n e g a d e . I n a speech w h i c h
he delivered in recent days T i t o openly expressed his
concern a n d fear of the rising tide of resistance in dif
ferent f o r m s against h i s regime. He admitted that the
c o u n t r y i s n o t «solid», «united», « l i n k e d together», t h a t
«people i n t h e r e p u b l i c s h a v e b e g u n t o speak a b o u t t h e
division of nationalities.» T h i s is only the beginning of
the end of the Titoite leadership. T h e rivalries, the
snarling between wolves, w i l l increase a n d blood w i l l
flow among them. T h i s is their law, the law of the
jungle. T h e m y t h of the T i t o i t e u n i t y is over. T h e rot,
92
ENVER HOXHA
the b e t r a y a l , t h e f r a u d a r e e m e r g i n g o p e n l y e v e r y d a y .
T h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d t h e g e n u i n e Y u g o s l a v
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s see this a n d t h e y w i l l n o t a l w a y s r e m a i n
p a s s i v e spectators a s t h e T i t o i t e s o f a l l h u e s l e a d t h e m
closer a n d closer t o d i s a s t e r . T h e r e m o v a l o f R a n k o v i ć
cannot e a s i l y f o o l t h e peoples o f Y u g o s l a v i a a n d t h e
Yugoslav revolutionaries. Tito, K a r d e l j , V u k m a n o v i ć - T e m po, K o č a P o p o v i ć a n d o t h e r s a r e c r i m i n a l s just a s m u c h
as Ranković. E v e n after the r e m o v a l of R a n k o v i ć the
U D B u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f T i t o w i l l use the m o s t savage
methods of the A m e r i c a n police, w h i c h w i l l be added to
those o f t h e U D B , t o f u r t h e r oppress t h e p e o p l e s o f
Yugoslavia and m a k e them bleed. However, the bitter
e x p e r i e n c e o f m a n y y e a r s u n d e r t h e s a v a g e r u l e o f the
T i t o c l i q u e has m a d e t h e A l b a n i a n p e o p l e o f K o s o v a , t h e
D u k a g j i n Plateau, Macedonia and Montenegro vigilant, has
opened t h e i r eyes s o t h e y a r e n o t d e c e i v e d b y t h e d e
m a g o g y o f t h e T i t o i t e c l i q u e w h i c h has b u r s t o u t r e c e n t l y
a l l over the country, a n d are not f a l l i n g into the trap.
T h e game w h i c h Tito is playing n o w w i t h the aid
of a h a n d f u l of A l b a n i a n t r a i t o r s is a v e r y c u n n i n g a n d
d a n g e r o u s one. B u t T i t o a n d h i s m o u t h p i e c e s c a n n o t d e
ceive anyone. T h e A l b a n i a n population in K o s o v a , the
Dukagjin Plateau, Macedonia and Montenegro k n o w w h o
t h e T i t o i t e s are. T h e y k n o w v e r y w e l l w h o a r e t h e t r a i t o r s
w h o permitted or collaborated in the bloody crimes of
D r e n i c a a n d T e t o v a , U l q i n , P r i s h t i n a a n d P e j a , o f the
« a c t i o n t o confiscate weapons». W h e n t h e A l b a n i a n p o p u l a
t i o n o f those r e g i o n s w a s b l e e d i n g a n d b e i n g s l a u g h t e r e d
by the clique of T i t o and Ranković, they prettified the
murderous regime of Tito. The Albanian population of
these r e g i o n s w i l l n o t b e s n a r e d a g a i n b y t h e l i e s o f these
traitors and their patrons, Tito, K a r d e l j , B a k a r i ć and
others, b u t a l o n g s i d e t h e o t h e r o p p r e s s e d peoples o f
Yugoslavia, shoulder to shoulder w i t h the genuine Y u g o -
93
slav M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , w i l l continue the struggle to
u n m a s k t h e T i t o i t e c l i q u e a n d d e f e n d t h e i r o w n interests.
H o w e v e r savage, c y n i c a l a n d c u n n i n g the m e a s u r e s o f
the r e v i s i o n i s t r u l e r s o f B e l g r a d e , t h e y w i l l n e v e r succeed
i n denationalizing, e x t e r m i n a t i n g o r annihilating the A l b a n i a n p o p u l a t i o n i n Y u g o s l a v i a . T h i s people, w h o w i t h
m a r v e l l o u s h e r o i s m w i t h s t o o d the f u r i o u s o n s l a u g h t s o f
O t t o m a n a n d S l a v occupiers d u r i n g the centuries, w h o w i t h
heroic courage and determination have preserved their
l a n g u a g e , t r a d i t i o n s , customs, c u l t u r e , t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l i t y
a n d v i t a l i t y , a l l t h e i r n a t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d features
i n face o f a l l t h e e f f o r t s t o d e n a t i o n a l i z e a n d a n n i h i l a t e
them, are a people w h o can never be subjugated or
eliminated. T h e y are eternal and they w i l l t r i u m p h . The
d a y w i l l certainly come w h e n Tito and his clique w i l l have
t o r e n d e r account f o r a l l t h e i r m o n s t r o u s crimes, f o r t h e
unprecedented genocide in K o s o v a .
Works, vol. 33
SOME PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE
PROLETARIAN CULTURAL REVOLUTION
Speech at the 18th Plenum of the CC of the PLA (1)
October 14, 1966
C o m r a d e s , I w a n t t o e x p r e s s some p r e l i m i n a r y i d e a s
about the P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n w h i c h is going
o n i n C h i n a d u r i n g these m o n t h s . I s a y p r e l i m i n a r y ideas,
because t h i s r e v o l u t i o n i s a m a j o r a n d s e r i o u s p r o b l e m
w h i c h requires further consideration on our part, more
d e t a i l e d analyses, b a s e d o n m o r e c o m p l e t e facts, p o s s i b l y
requires clarifications by the Chinese comrades, a n d all
these t h i n g s w e s h o u l d a n a l y s e c a r e f u l l y i n the l i g h t o f
M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . M a n y t h i n g s are not c l e a r t o us, w e c a n
a n d d o m a k e suppositions, b u t t h e y r e m a i n o n l y s u p p o s i t i o n s w h i c h r e q u i r e v e r i f i c a t i o n f r o m t h e facts, f r o m l i f e .
However, although we do not have enough i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e has t o j u d g e o n those facts
w e h a v e a n d f o r m a m o r e o r less c l e a r i n t e r n a l o p i n i o n .
T h e p o s s i b i l i t y cannot b e e x c l u d e d that, f o r t h e reasons
_______________________________________
1 T h i s meeting of the P l e n u m w a s held to analyse a n d
endorse the report to be submitted to the 5th Congress of the
P L A ; however, a t the P l e n u m Comrade E n v e r H o x h a m a d e
the speech on «Some P r e l i m i n a r y Ideas about the Chinese
P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l Revolution» w h i c h was not i n c l u d e d o n
the agenda, but for w h i c h he h a d received the a p p r o v a l of
the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the CC of the P L A at its meeting of
October 10 and 11, 1966.
PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION
95
I m e n t i o n e d a b o v e w e m a y n o t b e v e r y accurate i n
certain judgments or definitions. However, the first prel i m i n a r y b r i e f a n a l y s i s (because t h i s p r o b l e m d o e s n o t
figure on the agenda of this meeting of the P l e n u m of
the Central Committee), and the criticisms we m a y m a k e
o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s a n d f o r m s o f the C h i n e s e r e v o l u t i o n a r e
i m p e l l e d b y g o o d c o m r a d e l y aims, b y t h e correct M a r x i s t Leninist principles, by the urgent and imperative need
f o r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y between o u r two parties and
the repercussions this revolution m a y have in the international communist movement.
T h e P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l Revolution, as the Chinese
l e a d e r s h a v e p r e s e n t e d i t a n d a r e c a r r y i n g i t out, presents
t w o aspects of a s i n g l e p r o b l e m : the n a t i o n a l aspect a n d
t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l aspect. O u r P a r t y , t h e o t h e r M a r x i s t Leninist parties and the entire w o r l d are interested in
b o t h t h e one a n d t h e o t h e r o f these aspects, a n d i n t h e
p r o b l e m as a w h o l e .
This Proletarian Cultural Revolution is viewed, analysed, interpreted, lauded or criticized f r o m m a n y diff e r e n t p o s i t i o n s , t h e r e is a great d e a l of s p e c u l a t i o n a b o u t
it, b u t w e m a y s a y t h a t the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f i t i s d o n e
m a i n l y in three directions: interpretation f r o m the posit i o n s o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t bourgeoisie, i n t e r p r e t a t i o n f r o m the
b o u r g e o i s - r e v i s i o n i s t p o s i t i o n s a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n f r o m the
true constructive M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t positions.
I t w o u l d b e a gross m i s t a k e o n the
nese c o m r a d e s i f t h e y w e r e t o c o n f o u n d
l u m p t h e m together, w h e n t h e f i r s t t w o
o p p o s e d t o t h e t h i r d . I n t h i s case t h e y
in Marxist-Leninist objectivity.
part of the C h i these s t a n d s a n d
are diametrically
w o u l d be lacking
Therefore, comrades, y o u w i l l understand h o w difficult,
n o t t o s a y i m p o s s i b l e i t i s f o r u s t o m a k e a correct, o p e n
a n d c o m r a d e l y c r i t i c i s m o f t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s i n these
complicated circumstances I mentioned, or criticism of
96
ENVER HOXHA
the t h i n g s I s h a l l g o o n t o s p e a k about, e s p e c i a l l y i n
r e g a r d t o the u n r e s t r a i n e d c u l t o f M a o Z e d o n g . B u t , a s
always, our P a r t y w i l l defend the principles boldly, correctly a n d fearlessly a n d w i l l f i n d not o n l y the courage
but also the w i s d o m a n d cool-headedness, w h i c h h a v e n e v e r
been l a c k i n g a n d w h i c h i t h a s g a i n e d i n d i f f i c u l t s t r u g g l e ,
t o e x p r e s s its o p i n i o n t o the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a ,
t o d i s c u s s p a t i e n t l y a n d i n a c o m r a d e l y w a y w i t h the
C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s f o r the c o m m o n benefit, f o r t h e b e n e f i t
of Marxism-Leninism.
W e base t h e o p i n i o n s w e s h a l l e x p r e s s h e r e o n t h e
facts o f w h i c h y o u a r e i n f o r m e d , f r o m the r e l a t i o n s b e tween o u r P a r t y and the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a for
m a n y y e a r s o n e n d , the v i e w s o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f
C h i n a o n t h e m a j o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o b l e m s a n d the p r o b lems of international communism, to the exchange of
o p i n i o n s t h r o u g h letters a n d d e l e g a t i o n s b y t h e t w o sides,
the e x c h a n g e o f e x p e r i e n c e t h r o u g h p a r t y a n d state c h a n nels, etc. Y o u a r e also i n f o r m e d a b o u t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t
of the Chinese Proletarian C u l t u r a l Revolution f r o m start
t o f i n i s h t h r o u g h o u r press a n d , i n a m o r e d e t a i l e d w a y ,
t h r o u g h the v o l u m i n o u s m a t e r i a l o f t h e A T A w h i c h y o u
receive every day, therefore I am not going to r u n through
t h e h i s t o r y o f it, b u t s h a l l m e r e l y b r i e f l y r e c a l l c e r t a i n
m o m e n t s w h i c h I consider o f s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e :
1 ) A t t h e i r congress, t e n y e a r s ago, n o t o n l y w e r e
the C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s u n c l e a r a b o u t t h e b e t r a y a l o f T i t o ,
but they made Stalin the culprit a n d exonerated Tito.
W e h a v e facts a b o u t this s t a n d , because t h i s c o m p r i s e d
the essence o f t h e i r t a l k s w i t h us. L a t e r , a s y o u k n o w ,
t h e y corrected this s t a n d , b u t c o n t i n u e d t o u n d e r r a t e the
T i t o i t e d a n g e r i n face o f the g r e a t K h r u s h c h e v i t e d a n g e r .
2 ) T h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s d i d n o t r e a l i z e the d a n g e r o f
the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s f u l l y a n d p r o p e r l y . T h e y d i d n o t
o p e n l y acquiesce i n t h e accusations a n d s l a n d e r s o f t h e
97
K h r u s h c h e v i t e s against S t a l i n , b u t t h e y b e l i e v e d a great
part of them a n d strengthened their o w n opinion about
S t a l i n i n the t i m e o f the C o m i n t e r n a n d later, a b o u t S t a l i n ' s
alleged mistakes in r e g a r d to C h i n a , «mistakes» w h i c h
Z h o u E n l a i outlined to us especially to «convince» us
w h e n h e c a m e h e r e t h e last t i m e , a l t h o u g h h e c o u l d n o t
c o n v i n c e us. E v e n a s s u m i n g f o r a m o m e n t that w e a c cepted t h e t h i n g s Z h o u t o l d u s a b o u t S t a l i n , i n o u r
opinion they do not constitute serious faults or mistakes
of principle, but at most are tactical stands adopted in
various political and m i l i t a r y situations, w h i c h , w i t h o u t
comparing documents, a n d especially w h e n a long time
h a s p a s s e d s i n c e these e v e n t s a n d t h e r e a r e n o d o c u m e n t s
a v a i l a b l e , a t least t o us, c a n v e r y e a s i l y b e i n t e r p r e t e d
one-sidedly.
L a t e r the Chinese comrades realized the dangerous
nature of the Khrushchevites, but their tactics remained
m i l d , e s p e c i a l l y a t first, i n d e e d e v e n a t t h e 2 2 n d C o n g r e s s
o f the C P S U a n d f o l l o w i n g it, w h e n w e w e r e o p e n l y
a t t a c k e d a n d t h e heat o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t f i r e w a s d i r e c t e d
a t o u r P a r t y alone, t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a t r i e d
t o h a v e the p o l e m i c s s t o p p e d .
Nevertheless, immediately after the fall of K h r u s h chev, t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s w a v e r e d s o m e w h a t , h a d some
e r r o n e o u s i l l u s i o n s a n d took s o m e i n c o r r e c t actions. Y o u
k n o w a b o u t t h e episode o f Z h o u E n l a i w i t h the A l b a n i a n
ambassador (2) and the stand of o u r P a r t y .
A n o t h e r erroneous stand of the Chinese, w h i c h h a d
consequences e s p e c i a l l y i n c e r t a i n p a r t i e s , l i k e those o f
__________________________________
2 T h e Chinese leaders described the f a l l of K h r u s h chev as a «radical change», h a i l e d this change by a telegram
to the n e w Soviet revisionist leadership and decided to send
a party a n d government delegation to M o s c o w to take p a r t
in the November 7 celebrations. T h e y tried to impose this
stand o n the P L A through Z h o u E n l a i , w h o asked the a m -
98
ENVER HOXHA
K o r e a and Japan, w a s the proposal for the «creation of
t h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t f r o n t i n c l u d i n g t h e revisionists.» W e
f o r c e f u l l y a n d r e s o l u t e l y r e j e c t e d t h i s p r o p o s a l , a n d the
C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s w i t h d r e w . N o w the K o r e a n s a n d t h e
J a p a n e s e h a v e r a i s e d the b a n n e r o f this i d e a . Y o u h a v e
had all this in the material you have read.
3) As y o u know, we have h a d a controversy over p r i n c i p l e s w i t h t h e C h i n e s e comrades, n o t m a i n l y o v e r t h e class
s t r u g g l e , b u t «about t h e e x i s t e n c e o f t h e f e u d o - b o u r g e o i s
class as a class, as an e n t i t y w h i c h f i g h t s us, e v e n f r o m
p o s i t i o n s o f state p o w e r , a t a t i m e w h e n state p o w e r
in our countries is the dictatorship of the proletariat».
W e k n o w w h a t o u r thesis i s a n d t h i s w e base o n o u r
struggle, on facts and on M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t analysis.
T h e Chinese comrades have claimed the contrary.
As y o u k n o w , we have told t h e m that it m a y be so in
t h e i r c o u n t r y , b u t n o t i n o u r s , because t h e class s t r u g g l e
in our country has been waged and continued consistently
f r o m the t i m e o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r a n d s i n c e
t h e w a r r i g h t t o this day, a n d i t w i l l g o o n a g a i n s t t h e
r e m n a n t s of the f e u d o - b o u r g e o i s class, etc., etc. T h e r e
is no bourgeoisie in p o w e r in our country. T h e Chinese
__________________________________
bassador of the P R A to B e i j i n g to i n f o r m the P L A that «he
had also proposed to the Soviets to i n v i t e A l b a n i a to the
November 7 celebrations». He insisted that the « A l b a n i a n c o m rades» should send a party a n d government delegation there.
T h e P L A rejected this proposal by means of a special letter
to the CC of the C P C . « W e think,» the letter said, «it is
impermissible for us . . . that in these conditions w h e n the
Soviet government has b r o k e n off diplomatic relations on its
o w n initiative and has committed outrageous a n t i - M a r x i s t actions against us, to ignore these things for the only reason that
the person of K h r u s h c h e v has been demoted.» Z h o u E n l a i w e n t
to M o s c o w on mission to unite w i t h the n e w Soviet leaders,
b u t he suffered ignominious defeat. (See E n v e r H o x h a , « R e flections on C h i n a » , v o l . 1, pp. 125-135, 177-180, T i r a n a 1979,
Eng. ed.).
99
c o m r a d e s d e m a n d e d that w e a d o p t t h e i r v i e w w h i c h m a y
have been formulated after an analysis of the situation
i n C h i n a . B u t i t w a s i n v a i n , because, c o n f r o n t e d w i t h
o u r analysis, they w e r e forced to lower their tone;
n e v e r t h e l e s s , w e suspect t h a t t h e y a r e not c o n v i n c e d a n d
continue to t h i n k that «the A l b a n i a n s are w r o n g in their
analysis.» A n d see, t h e y e v e n m a d e t h e i r f i n a l a t t e m p t t o
i m p o s e t h e i r c o n c l u s i o n o n u s i n the j o i n t s t a t e m e n t w h e n
our delegation went to China. (3) B u t they failed again.
4) In our opinion, the analysis w h i c h the Chinese
c o m r a d e s m a d e o f the causes o f t h e a d v e n t o f r e v i s i o n i s m
to p o w e r in the Soviet U n i o n , a problem of m a j o r i m p o r tance f o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s m , h a s n o t been c o m p l e t e l y o b j e c t i v e . T h e y l a y t h e b l a m e o n S t a l i n alone. T h i s
i s o f p a r t i c u l a r i m p o r t a n c e , a n d , i f w e are n o t m i s t a k e n ,
is done w i t h ulterior motives. O u r P a r t y has another
v i e w ; o u r a n a l y s i s o f t h i s i m p o r t a n t p r o b l e m agrees i n
s o m e aspects w i t h t h a t o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f the
C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a , b u t does n o t agree a n d i s
o p p o s e d t o i t i n s o m e o t h e r aspects. T h e m u t u a l e x c h a n g e
o f o p i n i o n s , c r i t i c i s m s a n d suggestions a r e n a t u r a l , b u t
t h e y c a n b e c o n s t r u c t i v e o n l y w h e n c a r r i e d out i n t h e
Marxist-Leninist way.
I m e n t i o n these p r o b l e m s n o t because t h e y h a v e
become obstacles i n o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e C h i n e s e c o m rades, b u t to e n a b l e us, as f a r as possible, to see m o r e
clearly into the recent events w h i c h are occurring in
C h i n a , because, i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t h i n g s I p o i n t e d out,
t h e r e m a y also b e o t h e r t h i n g s w h i c h w e d o not k n o w
about.
W e h a v e been i n f o r m e d a b o u t a n d h a v e f o l l o w e d the
recent d e v e l o p m e n t s i n C h i n a o n l y t h r o u g h t h e C h i n e s e
press a n d H s i n h u a . T h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a a n d
__________________________
3 In M a y 1966.
100
ENVER HOXHA
its Central Committee have not given o u r P a r t y a n d
its Central Committee any special comradely i n f o r m a tion. We t h i n k that as a p a r t y so closely l i n k e d w i t h
ours, i t o u g h t t o h a v e k e p t u s b e t t e r i n f o r m e d i n a n
i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t w a y , e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g these r e c e n t m o n t h s .
Y o u are acquainted w i t h the expose Z h o u E n l a i gave
us. H e t o l d u s n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n w h a t t h e C h i n e s e
press h a d s a i d u p t i l l t h e n , b u t a s t o w h a t h a s b e e n
done since then a n d w h a t w i l l b e done later, w e k n o w
n o t h i n g a p a r t f r o m w h a t has b e e n s a i d i n t h e press.
H e n c e , comrades, y o u w i l l u n d e r s t a n d h o w p r u d e n t w e
must be in d r a w i n g well-grounded and complete conclusions, because m a n y facts a b o u t w h a t i s g o i n g o n i n s i d e
t h e i r p a r t y are u n k n o w n t o us. T o s o m e e x t e n t w e k n o w
t h e e x t e r n a l a p p e a r a n c e o f events, t h e i r o u t w a r d d e v e l o p m e n t , as w e l l as the o r i e n t a t i o n of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t
o f events, b u t w e k n o w n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e i r causes, t h e i r
f u n d a m e n t a l reasons. W e m a y guess, m a k e s u p p o s i t i o n s ,
b u i l d u p hypotheses, b u t the g r e a t seriousness o f the
p r o b l e m a n d the seriousness o f o u r P a r t y d o n o t a l l o w
us to be i m p r u d e n t a n d hasty.
I f w e are not m i s t a k e n , i n the c h r o n o l o g y o f events,
matters began w i t h an article by L i n B i a o about the
a r m y , w h i c h , w e m a y say, d i d n o t i m p l y a n y t h i n g s p e c i a l a p a r t f r o m the s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the a r m y a n d i t s
p o p u l a r i z a t i o n , w h i c h i s n a t u r a l i n these i n t e r n a t i o n a l
situations. I t w a s c o n t i n u e d w i t h t h e c r i t i c i s m o f s o m e
n o v e l s a n d a r t i c l e s a n d rose t o crescendo i n t h e u n i v e r sities o f B e i j i n g , i n the rectorates a n d a m o n g t h e p r o f e s sors, t h e a t t a c k w a s s h i f t e d t o t h e B e i j i n g P a r t y C o m mittee (without even now m e n t i o n i n g the name of P e n g
Z h e n ) , s h i f t e d o n t o some m e m b e r s o f t h e B u r e a u , s u c h
a s L u D i n g y i , t o L i n B i a o ' s d e p u t y i n t h e a r m y , a n d thus,
i n t u r n , t o the c r e a t i o n o f t h e « R e d G u a r d » a n d its a c t i v i ties. M e a n w h i l e , L i n B i a o ' s s e c o n d article, w h i c h f a n n e d
PRELIMINARY IDEAS ABOUT THE CHINESE REVOLUTION 101
u p the cult o f M a o a n d a g a i n r e c o m m e n d e d t h e r e a d i n g
o f h i s w o r k s , came out. T h i s a r t i c l e , y o u m i g h t say, w a s
the c a l l to a c t i o n , etc., etc.
C e r t a i n t h i n g s d r a w o u r a t t e n t i o n . I t came o u t i n t h e
C h i n e s e press, t h a t t h e B e i j i n g P a r t y C o m m i t t e e , o f course,
i n c l u d i n g P e n g Z h e n , b u t w i t h o u t m e n t i o n i n g his n a m e
( Z h o u E n l a i m e n t i o n e d i t t o us), L u D i n g y i , L u o R u i q i n g
a n d o t h e r s w e r e « r e v i s i o n i s t s , a n t i - p a r t y , agents o f t h e
bourgeoisie,» etc., t h e y s u p p o r t e d t h e b o u r g e o i s elements
i n t h e u n i v e r s i t y , a m o n g t h e w r i t e r s , etc., a n d t h e n e w s papers p u b l i s h e d c r i t i c i s m s o f m a n y o t h e r l i t e r a r y w o r k s .
Hence, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m t h i s h o s t i l e a c t i v i t y i s based
i n t h e f i e l d o f c u l t u r e a n d t h e school. B u t t h e t h r e e
persons n a m e d a n d o t h e r s w e r e m e m b e r s o f t h e P o l i t i c a l
B u r e a u o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e . W a s i t i n t h i s sector
alone t h a t t h e y h a d b e t r a y e d ? W e c a n n o t o f f e r a n y
o p i n i o n a b o u t this, because the C h i n e s e a r e n o t s a y i n g
one w o r d . W h e n w a s t h i s « b i g plot», a s t h e y c a l l e d it,
discovered? A c c o r d i n g to them, the entire w o r k , the
w h o l e l i n e , a l l the c o l l e c t i v e a n d i n d i v i d u a l a c t i o n s o f the
leadership have been analysed, as it is usually done in
n o r m a l a n d especially i n a b n o r m a l times. W e c a n say
n o t h i n g a b o u t this, because t h i s i s a n i n t e r n a l p r o b l e m o f
theirs; we do not k n o w but can o n l y say: h o w is it possible t h a t t h i s h o s t i l e w o r k , w h i c h i n f a c t w a s m a n i f e s t e d
openly, w a s not d i s c o v e r e d e a r l i e r ?
T h e fact i s t h a t i t i s n o w t e n y e a r s since the last C o n gress o f t h e C P C w a s h e l d a n d t h e n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n
is going by w i t h o u t being e x a m i n e d in the Congress. This
is abnormal, not in order, a violation of the Constitution
and, a s f a r a s w e can j u d g e f r o m outside, t h e r e has been
no objective reason to prevent the h o l d i n g of the Congress.
This is not simply an organizational question, but first
o f a l l a n issue o f p r i n c i p l e : t h e s u p r e m e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e
P a r t y does n o t t a k e decisions, a n d n o b o d y r e n d e r s account
102
ENVER HOXHA
t o it, t h a t is, i t i s d i s r e g a r d e d . W h y ? I t i s i m p o s s i b l e f o r
u s t o k n o w this, b u t w e c a n s a y t h a t i t i s a g r a v e v i o l a t i o n
w h i c h m a y h a v e v e r y d a n g e r o u s consequences.
S o m u c h f o r t h e Congress, b u t w h a t about t h e p l e n u m
of the C e n t r a l Committee? F o u r years without m e e t i n g !
H o w i s i t p o s s i b l e ? F a c t s a r e facts. T h e p r i n c i p a l f o r u m s
o f the p a r t y h a v e b e e n d i s r e g a r d e d . H o w h a v e t h e
p r o b l e m s been j u d g e d , i n u n i t y o r n o t ? I n a d i s t o r t e d o r
correct w a y ? W e c a n s a y n o t h i n g a b o u t t h i s because w e
d o n o t k n o w , b u t o n e t h i n g w e c a n say, t h a t a l l t h i s
is irregular, unlawful, impermissible, condemnable and
w i t h g r a v e a n d d a n g e r o u s consequences f o r t h e p a r t y
a n d t h e c o u n t r y . S u c h a p r a c t i c e cannot b e f o u n d i n a n y
Marxist-Leninist party.
W h a t has i m p e l l e d t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s t o v i o l a t e
the most elementary a n d most v i t a l rules of the p a r t y ?
We can i m a g i n e a l o t of t h i n g s .
O n t h e basis o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e n o r m s o f o u r
P a r t y , w e w o u l d s e v e r e l y c o n d e m n these a c t i o n s a s h o s t i l e ,
w o u l d nip them in the b u d and w o u l d never allow them
t o become e s t a b l i s h e d , because t h e e x a m p l e o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p w i t h its g o o d a n d b a d aspects, i s r e f l e c t e d r i g h t d o w n
to the base.
One can imagine h o w a l l that Chinese party w i t h its
huge numbers, divided into committees and territories
and w i t h m a n y complicated problems, has been led.
L e t u s t a k e c e r t a i n q u e s t i o n s . T h e 11th P l e n u m o f t h e
C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e of the C P C w a s h e l d after a lapse of
four years. A p a r t f r o m the c o m m u n i q u e o n the s t r u g g l e
against imperialism a n d Soviet revisionism a n d certain
things I shall mention below, we k n o w nothing about w h a t
w a s d o n e , w h a t w a s discussed, a n d w h a t w a s d e c i d e d
there. B u t was the line of the p a r t y analysed, w e r e t h e
good t h i n g s a n d t h e m i s t a k e s p o i n t e d out, w e r e t h o s e w h o
h a d made mistakes faced w i t h their responsibility, i n d i -
vidually and collectively, w h a t measures w e r e t a k e n to
put t h i n g s i n o r d e r , etc., etc.? T h e s e are t h e i r i n t e r n a l m a t ters a n d t h e y a r e s a y i n g n o t h i n g . T h e r e w a s n o a n n o u n c e ment, e i t h e r , a b o u t w h e n t h e i r n e x t congress i s t o b e h e l d ,
that m e a n s c a r r y i n g o n w i t h o u t a congress a n d t h i s i m p l i e s
that m a t t e r s a r e s t i l l n o t i n o r d e r i n t e r n a l l y , h a v e n o t
been s m o o t h e d o u t a n d c l e a r e d u p . P e r h a p s w e a r e m i s t a k e n , b u t t h e r e m a y also b e f a c t i o n s w i t h i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p ; i f t h i s i s so, t h e n t h e d i f f e r e n c e s m u s t s t i l l b e p r o found and, in the opinion a n d practice of our Party, it
i s d i f f i c u l t t o e l i m i n a t e t h e m w i t h those m e t h o d s a n d
forms used up t i l l n o w by the Chinese comrades w h o
continue t o k e e p t h e f a c t i o n a l i s t e l e m e n t s , r e c o g n i z e d
enemies o f t h e P a r t y , n o t o n l y i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e P a r t y ,
but also i n t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , a n d e v e n i n t h e P o litical B u r e a u .
W h a t e m e r g e d o f f i c i a l l y f r o m t h e m e e t i n g o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e ? Y o u k n o w that, i n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e 16-point
declaration on the «Proletarian C u l t u r a l Revolution»*
emerged, t h a t L i n B i a o e m e r g e d s e c o n d i n l i n e a f t e r M a o ,
and a n e w r a n k i n g o f t h e m a i n C h i n e s e l e a d e r s h i p w a s
p u b l i s h e d , i n w h i c h n e w c o m r a d e s c o m e t o the f o r e a n d
L i u Shaoqi, C h u D e h and others go d o w n to the eighth
a n d n i n t h p l a c e a n d b e l o w . F r o m this w e g a t h e r t h a t
there w e r e d i s c u s s i o n s a t the m e e t i n g a n d m e a s u r e s w e r e
taken, b u t w e k n o w n o t h i n g c o n c r e t e l y .
One thing we do k n o w is that the «Red Guards»
had b e e n c r e a t e d a n d h a d gone i n t o a c t i o n b e f o r e t h e
p l e n u m w a s h e l d , t h a t is, t h e C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n h a d
been l a u n c h e d a n d t o g e t h e r w i t h i t t h e cult o f M a o w a s
raised t o t h e skies i n a s i c k e n i n g a n d a r t i f i c i a l m a n n e r ,
as you know. Everything was identified w i t h M a o ; the
_____________________________
* See E n v e r H o x h a , «Reflections on China», v o l . 1, p. 252,
Tirana 1979 (Eng. ed.).
104
ENVER HOXHA
p a r t y , the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e w e r e h a r d l y m e n t i o n e d
a n d i t e m e r g e s c l e a r l y t h a t «the p a r t y exists a n d f i g h t s
t h a n k s t o M a o , t h a t t h e people l i v e , f i g h t a n d b r e a t h e o n l y
t h a n k s t o M a o a n d t o M a o ' s i d e a s alone.» A n d t h e w o r s t
of it is that M a o himself is d o i n g nothing to restrain this
c u l t about h i m . C a n i t b e that t h e y h a v e r e a c h e d t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e i r p a r t y has d e c a y e d f r o m w i t h i n a n d
o n l y t h e a u t h o r i t y o f M a o c a n save t h e s i t u a t i o n ? O f
course, M a o ' s a u t h o r i t y i s o f i m p o r t a n c e , b u t a n y a c t i o n
on the part of the Chinese comrades should be carried
o u t i n t h e correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y .
Naturally, this t h i n g worries us greatly and there is
r e a s o n f o r u s t o w o r r y a b o u t it, because i t c o n c e r n s the
fate of international c o m m u n i s m , the fate of the People's
R e p u b l i c o f C h i n a , o f s o c i a l i s m a n d the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
relations between o u r two parties a n d t w o countries.
The Chinese comrades are giving unprecedented i m p o r t a n c e t o t h i s « r e v o l u t i o n » , b u t a l o n g w i t h «its i m m e n s e
i m p o r t a n c e » , a s y e t w e a r e n o t s e e i n g t h e clear o r i e n t a tions for this «revolution». In the 16 points, if we read
them carefully, we shall find some laconic orientations
a n d some general allusions on political and organizational
p r o b l e m s o f the p a r t y , w h i c h m u s t h a v e been d i s c u s s e d
a t t h e p l e n u m a n d a r e g i v e n t o t h e masses t o b e a r i n
m i n d . O n t h e basis o f t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s
o r the c o m m i t t e e s m a d e i n these 1 6 p o i n t s , L i n B i a o speaks
b e f o r e t h e « R e d G u a r d s » s a y i n g t h a t «there i s a b u n c h
o f c a p i t a l i s t s i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p » , etc., etc. I n r e g a r d t o
the question of h o w this Proletarian C u l t u r a l Revolution
s h o u l d d e v e l o p , w h a t p a t h s i t s h o u l d f o l l o w , w h a t its
a i m s a n d o b j e c t i v e s are, t h i s i s n o t v e r y c l e a r t o u s a t
least, because t o s u m i t u p a s the « d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e f o u r
o l d t h i n g s » a n d t h e r e p l a c e m e n t o f t h e m w i t h the « f o u r
n e w things» c a n be n e i t h e r a c o m p l e t e n o r a c l e a r e x p l a n a t i o n , b u t e v e n i f y o u c o n c e n t r a t e o n these « f o u r o l d
things» y o u m a y c o m e t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t the C h i n e s e
comrades a r e n o t t h i n k i n g q u i t e c o r r e c t l y a b o u t t h e c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f socialist c u l t u r e ;
y o u h a v e the i m p r e s s i o n t h a t e v e r y t h i n g o l d i n C h i n e s e
and w o r l d culture should be rejected without d i s c r i m i n a tion a n d a n e w c u l t u r e , t h e c u l t u r e t h e y c a l l p r o l e t a r i a n ,
s h o u l d b e created. H e n c e , t h e C a r t e s i a n t h e o r y o f w i p i n g
off the past i n o r d e r t o b u i l d t h e n e w c u l t u r e , a n d t h i s
w i l l b e a c h i e v e d o n l y t h r o u g h t h e «ideas o f M a o » , b y
reading his w o r k s and quotations w h i c h have n o w replaced
everything in China.
Let me read you a quotation f r o m Lenin, and I recommend y o u to restudy his book « O n C u l t u r e and A r t »
p u b l i s h e d i n A l b a n i a n t e n y e a r s ago. O n e s h o u l d c o n tinually delve i n t o the w o r k s of L e n i n a n d Stalin, and
study h o w t h e y d e a l t w i t h t h i s o r t h a t p r o b l e m .
H e r e i s w h a t L e n i n s a y s a b o u t socialist c u l t u r e :
«We shall be unable to solve this problem unless we
clearly realize
that
only
a
precise
knowledge
and
transformation of the culture created
by the entire
development
of mankind
will
enable
us
to
create
a proletarian culture. The latter is not clutched out
of thin air; it is not an invention of those who call
themselves
experts
in
proletarian
culture.
That
is
all nonsense. Proletarian culture must be the logical
development of the store of knowledge mankind has
accumulated under the yoke
of capitalist,
landowner
and bureaucratic society. All these roads have been
leading and will continue to lead up to proletarian
culture, in the same way as political economy, as
reshaped by Marx, has shown us what human society must arrive at, shown us the passage to the
106
ENVER HOXHA
class struggle,
revolution.
to
the
beginning
of
the
proletarian
« When we so often hear representatives of the
youth as well as certain advocates of a new system
of education, attacking the old schools, claiming that
they used the system of cramming, we say to them
that we must take what was good in the old schools.
We must not
borrow
the
system
of
encumbering
young people's minds with an immense amount of
knowledge,
nine-tenths
of
which
was
useless
and
one-tenth distorted.
This,
however,
does
not
mean
that we can restrict ourselves to communist conclusions and
learn only communist slogans.
You
will
not create communism that way.
You can become
a communist only when you enrich your mind with
a knowledge of all the treasures of mankind.
«We have no need of cramming, but we do need
to develop and perfect the mind of every student
with a knowledge of fundamental facts.
Communism
will become an empty word, a mere signboard, and
a communist a mere boaster, if all the knowledge
he has acquired is not digested in his mind. You
should
not
merely
assimilate
this
knowledge,
but
assimilate it critically, so as not to cram your mind
with useless lumber,
but enrich it with all those
facts
that
are
indispensable
to
the
well-educated
man of today. If a communist took it into his head
to boast about his communism because of the cutand-dry conclusions he
had acquired, without putting
in a great deal of serious and hard work and without
understanding
facts
he
should
examine
critically, he would be a deplorable communist indeed.
Such
superficiality
would
be
decidedly
fatal.
If
1
know that I know little, I shall strive to learn more;
but if a man says that he is a communist and that
he need not know anything thoroughly, he will never
become
anything
like
a
communist.»*
I n the s a m e w o r k L e n i n says a l s o :
« Marxism has won its historic significance as the
ideology
of
the
revolutionary
proletariat,
because,
far
from
rejecting
the
most
valuable
achievements
of the bourgeois epoch, it has, on the contrary, assimilated
and
refashioned
everything
of
value
in
more than two thousand years of the development
of human thought and
culture.
Only further work
on this basis and in this direction, inspired by the
practical
experience
of
the
proletarian
dictatorship
as the final stage in the struggle against every form
of exploitation,
can
be
considered
the
development
of a genuine proletarian culture.»**
T h i s i s clear, w h i l e t h e C h i n e s e course, a s i t i s p u b l i cized, i s n o t v e r y clear, a t least i t i s n o t c l e a r t o us.
W h a t does this C u l t u r a l Revolution, as it is being carr i e d out i n C h i n a , consist o f ?
T h e « R e d G u a r d s » are c h a n g i n g t h e n a m e s o f t h e
streets a n d r e s t a u r a n t s , because t h e y h a d a r e a c t i o n a r y
content, w r i t i n g d a z i b a o s a n d c r i t i c i z i n g a n y o n e j u s t a s
t h e y please, r a n s a c k i n g houses a n d p u t t i n g t h e d u n c e ' s
cap o n k u l a k s a n d r e a c t i o n a r i e s a n d p a r a d i n g t h e m
t h r o u g h t h e streets a n d s q u a r e s ; i t i s s a i d t h e y a r e w r e c k i n g the g r a v e s o f f o r e i g n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d , w h a t i s m o r e
dangerous, t h e y are a t t a c k i n g p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s , b u r n i n g
l i b r a r i e s a n d p a i n t i n g s , d e s t r o y i n g o l d m o n u m e n t s , etc.
It is d i f f i c u l t for us to call this revolution, as the
«Red Guards» are c a r r y i n g it out, a Proletarian C u l t u r a l
_______________________________
* V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 31, pp. 319-320 (Alb. ed.)
** Ibidem, p. 356.
108
ENVER HOXHA
R e v o l u t i o n . T h e signs c o u l d b e r e m o v e d b y the m u n i c i p a l
o r g a n s , the e n e m i e s c o u l d a n d s h o u l d b e c a p t u r e d b y t h e
o r g a n s o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o n t h e basis o f t h e l a w , a n d i f
t h e e n e m i e s h a v e w o r m e d t h e i r w a y i n t o the p a r t y c o m mittees, let t h e m b e p u r g e d t h r o u g h p a r t y c h a n n e l s . O r
i n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , a r m t h e w o r k i n g class a n d a t t a c k
the committees, but not w i t h c h i l d r e n . ( 4 ) W h y are such
actions taken in this sensational w a y a n d w i t h m o r e of
a p o l i t i c a l t h a n a c u l t u r a l c h a r a c t e r ? A n d t o a l l these
people w h o h a v e b e e n set i n m o t i o n t o c a r r y o u t t h i s w o r k
t h e schools h a v e b e e n s h u t a n d t h e y w i l l n o t a t t e n d school
o r a c q u i r e c u l t u r e f o r a year, a l i t t l e r e d b o o k w i t h M a o ' s
q u o t a t i o n s has b e e n p u t i n t h e i r h a n d s , a r e d b a n d t i e d
around their arms and they have been given permission
to shout.
W h o a r e the p i o n e e r s o f t h e P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l R e v olution? T h e students and school pupils, a n d the Chinese
c o m m u n i q u e s s a y t h a t t h e y are b a c k e d u p b y t h e w o r k e r s ,
s o l d i e r s a n d peasants. I t seems t o u s t h a t t h i s m a y b e
so, b u t it is n o t a correct, p r i n c i p l e d course. It is d a n g e r o u s ,
i t i s n o t serious. T h e socialist o r p r o l e t a r i a n c u l t u r a l
r e v o l u t i o n , a s the C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s w a n t t o c a l l it, c o u l d
not be carried out in a genuine M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y
w i t h these p r i n c i p l e s a n d these f o r m s .
T h e socialist c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n i s a v e r y serious, v e r y
c o m p l i c a t e d p r o b l e m , a n d the C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s k n o w (or
s a y t h e y do) t h a t i t m u s t b e g u i d e d w i t h t h e greatest care
by the party, w h i c h must be vigilant at every moment to
c h e c k u p o n t h e l i n e , t o v e r i f y its i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , t o c o r r e c t t h e m i s t a k e s , t o g u a r d against t h e l e f t i s t a n d r i g h t i s t
deviations w h i c h are so prone to occur in such a broad
a n d d e l i c a t e sector.
O n e has
the
impression
that
having
discovered
«a
___________________________
4 Reference is to the red guards w h o w e r e school p u p i l s .
grave hostile current in literature» (and w h y d i d they not
see this a n d t a k e m e a s u r e s e a r l i e r ? ) , h a v i n g d i s c o v e r e d
t h a t «cadres i n t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y a n d state a r e
o n t h e c a p i t a l i s t r o a d » (and w h y d i d t h e y n o t see this a n d
take measures earlier?), h a v i n g w o k e n up f r o m their
heavy slumber to realize that capitalists a n d k u l a k s have
g r o w n f a t a n d s t r o n g t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t i t seems t h e y
are s t i l l i n p o w e r ( w h y w a s this a l l o w e d ? ) , t h e C h i n e s e
comrades m a y thus have a r r i v e d at the conclusion that
a l l these e v i l s w i l l b e s o l v e d b y t h e P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l
Revolution, the « R e d G u a r d s » comprised of the youth, and
t h e b u i l d - u p o f the c u l t o f M a o t o a f a n t a s t i c l e v e l .
T h i s i s a m a t t e r w h i c h i s not v e r y c l e a r t o us. I n a p p e a r a n c e i t i s b a s e d o n t h e correct s l o g a n o f t h e « l i n e o f
the masses», b u t a l i n e of t h e masses w h i c h goes b e y o n d
the n o r m s a n d p r i n c i p l e s , w h i c h d i s r e g a r d s t h e p a r t y
a n d its justice a n d is based on the cult of the i n d i v i d u a l ,
on the exaltation of non-proletarian youth w h o i m p r o p e r l y e x p l o i t a l l t h e successes a c h i e v e d b y t h e p a r t y
a n d the people in a l l fields. S u c h a course m a y lead to
a n a r c h y , m a y w e a k e n the c o n f i d e n c e o f t h e masses i n t h e
line of the party.
We think that this C u l t u r a l Revolution m a y be a
rectification of the entire l i n e of the party, but a r e c t i f i c a t i o n u n d e r t a k e n o u t s i d e the L e n i n i s t n o r m s o f t h e p a r t y
a n d the l a w s o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h r o u g h
the cult of M a o and h u r l i n g into action that stratum of
the p e o p l e w h i c h i s t h e m o s t e a s i l y c a r r i e d a w a y , t h e
noisiest, t h e m o s t d e l i c a t e a n d m o s t m o b i l e as a s t r a t u m ,
lacking m a t u r i t y a n d experience of the difficulties of
life.
T h i s m a y h a v e g r a v e consequences, e i t h e r i m m e d i a t e l y
o r l a t e r , i f t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s d o n o t correct t h e s e
m i s t a k e s t h a t c a n b e seen. T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e S o v i e t
U n i o n after the death of S t a l i n taught us m a n y things.
110
ENVER HOXHA
As y o u w i l l understand, m a n y matters w h i c h I m e n tioned above and of w h i c h I t r i e d to m a k e an evaluation,
w h i c h m a y b e m i s t a k e n since w e d o n o t h a v e t h e facts,
are internal matters of C h i n a , of the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y
of C h i n a , a n d we do not have the right to interfere or
t o e x p r e s s o u r o p i n i o n , i f i t i s n o t sought. H o w e v e r , i t
is i m p e r m i s s i b l e for us not to have an i n t e r n a l o p i n i o n
o f o u r o w n f o r g e n e r a l o r i e n t a t i o n , e v e n a p r o v i s i o n a l one,
w i t h s o m e p o i n t s u n c l e a r a n d p o s s i b l y some i n c o r r e c t
conclusions. I t i s l i k e w i s e i m p e r m i s s i b l e f o r u s t o b e l a c k ing in prudence a n d caution on a question of such m a j o r
i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e cause o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m .
O u r great a i m a n d c o n c e r n i s a n d m u s t b e t o a v o i d
f a l l i n g i n t o e r r o r s o u r s e l v e s , t o t r y t o see m o r e c l e a r l y
i n t o this q u e s t i o n , a n d w h e n w e h a v e the o p p o r t u n i t y , t o
exchange opinions w i t h the Chinese comrades in a c o m radely w a y to the great general interest.
H o w e v e r , e v e r y t h i n g t h a t o c c u r s i n C h i n a i s not j u s t
an internal affair of C h i n a a n d the Communist P a r t y
of C h i n a . W h i l e being their affair, at the same time it
has an i n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d internationalist character, because C h i n a i s a b i g c o u n t r y , o f great w e i g h t i n t h e
international communist movement. (5)
T h e Chinese leaders a n d the Chinese propaganda say
t h a t t h e « C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n has s h a k e n the e n t i r e w o r l d » .
T h i s is a fact.
On October 1, Z h o u E n l a i said m o r e or less: «The
w o r l d has been split into t w o over the question of the
C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n , i n t o enemies w h o f i g h t u s a n d f r i e n d s
w h o are w i t h u s a n d d e f e n d us».
It is precisely this international and internationalist
aspect o f t h e C h i n e s e P r o l e t a r i a n C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n t h a t
__________________________________
5 T h i s is h o w it was considered at that time.
I w a n t to touch on now, after touching on the national
aspect.
Today, the Chinese comrades a n d the Chinese p r o p a g a n d a pose t h e p r o b l e m i n t h i s w a y : « T h e p r e s e n t
e p o c h i s t h e e p o c h o f t h e ideas o f M a o Z e d o n g . M a o Z e d o n g
i s t h e greatest M a r x i s t o f o u r t i m e . M a o Z e d o n g i s t h e
h e i r t o a l l t h e classics o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t science, a n d w o r l d science, h e i s t h e sun,» etc.,
etc. H e n c e , M a o Z e d o n g ' s ideas s h o u l d l e a d t h e e n t i r e
w o r l d , and, in regard to the Proletarian C u l t u r a l R e v o l u tion, it is being developed and led by M a o Zedong personally. T h i s is something unprecedented in the history
of the w o r l d .
The posing of this great problem by the Chinese
comrades in this way is not correct, not Marxist and far
from unduly modest. B u t w h a t i s e v e n m o r e g r a v e a n d
d a n g e r o u s i s t h e fact t h a t those s a m e f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s
t h e y use w i t h i n t h e i r o w n c o u n t r y , t h e y w a n t t o use
a b r o a d too, t h a t is, t h e y w a n t o t h e r s t o accept a n d a p p l y
this incorrect and erroneous posing of the problem in
s u c h d o g m a t i c f o r m s , w i t h o u t d i s c u s s i o n , because o t h e r w i s e , f o r t h e C h i n e s e comrades, y o u g o o v e r t o t h e o t h e r
s i d e of t h e b a r r i c a d e , to t h e e n e m i e s .
N o w some orientations for us:
a ) I w a n t t o stress c e r t a i n t h i n g s w h i c h t h e P a r t y
must keep w e l l i n m i n d , a n d w h i c h every communist
should w o r k out in his o w n head a n d not wait for d i r e c t i v e s f r o m a b o v e about e v e r y s t a n d . T h e s t a n d s o f the
P a r t y , t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d the cadres m u s t b e g u i d e d b y
the d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e Congress, t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , the
P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t . T h e s e t h i n g s are
c l e a r l y e x p r e s s e d i n d o c u m e n t s a n d o u r d a i l y press, t h e r e fore they should be assimilated and we should be guided
by them.
b) T h e
line
of
our
Party
on
the
struggle
against
112
ENVER HOXHA
i m p e r i a l i s m a n d m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i s correct, t h e r e f o r e
w e m u s t p r o c e e d r e s o l u t e l y o n this course, because i t i s
decisive.
c) F o r o u r part, the economic a n d friendly relations
w i t h C h i n a w i l l be m a i n t a i n e d and developed only on the
correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r o a d .
d ) T h e c u l t o f M a o o r a n y b o d y else m u s t b e c o m b a t e d
and we should proceed in everything, just as we have
done, o n the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o u r s e . N o t t h e slightest
concession o r o p p o r t u n i s m i n this. W i t h the correct s t a n d s
of o u r Party, the Chinese comrades ought to be clear on
this question. E v e n if they are not clear or take it badly,
w e cannot d o o t h e r w i s e , because this i s a n issue o f p r i n c i p l e . W e respect M a o i n t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w a y a n d
w i t h i n the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t n o r m s . I n r e g a r d t o M a o
w e s h a l l use o n l y the o f f i c i a l d e s c r i p t i o n s o f o u r P a r t y .
e ) A s y o u h a v e n o t i c e d , o u r press does n o t s p e a k
a b o u t the C h i n e s e C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n i n t h e s a m e t e r m s
a n d w a y s a s C h i n e s e p r o p a g a n d a does, a n d w e h a v e
avoided doing so in a comradely w a y and without agg r a v a t i n g things, f o r the reasons I h a v e m e n t i o n e d above.
P r o b a b l y , i n fact u n d o u b t e d l y , t h i s h a s n o t p l e a s e d the
C h i n e s e comrades, b u t w e c a n n o t act o t h e r w i s e u n t i l
e v e r y t h i n g becomes c l e a r e r t o u s a n d w e c o n s i d e r i t
correct.
f ) O u r p r o p a g a n d a a b o u t C h i n a , its successes i n a l l
fields, i n c l u d i n g c u l t u r e a n d the w o r k s o f M a o , etc., s h o u l d
b e c a r r i e d out w i t h i n correct n o r m s , a s h i t h e r t o , a n d a n y
u n d u e d e m a n d o n the p a r t o f t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s
should be tactfully avoided. Concessions a n d sectarianism
s h o u l d b e a v o i d e d , b e c a u s e n e i t h e r t h e o n e n o r the o t h e r
s e r v e s o u r g r e a t cause w h i c h i t i s o u r d u t y t o s t r e n g t h e n
o n the correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r o a d f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f
communism.
I think that in defining o u r line on m a n y questions
i n t h e r e p o r t w e s h a l l d e l i v e r a t t h e C o n g r e s s w e also
i n d i r e c t l y d e f i n e some o f these stands t o w a r d s the v i e w s
o f t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s w h o , s o t o say, o u g h t t o t a k e
t h e m a s o u r objections, e s p e c i a l l y t o t h e c u l t a n d t o t h e
C u l t u r a l Revolution, as we understand them. A delegation
o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a w i l l come t o o u r C o n gress a n d w e h a v e hopes t h a t w e s h a l l t r y t o c l e a r u p
these m a t t e r s as c o m r a d e s s h o u l d .
That w a s all I h a d to say. T h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e
must advise us whether we v i e w the problems correctly.
I t h i n k a l l these m a t t e r s s h o u l d b e k e p t w i t h i n t h e C e n t r a l
C o m m i t t e e , because t h e y a r e v e r y d e l i c a t e .
The entire Plenum of the Central
Committee
expressed
agreement
with
the
matters
presented
by
Comrade
Enver
Hoxha.
Works, vol. 33
ON THE ACTIVITY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
OF THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA
Report to the 5th Congress of the PLA
November 1, 1966
•••
THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION AND THE
FOREIGN POLICY OF SOCIALIST A L B A N I A
Comrades,
T h e 5th Congress of the P a r t y is being h e l d in an
i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n f a v o u r a b l e t o t h e cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d the peoples. T h e f u n d a m e n t a l f e a t u r e s o f this
epoch are becoming more pronounced and emerging more
clearly every day, m a r k i n g it as the epoch of the transition f r o m capitalism to socialism, of the struggle of two
o p p o s i n g social systems, t h e e p o c h o f p r o l e t a r i a n a n d
n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n r e v o l u t i o n s , o f the collapse o f i m p e r i a l i s m a n d l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e c o l o n i a l s y s t e m , the e p o c h o f
the t r i u m p h of socialism and communism on a w o r l d
scale.
T h e b a l a n c e o f forces i n t h e w o r l d h a s c h a n g e d a n d
i s c h a n g i n g ceaselessly i n f a v o u r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y
f o r c e s w h i c h are f i g h t i n g f o r n a t i o n a l a n d s o c i a l l i b e r a t i o n ,
REPORT TO THE 5th CONGRESS
115
f o r the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a n e w w o r l d w i t h o u t c a p i t a l i s m
a n d colonialism, against imperialism, reaction and m o d e r n
revisionism, w h i c h are in decay and disintegration, eroded
by m a n y internal and external contradictions, encircled
b y t h e peoples a n d e x p o s e d t o t h e c o n t i n u o u s b l o w s o f
their struggle w h i c h is m o u n t i n g higher and higher.
N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e great changes t h a t h a v e o c c u r r e d a n d
a r e s t i l l t a k i n g p l a c e i n t h e w o r l d a s a r e s u l t o f the p e o p l e s ' s t r u g g l e h a v e c h a n g e d n e i t h e r t h e c h a r a c t e r o f the
fundamental contradictions of our time, w h i c h are growi n g d e e p e r a n d m o r e a n d m o r e acute, n o r t h e a g g r e s s i v e
a n d reactionary nature of imperialism, which, far from
renouncing its anti-popular, counter-revolutionary and
w a r - m o n g e r i n g p o l i c y , i s s t r i v i n g w i t h a l l its forces a n d
means to safeguard and consolidate the positions of react i o n e v e r y w h e r e i n the w o r l d a n d t o s t r a n g l e the r e v o l u tion a n d socialism.
T o d a y t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a s t a n d s a t the
h e a d o f a l l t h e forces o f i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e a c t i o n . A s i s
r i g h t l y stressed i n the 1960 D e c l a r a t i o n o f the C o m m u n i s t
a n d W o r k e r s ' P a r t i e s , A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i s «the m a i n
f o r c e o f a g g r e s s i o n a n d w a r » , « t h e greatest i n t e r n a t i o n a l
e x p l o i t e r » , «the m a i n c i t a d e l o f c o l o n i a l i s m a n d w o r l d
r e a c t i o n » , «the i n t e r n a t i o n a l g e n d a r m e » , «the e n e m y o f
a l l t h e peoples o f t h e w o r l d » . I t h a s t a k e n o v e r t h e c r a z y
H i t l e r i t e d r e a m o f p u t t i n g t h e w h o l e w o r l d u n d e r its
heel, a d r e a m w h i c h led G e r m a n nazism to its doom, it
i s s t r i v i n g b y a l l i t s m e a n s t o e n s l a v e t h e peoples o f
A s i a , A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a a n d t o suppress t h e r e v olutionary and national liberation movement, it is striving
to subjugate the whole capitalist w o r l d economically, politically a n d m i l i t a r i l y , w h i l e always h a v i n g the destruct i o n o f s o c i a l i s m a s its m a i n o b j e c t i v e .
In order to realize this counter-revolutionary global
s t r a t e g y , A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i s d o g g e d l y p u r s u i n g the
116
ENVER HOXHA
p o l i c y o f aggression, i s p r e s s i n g f o r w a r d a t a r a p i d pace
i n t h e a r m a m e n t s race, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e f i e l d o f n u c l e a r
weapons, a n d i s f e v e r i s h l y p r e p a r i n g f o r a n e w w o r l d
w a r . I t i s a r m i n g a n d i n c i t i n g the W e s t - G e r m a n r e v a n c h ists a n d t h e J a p a n e s e m i l i t a r i s t s , t r y i n g t o s a f e g u a r d
a n d consolidate t h e a g g r e s s i v e i m p e r i a l i s t m i l i t a r y a l l i a n ces, b r a n d i s h i n g w e a p o n s , p e r p e t r a t i n g aggressions a n d
unleashing wars. L i k e w i s e , it is p u r s u i n g a neo-colonialist
policy of penetration and economic subjugation on an
e x t e n s i v e scale, i n o r d e r t o p u t t h e A m e r i c a n y o k e a r o u n d
t h e n e c k s o f t h e peoples o f v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s a n d t o u n d e r m i n e their national freedom a n d independence, w i t h
the a i m of creating a n e w empire of unprecedented p r o p o r t i o n s . I t b a c k s a n d s u p p o r t s t h e r e a c t i o n a r y fascist
a n d r a c i s t r e g i m e s a n d f o r c e s a n d o r g a n i z e s coups a n d
p l o t s t o b r i n g i t s agents t o p o w e r e v e r y w h e r e . A l l t h i s
is accompanied w i t h widespread ideological subversion,
t o d e c e i v e a n d c o n f u s e people, t o p r e s e n t b l a c k f o r w h i t e
and vice versa, to implant fear and defeatism, to alienate
the peoples f r o m t h e s t r u g g l e a n d the r e v o l u t i o n , t o
s l a n d e r s o c i a l i s m a n d the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , a n d t o d i s g u i s e
the A m e r i c a n plans for w o r l d domination.
A great, ferocious, d a n g e r o u s c o m m o n e n e m y —
A m e r i c a n imperialism, confronts the peoples of the w h o l e
w o r l d . T o d a y t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t this e n e m y i s t h e
s u p r e m e i n t e r n a t i o n a l d u t y o f a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces
o f o u r t i m e . Peace, f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n d e n c e , s o c i a l i s m c a n not be achieved and defended w i t h o u t a determined s t r u g g l e against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , w i t h o u t d e s t r o y i n g i t s
r a p a c i o u s p l a n s a n d designs.
T h e attitude towards A m e r i c a n imperialism is a
t o u c h s t o n e f o r a l l t h e p o l i t i c a l forces o f t h e w o r l d . T h e
question m u s t be put l i k e this: should A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m b e r e s i s t e d a n d c o m b a t e d , o r s h o u l d t h e peoples
capitulate to it and unite w i t h it; can it be vanquished
117
a n d v i c t o r y b e a c h i e v e d o v e r it, o r s h o u l d t h e peoples
f a l l on their knees a n d s u b m i t to it? These are questions
o f p r i n c i p l e , t h e y a r e a d e m a r c a t i o n l i n e w h i c h separates
the revolutionaries f r o m the opponents of the revolution,
the anti-imperialists f r o m the lackeys of imperialism,
courageous people f r o m cowards a n d capitulators, M a r x ist-Leninists f r o m revisionists.
T h e peoples a n d a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s h a v e d e f i n e d t h e i r
s t a n d . T h e y are n o t d e c e i v e d b y the i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i sionist propaganda a n d are not i n t i m i d a t e d by threats
and blackmail. They have risen boldly and confident of
victory in a decisive struggle against the o l d reactionary
forces, n o m a t t e r h o w s t r o n g a n d i n v i n c i b l e t h e y m a y
seem, and h a v e l a i d bare their rottenness and weakness.
T h e y d a r e t o rise i n r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e t o c o n q u e r A m e r i c a n
i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h i s n o t o n l y t h e strongest i m p e r i a l i s m ,
b u t also the w e a k e s t i m p e r i a l i s m ever, c o m p a r e d w i t h
t h e great r e v o l u t i o n a r y t i d e w h i c h h a s r i s e n against i t i n
the w o r l d today.
A n g e r e d a n d r e v o l t e d b y the e n s l a v i n g p o l i c y o f
A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , the peoples of various countries
o f a l l c o n t i n e n t s a r e r i s i n g , one a f t e r another, a n d are
f i g h t i n g it, e n c i r c l i n g i t i n a r i n g o f f i r e , d e a l i n g d e a t h
b l o w s f r o m a l l sides a t t h i s m o n s t e r w i t h feet o f clay.
T h e c o n t r a d i c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e peoples a n d i m p e r i a l i s m
has b e c o m e e x t r e m e l y d e e p a n d acute, the w a v e s o f t h e
a n t i - A m e r i c a n s t o r m are m o u n t i n g h i g h e r a n d h i g h e r ,
i n f l i c t i n g t o A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m successive d e f e a t s
w h i c h are g r o w i n g h e a v i e r a n d h e a v i e r . T h e h e r o i c s t r u g g l e o f the r e v o l u t i o n a r y p e o p l e s o f V i e t n a m a n d the C o n go, t h e D o m i n i c a n R e p u b l i c , L a o s , A n g o l a a n d V e n e z u e l a ,
and other countries is revealing ever more clearly the
weakness of imperialism in general, and of A m e r i c a n
i m p e r i a l i s m in particular, as w e l l as the courage a n d d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e peoples t o f i g h t a n d w i n . W i t h t h e i r
118
ENVER HOXHA
i r o n resistance, w i t h t h e i r u n p a r a l l e l e d h e r o i s m a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y courage, t h e y h a v e s h o w n a n d p r o v e d t h a t i t
is not m o d e r n weapons, but the r e v o l u t i o n a r y consciousness o f t h e p e o p l e w h i c h , i n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , d e c i d e s
t h e o u t c o m e o f the w a r , t h a t m o d e r n w e a p o n s associated
w i t h the d e g e n e r a t e m o r a l e o f a m e r c e n a r y a r m y , w h i c h
i s f i g h t i n g t o oppress a n d p l u n d e r t h e peoples, a r e i m p o t e n t i n face o f t h e f o r c e o f t h e p e o p l e ' s w a r o f t h e
masses, i n s p i r e d b y t h e g r e a t i d e a l s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d
o f the l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e h o m e l a n d . G r e a t L e n i n ' s p r e d i c t i o n i s b e i n g c o n f i r m e d . H a l f a c e n t u r y ago, i n c o n n e c t i o n
w i t h t h e l i b e r a t i o n w a r o f t h e e n s l a v e d peoples, h e s a i d :
« . . . n o matter how weak these peoples may be, no
matter how invincible the power of European oppressors may seem, with all the miracles
of military
equipment and military art they use in their war,
still if the revolutionary fight waged by the oppressed peoples is capable of really arousing millions of
workers and the exploited, it contains such potential,
such miracles, that the liberation of the eastern peoples
has become fully attainable in practice today...»*
I n its f r e n z i e d a t t e m p t s t o e s t a b l i s h w o r l d d o m i n a t i o n ,
A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , l i k e a w i l d beast, has e x t e n d e d
its c l a w s o v e r t h e w h o l e w o r l d . T h i s i s b y n o m e a n s a
s i g n o f its s t r e n g t h , b u t o f its w e a k n e s s , because b y a c t i n g
i n t h i s w a y , i t has d i s s i p a t e d its forces o v e r a n i m m e n s e
territory, over w h o l e continents, f r o m E u r o p e to South
A m e r i c a a n d f r o m A f r i c a t o t h e F a r E a s t . T h e s e forces
a r e i n s u f f i c i e n t t o cope w i t h a n d suppress t h e l i b e r a t i o n
s t r u g g l e o f a l l the peoples, a n d A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i s
________________________________
* V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 30, p. 159
(Alb. ed.).
119
u n a b l e t o c o n c e n t r a t e t h e m t o t h e necessary e x t e n t i n
space a n d t i m e . F u r t h e r m o r e , b y i n t e r v e n i n g a n d p e r p e t r a t i n g aggressions i n v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s o f t h e w o r l d ,
A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m has c r e a t e d p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e
peoples e v e r y w h e r e t o w a g e a n e f f e c t i v e w a r against i t
and to deal it direct blows, separately or collectively,
uniting their struggle against A m e r i c a n imperialism in
a single, p o w e r f u l , i n t e r n a t i o n a l c u r r e n t . E v e n the n u m e r o u s A m e r i c a n m i l i t a r y bases e s t a b l i s h e d i n a l l c o r n e r s
o f the w o r l d a s w e a p o n s o f n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m a n d a s b r i d g e heads f o r a g g r e s s i o n against t h e socialist c o u n t r i e s h a v e
turned f r o m a means of domination and strength into
a means of the political and m i l i t a r y w e a k e n i n g of the
U n i t e d States, because t h e y h a v e b e c o m e suspect a n d
i n t o l e r a b l e , n o t o n l y f o r t h e peoples, b u t e v e n f o r t h e
bourgeois g o v e r n m e n t s o f t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e these bases
h a v e b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d , because these bases are e n c i r c l e d
b y t h e peoples a n d w i l l h a r d l y s e r v e t h e A m e r i c a n i m perialists at the required moment. E v e n the arms w i t h
w h i c h t h e y h a v e s u p p l i e d a n d are s u p p l y i n g t h e i r a l l i e s
t o s u p p r e s s t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples a n d t o c o m m i t
aggressions a n d p r o v o c a t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e socialist a n d
other countries w h i c h pursue an anti-imperialist policy,
are a t w o - e d g e d s w o r d : t h e y i n c i t e a n d d e e p e n the c o n t r a dictions a n d c o n f l i c t s a m o n g t h e p a r t n e r s o f t h e U n i t e d
States, s e r v e a s d i r e c t p r e s s u r e against t h e A m e r i c a n h e g e m o n y a n d some d a y t h e y m a y e v e n b e t u r n e d against
the U n i t e d States itself.
The efforts for w o r l d domination a n d the operation
of the l a w of uneven development of the capitalist c o u n tries h a v e l a n d e d A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i n d e e p a n d i r r e c o n c i l a b l e c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h its a l l i e s — t h e o t h e r
imperialist powers, w i t h all the capitalist w o r l d in general.
N o t o n l y has t h i s caused i r r e p a r a b l e breaches i n t h e w o r l d
c a p i t a l i s t c a m p , but, i n p a r t i c u l a r , i t has w e a k e n e d a n d
120
ENVER HOXHA
u n d e r m i n e d the economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y potential
of American imperialism.
N o w the U n i t e d States has lost its a b s o l u t e h e g e m o n y
over the other capitalist countries a n d is unable to reo r g a n i z e t h e c a p i t a l i s t forces u n d e r its c o n t r o l . F a r f r o m
b l i n d l y obeying the A m e r i c a n dictate, the other imperialist
p o w e r s h a v e b e c o m e serious c o m p e t i t o r s o f t h e U n i t e d
States i n t h e w o r l d m a r k e t a n d a r e s t r i v i n g t o r i d t h e m selves c o m p l e t e l y o f its e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y
domination. Differences in all fields are disintegrating
a n d w r e c k i n g t h e aggressive m i l i t a r y blocs o f N A T O
and S E A T O w h i c h the A m e r i c a n imperialists established
w i t h s o m u c h z e a l a n d h o p e a s bases f o r a t t a c k i n g
t h e socialist c a m p . T h e A m e r i c a n p o l i c y o f i n t e r v e n t i o n
a n d aggression against t h e peoples does n o t f i n d e f f e c t i v e
s u p p o r t a m o n g t h e allies o f t h e U n i t e d States, w h o d o n o t
w a n t t o get t h e i r f i n g e r s b u r n t p u l l i n g t h e chestnuts out
of the fire for A m e r i c a n imperialism. This completely
c o n f i r m s the b r i l l i a n t p r e d i c t i o n S t a l i n m a d e i n 1952, w h e n
he wrote:
« Outwardly everything would seem to be 'going
well': the USA has put Western Europe, Japan and
other capitalist countries
on rations;
Germany
(Western), Britain, France, Italy and Japan have fallen into
the clutches of the USA and are meekly obeying its
commands. But it would be mistaken to think that
things can continue to 'go well' for 'all eternity', that
these countries will tolerate the domination and oppression of the
United
States
endlessly,
that
they
will
not
endeavour
to
tear
loose
from
American
bondage and take the path of independent development... To think that these countries will not try
to get on their feet again, will not try to smash the
US
'regimen',
and
development, is
to
force
their
believe
in
121
way
to
miracles.»*
independent
C a p i t a l i s t F r a n c e has s e r i o u s l y c h a l l e n g e d t h e A m e r i c a n h e g e m o n y i n E u r o p e . I t has e m b a r k e d u p o n t h e
course of open opposition to A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m . R e v i v e d big F r e n c h capital cannot endure the A m e r i c a n
p r e s s u r e a n d d i c t a t e , i t feels s t r o n g e n o u g h t o resist
A m e r i c a n domination. It exploited the general w e a k e n i n g
of the A m e r i c a n imperialist positions resulting f r o m the
peoples' w a r t o t h r o w off t h e fetters o f t h e U n i t e d States,
T h e A m e r i c a n s are e n c o u n t e r i n g F r a n c e ' s o p p o s i t i o n e v e r y w h e r e . W i t h its s t a n d F r a n c e has g r e a t l y s h a k e n a n d
weakened the m i l i t a r y and political power of N A T O , in
w h i c h its m e m b e r s h i p i s n o w o n l y a f o r m a l i t y . I n o r d e r
t o m e e t t h e p r e s s u r e s a n d t h r e a t s o f t h e U n i t e d States a n d ,
at t h e same t i m e , to f u r t h e r its o w n designs as a b i g
c a p i t a l i s t p o w e r , F r a n c e i s s t r i v i n g t o r e v i v e the o l d a l liances w i t h t h e c o u n t r i e s o f E a s t e r n , C e n t r a l a n d S o u t h e a s t e r n E u r o p e , a s w e l l a s t o l i n k itself w i t h B o n n G e r many.
T h e contradictions between the U S A and British,
W e s t - G e r m a n , J a p a n e s e i m p e r i a l i s t s , etc., also are b e c o m i n g deeper a n d m o r e acute. T h e y a r e t r y i n g t o e x p l o i t
their collaboration w i t h A m e r i c a n imperialism, in order
to achieve their o w n imperialist, revanchist, or e x p a n sionist a i m s . F o r e x a m p l e , W e s t G e r m a n y i s t r y i n g t o
get possession o f a t o m i c w e a p o n s , t o g o b b l e u p t h e G e r m a n Democratic Republic, to re-establish the old borders
of the H i t l e r i t e T h i r d R e i c h a n d to prepare for a new
r e v a n c h i s t w a r , t h u s p r e s e n t i n g a serious d a n g e r to t h e
peace a n d s e c u r i t y o f t h e peoples i n E u r o p e a n d t h e
whole world.
_______________________________
* J. V. S t a l i n , «Economic P r o b l e m s of
USSR», 2nd A l b . ed., pp. 39-40, T i r a n a 1968.
Socialism in
the
122
ENVER HOXHA
T h e existence o f deep c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n the i m p e r i a l i s t
c a m p is, u n d o u b t e d l y , i n f a v o u r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces. T h e t a s k o f r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s is,
w i t h o u t c h e r i s h i n g a n y i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e r e a l designs
o f i m p e r i a l i s t w o l v e s , w h o e v e r t h e y m a y be, t o c o r r e c t l y
e x p l o i t these c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n o r d e r t o f u r t h e r w e a k e n
the e n e m y c a m p , t o isolate a n d s t r i k e h e a v i l y a t t h e
chief e n e m y — A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m .
The savagely aggressive a n d w a r m o n g e r i n g activity
and the oppression and plunder of A m e r i c a n imperialism,
o n t h e o n e h a n d , a n d its i n c u r a b l e w e a k n e s s e s a n d c o n t r a dictions, o n t h e o t h e r , s h o w t h a t t h e peoples c a n a n d
should fight imperialism, headed by A m e r i c a n imperialism, mercilessly, should not be intimidated by imperialism
a n d its b l a c k m a i l , b u t s h o u l d d a r e t o d e f y its m i g h t
and rise in struggle w i t h unshakeable confidence in the
f i n a l v i c t o r y o f t h e i r j u s t cause. W i t h t h e r e s o l u t e c o m m o n f i g h t o f t h e peoples o f the w h o l e w o r l d , o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces o f o u r t i m e , s o c i a l i s m , t h e n a t i o n a l
liberation movement and the international communist
a n d w o r k e r s ' m o v e m e n t , the a g g r e s s i v e a n d e n s l a v i n g
plans of imperialism, headed by the U S A , can be d e feated, a n e w w o r l d w a r c a n b e a v o i d e d , t h e r e v o l u t i o n
c a n b e c a r r i e d f o r w a r d a n d t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the peoples
and the victory of socialism and c o m m u n i s m can be
achieved.
T h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m f o r t h e t r i u m p h o f
the just cause o f the peoples a n d t h e w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y
process d o n o t a n d cannot f o r g e s t r a i g h t ahead, a l w a y s
on the offensive, but they blaze the t r a i l of history w i t h
zigzags, w i t h u p s a n d d o w n s , w i t h attacks a n d retreats,
w i t h v i c t o r i e s a n d t e m p o r a r y set-backs. T h i s i s a n o b j e c t i v e
l a w o f s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t . H e w h o d e n i e s t h i s a n d accepts
the r e v o l u t i o n o n l y p r o v i d e d i t c a n b e c a r r i e d out w i t h o u t
d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d reverses, a s L e n i n says,
123
«... is not a revolutionary, he has not freed himself
from the pedantry of the bourgeois intelligentsia and,
in fact, is bound to become ever more deeply involved
in
the
camp
of
the
counter-revolutionary
bourgeoisie...»*
T h e i m p e r i a l i s t p r o p a g a n d a o p e n l y a n d the r e v i s i o n i s t
propaganda indirectly are s t r i v i n g to present the temporary victories of imperialism and reaction and the temporary retreats of the revolution in certain countries as
defeats o f t h e p e o p l e s ' a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t s t r u g g l e a n d setbacks of the revolution. T h e imperialists and revisionists
are r u b b i n g t h e i r h a n d s i n glee a n d t r y i n g t o u n d e r m i n e
t h e p e o p l e s ' c o n f i d e n c e i n v i c t o r y , t o confuse a n d c o r r u p t
t h e m . B u t t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e peoples
a r e r e j o i c i n g i n v a i n : n e w , e v e n h e a v i e r defeats a r e i n
store f o r t h e m .
T h e general tendency of historical development is
a l w a y s t h a t the r e v o l u t i o n a d v a n c e s u n i n t e r r u p t e d l y , o v e r c o m i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d obstacles, because i t r e p r e s e n t s
the new a n d the n e w is invincible, w h i l e the crisis of
i m p e r i a l i s m a n d all the reactionary forces is becoming
deeper a n d deeper a n d they are heading relentlessly for
their inevitable d o o m . T h e revolutionaries are not d i s couraged by temporary defeats and do not lay d o w n their
a r m s , b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e y d r a w lessons v a l u a b l e f o r
the p r e p a r a t i o n a n d w i n n i n g o f f u t u r e v i c t o r i e s a n d ass u r i n g t h e ceaseless a d v a n c e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e
s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a t h o m e a n d o n a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale. A s l o n g a s c a p i t a l i s m a n d i m p e r i a l i s m , w h i c h
e x p l o i t a n d o p p r e s s the w o r k e r s a n d t h e peoples, exist,
the u p s u r g e o f t h e d r i v e t o r e v o l u t i o n i s i r r e p r e s s i b l e a n d
the v i c t o r y o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s i n e v i t a b l e . . .
__________________________
* V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 28, p. 60 (Alb. ed.).
124
ENVER HOXHA
T h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples a r e conscious t h a t t h e y a r e
f a c i n g a f i e r c e e n e m y , w h i c h t h e y m u s t despise, b u t n e v e r
u n d e r e s t i m a t e . D e s p i t e the h e a v y b l o w s a n d great d e f e a t s
i t h a s s u f f e r e d , i m p e r i a l i s m , w i t h the U n i t e d S t a t e s a t
the h e a d , i s s t i l l s t r o n g a n d a b l e t o u n d e r t a k e d a n g e r o u s
a d v e n t u r e s a g a i n s t t h e peoples. A n y o v e r e s t i m a t i o n o f the
s t r e n g t h o f t h e e n e m y leads t o c a p i t u l a t i o n a n d s u b m i s sion, w h i l e any underestimation of the strength of the
e n e m y , a n y i l l u s i o n a b o u t it, leads t o the s l a c k e n i n g o f
v i g i l a n c e a n d t o g e n e r a l u n p r e p a r e d n e s s against the e n e m y ,
o r t o d a n g e r o u s a d v e n t u r e s w h i c h e n d i n defeat. T h e
peoples m u s t be p r e p a r e d f o r a l o n g , s t e r n a n d d i f f i c u l t
struggle w h i c h w i l l d e m a n d b l o o d s h e d a n d sacrifices, t h e
t o t a l m o b i l i z a t i o n o f a l l t h e i r m o r a l a n d m a t e r i a l resources,
a l l the h e r o i s m a n d u n y i e l d i n g d e t e r m i n a t i o n , i n w h i c h
r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s h a v e n e v e r been a n d n e v e r w i l l b e l a c k i n g .
T o d a y A s i a , A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a h a v e become
centres o f g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y storms. T h e r e i m p e r i a l i s m
i s r e c e i v i n g h e a v y , d i r e c t b l o w s . T h e A l b a n i a n people h a i l
and support w i t h all their m i g h t the just struggle of the
peoples o f these areas a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m a n d c o l o n i a l
slavery, w h i c h they consider as a struggle of historic i m p o r t a n c e f o r the f a t e o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m i n
t h e w o r l d , a s t r u g g l e t h a t i s w e a k e n i n g the v e r y f o u n d a tions o f the p o s i t i o n s o f i m p e r i a l i s m . T h e y c o n s i d e r t h i s
s t r u g g l e a s the p o w e r f u l a l l y a n d r e s e r v e o f t h e w o r l d
p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n , as a great, r e a l f o r c e to r u i n t h e
c r i m i n a l aggressive p l a n s o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d
t o s e c u r e a n d d e f e n d peace i n the w o r l d .
T h e attitude towards the revolutionary struggle of
t h e oppressed n a t i o n s a n d peoples, t h a t c o m p r i s e the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f the p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d , i s
another important question of principle and one of the
m a i n lines of demarcation between Marxist-Leninists and
r e v i s i o n i s t renegades. It is t h e s a c r e d d u t y of t h e socialist
125
c o u n t r i e s a n d the c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r s ' m o v e m e n t i n
the c a p i t a l i s t m e t r o p o l i s e s t o g i v e the r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f the peoples o f A s i a , A f r i c a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a a l l
their unreserved help and support.
T h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d its w a r m o n g e r i n g
p o l i c y has a r o u s e d a l l t h e peoples. I n t h i s d i r e c t i o n t h e
r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t m e t r o p o l i s e s a r e
p l a y i n g a s i g n i f i c a n t r o l e . T h e w o r k i n g class a n d o t h e r
oppressed s t r a t a o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n i n these c o u n t r i e s a r e
m o r e a n d m o r e h u r l i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t o v i c t o r i o u s battles
against
the r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i e
and
imperialism.
Despite the damage caused by the treacherous activity
o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , the r e v o l u t i o n a r y u p s u r g e
o f t h e w o r k i n g class i s i n e v i t a b l e . N e i t h e r the t e m p o r a r y
so-called p r o s p e r i t y o f E u r o p e a n c a p i t a l i s m , t h e b o u r g e o i s
d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e fascist type, t h e d e m a g o g y a n d s u b v e r sive a c t i v i t y o f s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y , n o r t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e ,
T i t o i t e a n d o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t s c a n stop it. T h e n e w M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t forces w h i c h h a v e e m e r g e d a n d are b e i n g f o r m e d
i n a l l the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s a r e s u c c e s s f u l l y u n i t i n g the
w o r k i n g class a n d o t h e r e x p l o i t e d s t r a t a o f the p o p u l a t i o n
i n t h e s t r u g g l e against the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l i s m ,
the A m e r i c a n i n t e r f e r e n c e a n d d i c t a t e , f o r d e m o c r a c y ,
better l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s a n d s o c i a l i s m .
In order to achieve their counter-revolutionary aims
the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l i s m h a v e a l w a y s e m p l o y e d
t w o m a i n w a y s a n d m e a n s , t h e h a n g m a n a n d t h e priest,
violence a n d d e c e p t i o n . M o r e o v e r , e x p e r i e n c e s h o w s t h a t
the m o r e v i c t o r i e s t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t scores, t h e
stronger its p o s i t i o n s become, a n d t h e m o r e its p o w e r
increases, t h e m o r e the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l i s t s p i n
t h e i r h o p e s o n the m e t h o d o f u n d e r m i n i n g t h e r e v o l u t i o n
and socialism f r o m w i t h i n , on support and backing of
opportunism.
T r e a c h e r o u s s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y has l o n g been a n d s t i l l
126
ENVER HOXHA
is the agency of the bourgeoisie a n d i m p e r i a l i s m in the
w o r k e r s ' movement, to i n h i b i t the r e v o l u t i o n and to safeg u a r d a n d consolidate the capitalist order. Immediately
after the Second W o r l d W a r imperialism f o u n d a n e w
social b a c k i n g i n Titoism, w h i c h i t supported a n d e n couraged w i t h a l l its means as a specialized detachment
i n t h e s e r v i c e o f A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m t o u n d e r m i n e soc i a l i s m a n d sabotage t h e p e o p l e s ' l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e . W i t h
the emergence of K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionism, however,
w o r l d imperialism secured a new ally, a new v e r y p o w e r f u l a g e n c y f o r w h i c h i t h a d v e r y great n e e d a s a r e s u l t
of the failures a n d defeats inflicted on it t h r o u g h the
historic victories of socialism and liberation struggle of
t h e peoples w h o w e r e a d v a n c i n g i r r e s i s t i b l y .
T h e Soviet revisionist leaders entered into a «holy
alliance» w i t h A m e r i c a n imperialism, the greatest e n e m y
o f t h e peoples o f the w h o l e w o r l d . T h e S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n
friendship and all-round collaboration is one of the most
f u n d a m e n t a l characteristics of the present international
situation. T h i s alliance is based on their common heg e m o n i c i n t e r e s t s a n d a i m s f o r t h e d i v i s i o n o f spheres
of influence and for the establishment of the d o m i n a t i o n
o f t w o great p o w e r s o v e r t h e w o r l d . H a v i n g t h e s a m e
strategic standpoints, the U S A and U S S R , as t w o big
p o w e r s w i t h great e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l , c a n n o t
f a i l t o t a k e a c c o u n t o f e a c h other, n e e d e a c h o t h e r , u n d e r t a k e c o m m o n actions a n d c o - o r d i n a t e t h e i r p l a n s .
A t t h e s a m e t i m e , e a c h o f these t w o w o r l d p o w e r s
i s s t r i v i n g t o w i n s u p e r i o r i t y f o r itself, t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e
g r o u p i n g s o f f r i e n d s a r o u n d itself, t o c o m b a t t h e g r o u p i n g s o f the o t h e r p a r t y , i n o r d e r t o d e t a c h a l l i e s f r o m i t
a n d t o e x p a n d its o w n sphere o f i n f l u e n c e a t t h e e x p e n s e
of its partner. Nevertheless, they are u n i t e d in a close
alliance w i t h each other in order to attack the r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples a n d s o c i a l i s m . T h i s a l l i a n c e i s d e v e l o p i n g
127
in a l l directions: political, economic, ideological a n d c u l tural. In m a n y directions it has been sanctioned in official
d o c u m e n t s , i n v a r i o u s t r e a t i e s a n d agreements, o p e n a n d
secret. T h e y a r e g o i n g f u r t h e r a n d f u r t h e r i n the d i r e c t i o n o f t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f m i l i t a r y agreements, p l a n s a n d
plots f o r a g g r e s s i o n a n d o p p r e s s i o n .
T h e S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n alliance, w h i c h is developing
a n d b e i n g c o n c r e t i z e d d a y b y d a y , o f course, n o t w i t h o u t
difficulties and contradictions, constitutes a v e r y serious
d a n g e r f o r m a n k i n d , h e n c e i t i s a m a i n o b j e c t i v e against
w h i c h t h e s t r u g g l e o f a l l the peoples o f the w o r l d i s d i r e c t ed. T h e fact i s t h a t f o r t h e s a k e o f t h i s a l l i a n c e , t h e S o v i e t
l e a d e r s h i p h a s s a c r i f i c e d t h e v i t a l i n t e r e s t s o f the p e o p l e s
and socialism or is ready to do so at any time. Not only
has i t g i v e n u p a n y k i n d o f e f f e c t i v e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m f o r its o w n p a r t , b u t i t has u n d e r t a k e n the
shameful role of the fire-extinguisher to quell the flames
o f a n y people's l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e .
T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists are giving the i m p e r i a l ists g r e a t a n d a l l - r o u n d h e l p . T h i s i s e x p r e s s e d i n t h e i r
attempts at prettifying imperialism and alienating the
peoples f r o m t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n w a r s , s p r e a d i n g t h e i l l u s i o n
t h a t f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e w i l l c o m e a s a gift f r o m
abroad o r t h r o u g h U N O resolutions, i n t i m i d a t i n g the
peoples w i t h t h e h o r r o r s o f w a r a n d a t o m i c b l a c k m a i l .
I t i s e x p r e s s e d also i n t h e a t t e m p t s a t s u p p r e s s i n g t h e
p e o p l e s ' n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e s b y a p p r o v i n g the
d i s p a t c h o f c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces o f t h e U N O t o
suppress them, o r b y s u p p o r t i n g a n d a r m i n g reactionary
c l i q u e s in v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s , etc., etc. It is a f a c t t h a t t h e
r e v i s i o n i s t s l o g a n s o f « p e a c e f u l coexistence», o f « p e a c e f u l
economic competition», of «peaceful transition», of «complete and general disarmament», or of a «world w i t h o u t
weapons, w i t h o u t armies a n d w i t h o u t wars», and so on,
h a v e been e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y e m b r a c e d b y t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s
128
ENVER HOXHA
a s w e l l a s b y a l l i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c t i o n , i n c l u d i n g the
V a t i c a n , because w i t h these « p e a c e f u l » slogans, t h e y can
t h r o w dust in the eyes of the peoples, c a n c a m o u f l a g e
the w a r m o n g e r i n g a c t i v i t i e s o f i m p e r i a l i s m a n d c a r r y
out j o i n t S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n p l a n s f o r w o r l d d o m i n a t i o n .
B u t the s u b v e r s i o n o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e d i d
n o t y i e l d the r e s u l t s d e s i r e d b y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m
and w o r l d reaction. T h e betrayal by the Khrushchevites
a n d the slogans w i t h w h i c h i t w a s c a m o u f l a g e d are b e i n g
m o r e a n d m o r e e x p o s e d i n the eyes o f the peoples, t h e y
h a v e set off c h a i n r e a c t i o n s a n d c a u s e d deep c o n t r a d i c tions w h i c h a r e i n f l i c t i n g g r a v e a n d i n e v i t a b l e d e f e a t s
o n i m p e r i a l i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m , o n e a f t e r another.
Practice has p r o v e d that K h r u s h c h e v i t e «peaceful
coexistence» a n d t h e p o l i c y o f the l a w o f t h e j u n g l e p u r sued b y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m are t w o h e a d s o f t h e one
snake w h i c h i s p r e p a r i n g the e n s l a v e m e n t o f peoples
a n d b l o o d y clashes at t h e i r expense. U n d e r the guise of
« p e a c e f u l coexistence» the S o v i e t g o v e r n m e n t , w i t h the
m a r k e d f e a t u r e s of a b o u r g e o i s g o v e r n m e n t , a p p l i e s a
policy of friendship, alliance and all-round collaboration
w i t h i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d s p r e a d s false i l l u s i o n s a b o u t i m p e r i a l i s m , t r y i n g t o c o n v i n c e t h e peoples t o p r e s e r v e the
status quo, t o r e n o u n c e a n y k i n d o f s t r u g g l e w i t h o u t
exception, otherwise «any spark w o u l d flare up into a
w o r l d c o n f l a g r a t i o n » , etc.
T h e peoples s a w c l e a r l y that b y p u r s u i n g t h e p o l i c y
o f K h r u s h c h e v i t e coexistence, the S o v i e t leaders, n o t o n l y
r e n o u n c e d s u p p o r t f o r t h e peoples' a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t w a r s ,
b u t b e c a m e d i r e c t p a r t n e r s a n d a c c o m p l i c e s i n the s u p p r e s s i o n o f the l i b e r a t i o n w a r o f the C o n g o l e s e p e o p l e i n 1961,
s h a m e f u l l y c a p i t u l a t e d t o A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i n the
C a r i b b e a n crisis o f 1962 ( 1 ) , v o t e d a t t h e U N O f o r «the
______________________________
1 Under direct and open pressure by the U S A government,
129
cease-fire» i n t h e D o m i n i c a n R e p u b l i c , a n d p o s t p o n e d t h e
settlement o f the G e r m a n q u e s t i o n i n d e f i n i t e l y , s a c r i f i c i n g
the n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s o f t h e G e r m a n D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c .
T h e peoples a r e seeing t h a t the S o v i e t leaders, together
w i t h the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , a r e m a n i p u l a t i n g t h e U N O ,
turning it more and more into an instrument of interference a n d a g g r e s s i o n i n f a v o u r o f the i m p e r i a l i s t s .
T h e treacherous revisionist policy of non-resistance to
imperialism a n d reaction, of capitulation to and collaborat i o n w i t h t h e m , has l e d t o the e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f i m p e r i a l i s m , the i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f its aggressive a c t i v i t y , the a c t i v a t i o n e v e r y w h e r e o f r e a c t i o n a r y , p r o - i m p e r i a l i s t forces
and, as a result, t h e a g g r a v a t i o n of t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n seen i n recent y e a r s .
O u r P a r t y and government have scornfully rejected
and exposed the policy of K h r u s h c h e v i t e «peaceful coexistence» as a c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o l i c y of b e t r a y a l .
They have always adhered to the Marxist-Leninist policy
of peaceful coexistence in relations w i t h capitalist countries, w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e w a g i n g a r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e
against i m p e r i a l i s m , h e a d e d b y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d
unreservedly supporting the peoples' r e v o l u t i o n a r y l i b eration struggle. T h e y have always loyally upheld proletarian internationalism, w h i c h constitutes the general
l i n e o f the f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f e v e r y g e n u i n e socialist
country.
T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e slogans of «general a n d complete
disarmament» a n d «a w o r l d without weapons, without a r mies, w i t h o u t w a r s » , w h i c h are u s e d b y the r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d
i m p e r i a l i s t s , o n the o n e h a n d , t o l u l l t o sleep a n d d i s a r m t h e
_______________________________
during October a n d November 1962 the Soviet government
ordered the d i s m a n t l i n g a n d w i t h d r a w a l of missiles f r o m C u b a ,
w h i c h it had stationed there only a couple of weeks ago, w h i l e
o f f i c i a l l y recognizing the A m e r i c a n navy the right to c o n t r o l
operations for their d i s m a n t l i n g and w i t h d r a w a l .
130
ENVER HOXHA
peoples, a n d o n the o t h e r , t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r ceaseless a r m i n g b e h i n d t h e b a c k s o f the peoples a n d t h e i r p r e p a r a t i o n s
for c r u e l wars, are a great f r a u d a n d nauseating h y p o crisy. T h i s is n o w m o r e t h a n clear a n d no demagogy can
h i d e it. It is a fact t h a t d e s p i t e a l l t h e i r c l a m o u r a b o u t
d i s a r m a m e n t , b o t h t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s are
a r m i n g t h e m s e l v e s t o the t e e t h a n d a r e o r g a n i z i n g n e w
m i l i t a r y alliances, s o t h a t these t w o b i g p o w e r s m a y
dictate the l a w to the w o r l d . T h e M o s c o w T r e a t y on the
p a r t i a l b a n o f n u c l e a r w e a p o n s ' tests l a i d t h e f o u n d a t i o n s
of this alliance. The n e w agreement w h i c h is being concocted o n t h e « n o n - p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f n u c l e a r w e a p o n s » , i s
i n t e n d e d t o consolidate t h e S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n m o n o p o l y
of nuclear weapons and to strengthen their nuclear blackm a i l against f r e e d o m - l o v i n g a n d p r o g r e s s i v e states a n d
peoples.
O u r party and government have energetically exposed
a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o e x p o s e the m a n o e u v r e s o f t h e i m perialists and revisionists who, behind the curtain of e n d less t a l k s o n d i s a r m a m e n t , a r e h a t c h i n g u p p l o t s against
the peoples a n d s o c i a l i s m . A t a t i m e w h e n t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s
a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s , f a r f r o m i n t e n d i n g t o d i s a r m , are c o n tinually a r m i n g themselves w i t h the most up-to-date
w e a p o n s , t h e r e i s o n l y one w a y o p e n t o f r e e d o m - l o v i n g
peoples a n d socialist c o u n t r i e s : t h e y m u s t b e a r m e d t o
liberate themselves f r o m imperialism and defend t h e m selves f r o m i m p e r i a l i s t a g g r e s s i o n . . .
O u r P a r t y a n d g o v e r n m e n t h a v e n o t b e e n a n d are
not o p p o s e d t o e f f o r t s t o a c h i e v e c o n c r e t e r e s u l t s i n the
f i e l d o f d i s a r m a m e n t , b u t these r e s u l t s c a n n o t b e a c h i e v e d
b y m a k i n g u n p r i n c i p l e d concessions t o t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , b y
s p r e a d i n g i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e m a n d b y b a s i n g hopes o n
t h e «goodwill» of the imperialist leaders and on the talks
w i t h t h e m . T h e o n l y correct course i n t h i s m a t t e r , too, i s
t h e resolute a n d c o - o r d i n a t e d s t r u g g l e o f t h e p e o p l e s t o
131
i m p o s e d i s a r m a m e n t u p o n t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d , i n the
f i r s t place, u p o n the U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a .
I n o r d e r t o assist t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d r e a c t i o n a r i e s ,
t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s p r o c l a i m e d «the p e a c e f u l
w a y » a s a s t r a t e g i c p r i n c i p l e f o r the w h o l e w o r l d , o p p o s i n g
i t t o t h e peoples' l i b e r a t i o n w a r a n d t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n b y
v i o l e n c e a s a u n i v e r s a l l a w o f socialist r e v o l u t i o n . T h i s
w a s a n o t h e r act o f d i v e r s i o n , a n a p p e a l t o the peoples
a n d revolutionaries to leave the bourgeoisie and reaction
i n peace a n d t o p u r s u e t h e r e f o r m i s t course s o f a v o u r e d
by social-democracy. T h e so-called peaceful w a y is a
deviation f r o m every basic Marxist-Leninist principle in
the revolutionary theory and practice for the liberation
o f t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e peoples a n d t h e o p p r e s s e d n a tions.
M a n y events of our times as w e l l as all historical
experience h a v e p r o v e d the falsity and danger of this
r e v i s i o n i s t l i n e . F a r f r o m d e p a r t i n g v o l u n t a r i l y f r o m the
h i s t o r i c a l a r e n a , t h e r e a c t i o n a r y classes a n d t h e i m p e r i a l ists f o r c i b l y suppress t h e r e v o l u t i o n e v e r y w h e r e a n d
anywhere, f a r f r o m g i v i n g up their weapons, they are
continuously strengthening their mechanism of oppression
a n d v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t t h e peoples. T h e b l o o d y events i n
I n d o n e s i a are a b i t t e r b u t v e r y v i v i d p r o o f o f h o w f a r
reaction w i l l go in its f u r y a n d savagery w h e n it has the
incitement a n d active support of the A m e r i c a n imperialists
and the backing of the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists, who,
v y i n g w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , are n o w t r y i n g t o
strengthen their friendship w i t h the Indonesian m i l i t a r y
j u n t a , w h i c h h a s t h e b l o o d o f m o r e t h a n 500,000 I n d o n e s i a n c o m m u n i s t s a n d p a t r i o t s * o n its h a n d s .
A l l the facts a n d a l l t h e e v e n t s p r o v e w i t h t h e greatest
c l a r i t y that the revisionist leading group of the Soviet
___________________________________
* See the article on p. 18 of this volume.
132
ENVER HOXHA
U n i o n has become, i n e v e r y d i r e c t i o n , the a l l y a n d z e a l o u s
assistant o f i m p e r i a l i s m , e s p e c i a l l y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m ,
i n o r d e r t o p r o l o n g its existence, t o save i t f r o m the
i n e v i t a b l e defeat a w a i t i n g it, t o e x t r i c a t e i t f r o m the e n c i r clement of the peoples a n d the r e v o l u t i o n , to l i q u i d a t e
s o c i a l i s m a n d t o s t r a n g l e the peoples' r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d
l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e s e v e r y w h e r e . I n these c o n d i t i o n s t h e
struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m , h e a d e d b y the U n i t e d States,
i s i n s e p a r a b l e f r o m t h e s t r u g g l e against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , headed b y t h e S o v i e t leaders. W i t h o u t e x p o s i n g a n d
s t r u g g l i n g against t h e r e v i s i o n i s t d e m a g o g y a n d b e t r a y a l ,
w e c a n n o t w a g e t h e s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m successf u l l y a n d c a r r y f o r w a r d the w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n .
I m p e r i a l i s m , m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m a n d a l l the forces
o f r e a c t i o n a n d s o c i a l regression, w h e r e v e r t h e y operate
a n d h o w e v e r p o w e r f u l t h e y m a y be, a r e c o n d e m n e d t o
d e a t h b y h i s t o r y . H o w e v e r , these s i n i s t e r forces w i l l n e v e r
die o f t h e i r o w n a c c o r d , t h e y w i l l n e v e r d e p a r t f r o m
the scene o f h i s t o r y v o l u n t a r i l y a n d i n a p e a c e f u l w a y .
T h e nearer they approach their death, the fiercer become
their attempts to preserve their existence and regain
t h e i r lost p o s i t i o n s . I n t h e i r a g o n y t h e y w i l l n o t h e s i t a t e
t o t h r o w t h e m s e l v e s i n t o the m o s t d e s p e r a t e a d v e n t u r e s ,
t o use t h e most i n h u m a n m e a n s a n d c o m m i t t h e m o s t
h i d e o u s c r i m e s . T h i s i s a l a w t o w h i c h a l l s o c i a l classes
a n d forces o n the b r i n k o f t h e i r i n e v i t a b l e d o o m a d h e r e . . .
Faced w i t h ferocious enemies — A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l ism, Khrushchevite revisionism and w o r l d reaction, we
must m a i n t a i n h i g h revolutionary vigilance, must discover,
attack a n d d e s t r o y a l l t h e i r aggressive p l a n s a n d c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y plots, m u s t r e s o l u t e l y o p p o s e t h e p o l i c y o f
w a r a n d aggression, c o l o n i a l i s m a n d n e o - c o l o n i a l i s m , m u s t
expose the fraudulent and demagogic manoeuvres of
133
i m p e r i a l i s m and revisionism, exploit all the contradictions
that can be exploited in the enemy camp and wage a
r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m , h e a d e d b y A m e r i c a n
i m p e r i a l i s m , a n d a l l its l a c k e y s a n d stooges.
R e s o l u t e resistance a n d s t r u g g l e m u s t b e w a g e d against
the imperialist and revisionist policy of economic e x p a n s i o n , w h i c h b y m e a n s o f « a i d a n d credits», t h e «alliances
f o r progress», o r «the i n t e r n a t i o n a l d i v i s i o n o f l a b o u r » ,
«the C o m m o n M a r k e t » , o r «the C o u n c i l o f M u t u a l E c o n o m i c A i d » , are a t t e m p t i n g t o p u t the y o k e a r o u n d the
n e c k o f d i f f e r e n t peoples, t o u n d e r m i n e t h e i r f r e e d o m a n d
n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e , t o s u b j u g a t e a n d e x p l o i t these
peoples f o r t h e i r o w n purposes. T h e r e c a n b e n o t r u e
political independence w i t h o u t economic independence.
I n o r d e r t o d e v e l o p the n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e ,
it is n e c e s s a r y to f o l l o w the c o u r s e of s e l f - r e l i a n c e c o n s i s t e n t l y , b y u t i l i z i n g a l l t h e i n t e r n a l m a t e r i a l resources
and manpower in a rational and efficient way. A i d is
always a secondary factor a n d it s h o u l d be provided in
a c o m p l e t e l y d i s i n t e r e s t e d w a y b y t h e s o c i a l i s t countries,
should not be accompanied w i t h political conditions and
p r i v i l e g e s a n d s h o u l d s e r v e t o assist the i n d e p e n d e n t econo m i c and political development of the receiving country.
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s c o n s i d e r the p r o v i s i o n o f s u c h a i d not
as charity but as m u t u a l a i d and an internationalist duty.
T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a n d forces c a n n o t b u t
s t a n d a t the h e a d o f t h e h i s t o r i c s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n the
forces o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d those o f r e a c t i o n . H i s t o r y
has c h a r g e d t h e m w i t h t h e g l o r i o u s m i s s i o n o f u p h o l d i n g
the b a n n e r o f s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m , c o l o n i a l i s m
a n d neo-colonialism, the banner of national independence,
d e m o c r a c y , s o c i a l i s m a n d peace, o f u n i t i n g a l l the p a t r i o t i c
a n d d e m o c r a t i c forces o f t h e c o u n t r y i n b r o a d p o p u l a r
f r o n t s based o n t h e a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g class w i t h
the p e a s a n t r y , o f m a s t e r i n g a l l f o r m s o f s t r u g g l e a n d ,
134
ENVER
HOXHA
f i r s t o f a l l , the p e o p l e ' s a r m e d s t r u g g l e , b y c r e a t i n g the
r e v o l u t i o n a r y a r m e d forces, i n d i s p e n s a b l e b o t h f o r n a t i o n a l a n d social l i b e r a t i o n a n d f o r the d e f e n c e o f t h e
victories of the revolution, of safeguarding their ideological,
political a n d organizational independence, a n d resolutely
ensuring their hegemony in the r e v o l u t i o n as a decisive
condition for c a r r y i n g it through to the end.
T h a n k s t o the s t r u g g l e o f the peoples, o f a l l t h e a n t i i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r c e s o f o u r t i m e , the r e v olution is marching triumphantly forward. It has created
new conditions in w h i c h no t y r a n t can l o r d it over the
peoples i n peace. N o w the peoples h a v e a c q u i r e d t r e mendous experience, though not everywhere in an e q u a l
degree. T h e y are not a f r a i d o f t h e oppressors a n d e n s l a v ers, n o t a f r a i d t o t a k e u p a r m s a n d r i s e i n r e v o l u t i o n .
T h e great fire of the revolution is ablaze in the w o r l d
t o d a y a n d t h e r e i s n o f o r c e w h i c h c a n e x t i n g u i s h it. T h i s
fire w i l l envelop the imperialists along w i t h a l l their
stooges a n d l a c k e y s a n d w i p e t h e m f r o m t h e face o f
the e a r t h .
Comrades,
T h e A l b a n i a n people a r e p r o u d t h a t t h e i r P e o p l e ' s
Republic is m a r c h i n g shoulder to shoulder w i t h the a r m y
o f the r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d , a d v a n c i n g
i n t h e f o r e f r o n t o f t h e s t r u g g l e against t h e forces o f
i m p e r i a l i s m , r e a c t i o n a n d r e v i s i o n i s m a n d m a k i n g its
modest c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f
m a n k i n d f r o m oppression a n d exploitation, for the t r i u m p h
of the revolution and socialism.
T h e People's
Republic of A l b a n i a , led by the P a r t y
135
o f L a b o u r , a l w a y s has p u r s u e d a n d a l w a y s w i l l p u r s u e
a revolutionary foreign policy based on M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a p o l i c y o f f r i e n d s h i p w i t h a l l t h e p e o p l e s o f the
world, great or small, according to the principles of
e q u a l i t y a n d m u t u a l interests, t h e p o l i c y o f the s t r u g g l e
against imperialism, headed by A m e r i c a n imperialism,
a n d a c t i v e s o l i d a r i t y w i t h a l l t h e states a n d p e o p l e s t h a t
f i g h t f o r f r e e d o m , d e m o c r a c y a n d social progress, w i t h
a l l r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples a n d forces t h a t f i g h t f o r t h e
d e f e n c e o f peace a n d t h e t r i u m p h o f s o c i a l i s m .
T h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e reports to the P a r t y that by
u n w a v e r i n g l y p u r s u i n g this p r i n c i p l e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y p o l i c y ,
our P a r t y and our government have successfully carried
out t h e t a s k s set b y t h e 4 t h C o n g r e s s i n the f i e l d o f
i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s , h a v e s t r e n g t h e n e d the n a t i o n a l
independence and sovereignty, have extended the r e l a tions o f f r i e n d l y c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r states a n d h a v e
a i d e d a n d s u p p o r t e d t h e s t r u g g l e o f the f r e e d o m - l o v i n g
peoples a n d o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces e v e r y w h e r e i n t h e
w o r l d . T o d a y A l b a n i a i s s t r o n g e r t h a n ever, w i t h m a n y
loyal friends, w i t h a great and well-deserved international
authority.
The People's Republic of A l b a n i a has always h a d an
i n d e p e n d e n t p o l i c y d i c t a t e d b y t h e i n t e r e s t s o f the A l b a n i a n people, b y t h e interests o f c o m m u n i s m a n d peace.
W e u p h o l d t h e v i e w t h a t a l l s o v e r e i g n states, b i g o r
s m a l l , a r e e q u a l a n d t h a t e a c h m a k e s its c o n t r i b u t i o n
i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l f i e l d . W e a r e against t h e concept t h a t
a s m a l l state s h o u l d s u b m i t to a b i g state, a g a i n s t t h e
i n t e r f e r e n c e o f o n e state i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f a n o t h e r
state. T h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a h a s n e v e r p e r mitted a n d never w i l l permit anyone, w h o e v e r he m a y
be, t o e n c r o a c h u p o n its n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l r i g h t s .
I n t h e f u t u r e , too, i t w i l l f i g h t w i t h a l l its m i g h t a n d w i l l
n e v e r accept a n y p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y p r e s s u r e
136
ENVER
HOXHA
t h a t m a y b e e x e r t e d i n o r d e r t o i m p o s e o n o u r people
a d i c t a t e h a r m f u l to t h e i r i n t e r e s t s .
T h e A l b a n i a n people are peaceful and their People's
R e p u b l i c i s a p e a c e f u l state, b u t t h e y w i l l n e v e r hesitate
to strike mercilessly a n d w i t h all their might and means
at anyone w h o attempts to violate their territorial integr i t y , t o p l o t against t h e i r socialist r e g i m e a n d t h e i r i n ternal order and stability. T h e A l b a n i a n people w i l l never
again allow themselves to be trampled upon as in the
b i t t e r past. T h e y h a v e t h e i r r i g h t s , d i g n i t y a n d h o n o u r ,
they h a v e the right to live, to take their o w n decisions on
e v e r y t h i n g , j u s t l i k e a n y o t h e r people.
T h e People's Republic of A l b a n i a tore up a l l enslaving
t r e a t i e s a n d a g r e e m e n t s i m p o s e d o n t h e A l b a n i a n people
by the anti-popular regimes and various imperialists. It
w i l l n e v e r a l l o w t h e e x i s t i n g a g r e e m e n t s a n d treaties
s i g n e d b y i t w i t h f u l l w i l l a n d consciousness
to be
d i s t o r t e d b y a n y o t h e r s i g n a t o r y a t t h e e x p e n s e o f the
l o f t y a i m s o f these a g r e e m e n t s a n d treaties o r a t t h e
e x p e n s e o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. O u r g o v e r n m e n t w i l l
respect a l l the treaties i t has signed, o n c o n d i t i o n t h a t
t h e o t h e r s i g n a t o r i e s also respect t h e m . T h e r i g h t s o f the
People's R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a i n these t r e a t i e s a r e n e i t h e r
m o r e n o r less, b u t e q u a l t o those o f a l l the o t h e r p a r t i c i p a t i n g states, b i g o r s m a l l . T h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f
A l b a n i a h a s n o t p e r m i t t e d a n d w i l l not p e r m i t a n y o f
its rights, however small, to be violated, a n d likewise
it pledges, as it has a l w a y s done, not to v i o l a t e the r i g h t s
o f a n y b o d y else.
O u r P a r t y a n d g o v e r n m e n t h a v e w a g e d a n d are
w a g i n g a r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against t h e c r i m i n a l a t t e m p t s
of the Khrushchevite revisionists and their followers to
use the W a r s a w T r e a t y a n d t h e C o u n c i l o f M u t u a l E c o n o m i c A i d a s i n s t r u m e n t s o f pressure, i n t e r f e r e n c e a n d
a g g r e s s i o n against o u r c o u n t r y . W e s h a l l d e f e n d o u r r i g h t s
137
to the end and we shall persistently expose the treachery
a n d plots of the n e w Tsars of the K r e m l i n not o n l y
i n r e g a r d t o the i n t e r e s t s a n d r i g h t s o f A l b a n i a , b u t also
i n r e g a r d t o t h e r i g h t s a n d interests o f s o c i a l i s m a n d
peace i n g e n e r a l .
I n i t s e c o n o m i c r e l a t i o n s a n d c o m m e r c i a l exchanges,
the P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a h a s a l w a y s b e e n correct
in regard to reciprocal obligations, but w i l l never permit
that the a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d a g r e e m e n t s b e v i o l a t e d a n d
d a m a g e caused t o its e c o n o m y t h r o u g h n o f a u l t o f o u r s ,
b u t as a r e s u l t of t h e h o s t i l e a c t i v i t y of o t h e r states. It
w i l l d e m a n d r e p a r a t i o n s f o r d a m a g e d o w n t o t h e last
cent. T h e s a m e r i g h t belongs t o o u r p a r t n e r s , s h o u l d the
People's Republic of A l b a n i a breach contracts and by
its u n l a w f u l a c t i o n s cause d a m a g e t o o t h e r s .
O u r country has n o r m a l diplomatic relations w i t h
3 5 states, ( 2 ) a n d c o m m e r c i a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e l a t i o n s w i t h
a s t i l l l a r g e r n u m b e r of states. It is c o n t i n u o u s l y e x t e n d i n g
these r e l a t i o n s a n d i s r e a d y t o e s t a b l i s h s u c h r e l a t i o n s
w i t h o t h e r states, too, r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e d i f f e r e n t f o r m s
o f t h e i r s o c i a l a n d p o l i t i c a l r e g i m e s , b u t a l w a y s o n the
basis o f t h e r e c o g n i z e d p r i n c i p l e s o f e q u a l i t y , n o n - i n t e r ference, m u t u a l respect f o r t e r r i t o r i a l i n t e g r i t y a n d n a tional sovereignty, m u t u a l benefit and peaceful coexistence. T h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f A l b a n i a w i l l c o n t i n u e its
r i g o r o u s respect f o r these p r i n c i p l e s i n its r e l a t i o n s w i t h
o t h e r states a n d w i l l d e m a n d t h a t others, too. a p p l y t h e m
i n their relations w i t h A l b a n i a . . .
_________________________________
2 The P S R A
to A u g u s t 1981.
had
diplomatic
relations
with
95
states
up
II
T H E F U L F I L M E N T O F T H E 3rd F I V E - Y E A R P L A N A N D T H E
M A I N TARGETS FOR THE D E V E L O P M E N T OF T H E
ECONOMY AND CULTURE FOR THE N E X T FIVE YEARS
T h e 4th Congress of the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a
m a r k e d the p a s s i n g o f o u r c o u n t r y t o the n e w h i s t o r i c a l
stage of the c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n of socialist society. T h e
3 r d F i v e - y e a r P l a n c o n s t i t u t e d t h e f i r s t step i n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y f o r t h e s o l u t i o n o f
the basic p r o b l e m s o f t h i s stage. Its m a i n a i m w a s t o set
o u r c o u n t r y o n the course o f its t r a n s f o r m a t i o n f r o m a n
agricultural-industrial country into an industrial-agricult u r a l one, t o i n c r e a s e t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l o u t p u t m o r e r a p i d l y
and, consequently, to raise the m a t e r i a l standard of l i v i n g
o f t h e w o r k i n g masses a n d f u r t h e r d e v e l o p t h e p e o p l e s
education and culture.
I n o r d e r t o f u l f i l these tasks the P a r t y a n d the people
w o r k e d and struggled in d i f f i c u l t conditions created by
the t r e a c h e r o u s S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p a n d its
lackeys. T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , a i m i n g t o sabotage
our construction of socialism, organized the total blockade
o f socialist A l b a n i a , a r b i t r a r i l y a n n u l l e d a l l the agreements
on the provision of credits a n d economic, technical and
m i l i t a r y a i d , w i t h d r e w t h e specialists, tore u p a l l t h e
contracts concluded w i t h the A l b a n i a n government and
cut o f f t r a d e a n d d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e P e o p l e ' s
Republic of Albania.
I n these n e w c i r c u m s t a n c e s , o u r P a r t y a n d g o v e r n m e n t
took a n d s u c c e s s f u l l y a p p l i e d a series of m e a s u r e s . A m e n d -
139
merits w e r e m a d e t o t h e targets o f the p l a n , t h e n o r m
o f a c c u m u l a t i o n o f t h e n a t i o n a l i n c o m e w a s r a i s e d above
the p l a n n e d levels, i n c r e a s e d r e s e r v e s of m a t e r i a l s essential t o e n s u r e t h e u n i n t e r r u p t e d d e v e l o p m e n t o f the
economy a n d t o g u a r a n t e e the d e f e n c e o f the H o m e l a n d
i n a n y c i r c u m s t a n c e s w e r e a c c u m u l a t e d , a n d the r e g i m e
o f e c o n o m i z i n g a n d the socialist o r g a n i z a t i o n o f w o r k
were f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n e d , r a i s i n g the e f f e c t i v e m o b i l i z a tion a n d use o f a l l o u r i n t e r n a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d reserves
to a n e w l e v e l .
F o r t h e p e o p l e a n d o u r P a r t y , the p e r i o d o f the 3 r d
F i v e - y e a r P l a n w a s t h e p e r i o d o f the h a r d e s t test a f t e r
the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r . N e v e r t h e l e s s , o u r P a r t y
comes t o t h e 5 t h C o n g r e s s w i t h m a n y m a j o r successes
to its credit. T h e schemes of the r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d of the
imperialists failed completely and ignominiously. T h a n k s
t o r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s m a n d the l o f t y p a t r i o t i s m o f
the w o r k i n g masses, socialist A l b a n i a , l e d b y the P a r t y
w i t h w i s d o m , f o r e s i g h t a n d courage, f o r g e d ahead, b r o k e
the b l o c k a d e , f o u g h t b l o w f o r b l o w against t h e r e v i s i o n ists a n d i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d e m e r g e d v i c t o r i o u s , as a l w a y s ,
because t h e r e i s n o f o r c e i n the w o r l d w h i c h can stop
the t r i u m p h a n t m a r c h o f o u r s o c i a l i s t r e v o l u t i o n .
...........................
B.
— THE MAIN DIRECTIONS
SOCIALIST
CONSTRUCTION
FIVE-YEAR
PLAN
AND TASKS
FOR
THE
1966-1970
OF THE
NEW
T h e m a i n targets o f t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n w h i c h
this C o n g r e s s w i l l a p p r o v e d e r i v e f r o m the m a i n content
of t h e stage of t h e c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n of socialist society o n w h i c h o u r c o u n t r y i s p r o c e e d i n g . T h e y r e s p o n d
140
ENVER
HOXHA
t o t h e needs a n d p o s s i b i l i t i e s o f the d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r
e c o n o m y a n d c u l t u r e a n d p r o c e e d f r o m the i n t e r n a l a n d
external conditions in w h i c h our P a r t y a n d people are
fighting for the construction of socialism.
T h e m a i n objectives o f t h e g e n e r a l l i n e o f the P a r t y
f o r the c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s t s o c i e t y h a v e
b e e n a n d a r e : the u n i n t e r r u p t e d g r o w t h o f the p r o d u c t i v e
forces a n d , o n t h i s basis, the r a i s i n g o f t h e p e o p l e ' s w e l l b e i n g ; t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f the socialist r e l a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n i n correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y s ; the d e e p e n i n g o f
the socialist r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e f i e l d s o f i d e o l o g y a n d c u l t u r e ; t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d the u n i t y o f the people w i t h the P a r t y , b y w a g i n g
a s h a r p a n d i r r e c o n c i l a b l e class s t r u g g l e against i n t e r n a l
and foreign enemies and alien influences; the b u i l d - u p
o f t h e defence p o t e n t i a l o f t h e c o u n t r y . A l o n g w i t h this,
the P a r t y f o l l o w s t h e l i n e o f g r a d u a l l y r e d u c i n g t h e
d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the p e a s a n try, between t o w n a n d country, between industry and
agriculture and between mental and physical labour.
In c o n f o r m i t y w i t h this general line, d u r i n g the 4th
F i v e - y e a r P l a n t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f the p r o d u c t i v e
forces o f the c o u n t r y m u s t b e e n s u r e d i n o r d e r t o a c celerate t h e c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f the t e c h n i c a l - m a t e r i a l
base o f s o c i a l i s m . T h i s i s t o b e a t t a i n e d b y c o n t i n u i n g t h e
socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d i n c r e a s i n g
i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n t h r o u g h m o r e c o m p l e t e use o f the
e x i s t i n g p r o d u c t i v e c a p a c i t i e s a n d t h r o u g h the b u i l d i n g
o f n e w projects, b y c o n c e n t r a t i n g t h e forces f o r a m o r e
r a p i d development of agricultural production, especially
o f g r a i n p r o d u c t i o n , i n t h e f i r s t place, t h r o u g h t h e f u r t h e r
i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e . O n t h e basis o f t h e g r o w t h
of social production, the material and cultural well-being
o f the people a n d t h e d e f e n c e p o t e n t i a l o f the H o m e l a n d
w i l l be r a i s e d to a h i g h e r l e v e l .
141
In the f i e l d of industry, it is foreseen that total i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n i n 1970 w i l l r i s e b y 50-54 p e r cent
a s c o m p a r e d w i t h 1965. T o t h i s e n d t h e b r a n c h e s o f t h e
heavy a n d l i g h t p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r i e s w i l l u n d e r g o great
d e v e l o p m e n t . R o l l e d f e r r o u s metals, n i t r a t e a n d p h o s phate f e r t i l i z e r s f o r o u r a g r i c u l t u r e , c a u s t i c soda a n d
soda ash, brass, e n a m e l l e d k i t c h e n w a r e , e l e c t r i c l i g h t
bulbs, f i b r e boards, v a r i o u s k i n d s o f p a p e r a n d c a r d b o a r d
and m a n y o t h e r p r o d u c t s w i l l b e p r o d u c e d i n o u r c o u n t r y
for the f i r s t t i m e . T h e t e x t i l e i n d u s t r y w i l l b e s t r e n g t h e n e d
while the food-processing industry w i l l be extended
continually.
T h e n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n envisages great t a s k s f o r
the d e v e l o p m e n t of agriculture. T o t a l a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n w i l l i n c r e a s e b y 41-46 p e r cent d u r i n g t h e 4 t h
F i v e - y e a r P l a n a s c o m p a r e d w i t h the 3 r d F i v e - y e a r P l a n .
The f u n d a m e n t a l t a s k f o r a g r i c u l t u r e d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d
is, f i r s t of a l l , to i n c r e a s e p r o d u c t i o n of b r e a d g r a i n ,
potatoes, r i c e a n d e d i b l e fats. T h e r e w i l l also b e f u r t h e r
increases i n t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f i n d u s t r i a l crops, i n the
development of livestock f a r m i n g to ensure m o r e m i l k
and meat, a n d i n t h e e x t e n s i o n o f f o r e s t r y . S p e c i a l attention w i l l b e p a i d t o t h e o p e n i n g u p o f n e w l a n d .
In order to ensure the uninterrupted development
of our economy and culture, d u r i n g the 4th Five-year
P l a n fundamental investments and constructions w i l l be
greatly i n c r e a s e d . It is foreseen t h a t t h e v o l u m e of i n v e s t ments f o r this f i v e - y e a r p l a n w i l l b e a b o u t 3 4 p e r cent
above t h a t o f t h e p r e v i o u s f i v e - y e a r p l a n , w h i l e the
volume of capital construction w i l l g r o w by about 18
per cent.
As a result of the development of industry and agriculture, o f t h e r i s e i n t h e p r o d u c t i v i t y o f l a b o u r , the
increase i n t h e n u m b e r o f w o r k e r s a n d o f t h e ceaseless
r e d u c t i o n o f t h e costs o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d c i r c u l a t i o n , the
142
ENVER
HOXHA
national income in 1970 w i l l be 45-50 p e r cent g r e a t e r
t h a n in 1965.
In compliance w i t h the g r o w t h of industrial and
a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e r i s e i n t h e people's w e l l b e i n g socialist trade w i l l a s s u m e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t
d u r i n g the 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n . T h e v o l u m e o f c o m m o d i t y
c i r c u l a t i o n i n 1970 w i l l i n c r e a s e b y 25-27 p e r cent c o m p a r e d w i t h 1965.
F o r the f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t of the cultural revolution
special attention w i l l be paid to the continuous developm e n t of education and culture. D u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e y e a r P l a n t h e n u m b e r o f schools w i l l increase, a n d c o m pulsory eight-year schooling w i l l be applied throughout
the c o u n t r y . T h e r e w i l l b e a l l - r o u n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f
c u l t u r e , e s p e c i a l l y i n the c o u n t r y s i d e , w h i l e s c i e n t i f i c r e search a n d e x p e r i m e n t a l w o r k w i l l be raised up to a
higher level.
1. — THE CONTINUATION OF THE INDUSTRIALIZATION
OF THE COUNTRY REMAINS ONE OF THE VITAL TASKS
FOR THE SOCIALIST CONSTRUCTION
O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s c o n s i d e r e d i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n a s
one of the m o s t i m p o r t a n t tasks of the c o n s t r u c t i o n of
s o c i a l i s m i n o u r c o u n t r y , w i t h o u t w h i c h t h e socialist
r e v o l u t i o n o n t h e e c o n o m i c f r o n t cannot a d v a n c e . I n
c o n f o r m i t y w i t h this, i t c o n s i s t e n t l y f o l l o w s the l i n e o f
t r a n s f o r m i n g the c o u n t r y f r o m a n a g r i c u l t u r a l - i n d u s t r i a l
country into an industrial-agricultural one and then into
an industrial country w i t h an advanced agriculture.
O u r P a r t y adheres t o t h e p r i n c i p l e that
c o u n t r y , r e l y i n g m a i n l y o n its o w n forces,
developed economy, w i t h p o w e r f u l industry
a g r i c u l t u r e , based on its i n t e r n a l assets a n d
e v e r y socialist
must build a
and advanced
resources, an
143
economy able to guarantee the independence of the
c o u n t r y a n d its ceaseless d e v e l o p m e n t o n t h e r o a d o f
socialism. T h e a l l - r o u n d development a n d strengthening
of each socialist c o u n t r y is to t h e b e n e f i t of a l l c o u n t r i e s .
T h i s does not restrict, b u t e x p a n d s t h e i r e c o n o m i c coop e r a t i o n on a correct L e n i n i s t basis, t h e r e f o r e t h e a i d
o f t h e m o r e a d v a n c e d socialist c o u n t r i e s t o o t h e r c o u n tries s h o u l d also b e i n t e n d e d p r e c i s e l y t o b u i l d t h e most
a d v a n c e d e c o n o m y possible, so t h a t e v e r y socialist or
n e w l y l i b e r a t e d c o u n t r y c a n s t a n d o n its o w n feet.
T h a t i s w h y t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a has
resolutely condemned a n d denounced the treacherous line
o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o , f o r t h e i r o w n
n a t i o n a l i s t a n d c h a u v i n i s t interests, h a v e t r i e d a n d are
trying to impose an anti-socialist economic policy w i t h
c a p i t a l i s t a n d i m p e r i a l i s t a i m s o n t h e socialist c o u n t r i e s .
U n d e r the d i s g u i s e o f t h e s o - c a l l e d i n t e r n a t i o n a l d i v i s i o n
of labour, specialization a n d cooperation, the K h r u s h c h e vite r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e t r y i n g t o o b s t r u c t t h e r e a l i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n of these c o u n t r i e s to e x p l o i t t h e m as sources of
agricultural and mineral raw materials and as markets
for the sale o f i n d u s t r i a l goods, t o m a k e t h e m e c o n o m i c a l l y
dependent a n d , o n t h i s basis, t o u n d e r m i n e t h e i r e c o n o m i c
and p o l i t i c a l i n d e p e n d e n c e , f o r c e t h e m t o s u b m i t t o the
revisionist dictate.
I n t h e past, t h e T i t o i t e s , a n d l a t e r t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s .
t r i e d t o i m p o s e t h i s sort o f a n t i - s o c i a l i s t l i n e o n o u r
c o u n t r y a n d t o d i v e r t u s f r o m t h e course o f socialist
industrialization by using all kinds of «arguments»:
sometimes p r o m i s i n g t h a t t h e i r i n d u s t r y c o u l d satisfy
o u r needs, t o o ; s o m e t i m e s r e f e r r i n g t o t h e c l i m a t e a s
t h o u g h t h i s h a d p r e - o r d a i n e d the. f u t u r e r o l e of a
« f l o u r i s h i n g g a r d e n » g r o w i n g f r u i t a n d i n d u s t r i a l crops f o r
o u r c o u n t r y ; s o m e t i m e s d e l i b e r a t e l y c o n c e a l i n g t h e geological data in order to p r o v e that we lacked the ne-
144
ENVER
HOXHA
cessary r a w m a t e r i a l s f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r y ;
a n d a t other t i m e s b y i n t e r f e r i n g d i r e c t l y t o stop i n v e s t m e n t s i n t h e o i l a n d other sectors, a l l e g i n g that s u c h
i n v e s t m e n t s w e r e a w a s t e of m o n e y because t h e r e w e r e
no prospects for the development of the oil industry in
o u r c o u n t r y , etc., etc. H a d o u r P a r t y f o l l o w e d t h e c o u r s e
the T i t o i t e a n d K h r u s h c h e v i t e c l i q u e s t r i e d t o i m p o s e
o n u s o n t h i s issue v i t a l t o t h e f a t e o f s o c i a l i s m , t h a t
w o u l d h a v e been s u i c i d e a n d b e t r a y a l o f t h e s u p r e m e
interests o f t h e H o m e l a n d , o u r p e o p l e a n d s o c i a l i s m .
B u t o u r P a r t y d i d not f a l l f o r t h i s t r a p . I t f o u g h t
c o u r a g e o u s l y against t h e r e v i s i o n i s t v i e w s a n d a p p l i e d
the correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e o f socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n . I n a p p l y i n g t h i s p o l i c y , t h r o u g h countless e f f o r t s
a n d p r i v a t i o n s o n t h e p a r t o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d a l l
o u r people, the a i m o f t h e P a r t y has a l w a y s been t o
create, step by step, a m u l t i - b r a n c h e d i n d u s t r y , b o t h
heavy and light, w h i c h w i l l enable us to exploit and
process o u r n a t u r a l r i c h e s a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s ,
w i t h t h e a i m o f e v e r b e t t e r f u l f i l l i n g t h e needs
of
the development of our economy, raising the productivity
o f social l a b o u r , a t t a i n i n g a n i n t e n s i v e a n d c o m p l e x
development of agriculture, r a i s i n g the w e l l - b e i n g of
the p e o p l e a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g the d e f e n c e o f o u r H o m e land.
T h a n k s to t h i s p o l i c y , the r o l e of i n d u s t r y , as t h e
leading branch of the w h o l e economy of our country,
has g r o w n . T o t a l i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n i s 34.8 t i m e s
greater t h a n i t w a s b e f o r e the w a r . P r o d u c t i o n o f m e a n s
of p r o d u c t i o n has i n c r e a s e d 34.3 f o l d a n d t h a t of c o n s u m e r goods 35 f o l d . I n d u s t r y p r o v i d e s 39 p e r cent of
o u r n a t i o n a l i n c o m e i n s t e a d of t h e 4 p e r cent it d i d in
1938. a n d i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n represents 56.6 p e r cent
o f t o t a l i n d u s t r i a l a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n , against
8 p e r cent b e f o r e L i b e r a t i o n . A l b a n i a , f o r m e r l y a n e x t r e -
145
mely b a c k w a r d agricultural country without technical
forces a n d q u a l i f i e d w o r k e r s , a source o f r a w m a t e r i a l s
and a n a p p e n d a g e o f i m p e r i a l i s t m o n o p o l i e s , n o w u t i l i z e s
m a n y of its assets a b o v e a n d b e l o w the g r o u n d . It
processes o i l , copper, i r o n a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l r a w m a t e r i a l s ,
produces m a c h i n e r y , t e c h n i c a l e q u i p m e n t a n d c h e m i c a l
fertilizers, a n d b u i l d s c o m b i n e s , p l a n t s , factories, h y d r o power plants and railways. It is gradually being changed
into a n i n d u s t r i a l - a g r i c u l t u r a l c o u n t r y . T h e i n t e r n a l forces
a n d means, t h e c r e a t i v e t h o u g h t , t h e t o i l a n d s w e a t o f
the w o r k i n g masses h a v e a l w a y s b e e n a n d s t i l l a r e the
decisive f a c t o r i n o u r socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n .
P u r s u i n g its c o r r e c t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t l i n e o f socialist
industrialization, the P a r t y is p a y i n g special attention to
t h e r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r y o n a s o u n d basis i n
the 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n , too. I n t h e n e w f i v e - y e a r p l a n
this d e v e l o p m e n t is c l o s e l y l i n k e d , f i r s t of a l l , with the
expansion of the whole front of the exploitation of our
natural resources, bringing ever more new resources of
minerals and fuels into economic circulation and raising
their value by processing them in the country.
F o r this purpose, d u r i n g the 4th Five-year Plan, a
great s t r i d e f o r w a r d , u n r i v a l l e d i n a n y past f i v e - y e a r
plan, w i l l be taken in the b u i l d i n g of new mines and
i n d u s t r i a l p l a n t s so as to i n c r e a s e t h e p r o d u c t i o n a n d
processing of oil and other useful minerals a n d i m p r o v e
the s t r u c t u r e o f i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n .
P u t t i n g t h i s great p r o g r a m i n t o p r a c t i c e w i l l g i v e
a new and p o w e r f u l impulse to the m i n i n g industry,
w h i c h , i n o u r c o n d i t i o n s , occupies t h e m a i n p o s i t i o n i n
the p r o d u c t i o n o f m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n . O n t h i s basis
the existing branches w i l l be extended and new branches
set u p i n t h e h e a v y p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r i e s , s u c h a s c o p p e r
metallurgy, black and ferro-chrome metallurgy, the e n g i n e e r i n g a n d c h e m i c a l i n d u s t r i e s , etc.
146
ENVER
HOXHA
T h u s , o u r c o u n t r y w i l l enter a n e w phase o f i n d u s t r i a lization, the phase of the development of the heavy p r o cessing industry, w h i c h is decisive in ensuring the superiority of the production of means of production, w i t h i n
the f r a m e w o r k of all industry. T h e transition to this
phase o f i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t w i l l not o n l y b r i n g a b o u t
great q u a l i t a t i v e changes i n the s t r u c t u r e o f i n d u s t r y , b u t
w i l l also r a i s e t h e p o t e n t i a l o f t h e w h o l e people's e c o n o m y ,
w i l l s t r e n g t h e n its i n d e p e n d e n c e , p r o v i d e g r e a t e r assistance
f o r t h e i n t e n s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d increase
the r a n k s o f the w o r k i n g class a n d , especially, t h e n u m b e r
o f t e c h n i c i a n s , e n g i n e e r s a n d o t h e r q u a l i f i e d cadres. T h i s
w i l l b e a n o t h e r great v i c t o r y o f t h e p o l i c y o f t h e P a r t y
for t h e i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y .
In o r d e r to g u a r a n t e e the p r o s p e c t of u n i n t e r r u p t e d
a n d r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t o f the m i n i n g i n d u s t r y a n d other
branches of the heavy processing industry for as long
a t i m e as possible, the Party has paid and is paying special
attention to the intensification of geological work. M a n y
o f o u r u n d e r g r o u n d assets are s t i l l l y i n g d o r m a n t . T h e y
m u s t b e sought a n d d i s c o v e r e d s o t h a t they c a n b e u t i l i z e d
on a b r o a d scale f o r the b e n e f i t of the people a n d to s t r e n g t h e n t h e e c o n o m y a n d the H o m e l a n d . T h e P a r t y has
e n t r u s t e d o u r geologists w i t h t h e l o f t y a n d n o b l e task
o f l e a d i n g o u r socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n t h r o u g h t h e i r
work.
T h e geologists m a d e a n o u t s t a n d i n g c o n t r i b u t i o n d u r ing the years of the 3rd F i v e - y e a r P l a n , w h e n they had
to solve m a n y complicated problems and overcome great
d i f f i c u l t i e s , a f t e r the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s w i t h d r e w
t h e i r specialists f r o m t h e sector o f geology, a b a n d o n i n g
the w o r k already started and concealing or taking w i t h
t h e m the g e o l o g i c a l d a t a . W i t h a resolute, h e r o i c s t a n d
a n d w i t h a l o f t y sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , o u r w o r k e r s ,
t e c h n i c i a n s a n d geologists, a l t h o u g h y o u n g , d i d n o t i n t e r -
147
r u p t the w o r k , but o n t h e c o n t r a r y , s u c c e s s f u l l y c a r r i e d
i t f u r t h e r . I n D e c e m b e r 1961, t h e g e o l o g i c a l w o r k e r s
p l e d g e d to f u l f i l t h e tasks set by t h e 4 t h C o n g r e s s of the
P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a w i t h i n four years and, for
some minerals, w i t h i n an even shorter period. T h e y kept
t h e i r w o r d a n d a c c o m p l i s h e d t h e a d d i t i o n a l tasks t h e y
had pledged to fulfil.
T h e extension and raising to a higher level of prosp e c t i n g a n d s c i e n t i f i c - r e s e a r c h w o r k i n geology, a sector
a s d i f f i c u l t a s i t i s v i t a l , constitutes one o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t objectives o f t h e p a r t y p o l i c y f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t
o f i n d u s t r y d u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n . O n t h e basis
o f t h e r e s u l t s a c h i e v e d a n d t h e e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d , great
tasks h a v e b e e n set i n t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n f o r t h e d i s c o v e r y
o f i n d u s t r i a l r e s e r v e s r i c h i n o i l , gas, c h r o m i u m , copper,
iron-nickel, phosphorites and r a w materials for construct i o n m a t e r i a l s . F o r t h i s p u r p o s e t h e i n v e s t m e n t s i n the
g e o l o g i c a l sector w i l l b e i n c r e a s e d m o r e t h a n 2 0 p e r
cent a s c o m p a r e d w i t h those o f t h e 3 r d F i v e - y e a r P l a n .
The Party considers the strengthening of the fuel
base and the increase of the production of electric energy
as decisive links for the development of industry and the
people's economy as a whole. In e n d e a v o u r i n g to create
the most effective and advantageous fuel structure, the
P a r t y e m p h a s i z e s t h e need t o i n c r e a s e p r o d u c t i o n o f o i l
a n d gas f i r s t o f a l l , o f course, w i t h o u t r e d u c i n g f o r o n e
m o m e n t t h e c o n c e r n t o i n c r e a s e the p r o d u c t i o n o f other
fuels, e s p e c i a l l y c o a l .
T h e ceaselessly i n c r e a s i n g needs o f t h e people's e c o n o m y a n d o f t h e c o u n t r y ' s defence f o r o i l a n d its b y products, the superiority it continues to have in the
f u e l balance, m a k e t h e task o f t h e r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t o f
this branch
one o f t h e most acute p r o b l e m s o f t h e
4th Five-year P l a n . . .
In the development
of industry,
in
f i x i n g t h e rates
148
ENVER
HOXHA
and the proportions of industrial production, the P a r t y
has a l w a y s i n s i s t e d t h a t e l e c t r i c
energy should be
increased a t h i g h e r r a t e s . . . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i n o r d e r
to meet the e v e r g r e a t e r d e m a n d s of the people's e c o n o m y
f o r e l e c t r i c e n e r g y a n d to e n s u r e t h e prospect of its
d e v e l o p m e n t , e s p e c i a l l y to m e e t the d e m a n d s of e l e c t r o m e t a l l u r g y , i t has b e e n d e c i d e d t o start t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n
of the big, p o w e r f u l V a u i Dejës hydro-power station
o n t h e D r i n R i v e r d u r i n g the 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n .
P r o c e e d i n g f r o m t h e fact t h a t w o o d r e m a i n s t h e m a i n
household fuel and that it is v e r y valuable for our econo m y a n d i n s h o r t s u p p l y , t h e use o f i t w i t h t h e greatest
frugality should be considered a lofty patriotic d u t y by
every w o r k e r and citizen. In this direction, the initiative
o f the L u s h n j a d i s t r i c t f o r e v e r y a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e
t o create its o w n forest t o p r o v i d e b u i l d i n g t i m b e r a n d
f i r e w o o d f o r its o w n needs m u s t b e s u p p o r t e d a n d w i d e l y
publicized.
T h e e v e r better f u l f i l m e n t o f the i n c r e a s i n g needs
a n d d e m a n d s o f the w o r k i n g masses f o r c o n s u m e r goods
h a s b e e n a n d remains the object of special attention
by the Party in its policy for the development of the light
and food-processing industries, of handicrafts and other
branches which have to do with various services. T h e r e f o r e
i t has been foreseen t h a t d u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n
the v o l u m e o f p r o d u c t i o n o f l i g h t i n d u s t r y w i l l b e r a i s e d
by 43-45 p e r cent a n d of t h e f o o d - p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r y
by 20-24 p e r cent.
W h i l e s t r i v i n g w i t h a l l its m i g h t t o increase p r o d u c t i o n
o f c o n s u m e r goods, t h e P a r t y p u t s f o r w a r d a s a n u r g e n t
task t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f t h e i r s t r u c t u r e a n d q u a l i t y i n
o r d e r t o ensure, a t a l l costs, t h a t t h e goods p r o d u c e d w i l l
be of t h e best p o s s i b l e q u a l i t y , s i m p l e r , cheaper, m o r e
durable and more attractive.
T h e w o r k w h i c h the w o r k e r s o f t h e t e x t i l e i n d u s t r y ,
149
t h e c l o t h i n g i n d u s t r y , t h e w o o d - w o r k i n g a n d other b r a n ches a n d e n t e r p r i s e s o f i n d u s t r y h a v e b e g u n t o d o i n
this d i r e c t i o n m u s t b e r e s o l u t e l y p u s h e d f o r w a r d a n d
t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e d i s s e m i n a t e d w i d e l y a m o n g a l l the b r a n ches of i n d u s t r y t h a t p r o d u c e c o n s u m e r goods.
It m u s t be clear to e v e r y b o d y t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e f o r
q u a l i t y is, at t h e same t i m e , a s t r u g g l e f o r q u a n t i t y , b e cause t h e goods last l o n g e r a n d s o c i a l l a b o u r a n d m a t e r i a l
values are saved. That is w h y the struggle to produce
goods o f h i g h q u a l i t y m u s t b e j u s t a s o r e v e n m o r e p e r sistent t h a n t h e s t r u g g l e f o r the f u l f i l m e n t o f the p l a n
in quantity.
T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f i n d u s t r y a n d the g r o w t h o f
industrial production must be achieved both through more
c o m p l e t e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f t h e e x i s t i n g p r o d u c t i v e capacities
a n d t h r o u g h the c r e a t i o n of n e w capacities. It m u s t be
stressed, h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e m o r e t i m e passes the m o r e
the i n t e n s i v e e x p l o i t a t i o n o f the e x i s t i n g p r o d u c t i v e p o t e n t i a l i t i e s a n d t h e increase o f the p r o d u c t i v i t y o f l a b o u r
m u s t b e c o m e t h e m a i n f a c t o r s f o r t h e c o n t i n u o u s increase
of i n d u s t r i a l production. It is precisely for this reason
that i n the 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n a b o u t 6 0 p e r cent o f
the i n c r e a s e i n i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n w i l l b e e n s u r e d f r o m
t h e e x i s t i n g p r o d u c t i v e capacities a n d t h e increase i n the
productivity of labour of enterprises already functioning,
a n d a b o u t 4 0 p e r cent f r o m t h e n e w projects. O n l y p r o c e e d i n g o n this course c a n e n s u r e t h e c o n t i n u o u s g r o w t h
in the efficiency of o u r industry.
G o o d e x p e r i e n c e i n t h i s respect i s not l a c k i n g . D u r i n g
the 3rd F i v e - y e a r P l a n , though some new industrial works
w e r e not b u i l t a t a l l , o r c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e m w a s p o s t p o n e d , the e x i s t i n g i n d u s t r i a l p l a n t s a n d factories, b y
o v e r f u l f i l l i n g t h e i r p l a n s , gave great assistance i n t h e succ e s s f u l f u l f i l m e n t , o n the w h o l e , o f the targets set b y the
4 t h C o n g r e s s o f the P a r t y f o r t h e increase o f t o t a l i n -
150
ENVER
HOXHA
dustrial production. In some branches a n d enterprises of
o u r i n d u s t r y , s u c h a s the o i l p r o c e s s i n g , c o p p e r m e t a l l u r g y ,
cement, t e x t i l e , s u g a r a n d o t h e r i n d u s t r i e s , the p l a n n e d
p r o d u c t i v e capacities w e r e s u r p a s s e d b y a n a v e r a g e o f
10 p e r cent.
I t i s the d u t y o f t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e
e c o n o m i c o r g a n s t o d r a w t h e necessary lessons f r o m t h i s
experience, w h i c h s h o u l d b e m a d e t h e basis o f t h e w o r k
of every enterprise, workshop, brigade and w o r k e r , so
t h a t t h e m a x i m u m p r o d u c t i o n i s got f r o m the m a c h i n e r y
a n d e q u i p m e n t . T o this e n d i t i s i m p e r a t i v e t o g o o v e r ,
as soon as possible a n d w h e r e v e r possible, to the m e t h o d
o f w o r k i n g w i t h t w o o r t h r e e f u l l shifts, t o a v o i d seasonal
f l u c t u a t i o n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , t o ceaselessly r a i s e the t e c h n i c a l
and professional level of the w o r k e r s and to ensure r e gular a n d uninterrupted supplies of r a w materials f o r
i n d u s t r y , e s p e c i a l l y those f r o m a g r i c u l t u r e .
T h e p a r t y organizations a n d the w o r k i n g collectives
o f the i n d u s t r i a l e n t e r p r i s e s m u s t m a k e e v e r y e f f o r t t o
master, a s q u i c k l y a n d t h o r o u g h l y a s possible, t h e n e w
equipment w i t h w h i c h our industry is being more a n d
m o r e s u p p l i e d , i n o r d e r t o increase o u r i n d u s t r i a l p r o d u c t i o n r a p i d l y o n t h e basis o f i n c r e a s i n g t h e p r o d u c t i v i t y
of labour. In order to limit low productivity m a n u a l
l a b o u r as f a r as p o s s i b l e a n d to i m p r o v e the q u a l i t y ,
special a t t e n t i o n m u s t b e p a i d t o r a i s i n g t h e t e c h n i c a l l e v e l
of production in the cooperative handicraft enterprises.
In order to raise the level of mechanized w o r k in
industry, agriculture, construction, transport, handicrafts,
etc., a n d t o e l i m i n a t e the b o t t l e - n e c k s o f p r o d u c t i o n , t h e
t i m e has c o m e f o r o u r e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y t o start t o
m a s t e r t h e p r o d u c t i o n i n series o f i n d i v i d u a l a n d c o m p l e t e
m a c h i n e s a n d i t e m s o f e q u i p m e n t . T o f u l f i l this t a s k
measures m u s t be t a k e n i m m e d i a t e l y to set up d e s i g n ,
construction and technological bureaus a n d to ensure that
151
the f i r s t steps t a k e n t o w a r d s t h e c o o p e r a t i o n a n d s p e cialization of production are extended and deepened by
seeking a n d f i n d i n g t h e f o r m s m o s t s u i t a b l e a n d a d v a n tageous f o r the c o n d i t i o n s o f o u r c o u n t r y .
2. — THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE — THE MOST
IMPORTANT LINK FOR THE FULFILMENT OF THE MAIN
ECONOMIC TASKS OF THE 4th FIVE-YEAR P L A N
T h r o u g h o u t the w h o l e p e r i o d o f s o c i a l i s t c o n s t r u c t i o n
the P a r t y h a s p a i d g r e a t a t t e n t i o n t o a g r i c u l t u r e , c o n s i d e r ing it as one of the m a i n branches of the economy. T h e
people's p o w e r has m a d e a n d i s m a k i n g colossal i n v e s t ments f o r the m e c h a n i z a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e , f o r d r a i n a g e
and i r r i g a t i o n w o r k , f o r t h e p r o v i s i o n o f c h e m i c a l f e r tilizers, s e l e c t e d seeds, q u a l i f i e d cadres a n d v a r i o u s
credits, etc.
T h e P a r t y h a s a l w a y s l i n k e d the d e v e l o p m e n t o f
a g r i c u l t u r e i n d i s s o l u b l y w i t h the b u i l d i n g o f s o c i a l i s m
i n the c o u n t r y s i d e , w h i c h i s c o n t i n u i n g a s a n u n i n t e r r u p t e d
r e v o l u t i o n a n d w h i c h i n v o l v e s a series o f t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s
of a social, economic, i d e o l o g i c a l , c u l t u r a l a n d t e c h n i c a l
nature.
T h a n k s to the correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t line of the
P a r t y , o u r c o u n t r y s i d e , o r g a n i z e d i n c o l l e c t i v e economies,
has m a d e great a n d a l l - r o u n d progress. N e i t h e r t h e g r o w t h
of agricultural production nor the i m p r o v e m e n t of m a terial a n d cultural well-being of our peasantry to the
l e v e l t h a t has b e e n a t t a i n e d , i s c o n c e i v a b l e w i t h o u t the
cooperativist o r d e r . T o t a l a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n i n 1965
was 2.3 t i m e s l a r g e r t h a n in 1938, t h e a r e a of a r a b l e l a n d
had i n c r e a s e d 7 4 p e r cent, w h i l e the a r e a u n d e r i r r i g a t i o n
had increased 7 fold, a n d n o w about half of the arable
l a n d is u n d e r i r r i g a t i o n . I n s t e a d of the 30 t r a c t o r s t h e
152
ENVER
HOXHA
c o u n t r y h a d before L i b e r a t i o n , 7,630 t r a c t o r s o f 1 5 H P ( 3 )
are n o w o p e r a t i n g i n o u r a g r i c u l t u r e . T h e y i e l d rates o f
a l l a g r i c u l t u r a l c r o p s are i n c r e a s i n g y e a r b y y e a r . T h e
i n c o m e s o f the peasants h a v e i n c r e a s e d a n d t h e e c o n o m i c , social a n d c u l t u r a l s i t u a t i o n i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e has
steadily improved.
T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d the e x p e r i e n c e o f
socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y s i d e c o n f i r m the
importance and u n i v e r s a l value of the teachings of M a r x ism-Leninism, according to w h i c h the only w a y to build
socialism in the countryside in the countries w i t h f r a g m e n t e d peasant e c o n o m i e s i s t h e c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n o f a g r i culture. A n y other w a y apart f r o m collectivization leads
only to the development or restoration of capitalism in
the c o u n t r y s i d e .
T h e Y u g o s l a v a n d other m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s p r e a c h
the s p o n t a n e o u s d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y s i d e a n d d o
not accept t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f the p a r t y a n d state i n its
socialist t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . T h e y h a v e d r a g g e d o u t o f the
d u s t - b i n a n d p r o p a g a t e the o l d thesis o f t h e i r predecessors
about t h e spontaneous i n t e g r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y s i d e i n t o
socialism o n l y after the industrialization of the country
has been c o m p l e t e d . B u t l i f e a n d t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r
c o u n t r y a n d o t h e r socialist c o u n t r i e s h a v e p r o v e d t h a t
these v i e w s a r e u t t e r l y a n t i - M a r x i s t , r e a c t i o n a r y a n d
hostile, because t h e a i m o f t h e m i s t o p r e s e r v e t h e p o s i t i o n s o f t h e bourgeoisie i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e a n d t o p e r p e t u a t e the c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m i n a g r i c u l t u r e .
I n the c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s are i n p o w e r
a n d w h e r e c o l l e c t i v i z a t i o n h a s been c a r r i e d out, n o w
t h e y a r e m o v i n g b a c k w a r d o n the r o a d t o t h e r e s t o r a t i o n
o f c a p i t a l i s m , p r e c i s e l y because t h e y b e t r a y e d t h e L e n i n ____________________________
3 In 1979 the number of tractors reckoned in 15 HP amounted
to 18.369. T h e first tractor of A l b a n i a n m a k e w a s constructed
i n 1978.
153
ist t e a c h i n g s o n t h e w a y t o b u i l d s o c i a l i s m i n the
countryside. F o l l o w i n g the break-up of the machine and
t r a c t o r stations i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , n o w m e a s u r e s are
being t a k e n t o f r a g m e n t t h e c o l l e c t i v e p r o p e r t y b y c r e a t i n g t h e s o - c a l l e d p r o d u c e r associations, w h i c h m u s t p a y
rent f o r t h e l a n d a n d t h e o t h e r m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , the
private plots are being extended at the expense of the
collective p r o p e r t y a n d t h e l i m i t s o n t h e n u m b e r s o f
personally owned draft and productive animals are being
abolished. Besides this, collective w o r k is being replaced
with individual work, payment according to the work
done i s b e i n g r e p l a c e d w i t h t h e p r i n c i p l e o f a c c u m u l a t i n g
wealth, a n d the a g r i c u l t u r a l economies are entirely free
to develop spontaneously a n d to adapt all their economic
and productive activity to the anarchic demands, the
competition and the free p l a y of prices on the market.
T h i s anti-socialist policy has g i v e n rise to great d i f f i c u l t i e s i n these c o u n t r i e s . T h e peasants a r e a b a n d o n i n g
the c o u n t r y s i d e e n m a s s e . T h e r a t e s o f d e v e l o p m e n t o f
agriculture are slowing d o w n . T h e plans are not being
f u l f i l l e d a n d t h e a p p r e c i a b l e shortages o f a g r i c u l t u r a l
and livestock products are increasing relentlessly. D u r i n g
the p a s t s e v e n - y e a r p l a n a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n i n the
S o v i e t U n i o n i n c r e a s e d o n l y 1 4 p e r cent a s a g a i n s t the
7 0 p e r cent i n c r e a s e p l a n n e d . T h e p l a n f o r o p e n i n g u p
n e w l a n d , the p r e a c h i n g o f t h e m a i z e c u l t a n d t h e K h r u s h chevites' o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d r e - o r g a n i z a t i o n s w e r e n o t h i n g
but g r e a t b l u n d e r s w h i c h m a d e t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d chaos
in agriculture even worse. A l t h o u g h the Soviet U n i o n
w a s a b i g e x p o r t e r o f g r a i n i n t h e past, i n r e c e n t y e a r s
i t has i m p o r t e d u n h e a r d - o f q u a n t i t i e s o f g r a i n , h o l d i n g
out its h a n d t o t h e A m e r i c a n a n d o t h e r i m p e r i a l i s t s .
O u r P a r t y adheres t o t h e l i n e t h a t w e m u s t h a v e
not only a developed industry, but also an advanced
agriculture, that for o u r economy to be strong a n d inde-
154
ENVER
HOXHA
p e n d e n t i t m u s t base i t s e l f o n its t w o legs, b o t h o n
i n d u s t r y a n d a g r i c u l t u r e . T h i s i s a m a j o r issue o f p r i n ciple, w h i c h h a s s p e c i a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r o u r c o u n t r y .
Ours is an agricultural-industrial country a n d the majority
of the active population is engaged in agriculture. The
needs o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n a n d t h e e c o n o m y f o r g r a i n a n d
o t h e r a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d a n i m a l p r o d u c t s are g r o w i n g c o n tinuously. T h e rates of industrial development, especially
i n the l i g h t a n d f o o d - p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r i e s , d e p e n d d i r e c t l y
on the a m o u n t of r a w materials furnished by agriculture.
The demand for agricultural products for export is steadily
i n c r e a s i n g , too. T h e e x t e n s i o n o f the h o m e m a r k e t d e p e n d s
to a great extent on the rise in the incomes of the
peasantry, on the increase of their economic exchanges,
o n t h e basis o f t h e g r o w t h o f a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d l i v e s t o c k
production. F i n a l l y , the improvement of the economic
situation of the population m o r e r a p i d l y cannot be
thought of without ensuring the rapid development of
agriculture.
W e i g h i n g u p a n d assessing a l l these factors c o r r e c t l y ,
t h e P a r t y i s s e t t i n g v e r y great a n d i m p o r t a n t tasks f o r
the d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e d u r i n g t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r
P l a n . In this plan, agriculture occupies the m a i n position
in the development of the people's economy as a whole.
The basic task of agriculture and the whole people's
economy is to increase production of bread g r a i n . . .
T h e P a r t y r e g a r d s f u l f i l m e n t o f this t a s k not o n l y
a s a p r o b l e m v i t a l t o s o l v i n g once a n d f o r a l l the p r o b l e m s
of ensuring the people's b r e a d w i t h i n the country a n d
c r e a t i n g reserves f o r t h e f u t u r e , b u t also as a m e a n s to
g i v e a f r e s h i m p e t u s to t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of a l l the other
b r a n c h e s o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d t o r e l i e v e t h e people's e c o n o m y as a w h o l e of the considerable expenditure w h i c h
t h e state m a k e s f o r g r a i n i m p o r t s . T h i s w i l l b e one o f
t h e greatest p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c v i c t o r i e s o f o u r P a r t y
155
and the p e o p l e ' s p o w e r , because f o r us, t h e s t r u g g l e to
ensure t h e people's b r e a d w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y has b e e n
and r e m a i n s the s t r u g g l e f o r s o c i a l i s m .
I n s e t t i n g t h e task o f i n c r e a s i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f
bread g r a i n , t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y has
unshakeable confidence that the patriotic peasantry, backed
u p b y t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the o t h e r w o r k i n g people
of the town, w i l l w o r k w i t h might and m a i n and
h o n o u r a b l y f u l f i l t h i s g r e a t task. D i d n ' t t h i s a g r i c u l t u r a l
year show this v e r y w e l l ? M o b i l i z e d u n d e r the slogan
« E n s u r e o u r o w n bread», the w o r k i n g p e a s a n t r y a c h i e v e d
v e r y g o o d r e s u l t s . A l t h o u g h t h e p l a n n e d y i e l d rates i n
g r a i n w e r e h i g h e r t h a n those o f a n y o t h e r y e a r , t h e y
were achieved successfully. T h i s y e a r m a n y mountainous
cooperatives succeeded, f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e , i n p r o d u c i n g
a l l the g r a i n t h e y n e e d f o r t h e i r o w n b r e a d . T h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n p l a n i n potatoes w a s a n o t h e r
great a c h i e v e m e n t . I n r e s p o n s e t o t h e c a l l o f the P a r t y ,
the a r e a p l a n t e d t o potatoes w a s i n c r e a s e d f o u r f o l d a n d
production w i l l increase about f i v e fold. T h e b a c k w a r d
concepts t h a t t h i s p l a n t c a n ' t b e c u l t i v a t e d i n l a r g e areas
and i n e v e r y d i s t r i c t o f o u r c o u n t r y h a v e b e e n o v e r t u r n e d .
A great source t o e n s u r e o u r d a i l y b r e a d h a s been created,
because t h e p o t a t o i s b r e a d . O n t h i s o c c a s i o n a l l o w m e
to congratulate a l l the w o r k i n g peasantry for this i m portant a c t i o n a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e m e n o f o u r P e o p l e ' s
A r m y , w h o , i n t h e f u l l sense o f t h e t e r m , b e c a m e t h e
pioneers o f t h i s i m p o r t a n t c a m p a i g n f o r g r o w i n g p o tatoes. T h u s , t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h i s y e a r i s v e r y e n c o u r a g i n g a n d t h e t a r g e t set i n t h e 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n
for increased g r a i n p r o d u c t i o n w i l l certainly be achieved.
T h e P a r t y w i l l continue its efforts to further strengthen t h e m u l t i - b r a n c h e d c h a r a c t e r o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d its
p r o f i t a b l e d e v e l o p m e n t . T o this e n d , t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f
i n d u s t r i a l crops w i l l b e i n c r e a s e d , f r u i t g r o w i n g w i l l b e
156
ENVER
HOXHA
extended, paying greater attention to the selection of
the t y p e s o f f r u i t trees, a s w e l l a s t o t h e r a d i c a l i m p r o v e ment of agricultural technique, so that the value of the
f r u i t w i l l be increased both for the home m a r k e t a n d
for export. Greater attention w i l l be p a i d to the e x p a n s i o n a n d t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f o u r forests d u r i n g t h i s f i v e year plan.
Particular attention w i l l be p a i d to the development
of a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y , w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e s a p r i c e l e s s asset
a n d a n i m p o r t a n t source t o f u l f i l t h e needs o f t h e p e o p l e
and to expand some branches of the light and food p r o cessing i n d u s t r i e s . T o t h i s e n d , a l l types o f l i v e s t o c k
must be increased, g i v i n g special attention to increasing
the n u m b e r o f cows, w h i c h a r e t h e basis f o r i n c r e a s i n g
the n u m b e r o f cattle. T h e i n c r e a s e o f t h e n u m b e r o f
c o w s a n d cattle i n g e n e r a l i s c o n n e c t e d b o t h w i t h t h e
extension a n d opening up of n e w l a n d f r o m the pastures,
m e a d o w s , h i l l s , w o o d s a n d forests, a n d w i t h t h e d e velopment of intensive agriculture.
I n o r d e r t o increase s u p p l i e s o f a n i m a l p r o d u c t s i t
i s n e c e s s a r y also t o i m p r o v e the breeds o f a l l k i n d s o f
l i v e s t o c k a n d , i n p a r t i c u l a r , o f cattle. A l l t h e n e c e s s a r y
measures m u s t b e t a k e n t o s t a r t h e r d i m p r o v e m e n t i n
cattle o n a n e x t e n s i v e scale b o t h i n t h e l o w - l a n d zones
a n d i n t h e h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zones, a c c o r d i n g t o
the p l a n o f r e g i o n a l i z a t i o n w h i c h w i l l b e d e c i d e d , a n d
this t a s k m u s t b e c a r r i e d out i n t h e shortest p o s s i b l e
time. T h e k e y to the development of a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y
and the increase in a n i m a l products is to ensure a n d
s t r e n g t h e n t h e f o d d e r base. D e s p i t e t h e o p e n i n g u p o f
n e w l a n d , this w i l l not b e d a m a g e d , b u t o n t h e c o n t r a r y
w i l l be e n r i c h e d to t h e n e c e s s a r y d e g r e e as a r e s u l t of
i n c r e a s e d care f o r t h e i m p r o v e m e n t o f pastures, u s i n g
them in a more organized w a y and increasing the p r o d u c t i o n o f forage c r o p s . . .
157
For the rapid development of agriculture, along with
the struggle for its intensification, the policy of opening
up new land must be continued for a long time. A l t h o u g h
v e r y m o u n t a i n o u s , o u r c o u n t r y s t i l l has b i g r e s e r v e s f o r
expansion of the area planted to bread g r a i n and other
a g r i c u l t u r a l crops. I n g e n e r a l these reserves a r e a t h i g h
altitudes a n d i n r e m o t e zones. T h e r e f o r e , f o r n e w l a n d
t o b e o p e n e d u p w e m u s t d i r e c t o u r eyes t o t h e h i l l s
and mountains.
T h e r e i s n o d o u b t a t a l l t h a t this d i r e c t i v e o f the
P a r t y a n d t h e t a s k set i n t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n f o r the
opening up of n e w l a n d w i l l be accomplished successfully.
S u f f i c e i t t o m e n t i o n t h a t d u r i n g the f i r s t y e a r o f this
f i v e - y e a r p l a n a l o n e n e a r l y 3 0 p e r cent m o r e n e w l a n d
was o p e n e d u p t h a n d u r i n g t h e l a s t t w o y e a r s o f t h e
3rd F i v e - y e a r P l a n t a k e n together. T h i s fact a l o n e o u t strips e v e n t h e b o l d e s t forecasts i n this d i r e c t i o n .
I t i s t h e d u t y o f the p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o k e e p a l i v e
the r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s m o f o u r p a t r i o t i c p e a s a n t r y
for o p e n i n g u p n e w l a n d , w h i c h b u r s t o u t d u r i n g t h e
first y e a r o f t h i s f i v e - y e a r p l a n , a n d r a i s e i t t o a n e v e n
higher level.
W i t h t h e e x t e n s i v e o p e n i n g u p o f n e w l a n d i n this
and f u t u r e f i v e - y e a r p l a n s , great a n d b r i l l i a n t prospects
of development have been opened to the h i l l y a n d m o u n tainous zones. T h e s l o g a n o f t h e P a r t y , t h e state a n d the
w h o l e p e o p l e m u s t be «Let us take to the hills and mountains, beautify them and make them as fertile as the
plains.»
F o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of these zones, besides the
tireless w o r k w h i c h m u s t b e d o n e b y t h e peasants t h e m selves, a n d w h i c h w i l l b e the d e c i s i v e f a c t o r f o r r a i s i n g
their w e l l - b e i n g a n d c u l t u r a l l e v e l , t h e P a r t y a n d g o v e r n m e n t h a v e also t a k e n s o m e e c o n o m i c m e a s u r e s i n t h e i r
f a v o u r , s u c h as: a l l the t a x a t i o n o n a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s
158
ENVER
HOXHA
d u r i n g the f i v e y e a r s w i l l b e l e f t a t t h e d i s p o s a l o f the
agricultural cooperatives, to be used for investments,
a n d t h e w h o l e s a l e p r i c e s o f w h e a t a n d m e a t s o l d t o the
state w i l l b e r a i s e d . T h e s e m e a s u r e s , together w i t h t h e
o t h e r a i d o f t h e state i n f i n a n c i a l a n d m a t e r i a l m e a n s
a n d cadres, w i l l h e l p t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e h i l l y a n d m o u n t a i n o u s zones e c o n o m i c a l l y a n d w i l l create the p o s s i b i l i t y
t o accelerate t h e r a t e s o f g r o w t h o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d s o c i a l
progress i n these areas. A l o n g w i t h this, t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l
economies o f these areas, w h i c h h a v e n o t y e t b e e n c o l l e c t i v i z e d ( 4 ) a n d w h i c h r e p r e s e n t a b o u t 1 0 p e r cent o f t h e
peasants' l a n d , m u s t b e h e l p e d b y the P a r t y a n d the
state t o f i n d the m o s t s u i t a b l e f o r m s f o r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n
o f t h e w o r k a n d p r o d u c t i o n o n a c o l l e c t i v e socialist basis.
T h e P a r t y a n d t h e state m u s t c o n s i d e r a n d s t u d y
t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e i n t h e m o u n t a i n areas
w i t h g r e a t care a n d i n a n o r g a n i z e d w a y . T h e y m u s t
d o p e r s i s t e n t w o r k i n this d i r e c t i o n , m u s t n o t b e content
w i t h l i t t l e a n d not b e c a r r i e d a w a y w i t h p r e m a t u r e
e n t h u s i a s m o v e r t h e i n i t i a l successes, because i n t h i s
gigantic u n d e r t a k i n g unprecedented in the history of o u r
c o u n t r y , t h e y w i l l r u n into d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d obstacles, w h i c h
must a n d certainly w i l l be overcome.
R i g h t f r o m this f i v e - y e a r p l a n , t h e o p e n i n g u p o f
n e w l a n d i n the h i l l s a n d m o u n t a i n s m u s t b e c a r r i e d
o u t a c c o r d i n g t o a p e r s p e c t i v e p l a n , w h i c h m u s t foresee
h o w m u c h land, w h e n a n d w h e r e i t w i l l b e opened u p
b y the p e a s a n t r y a n d the a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, a n d
w h e r e a n d w h e n i t w i l l b e o p e n e d u p b y t h e state, b e a r i n g
in m i n d that the new land w h i c h w i l l be opened up by
the state s h o u l d c o m p r i s e b i g b l o c k s o n t h e b a s i s o f
w h i c h state f a r m s c a n b e set u p .
____________________________
4 Collectivization of agriculture in A l b a n i a began in N o vember 1946, proceeded gradually a n d was completed in 1967.
159
T h e o r g a n s o f the P a r t y a n d state m u s t s o l v e the
p r o b l e m o f m a n p o w e r f o r these state f a r m s . W h a t w a y s
can t h e r e b e t o s o l v e t h i s p r o b l e m ? N a t u r a l l y t h e p e a s a n t r y o f t h e m o u n t a i n areas constitutes one g o o d source,
but s i n c e w e a r e a l r e a d y a w a r e t h a t t h e m o u n t a i n c o operatives t h e m s e l v e s w i l l n e e d m o r e m a n p o w e r , w e m u s t
not e x p e c t m u c h f r o m t h e m . A n o t h e r source m u s t b e
ensured f r o m the l o w - l a n d cooperatives. To this end,
during the next ten years we m u s t t r y to achieve the
m a x i m u m m e c h a n i z a t i o n o f the f a r m w o r k i n t h e l o w l a n d s ,
so as to release a g r e a t n u m b e r of w o r k e r s w h o c a n be
s h i f t e d t o t h e m o u n t a i n o u s zones. H o w e v e r , t h e m a i n
source t o p o p u l a t e m o u n t a i n zones i n g e n e r a l m u s t b e
the p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e t o w n s , f i r s t o f a l l t h e y o u t h , w h o
are courageous, p a t r i o t i c , e n t h u s i a s t i c a n d a l w a y s r e s p o n d
to the directives of the P a r t y .
T h e development of o u r agriculture in this w a y w i l l
not o n l y b r i n g a g r e a t e r i n c r e a s e of a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s ,
hence t h e c r e a t i o n o f c o n s i d e r a b l e reserves, b u t w i l l
also h e l p n o r m a l i z e t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n .
Going to the mountains w i l l put an end to the noticed
h a r m f u l , uneconomical, petty-bourgeois, bureaucratic tend e n c y t o l e a v e those areas a n d g o d o w n t o the t o w n s ,
regardless o f w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e needs o f t h e e c o n o m y
require this.
B y a p p l y i n g these o r i e n t a t i o n s , o u r m o u n t a i n s , w h i c h
are s o m e w h a t a b a n d o n e d a n d i m p o v e r i s h e d a t present,
w i l l flourish a n d become productive w i t h i n a relatively
short t i m e . I t i s m a n w h o b e a u t i f i e s t h e c o u n t r y a n d o u r
mountains w i l l be transformed by the hands and m i n d
of m a n .
W e a l w a y s s a y that t h e forests a r e a g r e a t asset
and must be protected. Populating the mountains w i l l
t r u l y t u r n t h e f o r e s t s i n t o a colossal asset, because t h e y
w i l l have people to protect t h e m and take care of them.
160
ENVER
HOXHA
N o t o n l y w i l l t h e p e o p l e p r o t e c t t h e forests f r o m m i s u s e ,
b u t u n d o u b t e d l y t h e y w i l l e n l a r g e t h e areas u n d e r forest.
T h e o p e n i n g u p o f n e w l a n d o n a n e x t e n s i v e scale
w i l l u n d o u b t e d l y g i v e rise, i n t h e f u t u r e , t o t h e n e e d f o r
studies o n t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f the t y p e s o f
l i v e s t o c k i n t h e m o u n t a i n areas. P e r h a p s w e s h o u l d n o
longer r e m a i n prisoners to the present tradition that o n l y
sheep a n d goats c a n b e r a i s e d o n t h e h i l l s a n d m o u n t a i n s .
I n the n e w c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h a r e b e i n g created, i n a d d i t i o n
t o sheep a n d goats, d a i r y c o w s m u s t also b e r a i s e d
m u c h more extensively, even in the mountains. O u r
m o u n t a i n s m u s t b e c o m e a b i g source o f m i l k , m e a t , b u t ter, cheese, etc. W e m u s t d e v e l o p m o d e r n , p r o f i t a b l e
livestock farming, just as m a n y countries of Europe have
done, w i t h a n a d v a n c e d m i l k p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r y , n o t
o n l y t o create a b u n d a n c e i n t h e c o u n t r y , b u t a l s o t o
export o u r tasty a n d aromatic products.
O u r p e o p l e w i l l w e l c o m e this colossal a c t i o n e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y because t h e y w i l l see a great f u t u r e i n it. T h e
P a r t y has especially great faith i n the youth, w h o w i l l
r e s p o n d e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y t o the c a l l o f t h e P a r t y a n d w i l l
t a k e t o t h e m o u n t a i n s , conscious t h a t i n t h i s w a y t h e y
are f i g h t i n g f o r t h e p r o s p e r i t y o f t h e H o m e l a n d , f o r
the c r e a t i o n o f n e w v i l l a g e s a n d t o w n s i n t h e m o u n t a i n s ,
for the dissemination of culture and progress everywhere,
f o r t h e f u s i o n o f t h e p e o p l e o f t h e t o w n s w i t h those
of the countryside. T h e youth, the f u t u r e of our country,
w i l l be tempered w i t h the communist spirit and the
heroic features of o u r highlanders, a n d w i l l become as
s t r o n g as t h e m o u n t a i n s t h e m s e l v e s .
T h e P a r t y m u s t t a k e a l l t h e necessary m e a s u r e s f o r
this great a c t i o n — p o l i t i c a l , m a t e r i a l a n d p r o p a g a n d a
measures, s o t h a t i t i s c a r r i e d o u t s u c c e s s f u l l y . T h e p r o paganda of the P a r t y should arouse love for agriculture,
f o r l i v e s t o c k f a r m i n g i n t h e people, a r o u s e t h e i r l o v e f o r
161
the h i l l s , f o r o u r h e r o i c m o u n t a i n s , w h i c h f r o m n o w o n
w i l l not o n l y be n a t u r a l fortresses in defence of o u r
Homeland, but w i l l also become an i m p o r t a n t source
f o r the d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist e c o n o m y .
T h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e great tasks w h i c h t h e 4 t h F i v e year P l a n sets f o r a g r i c u l t u r e d e m a n d s t h e further economic and organizational strengthening of the agricultural
cooperatives and their full treatment as voluntary economic organizations of the peasantry.
I n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the b r o a d masses o f c o o p e r a t i v ists, as a l w a y s , t h e P a r t y has r e c e n t l y i s s u e d a series
of recommendations intended to i m p r o v e the system of
p l a n n i n g , o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d p a y m e n t f o r t h e w o r k done
i n the a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s , t o i m p r o v e a n d e x t e n d
their r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e state e c o n o m i c o r g a n s a n d w i t h
the o t h e r e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t o i n v i g o r a t e t h e i r
i n t e r n a l life, a n d e n s u r e t h a t t h e basic p r i n c i p l e s o f
i n i t i a t i v e a n d c o o p e r a t i v e d e m o c r a c y are respected.
T h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e state organs m u s t
ensure t h a t these m e a s u r e s a r e c a r r i e d o u t t h o r o u g h l y ,
so t h a t t h e y s e r v e to s t r e n g t h e n t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s , l e a d
t o g r e a t e r m o b i l i z a t i o n o f the c o o p e r a t i v i s t peasants a n d
raise t h e i r socialist consciousness a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t .
In the n e w circumstances, the economic and organizational s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s i s
inseparable f r o m the further invigoration of their internal
life o n t h e basis o f d e m o c r a c y , f r o m t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g
of their financial discipline and better organization of
their w o r k . F o r this purpose, the role of the assembly
a s the s u p r e m e o r g a n o f m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e c o o p e r a t i v e
a n d t h e o n l y one w h i c h decides a l l t h e m a i n aspects o f
its e c o n o m i c a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s , m u s t
be
e n h a n c e d . In a d d i t i o n to this, t h e organs of state p o w e r at
district and grass roots must i m p r o v e the guidance they
g i v e t h e c o o p e r a t i v e s o n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l issues a n d the
162
ENVER
HOXHA
organizational forms of the leadership and work, without
i n v o l v i n g themselves w i t h details and w i t h the matters
w h i c h are u p t o the c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d the c o o p e r a t i v e
m e m b e r s themselves, a n d w i t h o u t s t i f l i n g the i n i t i a t i v e
o f t h e organs a n d cadres t h e y elect, o r d e p r i v i n g t h e m
of their authority.
........................
IV
THE FURTHER DEEPENING OF THE IDEOLOGICAL
AND CULTURAL REVOLUTION
T h e further revolutionization of life in our country
is inconceivable without the further development and
deepening o f t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n . I t
i s a c c o m p l i s h e d p r e c i s e l y o n t h e basis o f t h i s r e v o l u t i o n ,
the f u n d a m e n t a l a i m o f w h i c h i s t o i n s t i l a n d e n s u r e
the c o m p l e t e t r i u m p h o f the p r o l e t a r i a n socialist i d e o l o g y
i n t h e consciousness o f a l l t h e w o r k i n g people, w h i l e
thoroughly eradicating the bourgeois ideology, to ensure
the a l l - r o u n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y , c o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n a n d
tempering of the new m a n — the decisive factor in
solving all the big, complicated problems of the construction of socialism and the defence of the H o m e l a n d .
T h r o u g h o u t its w h o l e existence, o u r P a r t y has d e v o t e d
special care a n d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e a l l - r o u n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y
e d u c a t i o n o f the c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l t h e w o r k i n g people.
E s p e c i a l l y since t h e 4 t h C o n g r e s s a n d o n t h e basis o f
its d i r e c t i v e s , o u r P a r t y has d o n e m o r e p e r s i s t e n t w o r k
in this direction.
1. — THE STRUGGLE FOR THE TRIUMPH OF THE SOCIALIST
IDEOLOGY IS A STRUGGLE FOR THE TRIUMPH
OF SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM
I n o u r c o u n t r y t h e p r o l e t a r i a n socialist i d e o l o g y i s
the i d e o l o g y i n p o w e r w h i c h sets t h e g e n e r a l t o n e f o r
a l l t h e l i f e a n d a c t i v i t y o f o u r w o r k i n g people. D e s p i t e
164
ENVER
HOXHA
t h e successes a c h i e v e d , h o w e v e r , w e are conscious t h a t
the struggle in this field is protracted and difficult.
V.I. Lenin said:
« Our task is to overcome all the resistance of
the
capitalists,
not
only
their military
and
political
resistance
but also
their ideological resistance, which
is
the
strongest
and
most
deeply
entrenched.»*
T h e o l d idealist i d e o l o g y o f t h e e x p l o i t i n g society s t i l l
has deep roots a n d e x e r t s a p o w e r f u l a n d c o n t i n u o u s
i n f l u e n c e . W h e n w e speak o f t h i s i n f l u e n c e , i t i s n o t j u s t
a m a t t e r of «a f e w r e m n a n t s a n d a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s t h a t
a p p e a r here a n d there», a s i t i s o f t e n w r o n g l y d e s c r i b e d
i n o u r p r o p a g a n d a , b u t the i n f l u e n c e o f a w h o l e a l i e n
i d e o l o g y w h i c h i s e x p r e s s e d i n a l l sorts o f a l i e n concepts,
customs a n d attitudes, w h i c h a r e r e t a i n e d f o r a l o n g t i m e
a s a h e r i t a g e f r o m t h e past, h a v e s o c i a l s u p p o r t i n t h e
f o r m e r e x p l o i t i n g classes a n d t h e i r r e m n a n t s , i n t h e t e n dencies t o p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s s p o n t a n e i t y , a n d a r e n u r t u r e d
in various forms by the capitalist and revisionist w o r l d
w h i c h s u r r o u n d s us.
A s l o n g a s the c o m p l e t e v i c t o r y o f t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e f i e l d o f i d e o l o g y a n d c u l t u r e has n o t been
e n s u r e d , the a c h i e v e m e n t s o f t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n i n
t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c f i e l d s c a n n o t b e secure a n d
g u a r a n t e e d , e i t h e r . T h e r e f o r e , i n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , the
struggle on the ideological front for the complete defeat
o f bourgeois a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g y has t o d o w i t h t h e
question: w i l l socialism a n d c o m m u n i s m be built a n d
the r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m b e a v o i d e d , o r w i l l the d o o r
b e opened t o the s p r e a d o f b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t
ideology a n d the r e t u r n to capitalism be permitted.
_________________________________
* V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 31, p. 423 (Alb. ed.).
165
T h e ideological a n d cultural revolution is a part of
the g e n e r a l class s t r u g g l e t o c a r r y t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n
t h r o u g h t o the e n d i n a l l f i e l d s . C o n t r a r y t o the v i e w s o f
the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o h a v e d e c l a r e d the class s t r u g gle i n s o c i a l i s m o u t d a t e d a n d a t h i n g o f t h e past, o u r
P a r t y h o l d s t h a t class s t r u g g l e r e m a i n s o n e o f t h e m a i n
m o t i v e f o r c e s o f society, e v e n a f t e r the e x p l o i t i n g classes
have been eliminated. T h i s struggle includes a l l fields of
life. I t h a s its ebbs a n d f l o w s a n d zigzags, s o m e t i m e s i t
surges u p , s o m e t i m e s i t f a l l s b a c k , s o m e t i m e s becomes
fierce, a t o t h e r t i m e s m o r e «mild», b u t i t n e v e r ceases a n d
dies r i g h t a w a y .
A s t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r c o u n t r y shows, t h i s s t r u g g l e
is an objective a n d inevitable phenomenon in socialism.
It is w a g e d a g a i n s t t h e r e m n a n t s of t h e e x p l o i t i n g classes,
o v e r t h r o w n a n d e x p r o p r i a t e d , b u t w h o c o n t i n u e t o resist
and e x e r t pressure by every means, first a n d foremost,
through t h e i r reactionary ideology, as w e l l as against new
bourgeois e l e m e n t s , d e g e n e r a t e r e v i s i o n i s t a n d a n t i - P a r t y
elements, w h o i n e v i t a b l y e m e r g e w i t h i n o u r society. I t i s
also w a g e d a g a i n s t b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g y
which is retained and expressed in various forms and
degrees of i n t e n s i t y , as w e l l as a g a i n s t t h e e x t e r n a l p r e s sure o f i m p e r i a l i s m . T h u s the i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l f r o n t s
o f class s t r u g g l e a r e i n t e r c o n n e c t e d , n o w m e r g i n g i n t o o n e
single f r o n t , n o w o p e r a t i n g s e p a r a t e l y , b u t a l w a y s l i n k e d
by the same objective: to o v e r t h r o w the dictatorship of
the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d r e s t o r e c a p i t a l i s m .
A c c e p t a n c e o r n o n - a c c e p t a n c e o f the class s t r u g g l e i n
s o c i a l i s m is a q u e s t i o n of p r i n c i p l e , it is a l i n e of d e m a r c a tion between M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s a n d revisionists, between
revolutionaries a n d betrayers of the revolution. A n y d e v i a t i o n f r o m t h e class s t r u g g l e has f a t a l consequences f o r
the f u t u r e o f s o c i a l i s m . T h e r e f o r e , a l o n g w i t h t h e s t r u g g l e
t o increase p r o d u c t i o n , t o d e v e l o p e d u c a t i o n a n d c u l t u r e ,
166
ENVER
HOXHA
a l o n g w i t h the s t r u g g l e against f o r e i g n enemies — the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s , w e m u s t n o t neglect, m u s t
n e v e r o v e r l o o k the class s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y , f o r
otherwise history w i l l p u n i s h us severely.
T h e d u t y o f t h e P a r t y i s n o t t o s h u t its eyes t o t h i s
necessity, n o t t o b e n u m b the r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e o f the
c o m m u n i s t s a n d masses, b u t t o w a g e t h i s class s t r u g g l e
vigorously and unwaveringly until final victory. The progress o f o u r society a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y e d u c a t i o n o f the
w o r k i n g people a r e i n c o n c e i v a b l e a n d c a n n o t b e a c h i e v e d
o u t s i d e t h e class s t r u g g l e .
I n p r a c t i c e w e o f t e n c o m e across a n a r r o w concept o n
the class s t r u g g l e a n d class e n e m y , w h i c h r e g a r d s o n l y
the k u l a k s a n d o t h e r e l e m e n t s o f the f o r m e r e x p l o i t i n g
classes, o r the i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d T i t o i t e a n d K h r u s h c h e v i t e
r e v i s i o n i s t s a b r o a d a s class e n e m i e s , a n d o n l y t h e s t r u g g l e
against t h e i r a n t i - s o c i a l i s t a c t i v i t i e s a s class s t r u g g l e . T h e
s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t these e n e m i e s r e m a i n s , as a l w a y s , a
p r i m a r y task f o r o u r P a r t y , o u r state a n d o u r w o r k i n g
people. B u t w e s h o u l d t a k e a b r o a d e r v i e w o f t h e class
struggle. I t i s a m a n y - s i d e d s t r u g g l e w h i c h is, f i r s t a n d
foremost, an i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e t o d a y , a s t r u g g l e f o r the
m i n d s a n d h e a r t s o f people, a s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t b o u r g e o i s
and revisionist degeneration, against a l l alien remnants
and phenomena w h i c h still exist a n d manifest themselves
i n v a r i o u s degrees a m o n g a l l o u r p e o p l e — i t i s a s t r u g g l e
for the t r i u m p h of our communist ideology and morality.
T h e s t r u g g l e against t h e f t a n d m i s u s e o f s o c i a l i s t
p r o p e r t y , against p a r a s i t i c a n d s p e c u l a t i v e tendencies t o
take as m u c h as possible f r o m society a n d to contribute
to it as l i t t l e as possible, a g a i n s t p u t t i n g p e r s o n a l ease,
t h e p e r s o n a l interest a n d g l o r y a b o v e t h e g e n e r a l interest,
against b u r e a u c r a t i c m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a n d d i s t o r t i o n s , r e l i g i o u s ideology, p r e j u d i c e s , s u p e r s t i t i o n s a n d b a c k w a r d
customs, against u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n o f w o m e n a n d f a i l u r e t o
167
respect t h e i r e q u a l r i g h t s i n society, a g a i n s t f a s h i o n a n d
the b o u r g e o i s w a y o f l i f e , a g a i n s t i d e a l i s m a n d m e t a p h y s i c s ,
against v a r i o u s «isms» o f t h e d e c a d e n t b o u r g e o i s a n d r e visionist a r t a n d c u l t u r e , against the p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l
i n f l u e n c e of e x t e r n a l e n e m i e s , etc., etc., a l l these t h i n g s
are p a r t s o f t h e class s t r u g g l e .
T h u s , t h e class s t r u g g l e i s n o t o n l y d i r e c t e d against
e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l enemies, b u t i s also w a g e d w i t h i n
the r a n k s o f t h e w o r k i n g people, against a n y a l i e n m a n i festation o b s e r v e d i n t h e consciousness, t h e t h i n k i n g , t h e
behaviour a n d the attitude of each i n d i v i d u a l . No one
s h o u l d t h i n k t h a t h e i s p r o o f a g a i n s t a n y e v i l a n d has
n o t h i n g t o f i g h t against w i t h i n h i m s e l f . A s t e r n s t r u g g l e
b e t w e e n socialist i d e o l o g y a n d b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y t a k e s
place i n t h e consciousness o f e a c h p e r s o n . E v e r y b o d y o u g h t
t o l o o k a t h i m s e l f a s t h o u g h i n a m i r r o r a n d c l e a n his
consciousness e v e r y day, j u s t a s h e w a s h e s h i s f a c e e v e r y
day, b y t a k i n g a c o m m u n i s t a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s h i m s e l f .
C l a s s s t r u g g l e i s r e f l e c t e d w i t h i n the P a r t y , too, b e cause, o n the o n e h a n d , p e o p l e f r o m d i f f e r e n t s o c i a l s t r a t a
come i n t o t h e P a r t y , b r i n g i n g w i t h t h e m a l l k i n d s o f a l i e n
r e m n a n t s a n d m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , a n d o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , the
p a r t y m e m b e r s , l i k e a l l the w o r k i n g people, e n c o u n t e r the
p r e s s u r e o f the class e n e m y , e s p e c i a l l y o f t h e e n e m y i d e o logy, f r o m i n s i d e a n d outside t h e c o u n t r y . C o n s e q u e n t l y ,
in the party ranks as w e l l as in the ranks of the w o r k i n g
people t h e r e m a y a n d d o e m e r g e p e o p l e w h o d e g e n e r a t e
a n d g o o v e r t o a l i e n a n t i - P a r t y a n d a n t i - s o c i a l i s t positions.
Moreover, in a l l their activities o u r enemies give particular
importance to the degeneration of party members in order
to b r i n g about the degeneration of the P a r t y as a whole,
because o n l y t h u s c a n t h e w a y b e o p e n e d t o the r e s t o r a tion of capitalism. It should be clear that without contradictions of various kinds and without a struggle to overcome t h e m , t h e l i f e a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P a r t y w o u l d
168
ENVER HOXHA
n o t b e possible. T h i s s t r u g g l e s h o u l d n o t b e c o v e r e d u p
under the pretext of preserving unity, but should be
waged and carried through to the end, thus strengthening
t h e t r u e u n i t y o f t h e P a r t y , its r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t , its
m i l i t a n c y a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t .
It is a p r i m a r y task of a l l t h e i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k of the
P a r t y to f o r m a correct concept a b o u t class s t r u g g l e
i n o u r c o u n t r y i n a l l t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d w o r k i n g people,
t o e d u c a t e t h e m i n t h e s p i r i t o f i r r e c o n c i l a b l e class s t r u g gle, t o i n s t i l i n t h e m t h e m e t h o d o f class a n a l y s i s w h i c h i s
the o n l y m e t h o d b y w h i c h t o k n o w a n d c o r r e c t l y s o l v e
a l l the p r o b l e m s , t o t e a c h t h e m n o t o n l y t o accept the
n e e d f o r class s t r u g g l e i n w o r d s , b u t t o w a g e i t i n a l l
fields o f l i f e e v e r y d a y . T h i s i s n o t s o m e t h i n g n e w . O u r
P a r t y h a s a l w a y s s t r e s s e d t h e n e e d t o w a g e t h e class
s t r u g g l e a n d c a r r y o u t class e d u c a t i o n a n d h a s d o n e a
great d e a l o f w o r k i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n .
We must fight indifference and formalism in our
p o l i t i c a l w o r k f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n o f t h e P a r t y a n d the m a s ses a n d a l w a y s l i n k i t p r o p e r l y w i t h t h e a c t i v e class
s t r u g g l e . W e m u s t r e s o l u t e l y c o m b a t a l i e n concepts a n d
m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o p p o s e d t o the l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a n d the
interests of people a n d socialism, combat the tendency
t o a v o i d c a l l i n g t h i n g s b y t h e i r t r u e names, b u t t o soften
t h e m a n d s m o o t h t h e m o v e r , c o n c e a l i n g t h e i r class essence
and their social danger.
T h e s e s h o r t c o m i n g s i n the w o r k o f p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s
account f o r the fact t h a t s o m e c a d r e s a n d p a r t y m e m b e r s
d o not a l w a y s g i v e p r i o r i t y t o t h e c o m m o n i n t e r e s t s r e p r e s e n t e d b y the p a r t y p o l i c y , b u t o f t e n l o o k a t t h i n g s
f r o m the a n g l e o f p e r s o n a l , l o c a l o r d e p a r t m e n t a l interest,
look at various problems w i t h the eye of a technocrat and
b u r e a u c r a t , w i t h the e y e of a n a r r o w - m i n d e d specialist
a n d neglect t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l aspects. T h e y
do not understand that there is politics everywhere, in
169
every w o r k a n d sector, because t h e r e are n o cadres o r
economic, a d m i n i s t r a t i v e , c u l t u r a l o r m i l i t a r y w o r k d i vorced f r o m p o l i t i c s o r outside the p o l i c y o f t h e d i c t a t o r ship o f the p r o l e t a r i a t . A l l t h i n g s are i n t e r c o n n e c t e d a n d
interdependent a n d i n t h i s u n i t y p o l i t i c s occupies the m a i n
place, a n d l i k e w i s e a l l o u r cadres, i n e v e r y sector w h e r e
they w o r k , s h o u l d be, f i r s t a n d foremost, p o l i t i c a l people,
should p u t the p o l i c y o f t h e P a r t y f i r s t a n d a l w a y s g u i d e
themselves by it.
O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s been c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y its s t e r n
i r r e c o n c i l a b i l i t y w i t h the e n e m i e s o f t h e people, s o c i a l i s m
and M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d its l o v e f o r a n d boundless
loyalty t o the w o r k i n g p e o p l e a n d t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y
cause, its w i s d o m a n d p a t i e n c e w i t h a l l those w h o c o m m i t
mistakes b u t c a n b e c o r r e c t e d . N a r r o w , s e c t a r i a n a t t i t u d e s
have a l w a y s been a l i e n t o it. T h e r e f o r e , the p a r t y o r ganizations m u s t r e s o l u t e l y c o m b a t a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f
sectarianism i n t h e i r w o r k because t h i s d a m a g e s t h e l i n k s
o f the P a r t y w i t h the masses, confuses t h e d i v i d i n g l i n e
between u s a n d o u r e n e m i e s a n d leads t o t h e use o f
w r o n g m e t h o d s i n r e s o l v i n g c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a m o n g the people, w h i c h affect t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e themselves.
T h e i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k o f t h e P a r t y m u s t m a k e the
nature o f the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s i n socialist society t h o r o u g h l y
clear, a s w e l l a s t h e w a y s t o r e s o l v e t h e m c o r r e c t l y . . .
A n y m i x i n g u p o f the t w o k i n d s o f c o n t r a d i c t i o n s leads
to o p p o r t u n i s t a n d s e c t a r i a n e r r o r s .
I t m u s t a l w a y s b e b o r n e i n m i n d that t h e c a r r i e r s a n d
spreaders o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y are n o t o n l y elements
f r o m f o r m e r e x p l o i t i n g classes b u t also o u r o w n people
w h o are w o r k i n g f o r the cause o f s o c i a l i s m . I n these
cases, w h i l e f i g h t i n g m e r c i l e s s l y against the disease, the
alien i d e o l o g y , w e m u s t s t r i v e w i t h a l l o u r m i g h t t o
cure t h e patient, t h e c a r r i e r o f that ideology. O n l y i n the
case w h e n the c a r r i e r a n d s p r e a d e r o f t h e a l i e n i d e o l o g y
170
ENVER HOXHA
i s o r becomes o u r conscious e n e m y , o n l y t h e n i s t h e c o n tradiction handled and resolved as an antagonistic contrad i c t i o n a n d the m e t h o d o f p e r s u a s i o n r e p l a c e d b y t h a t
of compulsion. T h e P a r t y must do a great prophylactic,
educational and political work, patiently and systematically,
to prevent anyone from falling into grave blunders, going
f r o m blunders to culpable faults a n d then to anti-state
a n d a n t i - s o c i a l i s t c r i m e s subject t o severe p u n i s h m e n t b y
the dictatorship of the proletariat.
A n o t h e r v e r y i m p o r t a n t d i r e c t i o n o f the i d e o l o g i c a l
w o r k o f t h e P a r t y i s t h e i n c u l c a t i o n o f t h e n e w socialist
attitude towards w o r k , so that o u r people w i l l w o r k as
r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d f i g h t r e s o l u t e l y t o p u t the r e v o l u t i o n a r y
ideals i n t o p r a c t i c e . O n l y i n w o r k a n d t h r o u g h w o r k i s
t h e n e w m a n e d u c a t e d a n d t e m p e r e d , because w o r k i s the
greatest s c h o o l of c o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n .
In the atmosphere of great creative w o r k
full of
selfless r e v o l u t i o n a r y e n t h u s i a s m , w h i c h i s t r a n s f o r m i n g
n a t u r e a n d the consciousness o f m a n , i t becomes e v e n m o r e
e v i d e n t h o w a l i e n a n d i n t o l e r a b l e a r e the a t t i t u d e s o f
those p e o p l e w h o d o d g e w o r k , w h o a r e a f r a i d o f d i f f i c u l t i e s
a n d sacrifices, w h o d o not w a n t t o d i s t u r b t h e i r p e r s o n a l
ease a n d c o m f o r t , w h o t r y t o o c c u p y o r h a n g o n t o some
«soft spot», w h o d o t h e i r w o r k c a r e l e s s l y a n d t r y t o g r a b
the m a x i m u m f r o m society, w h o p r o c e e d i n e v e r y t h i n g
f r o m t h e i r o w n p e r s o n a l interest a n d m a t e r i a l b e n e f i t a n d ,
w i t h a t h o u s a n d p r e t e x t s a n d excuses, s h i r k the d u t y o f
w o r k i n g w h e r e t h e people a n d t h e c o u n t r y n e e d t h e m . A l l
these are bourgeois a t t i t u d e s .
T h e party organizations must carry on a resolute fight
against s u c h a l i e n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h o u r
communist morality. T h e y must regard the struggle
against s u c h m a n i f e s t a t i o n s as an aspect of t h e class s t r u g gle, as a s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e seed of t h e b o u r g e o i s a n d
r e v i s i o n i s t d e g e n e r a t i o n o f people. T h e y m u s t i m p l a n t the
171
r e v o l u t i o n a r y socialist concept a n d a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s w o r k
among a l l the w o r k i n g p e o p l e o f t o w n a n d c o u n t r y , s o
that e v e r y b o d y r e g a r d s w o r k as a m a t t e r of h o n o u r a n d
pride, a s a l o f t y p a t r i o t i c d u t y , w i t h o u t w h i c h l i f e c o u l d
not exist. O u r p e o p l e a n d , f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t , t h e cadres
and p a r t y m e m b e r s m u s t w o r k w i t h h i g h consciousness
and d i s c i p l i n e , w i t h m i l i t a r y d r i v e a n d t e m p o , b o l d l y
overcome e v e r y o b s t a c l e a n d d i f f i c u l t y , m a r c h s t e a d i l y
f o r w a r d , p l a c e t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h e people, the c o u n t r y a n d
socialism a b o v e e v e r y t h i n g , spare n o t h i n g t o p r o m o t e these
interests, a n d b e r e a d y e v e n t o l a y d o w n t h e i r l i v e s f o r
these interests. A m o d e s t s o n of o u r people, son of a
family f o r m e r l y oppressed and exploited by beys and
landlords w a s H e k u r a n Z e n u n i , a soldier f r o m the village
of Tozhar in the Berat district. He made light of d i f f i c u l ties a n d s a c r i f i c e s a n d w e n t a h e a d t o p e r f o r m t h e d u t y
with w h i c h he h a d been charged and, w i t h o u t hesitation,
laid d o w n h i s l i f e i n the f l o w e r o f h i s y o u t h , j u s t a s
the 28,000 m a r t y r s d i d t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e i r tasks d u r i n g the
National Liberation W a r . S u c h are the n e w m e n w h i c h
our P a r t y h a s e d u c a t e d a n d t e m p e r e d .
W h e n w e s p e a k a b o u t t h e socialist a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s
work, the c o r r e c t u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f p h y s i c a l w o r k , w o r k
in p r o d u c t i o n h a s f i r s t - r a t e i m p o r t a n c e . T h i s is a great
question o f p r i n c i p l e t o w h i c h the o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the
Party must give special attention in their educational
w o r k . T h e a r i s t o c r a t i c concepts a b o u t w o r k i n p r o d u c t i o n
are c o m p l e t e l y a l i e n t o s o c i a l i s m a n d f r a u g h t w i t h d a n g e r ous consequences. A n y u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n o r d e r i d i n g o f
physical w o r k should be condemned as underestimation
and d e r i d i n g o f the w o r k e r s a n d peasants a n d the b r o a d
masses of the p e o p l e — a t h i n g t h a t leads to i s o l a t i o n
f r o m the p e o p l e a n d t h e i r w o r k a n d l i f e , a n d this i s o l a t i o n
i s the source o f m a n y evils. T h i s s h o u l d b e t a k e n i n t o
account e s p e c i a l l y b y those e n g a g e d i n m e n t a l w o r k , the
172
ENVER HOXHA
cadres, officials, t h e t e c h n i c a l a n d a r t i s t i c i n t e l l i g e n t s i a ,
t h e p u p i l s a n d students. T h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f
t h e m h a v e been e d u c a t e d s i n c e t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the
c o u n t r y a n d h a v e e m e r g e d f r o m the r a n k s o f the w o r k i n g
masses, are closely l i n k e d w i t h the p e o p l e a n d the P a r t y
and have displayed and are demonstrating a high level of
p a t r i o t i c a n d socialist consciousness. N e v e r t h e l e s s , these
features s h o u l d not l e a d u s t o u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e d a n g e r
of their becoming infected by bourgeois ideology and,
especially, b y r e v i s i o n i s t v i e w s . T h i s i s n o t a n i m a g i n a r y
d a n g e r , it has a r e a l basis. It is c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e v e r y
n a t u r e a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f the w o r k a n d l i f e o f people
engaged i n m e n t a l w o r k , a n d e s p e c i a l l y the creative, a r t istic a n d s c i e n t i f i c i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , w h o a r e s t i l l v e r y o u t
o f t o u c h w i t h p h y s i c a l w o r k a n d , i n m a n y instances, w i t h
the w o r k i n g masses a n d t h e i r l i v e s . A m o n g the i n t e l ligentsia more favourable g r o u n d can be and is f o u n d
f o r the s p r e a d o f i n d i v i d u a l i s m a n d c a r e e r i s m , conceit
a n d haughtiness, u n j u s t i f i e d p r e t e n s i o n s a n d a n e a s y l i f e ,
i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m a n d d i s d a i n f o r the masses.
O u r p e o p l e s i n t e l l i g e n t s i a m u s t l i n k itself a s closely
a s possible w i t h the people, m u s t w o r k a n d l i v e w i t h t h e
w o r k e r s a n d peasants a n d b l e n d t h e m s e l v e s i n s e p a r a b l y
w i t h t h e m . T h e y m u s t reject t h e b o u r g e o i s idea i n h e r i t e d
f r o m the p a s t w h i c h s t i l l has d e e p roots, that the i n t e l lectual knows e v e r y t h i n g a n d he alone is able to lead,
t o guide, t o t e a c h a n d i n s t r u c t o t h e r s — a n i d e a w h i c h
in fact expresses the n e g a t i o n of t h e r o l e of the masses.
I t m u s t b e c l e a r that the d e c i s i v e r o l e i n a l l f i e l d s o f
life, i n c l u d i n g s p i r i t u a l life, does n o t b e l o n g t o p a r t i c u l a r
i n d i v i d u a l s , n o m a t t e r h o w o u t s t a n d i n g t h e y are, b u t t o
the b r o a d masses o f the people. K n o w l e d g e d o c s not f a l l
from heaven. A l l knowledge derives f r o m life and practice
a n d is a p r o d u c t of the s t r u g g l e of the masses to t r a n s f o r m
n a t u r e a n d society. T h e r e f o r e , t h e m e n o f science, a r t
173
and c u l t u r e m u s t l i s t e n w i t h a t t e n t i o n a n d deep respect
to the o p i n i o n s of the masses, s u m up t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e ,
always b e modest a n d h u m b l e p u p i l s o f the g r e a t a n d
u n m i s t a k a b l e teacher, t h e people, a n d m a k e the j u d g e m e n t
o f the p e o p l e the f u n d a m e n t a l c r i t e r i o n i n a l l t h e i r c r e a t i v e
work. S o m e cadres i n o u r s c i e n t i f i c i n s t i t u t i o n s are c o n ceited a n d t h i n k t h a t w h a t t h e y s a y i s t h e last w o r d o f
science, t h a t a n y o p i n i o n opposed to t h e i r s is w o r t h l e s s ,
incorrect, a n d m u s t b e r e j e c t e d . N o ! S u c h concepts a m o n g
the r a n k s of o u r scientists m u s t be s t i g m a t i z e d . T h e r e is no
advance i n science o r a n y w h e r e else w i t h o u t s t r u g g l e ,
w i t h o u t clashes o f o p i n i o n s , w i t h o u t class struggle, w i t h o u t
debate g u i d e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s , b y the
proletarian ideology, to discover the t r u t h . T h e idea of the
d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s o f science, a n d n o t p e r s o n a l
glory, m u s t g u i d e e a c h o f o u r scientists i n h i s o w n w o r k .
T h e p e o p l e o f the i n t e l l i g e n t s i a m u s t l i n k t h e i r m e n t a l
w o r k a s closely a s p o s s i b l e w i t h t h e p h y s i c a l w o r k o f
workers and peasants a n d take part continually, in the
proportions laid d o w n , in w o r k directly in production. This
d u t y w h i c h has been p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e w i d e l y f o r a l l the
cadres, i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , p u p i l s a n d students, h a s g r e a t t h e o retical a n d p r a c t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e . I t w i l l h e l p t h e m t o
become b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d w i t h l i f e , t o r i d t h e m s e l v e s o f
many alien remnants and manifestations and to temper
themselves a s g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . T h i s i s a n i m p o r t a n t
step t o w a r d s r e d u c i n g the d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n m e n t a l
and p h y s i c a l w o r k , w h i c h , together w i t h the r e d u c t i o n o f
d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y a n d b e t w e e n the
w o r k i n g class a n d the p e a s a n t r y , constitutes a m a j o r
p r o b l e m w h i c h i s closely l i n k e d w i t h the prospects o f
our d e v e l o p m e n t t o w a r d s c o m m u n i s m . I f w e d o not t a k e
measures n o w t o n a r r o w these d i f f e r e n c e s a n d , w i l l i n g l y
o r not, a l l o w t h e m t o deepen, t h e n our c o u n t r y w i l l n o t
develop t o w a r d s o u r f i n a l o b j e c t i v e a n d these d i f f e r e n c e s
174
ENVER HOXHA
w i l l also become the cause o f m a n y evils, o f u n f a i r r e l a tions b e t w e e n p e o p l e o f m e n t a l a n d p h y s i c a l w o r k , b e t w e e n t o w n a n d c o u n t r y a n d b e t w e e n the w o r k i n g class
a n d the p e a s a n t r y .
O u r P a r t y h a s b i g tasks t o p e r f o r m also i n c o n n e c t i o n
w i t h the i n c u l c a t i o n o f correct concepts a b o u t l i f e s o that
the m o r a l f i g u r e o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l the w o r k i n g
people w i l l b e t h e same, not o n l y a t w o r k a n d i n society,
b u t also i n p e r s o n a l a n d f a m i l y l i f e . T h e cadres, t h e c o m munists and every w o r k e r should live like revolutionaries,
l e a d a m o d e s t l i f e of r e a l struggle, t h e y s h o u l d be the
f i r s t i n s a c r i f i c e s a n d the last i n p r e t e n s i o n s . A s the O p e n
L e t t e r r e a d s : « . . . n o t e m p t y idleness a n d c o n c e r n o n l y f o r
oneself, b u t t h e i d e a l o f s o c i a l i s m , the s t r u g g l e t o b u i l d o u r
socialist H o m e l a n d a n d m a k e i t f l o w e r w i t h o u r o w n h a n d s ,
the j o y o f c r e a t i v e w o r k f o r the good o f the p e o p l e a n d
i n t h e i r s e r v i c e a n d the c o n t i n u o u s r a i s i n g o f the s t a n d a r d
o f l i v i n g o f t h e w o r k i n g masses m u s t b e the m a i n o b j e c t i v e o f t h e i r l i f e a n d s t r u g g l e , t h e i r m a i n preoccupation.»*
T h e b o u r g e o i s a n d r e v i s i o n i s t concept o f l i f e , p u t t i n g
m o n e y , pleasure, l u x u r y , c o m f o r t , p e r s o n a l ease a n d w e l l b e i n g above e v e r y t h i n g , i s a l i e n t o o u r people. T h e c o n sequences of s u c h a concept h a v e b e c o m e c a t a s t r o p h i c in
the c o u n t r i e s r u l e d b y the r e v i s i o n i s t s . P o l i t i c a l d e g e n e r a t i o n , m o r a l c o r r u p t i o n , r u n n i n g after m o n e y a n d m a t e r i a l
gain, selfishness a n d f r e n z i e d i n d i v i d u a l i s m , the b o u r g e o i s
w a y of life and fashion, and hooliganism are w h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e l i f e of these c o u n t r i e s t o d a y , a l i f e w h i c h
i s a l m o s t i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m that o f w e s t e r n c a p i t a l i s t
countries.
S u c h a l i e n v i e w s o n l i f e m a y a n d , i n fact, d o t a k e r o o t
i n some o f o u r people w h o are e x p o s e d t o the s t r o n g i n fluence o f b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y a n d m o r a l i t y . T h e p a r t y
______________________________
* « P r i n c i p a l Documents of the P L A » , vol. 5, p. 38 ( A l b . ed.):
175
organizations must always be vigilant and carry out a
great e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e t o c r e a t e i n the P a r t y ,
i n the c o l l e c t i v e , i n t h e f a m i l y a n d e v e r y w h e r e s u c h a n
a t m o s p h e r e as to s t i f l e d e c a d e n t concepts a b o u t the w a y
and p u r p o s e o f life, s t e r n l y c o n d e m n i n g a l l l i b e r a l a t t i t u d e s
and l a x i t y i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . T h r o u g h its w o r k t h e P a r t y
must i n c u l c a t e , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n , o u r
n e w r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n c e p t o f l i f e t h a t i s i n s p i r e d b y the
l o f t y ideals o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m .
A l l the i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k o f the P a r t y , its p r o p a g a n d a
and agitation, must be directed first and foremost at
ideological and political education, the f o r m a t i o n a n d
tempering of people as genuine revolutionaries and communists so that they understand and put into practice
the great slogan o f t h e P a r t y : « T h i n k , w o r k a n d l i v e
l i k e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s » w h i c h c o n s t i t u t e s the essence o f c o m m u n i s t e d u c a t i o n , t h e f u n d a m e n t a l content o f t h e e d u c a tional w o r k of the P a r t y .
.......................
3. — WE MUST RADICALLY IMPROVE THE METHOD AND STYLE
OF THE EDUCATIONAL WORK
O u r great objectives i n the r e a l m o f the c u l t u r a l a n d
i d e o l o g i c a l r e v o l u t i o n f o r the e d u c a t i o n o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d
a l l the w o r k i n g p e o p l e i n a h i g h r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t c a n not b e a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t f u r t h e r i m p r o v i n g t h e e n t i r e
content o f o u r e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k a n d e s p e c i a l l y the m e t h o d
and s t y l e o f this w o r k .
I t m u s t b e s a i d t h a t u p t o n o w t h i s w o r k has suffered a n d i s s t i l l s u f f e r i n g f r o m d o g m a t i s m a n d s t e r e o t y p ism, f r o m b e i n g o u t o f t o u c h w i t h life, f r o m v e r b o s i t y ,
u n e x p l a i n e d f o r m u l a s a n d a h e a v y , b o r i n g style. O u r
w o r k e r s o f M a r x i s t s o c i a l sciences a n d p r o p a g a n d a h a v e
176
ENVER HOXHA
been t r y i n g t o present o u r e x p e r i e n c e i n the k n o w n
terms of theory, r e d u c i n g it, in t h e best instances, to
e x a m p l e s f o r i l l u s t r a t i o n , a n d n o t e n o u g h w o r k h a s been
done t o m a k e t h e o r e t i c a l g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s f r o m t h e A l b a n i a n practice, t o r a i s e t h e w e a l t h o f f a c t u a l m a t e r i a l
t h a t the l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y d u r i n g a l l these y e a r s has
p r o v i d e d , t o the l e v e l o f science. T h e r e f o r e , t h e P a r t y
must make every effort to combat this serious shortcoming,
a n d t o e n l i v e n c r e a t i v e t h i n k i n g i n the f i e l d o f M a r x i s t
s o c i a l sciences, i n o u r p r o p a g a n d a , a n d i n a l l o u r i d e o l o g ical and cultural work.
In addition there are some other weaknesses that
h a v e been n o t i c e d i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d c o n d u c t o f
p o l i t i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l e d u c a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s . I n m a n y cases
the f o r m s o f e d u c a t i o n a l w o r k a r e s t a n d a r d i z e d a n d r i g i d ,
w i t h o u t s p i r i t o r life, l i t t l e e f f o r t i s m a d e t o a d a p t t h e m
to new conditions and circumstances and frequently n o t h i n g i s a l t e r e d u n t i l i n s t r u c t i o n s c o m e f r o m above. T h e
fact i s t h a t the r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t o f the P a r t y a n d
masses has f a r o u t s t r i p p e d t h e p r o p a g a n d a a n d a g i t a t i o n
of the Party. C o m m u n i s t s and non-party workers, coo p e r a t i v i s t s , y o u t h a n d w o m e n are m a k i n g t h o u s a n d s o f
innovations and rationalizations w h i c h revolutionize their
m i n d s a n d p r o d u c t i o n . H o w e v e r , t h e same c a n n o t b e
s a i d about the p a r t y w o r k e r s e n g a g e d i n p r o p a g a n d a a n d
a g i t a t i o n , o r a b o u t the w o r k e r s o f t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a n d
c u l t u r a l f r o n t , w h o s h o u l d a d v a n c e n o t alongside, b u t
i n the v a n g u a r d o f a l l t h e o t h e r w o r k i n g people, t o l i g h t
the w a y f o r t h e m , t o o r g a n i z e a n d m o b i l i z e t h e m f o r
great deeds. W h a t is the r e a s o n f o r t h i s ? Is it t h a t the
comrades o f the i d e o l o g i c a l f r o n t are i n c a p a b l e , h a v e n o
ideas a n d o p i n i o n s ? N o . T h e y a r e s o m e o f the best c o m rades, w i t h a h i g h i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l l e v e l a n d t i r e less w o r k e r s . T h e t r o u b l e i s t h a t t h e y f i n d i t d i f f i c u l t
to break a w a y f r o m the old stereotyped forms of w o r k
177
and are not closely l i n k e d w i t h the w o r k a n d struggle o f
the masses.
I n t h e f i e l d o f i d e o l o g y a n d p r o p a g a n d a the P a r t y
must s t r u g g l e a l s o against a n o t h e r serious s h o r t c o m i n g
w h i c h i s s e e n e s p e c i a l l y i n the d a i l y l i f e o f p a r t y o r g a n i z a tions, as w e l l as of state a n d e c o n o m i c organs. H e r e I
am referring to the manifestations of empiricism and narrow practicism, the separation of practice f r o m theory,
b e c o m i n g t o t a l l y i m m e r s e d i n the s w i r l o f d a i l y life, facts
and events, t h e f a i l u r e t o d r a w g e n e r a l c o n c l u s i o n s f r o m
the e x p e r i e n c e of the masses, a n d t h e u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n of
theory, w h i c h leads t o the loss o f p e r s p e c t i v e a n d d e v i a t i o n f r o m p r i n c i p l e s . It is r e g r e t t a b l e , b u t a fact, that
there a r e c o m m u n i s t s i n t h e r a n k s o f the P a r t y w h o t o i l
d a y a n d n i g h t b u t n e v e r open a book, t h a t s o m e l e a d i n g
cadres w h o h a v e n e g l e c t e d t h e i r studies, h a v e lagged
b e h i n d a n d cannot r e s p o n d t o the great tasks w i t h w h i c h
l i f e faces t h e m . S o m e b e l i e v e t h a t s i n c e t h e y h a v e g r a d u a t e d f r o m the U n i v e r s i t y o r the P a r t y S c h o o l t h e y k n o w
e v e r y t h i n g a n d h a v e n o t h i n g m o r e t o l e a r n . O t h e r s are
content w i t h l i t t l e a n d t h i n k t h a t t h e s t u d y o f t h e o r y i s
not necessary f o r t h e w o r k t h e y do. A l l these v i e w s m u s t
b e c o n d e m n e d a n d s t e r n l y c o m b a t e d . T h e cadres, the
c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l the w o r k i n g people m u s t l e a r n a l l the
time, m u s t l e a r n f r o m l i f e a n d f r o m school, f r o m p r a c tice a n d t h e o r y , f r o m w o r k a n d f r o m books. T h i s i s a
never-ending, unlimited job.
T h e P a r t y has t a k e n and w i l l take measures to
i m p r o v e the w o r k i n t h i s f i e l d o f s u c h i m p o r t a n c e , c o m b a t i n g b o t h d o g m a t i s m a n d e m p i r i c i s m , b o t h lifeless t h e o r i z i n g a n d n a r r o w p r a c t i c i s m . H o w e v e r , these m e a s u r e s w i l l
n e v e r b e s u f f i c i e n t a n d c o m p l e t e unless t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s
and committees of the P a r t y and the workers on the
i d e o l o g i c a l f r o n t use t h e i r b r a i n s , t h i n k a n d create w i t h
initiative, unless they elaborate and enrich the directives
178
ENVER HOXHA
o f the P a r t y a n d a p p l y t h e m i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y i n
c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the tasks a n d c i r c u m s t a n c e s . T h e w o r k
of the P a r t y a n d its i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k , in p a r t i c u l a r , is a
l i v i n g a n d p r o f o u n d l y c r e a t i v e w o r k , w h i c h does n o t
tolerate r e a d y - m a d e schemes a n d stereotypes. T h e e n l i v e n m e n t o f this w o r k i s one o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t a s k s o f
the P a r t y t o d a y .
T h e r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g o f a l l the i d e o l o g i c a l w o r k , o f its
content a n d style, l i n k i n g i t c l o s e l y w i t h l i f e , m u s t
assist, f i r s t o f a l l , t h e m o r e p r o f o u n d a n d conscious ass i m i l a t i o n o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m b y the c o m m u n i s t s a n d
a l l the w o r k i n g p e o p l e o f o u r c o u n t r y . S u c h a n a s s i m i l a t i o n o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideas a n d t h e i r t r a n s f o r m a t i o n
into a w e a p o n for o u r w o r k i n g people in their daily
s t r u g g l e i s the f u n d a m e n t a l d i s t i n g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e that
m a r k s the process o f the f u r t h e r d e e p e n i n g o f o u r i d e o l o g i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideas a r e
the r e d f l a g o f o u r P a r t y , its i n v i n c i b l e a n d t r i u m p h a n t
b a n n e r . T h e y a r e t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f the g e n e r a l l i n e o f
o u r P a r t y , t h e y are o u r g u i d e t o a c t i o n , t h e y l i g h t t h e
w a y for our ideological and cultural revolution, of w h i c h
t h e y are the basis. T h e r e f o r e , t h e y m u s t become, a n d
are b e c o m i n g m o r e a n d m o r e e a c h d a y , t h e p r o p e r t y a n d
w e a p o n o f the w o r k i n g people.
In this connection we must strengthen and radically
i m p r o v e the s t u d y o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y i n t h e P a r t y
S c h o o l , i n a l l categories o f o u r schools a n d e s p e c i a l l y
i n t h e U n i v e r s i t y a n d o t h e r h i g h e r institutes, w i t h the
a i m t h a t the y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n a n d o u r cadres are
formed and tempered as genuine revolutionaries, w i t h
b r o a d p o l i t i c a l a n d t h e o r e t i c a l h o r i z o n s , closely l i n k e d w i t h
l i f e a n d practice. O u r schools m u s t g i v e t h e y o u t h a n d
the cadres p r o f o u n d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r e t i c a l k n o w ledge, a n d g i v e i t t o t h e m n o t i n a d o g m a t i c w a y , b u t
c r e a t i v e l y , n o t as an o r n a m e n t , b u t as a compass to g u i d e
179
t h e m c o r r e c t l y i n l i f e a n d a s a w e a p o n f o r the r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d . T h e w o r k s o f the classics
of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and especially the documents, m a terials a n d e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r P a r t y , w h i c h a r e M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m in action in today's national and international
conditions, m u s t b e t h e basis f o r the s t u d y o f o u r t r i u m p h ant d o c t r i n e . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , w e m u s t i n t e n s i f y a n d
i m p r o v e t h e p r o p a g a t i o n o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideas t h r o u g h
the p r e s s a n d p u b l i c a t i o n s , b y p r i n t i n g a n d p u b l i s h i n g
m o r e articles, b o o k s a n d p a m p h l e t s , w o r k s o f t h e c l a s sics o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , n o t o n l y c o m p l e t e w o r k s b u t
also selections o n s p e c i f i c themes, d e a l i n g w i t h p a r t i c u l a r
p r o b l e m s o n w h i c h t h e cadres a n d w o r k e r s need d i r e c t
help.
O u r struggle for the assimilation of M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
ideas, f o r t h e d e e p e n i n g o f the i d e o l o g i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l
r e v o l u t i o n , cannot b e w a g e d s u c c e s s f u l l y u n l e s s the
w h o l e P a r t y , t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d a l l w o r k i n g masses are
d r a w n i n t o it, u n l e s s t h e l i n e o f t h e masses, the l i n e o f
t h o r o u g h socialist d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n , i s i m p l e m e n t e d b o l d l y
a n d i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y here, a s e v e r y w h e r e else.
To p u t s u c h a l i n e i n t o p r a c t i c e , a s t e r n s t r u g g l e m u s t
b e w a g e d against t h e r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i n t e l l e c t u a l i s t
concept t h a t t h e o r y , p h i l o s o p h y , science a n d art are too
d i f f i c u l t t o b e g r a s p e d b y t h e masses, t h a t t h e y c a n b e
u n d e r s t o o d o n l y b y the cadres a n d i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , because
the masses h a v e n o t r e a c h e d t h e l e v e l necessary t o
u n d e r s t a n d t h e m ! T h i s m e a n s t o m a k e t h e o r y a n d science
a b u g b e a r f o r t h e masses. T h i s m e a n s t o m a k e M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m a b u g b e a r f o r the masses, too, because M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i s a t h e o r y a n d science. W e m u s t d e c l a r e
relentless w a r o n t h i s concept. M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i s not
a m o n o p o l y of a p r i v i l e g e d f e w w h o « h a v e t h e b r a i n s »
t o u n d e r s t a n d it. I t i s t h e s c i e n t i f i c i d e o l o g y o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses, a n d o n l y w h e n its
180
ENVER HOXHA
ideas are g r a s p e d b y t h e b r o a d w o r k i n g masses does i t
cease to be s o m e t h i n g a b s t r a c t a n d is t u r n e d i n t o a great
m a t e r i a l f o r c e f o r the r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f
the w o r l d . T h e h i s t o r i c task o f o u r P a r t y i s t o c o n t i n u a l l y
deepen the i d e o l o g i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l r e v o l u t i o n a n d c a r r y
i t t h r o u g h t o the e n d b y r e l y i n g o n the masses o f w o r k e r s ,
peasants, soldiers, cadres a n d the i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d d r a w ing them actively into creative revolutionary activity.
V
THE S T R U G G L E O F T H E P A R T Y O F L A B O U R O F A L B A N I A
AGAINST MODERN REVISIONISM AND IN DEFENCE OF
THE PURITY OF MARXISM-LENINISM
D u r i n g the p e r i o d since the 4 t h Congress, o u r P a r t y
has w a g e d a resolute p r i n c i p l e d s t r u g g l e i n d e f e n c e o f
the p u r i t y of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , a b l o w - f o r - b l o w struggle
against the K h r u s h c h e v i t e a n d T i t o i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d
their f o l l o w e r s .
T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a considers i t the
duty and the right of every M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party to
d e f e n d the t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m f r o m a n y
r i g h t i s t o r l e f t i s t d e v i a t i o n , b o t h w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f the
party and in the international communist movement, and
to make principled criticism of any Marxist-Leninist party
which violates and distorts the M a r x i s t principles and
the l a w s o f the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n . T h i s d e r i v e s f r o m
the p r i n c i p l e d content a n d the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r
o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t d o c t r i n e , f r o m t h e c o m m o n i n t e rests a n d a i m s o f a l l t h e d e t a c h m e n t s o f the w o r k i n g
class, f r o m p r o l e t a r i a n p a r t i s a n s h i p a n d f r o m t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f each p a r t y f o r t h e f a t e o f the i n t e r n a t i o n a l
communist movement.
B e s i d e s this, t h e correct u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d d e v e l o p ment of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and its practical application
in d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s is not a n d c a n n o t be a m o n o p o l y
of one p a r t y or a f e w i n d i v i d u a l s , but is a r i g h t a n d
duty of every party and every communist or revolutionary
g r o u p a n d , a t the same t i m e , o f a l l o f t h e m j o i n t l y . E a c h
182
ENVER HOXHA
a n d e v e r y o n e m a k e s a n d has t o m a k e h i s o w n c o n t r i b u tion to this great question of principle.
M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m does not r e c o g n i s e b i g p a r t i e s a n d
s m a l l parties, m o t h e r p a r t i e s a n d d a u g h t e r parties, l e a d i n g parties and l e d parties. A l l the true M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
p a r t i e s are e q u a l a n d i n d e p e n d e n t o f o n e another, t h e y
are u n i t e d t o the e n d w i t h o n e a n o t h e r f o r the g r e a t cause
o f the r e v o l u t i o n ; g i v e o n e a n o t h e r r e c i p r o c a l a i d a n d
support, c o n s u l t a n d cooperate w i t h o n e another, a n d
c o - o r d i n a t e t h e i r o p i n i o n s a n d actions i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e
t h e i r c o m m o n goal, i n s p i r e d a n d g u i d e d i n e v e r y t h i n g
by revolutionary Marxism-Leninism.
T h e P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a has always upheld
these p r i n c i p l e s a n d t h i s h e a l t h y r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t a n d
h a s acted i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e m f r o m t h e t i m e i t w a s
f o u n d e d . P r o c e e d i n g r e s o l u t e l y o n t h i s correct course,
w i t h o u t w i s h i n g t o i m p o s e its o p i n i o n s o n others, i n this
C o n g r e s s the P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a o p e n l y expresses
its v i e w s o n t h e m a j o r p r o b l e m s t h a t a r e w o r r y i n g the
i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t . E v e r y b o d y has the
r i g h t a n d d u t y t o c r i t i c i z e u s o p e n l y , i n case w e a r e n o t
r i g h t o n some q u e s t i o n , o r i f h e does n o t s h a r e o u r v i e w s .
We shall welcome any fair principled criticism.
1. — MODERN REVISIONISM — AN OFFSHOOT AND ALLY OF
THE BOURGEOISIE AND IMPERIALISM
T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a considers t h e o p e n ,
u n r e l e n t i n g s t r u g g l e against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , w h i c h
has t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p as its c e n t r e , to be
one o f t h e m a i n tasks o f a l l t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , b e cause m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i s the m a i n e n e m y i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t , i t i s t h e « T r o j a n horse»
o f - i m p e r i a l i s m a n d w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m , i t i s t h e «second
183
front» o f i m p e r i a l i s m a g a i n s t s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m .
Its s t r a t e g i c a i m i s t o p e r p e t u a t e the c a p i t a l i s t r u l e w h e r ever it is in p o w e r a n d to restore capitalism w h e r e v e r
i t has b e e n o v e r t h r o w n .
T h e present-day K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionism is a direct
successor a n d c o n t i n u a t i o n o f the r e v i s i o n i s m o f B e r n s t e i n
and Kautsky, Trotsky and B u k h a r i n , B r o w d e r and Tito,
against w h i c h M a r x , E n g e l s , L e n i n a n d S t a l i n a n d the
3rd C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d t h e I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u
of the c o m m u n i s t a n d w o r k e r s ' p a r t i e s w a g e d a s t e r n
principled
struggle.
The
present-day
r e v i s i o n i s t s are
f o l l o w i n g in t h e footsteps of s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y , w h i c h is a
s e r v a n t o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d a w e a p o n f o r the c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f the c a p i t a l i s t o r d e r t o s u p p r e s s t h e r e v o l u t i o n
and u n d e r m i n e socialism. Revisionism and social-democracy are t w o manifestations of the same bourgeois
i d e o l o g y : the f o r m e r i n the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t , a n d the
l a t t e r i n the w o r k e r s ' m o v e m e n t . T h e i r c o m m o n i d e o l o g i c a l
basis a n d c o m m o n p o l i t i c a l a i m s are w h a t b r i n g r e v i s i o n i s m a n d s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y together, u n i t e t h e m a n d fuse
t h e m i n t o a s i n g l e a n t i - M a r x i s t , anti-socialist, c o u n t e r revolutionary trend.
T h e h i s t o r y o f the emergence, d e v e l o p m e n t a n d
t r i u m p h o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i s the h i s t o r y o f the u n i n terrupted struggle against all its ideological a n d political
opponents, against t r a i t o r s a n d s p l i t t e r s , against o p p o r tunists a n d r e v i s i o n i s t s o f e v e r y hue. T h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l
c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t e x i s t s a n d d e v e l o p s i n a society
d i v i d e d i n t o o p p o s i n g classes a n d systems, b e t w e e n w h i c h
a s t e r n class s t r u g g l e is w a g e d . T h i s s t r u g g l e f i n d s its
e x p r e s s i o n e v e n w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f the c o m m u n i s t parties
a n d t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t as a s t r u g gle b e t w e e n M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d v a r i o u s o p p o r t u n i s t
a n d r e v i s i o n i s t trends. T h e d i a l e c t i c a l l a w o f d e v e l o p m e n t
t h r o u g h the s t r u g g l e of opposites, as a u n i v e r s a l l a w , also
184
ENVER HOXHA
operates w i t h i n the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s a n d the c o m m u n i s t
m o v e m e n t . O p p o r t u n i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m h a v e a l w a y s been
a n d s t i l l are the i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l sources o f
d i s r u p t i o n o f the u n i t y o f the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s a n d the
c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t i n g e n e r a l . T h e h i s t o r y o f the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t s h o w s t h a t i t has gone
from unity to division and f r o m division to a new unity
o n a n e w h i g h e r basis. I n t h e s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n M a r x i s m Leninism and opportunism and revisionism, v i c t o r y has
a l w a y s gone t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . A f t e r e a c h b a t t l e
against o p p o r t u n i s m a n d r e v i s i o n i s m , the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t h a s scored great h i s t o r i c v i c t o r i e s a n d M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m has been d e v e l o p e d a n d r a i s e d to a h i g h e r l e v e l .
It w a s p r e c i s e l y the s t r u g g l e of the great L e n i n at
the h e a d o f t h e B o l s h e v i k s against t h e o p p o r t u n i s m o f
the t r a i t o r S e c o n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l t h a t e n s u r e d t h e v i c t o r y o f h i s t o r i c w o r l d i m p o r t a n c e o f the G r e a t O c t o b e r
S o c i a l i s t R e v o l u t i o n i n R u s s i a , w h i c h m a r k e d the greatest
t u r n i n g - p o i n t i n the h i s t o r y o f m a n k i n d , o p e n e d t h e e r a
o f the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m c a p i t a l i s m t o c o m m u n i s m , e n s u r e d
the t r i u m p h o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o v e r o p p o r t u n i s m , r e v i sionism and social-democracy and led to the formation
o f the C o m m u n i s t I n t e r n a t i o n a l , w h i c h r a i s e d the w o r l d
communist movement to a still higher level. T h a n k s
t o t h e s t r u g g l e w a g e d b y J . V . S t a l i n , the great c o n t i n u e r
o f L e n i n ' s w o r k , a t t h e h e a d o f t h e C P S U a n d the s t r u g gle o f the C o m i n t e r n , t h e T r o t s k y i t e s , t h e B u k h a r i n i t e s ,
the bourgeois n a t i o n a l i s t s a n d a l l the o t h e r o p p o r t u n i s t s
w e r e r o u t e d , a n d this e n s u r e d the c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f the
d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t a n d the v i c t o r y o f s o c i a l i s m
i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , a n d c a r r i e d f o r w a r d the w o r l d r e v olutionary and liberation movement. This struggle directly
assisted the f o r m a t i o n a n d t e m p e r i n g o f c o m m u n i s t a n d
w o r k e r s ' parties, c o n f i r m e d the basic p r i n c i p l e s o f the
s t r u c t u r e of M a r x i s t - L e n i r u s t parties, c o n s o l i d a t e d the
185
r e v o l u t i o n a r y u n i t y o f t h e c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t against
the b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y i n its d i f f e r e n t v a r i a n t s , a n d a r m e d
the p a r t i e s w i t h g r e a t e x p e r i e n c e s o t h e y c o u l d u n d e r s t a n d
and a p p l y M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m c o r r e c t l y i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h
national a n d international conditions.
T h e results of the w o r k and struggle carried on by
the C P S U , t h e C o m i n t e r n a n d t h e i n d i v i d u a l c o m m u n i s t
parties w e r e e s p e c i a l l y a p p a r e n t i n the f i g h t against f a s cism a n d a f t e r t h e S e c o n d W o r l d W a r w h i c h e n d e d w i t h
the t o t a l p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y d e f e a t o f f a s c i s m , the
general w e a k e n i n g o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t f r o n t , the great
v i c t o r y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n , the s e t t i n g o u t o f m a n y c o u n tries o f E u r o p e a n d A s i a o n t h e r o a d o f s o c i a l i s m , t h e
upsurge o f the n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n m o v e m e n t , t h e g r o w t h
o f the r o l e a n d a u t h o r i t y o f the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s t h r o u g h out the w o r l d , a n d m a n y p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c v i c t o r i e s
o f the i n t e r n a t i o n a l w o r k i n g class.
The Soviet U n i o n came out of the w a r stronger than
ever, a l t h o u g h i t h a d s u f f e r e d great m a t e r i a l a n d h u m a n
losses. Its e c o n o m y r e c o v e r e d q u i c k l y . G r e a t successes
were a c h i e v e d b y t h e other s o c i a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , too. T h i s
enhanced the economic a n d political potential of soc i a l i s m i n t h e w o r l d , a n d i n c r e a s e d its defence p o t e n t i a l ,
the p o w e r o f a t t r a c t i o n o f t h e ideas o f s o c i a l i s m a n d the
influence of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties. T h e M a r x i s t Leninist u n i t y of the communist a n d w o r k e r s ' parties and
the i n t e r n a t i o n a l s o l i d a r i t y o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d peoples
was s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d t e m p e r e d o n a s o u n d basis, the
cooperation a n d r e c i p r o c a l assistance a m o n g the f r a t e r n a l
socialist c o u n t r i e s w e r e d e v e l o p e d a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d i n
new M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t f o r m s , t h e socialist c a m p w a s created
and c o n s o l i d a t e d a n d b e c a m e t h e c h a m p i o n o f the peoples
against i m p e r i a l i s m , a m i g h t y s u p p o r t e r o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e s , a great s c h o o l f o r
the r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d peoples o f t h e w h o l e w o r l d f o r
186
ENVER HOXHA
t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n f r o m t h e y o k e o f i m p e r i a l i s t oppressors
a n d other e n s l a v e r s .
The revolution was mounting, continuously advancing,
while imperialism was m o v i n g towards its doom, decaying,
a n d e n c i r c l e d b y t h e f i r e a n d s t e e l o f the peoples o f the
w h o l e w o r l d . I n o r d e r t o get o u t o f its d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d t o
a p p l y its c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d aggressive g l o b a l s t r a tegy, t h e h e a d o f w o r l d i m p e r i a l i s m — U S i m p e r i a l i s m , set
i n m o t i o n a l l its economic, p o l i t i c a l , m i l i t a r y a n d i d e o l o g ical potential.
P r e c i s e l y a t these m o m e n t s , w h e n i m p e r i a l i s m w a s i n
e x t r e m e d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d s t r i v i n g t o e m e r g e f r o m t h e crisis
w i t h w h i c h t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y i m p e t u s o f the w o r k i n g
people a n d the p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y
m i g h t o f the s o c i a l i s t c a m p a n d the n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n
s t r u g g l e o f t h e peoples w e r e t h r e a t e n i n g it, t h e m o d e r n
revisionists, headed by the Titoite a n d Soviet revisionists,
came t o t h e a i d o f i m p e r i a l i s m t o r e s c u e i t f r o m t h e c r i s i s
a n d defeat. H e r e i n l i e s t h e g r e a t b e t r a y a l b y t h e r e v i s i o n ists a n d t h e i r h i s t o r i c r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b e f o r e t h e peoples.
B e i n g i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d m o r a l l y o n the s a m e t r a c k a s
U S imperialism and w o r l d imperialism i n general, despite
the g r e a t m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l o f t h e c o u n t r i e s t h e y r u l e d ,
the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s w e r e t e r r i f i e d b y A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m ' s threats o f w a r a n d a t o m i c b l a c k m a i l a n d
s u r r e n d e r e d t o it. T h e y p r e s e n t e d t h e m s e l v e s t o w o r l d
c a p i t a l i s m a s o b e d i e n t l a c k e y s a n d i n v e t e r a t e agents, w i t h
a p o l i t i c a l p l a t f o r m t h a t i s b o u r g e o i s f r o m start t o f i n i s h
but camouflaged w i t h M a r x i s t phraseology in order to
deceive people m o r e readily. Thus, w o r l d i m p e r i a l i s m
a c h i e v e d a success g r e a t e r t h a n i t c o u l d e v e r h a v e e x pected. T h e r e f o r e , i t w a s v e r y p l e a s e d w i t h a l l the steps
a n d actions o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s ; i t cheered, a p p l a u d e d a n d
supported them and exploited them to the limit, t r y i n g
t o get t h e m m o r e a n d m o r e d e e p l y i n v o l v e d i n b e t r a y a l
187
t h r o u g h b l a c k m a i l a n d «concessions», t h r o u g h threats a n d
credits.
The first and most dangerous spawn of imperialism
was T i t o i s m w h i c h , w i t h t h e h e l p o f t h e bourgeoisie, the
T r o t s k y i t e s a n d s o c i a l - d e m o c r a c y , seized p o w e r i n Y u g o s l a via. I t w a s u s e d b y i m p e r i a l i s m a s a p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o logical m e a n s t o f i g h t t h e socialist c o u n t r i e s , t o o r g a n i z e
the s u b v e r s i v e s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n ist m o v e m e n t , t o u n d e r m i n e t h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t s t r u g g l e
o f the peoples a n d t o f o r m u l a t e t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f m o d e m
revisionism in the conditions w h e n a p a r t y of Trotskyites
and renegades i s i n p o w e r . B u t d u e t o t h e p e n e t r a t i n g
foresight o f S t a l i n this serious t h r e a t w a s d i s c o v e r e d i n
t i m e a n d a f i r m m i l i t a n t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s t a n d against
this t r e a c h e r o u s t r e n d w a s a d o p t e d . T h e t r a i t o r c l i q u e o f
Tito w a s exposed as an agency of US i m p e r i a l i s m a n d
the i n t e r n a t i o n a l bourgeoisie, w a s u n a n i m o u s l y o p p o s e d b y
the w h o l e o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s m a n d i s o l a t e d i n
its l a i r .
A f t e r the death of Stalin, the camouflaged counterrevolutionaries w i t h i n the ranks of the C P S U , headed by
Khrushchev, began to stir, to plot and reorganize themselves i n o r d e r t o seize p o w e r . T h e S o v i e t M a r x i s t - L e n i n ists a n d t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C P S U w e r e l a c k i n g i n
revolutionary vigilance a n d determination. T h e y fell into
the t r a p of t h e i n t r i g u e s of t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d renegades
— K h r u s h c h e v , M i k o y a n , B r e z h n e v , etc., w h o c a r r i e d o u t
their c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y p u t s c h . T h e p e o p l e i n t h e
l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C P S U not o n l y g r a d u a l l y lost t h e i r
vigilance, b u t t h e y also p r o v e d to be as a p a t h e t i c as they
w e r e c o w a r d l y , f a c i n g t h e r i s e o f the r e v i s i o n i s t c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n . T h e y d i d not r e l y o n t h e p a r t y a n d the masses,
but b e g a n b a r g a i n i n g a n d m a k i n g concessions a n d i n d u l ging in i l l u s i o n s a b o u t a false, o p p o r t u n i s t i c « d e m o c r a t i c »
188
ENVER HOXHA
s o l u t i o n , a l l e g e d l y t o save t h e u n d e r m i n e d u n i t y a n d t h e i r
prestige w h i c h w a s b e i n g d e s t r o y e d . A n d a l l t h i s a t a t i m e
w h e n the traitor K h r u s h c h e v and his accomplices w e r e
t a k i n g e v e r y t h i n g i n t o t h e i r o w n h a n d s , b r i n g i n g the
r e v i s i o n i s t p l o t t e r s i n t o k e y positions, a n d c o v e r i n g a l l
this u n d e r m i n i n g a c t i v i t y w i t h d e a f e n i n g p r o p a g a n d a
about « p r o s p e r i t y » , «strength», « t h e n e w l y e s t a b l i s h e d
d e m o c r a c y » , a b o u t t h e « s p l e n d i d prospects» f o r t h e d e velopment of the economy,
culture and well-being,
w i t h u n r e s t r a i n e d e u p h o r i a a b o u t t h e « f r e e d o m lost a n d
regained», a b o u t « s e n s a t i o n a l successes» i n t h e i n t e r n a tional arena a n d w i t h the bombastic a n d almost d a i l y
speeches b y t h e greatest c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y h i s t o r y
has e v e r k n o w n , t h e c h a r l a t a n c l o w n K h r u s h c h e v .
T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s c a r r i e d out i n t e n s i v e
p r e p a r a t o r y a c t i v i t y , o p e n l y a n d b e h i n d the scenes, b o t h
i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d i n t h e o t h e r socialist c o u n t r i e s
a n d i n the i n t e r n a t i o n a l a r e n a i n o r d e r t o p r e p a r e t h e
putsches, t h e t e r r a i n s a n d t h e p e r s o n s f o r «their g r e a t
u n d e r t a k i n g » . T h e 20th, 21st a n d 22nd Congresses o f t h e
C P S U are the k e y m o m e n t s w h e n t h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n ists came out o p e n l y w i t h t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s p o l i t i c a l a n d
i d e o l o g i c a l p l a t f o r m . T h e y b e g a n t h e i r o f f e n s i v e against
M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d s o c i a l i s m w i t h the
attack o n t h e l i f e a n d w o r k o f J . V . S t a l i n , w h o , a s the
great c o n t i n u e r o f t h e cause o f V . I . L e n i n , h a d d e f e n d e d ,
developed and implemented a consistently revolutionary
general line w h i c h ensured the construction of socialism
i n the S o v i e t U n i o n , t h e v i c t o r y o v e r f a s c i s m i n the G r e a t
Patriotic W a r and the commencement of the construction
o f c o m m u n i s m i n the S o v i e t U n i o n . S i n c e t h e n , K h r u s h chevite revisionism has been developed a n d elaborated
u n t i l i t has b e c o m e a c o m p l e t e t h e o r e t i c a l a n d p r a c t i c a l
system, w h i c h h a s been c o n c r e t i z e d i n the n e w p r o g r a m
189
o f the C P S U , w h i c h i s t h e code o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m .
J u s t a s K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s m d i d n o t emerge i n
one day, b u t w e n t t h r o u g h its process o f f o r m a t i o n ,
o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d g r o w t h i n t o a s y s t e m , so the process of
r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h i s r e v i s i o n i s m b y the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s
d i d not t a k e p l a c e i n o n e d a y , but passed t h r o u g h its
o w n h i s t o r i c a l process. I n o r d e r t o c o n c e a l t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s
aims the r e v i s i o n i s t s u s e d s o p h i s t i c a t e d f o r m s , m a n o e u v r e s ,
tactics, a n d m e t h o d s , c o v e r e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h a l l k i n d s
o f m a s k s i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h the i n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d n a t i o n a l
situations, w i t h the d e v e l o p m e n t o f the class s t r u g g l e a n d
their t e m p o r a r y v i c t o r i e s a n d t h e i r defeats. T h e r e i s a
great t r u t h i n t h e A l b a n i a n s a y i n g , « T h e serpent n e v e r
shows its feet». T h u s i t w a s p r o v e d that t h e m o s t s u i t a b l e
f o r m f o r t h e p e n e t r a t i o n o f b o u r g e o i s i d e o l o g y i n t o the
socialist c o u n t r i e s a n d c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s i s r e v i s i o n i s m ,
which is nothing but bourgeois ideology
camouflaged
w i t h M a r x i s t a n d socialist p h r a s e o l o g y .
T h e history of the international communist movement
has n e v e r k n o w n a n o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s m d e v e l o p e d t o s u c h
proportions and so dangerous as K h r u s h c h e v i t e m o d e r n
r e v i s i o n i s m . T h i s i s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e fact t h a t o n e o f
the m o s t i m p o r t a n t f e a t u r e s o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i s t h a t
n o w w e h a v e t o d o w i t h r e v i s i o n i s m i n p o w e r w h i c h has
infected the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s o f s e v e r a l socialist c o u n tries, a n d f i r s t o f a l l t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t
U n i o n , w h i c h uses a l l t h e m i g h t , a u t h o r i t y a n d m e a n s o f
the socialist state t o d e f e n d a n d p r o p a g a t e r e v i s i o n i s m .
This is a great m i s f o r t u n e , b u t also a g r e a t lesson f o r the
Marxist-Leninists, w h o must be able not o n l y to fight
this r e v i s i o n i s m w h i c h i s i n p o w e r , b u t also t o p r e v e n t
the r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t t r a g e d y o f the S o v i e t
U n i o n in other countries that are b u i l d i n g socialism now,
o r w i l l e n t e r t h e r o a d o f s o c i a l i s m i n the f u t u r e .
190
ENVER HOXHA
2. — THE STRATEGIC AIMS OF KHRUSHCHEVITE REVISIONISM
W h a t the s t r a t e g i c a i m s o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e m o d e r n
r e v i s i o n i s t s are a n d w h a t e n o r m o u s d a m a g e a n d e v i l t h e y
h a v e b r o u g h t a n d a r e b r i n g i n g t o s o c i a l i s m , the r e v o l u t i o n
a n d the peoples h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n p r o v e d w i t h m a n y facts.
The revisionists spearheaded their struggle m a i n l y
against Marxism-Leninism as t h e t r u s t w o r t h y t h e o r y of
the w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e s t r u g g l e t o defeat i m p e r i a l ism and capitalism, and replaced this theory w i t h an
opportunist, counter-revolutionary theory in the service
o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l i s m . U n d e r t h e false s l o gans o f the «struggle against d o g m a t i s m » a n d the « c r e a t i v e
d e v e l o p m e n t o f M a r x i s m i n t h e n e w c o n d i t i o n s » , i n fact
t h e y d e c l a r e d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m o u t d a t e d , n e g a t e d its
f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s , s t r i p p e d i t o f its r e v o l u t i o n a r y
spirit and turned it into a doctrine w h i c h is not only
h a r m l e s s , b u t e v e n h e l p f u l t o the b o u r g e o i s i e . T h e r e v i sionists r e p l a c e d m a t e r i a l i s m w i t h i d e a l i s m a n d d i a l e c t i c s
w i t h metaphysics, and adopted the reactionary philosophy
o f p r a g m a t i s m . T h e y r e j e c t e d t h e class s t r u g g l e , t h e
socialist r e v o l u t i o n a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t
a n d r e p l a c e d t h e m w i t h the b o u r g e o i s a n d o p p o r t u n i s t
t h e o r i e s of class c o n c i l i a t i o n , s o c i a l r e f o r m s , p e a c e f u l
transition and liberal-bourgeois democracy. There is no
f i e l d o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y i n t o w h i c h t h e r e v i sionists h a v e not i n t r o d u c e d b o u r g e o i s a n d s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c ideology, w h i c h i s t h e i r s p i r i t u a l n u t r i m e n t . T h e
revisionists' a i m is to d i s a r m the p a r t y and the w o r k i n g
class i d e o l o g i c a l l y i n o r d e r t o o p e n t h e w a y t o the d e generation of socialism and the international communist
movement.
T h e second o b j e c t i v e o f t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s
is to bring about the degeneration and destruction of the
191
Marxist-Leninist parties, to t u r n t h e m i n t o s o c i a l - d e m o cratic parties, i n o r d e r t o s u p p o r t t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n ,
undermine socialism and defend and re-establish capitalism. T h e y t h r e w out the L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s o f the s t r u c ture of the p a r t y of a n e w type, i n t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e
life o f the p a r t y f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s o f w o r k a l i e n t o
M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , e l i m i n a t e d the o l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y cadres
and p r o m o t e d o p p o r t u n i s t s , c a r e e r i s t s a n d a d v e n t u r e r s
to l e a d i n g positions, set out on the course of a l l i a n c e s w i t h
the bourgeois, l i b e r a l a n d s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c p a r t i e s a n d
are n o w p r e p a r i n g t o l i q u i d a t e t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s
u n d e r the p r e t e x t o f c r e a t i n g « u n i t e d p a r t i e s o f t h e w o r k i n g class». T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s n e g a t e d t h e p r o l e t a r i a n
class c h a r a c t e r o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f t h e S o v i e t
U n i o n a n d d e c l a r e d i t « t h e p a r t y o f t h e e n t i r e people».
They deny the leading role of the communist party armed
w i t h t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y i n t h e socialist r e v o l u tion a n d i n the s y s t e m o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o letariat, a n d p r e a c h t h a t the t r a n s i t i o n t o a n d t h e c o n s t r u c tion o f s o c i a l i s m a r e p o s s i b l e u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f
other p a r t i e s a n d classes, e v e n of t h e bourgeoisie. It is
regrettable, b u t a fact, t h a t t h e p a r t i e s w h i c h a r e l e d
by the m o d e r n revisionists today are v i r t u a l l y indisting u i s h a b l e f r o m the s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c p a r t i e s . T h e y h a v e
become b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s o f t h e w o r k i n g class, a p p e n dages t o a n d s e r v a n t s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l ism. I n t h i s w a y , t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t r y t o l e a v e the w o r k i n g
class a n d t h e w o r k i n g masses not o n l y w i t h o u t t h e i r
r e v o l u t i o n a r y i d e o l o g y b u t also w i t h o u t t h e i r m i l i t a n t
v a n g u a r d , t h e i r l e a d i n g p o l i t i c a l staff, a t a t i m e w h e n
i m p e r i a l i s m , the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d r e a c t i o n a r e o r g a n i z e d
a n d a r m e d t o t h e t e e t h a n d h a v e gone o n the a t t a c k
against t h e w o r k i n g class a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y peoples.
A n o t h e r o b j e c t i v e o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s i s
to achieve the degeneration of the socialist order and the
192
ENVER HOXHA
liquidation of the dictatorship of the proletariat, the r a d i c a l
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n a n d socialist c o u n t r i e s
i n t o b o u r g e o i s c o u n t r i e s a n d states of a n e w , T i t o i t e T r o t s k y i t e t y p e . U n d e r t h e false s l o g a n o f t h e « s t r u g g l e
against the c u l t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d its consequences»
the r e v i s i o n i s t s f a b r i c a t e d t h e m o s t m o n s t r o u s s l a n d e r s
against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y a n d t h e
dictatorship of the proletariat, the w h o l e socialist order
a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s m . T h e y a t t a c k e d the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , m a l i g n e d its v i c tories, d i s c r e d i t e d t h e S o v i e t p e o p l e a n d t r i e d t o m a k e
people b e l i e v e t h a t S t a l i n w i t h h i s « a r b i t r a r i t y » a n d h i s
«cult» h a d d i s t o r t e d L e n i n ' s t e a c h i n g s . H e n c e « S t a l i n i s t
socialism» h a d t o b e d e s t r o y e d t o i t s roots a n d t u r n e d
i n t o «genuine s o c i a l i s m » o n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t m o d e l , w h i c h
w o u l d b e acceptable t o t h e social-democrats, the b o u r g e o i s
l i b e r a l s , i m p e r i a l i s m a n d the bourgeoisie. U n d e r t h e c l o a k
of «the state of t h e e n t i r e people» the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i sionists e l i m i n a t e d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t i n
the S o v i e t U n i o n a n d e s t a b l i s h e d t h e i r o w n d i c t a t o r s h i p ,
w h i c h is a dictatorship of the n e w bourgeoisified stratum,
w h i c h has n o w seized p o w e r a n d i s o p p r e s s i n g a n d
e x p l o i t i n g the S o v i e t people. T h i s n e w b o u r g e o i s s t r a t u m ,
w h i c h i s t h e s o c i a l basis o f r e v i s i o n i s m a n d o f w h i c h the
p o l i t i c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s are t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders,
h a s n o w p a v e d the w a y t o t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m
i n the S o v i e t U n i o n . I t h a s t a k e n r a d i c a l m e a s u r e s t o
t r a n s f o r m t h e socialist e c o n o m y i n t o a c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m y
o f a n e w t y p e , f o l l o w i n g the e x a m p l e o f T i t o i t e Y u g o s l a v i a , t o c o r r u p t the e d u c a t i o n , t h e c u l t u r e , t h e w a y
o f life, the h e a l t h y p r o l e t a r i a n m o r a l i t y a n d t o s p r e a d
c o r r u p t i o n a n d d e g r a d a t i o n , t o o p e n t h e w a y f o r the
p e n e t r a t i o n o f bourgeois i d e o l o g y a n d m o r a l i t y a n d
foreign capital and especially the US dollar. W h a t the
i m p e r i a l i s t i n t e r v e n t i o n , t h e w h i t e g u a r d s , the T r o t s k y i t e s
193
a n d a l l t h e o t h e r e n e m i e s o f the S o v i e t U n i o n w e r e
u n a b l e t o a c h i e v e i n t h e i r t i m e , i s n o w b e i n g c a r r i e d out
b y the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s .
I t h a s been a n d s t i l l i s the a i m o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e
r e v i s i o n i s t s to destroy the socialist camp, w h i c h is the
greatest r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i c t o r y o f the w o r k i n g class a n d
a l l the w o r k i n g people o f the w o r l d , a n d t o r e p l a c e i t
w i t h t h e v a g u e i d e a o f the «great socialist f a m i l y o f the
peoples», t o d e s t r o y t h e f r a t e r n a l M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ties
a m o n g the socialist c o u n t r i e s a n d t o r e p l a c e t h e m w i t h
h e g e m o n i c a n d c h a u v i n i s t i c ties based o n b l a c k m a i l a n d
the economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y p r e s s u r e o f the g r e a t e r
u p o n t h e s m a l l e r , o f t h e s t r o n g e r u p o n the w e a k e r . T h e
S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders t r a m p l e u p o n t h e s o v e r e i g n t y
o f the o t h e r socialist c o u n t r i e s a n d peoples, b r u t a l l y
interfere in their i n t e r n a l affairs, organize subversive
a c t i v i t i e s against t h e m , t r y t o i m p o s e t h e i r d i c t a t e u p o n
t h e m i n o r d e r t o p u t t h e socialist c o u n t r i e s u n d e r the
c o n t r o l a n d h e e l o f t h e S o v i e t state w h i c h h a s b e c o m e
T r o t s k y i t e . I n the r e l a t i o n s a m o n g the socialist c o u n t r i e s
the p r i n c i p l e s o f p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m h a v e been
replaced w i t h new principles of bourgeois capitalist o p p r e s s i o n a n d d o m i n a t i o n . I n p u r s u i n g this course, the
S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r f o l l o w e r s v i o l a t e d a l l the
economic, p o l i t i c a l a n d m i l i t a r y a g r e e m e n t s c o n c l u d e d
w i t h the People's Republic of A l b a n i a , and pursued
t o w a r d s i t a savage c h a u v i n i s t a n d i m p e r i a l i s t p o l i c y . . .
They follow this policy in various forms and to various
extent t o w a r d s t h e i r f r i e n d s a n d allies, too.
A n o t h e r i m p o r t a n t a i m o f the strategy o f the K h r u s h chevite r e v i s i o n i s t s i s d i s r u p t i o n , o n a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l scale,
of the w o r k e r s ' i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t u n i t y , the smashing of
the international communist movement, the s u b j u g a t i o n
o f the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s t o the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r ship. T h e S o v i e t l e a d i n g g r o u p h a s i n t r o d u c e d i n the
194
ENVER HOXHA
i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t the m e t h o d o f the
«conductor's baton» a n d the concept of the « m o t h e r
p a r t y » . T h e y h a v e v i o l a t e d the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t n o r m s
and principles of relations between fraternal parties and
h a v e established f e u d a l - p a t r i a r c h a l r e l a t i o n s o f s u b m i s sion a n d d o m i n a t i o n . . . T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s o r g a n i z e d the p u b l i c a t t a c k o n t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f
A l b a n i a a t the 2 2 n d C o n g r e s s o f the C P S U . T h e y a n d
t h e i r f o l l o w e r s t r a n s f o r m e d the congresses o f c e r t a i n
other parties into arenas for slanders a n d savage attacks
a g a i n s t o u r P a r t y . I n M a r c h last y e a r t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e
revisionists
organized the disruptive factional meeting
i n M o s c o w , t h e y h a v e s u p p o r t e d a n d i n c i t e d hostile a n t i p a r t y elements t o u n d e r t a k e f a c t i o n a l a c t i v i t y against
the f r a t e r n a l parties, t h e y h a v e been a n d are c a r r y i n g
out e x t e n s i v e d i s r u p t i v e a c t i v i t y w i t h i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e mocratic organizations striving to impose their opportunist
and pro-imperialist line on them.
T h e essence o f the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s ' l i n e ,
t h e i r loftiest i d e a l a n d t h e i r d r e a m is the Soviet-US
f r i e n d s h i p a n d c o o p e r a t i o n a n d the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a
new alliance between US imperialism and Soviet revisionist imperialism for world domination. T h e p u r p o s e
o f this n e w a l l i a n c e i s t o d i v i d e the spheres o f i n f l u e n c e
a n d p u t a l l t h e states o f t h e w o r l d u n d e r t h e d i c t a t e o f
these t w o b i g p o w e r s . I t i s a n u n d e n i a b l e fact t h a t n o w
the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s , h e a d e d b y the S o v i e t
leaders, d o not m a k e a n y d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n f r i e n d s
a n d enemies o f s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e peoples, a n d h a v e
broken off any connection w i t h M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , the
r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s a n d t h e peoples. T h e y h a v e u n i t e d w i t h
i m p e r i a l i s m against s o c i a l i s m , h a v e u n i t e d w i t h t h e U S A
against t h e peoples, h a v e u n i t e d w i t h a l l r e a c t i o n a r i e s
against t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s , h a v e u n i t e d w i t h the T i t o
c l i q u e a n d a l l t h e o t h e r renegades f r o m t h e w o r k i n g class
195
against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e p a r t i e s a n d forces w h i c h
r e m a i n l o y a l t o i t a n d t o the cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n .
S u c h i s t h e a n t i - M a r x i s t , anti-socialist, c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y face o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s . S u c h
are t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s s t r a t e g i c objectives. T h e m a i n a i m
o f the r e s o l u t e p r i n c i p l e d s t r u g g l e o f o u r P a r t y has
been p r e c i s e l y to expose t h e t r e a c h e r o u s features of t h e
K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s i n the eyes o f a l l t h e c o m m u n ists a n d peoples, to e x p o s e t h e hostile a i m s of the S o v i e t
revisionist leadership. O u r P a r t y is determined to carry
this s t r u g g l e t h r o u g h t o the e n d , t o t h e c o m p l e t e v i c t o r y
of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m over Khrushchevite, Titoite and any
other v a r i a n t o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m .
.......................
4. — INTENSIFY THE STRUGGLE AGAINST KHRUSHCHEVITE
AND TITOITE MODERN REVISIONISM
T h e e x t e n s i o n a n d f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the s t r u g gle against r e v i s i o n i s m are l i n k e d w i t h o u t r i g h t r e j e c t i o n
o f i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e «change» t h e n e w S o v i e t leaders
have a l l e g e d l y m a d e , a b o u t t h e i r «change of course»
a n d t h e «corrections» t h e y a r e a l l e g e d l y m a k i n g t o K h r u s h chev's m i s t a k e s . S u c h i l l u s i o n s a r e v e r y h a r m f u l . T h e
present S o v i e t leaders a r e t h e closest c o l l a b o r a t o r s of
K h r u s h c h e v , a r e those w h o , t o g e t h e r w i t h K h r u s h c h e v ,
p r e p a r e d a n d c a r r i e d o u t the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n i n the
S o v i e t U n i o n , w h o w o r k e d out a n d a p p l i e d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t
line, w h o f u r i o u s l y a t t a c k e d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m i n i d e o logy, i n p o l i t i c s , e c o n o m i c s a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n , i n a r t a n d
c u l t u r e , etc., those w h o a t t a c k e d a n d are f i g h t i n g t h e
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, those w h o h a v e l i n k e d t h e m s e l v e s
w i t h U S imperialism, the international bourgeoisie and
196
ENVER HOXHA
r e a c t i o n , w h o are w o r k i n g w i t h m i g h t a n d m a i n t o
f o r m a n i m p e r i a l i s t - r e v i s i o n i s t h o l y a l l i a n c e against c o m m u n i s m a n d the peoples o f the w o r l d .
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s are n o t d e c e i v e d b y e x t e r n a l a p pearances, a n d b y the d e m a g o g y t h a t t h e n e w leaders o f
the S o v i e t U n i o n use s o f r e e l y . T h e y m u s t see t h r o u g h a l l
the c a m o u f l a g e to the content, to t h e essence of things, a n d
d i s t i n g u i s h w o r d s f r o m deeds. I f w e l o o k a t t h i n g s i n this
w a y , then it is c l e a r t h a t the p r e s e n t S o v i e t l e a d e r s h a v e
not c h a n g e d a n d h a v e n o i n t e n t i o n o f c h a n g i n g . T h e y a r e
d e t e r m i n e d t o g o d o w n t h e i r course o f b e t r a y a l . T h i s i s
o n l y l o g i c a l . T h e y c o u l d n o t r e t u r n t o a correct course
without condemning themselves to death. Therefore, there
i s n o hope t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t t r a i t o r s can c h a n g e f o r
the better. A change w i l l c e r t a i n l y b e m a d e some d a y ,
t h o u g h i t w i l l n o t b e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o w i l l m a k e it,
but the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s w h o w i l l put an end to the
domination of revisionists and b r i n g them before the
c o u r t of the r e v o l u t i o n .
I n w h a t d o those w h o n u r t u r e i l l u s i o n s o n this q u e s t i o n see t h e «change» a n d t h e « c h a n g e f o r t h e better»
i n the n e w S o v i e t leaders? I n n o t h i n g concrete, b u t o n l y
in the K h r u s h c h e v i t e demagogy, in w h i c h , w i l l y - n i l l y ,
t h e y h a v e got t h e m s e l v e s t r a p p e d . A n d i t m u s t b e a d m i t t e d
that in regard to demagogy, the n e w leaders of the Soviet
U n i o n — B r e z h n e v , K o s y g i n a n d c o m p a n y , are s h r e w d e r
a n d m o r e s k i l f u l t h a n t h e i r teacher. I n w o r d s t h e y s w e a r
b y L e n i n i s m a n d e v e n a l l o w some r e f e r e n c e s t o S t a l i n
i n m o r e «objective» t e r m s , b u t a t t h e same t i m e t h e y s w e a r
b y the 20th a n d 2 2 n d C o n g r e s s e s o f t h e C P S U . C a n t h i s
r e p r e s e n t a « c h a n g e f o r t h e better»? C e r t a i n l y not. W e
c o u l d t a l k a b o u t s u c h a change o n l y i f t h e y w e r e t o
o p e n l y reject r e v i s i o n i s m a n d b e t r a y a l , p u b l i c l y d e n o u n c e
t h e decisions of t h e 20th, 21st, 22nd Congresses as a n t i M a r x i s t a n d proclaim the program of the C P S U e l a -
197
b o r a t e d a t t h e 2 2 n d C o n g r e s s a n d a l l its theses o n «the
p a r t y a n d state of t h e e n t i r e people», etc., to be r e v i s i o n ist. T h e r e c a n be t a l k of a «change f o r t h e better» o n l y
if they f u l l y and unequivocally rehabilitate Stalin.
O u r P a r t y has stressed a n d stresses a g a i n t h a t the
q u e s t i o n o f S t a l i n , i n p a r t i c u l a r , i s a f u n d a m e n t a l issue,
because t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s c o n c r e t i z e d t h e i r a t t a c k o n M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t w i t h
their attack on J. V. Stalin. O u r P a r t y is of the opinion
that t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s a n d a l l t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s
should defend S t a l i n f r o m any revisionist slander and
attack a n d t h r o u g h t h e i r s t r u g g l e r e s t o r e t h e n a m e a n d
w o r k o f S t a l i n t o t h e p l a c e o f h o n o u r t h e y deserve, b e cause S t a l i n w a s a n d r e m a i n s a g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d
a great M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t . He f o l l o w e d a correct r e v o l u t i o n ary general line both in internal policy and in foreign
p o l i c y . H e c o n s i s t e n t l y a d h e r e d t o the l i n e o f class s t r u g gle a n d the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e l i n e of t h e
c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m a n d the s t r u g g l e
against b u r e a u c r a c y a n d degenerate b o u r g e o i s e l e m e n t s .
H e l e d t h e S o v i e t people f r o m v i c t o r y t o v i c t o r y i n s t e r n
struggle w i t h all the enemies of the Soviet U n i o n and
socialism. J. V. S t a l i n made a priceless contribution to
the f o r m a t i o n a n d c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f t h e socialist c a m p a n d
to the g r o w t h and strengthening of the international c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t . T h r o u g h o u t his l i f e as a r e v o l u t i o n a r y
m i l i t a n t , S t a l i n w a g e d a r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m i n defence o f peace a n d the s e c u r i t y o f the peoples,
faithfully pursued the policy of proletarian internationali s m , o f a i d a n d s u p p o r t f o r t h e oppressed peoples a n d t h e i r
revolutionary, national liberation movements.
S t a l i n w a s a m o d e s t p e r s o n . As a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t , he
a l w a y s p r o p e r l y a p p r e c i a t e d t h e r o l e o f t h e masses a n d
the p l a c e t h a t i n d i v i d u a l s o c c u p y ; h e opposed t h e c u l t
o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d m o r e t h a n once c r i t i c i z e d i t a s a l i e n
ENVER HOXHA
198
to Marxist-Leninists. Nevertheless, the Soviet propaganda,
e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g the last y e a r s o f S t a l i n ' s l i f e , i n f l a t e d
the cult o f S t a l i n t o great p r o p o r t i o n s a n d the K h r u s h c h e v i t e clique, w h i c h out o f f e a r h a d p l a y e d a n a c t i v e p a r t
i n the e x a l t a t i o n o f S t a l i n , e x p l o i t e d this f o r its o w n a n t i socialist a n d a n t i - M a r x i s t p u r p o s e s later. S t a l i n c a n b e
c r i t i c i z e d , n o t because h e d e v e l o p e d a n d p r a c t i s e d h i s
o w n cult, b u t o n l y because h e d i d n o t t a k e t h e p r o p e r
measures to restrain this unnecessary propaganda, espec i a l l y t a k i n g i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h a t t h e great a u t h o r i t y
w h i c h S t a l i n h a d g a i n e d b y s t r u g g l e a n d deeds a n d t h e
boundless trust a n d love that the p a r t y a n d people h a d
for h i m w e r e sufficient to strike a heavy b l o w at the
b u r e a u c r a t i c e l e m e n t s w h o w e r e j e o p a r d i z i n g the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t . O u r P a r t y o f L a b o u r has r e s o l u t e l y
a d h e r e d a n d adheres t o t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s
o n the r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e masses, t h e class, t h e p a r t y
a n d the leaders, c o m b a t i n g b o t h t h e c u l t o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l
a n d n e g a t i o n o f t h e r o l e a n d a u t h o r i t y o f leaders w h o
e n j o y t h e l o v e a n d respect o f the masses, w h o f a i t h f u l l y
d e f e n d t h e interests o f t h e masses a n d l e a d t h e m successfully in the revolutionary struggle. In this matter we
always bear in m i n d the words of M a r x , w h o , speaking
of himself and of Engels, s a i d :
« Neither of us
larization...
The
the
clandestine
tional right from
Constitution
of
cal
kowtowing
gives a brass farthing for our popuparticipation
of
Engels
and
I in
communist society was made
condithe start on the removal from the
anything which contributed
to
mystito
authorities.»*
__________________________________
* K. M a r x , F. Engels, W o r k s , vol. 34, p. 241, second Russian
edition.
199
T h e historic merits of S t a l i n are undeniable. These
m e r i t s c o n s t i t u t e h i s f u n d a m e n t a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c as a
leader a n d a g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y . T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s ' s l a n d e r s
against S t a l i n c a n n o t i n t h e least d i m h i s o u t s t a n d i n g
f i g u r e a n d his m o n u m e n t a l w o r k w h i c h w i l l s h i n e f o r
ever a n d w i l l a l w a y s s e r v e a s a g r e a t i n s p i r i n g e x a m p l e
a n d a b a n n e r of s t r u g g l e f o r a l l t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s
of t h e w o r l d .
T h e n e w S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders speak a b o u t t h e
«unity» of the communist movement and the «family»
of t h e socialist c o u n t r i e s , b u t at t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y d e clare t h a t i n a l l m a t t e r s o f p r i n c i p l e c o n c e r n i n g f o r e i g n
policy and the international communist movement they
h a d n o d i f f e r e n c e s w i t h K h r u s h c h e v . C a n i t b e t h a t these
words constitute the so-called change for the better?
C e r t a i n l y n o t . . . B u t w h a t i s t h e r e a l i t y ? I n fact, since
Brezhnev, K o s y g i n and company took power, they have
s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s e d t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s against M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism and the parties w h i c h defend it; their provocations
and subversive activities have been extended a n d unity,
b o t h w i t h i n t h e c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d w i t h i n the
socialist « f a m i l y » , has b e e n u n d e r m i n e d e v e n m o r e
systematically. T h e u n i t y in the communist movement
a n d t h e socialist c a m p w i l l b e r e - e s t a b l i s h e d , b u t i t w i l l
b e r e - e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , w i t h o u t the
r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t r a i t o r s a n d i n r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against
them.
T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e m a k i n g a great noise about
« u n i t y o f a c t i o n » a g a i n s t t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s , stressing t h a t
more things b r i n g us together and few things drive us
apart, b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y l o u d l y d e c l a r e t h a t t h e y
are for, a n d w o r k i n g a c t i v e l y t o a t t a i n , a l l - r o u n d S o v i e t A m e r i c a n c o o p e r a t i o n . D o these statements m e a n t h a t
here w e h a v e some «change»? C e r t a i n l y not. M a n y facts
s h o w t h a t t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s are a n t i - i m p e r i a l -
200
ENVER HOXHA
ists o n l y i n w o r d s , w h i l e i n deeds t h e y a r e p r o - i m p e r i a l i s t s .
T h e y are expanding their economic, political and scient i f i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a m o r e
and more. A l l their diplomatic activity, especially their
secret d i p l o m a c y , i s a i m e d a t s t r e n g t h e n i n g the a l l - r o u n d
links and cooperation w i t h the various imperialists —
A m e r i c a n , J a p a n e s e , W e s t - G e r m a n , B r i t i s h a n d others,
w i t h the I n d i a n r e a c t i o n a r i e s , w i t h t h e I n d o n e s i a n fascist
c l i q u e , w i t h a l l t h e e n e m i e s o f t h e peoples, s o c i a l i s m a n d
the r e v o l u t i o n . W h a t t h e n u n i t e s t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s
w i t h the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s ? N o t h i n g . E v e r y t h i n g d i v i d e s
t h e m . T h e i r ideologies, p o l i c i e s a n d f i n a l a i m s are d i a m e t r i c a l l y opposed.
T h e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t f r o n t o f t h e peoples o f t h e w h o l e
w o r l d must be built on a solid foundation. It must
be a g e n u i n e a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t f r o n t , u n i t i n g a l l those w h o ,
t o this o r t h a t e x t e n t , e f f e c t i v e l y f i g h t i m p e r i a l i s m ,
headed b y U S imperialism. The K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i sionists h a v e e x c l u d e d t h e m s e l v e s f r o m the a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t
front through their whole policy and activity. To include
the r e v i s i o n i s t s i n t h i s f r o n t m e a n s t o b r i n g i n t h e « f i f t h
c o l u m n » , the « T r o j a n horse», t o u n d e r m i n e i t f r o m w i t h i n .
O u r P a r t y f i r m l y u p h o l d s t h e i d e a o f the g r e a t L e n i n
that i t i s i m p o s s i b l e t o f i g h t i m p e r i a l i s m s u c c e s s f u l l y
unless, a t the same t i m e , y o u r e s o l u t e l y f i g h t its o f f s p r i n g
a n d close a l l y , r e v i s i o n i s m .
«...If it is not closely linked with
portunism,
the
struggle
against
an empty phrase and a fraud,»*
the fight against opimperialism
becomes
L e n i n p o i n t e d out.
To our Party of L a b o u r it is an utterly unacceptable
i d e a t h a t « u n i t y o f action» w i t h the K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i ______________________________
* V. I. L e n i n , Collected Works, vol. 22, p. 367 (Alb. ed.).
201
sionists against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m is a touchstone a n d
a n e f f e c t i v e a n d p o s i t i v e s t r u g g l e against r e v i s i o n i s m .
I n fact, t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h the r e v i s i o n i s t s , t o c a r r y out
« u n i t e d actions» w i t h t h e m m e a n s t o s l i p g r a d u a l l y i n t o
the p o s i t i o n s of r e v i s i o n i s m , to accept t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s
line. I t m e a n s t o accept t h a t A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m i s not
the most f e r o c i o u s e n e m y o f the peoples a n d t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l g e n d a r m e , a n d t o c o n s i d e r correct the p o l i c y
o f K h r u s h c h e v i t e « p e a c e f u l co-existence» w i t h i m p e r i a l ism, the S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n c o l l a b o r a t i o n , t h e M o s c o w T r e a t y
a n d a l l t h e o t h e r o p e n a n d secret a g r e e m e n t s o f t h e
S o v i e t l e a d e r s w i t h the A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d t h e
r e a c t i o n a r i e s of v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s . It m e a n s to g i v e up t h e
struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d a d a p t oneself t o the
interests o f S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n c o l l a b o r a t i o n , t h u s s a c r i f i c i n g
the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e of the peoples. T h i s is
just w h a t the r e v i s i o n i s t s are w a n t i n g t o a c h i e v e w i t h
t h e i r a t t e m p t s at « u n i t y of action».
W i t h t h e i r s l o g a n o f « u n i t y o f action» the r e v i s i o n i s t s
are t r y i n g t o a t t a i n t h e i r s i n i s t e r a i m o f p u t t i n g aside
the deep i d e o l o g i c a l a n d p o l i t i c a l d i f f e r e n c e s o f p r i n ciple a l l e g e d l y f o r t h e s a k e o f t h e s t r u g g l e against i m perialism, headed by the U S A . This w o u l d be nothing
but u t t e r c a p i t u l a t i o n t o r e v i s i o n i s m , a b a n d o n m e n t o f
the s t r u g g l e against it a n d acceptance of i d e o l o g i c a l coexistence w i t h it.
T h e r e i s a n o t h e r r e a s o n w h y u n i t e d a c t i o n w i t h the
r e v i s i o n i s t s is a f r a u d a n d a d e m a g o g i c m a n o e u v r e . U n i t y
i n the s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t i m p e r i a l i s m supposes c o - o r d i n a t i o n
o f t h e e c o n o m i c p o t e n t i a l a n d m i l i t a r y forces w h i c h w i l l
c o n f r o n t the i m p e r i a l i s t p o l i c y o f w a r a n d aggression. B u t
w h a t d o the facts s h o w ? . . . T h e y h a v e p l a c e d t h e i r e c o n omic a n d m i l i t a r y p o t e n t i a l i n the service o f t h e i r g e n e r a l
l i n e f o r the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f the S o v i e t - A m e r i c a n d o m i n a tion of the w o r l d .
202
ENVER HOXHA
T h o s e w h o n u r t u r e i l l u s i o n s a b o u t the a l l e g e d c h a n g e
o f t h e n e w S o v i e t leaders a r e e n t h u s i a s t i c about t h e
latter's «readiness» t o «give u p t h e o p e n p o l e m i c s » .
C a n this be t a k e n as another serious proof to m a k e us
b e l i e v e t h a t the r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e a l l e g e d l y c h a n g e d ?
C e r t a i n l y not. F i r s t , i t i s n o t t r u e t h a t t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s
h a v e g i v e n u p the open p o l e m i c s . I s n o t the fact t h a t t h e y
are pursuing a line utterly opposed to M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m
a n d t h e i n t e r e s t s of s o c i a l i s m , a c o n t i n u a t i o n of t h e
p o l e m i c s b y deeds? . . . W h a t a b o u t the s l a n d e r s a n d a t t a c k s
i n t h e i r d a i l y press, t h e p r o p a g a n d a w o r k , t h e l e t t e r s a n d
lectures w h i c h n o t o n l y are d e l i v e r e d a n d discussed i n t h e
p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t are also sent
to o t h e r p a r t i e s to be s t u d i e d , are t h e y not a c o n t i n u a t i o n
o f t h e open p o l e m i c s ? A p a r t f r o m these t h i n g s , i t m u s t
not be forgotten that the K h r u s h c h e v i t e modern r e v i s i o n ists w e r e t h e f i r s t t o start the o p e n p o l e m i c s . A n d a t
that t i m e a l l o f t h e m p a r r o t e d t h a t t h i s w a s « L e n i n i s t » .
O n l y w h e n they saw that the open polemics w a s y i e l d i n g
n e g a t i v e r e s u l t s f o r t h e m , because i t h e l p e d t o u n m a s k
t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s features, d i d t h e y c a l l i t h a r m f u l .
O u r P a r t y believes t h a t t h e o p e n p o l e m i c s i s essential,
a school f o r a l l the c o m m u n i s t s , because i t e n a b l e s t h e m
t o d i s t i n g u i s h the t r u t h f r o m lies. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s w o u l d
b e v e r y pleased e v e n i f w e w e r e t o s p e a k a b o u t t h e m
i n g e n e r a l t e r m s s o l o n g a s t h e y w e r e not a t t a c k e d o p e n l y
and things w e r e not called by their true names. B u t r e v i s i o n i s m a n d t h e b e t r a y a l a r e n o t spectres, t h e y a r e a
l i v i n g reality w h i c h is u n d e r m i n i n g socialism and the
peoples' s t r u g g l e . T h e r e f o r e , this r e a l i t y a n d n o t t h e spectre must be fought, if the M a r x i s t s do not w a n t to fall
i n t o t h e Q u i x o t i c positions.
Our Party
thinks
that
the K h r u s h c h e v i t e revisionists must not be p e r m i t t e d to
benefit f r o m a single m o m e n t o f c a l m t o c o n s o l i d a t e t h e i r
positions t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r t r e a c h e r o u s a c t i v i t y u n h i n d e r e d .
203
T o r e l a x the s t r u g g l e against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m i n the
slightest, o n a n y p r e t e x t , m e a n s t o d e v i a t e f r o m p r i n c i p l e s .
A n d principles cannot and must never be sacrificed for
the sake o f m o m e n t a r y i n t e r e s t s a n d a d v a n t a g e s o f a n
economic o r a n y o t h e r c h a r a c t e r .
O u r P a r t y t h i n k s that the situation is such that
e v e r y p a r t y a n d e v e r y p e r s o n w h o calls h i m s e l f a c o m munist a n d a r e v o l u t i o n a r y should not be mere o n lookers, s h o u l d not w a i t u n t i l t h e y a r e a t t a c k e d b y t h e
r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d content t h e m s e l v e s w i t h c o n g r a t u l a t i n g
others o n t h e s t r u g g l e t h e y a r e w a g i n g a g a i n s t r e v i s i o n ism. T i m e does n o t w a i t . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s m u s t
b e o n the o f f e n s i v e a n d n o t o n t h e defensive, o n the a t t a c k
and not in retreat. T h e y have never been a f r a i d of the
revisionists, o f t h e i r t h r e a t s a n d pressure. F e a r i s a l i e n
t o M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s , t h e y k n o w i t n e i t h e r i n the s t r u g g l e
against i m p e r i a l i s m n o r i n t h e s t r u g g l e against r e v i s i o n ism. I t i s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o a r e a f r a i d : t h e y f e a r
imperialism and M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m . To be a f r a i d of the
revisionists means to be even more a f r a i d of imperialism,
a n d t o h a v e n o c o n f i d e n c e i n the s t r e n g t h a n d t r i u m p h o f
Marxism-Leninism.
W e t h i n k t h a t t h e t i m e has come t o d r a w a clear
line o f d e m a r c a t i o n w i t h m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , w i t h a l l its
groupings and especially w i t h the Soviet leading group,
and t o f i g h t w i t h a l l o u r m i g h t t o isolate i t c o m p l e t e l y
from the Soviet people and f r o m the revolutionary Soviet
communists. We have never confused and never w i l l confuse t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s h i p w i t h t h e S o v i e t
U n i o n a n d S o v i e t people, w i t h w h o m w e h a v e b e e n a n d
w i l l b e g o o d f r i e n d s f o r ever, c o m e r a i n , c o m e shine. B u t
i t i s a fact t h a t r e v i s i o n i s m i s i n p o w e r i n t h e S o v i e t
U n i o n now. A n d this revisionism must be fought m e r cilessly a n d i n a p r i n c i p l e d w a y . T h i s i s i n t h e d i r e c t
interest o f t h e S o v i e t c o m m u n i s t s a n d the S o v i e t people,
204
ENVER HOXHA
i t i s a great a i d t h a t w e are g i v i n g t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y
s t r u g g l e t o put a n e n d t o the r e v i s i o n i s t b e t r a y a l w h i c h
has d e s t r o y e d the v e r y f o u n d a t i o n s of the v i c t o r i e s of
t h e O c t o b e r R e v o l u t i o n a n d the socialist a n d c o m m u n i s t
c o n s t r u c t i o n i n the S o v i e t U n i o n .
I n the s t r u g g l e against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , a s i n a l l
o t h e r p r o b l e m s , the o n l y c o r r e c t s t a n d i s t h e p r i n c i p l e d
s t a n d . T h e r e can b e n o h a g g l i n g o v e r p r i n c i p l e s ; i n defence
of principles there can be no stopping h a l f - w a y ; a v a c i l lating opportunist stand must never be adopted. The
struggle between M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m and revisionism is
a n e x p r e s s i o n o f the class s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n the p r o l e t a r i a t
a n d t h e bourgeoisie, b e t w e e n s o c i a l i s m a n d c a p i t a l i s m .
T h e r e i s n o m i d d l e course i n t h i s s t r u g g l e . A s the e x p e r i e n c e o f m a n y y e a r s o f h i s t o r y has s h o w n , t h e l i n e o f
«the g o l d e n m e a n » is the l i n e of t h e c o n c i l i a t i o n of o p posites t h a t c a n n e v e r b e c o m p a t i b l e , i s a n u n s t a b l e a n d
t e m p o r a r y p o s i t i o n . N o r c a n the m i d d l e c o u r s e c o v e r u p
the d e v i a t i o n s f r o m the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s , b e cause i f t h e s t r u g g l e against r e v i s i o n i s m i s i n s p i r e d not
by ideological motives, but only by certain economic a n d
political contradictions and by national chauvinist motives,
i t i s a f r a u d t h a t w i l l soon b e e x p o s e d . A n y o n e w h o
adheres t o this l i n e i n t h e s t a n d t o w a r d s t h e renegades
f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w i l l , sooner o r l a t e r , b e i n d a n g e r
o f s l i p p i n g i n t o the p o s i t i o n o f those renegades.
J . V . S t a l i n has s t r o n g l y stressed:
«There is and there can be no 'middle' course in
matters of principle. Either these or those principles
must be the foundation of the
work
of the Party.
The 'middle' course in matters of principle is
the
'line' that benumbs the brains, the 'line' that covers
up
the differences,
the
'line'
which
leads
to the
ideological
leads to
205
degeneration of the Party, the 'line' which
the ideological death of the Party.»*
In the opinion of our Party, an urgent question w h i c h
i s p r o m i n e n t o n t h e agenda t o d a y i s not r e c o n c i l i a t i o n a n d
u n i t y w i t h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s , b u t t h e split, t h e d e f i n i t e
break w i t h t h e m . L e n i n s a i d :
«Unity is a great thing and a great slogan! But the
workers' cause needs the unity of Marxists, not
the
unity
of
Marxists
with
the
enemies
and
distorters
of
Marxism.»**
U n i t y w i t h t h e o p p o r t u n i s t s a n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s , L e n i n said,
«...really
means
unity
of
the
national
bourgeoisie and
division
proletariat, the unity of lackeys
revolutionaries.»***
proletariat
with
the
of the
international
and the splitting of
F a c i n g t h e attacks, plots a n d w a r t h r e a t s o f the u n i t e d
imperialist-revisionist front, the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s must
strengthen t h e i r u n i t y o n t h e n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l
level a n d step u p t h e i r r e s o l u t e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l ism a n d r e v i s i o n i s m . T h e t i m e s w e are l i v i n g are n o t t i m e s
for endless, sterile, a c a d e m i c discussions, b u t t i m e s f o r
bold, m i l i t a n t , r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions e n t a i l i n g s e l f - d e n i a l
and sacrifice. T h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d the bourgeoisie,
t h r o u g h t h e i r parties, are l o u d l y p r o p a g a t i n g p a c i f i s m a n d
bourgeois h u m a n i s m t o create i n people, e v e n i n c o m m u n ists w h o are v a c i l l a t i n g a n d c o w a r d l y , t h e i m p r e s s i o n that
______________________________
* J. V. Stalin, W o r k s , v o l . 9, p. 4 (Alb. ed.).
** V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , vol. 20, p. 256 (Alb. ed.).
*** V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , v o l . 21, p. 387 (Alb. ed.).
206
ENVER HOXHA
our revolutionary m i l i t a n c y is allegedly «sectarianism»,
« a d v e n t u r i s m » , « d o g m a t i s m » , « f a n a t i c i s m » , etc. W e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s are n e i t h e r sectarians n o r a d v e n t u r e r s , n e i t h e r
d o g m a t i s t s n o r f a n a t i c s . W e f i g h t against these m a n i f e s t a tions a s a l i e n a n d u n a c c e p t a b l e t o c o m m u n i s t s , b u t a t t h e
same t i m e , w e d o not f a l l i n t o t h e p o s i t i o n s o f o u r e n e m i e s ,
w h o , w i t h these false accusations a n d f o r u l t e r i o r m o t i v e s ,
t r y t o cause u s t o b e c o m e i d e o l o g i c a l l y , p o l i t i c a l l y a n d
organizationally corrupt and thus to weaken or extinguish
o u r s t r u g g l e against t h e m .
T h e r a n k s o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a n d forces
m u s t b e closely u n i t e d a n d w e l l o r g a n i z e d , t e m p e r e d a n d
prepared to fight continuously. We must prepare ourselves
perfectly politically, ideologically, economically and m i l i t a r i l y f o r struggle, f o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y actions, b y t h o r o u g h l y
and creatively mastering our all-conquering doctrine. T h e
w o r l d c o m m u n i s m o f o u r days m u s t b e c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y
the militant revolutionary spirit of the heroic times of
L e n i n and S t a l i n and the C o m i n t e r n . It was not w i t h o u t
definite hostile aims that K h r u s h c h e v a n d his henchmen
undertook the struggle to discredit the C o m i n t e r n and its
i m m o r t a l w o r k . Naturally, the times have changed and
t h e q u e s t i o n h e r e i s n o t t h a t w e s h o u l d adopt o r c o p y
the forms and methods of work, organization and leadership of the Comintern, appropriate for that time, although
they h a d both merits a n d shortcomings. Nevertheless, in
the opinion of our P a r t y the establishment of l i n k s f o r
cooperation and co-ordination in conformity w i t h the n e w
present conditions is an essential and urgent matter.
N a t u r a l l y , a l l the p a r t i e s a r e e q u a l a n d i n d e p e n d e n t .
A s i s stressed i n the M o s c o w D e c l a r a t i o n , e a c h p a r t y w o r k s
o u t its o w n g e n e r a l l i n e , b a s i n g i t s e l f o n t h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s a n d i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e concrete
peculiarities and conditions of the country and time. T h e
m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s also h a v e these correct M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
207
p r i n c i p l e s o n t h e t i p s o f t h e i r tongues, b u t w h i l e i n w o r d s
they a r e f o r i n d e p e n d e n c e , i n r e a l i t y t h e y w a n t a l l the
other p a r t i e s t o b e d e p e n d e n t o n t h e m a n d u n d e r t h e i r
d i r e c t i o n ; w h i l e i n w o r d s they a r e f o r p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r nationalism, in reality they strive to prevent the M a r x ist-Leninists f r o m u n i t i n g and adhering to a c o m m o n
l i n e f o r m u l a t e d on t h e basis of a p r o f o u n d , p r i n c i p l e d ,
objective
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t class a n a l y s i s . T h e m o d e r n
r e v i s i o n i s t s e m p l o y e v e r y m e a n s t o s p l i t us, because the
unity of Marxist-Leninists is fatal to them a n d their
masters — t h e A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n ists m u s t r i d t h e m s e l v e s o f these r e v i s i o n i s t attempts,
must o v e r c o m e a l l t h e obstacles a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y u n i t y o n t h e basis o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d
proletarian internationalism. T h e y must strengthen their
c o o p e r a t i o n a n d m u s t w o r k out a c o m m o n l i n e a n d a c o m m o n s t a n d o n t h e m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l issues, e s p e c i a l l y i n
connection w i t h t h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d
m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e n e w alliances,
c o n c r e t i z e d i n t h e r e a l c o n d i t i o n s o f the e x i s t i n g s i t u a t i o n ,
but a l w a y s based o n M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s .
.....
T h e situation in the w o r l d and in the international
communist movement is developing in our favour and
t o t h e d e t r i m e n t o f o u r enemies. B u t w e m u s t l o o k events
s q u a r e l y i n t h e e y e a n d face t h e m c o u r a g e o u s l y , because,
despite the r e v e r s e s o u r i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t e n e m i e s
h a v e s u f f e r e d , t h e y h a v e not l a i d d o w n t h e i r a r m s . O n
the c o n t r a r y , t h e y a r e i n t e n s i f y i n g t h e i r c o o p e r a t i o n a n d
activity. In this situation there is no place for inertia,
h e s i t a t i o n a n d w a v e r i n g , b u t courage, d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d
m a t u r i t y are required. T h e r e is no place for insipid, m i l d ,
o p p o r t u n i s t tactics a n d p h r a s e o l o g y , b u t r a p i d m i l i t a n t
208
ENVER HOXHA
actions are r e q u i r e d , f i g h t i n g tactics t h a t assist o u r r e v olutionary strategy every day a n d every hour, w h i l e at
the s a m e t i m e b e i n g w i s e a n d p r u d e n t , i n a c c o r d a n c e
w i t h the s i t u a t i o n a n d the c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n w h i c h e a c h
party is struggling. A n d there is no doubt that w i t h a
r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r a t e g y a n d tactics based o n o u r v i c t o r i o u s
ideology, the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s a n d forces w i l l
a l w a y s m a r c h f o r w a r d a n d score n e w v i c t o r i e s i n t h e i r
sacred s t r u g g l e t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the
oppressed peoples a n d nations, against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d
r e v i s i o n i s m , f o r the t r i u m p h o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , s o c i a l i s m , the r e v o l u t i o n a n d peace i n the w o r l d .
As for the P a r t y of L a b o u r of A l b a n i a , as an active
m e m b e r o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces o f t h e w o r l d , i t
is f u l l y conscious of the great h i s t o r i c t a s k t h a t is f a c i n g
the c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t t o d a y t o d e f e n d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d c a r r y f o r w a r d the cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d
s o c i a l i s m . . . T h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r w i l l f i g h t w i t h a l l its
m i g h t against i m p e r i a l i s m , w i t h U S i m p e r i a l i s m a t the
head, a n d against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , w i t h the S o v i e t
leaders a t the head, w i l l spare n o e f f o r t t o s u p p o r t
the j u s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e o f the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
parties a n d forces, a n d w i l l w o r k t i r e l e s s l y f o r the c o n solidation and strengthening of the anti-revisionist unity of
the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t m o v e m e n t a n d the a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s t
u n i t y o f t h e peoples o f the w o r l d , c o n f i d e n t t h a t M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , s o c i a l i s m a n d the peoples w i l l b e v i c t o r i o u s .
T h i s i s the d u t y t h a t t h i s C o n g r e s s puts b e f o r e the w h o l e
P a r t y f o r t h e c o m i n g years.
Works, vol. 34
THE FURTHER REVOLUTIONIZATION OF THE PARTY
AND THE STATE (1)
Speech delivered at the joint meeting of the basic
party organizations of the Kërraba coal mine, the «Enver»
plant, the «Wilhelm Pieck» agricultural cooperative,
the army detachment No. 5009 and the University
of Tirana
February 6, 1967
Comrade
communists,
T h e organizations of the P a r t y have an important
event b e f o r e t h e m . D u r i n g the n e x t t w o m o n t h s m e e t i n g s
w i l l b e h e l d e v e r y w h e r e i n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f
city a n d c o u n t r y s i d e , o f v a r i o u s i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d the a r m e d
forces to r e n d e r a c c o u n t a n d elect the l e a d e r s h i p of t h e
basic p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s i n
regions a n d r e m o t e d i s t r i c t s .
T h e r e n d e r i n g o f a c c o u n t a n d elections are a n e v e n t
of great i m p o r t a n c e to t h e f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n i n g of the
P a r t y . I n the m e e t i n g s t h a t w i l l b e h e l d f o r this purpose
____________________________
1 T h i s speech is a further elaboration of the ideas set forth
in the decision of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the CC of the P a r t y
«On the Struggle against Bureaucracy, for a Revolutionary
M e t h o d and Style of W o r k » . T h e discussion of this document
proved the correctness of the historic decisions of our Party,
its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t maturity and vitality.
210
ENVER HOXHA
every communist must r e v i e w his o w n w o r k and that of
t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , m u s t w e i g h u p a l l t h e successes a n d
shortcomings in the spirit of criticism a n d self-criticism,
set t h e o b j e c t i v e s w h i c h h e w i l l s t r i v e t o a c h i e v e i n t h e
f u t u r e , elect t h e secretary, t h e b u r e a u o r t h e c o m m i t t e e
f r o m those c o m r a d e s w h o h a v e w o r k e d best, w h o h a v e
proved themselves to be capable organizers and resolute
fighters for the application of the line of the P a r t y .
T h e m e e t i n g s o f basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s f o r r e n d e r i n g
account a n d elections m u s t j u s t i f y t h e i r b e i n g h e l d . W h a t
I m e a n is t h a t an a c c o u n t i n g s h o u l d be d e m a n d e d of a n d
r e n d e r e d b y each m e m b e r , one b y one, a n d n o t j u s t h o w
we have carried out the task in general, but h o w I, as
a n i n d i v i d u a l p a r t y m e m b e r h a v e c a r r i e d i t out, n o t o n l y
i n t h e f i e l d , f a c t o r y o r office, b u t h o w I h a v e d o n e m y
d u t y i n society, h o w I h a v e m o b i l i z e d m y s e l f a n d s t r u g gled to solve social, political a n d f a m i l y problems, and,
w h e n I s a y f a m i l y p r o b l e m s , I do not, by a n y means,
refer to the internal affairs of the family, but to the
social a n d p o l i t i c a l p r o b l e m s t h a t p r e o c c u p y t h e A l banian family.
I n t h e b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o m m u n i s t s
d e m a n d a r e n d e r i n g o f account f r o m t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y
comrades, since t h e p r o b l e m s o n w h i c h a c c o u n t i n g i s
d e m a n d e d are not p r i v a t e , p e r s o n a l a f f a i r s , b u t p o l i t i c a l
a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p r o b l e m s o f the P a r t y , p r o b l e m s o f
the collective, of the masses; t h e r e f o r e , w e , as c o m m u n i s t s ,
b e a r great r e s p o n s i b i l i t y as a p a r t y c o l l e c t i v e a n d as c o m m u n i s t s , i n d i v i d u a l m e m b e r s o f this c o l l e c t i v e .
W e are w a g i n g a great a n d c o n t i n u o u s s t r u g g l e f o r
the f u r t h e r r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f the P a r t y a n d h a v e
achieved v e r y good results. Revolutionizing the P a r t y
means r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g t h e c o m m u n i s t s . T h e y m u s t b e
soldiers, t o u g h as steel, p o l i t i c a l l y clear, courageous,
k i n d l y , s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d a n d sincere a n d , w h e n n e e d be,
REVOLUTIONIZATION OF THE PARTY AND STATE
211
severe a s w e l l . T h e y m u s t d e s t r o y e v e r y t h i n g t h a t i s b a d
a n d s u p p o r t , o r g a n i z e the n e w a n d p r o g r e s s i v e a n d fight
i n the f o r e f r o n t f o r i t . . . T h e e n t i r e P a r t y a n d c o u n t r y
ought t o r i s e t o e r a d i c a t e the b a c k w a r d c u s t o m s a n d
break the neck of anyone w h o violates the sacred l a w
o f the P a r t y i n defence o f t h e r i g h t s o f w o m e n a n d g i r l s .
These are m o r a l a n d p o l i t i c a l p r o b l e m s o f g r e a t i m p o r tance.
T h e demanding of accounting f r o m communists is
necessary, b u t i t m u s t b e done i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t
a n d not f r o m spite, o v e r p a l t r y n o n - p o l i t i c a l m a t t e r s , not
i n t h e f o r m o f a n i n q u i s i t i o n , w i t h slanders, t r u m p e d u p
charges o r v i n d i c t i v e p e r s o n a l attacks. A l l these k i n d s
o f d e m a n d i n g account are a l i e n t o a n d c o n d e m n e d b y o u r
P a r t y , f o r t h e y are a l l i n s p i r e d b y p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s v i e w s .
T h e r e f o r e , I t h i n k w e s h o u l d get a w a y f r o m those
f o r m s o f d e m a n d i n g account i n g e n e r a l w h i c h y i e l d
n o results, o r f r o m m a k i n g stale c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m w h i c h has n o effect, does not e d u c a t e c o m r a d e s
p o l i t i c a l l y a n d does n o t h e l p t h e m s o l v e p r o b l e m s correctly.
In o r d e r to m a k e the P a r t y thoroughly revolutionary,
every communist must assume and bear his responsibilities
b y c a r r y i n g out h i s t a s k s t o the l e t t e r a n d b y r e n d e r i n g
account t o the l e t t e r . F r e q u e n t l y t h e r e n d e r i n g o f account
i s not done p r o p e r l y a n d n o t d e m a n d e d p r o p e r l y , because
the tasks o f e a c h m e m b e r , a n d f i r s t o f a l l , h i s p o l i t i c a l
tasks, a r e not u n d e r s t o o d p r o p e r l y .
L e t u s t a k e , f o r instance, t h e m e m b e r s o f p a r t y c o m mittees o r m e m b e r s o f t h e b u r e a u s o f basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s
a n d e v e n t h e c o m m u n i s t s of t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s . It
is usually said that not a l l are m o b i l i z e d p r o p e r l y in
the v a r i o u s a f f a i r s o f t h e P a r t y , a n d t h e c r i t i c i s m i s o f t e n
m a d e t h a t t h e b u r e a u o f t h e p a r t y c o m m i t t e e , its secretaries, o r the s e c r e t a r y o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , d o
212
ENVER HOXHA
n o t o r g a n i z e the w o r k w i t h t h e m w e l l , a n d s o o n a n d
s o f o r t h . T h e s e c r i t i c i s m s are t o t h e p o i n t a n d f a i r , i n d e e d
t h e y o u g h t t o b e m a d e m o r e s t r o n g l y , because t h e o n l y
m o r e o r less o r g a n i z e d a n d p l a n n e d w o r k o f t h e p a r t y
c o m m i t t e e s a n d t h e i r secretaries i s c a r r i e d out w i t h t h e
instructors of the committees, w i t h the people of the
apparatus, and now and then, at occasional meetings,
w i t h t h e secretaries o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s . L o o k e d
a t a n d done i n this w a y , this w o r k s m a c k s o f b u r e a u c r a t i c
officialdom.
B u t these c o m r a d e s a r e n o t t h e o n l y ones a t f a u l t :
t h e r e a r e others, too, w h o a r e c r i t i c i z e d o n l y l i g h t l y , o r
not a t a l l , a n d w h e n the t i m e f o r t h e r e n d e r i n g o f a c c o u n t
a n d elections comes r o u n d , t h e y d o n o t r e n d e r a c c o u n t
b u t s t i l l are re-elected. I a m r e f e r r i n g i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e
to the members of the plenums of the p a r t y committees
a n d of t h e b u r e a u s of basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s . T h e y are elected
by the P a r t y to lead, organize, mobilize a n d fight like
revolutionaries and not just to w a i t for the t w o or three
m e e t i n g s a y e a r o f the p a r t y c o m m i t t e e a n d t o t h i n k t h a t
w i t h this t h e i r j o b i s done. A t these m e e t i n g s t h e i r w o r k
has just b e g u n .
T h e y m a y s a y : « W e l l , t h e secretaries d o not c a l l u s
together, t h e y do not m o b i l i z e us,» a n d so o n . M a y be so,
b u t w e h a v e n e v e r seen these c o m r a d e s c a l l t h e secretaries
t o task o v e r this, o r f i n a l l y , t h r o w t h e m o u t i f t h e y
f a i l t o d o t h e i r j o b p r o p e r l y . L e t u s a s s u m e t h a t the
b u r e a u s a n d secretaries are t o b l a m e , b u t w e v e r y r a r e l y
see the m e m b e r s of p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s use the r i g h t s the
P a r t y has g i v e n t h e m i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y . R a r e l y ,
if ever, does a n y one go to check u p , assist, i n s t r u c t a n d
t a k e steps o n the spot i n basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s o t h e r t h a n
his o w n , o r v i s i t a n d assist e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n s besides
the one h e i s d i r e c t l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h , w i t h o u t h a v i n g
been a p p o i n t e d b y t h e c o m m i t t e e t o d o so. H e w o n ' t l i f t
213
a f i n g e r w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g a n d g e t t i n g the p e r m i s s i o n
of t h e secretary. A p a r t y c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r o u g h t to
c o - o r d i n a t e these t h i n g s w i t h the secretaries, s h o u l d d e m a n d
facts f r o m t h e p a r t y a p p a r a t u s , a n d s h o u l d discuss w i t h
the secretaries w h a t h e has seen, w h a t h e has d o n e a n d
w h a t h e suggests s h o u l d b e done. I f h e t a k e s n o t r o u b l e ,
n o i n i t i a t i v e o f h i s o w n w i t h i n his competences, t h i s cannot
b e c a l l e d r e v o l u t i o n a r y w o r k , b u t m e r e l y t a k i n g a n interest
i n the tasks u n d e r the j u r i s d i c t i o n o f h i s basic o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h i s i s s i m p l e c o n c e r n o v e r l o c a l interests.
T h e p r o p e r exercise of a l l prerogatives a n d duties
by every communist, whether of the rank-and-file or
elected t o t h e l e a d i n g o r g a n s o f t h e P a r t y , does n o t m e a n
h e v i o l a t e s t h e p a r t y n o r m s t o w h i c h I s h a l l r e f e r later,
on the contrary, he fights to strengthen them. If he fails
to e x e r c i s e these r i g h t s he is t o l e r a t i n g a m e t h o d of w o r k
w h i c h strengthens the bureaucratic spirit in the w o r k of
the a p p a r a t u s e s of t h e P a r t y a n d leads to a state of
a f f a i r s i n w h i c h those a p p o i n t e d t o t h e p a r t y a p p a r a t u s e s
become a l l - p o w e r f u l , e m e r g e o n t h e stage a s « i n f a l l i b l e
expert p a r t y workers», a n d people say of t h e m that «they
have t h e a f f a i r s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a t t h e i r f i n g e r t i p s . »
T h i s is t r u e also of c e r t a i n r a n k - a n d - f i l e m e m b e r s of t h e
Party.
T h e r e is no doubt that there must be organization
o f the tasks a n d d i v i s i o n o f t h e w o r k a m o n g t h e c o m m u n ists i n t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n . I n c e r t a i n cases t h i s i s d o n e
w e l l , i n others n o t s o w e l l ; this w e m u s t i m p r o v e , b u t
it is impermissible for any communist to remain idle if
no specific job is assigned to h i m . H o w m a n y tasks there
are w a i t i n g t o b e d o n e ! T h e n , w h a t k i n d o f a r e v o l u t i o n a r y
i s t h a t c o m m u n i s t w h o w a i t s f o r someone t o assign h i m
a task to do?
No, such
getic, a c t i v e
a communist
revolutionary
c a n n o t be c a l l e d an
w i t h initiative. The
enerParty
214
ENVER HOXHA
has n o need o f s u c h m e m b e r s ; its m e m b e r s m u s t u n d e r stand that o n l y in r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle can heroic
communists be created and tempered.
T h e r e f o r e , a l l p a r t y meetings, p a r t i c u l a r l y those f o r
r e n d e r i n g account a n d elections, a r e a great s c h o o l f o r
t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f p a r t y cadres.
T h e r e n d e r i n g o f a c c o u n t a n d elections s h o u l d set i n
m o t i o n also a l l t h e n o n - p a r t y w o r k e r s o f t h e c o l l e c t i v e
w h o are not, a n d c a n n o t be, i n d i f f e r e n t t o w a r d s t h e successes o r s h o r t c o m i n g s i n t h e w o r k , t o w a r d s t h e tasks the
p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l set f o r the f u t u r e , o r w h o w i l l b e
elected t o the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e r e fore, i n p r e p a r i n g t h e m s e l v e s f o r t h e m e e t i n g s f o r t h e
r e n d e r i n g o f account a n d elections t h e c o m m u n i s t s m u s t
t a l k w i t h the w o r k e r s , l i s t e n t o t h e i r o p i n i o n s , c o m p l a i n t s ,
c r i t i c i s m s a n d suggestions a n d s t u d y these c a r e f u l l y , s o
that the o p i n i o n , not o n l y of the c o m m u n i s t s , b u t also
t h a t o f the n o n - p a r t y masses, w i l l b e r e f l e c t e d i n the m e e t ings o f the P a r t y . A p r e p a r a t i o n o f this k i n d w i l l h e l p
to e n s u r e t h a t these m e e t i n g s a r e c o n d u c t e d in a m i l i t a n t
revolutionary spirit...
N i n e t e e n s i x t y - s i x w a s t h e y e a r o f great c r e a t i v e i n i t i a tives by the w o r k i n g class, as a consequence of w h i c h m a n y
n e w shops a n d f a c t o r i e s w e r e set up, i t w a s the y e a r d u r i n g
w h i c h a l l the p e a s a n t r y i n t h e m o u n t a i n o u s r e g i o n s
e m b a r k e d on the road of collectivization of agriculture;
it w a s the y e a r of a f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n i n g of the defence
potential of our country and of a revolutionary m o b i l i z a tion of e v e r y citizen of our People's Republic.
T h e s e successes are an i n c e n t i v e , a g r e a t e n c o u r a g e ment for every communist and every w o r k e r of our
country. T h e y strengthen our confidence and conviction
that w e s h a l l f u l f i l t h e tasks o f 1967 a n d the f u t u r e y e a r s
o f the 4 t h F i v e - y e a r P l a n w h i c h the 5 t h C o n g r e s s o f o u r
glorious P a r t y adopted, just as successfully as we f u l f i l l e d
215
the tasks of t h e f i r s t y e a r of the f i v e - y e a r p l a n , or e v e n
better.
O u r P a r t y teaches u s c o m m u n i s t s t h a t w e m u s t n e v e r
become d i z z y w i t h success. W e m u s t n o t h i d e the s h o r t comings i n o u r w o r k b e h i n d o u r successes. W e k n o w
that, despite the successes a c h i e v e d i n the great w o r k done
b y the p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o m o b i l i z e t h e masses, t h e r e
have been a n d s t i l l are defects w h i c h t h e P a r t y m u s t
struggle w i t h d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o e l i m i n a t e .
T h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y has c o n s t a n t l y
emphasized t h a t the basic p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s o u g h t t o
have m o r e i n i t i a t i v e i n t h e i r w o r k . B u t s o m e t i m e s this
matter i s n o t u n d e r s t o o d p r o p e r l y . T h u s , a n i d e a e x i s t s
that a n a l y s i s a n d d i s c u s s i o n of t h e decisions of t h e p a r t y
committees in the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s is a b u r d e n on t h e m
and i n h i b i t s t h e i r i n i t i a t i v e . A n a l y s i s a n d d i s c u s s i o n o f
decisions sent f r o m h i g h e r organs s h o u l d not b e c o n s i d e r e d
something s u p e r f l u o u s a n d u n n e c e s s a r y . S u c h a n i d e a w o u l d
b e w r o n g , because i t w o u l d f o l l o w f r o m this t h a t w e
should not i n f o r m the P a r t y as a w h o l e , s h o u l d n o t teach
it how to w o r k and think, or give it directions and
generalizations o f t h e e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d .
W e m u s t not f o r one m o m e n t f o r g e t t h a t o u r P a r t y
is based on d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m . T h a t is to say, the
democratic l i f e , the d e m o c r a t i c a c t i v i t y o f o u r P a r t y , i s
conducted u n d e r a c e n t r a l i z e d l e a d e r s h i p , elected in the
most d e m o c r a t i c w a y b y the e n t i r e P a r t y . H e n c e o n the
basis of t h i s d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m , not o n l y m u s t the
i m p o r t a n t decisions of the h i g h e r organs of the P a r t y be
made k n o w n t o a l l , t o the l o w e r organs a n d t o t h e P a r t y
as a w h o l e , b u t the l o w e r organs m u s t go i n t o t h e m m o r e
deeply a n d f i n d t h e best w a y s a n d m e a n s t o a p p l y
them, t o p u t t h e m i n t o p r a c t i c e .
T h e s e v i t a l decisions o f t h e P a r t y c a n n o t b e c a r r i e d
out w h e n a l i b e r a l , p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s s p i r i t p r e v a i l s , w h e n
216
ENVER HOXHA
t h e d a n g e r o u s a t t i t u d e of « w h a t do I care» e x i s t s in the
Party. No, in our Marxist-Leninist Party, in a militant
proletarian party, there is no r o o m for l i b e r a l political
and organizational indiscipline, for sham democracy.
O u r P a r t y is leading the great proletarian struggle
o f the people, a n d i n o r d e r t o w i n e v e r y battle, i t enforces
a n i r o n d i s c i p l i n e w h i c h i s s u c h i n the P a r t y because i t
i s conscious. T h e s e a n d o t h e r n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y , a b o u t
w h i c h I s h a l l speak s h o r t l y , m u s t b e p r e s e r v e d a n d
s t r e n g t h e n e d , a n d one s h o u l d not t h i n k f o r one m o m e n t
that, since the P a r t y i s i n p o w e r , since w e are b u i l d i n g
s o c i a l i s m successfully, w e c a n p e r m i t a n y r e l a x a t i o n i n
t h e s t r i c t i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e n o r m s o f the P a r t y . B y
no means! These n o r m s consolidate the P a r t y , m a k e it
a vanguard and invincible.
A n a l y s i s a n d d i s c u s s i o n of decisions or suggestions
about w o r k , a b o u t f o r m s o f w o r k a n d tasks sent f r o m
h i g h e r organs is e s s e n t i a l . S u c h a t h i n g does n o t l i m i t
the h o r i z o n s , does n o t i n h i b i t t h e i n i t i a t i v e o f t h e basic
o r g a n i z a t i o n s . B u t the q u e s t i o n i s w h a t d i f f e r e n t i a t e d assistance i s g i v e n t o t h e m s o t h a t t h e y u n d e r s t a n d a n d
c a r r y out these decisions i n the r e a l s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h
t h e p a r t i c u l a r b a s i c o r g a n i z a t i o n l i v e s a n d gives l e a d e r ship. H e r e w e h a v e a great w e a k n e s s .
T h e f i e l d o f a c t i o n o f e v e r y basic o r g a n i z a t i o n l o o k s
alike, b u t i t i s n o t e n t i r e l y so. T h e r e f o r e , w e c a n n o t r e c o m m e n d t h a t t h e e l a b o r a t i o n of a d e c i s i o n s h o u l d be
done i n t h e same w a y i n the c i t y a s i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , i n
t h e f a c t o r y as in the b r i g a d e of a c o o p e r a t i v e or in a
school. W e s h o u l d not insist t h a t e v e r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s h o u l d
d e a l w i t h a l l the p r o b l e m s w h i c h a d e c i s i o n m a y raise,
in a u n i f o r m way.
A n o r g a n i z a t i o n o u g h t t o b e g u i d e d , i n f o r m e d , s o that
it has a good g e n e r a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e w h o l e d e c i sion, a n d t h e n g o d e e p l y i n t o those p a r t s o f i t w h i c h
217
constitute acute a n d a c t u a l p r o b l e m s f o r i t . . . T h e p a r t y
committees m u s t r e a l i z e t h a t the w o r k i n the p a r t y o r g a nizations i n the c o u n t r y s i d e has its o w n s p e c i f i c c h a r a c t e r istics w h i c h o f t e n , a n d e s p e c i a l l y u n d e r o u r concrete c o n ditions, i s q u i t e d i f f e r e n t f r o m the w o r k i n the p a r t y
organizations i n the city.
T o forget o r i g n o r e t h e d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n o u r t o w n
and o u r v i l l a g e , b e t w e e n the l i f e a n d c u s t o m s of the city
and those of t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , a n d to use t h e same m e t h o d
o f w o r k , the same f o r m s i n b o t h the c i t y a n d c o u n t r y s i d e i n
an automatic and stereotyped w a y is bound to yield unsatisfactory results. T h e secretaries a n d i n s t r u c t o r s o f p a r t y
committees p a y n o great h e e d t o this. F o r instance, they
d o n o t t a k e p r o p e r l y i n t o account t h a t the press, f o r
various reasons, i s not d e l i v e r e d a s q u i c k l y i n t h e c o u n t r y
as it is in t h e city, t h a t t h e c u l t u r a l c e n t r e in a c o o p e r a t i v e
does not f u n c t i o n a n d is n o t f r e q u e n t e d l i k e t h a t of a
factory i n the city, t h a t t h e r e m n a n t s o f t h e past i n the
consciousness of the peasant are m o r e persistent t h a n
in the consciousness of t h e w o r k e r , t h a t t h e c u l t u r a l
level o f the peasant i s s t i l l l o w e r t h a n that o f the c i t y
dweller. T h e n , w h a t s h o u l d the secretaries a n d i n s t r u c t o r s
do? T h e r e are t w o w a y s : e i t h e r t o p l o d a l o n g l i k e cart
horses o r t o r a c k t h e i r b r a i n s m o r e t o f i n d the m o s t
a p p r o p r i a t e w a y out. It is d i f f i c u l t to issue a p r e s c r i p t i o n ,
because, as I said, e v e r y v i l l a g e or g r o u p of v i l l a g e s m a y
r e q u i r e s p e c i a l m e t h o d s a c c o r d i n g t o the s i t u a t i o n a n d
circumstances. B u t one p r e s c r i p t i o n i s i n f a l l i b l e a n d the
m a i n r e m e d y t o c u r e a n d set the w o r k o n its feet. T h i s
is thorough, profound, well-based knowledge of the situat i o n i n the c o u n t r y s i d e , k n o w l e d g e o f the people, o f t h e
cadres of the v i l l a g e one by one, k n o w l e d g e of t h e i r c a pacities, t h e i r i n c l i n a t i o n s , t h e i r w i l l a n d t h e i r h e a r t s .
T h e same t h i n g h o l d s g o o d f o r the c i t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s , too.
O n l y o n this basis c a n t h e r e b e i n i t i a t i v e a n d s e l f - a c t i o n
ENVER HOXHA
218
i n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n d o n l y o n t h i s basis c a n the
p a r t y c o m m i t t e e s a n d i n s t r u c t o r s g i v e q u a l i f i e d assistance.
E l i m i n a t i o n of this shortcoming in the method of w o r k
o f t h e c o m m i t t e e s a n d basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i l l h e l p t h e
party organizations to become m o r e militant and to give
better l e a d e r s h i p i n the w o r k t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e great
tasks t h e y face.
N o w t h a t the p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s are p r e p a r i n g t o g o
t o t h e i r m e e t i n g s f o r r e n d e r i n g a c c o u n t a n d elections, t h e y
should bear their special characteristics in m i n d , along
w i t h t h e i r s h o r t c o m i n g s , p a y i n g p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n t o the
l a t t e r w h e n i t comes t o elections.
I t m u s t b e s a i d that, i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h elections t o t h e
Party, the party committees have created a tradition w h i c h
m u s t b e r i d o f the t h i n g s t h a t y i e l d n o f r u i t o r a r e o u t d a t e d . O n e o f these i s t h e c u s t o m o f t a l k i n g a b o u t a l l t h e
p r o b l e m s a t the m e e t i n g s f o r r e n d e r i n g account a n d e l e c tions. It seems to me t h a t t h e c o m r a d e s o u g h t to l o o k i n t o
this m a t t e r m o r e closely. W e m a y a d o p t t h e p r a c t i c e t h a t
r e p o r t s at these m e e t i n g s s h o u l d be c o n f i n e d to one or
t w o m a i n issues, let u s say, o f p r o d u c t i o n , o r o n l y t o
m a t t e r s o f c u l t u r e a n d e d u c a t i o n , t o those topics w h e r e
t h e r e are m o r e weaknesses a n d s h o r t c o m i n g s , a n d e v e r y
c o m m u n i s t s h o u l d r e n d e r account, s h o u l d m a k e c r i t i c i s m
o r s e l f - c r i t i c i s m a b o u t these. J u s t w h a t p r o b l e m s t o t a k e u p
i s closely l i n k e d w i t h t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , its s p e c i f i c f i e l d , its w e a k n e s s e s a n d d e f i ciencies.
O u r task is to temper our P a r t y continuously
so that
i t w i l l a l w a y s b e m i l i t a n t , d y n a m i c , active, i r r e c o n c i l a b l e
with
shortcomings
and
weaknesses.
To
this
end,
it
is
essential t o b r i n g n e w b l o o d i n t o the P a r t y , t o a d m i t n e w
members
from
the ranks of the w o r k i n g
cooperative peasantry,
class
and
the
a n d the most o u t s t a n d i n g r e v o l u -
219
tionary e l e m e n t s o f t h e i n t e l l i g e n t s i a . T h e C o n s t i t u t i o n ( 2 )
adopted a t t h e 5th C o n g r e s s o f t h e P a r t y c l e a r l y defines
the c o n d i t i o n s n e c e s s a r y f o r a d m i s s i o n t o the P a r t y a n d
the m e a s u r e s t h a t m u s t b e t a k e n f o r t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f
candidates. T h e t a s k o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s i s t o e x p l a i n these r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d t h e i r o b j e c t i v e w e l l s o t h a t
they are u n d e r s t o o d c o r r e c t l y . If the d i r e c t i v e s of the
Party on admissions are explained w e l l and understood
correctly, t h e n i t w i l l b e c l e a r t h a t the n e w r e q u i r e m e n t s
of t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n do n o t close t h e doors of t h e P a r t y ,
but o n t h e c o n t r a r y , o p e n t h e m . B u t t o w h o m ? T o the
best people, t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d ,
they close the doors t o those w h o a r e u n w o r t h y .
W h y does some c o m r a d e t h i n k that t h e n e w c o n d i tions m i g h t h i n d e r t h e e n t r y o f n e w b l o o d i n t o t h e P a r t y ?
Because, h i t h e r t o , m e m b e r s a n d p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e
sometimes p r o p o s e d a d m i s s i o n s w i t h o u t s o u n d c r i t e r i a
and h a v e a d m i t t e d p e o p l e i n t o t h e P a r t y w i t h o u t t e s t i n g
them w e l l . N o w t h e c r i t e r i a a r e s o u n d a n d t h e tests d i f ferentiated. P e o p l e h a v e t o b e c o m e a c c u s t o m e d t o these
new f o r m s , a n d t h e r e i s n o r e a s o n t o t h i n k t h a t t h e doors
o f the P a r t y w i l l b e closed. I f t h e d o o r s w e r e closed t o
the people, t h a t w o u l d b e v e r y b a d , j u s t a s i t w o u l d b e
v e r y b a d t o k e e p the d o o r s w i d e open f o r a n y o n e t o
enter w h e n i t p l e a s e d h i m . B u t s o m e t a k e t h e d i r e c t i v e
o f the P a r t y b l i n d l y , w h e r e a s i t i s d i f f e r e n t i a t e d f o r d i f ferent categories — f o r w o r k e r s , f o r c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , f o r
intellectuals a n d f o r o f f i c e e m p l o y e e s . I f these d i f f e r e n t i a tions a n d t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s l a i d d o w n f o r p e o p l e o f
______________________________
2 A c c o r d i n g to this Constitution, the probation period for
the party candidate was prolonged f r o m 1 year as it was p r e viously, to 2-3 years, in accordance w i t h the social status, the
nature of w o r k a n d the ideo-political preparation of each c a n d i date. It is another deep-going measure taken by the P a r t y to
have only such people as are more tempered and better embued
with the qualities of the w o r k i n g class admitted to its ranks.
220
ENVER HOXHA
v a r i o u s s t r a t a are n o t t a k e n i n t o account, a n d b o t h the
m i n e r and cooperativist a n d the intellectual or office
e m p l o y e e are sent a l l o v e r t h e place t o d o t h e i r p e r i o d
of p r o b a t i o n as c a n d i d a t e m e m b e r s , this m e a n s t h a t the
d i r e c t i v e has n o t been u n d e r s t o o d a n d this i s f r a u g h t
w i t h danger.
L e t us t a k e the q u e s t i o n of those w h o p r o p o s e a
c a n d i d a t e f o r p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p . T h e i n s t r u c t i o n s o f the
C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e s a y t h a t «a stand should be taken»
a g a i n s t those w h o m a k e i r r e s p o n s i b l e proposals. T h i s m u s t
b e u n d e r s t o o d c o r r e c t l y . P r o p o s a l s m u s t b e m a d e a n d the
p r o p o s e r i s r e s p o n s i b l e t o the P a r t y , b u t t h i s s h o u l d not
be taken to mean that p u n i t i v e measures must be taken
against h i m w i t h o u t f a i l o n m i s t a k e s a n d offences w h i c h
the candidate m a y c o m m i t d u r i n g his life in the Party,
because i n t h a t case n o o n e w o u l d p r o p o s e n e w m e m b e r s .
T h e q u e s t i o n m u s t b e seen i n t h e d i a l e c t i c o f d e v e l o p m e n t .
L e t u s t a k e the r e q u i r e m e n t o f the C o n s t i t u t i o n that
the candidate m a y change his occupation w h e n he is doing
h i s p r o b a t i o n p e r i o d . T h i s m a y b e d o n e i n p r i n c i p l e , but
s h o u l d not become a r u l e , because s u c h a t h i n g is not
i n t h e interests o f t h e w o r k o r o f t h e c a n d i d a t e .
A candidate m a y be transferred f r o m his o w n district,
b u t t h i s , too, s h o u l d n o t b e c o m e the r u l e . W h e n t h e c a n d i d a t e i s a b a c h e l o r t h e p r o b l e m i s easier. B u t n o w w e
h a v e m a n y d i f f e r e n t sectors w i t h d i f f i c u l t j o b s i n e v e r y
d i s t r i c t , t o w h i c h w e c a n send t h e c a n d i d a t e . T h e question of their education w i t h the difficulties of w o r k should
b e l o o k e d a t i n r e g a r d t o w o r k e r s a n d cooperativists, too;
we should proceed cautiously in regard to w o m e n c a n d i dates, e s p e c i a l l y w h e n t h e y are m a r r i e d a n d h a v e c h i l d r e n ,
but we must be m o r e exigent towards office employees
a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l s . T h u s , t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f the P a r t y s h o u l d
be interpreted correctly and the p r o b l e m of admitting
m e m b e r s o n t h e n e w basis, o f s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e P a r t y
221
with n e w blood, should be pursued continuously, w i t h
the greatest care, f o r t h i s is a v i t a l m a t t e r to t h e P a r t y .
These questions are of importance to the i m p r o v e m e n t
o f the w o r k o f t h e P a r t y . B u t t h e y a r e n o t t h e o n l y ones
we should bear in m i n d in connection w i t h the campaign
o f r e n d e r i n g account a n d e l e c t i o n s i n t h e P a r t y . T h e
further r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f o u r P a r t y a n d t h e o r g a n s o f
our state, t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state
depend on a c o m p l e x of p r o b l e m s . I w a n t to t a l k to y o u
about t w o p r o b l e m s o f p r i n c i p l e :
F i r s t , about the strict implementation and observation
of the revolutionary principles and norms of the Party.
S e c o n d , about the consistent and determined fight
which must be waged against bureaucracy.
ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NORMS OF THE P A R T Y
Right f r o m the t i m e it was founded, our M a r x i s t Leninist P a r t y has g i v e n p r i m a r y i m p o r t a n c e t o democratic centralism, criticism and self-criticism, proletarian
democracy, critical analysis of problems and events, sound
secrecy, conscious iron discipline, the line of the masses,
the class struggle, and so on and so forth. T h e m o r a l a n d
political s i t u a t i o n i n t h e P a r t y , t h e i d e o l o g i c a l u p l i f t a n d
r e v o l u t i o n a r y s p i r i t i n t h e P a r t y a n d a m o n g t h e people,
the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y w i t h o u t
d i s q u i e t i n g m i s t a k e s , a n d the f u l f i l m e n t o f p l a n s a r e p r o o f
of the g o o d r e s u l t s in t h i s d i r e c t i o n .
It w o u l d , of course, be a m i s t a k e of s e l f - s a t i s f a c t i o n
and short-sightedness t o s a y t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s p e r f e c t i n
our c o u n t r y , t h a t e v e r y t h i n g i s d o n e p e r f e c t l y . S e l f - s a t i s faction, b e c o m i n g d i z z y w i t h success, creates t h a t state
of inertia w h i c h minimizes the mistakes, allows them to
get worse, a n d glosses t h e m over w i t h t h e i d e a « w e h a v e
222
ENVER HOXHA
a c h i e v e d successes,» « n o w e v e r y t h i n g i s g o i n g w e l l , » « w e
need not be perturbed about certain reprehensible m a n i festations» w h i c h w e consider a s a c c i d e n t a l .
Self-satisfaction over the correct decisions taken and,
hence, t h e i d e a that those w h o h a v e f o r m u l a t e d t h e m o n
the basis of the e x p e r i e n c e of t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state are
i n f a l l i b l e , above c r i t i c i s m , m a i n t a i n i n g t o w a r d s t h e m a n
idealist, m y s t i c a l , n o n - r e v o l u t i o n a r y , n o n - M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ,
n o n - d i a l e c t i c a l a t t i t u d e , i s w r o n g , a w r o n g concept. O n e
s h o u l d a l w a y s p r o c e e d f r o m t h e p r i n c i p l e : t r u s t a n d check
u p , l o v e a n d respect e v e r y p e r s o n w h o w o r k s a n d s t r i v e s
h a r d , c o r r e c t l y a n d w i t h p e r s e v e r a n c e , o n t h e l i n e o f the
P a r t y , b u t l e a v e n o one, w h o e v e r h e m a y be, u n c r i t i c i z e d
a n d u n - c o r r e c t e d w h e n h e e r r s ; d o n o t hesitate t o expose
and deal stern and merciless blows at anyone w h o takes
t h e e n e m y course against t h e P a r t y , against t h e people,
against s o c i a l i s m .
T o c o n t i n u e t o r e v o l u t i o n i z e t h e P a r t y w i t h great
t e n a c i t y — t h i s s h o u l d b e o u r greatest c o n c e r n . T h e P a r t y
cannot b e r e v o l u t i o n i z e d e x c e p t t h r o u g h t h o r o u g h k n o w ledge, deep p h i l o s o p h i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d s t r i c t r e v olutionary application of the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t principles
w h i c h g u i d e the P a r t y a n d t h e L e n i n i s t n o r m s w h i c h
g o v e r n its l i f e a n d t h a t o f t h e c o m m u n i s t s .
T h i s great v i t a l p r o b l e m cannot b e u n d e r s t o o d i n a
f o r m a l w a y , a n d w e c a n n o t a l l o w these p r i n c i p l e s t o b e
a p p l i e d m e c h a n i c a l l y , to be l e a r n e d as c u t - a n d - d r y , lifeless
f o r m u l a e . O n e o f o u r m a i n tasks i s that, w h i l e l e a r n i n g
a n d a p p l y i n g these p r i n c i p l e s a n d n o r m s p r o p e r l y , w e
s h o u l d , at the same t i m e , discover the r e a l , d e e p reasons
w h y these n o r m s a r e n o t u n d e r s t o o d a n d a p p l i e d p r o p e r l y
i n g e n e r a l , o r b y some i n p a r t i c u l a r , i n t h i s o r t h a t basic
o r g a n i z a t i o n , b y this o r t h a t c o m m u n i s t .
T h e w o r k e r s o f the P a r t y a r e n o w c a p a b l e o f c o n t i n u a l l y m a k i n g t h i s necessary d i a g n o s i s o f t h e i r w o r k
223
and m u s t p r e s c r i b e t h e n e c e s s a r y r e m e d y , b o t h on a
general l e v e l f o r t h e P a r t y as a w h o l e as w e l l as f o r
individual communists. The remedy for i n d i v i d u a l communists w h o d o not u n d e r s t a n d a n d a p p l y t h e n o r m s
properly, o r v i o l a t e t h e m , i s s t u d y o f t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
theory a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e , a n d t h i s i s p a r t
of the g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n of t h e P a r t y in these d i r e c t i o n s .
Let us look at some lessons the experience of the
Party teaches us.
D e s p i t e t h e g r e a t p r o g r e s s a c h i e v e d , i n t h e basic
organizations of o u r P a r t y t h e r e is n o t a v e r y i n t e n s i v e
life, d e b a t e s a n d d i s c u s s i o n s are n o t a s l i v e l y a s t h e y
should be, t h e r e i s n o t h r a s h i n g o f o p i n i o n s a n d o p p o s i n g
views, f r o m w h i c h c o m r a d e s l e a r n , a n d correct conclusions
and m e a s u r e s e m e r g e , a t h i n g w h i c h w i l l l e a d t o e n h a n c i n g
the p e r s o n a l i t y o f e v e r y c o m m u n i s t , w i l l i n c r e a s e v i g i l a n c e
and m a k e i t easier t o c a r r y out t h e d i r e c t i v e s , t h e l i n e
and t h e t a s k s c o r r e c t l y . T h i s is a c a r d i n a l q u e s t i o n f o r
the l i f e a n d s t r u g g l e o f t h e P a r t y .
S h o u l d we devote special attention to this p r o b l e m
t o f i n d out t h e r e a l reasons t h a t h i n d e r t h e basic o r g a n i z a tions f r o m b e i n g a t t h e i r r e v o l u t i o n a r y p e a k ? M o s t c e r tainly! Without f a i l ! Or
s h o u l d w e content ourselves
w i t h t h e r e s u l t s w e h a v e a t t a i n e d a n d t a k e n o account
of the fact t h a t a n u m b e r of c o m m u n i s t s t a k e no a c t i v e
part i n d i s c u s s i o n s a n d d e b a t e s ? S h o u l d w e b e content
t o ascribe t h i s t o t h e i r « l o w level» o r c o n s i d e r t h e f a u l t s
of a c o m m u n i s t w h o is b e i n g c r i t i c i z e d as m a i n l y s u b j e c tive a n d not d e l v e d e e p e r i n t o the m a t t e r a n d c o m e t o
the c o n c l u s i o n t h a t , t h o u g h t h i s or t h a t c o m m u n i s t is to
b l a m e f o r his m i s t a k e , w e , t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , b e a r
a share of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y because we h a v e n o t h e l p e d
him? Or, w h e n a communist or group of communists f a i l
t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e i r tasks a n d f u l f i l t h e p l a n s , i s i t s u f ficient t o say t h a t t h e y are t o b l a m e , w h i l e w e , t h e basic
224
ENVER HOXHA
organization, disclaim any responsibility w h e n something
unpleasant occurs and solidarize w i t h t h e m only w h e n
e v e r y t h i n g goes w e l l ? N o , b y n o m e a n s !
B u t w h y d o s u c h t h i n g s h a p p e n i n basic o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,
w h y do such things happen among communists? T h i s is
not the f i r s t t i m e w e h a v e a n a l y z e d these things, e i t h e r
superficially or profoundly; this is not the first t i m e we
h a v e c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e m , a n d y e t t h e y s t i l l occur,
despite the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l m e a s u r e s w e
h a v e t a k e n a n d are c o n t i n u a l l y t a k i n g .
I t h i n k w e s h o u l d n o t d e l u d e ourselves, s h o u l d not
a l l o w ourselves to b e c o m e s e l f - c o m p l a c e n t on a n y q u e s t i o n ,
t o t h i n k w e h a v e d o n e o u r d u t y b y t a k i n g these measures,
or, i n t h e e n d , t o s a y t h a t w e h a v e r e s u l t s (and i n fact
w e h a v e results), b u t «it i s i n e v i t a b l e t h a t s u c h t h i n g s
w i l l h a p p e n . T h i s i s the dialectics o f l i f e a n d struggle.»
W e m u s t not b e content w i t h these ideas, t h e r e f o r e w e
should always go more deeply into the analysis of things,
should strengthen the measures we take and organize
t h e m better. I t seems t o m e t h a t this i s w h a t w e m u s t
insist o n .
I h a v e e m p h a s i z e d at o t h e r t i m e s t h a t the m e e t i n g of
t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n o u g h t t o b e a n event o f great i m p o r t a n c e f o r t h e c o m m u n i s t s , a n d i n o r d e r t o b e so, t h i s
r e q u i r e s a great d e a l of p r e p a r a t i o n by a l l , a n d not j u s t
b y t h e secretary, not j u s t i n d r a w i n g u p a g o o d a g e n d a ,
but a p r e p a r a t i o n b y a l l t h e c o m m u n i s t s , d o w n t o t h e
m i n u t e s t d e t a i l s o f the p r o b l e m w h i c h t h e basic o r g a n i z a tion takes up for e x a m i n a t i o n and discussion. If this p r o c e d u r e is f o l l o w e d , it is i m p o s s i b l e not to h a v e discussions
i n the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , i t i s i m p o s s i b l e n o t t o h a v e d e bates a n d c o n t r o v e r s i e s , not t o h a v e n e w ideas, r i g h t
or w r o n g , not to have criticism and self-criticism. T h i s
i s the k i n d o f basic o r g a n i z a t i o n w e a r e after. W e m u s t
f i g h t f o r s u c h a basic o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h i s is the basis
225
o f e v e r y g o o d b e g i n n i n g , o f e v e r y s o u n d e d u c a t i o n , this
i s w h e r e t h e c o m m u n i s t s a r e t e m p e r e d w i t h t h e correct
norms o f t h e P a r t y , w h e r e t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l
and t h e i r t e c h n i c a l - o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l e v e l i s r a i s e d , b e cause the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e w o r k , t h e p r a c t i c a l acc o m p l i s h m e n t o f tasks, t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d c o l l e c t i v e
efforts t o r a i s e the t e c h n i c a l l e v e l o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d
n o n - c o m m u n i s t s d e p e n d g r e a t l y o n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y
debates i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n .
If t h e c a l l i n g of e v e r y o n e to account, t h e d e m a n d
for d i s c i p l i n e f r o m e v e r y o n e i s not d o n e p e r s i s t e n t l y i n
the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e n , w h e r e w i l l i t b e d o n e ? I f
c r i t i c i s m a n d s e l f - c r i t i c i s m a r e n o t c a r r i e d out p r o p e r l y ,
according t o the n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y i n the basic o r g a n i z a tion, t h e n w h e r e w i l l t h e y b e c a r r i e d out p r o p e r l y ? I f
the c o m m u n i s t does n o t h a v e t h e c o u r a g e to e x p r e s s
his o p i n i o n s i n t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n , w i l l h e b e a b l e t o
express t h e m p r o p e r l y i n h i s m e e t i n g s w i t h t h e masses?
If the c o m m u n i s t is not e d u c a t e d to u n d e r s t a n d a n d
apply the dictatorship of the proletariat and all the norms
that e m a n a t e f r o m i t i n l i f e , i n h i s conscience a n d i n h i s
w o r k , t h e n t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : H o w w i l l h e m a k e the
masses u n d e r s t a n d w h a t t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t
is, w h a t its p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l , e t h i c a l , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l
and r e p r e s s i v e n o r m s a r e ?
W e t e a c h the b r o a d masses a n d w a n t t h e m t o speak
freely, t o c r i t i c i z e the s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d t h e persons
responsible s o t h a t t h e l a t t e r w i l l b e e d u c a t e d a n d c o r rected. Of course, s u c h a t h i n g c a n n o t be c a r r i e d o u t
p r o p e r l y b y the masses w h e n the P a r t y a s a w h o l e a n d
the i n d i v i d u a l c o m m u n i s t d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d a n d c a r r y
it out p r o p e r l y .
T h e question is not that our P a r t y and our c o m m u n ists are n o t a c q u a i n t e d w i t h these n o r m s a n d d o n o t
a p p l y t h e m in p r a c t i c e . N o , b u t h e r e t h e r e is a good d e a l
226
ENVER HOXHA
of f o r m a l i s m , of a u t o m a t i s m , a l a c k of p r o f o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d f a i l u r e t o see t h e b e n e f i t s t h a t m a y r e s u l t
from thorough understanding and proper implementation
o f t h e m a n d the d a n g e r s t h a t m a y arise i n t h e opposite
case.
I think that the basic norms that govern the life
and struggle of the Party, hence, of the basic organization
and each communist, ought to be known well, thoroughly,
known from their ideological and political aspects. On
this we have not insisted as much as we should and in
the way we should.
To illustrate this conclusion, let us take the Constitution of the Party as an example. T h e C o n s t i t u t i o n is the
c o m m u n i s t s ' g u i d e , t h e basic d o c u m e n t w h i c h r e g u l a t e s
t h e l i f e o f t h e P a r t y . I t synthesizes t h e p r i n c i p a l d i r e c tions o f t h e P a r t y , t h e r i g h t s a n d d u t i e s o f t h e c o m m u n i s t ,
who without knowing them, without understanding them
t h o r o u g h l y a n d c a r r y i n g t h e m out i n l i f e , c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d a good c o m m u n i s t .
I f h e v i o l a t e s these n o r m s o f the C o n s t i t u t i o n , h e
is liable to punishment up to expulsion f r o m the P a r t y .
B u t a v e r y strange t h i n g happens: the C o n s t i t u t i o n is
n o t s t u d i e d , is not u s e d as a basic m a t e r i a l f o r t h e c o m munists, either rank-and-file or leading members. Some
r e a d i t a n d s a y : « W e agree. W e k n o w these t h i n g s w e l l .
W e base ourselves o n them.» I t i s t r u e t h a t w e k n o w m a n y
things, but then w h y d o w e blunder, w h y d o w e violate the
articles of the Constitution? T h i s shows that we do not
k n o w the articles w e l l . Sometimes we are completely
i g n o r a n t o f t h e m a n d t h e y h a v e n o t b e c o m e t h e obstacle
t h e y o u g h t t o b e i n o u r consciousness t o e r r o n e o u s t h i n g s
and an inspiration to always proceed correctly and in a
revolutionary way.
E v e r y y e a r , e v e r since o u r P a r t y c a m e i n t o b e i n g ,
we have given lectures on the Constitution. This w o r k
227
has y i e l d e d r e s u l t s , a n d s t i l l does so, b u t w e m u s t c o n tinue t o seek b o t h t h e reasons f o r these facts a n d t h e
best m e t h o d s t o e n s u r e t h a t e v e r y c o m m u n i s t has the
C o n s t i t u t i o n i n h i s m i n d a n d h i s h e a r t i n e v e r y step
he takes...
Let us take the question that all do not participate
properly in the discussion of various problems in the
organization. T h e p r o b l e m h e r e i s t h e p h e n o m e n o n itself
a n d not some m e c h a n i c a l r u l e t h a t a l l t h e m e m b e r s o f
the basic o r g a n i z a t i o n a b s o l u t e l y m u s t discuss e v e r y t h i n g .
W h y don't they take part in discussion? This should
preoccupy us first a n d foremost.
T h e r e is no discussion, or the discussion is d u l l w h e n
the p r o b l e m i s n o t w e l l u n d e r s t o o d , w h e n i t i s n o t s t u d i e d
and presented correctly w i t h well-founded arguments.
There is no discussion w h e n the problem is comm u n i c a t e d i n a c u t - a n d - d r y w a y a n d a t the last m o m e n t ,
taking the organization by surprise and placing it in the
position either of not discussing it at a l l or discussing
it in a perfunctory w a y . Hence, the problem is raised
just to h a v e it done w i t h , it is d r a g g e d on as a d r u d g e r y ;
i n a r o u n d - a b o u t w a y t h e ideas o f t h e p e r s o n w h o
raises t h e p r o b l e m a r e i m p o s e d o n the o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d
those m e m b e r s w h o f i n d i t easy t o get u p a n d speak,
but w h o o f t e n h a v e n o ideas, b u t o n l y p l a t i t u d e s t o
offer, get t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o shine.
I t i s not h a r d t o see w h a t n e g a t i v e consequences
such a t h i n g has f o r t h e w o r k a n d e d u c a t i o n a n d w h a t
relations are established between the leadership a n d
the base.
Preparation of the problem to be brought up for
discussion is the o n l y w a y to e n l i v e n the organization.
H e w h o has m a s t e r e d t h e p r o b l e m i s a b l e t o discuss it,
to o f f e r suggestions, to c r i t i c i z e , foresee a n d propose. If
everybody approaches the matter in this w a y , then there
228
ENVER HOXHA
i s n o d o u b t that g o o d o p i n i o n s w i l l c l a s h w i t h b a d ones,
t h e y w i l l b e s i f t e d out, the best ones w i l l b e chosen a n d
measures t o o v e r c o m e t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s w i l l b e e n v i s a g e d .
B u t d u r i n g t h i s debate the t r u e w o r t h o f e a c h m e m b e r
w i l l be recognized. This is w h a t we mean by r e v o l u t i o n a r y
struggle in the o r g a n i z a t i o n . . .
W h e n a person applies to j o i n the P a r t y and is
accepted, h e has r i g h t s a n d d u t i e s w h i c h i t i s a b s o l u t e l y
essential that h e m u s t k n o w a n d c a r r y out c o u r a g e o u s l y .
Y o u cannot c a l l y o u r s e l f a m e m b e r o f o u r P a r t y a n d , o n
the o t h e r h a n d , be a c o w a r d . A p a r t y m e m b e r m a y n o t
be w e l l versed in m a n y things or m a y k n o w only a
l i t t l e about s o m e t h i n g s ; these t h e P a r t y w i l l a l w a y s
t e a c h h i m i n m a n y w a y s , b u t those t h i n g s h e does k n o w ,
those t h i n g s h e has l e a r n e d , a p a r t y m e m b e r m u s t e x p r e s s
as he k n o w s t h e m , as m u c h as he has l e a r n e d t h e m , a n d
put t h e m f o r w a r d in discussion, and as the communist
that h e is, s h o u l d l i s t e n t o t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y c r i t i c a l j u d g m e n t o f t h e comrades, t h a t is, h e s h o u l d c a l m l y accept
bolshevik criticism and courageously rebuff un-bolshevik
criticism, honestly acknowledge where he is w r o n g and
m a r c h ahead.
E v e r y b o d y says, «this i s r i g h t but, u n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r e
are some w h o d o n o t dare,» a n d s o o n . B u t w h o d o t h e y
b l a m e f o r this, the P a r t y , its n o r m s , o r because i t c o n stantly urges them to forge ahead like revolutionaries?
I f s u c h persons see t h e P a r t y i n o n e p e r s o n w h o s u p presses t h e i r correct ideas, w h o s m o t h e r s t h e i r c r i t i c i s m ,
i t i s t h e y t h e m s e l v e s w h o are t o b l a m e , n o t t h e P a r t y
o r its r u l e s . I f s u c h c o m m u n i s t s a l l o w a p e r s o n t h e y t h e m selves h a v e v e s t e d w i t h f u n c t i o n s t o o v e r s h a d o w t h e
c o l l e c t i v e s t r e n g t h o f t h e P a r t y , t h e n t h e y are f a r f r o m
understanding the n o r m s of the Party. H o w e v e r , there
are also those w h o a r e w e l l a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h e f o r m a l
aspect o f t h e n o r m s o f the P a r t y b u t i n w h o s e heads
229
other, p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s n o r m s a r e b r e w i n g ; i n this case
the c o l l e c t i v e o f t h e P a r t y m u s t p o i n t out a n d f i g h t these
a l i e n n o r m s a n d educate t h e people c o n c e r n e d .
W e m u s t l o o k a t this m a j o r p r o b l e m f r o m a l l angles,
since t h e r e are d i r e c t o r s , heads of d e p a r t m e n t s a n d
secretaries w h o m a k e m i s t a k e s , b u t t h e r e a r e also those
w h o a r e n e i t h e r d i r e c t o r s n o r m a n a g e r s , but w h o are
i n t o l e r a n t o f c r i t i c i s m , d i s c i p l i n e , o r r e n d e r i n g o f account
and t a k e a n y r e q u i r e m e n t o r r u l e i m p o s e d o n t h e m a s
a p e r s o n a l a t t a c k against t h e m . W e are a c q u a i n t e d w i t h
such g l i b t a l k e r s w h o s l a n d e r t h e d i r e c t o r (just a s w e
are a c q u a i n t e d w i t h a r r o g a n t d i r e c t o r s ) , but w h e n t h e
matter is b r o u g h t b e f o r e the o r g a n i z a t i o n it is j u d g e d
f a i r l y b y t h e c o l l e c t i v e a n d i t i s o n l y here t h a t t h e t r u t h
comes out.
T h e o n l y correct a n d c o m p l e t e j u d g m e n t comes f r o m
the c h e c k - u p b y t h e collective, w h i c h v e r i f i e s a n d m u s t
v e r i f y the case. T h i s i s w h a t « c o n t r o l b y t h e masses»,
and «the p o l i c y o f the masses» m e a n s . E v e r y b o d y , w i t h o u t
e x c e p t i o n , m u s t s u b m i t t o t h e j u d g e m e n t o f t h e masses
about t h e i r w o r k a n d c o n d u c t i n society. T h e c o m m u n i s t s
must s u b m i t to a t w o - f o l d c o n t r o l , to t h a t of t h e P a r t y
a n d that of the masses. No one c a n s a y t h a t t h i s is a
personal, p r i v a t e a f f a i r , w h e n i t i s l i n k e d w i t h t h e society, w i t h t h e socialist n o r m s a n d the n o r m s o f the
P a r t y . N o o n e s h o u l d m e d d l e i n the p e r s o n a l a f f a i r s o f
another, b u t w h e n t h i s o t h e r m a l t r e a t s h i s w i f e , f o r
instance, or leads a l i f e of l u x u r y b e y o n d h i s m e a n s a n d
income, a n d so on a n d so f o r t h , t h e n t h e c o l l e c t i v e has
e v e r y r i g h t t o c r i t i c i z e h i m , a n d i f i t t u r n s out t h a t the
n o r m s a n d l a w s are b e i n g v i o l a t e d , t h e n o t h e r a c t i o n
i s t a k e n . S u c h a n a c t i o n s t r e n g t h e n s a n d does not w e a k e n
o u r society. O n t h e c o n t r a r y i t w e a k e n s t h e p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s
views on life, on the n o r m s of the old life w h i c h made
m a n a slave, w i t h o u t p e r s o n a l i t y , f r e e d o m a n d i n i t i a t i v e .
230
ENVER HOXHA
T h e elections a n d r e n d e r i n g o f account i n the P a r t y
are v e r y i m p o r t a n t f o r the f u r t h e r t e m p e r i n g a n d r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e cadres. A n y f o r m a l i s m
i n these i m p o r t a n t meetings, a n y h e s i t a t i o n i n a p p l y i n g
the n o r m s t h a t g o v e r n the l i f e o f t h e P a r t y m u s t b e
done a w a y w i t h . T h e l e a d e r s h i p m u s t r e n d e r a c c o u n t
a t these meetings, m u s t p r o v e w i t h facts w h e t h e r i t
has o r has n o t a c c o m p l i s h e d its t a s k p r o p e r l y , a n d n o t
j u s t present g e n e r a l o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d c r i t i c i s m s o f o t h e r s .
Conversely, every communist must do likewise.
T h e e l e c t i o n o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p m u s t b e done o n s o u n d
criteria in conformity w i t h established rules, w i t h o u t
a n y one f o r c i n g a l e a d e r o r l e a d e r s o n t h e basic p a r t y
organization. The members must n o m i n a t e the candidates
themselves, sift t h e m out t h e m s e l v e s , elect t h e i r l e a d e r s
themselves, a n d r e v o k e t h e m t h e m s e l v e s i n a d e m o c r a t i c
w a y w h e n they d o not w o r k w e l l .
I n n o m i n a t i n g c a n d i d a t e s w e seem t o h a v e d e p a r t e d
somewhat f r o m the revolutionary norms we used to
a p p l y . N o w , u n d e r t h e p r e t e x t t h a t cadres a r e w e l l k n o w n ,
t h e i r b i o g r a p h i e s are n o t a s k e d for, o r a s k e d f o r o n l y
formally. This must be re-established properly, regardless
of whether the nominee is w e l l k n o w n . He must stand
before the comrades of the organization a n d give his
b i o g r a p h y , i n w h i c h h e s h o u l d a v o i d b o a s t i n g o f h i s past,
the m e r i t s o f w h i c h are k n o w n t o t h e masses, b u t s h o u l d
speak m o r e c o n c r e t e l y about t h e w e a k n e s s e s h e has d i s p l a y e d i n his w o r k o r the m i s t a k e n v i e w s h e m a y h a v e ,
and pledge to correct them.
These n o r m s must be retained and developed properly
i n t h e P a r t y , b u t I t h i n k that, a m o n g t h e masses a s
r e g a r d s those w h o a r e a p p o i n t e d t o state f u n c t i o n s , esp e c i a l l y t h e m a i n cadres s u c h a s d i r e c t o r s , a s s i s t a n t - d i r e c tors, heads o f p l a n n i n g , accountants, c h i e f - a c c o u n t a n t s ,
a n d s o o n , n o r m s m o r e o r less t h e s a m e a s these s h o u l d b e
231
applied. T h e s e cadres a r e a p p o i n t e d a n d w e m a y not
have t o c h a n g e m a n y t h i n g s i n t h e p r i n c i p l e s a n d n o r m s
p u r s u e d s o far, b u t t h e e c o n o m i c o r g a n i z a t i o n o r a n y
other u n i t m u s t c e r t a i n l y b e i n t r o d u c e d t o the n e w p e r s o n
w h o i s c o m i n g t o l e a d it. N o t o n l y m u s t w e i n t r o d u c e
the a p p o i n t e d e m p l o y e e to t h e masses, a n d do t h i s not
in a f o r m a l way, but we must adopt the practice that
he comes b e f o r e the masses h i m s e l f , to g i v e a f r a n k
account o f h i s b i o g r a p h y s o t h e masses c a n j u d g e h i m
and t e l l h i m : « L o o k here, b r o t h e r , d o y o u r j o b w e l l ,
behave w e l l , a p p l y t h e r u l e s a n d l a w s c o r r e c t l y , d e m a n d
that w e r e n d e r account t o t h e letter, s i n c e w e w i l l d e m a n d
the same t h i n g f r o m y o u ; l i s t e n t o us, because w e w i l l
help y o u i f y o u d o y o u r j o b w e l l . B u t , m i n d y o u , i f y o u
b l u n d e r w e w i l l p u l l y o u r ears w h i l e i f y o u k e e p o n
blundering we w i l l t h r o w y o u overboard, and bear in
m i n d t h a t t h e r e i s n o one w h o c a n p r o t e c t y o u ; the
P a r t y i s ours, t h e p o w e r i s ours, w e a r e i n p o w e r , the
d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t i s i n p o w e r , t h e r e f o r e , w e
shall b r e a k y o u r n e c k i f y o u d o b a d t h i n g s a n d o n the
other h a n d , w e s h a l l l o v e a n d respect y o u i m m e n s e l y i f
you d o y o u r j o b w e l l . »
I f w e r e s o l u t e l y a p p l y these n o r m s w e w i l l see h o w
w e l l t h e w o r k w i l l g o a n d h o w q u i c k l y those persons
w h o d o w h a t t h e y please a t p r e s e n t w i l l b e c o r r e c t e d .
W h y is it so important to k n o w and apply the party
norms p r o p e r l y , a n d w h y m u s t w e b e s o i n s i s t e n t a b o u t
k n o w i n g these n o r m s a n d m a k i n g t h e m t h e basis o f o u r
lives?
We k n o w that our P a r t y of Labour, l i k e all genuine
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, is an organized detachment of
the w o r k i n g class. T h i s m e a n s t h a t o n l y v a n g u a r d people,
the best, m o s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d most i n d o m i t a b l e p e o p l e
are i n t h e P a r t y . T h e s e i n d i v i d u a l s d o n o t f a l l f r o m the
heavens; t h e y e m e r g e f r o m t h e r a n k s o f t h e p e o p l e a n d
232
ENVER HOXHA
distinguish themselves in w o r k and in struggle by their
v i r t u e s a n d conduct. T h o s e w h o are a d m i t t e d t o the P a r t y
come f r o m v a r i o u s classes o f o u r society, f r o m t h e w o r k i n g class, f r o m t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t s , f r o m t h e o f f i c e e m ployees, t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d o t h e r s t r a t a . N e v e r t h e l e s s ,
o u r P a r t y i s n o t a n a r e n a o f classes i n w h i c h e a c h class,
i n p r o p o r t i o n t o its n u m b e r s , has its r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s w h o
d e f e n d the separate interests of each class, etc. N o , in o u r
P a r t y t h e w o r k i n g class, w i t h its i d e o l o g y , M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m , has h e g e m o n y , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e fact t h a t the
p e r c e n t a g e o f m e m b e r s o f w o r k e r o r i g i n o r status m a y ,
f o r k n o w n reasons, b e l o w e r a t p r e s e n t t h a n t h a t o f those
of peasant o r i g i n .
Likewise, the organized detachment of the w o r k i n g
class i n o u r c o u n t r y , w h i c h i s t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r , i s n o t
a n a r e n a w i t h i n w h i c h a class struggle, i n t h e classic sense
o f t h e w o r d , i s w a g e d , b u t i t l e a d s t h e class s t r u g g l e .
This means that our P a r t y is a monolithic P a r t y w i t h
steel, M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y o f t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n ; t h e r e
is no r o o m in it for anti-Marxist, revisionist, Trotskyite,
l i b e r a l , social d e m o c r a t i c a n d o t h e r f a c t i o n s a n d o p p o s i tions. I t h a s d e f i n e d its s t r a t e g y a n d tactics, a l w a y s based
on the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t theory and the objective conditions o f o u r c o u n t r y , t a k i n g a c c o u n t o f its p e c u l i a r i t i e s
and the time, analyzed in the light of dialectical and
h i s t o r i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m . T h u s , t h e tactics o f t h e P a r t y c a n not e v a d e o r r u n c o u n t e r t o these p r i n c i p l e s .
I t i s o n t h i s basis t h a t t h e P a r t y h a s d e f i n e d its o w n
n o r m s t o a t t a i n its e n d , w h i c h i s its p r o g r a m , t h e c o m plete c o n s t r u c t i o n of s o c i a l i s m a n d of t h e classless society,
communism. This can be achieved only u n d e r the heg e m o n y o f t h e w o r k i n g class w h i c h i s l e d b y t h e o r g a n i z e d
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t d e t a c h m e n t o f t h i s class, t h e c o m m u n i s t
p a r t y , w i t h us, t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r .
W h y must there be perfect organization, i r o n discipli-
ne and bolshevik n o r m s in the party?
since t h e y are, so to say, t h e cement
party is n o t a m u l t i t u d e of persons
without criteria and without aims, or
teria a n d v a r y i n g a i m s got t o g e t h e r
ding. N o .
233
These are needed
of t h e p a r t y . T h e
w i t h o u t ideology,
w i t h opposing c r i to go to a w e d -
The Party of Labour of A l b a n i a was founded and
engaged i n a t e r r i b l e w a r a g a i n s t f a s c i s m , s u c h a s m a n k i n d
had n e v e r e x p e r i e n c e d . T h e f a t e o f o u r p e o p l e w a s i n
the b a l a n c e a n d o n l y a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y l i k e ours
could a n d d i d save t h e m . H e n c e , o u r P a r t y w a s the k e e n ,
gleaming, u n b r e a k a b l e a n d i n d o m i t a b l e s w o r d i n the h a n d s
o f the A l b a n i a n w o r k i n g class a n d people. A n d i t b e c a m e
such a s w o r d because i t w a s i m b u e d w i t h M a r x i s m - L e n i n ism a n d t e m p e r e d i n b a t t l e w i t h t h e n o r m s i t h a d e s t a b l i shed f o r itself. T h u s , i t w a s u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the
Party that the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r was w o n . that o u r
people's r e v o l u t i o n w a s c a r r i e d o u t a n d t h a t s o c i a l i s m i s
being b u i l t s u c c e s s f u l l y t o d a y . O u r P a r t y w i l l h a v e c o m pleted its n o b l e t a s k w h e n c o m m u n i s t s o c i e t y has been
built i n o u r c o u n t r y a n d t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n has
triumphed e v e r y w h e r e in the w o r l d .
H o w m a n y f i g h t s t h e P a r t y has h a d t o w a g e t o a c h i e v e
what it has achieved! It fought the G e r m a n and Italian
fascists, f o u g h t t h e B a l l i s t s a n d t h e l o c a l f e u d a l - b o u r geois c o a l i t i o n ; i t f o u g h t t h e T i t o i t e s a n d t h e i r i n n u m e r a ble agencies b o t h w i t h i n a n d o u t s i d e its r a n k s , i t f o u g h t
the c o n s p i r a c i e s a n d agencies o f u n i t e d i m p e r i a l i s t s ; i t
fought the K h r u s h c h e v i t e t r a i t o r s a n d t h e i r agents b o t h
w i t h i n a n d o u t s i d e its r a n k s ; i t f o u g h t t h e r u t h l e s s fascist
coalition of m o d e r n revisionists, headed by the K h r u s h chevites.
O u r P a r t y o v e r c a m e a l l these dangers a n d e m e r g e d
successful f o r t h e reasons I m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r , a n d n o t b e cause o u r people n u m b e r e d tens o f m i l l i o n s o r because o u r
234
ENVER HOXHA
P a r t y h a d m i l l i o n s o f m e m b e r s . I n t h e P a r t y i t i s n o t the
q u a n t i t y b u t the q u a l i t y o f t h e s t e e l t h a t counts, a n d t h a n k s
t o t h e i r d e f e n c e o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e s the A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s h a v e t r u l y b e c o m e a n u n b r e a k a b l e steel.
O u r e n e m i e s d o n o t f a i l t o c l a i m t h a t A l b a n i a stands
o n its feet a n d e x i s t s t h a n k s t o others. T h i s , o f course,
i s p i f f l e . W e w o u l d n o t b e M a r x i s t s i f w e d e n i e d the
international solidarity of the w o r l d proletariat, but first
y o u must fight and defend yourself, must w o r k correctly,
and only then can others help you.
M a n y things occurred i n the Soviet U n i o n and i n the
c o u n t r i e s o f people's d e m o c r a c y t h a t l e d t o t h e o v e r t h r o w
o f t h e socialist r e g i m e a n d t o t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e i r
p a r t i e s . W h y d i d these t h i n g s n o t o c c u r a m o n g u s ? F o r t h e
reasons I m e n t i o n e d a b o v e a n d , p r e c i s e l y f o r t h o s e reasons,
nothing w i l l occur in the future, either. Is there not a
constant i m p e r i a l i s t a n d r e v i s i o n i s t c o a l i t i o n a g a i n s t the
P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d socialist A l b a n i a ? T h i s
c o a l i t i o n i s o n i t s feet, b u t s o a r e w e a n d a l w a y s h a v e
been. W e h a v e g r a p p l e d w i t h t h e m a n d h a v e w o n , a n d
m a y grapple w i t h them again and w e shall w i n again.
This w i l l happen again and again. Therefore, the victory
w i l l b e ours, o u r people's a n d o u r P a r t y ' s t o t h e e n d .
A l l of us must study the materials of our Party, f r o m
t h e t i m e i t w a s f o u n d e d , f o r i n t h e m w e s h a l l f i n d colossal experience. These materials m a y not have the proper
forms of philosophical dissertation w h i c h intellectuals or
stylists a r e s o f o n d of, t h e y m a y c o n t a i n u n n e c e s s a r y ,
t r i v i a l r e p e t i t i o n s a n d , a t times, e v e n e r r o n e o u s t h i n g s , b u t
they are of a k i n d that tempered a p a r t y a n d inspired
a small but unconquerable people w h o w e r e never brought
t o t h e i r knees, w h o w e r e n e v e r c o n q u e r e d , because t h e y
r e m a i n e d l o y a l t o M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m a n d its n o r m s .
The m o d e r n revisionists a n d reactionaries call us
S t a l i n i s t s , t h i n k i n g t h a t t h e y i n s u l t u s a n d , i n fact, t h a t i s
235
their a i m . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , h o w e v e r , t h e y g l o r i f y u s
w i t h this e p i t h e t : i t i s a n h o n o u r f o r u s t o b e S t a l i n i s t s ,
because, since w e w e r e S t a l i n i s t s , t h e e n e m y c o u l d n o t
conquer us, a n d n e v e r w i l l c o n q u e r u s a s l o n g a s w e
remain S t a l i n i s t s .
The documents of our P a r t y record certain moments
of great h i s t o r i c i m p o r t a n c e w h i c h I w i s h to m e n t i o n ,
moments d u r i n g w h i c h , h a d w e n o t a c t e d the w a y w e
did, w e w o u l d h a v e b r o u g h t t h e p e o p l e great d i f f i c u l t i e s ,
if not a t o t a l loss of t h e i n d e p e n d e n c e w o n at t h e cost
of bloodshed.
O u r P a r t y did not allow the sharing of p o w e r w i t h
elements o f t h e bourgeoisie, e v e n o f t h e l i b e r a l b o u r g e o i s i e .
It did not allow the creation of bourgeois parties either
inside o r o u t s i d e t h e F r o n t , n o t o n l y because t h i s w a s
the e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , b u t because o u r P a r t y
and people k n e w f r o m t h e past, l e a r n e d d u r i n g t h e w a r
and c o n f i r m e d a f t e r t h e w a r w h a t t h e B a l l i s t s , the « d e mocrats», t h e « i n d e p e n d e n t d e m o c r a t s » a n d o t h e r s l i k e
Riza D a n i a n d S h e f q e t B e j a a n d C o , w e r e . A t t h e a p propriate m o m e n t s , t h e P a r t y a p p e a l e d t o a l l o f t h e m
in their time, h e l d out its h a n d to t h e m and e v e n
supported a n u m b e r o f t h e m w h o b e c a m e d e p u t i e s .
These w e r e c o r r e c t , n e c e s s a r y t a c t i c a l acts, b u t t h e
Party did not t u r n t h e m into a strategy or m a k e t h e m
its p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l i n e .
L e t t h e e n e m i e s accuse u s o f s e c t a r i a n i s m a n d t e r rorism, b u t w e w e r e n o t d u p e s ; o u r P a r t y a n d p e o p l e
made short w o r k o f t h e e n e m i e s w h o t u r n e d t h e i r g u n s
against us. W e w e r e not t e r r o r i s t s b u t r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s ,
and the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n l e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n ist p a r t y does n o t a l l o w y o u t o a d m i t t h e w o l f t o t h e
sheepfold, t o k e e p t h e v i p e r i n y o u r b o s o m . T h e e n e m i e s
were dealt w i t h s u c c e s s f u l l y , because t h e P a r t y w a s t h e
keen edge o f t h e p e o p l e ' s s w o r d .
236
ENVER HOXHA
O u r P a r t y a l w a y s k e p t its r a n k s p u r e , a s t h e y m u s t
be in a p r o l e t a r i a n p a r t y t h a t has to pass t h r o u g h a
t h o u s a n d d a n g e r s t o a t t a i n its f i n a l o b j e c t i v e . T h e P a r t y
n e v e r lost its b e a r i n g s i n this v i t a l m a t t e r ; i t a l w a y s b o r e
i n m i n d t h a t i n o r d e r t o v a n q u i s h o u r p e o p l e the
enemies had first to vanquish the Party, and that is
w h y they waged a continuous and co-ordinated struggle
b o t h w i t h i n a n d o u t s i d e its r a n k s .
O u r P a r t y c r u s h e d a l l its i n t e r n a l enemies, r a n g i n g
f r o m A n a s t a s L u l o ( 3 ) t o L i r i B e l i s h o v a . T h i s w a s a system a t i c , r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e . T h e P a r t y has n e v e r a l l o w e d
the w o r k of enemies to become f i r m l y established
i n the P a r t y , a t n o t i m e has i t f a i l e d t o use the m e t h o d s
o f p a t i e n t e x p l a n a t i o n a n d p e r s u a s i o n t o w a r d s a l l those
w h o b e t r a y e d i t a n d t o o k the a n t i - p a r t y a n d a n t i - p e o p l e
course, b u t w h e n t h e c u p w a s f i l l e d a n d facts w e r e
o b v i o u s , i t e x p e l l e d t h e m f r o m its r a n k s w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n a n d those w h o h a d c o n s p i r e d i t h a n d e d o v e r t o the
c o u r t w h i c h sentenced some o f t h e m t o d e a t h . O u r
e n e m i e s s h e d tears o v e r t h e m w h i l e the people r e j o i c e d
a t b e i n g r i d o f these t r a i t o r s .
A self-respecting M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t party cannot allow
t h e existence o f t w o l i n e s i n t h e p a r t y ; t h a t is, i t c a n n o t
p e r m i t t h e e x i s t e n c e o f o n e o r m a n y factions. I f such
f a c t i o n s a p p e a r t h e p a r t y cannot a n d m u s t n o t t o l e r a t e
t h e i r existence, n o t e v e n f o r a s h o r t t i m e . A f a c t i o n in
t h e p a r t y i s against t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t u n i t y o f t h o u g h t
a n d action and tries to t r a n s f o r m the p a r t y into a sociald e m o c r a t i c p a r t y a n d t h e socialist c o u n t r y i n t o a c a p i t a l ist c o u n t r y .
_____________________________
3 M e m b e r of the former « Y o u t h » C o m m u n i s t G r o u p . B o t h at
t h e meeting for the merger of the groups and the f o u n d i n g of
the Communist P a r t y of A l b a n i a and later he adopted an a n t i communist stand, began to sabotage the w a r a n d was condemned by the P a r t y .
237
These a r e a l l h i s t o r i c m o m e n t s f o r t h e P a r t y , t h e r e fore e v e r y o n e s h o u l d r e a d t h e m a t e r i a l s a n d d e cisions t a k e n a b o u t t h e m , s h o u l d s t u d y t h e m a n d r e l y
o n t h e m , f o r t h e y are v i t a l lessons a n d a g u i d e f o r o u r
actions at a l l t i m e s .
T h e s t r u g g l e o f o u r P a r t y i s a great r e v o l u t i o n a r y
school w h i c h teaches i t t o k e e p its r a n k s a l w a y s p u r e ,
because, a l t h o u g h t h e P a r t y i s n o t a n a r e n a o f class s t r u g gle, its m e m b e r s , a l t h o u g h i n t h e v a n g u a r d , s o m e t i m e s
bring w i t h t h e m n o n - p r o l e t a r i a n h a n g o v e r s w h i c h m u s t
b e p u r g e d a n d c o m b a t e d ; a n d t h i s i s t h e f o r m o f class
struggle w h i c h w e c o n s t a n t l y insist m u s t b e w a g e d against
these vestiges w i t h i n t h e P a r t y . I n this g r e a t s t r u g g l e
some c o m m u n i s t s get w e a r y , some o t h e r s s u c c u m b . T h a t
is w h y they can became dangerous, therefore, the P a r t y
must g o o n a n d o n e d u c a t i n g its cadres i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d
p o l i t i c a l l y , t h r o u g h w o r k a n d struggle, t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e y
never s u c c u m b , b u t a r e a l w a y s r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . L o o k i n g
a t this q u e s t i o n f r o m t h i s angle, t h e o n l y M a r x i s t - L e n i n ist angle, one c a n see h o w i m p o r t a n t a r e t h e M a r x i s t Leninist norms that govern the life, w o r k and struggle
o f the P a r t y , t h e people, t h e c o m m u n i s t s a n d the n o n party patriots.
T h e m o r e p r o f o u n d l y t h e correct l i n e o f t h e P a r t y i s
grasped, t h e m o r e t h o r o u g h l y the p r i n c i p l e s a n d n o r m s o f
its l i f e are u n d e r s t o o d , t h e m o r e c o r r e c t l y a n d p r o f o u n d l y
they are a p p l i e d w i t h r e v o l u t i o n a r y courage, the s t r o n g e r
and m o r e u n y i e l d i n g w i l l o u r P a r t y be, a n d t h u s s o c i a l ism w i l l f o r g e a h e a d s u c c e s s f u l l y .
T h a t i s w h y w e h a v e f o u g h t f o r these t h i n g s a n d
w i l l go on fighting for them to the end, w i t h our heroic
P a r t y a t t h e h e a d , f o r o u r g l o r i o u s people, f o r s o c i a l i s m
and c o m m u n i s m .
238
ENVER HOXHA
MORE
ABOUT
BUREAUCRACY
A l l o w m e , o n t h e basis o f t h e h i s t o r i c d e c i s i o n s o f
t h e 5 t h C o n g r e s s w h i c h g u i d e u s i n o u r w o r k , o f the
Open Letter of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P a r t y a n d
t h e C a l l o f the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d t h e G o v e r n m e n t ,
w h i c h h a v e b e c o m e n o t a b l e e v e n t s i n the w o r k o f t h e
c o m m u n i s t s a n d t h e b r o a d masses a n d h a v e y i e l d e d m a j o r
positive results in revolutionizing a l l our work, to express
s o m e f u r t h e r ideas r e g a r d i n g t h e ceaseless s t r u g g l e w h i c h
w e m u s t w a g e a g a i n s t b u r e a u c r a c y a n d its bearers.
It w o u l d be a m i s t a k e to t h i n k t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e
against b u r e a u c r a c y has come t o a n e n d , o r t h a t w e
s h o u l d slacken our efforts following the campaign we
undertook and the i n i t i a l results we have attained in this
d i r e c t i o n . It must be understood that this struggle w i l l
n e v e r c o m e to an e n d , so l o n g as classes a n d t h e class
struggle exist; it w i l l be continuous.
W h y w i l l i t b e c o n t i n u o u s ? B e c a u s e i t does n o t consist
s i m p l y i n t a k i n g c e r t a i n t e c h n i c a l measures, a s s o m e
u n d e r s t a n d it, s u c h a s g e t t i n g r i d o f s u p e r f l u o u s cadres,
e l i m i n a t i n g u n n e c e s s a r y l i n k s i n t h e s t a f f i n g o f state,
administrative, economic and c u l t u r a l organs or in the
p a r t y apparatus, o r d o i n g a w a y w i t h excessive l e t t e r - w r i t i n g
a n d r e d t a p e a n d a c h i e v i n g a m o r e correct d e f i n i t i o n o f
i n d i v i d u a l a n d c o l l e c t i v e competences a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s .
These measures have p l a y e d a n d w i l l continue to p l a y
a p o s i t i v e , m i l i t a n t r o l e against b u r e a u c r a c y b u t t h i s is
n o t a l l t h e r e i s t o it. T h i s i s a m i n o r aspect a n d r e m a i n s
a t e c h n i c a l aspect of the p r o b l e m w h i c h c o u l d itself be
t u r n e d i n t o a « b u r e a u c r a t i c m e a s u r e » if t h e content of
i t i s n o t u n d e r s t o o d p o l i t i c a l l y a n d i d e o l o g i c a l l y , t h a t is,
i f w h a t b u r e a u c r a c y i s a n d h o w i t comes i n t o b e i n g , h o w
i t creates its concepts, w h e r e i t has its sources, w h a t
239
objective a n d s u b j e c t i v e f a c t o r s n u r t u r e it, are n o t
understood i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y .
We m a y have reduced the n u m b e r of persons in an
i n s t i t u t i o n f r o m 100 t o 50, b u t t h i s does n o t r i d u s o f
bureaucracy if the 50 w h o r e m a i n do not have a deep
understanding of w h a t bureaucracy is a n d do not fight
a s r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . T h e s a m e t h i n g h o l d s t r u e f o r r e d tape.
There m a y b e f e w e r l e t t e r s w r i t t e n , b u t t h e y m i g h t s t i l l
retain t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c s p i r i t . W e s h o u l d a t t a c h d u e
importance to forms, they p l a y their role and help w h e n
they are good, d o d a m a g e w h e n t h e y a r e b a d , b u t w e
must n e v e r f o r g e t t h a t w h a t counts i s t h e essence o f
the m a t t e r , its i d e o l o g i c a l - p o l i t i c a l m e a n i n g .
Bureaucracy w h i c h develops in concrete forms and
assumes u g l y f e a t u r e s i s i n s p i r e d b y i d e a l i s t concepts
which develop, take various forms in order to serve
feudalism, t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d capitalists, t o d o m i n a t e
the masses, to oppress t h e m , to e x p l o i t t h e m to t h e
m a x i m u m . Therefore, bureaucracy is a f o r m of t h i n k i n g
and a c t i n g i n open o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e i r
v i t a l interests.
H e n c e , b u r e a u c r a c y a n d t h e b u r e a u c r a t s are a n t i popular a n d e n e m i e s o f t h e people. T h e concepts t h a t
f o r m b u r e a u c r a c y a n d t h e b u r e a u c r a t a r e idealist, r e a c tionary, a n t i - r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d a n t i - M a r x i s t . T h e r e f o r e ,
bureaucracy and the bureaucrats are the most e v i l and
wily enemies of a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y w h i c h must
fight t h e m c o n t i n u a l l y , p e r s i s t e n t l y a n d ceaselessly, i n
all their manifestations and, first and foremost, must
smash t h e i r p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l concepts. A t t h e
same t i m e i t m u s t s m a s h the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l o r s t r u c t u r a l
system t h a t t h e y e s t a b l i s h o r s t r i v e t o k e e p a l i v e i n
various f o r m s a n d w a y s .
T h e people, the masses a r e e d u c a t e d a n d l e d i n t w o
w a y s i n t h e w o r l d . W h e r e t h e r e v o l u t i o n has t r i u m p h e d
240
ENVER HOXHA
t h e y a r e educated i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y , w h i l e w h e r e
c a p i t a l d o m i n a t e s , i n a b u r e a u c r a t i c w a y . I n the f o r m e r
t y p e of society, a socialist society, the people are in
p o w e r , the d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t has been e s t a b l i s h e d a n d t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y i s i n p o w e r , the l i n e
o f t h e p a r t y , t h e l i n e o f the masses i s i n force. H e r e
t h e r e i s w i d e a n d g e n u i n e d e m o c r a c y f o r the b r o a d m a s ses, a n d t h e r e i s n o d e m o c r a c y f o r t h e r e a c t i o n a r y m i n o r i t y t h a t has b e e n d e p r i v e d o f a l l p o w e r a s o p p r e s s o r
a n d e n e m y o f t h e masses. I t m u s t b e k e p t u n d e r
p r e s s u r e a n d great v i g i l a n c e , w h i c h m u s t n e v e r b e s l a c k ened, m u s t b e e x e r c i s e d t o w a r d s i t t h r o u g h t h e class
struggle and the dictatorship of the proletariat.
In countries where capital dominates there is democ r a c y f o r t h e capitalists, oppressors, e x p l o i t e r s , w h i l e
t h e r e i s o p p r e s s i o n f o r t h e m a j o r i t y , f o r t h e masses, f o r
the people. T h e r e t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e bourgeoisie, t h e
d i c t a t o r s h i p o f f a s c i s m exists, t h e r e t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c o r d e r
reigns.
T h e r e f o r e , t h e r e are t w o concepts o f l e a d e r s h i p : t h e
b u r e a u c r a t i c a n t i - p o p u l a r concept a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y
p o p u l a r concept. T h e o n e w a g e s a l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e
against the other. W h e r e t h e r e v o l u t i o n t r i u m p h s , b u r e a u c r a c y has lost t h e f i r s t b a t t l e , b u t i t has n o t l a i d
d o w n its w e a p o n s a n d f i g h t s i n o t h e r w a y s w h i c h h a v e
t h e i r s o u r c e i n the t r a d i t i o n s o f f o r m e r regimes, f o r t h e
o l d sins o f w h i c h w e are s t i l l p a y i n g , a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n
t h e m e n t a l i t y , p r e j u d i c e s a n d w o r l d o u t l o o k o f people.
T h e m e n t a l concepts o f b u r e a u c r a c y , t h a t is, its
i d e a l i s t i d e o l o g y are, at t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e concepts of
t h e m i n o r i t y , s u b j e c t i v i s t concepts t h a t d e v e l o p i n i n d i v i d u a l s a n d f o r m t h e i d e o l o g y o f t h e m i n o r i t y class
r u l i n g o v e r t h e m a j o r i t y , concepts w h i c h the m i n o r i t y
does n o t f a i l t o i n c u l c a t e i n t o t h e m i n d s a n d consciousness
of the majority through culture, education, politics, m o r a l
241
a n d p o l i t i c a l d e g e n e r a t i o n , s o t h a t t h e y b e c o m e t h e i r second
nature, a w a y o f l i f e i n t h o u g h t a n d a c t i o n .
Therefore w h e n the revolution triumphs, we should
not t h i n k t h a t e v e r y b o d y gets r i d o f these idealist, s u b jectivist, i n d i v i d u a l i s t t h o u g h t s a n d p r e j u d i c e s i m m e d i a tely, a n d t h a t these d o n o t i n f l u e n c e , d o not i n h i b i t t h e
progress of people, do n o t h i n d e r t h e r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n
o f t h e m a n d t h e i r concepts a n d w o r l d o u t l o o k a n d t h e
r a p i d c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m . N o ! W e m u s t not t h i n k i n
this w a y , f o r t h e n w e w o u l d n o t b e r e a l i s t i c , w o u l d n o t
b e o b j e c t i v e , w o u l d n o t b e o r act l i k e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s .
We destroyed the old bureaucratic regime of the
f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s i e a n d f a s c i s m t o its f o u n d a t i o n s a n d
established the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , t h e r e g i m e
of people's councils. We cannot say that certain m a n i festations o f t h e o l d w a y o f r u n n i n g t h i n g s d i d not r e m a i n
i n one f o r m o r a n o t h e r i n o u r n e w p e o p l e ' s state p o w e r .
I t i s t r u e t h a t d u r i n g these t w o decades o r s o w e h a v e
m o d e r n i z e d a n d d e m o c r a t i z e d o u r people's state p o w e r
and h a v e c o n t i n u a l l y b r o u g h t i t e v e r closer t o t h e m a s ses. B u t w e s t i l l h a v e t o w a g e a c o n t i n u o u s s t r u g g l e
t o m a k e o u r state p o w e r d e m o c r a t i c n o t o n l y i n i t s
f o r m , its s t r u c t u r e , b u t e s p e c i a l l y i n its content. W e m u s t
strive t o m a k e t h e d e m o c r a t i c essence o f o u r state p o w e r
p r e d o m i n a t e , t o m a k e its p r o f o u n d l y p o p u l a r c h a r a c t e r
p r e v a i l , because t h i s w i l l e r a d i c a t e t h e b u r e a u c r a t i c e l e ments l e f t o v e r f r o m t h e past o r r e b o r n i n n e w f o r m s ,
and this d e m o c r a t i c c h a r a c t e r a l o n e is c a p a b l e of p e r f e c t i n g s t r u c t u r e s a n d f o r m s , a n d o f c r e a t i n g the l a w s
w h i c h shape t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h e
state.
In order to fight bureaucracy and the bureaucrats
s u c c e s s f u l l y i t i s necessary t o u n d e r s t a n d t h o r o u g h l y a n d
resolutely a p p l y the directives of the Party, especially
those about « p o w e r b e l o n g i n g to t h e masses», b r i n g i n g it
242
ENVER HOXHA
«as close as possible to t h e masses», a n d e n s u r i n g «a b r o a d
d e m o c r a c y f o r t h e masses», a n d s o o n .
Some comrades t h i n k they understand and apply
these p r i n c i p l e s w e l l , b u t t h e i r p r a c t i c e p r o v e s t h a t t h e
c o n t r a r y i s t r u e . T h e y t h i n k t h e state p o w e r i s d e m o c r a t i c
s i m p l y because t h e r e are elections, a n d t h a t t h i s i s s u f ficient. Elections are held in the bourgeois democracies,
too, a n d t h e r e a r e debates d u r i n g elections i n t h e b o u r g e o i s
democracies. B u t the deputies there, f a r f r o m being m e n
o f t h e people, a l t h o u g h t h e y a r e f o r m a l l y e l e c t e d b y t h e m
in a thousand f r a u d u l e n t ways, are m e n of the bourgeoisie,
i n t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e bourgeoisie, t o p r o t e c t a n d f i l l t h e c o f fers o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s t h r o u g h t h e b l o o d a n d s w e a t o f t h e
people. S u c h d e p u t i e s e n a c t r e p r e s s i v e l a w s i n o r d e r t o
maintain and strengthen an anti-popular, anti-democratic,
bureaucratic regime. This is the regime of the bludgeon
a n d the gallows, of m o r a l and political corruption.
Therefore, our elections a n d theirs are diametrically
o p p o s e d i n p r i n c i p l e , i n content, i n t h e i r a i m s a n d deeds.
O u r s a r e p o p u l a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n essence. T h e d e p u t i e s t o o u r people's c o u n c i l s a n d o u r P e o p l e ' s A s s e m b l y
a r e m e n o f t h e people, l i n k e d w i t h t h e people, e l e c t e d
a n d r e v o c a b l e b y t h e people. T h e y e n a c t r e v o l u t i o n a r y
l a w s i n t h e interests o f t h e p e o p l e a n d t h e y t h e m s e l v e s ,
t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e people, a p p l y t h e s e socialist r e v o l u t i o n a r y laws, ordinances and norms. T h e w i l l of the broad
masses o f t h e p e o p l e i s s o v e r e i g n a n d c a n a n n u l these
l a w s a n d o r d i n a n c e s , i t c a n correct a n d a m e n d t h e m
if it finds t h e m unsuitable, out-of-date or w r o n g .
T h e r o l e a n d duties o f o u r d e p u t y i n t h e people's
d e m o c r a c y a r e n o t c o n f i n e d t o h i s g o i n g once o r t w i c e
a y e a r o n f o r m a l v i s i t s t o contact h i s electors a n d t o
a p p l y the ordinances and decisions bureaucratically in the
p l a c e w h e r e he w o r k s . He is at the same time, the representative and a member of a great mass of the people,
243
who not only implement, but also create, decide, discuss,
criticize, propose and amend. The true struggle against
bureaucratic concepts is based on profound understanding
and proper practical application of these things. Here
lies the great field of the battle between revolutionaries
and bureaucrats, between champions of the masses and
bureaucrats, between heroes and cowards, between those
who strive to link the Party firmly with the popular
masses and those who strive to alienate the Party from
the people.
T h e b u r e a u c r a t s a r e a f r a i d o f t h e masses, t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s are n o t . T h e sense o f f e a r i s a n i n d i v i d u a l
a t t r i b u t e , n o t a n a t t r i b u t e o f t h e masses. I t m a y b e c o m m u n i c a t e d to t h e masses f o r a m o m e n t a n d e v e n create
a t e m p o r a r y p a n i c , b u t t h e masses c a n n o t be i n t i m i d a t e d .
I f w e l o o k b a c k a t t h e great e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e N a tional L i b e r a t i o n W a r we f i n d examples of individuals
who w e r e afraid to take part in the fight, w h o hesitated,
but f i n a l l y c a m e out, j o i n e d t h e v a l i a n t people, lost t h e i r
fear a n d b e c a m e v a l i a n t t h e m s e l v e s . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d ,
w h e n t h e masses w e r e f i g h t i n g h e r o i c a l l y t h e r e w e r e
individuals w h o became t e r r i f i e d a n d deserted the r a n k s
o f the masses. T h u s , t h i s w a s d u e t o s u b j e c t i v e causes i n
the i n d i v i d u a l . S u c h a n i n d i v i d u a l t o o k f r i g h t , because
his n o n - r e v o l u t i o n a r y , bourgeois, p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s , i n d i v i dualistic a n d c o w a r d l y w o r l d outlook impelled h i m i n this
direction.
T h e b u r e a u c r a t i s a c o w a r d , because h i s w o r l d o u t look i s idealist, m y s t i c a l a n d i n d i v i d u a l i s t . T h i s i s t h e
m a i n - s p r i n g o f a l l e v i l s l i k e a r r o g a n c e , s e r v i l i t y , lies, deceit,
etc., a l l o f t h e m t o p r e s e r v e t h e i n d i v i d u a l p o s i t i o n
acquired, to c l i m b in position, to profit in illegal ways
a n d do a t h o u s a n d a n d one c r o o k e d t h i n g s . Of course, a
fault o f t h i s k i n d c a n n o t escape t h e eye o f t h e masses,
cannot resist t h e s t r u g g l e o f t h e masses, t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y
244
ENVER HOXHA
i m p u l s e o f t h e masses, t h e r e f o r e t h e b u r e a u c r a t w i l l d o
his u t t e r m o s t t o dodge e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y n o r m , w i l l
try to make the revolutionary laws and ordinances ineffective, i n o r d e r t o a n n o y t h e masses, t o m a k e t h e m
dissatisfied and, finally, indifferent. He w i l l t r y to t u r n
the state a p p a r a t u s i n t o a c l o s e d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e p r e s sive weapon, to t u r n it into an administration in the
service o f b u r e a u c r a c y i n o r d e r t o i n t i m i d a t e a n d oppress
t h e masses r a t h e r t h a n a n a p p a r a t u s i n t h e s e r v i c e o f
the people a n d against bureaucracy.
W e m u s t seek o u t a n d f i g h t the d a n g e r o u s b u reaucrats w h o strive to raise bureaucracy to a system,
o r t o k e e p its s p i r i t a l i v e , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t
apparatus and in that of the P a r t y , in the management
of economic a n d industrial enterprises and cooperatives,
in the leadership of educational and c u l t u r a l institutions.
T h e b u r e a u c r a t i s a f r a i d o f t h e masses, h e i s a f r a i d
t o w o r k a m o n g t h e masses a n d w h e n h e i s o b l i g e d t o g o
a m o n g the masses, h e w a n t s t o b e v e s t e d w i t h a u t h o r i t y ,
tries t o i m p o s e h i m s e l f o n t h e masses t h r o u g h h i s a u t h o r i t y a n d t h e f u n c t i o n s h e has. I n t h i s h e d i s t o r t s t h e
r e v o l u t i o n a r y , d e m o c r a t i c essence o f t h e state a n d its
l a w s . H e v i o l a t e s d e m o c r a c y , suppresses c r i t i c i s m , w h i l e
a l l e g e d l y u p h o l d i n g «the correctness o f t h e d i r e c t i v e »
o r t h e l a w a n d the a u t h o r i t y o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state.
I n fact h e does t h e opposite. H e d e g r a d e s t h e a u t h o r i t y
o f the P a r t y a n d t h e state a n d , w i t h h i s sinister secret
a n d s o m e t i m e s o p e n aims, h e a l i e n a t e s t h e masses f r o m
the P a r t y . . .
T h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s : H o w m u c h i s the s k i n o f these
i n d i v i d u a l s w o r t h w h e n c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e great r e v o l u t i o n a r y masses o f w o r k e r s a m o n g w h o m t h e y b e h a v e
i n these a n t i - p o p u l a r w a y s ? N o t a p e n n y . W h y d o t h e
masses n o t sweep a w a y these b a d a n d u n s c r u p u l o u s p e o ple? W h o protects them, w h y the delay in exposing
245
t h e m a n d t a k i n g m e a s u r e s against t h e m , w h e n the e v i l
things t h e y d o h a v e l o n g b e e n k n o w n b y the masses a n d
have b e e n p o i n t e d o u t m a n y times, a n d s t i l l t h e y are
a l l o w e d t o c o n t i n u e ? W i t h o u t doubt, i t i s b u r e a u c r a c y ,
routine, f o r m a l i s m a n d c e r t a i n i n d i v i d u a l s o f the a p paratuses t h a t p r o t e c t t h e m . N o b o d y else.
T h e s e b u r e a u c r a t i c o f f i c i a l s w h o i m a g i n e t h a t they
are the t r u e u p h o l d e r s o f p r i n c i p l e s a n d l a w s , a r e a f r a i d
of the v o i c e of t h e masses, of t h e i r c r i t i c i s m . In the
meetings w h i c h a r e h e l d s o m e t i m e s t h e s i t u a t i o n c r e a t e d
i s not v e r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y . N o p e a l o f bells i s h e a r d c h i m i n g there, b u t o n l y « a s i n g l e bell,» a n d w h e n s o m e t h i n g
i s h e a r d t h a t i s n o t i n h a r m o n y w i t h « w h a t has been
decided,» a n a l a r m i s s o u n d e d a n d e f f o r t s are m a d e t o
b r i n g e v e r y t h i n g w i t h i n «the e s t a b l i s h e d n o r m , » w h i c h
i s n o t t h e t r u e n o r m . W h e r e t h e n , a r e the f i e r y debates,
the t h r a s h i n g out o f o p p o s i n g o p i n i o n s w e r e q u i r e , w h e r e
are t h e c o n s t r u c t i v e c r i t i c i s m s s o w e c a n correct i m m a t u r e
a n d w r o n g ideas? N o s u c h t h i n g s c a n e x i s t a t s u c h
m e e t i n g s . I n d e e d , t h e v o i c e of t h e masses is n o t h e a r d
t h e r e a n d , l i k e i t o r not, t h e masses a r e n o t a l l o w e d t o
t h i n k , to c r i t i c i z e , to d e c i d e or to propose. T h u s , a r e s t r a i n t ,
a r e g i m e of r e s t r i c t i o n , f o r m a l i s m a n d b u r e a u c r a c y is
e s t a b l i s h e d u n d e r t h e b a n n e r o f t h e slogans o f the P a r t y ,
u n d e r the b a n n e r o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y
n o r m s o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e people's p o w e r .
Those w h o understand the directive or the l a w in a
b u r e a u c r a t i c w a y cannot c a r r y i t o u t i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y
way. To them, the directive or the l a w is an order f r o m
a b o v e a n d m u s t b e c a r r i e d out b l i n d l y . T h e y d o n o t
t a k e t h e t r o u b l e t o l o o k d e e p l y i n t o t h e o r i g i n o f the
law or directive, into the circumstances that have comp e l l e d t h e l e a d e r s h i p t o issue it. A s a r e s u l t o f s u c h
a s u p e r f i c i a l a n d b u r e a u c r a t i c v i e w o f this p r o b l e m t h e y
a p p l y t h e l a w s a n d d i r e c t i v e s i n a b u r e a u c r a t i c w a y , too.
246
ENVER HOXHA
It is not sufficient just to e x p l a i n the l a w or directive
once o r e v e n t w i c e but, f r o m p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d
o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n a l y s i s of its content, it ought to b e c o m e
a m i g h t y m o b i l i z i n g force. T h e i d e a o f c a r r y i n g out t h e
d i r e c t i v e w i t h o u t r e l y i n g o n t h e masses, w i t h o u t t h i n k i n g
a n d seeing i n p r a c t i c e w h e t h e r t h e masses a p p r o v e i t o r
not, i s f r u i t l e s s . T h e r i g h t t h i n g t o d o i s t o accept a n d
e n c o u r a g e t h e masses t o e x p r e s s t h e i r o p i n i o n s f o r o r
against. T h i s i s t r o u b l e s o m e a n d t h e b u r e a u c r a t i s a f r a i d
o f t r o u b l e s . H e m u s t s a f e g u a r d «the g o o d o p i n i o n » h i s
superiors have created about h i m , he must c u r r y favour
w i t h h i s s u p e r i o r s a n d f o r u m s a n d say t o t h e m : « T h e
d i r e c t i v e y o u h a v e issued i s o n e o f genius, f l a w l e s s , f i t ting a n d popular.»
H o w can a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y be afraid of the
masses, o f t h e i r v o i c e a n d c r i t i c i s m ? A p a r t y w h i c h f e a r s
them cannot be called Marxist-Leninist. However, it is
n e v e r t h e P a r t y t h a t fears t h e m , b u t c e r t a i n i n d i v i d u a l s ,
c e r t a i n m e m b e r s o f t h e P a r t y , c e r t a i n state f u n c t i o n a r i e s ,
I t i s t h e b u r e a u c r a t s t h a t fear t h e masses, those w h o
h i d e u n d e r t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e state t o
suppress the v o i c e o f t h e masses. W e m u s t c r u s h t h e s e
individuals and they must be crushed in a revolutionary
w a y b y t h e P a r t y a n d the masses a t t h e s a m e t i m e .
Comrade communists, comrade workers, are we going
t o a l l o w s u c h persons, d i s g u i s e d w i t h t h e n a m e o f t h e
P a r t y o r t h e i r state f u n c t i o n s t o t r a m p l e u n d e r f o o t t h e
laws of our proletarian revolution, to distort the lifeg i v i n g r e v o l u t i o n a r y n o r m s o f the P a r t y , t o t a r n i s h t h e
dictatorship of the proletariat w i t h bombastic words
w h i c h h i d e e v i l deeds? B y n o m e a n s , f o r t h e n w e w o u l d
h a v e sealed t h e d o o m o f o u r people.
C o m r a d e w o r k e r s , a r e w e g o i n g t o p e r m i t s u c h a state
of a f f a i r s to please a h a n d f u l of s u c h p e r s o n s a n d d a m a g e
t h e great cause o f t h e p e o p l e ? B y n o m e a n s !
247
I s i t i m a g i n a b l e t h a t t h e masses o f t h e p e o p l e l e d
b y our P a r t y , t h a t t h e w o r k i n g class a n d its g l o r i o u s
Party of Labour, could be a f r a i d of a few such corrupt
individuals? Not for one m o m e n t could such a thing be
imagined.
I t s h o u l d n o t b e t h o u g h t , h o w e v e r , t h a t since t h e y
are f e w t h e y c a n d o u s n o h a r m a n d t h e r e f o r e w e s h o u l d
not p u t t h e m i n t h e i r o n v i c e o f t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p t o
straighten t h e m o u t o r get r i d o f t h e m . W e m u s t n e v e r
forget t h e t r a g e d y o f the S o v i e t U n i o n . U n d e r t h e l e a d e r ship o f t h e P a r t y a n d t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e masses o f the
people m u s t a l w a y s b e o n t h e a l e r t i n e v e r y t h i n g , t o
defend t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t , i t s l a w s , its
ideology, its p o l i c y a n d its a c h i e v e m e n t s . T h i s i s t h e o n l y
correct, s o u n d r o a d o f s a l v a t i o n w h i c h o u r P a r t y teaches
u s a n d advises u s a l l , w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , t o f o l l o w t o
the e n d .
T h e r e a r e b u t t w o r o a d s : e i t h e r w i t h the P a r t y a n d
the p e o p l e o r against t h e m . T h e r e f o r e , n o t h i n g s h o u l d
be allowed outside the laws and n o r m s of the P a r t y and
the people, n o t h i n g s h o u l d escape t h e v i g i l a n t eye o f t h e
P a r t y a n d t h e people, n o one s h o u l d b e e x e m p t f r o m
rendering account of his w o r k to the P a r t y a n d the
people, a n d f r o m r e c e i v i n g his deserts f r o m the P a r t y
and t h e p e o p l e . . .
Let us do away w i t h the existing v e r y ridiculous w a l l
bulletins a n d t u r n t h e m into r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a l l bulletins
which w i l l help revolutionary education. Let us do away
w i t h t h e e d i t o r i a l b o a r d s o f these w a l l b u l l e t i n s m a d e
up of opportunist scribblers w h o «uphold the dignity and
authority of the director» a n d of themselves at the same
time, a n d let e v e r y o n e w r i t e w h a t h e t h i n k s a b o u t t h e
w o r k a n d t h e p e o p l e , i n b i g letters a n d w i t h o u t f e a r .
If
T h e y s a y : « W e m u s t p r o t e c t t h e a u t h o r i t y o f cadres.
we do not act in this w a y we w i l l discredit the
248
ENVER HOXHA
cadres.» T h a t m e a n s t h a t those w h o t h i n k l i k e this accept,
i n a d v a n c e , that cadres a r e i n f a l l i b l e a n d the masses e r r
in their judgment. To think in this w a y is a very grave
m i s t a k e , is to t h i n k n o t as a M a r x i s t , n o t as a r e v o l u t i o n a r y . N o b o d y d i s c r e d i t s a c a d r e w h o w o r k s w e l l . O n the
c o n t r a r y , e v e r y b o d y loves a n d p r o t e c t s h i m . B u t w h a t e v i l
i s t h e r e a n d w h a t n o r m s are v i o l a t e d w h e n t h e
masses
openly criticize the cadre w h o makes a mistake? N o t h i n g
but g o o d comes o f it. W h y s h o u l d w e suppress o r d i s c o u r age c r i t i c i s m f r o m b e l o w u n d e r the p r e t e x t o f « p r o t e c t i n g
t h e p r e s t i g e o f cadres»? W h a t e v i l comes t o the P a r t y
f r o m s u c h a t h i n g ? M a n y e v i l s c o m e i f w e act w r o n g l y .
T h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e P a r t y a m o n g t h e masses declines,
w e c o r r u p t the P a r t y , w e k e e p u n w o r t h y e l e m e n t s i n the
P a r t y and protect them, and educate the P a r t y badly.
W e sometimes hesitate t o t a k e m e a s u r e s
against
e x p e r i e n c e d c a d r e s w h o h a v e b e e n i n the P a r t y a l o n g
t i m e . T h i s i s a g r e a t m i s t a k e w h e n t h i s c a d r e m a k e s one
o r t w o m i s t a k e s . I n s u c h cases w e s h o u l d see t h a t
a
good m e t h o d o f w o r k a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r y c o n d u c t are n o t
a l w a y s l i n k e d w i t h the ability of the cadre, but m o r e
e s p e c i a l l y w i t h his p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l w o r l d o u t l o o k .
T h e r e f o r e , t h e e d u c a t i o n o f t h e cadres a n d p e o p l e i n
the revolutionary spirit is a major, permanent duty,
because success o r f a i l u r e o f t h e s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u cracy and the bureaucrats and their correction, depend
o n w h e t h e r t h e w o r k d o n e i n this d i r e c t i o n i s g o o d
or bad.
I f w e subject t h e b u r e a u c r a t s t o close s c r u t i n y
we
s h a l l see t h a t t h e y d o n o t s t u d y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y
as they should and subjectivism predominates in
their
w o r k . T h e y are v e r y touchy about their opinions. T h e y are
m e g a l o m a n i a c s a n d s e r v i l e a t the same t i m e , m e g a l o m a n i a c s
t o w a r d s t h e masses a n d s e r v i l e t o w a r d s t h e i r s u p e r i o r s .
Bureaucrats cover up their ignorance w i t h bombastic
249
words a n d p h r a s e s . T h e y use t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y h a v e
stayed a l o n g t i m e i n one p o s i t i o n w i t h o u t b e i n g s h i f t e d
as individual, personal capital. T h e y arrive at the idea
that t h e y h a v e b e c o m e u n t o u c h a b l e , i r r e p l a c e a b l e , t h i n k
they h a v e c r e a t e d a n a d e q u a t e o p i n i o n o f t h e i r « a b i l i t y »
r o u n d a b o u t t h e m a n d see n o d a n g e r o f b e i n g d e m o t e d ,
t r a n s f e r r e d , etc. T h e y t h i n k o n l y o f b e i n g p r o m o t e d a n d
work towards that goal.
A l l t h i s n o n - r e v o l u t i o n a r y state o f m i n d creates
a m o n g t h e m « a sense o f s t a b i l i t y i n t h e soft seat
they
have o c c u p i e d » , « a c e r t a i n t y o f t h e i r o w n i n f a l l i b i l i t y i n
their w o r k » a n d o f «the p e r f e c t i o n o f t h e i r m e t h o d a n d
style o f w o r k » , w h i c h has b r o u g h t a b o u t t h i s state o f
affairs, a n d t h u s t h e y d e v e l o p a w a y o f t h i n k i n g a n d
l i v i n g i n t h e f a m i l y a n d society o f a n e w b o u r g e o i s i e
w i t h i n o u r people's d e m o c r a c y . T h i s i s v e r y d a n g e r o u s .
If we do not e x t i r p a t e these v i e w s of the b u r e a u c r a t , he
w i l l spread t h e m f r o m his position of authority
and
infect others w i t h t h e m .
T h u s , i n a d d i t i o n t o e d u c a t i n g t h e cadres a n d t h e
masses i n g e n e r a l , i d e o l o g i c a l l y a n d p o l i t i c a l l y , i n a d dition to the m a n y forms of fighting manifestations of
bureaucracy, I think we should study more seriously and
a p p l y a f u r t h e r correct c i r c u l a t i o n of cadres, since
we
have cadres w h o h a v e b e e n m o u l d e r i n g i n the same p l a c e
for more t h a n 10 to 15 years and who, w i l l y - n i l l y , have
a s s u m e d c e r t a i n of t h e f e a t u r e s I m e n t i o n e d above. T h e i r
r e p l a c e m e n t w i t h t h e p e o p l e f r o m the base w i l l b e good
for t h e P a r t y a n d the state a t t h e top, a n d b e b e n e f i c i a l
f o r t h e base a n d f o r t h e p e r s o n s w h o g o f r o m h i g h e r
to l o w e r ranks. N a t u r a l l y , a l l the latter w i l l not be overe n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t g o i n g , b u t w e can b e c e r t a i n t h a t w e
are d o i n g t h e r i g h t t h i n g , because i n t h i s w a y w e c o m b a t
the n o n - r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i e w s w h i c h h a v e b e e n m a n i fested i n these people. W e s h a l l c u r e t h e m .
250
ENVER HOXHA
A w o r k e r or cooperativist is not greatly concerned
w h e n h e changes h i s j o b . H e i s n e v e r a f r a i d o f w o r k
or life in general. He is used to difficulties, he earns his
daily bread a n y w h e r e w i t h the sweat o f his brow.
An
i n t e l l e c t u a l o r o f f i c e w o r k e r , o n t h e other h a n d , f i n d s i t
d i f f i c u l t t o m o v e f o r m a n y r e a s o n s : f i r s t , because h e has
created a v i e w of superiority
of the «intellect»
and
«officialdom»
a n d , second,
the question of pay,
the
question of financial treatment. These two views w h i c h
are not manifested among the w o r k e r s and
peasants,
must be combated among the intellectuals and officials.
K n o w l e d g e , science a n d w i s d o m a r e n o t t h e a t t r i b u t e s
of only a certain f e w w h o have «special brains» or «special
v i r t u e s » , w h o a l o n e a r e a b l e t o t e a c h a n d issue o r d e r s f o r
o t h e r s t o o b e y . I t i s t h e b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e w h o
create, w h o b u i l d a n d t r a n s f o r m t h e w o r l d a n d society
a n d w h e n t h e y d o this, i t m e a n s t h a t t h e y p l a c e e v e r y
m e r i t , w i t h o u t b e l i t t l i n g t h e m e r i t o f e a c h o n e seperately,
in the service of society as a w h o l e . T h e r e f o r e , t h e m e r i t
belongs t o t h e masses w h o w o r k , t h i n k , create,
apply,
t h i n k a n d create a g a i n .
T h e r e f o r e , w e m u s t c o m b a t t h e t h i n k i n g o f those
w h o possess some degree o f k n o w l e d g e , b u t w h o
utilize
i t t o i m p o s e t h e m s e l v e s o n t h e masses, since t h i s i s b o u r geois, r e a c t i o n a r y t h i n k i n g , j u s t a s b o u r g e o i s a n d r e a c t i o n a r y a s t h e t h i n k i n g o f « o f f i c i a l d o m » , i n t h e sense t h a t
i t hides t h e b a d i n t e n t i o n s o f the p e r s o n , h i s a n t i - M a r x i s t ,
anti-revolutionary bureaucratic w o r l d outlook and activity.
T h e w o r k e r a n d peasant a r e w e l l a w a r e t h a t t h e i r
i n c o m e i s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e i r w o r k , w i t h t h e i r sweat,
w h i l e a f u n c t i o n a r y connects h i s s a l a r y b o t h w i t h h i s w o r k
a n d w i t h his post. T h e r e f o r e , w h e t h e r h e goes t o t h e base
w i l l i n g l y o r not, d e p e n d s o n w h e t h e r o r n o t h e i s d e m oted, w h e t h e r o r n o t h i s s a l a r y a n d «rank» a r e r e d u c e d .
O f course, i t w o u l d n o t b e r i g h t t o g i v e p e r s o n a l s a l a r i e s
251
t o those w h o g o f r o m h i g h e r t o l o w e r l e v e l s f o r r e a s o n s
o f w o r k . B u t , i n the g e n e r a l interest, w e s h o u l d p r o c e e d
with still greater courage towards n a r r o w i n g the gap
between t h e w a g e s o f w o r k e r s a n d t h e s a l a r i e s o f officials, a n d a m o n g t h e v a r i o u s categories o f o f f i c i a l s .
This is a c o r r e c t M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course. It is l i k e wise M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h a t t h i s m e a s u r e s h o u l d b e a c c o m panied w i t h the creation of economic abundance.
F r o m a l l these t h i n g s , t h e P a r t y i s f a c e d w i t h m a j o r
tasks t o f u r t h e r r e v o l u t i o n i z e its w o r k .
T h e great s u c cesses w e h a v e a c h i e v e d i n o u r p a r t y w o r k m u s t n o t
m a k e u s d i z z y a n d close o u r eyes t o t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s
a n d w e a k n e s s e s w h i c h e x i s t a n d are n o t t o b e n e g l e c t e d .
It w o u l d do us great damage if we failed to go further
w i t h a n d f e a r l e s s l y a p p l y t h e l i n e o f t h e masses, t r u e
democracy of the masses, if we failed
to go more
deeply into and apply the norms of the Party, d e m o c r a tic a n d n o n - b u r e a u c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m , b o l s h e v i k c r i t i c i s m a n d
self-criticism, proletarian discipline and proletarian morality,
correctly, i n a r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a y . a n d t h r o u g h t o the e n d .
We w i l l strengthen our P a r t y by proceeding along this
correct course, s o t h a t o u r P a r t y , s o c i a l i s m a n d o u r p e o p l e
m a y n e v e r h a v e a n y headache, heartache, n o r b o d i l y p a i n .
W e h a v e a l l t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r this, because o u r P a r t y
i s strong, t e m p e r e d a n d has great r e v o l u t i o n a r y e x p e r i e n c e ,
because w e h a v e courageous, h e r o i c p a r t y m e m b e r s a n d
a marvellous people closely l i n k e d w i t h the P a r t y .
Works, vol. 35
REFLECTIONS ON THE CULTURAL REVOLUTION.
ANARCHY CANNOT BE COMBATED WITH ANARCHY
A p r i l 28, 1967
O f course, f r o m l a c k o f facts w e m a y b e m i s t a k e n ,
because i n this q u e s t i o n , w h i c h i s s u c h a m a j o r one a n d
a t the s a m e t i m e s o c o m p l i c a t e d , i t i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t h a t
w e d o n o t f i n d a c o n t i n u i t y i n t h e r e p o r t i n g o f facts
by the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of C h i n a .
The official Chinese press and first of all the newspaper «Renmin Ribao», which is the organ of the Central
Committee, reflects this uncertainty, it guards against
expressing its real opinion and the analysis of events.
Therefore, in place of these things, it writes mostly to
prove that «Mao's ideas have always been and are
correct», that «Mao has understood everything correctly, he foresees everything correctly, and everyone should
follow the teachings of Mao», w h i c h a r e g i v e n t h r o u g h
quotations and have been filling the newspapers and
c o v e r i n g the w a l l s , people's bodies a n d t h i n g s f o r the
last y e a r . I t seems t h a t t h e C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s e x p l a i n
e v e n t s a s i f t h e y a r e t h e o u t c o m e o f the ideas o f M a o ,
a n d t h u s every article, every note, is directed to convincing
people that Mao is a «genius», instead of explaining
concretely what is occurring in reality. T h i s is a serious
shortcoming in the presentation of things.
It seems to me, however, that this is not accidental.
It respresents a chaotic situation and a method of work
and struggle unsuitable for putting things in order. I
REFLECTIONS ON THE CHINESE REVOLUTION
253
think, and perhaps I am wrong, that the Cultural Revolution was begun without clear perspectives, the course on
which it was to proceed was not defined, and neither
the expected nor the unexpected things were foreseen. I
think that the general staff of the revolution did not
exist. They went into the revolution without the party.
W h a t b e c a m e o f t h e p a r t y ? W h e r e i s the p a r t y ? W h o
led the party? A c c o r d i n g to information, the p a r t y w a s
not i n t h e h a n d s o f M a o , o t h e r s w e r e m a n o e u v r i n g i t .
Hence, the party, as a Marxist-Leninist party, did not
come out in revolution and did not lead the revolution.
A f e w c o m m u n i s t cadres, w i t h M a o a t t h e h e a d , l e d
this r e v o l u t i o n , b u t n o t as a p a r t y .
T h e «Red G u a r d s » rose i n revolution, b u t this w a s
not t h e p a r t y , n o r t h e c o m m u n i s t y o u t h o r g a n i z a t i o n ,
n o r t h e t r a d e - u n i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n , n o r t h e w o r k i n g class.
This i s a g r e a t m i n u s f r o m t h e a n g l e o f p r i n c i p l e a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e « R e d G u a r d s » rose i n r e v o l u t i o n , b u t w h a t
was i t t o do, w h a t r o a d w a s i t t o f o l l o w ? I h a v e t h e
impression that this thing was not clear at the start or
even l a t e r . T h e « R e d G u a r d s » w a s o r d e r e d t o d e m o n s t r a t e
its s t r e n g t h , i t s l o y a l t y t o t h e i d e a s o f M a o , t o e x p o s e
the r e v i s i o n i s t s , a n d t o seize p o w e r f r o m t h e m .
Hence, the main question was the question of state
power. To struggle to seize the power implies that someone else is holding this power and is not relinquishing it,
therefore you must rise in revolution. Thus, as it turns
out, they rose in the revolution to take power without
the party at the head, or to put it better, the party had
power, but the party was not on the right road.
W a s t h e p a r t y o n t h e r i g h t r o a d o r n o t ? I f not, t h e n
i t s h o u l d b e c l e a r l y s t a t e d w h y , w h a t the m i s t a k e s c o n sisted of, w h o h a d m a d e these m i s t a k e s , a n d h o w t h e y h a d
to be corrected. If the p a r t y w a s on the right road, w h y
did it not lead the r e v o l u t i o n in fact? If the revisionists
254
ENVER HOXHA
a r e t h e m i n o r i t y , t h e n w h y does t h e p a r t y n o t e l i m i n a t e
t h e m immediately, a n d especially n o w that the r e v o l u t i o n
is being carried out?
T h e s e t h i n g s a r e n o t clear, a r e l e f t o b s c u r e ; p e r h a p s
the revolution w i l l resolve t h e m and m a k e them clear.
I think that the revolution is the most serious thing
that can be undertaken, and it does not permit spontaneity, lack of iron discipline, vacillations on principles,
anarchy, or confusion. A l l these things, which should not
be allowed, we find in the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
Not only have these things not come to an end, but, the
way they are going, they will continue for a long time
to the detriment of the revolution and socialism in China.
I f i t does n o t s t r i k e d o w n the leaders o f t h e b e t r a y a l ,
o r a t least m e n t i o n t h e m b y n a m e , t h e r e v o l u t i o n i s n o t r e v olution.
But let us take the question of the unmasking. Is this
being done correctly, and who is leading it? It is a fact
that the party is not doing this, it is not working as an
organized force within certain limits, it is paralyzed, if
not destroyed. The «Red Guards» is carrying out
this
exposure through dazibaos. T h e «Red G u a r d s » a n d a l l
«those w h o a r e m a k i n g t h e r e v o l u t i o n » s a y w h a t e v e r t h e y
want, abuse a n d discredit w h o e v e r they want.
In a
w o r d , it is not the p a r t y as a party w h i c h is leading
a l l these a c t i v i t i e s ,
but M a o is leading them w i t h a
series o f c o m r a d e s w h o m i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o c o n t r o l
all
over that great C h i n a , where, effectively, there is no party,
a n d w h e r e t h e e n e m y has been w o r k i n g i n t e n s i v e l y f o r
t e n s of y e a r s . T h e existing anarchy cannot be combated
with anarchy.
I think that the great mistake of Mao and the other
comrades lies in the fact that they are not handling the
«question of the party», the question of the line and the
cadres of the party correctly. In my o p i n i o n , t h e q u e s t i o n
255
should be presented in this w a y : H a s the p a r t y
made
mistakes d u r i n g s e v e n t e e n y e a r s o r has i t n o t ?
Naturally, the Communist Party of China has made
serious mistakes. Somebody led it on to a wrong road and
the party was not able to see where they were leading
it. Hence, together with a few individuals, many others
have made mistakes, too. It is essential that the party
analyse its incorrect line and correct it first of all. If the
party does not see its mistake, the mistake cannot be
corrected. Questions are not put forward in this way
in China, and the party is treated in an off-hand manner.
The problem arises: W h o is right and w h o is w r o n g ?
«Have L i u S h a o q i a n d D e n g X i a o p i n g made mistakes»,
and M a o n o t ? O f course, some p e o p l e t h e r e h a v e
been
w r o n g , a n d these a r e t h e g a n g o f L i u S h a o q i . H o w e v e r ,
together w i t h L i u a n d D e n g X i a o p i n g , the whole party
has gone wrong, hence even Mao himself, who has allowed
the party to go wrong. In t h a t case, the p a r t y has
to
analyse a n d assess t h i s w h o l e s i t u a t i o n , a n d t a k e the
necessary m e a s u r e s . I n fact, t h e p a r t y has b e e n p u s h e d
aside, a n d o t h e r s — t h e y o u t h , the « R e d G u a r d s » , h a v e been
a l l o w e d t o c r i t i c i z e t h e p a r t y f r o m outside, not t h e p a r t y
d i r e c t l y , b u t people, e v e r y w h e r e w i t h o u t
discrimination.
Individuals ought to be criticized, even w i t h dazibaos; but
is there, or is t h e r e n o t a p a r t y w h i c h leads, sanctions,
says: « T h i s is good, or t h i s is b a d ? » S u c h a t h i n g has
not b e e n seen f o r a w h o l e y e a r .
W h o is left in the Communist P a r t y of C h i n a w h o
has not m a d e m i s t a k e s ? A p p a r e n t l y , M a o w i t h t w o
or
three others. T h e n h o w w i l l this w o r k b e done, w i t h a l l
this m a s s o f m i s l e a d c a d r e s w h o h a v e m a d e m i s t a k e s ,
perhaps u n w i t t i n g l y , f o r y e a r s o n e n d ? W i l l t h e y r e l y o n
these, separate t h e w h e a t f r o m t h e chaff, a n d b u i l d t h e
party to w o r k normally, in a revolutionary w a y ? This is
256
ENVER HOXHA
not y e t clear, s i n c e t h e f i n a l l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e t r a i t o r
g r o u p o f L i u a n d D e n g i s s t i l l not c o m i n g t o a n e n d .
I t seems t o m e t h a t m a n y cadres h a v e b e e n e x p o s e d
a n d r e h a b i l i t a t e d i n a n i n c o r r e c t w a y . T h e p a r t y d i d not
meet t o m a k e a n a n a l y s i s o f t h e w o r k a n d j u d g e t h e
cadres one b y one, t o f a c e t h e m w i t h t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ,
to mention their names in dazibaos w h e n the occasion
w a r r a n t e d . C h e n Y i , f o r e x a m p l e , i s subject t o g r a v e accusations i n dazibaos. B u t h e i s d e f e n d e d b y M a o
and
leads the M i n i s t r y o f F o r e i g n A f f a i r s . T h i s i s n o t s e r i o u s
w o r k , n o r i s i t o n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l r o a d o f t h e p a r t y , but
there are m i l l i o n s of cadres in this position.
These things can hardly be put in order with
an
article about «The Treatment of Cadres», or «Down with
Anarchy!», because these voices do not catch the ear of
the party as a party, as an organized detachment of
the class. The party is in confusion, they are keeping it
in confusion, and justify this by saying, «the revolution
is being carried out». Without the party there is no
genuine revolution, without the party the revolution will
be lame, will run into serious, unexpected difficulties.
W h y d o n ' t t h e y b e g i n w i t h the s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f
t h e p a r t y a t t h e base, i f i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o a c h i e v e t h i s a t t h e
centre? W h y are t h e y t r y i n g t o p u t things i n order f r o m
above o n l y ? It is clear that the comrades are not relying
o n the p a r t y a s a n o r g a n i z e d o r a r e - o r g a n i z e d p a r t y
after the shake-up. T h e y are only appointing committees,
l i k e that of B e i j i n g (which changed three times, a n d
d e s p i t e this t h e y h a i l e d i t a s a n event o f m a j o r i n t e r national significance).
As I see it (and m a y b e I am w r o n g , because we a r e
s t i l l i n t h e d a r k a b o u t m a n y i n t e r n a l facts o f t h e i r p a r t y ) ,
the C h i n e s e c o m r a d e s have a pronounced dose of liberalism
and opportunism in their activities. Naturally, this is very
harmful. T h e s e t e n d e n c i e s c a n n o t b e e i t h e r n e w o r a c -
257
cidental. T h e f a c t t h a t f o r s e v e n t e e n y e a r s t w o l i n e s
have b e e n o b s e r v e d i n t h e i r p a r t y a n d h a v e c o - e x i s t e d
w i t h o u t a great d e a l of f r i c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m (recently,
i t has been a l l e g e d t h a t t h e r e w a s f r i c t i o n , a l t h o u g h t h e y
seem so a d j u s t e d to e a c h other, t h a t t h e y a p p e a r to be
a single w h o l e ) , p r o v e s t h e s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t i c o p p o r t u n i s m
in their line.
Y o u c a n n o t e x c u s e a m i s t a k e or, t o p u t i t better,
fail to a p p l y a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
line in
the correct
manner, by i n v o k i n g t h e s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s of C h i n a . It
is essential that Marxism-Leninism is applied in an
undogmatic way in China and everywhere else. The laws
of the revolution, of the class struggle, of the nature
and role of the Marxist-Leninist party cannot be manipulated as you wish, under the pretext of an allegedly
«flexible policy», or of the need for «fair compromises»
dictated
by the circumstances. If
principles are
not
adhered to, the alliance and compromises take a wrong
course, and endanger the line, the party, and the proper
progress of the revolution.
T h e fact i s t h a t t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a has
gone o n f o r tens o f y e a r s o n e n d t o l e r a t i n g t w o l i n e s i n
its r a n k s . If it proceeds from the principle that two active
lines are necessary in the party, then the party cannot
be a Marxist-Leninist party. E v e n w i t h i n t h e p a r t y a
class s t r u g g l e m u s t be w a g e d , i n d e e d a s t e r n s t r u g g l e ,
to totally liquidate the anti-party, a n t i - M a r x i s t faction as
quickly as possible. We h a v e not seen such a struggle
i n the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a , e v e n w h e n s o m e l e a ders ( w h o h a v e n o t been alone) h a v e b e e n c o n d e m n e d
as factionalists. On the contrary, they have remained not
only i n t h e p a r t y , b u t e v e n i n t h e m a i n l e a d e r s h i p .
E v e n n o w , i n the f a c e o f t h i s g r a v e s i t u a t i o n , w i t h
the r e v o l u t i o n b e i n g w a g e d t o seize p o w e r f r o m t h e h a n d s
of the r e v i s i o n i s t s , we see t h a t same sort of d i l e t t a n t i s m ,
258
ENVER HOXHA
soft-heartedness, s l o w n e s s t o act a n d l i b e r a l i s m t o w a r d s
a n t i - p a r t y e l e m e n t s o p p o s e d t o t h e w o r k i n g class. W e see
that the iron discipline, w h i c h ought to exist in the p a r t y
a n d i n the r e v o l u t i o n , i s l a c k i n g ; w e d o n o t see its d e m o c r a t i c c e n t r a l i s m a s c l e a r a s i t s h o u l d be, e s p e c i a l l y i n
r e v o l u t i o n a r y times, w e d o h o t see the t r u e a u t h o r i t y o f
a leader, w h i c h is essential, or e v e n t h e a u t h o r i t y of a
w h o l e c o l l e c t i v e l e a d e r s h i p i n the c e n t r e a n d i n the p r o vinces w h i c h is indispensable at any time, and especially
a t t h e t i m e w h e n the r e v o l u t i o n i s b e i n g w a g e d .
It is a mistake of catastrophic proportions to leave the
party in the dark and to oppose the masses to it, to put
the leadership of the party, the true collective leadership,
under the uncontrolled, undirected fire of the
broad
masses, or the «red guards» who are inspired in a spontaneous and irregular manner. S u c h
l a x i t y cannot
be
j u s t i f i e d w i t h t h e slogan o f t h e « p o l i c y o f t h e masses».
T h e party, organized on correct organizational principles,
w i t h a clear political and ideological line, w i t h M a r x i s t Leninist centralism and iron discipline, must guide the
p o l i c y of t h e masses. We have had the idea, because this
was the impression given, that all these correct norms
and principles existed in the Communist Party of
China.
O f course, t h e g r o u p o f L i u S h a o q i h a d d i s t o r t e d the
principles and norms of the party, or had put them in
t h e s e r v i c e o f a hostile, a n t i - M a r x i s t a n d a n t i - c l a s s a i m .
B u t to f a i l to wage a stern, persistent and continuous
s t r u g g l e w i t h i n t h e p a r t y , a n d not o n l y i n t h e r e a d e r s h i p ,
i n o r d e r t o e l a b o r a t e a n d a p p l y the l i n e f r o m class p o s i tions,
from
Marxist-Leninist
positions,
from
party
positions, is a colossal m i s t a k e . N o t h i n g c a n e x c u s e t h i s .
T h i s p r o v e s t h a t t h e l i n e has n o t b e e n c l e a r t o a l l .
I t i s a great m i s t a k e t o c o n t i n u e not t o t e l l the p a r t y
w h e r e it has gone w r o n g . It is told s i m p l y that all the
259
mistakes h a v e b e e n m a d e b y t h e g r o u p o f L i u a n d
Deng. T h i s i s one aspect, b u t t h e w h o l e p a r t y has w o r k e d
o n this l i n e a n d has b e e n w r o n g . T o t r y t o m a k e t h e p a r t y
conscious o f its m i s t a k e s t h r o u g h t h e m i s t a k e s a n d b e t r a y a l
of L i u and Deng, in the w a y that this has been
done
f r o m outside, w i t h i s o l a t e d , d i s o r g a n i z e d d a z i b a o s , i s n o t
i n order, i s n o t f r u i t f u l , w i l l n o t t e m p e r t h e p a r t y p r o p e r l y
in the course or recognizing a n d correcting its mistakes,
and w i l l h a v e f u r t h e r b i t t e r consequences w h e n
the
p a r t y is r e o r g a n i z e d .
A p a r t f r o m a series o f n o n - M a r x i s t stands, s u c h
a s the r a i s i n g o f t h e c u l t o f M a o t o t h e n a t i o n a l a n d
i n t e r n a t i o n a l l e v e l , the Chinese propaganda is acting in
the same way with the Proletarian Cultural Revolution,
calling it «as great as, if not greater than, the work of
Marx and the October Revolution» (1), etc. This is baseless
and vain boasting. A c c o r d i n g to the C h i n e s e p r o p a g a n d a ,
a l l o f u s h a v e t o g o t h r o u g h this p h a s e o f t h e i r s , because
their C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n i s u n i v e r s a l ! T h i s i s n o t so,
and c a n n o t be so. If a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , w h i c h h a s
taken p o w e r a n d i s b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m f a l l s i n t o s u c h
a deep sleep t h a t t h e n e w r e v i s i o n i s t b o u r g e o i s i e a n d t h e
suppressed
capitalist
classes
have almost
recaptured
power, a s i s t h e case i n C h i n a a t present, t h e n p o w e r
must b e r e t a k e n , t h e r e v o l u t i o n m u s t b e c a r r i e d out
again a n d i t c a n b e c a l l e d p r o l e t a r i a n o n l y i f t h e o b j e c tives w h i c h i t sets a n d a t t a i n s a n d t h e w a y i t i s c a r r i e d
________________________________
1 Proceeding f r o m the most recent data and facts C o m r a d e
Enver H o x h a writes i n his subsequent analysis: « . . . T h e Great
Proletarian C u l t u r a l R e v o l u t i o n was neither a revolution, nor
great, nor c u l t u r a l , and in particular, not in the least proletarian. It was a palace putsch on an a l l - C h i n a scale for the
liquidation of a h a n d f u l of reactionaries w h o had seized power.»
(Enver H o x h a , «Imperialism and the Revolution», p. 392, T i r a n a
1979, A l b . ed.).
260
ENVER HOXHA
out
a r e c o n s i s t e n t l y o n t h e basis o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m .
A Marxist-Leninist party like ours, which is building
socialism correctly, which wages the class struggle effectively and not just with words, which is deepening
the proletarian revolution with success, cannot proceed on
the road the Chinese advocate. The road of our
party is revolutionary, consistent and Marxist-Leninist.
A Marxist-Leninist party like ours builds
socialism,
deepens the revolution, but does not carry out revolution
like that which is going on in China today, because our
party has not allowed and does not allow anyone to take
power from it, but holds it firmly in its steel grip and
there will never be any danger of accidents if it always
proceeds resolutely and vigilantly, as it is proceeding, on
the Marxist-Leninist road.
«Reflections on China»,
vol. 1
ON SOME ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM OF THE
ALBANIAN WOMAN
Speech delivered to the 2nd Plenum (1) of the
CC of the PLA
June 15, 1967
Comrades,
C o n c l u d i n g the first item on o u r agenda, I w i s h to
express some o p i n i o n s o n t h i s p r o b l e m .
O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s g i v e n v e r y great i m p o r t a n c e
t o the p r o b l e m o f w o m e n , t h i s e x c e p t i o n a l l y b i g social
p r o b l e m w i t h w h i c h t h e d e s t i n y o f o u r people, s o c i a l i s m
and c o m m u n i s m a n d t h e f u t u r e o f o u r c o u n t r y are l i n k e d .
The p r o b l e m s o f w o m e n a r e n o t p e c u l i a r , i n the sense
o f specific, s e p a r a t e a n d i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e o t h e r p r o b l e m s
o f society, a r e n o t e a s i l y s o l v e d p r o b l e m s t h a t c a n b e
taken l i g h t l y , or, e v e n w o r s e , i g n o r e d . T h e p r o b l e m o f
w o m e n is n o t j u s t a p r o b l e m of s e n t i m e n t s a n d , hence,
to be t r e a t e d in a s e n t i m e n t a l a n d r o m a n t i c w a y . It is a
______________________________
1 It was held on J u n e 15-16, 1367. w h e r e the report of
the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u of the C e n t r a l Committee of the P a r t y
«On the F u r t h e r Deepening of the Struggle for the Complete
Emancipation of the W o m a n and the Enhancement of H e r R o l e
in Socialist Society» a n d the report « O n the Results A c h i e v e d
and Measures to Be T a k e n for the Spread of A d v a n c e d E x perience and Scientific E x p e r i m e n t a t i o n i n A g r i c u l t u r e » , w e r e
heard.
262
ENVER HOXHA
m a j o r p r o b l e m of life, of the dialectical materialist devel o p m e n t o f the h i s t o r y o f m a n k i n d .
That is w h y M a r x , Engels, L e n i n and Stalin and all
their disciples have given first-rate importance to the
problem of women, to their liberation and emancipation,
to t h e f o r m a t i o n of t h e i r p e r s o n a l i t y in a f r e e society,
w i t h o u t oppressors a n d e x p l o i t e r s .
F a r f r o m ever neglecting or u n d e r r a t i n g the p r o b l e m
o f t h e A l b a n i a n w o m a n , o u r P a r t y , t h r o u g h o u t its w h o l e
s t r u g g l e a n d i n e v e r y aspect o f its struggle, has t a k e n
s p e c i a l care t o stress, a n d n o t i n a s e n t i m e n t a l w a y , t h e
great r o l e o f w o m e n , b o t h i n t h e w a r f o r l i b e r a t i o n ( 2 )
and in the struggle f o r the construction of socialism. T h i s
o u r P a r t y has done w i t h f u l l M a r x i s t m a t u r i t y , a n d ,
t a k i n g account o f t h e obstacles t h a t i t w o u l d m e e t a t
e v e r y step o n its w a y (and a t t h e s a m e t i m e , p u t t i n g
f o r w a r d the unshakeable principle that in the struggle to
l i b e r a t e t h e p e o p l e f r o m e v e r y k i n d o f bondage, the e m a n cipation of the A l b a n i a n w o m a n was urgent and a condit i o n o f f i r s t - r a t e i m p o r t a n c e ) , i t a c h i e v e d m a j o r successes
w h i c h we are adding a n d deepening d a y by day. T h a t is
w h y t h i s s p e c i a l session o f t h e p l e n u m o f t h e C e n t r a l
Committee on the problems of the A l b a n i a n w o m a n in
o u r socialist r e g i m e assumes great i m p o r t a n c e .
V e r y careful study of social phenomena as they
develop, of the relations of people in production, of the
d e v e l o p m e n t a n d a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e n e w ideas o u r P a r t y
inspires, of t h e state of classes in o u r society at d i f f e r e n t
stages a n d the c h a n g e s t h e y u n d e r g o d u r i n g t h i s c o n t i n u o u s
process, a l l t h i s i s o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e
P a r t y , because i t c o n f i r m s t h e a c c u r a c y o f p r i n c i p l e s ,
___________________________
2
ration
active
food,
S i x thousand out of 70,000 fighters in the N a t i o n a l L i b e W a r w e r e w o m e n . Tens of thousands of others took an
part in w o r k in the rear, p r o c u r i n g clothing and footwear,
etc. for the partisans.
THE PROBLEM OF THE ALBANIAN WOMAN
263
enriches t h e t h e o r y o f s o c i a l i s m w i t h p r a c t i c e , gives t h e
P a r t y great o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o m a k e g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s a n d
carry these g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s t o t h e masses, a n d t h i s w i l l
create n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s , n e w s i t u a t i o n s , n e w v a l u e s ,
which w i l l ensure uninterrupted development and progress.
S o c i a l i s m i s t h e w o r k o f t h e P a r t y a n d o f t h e masses,
therefore, its d i r e c t i v e s c a n n o t b e u n d e r s t o o d a n d a p p l i e d
unless w e k n o w a n d p r e p a r e the t e r r a i n i n w h i c h t h e y a r e
to take root a n d be transformed into objective reality.
Correct a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y depends,
first a n d f o r e m o s t , o n h o w c o r r e c t l y a n d t h o r o u g h l y t h e y
are u n d e r s t o o d b y t h e masses. T h e r e f o r e , t h e masses m u s t
b e able, o r r a t h e r , w e m u s t m a k e t h e m able, t o u n d e r s t a n d
them t h o r o u g h l y . T h i s d e p e n d s o n t h e l e v e l o f t h e p o l i t i c a l ,
ideological a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l w o r k o f t h e P a r t y , a n d f o r
this w o r k t o b e done w e l l , i t i s a b s o l u t e l y necessary t o
do what I said above: to become w e l l acquainted w i t h
the t e r r a i n b y s t u d y i n g t h e s o c i a l p r o b l e m s .
I t h i n k t h i s is a j o b f o r a l l a n d n o t o n l y f o r a f e w
specialists i n p h i l o s o p h y , s o c i a l p r o b l e m s o r p o l i t i c a l e c o n omy, o r o n l y f o r w r i t e r s , d r a m a t i s t s o r artists, e i t h e r .
F i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t , t h i s is a p a r t y m a t t e r , a m a t t e r of
the line, a m a t t e r w i t h o u t w h i c h the w o r k o f t h e P a r t y
can m a k e no h e a d w a y , a n d as a consequence, t h e w r i t e r s ,
the scholars a n d t h e artists c a n n o t b e i n s p i r e d p r o p e r l y ,
m a k e p r o f o u n d studies, o r t u r n o u t w o r k s o f socialist
r e a l i s m a n d o f M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t science.
H e n c e , t h i s i s h o w w e m u s t act i n r e g a r d t o t h e social
problems of the countryside a n d the city, h o w we must
act i n r e g a r d t o t h e s p e c i f i c p r o b l e m s o f t h e y o u t h ; a n d
w e m u s t act i n t h e s a m e w a y i n r e g a r d t o t h e m a j o r
social p r o b l e m o f w o m e n a n d t h e f a m i l y , w h i c h w e a r e
concerned w i t h t o d a y a t t h i s p l e n u m o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m mittee.
264
ENVER HOXHA
O u r proletarian revolution led by our M a r x i s t - L e n i n ist P a r t y h a d t o o v e r t h r o w t h e o l d f e u d a l a n d b o u r g e o i s
system as it did, a n d foil both the attempt to implant
f a s c i s m i n o u r c o u n t r y t h r o u g h t h e I t a l i a n fascist a n d
G e r m a n nazi occupation, and to establish their organs of
power and their superstructure. O u r proletarian revolution
h a d t o establish, a n d u n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f o u r M a r x i s t Leninist P a r t y d i d establish, develop and enrich, the soc i a l i s t s y s t e m , the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d its
n e w p r o l e t a r i a n o r g a n s a n d b u i l d a g e n u i n e socialist s u p e r s t r u c t u r e b a s e d on, i n s p i r e d , g u i d e d a n d e n r i c h e d b y
t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y a n d socialist p r a c t i c e .
I n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h i s great r e v o l u t i o n a r y u p h e a v a l ,
w h e n the o l d w o r l d was smashed and the beautiful, new
socialist w o r l d w a s b u i l t o n its r u i n s , t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f the
A l b a n i a n w o m e n , half the population of our country, w h i c h
i s o f i n c a l c u l a b l e i m p o r t a n c e t o the f u t u r e o f o u r H o m e land and socialism, was effected.
T h r o u g h the economic and social revolution, through
the destruction of the economic and political p o w e r of
the f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s i e , t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n c r e a t e d
the true terrain and suitable conditions for the liberation
o f the people, a n d e s p e c i a l l y t h e A l b a n i a n w o m a n , f r o m
exploitation of m a n by man.
O u r socialist s o c i e t y i s i n the process o f d e v e l o p m e n t ;
great q u a l i t a t i v e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s a r e t a k i n g p l a c e a m o n g
u s t h r o u g h o u r people's r e v o l u t i o n . T h e s e q u a l i t a t i v e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s are b a s e d o n t h e m a t e r i a l i s t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n
o f o u r society a n d h a v e c r e a t e d a n d a r e c r e a t i n g n e w
social ideas a n d t h e o r i e s w h i c h c o m b a t t h e o l d ones a n d
r e p l a c e t h e m . T h e n e w ideas are a great f o r c e r e p r e s e n t i n g
t h e changes o f t h e m a t e r i a l l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d lead
it f o r w a r d to progress.
I t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t these n e w ideas a r e e x p l a i n e d a n d
u n d e r s t o o d , f o r o u r society cannot d o w i t h o u t t h e m . I t
265
needs these ideas, f o r t h e y m o b i l i z e a n d o r g a n i z e the
masses a g a i n s t o l d , i d e a l i s t , m y s t i c a l b o u r g e o i s ideas a n d
prejudices w h i c h the o l d society has left to us as o u r
worst h e r i t a g e .
The P a r t y is opening the w a y to the progressive
forces o f society, o n e o f w h i c h i s t h e w o m e n . T h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t ideas o f o u r P a r t y r e f l e c t t h e o b j e c t i v e n e e d f o r
the f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e m a t e r i a l a n d m o r a l l i f e
of our society. H e n c e , it is c l e a r l y e s s e n t i a l t h a t t h e
A l b a n i a n w o m a n must be freed f r o m a l l the shackles of
the past, f r o m e v e r y r e a c t i o n a r y i d e a , o p i n i o n , o r p r e j u d i c e ,
w h i c h has its roots i n t h e m e n t a l i t y o f t h e o l d f e u d a l bourgeois society. T h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n w o m a n
must b e g u i d e d b y t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y o f t h e
economic d e v e l o p m e n t o f society, b y t h e l a w s o f t h e
d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n . F r o m t h i s a n g l e w e see h o w
urgent becomes t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n i n p r o d u c t i o n ,
how c o r r e c t l y a n d q u i c k l y t h e P a r t y m u s t a r r a n g e t h e i r
new relations in production. The economic development
of socialism is at w a r w i t h the m o r a l and material backwardness of w o m e n . T h e l a w of materialist dialectics
operates here, too, as it does in e v e r y t h i n g .
Therefore, the tasks w h i c h the P a r t y is raising concerning the p r o b l e m of w o m e n f u l l y c o n f o r m to the m a t e r i a l
conditions o f t h e c o u n t r y c r e a t e d b y t h e P a r t y .
T h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e people's socialist c o m m o n
property both in industry and in agriculture, in place of
the f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s p r o p e r t y , a n d t h e a p p r o p r i a t e r e v olutionary laws that organize, govern, e n r i c h a n d consolidate i t i n t h e interests o f a l l t h e w o r k i n g masses,
have b r o u g h t a b o u t a g r a d u a l p r o g r e s s i v e c h a n g e i n t h e
m i n d s o f m e n r e g a r d i n g t h e concept o f p r o p e r t y , f r o m t h a t
of private property to that of common property.
Thus, through intensive ideological and political educational w o r k d o n e b y t h e P a r t y a l w a y s i n a n o r g a n i z e d
266
ENVER HOXHA
w a y , based o n t h e m a t e r i a l changes, t h e o l d , b o u r g e o i s ,
idealist concepts o n these f u n d a m e n t a l p r o b l e m s o f o u r
e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l l i f e h a v e b e g u n t o change. I t i s clear,
o f course, t h a t these changes h a v e not e n d e d , t h a t t h e y are
a n d w i l l a l w a y s b e i n t h e process o f d i a l e c t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t .
T h e o l d , w h i c h i s d y i n g , w i l l a l w a y s b e i n s t r u g g l e against
the n e w , W h i c h e m e r g e s a n d g r o w s s t r o n g e r . W e s t i l l h a v e
a great d e a l to do a n d a h a r d b a t t l e to f i g h t against
r e a c t i o n a r y i d e a l i s t concepts w h i c h l u r k i n t h e m i n d s , c o n sciousness a n d f e e l i n g s o f m e n , w h i c h a r e m a n i f e s t e d i n
l i f e a n d o p e r a t e w i t h g r e a t e r o r lesser v i r u l e n c e , but
w h i c h a l w a y s h i n d e r progress. M a r x says i n o n e o f h i s
w o r k s t h a t a l l the p r e j u d i c e s o f a l l t h e d e a d h a n g l i k e a
great i n c u b u s o v e r t h e l i v i n g . S u c h i s t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e
past.
H e r e i n lies t h e i m p o r t a n c e t h e P a r t y i s a t t a c h i n g t o
the p r o b l e m o f t h e f u r t h e r r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n o f itself a n d
the w h o l e people, because o n l y i n t h i s w a y w i l l w e g a i n
a m o r e correct a n d p r o f o u n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the t r a n s formations of material and spiritual life we are bringing
about, w i l l w e g a i n a m o r e correct a n d m o r e p r o f o u n d
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e l a w s t h a t g o v e r n these e c o n o m i c
and social transformations in socialism, a n d w i l l we be
able to master t h e m better and m o r e effectively in order
t o b u i l d s o c i a l i s m m o r e q u i c k l y a n d o n steel f o u n d a t i o n s
a n d go on to c o m m u n i s m .
Excuse me for deviating a little f r o m the topic we are
d e a l i n g w i t h , b u t I a m d o i n g this p r e c i s e l y t o l e a d i n t o
t h e t h e m e . T h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s t e m w i t h its s a c r e d p r i v a t e
p r o p e r t y , its e x p l o i t a t i o n o f m a n b y m a n , its e c o n o m i c
and spiritual enslavement of m a n , has weighed heavily on
a l l , but e s p e c i a l l y a n d m o r e b a r b a r o u s l y o n w o m e n .
W o m e n w e r e t h e f i r s t slaves, e v e n b e f o r e s l a v e r y i n the
h i s t o r y o f m a n k i n d . T h r o u g h o u t t h i s h i s t o r y , n o t t o speak
o f p r e - h i s t o r y , w h e t h e r i n t h e p e r i o d o f the H e l l e n i c c i v i l i -
267
zation, i n t h e R o m a n e p o c h , i n t h e M i d d l e A g e s , i n the
epoch o f t h e R e n a i s s a n c e , o r i n m o d e r n t i m e s , t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y b o u r g e o i s e p o c h o f so-called « r e f i n e d c i v i l i z a tion», w o m e n h a v e b e e n a n d are t h e h u m a n beings most
enslaved, o p p r e s s e d , e x p l o i t e d a n d h u m i l i a t e d i n a l l respects. T h e l a w s , customs, r e l i g i o n , t h e m a s c u l i n e sex h a v e
oppressed t h e m , k e p t t h e m d o w n - t r o d d e n .
«...The
first
class
antagonism
which
history,»
says E n g e l s «coincides with
ment of the antagonism
between man
in monogamous marriage, and the first
sion with that of the female sex by the
appears
in
the
developand woman
class oppresmale.»*
« I f o u n d w o m a n m o r e b i t t e r t h a n death,» says t h e
Ecclesiastes, w h i l e St. J o h n C h r y s o s t o m h o l d s a n o t h e r o p i n i o n a b o u t w o m e n . H e s a y s : « A m o n g the w i l d e s t beasts
y o u c a n n o t f i n d one m o r e h a r m f u l t h a n w o m a n . »
St. Thomas Aquinas, the theologian and philosopher
who was one of the most p r o m i n e n t philosophers of
mediaeval obscurantism, held the opinion and prophesied
that «the d e s t i n y o f w o m a n i s t o l i v e u n d e r t h e h e e l o f
man», a n d f i n a l l y , t o cap these b a r b a r o u s q u o t a t i o n s ,
N a p o l e o n s a i d , « n a t u r e has m a d e w o m e n o u r slaves.»
S u c h w e r e the views of the c h u r c h a n d the bourgeoisie o n w o m e n . A m o n g t h e b o u r g e o i s i e t h e y p r e v a i l t o
this d a y . I n E u r o p e a n d t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d t h e r e are
innumerable philosophers and writers w h o have made
a m y t h o f the s u p e r i o r i t y o f m e n o v e r w o m e n . F o r t h e m
m a n i s s t r o n g , w a r l i k e , courageous, a n d hence w i s e r , t h e r e fore, p r e d e s t i n e d t o d o m i n a t e , t o l e a d , w h e r e a s w o m a n ,
for h e r p a r t , i s w e a k , defenceless a n d t i m i d b y n a t u r e ,
therefore, she m u s t b e d o m i n a t e d a n d l e d . B o u r g e o i s
___________________________
* K. M a r x , F. Engels, Selected Works, v o l . 2, p. 234, T i r a n a
1975 (Alb. ed.).
268
ENVER HOXHA
theoreticians l i k e Nietzsche a n d F r e u d likewise uphold
the theory that the male is active w h i l e the female is
passive. T h i s r e a c t i o n a r y , a n t i - s c i e n t i f i c t h e o r y m u s t l e a d ,
as it d i d , to n a z i s m in politics a n d to sadism in sexology.
O u r mothers, grandmothers a n d great-grandmothers
h a v e s u f f e r e d u n d e r this d r e a d f u l s l a v e r y , h a v e b o r n e these
physical and spiritual cruelties on their o w n backs. N o w ,
w h e n the revolution has triumphed, w h e n socialism is
b e i n g b u i l t s u c c e s s f u l l y i n o u r c o u n t r y , t h e P a r t y sets
b e f o r e us as a m a j o r task, one of t h e greatest tasks, the
c o m p l e t e a n d f i n a l l i b e r a t i o n o f w o m e n f r o m a l l t h e fetters
o f t h e b i t t e r past, t h e c o m p l e t e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f the
Albanian women.
M a r x i s m teaches u s t h a t t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n f r o m c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n are
t h e t w o phases o f t h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n . T h r o u g h
war and revolution, our Party, w h i c h follows and faithf u l l y applies the principles of M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , liberated
the people and the w o m e n in particular f r o m capitalist
exploitation and engaged t h e m in production.
H e n c e , w e c a n s a y t h a t b y c o m p l e t i n g these t w o
phases, b y c o m p l e t e l y e r a d i c a t i n g c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n
and by vigorously developing the participation of women
i n p r o d u c t i o n , w e h a v e a c h i e v e d m a j o r successes i n t h e i r
emancipation w h i c h must be further developed and
deepened. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i r p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e v e r y
f r u i t f u l w o r k o f p r o d u c t i o n , w o m e n , w h o a r e a col o s s a l p r o g r e s s i v e force, a r e p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e great
educational and cultural revolution, breaking d o w n every
b a r r i c a d e , o v e r c o m i n g e v e r y obstacle a n d p r e j u d i c e , d i s p l a y i n g t h e i r c r e a t i v e , p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l force, t h e i r
s p i r i t u a l a n d m o r a l i n t e g r i t y i n e v e r y f i e l d ; t h e y are
taking a m o r e and m o r e active part in governing the
country, in managing industry, agriculture, education and
c u l t u r e . L e n i n ' s d i r e c t i v e t h a t « e v e r y cook m u s t b e t a u g h t
269
t o r u n the state» i s b e i n g a p p l i e d s u c c e s s f u l l y , d a y b y d a y
by our P a r t y .
T h e r e f o r e , the P a r t y m u s t t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d the
problem o f t h e m a s s p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n i n p r o d u c t i o n ,
i n r u n n i n g t h e e c o n o m y a n d a f f a i r s o f t h e state, i n a c q u i r ing l e a r n i n g a n d c u l t u r e , seeing this, not o n l y a s a n i m p o r tant, p r o g r e s s i v e e c o n o m i c factor, w h i c h it is, b u t at
the same t i m e as a f a c t o r of m a j o r i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l
and c u l t u r a l i m p o r t a n c e . W i t h o u t t h e a w a k e n i n g o f
women, w i t h o u t t h e i r a c t i v e a n d conscious p a r t i c i p a t i o n ,
nothing c a n b e d o n e p r o p e r l y a n d a s i t s h o u l d .
P e o p l e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h o r o u g h l y , once a n d f o r a l l ,
that t h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n , t h e s u p p o r t a n d assistance w e s h o u l d g i v e t h e m t o t a k e t h e p l a c e t h e y d e s e r v e
in socialist society m u s t not be c o n s i d e r e d as a b o o n b u t
as an i m p e r a t i v e d u t y , m u s t n o t be c o n s i d e r e d as an act
of k i n d n e s s of t h e s o - c a l l e d « s t r o n g e r » s e x t o w a r d s t h e
so-called « w e a k e r » sex, or as some k i n d of concession,
a s a n y g i v i n g w a y t o w o m e n b y m e n w h o are a l l e g e d l y
superior a s r e g a r d s t h e i r i n t e l l e c t a n d p h y s i c a l s t r u c t u r e
and p r e d i s p o s e d t o l e a d a n d c o m m a n d . H e n c e , p e o p l e
must a p p l y t h i s t e a c h i n g o f t h e P a r t y , n o t j u s t because
the P a r t y s a i d so, b u t t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e
ideological, p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c reasons t h a t p r o m p t e d
the P a r t y t o i n s i s t s o s t r o n g l y o n t h i s m a j o r p r o b l e m .
I r e - e m p h a s i z e these t h i n g s because m a n y p a r t y c o m rades u n d e r s t a n d t h e m o n l y s u p e r f i c i a l l y , w h i l e o t h e r s
d o not u n d e r s t a n d t h e m a t a l l o r u n d e r s t a n d t h e m w r o n g ly. L e t u s t a k e t h e p r o b l e m o f t h e a d m i s s i o n o f w o m e n
to p a r t y m e m b e r s h i p . S o m e p r o g r e s s has b e e n a n d is
being m a d e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , b u t s t i l l t h e p r i n c i p l e d i m portance of t h i s m a t t e r is n o t u n d e r s t o o d as t h o r o u g h l y
a s i t s h o u l d be. T h e f a c t i s t h a t t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a jority o f p a r t y m e m b e r s a r e m e n . W h y i s t h i s so, p a r t i c u l a r l y after L i b e r a t i o n ? I t h i n k t h a t t h i s stems f r o m t h e
270
ENVER HOXHA
ideological unclarity of party members about the role of
w o m e n i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n , i n s o c i a l i s m , f r o m those b a c k w a r d feudal-bourgeois views l u r k i n g in the m i n d s of
c o m m u n i s t s o n t h e supposed s u p e r i o r i t y o f m e n o v e r
w o m e n , i n p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l capacities, f r o m the v i e w s
1 p o i n t e d o u t above w h i c h are, of course, a t t e n u a t e d , b u t
s t i l l exist, t h a t m e n o u g h t t o r u n t h e state a n d b e i n
charge, t h e r e f o r e , t h e y s h o u l d p r e c e d e w o m e n i n t h e
P a r t y . W e m u s t f i g h t a n d e r a d i c a t e these e r r o n e o u s v i e w s ,
must understand the danger of them and put w o m e n and
men on absolutely equal footing for admission to the
P a r t y . A d m i s s i o n o f b o t h sexes m u s t b e g u i d e d b y t h e
same c o n d i t i o n s a n d r u l e s of the C o n s t i t u t i o n of the
P a r t y but, first of all, by the ideology of the Party,
w h i c h r u n s t h r o u g h e v e r y w o r d o f its C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d
a c t i v i t y . T h i s i s the c r u x o f the p r o b l e m .
W o m e n m u s t r e a l l y f e e l t h a t t h e y arc m e m b e r s o f
their own Party, that they give leadership through their
o w n P a r l y , t h a t t h e y t a k e p a r t a c t i v e l y i n w o r k i n g out
the l a w s o f t h e i r o w n P a r t y a n d t h a t t h e y c a r r y out a n d
supervise them through their active revolutionary p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n life, i n p r o d u c t i o n a n d i n m a n a g e m e n t .
T h e great p r o b l e m o f the c o m p l e t e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f
w o m e n i s i n c o n c e i v a b l e a n d cannot b e a t t a i n e d w i t h o u t
the active p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n i t o f w o m e n t h e m s e l v e s ,
not o n l y i n p r a c t i c e , i n c a r r y i n g i t out. b u t also i n l e a d i n g
t h i s great w o r k , w h i c h constitutes one o f t h e d e c i s i v e
factors i n t h e f o r m a t i o n a n d t e m p e r i n g o f the n e w s o c i a l ist m a n . i n c r e a t i n g t h e most a p p r o p r i a t e c o n d i t i o n s f o r
the n e w g e n e r a t i o n s t h a t w i l l p e r p e t u a t e s o c i a l i s m a n d
communism.
L e t u s t a k e the o p p o r t u n i t y o f t h i s v e r y f r u i t f u l
discussion w e are h a v i n g a t t h i s p l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l
Committee on this very important problem, to delve
deeper i n t o a n d c l a r i f y t h i s p r o b l e m f r o m the p h i l o s o p h i -
271
cal a n d i d e o l o g i c a l aspects, on the basis of the i m m o r t a l t e a c h ings o f o u r classics a n d the o b j e c t i v e r e a l i t y o f o u r society.
One of the m a j o r scientific deductions of M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m i s t h a t w h i c h says t h a t the e n s l a v e m e n t o f
w o m e n i s l i n k e d w i t h the a p p e a r a n c e o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y .
This m a j o r t h e o r e t i c a l d e d u c t i o n i s f o u n d i n E n g e l s '
famous b o o k « T h e O r i g i n o f t h e F a m i l y , P r i v a t e P r o p e r t y
and the State». I n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d these p r o b l e m s
p r o p e r l y f r o m the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r e t i c a l p h i l o s o p h i cal aspects, i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d the d i a l e c t i c a l m a t e r ialist d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r A l b a n i a n society i n t h e past a n d
a t present p r o p e r l y , i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d i n t e r p r e t
correctly t h e p h e n o m e n a o f l i f e w h i c h a r e d e v e l o p i n g
r a p i d l y b e f o r e o u r eyes a n d t o d e f i n e t h e l i n e t h a t m u s t
b e p u r s u e d t o b u i l d t h e n e w l i f e i n a correct M a r x i s t Leninist way, every communist must m a k e efforts to
study t h i s book, or selected p a r t s of it, w h i c h , if they
d o not e x i s t , w e m u s t p r e p a r e i n a b r i d g e d f o r m s o that
everybody can understand them.
If we carefully study Father Shtjefën Gjeçovi's (3) w o r k
«The C a n o n o f L e k D u k a g j i n i » , a n d e s p e c i a l l y the c h a p t e r s
o n p r o p e r t y , i n h e r i t a n c e , the f a m i l y , w o m e n a n d m a r r i a g e ,
w e s h a l l r e c o g n i z e i n o u r o w n r e a l i t y t h e great t r u t h
and g e n i u s o f E n g e l s . W e s h a l l see h o w p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y
keeps t h e w o m a n i n t e r r i b l e s l a v e r y , h o w , i n r e a l i t y ,
she is t u r n e d i n t o a s i m p l e possession t h a t c a n be b o u g h t
or sold. It says c o n c r e t e l y :
_______________________________
3 Shtjefën K o s t a n d i n Gjeçovi (1874-1929), a patriotic, p r o gressive and anti-Zogite clergyman, w h o is k n o w n as the first
Albanian archaeologist and ethnographer, and collector of «The
Canon of L e k ë D u k a g j i n i » , one of the most valuable documents
of the history of the A l b a n i a n canon right. He was assassinated
by the Great-Serb chauvinists on October 14, 1929, in K o s o v a .
The People's Assembly of the P S R A has decorated h i m for his
valuable contribution to A l b a n i a n science and his patriotic
activity.
ENVER HOXHA
272
« T h e h u s b a n d i s e n t i t l e d t o beat h i s w i f e , t o b i n d h e r
i n c h a i n s w h e n she d e f i e s h i s w o r d a n d o r d e r . . . W h e r e a s
t h e f a t h e r i s e n t i t l e d t o beat, c h a i n , i m p r i s o n , a n d k i l l h i s
s o n o r d a u g h t e r . . . I t i s t h e d u t y o f t h e w i f e t o o b e y her
h u s b a n d . . . A w o m a n ' s b l o o d is w o r t h 500 grosh*,» etc.
O f course, w e a r e c e n t u r i e s r e m o v e d f r o m t h e i n t e g r a l
application of «The Canon of Lekë Dukagjini». Likewise,
we are far removed f r o m the period in w h i c h Father
G j e ç o v i collected a n d r e c o r d e d it. B u t t h i s does n o t m e a n
t h a t its s p i r i t a n d r o u t i n e d o n o t e x i s t t o some e x t e n t , o f
c o u r s e not s o c l e a r - c u t a s i n t h e past, i n m a n y o f t h e
c u s t o m s w e e n c o u n t e r , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e social l i f e o f
our m o u n t a i n regions.
T h e trouble w i t h our P a r t y i n the N o r t h and w i t h
o u r scholars o f s o c i a l t h e o r y i n g e n e r a l i s t h a t t h e y h a v e
n o t t u r n e d t h e i r a t t e n t i o n a s t h e y s h o u l d t o t h e social
r e a l i t y a n d its d e v e l o p m e n t i n these r e g i o n s , n o r h a v e
they taken the trouble to study Father Shtjefën G j e çovi's w o r k , w h i c h has h i s t o r i c a l a n d social i m p o r t a n c e .
A s t u d y of t h i s w o r k w i l l h e l p o u r scholars to m a k e a
good d i a g n o s i s o f t h e e x i s t i n g state o f social r e l a t i o n s i n
t h e N o r t h , i n o r d e r t o see t h e i r r a d i c a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n ,
their evolution, a n d to strengthen o u r ideological, o r g a nizational and propaganda work.
C o l o s s a l changes h a v e been m a d e i n the social l i f e o f
o u r c o u n t r y , i n t h e social a n d p r i v a t e r e l a t i o n s o f t h e
people as w e l l as in their philosophical world-outlook,
and not only by comparison w i t h the laws of the C a n o n
collected by Gjeçovi, not only by comparison w i t h the t i m e
o f Zog's f e u d a l - b o u r g e o i s r e g i m e . A l l these changes m a k e
it incumbent upon us to re-examine our C i v i l Code which,
a l t h o u g h i t has been d r a w n u p d u r i n g o a r state p o w e r , h a s
______________________
* Old Turkish coin
273
many c h a p t e r s a n d a r t i c l e s w h i c h , i f seen i n t h e l i g h t o f
the g r e a t r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s o u r P a r t y i s
b r i n g i n g about, m a y h a v e b e c o m e obsolete.
Let us take, precisely, the question of private property, t h e source o f s o m a n y e v i l s . T h e P a r t y i s o v e r t h r o w ing it, d e s t r o y i n g i t t o its f o u n d a t i o n s , m a t e r i a l l y a n d
t h e o r e t i c a l l y ; i t i s n o l o n g e r t h e m a t e r i a l basis o f o u r
socialist o r d e r , w h i c h i s f o u n d e d o n t h e c o m m o n o w n e r ship o f t h e m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n . I n l i n e w i t h o u r m a t e r ialist p h i l o s o p h y , w e a r e n o w i n t h e process o f o v e r t h r o w ing p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y a l o n g w i t h its w h o l e s u p e r s t r u c t u r e
and p h i l o s o p h y , a n d r e p l a c i n g t h e m w i t h o u r o w n s u p e r structure, w i t h o u r o w n m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y . H e r e i n ,
especially, lies t h e s o u r c e o f o u r success i n t h e p r o b l e m
w h i c h interests u s t o d a y a t t h i s p l e n u m , t h e p r o b l e m o f
the c o m p l e t e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n .
B u t w e m u s t n o t c o n s i d e r t h e q u e s t i o n o f the e l i m i n a tion o f p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y a s t o t a l l y a c h i e v e d p h y s i c a l l y
and m u c h less i d e o l o g i c a l l y . M a r x s a y s :
«Private property
has made us so foolish
and
narrow-minded that a thing is not ours if we do
not possess it, i.e., if it does not exist for us as capital,
if we are not in immediate possession of it, if
we do not eat it, drink it, wear it...»*
A n d M a r x continues:
«Therefore,
all
physical
and
moral
sentiments
were replaced, through a simple deterioration of all
these sentiments, by the sense of ownership. » **
________________________________
* K. M a r x , F. Engels, « O n L i t e r a t u r e and A r t » , v o l . 1,
p. 188, T i r a n a 1976 (Alb. ed.).
** Ibidem.
ENVER HOXHA
274
It is p r e c i s e l y this t e r r a i n o c c u p i e d by the feelings
and sentiments of private, personal ownership, w h i c h
M a r x r e f e r s to, t h a t w e h a v e n o t y e t c l e a n e d u p , a n d
to do t h i s j o b we m u s t w a g e a b i g , p r o t r a c t e d i d e o l o g i c a l
a n d p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e i n o r d e r t o c a t c h u p w i t h the m a t e r i a l
reforms in the physical transformation of property and
m a n y other m a t t e r s .
O u r p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n l e d b y the P a r l y has
created a l l the m a t e r i a l a n d m o r a l c o n d i t i o n s i n o u r c o u n t r y t o e n a b l e t h e r e m n a n t s o f idealist i d e o l o g y t o b e
c l e a n e d f r o m the consciousness of the people t h r o u g h a
c o n t i n u o u s d i a l e c t i c a l r e v o l u t i o n a r y s t r u g g l e o f opposites.
T h e task devolves on us to carry the revolution cont i n u o u s l y ahead, t o create a n d s t r e n g t h e n t h e n e w w o r l d o u t l o o k i n t h e m i n d s a n d consciousness o f people, w h o
should live and think like revolutionaries, w h o should
e x p l a i n the p h e n o m e n a o f l i f e , d e v e l o p a n d settle r e l a t i o n s
a m o n g t h e m s e l v e s , b e t w e e n t h e m s e l v e s a n d society, n o
longer in the old way, no longer according to the idealist,
r e l i g i o u s , b o u r g e o i s outlook, b u t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m a t e r ialist, atheist, socialist w o r l d - o u t l o o k . I n t h i s f i e l d , i n
a d d i t i o n t o the m a t e r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist
society, the P a r t y w i l l h a v e t o w a g e a great s t r u g g l e f o r
a l o n g t i m e f o r t h e m o r a l d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r society on
the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t course.
O u r P a r t y has n o t left the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t e d u c a t i o n
o f o u r people t o s p o n t a n e i t y a n d w i l l n e v e r d o so. B u t i f
it is n o t to be left to s p o n t a n e i t y t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n of
the e d u c a t i o n o f the P a r t y a n d o f t h e masses m u s t b e
strengthened and it must be made more profound.
Everything
we
construct,
transform,
create,
is
done
according to M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t laws, nothing is done contrary to the objective laws
of nature
and
society.
But
e v e r y t h i n g m u s t b e e x p l a i n e d a n d u n d e r s t o o d , f o r i t has
275
its o l d aspect w h i c h i s c o l l a p s i n g , d y i n g , a n d its n e w
aspect w h i c h i s b o r n a n d w a x e s s t r o n g . B u t t h e o l d dies
hard, a n d p r e c i s e l y because o f this, the n e w i s b o r n w i t h
toil a n d s t r u g g l e . T o e n a b l e the n e w t o g r o w u p q u i c k l y
and h e a l t h y , o f course, w e h a v e t o c l e a r l y e x p l a i n t h e
laws o f its d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t h e l a w s o f its h i n d r a n c e ,
a s y o u m i g h t say, because o n l y i n t h i s w a y does e d u c a tion b e c o m e c o m p l e t e .
O n t h e q u e s t i o n o f the p r o b l e m s o f w o m e n , a s the
Report of the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u submitted by C o m r a d e
Ramiz A l i a and the valuable contributions of the comrades b r o u g h t o u t v e r y w e l l , w e m u s t t a k e s p e c i f i c
m a t e r i a l o r g a n i z a t i o n a l m e a s u r e s i n the d i r e c t i o n s d e f i n e d
i n t h e R e p o r t , m e a s u r e s w h i c h , a l t h o u g h t h e y l o o k specific,
are c o m p o n e n t p a r t s o f t h e o v e r a l l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d c o n solidation o f t h e socialist e c o n o m y , because t h e y create
further conditions for the more extensive participation
of w o m e n in production, lighten their burden of household
chores, a n d are b y n o m e a n s w i t h o u t e f f e c t i n a l l fields.
On the contrary, they help to combat the petty-bourgeois
ideological h a n g - o v e r s w h i c h s t i l l k e e p w o m e n i n a k i n d
of b o n d a g e or state of i n f e r i o r i t y to m e n .
I f w e s t u d y t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r society, a n d not
only ours, c a r e f u l l y , w e s h a l l f i n d t h a t i t has become
a deep-rooted h a b i t of t h e w o m e n t h e m s e l v e s to consider
their i n f e r i o r i t y t o m e n s o m e t h i n g r i g h t ,
something
e n t i r e l y n a t u r a l . T h i s c o m m o n i d e a i s the r e s u l t o f
the social c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h h a v e s h a p e d t h e l i v e s a n d
t h i n k i n g o f o u r m o t h e r s a n d sisters. W e m u s t s t r i v e t o d o
a w a y w i t h t h i s c o m m o n i d e a , because w e a r e c h a n g i n g o u r
social c o n d i t i o n s . O n e of the a i m s of these social changes,
w h i c h o u r p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n i s b r i n g i n g about,
i s t o d o a w a y w i t h the a n t a g o n i s m b e t w e e n the sexes, t h a t
is, t h e s u b j u g a t i o n o f w o m e n t o m e n .
T h e a n t a g o n i s m of sexes, E n g e l s teaches us, c a n be
276
ENVER HOXHA
c o n s i d e r e d as t h e f i r s t m a n i f e s t a t i o n of the class s t r u g g l e
in the history of m a n k i n d .
J u s t a s i t does a w a y w i t h c a p i t a l i s m , t h e b o u r g e o i s i e
a n d its ideology, j u s t a s i t does a w a y w i t h e x p l o i t a t i o n
o f m a n b y m a n a n d leads m a n k i n d t o a classless society, t h e
p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n also does a w a y w i t h t h i s a n t a g o n i s m
b e t w e e n sexes. I t does t h i s b y l i b e r a t i n g w o m e n c o m pletely f r o m anything that hinders them f r o m enjoying
equal freedoms and rights w i t h men.
M a r r i a g e is a v e r y important event in the l i f e of
m a n , w i t h w h i c h m a n y b a c k w a r d customs are connected,
customs which, even though they no longer exist in
o u r c o u n t r y i n s o a c u t e a f o r m a s i n t h e past, s t i l l p e r petuate some v e r y burdensome traditions.
E n g e l s says t h a t m a r r i a g e b a s e d o n l o v e i s m o r a l , a n d
o n l y w h e r e l o v e lasts i s t h e r e m a r r i a g e .
I n o u r socialist society w e s h o u l d b e g u i d e d b y this
p r i n c i p l e i n this m a j o r e v e n t i n t h e l i f e o f m a n . . .
Frequently, if not always, love is stigmatized as
s o m e t h i n g a m o r a l « w h i c h leads w o m e n t o p r o s t i t u t i o n
a n d m e n t o degeneracy». T h e s e a r e e r r o n e o u s concepts. I f
t h e r e i s one t h i n g w h i c h has n o t h i n g a t a l l t o d o w i t h
prostitution, it is genuine love. T h e r e is no love in p r o stitution.
F o r t u n a t e l y o u r c o u n t r y has n o t b e e n a f f l i c t e d w i t h
t h e t e r r i b l e p l a g u e o f p r o s t i t u t i o n , t h e slightest t e n d e n c y
towards w h i c h we must fight and w h i c h might appear as a
result of a w r o n g a n t i - M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t approach to the
question of love and marriage, of our failure to fight, both
i n p r a c t i c e a n d i n t h e o r y , against b o u r g e o i s a n d idealist
v i e w s a n d p r a c t i c e s o n this m a t t e r .
O u r c o u n t r y has k n o w n m a r r i a g e s t h r o u g h v i o l e n c e ,
the enslavement and torture of w o m e n u n d e r the polyg a m o u s l a w s o f t h e S h e r i a t , i t has k n o w n t h e l a w s o f
C a t h o l i c i s m , o f the V a t i c a n , w h i c h n o t o n l y e n s l a v e d a n d
277
degraded w o m e n , b u t a l s o s a v a g e l y t o r t u r e d t h e m s p i r i t u a l l y . T h e s e g r e g a t i o n o f t h e state f r o m t h e c h u r c h ,
the e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e C i v i l C o d e , t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a tion W a r a n d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m h a v e b r o u g h t
about t h a t i n o u r c o u n t r y t h e l a w does n o t r e c o g n i z e
any m a r r i a g e o t h e r t h a n t h a t c o n t r a c t e d w i t h t h e c o m pletely f r e e w i l l a n d d e s i r e o f b o t h t h e b r i d e a n d b r i degroom b e f o r e t h e state r e g i s t r a r , d o i n g a w a y f o r e v e r
w i t h t h e s o c i a l p r a c t i c e s o f the past. D e s p i t e this r e a l i t y ,
however, a l t h o u g h m a n y p r e j u d i c e s h a v e b e e n e l i m i n a t e d
i n practice, w e w o u l d b e w r o n g t o t h i n k t h a t w e h a v e
put e v e r y t h i n g i n o r d e r o n these p r o b l e m s a n d t h a t w e
need n o l o n g e r w o r r y a b o u t t h e m , o r t o l e a v e i t t o t i m e
t o correct t h e m . W o r k m u s t b e d o n e t o use t h e t i m e
w e l l t o create socialist c u s t o m s a n d t h e a p p r o p r i a t e
public opinion for the present a n d f u t u r e generations...
M a r r i a g e is an act, a s o c i a l fact, a n d s h o u l d n o t be
c o n s i d e r e d as a p h i l o s o p h i c a l concept. B u t this s o c i a l fact
has its o w n p h i l o s o p h y , b o t h i n o u r society a n d i n b o u r geois society.
F o r t h e bourgeoisie, m a r r i a g e i s a m a r k e t i n w h i c h
husband a n d w i f e sell themselves to each other. These
m a r r i a g e s a r e based n o t o n p u r e s e n t i m e n t s , b u t o n
the s a v a g e s e n t i m e n t s o f p r o p e r t y a n d p r i v a t e interest,
w e a l t h , i n h e r i t a n c e , the p r o s t i t u t i o n o f m a n a n d w o m a n .
In t h e b o u r g e o i s - c a p i t a l i s t r e g i m e s t h e a p p e a r a n c e s of
f r e e d o m a r e false, t h e a l l e g e d m o d e r n i n n o v a t i o n s are
intended t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h e f r e e d o m o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l , the
liberation of w o m e n f r o m capitalist enslavement, and
pure sentiments w h i c h , in reality, do not exist at all.
I n the c o u n t r i e s w h e r e c a p i t a l r u l e s , these p o s i t i v e social
qualities a r e t o b e f o u n d o n l y w i t h i n t h e r a n k s o f t h e
proletariat.
In
our
country,
however,
where
the
liberation
of
278
ENVER HOXHA
w o m e n has been secured, the c o n d i t i o n s f o r m a r r i a g e s
to be based on l o v e h a v e been a c h i e v e d . We are
passing
«from
the realm of necessity to the realm of
freedom,» as E n g e l s p u t s it.
T h e p u r e feelings m u s t b e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p e d a n d
t e m p e r e d b y o u r M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ideology. W e h a v e a
lot t o d o i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . W h a t does E n g e l s t e l l us?
S p e a k i n g about r e p e r c u s s i o n s o f t h e c o m m u n i s t o r d e r o n
t h e f a m i l y , h e says that the c o m m u n i s t o r d e r ,
«...will
transform
the
relations
between sexes
into
entirely
personal
relations...
This
will
be
achieved
when private property is abolished, when social education is provided for children, thus destroying
the
two
fundamental
bases
of
the
present
(bourgeois)
marriage, that is, the submission of the wife to the
husband and that of children to their parents.»*
T h i s i s a m a j o r w o r k i n g p r o g r a m f o r us. W e h a v e t o
g i v e a l o t of t h o u g h t to these teachings of M a r x i s m Leninism!
Is it not one of the most i m p o r t a n t t a s k s f o r us
to keep r e v i e w i n g the nature of parent-child relations
w i t h a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t eye, to p l a c e these r e l a t i o n s on
the r i g h t r o a d a n d t o cleanse t h e m o f e v e r y t h i n g t h a t i s
o u t w o r n , idealist a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s ? O f c o u r s e i t is.
V e r y o f t e n i n these m a t t e r s o f s u c h w i d e scope a n d
d e l i c a c y , t h e p a r e n t s ' p u r e feelings f o r a n d f a i r a d v i c e
to t h e i r c h i l d r e n and, v i c e - v e r s a , of the l a t t e r to t h e i r
parents, a r e c o n f o u n d e d w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s a n d p e t t y b o u r g e o i s concepts o f p r o p e r t y a n d idealist v i e w s c o n nected w i t h it.
H e r e I am n o t r e f e r r i n g to t h e p u r e s e n t i m e n t s of the
___________________________
* K. M a r x , F. Engels, Works, vol. 4, pp. 336-337
(Russ. ed.).
THE PROBLEM OP THE ALBANIAN WOMAN
279
love o f p a r e n t s t o w a r d s t h e i r c h i l d r e n , t h e c a r e they
take t o b r i n g t h e m u p a n d e d u c a t e t h e m , n o t t o t h e deep
love, respect a n d g r a t i t u d e c h i l d r e n s h o u l d h a v e f o r t h e i r
parents t h r o u g h o u t t h e i r w h o l e lives. T h e s e M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m does n o t a b o l i s h , but o n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t
tempers, s t r e n g t h e n s a n d d e v e l o p s t h e m to s u c h a great
degree t h a t i s n o t c o n f i n e d t o t h e f a m i l y alone, b u t e x tends to t h e w h o l e society. I am s p e a k i n g of those m a n i f e s tations a n d t r e n d s i n o u r s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s w h i c h a r e c r e a t e d
and d e v e l o p , s e e m i n g l y as a « n o r m a l process».
..........................
The coming generations of our country w i l l be completely l i b e r a t e d f r o m m a n y p r e j u d i c e s a n d s u r v i v a l s o f
old f r o m w h i c h o u r o w n g e n e r a t i o n s h a v e s u f f e r e d . O u r
daughters, t h e w o r t h y m o t h e r s a n d c i t i z e n s o f t h e f u t u r e ,
w i l l n o l o n g e r f e e l oppressed a s o u r m o t h e r s d i d , w i l l n o
longer s u f f e r f r o m i g n o r a n c e o r b e d e p e n d e n t e c o n o m i c a l l y
on t h e i r h u s b a n d s , sons or d a u g h t e r s as o u r m o t h e r s
were. T h e i r c o m p l e t e e c o n o m i c e m a n c i p a t i o n , t h e i r socialist
education a n d c u l t u r e , t h e m e r i t e d p l a c e the A l b a n i a n
woman w i l l occupy in production, in the stale and
i n society, w i l l m a k e a p o w e r f u l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o the
perfecting o f t h i s n e w w o r l d w h i c h t h e P a r t y i s f o r g i n g ,
in w h i c h material and spiritual life w i l l flourish as never
before, i n w h i c h the p u r e f e e l i n g s o f m a n f o r m a n , o f
husband a n d w i f e t o w a r d s each other, o f p a r e n t s t o w a r d s
their c h i l d r e n a n d v i c e - v e r s a , w i l l f i n d f u l l
natural
development, c o m p l e t e l y f r e e f r o m t h e b a c k w a r d , idealist,
religious, p a t r i a r c h a l a n d b o u r g e o i s h a n g - o v e r s w h i c h s t i l l
create a n d foster h a r m f u l a n d i n h i b i t i n g o p i n i o n s a m o n g us.
W e a r e w e l l a w a r e that a l l t h i s great w o r k that lies
ahead f o r t h e P a r t y t o do, w i l l come u p against a l l k i n d s
of difficulties a n d w i l l not be accomplished w i t h i n a
short p e r i o d . I t w i l l t a k e s e v e r a l generations, b u t t h e
course, t h e l i n e , the m e t h o d o f the P a r t y t o g u i d e the
280
ENVER
HOXHA
c o m i n g g e n e r a t i o n s o n t o t h i s course i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t .
E a c h g e n e r a t i o n w i l l d o its bit t o w a r d s d e v e l o p m e n t a n d
p e r f e c t i o n . T h e P a r t y a s s i g n e d o u r g e n e r a t i o n t h e task
o f l a y i n g the s o u n d f o u n d a t i o n s o f a n d s e t t i n g o u t o n the
brilliant road to socialism. The P a r t y is leading us with
courage, b o l d l y b u t p r u d e n t l y , on this c l e a r course. In a
great h a r m o n i o u s c o m p l e x , w i t h m i g h t y e f f o r t s a n d
struggle, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a p r o f o u n d l y r e v o l u t i o n a r y
s p i r i t , a l l t h e masses o f p e o p l e a r e t r a n s f o r m i n g the
c o u n t r y a n d t r a n s f o r m i n g themselves, t h e socialist e c o n o m y
is being strengthened, culture a n d education are developing, the n e w m a n of o u r country is being revolutionized,
a n d , i n s t r u g g l e against t h e o l d v i e w s , i s b e i n g i m b u e d
w i t h n e w ideals, w o r t h y o f s o c i a l i s m . O n t h i s b r i l l i a n t ,
c o m p l e x course, w h i c h constitutes o u r p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n that i s f o r g i n g a h e a d r i g o r o u s l y , w e a r e f u l l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t the sooner, t h e better a n d t h e m o r e c o m p l e t e l y
conscious t h e A l b a n i a n w o m e n b e c o m e o f t h e i r r o l e , t h e i r
r i g h t s a n d t h e i r o b l i g a t i o n s i n t h e society o f o u r c o u n t r y , the
greater w i l l be the achievements of o u r revolution a n d the
shorter the time r e q u i r e d to attain that h a p p y period, w h i c h
t h e g e n e r a t i o n s that f o l l o w o u r s w i l l b u i l d a n d b e a u t i f y .
O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s c o n s i d e r e d t h e great s t r u g g l e
f o r the e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n a s a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f
the r e v o l u t i o n a n d socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n , as a c o n d i t i o n
sine qua non f o r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s in g e n u i n e
f r e e d o m a n d d e m o c r a c y . O u r P a r t y n e v e r loses sight o f
t h e teachings o f M a r x , w h o defines t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f
a given historical period by the level of the progress of
w o m e n towards freedom and regards the relations between
h u s b a n d a n d w i f e as a m e a s u r e of t h e l e v e l of d e v e l o p m e n t o f h u m a n society.
Thus, so long as there is not true freedom for w o m e n
i n t h e society o f a c o u n t r y , t h e r e c a n b e n o g e n u i n e
freedom in that country.
281
O n t h i s m a j o r p r o b l e m , o u r P a r t y has n o t c o n t e n t e d
itself s i m p l y w i t h e n a c t i n g l a w s o n the e q u a l i t y o f m a n
and w o m a n a n d a l l o w i n g these l a w s to r e m a i n a dead
letter, but i t has a p p l i e d t h e m a n d i s a p p l y i n g t h e m m o r e
and m o r e t h o r o u g h l y i n p r a c t i c e , because L e n i n advises
u s that t h i s e q u a l i t y o f m a n a n d w o m a n b y l a w i s s t i l l not
equality i n l i f e . A n d i n the r a p i d l y c h a n g i n g t a b l e a u o f
our s o c i a l i s t l i f e w e see t h e t r u t h o f L e n i n ' s b r i l l i a n t
thesis, because, despite the l a w s we h a v e on this m a t t e r ,
w e e n c o u n t e r m a n y d i f f i c u l t i e s a n d obstacles a n d feel
the n e e d t o t a k e m a n y f u r t h e r m e a s u r e s t o f u l l y a c h i e v e
our o b j e c t i v e .
T h e P a r t y a n d o u r w h o l e people s h o u l d i n n o w a y
u n d e r r a t e the m a j o r r o l e o f w o m e n i n l i f e a n d i n the
r e v o l u t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , a l l the doors t o w o r k , l e a r n i n g ,
p r o d u c t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t s h o u l d b e t h r o w n o p e n t o the
w o m e n a n d g i r l s o f A l b a n i a . T h e y s h o u l d b e protected
f r o m the d a n g e r of r e t r o g r e s s i o n a n d h e l p e d to create t h e i r
o w n p e r s o n a l i t y o n s o u n d f o u n d a t i o n s , t o a c q u i r e selfreliance a n d courage i n e v e r y t h i n g , a t t r i b u t e s w h i c h are
not the m o n o p o l y of a n y one sex b u t a r e created, gained
and t e m p e r e d i n life, i n w o r k a n d i n s t u d y .
«Education,
culture,
civilization,
freedom,»
says
L e n i n , «in all the
bourgeois capitalist republics of
the world, all these resounding words are associated
with unbelievably
humiliating,
terribly
filthy,
savagely
brutal laws on the inequality of women, such
as the laws on the right to marriage and divorce, on
the
inequality
of
children..., on
the
privileges
of
the husband, on the humiliation and abasement of
the wife.»*
________________________________
* V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , vol. 30, p. 120
(Alb. ed.).
282
ENVER
HOXHA
Therefore, the emancipation of w o m e n in our country
f o l l o w s n e i t h e r t h e course n o r t h e a i m s p u r s u e d b y the
bourgeois c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . In t h e d i r e c t i o n of the
e m a n c i p a t i o n o f w o m e n w e h a v e t o w o r k t o m a k e u p for
the t i m e lost. T h e e m a n c i p a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n w o m e n
has n o t h i n g i n c o m m o n w i t h t h e so-called « e m a n c i p a t i o n
o f t h e coquettes o f t h e bourgeoisie». W e r e a l i z e the
e m a n c i p a t i o n o f o u r w o m e n i n the c o u r s e o f the p r o l e t a r ian revolution, through the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t spirit and
the m a r v e l l o u s q u a l i t i e s o f t h e w o m e n o f A l b a n i a t h r o u g h out history.
Despite the social oppression and being kept in ignorance ( w i t h i n t h e g e n e r a l i g n o r a n c e i n w h i c h f o r e i g n
invaders and the local feudal-bourgeoisie have kept our
people) w o m e n i n A l b a n i a h a v e p l a y e d a r o l e b y n o
means small a n d insignificant in strengthening the A l b a nian family, in strengthening our nation, in safeguarding
t h e t r a d i t i o n s a n d v i r t u e s o f the A l b a n i a n people.
«In
the history
important
liberation
without
the
direct
of mankind», says S t a l i n , «no
movement
has
been
effected
participation
of
women.»*
Despite the conditions of oppression, the A l b a n i a n
w o m e n , e s p e c i a l l y t h e peasant w o m e n , h a v e been a n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r o f e c o n o m i c a n d s o c i a l d e v e l o p m e n t , hence,
a progressive factor, w i t h pronounced freedom-loving
a n d p a t r i o t i c sentiments, a n d l i n k e d w i t h the w o r k a n d
t h e l a n d , a n d t h i s has m a d e t h e m a b l e a n d i n t e l l i g e n t
heroines.
«The present revolution,» says L e n i n , «is based
on the countryside, and
herein
lies
its importance
and
its
strength.
The
experience
of
all
liberation
__________________________
* J. V. Stalin, W o r k s , vol. 5, p. 57 (Alb. ed.).
283
movements has shown that the success of the revolution depends on the level of the participation of
women in it.»*
W h e n w e speak o f the l i b e r a t i o n w a r s o f t h e A l b a n i a n
people in h i s t o r y , t h e great s t r u g g l e a n d resistance of the
A l b a n i a n w o m e n , beside t h e i r h u s b a n d s , b r o t h e r s a n d
sons, b o t h w i t h a r m s a n d w i t h p a s s i v e resistance, against
the i n v a d e r s , against e n e m i e s of o u r people a n d o u r l a n d ,
can n e v e r b e left out. W e u n d e r s t a n d v e r y w e l l that,
under the s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n s b e f o r e L i b e r a t i o n , the c o n t r i b u tion o f w o m e n w a s n o t p u b l i c i z e d , b u t t h i s m a j o r m o r a l
and m a t e r i a l c o n t r i b u t i o n w a s s u b s t a n t i a l , u n d e n i a b l e a n d
powerful. D u r i n g o u r N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r t h i s c o n tribution a n d the p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e A l b a n i a n w o m e n
shoulder t o s h o u l d e r w i t h t h e i r h u s b a n d s , sons a n d d a u g h ters was m a s s i v e , p o w e r f u l a n d v i s i b l e i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e
and i n the cities. A f t e r L i b e r a t i o n t h e i r s t r e n g t h , v a l o u r ,
wisdom a n d p a t r i o t i s m b u r s t out w i t h great force w h i c h
built up i n t o a m i g h t y , i r r e s i s t i b l e t o r r e n t .
W h a t colossal c h a n g e s h a v e b e e n m a d e i n t h e l i f e o f
A l b a n i a n w o m e n , w h a t great p r o g r e s s has been a c h i e v e d
i n a l l f i e l d s o f a c t i v i t y o f o u r n e w l i f e w h i c h , d e s p i t e the
efforts m a d e , t h e R e p o r t s u b m i t t e d t o t h e p l e n u m o f the
Central C o m m i t t e e t o d a y w a s i n c a p a b l e o f r e f l e c t i n g
properly! O n l y r e a l l i f e i n a l l its g r a n d e u r c a n g i v e a
t r u e idea o f w h a t m i g h t y v i t a l forces t h e P a r t y released
with the l i b e r a t i o n o f w o m e n , w h a t p r o g r e s s i v e c r e a t i v e
strength l a y d o r m a n t i n t h i s l a r g e p a r t o f o u r p o p u l a t i o n ,
what m a r v e l s t h e y a r e p e r f o r m i n g a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o
perform, a n d w i t h w h a t i n c a l c u l a b l e m o r a l a n d m a t e r i a l
values t h e y w i l l e n r i c h o u r socialist l i f e .
The emancipation of w o m e n in our country, led by
_____________________________
* V. I. L e n i n , Collected W o r k s , vol, 28, p. 196 ( A l b . ed.)
284
ENVER
HOXHA
the P a r t y , is far f r o m being a «feminist movement», as in
t h e capitalist countries, b u t is the a d v a n c e of w o m e n to a
h i g h l e v e l , the rise o f w o m e n t o t h e l e v e l o f f u l l e q u a l i t y
of rights w i t h men, the m a r c h of men and w o m e n hand
i n h a n d , i n a h a r m o n y o f t h e p u r e s t a n d loftiest s e n t i ments, a i m s a n d ideals o f h u m a n i t y , i t i s t h e m a r c h
towards communism.
Works, vol. 36
ON THE ROLE AND TASKS OF THE DEMOCRATIC
FRONT IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE COMPLETE
TRIUMPH OF SOCIALISM IN ALBANIA
From the Report to the 4th Congress of the
Democratic Front of Albania
September 14, 1967
•••
I
THE H I S T O R I C R O L E O F T H E F R O N T I N T H E L I B E R A T I O N
OF THE COUNTRY. THE DEFENCE OF NATIONAL
INDEPENDENCE AND THE CONSTRUCTION
OF SOCIALISM
A t a l l stages, t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t has a l w a y s been
a p o w e r f u l w e a p o n o f t h e P a r t y f o r the p o l i t i c a l u n i t y
of the people a r o u n d itself, a great p l a t f o r m f o r the
development of the vigorous self-activity and initiative
o f the b r o a d masses o f t h e p e o p l e i n w a r a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n .
The experience gained d u r i n g the 25 years of
existence o f t h e F r o n t , w h i c h has f u l l y i n d i c a t e d
the
the
286
ENVER
HOXHA
correct p o l i c y o f o u r P a r t y i n r e g a r d t o t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n ,
has great t h e o r e t i c a l a n d p r a c t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e . T h a t i s
w h y t h e constant s t u d y a n d s u m m i n g u p o f this e x p e r i e n c e
is a task of p r i m a r y i m p o r t a n c e f o r a l l of us, because in
this w a y b o t h t h e p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d those o f the
F r o n t w i l l b e e n a b l e d t o d r a w a s m a n y u s e f u l lessons a s
possible f o r t h e i r w o r k i n the f u t u r e .
1. — THE PARTY OF LABOUR OF ALBANIA — THE SOLE LEADING
FORCE AND POLITICAL PARTY IN OUR COUNTRY
T h e Democratic Front is the direct continuation of
the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t , w h i c h w a s b o r n , g r e w
a n d b e c a m e s t r o n g as a v o l u n t a r y p o l i t i c a l u n i o n of the
b r o a d masses o f t h e people. Its f o u n d a t i o n s w e r e l a i d
f r o m below, i n t h e f i g h t against t h e fascist i n v a d e r s .
T h e F r o n t i s the w o r k o f the P a r t y . T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
P a r t y of t h e w o r k i n g class has b e e n at t h e h e a d of it
a s its g u i d i n g force r i g h t f r o m the start a n d e v e r since.
I t has w o n this l e a d i n g r o l e t h r o u g h its correct line,
w h i c h expresses a n d d e f e n d s t h e v i t a l interests o f the
A l b a n i a n people, a n d t h r o u g h its h e r o i c struggle, the
s t r u g g l e o f the A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s w h o , w i t h t h e i r
courage, d e t e r m i n a t i o n ,
spirit of sacrifice
and
selfd e n i a l , h a v e d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e y a r e t h e most
consistent f i g h t e r s f o r t h e cause of the people, the H o m e land and socialism. T h e F r o n t was not a n d is not a
p o l i t i c a l p a r t y , i t w a s n o t a n d d i d n o t become a c o a l i t i o n
o f parties, because, a p a r t f r o m o u r P a r t y , t h e r e w a s
a n d i s n o other p a r t y i n o u r c o u n t r y .
O u r P a r t y constitutes, p e r h a p s , the o n l y e x a m p l e o f
a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y of t h e w o r k i n g class t h a t w a s
created in a c o u n t r y w h e r e n e i t h e r a socialist, s o c i a l - d e mocratic nor any other bourgeois party existed previously,
THE ROLE AND TASKS OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT
287
and w h i c h r e m a i n e d the only P a r t y o f the w o r k i n g class
and the o n l y p o l i t i c a l p a r t y i n t h e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y .
In the first period f o l l o w i n g the proclamation of
independence, for a t i m e t h e r e w e r e i n t e n t i o n s a n d the
first attempts w e r e m a d e to create b o u r g e o i s - l i b e r a l
parties, i n some cases e v e n w i t h p r o g r e s s i v e tendencies.
However, n o sooner t h e y w e r e a l l c r e a t e d t h a n they
disappeared, because t h e i r p r o g r a m s w e r e n o t c l e a r a n d
militant, t h e y d i d n o t e x p r e s s t h e a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e masses
and the o b j e c t i v e tendencies of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of A l b a n i a
a t that p e r i o d , w h i l e f r o m t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l v i e w p o i n t
they amounted to little or n o t h i n g and, therefore, they
disappeared l e a v i n g n o m a r k o n the l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y .
W i t h the a d v e n t t o p o w e r o f the b o u r g e o i s - l a n d o w n e r
regime o f Z o g , w h i c h suppressed a l l d e m o c r a t i c l i b e r t i e s ,
free e x p r e s s i o n of o p i n i o n or a t t e m p t at o r g a n i z a t i o n , a n y
possibility o f the c r e a t i o n o f d i f f e r e n t l e g a l p o l i t i c a l p a r ties b y t h e o p p r e s s e d a n d e x p l o i t e d classes v a n i s h e d .
M o r e o v e r , e v e n the r u l i n g e x p l o i t i n g classes, t h e f e u d a l
chiefs a n d t h e b o u r g e o i s i e w e r e q u i t e u n a b l e t o create
their o w n p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s . A s w e k n o w , t h e s y s t e m o f
many b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s exists i n the d e v e l o p e d c a p i t a l i s t
countries. T h i s i s l i n k e d w i t h t h e s i t u a t i o n o f the b o u r geoisie itself as a class l o n g d e v e l o p e d a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d ,
the d i f f e r e n t g r o u p i n g s a n d s t r a t a o f w h i c h create
separate p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s i n o r d e r t o d e f e n d t h e i r o w n
interests a n d p o s i t i o n s w i t h i n t h e state. W i t h u s the
situation w a s a l t o g e t h e r d i f f e r e n t . A l b a n i a w a s m a r k i n g
time b e t w e e n t w o h i s t o r i c a l p e r i o d s , t h a t o f t h e d e c l i n e
of f e u d a l i s m a n d t h a t of the d e v e l o p m e n t of c a p i t a l i s m ,
w i t h the b i g l a n d o w n e r s a s a n o l d class h e a d i n g t o w a r d s
their r u i n a n d w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e n o t h a v i n g a t t a i n e d
that l e v e l of d e v e l o p m e n t to h a v e e v e n a single p o l i t i c a l
party, let alone a n u m b e r o f t h e m . T h e s e w e r e t h e c o n ditions i n w h i c h t h e fascist i n v a s i o n f o u n d A l b a n i a .
288
ENVER
HOXHA
I n t h i s g r a v e s i t u a t i o n that w a s c r e a t e d f o r t h e f a t e o f
o u r H o m e l a n d , w h i c h h a d lost its f r e e d o m , a n d w h e n the
v e r y existence o f the people w a s i n d a n g e r , the i m p e r a t i v e
d u t y o f e v e r y A l b a n i a n w a s t o t a k e u p the r i f l e a n d
b e g i n t h e s a c r e d a n t i - f a s c i s t w a r , the w a r f o r n a t i o n a l
l i b e r a t i o n . P r e c i s e l y at these d e c i s i v e m o m e n t s , in a r e v o l u t i o n a r y s i t u a t i o n , i n the heat o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n w a r ,
t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a e m e r g e d a s the p a r t y o f
t h e w o r k i n g class, t h e p a r t y w h i c h , w i t h its p r o g r a m ,
r e s p o n d e d to the desires a n d a s p i r a t i o n s of the b r o a d
masses of the people, to the concrete o b j e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n s
prevailing in our country. The Communist Party of A l b a n i a w a s c r e a t e d by the A l b a n i a n c o m m u n i s t s as a
r e v o l u t i o n a r y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , as a p a r t y of the
n e w type, f r o m t h e t h e o r y t h a t g u i d e d it, the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s o n w h i c h i t w a s b u i l t , a n d its p o l i t i c a l
p r o g r a m . It w a s b o r n as an o b j e c t i v e necessity in o r d e r to
l e a d the r e v o l u t i o n a r y w a r f o r n a t i o n a l a n d social l i b e r a t i o n .
T h u s , t h e o n l y p a r t y o f the w o r k i n g class w a s c r e a t e d
f r o m the b o s o m of the people, w i t h a clear, s c i e n t i f i c a l l y
elaborated political, organizational, military, economic and
social p r o g r a m . T h e w o r k i n g class, t h o u g h f e w i n n u m b e r s ,
w a s the m o s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d most p r o g r e s s i v e class
o f o u r society. N o other class, n o o t h e r p o l i t i c a l s t r a t u m
o r g r o u p e m e r g e d w i t h its o w n p a r t y t o take u p the
s t a n d a r d o f n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n , because n o n e o f t h e m w a s
capable o f p l a y i n g a n i n d e p e n d e n t r o l e i n the p o l i t i c a l
a r e n a o f the c o u n t r y , o f h a v i n g its o w n i n d e p e n d e n t say,
o f c r e a t i n g its o w n s t a b l e p o l i t i c a l p a r t y o n s o u n d i d e o l o g i cal and organizational foundations.
The Communist Party of A l b a n i a was and remained
the o n l y v a n g u a r d p a r t y , w h i c h u n d e r t o o k a n d h o n o u r a b l y
c a r r i e d t h r o u g h the h e a v y b u t g l o r i o u s b u r d e n o f m o b i l i z i n g a n d o r g a n i z i n g the people a n d l e a d i n g t h e m i n t h e
l i b e r a t i o n w a r against t h e f o r e i g n i n v a d e r s a n d l o c a l
289
traitors. T h a n k s t o t h e P a r t y a n d its correct r e v o l u t i o n a r y
leadership, o u r people t r i u m p h e d o v e r t h e enemies, d e f e a t e d t h e m a n d d r o v e t h e m b e y o n d the b o r d e r s o f t h e H o m e land, c o m p l e t e l y s m a s h e d the o l d state p o w e r , set u p t h e i r
own n e w state p o w e r of the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t ,
secured a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d t h e i r c o m p l e t e f r e e d o m a n d
independence a n d a r e n o w s u c c e s s f u l l y b u i l d i n g socialist
society.
T h e t r a i t o r s o f the B a l l i K o m b ë t a r a n d a l l t h e i r f r i e n d s ,
the A m e r i c a n a n d B r i t i s h i m p e r i a l i s t s a n d others, h a v e
spread a n d c o n t i n u e to s p r e a d the s l a n d e r t h a t a l l e g e d l y
the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f A l b a n i a d i d n o t p e r m i t t h e c r e a tion o f o t h e r p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s i n o u r c o u n t r y a n d w a s
not p r e p a r e d t o cooperate w i t h s u c h p a r t i e s i n the l i b e r a tion w a r . I t i s e v i d e n t t h a t w i t h t h i s o u r e n e m i e s w a n t
to portray our P a r t y as an undemocratic, sectarian party
and r i g i d as to tactics. T h e o b j e c t i v e r e a l i t y , h o w e v e r ,
categorically r e f u t e s these s l a n d e r s . It is an h i s t o r i c a l fact
that n o a n t i - f a s c i s t p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s o t h e r t h a n t h e C o m munist P a r t y o f A l b a n i a w e r e c r e a t e d i n o u r c o u n t r y .
H a d a n y s u c h p r o g r e s s i v e p a r t i e s been f o r m e d o u r P a r t y
w o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n against c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e m o n
the q u e s t i o n o f o r g a n i z i n g t h e w a r against t h e i n v a d e r s .
As a M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , it h a d no r e a s o n to be a f r a i d
of cooperating w i t h them. T h e w a r t i m e documents of
the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y of A l b a n i a state e x p l i c i t l y : «...we
do not mean that we are against the formation of different political parties
but, if these parties are
formed,
they should
have
in their program,
first
and
foremost,
the war against the invader, the war in deeds and not
in words, and
these
parties should
take part
in
the
National
Liberation
Front,
while
having
the
right
to
retain
their
individuality.»*
_______________________________
* « P r i n c i p a l Documents of the P L A » , v o l . 1, p. 212, T i r a n a
1971, second A l b a n i a n edition.
290
ENVER
HOXHA
I n r e g a r d t o the h i s t o r i c a l fact that n o o t h e r p o l i t i c a l
p a r t i e s e x i s t e d i n o u r c o u n t r y , w e assert t h a t f o r the
w o r k i n g class a n d f o r the A l b a n i a n people, f o r the cause
of the revolution and socialism in A l b a n i a , this was an
i m m e n s e l y great a d v a n t a g e w h i l e f o r t h e bourgeoisie, for
n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e a c t i o n , it w a s a great m i s f o r t u n e , a f a t a l loss. W h a t c h a r a c t e r a n d w h a t a i m s
w o u l d other political parties have had, w h a t w o u l d they
h a v e r e p r e s e n t e d a n d w h o s e interests w o u l d t h e y h a v e
d e f e n d e d ? O b v i o u s l y , the interests of the beys, t h e aghas,
the m e r c h a n t s , t h e c a p i t a l i s t s o f c i t y a n d c o u n t r y s i d e .
H a d t h e y b e e n created, t h e y w o u l d h a v e p l a y e d a react i o n a r y role, w o u l d h a v e s e r v e d the fascist o c c u p i e r s
directly, w o u l d have collaborated in different forms both
w i t h the o c c u p i e r s a n d w i t h the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s t s against t h e people. A l l t h e i r a c t i v i t y w o u l d h a v e
been to the d e t r i m e n t of the u n i t y of the people, to the
d e t r i m e n t o f t h e l i b e r a t i o n w a r , w o u l d h a v e been d i r e c t e d
against t h e people's p o w e r , against the great economic,
p o l i t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l r e f o r m s , w o u l d h a v e been
d e t r i m e n t a l t o t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f the c o u n t r y a n d the
building of socialism.
T h i s w a s p r o v e d t o the h i l t d u r i n g the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , w h e n the p o l i t i c a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e B a l l i
K o m b ë t a r a n d L e g a l i t e t i , i n w h i c h the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
o f t h e r u l i n g a n d e x p l o i t i n g classes o f t h e c o u n t r y h a d
g a t h e r e d , w e n t o v e r o p e n l y to the side of t h e n a z i - f a s c i s t
occupiers a n d became tools i n t h e h a n d s o f the A n g l o A m e r i c a n imperialists in order to u n d e r m i n e the liberat i o n w a r o f t h e A l b a n i a n people. T h i s w a s p r o v e d after
the l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y , too, w h e n the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
of the b o u r g e o i s i e a n d agents of the A m e r i c a n s a n d t h e
British, Riza Dani, Shefqet Beja, Gjergj K o k o s h i and
others, a t t e m p t e d t o f o r m a p o l i t i c a l p a r t y t o u n d e r m i n e
the people's p o w e r a n d the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f n e w s o c i a l -
291
ist A l b a n i a , a n a t t e m p t w h i c h w a s c r u s h e d b y o u r P a r t y
and the D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t .
P r e c i s e l y because t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i n t e r n a l a n d
e x t e r n a l r e a c t i o n h a v e h a d n o success i n a t t a i n i n g these
a n t i - p o p u l a r o b j e c t i v e s , t h e y accuse o u r P a r t y a n d r e g i m e o f
people's d e m o c r a c y o f « s u p p r e s s i n g d e m o c r a c y a n d l i b e r ty». I t i s e v i d e n t w h a t t h e y m e a n b y « d e m o c r a c y a n d
liberty». T h e y d e m a n d d e m o c r a c y a n d l i b e r t y f o r t h e
enemies o f t h e people, f o r t h e b i g l a n d o w n e r s a n d
capitalists, f o r t h e r e a c t i o n a r i e s a n d c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n aries. T h a t i s w h y i t i s i n t o l e r a b l e t o t h e m t h a t i n A l b a n i a
there i s o n l y o n e p a r t y , t h a t i s w h y u n d e r t h e guise
o f «democracy», t h e y d e m a n d t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e
m a n y p a r t i e s , s o t h a t r e a l d e m o c r a c y f o r t h e people w i l l
never b e e s t a b l i s h e d , t h e r e w i l l n e v e r b e a t r u l y d e m o c r a t i c
state, a n d s o c i a l i s m w i l l n e v e r b e b u i l t , b u t o u r people
will languish for ever u n d e r the i r o n heal of capital.
I n o u r c o u n t r y t h e i n t e r e s t s o f a l l the w o r k i n g people
are f u l l y r e p r e s e n t e d a n d d e f e n d e d b y t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r ,
the o r g a n i z e d v a n g u a r d o f o u r w o r k i n g class. T h e interests
and a i m s o f t h e w o r k i n g class, w h i c h t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r
represents, are, at the s a m e t i m e , the i n t e r e s t s a n d a i m s of
the w o r k i n g p e a s a n t r y a n d o u r socialist i n t e l l i g e n t s i a . A l l
these s t r a t a o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n a r e u n i t e d i n t h e D e m o c r a t i c
Front, t h e o n l y f r o n t o f t h e A l b a n i a n people, a n d s t r i v e
to put into practice the policy a n d directives of the
P a r t y , i n w h i c h t h e a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e p e o p l e are e x p r e s s e d .
T o w h o m , t h e n , w o u l d other p a r t i e s w i t h i n o r o u t s i d e the
F r o n t h a v e been o f a n y use, t h e interests o f w h i c h class
would they have represented and defended w h e n it is
k n o w n t h a t e v e r y p o l i t i c a l p a r t y expresses a n d defends
the interests of a g i v e n class, s t r i v e s to r e a l i z e its a i m s
and leads its s t r u g g l e f o r p o w e r ? It is c l e a r t h a t t h e y
w o u l d h a v e been o f use o n l y t o those s t r a t a a n d e l e m e n t s
of an exploiting m i n o r i t y of big landowners and capitalists
292
ENVER
HOXHA
w h o w e r e defeated i n w a r a n d through war, w h o were
c r u s h e d p o l i t i c a l l y a n d e c o n o m i c a l l y b y the w o r k i n g class
i n a l l i a n c e w i t h the p e a s a n t r y u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f
the P a r t y , b y the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t .
O u r e x p e r i e n c e s h o w s that, p r o v i d e d the p a r t y o f the
w o r k i n g class p u r s u e s a t r u l y M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t r e v o l u t i o n a r y line, p r o v i d e d i t b o l d l y defends the i n t e r e s t s o f the
people a n d the f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e H o m e l a n d t h r o u g h its r e s o l u t e a n d e x e m p l a r y struggle, i t can
p e r f o r m its h i s t o r i c m i s s i o n f o r n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n , f o r
the a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o f the socialist r e v o l u t i o n a n d the
c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m e v e n b e t t e r w h e n t h e r e are n o
o t h e r bourgeois p a r t i e s i n existence.
2. — THE FRONT AS THE MAIN LINK IN THE POLITICAL UNITY
OF OUR PEOPLE
T h e P a r t y cannot g o i n t o w a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n o n
its o w n . T h e r e v o l u t i o n i s t h e d e e d o f the masses. T h a t
i s w h y the m a i n a n d f o r e m o s t d u t y o f e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n a r y
p a r t y is to m a k e the masses conscious, to u n i t e , o r g a n i z e
and lead them. The f o r m w h i c h our P a r t y found to be
the best a n d most e f f e c t i v e f o r this p u r p o s e i n the c i r c u m stances of o u r c o u n t r y at the t i m e w a s the c r e a t i o n of the
National Liberation Front. The Conference of Peza, w h i c h
w a s h e l d o n l y ten m o n t h s after the f o u n d i n g o f the P a r t y ,
laid solid foundations for the political and organizational
u n i t y o f o u r people o n a n a t i o n a l scale, a n d a d o p t e d
the p r o g r a m o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , w o r k e d o u t
b y the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y .
T h e N a t i o n a l Liberation Front was the united front
o f the w h o l e p e o p l e against the f o r e i g n e n e m y w h o h a d
i n v a d e d o u r c o u n t r y . T h e l i n e o f the P a r t y i n the F r o n t
w a s f o r t h e u n i t y , r e g a r d l e s s o f class, r e g i o n , p o l i t i c a l
293
opinion a n d r e l i g i o u s belief, o f a l l t r u e A l b a n i a n s , o f a l l
the p a t r i o t i c a n d d e m o c r a t i c forces of t h e c o u n t r y , of
all those w h o w e r e r e a d y t o f i g h t the fascist o c c u p i e r s
and t r a i t o r s f o r a free, i n d e p e n d e n t , d e m o c r a t i c people's
A l b a n i a . T h i s o r i e n t a t i o n w a s a b s o l u t e l y correct a n d
responded t o the s i t u a t i o n i n o u r c o u n t r y a t the t i m e w h e n
the i n t e r n a l class c o n t r a d i c t i o n s h a d receded to the
secondary p l a n e , w h i l e the e x t e r n a l c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b e t w e e n
the A l b a n i a n people f i g h t i n g f o r t h e i r f r e e d o m , i n d e pendence a n d s o v e r e i g n t y , a n d the I t a l i a n a n d G e r m a n
invaders o c c u p y i n g o u r c o u n t r y , h a d become the p r i n c i p a l
contradictions.
B y a p p l y i n g t h i s l i n e the F r o n t i n c l u d e d i n its r a n k s
the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y of the p o p u l a t i o n — the
w o r k i n g class, t h e p o o r a n d m i d d l e p e a s a n t r y , the u r b a n
petty a n d m i d d l e bourgeoisie, t h e p a t r i o t i c i n t e l l e c t u a l s
and a l l the o t h e r a n t i - f a s c i s t elements. T h e f o u n d a t i o n o f
the F r o n t w a s the a l l i a n c e o f the w o r k i n g class w i t h the
peasantry. T h i s a l l i a n c e has v i t a l i m p o r t a n c e f o r e v e r y
c o u n t r y w h i c h rises i n w a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n . I t constitutes
the highest p r i n c i p l e of the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t .
H o w e v e r , i n t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f o u r c o u n t r y , w h e r e the
w o r k i n g class w a s f e w i n n u m b e r s a n d the p e a s a n t r y
constituted the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n ,
the d r a w i n g o f the l a t t e r i n t o the w a r u n d e r the l e a d e r s h i p
o f the w o r k i n g class a n d its r e v o l u t i o n a r y p a r t y w a s the
decisive f a c t o r w h i c h d e t e r m i n e d the o u t c o m e o f the
w a r a n d the r e v o l u t i o n . O u r P a r t y e v a l u a t e d t h i s p r o b l e m
correctly a n d s e r i o u s l y . T h e c o u n t r y s i d e b e c a m e the m a i n
base a n d the p e a s a n t r y the m a i n f o r c e o f o u r l i b e r a t i o n
war. O u r P a r t y , a s the p a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, also
expressed a n d d e f e n d e d the interests o f the w o r k i n g p e a s a n t r y a t the same t i m e . T h e issues w i t h w h i c h the
peasantry w a s p r e o c c u p i e d , the e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d
educational reforms to w h i c h it aspired, were embodied
294
ENVER
HOXHA
i n the p r o g r a m o f t h e P a r t y a n d w e r e c o n s i s t e n t l y c h a m pioned and put into practice by our Party. In the P a r t y
o f t h e w o r k i n g class, f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n h i s t o r y , the
p e a s a n t r y f o u n d its g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n a r y l e a d e r o f its
struggle for freedom, land a n d prosperity.
T h e f o r e i g n p o l i c y o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t ,
w h i c h was inspired by the Party, likewise, was a policy of
a l l i a n c e w i t h a l l the a n t i - f a s c i s t states a n d peoples f i g h t i n g
against f a s c i s m , a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n
w h i c h , t h r o u g h its w i s e p o l i c y a n d l e g e n d a r y w a r led
w i t h m a s t e r y b y t h e great S t a l i n , b e c a m e t h e hope o f
the s a l v a t i o n o f the peoples f r o m t h e fascist p l a g u e t h a t
was threatening t h e m w i t h extermination. T h e line of
the F r o n t t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h G r e a t B r i t a i n a n d t h e
U n i t e d States o f A m e r i c a i n t h e c o m m o n w a r against t h e
nazi-fascist c o a l i t i o n w a s correct, too. N e v e r t h e l e s s , n e v e r
f o r a n instant d i d w e r e l a x o u r r e v o l u t i o n a r y v i g i l a n c e ,
because w e w e r e a w a r e t h a t w e w e r e b o u n d t o c l a s h
w i t h the rapacious, colonialist, enslaving a n d oppressing aims
o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s t o w a r d s the peoples. A n d s u b s e q u e n t
events f u l l y c o n f i r m e d that w e w e r e r i g h t . T h e A n g l o A m e r i c a n allies a t t e m p t e d b y e v e r y m e a n s t o t a k e o v e r
the l e a d e r s h i p o f o u r N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , t o l i q u i d a t e
the F r o n t a n d the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y a n d , f i n a l l y , t o l a n d
troops a n d o c c u p y o u r c o u n t r y , a s t h e y d i d i n G r e e c e .
H o w e v e r , these a t t e m p t s f a i l e d a n d t h i s is a great m e r i t
o f o u r P a r t y a n d t h e F r o n t w h i c h d i d n o t a l l o w the
i m p e r i a l i s t s t o p o k e t h e i r noses i n t o t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s
of o u r c o u n t r y .
T h e p r o g r a m o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t w a s ,
i n fact, t h e m i n i m u m p r o g r a m o f the P a r t y . I t w a s a clear,
understandable, militant, revolutionary program. T h e m a i n
tasks o f t h i s p r o g r a m w e r e : relentless a n d u n c o m p r o m i s i n g
w a r against the i n v a d e r s a n d t r a i t o r s f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n
o f the c o u n t r y , f o r n a t i o n a l f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e ,
295
for a people's d e m o c r a t i c g o v e r n m e n t ; t h e g e n e r a l a r m e d
uprising a n d the c r e a t i o n o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n
A r m y , the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a l l - r o u n d p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c
assistance f o r the people's w a r , w i t h t h e people o f t o w n
and c o u n t r y s i d e as t h e d e c i s i v e s o u r c e of a i d ; d e s t r u c t i o n
of the state p o w e r of t h e o c c u p i e r s a n d t h e i r c o l l a b o r a t o r s
(who r e p r e s e n t e d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f the m a i n e x p l o i t i n g
classes of the c o u n t r y ) , t h e c r e a t i o n of the state p o w e r of
national l i b e r a t i o n c o u n c i l s a s the o n l y p o l i t i c a l p o w e r
of the p e o p l e ; e x t e n s i v e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l p r e p a r a tion of t h e masses f o r the people's g e n e r a l u p r i s i n g
and f o r the c o n t i n u a t i o n e v e n after L i b e r a t i o n of the
struggle to s a f e g u a r d t h e v i c t o r i e s a c h i e v e d , to r e c o n s t r u c t
the c o u n t r y a n d t o effect m a j o r social a n d e c o n o m i c
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s in the i n t e r e s t s of the people.
T h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t a t t a i n e d a l l these
objectives w h i c h t h e P a r t y h a d set it. I t s u c c e s s f u l l y
accomplished a l l the m a i n tasks e m b o d i e d i n its r e v o l u tionary p r o g r a m . T h u s , t h e w a r a n d e x p e r i e n c e c o n f i r m e d
that the P a r t y h a d acted c o r r e c t l y i n c r e a t i n g the F r o n t
and i n w o r k i n g out the l i n e o f the F r o n t w h i c h r e s ponded t o t h e w i s h e s a n d a s p i r a t i o n s o f the people
and w a s a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e h i s t o r i c a l c o n d i t i o n s o f o u r
country.
The formation of the N a t i o n a l Liberation Front was
a mortal blow to the foreign invaders and all internal
reaction w h i c h h a d m a d e c o m m o n cause w i t h t h e m . T h e
r e v o l u t i o n a r y i m p e t u s o f the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , the
g r o w t h o f the a u t h o r i t y o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y a n d the
s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e p o l i t i c a l u n i t y o f the A l b a n i a n people
i n the r a n k s o f t h e F r o n t t e r r i f i e d t h e m . F a c i n g this
situation, the r e a c t i o n a r y forces s o u n d e d the a l a r m over
the great d a n g e r t h r e a t e n i n g t h e m . A t first, they a n n o u n ced the c r e a t i o n o f the B a l l i K o m b e t a r a n d , later, L e g a l i teti o r g a n i z a t i o n s , w h i c h w e r e d i r e c t l y o p p o s e d t o the
296
ENVER
HOXHA
National Liberation Front. These two organizations, w h i c h
w e r e set u p w i t h the s u p p o r t o f the I t a l i a n a n d G e r m a n
occupiers a n d the e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n
i m p e r i a l i s t s , w e r e n o t p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s , b u t heterogenous
collections of t h e r e a c t i o n a r y forces of the c o u n t r y , the
landowners and big merchants, bourgeois intellectuals and
r e a c t i o n a r y clergy, t h e d r e g s o f o u r society, w h o h a d
m a d e c o m m o n cause w i t h t h e o c c u p i e r s .
W h a t w a s t h e a i m o f these o r g a n i z a t i o n s ? D e s p i t e
their apparent differences, w h i c h were utterly insignificant,
a n d t h e i r p s e u d o - p a t r i o t i c a n d p s e u d o - n a t i o n a l i s t disguises,
t h e i r c o m m o n a i m w a s t o l i q u i d a t e the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y ,
t o w r e c k t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t , t o p u t d o w n the
N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , t o secure a l l p o l i t i c a l p o w e r
f o r themselves after t h e w a r i n o r d e r t o r e t a i n t h e i r
d o m i n a t i o n o v e r t h e people u n i m p a i r e d . T h e p o l i c y o f
b o t h the B a l l i K o m b ë t a r a n d L e g a l i t e t i w a s a l l i a n c e w i t h
the fascist o c c u p i e r s against the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r o f
the A l b a n i a n people a n d the a n t i - f a s c i s t c o a l i t i o n o f
states a n d peoples f i g h t i n g f a s c i s m . F o r r e a c t i o n a n d its
t r a i t o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , the p r i n c i p a l c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w e r e
the i n t e r n a l c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y a n d
the N a t i o n a l Liberation Front, w h i c h they turned into
a n t a g o n i s t i c c o n t r a d i c t i o n s b y a t t a c k i n g us, a r m s i n h a n d ,
together w i t h t h e o c c u p i e r s .
O u r P a r t y , a d h e r i n g t o its l i n e i n t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t f o r the u n i t y o f a l l A l b a n i a n s i n the w a r
against f a s c i s m , «regardless o f r e l i g i o n , r e g i o n a n d o p i n ion», t r i e d its u t m o s t to p r e v e n t t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of
the c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w i t h t h e B a l l i K o m b ë t a r a n d L e g a l i t e t i
into p r i n c i p a l a n d a n t a g o n i s t i c c o n t r a d i c t i o n s . T h e P a r t y
a n d the F r o n t r e p e a t e d l y a p p e a l e d t o t h e m t o f i g h t the
i n v a d e r s o f t h e c o u n t r y together, t r i e d t o s h o w t o t h e m
the correct course, t o t u r n t h e m f r o m the course o f
b e t r a y a l a n d a v o i d f r a t r i c i d e . A l l these n u m e r o u s a t t e m p t s
297
o f o u r P a r t y a n d F r o n t , h o w e v e r , w e r e sabotaged b y
reaction. T h e P a r t y w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t t h i s w a s w h a t
w o u l d occur, because i t w a s w e l l a w a r e o f the c o u n t e r r e v o l u t i o n a r y c h a r a c t e r of these o r g a n i z a t i o n s , as r e p r e s e n tatives of t h e i n t e r e s t s of l a n d o w n e r s a n d t h e bourgeoisie.
However, there w e r e a few people who, at first, had
various i l l u s i o n s a b o u t t h e n a t u r e o f these o r g a n i z a t i o n s
and about t h e « p a t r i o t i s m » o f t h e p e r s o n s t a k i n g p a r t i n
them, a n d t h e y , too, h a d t o b e c o n v i n c e d . T h e y h a d t o
b e c o n v i n c e d t h r o u g h t h e i r o w n e x p e r i e n c e , i n t h e heat
o f battle, t h a t t h e « p a t r i o t i s m » o f t h e B a l l i K o m b ë t a r
and L e g a l i t e t i c h i e f s w a s a s h a m a n d t h e i r « p a t r i o t i c »
appeals w e r e n o t h i n g b u t d e m a g o g y t o d i s g u i s e t h e i r
betrayal.
T h e o n l y t o u c h s t o n e w a s t h e i r s t a n d t o w a r d the
foreign e n e m y w h o h a d i n v a d e d o u r c o u n t r y . T h e P a r t y
and t h e F r o n t d e m a n d e d t h a t these o r g a n i z a t i o n s t h r o w
themselves w h o l e - h e a r t e d l y , u n r e s e r v e d l y , u n c o m p r o m i s ingly, a n d i m m e d i a t e l y , w i t h o u t w a i t i n g f o r «the d a y t o
come», i n t o t h e w a r a g a i n s t t h e I t a l i a n a n d G e r m a n
invaders. Consistent in their betrayal, the B a l l i Kombëtar a n d Legaliteti not o n l y d i d not fire a single shot against the i n v a d i n g e n e m y , b u t u n i t e d c o m p l e t e l y w i t h t h e m i n the w a r against t h e people. B u t t h a t
was n o t a l l . W h e n t h e e n d o f t h e fascist i n v a d e r s w a s
i n sight t h e B a l l i K o m b ë t a r a n d L e g a l i t e t i w e n t over
openly into the service of the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n i m perialists, i n t e n d i n g w i t h t h e i r s u p p o r t t o s n a t c h the
v i c t o r i e s f r o m t h e h a n d s o f t h e people a n d t o a t t a i n
w h a t t h e y h a d been u n a b l e t o a t t a i n w i t h t h e h e l p o f
nazi-fascists. T h u s , t h e a n t i - p o p u l a r a n d a n t i - n a t i o n a l
character o f t h e b i g l a n d o w n e r s , t h e bourgeoisie, the
bourgeois i n t e l l e c t u a l s , etc., w a s c o m p l e t e l y e x p o s e d .
C o n s e q u e n t l y , i n o u r c o u n t r y t h e w a r against t h e fascist
invaders, the w a r for n a t i o n a l liberation, was combined
298
ENVER
HOXHA
w i t h t h e w a r against the c o l l a b o r a t o r s w i t h t h e i n v a d e r s ,
against t h e m a i n e x p l o i t i n g classes a n d t h e i r p o l i t i c a l
organizations, the B a l l i K o m b ë t a r a n d L e g a l i t e t i . T h i s h a d
m a j o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y consequences f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f
the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r o f o u r p e o p l e a n d i n its p o l i t i c a l outcome. T h i s g a v e the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r the
c h a r a c t e r of a p r o f o u n d people's r e v o l u t i o n a n d b r o u g h t
about t h a t t h e t r a i t o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s w e r e s m a s h e d t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e defeat o f t h e i n v a d e r s , t h a t t o g e t h e r w i t h
t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e H o m e l a n d t h e m a i n e x p l o i t i n g classes
of the country w e r e ousted f r o m power.
I t w a s the g r e a t m e r i t o f o u r P a r t y a n d t h e N a t i o n a l
Liberation Front that they never separated the w a r
for the liberation of the country f r o m the foreign invaders
f r o m the s t r u g g l e f o r the s e i z u r e o f p o w e r b y t h e w o r k i n g
masses. T h e h i s t o r i c i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e o f
P e z a lies n o t o n l y i n t h e fact t h a t i t w a s t h e r e t h a t t h e
N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t w a s c r e a t e d , b u t also i n the
fact t h a t i t w a s t h e r e t h a t t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e n e w
people's p o w e r w e r e l a i d . T h e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n c o u n c i l s
t h a t w e r e set u p e v e r y w h e r e i n o u r c o u n t r y , e m e r g e d a n d
g r e w a s r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e m o c r a t i c organs o f t h e people's
p o w e r , u n d e r the sole l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y .
They were the negation of a l l the organs and organizations o f the a n t i - p o p u l a r a n d e x p l o i t i n g state. T h e n e w
people's p o w e r w a s e x t e n d e d a n d s t r e n g t h e n e d p a r a l l e l
w i t h the g r o w t h a n d i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f t h e a r m e d s t r u g g l e .
T h e C o n g r e s s o f P ë r m e t a n d t h e s e c o n d session o f t h e
Anti-fascist National Liberation Council in Berat, held
i n M a y a n d O c t o b e r 1944 r e s p e c t i v e l y , w e r e t w o g r e a t
events o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y historic importance, w h i c h f u l f i l l e d the w i l l o f t h e p e o p l e t h a t a l l state p o w e r s h o u l d
pass i n t o t h e i r o w n hands, t h e n e w A l b a n i a n state
s h o u l d b e c r e a t e d a n d t h e n e w , d e m o c r a t i c people's A l bania should be built. Thus, on the eve of the liberation
299
of t h e c o u n t r y , t h e p r o b l e m of state p o w e r h a d been
solved i n f a v o u r o f the people.
O u r P a r t y h a s a l w a y s been v i g i l a n t a n d has f o u g h t
m e r c i l e s s l y against a n y c a p i t u l a t i o n o r b e t r a y a l i n
any
d i r e c t i o n . I t c o n s i s t e n t l y d e f e n d e d its p o l i t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d its l e a d i n g r o l e i n t h e F r o n t a n d
i n the N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r a n d d i d n o t a l l o w the
bourgeoisie t o t a k e o v e r the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e w a r , w h i c h
was one o f the m a i n o b j e c t i v e s o f the A n g l o - A m e r i c a n
imperialists a n d the B a l l i K o m b ë t a r and Legaliteti traitor
organizations. T h e P a r t y k n e w t h a t s u b m i s s i o n t o
the
bourgeoisie, a s s u m p t i o n o f the l e a d e r s h i p o f the w a r
by
the bourgeoisie, w o u l d b r i n g a b o u t o n l y the f a i l u r e o f the
revolution and the perpetuation of the old regime of
oppression a n d e x p l o i t a t i o n . T h i s w a s t h e a i m p u r s u e d a t
M u k j e . H e r e i n lies Y m e r D i s h n i c a ' s c a p i t u l a t i o n t o the
bourgeoisie. T h a t i s w h y t h e P a r t y a n d t h e N a t i o n a l
L i b e r a t i o n G e n e r a l C o u n c i l r e s o l u t e l y r e j e c t e d the M u k j e
meeting as an act of b e t r a y a l of the interests of the people
and the r e v o l u t i o n , t h a t o p e n e d the w a y f o r the l e a d e r s h i p
o f the w a r a n d p o l i t i c a l p o w e r t o pass i n t o t h e h a n d s
o f the r e a c t i o n a r y b o u r g e o i s i e , w h i c h , f a r f r o m c o n s e n t i n g
t o f i g h t the fascist i n v a d e r s , h a d c o l l a b o r a t e d a n d w a s s t i l l
c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h t h e m against the p e o p l e a n d t h e i r w a r .
The creation of the F r o n t and the slogan of u n i t i n g in
this o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l those w h o w e r e f o r t h e
war
against t h e i n v a d e r s , c o n s t i t u t e d o n e o f the m a i n t a c t i c a l
tasks o f t h e P a r t y i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e t h e f u n d a m e n t a l
strategic o b j e c t i v e o f that t i m e , w h i c h w a s t h e c o m p l e t e
l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f the
people's p o w e r . L i f e p r o v e d t h e correctness o f this line,
a s w e l l a s i t s f u l l a p p r o v a l b y t h e people. It. l i k e w i s e ,
c o n f i r m e d t h e great a n d i r r e p l a c e a b l e r o l e w h i c h the
N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n F r o n t p l a y e d i n u n i t i n g t h e people
a r o u n d t h e P a r t y a n d u n d e r its l e a d e r s h i p , i n m o b i l i z i n g
300
ENVER
HOXHA
a l l t h e energies a n d c r e a t i v e capacities o f t h e p e o p l e t o
s e r v e t h e great cause o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n .
3. — THE ROLE OF THE FRONT IN THE STRUGGLE FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SOCIALISM
E v e n after the liberation of the
country the
Front
continues t o f u n c t i o n u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e P a r t y
as a d e m o c r a t i c o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e b r o a d masses f o r
t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e socialist
revolution and
the
construction of socialism. T h e line of the P a r t y in connection w i t h the F r o n t remains that of steadily enhancing
its m a j o r r o l e i n u n i t i n g a l l t h e w o r k i n g p e o p l e i n the
ranks of this organization, in educating them in the spirit
of patriotism, of love for the H o m e l a n d , a n d the defence
o f t h e f r e e d o m a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e w o n , i n m o b i l i z i n g the
masses o f the p e o p l e i n t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n
of socialism and communism, in educating them
with
feelings o f p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m .
A r m e d w i t h r i c h e x p e r i e n c e a n d c a r r y i n g o n its t r a d i tions f r o m t h e N a t i o n a l L i b e r a t i o n W a r , t h e F r o n t c o n t i n u e s
to m a k e a m a j o r contribution to the attainment of all
t h e v i c t o r i e s o f o u r p e o p l e i n the s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c o n s truction of socialism a n d the defence of the country.
The directives of
the Party, w h i c h
express the
vital
interests o f t h e w o r k i n g people, h a v e a l w a y s b e e n a n d
are. also d i r e c t i v e s o f w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e f o r t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t w h i c h has f o u n d a n d d e v e l o p e d
various
forms of work, organization and education in order to
apply them in practice and make them reality. T h e Front
has a l w a y s b e e n t h a t p o w e r f u l lever, b y m e a n s o f w h i c h
the P a r t y has l i n k e d i t s e l f e v e r m o r e c l o s e l y w i t h t h e
masses, has t a k e n its c o r r e c t l i n e t o t h e m a n d has e d u c a t e d
a n d m o b i l i z e d t h e m t o p e r f o r m g r e a t a n d h e r o i c deeds.
301
I n t h e heat o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n , i n t h e great struggle
for the c o n s t r u c t i o n of s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e defence of the
H o m e l a n d , t h e F r o n t has b e e n s t r e n g t h e n e d p o l i t i c a l l y
and o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l y , has c a r r i e d t o the masses a n d a p p l i e d
the t e a c h i n g s o f t h e P a r t y o n t h e class s t r u g g l e , against
bourgeois a n d r e v i s i o n i s t i d e o l o g y , f e u d a l a n d p a t r i a r c h a l
survivals, b a c k w a r d customs a n d religious
prejudices,
against e v e r y t h i n g t h a t w e a k e n s t h e u n i t y o f t h e people,
the a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g
class w i t h t h e
working
p e a s a n t r y a n d t h e people's i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d t h a t h i n d e r s
the p r o g r e s s o f o u r society t o w a r d s s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m munism. T h e F r o n t is a great school for the
political
e d u c a t i o n of t h e masses of t h e people.
T h e F r o n t i s t h e b r o a d e s t o r g a n i z a t i o n o f t h e masses
in our system of the dictatorship of the proletariat. This
system i n c l u d e s a l l t h e o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e m a s ses, l i k e : t h e T r a d e U n i o n s , t h e L a b o u r Y o u t h U n i o n a n d
the W o m e n ' s U n i o n . T h e s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s , t o g e t h e r w i t h
the D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t , a r e l e v e r s o f the P a r t y t o l i n k i t
w i t h t h e masses a n d h a v e p l a y e d a n d p l a y a v e r y i m p o r t ant r o l e i n t h e l i f e o f t h e c o u n t r y . B e a r i n g i n m i n d
the s p e c i f i c p r o b l e m s a n d r e q u i r e m e n t s o f w o r k e r s , y o u t h
and w o m e n , t h e y b u i l d t h e i r p o l i t i c a l , e d u c a t i o n a l a n d
o r g a n i z a t i o n a l w o r k s o t h a t t h e d i r e c t i v e s o f the P a r t y are
u n d e r s t o o d a n d a p p l i e d c o r r e c t l y b y a l l these s t r a t a o f t h e
p o p u l a t i o n . A l l t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e masses c a r r y o n
t h e i r a c t i v i t y i n close c o n n e c t i o n w i t h one another, but
the w o r k o f o n e c a n n o t r e p l a c e t h a t o f a n o t h e r . E a c h
o r g a n i z a t i o n has its o w n s p e c i f i c task a n d r o l e t o p l a y i n
the s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m . W h e r e a s
the o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a v e t o d o w i t h g i v e n s t r a t a o f the
people, t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t i s the o r g a n i z a t i o n i n w h i c h
the p o l i t i c a l u n i t y o f t h e w h o l e p e o p l e i s a c h i e v e d . W h i l e
militating in their respective organizations, the members
o f the o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s are, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , m e m b e r s
302
ENVER
HOXHA
o f t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t a n d t a k e p a r t a c t i v e l y i n a l l the
debates a n d a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e F r o n t .
T h u s , t h e F r o n t i s the b r o a d e s t s u p p o r t o f the P a r t y
a n d people's p o w e r a n d , a t t h e p r e s e n t stage o f the cons t r u c t i o n o f socialist society, its r o l e f a r f r o m d i m i n i s h i n g
a n d c o m i n g t o a n e n d , becomes e v e n m o r e i m p o r t a n t .
T h e sole l e a d i n g a n d g u i d i n g f o r c e i n o u r s y s t e m
of the dictatorship of the proletariat is the P a r t y
of
L a b o u r . W i t h o u t t h e P a r t y a n d its l e a d i n g r o l e , the
F r o n t , l i k e t h e o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e masses, c o u l d
not e x i s t as a t r u l y d e m o c r a t i c people's
organization
w h i c h e m b o d i e s a n d s a f e g u a r d s t h e interests o f the m a s ses. It is the P a r t y t h a t i n s p i r e s t h e m , c o - o r d i n a t e s t h e i r
w o r k and directs all their activities to serve the great
objective — the t r i u m p h of socialism and c o m m u n i s m .
O u r P a r t y has r e j e c t e d a n d c o n d e m n e d t h e p r e a c h ings o f the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o d e n y t h e l e a d i n g
role
o f t h e P a r t y i n the s y s t e m o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p
o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the masses,
w h o p r e a c h t h e « i n d e p e n d e n c e » of the o r g a n i z a t i o n s of
t h e masses f r o m the P a r t y , w h o oppose S t a l i n ' s M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t thesis t h a t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f the masses a r e
levers, t r a n s m i s s i o n - b e l t s
to l i n k the P a r t y w i t h the
masses. T h e « i n d e p e n d e n c e » t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s d e m a n d i s
a f r a u d . S o l o n g a s the class s t r u g g l e c o n t i n u e s
in
society, n o i n d i v i d u a l , let alone a n o r g a n i z a t i o n , c a n
s t a n d above classes, above t h e P a r t y , o u t s i d e a n d i n d e p e n d e n t o f politics. T h e i n d e p e n d e n c e w h i c h t h e r e v i sionists a r e a f t e r i s n o t h i n g b u t i n d e p e n d e n c e f r o m p r o letarian politics, f r o m dhe communist party, in order
t o g o o v e r t o f u l l dependence o n b o u r g e o i s p o l i t i c s
and bourgeois parties.
The
line
followed
our experience
in
by
this
our
Party
direction,
in
the
regardless
Front
and
of
the
303
p e c u l i a r i t i e s w h i c h a r e c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e concrete h i s t o r i c a l c o n d i t i o n s o f o u r c o u n t r y , once a g a i n c o n f i r m
certain f u n d a m e n t a l t e a c h i n g s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w h i c h
are e s s e n t i a l to t h e s u c c e s s f u l a d v a n c e of t h e c a u s e of
national liberation, the revolution and socialism.
T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r c o u n t r y has p r o v e n a l s o t h a t
o n l y the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y as a conscious a n d
organized v a n g u a r d o f the w o r k i n g class, w h i c h i s c o n s i stently r e v o l u t i o n a r y , l o y a l t o the e n d t o t h e i d e o l o g i c a l
p r i n c i p l e s o f o u r d o c t r i n e , c a n l e a d t h e c o u n t r y a n d the
people t o v i c t o r y , b o t h i n t h e d e m o c r a t i c
national
l i b e r a t i o n r e v o l u t i o n a n d i n the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n
and t h e s t r u g g l e f o r t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist a n d
c o m m u n i s t society. B o t h o u r e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e e x p e rience o f the w o r l d r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d l i b e r a t i o n m o v e ment p r o v e that, i n the stage o f i m p e r i a l i s m ,
the
bourgeoisie a n d its p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s a r e i n c a p a b l e , f r o m
their v e r y class n a t u r e , o f c a r r y i n g e i t h e r t h e s t r u g g l e
against i m p e r i a l i s m f o r g e n u i n e n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n o r
the d e m o c r a t i c a n t i - f e u d a l r e v o l u t i o n t h r o u g h t o t h e
end. T h e p r e a c h i n g s o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e , T i t o i t e a n d
other m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o d e n y t h e l e a d i n g r o l e
o f the p r o l e t a r i a n p a r t y i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e s o c i alist c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d w h o p r o p a g a t e t h e i d e a t h a t
it is possible to go o v e r to socialism even under the
leadership of other parties of a bourgeois a n d pettybourgeois c h a r a c t e r a n d e v e n o f t r a d e - u n i o n s w h i c h
are in the s e r v i c e of c a p i t a l i s t m o n o p o l i e s , a r e a m a j o r
b e t r a y a l o f the p r i n c i p l e s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , the
w o r k i n g class a n d its r e v o l u t i o n a r y cause.
F o r the cause of liberation a n d the revolution to
t r i u m p h i t i s necessary that the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y u n i t e s
all the r e v o l u t i o n a r y forces i n a b r o a d p o p u l a r f r o n t , u n der its l e a d e r s h i p . In c r e a t i n g b r o a d p o p u l a r f r o n t s , a
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t p a r t y m u s t n e v e r p i n its
304
ENVER
HOXHA
hopes a n d c o n c e n t r a t e a l l its e f f o r t s o n a l l i a n c e s and
c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h the c h i e f s o f v a r i o u s p o l i t i c a l parties
a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s . W i t h o u t n e g l e c t i n g t h i s w o r k , i t i s the
d u t y o f the p a r t y t o d e v o t e a l l its a t t e n t i o n a n d e f f o r t s
t o t h e s t r u g g l e t o create t h e u n i t y o f t h e people f r o m
b e l o w , t h r o u g h e x t e n s i v e w o r k o f c l a r i f i c a t i o n a n d persuasion w i t h the masses, e s p e c i a l l y t h r o u g h t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f w e l l - c o n s i d e r e d , w e l l - p r e p a r e d , concrete actions.
E x p e r i e n c e has s h o w n that the core of the u n i t e d
f r o n t , its f o u n d a t i o n stone, i s t h e a l l i a n c e o f t h e w o r k i n g
class w i t h the w o r k i n g p e a s a n t r y . W i t h o u t this a l l i a n c e there
i s n o p o p u l a r f r o n t , n o n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n f r o n t . T h e s e are
t w o m a i n m o t i v e forces o f e v e r y g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n o f
o u r days, a n d t h e y c o m p r i s e the o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f
the p o p u l a t i o n o f e v e r y c o u n t r y . H e n c e , i n o r d e r t o b e a
truly broad, militant, revolutionary political organization,
the f r o n t m u s t be, f i r s t of a l l . a u n i o n of the b r o a d m a s ses o f t h e people a c h i e v e d w i t h s t r u g g l e a n d i n
the
course of struggle, a n d n o t a s i m p l e u n i o n of parties, a n d
e v e n less, of chiefs of parties, a c h i e v e d on the basis of
various political combinations.
In t h e c o n d i t i o n s of a d e m o c r a t i c p o p u l a r r e v o l u t i o n
and of a national liberation war, w h e n various bourgeois
a n d p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s are i n existence, the c o m m u n i s t
party can and must t r y to achieve cooperation w i t h them
in a broad democratic popular or national liberation front.
I n these cases the f r o n t has its o w n p e c u l i a r i t i e s w h i c h
distinguish it from our National
Liberation Front,
in
w h i c h t h e r e w e r e n o other p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s save the
C o m m u n i s t P a r t y . I t i s clear t h a t w h e n a c o m m u n i s t p a r t y
goes i n t o w a r a n d r e v o l u t i o n together w i t h o t h e r p r o g ressive parties, i t has t o o v e r c o m e m a n y d i f f i c u l t i e s b o t h
t o e n s u r e v i c t o r y i n the l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e a n d t o
develop the revolution f r o m the democratic anti-imper i a l i s t a n d a n t i - f e u d a l stage to the stage of t h e socialist
305
revolution. I t w i l l n o t b e a b l e t o pass t h r o u g h t h i s p r o cess a s e a s i l y o r i n the s a m e w a y a s o u r P a r t y d i d . T h e
problem i s t h a t w h e n b o u r g e o i s a n d s o - c a l l e d socialist
parties see t h a t t h e interests of the classes t h e y r e p r e s e n t
are being d a m a g e d o r j e o p a r d i z e d they w i l l resort t o m a n y
political, o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a n d m i l i t a r y m a n o e u v r e s , i n ordert o w e a k e n the l i b e r a t i o n w a r , t h e r e v o l u t i o n , t o b r e a k
u p the alliances, d e s t r o y
the c o m m o n f r o n t , a n d i n p a r ticular t o u n d e r m i n e t h e l e a d i n g r o l e o f t h e c o m m u n i s t
party i n t h i s f r o n t . T h i s i s l i n k e d w i t h t h e class n a t u r e ,
position a n d t e n d e n c i e s o f the bourgeoisie.
Therefore,
while p u r s u i n g t h e l i n e o f c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h v a r i o u s s t r a t a
of the b o u r g e o i s i e or w i t h t h e i r p a r t i e s , t h e c o m m u n i s t
party must, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , also a p p l y the l i n e o f s t r u g gle against t h e i r v a c i l l a t i o n s a n d d u p l i c i t y , against t h e i r
compromises w i t h the f o r c e s o f t h e o c c u p i e r a n d r e a c t i o n .
To pursue the line of u n i t y alone a n d to neglect the line
of struggle against s p l i t t i n g a n d r e a c t i o n a r y a c t i v i t i e s in the
front m e a n s t o t a k e a n o p p o r t u n i s t s t a n d w i t h v e r y d a n gerous consequences f o r the l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e a n d the
revolution.
O p e r a t i n g a t p r e s e n t i n the w o r l d p o l i t i c a l a r e n a , i n
addition t o t h e n o w d i s c r e d i t e d b o u r g e o i s a n d s o c i a l democratic p a r t i e s , a r e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s w h i c h h a v e
betrayed the i n t e r e s t s o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d its r e v o l utionary cause. T h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t forces a n d p a r t i e s
must w a g e a m e r c i l e s s s t r u g g l e against these p a r t i e s to
expose t h e i r t r e a c h e r y , t h e i r c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y aims,
t o smash t h e m a s p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s b y w i n n i n g a w a y t h e i r
rank-and-file members and without entering into any
compromise w i t h t h e m o v e r p r i n c i p l e s . C e r t a i n r e v i s i o n i s t
parties w i l l i n d u l g e i n d e m a g o g i c t a l k a b o u t t h e a r m e d
struggle, others, t o save t h e i r face, m a y e v e n u n d e r t a k e
some sort of
a c t i o n . M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s m u s t n o t be
misled b y t h e s e c u n n i n g tactics, m u s t n e v e r c o n f o u n d t h e
306
ENVER
HOXHA
d e s i r e o f the masses f o r s t r u g g l e w i t h t h e a i m o f the
r e v i s i o n i s t c h i e f s t o sabotage t h e i r s t r u g g l e . T h e r e f o r e , the
o n l y w a y i s t o m a k e contact w i t h t h e r a n k - a n d - f i l e i n the
heat o f the s t r u g g l e a n d f o r the r e v o l u t i o n a r y struggle, a n d
t h i s i n o r d e r t o n e u t r a l i z e a n d l i q u i d a t e the r e v i s i o n i s t s .
W h i l e p u r s u i n g the l i n e o f c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h other
parties i n the n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n a n d d e m o c r a t i c r e v o l u t i o n ,
it is essential
that
the
Marxist-Leninist
communist
p a r t y m a i n t a i n s its c o m p l e t e i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l a n d
o r g a n i z a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e as a p a r t y of t h e w o r k i n g
class; t h a t i t does n o t s t a n d a s i d e f r o m o r t a i l b e h i n d
events, a n d m u s t n o t d i s s o l v e i t s e l f i n t h e F r o n t , b u t
m u s t a l w a y s s t r i v e t o a c q u i r e the l e a d i n g role, m u s t s t r u g gle f o r h e g e m o n y . A t t h e same t i m e , i t i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t
it n e v e r f o r a m o m e n t f o r g e t s t h e p e r s p e c t i v e of the
d e v e l o p m e n t o f the r e v o l u t i o n a n d a t t a i n i n g its u l t i m a t e
objective. T h e
true
Marxist-Leninist party
a n d true
revolutionaries must always remain loyal to dhe principles o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t o the l a w s o f the p r o l e t a r i a n
r e v o l u t i o n , e v e n i n the c o n d i t i o n s o f w a r w i t h i m p e r i a l i s m
a n d its m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t stooges. T h e y m u s t n e v e r
lose
s i g h t o f these p r i n c i p l e s a n d these l a w s , n e v e r f a l l i n t o
the t r a p o f a d v e n t u r i s m a n d p s e u d o - r e v o l u t i o n a r y f o r m s
or e m p t y slogans w h i c h allegedly c o n f o r m to the «specific» c o n d i t i o n s o f d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s . S p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s
e x i s t a n d m u s t a l w a y s b e t a k e n i n t o account, b u t these
s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s can b e u t i l i z e d c o r r e c t l y o n l y o n the
basis o f the f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e s o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m
a n d t h e l a w s o f the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n . A n y d e p a r t u r e
f r o m these p r i n c i p l e s a n d l a w s , u n d e r w h a t e v e r
form
o r p r e t e x t , leads i n e v i t a b l y t o d e f e a t f o r the p a r t y a n d t h e
revolution.
The creation of the broad popular front must in no
w a y serve as a basis f o r t h e s p r e a d of o p p o r t u n i s t a n d
reformist illusions that allegedly the existing order
of
307
things c a n b e t r a n s f o r m e d p e a c e f u l l y a n d a u t o m a t i c a l l y
and the v i c t o r y of the r e v o l u t i o n a n d t r a n s i t i o n to s o c i a l i s m
secured t h r o u g h w i n n i n g the m a j o r i t y a m o n g the masses
and i n t h e b o u r g e o i s p a r l i a m e n t s . O n the c o n t r a r y ,
the
front w h i c h i s set u p d u r i n g the process o f the r e v o l u tionary s t r u g g l e m u s t s e r v e t h e cause o f the p o l i t i c a l e d u cation a n d u n i f i c a t i o n o f the people a n d t h e i r m o b i l i z a t i o n
for the a r m e d s t r u g g l e t o o v e r t h r o w b y f o r c e t h e i m p e r i alists, the o c c u p i e r s a n d t h e l o c a l r e a c t i o n a r y classes, w h o ,
as history
has p r o v e d , n e v e r r e l i n q u i s h t h e i r p o s i t i o n s
voluntarily. T h e revolution w i t h violence is a universal
law, n o t o n l y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n , b u t also o f a n y
genuine d e m o c r a t i c l i b e r a t i o n r e v o l u t i o n o f o u r t i m e . T h e
preachings o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e a n d T i t o i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s
about t h e so-called p e a c e f u l w a y . w h i c h t h e y h a v e p r o claimed as a w o r l d - w i d e strategic p r i n c i p l e , s p e l l o n l y
defeat f o r the p a r t y o f the w o r k i n g class, t h e r e v o l u t i o n
and s o c i a l i s m .
A f t e r t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t has
been
established a n d c o n s o l i d a t e d , a t h i n g w h i c h is a c h i e v e d
under t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y , the existence
for a l o n g t i m e of o t h e r p a r t i e s , e v e n « p r o g r e s s i v e » ones,
inside o r outside t h e f r o n t , e v e n f o r m a l l y , o n account o f
their alleged t r a d i t i o n s , has no m e a n i n g , is against reason.
E v e r y p r o g r e s s i v e t r a d i t i o n i s m e r g e d i n the r e v o l u t i o n a r y
line of t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y . T h e r e v o l u t i o n o v e r t u r n s a
w h o l e w o r l d , let a l o n e a s i n g l e t r a d i t i o n . S i n c e t h e class
struggle goes o n d u r i n g t h e w h o l e p e r i o d o f t h e c o n s t r u ction of socialist society a n d the t r a n s i t i o n to c o m m u n i s m ,
and s i n c e p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s e x p r e s s t h e i n t e r e s t s o f s p e c i f i c
classes, the p r e s e n c e of o t h e r n o n - M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s
i n the s y s t e m o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t w o u l d
be a b s u r d a n d o p p o r t u n i s t , e s p e c i a l l y after t h e e c o n o m i c
base o f s o c i a l i s m has b e e n b u i l t . T h i s i n n o w a y i n f r i n g e s
democracy, but, o n t h e c o n t r a r y , strengthens g e n u i n e p r o -
308
ENVER
HOXHA
letarian democracy. T h e democratic nature of an order is
not d e t e r m i n e d b y the n u m b e r o f parties, b u t i s d e t e r m i n e d by its e c o n o m i c base, by the class in p o w e r , the
w h o l e p o l i c y a n d a c t i v i t y o f t h e state a n d w h e t h e r o r
not it is in t h e interests of the b r o a d masses of the people
a n d serves t h e m .
W i t h a v i e w to achieving their counter-revolutionary
a i m s i n the s e r v i c e o f t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d i m p e r i a l i s m ,
the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s are e v e r m o r e z e a l o u s l y p u r s u i n g
t h e course of t h e d e g e n e r a t i o n of t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s
a n d the socialist r e g i m e s . T h e y are l i q u i d a t i n g t h e p a r t i e s
o f the w o r k i n g class, b y d e n y i n g t h e i r p r o l e t a r i a n class
c h a r a c t e r a n d p r o c l a i m i n g t h e m «parties o f the w h o l e p e o ple». I n fact t h e y h a v e t u r n e d t h e m i n t o b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s
of a n e w t y p e . T h e d e g e n e r a t i o n of the c o m m u n i s t p a r t i e s
a n d the socialist o r d e r in a n u m b e r of c o u n t r i e s , w h e r e
r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s are i n p o w e r , i s b r i n g i n g a b o u t the
r e v i v a l o f the s y s t e m o f t w o o r m o r e b o u r g e o i s p a r t i e s
w i t h pseudo-socialist d i s g u i s e s a l l e g e d l y i n t h e n a m e o f
t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of socialist d e m o c r a c y . S u c h f r o n t s , as
there are i n some o f these c o u n t r i e s , e x i s t o n l y o n p a p e r ;
t h e y a r c lifeless a n d the signs are a l r e a d y a p p a r e n t o f
the r e v i v a l a n d p o l i t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a c t i v a t i o n o f
p a r t i e s t a k i n g p a r t i n these f r o n t s i n o r d e r t o w i n d o m i n a n t
positions i n t h e socialist state w h i c h i s i n c r e a s i n g l y ass u m i n g t h e f e a t u r e s of a b o u r g e o i s state. T h e m o r e e x t r e mist groupings of m o d e r n revisionists, particularly in
the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s s u c h a s F r a n c e a n d I t a l y , a r e
s t r i v i n g t o p e r s u a d e t h e i r r e v i s i o n i s t colleagues i n the
socialist c o u n t r i e s to p r o c e e d at top speed on t h i s course,
t o p r o v i d e the W e s t e r n b o u r g e o i s i e w i t h f u r t h e r p r o o f
that t h e y are p r e p a r e d t o p u t a n e n d t o « S t a l i n i s t s o c i a l ism» a n d to r e - e s t a b l i s h a n e w b o u r g e o i s s o c i a l i s m of the
social-democratic type a n d to facilitate the w o r k of the
revisionists in the capitalist countries in their efforts
309
t o u n i t e a n d m e r g e w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a n d its p o l i t i c a l
parties, t o j o i n w i t h t h e m i n b u i l d i n g a «socialist» o r d e r
of this t y p e in these c o u n t r i e s .
The experience of the Democratic F r o n t over 25 years
shows that o u r P a r t y has a l w a y s p u r s u e d a correct line, has
successfully
defended
and applied
the principles of
Marxism-Leninism
and
the
laws of
the
proletarian
r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e socialist c o n s t r u c t i o n . T h i s has e n s u r e d
for o u r P a r t y a n d p e o p l e a l l t h e great v i c t o r i e s w h i c h
w e e n j o y t o d a y . E x p e r i e n c e u p t o n o w also s h o w s t h a t the
Front r e m a i n s to this d a y , as t h e 5 t h C o n g r e s s of the
P a r t y p u t it, t h e m a i n l i n k o f t h e p o l i t i c a l u n i t y o f t h e
people a r o u n d the P a r t y a n d people's state p o w e r f o r the
construction o f s o c i a l i s m a n d t h e d e f e n c e o f t h e H o m e l a n d ,
a great t r i b u n e f o r t h e e n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d e d u c a t i o n
of
the w o r k e r s w i t h t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y , a p o w e r f u l m e a n s
t o e n s u r e t h e a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e b r o a d masses
o f the p e o p l e i n r u n n i n g a f f a i r s a n d s o l v i n g m a j o r social
and state p r o b l e m s .
........................
II
2. — THE ROLE OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT IN FURTHER
STRENGTHENING THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT
AND EXTENDING SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY
T h e e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r f r e e a n d i n d e p e n d e n t c o u n t r y has
s h o w n that w i t h o u t t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f the p r o l e t a r i a t the
victories of the r e v o l u t i o n c a n n o t be s e c u r e d , the resistance
and a c t i v i t y o f e x t e r n a l a n d i n t e r n a l e n e m i e s cannot b e
smashed a n d d e f e a t e d , the d e f e n c e o f o u r socialist H o m e land cannot be guaranteed, a n d the construction of socialist
and communist society cannot be carried f o r w a r d .
310
ENVER
HOXHA
L i k e a l l the o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f masses, the D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t has p l a y e d a m a j o r r o l e a n d has done a l l r o u n d w o r k f o r t h e c o n t i n u o u s s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the
people's p o w e r . I t h a s e d u c a t e d the w o r k i n g m a s s e s o f
town and countryside in the spirit of devotion and loyalty
to t h e state, has m o b i l i z e d t h e m to c a r r y out its d e c i s i o n s
a n d l a w s , a n d h a s d r a w n t h e m m o r e a n d m o r e i n t o state
and social activity.
M o r e t h a n o n c e the P a r t y h a s s t r e s s e d that the s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d f u r t h e r d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f the people's p o w e r
cannot be attained without combating bureaucracy, and
has w a g e d a consistent a n d resolute s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t it.
I n r e c e n t years, e s p e c i a l l y , i t h a s l a u n c h e d a n a t t a c k o v e r
a b r o a d f r o n t against b u r e a u c r a t i c m a n i f e s t a t i o n s a n d d i s tortions i n the a p p a r a t u s a n d o r g a n s o f the state, the econ o m y a n d the P a r t y . T h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s s t r u g g l e a r e v e r y
good. W i t h i n a r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t t i m e a colossal a m o u n t
o f w o r k has been d o n e a n d a n u m b e r o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y
measures, f a m i l i a r t o a l l , t a k e n . T h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s
that, a s a l w a y s , these m e a s u r e s o f the P a r t y a n d G o v e r n m e n t w e r e s t r o n g l y s u p p o r t e d b y the w o r k i n g people o f
o u r c o u n t r y a n d are b e i n g c a r r i e d out w i t h t h e i r d i r e c t a n d
active p a r t i c i p a t i o n . T h i s has g i v e n the s t r u g g l e against
b u r e a u c r a c y the n a t u r e of a b r o a d p o p u l a r m o v e m e n t
of
p r o f o u n d i d e o l o g i c a l content. T h e essence o f t h i s s t r u g g l e
is to s t r e n g t h e n the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the p r o l e t a r i a t , to c a r r y
o u r socialist r e v o l u t i o n t h r o u g h t o t h e e n d , t o b l o c k the
w a y to revisionist manifestations and any possibility of
restoration of capitalism in our country.
But, w h i l e we may have struck a heavy blow at bureaucracy, w e h a v e not l i q u i d a t e d a n d v a n q u i s h e d i t c o m p l e t e l y as yet. T h e r e f o r e , t h e r e is no r o o m to be s a t i s f i e d
w i t h the r e s u l t s a t t a i n e d . W e h a v e a great d e a l o f w o r k
ahead o f u s t o m a k e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t o f the
struggle against b u r e a u c r a c y m o r e t h o r o u g h - g o i n g .
311
First of all, the Democratic Front must continue to do
extensive, a l l - s i d e d e x p l a n a t o r y w o r k w i t h the masses
of the people so t h a t t h e y u n d e r s t a n d the r e a l d a n g e r
which bureaucracy represents now and in the future
for o u r people's p o w e r , f o r o u r socialist o r d e r a n d t h e
achievements o f the r e v o l u t i o n , t o m a k e t h e m conscious
and resolute f i g h t e r s a g a i n s t it. L e t i t b e
thoroughly
understood b y a l l t h a t t h e s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y i s
a long a n d a l l - s i d e d one, t h a t it is, f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t ,
an i d e o l o g i c a l s t r u g g l e to e r a d i c a t e b u r e a u c r a t i c concepts
of management in order to inculcate and temper r e v o l u tionary concepts w h i c h m u s t f u l l y r e s p o n d t o the p r o foundly p o p u l a r c h a r a c t e r o f o u r state. T h i s i s the o n l y
way t o s u c c e s s f u l l y c o m b a t the n a r r o w concept w h i c h r e duces the s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y t o c u t t i n g d o w n o n
paper w o r k a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e p e r s o n n e l a n d t o a v o i d the
practice o f c o n d u c t i n g t h i s s t r u g g l e i n s p o r a d i c c a m p a i g n s .
T h e c h e c k - u p b y t h e b r o a d masses o f w o r k e r s a n d
peasants, by o u r p e o p l e as a w h o l e , on the a c t i v i t y of
the o r g a n s a n d e m p l o y e e s of the state is o n e of t h e most
important c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n i n g a n d
d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f t h e people's p o w e r a n d f o r success
in the s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y .
The Democratic F r o n t is called upon to organize and
encourage the c h e c k - u p of t h e masses on the state organs
and persons w o r k i n g i n t h e m , o n t h e one h a n d , a n d , o n
the o t h e r h a n d , to c o n d u c t e x t e n s i v e , i d e o l o g i c a l , p o l i t i c a l ,
educational w o r k s o t h a t state f u n c t i o n a r i e s a n d employees,
the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e people in t h e state organs of
all levels a l w a y s f e e l t h a t t h e y are s e r v a n t s o f the people.
B u t w h a t does b e i n g a s e r v a n t o f t h e people m e a n ?
A b o v e a l l i t m e a n s t o s e r v e the p e o p l e w i t h great l o y a l t y ,
on the b a s i s of t h e m i l i t a n t l i n e of o u r P a r t y , to be a
tireless w o r k e r i n c a r r y i n g out the d e c i s i o n s a n d l a w s i n
force, a n d n e v e r f o r a m o m e n t to abuse t h e t r u s t w h i c h
312
ENVER
HOXHA
the p e o p l e h a v e p l a c e d i n y o u f o r p e r s o n a l g a i n
and
p r i v i l e g e s , b u t t o b e a l w a y s correct a n d sincere,
irreconcilable w i t h any manifestation of favouritism, partia l i t y a n d n e p o t i s m . T h i s m e a n s , also, t o b e p o l i t e
and
considerate t o w a r d s people, n o t o n l y d u r i n g w o r k - t i m e ,
but also o u t s i d e it, t o m a i n t a i n close l i n k s w i t h the m a s ses a n d to l i s t e n c a r e f u l l y to t h e i r o p i n i o n s , to m a i n t a i n a
p r i n c i p l e d s t a n d t o w a r d s c o m p l a i n t s a n d c r i t i c i s m b y the
people, t o b e i r r e c o n c i l a b l e w i t h m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f a r r o gance, conceit a n d h a u g h t i n e s s . F i n a l l y , i t m e a n s t o a l w a y s
put t h e interests of the people, the i n t e r e s t s of o u r s o c i a l ist s o c i e t y a b o v e e v e r y t h i n g , t o s u b j e c t y o u r p e r s o n a l
interests t o t h e m , a n d t o b e p r e p a r e d t o m a k e a n y s a c r i fice in t h e interests of the people.
E v e r y state e m p l o y e e o f w h a t e v e r r a n k s h o u l d c a r e f u l l y review his activity and fight in himself anything
at v a r i a n c e w i t h h i s f u n c t i o n as a s e r v a n t of t h e people.
T h e people, too, s h o u l d e x a m i n e t h e a c t i v i t y of state officials f r o m t h i s s a m e v i e w p o i n t . T h e i d e a t h a t «there
are s p e c i a l people to s u p e r v i s e t h e a c t i v i t y of state officials» must be discarded as an erroneous idea
which
h i n d e r s the i n i t i a t i v e o f the masses a n d t h a t o f the o r g a n izations of the Democratic F r o n t to organize and encourage the c o n t r o l b y t h e w o r k i n g people. N o other
c o n t r o l can r e p l a c e the c o n t r o l o f the people u n i t e d i n t h e i r
organization, the Democratic Front. Therefore, this supervision and control must be exercised regularly, w i t h
f u l l f o r c e a n d i n t h e r i g h t w a y s o t h a t i t helps
the
ceaseless i m p r o v e m e n t a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f t h e w o r k o f
a l l the p e o p l e a n d organs of t h e state...
T h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e state are the c o n c e r n o f a l l the
w o r k i n g people. T h e y are d e c i d e d o n a n d s o l v e d n o t b y
a f e w c o u n c i l l o r s a n d elected r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , a n d e v e n less
by a few appointed functionaries, but by the people
in
power. We must understand this thoroughly. Therefore,
313
the b r o a d e r t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f the w o r k i n g masses
in
state a c t i v i t y , t h e better a n d m o r e c o r r e c t l y w i l l t h e p r o blems be s t u d i e d a n d s o l v e d . In this r e g a r d , a m a j o r r o l e
belongs to the o r g a n i z a t i o n of t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t to
increase the p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f the masses i n the s t u d y a n d
solution o f m a j o r p r o b l e m s o f the people's state p o w e r ,
t o m a k e t h e masses f u l l y c o n s c i o u s t h a t t h e y s h o u l d t a k e
part a c t i v e l y i n r u n n i n g the a f f a i r s o f the
country.
Without this t h e r e c a n b e n o t a l k o f the f u r t h e r s t r e n g thening a n d d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n o f t h e people's state p o w e r ,
of successfully f i g h t i n g b u r e a u c r a c y .
«Bureaucracy», L e n i n says, «can be fought to the
end, to complete victory over it, only when the whole
population takes part in running the
country».*
. . . T h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f the masses i n r u n n i n g the
country also r e q u i r e s t h e i r e x t e n s i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n
in
d r a w i n g u p t h e decrees a n d t h e l a w s t h a t g u i d e a l l the
activity o f t h e state o r g a n s a n d r e g u l a t e the l i f e o f o u r
socialist society, as w e l l as t h e i r m o b i l i z a t i o n to a p p l y
these decrees a n d l a w s i n p r a c t i c e . T h e D e m o c r a t i c
Front must do a great deal of w o r k to m a k e the laws of
the state k n o w n , a n d not s i m p l y t h e i r t e c h n i c a l aspect,
but m a i n l y t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l content o f each
law, to e d u c a t e the people in the s p i r i t of respect f o r
the l a w s o f the state a n d i r r e c o n c i l a b i l i t y w i t h a n y b u r e a u cratic m a n i f e s t a t i o n a n d d i s t o r t i o n i n t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n .
O u r P a r t y has a l w a y s s t r i v e n c o n s i s t e n t l y t o d e v e l o p
and s t r e n g t h e n the b r o a d d e m o c r a c y of the masses of the
people a n d w e h a v e scored great v i c t o r i e s i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n . N o t o n l y t h e elections, b u t also a l l t h e a c t i v i t y o f
the o r g a n s o f t h e state a n d t h e e c o n o m y , o f e d u c a t i o n a n d
_____________________________
* V. I. L e n i n , Collected Works, vol. 29, p. 196 (Alb. ed.).
314
ENVER
HOXHA
c u l t u r e , t h e w h o l e l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y , t a k e p l a c e o n the
basis of s o c i a l i s t d e m o c r a c y .
T h e s t r u g g l e against b u r e a u c r a c y , w h i c h i s being
w a g e d w i t h success i n o u r c o u n t r y , i s c l e a n i n g u p a n d
o p e n i n g the w a y f o r a g r e a t e r d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o l e t a r i a n
d e m o c r a c y , i s s t r e n g t h e n i n g its r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d p o p u l a r
s p i r i t a n d r a i s i n g i t t o a h i g h e r l e v e l . I n the c o n t e x t
of t h i s struggle, t h e D e m o c r a t i c F r o n t m u s t do a great
d e a l o f w o r k t o e n s u r e t h a t the p e o p l e a r e n o t a f r a i d
t o h a v e t h e i r say a b o u t e v e r y t h i n g , because t h e y are
the m a s t e r s o f t h e c o u n t r y a n d the p o l i t i c a l p o w e r ,
t h e i r w i l l i s l a w f o r a l l a n d cannot b e v i o l a t e d b y a n y one. A t t h e i r meetings, the o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e D e m o c ratic F r o n t should encourage broad a n d free discussions b y the people o f e v e r y p r o b l e m that i n t e r e s t s o r
worries them. In particular, they should encourage open
a n d u n r e s e r v e d c r i t i c i s m b y the m a s s e s o f s h o r t c o m i n g s
a n d m i s t a k e s . T h e c r i t i c i s m b y the masses a t m e e t i n g s o r
through
flash-posters
should
mercilessly
deride
the
b u r e a u c r a t s , those w h o r e m a i n i n d i f f e r e n t a n d a n y o n e
w h o v i o l a t e s the d i r e c t i v e s o f t h e P a r t y a n d the l a w s o f
the people's state.
B y s t r e n g t h e n i n g the c o n t r o l o f t h e masses f r o m b e l o w
o v e r the a c t i v i t y o f t h e state o r g a n s a n d t h e i r apparatuses,
b y i n c r e a s i n g the p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e p e o p l e i n r u n n i n g the
c o u n t r y a n d b y c o n t i n u a l l y d e v e l o p i n g o u r socialist d e m o cracy, w e s h a l l d r y u p a n y source that gives b i r t h t o b u r e a u c r a c y , w e w i l l b a r t h e w a y t o a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f the
b i r t h o f r e v i s i o n i s m a n d a n y p o s s i b i l i t y o f the r e s t o r a t i o n
of capitalism in our country, and consolidate and further
d e m o c r a t i z e o u r people's p o w e r , the m o s t p o w e r f u l w e a p o n
i n o u r h a n d s , f o r the c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f socialist
society a n d the d e f e n c e o f o u r H o m e l a n d .
..........................
Works, vol. 36
ON COOPERATION AND THE TECHNICAL-SCIENTIFIC
REVOLUTION
From the closing speech delivered at the 3rd Plenum (1)
of the CC of the PLA
October 14, 1967
•••
I n m y speech c l o s i n g t h i s p l e n u m o f the C e n t r a l C o m mittee I w a n t to stress c e r t a i n aspects of c o o p e r a t i o n a n d
the t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n , w h i c h c o m p r i s e the essence o f t h e r e p o r t s o f the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u a n d t h e v e r y
valuable c o n t r i b u t i o n s o f the c o m r a d e s o f t h e C e n t r a l
Committee a n d o f o t h e r c o m r a d e s .
Cooperation, w h i c h concerns o u r i n d u s t r y today, in
the b r o a d sense of t h e t e r m is n o t a n e w p r o b l e m f o r
the C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d o u r G o v e r n m e n t . It is a p r o b lem w h i c h w e h a v e t o u n d e r s t a n d b o t h t h e o r e t i c a l l y a n d
__________________________________
1 T h e 3rd P l e n u m of the CC of the P L A was held on
October 13-14, 1967. At the P l e n u m t w o reports of the P o l i t i c a l
Bureau of the CC of the P L A w e r e d e l i v e r e d : « O n the W o r k
Done and the Measures to Be T a k e n for the F u l l Utilization
of the P r o d u c t i v e Capacities of the Engineering Industry, for
Its F u r t h e r Specialization a n d Cooperation», and « O n the
Work
of t h e Organizations of the
Party,
Mass O r g a nizations and State Organs for Inventions. Rationalizations
and Savings in Industry and Constructions and on the F u r t h e r
Measures to Be T a k e n for the Development of T h i s M o vement».
316
ENVER
HOXHA
t e c h n i c a l l y , because it seems as if it is o n l y a
technical
administrative problem.
T h e correct i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d a p p l i c a t i o n o f cooperat i o n i n the s y s t e m o f o u r socialist e c o n o m y i s o f m a j o r
i m p o r t a n c e . C o o p e r a t i o n i n the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s i s c o m pletely different f r o m cooperation in our country, both as
t o its m e a n i n g a n d a s t o its p u r p o s e .
I n t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s c o o p e r a t i o n exists, both
a m o n g d i f f e r e n t b r a n c h e s o f the e c o n o m y a n d w i t h i n
different branches of industry, it exists a m o n g the indust r i a l i s t c a p i t a l i s t s of a state, b e t w e e n t h e m a n d t h e i r
bourgeois slate, a n d a m o n g the t r u s t s a n d c o n s o r t i u m s
of v a r i o u s c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . S u c h a course has also
led to international organizations,
i n w h i c h the
most
p o w e r f u l c a p i t a l i s t trusts d o m i n a t e .
A l l this c a p i t a l i s t f o r m o f c o o p e r a t i o n i s b a s e d o n
c a p i t a l i s t p r i v a t e o w n e r s h i p , o n the s a v a g e c a p i t a l i s t e x p l o i t a t i o n o f the w o r k i n g people, o n t h e s t r u g g l e for
d o m i n a t i o n i n n a t i o n a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l m a r k e t s , o n the
l a w o f the j u n g l e a c c o r d i n g t o w h i c h «the b i g f i s h eats
the s m a l l fish», o n t h e c r e a t i o n o f o m n i p o t e n t n a t i o n a l
a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l trusts, i n o r d e r t o r u l e a n d b a r b a r o u s l y
e x p l o i t the peoples a n d the w e a l t h o f t h e i r c o u n t r i e s .
T h e savage l a w o f c o m p e t i t i o n i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t m a r kets i n e v i t a b l y leads, a m o n g s t o t h e r things, t o a n a r c h y
in production, w h i c h it is impossible to control. The
p o w e r f u l c a p i t a l i s t states s t r i v e b y b r u t a l m e t h o d s
to
o v e r c o m e it, f i g h t i n g d e s p e r a t e l y t o b r i n g about t h e c a p i talist economic i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e w e a k e r c a p i t a l i s t c o u n tries w i t h those w h i c h h a v e g r e a t e r e c o n o m i c a n d m i l i t a r y
s t r e n g t h . T h i s leads to the loss of t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d
e c o n o m i c f r e e d o m o f the c o u n t r y w h i c h sets out o n
the
course of c a p i t a l i s t i n t e g r a t i o n . It is t r a n s f o r m e d into
a c o l o n i a l c o u n t r y a n d its people into an e n s l a v e d people.
T h i s i s the p l i g h t i n w h i c h the t r e a c h e r o u s T i t o i t e
THE TECHNICAL—SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
317
course has l a n d e d Y u g o s l a v i a a n d its peoples. Y u g o s l a v
« s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n » has f u l l y o p e n e d the w a y f o r the
colonization o f Y u g o s l a v i a b y A m e r i c a n c a p i t a l a n d t h a t
of the o t h e r c a p i t a l i s t countries. In Y u g o s l a v i a , t h o u s ands of f a c t o r i e s are b e i n g closed a l l e g e d l y as n o n profitable, b u t t h i s m e a n s the c r e a t i o n o f b i g concerns,
which g o b b l e u p the s m a l l ones a n d w h i c h t r a n s f o r m the
whole e c o n o m y i n t o a c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m y a n d s u b o r d i n a t e
it to f o r e i g n c a p i t a l i s t concerns. F i n a l l y , this
radical
transformation in Y u g o s l a v i a has resulted in the creation
o f that t y p i c a l a n a r c h y i n the e c o n o m y , i n t h e m a r k e t ,
i n p o l i c y a n d i n i d e o l o g y , w h i c h w e a r e seeing e v e r y
day i n the T i t o i t e c a p i t a l i s t h e l l . T h e w h o l e Y u g o s l a v
economy i s i n the c l u t c h e s o f A m e r i c a n a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l
finance c a p i t a l , w h i c h m a k e s t h e e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l and
ideological l a w i n Y u g o s l a v i a .
T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r satellites i n
the
former E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s of people's d e m o c r a c y , l i k e w i s e ,
arc p r o c e e d i n g o n t h i s s a m e course. I r r e s p e c t i v e o f the
forms t h e y e m p l o y , t h e y are s t i c k i n g f a i t h f u l l y t o the
Y u g o s l a v c o u r s e a n d the essence a n d a i m s o f t h i s c o u r s e
are the same. S u c h a c o u r s e of c a p i t a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t ,
w h i c h is g u i d e d by the p r i n c i p l e s a n d a i m s I m e n t i o n e d
above, cannot accept the e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t of
the
country on t h e basis of a c e n t r a l i z e d p l a n , a l t h o u g h the
revisionists h a v e t h e i r o w n p l a n o f d e v e l o p m e n t , b u t this
plan is based on p r i n c i p l e s a n d a i m s d i a m e t r i c a l l y opposed
to those by w h i c h o u r socialist e c o n o m y is g u i d e d a n d
run. T h i s i s w h y w e see t h a t i n Y u g o s l a v i a , t h e S o v i e t
Union, etc.. t h e y h a v e r e j e c t e d or a r e r e j e c t i n g the s o c i a l ist p r i n c i p l e s of t h e c e n t r a l i z e d socialist p l a n n i n g of the
economy.
C o m e c o n has been t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a r e v i s i o n i s t o r g a nization f o r the c o o p e r a t i o n o f i n d u s t r y a n d m a n y other
branches of t h e e c o n o m i e s of the m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s . In
318
ENVER
HOXHA
t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n i t i s the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o r u l e and
t h r o u g h i t t h e y a i m t o e x p l o i t a n d d i r e c t the economies
o f the o t h e r m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s i n t h e i r o w n h e g e m o n i c
interests, to f o r c e these e c o n o m i e s in t h e d i r e c t i o n s that
suit the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , to l i e up t h e e c o n o m i e s of
the o t h e r c o u n t r i e s i n s u c h a w a y that, besides t h i s s h a m
socialist c o o p e r a t i o n , t h e y d o m i n a t e these c o u n t r i e s p o l i t i c a l l y , too.
Of course C o m e c o n is n o t h i n g b u t a k i n d of «comm o n m a r k e t » , o r the b o u r g e o i s «joint e c o n o m y o f the E u r o p e a n c o m m u n i t y » , set up on the basis of the p r i n c i p l e
o f e x p l o i t a t i o n a n d o p p r e s s i o n o f the s m a l l b y the m i g h t y ,
t h e r e f o r e w i t h i n i t t h e r e c a n b e n o t h i n g b u t great c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a n d s t r u g g l e w i t h one a n o t h e r . T h e r e a c t i o n s o f
the Socialist Republic of R u m a n i a . (2) w h i c h still remains
a m e m b e r of C o m e c o n .
against
the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s '
e n s l a v e m e n t are w e l l k n o w n . N o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h the f o r m
o f c o o p e r a t i o n i n C o m e c o n , the K h r u s h c h e v i t e s e v e n t r i e d
t o i n c l u d e the w h o l e b o r d e r a r e a o f the R u m a n i a n t e r r i tory, i n c l u d i n g B u c h a r e s t , w i t h i n the S o v i e t U n i o n a s
an allegedly economic measure, w h i c h more f r a n k l y w o u l d
m e a n the c o m p l e t e p o l i t i c a l c o l o n i z a t i o n o f R u m a n i a , too.
T h e a n t i - M a r x i s t c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n the f r a m e w o r k o f
Comecon is accompanied w i t h double capitalist enslav e m e n t , since a l l the m e m b e r s o f the r e v i s i o n i s t C o m e c o n . w i t h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s a t the h e a d , i n d i v i d u a l l y , b y m e a n s o f credits a n d c o o p e r a t i o n , h a v e p u t t h e m selves i n b o n d a g e t o a n d i n t o the clutches o f A m e r i c a n
and other monopoly capital.
O u r P a r t y a n d G o v e r n m e n t , o n the other h a n d , along
_______________________________________
2 T h e contradictions between the Comecon members are
also obvious in the reactions of the R u m a n i a n s against the
Khrushchevites' plans w i t h regard to «The International E c o n omic Complexes» in the context of the Comecon. (See «Viata
Economica», J u n e 12, 1964.)
319
w i t h t h e i r c o m p l e t e d e n u n c i a t i o n o f the t r e a c h e r o u s K h r u shchevite r e v i s i o n i s t s also r e l i n q u i s h e d a n d d e n o u n c e d all
the f o r m s of e n s l a v i n g e c o n o m i c c o l l a b o r a t i o n a n d cooperation t h a t t h e y h a v e e s t a b l i s h e d a m o n g themselves
A l l o f u s c a n r e m e m b e r the s t r u g g l e o f o u r P a r t y against
the o l d renegades f r o m M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , the Y u g o s l a v
Titoites, w h o , u n d e r t h e d i s g u i s e o f t h e a l l i a n c e , a t t e m p ted to b r i n g a b o u t the p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c u n i f i c a t i o n ,
designed the close c o - o r d i n a t i o n o f o u r e c o n o m i c p l a n s , i n
order to o p e n the w a y to t h e c o l o n i z a t i o n of o u r c o u n t r y
o n t h e i r p a r t . H o w e v e r , o u r P a r t y a n d people successfully
resisted a l l these h o s t i l e a t t e m p t s a n d t r i u m p h e d o v e r
them. T h u s w e g a i n e d v a l u a b l e e x p e r i e n c e i n the theory
and p r a c t i c e o f t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m , a n e x p e rience w h i c h t o d a y is h e l p i n g us to d e v e l o p o u r economy
correctly a n d s u c c e s s f u l l y o n the socialist r o a d a n d t o
score successes, w h e r e a s the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s , on the
contrary, s u f f e r defeats.
T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist e c o n o m y i s c a r r i e d
out a c c o r d i n g to a state p l a n , based on M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
principles and organization, inspired by our theory and
experience. S u c h a p l a n i s r e a l i s t i c a l l y based o n the o b j e c tive s i t u a t i o n a n d r e a l i t y o f o u r c o u n t r y , i n the d y n a m i c
process o f its d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d m a i n l y o n o u r o w n possibilities a n d forces.
O u r state p l a n d e v e l o p s a n d t h o r o u g h l y u t i l i z e s a l l
the m a t e r i a l a n d m o r a l resources o f the c o u n t r y f o r a
single great a i m — the c o m p l e t e c o n s t r u c t i o n of s o c i a l i s m ,
the c o n t i n u o u s i m p r o v e m e n t a n d r a i s i n g of the m a t e r i a l and
c u l t u r a l w e l l - b e i n g of the people. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r
economy is h a r m o n i o u s , does not k n o w the v a r i o u s ills
f r o m w h i c h the c a p i t a l i s t e c o n o m y s u f f e r s a n d w h i c h
are
part a n d p a r c e l o f t h a t e c o n o m y , does n o t k n o w c r i s e s o f
capitalist o v e r - p r o d u c t i o n , u n e m p l o y m e n t , s t a g n a t i o n o r
c o m p e t i t i o n o n the m a r k e t .
ENVER
320
HOXHA
A n i n t r i n s i c p a r t o f the state p l a n for the d e v e l o p m e n t
of the e c o n o m y is the q u e s t i o n of the h a r m o n i o u s cooper a t i o n of the d i f f e r e n t sectors of o u r e c o n o m y , the sectors
of the p r o d u c t i o n of m e a n s of p r o d u c t i o n , the r a i s i n g of
the l e v e l a n d t r a i n i n g of the cadres, etc. H e n c e , the p r o blem of cooperation is neither a n e w nor an
unknown
p r o b l e m t o o u r P a r t y a n d state. I n e v e r y sector o f o u r
d e v e l o p m e n t we h a v e a c o m p l e x of f o r m s of c o o p e r a t i o n ,
w h i c h o f t e n g o u n n o t i c e d , b u t are v e r y o b v i o u s l y o p e r a ting and without w h i c h neither that harmonious developm e n t n o r t h a t o b v i o u s p r o g r e s s c a n exist. C o o p e r a t i o n
exists, o r t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s a r e c r e a t e d f o r c o o p e r a t i o n
b e t w e e n d i f f e r e n t sectors o f the e c o n o m y a n d w i t h i n e a c h
separate sector.
L e t u s see h o w t h i s q u e s t i o n s t a n d s i n the a g r i c u l t u r a l
cooperatives. T h e v e r y n a m e c o o p e r a t i v e tells u s t h a t the
great idea of c o o p e r a t i o n exists there. In the a g r i c u l t u r a l
cooperatives the t r a n s i t i o n o f m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n f r o m
i n d i v i d u a l o w n e r s h i p t o c o m m o n o w n e r s h i p has b e c o m e a
fact a n d o n t h i s basis, t h e y a r e w o r k i n g , c o l l a b o r a t i n g , c o o p e r a t i n g together, socially. H e n c e , socialist c o o p e r a t i o n
o n t h e basis o f w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r s o c i a l l y a n d the c o m m o n m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n exists i n the a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives. T h i s c o o p e r a t i o n , these basic f a c t o r s are c a r r v i n g o u r a g r i c u l t u r e f o r w a r d , r e v o l u t i o n i z i n g t h e people
a n d p r o d u c t i o n , because t h e y organize, r a i s e to a h i g h e r
l e v e l w h a t y o u m i g h t c a l l the a r t i s a n style o f w o r k o f
the f o r m e r b a c k w a r d , f r a g m e n t e d i n d i v i d u a l e c o n o m y , i n
t h e d i r e c t i o n o f the c o o p e r a t i o n o f v a r i o u s b r a n c h e s o f
t h i s a g r i c u l t u r a l e c o n o m y , i n w h i c h the p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s
sentiments of small proprietorship, anarchy in production,
i n a w o r d , the n a r r o w interests o f t h e f a m i l y e c o n o m y ,
the interests of p r i v a t e c a p i t a l w i t h a l l its evils, etc.,
formerly reigned.
However,
apart
from
this
basic
ideological-political
THE TECHNICAL-SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
321
and e c o n o m i c c o o p e r a t i o n of t h e p e a s a n t r y t h a t
the
P a r t y c r e a t e d i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e , w i t h i n i t t h e r e exists
another m a j o r e c o n o m i c c o o p e r a t i o n w h i c h i s s o closely
l i n k e d w i t h i t t h a t i t seems t o u s l i k e s o m e t h i n g n a t u r a l .
B o t h o n the o l d i n d i v i d u a l p r o p e r t y i n a g r i c u l t u r e i n the
past a n d o n the c o m m o n socialist p r o p e r t y today, there i s
close a n d p e r m a n e n t c o o p e r a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e w i t h a n i mal h u s b a n d r y . T h e y are p r o d u c t i o n sectors o f t h e same
economic t r u n k , the one c a n n o t d o w i t h o u t t h e other.
The c o o p e r a t i o n o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y ,
which has become a tradition, a w a y of life, has its
own l a w s o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n , w h i c h i f
they are v i o l a t e d , i f t h e y a r e not k n o w n a n d a p p l i e d
properly, i f t h e y d o n o t r e s p o n d t o t h e o b j e c t i v e s i t u ations c r e a t e d as a r e s u l t of the r e v o l u t i o n a r y and
objective t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s , r e s u l t i n d a m a g e b e i n g done t o
both sectors s i m u l t a n e o u s l y or o n e s u f f e r i n g as a consequence of d a m a g e to t h e other.
W e a r e s t r u g g l i n g t o d e v e l o p t h i s h a r m o n i o u s cooperation f u r t h e r , o n s c i e n t i f i c f o u n d a t i o n s . T h e
form a t i o n o f c o o p e r a t i v e s i n t h e c o u n t r y s i d e creates t h e p o s sibilities a n d imposes t h e d u t y o n u s t o d e v e l o p these
two m a i n b r a n c h e s o f a g r i c u l t u r e h a r m o n i o u s l y a n d w i t h
new socialist n o r m s .
O u r peasant has e x p e r i e n c e i n a g r i c u l t u r e ,
gained
t h r o u g h the centuries, b u t it m u s t n o t be f o r g o t t e n that
in this, as in e v e r y t h i n g else, t h e r e is the o l d e x p e r i e n c e
o f the d e v e l o p m e n t o f a g r i c u l t u r e , w h i c h w a s d e t e r m i n e d
b y the s m a l l - s c a l e p r o p e r t y , t h e n a r r o w p e r s p e c t i v e
o f the c a p i t a l i s t d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h i s p r o p e r t y i n w h i c h the
cooperation o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y , w i t h i n
the p r o p e r t y , w a s o r g a n i z e d on the c a p i t a l i s t basis of
profit, the m a r k e t , etc.
I n t h e past,
division
of
these
t h e r e w a s s t i l l a n o t h e r aspect o f
two
natural
sectors
of
agriculture
the
in
322
ENVER
HOXHA
o u r c o u n t r y . T h e r e w e r e also c a p i t a l i s t l i v e s t o c k - f a r m e r s ,
w i t h b i g f l o c k s o f sheep, w h o d e v e l o p e d this
branch
separately f r o m a g r i c u l t u r e .
T h e r e f o r e , a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i o n m u s t not b e c o n s i d e r e d as s o m e t h i n g e a s i l y a t t a i n e d , as
something
e v e r y o n e k n o w s about, s o t h a t w e act i n a n a n a r c h i c o r
u n o r g a n i z e d w a y . I n this « g r e a t f a c t o r y w i t h o u t a r o o f » ,
w i t h m a n y k n o w n a n d u n k n o w n factors, w h e r e the factor
m a n p l a y s a m a j o r r o l e w i t h his p r o g r e s s i v e o r b a c k w a r d judgements, i n w h i c h k n o w n and u n k n o w n , lasting
a n d t e m p o r a r y b i o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n s f o r the p l a n t s and
a n i m a l s operate, i n w h i c h t h e r e are o b j e c t i v e l a w s o f
nature w h i c h must be k n o w n and p u t in the service of
m a n — a l l these t h i n g s open u p t o the P a r t y a n d a l l
the w o r k i n g people w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n a g r e a t f i e l d of
battles a n d e x p e r i m e n t s .
B a t t l e f i e l d s h a v e been o p e n e d u p t o u s f o r the
further improvement of cooperation in agriculture, for
t h e s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f the sense o f c o m m o n o w n e r s h i p
a n d w o r k i n g together socially, but, a t the same time,
w i t h the f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s o f t h e socialist e c o n o m y i n a g r i c u l t u r e w e are w a g i n g a n d m u s t
w a g e the big, e x t e n s i v e a n d t h o r o u g h - g o i n g b a t t l e f o r
science, f o r m o d e r n a g r o t e c h n i q u e .
T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n d i f f e r e n t sectors o f the a g r i c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i v e s s h o u l d b e c a r r i e d
o u t a n d e x t e n d e d so as to i m p a r t a f r e s h i m p e t u s to
t h e i r e c o n o m y , t o the w e l l - b e i n g o f the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s ,
a n d t o the n a r r o w i n g o f the d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n t o w n
a n d c o u n t r y s i d e . B e g i n n i n g f r o m the u n i t e d cooperatives, ( 3 )
___________________________________
3 T h e united cooperatives, w h i c h resulted f r o m the union
of some s m a l l cooperatives, had new possibilities to strengthen themselves f r o m the economic and organizational aspect,
to make better use of the superiority of the n e w socialist
order, and consolidate their economic links w i t h the state.
323
the local p r o c e s s i n g o f m i l k a n d m i l k - p r o d u c t s , the p r o cessing of v a r i o u s types of f r u i t a n d vegetables, the p r o d u c t i o n of a n u m b e r of p r o d u c t s u r g e n t l y n e e d e d f o r
the l i f e o f the v i l l a g e f r o m t h e r e m n a n t s o f p l a n t p r o d u c t s
w i l l create a n e w m a t e r i a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n
the l i f e of the c o o p e r a t i v i s t s . T h e d e v e l o p m e n t of h a n d i crafts services i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives, a n d not
only i n the d i r e c t i o n o f r e p a i r i n g w o r k tools, b u t o f
clothing a n d soft f u r n i s h i n g s , w o o d w o r k i n g f o r f u r n i t u r e
and house b u i l d i n g , t h e c r e a t i o n of the t e a m s of c a r p e n ters a n d j o i n e r s t o g e t h e r w i t h the b u i l d i n g squads i n the
villages — a l l t h i s c o o p e r a t i o n w i l l g i v e a great, u n p r e c e dented i m p u l s e t o t h e m a t e r i a l , c u l t u r a l a n d m o r a l l i f e
i n o u r socialist c o u n t r y s i d e .
O n t h e other h a n d , i n t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l cooperatives
we m u s t r a i s e a great n u m b e r of cadres w h o , besides t h e i r
k n o w l e d g e o f a g r i c u l t u r e a n d a n i m a l h u s b a n d r y , are
equipped w i t h o t h e r s k i l l s , necessary a n d i n d i s p e n s a b l e f o r
the v i l l a g e , a n d if n e e d be, to come to t h e assistance of
the state sector. T h i s is a m e t h o d , a l t h o u g h e m p i r i c a l ,
of the p o l y t e c h n i c a l e d u c a t i o n of the v i l l a g e f o l k on a mass
scale. If s u c h a m e t h o d of w o r k a n d e d u c a t i o n is also a p plied i n t h e a r m y f r o m w h i c h a great n u m b e r o f people
g o back t o t h e i r v i l l a g e s w h e n t h e y h a v e f i n i s h e d t h e i r
m i l i t a r y service, i t w i l l s t r e n g t h e n t h i s v e r y necessary
orientation for our countryside.
If we s e r i o u s l y w a n t to k n o w the past, so as
to
b u i l d the n e w o n s o l i d basis, w e m u s t not f a i l t o s t u d y h o w
the i n t e r n a l c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d a n i m a l
husbandry was understood and developed in the time of
private ownership and how it is understood and applied
today a n d h o w i t w i l l b e d e v e l o p e d i n the f u t u r e . I n t h e
knowledge of the land, in w o r k i n g it w e l l , in selecting
and d e t e r m i n i n g w h a t c r o p s t o g r o w , i n the d e v e l o p m e n t ,
r a i s i n g a n d d i v e r s i t y o f the a n i m a l s , i n the r a t i o n a l u t i l i -
324
ENVER
HOXHA
zation of production, implements, modern agricultural
m a c h i n e r y , d r a u g h t a n i m a l s a n d p r o d u c t i o n stock, d o w n
t o the m e n t a l a n d p h y s i c a l forces o f people, t h e r e a r e
so m a n y a f f i n i t i e s , so m a n y f o r m s of
indispensable
cooperation, w h i c h must be studied in detail a n d d u r i n g
the process, the good aspects w h i c h t i m e a n d e x p e r i e n c e
a f f i r m must be preserved and further perfected, while
o t h e r n e w ones m u s t b e c r e a t e d . I n a w o r d , t h e P a r t y
must b e c o n t i n u o u s l y p r e o c c u p i e d w i t h t h i s great process
w h i c h comprises an harmonious, scientific cooperation of
a l l the branches and means of agriculture. W i t h this I
w a n t t o s a y that the p r o b l e m u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n t o d a y has
a p o w e r f u l a n d i n d i s p e n s a b l e i n f l u e n c e o n o u r socialist
a g r i c u l t u r e , too.
I n the socialist i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y w e
a r e f o l l o w i n g a n d p e r f e c t i n g the same process g u i d e d b y
a p l a n a n d based r e a l i s t i c a l l y on the c o n d i t i o n s a n d p o s i b i l i t i e s o f o u r o w n c o u n t r y , i n t h e f i r s t place. S t a r t i n g
f r o m a h a n d i c r a f t s i t u a t i o n w e p r o g r e s s i v e l y set u p o u r
heavy and light industry, built mines a n d factories.
H o w e v e r , at this stage of the i n d u s t r i a l d e v e l o p m e n t of
o u r c o u n t r y , too, c o o p e r a t i o n has e x i s t e d i n v a r i o u s f o r m s ,
both in industry and handicrafts, w i t h i n each of them
a n d b e t w e e n each o t h e r , a s w e l l a s b e t w e e n i n d u s t r y a n d
a g r i c u l t u r e a n d o t h e r sectors. T h e s e f o r m s o f c o o p e r a t i o n
are already w e l l developed and are still developing and
being perfected.
A s y e t w e are u n a b l e t o g i v e u p a r t i s a n f o r m s o f
producing i n d u s t r i a l commodities, but after a period
they w i l l be completely replaced by industrial forms of
production, while artisan forms w i l l remain in repair
work.
The
purpose
m e a s u r e s w e are
the
productive
of
the s t u d y
we
are
t a k i n g is to ensure
capacities of
our
doing
and
the
f u l l utilization of
industry,
especially
of
325
the e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y w h i c h w e m u s t c o n c e n t r a t e a n d
specialize.
T h e e n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y n o w has s o l i d bases. I n a u d i t i o n t o the m a n y e n g i n e e r i n g d e p a r t m e n t s i n factories,
vehicle p a r k s , the M T S ' s a n d v a r i o u s w o r k s h o p s , e q u i p p e d
according to requirements and availability w i t h lathes and
other m e t a l - c u t t i n g m a c h i n e s , s p e c i a l e n g i n e e r i n g p l a n t s
have b e e n set u p i n o u r c o u n t r y .
I n o r d e r t o r a i s e t h e i r e c o n o m i c effectiveness
and
ensure t h e i r f u r t h e r s p e c i a l i z a t i o n , n o w i t i s
urgently
necessary to b r i n g a b o u t t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n
of these
means, so t h a t t h e y a r e no l o n g e r l e f t scattered a l l o v e r the
country. Obstacles r a i s e d b y g o v e r n m e n t d e p a r t m e n t s a n d
a t i n d i v i d u a l e n t e r p r i s e l e v e l , w h i c h w a n t t o h a v e these
weapons, a s y o u m i g h t c a l l t h e m , a t t h e i r d i s p o s a l f o r
their o w n needs a n d t r y t o c o n v i n c e u s a b o u t t h e i r needs,
must b e o v e r c o m e . O f course t h e y h a v e needs, but m a n y
o f t h e i r needs w i l l b e f u l f i l l e d b y the e n g i n e e r i n g p l a n t s .
While they ought to keep only some m i n o r machinery for
urgent r e p a i r s to e q u i p m e n t .
T h e c l a i m s t h a t each e n t e r p r i s e s h o u l d k e e p these
means, j u s t i f y i n g this b y d e m a n d i n g that t h e y s h o u l d b e
set s u p p l e m e n t a r y tasks, so t h a t t h e y w o r k at f u l l
capacity, on t h r e e shifts, etc., etc., do n o t h o l d w a t e r .
E x p e r i e n c e u p t o d a t e has p r o v e d this.
We m u s t be clear a b o u t the great b e n e f i t s of this
concentration.
I n the f i r s t place, c o n c e n t r a t i o n b r i n g s about i m p r o v e d
u t i l i z a t i o n a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n , creates g r e a t e r p o s s i b i l i t i e s
for s p e c i a l i z a t i o n in the p r o d u c t i o n of spare parts f o r
a l l t h e m a c h i n e r y i n o u r c o u n t r y . A t the m o m e n t
this is t h e m a i n task, the task t h a t comes f i r s t a n d takes
precedence o v e r a l l others, a n d second, t h e r e is
the
question o f the p e r s p e c t i v e f o r t h e g r o w t h o f t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f the m e a n s o f p r o d u c t i o n , b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e
326
ENVER
HOXHA
e q u i p m e n t f o r s m a l l factories, a n d l a t e r f o r l a r g e r p l a n t s .
T h i s cannot b e a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t
concentration,
and
without concentration there is no specialization.
S o m e m a y c o m p l a i n a n d s a y : « H o w are w e g o i n g t o
manage without them?» H o w did we manage w h e n
we
l a c k e d spare p a r t s ? A t t h a t t i m e w e i m p o r t e d t h e m , o v e r c o m i n g a t h o u s a n d obstacles. A r e w e t o g o o n l i k e this?
N o . T h e n let's p r o d u c e t h e m a t h o m e , a n d i n o r d e r t o d o
t h i s m e a n s a r e needed. T h e r e f o r e , these m e a n s c a n n o l o n ger be at the d i s p o s a l of e v e r y k i n d of f a c t o r y , e n t e r p r i s e ,
o r w o r k s h o p , w h i c h , a l o n g w i t h the means, also h a n g o n
t o the most o u t s t a n d i n g m e c h a n i c s o f the c o u n t r y , w h o
a r e capable o f a n d w o u l d b e b e t t e r e m p l o y e d ,
teaching
w h o l e generations o f s k i l l e d t r a d e s m e n r a t h e r t h a n t u r n i n g
on occasional detail.
W h i l e strengthening our engineering industry, today we
are stressing the i n d i s p e n s a b i l i t y of the e x t e n s i o n of cooper a t i o n a m o n g the v a r i o u s b r a n c h e s o f i n d u s t r y . T h i s w i l l
be a m a r k e d f e a t u r e of this p e r i o d . I s a y a m a r k e d f e a t u re, since c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n o u r i n d u s t r y a t t h i s stage w i l l
strengthen and extend the l i n k s and cooperation w i t h
m a n y sectors o f o u r e c o n o m y , w i t h a g r i c u l t u r e , t r a n s p o r t ,
c o n s t r u c t i o n , f o o d - p r o c e s s i n g i n d u s t r y , w i t h t h e sector o f
s c h o o l i n g a n d e d u c a t i o n , etc., etc.
W e are n o w d e v e l o p i n g c o o p e r a t i o n i n t h e m a n u f a c t u r e
o f spare parts, a g r i c u l t u r a l i m p l e m e n t s a n d b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s , etc. I n the p r o d u c t i o n o f m a c h i n e r y w e are i n o u r i n fancy, y o u c o u l d say. R e l y i n g o n o u r o w n forces w e h a v e
b e g u n t o b u i l d some s m a l l factories, some c o m p l e t e a g r i c u l t u r a l m a c h i n e s , b u t w e s h a l l not stop a t that. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist e c o n o m y has o p e n e d u p n e w p o s s i b i l i ties a n d p e r s p e c t i v e s w h i c h are f u l l y a t t a i n a b l e w i t h i n not
a v e r y d i s t a n t f u t u r e . W e h a v e b u i l t a n d are e x t e n d i n g o u r
c h r o m i u m , copper, i r o n - n i c k e l , a n d o t h e r m i n e s . O u r s t u dies a n d p r o s p e c t i n g w o r k w i l l f u r t h e r e n r i c h this r a n g e
327
of m i n e r a l s . We h a v e l a i d the i n i t i a l bases to start the
metallurgical processing of copper and iron, have planned
t h e setting u p o f i r o n - n i c k e l a n d f e r r o - c h r o m e m e t a l l u r g y ,
have created a n d are e x t e n d i n g the e l e c t r i c p o w e r base.
A i l this creates p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r t h e p h a s e of a
higher,
more c o m p l e x c o o p e r a t i o n , w h i c h w i l l e n a b l e u s t o b u i l d
machinery, a n d f a c t o r i e s o u r s e l v e s , r e l y i n g o n o u r o w n
forces. A s w e a r e seeing, the P a r t y i s p r e p a r i n g this
phase. T h i s i s o u r r e a l i t y , t h i s i s the p e r s p e c t i v e . W e
must s t r e n g t h e n t h e r e a l i t y s o t h a t the p e r s p e c t i v e w i l l
be r e a l i z e d .
T h e n w h a t m u s t w e d o ? W e m u s t g o i n t o the t e c h n i c a l scientific r e v o l u t i o n w i t h m u l t i p l i e d forces, not o n l y
in
industry, b u t also i n a g r i c u l t u r e a n d i n a l l other sectors.
W e m u s t p r o g r e s s b e y o n d the a r t i s a n l e v e l i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s ,
t o a d v a n c e d t e c h n o l o g y a n d m o d e r n a g r o t e c h n i q u e . W e can
say that we h a v e the necessary bases to deepen the t e c h nical-scientific r e v o l u t i o n . W e h a v e t h e v i t a l d u t y t o f u l l y
utilize a l l t h e a v a i l a b l e capacities a n d p o s s i b i l i t i e s ,
have
the d u t y t o increase these capacities a n d create
new
possibilities, t o i n c r e a s e o u r p r o d u c t s o v e r t h e i r e n t i r e
range a n d t o p r o d u c e a m p l e q u a n t i t i e s a t l o w p r i c e s a n d
with g o o d q u a l i t y .
I n o r d e r t o d o this p r o p e r l y , w e m u s t place the t e c h nical r e v o l u t i o n o n the o r d e r o f t h e d a y . T h e P a r t y m u s t
make i t c l e a r t o a l l the w o r k i n g people, the p u p i l s a n d s t u dents t h a t t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r socialist economy, the r a p i d a n d c o n t i n u o u s r a i s i n g o f t h e w e l l - b e i n g
of the people, d e p e n d on the l e v e l of u n d e r s t a n d i n g of
this r e v o l u t i o n a n d the m o s t a c t i v e p o s s i b l e p a r t i c i p a t i o n
i n it. O u r p e o p l e h a v e t o a c q u i r e m o d e r n
know-how.
This r e q u i r e s w o r k a n d s t u d y , f i r s t o f a l l .
T h e m i n d s a n d consciousness o f o u r people m u s t
be
forced f r o m that sense o f i n f e r i o r i t y , w h i c h has p r e v a i l e d
and is s t i l l felt, that a l l e g e d l y we are i n c a p a b l e of m a s t e r -
328
ENVER
HOXHA
i n g m o d e r n e q u i p m e n t , t h a t w e are b a c k w a r d , h a v e
n e i t h e r q u a l i f i e d people, n o r t h e necessary m e a n s . F i n a l l y ,
it should be borne in m i n d that i m p o r t i n g m a n y things
w h i c h could be made, w h i c h could be produced at home
w i t h o u r o w n m i n d s a n d hands, m u s t g r a d u a l l y come
t o a n e n d . T h e t e c h n i c a l c o o p e r a t i o n i s p a r t o f this t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n w h i c h has b e g u n w i t h t h e setting up of o u r industry, w i t h the training and qualificat i o n o f cadres, w i t h the l a b o u r l e g i s l a t i o n , the a g r o t e c h n i c a l code a n d m a n y o t h e r m e a s u r e s t a k e n i n a g r i c u l t u r e
a n d o t h e r sectors of p r o d u c t i o n . If we t a k e a c r i t i c a l l o o k
a t the t e c h n i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r cadres a n d w o r k e r s ,
we can say w i t h complete conviction that the result is
very positive and exceptionally encouraging and there is
n o r o o m t o say t h a t « w e c a n n o t m a k e this», «we c a n n o t
m a k e that». O u r people are c a p a b l e o f m a k i n g a n y t h i n g ,
the same as the best of t h e o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , p r o v i d e d we
further develop the possibilities for w o r k a n d study.
A l l o u r p e o p l e are v e r y m u c h c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e i r
o w n a d v a n c e m e n t , a task c o n n e c t e d w i t h the b u i l d i n g u p
a n d d e v e l o p m e n t o f the e c o n o m y . E v e r y o n e i s t r y i n g t o
l e a r n , to i n v e n t a n d to create. W h a t he i n v e n t s or creates
(it is of no i m p o r t a n c e w h e t h e r t h e y h a v e i n v e n t e d it
in other countries w h i c h have advanced very m u c h further) e m b o d i e s that great c r e a t i v e w i l l a n d t h a t
political
a n d i d e o l o g i c a l p r i n c i p l e o f the class w h i c h the
Party
teaches us, w h i c h m a k e o u r m a n v e r y capable and p r e p a r e h i m t o pass f r o m the a r t i s a n stage i m p o s e d b y t h e
o b j e c t i v e c o n d i t i o n s of o u r c o u n t r y in the past, to t h a t of
inventions and rationalizations.
I n T i r a n a a n d e l s e w h e r e , these r e c e n t y e a r s w e see that
around nearly every big plant that we have built, w o r k shops a n d s o m e t i m e s m a n y s m a l l f a c t o r i e s are g o i n g u p ,
i n w h i c h p r o d u c t s are t r a n s f o r m e d a n d n e w
consumer
p r o d u c t s a r e t u r n e d out. S o m e t i m e s t h e y m i g h t not b e all
329
fully p r o f i t a b l e , b u t a p a r t f r o m o t h e r reasons, this comes
about because the a m o u n t o f p r o d u c t i o n i s s t i l l s m a l l . T a k ing i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e l a r g e q u a n t i t y a n d w i d e r a n g e
of products that our people need we are d u t y b o u n d to
begin t o b u i l d n e w a u t o m a t i z e d m o d e r n p r o d u c t i o n m a c h i nery, w i t h o u r o w n forces, o n a m o r e e x t e n s i v e scale a n d
of a h i g h e r l e v e l . W h e n I s a y t h a t t h e y a r e a u t o m a t i z e d ,
I don't m e a n c o m p l e t e a u t o m a t i o n a t t h i s m o m e n t . T h i s
w i l l come l a t e r , n e v e r t h e l e s s w e m u s t n e v e r lose s i g h t o f
this q u e s t i o n w h e n w e i m p o r t m a c h i n e s a n d f a c t o r i e s f r o m
abroad.
The more developed and more organized co-operation
w e are e s t a b l i s h i n g w i l l p l a y a m a j o r r o l e i n the s t r e n g thening o f these s m a l l f a c t o r i e s . T h e s e w o r k s h o p s , r a n k i n g
a s s m a l l f a c t o r i e s , w h i c h a r e v e r y necessary f o r t h e p r e sent, w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b e g o o d a u x i l i a r i e s t o o u r l i g h t
industry for a long time, even w h e n we are able to b u i l d
m o d e r n factories.
In order to deepen our technical-scientific revolution,
basing o u r s e l v e s o n t h e o b j e c t i v e r e a l i t y o f o u r c o u n t r y a n d
its i n e v i t a b l e p e r s p e c t i v e , w e h a v e t o act i n m a n y d i r e c t i o n s .
T h e technical-scientific revolution requires all-round
mobilization, special attention and concern for the study
of theory and practice, closely l i n k e d w i t h a n d
never
isolated f r o m each other. T h e o r y m u s t not b e u n d e r r a t e d ,
a s i t i s b y some, w h o , l a c k i n g the w i l l t o s t u d y , s l i p into
positions o f p r a c t i c i s m , w h i c h i n m a n y cases t h e y a l l o w t o
degenerate i n t o a r o u t i n e d e v o i d of p e r s p e c t i v e . P r a c t i c e
is blind without theory, w h i l e theory is dead without
practice. D e v e l o p m e n t t a k e s p l a c e on the basis of a series
o f genetic, b i o l o g i c a l , p h y s i c a l , c h e m i c a l a n d o t h e r l a w s ,
and w i t h o u t k n o w i n g t h e m i n t h e i r c o m p l e x i t y a n d p a r t i cularity y o u cannot carry f o r w a r d the technical—scientific
revolution. Some think in a simplist manner and say: «Well,
even w i t h o u t s c h o o l i n g , e v e n w i t h o u t t h e o r y , w e
are
330
ENVER
HOXHA
c a r r y i n g the w o r k f o r w a r d , basing ourselves s i m p l y
on
e x p e r i e n c e a n d p r a c t i c e » . S u c h people f o r g e t t h a t the l a w s
of w h i c h I spoke above operate in practice even w i t h o u t
being t h o r o u g h l y k n o w n , b u t t h e y d o n o t o p e r a t e i n h a r mony, therefore, through ignorance of them, m a n y u n e x p e c t e d a n d i n e x p l i c a b l e t h i n g s occur, o r f o r w h i c h t h e y
give an empirical explanation and without foundation,
w h e r e a s f o r t h e results a c h i e v e d t h e y f i n d f o r t u i t o u s r e a sons, v e r y o f t e n n o n - e x i s t e n t a n d i m a g i n a r y , o r ones that
are n o t e v e n r e m o t e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e p h e n o m e n o n .
B u t t h e l a c k o f t h e o r y , science, a n d s p e c i a l c u l t u r e
makes the overwhelming majority of simple practical
w o r k e r s careless i n t h e i r p r a c t i c e o f o b s e r v i n g , r e c o r d i n g ,
a n d c o m b i n i n g acts a n d p h e n o m e n a , i n t h e
comparison
a n d c o n f r o n t a t i o n o f t h e m w i t h one a n o t h e r . T h e y l e a v e
t h e conclusions t o t h e u n k n o w n a n d u n e x p e c t e d , t o chance.
T h e i r d i s c i p l i n e i n p r a c t i c e i s slack, t h e i r m e t h o d o l o g y i s
weak a n d m a n y a time non-existent. E v e n if a certain
level of development is achieved through lengthy practice,
s t i l l t h e r e s u l t m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d u n s a t i s f a c t o r y , because
i t has t a k e n a l o n g t i m e t o c a r r y o u t t h i s e x p e r i m e n t , m u c h
t i m e has b e e n lost, a n d the r e s u l t i s c o n t i n u a l l y o u t stripped, if further attempts are made for advance.
O n the o t h e r h a n d , the t h e o r y l e a r n e d i n t h e b o o k s a n d
detached f r o m l i f e a n d p r a c t i c e (or p e r h a p s l i n k e d
only
w i t h t h e l a b o r a t o r y , t h i s b e i n g c o n s i d e r e d as a p u r p o s e ,
n o t as a means) r e m a i n s s o m e t h i n g i n a n i m a t e ,
lifeless,
s o m e t h i n g dead. S o m e o v e r r a t e s u c h a n
understanding
o f science a n d theory, b u t w e c a n c o n s i d e r t h e m people
w i t h o u t m u c h v a l u e a n d a n t i - s c i e n t i f i c , since t h e y
have
n o t u n d e r s t o o d t h e A B C t h a t t h e t h e o r y a n d science
w h i c h i s l e a r n e d i n the b o o k s e x p l a i n s o r synthesizes l o n g
p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e , e x p l a i n s the o b j e c t i v e l a w s o f n a t u r e ,
a n d these l a w s a n d e x p e r i e n c e h a v e t o b e tested i n t h e
c o n t i n u o u s d y n a m i s m of the ceaseless d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e
331
m a t e r i a l w o r l d t h a t n e v e r stands s t i l l , a s s u c h so-called
scientists d o w h e n t h e y s t a n d u n e n l i g h t e n e d o v e r
their
books i n l a b o r a t o r i e s d e v o i d o f l i f e .
It w o u l d be w r o n g to t h i n k that only a few learned
people w h o h a v e b o t h t h e o r y a n d science, e v e n i f they
amount t o some t h o u s a n d s , w i l l c a r r y o u t t h e t e c h n i c a l scientific r e v o l u t i o n . N o , l i k e e v e r y g e n u i n e r e v o l u t i o n , the
technical-scientific revolution w i l l be carried out by
the b r o a d masses of t h e people, t h e b r o a d masses of the
w o r k i n g people, w h o a r e s t i l l f a r f r o m m a s t e r i n g t h e o r y
a n d science, a n d f o r t h i s t o b e a c h i e v e d a l o n g t i m e yet
w i l l be needed a n d a continuity must be created on
this
endless q u e s t i o n .
The appropriate material means for such a suitable
mass e d u c a t i o n a r e l a c k i n g f o r the t i m e b e i n g , b u t these
means — a n d w i t h t h i s I m e a n the schools of e v e r y k i n d ,
the i n s t i t u t e s , a n d the f a c u l t i e s — we p a r t l y possess, a n d
we are developing and enriching them every year. There
i s n o e n d t o this e n r i c h m e n t , b u t n e v e r t h e l e s s the b r o a d
masses w i l l not a l l b e c a p a b l e o f r i s i n g t o a h i g h l e v e l i n
r e g a r d to t h e s t u d y of t h e o r y .
H o w e v e r , there is a r e m e d y for this impossibility. O u r
people, w h o c o m p l e t e t h e i r s c h o o l i n g i n m a n y d i r e c t i o n s ,
b y l i n k i n g t h e m s e l v e s c l o s e l y w i t h t h e people o f p r o duction, w i t h the practice of production, must vest this
practice w i t h t h e i r s c i e n t i f i c
knowledge and
scientific
discipline.
W h a t do I mean by vesting w i t h scientific knowledge?
I t h i n k t h a t one of the p r i n c i p a l duties of t h e p e r s o n w h o
has l e a r n i n g a n d s c h o o l i n g , h a v i n g f i r s t g a i n e d e x p e r i e n c e
o f p r a c t i c e h i m s e l f a n d l i n k e d i t c l o s e l y w i t h science, i s t o
e x p l a i n t o the p r a c t i c a l w o r k e r s the s c i e n t i f i c l a w s w h i c h a r e
the basis o f h i s e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d p r a c t i c a l w o r k . H e m u s t n o t
proceed f r o m t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t a c e r t a i n w o r k e r i s m a k i n g
bolts o r t h e c o o p e r a t i v i s t w o r k s w i t h the hoe, t h e r e f o r e
332
ENVER
HOXHA
there is nothing m o r e I can teach them. S u c h education is
c a r r i e d out t h r o u g h m a n y courses a n d conferences l i k e
those b e i n g h e l d , i n w h i c h t h e r e i s a v e r y p r a i s e w o r t h y
s p i r i t , b u t also d u r i n g w o r k , a s w e l l a s i n free, i n d i v i d u a l
c o n v e r s a t i o n s , p r o v i d e d o n l y w e a l w a y s bear i n m i n d the
g r e a t o b j e c t i v e — t h a t cadres s h o u l d be e d u c a t e d en m a s s e
w i t h scientific knowledge. In this w a y we shall create
w h o l e a r m i e s o f people w h o c a n n o t a t t e n d s p e c i a l schools,
but f o r w h o m p o s s i b i l i t i e s a r e c r e a t e d t o c l a r i t y a n d e n r i c h
t h e i r p r a c t i c a l e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d i n t h e course o f w o r k
w i t h theory, s o t h a t b r o a d h o r i z o n s o f w o r k a n d d e v e l o p m e n t are o p e n e d t o t h e m a n d r e a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r s t u d y ,
p r o g r e s s a n d d e v e l o p m e n t c r e a t e d . I n t h i s case s c i e n c e a n d
learning w i l l no longer be a bogy to them.
What do I m e a n by vesting practice w i t h scientific
d i s c i p l i n e ? W i t h o u t i r o n d i s c i p l i n e t h e socialist r e v o l u t i o n
degenerates t o a n a r c h y . T h e same t h i n g h a p p e n s w i t h the
t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n , too, w h i c h , l i k e e v e r y r e v o l u t i o n , i s g u i d e d f i r s t o f a l l b y p o l i t i c s . H e n c e , this, too,
must be guided by a strong scientific discipline.
T h e peasants t o a g r e a t e r e x t e n t a n d t h e
workers
s o m e w h a t less, d o not recognize, d o not f e e l the n e e d f o r
a n d the f o r c e o f this s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e i n the r e v o l u t i o nization of production. T h i s is the source of a l l
those
s h o r t c o m i n g s a n d weaknesses w h i c h w e c r i t i c i z e
and
combat every day. We are fighting to establish this scientific discipline, but still we are v e r y far f r o m what we
want to attain.
T h e r e are rules, d i s c i p l i n e i s r e q u i r e d i n e v e r y process
o f w o r k . T h i s d i s c i p l i n e does n o t consist o n l y i n t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f t h e n o r m , t h e s p e e d o f t h e d r i l l , o r t u r n i n g out
f o r w o r k i n t h e f i e l d s i n the m o r n i n g . S c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e i s
based o n k n o w l e d g e a n d p r o p e r a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e process
w h i c h develops a n d t r a n s f o r m s m a t t e r a n d t h e
process
itself. T h e s m e l t i n g a n d t e m p e r i n g o f i r o n h a v e a d e f i n i t e
333
scientific process, b u t t h e r e is also a s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e
connected w i t h it, a n d i f y o u d o n o t a p p l y i t p r o p e r l y ,
a t the g i v e n t i m e , t h e process does h o t p r o c e e d n o r m a l l y .
This i s w h a t h a p p e n s
with many
o t h e r processes
of
i n d u s t r y , too. T h e s a m e c a n be s a i d of the processes of
agriculture as w e l l .
The discipline of time in agriculture, w h e n the various
crops s h o u l d b e s o w n , w h e n t h e y s h o u l d b e h o e d , i r r i g a t e d ,
etc., i s a n e m p i r i c a l d i s c i p l i n e w h i c h i s n o t t h e o n l y t h i n g
required. No, we must establish a scientific discipline in
a l l these w o r k processes, because t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f
p r o d u c t i o n a n d its r e v o l u t i o n i z a t i o n d o n o t d e p e n d o n
a m e c h a n i c a l , a m a t e u r i s h w o r k i n g , b u t t h e s o i l , the
plant, t h e f e r t i l i z e r , w a t e r , s u n , etc., etc., h a v e t h e i r b i o l o g i c a l , genetic, p h y s i c a l , c h e m i c a l l a w s i n t h e c o m p l e x i t y
o f w h i c h n e i t h e r a m a t e u r i s m n o r a n a r c h y are p e r m i s s i b l e ,
because t h e y o p e r a t e a n d i n f l u e n c e e a c h o t h e r f o r b e t t e r
o r w o r s e . N o t o n l y m u s t w e k n o w these processes, b u t w e
m u s t also act a c c o r d i n g t o r u l e s a n d w i t h s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e s o a s t o p r e v a i l o v e r those l a w s a n d g u i d e t h e m t o
serve the a i m s of m a n .
Scientific experiments, to w h i c h we must give
an
i m p u l s e i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s , a r e p a r t a n d p a r c e l o f t h i s great
technical-scientific revolution w h i c h we are c a r r y i n g out
and m u s t d e v e l o p e v e r y w h e r e . T h e s e s c i e n t i f i c e x p e r i m e n t s
need s c i e n t i f i c d i s c i p l i n e a n d t h i s r e q u i r e s s c i e n t i f i c k n o w ledge o f t h e process a n d
scientific application of
this
k n o w l e d g e , t o t h e p o i n t t h a t a c c o u n t i s t a k e n o f the
slightest c h a n g e t h a t t h i n g s u n d e r g o
in the course
of
d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . A s yet w e h a v e not succeeded i n s u m m i n g u p a l l these s c i e n t i f i c e x p e r i m e n t s p r o p e r l y a n d a p p l y i n g t h e i r r e s u l t s o n a n a t i o n a l scale. T h e r e
i s great h e s i t a t i o n a b o u t p u t t i n g t h e m i n t o p r a c t i c e . T h e i r
dissemination a n d the revolutionization of production are
hampered to a considerable extent by the lack of centra-
334
ENVER
HOXHA
l i z e d o r g a n i z a t i o n , b u r e a u c r a c y a n d the r o u t i n e o f the p l a n ,
v i e w e d n a r r o w l y f r o m the s t a n d p o i n t o f a v o i d i n g w o r r i e s
a n d b r a i n - r a c k i n g . T h e d i s c i p l i n e o f the p l a n w h i c h i s
a l w a y s m e n t i o n e d , but w h i c h i s v i o l a t e d i n m a n y cases, i s
m a d e t h e m o s t serious obstacle w h e n it is a m a t t e r of
the revolutionization of p r o d u c t i o n . . .
In a few words we must:
1. A t t a c h v e r y great i m p o r t a n c e to the s y s t e m a t i c e d u c a t i o n o f cadres e n m a s s e i n a l l sectors t h r o u g h schools,
courses, w o r k , etc. I n the o u t l o o k o f o u r p e o p l e w e s h o u l d
i m p l a n t t h e n e e d t o l e a r n t h r o u g h o u t t h e i r lives, the need
f o r c o n t i n u o u s i m p r o v e m e n t , a n d not j u s t i n t h e n a r r o w ,
petty, egoistic sense o f e a r n i n g one's l i v i n g , b u t f i r s t o f a l l
i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d m a s t e r science a n d k n o w l e d g e ,
t o t r a n s f o r m n a t u r e , t o m a k e t h e H o m e l a n d a n d the
l i f e of the people p r o s p e r o u s .
O n l y t h e f o r m a t i o n o f s u c h a b r o a d a n d correct
concept o f l e a r n i n g a n d i m p r o v e m e n t w i l l r e m o v e a n d
e l i m i n a t e the m e a n s p i r i t w h i c h i s e x p r e s s e d i n the v i e w s :
«I s h o u l d m a k e some e f f o r t s to a t t a i n a h i g h e r c a t e g o r y
a n d s o increase m y p a y » ; o r «Since I h a v e a l r e a d y a t t a i n e d
t h e h i g h e s t category, d u e t o m y q u a l i f i c a t i o n , w h y b o t h e r
m y s e l f w i t h f u r t h e r l e a r n i n g » . T h e s e are m o u l d y ideas
that stop y o u seeing b e y o n d y o u r o w n nose, because i f
everyone were to think so n a r r o w l y then we w o u l d m a r k
time a n d never be able to produce o u r o w n bread. E v e r y
citizen of our R e p u b l i c ought to have the
perspective
clear a n d w o r k t o a c h i e v e it, b y p a s s i n g f r o m s i m p l e e d u c a t i o n t o the h i g h e s t a n d most c o m p l e x e d u c a t i o n . E v e r y o n e o u g h t t o k e e p u p w i t h the t i m e s , t h e s i t u a t i o n s , the
c o n d i t i o n s t h a t a r e created a n d w i t h the needs, n o t just
o f h i m s e l f a n d his f a m i l y , w h i c h are n a r r o w p e r s o n a l
needs, b u t those o f the w h o l e society.
T h e masses m u s t h a v e a c l e a r v i e w of the p e r s p e c t i v e
a n d the f u t u r e , m u s t see o u r w o r l d i n d e v e l o p m e n t s o
that e v e r y o n e w i l l b e a b l e t o e m e r g e
integument of his petty w o r l d .
2. The advanced equipment, which
which we shall add in the future, must
set i n m o t i o n b y v a n g u a r d p e o p l e o f
ideological and technical level.
335
f r o m the n a r r o w
we have and to
be mastered and
a h i g h political,
3 . I n d i v i d u a l advances, i n n o v a t i o n s a n d r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s
should b e u n d e r s t o o d a n d b e c o m e c o m p o n e n t p a r t s o f the
w o r k o f b r o a d collectives, s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d assets o f
the masses t o a c h i e v e t h e a i m s a n d a s p i r a t i o n s o f t h e
e n t i r e people.
The movement
for inventions a n d
rationalizations
must n o t h a v e a r e s t r i c t e d i n d i v i d u a l d i r e c t i o n , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h a t i n d i v i d u a l ideas a n d e f f o r t s are o n t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f i t a n d s h o u l d b e e n c o u r a g e d , since t h e y are
indispensable. T h r o u g h his invention a n d rationalization,
the i n d i v i d u a l s h o u l d f e e l h i m s e l f p o l i t i c a l l y a m e m b e r o f
the c o l l e c t i v e i n w h i c h h e w o r k s , a n d h i s i d e a a n d r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s h o u l d b e e m b r a c e d b y t h e e n t i r e c o l l e c t i v e not
w h e n i t has a s s u m e d its p e r f e c t f o r m , b u t i t s h o u l d b e
subjected t o d i s c u s s i o n a n d i m p r o v e m e n t b y b r o a d groups
o f w o r k e r s o f t h e c o l l e c t i v e r i g h t f r o m t h e start, because
this i s t h e o n l y w a y t o d e v e l o p a n d s h a r p e n t h e c r e a t i veness o f t h e masses, a n d o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t o c o m b a t
the h a n k e r i n g a f t e r « p e r s o n a l g l o r y » w h i c h i s a n egoistic
and petty-bourgeois feeling.
I t h i n k t h a t i f w e act i n t h i s w a y t h e p r o c r a s t i n a t i o n
and bureaucratic w o r k in accepting and applying inventions a n d r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s w i l l b e c o m b a t e d . A d i r e c t o r , a n
engineer or a m i n i s t r y w i l l f i n d it h a r d to delay or
to
leave i n a d r a w e r , g a t h e r i n g d u s t , t h e w o r k o v e r w h i c h
groups o f w o r k e r s a n d specialists, w h o h a v e
combined
t h e i r c r e a t i v e forces, h a v e t o i l e d , a s t h e y are a b l e t o d o
w i t h the i n v e n t i o n or rationalization of an i n d i v i d u a l .
4. T h e
complete
unity
of
workers and
technicians,
336
ENVER
HOXHA
t h e close l i n k s o f w o r k a n d m u t u a l e d u c a t i o n i n M a r x i s t
proletarian modesty, the joint creative w o r k , the c o m m o n
s t r u g g l e against a n y m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f conceit a n d h a r m f u l
i n h i b i t i o n , a g a i n s t a n y u n d e r r a t i n g o f t h e other's w o r k
a n d creativeness, against a n y k i n d o f c o n s e r v a t i s m a n d
s c e p t i c i s m i n r e g a r d t o the s t r e n g t h a n d c r e a t i v e a b i l i t y
o f o u r w o r k i n g people, s h o u l d b e a c h i e v e d .
5. We must raise the entire younger generation to
a h i g h p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d t e c h n i c a l l e v e l so
that
t h e y become the p i l l a r o f this t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c r e v o l u t i o n , p a r t a n d p a r c e l o f o u r socialist r e v o l u t i o n . T h e
university students must have a thorough political
and
i d e o l o g i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the v a l u e o f the l e a r n i n g
a n d science w h i c h t h e y a c q u i r e a t school a n d i n p r a c t i c a l
a c t i v i t y a n d s t r i v e t o d e v e l o p i t f u r t h e r i n l i f e , i n the
interests of the people a n d s o c i a l i s m .
I n a l l o u r i n d u s t r y , a n d e s p e c i a l l y i n the e n g i n e e r i n g
i n d u s t r y , w e m u s t g i v e t h e greatest a t t e n t i o n t o
the
q u a l i f i c a t i o n o f t h e w o r k e r s . I n this d i r e c t i o n , a l l possible
f o r m s a n d a l l the c o n c e r n o f t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f
every
f a c t o r y , e n g i n e e r i n g p l a n t a n d the v a r i o u s
engineers
must be utilized. The struggle must be concentrated on
t h e e f f o r t s t o t u r n the w o r k e r s i n t o specialists, t o p r e p a r e
thousands a n d t h o u s a n d s o f r e a l m a s t e r c r a f t s m e n w i t h o u t
w h o m our industry in general and the engineering i n d u s t r y i n p a r t i c u l a r , cannot a d v a n c e . T h e s e s k i l l e d w o r k e r s
are its b a c k b o n e . W i t h o u t t h e m , t h e t e c h n o l o g i c a l processes c a n n o t b e a p p l i e d p r o p e r l y , t h e c a p a c i t y o f m a c h i n e r y , the w o r k i n g t i m e a n d speed o f m a c h i n e s o n p r e c i s i o n w o r k cannot b e f u l l y e x p l o i t e d , i n v e n t i o n s a n d
r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s w h i c h g i v e a n i m p u l s e t o p r o d u c t i o n cannot
b e made, the i n t e r n a l reserves c a n n o t b e p r o p e r l y e x p l o ited or r a w materials used f r u g a l l y and p r o d u c t i v i t y cannot b e increased. H e n c e , w i t h o u t these s k i l l e d w o r k e r s , the
w o r k cannot b e done p r o p e r l y .
337
The perfect organization of w o r k in factories
and
plants i s based n o t o n l y o n a d o p t i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m e a sures, b u t m o s t l y o n w h a t I m e n t i o n e d above, n e v e r
forgetting that, a l o n g w i t h the w o r k t o t r a i n w o r k e r s
w h o a r e r e a l m a s t e r s o f t h e i r trade, w e m u s t w o r k t o
ensure t h a t t h e y a r e a l s o v a n g u a r d w o r k e r s f r o m the
political a n d i d e o l o g i c a l aspect. H e n c e , the r o l e of the
Party, o f t h e basic o r g a n i z a t i o n i s great, m a n y - s i d e d a n d
not s i m p l e a n d e a s y a s some m a y c o n c e i v e it. T h e task
o f the P a r t y a n d its e d u c a t i o n i s n o t a n d m u s t n e v e r b e
divorced f r o m the technical t r a i n i n g of w o r k e r s
and
master c r a f t s m e n . T h e v e r y fact t h a t these p r o b l e m s h a v e
been t a k e n u p a n d discussed b y t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e
proves this, because, o t h e r w i s e , t h e y c o u l d b e d e a l t w i t h
s i m p l y b y g o v e r n m e n t decisions t h r o u g h the M i n i s t r y o f
Industry and M i n i n g .
T h e r e f o r e , w h e n w e s p e a k a b o u t the a p p l i c a t i o n o f
t e c h n o l o g i c a l processes, the r e d u c t i o n of the h o u r s of w o r k
i n v a r i o u s processes, w h e n w e speak a b o u t p r o d u c t i o n a n d
s k i l l f u l use o f p r e c i s i o n i n s t r u m e n t s , a b o u t the q u a l i t i e s
w h i c h m e t a l s h a v e o r w e m u s t g i v e t h e m , a b o u t the techn i c a l - e c o n o m i c aspects o f s p e c i a l i z e d p r o d u c t i o n a n d p r o d u c t i o n i n series, w e m u s t not f o r g e t a t a n y m o m e n t the
factor m a n , t h e m a i n , d e c i s i v e factor. T h e r e f o r e w e m u s t
w o r k t o e n s u r e that m a n i s educated, s p e c i a l i z e d a n d a t t a ins the h i g h e s t p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l a n d t e c h n i c a l l e v e l .
T h e t r a i n i n g o f cadres t h e m s e l v e s o n this e x t e n s i v e
scale t o a c h i e v e the great c u l t u r a l a n d t e c h n i c a l - s c i e n t i f i c
r e v o l u t i o n calls f o r p e r f e c t c o - o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n w o r k
and school, b e t w e e n t h e needs a n d t h e possibilities, between q u a n t i t y a n d q u a l i t y , b e t w e e n t h e present s i t u a t i o n
and the p e r s p e c t i v e .
....
Works, vol. 36
FOR THE FURTHER REVOLUTIONIZATION
OF OUR SCHOOL
Speech delivered at the meeting of the Political
Bureau of the Central Committee of the PLA
March 7, 1968
A s i t happens, t h e d a y o n w h i c h the P o l i t i c a l B u r e a u
is t a k i n g up the question of the school coincides w i t h
Teachers' D a y , therefore, on this occasion we direct o u r
thoughts to a l l the m e n a n d w o m e n teachers of o u r c o u n t r y w h o w o r k t i r e l e s s l y t o p e r f o r m a great p a t r i o t i c
task, a n d w h i l e e x p r e s s i n g o u r g r a t i t u d e , w e w i s h t h e m
f u r t h e r success i n t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y e d u c a t i o n o f
our
y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n o n the r o a d o f t h e P a r t y .
O u r p e o p l e s a y : « L i f e i t s e l f i s a school». I n t e r m s
of our materialist philosophy, this means that learning
should
always
continue
and
proceed
uniterruptedly,
p a r a l l e l w i t h a n d t h r o u g h o u t the w h o l e o f l i f e ; i t means,
a t t h e s a m e time, t h a t m e n t a l w o r k i s i n d i s s o l u b l y l i n k e d
w i t h p r a c t i c a l w o r k . T h i s m e a n s t h a t t h r o u g h o u t the
w h o l e l i f e o f m a n , w o r k , p r o d u c t i o n a n d t h o u g h t are
i n a c o m p l e m e n t a r y r e l a t i o n t o one a n o t h e r , i n w h i c h m a t ter is p r i m a r y and thought secondary. L e a r n i n g and t h i n k i n g are p r o d u c t s a n d r e f l e c t i o n s o f t h e d i a l e c t i c a l d e v e l opment of matter.
H e n c e , the t r u i s m t h a t l e a r n i n g , the p r o g r e s s i v e d e v e l -
THE REVOLUTIONIZATION OF THE SCHOOL
339
opment of t h o u g h t , is n o t m e r e l y a d u t y , b u t m u s t be
considered a n a t u r a l p h e n o m e n o n , w h i c h i s l i n k e d w i t h
and o r i g i n a t e s f r o m t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f m a t t e r , f r o m
its d i a l e c t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , hence, a n
objective n e c e s s i t y f o r m a n a n d society. A t a l l t i m e s , a t
every stage of h i s l i f e , m a n , as a n a t u r a l m a t e r i a l b e i n g ,
undergoes c o n t i n u o u s t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , l i k e e v e r y t h i n g t h a t
s u r r o u n d s h i m . H e creates, t h i n k s , l e a r n s a n d a g a i n creates
and t r a n s f o r m s . A l l this m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d a s a c o n t i nuous, u n i n t e r r u p t e d process f r o m the c r a d l e t o t h e g r a v e .
This i s a n a t u r a l l a w . T h e schools w e are d i s c u s s i n g today,
have been o r g a n i z e d o n t h e basis o f this l a w o f m a t e r i a list d e v e l o p m e n t . S c h o o l s a n d l e a r n i n g s h o u l d n o t b e
considered separate t h i n g s w h i c h b e l o n g o n l y t o
one
period of t h e l i f e of m a n , or as a basis a d e q u a t e f o r a l l
time, p e r f e c t , w i t h i n a c y c l e o f n o r m s l a i d d o w n t o
f a c i l i t a t e the o r g a n i z a t i o n a l
w o r k of education
and
teaching.
F r o m this l a w stems the q u e s t i o n o f mass p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n s c h o o l i n g a n d e d u c a t i o n , t h a t is, w h a t the P a r t y
has a l w a y s s a i d t h a t a l l o f u s w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n s h o u l d
apply o u r s e l v e s t o l e a r n i n g , s h o u l d a c q u i r e e d u c a t i o n
t h r o u g h o u t o u r l i v e s , so that we are a b l e to create, so t h a t
thought guides p r o d u c t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t . B u t t o e n s u r e
that t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t proceeds c o r r e c t l y o n t h e r o a d o f
our u n i n t e r r u p t e d s o c i a l i s t r e v o l u t i o n , o u r t h o u g h t , e d u c a tion a n d s c h o o l i n g m u s t h a v e o u r m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y
a s t h e i r basis i n e v e r y t h i n g .
We say, a n d it is a fact, t h a t 8-year s c h o o l i n g is o b l i g a tory b y l a w , b u t w e o u g h t t o s a y a n d u n d e r s t a n d that
all the schools i n t h e i r v a r i o u s f o r m s , a n d not j u s t those
of the c y c l e s we h a v e set d o w n at present, s h o u l d
be
o b l i g a t o r y f o r a l l , n o t i n the s i m p l e l e g a l sense, a s o u r
8-year s c h o o l is, b u t i n t h e sense o f t h e l a w o f o u r
materialist philosophy.
340
ENVER HOXHA
T h e p r o b l e m o f the
organization and pursuit
of
schooling, t h a t is, o f u n i n t e r r u p t e d e d u c a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t
to w h o l e l i f e of m a n , is a v e r y i m p o r t a n t m a t t e r
that c a n n o t be a c h i e v e d a n d p e r f e c t e d w i t h i n a
short
p e r i o d a n d o n l y w i t h i n t h e b o u n d s o f the e x i s t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n of the school, because, r e g a r d l e s s of the p r o g r e s sive changes o u r s c h o o l has u n d e r g o n e a n d i s u n d e r g o i n g ,
i t s t i l l contains c e r t a i n i d e a l i s t concepts i n h e r i t e d f r o m
the p h i l o s o p h y o f the b o u r g e o i s school, concepts w h i c h
h a v e become a r o u t i n e , f e t t e r i n g the m i n d s of m a n y of o u r
people a n d o u r teachers, w h o m t h e y d r a g astray, h i n d e r a n d
m a k e c o n s e r v a t i v e , w i t h o u t t h e i r r e a l i z i n g t h i s o r d e s i r i n g it.
O u r n e w s c h o o l , l i k e e v e r y t h i n g else i n o u r s o c i a l i s t
order, m u s t h a v e its o w n l a w s o f d e v e l o p m e n t w h i c h
c o n f o r m t o a n d serve o u r e c o n o m i c a n d social s t r u c t u r e ,
since t h e school a n d e d u c a t i o n a r e a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t
o f the s u p e r s t r u c t u r e w h i c h m u s t b e g u i d e d b y o u r M a r x ist-Leninist materialist philosophy.
I n o u r socialist
order, t h e s c h o o l a n d
education
s h o u l d b e o r g a n i z e d i n the same w a y a s w o r k a n d the
e x t e n d e d socialist r e p r o d u c t i o n are o r g a n i z e d , a n d p a r a l l e l
w i t h t h e m , s o t h a t t h e y r e s p o n d t o t h e o b j e c t i v e needs
of s o c i a l i s m a n d c o m m u n i s m , so t h a t the e x p e r i e n c e of
p r o d u c t i o n serves t h o u g h t , s o t h a t the d e v e l o p m e n t o f m a t ter c l a r i f i e s t h o u g h t a n d t h e l a t t e r g u i d e s a n d assists t h e
d e v e l o p m e n t o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y practice, t h e d e v e l o p m e n t
a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f society.
F r o m the p r e - L i b e r a t i o n p e r i o d w e i n h e r i t e d a h e t e r o g e n o u s c y c l e o f schools e x t e n d i n g f r o m e l e m e n t a r y t o s e c o n d a r y schools, l a c k i n g r e g u l a r o r g a n i z a t i o n , w i t h g r e a t
s h o r t c o m i n g s , b o t h i n t h e i r f o r m s a n d i n the c r i t e r i a o f
t h e i r s t r u c t u r e , i n t h e content o f t h e subjects, n o t t o m e n tion their political, ideological and pedagogical line utt e r l y a l i e n t o o u r socialist school. T h e Z o g r e g i m e , a n
o r i e n t a l f e u d a l r e g i m e , w a s opposed t o the e d u c a t i o n a l a n d
341
c u l t u r a l u p l i f t o f t h e people a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , schools w e r e
its last c o n c e r n .
Elementary schooling was limited, not only in
the
villages, w h e r e o r g a n i z e d i g n o r a n c e r e i g n e d s u p r e m e , but
also i n t h e t o w n s . I n those d i s t r i c t s w h e r e t h e r e w e r e some
e l e m e n t a r y schools, t h e n u m b e r o f t h e m w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t ,
but e s p e c i a l l y i n s u f f i c i e n t a n d n e a r l y a p r i v i l e g e w e r e the
secondary schools, g y m n a s i u m s , l y c e u m s a n d
technical
schools. T h e s e c o u l d b e c o u n t e d o n one's f i n g e r s a n d w e r e
located i n a f e w b i g c i t i e s o n l y .
I t w a s the c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e c o n d i t i o n s o f d e v e l o p ment o f t h e c o u n t r y t h a t i m p o s e d t h i s p o l i c y i n the f i e l d
o f s c h o o l i n g o n t h e Z o g r e g i m e , a l t h o u g h i t d i d i t s uttermost t o i m p e d e e v e n t h i s l a w o f d e v e l o p m e n t
by
pursuing a reactionary, obscurantist policy. Thus, we can
say t h a t e v e n those f e w p r i m a r y o r s e c o n d a r y schools
w h i c h w e r e o p e n e d i n t h e t i m e o f this r e g i m e , w e r e due
more t o t h e d e s i r e a n d p r e s s u r e s o f the people, o f t h e p r o gressive-minded teachers a n d intellectuals, rather than
t o t h i s r e g i m e a n d its p o l i c y . F o r t h a t l i t t l e progress
e d u c a t i o n m a d e d u r i n g t h e Z o g r e g i m e , r e g a r d l e s s o f its
f l a w s i n f o r m a n d its r u d i m e n t a r y content, w e are i n d e b ted t o t h e people's eagerness f o r l e a r n i n g w h i c h , w i l l y n i l l y , o p e n e d t h e w a y f o r the p e n e t r a t i o n o f t h e l i g h t
amidst t h e g r e a t o b s c u r a n t i s m o f the f e u d a l r e g i m e .
T h e c r i t e r i a o f t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e s c h o o l d u r i n g the
Zog r e g i m e w e r e f e u d a l , bourgeois, b u t e v e n w i t h i n this
f r a m e w o r k , t h e y w e r e u t t e r l y chaotic. A s a r e s u l t o f the
servile policy of the Zogite regime towards the different i m p e r i a l i s t s w h o h a d p r e d a t o r y a m b i t i o n s i n r e g a r d
t o o u r c o u n t r y , the c r i t e r i a o f d i f f e r i n g b o u r g e o i s schools
were in conflict w i t h one another, the w i n n e r being
the c r i t e r i o n o f t h e i m p e r i a l i s t s w h o p a i d m o s t t o
the
regime, w h i c h d i d n o t f o r g e t t o f a v o u r t h a t i m p e r i a l i s t
bourgeoisie w h i c h w a n t e d t o e x e r t its o w n i n f l u e n c e a n d
342
ENVER HOXHA
g a i n concessions f o r a second stage. W h e n one i m p e r i a l i s t
gained strong positions in o u r country, then we saw
r a d i c a l changes also i n t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d c o n t e n t o f our
schools, e x t e n d i n g e v e n t o the p r i m a r y schools. T h u s ,
d u r i n g the Z o g regime we h a d «national» gymnasiums,
religious gymnasiums, French lyceums and A m e r i c a n and
I t a l i a n t e c h n i c a l schools. O n l y T u r k i s h a n d G r e e k g y m n a s i u m s w e r e n o t o p e n e d a n d this i s
understandable,
because the b o u r g e o i s r e g i m e s of those c o u n t r i e s d i d not
m a n a g e o r c o u l d n o t a f f o r d t o b u y these concessions f r o m
Z o g , w h o w a s r e a d y t o s e l l off t h e H o m e l a n d p i e c e m e a l
t o a n y one, j u s t a s h e g r a n t e d m a n y t e r r i t o r i a l concessions t o the Y u g o s l a v s , the B r i t i s h a n d , f i n a l l y , t o M u s s o l i n i ' s fascist I t a l y , t o w h i c h h e s o l d the c o u n t r y , lock,
stock a n d b a r r e l .
T h e o n l y p r a i s e w o r t h y n o t e s t r u c k a m o n g s t this
chaos i n t h e schools o f o u r c o u n t r y w a s the g i g a n t i c eff o r t of teachers a n d professors to e s t a b l i s h a s y s t e m in
o u r schools, t o s t a b i l i z e t h e m i n o r d e r t o f u l f i l , a s f a r
as possible, the desires a n d a s p i r a t i o n s of t h e people f o r
knowledge and learning.
I n short, t h e process o f t h e f o u n d i n g a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of o u r school s y s t e m c o u l d not be done b e f o r e the
l i b e r a t i o n o f the c o u n t r y . I t i s not m y i n t e n t i o n t o m a k e
a n a n a l y s i s o f t h i s process o n t h i s occasion, f o r t h a t i s
u p t o specialists i n e d u c a t i o n t o d o i n a n o b j e c t i v e w a y .
T h i s a n a l y s i s i s o f m a j o r i m p o r t a n c e t o u s today, i f i t i s
m a d e , a n d i t m u s t b e m a d e , i n the l i g h t o f M a r x i s m Leninism.
W h y is this of major importance and w h y must it be
done?
F i r s t , because, despite t h e defects w h i c h o u r schools
h a d a t t h a t p e r i o d , s t i l l t h e y p l a y e d a m a j o r r o l e i n the
a w a k e n i n g o f t h e people, t r a i n i n g cadres most o f w h o m ,
w i t h i n the l i m i t s o f t h e i r k n o w l e d g e , s e r v e d t h e people
343
to the best of t h e i r a b i l i t i e s at those v e r y c r i t i c a l m o m e n t s .
The o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y o f those f e w scholars a n d t e a c h ers, d o c t o r s a n d engineers, a g r o n o m i s t s a n d t e c h n i c i a n s
of m e d i u m t r a i n i n g stood by the people and served them.
Therefore, t h e i r r o l e i s n o t t o b e n e g l e c t e d o r d i s r e g a r d e d .
S e c o n d , because a f t e r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y
and u n t i l w e c a r r i e d out o u r f i r s t r e f o r m o f t h e s c h o o l i n
1946, w e based o u r s e l v e s o n t h e o l d schools, o n t h e o l d
teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s . T h i s h e r i t a g e has h a d a h e a v y
influence, a n d s t i l l has t o t h i s d a y ( n a t u r a l l y w i t h m a n y
differences) a n d i s m a n i f e s t e d i n t h e p r o n o u n c e d c o n s e r vatism o f m a n y o l d e r t e a c h e r s a n d p r o f e s s o r s a n d o f some
young ones, too. N e v e r t h e l e s s , j u s t a s e v e r y t h i n g i n o u r
c o u n t r y w a s u n d e r g o i n g p r o g r e s s i v e changes, t h e s c h o o l
was b e i n g t r a n s f o r m e d , too. T h e r e f o r m o f the s c h o o l w h i c h
we c a r r i e d o u t e x e r t e d a p o s i t i v e i n f l u e n c e in this d i r e c tion a n d the e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e S o v i e t school h e l p e d u s t o
some e x t e n t i n this m a t t e r . W e s a y t o some extent, f o r
later w e s a w t h a t t h e S o v i e t s c h o o l g r a f t e d o n t o o u r o l d
school r e t a i n e d m a n y f e a t u r e s o f t h e r e m n a n t s o f b o u r g e o i s
pedagogy a n d it, too, h a d m a n y s h o r t c o m i n g s w h i c h t i m e ,
the e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d a n d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r c o u n t r y
made o b v i o u s t o us, c o m p e l l i n g u s t o m a k e c o n t i n u a l ,
partial c o r r e c t i o n s , b o t h i n t h e s t r u c t u r e a n d i n the p r o grams a n d p o l i c y o f o u r school.
I n t h e m a t t e r o f o u r school, i t w a s h a r d f o r u s t o
act d i f f e r e n t l y f r o m w h a t w e d i d , because w e
lacked
experience, m e a n s a n d cadres. W e c o u l d not s i m p l y « w i p e
off» t h e s c h o o l o f t h e past, a n d i t w o u l d h a v e been a
m i s t a k e t o d o so. W e h a d t o p r o c e e d t o w a r d s t u r n i n g
it i n t o a p e o p l e ' s school, to e x t e n d it e v e r y w h e r e in
cities a n d v i l l a g e s , t o m a k e e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l i n g c o m pulsory, t o e s t a b l i s h t h e 7-year school, t o increase t h e n u m ber of s e c o n d a r y schools, to m a k e 7- a n d 8-year s c h o o l i n g
o b l i g a t o r y , t o i n c r e a s e t h e n u m b e r o f t e c h n i c a l schools a n d
344
ENVER HOXHA
s e n d students t o p u r s u e t h e i r studies a b r o a d u n t i l w e
f o u n d e d o u r o w n u n i v e r s i t y ( 1 ) w i t h i n the c o u n t r y . O n the
other h a n d , since t h e f i r s t d a y s a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n , i t has
b e e n the c o n t i n u o u s c o n c e r n of o u r P a r t y a n d state to
m a k e o u r school, t h i s c r a d l e o f k n o w l e d g e , a n i m p o r t a n t
c e n t r e f o r e d u c a t i n g t h e y o u t h w i t h the p o l i c y o f the P a r t y .
It is t r u e that t h e teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s a d h e r e d to
the p o l i c y o f t h e P a r t y , t h a t some a d a p t e d t h e m s e l v e s
t o it, nevertheless, t h e y s t i l l p r e s e r v e d i n t h e i r consciousness, m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k , t h e t r e n d s a n d h a n g o v e r s
o f the o l d p e d a g o g y a n d t h e o l d school w h i c h t h e y t h e m selves h a d a t t e n d e d i n o u r c o u n t r y o r a b r o a d .
N o w m a t t e r s are d i f f e r e n t . W e h a v e n e a r l y 2 5 years
of n e w experience of the school in w h i c h a continuous
p o s i t i v e process has b e e n g o i n g on, i n w h i c h m a n y objectives set b y the P a r t y h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d , a n d b a s i n g
ourselves o n this, w e h a v e the d u t y t o m a k e a q u a l i t a t i v e leap f o r w a r d i n o u r schools, a t h i n g i m p o s e d o n
us by t h e need to d e v e l o p p r o d u c t i o n , to c o m p l e t e the
construction of socialism and advance towards communist
society.
However, if we are to make this qualitative leap as
w e s h o u l d , i t seems t o m e t h a t w e m u s t d e f i n e the p r i n c i ples a n d course o n w h i c h w e m u s t p r o c e e d a n d h o w w e
m u s t p r o c e e d w i t h t h e greatest care a n d a v o i d f a l l i n g i n t o
mistakes of n i h i l i s m or grafting on unjustified things w i t h out s o u n d c r i t e r i a .
T h e p o l i c y o f o u r P a r t y t o w a r d s the s c h o o l has a l w a y s
h a d a p r o n o u n c e d class t e n d e n c y . To t h e best of its a b i l i t y , it has t r i e d to steer t h e school a n d e d u c a t i o n on to
the course o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , t o l i n k t h e m w i t h the
i m m e d i a t e a n d f u t u r e needs o f the a l l - r o u n d d e v e l o p -
_______________________________
1 On September 16, 1957, on the basis of the instituties set
up after L i b e r a t i o n , the U n i v e r s i t y of T i r a n a , w h i c h today has
83 chairs and prepares cadres for 41 specialities, was inaugurated
345
ment o f t h e c o u n t r y , p r o d u c t i o n a n d the c o n s t r u c t i o n
o f s o c i a l i s m . A n d t h e best p r o o f s o f this a r e the f o r m a t i o n
of the conviction a m o n g the o r d i n a r y people that learn i n g i s necessary, a n d c r e a t i o n o f o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r
t h e m t o l e a r n , e s p e c i a l l y n o w t h a t s c h o o l i n g has b e e n
made a v a i l a b l e t o a l l t h e masses, the e c o n o m i c progress,
the t r a i n i n g o f a l a r g e n u m b e r o f cadres w h o a r e w o r k i n g
w i t h l o y a l t y a n d d e v o t i o n , r u n n i n g t h i n g s f o r t h e people,
for s o c i a l i s m o n t h e c o u r s e a n d a c c o r d i n g t o the teachings
of the P a r t y .
Nevertheless, if we delve a little deeper into this problem, w e s h a l l see a s h o r t c o m i n g w h i c h lies i n t h e fact
that t h e s c h o o l w a s c o n s i d e r e d m o r e a s t h e d o m a i n o f the
teacher a n d professor, i n w h i c h e v e r y t h i n g w a s s u b o r d i nated t o t h e p e d a g o g i c a l aspect, t o t h e m e t h o d o f i n s t r u c tion. I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e r e w a s t h e t e n d e n c y t h a t the
only people c o m p e t e n t i n s c h o o l m a t t e r s w e r e t h e teacher
and p r o f e s s o r a n d i t w a s s u f f i c i e n t t o l a y d o w n t h e l i n e s
and c r i t e r i a f o r t h e m t o f o l l o w , because t h e y w o u l d a r r a n g e
and m a n a g e a l l t h e rest.
We have continually criticized the comrades of the
P a r t y o v e r t h e i r f a i l u r e t o t a k e a serious i n t e r e s t i n the
schools.
E v e n w h e n o b l i g e d t o v i s i t schools,
their
interest i n t h e m h a s c e n t e r e d o n t h e p a s s - r a t e o f p u p i l s ,
some m a t e r i a l needs, w h e t h e r t h e p u p i l s a t t e n d r e g u l a r l y
o r not, etc. T h u s , t h e y h a v e c o n c e r n e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h t h e
more o r less f o r m a l aspect o f t h e p r o b l e m , because t h e y
felt r e m o t e f r o m t h e s c h o o l a n d t h e y j u s t i f i e d this, because
they h a d a great d e a l o f o t h e r w o r k , e c o n o m i c w o r k i n t h e
first p l a c e . T h u s , o u r p a r t y c o m r a d e s d i d n o t p r o p e r l y
u n d e r s t a n d t h e c o n n e c t i o n o f t h e school w i t h p r o d u c t i o n ,
and w h e n w e s a y this, w e m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h i s c o n nection is p a r a m o u n t , d e c i s i v e .
O n the o t h e r h a n d , t h e teachers a n d professors w e r e
e n t i r e l y d i v o r c e d f r o m p r o d u c t i o n ; t h e y f e l t t h e needs
346
ENVER HOXHA
a n d b e n e f i t e d f r o m the changes t h a t o u r e c o n o m y w a s
u n d e r g o i n g , b u t i n t h e i r schools a n d i n t h e i r t e a c h i n g
they applied, in a stereotyped and bureaucratic way,
outdated pedagogical forms a n d methods a n d a style of
w o r k w h i c h was often anachronistic. A n d , what was still
worse, t h e y i m a g i n e d a n d w e r e c o n v i n c e d that t h e y w e r e
p e r f o r m i n g t h e i r task t o the letter. M e a n w h i l e , the P a r t y
a n d its people w h o g u i d e d this m a j o r p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c ,
ideological and organizational transformation d i d not take
the d e t a i l e d i n t e r e s t t h e y s h o u l d h a v e t a k e n i n the
school a n d the changes t h a t s h o u l d h a v e been m a d e f r o m
t i m e t o t i m e i n the d y n a m i c process o f its d e v e l o p m e n t .
D u r i n g these last t w o years, t h e M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e f o u n d itself u n d e r s t r o n g p r e s s u r e f r o m
a l l the r e v o l u t i o n a r y measures t a k e n i n o u r c o u n t r y , t h e i r
q u i e t w a s d i s t u r b e d a n d t h i n g s b e g a n t o b u r s t a t the seams.
T h i s c o r r o b o r a t e s w h a t I s a i d above, t h a t t h e p r o b l e m o f
e d u c a t i o n a n d the s c h o o l is not a b u r e a u c r a t i c one, n o r c a n
i t b e i n g e n e r a l t h e d o m a i n o f the teachers a l o n e ; i t c a n n o t
b e c o n s i d e r e d the r e a l m o f t h e o r y d i v o r c e d f r o m p r o d u c t i o n ,
f r o m w o r k , b u t i s a m a j o r p r o b l e m o f the P a r t y , the
people, the e c o n o m y , the s t r u c t u r e a n d t h e s u p e r s t r u c t u r e .
M o r e o v e r , i t i s n o t e n o u g h j u s t t o m a k e 8-year s c h o o l i n g c o m p u l s o r y o r t o assign s t u d e n t s t o v a r i o u s f a c u l ties. N o , t h e p r o b l e m is not so e a s y — it is m u c h deeper,
m u c h m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d t h a n i t looks, a n d t h i s i s p r e c i s e l y
w h a t has b r o u g h t t h e M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e
face t o face w i t h n e w p r o b l e m s w h i c h d e m a n d s o l u t i o n .
It is precisely up to us to f i n d the most correct M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t s o l u t i o n t o these p r o b l e m s .
T h e p r o b l e m s a r e m a n y a n d are not so s i m p l e as to be
s o l v e d at o n e d i s c u s s i o n or at a s t r o k e of t h e p e n . In
s o l v i n g t h e m , w e m u s t g u a r d against a n a r c h i c m e t h o d s
disguised as alleged f o r m s of l i s t e n i n g to t h e v o i c e of the
masses, m u s t b e w a r y o f s u b j e c t i v i s t v i e w s , m u s t g u a r d
347
v i g i l a n t l y against t r e n d s a n d i n c l i n a t i o n s o f s y m p a t h y
towards f o r e i g n schools o r o u r o w n schools o f the past,
sympathies w h i c h , i n the course o f t i m e a n d t h r o u g h
routine, c e r t a i n people h a v e t u r n e d i n t o d o g m a s
which
seem t o t h e m « t h e best», w i t h o u t w h i c h , a c c o r d i n g t o
them, the s c h o o l c a n n o t t u r n o u t t o b e g o o d a n d m a y
be a l t o g e t h e r w o r t h l e s s . T h e r e f o r e , e v e r y t h i n g t h a t e x i s t s
in our n e w school must be subjected to the meticulous
analysis o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , s i n c e o u r n e w socialist
school m u s t b e p e r v a d e d f r o m e n d t o e n d a n d g u i d e d i n
e v e r y t h i n g b y o u r m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y . T h i s i s the f u n damental condition.
O u r n e w s c h o o l c a n n o t b e a school o f a n y k i n d , i t
must r e s p o n d to the needs of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o d u c tion, b e a p p r o p r i a t e t o a n d i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h the s t r u c ture a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e o f o u r s o c i a l i s t c o u n t r y . O u r
school, t h e r e f o r e , m u s t r e p r e s e n t a n d e m b o d y o u r M a r x i s t
p h i l o s o p h y i n a l l its cycles, i n a l l i t s f o r m s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n ,
methods a n d s t y l e , a n d m u s t f o l l o w a n d assist t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e v e l o p m e n t o f the s t r u c t u r e a n d s u p e r s t r u c t u r e .
Guided by the Party, it must become an integral part
of the s u p e r s t r u c t u r e , assist p r o d u c t i o n , a n d d e v e l o p c r e a tive t h o u g h t a n d progress.
O u r teachers a n d e d u c a t i o n a l i s t s a n d w e ourselves
w o u l d b e w r o n g t o t h i n k t h a t i n b u i l d i n g o u r school,
e v e r y t h i n g has p r o c e e d e d a c c o r d i n g to t h e c r i t e r i a I just
m e n t i o n e d , o r t o t h i n k f o o l i s h l y t h a t since w e took t h e S o v i e t
school a s a m o d e l w e h a v e m a d e n o m i s t a k e s . M i s t a k e s
have b e e n m a d e i n o u r c o u n t r y , n o t o n l y because w e l a c k e d
experience, b u t also because the S o v i e t s c h o o l i t s e l f
had serious m i s t a k e s a n d s h o r t c o m i n g s , h a d n o t reached
perfection a n d w a s i n the process o f d e v e l o p m e n t . M o r e over, t h e stage of e c o n o m i c , e d u c a t i o n a l a n d c u l t u r a l
d e v e l o p m e n t i n o u r c o u n t r y (to w h i c h I s h a l l r e f e r later)
was d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t o f the S o v i e t U n i o n .
348
ENVER
HOXHA
I n t h e changes, i m p r o v e m e n t s a n d c o r r e c t i o n s w h i c h
w e s h a l l m a k e t o o u r s c h o o l w e m u s t base o u r s e l v e s o n
t h e e x i s t i n g s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e r e s u l t s a t t a i n e d , w h i l e subjecting t h e m to a detailed M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t analysis.
By a d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s I do not m e a n a s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s i n t h e f i e l d o f e d u c a t i o n alone, b u t t h i s s h o u l d b e
l i n k e d w i t h the e x i s t i n g c o n c r e t e s i t u a t i o n o f o u r c o u n t r y , w i t h the d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n , the e c o n o m y and
c u l t u r e , w i t h t h e i r needs, w i t h w h e t h e r o r n o t
these
needs a n d gaps are f i l l e d , k n o w i n g h o w t h e y a r e f r o m
t h e m a t e r i a l angle, s u c h a s t h e n u m b e r o f cadres, and
t h e i r q u a l i t a t i v e aspect. T h u s , w e s h a l l k n o w t h e a c t u a l
stage o f b o t h o u r e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t a n d o u r e d u c a t i o n a l a n d c u l t u r a l d e v e l o p m e n t , s h a l l see w h e r e w e h a v e
d e f i c i e n c i e s , a n d t h e n o u r needs w i l l e m e r g e m o r e acc u r a t e l y t h a n a t a n y other t i m e .
I t c a n n o t b e s a i d t h a t w e h a v e p r o c e e d e d i n such
a m o r e o r less p e r f e c t w a y , b u t n e i t h e r h a v e w e e v e r gone
ahead blindly. A f t e r Liberation, in view of the backward
e c o n o m i c a n d c u l t u r a l c o n d i t i o n s o f the c o u n t r y , w e h a d
n o a l t e r n a t i v e b u t t o accept c e r t a i n features o f t h e old
s c h o o l a n d , f o r t h e s a m e reason, t o g i v e i m p o r t a n c e
t o g e n e r a l c u l t u r e , a n d so, a p a r t f r o m m a k i n g p r i m a r y
schooling compulsory, we strove to establish a n e t w o r k of
m a n y k i n d s o f s e c o n d a r y schools f o r g e n e r a l e d u c a t i o n and
v o c a t i o n a l t r a i n i n g . D u r i n g t h e second decade a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n i n p a r t i c u l a r , w e o p e n e d m a n y schools t h r o u g h
w h i c h w e a i m e d t o r a i s e the g e n e r a l c u l t u r a l l e v e l o f o u r
y o u t h a n d create a c o n t i n g e n t o f h i g h l y t r a i n e d cadres
of various profiles, for w h i c h our country under recons t r u c t i o n h a d g r e a t need. R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s ,
a n d t h e r e w e r e m a n y , this o r i e n t a t i o n w a s c o r r e c t . T h e
o r i e n t a t i o n f o r t h e t r a i n i n g o f t e a c h e r s e n masse w a s
correct, too.
H o w e v e r , the q u e s t i o n of t e c h n i c a l e d u c a t i o n d i d not
349
proceed f u l l y o n t h i s c o u r s e . W h e r e a s d u r i n g t h e
first
period a f t e r L i b e r a t i o n w e o p e n e d t h e i n d i s p e n s a b l e m i n i m u m o f v o c a t i o n a l schools, l a t e r t h e r e w e r e cases o f
negligence a n d m a n y s h o r t c o m i n g s i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f
vocational s c h o o l i n g i n g e n e r a l . S o m e m a y seek t o j u s t i f y
this w i t h t h e fact t h a t w e h a d n o t y e t r e a c h e d t h e p r e s e n t
stage o f d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r i n d u s t r y , b u t t h i s c a n n o t e x cuse t h e l a c k of c a r e a n d f a i l u r e to c l e a r l y see t h e p e r s p e c tive as r e g a r d s the m a t e r i a l c o n s t r u c t i o n of f a c t o r i e s a n d ,
especially, t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h a t v e r y i m p o r t a n t sector,
agriculture, f o r w h i c h w e s h o u l d h a v e t a k e n serious
measures r i g h t f r o m t h e s t a r t b y o p e n i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l
schools. L e a r n i n g f r o m these m i s t a k e s t h a t h a v e b e e n
made i n o u r w o r k w i t h t h e s c h o o l a n d b a s i n g o u r s e l v e s
o n the a n a l y s i s I h a v e j u s t r e f e r r e d to, w e s h a l l c e r t a i n l y
arrive a t c o r r e c t c o n c l u s i o n s a n d t a k e m e a s u r e s t o e n s u r e
that o u r s c h o o l t r u l y b e c o m e s a n e w , r e v o l u t i o n a r y ,
socialist s c h o o l .
This study w i l l show us that the construction of
socialism, t h e f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n ,
the
economy a n d c u l t u r e r e q u i r e l a r g e n u m b e r s o f t r a i n e d
people, n o t j u s t s u f f i c i e n t t o c o m p l e t e t h e staffs o f some
planned o r g a n i s m s , b u t masses o f t h e m , p e o p l e
with
knowledge a n d science o f a l l levels, a n d n o t a l l u n i f o r m
in everything and for everything. Learning and education in schools s h o u l d n o t be c o n s i d e r e d as a m e a n s of
speculation a n d p e r s o n a l g a i n , a s b o u r g e o i s p h i l o s o p h y c o n siders t h e m , b u t as a p o w e r f u l w e a p o n in the h a n d s of t h e
new m a n o f socialist s o c i e t y t o b u i l d t h i s society, t o
promote o u r c o m m o n socialist p r o d u c t i o n , t o d e v e l o p
the socialist c u l t u r e in t h e s e r v i c e of society.
If we have a proper grasp of h o w many-sided our
needs a r e i n r e g a r d t o b o t h q u a n t i t y a n d q u a l i t y , a n d
if, also, w e v i e w t h e f u l f i l m e n t o f these needs f r o m t h e
angle o f t h e d y n a m i s m o f t h e d i a l e c t i c a l m a t e r i a l i s t a n d
350
ENVER
HOXHA
h i s t o r i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t , w e s h a l l come t o the c o n c l u s i o n
t h a t w e cannot a n d m u s t n o t h a v e o n l y one t y p e o f school,
b u t a w h o l e r a n g e of schools, i n c l u d i n g v a r i o u s courses of
a few months' duration.
A s regards the 8-year school, i t seems t o m e t h a t i t
s h o u l d r e m a i n u n c h a n g e d , a u n i f i e d school. Its n a t u r e and
c r i t e r i a s h o u l d r e m a i n as t h e y are, that is, it m u s t e q u i p a l l
c h i l d r e n g o i n g t h r o u g h the 8-year s c h o o l w i t h g e n e r a l c u l ture, the s a m e f o r a l l w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n . M e a n w h i l e i n m y
o p i n i o n , i m p r o v e m e n t s c o u l d a n d s h o u l d b e m a d e i n its
programs. The ways of doing various jobs can be included
in them, but should not be t u r n e d into technical special i z a t i o n . A f t e r c o m p l e t i n g the 8-year s c h o o l o u r y o u t h w i l l
h a v e a v a r i e t y of schools of e v e r y b r a n c h a n d of e v e r y
p r o f i l e open to t h e m , r e g a r d l e s s of w h e t h e r t h e y t a k e a
j o b o r c o n t i n u e t h e i r studies i n a n o t h e r c y c l e o f
school
h i g h e r t h a n the 8-year school.
We s h a l l h a v e a g r e a t e r v a r i e t y of schools, e s p e c i a l l y
s e c o n d a r y ones. T h e M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e has
s u b m i t t e d v a r i a n t s w h i c h m a y be c o n s i d e r e d a s o u n d basis
t o start f r o m , except t h a t these v a r i a n t s s h o u l d b e f u r t h e r
e l a b o r a t e d , because it seems to me, t h e y i n c l u d e t w o basic
defects.
T h e f i r s t defect i s t h a t the M i n i s t r y has f o u n d itself
u n d e r d i r e c t p r e s s u r e f r o m t h e base, w h i c h i n o r d e r t o
meet t h e great a n d u r g e n t needs w h i c h e m e r g e f r o m
the
d e v e l o p m e n t o f p r o d u c t i o n , seeks the w a y out a n d f i n d s
i t b y e s t a b l i s h i n g i n c o o p e r a t i v e s a n d p l a n t s schools w i t h
ill-defined programs and v a r y i n g profiles.
T h e second defect i s t h a t the M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n
and C u l t u r e views the future and the i m p r o v e m e n t of
t h e school m o s t l y f r o m the p r o f e s s i o n a l , d i d a c t i c o r ped a g o g i c a l aspect, as g e n e r a l or s p e c i a l e d u c a t i o n , as f o r m a l
disciplines f i x e d once a n d f o r a l l , a n d less f r o m the
aspect o f l i n k i n g i t c l o s e l y a n d i n s e p a r a b l y w i t h p r o d u c -
351
tion. T h e fact i s t h a t these m a j o r p r o b l e m s o f e d u c a t i o n
are s t u d i e d a n d c o n c l u s i o n s are r e a c h e d b y the staff
o f the M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e ; b u t these p r o b lems g o b e y o n d the l i m i t a t i o n s o f t h e staff o f the M i n istry o f E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e , e v e n i f the l a t t e r i s
made u p o f h u n d r e d s o f c o m p e t e n t teachers a n d p r o fessors. T h e p r o b l e m of e d u c a t i o n is a m a j o r p r o b l e m of
the P a r t y , t h e state a n d t h e w h o l e people.
T o h a n d l e a l l t h i s w o r k w e are g o i n g t o d o i n r e g a r d
to the school, I t h i n k it is necessary to set u p , u n d e r the
direct g u i d a n c e o f t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y ,
a b r o a d a n d i m p o r t a n t c o m m i s s i o n m a d e u p o f t h e best
people f r o m e d u c a t i o n , i n d u s t r y a n d m i n i n g , a g r i c u l t u r e
(state f a r m s a n d cooperatives), t h e y o u t h , w o m e n , doctors,
sportsmen, musicians, philosophers, a n d so on.
W h y a r e a l l these p e o p l e n e c e s s a r y ? B e c a u s e , w h i l e
d e f i n i n g t h e g u i d e - l i n e s , w h i c h I h a v e just r e f e r r e d to.
they w i l l e s t a b l i s h t h e v i t a l l i n k s o f t h e school w i t h
the e c o n o m i c a n d social d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y .
Each of t h e m w i l l present the immediate and future
needs, a n d f r o m t h i s t h e p r o p o r t i o n s a n d p r i o r i t i e s w i l l
emerge m o r e c o r r e c t l y , a n d the t i m e n e c e s s a r y t o f u l f i l t h e
needs a n d t h e v a r i o u s t y p e s o f schools r e q u i r e d w i l l
be d e f i n e d . T h i s is one aspect of t h e w o r k of t h i s c o m m i s s i o n . T h e other, e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t , aspect is t h a t of
the subjects, of the p r o p o r t i o n s each of t h e m o u g h t to h a v e
i n each g i v e n s c h o o l o r course, s o t h a t e v e r y p e r s o n
w h o c o m p l e t e s a s c h o o l o r c o u r s e m a y f i n d the corresp o n d i n g school o r c o u r s e f o r h i s c o n t i n u o u s f u r t h e r t r a i n i n g . T h e w a y these t h i n g s a r e b e i n g d o n e o r b e i n g att e m p t e d a t p r e s e n t i s n o t v e r y correct, because s o m e times there is no objective orientation. This results in
simplistic a n d anarchic forms, in proceeding, for instance,
a l o n g t h e r o a d o f a d d i n g o r s u b t r a c t i n g this m u c h o r t h a t
m u c h f r o m t h i s o r t h a t subject, t h i n k i n g t h a t e v e r y t h i n g
352
ENVER
HOXHA
i s b e i n g s e t t l e d p r o p e r l y i n this w a y . T h e s e o p e r a t i o n s a r e
c e r t a i n l y done w i t h g o o d i n t e n t i o n s , i n o r d e r t o g i v e
t h e best possible r e f l e c t i o n o f the l i n e o f o u r P a r t y i n the
t e x t b o o k s , nevertheless, t h e y c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d a d e quate and always free of mistakes.
A n o t h e r problem is that of the «equivalence»
of
schools. T h i s i s not u n d e r s t o o d c o r r e c t l y . I t h i n k t h a t i n
this matter we should not permit the incitement of i n c l i n a t i o n s a l i e n t o us, because i t i s p e t t y - b o u r g e o i s t o t h i n k ,
«I m u s t get a degree, b e c o m e a m a n of a u t h o r i t y , r e c e i v e a
fat salary and occupy an important position». T h i s feeli n g w h i c h l u r k s b e n e a t h t h e s o - c a l l e d u r g e t o s t u d y is,
i n fact, a l a t e n t a n t i - s o c i a l i s t s u r v i v a l w h i c h w e m u s t
get r i d o f w h i l e w e s t r e n g t h e n t h e g e n u i n e socialist e a g e r ness to s t u d y .
T h e r e are some w h o t h i n k t h a t a p a r t o f t h e y o u n g e r
g e n e r a t i o n s h o u l d go t h r o u g h a n o r m a l c y c l e of schools
w h i l e t h e r e m a i n d e r s h o u l d g o t h r o u g h courses a n d
schools s i m p l i f i e d t o m e e t t h e needs o f p r o d u c t i o n ,
w i t h o r w i t h o u t s c h o o l c e r t i f i c a t e s , a n d t h a t these schools
s h o u l d b e g i v e n the e q u i v a l e n c e o f f u l l g y m n a s i u m s a n d
technicums. T h i s is of no interest and is not right.
S o m e s a y : « W h y s h o u l d w e close t h e doors o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y to these p e o p l e ? »
This question must be understood correctly. The u n i v e r s i t y is a h i g h e r school. It t r a i n s h i g h e r cadres
who,
d u r i n g the d e v e l o p m e n t o f the c o u n t r y , w i l l b e s p e c i a l i zed still f u r t h e r at w o r k and in various forms of q u a l i fication. Therefore, this higher qualification requires Sound
a n d complete educational foundations. T h e doors of the
u n i v e r s i t y are not closed t o a n y one, b u t those w h o a r e
to attend it must have the respective schooling, and this we
must define w e l l . We h a v e just begun to raise the probl e m o f t h e selection o f s t u d e n t s w h o a r e t o b e a d m i t t e d
to the university. B u t are we doing w e l l or not in this
353
case? T h e c o m m i s s i o n w h i c h w i l l b e set u p f o r t h i s p u r pose s h o u l d s t u d y t h i s q u e s t i o n a n d d e f i n e i t m o r e c o r rectly. H o w e v e r , I t h i n k t h a t , at a l a t e r stage, t h e r e quirements f o r those w h o a r e t o p u r s u e h i g h e r studies
will be tightened up, and this w i l l come about as a result
of the n e w c o n d i t i o n s of the d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o d u c t i o n ,
technique, science a n d t h e m o d e r n i z a t i o n o f o u r e c o n o m y .
The t r a n s i t i o n to a m o r e a d v a n c e d e d u c a t i o n a l - c u l t u r a l
and t e c h n o l o g i c a l - e c o n o m i c stage, w h i c h w i l l also b r i n g
about r a d i c a l changes i n o u r schools, m u s t a l w a y s r e s p o n d
t o t h e needs a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f
every period and
moment.
B u t w e need n o t o n l y h i g h e r c a d r e s ; w e h a v e v e r y
great needs f o r m i d d l e cadres, too. T h e r e f o r e , e q u i v a l e n c e
o r g r a d u a t i o n f r o m this s c h o o l o r the o t h e r c a n n o t become
a barricade to block the solution of this problem. An i n d i v i d u a l w h o , f o r m a n y o b j e c t i v e a n d s u b j e c t i v e reasons, has
not a t t e n d e d s c h o o l r e g u l a r l y c a n n o t h a v e it as e a s y as
his f r i e n d w h o has d o n e so. N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h i s i n d i v i d u a l
cannot b e l e f t w i t h o u t s c h o o l i n g . O u r s o c i e t y does n o t
abandon h i m . I t has c r e a t e d p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r h i m t o c o m plete one s c h o o l , t o c o n t i n u e h i s studies b y c o r r e s p o n d ence at a n o t h e r h i g h e r s c h o o l of t h i s t y p e , w h i l e if he
wants to go to u n i v e r s i t y , he w i l l h a v e to pass a series
o f e x a m i n a t i o n s o r c o m p e t i t i o n s i n t h e subjects n o t i n cluded i n the p r o g r a m s o f t h e school h e has b e e n t h r o u g h .
The C o m m i s s i o n i n question w i l l open u p m u c h clearer
horizons a n d prospects f o r t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e , the
government a n d p a r t y o r g a n i z a t i o n s , b y p r o p o s i n g i m proved f o r m s o f o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d w o r k f o r t h e progress o f
our n e w school.
H o w d o I v i e w t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e s t u d y o f the
periods o f p r o g r e s s o f o u r s c h o o l f r o m o n e stage t o
another?
1 ) T h i s s t u d y w i l l m a k e c l e a r t o u s t h e r e s u l t s at-
354
ENVER
HOXHA
t a i n e d f r o m the t i m e o f L i b e r a t i o n t o this day,
will
e x p l a i n in a dialectical w a y the development of education
a n d c u l t u r e f r o m o n e l e v e l t o a h i g h e r one, c l o s e l y c o n nected w i t h the v a r i o u s stages t h r o u g h w h i c h the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m has passed i n o u r c o u n t r y , a n d w i l l
detect d e f i c i e n c i e s a n d d e f i n e o u r c u r r e n t needs.
2) It w i l l d e t e r m i n e , in a s c i e n t i f i c w a y , t h e f o r m s ,
m e t h o d s a n d steps w e h a v e t o t a k e , a l o n g w i t h t h e econ o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t , to r a i s e t h e g e n e r a l c u l t u r e of the
masses to a m o r e or less d e f i n e d l e v e l , to f u l f i l t h e needs
of t h e e c o n o m y f o r m i d d l e t e c h n i c a l cadres up to a d e f i n e d l e v e l , a n d l i k e w i s e , the needs o f o u r e c o n o m y , e d u cation, a n d c u l t u r e f o r h i g h e r cadres u p t o a d e f i n e d
level.
3) If, f o r e x a m p l e , we c a l l this the f i r s t stage of
d e v e l o p m e n t t h e n , i n o r d e r t o a d v a n c e t o t h e second,
m o r e a d v a n c e d stage, m a n y o f t h e f o r m s , m e t h o d s a n d
m e a s u r e s t h a t w e r e u s e f u l i n t h e f i r s t stage, w i l l n o t f u l l y
s e r v e o u r p u r p o s e f o r t h e second, because t h i s r e q u i r e s
i m p r o v e d m e t h o d s a n d measures, s i n c e o u r e c o n o m y a n d
the people involved in it w i l l have been raised to a higher
l e v e l a n d a c h i e v e d a h i g h e r degree of q u a l i f i c a t i o n .
M a n y f o r m s o f school w i l l b e d i s c o n t i n u e d a n d w i l l
h a v e t o b e r e p l a c e d w i t h m o r e s p e c i a l i z e d ones. I n o u r
c o u n t r y today, p e o p l e are n o l o n g e r i l l i t e r a t e , t h e y
have completed their 8-year schooling, or those w h o
h a v e not done so. h a v e been t h r o u g h s p e c i a l courses
a n d schools, p l u s t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e o f l i f e a n d t h e P a r t y ' s
ideological-political
work,
and
all this
has
brought
a b o u t changes i n t h e m a s r a d i c a l a s t h e a d v a n c e s i n the
construction of socialism.
T h u s , f r o m one stage t o a n o t h e r , o u r school, l i k e
e v e r y t h i n g else, w i l l u n d e r g o changes i n f o r m , s t r u c t u r e
a n d content. O n e t h i n g alone w i l l n e v e r c h a n g e : the b a c k bone of it — the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y ,
355
w h i c h w i l l always guide it in all
its t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s .
Therefore, first a n d foremost,
methods, t h e P a r t y m u s t t e a c h
the science w h i c h l i g h t s t h e w a y t o
b o d y : p u p i l s , teachers, professors,
peasants, o l d a n d y o u n g .
directions
and in
all
using all means and
Marxism-Leninism —
a l l sciences, t o e v e r y t h e people, w o r k e r s ,
Thorough
knowledge
of
Marxist-Leninist
philosophy, o f d i a l e c t i c a l a n d h i s t o r i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m b y t h e s t u dents, teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s m u s t b e o u r c o n c e r n , a n d
i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n w e m u s t r e v i s e the t e x t b o o k s , f o r m s
a n d m e t h o d s o f w o r k . T h e sciences, i n c l u d i n g n a t u r a l ,
exact, s o c i a l sciences, etc., i n s h o r t , e v e r y t h i n g w h i c h i s
taught i n schools, m u s t b e p l a c e d e n t i r e l y o n f i r m M a r x ist-Leninist
foundations.
A radical
r e - e x a m i n a t i o n of
t e x t b o o k s w i t h a v i e w t o p u r g i n g t h e m i s one o f o u r
most serious duties, w h i c h w e m u s t n o t i m a g i n e t h e
teachers a l o n e c a n d o w e l l . T e x t b o o k s m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d
a n i m p o r t a n t f i e l d i n w h i c h t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y , its
policy, present aims and programs and preparations for
the f u t u r e are c o n c r e t i z e d . O u r n e w socialist school i s
i n c o n c e i v a b l e w i t h t e x t b o o k s o f a n y k i n d i n w h i c h the
bourgeois i d e a l i s t w o r l d o u t l o o k co-exists w i t h the M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t w o r l d o u t l o o k . W e m u s t m a k e n o concessions to b o u r g e o i s i d e a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y a n d , least of a l l , to
theology.
T h e r e are m a n y t h i n g s w e h a v e t o set o n the r i g h t
track. I h a v e s a i d a t o t h e r t i m e s t h a t o u r t e x t b o o k s c o n t a i n a l o t of s u p e r f l u o u s m a t t e r , b u t I m u s t e x p l a i n this
a little, because it seems to me that, in practice, t h i s is
b e i n g i n t e r p r e t e d n a r r o w l y , b e i n g o v e r s i m p l i f i e d , because
t h e r e is a t e n d e n c y to chop off subjects, left a n d r i g h t .
L e t u s t a k e science. I t has m a d e great progress. T o
chop off a n y o f the sciences a t r a n d o m a n d w i t h o u t
356
ENVER
HOXHA
c r i t e r i o n i s n o t s c i e n t i f i c ; i t m e a n s t o u n d e r r a t e science.
Nature must be studied profoundly in a revolutionary
w a y . I n this d i r e c t i o n e v e r y t h i n g m u s t b e
expressed
a b s o l u t e l y c l e a r l y i n o u r t e x t b o o k s ; science m u s t b e l i b e r a t e d c o m p l e t e l y f r o m t h e o l o g y . T h r o u g h the d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o g r e s s o f science w e e x p l a i n m a t e r i a l i s m a n d
dialectics w h i c h w e m u s t e x e r t e v e r y e f f o r t t o i m p a r t t o
the students,
teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s , because i n t h i s
w a y they w i l l be able to understand the theory of devel o p m e n t i n its f u l l scope.
I h a v e h e a r d t h a t o u r teachers h a v e t a k e n u p
for
d i s c u s s i o n the q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r t h e L i n n e a n
theory
should be upheld, whether all the classifications of L i n naeus ( 2 ) s h o u l d b e r e t a i n e d o r s h o u l d b e c u r t a i l e d . T h i s
d i s c u s s i o n i s p o s i t i v e , b u t i t w i l l b e m o r e s o w h e n these
amendments to Linnaeus' theory, or to any other theory,
are m a d e i n t h e l i g h t o f m a t e r i a l i s t d i a l e c t i c s , t h a t i s t o
say, d i s c a r d i n g those t h i n g s w h i c h the f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t o f b o t a n y o r a n y o t h e r science a n d m a t e r i a l i s t
dialectics h a v e p r o v e d t o b e s u p e r f l u o u s o r i n c o r r e c t . A n d
t h e y s h o u l d n o t g o a b o u t i t l i k e those w h o say s i m p l y :
« W h y d o w e need this o r t h a t ? » T h e m e t h o d s o f these
scientists h a v e a t t a i n e d a c e r t a i n degree of p e r f e c t i o n a n d
only the ignorant can eliminate them w i t h a stroke
o f t h e p e n . B o y s a n d g i r l s a t t e n d i n g schools — a n d l e t u s
not forget o r u n d e r r a t e this — s h o u l d l e a r n t r u e t h e o r y
a n d science, because i n t h i s w a y t h e y w i l l get a b e t t e r
g r a s p o f t h e t h e o r y o f the r e l a t i v i t y o f h u m a n k n o w l e d g e ,
a c o n t i n u o u s l y d e v e l o p i n g r e f l e c t i o n of m a t t e r .
S o m e s a y s i m p l y : « W h y d o w e n e e d these t h i n g s a t
a l l ? » B u t s u c h people d o n o t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t
without
l e a r n i n g these t h i n g s , w i t h o u t d e a l i n g w i t h t h e m i n
v a r i o u s f o r m s , f r o m t h e l o w e s t t o t h e highest, i t i s i m p o s -
_________________________________
2 Swedish naturalist, author of the classification of plants
and animals.
357
sible
to i m p a r t a materialist philosophical w o r l d outlook
to o u r p e o p l e of s o c i a l i s m , a n d far f r o m a d v a n c i n g , we
shall f a l l back a n d be overwhelmed by ignorance, theol o g y a n d b o u r g e o i s p h i l o s o p h y . L e n i n e x p r e s s e d the i d e a
that w h i t h o u t s o u n d p h i l o s o p h i c a l a r g u m e n t s , n e i t h e r n a t u r a l science n o r m a t e r i a l i s m a r e a b l e t o w i t h s t a n d
the
p r e s s u r e o f b o u r g e o i s ideas a n d t h e r e v i v a l o f the b o u r geois w o r l d o u t l o o k . O u r scientists o f s o c i a l i s m m u s t a p p l y
themselves p a t i e n t l y t o s t u d y a n d b e the most a r d e n
s u p p o r t e r s o f M a r x i s t p h i l o s o p h y , i n short, m u s t b e d i a lectical materialists.
T h e p r o g r a m s a r e o f d e c i s i v e i m p o r t a n c e i n schools
of every category. Differentiated programs must be d r a w n
up for every k i n d of school that w i l l be established, a n d
the r e s p e c t i v e t e x t b o o k s m u s t b e r e v i s e d o r r e - w r i t t e n .
P a r a l l e l w i t h t h i s w e m u s t also g i v e serious c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f t r a i n i n g n e w cadres a n d r a i s i n g
the q u a l i f i c a t i o n of the e x i s t i n g ones. T h i s is a m a t t e r
o f p r i m a r y i m p o r t a n c e , f o r i t w i l l b e these cadres w h o ,
having grasped the programs well, w i l l apply them i n o u r
d i f f e r e n t schools. T h e i r t r a i n i n g m u s t n o t b e l e f t t o r o u tine, b u t f o r t h e m , too, it is a m a t t e r of d i s c i p l i n e , of
schooling.
T h e r e f o r e , t h e c o m m i s s i o n w h i c h I propose, s h o u l d set
u p s u b - c o m m i s s i o n s o f specialists i n the r e s p e c t i v e subjects,
and t h e i r w o r k s h o u l d b e g u i d e d b y s o u n d c r i t e r i a a n d
a i d e d a n d s u p e r v i s e d b y the c e n t r a l c o m m i s s i o n , not once
in a blue moon, but at definite periods.
T h e r e a r e m a n y d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f p r o g r a m s . I a m not
c o m p e t e n t t o speak a b o u t t h e m b u t I t h i n k that, i n a d d i t i o n t o correct p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l
orientations,
t h e r e m u s t b e a n o r g a n i c c o n n e c t i o n o v e r the w h o l e r a n g e
of the subjects t a u g h t in v a r i o u s classes, w i t h o u t a single
b r e a k o r m e c h a n i c a l r e p e t i t i o n . I t h i n k that i n this w a y ,
i f t h e t e x t i s clear, s i m p l e a n d complete, the s t u d e n t w i l l
358
ENVER
HOXHA
forget n o t h i n g d u r i n g h i s s c h o o l i n g , a n d h e w i l l t h u s b e
able t o b u i l d the k n o w l e d g e i m p a r t e d t o h i m o n a s o u n d
basis. W h e n these c o n n e c t i o n s h a v e b e e n w e l l b u i l t o r g a n i c a l l y , t h e y w i l l n o t b e d a m a g e d b y the necessary c u l l i n g
o f subjects w h i c h w i l l b e done a t e a c h stage o f s c h o o l i n g
o r e v e n i n each class, o r b y p u t t i n g the subjects o n s o u n d
foundations in the light of dialectical and historical m a terialism, w h i c h makes absolutely essential both
the
c u l l i n g a n d the o r g a n i c l i n k s , b o t h the c l a r i t y a n d t h e acc u r a c y of w h a t e v e r science it m a y be.
A n y fear of lack of comprehensive erudition, w h i c h
s o m e people m a y raise, s h o u l d n o t b o t h e r u s a t a l l , because
w e m u s t g i v e people this necessary e r u d i t i o n p r o g r e s s i v e l y ,
a n d , i f w e b u i l d school p r o g r a m s a n d t e x t s i n t h e w a y I
j u s t p o i n t e d out, t h e students w i l l a c q u i r e a s o u n d , b r o a d
a n d r e l a t i v e l y c o m p l e t e c u l t u r e a n d school e d u c a t i o n . T h e y
w i l l k e e p m a n y t h i n g s i n t h e i r heads, i n d e e d m o r e t h a n
w h e n the a i m is to i m p a r t to them an immense erudition
w h i c h does n o t f i t i n t o t h e t i m e a v a i l a b l e a n d does n o t
match the development of their intellect and practical
k n o w l e d g e . T h u s , o u r l a n g u a g e experts, w h e t h e r l i n g u i s t i c
scientists o r t e a c h i n g specialists, m u s t c o m b a t t h e t e n d e n c y t o teach p u p i l s t h e A l b a n i a n l a n g u a g e i n a n a c a d e m i c
w a y , b y s t u f f i n g t h e i r heads w i t h a l l sorts o f categories,
w i t h the a i m o f g i v i n g t h e m s u p e r f l u o u s , d r y , a b s t r a c t
k n o w l e d g e , o f n o use i n p r a c t i c a l l i f e . L i n g u i s t i c science
m u s t give the school g r e a t e r assistance so that the p u p i l s
gain a sounder foundation and greater ability in the
p r a c t i c a l use of the l i v i n g l a n g u a g e .
T h e a c q u i s i t i o n of e r u d i t i o n r e q u i r e s a l o n g e r t i m e ,
m o r e p r o f o u n d studies, a n d g r e a t e r s p e c i a l i z a t i o n t h a n
a n y school cycle c a n p r o v i d e . N e v e r t h e l e s s , a p e r s o n w h o
has been t h r o u g h t h e r e g u l a r school c a n n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d
i g n o r a n t : the m o r e s o a s i n t h e c o u r s e o f l i f e h e w i l l l e a r n
m a n y other things, w i l l e x t e n d his k n o w l e d g e . H e n c e t h e
359
f o u n d a t i o n s o f studies, p r o g r a m s , t e x t b o o k s , the v a r i o u s
e x p e r i m e n t s a n d the s t r u g g l e i n l i f e t o p u t this k n o w ledge i n t o p r a c t i c e a n d t o e n r i c h i t w i t h f u r t h e r l e a r n i n g
are i m p o r t a n t . W e m u s t a t t a c h i m p o r t a n c e t o the p r o g rams a n d t e x t b o o k s o f a l l schools f o r a l l subjects.
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t h i n g s I m e n t i o n e d above, w e m u s t
attach p a r t i c u l a r i m p o r t a n c e to the sciences, to physics,
mathematics, c h e m i s t r y , t o t h e s p e c i a l i z e d sciences l i k e
medicine, geology, m e c h a n i c s , a n d s o on. A l l these
sciences m u s t b e t a u g h t w e l l a n d , i n o r d e r t o t e a c h t h e m
well, n o t o n l y m u s t t e x t b o o k s b e c l e a r a n d t h e p r o g r a m
w e l l i n t e g r a t e d a l l t h r o u g h the w h o l e cycle o f school
and u n i v e r s i t y , b u t the teacher m u s t m a s t e r the subject
well. too.
T h e m a i n p r i n c i p l e , t h e n i s that o u r d i a l e c t i c a l m a terialist concepts
should r u n through
the textbooks,
p r o g r a m s a n d t e a c h i n g , s o t h a t t h r o u g h these sciences the
pupil, the student and the teacher himself f o r m their
c o m m u n i s t w o r l d o u t l o o k a n d see t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d
practical a p p l i c a t i o n of these sciences f r o m the a n g l e of
m a t e r i a l i s t dialectics.
S p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n m u s t b e p a i d i n schools t o h i s t o r y
and g e o g r a p h y , too, f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t o f o u r c o u n t r y , but
also of t h e w o r l d , since t h e r e is a t e n d e n c y n o t to g i v e
them a d e q u a t e a t t e n t i o n . T h i s t e n d e n c y m u s t b e c o m b a t e d .
It is absolutely necessary that we k n o w the history of
our p e o p l e i n t h e l i g h t o f h i s t o r i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m , t h e r e f o r e
the t e x t b o o k s a n d p r o g r a m s o f t h i s s u b j e c t m u s t b e r e e x a m i n e d w i t h a c r i t i c a l eye.
T h e s a m e a p p l i e s t o the h i s t o r y o f t h e p e o p l e s o f the
w o r l d . T o t h i s e n d . I t h i n k r a d i c a l changes m u s t b e m a d e
i n t e x t b o o k s a n d p r o g r a m s a n d n e w ones c o m p i l e d i n a
p l a n n e d w a y a n d w i t h i n set t i m e l i m i t s , s i n c e t h e old ones
h a v e been b o r r o w e d f r o m a b r o a d a n d , m o s t o f
them,
p a r t i c u l a r l y those o f t h e h i g h e r schools, h a v e been c o m -
360
ENVER
HOXHA
piled on political and ideological criteria inappropriate lor
o u r n e w socialist school. C o r r e c t p r o p o r t i o n s i n t h e i r desc r i p t i o n s o f h i s t o r y d o not e x i s t i n t h e m a n d the o r g a n i c
c o n n e c t i o n w h i c h w e n e e d t o g i v e t h e t e a c h i n g o f this
subject, the h i s t o r y of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of h u m a n society,
f r o m the v i e w p o i n t o f h i s t o r i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m , i s lost. T h e r e fore, t h e r e i s a l o t o f w o r k t o b e d o n e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n ,
i n r e g a r d t o q u a l i t y , content, p o l i t i c s a n d i d e o l o g y , a s w e l l
as v o l u m e .
T h e teaching of the geography of our country is of
m a j o r i m p o r t a n c e a n d , i f i t i s u n d e r r a t e d , t h e s o u r c e o f this
m a n i f e s t a t i o n m u s t b e sought i n t h e concepts o f f o r e i g n
schools, i n t h e i n f l u e n c e o f o p p r e s s i v e r e g i m e s b o t h o f local
reactionaries and of foreign invaders, w h o were interested
in preventing our people f r o m k n o w i n g their o w n country, so
they w o u l d not love it a n d l i n k themselves w i t h it. Theref o r e , i m p e l l e d b y a l l t h e s e t h i n g s , t h e t e a c h i n g o f t h e geography of A l b a n i a was done in a formal, extremely simp l i f i e d w a y , l i s t i n g r i v e r s a n d m o u n t a i n s , etc. I t i s a b s o l u t e l y n e c e s s a r y t o change t h i s s i t u a t i o n c o m p l e t e l y i n our
p r o g r a m s , texts, t e a c h i n g m e t h o d s , a n d s o o n . T h e g e o g r a p h y of o u r country, physical, political a n d economic, must
b e t u r n e d i n t o a r e a l science s o t h a t , d u r i n g t h e w h o l e
s c h o o l cycle, o u r p e o p l e b e c o m e f u l l y a c q u a i n t e d w i t h our
H o m e l a n d , its d e v e l o p m e n t a n d prospects, t h a t t h e y k n o w
i t a n d t o u c h it, f o r i t i s o n t h i s l a n d t h a t t h e y l i v e , w o r k
a n d create. T h e g e o g r a p h y lesson s h o u l d b e o n e o f t h e most
l i v e l y and most interesting; the lesson in the book should
b e l i n k e d w i t h t h e t e r r a i n , t h e fields, t h e m o u n t a i n s , the
r i v e r s a n d t h e l i v e s t o c k . W h a t v a s t prospects s u c h a l e s s o n i n
t h e g e o g r a p h y o f o u r c o u n t r y opens u p ! I t i s l i n k e d w i t h
the tempering of patriotism a n d love f o r the country, w i t h
the economy, agriculture and industry; it helps in the t r a i n i n g o f good geologists, e n g i n e e r s a n d a g r o n o m i s t s f o r the
f u t u r e , develops h e a l t h , s p o r t s a n d t o u r i s m . I f w e c o n c e i v e
361
geography i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a l l o f these t h i n g s a n d i f
we k n o w that we must l i n k the teaching of geography
i n schools w i t h n a t u r e , w i t h t h e l a n d , t h e n w e w i l l r e a c h
the r i g h t c o n c l u s i o n t h a t w e m u s t m a k e q u a l i t a t i v e c h a n ges i n t h i s subject.
M a j o r changes s h o u l d b e m a d e also i n the t e a c h i n g o f
world geography, w h i c h in the forms and proportions it is
being t a u g h t i n o u r schools a t present, i s u n s u i t a b l e f o r us.
T h e r e v i s i o n o f t e x t b o o k s f r o m t h i s angle m e a n s w o r k
on pure scientific foundations, w o r k w h i c h , f r o m the p r i mary schools t o t h e u n i v e r s i t y a n d b e y o n d , l i n k s t h e o r y a n d
practice p r o p e r l y , f o r p r a c t i c e h e l p s t h e o r y a n d t h e o r y
helps a n d g u i d e s p r a c t i c e . I f t h i s o r g a n i c c o n n e c t i o n i s
made properly, then we s h a l l be able to serve the present
and, a t t h e s a m e t i m e , p r e p a r e f o r t h e f u t u r e .
T h e r e v i s i o n o f t e x t b o o k s f r o m the a n g l e o f m a t e r i a l i s t
dialectics m u s t b e done f o r a l l k i n d s o f schools w h i c h
w e decide u p o n , w h i l e t h e a d a p t a t i o n o f subjects f o r each
type of school or course of h i g h or l o w l e v e l m u s t be done
separately, s o t h a t t h e y r e s p o n d t o the needs f o r w h i c h
that t y p e o f s c h o o l has b e e n opened, a n d the e d u c a tional l e v e l o f those w h o a t t e n d it. I n g e n e r a l , h o w e v e r ,
I t h i n k t h a t these a d a p t a t i o n s m u s t a l w a y s f o l l o w w e l l studied, s c i e n t i f i c c r i t e r i a a n d c o n f o r m t o c e r t a i n g i v e n
orientations, a n d n o t w o r k o n e against a n o t h e r , s u b s t r a c t ing 1 0 h o u r s f r o m t h i s a n d a d d i n g 2 0 h o u r s t o that.
This s h o u l d b e a v o i d e d .
I h a v e s p o k e n a l i t t l e a b o u t t h e sciences. N o w I w i s h
to say a f e w w o r d s a b o u t h o w t h i s p u r g e of science
textbooks m u s t b e done a n d n e w ones c o m p i l e d . S i n c e w e
w a n t o u r t e x t b o o k s c o m p i l e d f r o m the v i e w p o i n t o f m a t e rialist dialectics, t h e y c a n n o t b e c o m p i l e d b y people w h o
are not c o m p e t e n t a n d h a v e p h i l o s o p h i c a l o u t l o o k s a l i e n
to Marxism-Leninism. He who is to work in drawing
u p the n e w t e x t b o o k s m u s t n o t o n l y b e w e l l a c q u a i n t e d
362
ENVER
HOXHA
w i t h M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t philosophy, but must also feel it
a n d k n o w h o w t o a p p l y it, i n short, t o m a t e r i a l i z e i t i n
t e x t - b o o k s , t o l i n k i t w i t h l i f e . I a m not r e f e r r i n g h e r e
o n l y t o the t e c h n i c i a n s a n d scientists f r o m the o l d schools
w h o , i n g e n e r a l , h a v e a g o o d p o l i t i c a l s t a n d , are d e v o t e d
t o t h e P a r t y , t o the people a n d t o s o c i a l i s m , b u t w h o ,
w i l l y - n i l l y , r e m a i n b o u n d w i t h the t h r e a d s o f b o u r g e o i s
i d e a l i s t i d e o l o g y , i n d e e d t h i s m u s t be s a i d e v e n of o u r
y o u n g cadres o f h i g h e r t r a i n i n g w h o h a v e g r a d u a t e d f r o m
o u r state U n i v e r s i t y . W e h a v e m a n y specialists w h o , a l t h o u g h t h e y h a v e g r a d u a t e d f r o m h i g h e r schools, w h e r e
they have learned philosophy and have been w o r k i n g
f o r some y e a r s a t t h e base, are s t i l l u n a b l e t o l i n k t h e i r
k n o w l e d g e w i t h life, h a v e n o t y e t a c h i e v e d w h a t t h e
P a r t y r e q u i r e s , that, a s g e n u i n e m a t e r i a l i s t s , t h e y s h o u l d
be militants and draw revolutionary philosophical conclusions, as L e n i n says.
Then w h a t should we do about the problem I am
r a i s i n g ? A close c o l l a b o r a t i o n of teachers of these subjects
a n d scientists, m e n o f l i t e r a t u r e a n d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t
p h i l o s o p h y m u s t b e o r g a n i z e d u n d e r the d i r e c t i o n o f t h e
C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f t h e P a r t y a n d the M i n i s t r y o f
E d u c a t i o n a n d C u l t u r e . B u t this m a j o r basic w o r k m u s t
n o t b e left t o t h e teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s alone, n o m a t t e r
t h a t t h e y are competent, n o m a t t e r t h a t t h e y m a y b e
party members. T h e p r o b l e m here is that they do not
master Marxist-Leninist philosophy properly.
I f w e t a k e the social sciences a n d , p a r t i c u l a r l y , l i t e r a ture, w h i c h i s dealt w i t h i n the schools o f a l l p r o f i l e s , w e
s h a l l f i n d v e r y serious things, a l t h o u g h m a n y c o m m u n i s t
c o m r a d e s h a v e h a d a h a n d i n i t a n d t h e P a r t y has d e v o t e d
m a j o r a t t e n t i o n t o it. I f w e l o o k c a r e f u l l y i n t o the w a y o u r
o w n a n d f o r e i g n l i t e r a t u r e are h a n d l e d b o t h i n s c h o o l a n d out
o f school (and this w e m u s t s t u d y i n d e t a i l i n t h e l i g h t o f
o u r p h i l o s o p h y ) , w e s h a l l see not o n l y weaknesses, i r r e -
363
gularities, d i s p r o p o r t i o n s , a m a t e u r i s m , u n h e a l t h y e n t h u s i asm a n d e r u d i t i o n , b u t also g r a v e m i s t a k e s w h i c h cost u s
dear a n d w h i c h w i l l cost u s d e a r e r y e t i f w e d o not
correct t h e m . I n this q u e s t i o n , w e see t h e r e f l e c t i o n o f the
p h i l o s o p h i c a l v i e w s o f t h e b o u r g e o i s school, the i n d i v i d u a l
sympathies of one or the o t h e r a c c o r d i n g to h i s i n c l i n a tions, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e school a n d c u l t u r e w i t h w h i c h h e
has been m o u l d e d , since h e has not y e t succeeded i n c l e a n ing t h e « A u g e a n stables» c o m p l e t e l y . A l l these ideas a n d
views o f w h i c h h e has n o t r i d h i m s e l f t h o r o u g h l y , a l l t h e
s y m p a t h i e s o r passions o f h i s c u m b e r s o m e a n d
confused
erudition for a local or foreign author, he transmits
in
school o r i n l i f e t h r o u g h lessons, lectures, conferences, a r t i cles a n d b o o k s he w r i t e s . T h i s constitutes a g r e a t d a n g e r
and, i f w e f a i l t o p u t t h i s m a t t e r i n order, w e w i l l h a v e
made concessions t o b o u r g e o i s p h i l o s o p h y a n d a l l o w e d i t
to fight us openly and almost officially on our o w n ground.
T h e epoch of our Renaissance is a democratic r e v o l u t i o n a r y epoch, o f great i m p o r t a n c e i n t h e h i s t o r y a n d l i t e rature o f o u r people, a n e p o c h e n l i g h t e n e d a n d g u i d e d b y t h e
i l l u m i n i s t ideas o f o u r m o s t o u t s t a n d i n g m e n o f t h a t p e r i o d ,
w h i c h has r i g h t l y b e e n c a l l e d the r e b i r t h o f the n a t i o n , its
emergence f r o m m e d i a e v a l - f e u d a l a n d i m p e r i a l i s t d a r k n e s s
to l i g h t , to i n s u r r e c t i o n , to the f i g h t f o r f r e e d o m , i n d e p e n dence a n d d e m o c r a c y , f o r e n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d e d u c a t i o n .
I n o n e o f h i s w o r k s E n g e l s has w r i t t e n a b o u t t h e R e naissance, n o t o u r R e n a i s s a n c e , b u t t h e « C i n q u e c e n t o » (the
period of the second h a l f of t h e the 16th c e n t u r y ) . He says it
was a b r i l l i a n t epoch w h i c h b r o u g h t f o r t h p r o m i n e n t m e n ,
not o n l y artists a n d p a i n t e r s b u t also scientists a n d p h i l o sophers w h o w e r e b u r n e d a t t h e s t a k e b y t h e c h u r c h , p h y sicists, a s t r o n o m e r s a n d o t h e r s w h o b u r s t a s u n d e r t h e h e a v y
m e d i a e v a l d a r k n e s s , d e s t r o y e d f a i t h s a n d systems a n d g a v e
a further impulse to economic, cultural and scientific d e v e l o p m e n t . B u t the a n a l y s i s E n g e l s m a k e s o f the e p o c h o f
364
ENVER
HOXHA
the Renaissance is a materialist dialectical analysis a n d not
a n idealist one, since t h e i m p u l s e t h e m e n o f the R e n a i s sance i m p a r t e d t o society w a s n e i t h e r c o m p l e t e n o r p e r f e c t ,
it would be transformed and developed further and local
a n d g e n e r a l u p h e a v a l s w o u l d o c c u r i n the d e v e l o p m e n t o f
h u m a n society a n d i n t h e v a r i o u s sciences. N e w o r c o m p l e m e n t a r y l a w s w o u l d e m e r g e a n d , a s L e n i n says, these
upheavals
«in most cases give birth
tionary philosophical
schools
to major and
and
trends»*
minor
reac-
A n d o n l y o u r m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y c a n disperse the f o g
o f t h e m a n d w a r d off t h e d a m a g e t h e y b r i n g .
I t i s p r e c i s e l y f r o m t h i s angle t h a t o u r P a r t y h a s
v i e w e d the epoch of our Renaissance, w h i c h must be ree x a m i n e d m o r e t h o r o u g h l y f r o m the v i e w p o i n t o f d i a l e c tical materialism, so that this period w i l l be transmitted
t o t h e school c h i l d r e n , students, teachers, professors, a n d
t h e people a s c l e a r l y a n d c o r r e c t l y a s possible,
analyzed
in a Marxist-Leninist w a y f r o m both the social and economic, a n d t h e e d u c a t i o n a l , c u l t u r a l a n d h i s t o r i c a l angles,
a n d not t o suit t h e i n c l i n a t i o n s o f t h i s o r t h a t i n d i v i d u a l .
T h i s m u s t b e done i n t h i s w a y .
T h e m e n o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e m u s t b e seen i n t h e
p r o p e r perspective, i n the e p o c h i n w h i c h t h e y l i v e d ,
w o r k e d a n d f o u g h t ; t h e i r ideas, w h i c h w e r e t h e p r o d u c t
of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of society of t h a t epoch, a n d t h e i r
i m m e d i a t e a n d l o n g - t e r m a i m s m u s t b e b r o u g h t out. I f
m a t t e r s are presented i n t h i s correct w a y , i t w i l l e m e r g e
t h a t the m e n o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e w e r e o u t s t a n d i n g
people w i t h p r o g r e s s i v e ideas, w e r e c o u r a g e o u s r e v o l u t i o n ary illuminists, b u r n i n g w i t h ardent love for their country.
____________________________
* V .I. L e n i n , « O n the Importance of M i l i t a n t M a t e r i a l i s m » ,
Collected Works, vol. 33. p. 254 (Alb. ed.).
365
T h e y f o u g h t w i t h r i f l e a n d p e n f o r the f r e e d o m a n d
i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e people, f o r t h e i r a w a k e n i n g . A l l
o f these a r e t h e i r g r e a t p o s i t i v e aspects. A l l these a t t r i butes a n d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e R e n a i s s a n c e a n d o f t h e
men w h o l e d i t w e m u s t present t o t h e people.
B u t w e m u s t n o t f o r g e t f o r one m o m e n t t h a t these
men o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e also h a v e t h e i r n e g a t i v e aspects,
which must be subjected to our M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t criticism.
T h e i r w e a k n e s s e s lie i n t h e i r p h i l o s o p h i c a l concepts w h i c h
are i d e a l i s t . T h i s i s a h e a v y i m p e d i m e n t , i t i s t h e p h i l o sophy o f t h e i r e p o c h w h i c h i s i n c o n t r a d i c t i o n a n d s t r u g g l e
with o u r ideology.
S h o u l d we keep quiet about this antagonism, about
this merciless, l i f e - a n d - d e a t h s t r u g g l e w e M a r x i s t s w a g e
against i d e a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y , a g a i n s t r e l i g i o n a n d r e l i g i o u s
beliefs? S h o u l d w e c o n s i d e r the ideas o f t h e m e n o f o u r
Renaissance inviolable,
taboo, j u s t
because t h e y
have
expressed t h e m ? C a n w e c o - e x i s t w i t h these ideas a t
a
t i m e w h e n w e are w a g i n g a s t e r n f i g h t against t h e o l o g y ,
religion, the churches a n d mosques,
the priests
and
h o d j a s ? C a n w e e x a l t those p a r t s o f t h e w o r k o f N a i m F r a shëri
w h e r e h e expresses h i s B e k t a s h i p h i l o s o p h y , o r o f
Mjeda w h e r e he speaks of C h r i s t i a n theology, or of Ç a j u p
w h e r e h e says, f o r e x a m p l e , t h a t B a b a T o m o r r i i s
«the
t h r o n e of G o d » , etc. a n d f e e d a l l t h i s to t h e people as
i d e o l o g i c a l n u t r i m e n t , s i m p l y because t h e y a r e m e n o f
o u r R e n a i s s a n c e , g r e a t m e n w h o l a i d t h e bases o f a n d
d e v e l o p e d o u r w r i t t e n l a n g u a g e , because t h e i r p o l i t i c a l
verses a r e b e a u t i f u l a n d r i c h i n d e l i g h t f u l f i g u r e s ?
N o , a s M a r x i s t s a n d i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e people a n d
socialism, w e m u s t c o m b a t these n e g a t i v e aspects. I n i d e o l o g y w e c a n n o t m a k e concessions t o t h e b e a u t y o f v e r s e o r
the l a n g u a g e . T h e assessment E n g e l s m a d e o f L u t h e r ' s
l a n g u a g e a s t h e basis o f the G e r m a n l i t e r a r y l a n g u a g e d i d
not i n a n y w a y p r e v e n t h i m f r o m j u d g i n g the r o l e o f t h e
366
ENVER
HOXHA
R e f o r m , b e f o r e a n d a f t e r the P e a s a n t R e v o l t i n G e r m a n y ,
i n its t r u e l i g h t a n d e x p o s i n g i t a s r e a c t i o n a r y .
T h e r e f o r e , f o r us, too, t h e q u e s t i o n o f t e x t b o o k s o n
a l l these subjects, a n d e s p e c i a l l y o n l i t e r a t u r e , w i t h i n a n d
outside the school, m u s t be s u b j e c t e d to a t h o r o u g h
a n a l y s i s a n d e x a m i n a t i o n f r o m the a n g l e o f o u r p h i l o s o p h y .
T h e q u e s t i o n I raise a b o u t the m e n of o u r R e n a i s s a n c e
must be understood and solved correctly. It is i m p e r m i s sible a n d not M a r x i s t to obscure this epoch. We must
m a k e selections o n s o u n d c r i t e r i a f r o m the w o r k s o f the
a u t h o r s o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e f o r the d i f f e r e n t categories o f
schools a n d t h e p u b l i c , e l i m i n a t i n g the n e g a t i v e passages
without hesitation, for if y o u give the children of the
8-year schools p o e m s a n d w r i t i n g s o f a n a u t h o r o f o u r
R e n a i s s a n c e i n w h i c h h e speaks o f G o d , a n d o n t h e other
h a n d y o u praise t h i s a u t h o r h i g h l y , t h e n y o u h a v e also
e x a l t e d h i s idealist, deistic o r p o l y d e i s t i c p h i l o s o p h y . N o
m a t t e r h o w m u c h y o u c r i t i c i z e it, t h e s c h o o l c h i l d w i l l n o t
u n d e r s t a n d y o u , w i l l not u n d e r s t a n d w h a t y o u are e u l o g i z i n g a n d w h a t y o u are c r i t i c i z i n g . I n the h i g h e r schools, h o w ever, t h e i r t e x t s c a n b e m o r e e x t e n s i v e , b u t n e v e r w i t h o u t
serious M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c r i t i c i s m o f t h e i r i d e a l i s t v i e w s .
On the other h a n d , we must be on our guard against
the i d e a l i z a t i o n a n d c u l t o f the m e n o f o u r R e n a i s s a n c e .
We must v i e w this question f r o m the angle of our M a r x ist-Leninist philosophy. Since the time of our Renaissance, colossal changes h a v e t a k e n p l a c e i n o u r c o u n t r y
i n t h e economic, social, c u l t u r a l a n d e d u c a t i o n a l f i e l d s .
A l b a n i a i s n o l o n g e r w h a t i t u s e d t o be, n o r are its
e c o n o m y , c u l t u r e , e d u c a t i o n , language, r e g i m e , p o l i t i c s
o r i d e o l o g y . A c c o r d i n g t o the l a w o f m a t e r i a l i s t d i a lectics, e v e r y t h i n g h a s c h a n g e d a n d i s i n t h e process o f
change. I f y o u d o n o t k e e p a l l these changes i n m i n d , i f
y o u e x a l t o n e a n d forget t h e others, i f y o u l i v e o n l y w i t h
the o l d a n d forget the n e w , i f y o u t h i n k t h a t t h e o l d a l o n e
367
should i n f l u e n c e the n e w a n d t h a t t h e n e w p l a y s a m i n o r
role, t h e n y o u are h e a d i n g i n t o a b l i n d a l l e y . W h i l e b e a r i n g
these t h i n g s i n m i n d , w e m u s t c o m b a t a n y t e n d e n c y t o b e little the l i t e r a t u r e o f t h e p e r i o d o f people's p o w e r . T h e
doors o f o u r s c h o o l s s h o u l d b e f l u n g o p e n w i d e t o t h i s
new l i t e r a t u r e o f socialist r e a l i s m , f o r i t r e f l e c t s t h e
sentiments a n d e f f o r t s of a g l o r i o u s n e w e p o c h a n d c a n
and s h o u l d assist the a l l - r o u n d e d u c a t i o n of the masses
w i t h the l o f t y i d e a l s o f socialist a n d c o m m u n i s t society.
The other periods of the development in t h i n k i n g ,
i n science a n d l i t e r a t u r e , i n a r t a n d m u s i c w h i c h are p o r t r a y e d i n t e x t b o o k s , s h o u l d also b e e x a m i n e d w i t h these
same c r i t e r i a . A s I s a i d e a r l i e r , i n the t e x t b o o k s these
must b e c o m p l e t e , b u t w e m u s t n o t p e r m i t t h e e x a g gerated m a n i a o f c e r t a i n p r o m i n e n t e r u d i t e s w h o are
u n d u l y k e e n t o t e a c h p u p i l s , w i t h i n a s h o r t p e r i o d , a l l these
things w h i c h t h e y t h e m s e l v e s took a w h o l e l i f e t i m e t o l e a r n .
T h i s , I t h i n k , s h o u l d n o t be i n t e r p r e t e d to m e a n
that w e h a v e n o n e e d f o r e m i n e n t scholars, f o r great
experts. O n t h e c o n t r a r y , w e h a v e great n e e d f o r t h e m ,
t h e y a r e t h e w e l l o f science a n d k n o w l e d g e a n d t h r o u g h
t h e m w e w i l l m u l t i p l y a n d q u a l i f y o u r h i g h e r cadres, b u t
w e s h o u l d n o t m i x u p t h e stages o f d e v e l o p m e n t . A v e r y
l e a r n e d p e r s o n has a n d m u s t f i n d t h e p o s s i b i l i t i e s t o
make his teaching v e r y understandable to the university
student w i t h o u t over-loading h i m , w h i l e h e should k n o w
h o w t o i n c r e a s e the d o s e f o r t h e s p e c i a l i s t sent t o h i m f o r
further qualification.
A s t o w o r l d l i t e r a t u r e , I t h i n k t h a t i t h a s l o n g been
i n a c h a o t i c a n d v e r y d a n g e r o u s state i n o u r schools a n d
among the public. A l t h o u g h some i m p r o v e m e n t s have
been m a d e d u r i n g t h e l a s t t w o o r t h r e e y e a r s ,
the
situation is still disturbing. In this field there is a lack of
s o u n d c r i t e r i a ; a n d w h e r e these e x i s t o r h a v e been d e f i n e d ,
t h e y h a v e been d i s t o r t e d , b a s t a r d i z e d . T h e r e f o r e t h e C e n -
368
ENVER
HOXHA
t r a l Committee of the P a r t y must take this seriously
in
h a n d , for there are matters of principle w h i c h must
be
f o r c e f u l l y asserted a n d the s u p e r v i s i o n o f t h e i r i m p l e m e n tation must be w e l l organized. Someone takes a fancy
to a novel, translates it a n d wants it p u b l i s h e d ; if the
t r a n s l a t o r i s some p e r s o n a l i t y a n d t h e n o v e l a «classic»,
it is p r i n t e d and fed to the public, regardless of the ideas
e x p r e s s e d i n it. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h i s s a m e
translator
w i l l deliver a lecture on behalf of the Party, attacking
t h e ideas o f the n o v e l h e has t r a n s l a t e d . H e i s n o t b o t h e r e d b y h i s o w n i n c o n s i s t e n c y , n o r i s the P u b l i s h i n g H o u s e
w h i c h o v e r f u l f i l s its p l a n .
W e m u s t s u p p l y t h e people a n d t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n
w i t h s c h o o l t e x t b o o k s a n d o t h e r books, n o t t o c o n f u s e t h e m
and corrupt them spiritually but to help them k n o w the
d e v e l o p m e n t o f society a n d , a t t h e same t i m e , t o a r m t h e m
w i t h o u r ideology. F o r e i g n literature is a w i d e and v a r i e d
f i e l d . A c a r e f u l s e l e c t i o n o f w h a t w e n e e d i n this f i e l d i s
feasible, b u t also d i f f i c u l t . T h e p e o p l e w h o a r e t o m a k e
this selection must h a v e extensive
culture and w e l l f o r m e d M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t views. These people must have a
good g r a s p o f w h a t i s n e e d e d , n o t a s a w h o l e , b u t i n s e p a r a t e categories. W h i l e t r a n s l a t i n g a n d p u b l i s h i n g f o r e i g n
l i t e r a t u r e , t h e y s h o u l d h a v e a c l e a r i d e a of t h e d e f i n i t e
aims and intentions of our Party. In this important and
delicate p r o b l e m we should not allow snobbery, i n d i v i d u a l
tastes, o r u n h e a l t h y p r e d i l e c t i o n s , n o r s h o u l d w e a l l o w
n i h i l i s m , m e r e l y s a y i n g , « w e h a v e n o n e e d o f i t a t all».
N o , w e n e e d it, b u t w e s h a l l t a k e a s m u c h o f i t
as w i l l help our mental, artistic and cultural development.
E v e r y n a t i o n has i t o w n l i t e r a t u r e , a n d t h i s i s m a d e
u p o f a v a r i e t y o f schools o f t h o u g h t , i n t h e v a r i o u s phases o f its d e v e l o p m e n t a n d decadence. T h e b o u r geoisie has c r e a t e d a n d i s c r e a t i n g its o w n l i t e r a t u r e
369
w i t h m a j o r a n d m i n o r w r i t e r s , poets, m u s i c i a n s , artists,
etc. some of w h o m h a v e w i t h s t o o d t h e test of t i m e w h i l e
some h a v e t r i c k l e d a w a y t o o b s c u r i t y . B u t i t i s u n t h i n k able t h a t w e s h o u l d t r a n s l a t e t h e m «en bloc», a s i f « w e
cannot do w i t h o u t t h e m » , or as if we c a n n o t be abreast
o f the t i m e s w i t h o u t t h e m , a s some m a y c l a i m . W e
should select a m o n g the m o s t p r o g r e s s i v e , a n d m o s t r e v olutionary books a n d the authors w h o h a v e w r i t t e n about
the most r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o m e n t s , s o t h a t t h e y w i l l i l l u s t r a t e
t o our r e a d e r w h a t h e has l e a r n e d a b o u t t h e h i s t o r y o f
peoples, a b o u t t h e i r class struggle, a n d a b o u t the d e v e l o p ment o f t h e i r p r o g r e s s i v e t h o u g h t . S u c h w r i t e r s , poets
and artists exist, b u t w e s h o u l d n e v e r f o r g e t t h a t w e
w i l l n o t f i n d a l l w e w a n t o r i n the w a y w e w a n t i t i n
them, beacuse e v e n i n these p r o g r e s s i v e o r r e v o l u t i o n a r y
authors w e s h a l l f i n d t h e r e f l e c t i o n , t o some degree, i f n o t
complete, o f b o u r e g o i s ideas a b o u t l i f e a n d the p r e v a i ling ideas o f the p e r i o d i n w h i c h t h e a u t h o r s l i v e d .
T h e n h o w should we proceed in this matter? I
think w e s h o u l d n o t b e g u i d e d b y t h e m a n i a t h a t
we must give the school children, the y o u t h a n d the
public a n o v e l t o d e v o u r w h o l e , e v e n w h e n t h i s n o v e l
has t h r e e g o o d p a r t s a n d f i v e b a d . I n t h i s case, w e
can a n d s h o u l d g i v e t h e m selected parts, p r e c i s e l y the
three
g o o d ones,
without neglecting to m a k e our
c r i t i c i s m of t h e b o o k as a w h o l e . I t h i n k t h a t to
perform this delicate task well, we must always, in
every step w e t a k e , c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r a n d t o w h a t e x t e n t
i t serves t h e f o r m a t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n o f o u r people,
whether i t assists o r d a m a g e s w h a t t h e P a r t y i s b u i l d i n g
every d a y a n d e v e r y h o u r . B e c a u s e if, o n o n e h a n d ,
we w a g e a p e r s i s t e n t d a i l y s t r u g g l e to e l i m i n a t e p e t t y bourgeois s u r v i v a l s f r o m t h e m i n d s o f people, o r c o m b a t
the i n f l u e n c e o f r e l i g i o n a n d s u p e r s t i t i o n s d a y b y d a y
370
ENVER
HOXHA
and, on the other hand, we give o u r people books by
w o r l d f a m o u s a u t h o r s i n w h i c h t h e y serve u p these ideas
«sugar-coated», t h e n , w i t h o u r o w n hands, w e d e m o l i s h b y
night w h a t we b u i l d by day.
T h e s e c r i t e r i a , I t h i n k , s h o u l d be f o l l o w e d also
r e g a r d i n g t h e l i t e r a t u r e i n the U n i v e r s i t y , i n s t e a d o f
f o l l o w i n g the inclinations of i n d i v i d u a l professors and
l o a d i n g the p r o g r a m s w i t h t h e w o r k s o f A r i s t o p h a n e s ,
as a c r i t i c i s m by a s t u d e n t w h i c h I r e a d in t h e n e w s paper «Studenti» quite r i g h t l y said. T h e philosophy of
our Party, materialist philosophy, should prevail
in
a l l t h e p r o g r a m s o f the U n i v e r s i t y , a s w e l l a s i n d e c i ding their structure, in compiling textbooks, in
the
forms and methods of teaching.
I stress once a g a i n t h a t t h e s t u d y of M a r x i s t p h i l o s o p h y m u s t b e o n e o f o u r m a j o r concerns, because i f
w e d o not k n o w a n d m a s t e r i t w e c a n n o t c o n s t r u c t these
things in the w a y I have just mentioned. B u t I think
t h a t t h i s i m p o r t a n t basic s t u d y i s b e i n g c o n d u c t e d b y
o l d , s t e r e o t y p e d f o r m a l i s t m e t h o d s b o r r o w e d f r o m the
S o v i e t school, u n e n l i v e n e d a n d u n r e f r e s h e d w i t h the
v i v i d , m i l i t a n t e x p e r i e n c e o f o u r P a r t y a n d the const r u c t i o n o f s o c i a l i s m i n o u r c o u n t r y . I t h i n k also that
this important study of materialist philosophy is
not
p r o p e r l y l i n k e d a n d c o o r d i n a t e d w i t h t h e o t h e r subjects,
since t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e p r o g r a m s a n d t h e w a y lessons
a r e t a u g h t i n t h e p r a c t i c e o f v a r i o u s d e p a r t m e n t s o f the
u n i v e r s i t y l e a v e a lot to be d e s i r e d in t h i s d i r e c t i o n .
The
genuine
materialist
world-outlook
must
be
created among our intellectuals, in general, a n d among
t h e s t u d e n t s a n d professors, i n p a r t i c u l a r . T h e i r s t u d y
of M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t t h e o r y m u s t f o l l o w a n u m b e r of
p a r a l l e l courses i n o r d e r t o a r r i v e a t the p o i n t o f t h e i r
Marxist-Leninist philosophical formation.
371
The first course is that of teaching dialectical and
historical m a t e r i a l i s m as one of the most
important
separate s u b j e c t s . T h i s s t u d y s h o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d i n a
serious w a y , w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e , u n d e r s t a n d a b l e f o r m s .
In other words, a l l the materialist
philosophical syntheses f o r m u l a t e d b y o u r g r e a t classics s h o u l d b e t a u g h t ,
and i l l u s t r a t e d w i t h t h e s t r u g g l e a n d p r a c t i c e o f o u r P a r t y
and the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t . H e n c e , the
method i n w h i c h w e teach the M a r x i s t philosophy today
must b e r e t a i n e d a n d p e r f e c t e d , a n d the c u r r e n t S o v i e t
attempt to e l i m i n a t e M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m as a g u i d i n g
science a n d r e d u c e i t t o t h e s t a t u s o f «logic» m u s t b e
exposed a n d c o n d e m n e d a s r e v i s i o n i s t . T h i s m u s t b e the
solid f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e t e a c h i n g o f o u r p h i l o s o p h y , w h i c h
i s the t h e o r y t h a t g i v e s u s o u r b e a r i n g s a n d g u i d e s us.
T h e second course or means, w h i c h re-enforces the
first a n d o p e n s c l e a r v i s t a s f o r its p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n
and use as a c o m p a s s or g u i d e , is t h a t a l l t h e t e x t b o o k s ,
lectures, t e a c h i n g m e t h o d s a n d c o n d u c t o f
experiments
and p r a c t i c a l w o r k m u s t b e d o n e , r e c o n s t r u c t e d
and
developed in c o n f o r m i t y w i t h our theory. T h e y should be
i l l u s t r a t e d a n d e x p l a i n e d , s t e p b y step, i n the l i g h t o f
our t h e o r y , s o t h a t t h e s t u d e n t a n d p r o f e s s o r , t h e teacher
and p u p i l c a n see c o n c r e t e l y , i n t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e , t h a t
the g e n u i n e a n d c o r r e c t d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e sciences a d vances o n t h e course o f p r o g r e s s o n l y w h e n i t i s g u i d e d
and e n l i g h t e n e d b y d i a l e c t i c a l a n d h i s t o r i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m .
T h e t h i r d , j u s t a s i m p o r t a n t , course, i s t h e a c t i v e
p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e p u p i l s , s t u d e n t s a n d t e a c h e r s i n the
political and economic problems of the country, while
they a r e s t i l l b e i n g f o r m e d i n s c h o o l s a n d t h e u n i v e r s i t y ,
since i n t h i s w a y t h e y e m e r g e f r o m t h e s t u d y o f b o o k s
and laboratory practice into active revolutionary
life,
where
the
basic
principles
of
our Marxist-Leninist
m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y are p u t i n t o p r a c t i c e i n a
great
372
ENVER
HOXHA
v a r i e t y o f c r e a t i v e w a y s , y i e l d i n g c o n c r e t e r e s u l t s t h a t can
b e seen a n d t o u c h e d .
W h i l e e v e r y aspect o f t e a c h i n g a n d e d u c a t i o n m u s t
be organically permeated by the ideology and policy of
our Party, this must be achieved together w i t h
the
M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p r i n c i p l e o f l i n k i n g lessons w i t h w o r k
a n d the p o l y t e c h n i z a t i o n o f t h e s c h o o l . W e t o o k
some
steps i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n a s f a r b a c k a s t h e P l e n u m o f
t h e C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e o f o u r P a r t y i n 1960, w h e n w e
r e o r g a n i z e d o u r schools o n t h e basis o f t h i s p r i n c i p l e .
D u r i n g recent years a n d in the r e v o l u t i o n a r y atmosphere
o f t h e w h o l e l i f e o f o u r c o u n t r y , these steps a r e b e i n g
enriched w i t h new forms, initiatives and experiments.
We shall continually extend and intensify this work.
T h e s e t h r e e m a i n courses m u s t b e w e l l c o m b i n e d .
F o r t h e f i r s t , w h i c h o u r g r e a t classics h a v e l e f t u s
a s a colossal h e r i t a g e , w e m u s t p e r f e c t o u r m e t h o d s o f
w o r k and s t u d y ; for the second, we h a v e a great deal
t o d o a n d m u s t e m b a r k o n t h i s process w i t h g r e a t care
and in a revolutionary w a y ; for the third, we
have
already started but we must extend, complete and perfect
t h i s process.
I w i s h t o s a y a f e w w o r d s also a b o u t t h e m e t h o d a n d
style of w o r k of teachers a n d professors.
O u r socialist school requires a new,
revolutionary
m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k f r o m teachers a n d p r o f e s s o r s ,
a n d to achieve this the teachers themselves must
be
revolutionaries, must be educated in this w a y so
that
t h e y , i n t u r n , c a n e d u c a t e t h e p u p i l s a n d students. T h e
programs and textbooks constructed in this spirit
and
w i t h the n e w methods w i l l teach the teachers a n d educat o r s t h e m s e l v e s i n t h i s w a y . T h e r e i s n o d o u b t a b o u t that,
b u t this w i l l b e i n s u f f i c i e n t i f t h e y s h u t t h e m s e l v e s
up
w i t h i n t h e i r i v o r y t o w e r , i n t h e w o r l d o f t h e i r school, a n d
373
d o not f e e l a n d t e m p e r t h e m s e l v e s a s a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a n t s
i n the v i g o r o u s r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r socialist
society. I f t h e y d o n o t l i v e a n d act i n this w a y , r e g a r d l e s s
o f the t e x t b o o k s a n d p r o g r a m s , t h e y w i l l n o t b e m i l i t a n t s ,
innovators a n d r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s i n t h e i r m e t h o d a n d s t y l e
o f w o r k , b u t w i l l b e o v e r c o m e b y r o u t i n e , f o r m a l i s m , stereotypism, a n d t h e i r m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f t e a c h i n g w i l l
b e f l a b b y , lifeless, a n d w i l l t u r n i n t o t h a t s t y l e a n d m e t h o d
o f the b o u r g e o i s s c h o o l w h i c h does n o t f a i l t o g i v e p r e scriptions w h i c h , p r e t e n d i n g t o b e «didactic», o r t o come
from a «pedagogy w i t h e x p e r i e n c e » , a r e a n t i - d i a l e c t i c a l ,
n o n - r e v o l u t i o n a r y , r e a c t i o n a r y a n d static.
T h e m e t h o d s a n d s t y l e o f t e a c h i n g c o m p r i s e one o f
the m a i n s k i l l s o f teachers a n d professors, w h o m u s t b e come c o m p e t e n t a n d i m p r o v e these s k i l l s . W e w o u l d f i n d
i t d i f f i c u l t a n d w o u l d b e w r o n g t o issue p r e s c r i p t i o n s , a n d
the teachers a n d professors, l i k e w i s e , w o u l d b e w r o n g
to think that their method and style of w o r k have reached p e r f e c t i o n a n d s h o u l d be t a k e n as a p e r f e c t m o d e l
for a l l . T h e g o o d e x p e r i e n c e i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n s h o u l d b e
publicized, b u t t h e w o r k a n d s t r u g g l e , t h e i m p r o v e m e n t
o f a b i l i t i e s , w i l l create s t i l l better m e t h o d s a n d styles
of w o r k . T h e r e are no l i m i t s to p e r f e c t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , I
think t h i s i m p o r t a n t p r o b l e m s h o u l d n o t b e s h a c k l e d w i t h
f o r m a l i s m a n d stereotypes b u t s h o u l d b e i n c o n t i n u o u s d e velopment. T h i s s h o u l d n o t b e t a k e n t o m e a n a m a t e u rism, b u t i m p r o v e m e n t based f i r m l y o n the e x i s t i n g p r o g rams a n d t e x t b o o k s . T h e e x a m p l e t o f o l l o w i s t h a t o f
the w o r k e r w h o i s a n i n n o v a t o r a n d a r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n his
work, w h o p r o d u c e s w i t h h i s l a t h e t h e d e t a i l r e q u i r e d ,
as n e a r p e r f e c t as possible, a n d not s o m e t h i n g w h i c h
is not r e q u i r e d or w h i c h is t h e p r o d u c t of a sick i m a g i nation. T h e g o o d m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k m u s t serve
the o v e r a l l a i m .
E v e r y t h i n g w i l l be done w e l l w h e n the teacher and
374
ENVER
HOXHA
p r o f e s s o r t h o r o u g h l y m a s t e r t h e i r subject. A p a r t f r o m
this, there c a n b e n o g o o d m e t h o d a n d s t y l e o f w o r k
e i t h e r f o r t h e w o r k e r , o r f o r the teacher a n d p r o f e s s o r .
O n c e a teacher m a s t e r s h i s s u b j e c t w e l l , he w i l l be
able t o gauge t h e c u l t u r a l l e v e l o f h i s students, t h e i r
i n c l i n a t i o n s a n d p s y c h o l o g y , because this w i l l i m p e l h i m
t o d e e p e n h i s k n o w l e d g e o f subjects, t o k e e p m o d i f y i n g
the style a n d m e t h o d o f his w o r k t o c o m p l y w i t h the
s i t u a t i o n , a n d h e w i l l t h u s a r r i v e a t t h a t stage o f
his
method w h i c h he w i l l consider perfect.
S u c h a m e t h o d o f w o r k w i l l oblige t h e t e a c h e r a n d
professor (and here they w i l l prove themselves r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d e n t e r p r i s i n g ) t o use d i f f e r e n t f o r m s f o r the
p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e subject, a v a r i e t y o f f o r m s t h a t w i l l
take them far f r o m stereotypism, dogmatism, formalism,
etc. I t i s o n l y i n this w a y , I t h i n k , t h a t t h e y w i l l n o t b e
a f r a i d o f questions a s k e d b y t h e p u p i l s a n d students,
o r the l a t t e r o f t h e questions a s k e d b y t h e t e a c h e r s a n d
professors. T h i s w i l l create a v i g o r o u s l i f e i n t h e s c h o o l
a n d a s u i t a b l e c o m m u n i t y of p u r e , modest, r e v o l u t i o n a r y
feelings i n t h e process o f t h e i n t e r c h a n g e o f ideas
between the pupils and the teacher and of i m p a r t i n g
t h e teacher's k n o w l e d g e t o t h e p u p i l s .
T h e verbosity and unhealthy «academism» of a teacher are n o t h i n g b u t a m a n i a a n d a p r o n o u n c e d w e a k n e s s ,
b e h i n d w h i c h l i e s t h e w e a k n e s s o f his k n o w l e d g e o f the
subject and t h e t e n d e n c y t o h i d e t h i s f r o m the p u p i l s .
A t e a c h e r of t h i s t y p e resorts to s u c h m e t h o d s to c o n ceal the v o i d i n his « k n o w l e d g e » a n d c o v e r i t u p w i t h
m e a n i n g l e s s v e r b i a g e . T h i s , s o m e t i m e s of course, creates
a false s i t u a t i o n b e t w e e n the e d u c a t o r a n d students, is
a s t u m b l i n g b l o c k to the c o m p l e t e e d u c a t i o n of the p u p i l s
w h o g r o w i n a t t e n t i v e a n d t r y t o escape f r o m b o r e d o m
b y t a l k i n g , m a k i n g noise, o r s c r i b b l i n g o n t h e i r n o t e books. T h e teacher w i t h a p o o r m e t h o d o f w o r k a n d i n a d -
375
equate p r e p a r a t i o n b l a m e s a l l these acts o f m i s c o n d u c t ,
which are caused by an objective situation, subjectively
o n the p u p i l s , o n t h e i r l a c k o f d i s c i p l i n e , l a c k o f e d u c a tion, etc. T o correct t h i s s i t u a t i o n w h i c h seems t o h i m
abnormal, t h i s teacher, b e i n g i n c a p a b l e of m a k i n g a
self-critical a n a l y s i s
of
his
own
work
and
feeling
superior t o the s t u d e n t s i n a l l respects, resorts t o m i s placed c o e r c i v e « p e d a g o g i c a l » m e t h o d s , w i t h t h e e m phasis o n « a u t h o r i t a r i a n i s m » , f o r m a l d i s c i p l i n e , t h e f o r c e
of m a r k s , u n h e a l t h y a n t i p a t h i e s , s p i t e f u l acts — a l l of t h e m
anti-educational and anti-pedagogical a n d contrary to
sound t e a c h i n g p r i n c i p l e s . T h e P a r t y s h o u l d t a k e a c count o f these a n d m a n y o t h e r m a t t e r s i n t h e p o l i t i c a l ,
ideological a n d m e t h o d o l o g i c a l e d u c a t i o n o f teachers a n d
professors w h o h a v e b e e n e n t r u s t e d w i t h a m a j o r t a s k .
W h i l e we give o u r fullest support to the more extensive a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f t h e masses i n t h e d e v e l o p ment o f e d u c a t i o n a n d the w o r k o f o u r schools, a n d i n
this c o n t e x t , g i v e t h e f u l l e s t e n c o u r a g e m e n t t o the i n i t i a tive o f schools a n d r a n k - a n d - f i l e t e a c h e r s t o a p p l y t h e
teaching p r o g r a m s in a c r e a t i v e w a y , to use t e x t b o o k s
creatively a n d t o v i e w t h e m w i t h a c r i t i c a l eye, t o p e r form e x p e r i m e n t s , w e m u s t i n s i s t t h a t these i n i t i a t i v e s
should a l w a y s b e based o n t h e p o l i c y f o r e d u c a t i o n l a i d
down b y t h e P a r t y w h i c h e m b o d i e s the p r i n c i p l e o f d e m o cratic c e n t r a l i s m . . .
L i f e is a great school a n d the s c h o o l itself is n o t h i n g
but a c o m p o n e n t p a r t of l i f e . T h e r e f o r e , t h e s c h o o l s h o u l d
b e closely and h a r m o n i o u s l y c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e a c t i v i t i e s ,
the w o r k a n d t h e t h i n k i n g o f m a n , s h o u l d serve h i m
in l i f e a n d serve s o c i e t y as a w h o l e . T h e socialist society
and the f u t u r e c o m m u n i s t s o c i e t y w h i c h the P a r t y
is
building and preparing, have their o w n laws and rules of
d e v e l o p m e n t , o f r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s i n each
p e r i o d a n d a t each stage, l a w s a n d r u l e s w h i c h
we
376
ENVER
HOXHA
should know, learn,
master and
apply
consistently.
P r e p a r a t i o n s are necessary i n e v e r y t h i n g , b o t h b e f o r e
the action, i n t h e course o f the a c t i o n a n d e v e n after
i t ; w e b u i l d the p r e s e n t but, a t t h e same t i m e , w e look
a h e a d a n d p r e p a r e f o r the f u t u r e . I n a l l this process
o f d e v e l o p m e n t , n o t p e a c e f u l , n o t spontaneous, b u t r e v o l u t i o n a r y d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e s t r u g g l e o f opposites creates
progress a n d t h e d i a l e c t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f
opposites
b r i n g s a b o u t those
qualitative transformations
which
l e a d o u r society f r o m a h i g h stage to a s t i l l h i g h e r one.
I n this great r e v o l u t i o n the d e c i s i v e r o l e i s p l a y e d b y
the masses, l e d b y t h e c o m m u n i s t p a r t y o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t
a n d its M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t i d e o l o g y . T h u s , t h r o u g h its i d e o logy, the P a r t y m u s t m a k e t h e b r o a d masses o f p e o p l e
conscious o f t h i s r o l e , e d u c a t e t h e m f r o m e v e r y aspect
and m a k e them capable of k n o w i n g , mastering
and
applying the laws of nature properly, a n d of turning
t h e m t o t h e m a t e r i a l a d v a n t a g e o f m a n a n d society.
Therefore, the school along w i t h the other activities of
m e n , i s a n i m p o r t a n t stage.
I n b u i l d i n g s o c i a l i s m , the m a j o r o b j e c t i v e o f t h e
P a r t y is to f o r m and temper the new communist m a n
w i t h a sound Marxist-Leninist political and theoretical
o u t l o o k , w i t h t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t ethics, zest a n d taste
a n d the m i l i t a n t , r e v o l u t i o n a r y , M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t s p i r i t
o f d a r i n g t o create a n d c a r r y t h i n g s t h r o u g h . O u r
new
m a n m u s t f i n d t h e l i n e o f t h e P a r t y a n d its p h i l o s o p h y
materialized in this revolutionary struggle f o r formation
a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , i n this b a t t l e f o r e d u c a t i o n a n d r e e d u c a t i o n , i n t h i s c l a s h o f opposites, i n t h e class s t r u g g l e ,
o f t h e n e w w i t h the o l d . A t e v e r y m o m e n t , f r o m h i s b i r t h
t i l l his d e a t h , w h e r e v e r h e w o r k s , creates a n d t h i n k s , w h e r e v e r h e sets his f o o t o r l a y s h i s h e a d h e s h o u l d f i n d the
m a t e r i a l i z a t i o n o f t h e l i n e o f the P a r t y a n d its p h i l o s o p h y ,
he should understand the policy and the theory of the P a r -
377
t y a n d the p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f its l i n e , s h o u l d d r a w
p h i l o s o p h i c a l a n d p r a c t i c a l conclusions f r o m these a c h i e vements, s h o u l d a r m h i m s e l f a n d f o r g e a h e a d w i t h m u l t i p l i e d energies, conscious a t a l l t i m e s t h a t a l l these are h i s
achievements, the a c h i e v e m e n t s of the masses of t h e
people l e d b y t h e i r P a r t y a n d its m a t e r i a l i s t p h i l o s o p h y .
L o s i n g one's bearings, or l o s i n g the t r a c k , as our
people say, in a n y of these m a t t e r s spells defeat. No sector or sub-sector of social a c t i v i t y c a n be u n d e r r a t e d or
developed i n i s o l a t i o n f r o m the others o r i n a n a r c h y i n
regard t o the w h o l e . U n d o u b t e d l y , t h e r e w i l l b e i n e q u a l i ties in t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h i s sector, or t h a t t h e r e
w i l l b e p r o g r e s s a n d r e t r o g r e s s i o n , b u t these w i l l b e
problems of g r o w t h , of development, and we should never
allow them to spring f r o m political and ideological deviations.
O n e of the m a j o r causes of the catastrophe which
befell t h e B o l s h e v i k P a r t y o f L e n i n a n d S t a l i n a f t e r t h e
latter's d e a t h i s t h i s u n e v e n n e s s i n the u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d
p r o p e r a p p l i c a t i o n o f the l i n e i n a l l fields, t h e sclerosis
of t h e t h e o r e t i c a l a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s of the
P a r t y , f a i l u r e to w a g e t h e class s t r u g g l e in a r a d i c a l ,
c o n t i n u o u s a n d consistent w a y , a l o n g w i t h b u r e a u c r a c y
a n d m a n y other f a c t o r s w h i c h h a v e b e e n the t o p i c o f
m a n y p r e v i o u s studies a n d analyses o f o u r P a r t y a n d
w h i c h need not b e e n l a r g e d o n here. I n short, t h e K h r u s h chevite m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s seized p o w e r , l i q u i d a t e d t h e
P a r t y a s the P a r t y o f t h e w o r k i n g class, e l i m i n a t e d its
M a r x i s t ideology and replaced it w i t h idealist ideology,
a n d are t u r n i n g t h e state of t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e
p r o l e t a r i a t i n t o a b o u r g e o i s state w i t h a c a p i t a l i s t economy.
T h e m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s h a v e w r e c k e d the S o v i e t
school a n d are t u r n i n g i t i n t o a bourgeois school i n o r d e r
to create an a n t i - c o m m u n i s t y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n as a p r o p
378
ENVER
HOXHA
o f the c a p i t a l i s t r e g i m e w h i c h t h e y h a v e r e s t o r e d i n t h e i r
country.
I n c o n c l u s i o n , w e m u s t not f o r one m o m e n t f o r g e t
a l l these situations, these d a n g e r s ; w e m u s t h a v e c l e a r
heads a n d a n i r o n f i s t against the enemies o f t h e people,
o f the P a r t y a n d o f s o c i a l i s m ; w e m u s t b e c l e a r a b o u t
the role of t h e masses a n d the colossal i m p o r t a n c e of
t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n , w h i c h s t r e n g t h e n s the present a n d
guarantees the f u t u r e , w e m u s t n e v e r f o r g e t t h a t i n a l l
this great s t r u g g l e w h i c h the P a r t y i s w a g i n g w i t h s u c cess, the s t r u g g l e to succeed in b u i l d i n g a n e w socialist
school is one of o u r greatest a n d most d e l i c a t e tasks,
a n d w e are f u l l y c o n v i n c e d t h a t o u r P a r t y w i l l e m e r g e
f r o m t h i s s t r u g g l e w i t h success, a s i t a l w a y s does i n
everything.
«Reports and speeches
1967-1968»
THE BUDAPEST CARNIVALS
March 15, 1968
F e b r u a r y is carnival m o n t h in a number of countries.
People d i s g u i s e d i n a l l sorts o f f a n c y costumes a m u s e
themselves b y p l a y i n g the m o s t d i v e r s e roles. T h e c a r n i v a l
sponsors d r a w l a r g e p r o f i t s f r o m these p e r f o r m a n c e s .
However, in history, there are carnivals and carnivals.
Voltaire, the renowned F r e n c h t h i n k e r and
of the 18th c e n t u r y , w r o t e a b o u t t h e c a r n i v a l s of
He put various dethroned kings in the role of
and p o u r e d s c o r n o n t h e i r r i d i c u l o u s d r e a m s a n d
This i s a w e l l - k n o w n w o r k i n t h e h i s t o r y o f
literature.
author
Venice.
clowns
desires.
world
The present-day w o r l d knows another k i n d of carn i v a l , t h e B u d a p e s t c a r n i v a l s . P r e c i s e l y i n the m o n t h o f
F e b r u a r y , d u r i n g c a r n i v a l w e e k , the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s ,
dressed u p i n v a r i o u s disguises, m e t i n t h e H u n g a r i a n
capital.
T h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s t s h a d gone t o great pains
i n t h e i r p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r the r e v i s i o n i s t m e e t i n g i n B u dapest. E v e n b e f o r e i t opened, the f i r s t signs b e c a m e a p parent t h a t t h i s m e e t i n g w o u l d not serve t h e h e g e m o n y
s o g r e a t l y d e s i r e d b y t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders. U n d e r
pressure f r o m t h e i r p a r t n e r s , the S o v i e t s w e r e u n w i l l i n g l y
380
ENVER
HOXHA
c o m p e l l e d t o m a k e c e r t a i n l i b e r a l o p p o r t u n i s t concessions
o n t h e eve o f t h e conference a n d p u b l i c l y d e c l a r e d , t h r o u g h
a speech d e l i v e r e d b y B r e z h n e v i n L e n i n g r a d , t h a t
M o s c o w w a s n o l o n g e r «the l e a d i n g centre o f w o r l d c o m m u n i s m » , t h a t t h e u n i t y w h i c h t h e S o v i e t leaders w e r e
s e e k i n g w a s a l l e g e d l y based o n t h e i d e a o f « p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s m » , o n the «struggle against A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m » , a n d w a s i n the g e n e r a l interests o f «socialist c o n struction».
O f course, t h e y c o v e r e d a l l t h i s w i t h a « f i g l e a f » b y
p o s i n g a s the r e a l bearers o f M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m w h i c h
w i l l b e a p p l i e d a c c o r d i n g t o the i n d i v i d u a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
a n d «specific» c o n d i t i o n s o f each r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y . T h e s e
w e r e t h e «conditions» i m p o s e d o n the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s
f o r the p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n the m e e t i n g o f a g r o u p o f r e v i sionists w h o pose as a u t o n o m o u s a n d a l l e g e d l y as the
most «revolutionary» among the revisionists. Indeed this
g r o u p , i n a n n o u n c i n g its d e c i s i o n t o a t t e n d the m e e t i n g ,
also p r e s e n t e d its o w n theses: n o p a r t y s h o u l d i n t e r f e r e
i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f other parties, n o p a r t y has a
r i g h t t o c r i t i c i z e t h e actions o f other p a r t i e s w h i c h are
«fully entitled» to interpret and implement M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m as they w i s h , to suit their o w n fancy.
T h e s e ideas not o n l y g o b e y o n d t h e r e v i s i o n i s t i d e a
o f T o g l i a t t i ' s p o l y c e n t r i s m , b u t e v e n suggest t h a t each
p a r t y s h o u l d b e c o m e a c e n t r e i n itself. I n o t h e r w o r d s ,
t h i s m e a n s t h a t not o n l y one a n d t w o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f
our revolutionary theory w i l l be permitted, but even
dozens, if not h u n d r e d s of t h e m . It is o b v i o u s t h a t t h e
a i m o f s u c h ideas i s t o attack M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m f r o m
a l l sides, to s o w great i d e o l o g i c a l c o n f u s i o n , to d i s o r i e n tate t h e p o l i t i c a l , i d e o l o g i c a l , m i l i t a r y a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l
struggle of peoples, a n d to d i s c r e d i t the socialist s y s t e m
and communism.
T h u s , e v e n b e f o r e t h e m e e t i n g , b e h i n d the scenes, i n
381
principle a n d in practice, the f o l l o w i n g m a i n question was
put f o r w a r d : s h o u l d t h e y g o i n t o b a t t l e against M a r x i s m L e n i n i s m b y the classical m e t h o d s a n d u n d e r t h e h e g e m o n y o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , o r s h o u l d t h e y reject
both the c l a s s i c a l m e t h o d s a n d t h e S o v i e t h e g e m o n y a n d
adopt « n e w e r , q u i c k e r a n d m o r e r e l i a b l e » m e t h o d s t o
smash a n d c o m p l e t e l y d i s i n t e g r a t e t h e c o m m u n i s t m o v e ment? The latter viewpoint was strongly supported by
Tito, L o n g o a n d the «autonomists». A p p a r e n t l y it w a s
v e r y a t t r a c t i v e also t o t h e n e w l i b e r a l g r o u p s o f r e v i sionists w h o h a v e j u s t c o m e t o p o w e r . T h e p a r t i s a n s o f
one o r t h e o t h e r thesis h a d t h e i r o w n s u p p o r t e r s w h o
canvassed f o r t h e m b e h i n d t h e scenes a n d o n t h e stage
at Budapest, d u r i n g the carnival week f r o m F e b r u a r y
26 to M a r c h 5.
The Soviet revisionists failed in their fundamental
aim, w h i c h was to force the Budapest meeting to take
up as the m a i n problem that w h i c h is w o r r y i n g t h e m
m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g else: the t o t a l m o b i l i z a t i o n o f a l l
the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s o b e d i e n t t o t h e m i n the f i g h t
against t h e P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f A l b a n i a a n d other M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties. O n l y the s o l u t i o n o f t h i s p r o b l e m
c o u l d r e l i e v e t h e S o v i e t s of a h e a v y b u r d e n on t h e i r
backs, w h i c h i s also the m a i n cause o f t h e f u r t h e r d e e p ening of the split w i t h i n the revisionist front.
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders, the f i g h t
against t h e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t i e s c a n h a v e n o success
without the u n i t y of all the revisionists and without the
h e g e m o n y o f the S o v i e t leaders i n t h i s f i g h t . T h i s i s w h a t
K h r u s h c h e v s o u g h t a n d f a i l e d t o a c h i e v e t h r o u g h the
meeting of the communist parties w h i c h he proposed in
1964; his successors also t r i e d to a c h i e v e t h i s at the r e v i sionist m e e t i n g s i n M o s c o w i n M a r c h 1965 a n d i n K a r l o v y V a r y . T h e y f a i l e d i n b o t h instances a n d t h i n g s w e n t
from bad to worse. Therefore, to extricate themselves
382
ENVER
HOXHA
f r o m t h i s s i t u a t i o n , a t B u d a p e s t the M o s c o w r e v i s i o n i s t
c l i q u e left n o stone u n t u r n e d t o f o r c e the others t o agree
to the h o l d i n g as soon as possible in M o s c o w of a m e e t i n g o f the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s w h i c h , t h e y h o p e d , w o u l d
t a k e t h e «decisions» t h e y m o s t d e s i r e d , t h a t is, t h e c o ordination of the fight of the m o d e r n revisionists under
t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f the S o v i e t s a g a i n s t M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m .
T h e B u d a p e s t m e e t i n g , w h i c h its sponsors h o p e d
w o u l d be a m e e t i n g of r e v i s i o n i s t u n i t y , b e c a m e a m e e t i n g o f splits, q u a r r e l s a n d the f u r t h e r d e g e n e r a t i o n o f
t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s . T h e B u d a p e s t discussions b r o u g h t out
i n the o p e n t h a t n o t e v e r y b o d y c o n c e i v e d t h e f u t u r e
m e e t i n g i n M o s c o w a s t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s d e s i r e d it,
a n d that, a l t h o u g h t h e y h a d g i v e n i t t h e i r a p p r o v a l ,
t h e i r v a r i o u s o p p o n e n t s h a v e n o t r e n o u n c e d the a i m
o f d e f e n d i n g t h e i r o w n n a r r o w interests, o f f i g h t i n g t h e
S o v i e t leaders a n d i m p o s i n g t h e i r o w n v i e w s o n others.
The preparatory period up to the end of this year w i l l
w i t n e s s s t i l l deeper a n d m o r e s p e c t a c u l a r d i v i s i o n s . T h e
S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w i l l c o m e u p against o p p o s i t i o n f r o m
the m o s t d i v e r s e q u a r t e r s , because t h e o t h e r o p p o s i n g
revisionists do not w a n t such a meeting and are in no
h u r r y t o h o l d it. T h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e so-called
b i g r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s i s m o r e t h a n i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o the
Soviets, a l t h o u g h t h e y c l a i m t h a t t h e y w i l l h o l d the meeti n g i r r e s p e c t i v e o f w h o absents h i m s e l f .
Everybody
u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t t h e y c a n n o t h o l d t h e m e e t i n g they
yearn for only w i t h the «party» of Guadeloupe, w i t h
L a r b i B u h a l i , ( 1 ) K o l i y a n n i s , ( 2 ) o r w i t h a n y other p e r m a n e n t
_____________________________________
1 Secretary of the Communist P a r t y of A l g e r i a , menial
servant of K h r u s h c h e v . At the time w h e n the A l g e r i a n people
were shedding their blood for the freedom of the country,
B u h a l i , w h o l i v e d i n the Soviet U n i o n , passed his t i m e i n
amusements.
2 T h e n F i r s t Secretary of the C e n t r a l Committee of the
Greek Communist P a r t y .
383
resident o f t h e M o s c o w hotels, f o r t h i s w o u l d b e a n
irreparable catastrophe for them.
C e r t a i n r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o h a v e i n t e r e s t s opposed t o
those of t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , h a v e o t h e r objectives,
they w a n t t o i n t e n s i f y t h e f i g h t against t h e M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t parties, b u t w i t h t h e i r o w n f o r m s a n d m e t h o d s
and w i t h o u t t h e S o v i e t h e g e m o n y , t o s t r e n g t h e n t h e i r
ties a n d r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t states, to
reach a g r e e m e n t s w i t h t h e s o c i a l - d e m o c r a t s a n d the
other b o u r g e o i s parties, t o t a k e a d i r e c t p a r t i n g o v e r n ing the country on the road of capitalist exploitation,
etc. T h e r e f o r e , these r e v i s i o n i s t s are n o t i n f a v o u r o f t h e
sort of m e e t i n g t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r s advocate,
but w a n t a m e e t i n g w i t h o u t d e f i n i t e aims, a l l e g e d l y to
«exchange o p i n i o n s » , t o b e c o m e b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d w i t h
w h a t one o r t h e o t h e r t h i n k s a b o u t t h i s o r t h a t p r o b l e m ,
and a l l t h i s s h o u l d b e d o n e p u b l i c l y , a l l e g e d l y i n the
most « d e m o c r a t i c » f o r m s .
T o these r e v i s i o n i s t s , those « d e m o c r a t i c » a n d «open»
forms of d e b a t e g e n u i n e l y e x p r e s s t h e i r concrete p l a n s
and d a i l y w o r k f o r t h e a c h i v e m e n t o f t h e objectives w e
m e n t i o n e d above. O n these questions, too, t h e y w a n t t o
assert o f f i c i a l l y t h a t b o u r g e o i s d e m o c r a c y is the o b j e c t i v e
o f t h e i r efforts, a n d t h e «free a n d w e l l - i n f o r m e d b o u r g e o i s
press» is, so to speak, t h e e m b e l l i s h m e n t of t h e i r l i n e of
the «specific», « d e m o c r a t i c » p a r l i a m e n t a r y r o a d , i n o r d e r
to establish friendship w i t h the capitalist bourgeoisie and
come to p o w e r .
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e « i n d e p e n d e n c e » o f these p a r ties i s b y n o m e a n s t o t h e l i k i n g o f t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o nists w h o , l e a v i n g aside t h e i r h y p o c r i t i c a l statements
imposed by the circumstances, w i l l do everything in
t h e i r p o w e r , w i l l use e v e r y f o r m o f p r e s s u r e a n d b l a c k m a i l t o c l a m p d o w n o n t h e dissidents. B l a c k m a i l a n d
e c o n o m i c pressure, t h e s t i r r i n g u p o f t r o u b l e w i t h i n dis-
384
ENVER
HOXHA
obedient p a r t i e s a n d c o u n t r i e s , the i n c i t e m e n t o f t e r r i t o r i a l
c l a i m s i n those c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e y e x i s t , etc., a r e the
u s u a l w e a p o n s w h i c h S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s m resorts t o i n o r d e r
t o i n t i m i d a t e others a n d i m p o s e its v i e w s o n t h e m .
N a t u r a l l y , these w e a p o n s are n o t a l w a y s i n e f f e c t i v e ,
b u t the results c a n n o t be to the a d v a n t a g e of the S o v i e t
r e v i s i o n i s t s a l l the t i m e a n d i n a l l c o u n t r i e s . T h e g e n e r a l
t r e n d i s not f a v o u r a b l e t o t h e m , a n d the n u m b e r o f d i s sidents a n d o p p o n e n t s o f the S o v i e t h e g e m o n y i n the r e v i sionist c a m p i s s t e a d i l y i n c r e a s i n g . H o w e v e r , despite a l l
the f a i l u r e s t h e y h a v e s u f f e r e d a n d are s u f f e r i n g , the
S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w i l l c o n t i n u e t o use these f a v o u r i t e
w e a p o n s w h e n e v e r t h e y can. I n t h i s respect t h e y h a v e
the a d v a n t a g e o f t h e i r e c o n o m i c p o t e n t i a l a n d t h e bonds
a n d chains w h i c h t h e y h a v e f o r g e d f o r t h e i r satellites,
their m i l i t a r y potential w h i c h terrifies the cowardly, and
the n e t w o r k o f agents w h i c h t h e y h a v e set u p i n the
r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s a n d the c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e y are i n
power.
The Soviet revisionists behave towards their satellites a n d clients j u s t a s A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m does t o w a r d s its satellites a n d clients, w h o m i t keeps i n c h a i n s .
J u s t a s the U n i t e d States sets the v o t i n g m a c h i n e i n
m o t i o n i n the U n i t e d N a t i o n s , s o the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s
set the v o t i n g m a c h i n e i n m o t i o n i n t h e i r o w n « U n i t e d
Nations», w h i c h t h e y are s e e k i n g t o c a l l t h e « i n t e r n a t i o n a l
c o m m u n i s t m o v e m e n t » . B u t j u s t a s c a p i t a l i s t cliques b r e a k
a w a y f r o m the A m e r i c a n dictate, j u s t a s t h e r e are those
that a i m a few kicks at A m e r i c a n i m p e r i a l i s m , so there
are also r e v i s i o n i s t cliques t h a t b r e a k a w a y f r o m t h e
S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s . A n d t h e r e are some w h o , b e i n g u n a b l e
t o b r e a k a w a y , k i c k out a t t h e m a t times, w h i l e t h e r e
are those w h o are p e r m a n e n t l y abject slaves.
T h e c a r n i v a l c o n f e r e n c e of B u d a p e s t w a s l i k e a
basket o f crabs. A n d t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s s o u g h t t o
385
establish o r d e r there, p r e c i s e l y w h e r e o r d e r c a n n e v e r be
established.
N o w , a f t e r the p r e p a r a t o r y c a m p a i g n a n d the B u dapest m e e t i n g , w h e n the c e n t r i f u g a l , n a t i o n a l i s t a n d
dissident tendencies of v a r i o u s r e v i s i o n i s t g r o u p i n g s h a v e
become f u r t h e r c r y s t a l l i z e d , the dangers f o r the S o v i e t
revisionists h a v e become m o r e n u m e r o u s a n d m o r e a l l sided.
T h e m a i n d a n g e r , t h e o n e w h i c h w o r r i e s t h e m most
and w h i c h presents t h e m w i t h a f r e s h g r a v e p r o b l e m ,
comes f r o m the r e v i s i o n i s t cliques w h o are i n p o w e r . I t
must b e s a i d t h a t n o w n o n e o f t h e m l i k e s the S o v i e t
revisionist y o k e a n d t h e y w i l l not t o l e r a t e i t m u c h l o n g e r .
In one w a y or a n o t h e r t h e y are a l l t r y i n g to get r i d of
it as q u i c k l y as possible, t h o u g h k e e p i n g up appearances
of t h e i r « f r i e n d s h i p » a n d « a l l i a n c e » as f a r as t h e y a r e
able, a n d a i m i n g t o e x t r a c t t h e greatest p o s s i b l e economic a n d p o l i t i c a l a d v a n t a g e s f r o m the e x i s t i n g c i r c u m stances w h i c h c o m p e l t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , u n d e r a t t a c k
from a l l sides a n d i n w e a k positions, t o m a k e concession
after concession i n o r d e r t o p a c i f y the « u n r u l y c h i l d r e n » .
H o w e v e r , a s the c e n t r i f u g a l t e n d e n c y i s r a p i d l y m o u n t ing, the r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s in p o w e r do n o t present a
single u n i t e d f r o n t i n t h e i r o p p o s i t i o n t o the S o v i e t h e gemony a n d i n t h e i r c l a i m s f o r «independence» f r o m
it. T h e s e c t i o n bent most a g g r e s s i v e l y o n b r e a k i n g a w a y
from a n d o p e n l y e r o d i n g the S o v i e t h e g e m o n y a m o n g s t
the r e v i s i o n i s t s is, at t h e m o m e n t , r e p r e s e n t e d by the T i t o
clique a n d its closest associates. A l l these, w h o e n j o y the
support a n d o b v i o u s e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f U S i m p e r i a l i s m
and the b i g b o u r g e o i s i e of the West, i n t e r e s t e d in f u r t h e r
w e a k e n i n g the S o v i e t p o s i t i o n s i n E a s t e r n E u r o p e a n d
re-establishing t h e i r o l d a l l i a n c e s w i t h these c o u n t r i e s ,
are o p e n l y c h a l l e n g i n g t h e S o v i e t l e a d e r s h i p a n d o p p o s i n g
it as a n e w contestant f o r the l e a d i n g role, if not in a l l
386
ENVER
HOXHA
d i r e c t i o n s , a t least i n t h e p o l i t i c a l a n d i d e o l o g i c a l fields,
o v e r the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s of t h i s a r e a .
Other n e w followers of Tito's example have begun to
a d v a n c e o n t h i s r o a d , too, b u t f o r the t i m e b e i n g they
p r e f e r n o t t o e x a c e r b a t e t h e i r d i f f e r e n c e s w i t h the
S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , because t h i s w o u l d o p e n a n e w f r o n t
of s t r u g g l e f o r t h e m at a t i m e w h e n t h e y h a v e n o t yet
c o n s o l i d a t e d t h e i r o w n i n t e r n a l positions.
T h e G o m u l k a c l a n i s e x t r e m e l y a n t i - S o v i e t b u t a t this
j u n c t u r e , o n a c c o u n t o f its i m m e d i a t e interests, w h i c h
s t e m e s p e c i a l l y f r o m its p o l i c y t o w a r d s G e r m a n y , i t
i s s t a n d i n g closer t o t h e
Soviet
revisionists,
while
t r y i n g to preserve the a u t h o r i t y of an «equal» partner.
L i k e w i s e , the G e r m a n s cannot f a i l to have m a j o r contradictions w i t h the Soviet a n d all the other revisionists,
b u t the issue o f t h e G e r m a n D e m o c r a t i c R e p u b l i c i n the
c o n t e x t o f E u r o p e i s a t t h e m e r c y o f t h e S o v i e t rev i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e i r satellites. T h e o t h e r r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e s o f E a s t e r n E u r o p e a r e f l o n d e r i n g i n m o r e o r less
similar waters.
A second danger, t h o u g h less acute t h a n the f o r m e r one.
threatens the Soviet revisionists f r o m the b i g revisionist
p a r t i e s w h i c h c a r r y out t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s l e g a l l y i n the cap i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s . T h e B r e z h n e v - K o s y g i n cliques i s m a k i n g
e v e r y e f f o r t a n d u s i n g e v e r y m e a n s t o k e e p t h e m o n the
l e a d rope a n d h a v e t h e i r s u p p o r t . B u t e v e n i n these parties
t h e r e i s n o u n a n i m i t y a b o u t the q u e s t i o n a s t o h o w far
t h e y s h o u l d f o l l o w t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h e r e they
s h o u l d p a r t w i t h a n d w h e r e t h e y s h o u l d b e opposed t o
t h e m . F o r w e l l - k n o w n reasons t h e F r e n c h C o m m u n i s t
P a r t y o f W a l d e c k - R o c h e t i s closest t o t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o nists a n d spares n o e f f o r t t o p l a c e itself a t t h e i r service
s o m e w h a t m o r e t h a n the others. M e a n w h i l e , t h e I t a l i a n
revisionist party w h i c h , in comparison w i t h the French,
is l i k e a p o o r r e l a t i o n to t h e Soviets, k i c k s out at t h e m
387
a bit m o r e a n d t r i e s to a p p e a r m o r e « i n d e p e n d e n t » , as
though i t i s m a i n t a i n i n g its o w n «specific» s t a n d p o i n t . Y o u
might s a y i t i s t h e T i t o i t e p a r t y i n t h e c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s .
The remainder of the legal revisionist parties in
the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , w h o s e e x i s t e n c e is d e p e n d e n t on
the g o o d w i l l of M o s c o w , m a k e up a l a r g e p a r t of the
revisionist « U N O » .
A s r e g a r d s t h e other r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s w h i c h c a r r y
out t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s i l l e g a l l y i n the c a p i t a l i s t c o u n t r i e s , t h e y
do not cause the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s the slightest c o n c e r n .
The l e a d e r s of these p a r t i e s are s i m p l y an a g e n c y of
the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s , are t o t a l l y a t t h e i r s e r v i c e a n d
provide an additional n u m b e r of disciplined votes in the
Soviet «assembly». T h e f i r s t a n d last o b j e c t i v e o f these
revisionist p a r t i e s is to become l e g a l , to be p e r m i t t e d ,
t h r o u g h t h e g e n e r o s i t y o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s o f t h e i r respective c o u n t r i e s , to act in t h e r e c o g n i z e d f o r m s of t h e l e g a l
bourgeois m i n o r i t y o p p o s i t i o n .
L i k e a l l t h e i r r e v i s i o n i s t associates, these parties
have a b a n d o n e d t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y r o a d , t h e class struggle,
the a r m e d struggle, a n d h a v e a d o p t e d K h r u s h c h e v ' s r o a d
o f p e a c e f u l coexistence. H a v i n g b e t r a y e d M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m
and lost a n y c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e masses, t h e y h a v e p i n n e d
all t h e i r hopes o n t h e s u p p o r t w h i c h the S o v i e t r e v i s i o nist p o l i c y a n d i t s a l l i a n c e s w i t h U S i m p e r i a l i s m a n d
w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m m i g h t g i v e t h e m . T h e y h a v e n o w been
reduced to the status of the s c u m of r e v i s i o n i s m , a
revisionist « b o h e m i a » w i l l i n g to sell i t s e l f f o r a p e n n y .
The S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s desire the l e g a l i z a t i o n o f t h i s c o n tigent of agents, w i t h w h o m t h e y act as t h e y please, as
soon as possible. T h i s w a s t h e a i m of t h e d i r e c t i v e of
the S o v i e t a n d G r e e k r e v i s i o n i s t s , t h a t a l l the G r e e k e m i gres, c o m m u n i s t or not, s h o u l d go b a c k to G r e e c e o p e n l y ,
a t the t i m e w h e n V e n i z e l o s a n d h i s i l k w e r e r u l i n g t h e r e .
T h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t y o f S p a i n has p u r s u e d a n d s t i l l p u r s u e s
388
ENVER
HOXHA
a similar policy. The Soviet revisionists achieved this aim.
by sending Baghdash to S y r i a . This policy of legaliz a t i o n a n d r e n u n c i a t i o n o f t h e s t r u g g l e against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d the r u l i n g o l i g a r c h i e s has been suggested t o a l l
the r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s i n L a t i n A m e r i c a , a s w e l l .
I n this t r o u b l e d a n d u n s t a b l e s i t u a t i o n o f t h e r e v i sionist h e r d , the T i t o i t e t r e n d , w h i c h i s s e e k i n g t o g a i n
t i m e i n o r d e r t o f u l l y c o n s u m m a t e the s p l i t , i s o p e n l y o p posing the Soviet aims of calling a meeting that w o u l d
s u p p o r t t h e i r p l a n s as soon as possible. T h e c l a n of t h e old
a n d n e w T i t o i t e s t h i n k that t i m e i s w o r k i n g f o r t h e m , a n d
that i s w h y t h e y h a v e t a k e n e n o u g h courage t o c h a l l e n g e
the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s o n t h e i r m o s t v u l n e r a b l e p o i n t s .
F o r the S o v i e t c l a n the a f f a i r s b r o o k n o d e l a y . T h e y
are t r y i n g t o save t h e s h i p f r o m s i n k i n g , t o d o s o m e t h i n g as soon as possible, b e f o r e it is too late. T h e y
t h i n k , a n d p r a c t i c e has c o n f i r m e d , t h a t t h r o u g h b i l a t e r a l
meetings b e t w e e n r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s n o t h i n g i s a c h i e v e d
but t e m p o r a r y deals, t r a n s a c t i o n s a n d i n t r i g u e s o f s m a l l
p r o p o r t i o n s . F o r h o m e a n d f o r e i g n c o n s u m p t i o n , t h e y need
t o o r g a n i z e f r o m t i m e t o t i m e , a n d the m o r e o f t e n t h e
better, some b r o a d m e t e i n g of the r e v i s i o n i s t parties to
see h o w t h e y are p l a c e d a n d t o p a t c h u p t h e holes.
T h e r e f o r e , despite the s t u b b o r n o p p o s i t i o n o f the T i t o i t e
t r e n d , the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s took the d e c i s i o n i n B u d a p e s t
that the c o m i n g m e e t i n g o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t p a r t i e s s h o u l d
b e h e l d i n M o s c o w a t t h e e n d o f the c u r r e n t y e a r . A t
t h i s m e e t i n g , u n d e r the s m o k e - s c r e e n o f u n i t y i n t h e
struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m , t h e y are t o discuss t h e p r o b l e m that i s r e a l l y w o r r y i n g t h e m : the c o - o r d i n a t e d f i g h t
against M a r x i s m - L e n i n i s m , against the p a r t i e s w h i c h s t a n d
l o y a l to it.
T h i s o b j e c t i v e o f the c o m i n g m e e t i n g w a s q u i t e categ o r i c a l l y e x p r e s s e d b y S u s l o v , not o n l y b e h i n d the scenes
a n d i n the c o r r i d o r s , b u t also i n the o f f i c i a l speech h e
389
d e l i v e r e d i n B u d a p e s t . T h e a g e n d a a n d the a i m s o f the
meeting, s o m u c h d e s i r e d b y t h e S o v i e t leaders, w e r e
defined e v e n m o r e c l e a r l y b y the P o l i s h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ,
K l i s z k o . T h e m o b o f r e v i s i o n i s t «hooligans», t h a t m a d e
up the m a j o r i t y of t h e votes at the B u d a p e s t « U N O » ,
e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y c h e e r e d t h e m e e t i n g p r o p o s e d b y the
Soviet leaders, because it is o n l y at s u c h a place t h a t
they c a n d e l i v e r some speech or other, so t h a t t h e i r
voices w i l l b e h e a r d . T h e y h a v e t o b a r k , a t least occasionally, f o r the bones t h r o w n t o t h e m !
T h u s , t h e obstacles r a i s e d b y the n e o - T i t o i t e s i n the
way o f t h e c o m i n g m e e t i n g c o u l d not w i t h s t a n d t h e p e r sistence a n d p r e s s u r e of the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t leaders.
The c o n d i t i o n w h i c h t h e y set f o r t h e i r s u p p o r t f o r the
Moscow meeting was merely a tactical manoeuvre and
that i s w h y i t c o u l d n o t b e v e r y e f f e c t i v e . W h e n t h e y
said t h a t a l l t h e p a r t i e s s h o u l d b e i n v i t e d t o t h e c o m i n g
meeting, e v e r y b o d y k n e w t h a t t h e y d i d n o t m e a n e i t h e r
the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a , the P a r t y o f L a b o u r o f
A l b a n i a , o r the n e w M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t parties, but the
Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e p a r t y , w h i c h has l a i d d o w n a s a p r e c o n d i t i o n f o r its « c o n d e s c e n d i n g » to sit d o w n at a r e v i sionist g e n e r a l m e e t i n g , a m o n g other things, t h e r e p u d i a tion o f a l l t h a t w a s s a i d a b o u t i t i n the d o c u m e n t s o f
the 1957 a n d 1960 M o s c o w meetings. N o w T i t o is d e m a n d ing n o t o n l y t h a t the S o v i e t s s h o u l d p u b l i c l y recant, a s
K h r u s h c h e v d i d w h e n h e w e n t t o B e l g r a d e i n 1955, b u t
that e v e r y b o d y s h o u l d f a l l o n t h e i r k n e e s b e f o r e h i m . T h e
Soviet r e v i s i o n i s t s , o n t h e i r p a r t , h a v e accepted such
a t h i n g in p r a c t i c e a n d in p r i n c i p l e , b u t , as it seems,
due t o t h e c o m p l i c a t e d s i t u a t i o n w h i c h t h e y t h e m s e l v e s
have c r e a t e d , t h e y are n o t yet r e a d y to agree t h a t t h e
denunciation of T i t o be officially and demonstratively
revoked f r o m the s a i d d o c u m e n t s a n d b y t h e m e e t i n g
they w i l l h o l d .
390
ENVER
HOXHA
T h e I t a l i a n r e v i s i o n i s t s , too, w h o are n o t v e r y
e n t h u s i a s t i c a b o u t t h e c o m i n g m e e t i n g , t r i e d t o raise
obstacles to it, a l t h o u g h of a d i f f e r e n t n a t u r e . T h e y w a n t
the c o m i n g m e e t i n g t o b e a b a z a a r i n w h i c h a l l sorts
o f d i f f e r e n t p a r t i e s s h o u l d b e i n v i t e d t o t a k e p a r t , just
so l o n g as t h e y c a r r y a p l a c a r d p r o c l a i m i n g t h a t they
are «democratic», «progressive», etc. T h e y w a n t t h i s m e e t i n g to be an e v i d e n c e of t h e i r f i r s t sincere step t o w a r d s
i n t e g r a t i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t o c a p i t a l i s m a n d s e r v i n g the c a p i talistis of their country w i t h devotion. The F r e n c h s u p p o r t e d this « b r i l l i a n t d i s c o v e r y » p r o v i d e d t h a t s u c h a
m e e t i n g s h o u l d t a k e place a f t e r t h e one p r o p o s e d b y t h e
Soviet revisionists.
A l l this s h o w s t h a t the T i t o i t e t r e n d i n t e n d e d not
only to hinder the Soviet revisionists in their w o r k in
B u d a p e s t , b u t also t o s t r i v e t o p r e v e n t t h e c o m i n g m e e t i n g d e m a n d e d b y the S o v i e t leaders f r o m t a k i n g p l a c e
at all. This revisionist w i n g is thus seeking to gamble on
two tables: to exert pressure a n d b l a c k m a i l on the Soviet
revisionists by threatening them w i t h a new revisionist
g r o u p i n g i n the r a n k s o f m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s m , a n d , a t the
same time, t o g a i n s t i l l m o r e c r e d i t s a n d s u p p o r t o f a l l
k i n d s f r o m the v a r i o u s c a p i t a l i s t g r o u p i n g s .
T h e o p e n splits t h a t took place i n B u d a p e s t w i l l
cause the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s f u r t h e r great t r o u b l e s . B u t , o f
course, t h e y w i l l not b e s i t t i n g w i t h f o l d e d a r m s , either.
T h e consensus of r e v i s i o n i s t o p i n i o n is t h a t e f f o r t s m u s t
be m a d e to b r i n g the «lost sheep» b a c k to t h e f o l d ,
e i t h e r w i t h gentle measures o r w i t h w h a t e v e r k i n d o f
p r e s s u r e t h a t m i g h t b e needed a t the t i m e a n d w h i c h
w o u l d s e r v e the p r e p a r a t i o n o f t h e s h a m c o n f e r e n c e o f
international communism in Moscow.
T h e fact i s t h a t t h e so-called « t h i r d p o s i t i o n » , t h a t
a p p e a r e d i n B u d a p e s t a n d w h i c h has T i t o b e h i n d it,
seems t o h a v e d i v i d e d t h e roles w i t h its B e l g r a d e boss t o
391
act i n t w o s p e c i f i c d i r e c t i o n s : o n e i n the d i r e c t i o n o f
the secret r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d the o t h e r i n t h e d i r e c t i o n
of the i n t e r m e d i a t e c a p i t a l i s t forces.
A l t h o u g h , a s one Y u g o s l a v c o m m e n t a t o r w r o t e , « m a n y
communist p a r t i e s t h a t w i l l b e r e p r e s e n t e d i n B u d a p e s t
have v i e w s i d e n t i c a l t o o u r s » , t h e Y u g o s l a v T i t o i t e s
were not at B u d a p e s t . H o w e v e r , despite t h e i r great glee
and the b r o a d p u b l i c i t y w h i c h t h e y d e v o t e t o s i m i l a r
occasions, t h i s t i m e t h e y a r e n o t m a k i n g m u c h noise a b o u t
the n e w s p l i t s at B u d a p e s t . T h i s is n o t a c c i d e n t a l , t h e y
do not w a n t to j e o p a r d i z e a n d c o m p r o m i s e t h e i r f o l l o w e r s .
Having c o m p r o m i s e d t h e m s e l v e s as o p e n agents of A m e r i c a n
imperialism, t h e y l e f t i t t o the n e o - T i t o i t e s t o a p p r o a c h
and w i n o v e r t h e s o - c a l l e d «neutrals», «independents»,
and a l l t h e secret r e v i s i o n i s t s i n t h e « i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m munist m o v e m e n t » . A n d n o w i t i s b e y o n d a n y d o u b t that
the n e o - T i t o i t e s h a v e the s u p p o r t of these so-called « n e u trals» w h e n t h e y r a i s e the q u e s t i o n o f a n d c a l l f o r the
«cessation of polemics», a g a i n s t h o l d i n g a m e e t i n g w h i c h
would e n c o u r a g e a t t a c k s o n C h i n a a n d A l b a n i a , against
allowing t h e S o v i e t leaders t o e s t a b l i s h t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p
under a n y f o r m a t a l l . I t i s p r e c i s e l y t h e b a n n e r o f these
«neutrals» t h a t t h e y raise w h e n t h e y oppose the S o v i e t
revisionists, a n d d e m a n d t h a t a conference s h o u l d be
held, b u t its a i m s h o u l d be t h e c r e a t i o n of a « b r o a d a n t i imperalist f r o n t » i n c l u d i n g r e v i s i o n i s t s , c o m m u n i s t s , socialists, d e m o c r a t s , p a c i f i s t s , etc., etc.
U n d e r attack f r o m a l l sides a n d s e e k i n g t o a v o i d a
further d e e p e n i n g o f the c r a c k s i n the r e v i s i o n i s t f r o n t ,
the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w e r e o b l i g e d t o g i v e t h e i r a p p r o v a l
to the c a l l i n g l a t e r of an o p e n m e e t i n g of parties of a l l
shades, on the c o n d i t i o n t h a t t h i s m u s t not be c o n f u s e d
with t h e i r m e e t i n g o r m a k e i t unnecessary, a s t h e T i t o ites, the I t a l i a n s a n d others are d e m a n d i n g .
T h u s , t w o g e n e r a l tendencies w e r e c r y s t a l l i z e d a t B u -
392
ENVER
HOXHA
d a p e s t : one t o h o l d the m e e t i n g p r o p o s e d b y t h e S o v i e t
r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d t h e n , p e r h a p s , t o h o l d the other. T h e second
t e n d e n c y i s t o h o l d the m e e t i n g p r o p o s e d b y the
Soviets, b u t t o h o l d a n o t h e r one w i t h o u t p o l e m i c s , w i t h o u t
i d e o l o g i c a l questions, a p u r e l y f o r m a l m e e t i n g against
i m p e r i a l i s m , a m e e t i n g t o w h i c h e v e r y b o d y c o u l d come,
e v e n the P o p e of R o m e if he w i s h e s . T h e thesis of the
S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s p r e v a i l e d , a n d w i t h t h i s the B u d a pest f a i r came t o a n e n d . B u t t h i s does n o t m e a n that
the p r o b l e m o f t h e c o m i n g m e e t i n g , its character, agenda
a n d the q u e s t i o n a s t o w h o w i l l p a r t i c i p a t e i n it, has
been f i n a l l y settled. U n t i l i t i s c o n v e n e d , i f i t does take
place a t a l l , i t i s v e r y possible t h a t m u t u a l concessions
and compromises w i l l be made again between rival
groups, s o t h a t i t m a y h a v e a n aspect a n d d i r e c t i o n e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m w h a t those w h o h a v e p l a n n e d i t e n v i sage at the m o m e n t .
N o w , f o l l o w i n g the B u d a p e s t m e e t i n g , some o f its
p a r t i c i p a n t s , since t h e y w e r e n o t f u l l y i n a g r e e m e n t w i t h
the S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s o n a l l questions, are t h r o w i n g out
t h e i r chests a n d p o s i n g as the «strong m e n of t h e f a i r » ,
m a k i n g endless statements, w r i t i n g a r t i c l e s a n d a d o p t i n g
decisions, t o c o n v i n c e p u b l i c o p i n i o n t h a t t h e i r a c t i o n
a n d l i n e are a l l e g e d l y p u r e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t . A c c o r d i n g
t o t h e m , t h e p o l e m i c s against class e n e m i e s a n d p a r t y
enemies m u s t cease, the r e v i s i o n i s t s s h o u l d n o t b e c r i t i cized e i t h e r f o r t h e i r f o r e i g n p o l i c y o r f o r t h e i r i n t e r n a l
p o l i c y , b u t s h o u l d be left in peace to act as t h e y l i k e ,
w h a t e v e r t h e y d o i t i s t h e i r o w n business. A n d a l l this
t h e o r y i s presented a s l i v i n g « p r o l e t a r i a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l ism»! In reality, nothing could be more opportunist,
m o r e a n t i - M a r x i s t a n d m o r e a n t i - i n t e r n a t i o n a l i s t t h a n this
l i n e o f ceasing the polemics. L e n i n a n d S t a l i n , l i k e M a r x
a n d Engels, c o u l d not l i v e e v e n one m i n u t e w i t h o u t
p o l e m i c s , w i t h o u t struggle, w i t h o u t f i g h t i n g m o s t f i e r -
393
cely against d e v i a t o r s a n d b e t r a y e r s of t h e cause of the
proletariat a n d t h e r e v o l u t i o n . T h e i r w h o l e l i v e s
were
n o t h i n g but a ceaseless struggle, the f i e r c e s t a n d m o s t
p r i n c i p l e d p o l e m i c s against a l l e n e m i e s o f c o m m u n i s m .
It is an a x i o m of a l l genuine communists today that
w i t h o u t struggle,
w i t h o u t polemics, there is no r e v o l u tion, t h e r e i s n o M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , t h e r e i s n o
socialism, t h e r e i s n o c o m m u n i s m . B u t here w e h a v e
certain g e n t l e m e n w h o pose a s L e n i n i s t s , a s t h e «purest»
Leninists, w h a t i s m o r e , w h o c l a i m t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d
b e n o m o r e p o l e m i c s , n o m o r e c r i t i c i s m . T i t o , too, d e f e n ded this thesis, w h e n the I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u p u t h i m
w i t h h i s b a c k t o t h e w a l l o n account o f h i s t r e a c h e r y .
A t t h a t t i m e h e rose against the a l l e g e d « i n t e r f e r e n c e »
i n the a f f a i r s o f h i s p a r t y . W i t h t h i s h e m e a n t , «leave m e
in peace to c a l l m y s e l f a c o m m u n i s t a n d to b e t r a y c o m m u n i s m , l e a v e m e a t m y ease t o b e c o m e a n agent o f
i m p e r i a l i s m » , a s h e i n fact b e c a m e .
K h r u s h c h e v , also, sought t o f o l l o w t h i s r o a d b u t w a s
u n a b l e t o d o so. I n t r y i n g t o p l a y h i s a n t i - M a r x i s t c a r d
of the «cessation of t h e p o l e m i c s » , he got his f i n g e r s
b u r n t a n d h i s successors n o l o n g e r t r y t o use it. T h e y
p r e f e r o t h e r tactics a n d m e a n s t o s h u t some people's
mouths, but t h e i r o l d tactics w h i c h s o m e p r e s e n t a s n e w ,
do not w o r k any more. O n e cannot r e m a i n for long
on t w o chairs. T h e r e cannot be M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m m u n i s t s w h o cease t h e f i g h t against m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s ,
just a s t h e r e cannot b e r e v i s i o n i s t s w h o d o n o t f i g h t M a r x i s t Leninists. Those w h o are n o w d e m a n d i n g the toning d o w n
of the polemics and w h o preach the peaceful line are
scared to death by the other revisionists a n d w a n t the
aid and support of capitalists, regardless of w h a t betrayal
m a y cost. A n d t h e c a p i t a l i s t s w i l l g i v e t h e m t h i s s u p p o r t ,
because t h i s «tactic», t h a t is, t h e « m i d d l e l i n e » i n t h e
l a b o u r m o v e m e n t , g r e a t l y serves t h e i r a i m s .
394
ENVER
HOXHA
T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s say t h a t t h e a i m o f t h e i r m e e t i n g
is to unite a l l possible forces in struggle against i m p e r i a l i s m a n d its aggressions, threats, etc. B u t t h i s i s the
most shameless d e c e p t i o n , u t t e r d e m a g o g y a n d a n o b v i o u s
f r a u d . O f w h a t f i g h t against i m p e r i a l i s m c a n the S o v i e t
r e v i s i o n i s t s speak, w h e n t h e y h a v e m a d e t h e i r a l l i a n c e
w i t h the U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a f o r t h e d i v i s i o n o f
spheres o f i n f l u e n c e a n d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f the d o m i n a tion of the t w o great powers over the w o r l d the f u n d a m e n t a l basis o f t h e i r e n t i r e p o l i c y ? C a n i t b e s a i d t h a t
by u n d e r m i n i n g the struggle of the Vietnamese people
and by openly and secretly supporting the Americans in
t h e e n s l a v e m e n t o f t h e V i e t n a m e s e people, t h e y a r e f i g h t i n g
i m p e r i a l i s m ? W e r e t h e y d e f e n d i n g the A r a b peoples against
t h e i m p e r i a l i s t a g g r e s s i o n w h e n t h e y left t h e m i n the
l u r c h at one of the most critical moments a n d struck
behind-the-scenes b a r g a i n s w i t h t h e i r s w o r n e n e m i e s ? O r
perhaps they claim they are supporting the liberation
o f t h e peoples w h e n , a t t h e U N O , t h e y a p p r o v e t h e U S
a r m e d i n t e r v e n t i o n t o suppress t h e D o m i n i c a n i n s u r g e n t s ,
or w h e n they grant credits and sell arms to the Indonesian hangmen, the murderers of hundreds of thousands o f c o m m u n i s t s a n d honest p a t r i o t s ?
T h e r e is an endless series of acts of b e t r a y a l of t h e
s u p r e m e interests o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d p e o p l e s ' l i b e ration committed by the revisionists. D a y by d a y
the
w o r l d i s w i t n e s s t o h u n d r e d s a n d t h o u s a n d s o f acts o f the
rapprochement and collaboration of the Soviet revision i s t s w i t h U S i m p e r i a l i s m , b u t i t h a s n o t seen e v e n one
single a c t i o n of t h e i r s opposed to its aggressive p o l i c y .
L e t u s n o t g o too f a r b a c k i n search o f e x a m p l e s . W h i l e
the Soviet revisionists in Budapest w e r e m a k i n g d e m a gogical appeals f o r u n i t y f o r t h e sake o f t h e f i g h t against
imperialism, their representatives in Geneva, jointly w i t h
their US colleagues at the 17 Nations Conference on the
395
treaty o n n o n - p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f n u c l e a r w e a p o n s , presented
a j o i n t d e c l a r a t i o n o n t h e g u a r a n t e e s the S o v i e t U n i o n
and t h e U S A w i l l a l l e g e d l y p r o v i d e f o r t h e n o n - n u c l e a r
countries t h a t s i g n t h e t r e a t y . T h e e f f o r t s t o p r e s e r v e
their m o n o p o l y o f n u c l e a r w e a p o n s a n d t o e x e r t a t o m i c
b l a c k m a i l a g a i n s t t h e peoples a r e q u i t e o b v i o u s . O f w h a t
a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s m c a n o n e speak u n d e r these c o n d i t i o n s ?
T h e « a n t i - i m p e r i a l i s m » o f t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s has n e v e r
had a n y c o n c r e t e f o r m , i t i s a n e m p t y p h r a s e , a m a s k
to camouflage their collaboration w i t h imperialism. It is
a piece o f d e m a g o g y w i t h w h i c h t h e y w a n t t o speculate, t o
deceive t h e peoples, t o q u e l l the f l a m e s o f t h e s t r u g g l e
against i m p e r i a l i s m w h i c h are s p r e a d i n g t o a l l the c o n t i n e n t s .
A t the B u d a p e s t m e e t i n g t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s w e r e
able t o w r e s t a p p r o v a l f r o m the o t h e r p a r t n e r s t o g o t o
M o s c o w f o r t h e m e e t i n g set f o r t h e e n d o f t h i s y e a r . T h e
bosses o f t h e K r e m l i n a r e n o w m a k i n g a great fuss a n d
are b e a t i n g a l l t h e i r p r o p a g a n d a d r u m s p r e s e n t i n g t h i s
as a great «success». B u t t h i s «success» is a P y r r h i c v i c tory. F o r one r e a s o n o r a n o t h e r , m a n y o f the r e v i s i o n i s t s
do not w a n t the meeting, but they are obliged to hold
it, because o u r s t r u g g l e , t h e c r e a t i o n o f t h e n e w M a r x i s t L e n i n i s t parties, t h e u p s u r g e o f t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e
peoples' n a t i o n a l l i b e r a t i o n s t r u g g l e c o m p e l t h e m t o d o so.
T h e y a r e c o m p e l l e d to r a i s e a c a r d b o a r d b a r r i c a d e , a
smoke-screen against these successes a n d t h i s p o w e r f u l
march of Marxism-Leninism.
B u t a n y e f f o r t o f t h e i r s w i l l b e i n v a i n . O t h e r greater
defeats are i n store f o r t h e m , s t i l l deeper splits w i l l
t a k e p l a c e . T h e f o r t h c o m i n g M o s c o w m e e t i n g , too, w i l l
e n d u p i n t h e w a s t e p a p e r basket a s d i d the M a r c h 1965
m e e t i n g , t h a t o f K a r l o v y V a r y a n d the B u d a p e s t m e e t i n g
w h i c h has j u s t c o m e t o a n e n d .
T h e revisionists' decision to hold a general meeting
i s one t h i n g , but w h a t t o r a i s e there, h o w t o r a i s e it, w h a t
396
ENVER
HOXHA
t o decide, h o w t o decide a n d c o m m u n i c a t e it, let alone
h o w t o i m p l e m e n t it, i s a n o t h e r sad s t o r y f o r the m o d e r n
revisionists, a n d f o r t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s f i r s t o f a l l .
It is they that took the decision in Budapest, but it is
also t h e y t h a t d i d n o t g o t h e r e . I n t h e f i r s t p l a c e
there is Tito, for w h o m the Soviet revisionists have
v e r y great need, because i f h e stays o u t e v e r y t h i n g i s
r u i n e d , w h i l e i f h e comes i n , h e d e m a n d s great concessions. I n t h e i r d i l e m m a t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s are r e a d y
t o m a k e concessions t o h i m , b u t not a l l t h a t T i t o w o u l d
l i k e , because h e w a n t s b o t h t h e k e y s a n d t h e house, t h e i r
m o t h e r a n d t h e i r f a t h e r a n d t h e t i t l e deeds.
T h e not d i s t a n t f u t u r e w i l l a g a i n c o n f i r m w h a t o u r
P a r t y has stated, t h a t the d i v i s i o n , d e g e n e r a t i o n a n d b a n k r u p t c y o f the m o d e r n r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e i n e v i t a b l e . T h e r e
has n o t been a n d n e v e r w i l l b e u n i t y b e t w e e n t h e m . T h e y
c a n n e v e r e s t a b l i s h o r d e r w i t h i n t h e i r h e r d . H i s t o r y has
shown that w h o e v e r raises his h a n d against M a r x i s m Leninism, whoever joins w i t h the enemies of the w o r k i n g
class, w i t h t h e b o u r g e o i s i e a g a i n s t t h e r e v o l u t i o n a n d t h e
l i b e r a t i o n of the peoples is d o o m e d to u t t e r defeat, to t h e
shameful end of all traitors. T h e revisionists are t r y i n g
t o t u r n back the w h e e l o f t h e h i s t o r i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t o f
society, b u t t h a t w h e e l i s r u t h l e s s l y s m a s h i n g a n d c r u s h i n g
t h e m u n d e r i t s great w e i g h t .
«Against
Modern
Revisionism
1968-1970»
THE WORKING CLASS IN THE REVISIONIST
COUNTRIES MUST T A K E THE FIELD AND
RE-ESTABLISH THE DICTATORSHIP OF THE
PROLETARIAT
March 24, 1968
In all the countries w h e r e the revisionists are in
power t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of t h e p r o l e t a r i a t is b e i n g s m a s h e d
and r e p l a c e d by the d i c t a t o r s h i p of the bourgeoisie, t h e
socialist r e g i m e i s b e i n g r e p l a c e d b y t h e b o u r g e o i s c a p i talist r e g i m e , a n d the p a r t y o f the p r o l e t a r i a t , degenerate
f r o m w i t h i n , serves o n l y as a s m o k e - s c r e e n to c o n c e a l t h i s
betrayal, t o b l u n t the v i g i l a n c e a n d suppress t h e l e g i t i m a t e
revolt o f t h e w o r k i n g class a n d the w o r k i n g people. The
vigilance and legitimate violence of the working class
against class enemies is what terrifies the revisionists. It
is the only force that can beat them, it is the only way
out of this disastrous situation in which socialism and
communism are placed today in the countries where the
revisionists are in power. Thus, the rekindling and fanning
of the flames of the proletarian revolution in these
countries is the road of salvation sine qua non. As e v e n t s
have d e v e l o p e d , a n y o t h e r c o u r s e c a n b r i n g n o l a s t i n g
benefit t o t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d s o c i a l i s m .
It c o u l d o n l y serve as a p o s t u r e of h a r m f u l a n d t e m p o r a r y
c o m p r o m i s e w i t h g r a v e consequences f o r s o c i a l i s m .
398
ENVER
HOXHA
Only the working class at the head of the masses,
only the working class headed by its true Marxist-Leninist
party, only the working class through armed revolution,
through violence, can and must send the revisionist
traitors to their grave.
A l l t h e c o u n t r i e s w h e r e the r e v i s i o n i s t s a r e i n p o w e r ,
w i t h o u t e x c e p t i o n , b o t h those i n t h e v a n g u a r d , s u c h a s
Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union, Hungary, Czechoslovakia,
P o l a n d , etc., o r those w h i c h , u n d e r d i f f e r e n t m a s k s , h i d e
a n d camouflage their revisionist, a n t i - M a r x i s t line, have
t u r n e d i n t o b o u r g e o i s - c a p i t a l i s t countries, o r a r e r a p i d l y
sinking into that s t i n k i n g morass.
The main question on the agenda of the revisionist
traitor cliques in power is only that of choosing the most
reliable forms to attain the aim of the restoration of
capitalism, of strengthening and stabilizing it, without
arousing the suspicions and vigilance of the working class
and working people, so as to avert any blows and turmoil,
and, finally, to be able to suppress the revolution when
it does break out. This is a struggle to win the contest.
T h e other question on the agenda for them, w i t h i n
the f r a m e w o r k of this disintegration to attain the a i m
of t h e r e s t o r a t i o n of c a p i t a l i s m , is connected with the
efforts of all the other cliques to escape from the tutelage
of the most powerful one and yet to have its aid in
general, particularly when they feel their positions are
weak. T h e degree of d e p e n d e n c e of one on t h e o t h e r is
l i n k e d w i t h this, w h i l e the m o s t p o w e r f u l a m o n g t h e m
is trying to prevail over the currents and channel them
in its o w n i n t e r e s t s as a great state. Of course, n o w s u c h
a t h i n g cannot b e a c h i e v e d w i t h c o m p l e t e success w i t h
all of them or permanently.
A n o t h e r p r o b l e m t h a t r e m a i n s o n the a g e n d a o f these
cliques i s t h e i r t e n d e n c y a n d g r e a t c o n c e r n t o f i n d v a r i o u s
m e a n s of c a m o u f l a g e a n d a d i v e r s i t y of f o r m s of a c t i o n ,
THE WORKING CLASS MUST TAKE THE FIELD
399
w h i c h a r e s o m e t i m e s m u c h m o r e a d v a n c e d a n d less c a m o u flaged t h a n those o f t h e i r c o u n t e r p a r t s . T h e s e «pioneers»
serve t h e c a p i t a l i s t forces w h i c h i n s p i r e t h e r e v i s i o n i s t
cliques t o u r g e o t h e r s t o s p e e d u p t h e i r course t o t h e
m a x i m u m , t o b r e a k t h e r e s i s t a n c e o f those r e v i s i o n i s t
cliques w h i c h , o u t o f necessity, a r e m o r e c o n s e r v a t i v e ,
because t h e s w o r d o f D a m o c l e s — t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n — i s c o n s t a n t l y h a n g i n g o v e r t h e heads o f t h e m a l l .
T h e revisionists t r y to camouflage all their counterr e v o l u t i o n a r y actions f o r t h e s e i z u r e o f p o w e r a n d t h e
efforts t h e y a r e m a k i n g t o c o n s o l i d a t e t h i s p o w e r b y
creating and inculcating in the minds of the working class
the illusion that its «Marxist-Leninist» party is allegedly
in power and is guiding all this development and transformation on the «true course of socialism and communism». T h i s i s t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s d i s g u i s e w i t h t h e a i d
o f w h i c h t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s t r y t o escape the d e c i s i v e b l o w
of t h e w o r k i n g class. Therefore, they try to tell the working class that any criticism, any revolt against or opposition to their revisionist course is an anti-Marxist deviation,
is a crime against Leninism, against socialism, against the
party of the working class. T h e r e v i s i o n i s t s a d m i n i s t e r
this o p i u m t h r o u g h the press and their propaganda, w h i c h
i s f a l s e a n d a f a b r i c a t i o n f r o m start t o f i n i s h , a d m i n i s t e r
it w h i l e divesting the party, in theory and practice, of
any revolutionary characteristics; they administer it by
m a k i n g an allegedly M a r x i s t interpretation of each of
t h e i r p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e actions i n t h e
d i r e c t i o n o f t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f c a p i t a l i s m . T h i s false i n t e r pretation of their foreign policy, of their relations, alliances a n d u n d e r h a n d d e a l i n g s w i t h t h e c a p i t a l i s t s i s also
necessary t o t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s i n o r d e r t o b l u n t the v i g i l a n c e
o f t h e w o r k i n g masses o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c o u n t r i e s .
In all these cunning actions the revisionists set in
motion the new corrupted class of bureaucrats who impose
400
ENVER
HOXHA
themselves upon the working class and the masses with
the force of their regime, their length of service, with
the rows of medals hiding their false hearts. T h u s t h e y
create t h e i m p r e s s i o n a m o n g t h e w o r k i n g class t h a t «it i s
n o t p o s s i b l e t h a t a l l these f i n e f e l l o w s c o u l d b e t r a y t h e
p a r t y , t h e class a n d socialism».
W e m u s t d r a w some lessons, some conclusions, f r o m
revisionist counter-revolution.
Let us start with Hungary. In t h e e u p h o r i a of t h e
a d v e n t to p o w e r of K h r u s h c h e v i t e r e v i s i o n i s m , b u t at a
m o m e n t w h e n i t h a d not yet c o n s o l i d a t e d its positions,
w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m , its T i t o i t e agency a n d t h e i n t e r n a l M a g y a r
r e a c t i o n a r y bourgeoisie, l a u n c h e d t h e a r m e d c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n against t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t a n d the
H u n g a r i a n Workers' Party, t h i n k i n g it w a s the weakest
l i n k o f t h e c h a i n o f the socialist c o u n t r i e s . A n d s o i t w a s
indeed. Rakosi's p a r t y melted a w a y l i k e snow in the
r a i n . B u t i n t h e i r actions w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m a n d T i t o i s m
h a d not chosen t h e c o r r e c t m o m e n t : t h e y w e r e c o n v i n c e d
of K h r u s h c h e v ' s line of betrayal, but they d i d not take
account o f the fact t h a t his p o s i t i o n s w e r e n o t yet s t a b i l i z e d and, a l t h o u g h h e h e s i t a t e d o v e r s e n d i n g i n t h e
t a n k s , i n t h e e n d h e w a s o b l i g e d t o d o so. O t h e r w i s e h i s
course o f b e t r a y a l c o u l d h a v e been c o m p r o m i s e d . B u t
i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the H u n g a r i a n c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n t h e
f o l l o w i n g facts m u s t b e p o i n t e d o u t :
this
1. — T h e H u n g a r i a n c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n w a s b e g u n by
a f e w i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d students. L a c k i n g the i n f l u e n c e
of a g e n u i n e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t p a r t y , those v a c i l l a t i n g
strata b e c a m e reserves o f the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a n d its
assault squads u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e bourgeoisie. T h e
H u n g a r i a n w r i t e r s w e r e i n t h e v a n g u a r d o f this c o u n t e r revolution.
2. — D e s p i t e t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a d i t i o n s i n h e r i t e d
f r o m t h e p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n o f 1919, t h e H u n g a r i a n
401
w o r k i n g class a n d t h a t o f B u d a p e s t i n p a r t i c u l a r , d i d n o t
know h o w t o d e f e n d its p o w e r a n d gains. O n t h e c o n trary, a c o n s i d e r a b l e p a r t of t h e w o r k i n g class, e s p e c i a l l y
in Budapest, was activated in favour of the counter-revolutionaries, h e n c e it b e c a m e a r e s e r v e of r e a c t i o n . T h i s
means, i n o t h e r w o r d s , t h a t t h e w o r k o f t h e H u n g a r i a n
W o r k e r s ' P a r t y w a s s u p e r f i c i a l a n d w i t h o u t a n y r e a l base.
The w o r k i n g class d i d not f u l l y r e c o g n i z e i t a s its o w n
leader. T h i s w a s t h e greatest a n d m o s t d a n g e r o u s e v i l .
3. — T h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n e n t i r e l y l i q u i d a t e d t h e
H u n g a r i a n W o r k e r s ' P a r t y w i t h i n a f e w d a y s , w h i l e the
c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r y J a n o s K a d a r i s s u e d t h e decree f o r
its o f f i c i a l d i s s o l u t i o n .
4. — D u r i n g t h e f e w d a y s of t h e c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n
i n H u n g a r y m a n y bourgeois, c a p i t a l i s t a n d fascist p a r t i e s
popped u p i m m e d i a t e l y , l i k e m u s h r o o m s a f t e r r a i n .
Thus, the Hungarian counter-revolution was put down
by means of Soviet tanks. U n d e r the dictate of the
Khrushchevite revisionists, the same traitor w h o liquidated
the p a r t y i s s u e d t h e other decree f o r t h e r e f o u n d i n g of
the a l l e g e d l y n e w « M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t » p a r t y , t h e H u n g a r i a n
revisionist p a r t y , e v e n m o r e r o t t e n t h a n the p r e v i o u s one.
The H u n g a r i a n counter-revolution was put d o w n by
the c o u n t e r - r e v o l u t i o n a r i e s . T h u s , t h e t w o w i n g s o f the
putsch w e r e b o u n d to c o m e together, as t h e y d i d , to
build « t h e i r o w n H u n g a r y » , a s t h e y d i d , t o r e s t o r e c a p i t a l ism, a s t h e y a r e d o i n g . D r a w i n g lessons f r o m t h e b l o o d s h e d
and, a f t e r h a v i n g p a i d a n i n d e m n i t y i n b l o o d f o r its hasty
actions, H u n g a r i a n r e a c t i o n i s n o w c a r r y i n g out its
reforms of r a d i c a l c a p i t a l i s t t r a n s f o r m a t i o n at its l e i s u r e ,
regardless o f a n d w i t h o u t a n y t r o u b l e f r o m t h e S o v i e t
forces a n d t a n k s w h i c h r e m a i n o n H u n g a r i a n t e r r i t o r y .
The H u n g a r i a n b o u r g e o i s i e is, so to speak, g o i n g a b o u t its
business, t h i s t i m e u n d e r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f K h r u s h c h e v i t e
tanks. U n d e r the d i s g u i s e a n d « b a n n e r o f t h e P a r t y » , t h e
402
ENVER
HOXHA
H u n g a r i a n capitalist bourgeoisie, hostile to the w o r k i n g
class, i s l u l l i n g t h e w o r k i n g class t o sleep w h i l e f o r g i n g
n e w c h a i n s f o r it. T h e c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s i e has t h e old
i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d n e w r e v i s i o n i s t i n t e l l i g e n t s i a , i n complete
identity of views and u n i t y of action, as its vanguard.
Let us take Poland. As in H u n g a r y , in P o l a n d , too,
b l o o d y d e m o n s t r a t i o n s s t a r t e d i n P o z n a n i n 1956 a n d w e r e
s u p p r e s s e d b y t a n k s , this t i m e P o l i s h a n d n o t S o v i e t tanks.
T h e P o l i s h c h u r c h a n d r e a c t i o n h a d a h a n d i n it, and
K h r u s h c h e v was t e r r i f i e d that P o l a n d m i g h t break away
f r o m the Soviet U n i o n at that time, therefore, he threat
ened G o m u l k a w i t h an invasion of tanks, but G o m u l k a
resisted a n d K h r u s h c h e v , w i l l y - n i l l y , s m i l e d a n d e m b r a c e d
t h e fascist G o m u l k a , a s h e used t o d e s c r i b e h i m b e h i n d
his back, i n c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h others.
B u t n o w , i n r e c e n t days, e v e n t s i n P o l a n d a r e de
v e l o p i n g d i f f e r e n t l y . T h e y h a v e a s s u m e d a n o t h e r aspect
w h i c h is characteristic of all the revisionist countries. In
P o l a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , clashes, b l o o d y e n c o u n t e r s have
begun between G o m u l k a ' s police and the writers, intel
l i g e n t s i a a n d students, w h o a r e d e m a n d i n g «freedom»,
«full democracy», «liberalization». This time, the Polish
counter-revolutionaries, w h o have risen against the Go
m u l k a revisionist counter-revolutionaries, are congratulat
ing and displaying their solidarity w i t h the Czechoslovak
counter-revolutionaries. T h e reactionary Polish intelligent
sia, d i r e c t e d b y w o r l d c a p i t a l i s m , t h e c l e r g y a n d J e w r y ,
a r e n o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h the G o m u l k a r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e and
w a n t t o get r i d o f it, a s t h e n e w S l o v a k c l i q u e o f D u b č e k
i s d o i n g w i t h the N o v o t n y r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e , a b o u t w h i c h
w e s h a l l speak b e l o w . I n P o l a n d , j u s t a s i n H u n g a r y ,
t h e r e a c t i o n a r y i n t e l l i g e n t s i a a n d t h e s t u d e n t s a r e i n the
forefront w i t h their claims, the p a r t y is r i d d l e d w i t h
v e r m i n , the o r g a n s o f the d i c t a t o r s h i p are, f o r t h e time
being, i n t h e s e r v i c e o f the G o m u l k a c l i q u e , a n d the
403
w o r k i n g class i s n o t r e a c t i n g , i s not c o m i n g o u t i n the
street t o d o t h e n e c e s s a r y c l e a n i n g . W i l l t h e G o m u l
ka clique be able to hold back this mounting tide? We
shall see. B u t t h e i m p o r t a n t t h i n g i s t h e u l t i m a t e t i d e
which must be prepared in order to w i p e a l l the overt
and d i s g u i s e d t r a i t o r s i n P o l a n d off t h e face o f t h e e a r t h .
This s a l u t a r y t i d e w i l l b e the p r o l e t a r i a n r e v o l u t i o n o f t h e
Polish w o r k i n g class, l e d b y a t r u e M a r x i s t - L e n i n i s t c o m
munist p a r t y .
Let us take Czechoslovakia. T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s
used t o t r u m p e t a b r o a d t h a t C z e c h o s l o v a k i a w a s t h e i r
most p o w e r f u l b a s t i o n , t h e m o s t f a i t h f u l c o u n t r y o f t h e
revisionists, a n d A n t o n i n N o v o t n y t h e m a n closest t o
them, «the m o s t e a r n e s t a n d m o s t a u t h o r i t a t i v e man» of
the r e v i s i o n i s t c l a n , n e x t t o t h e S o v i e t s . A n d a s w e h a d
forecast, t h i s s i t u a t i o n , too, c o u n t e d f o r n o t h i n g , not b e
cause N o v o t n y a n d h i s r e v i s i o n i s t c l i q u e w e r e not a n
obedient a g e n c y o f t h e K h r u s h c h e v i t e s , b u t because t h e y
were q u i t e u n a b l e t o c a r r y o u t t h e o r d e r s t h a t t h e M o s c o w
bosses g a v e t h e m . I n fact t h e S o v i e t s ' d e a d horse, A n t o n i n
N o v o t n y , got b o g g e d d o w n i n t h e r e v i s i o n i s t m i r e w h i c h
he himself created, w h i l e the other horse w h i c h replaced
him, D u b č e k , has t a k e n t h e b i t i n h i s t e e t h a n d i s n o w
bolting t o w a r d W e s t e r n «pastures», w h e r e t h e F r e n c h a n d
W e s t - G e r m a n c a p i t a l i s t s are w a i t i n g t o c o r r a l h i m , a n d
have o p e n e d t h e o l d c h a p t e r s a b o u t t h e i r n o t o r i o u s agents
M a s a r y k , B e n e š T i s o , H a š a , a n d others.
H o w is the new counter-revolution in Czechoslovakia
developing? O p e n l y , a g a i n s t A n t o n i n N o v o t n y a n d his
clique, h e n c e a g a i n s t t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t y o k e .
T h e y a r e o p e n l y g o i n g o v e r t o c a p i t a l i s m u n d e r the
system o f o n e p a r t y o r m a n y p a r t i e s , u n d e r t h e c a p i t a l i s t
state s y s t e m a n d t h e u n d i s g u i s e d l i q u i d a t i o n o f t h e d i c
tatorship o f t h e p r o l e t a r i a t i n the e c o n o m y , e d u c a t i o n a n d
culture.
404
ENVER
HOXHA
N o t o n l y coexistence, b u t also s o l i d ties w i t h the
W e s t e r n capitalists a r e b e i n g a d v o c a t e d o p e n l y . H o m a g e
i s b e i n g p a i d a t t h e g r a v e o f t h e M a s a r y k s , f a t h e r and
son, at the g r a v e of Beneš, e v e r y o n e is b e i n g n o i s i l y
r e h a b i l i t a t e d , e v e n the fascists, a n d a l l a r e b e i n g d e s c r i b e d
as « d i s t i n g u i s h e d men», v i c t i m s of t h e « S t a l i n i s t t e r r o r »
a n d t h e r e s u l t o f t h e e r r o n e o u s p o l i c y , not o n l y o f the
N o v o t n y c l i q u e , b u t also o f G o t t w a l d , hence o f the C o m m u n i s t P a r t y o f C z e c h o s l o v a k i a a n d , o f course, o f « S t a l i n
and the Comintern».
In short, C z e c h o s l o v a k i a is g o i n g at a r a p i d t e m p o
and without m u c h subterfuge and demagogy towards
capitalism, to the complete political, ideological, economic
a n d state r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t b o u r g e o i s r e p u b l i c .
B y w h a t m e a n s a n d f o r m s i s t h i s process d e v e l o p i n g ?
T h e C z e c h o s l o v a k process m u s t not b e t a k e n i n i s o l a t i o n
f r o m t h e w h o l e process t h a t i s t a k i n g p l a c e w i t h i n the
r e v i s i o n i s t f o l d . T h i s is t h e r e s u l t of t h e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n , of
the m a j o r c o n t r a d i c t i o n s w h i c h e x i s t w i t h i n t h e r e v i s i o n ist clan, w i t h i n t h e d i f f e r e n t tendencies w h i c h e x i s t w i t h i n
the clan of each i n d i v i d u a l revisionist country, and of
the international contradictions. Thus, the Czechoslovak
d i s i n t e g r a t i o n a n d t h e course i t has t a k e n a r e b y n o
m e a n s e x c e p t i o n a l . N o t h i n g s h o u l d s u r p r i s e us. T h i s i s
quite normal.
S o i s t h e o v e r t m a n n e r o f these actions, a n d this
f o r t w o reasons: on the one h a n d , a p a r t of t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k people, i n d e e d e v e n o f t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k w o r k i n g
class, are p r e p a r e d f o r a n d p r e d i s p o s e d t o w a r d s this
«liberal» course, a s t h e r e v i s i o n i s t s c a l l it. T o t h e m c o m m u n i s m has b e e n m e r e l y a veneer, a n i n c i d e n t , a n d d u r i n g
t h e w h o l e p e r i o d since L i b e r a t i o n t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y
of Czechoslovakia has not o n l y failed to w o r k on a sound
basis, but, i n fact, has m a d e l i t t l e i m p r e s s i o n o n t h e n a t u r e ,
t h e p o l i t i c a l i n c l i n a t i o n s , the p o l i t i c a l a n d c u l t u r a l taste
405
of a p a r t of the people, w h o , e v e n u n d e r the socialist
regime, p r e s e r v e d a n d d e v e l o p e d b o u r g e o i s c a p i t a l i s t s e n timents i n a c c e n t u a t e d f o r m s .
On the other hand, the n e w Czechoslovak course
towards c a p i t a l i s m c o n f i r m s t h e f u r t h e r d e c a y o f the p o w e r
of Soviet revisionism w h i c h , w a l l o w i n g in the morass
it has itself c r e a t e d , is no l o n g e r a t h r e a t to its o p p o n e n t s
either p o l i t i c a l l y or e c o n o m i c a l l y . It h a s b e c o m e a s l a v e
t o the s y s t e m i t has c r e a t e d a n d the b e t r a y a l i t has c o m mitted. T h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t s are o b l i g e d t o g r i n against
the m i s f o r t u n e s w h i c h are d e s c e n d i n g o n t h e m . T h e f u r ther course of t h e C z e c h o s l o v a k r e v i s i o n i s t s n o w has the
f u l l s u p p o r t , n o t o n l y o f the A m e r i c a n , F r e n c h a n d W e s t G e r m a n i m p e r i a l i s t s , b u t of course, of the Titoites, t h e
«neutral» r e v i s i o n i s t s a n d , in petto*, of the H u n g a r i a n r e visionists as w e l l . T h u s , a m o r e or less o r g a n i z e d force is
taking shape, a l w a y s w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f d i s i n tegration a n d « i n d e p e n d e n c e » f r o m the S o v i e t , P o l i s h a n d
other r e v i s i o n i s t s , w h o are v e r y m u c h a f r a i d o f t h i s c o n tagious disease w h i c h has t h e t e n d e n c y t o c l e a r out the
old r e v i s i o n i s t h a c k s a n d r e p l a c e t h e m w i t h n e w ones.
The new Czech counter-revolutionaries are using
new, m a n y - s i d e d m e t h o d s . T h e y a t t a c h great i m p o r t a n c e
to taking the internal situation completely into their own
hands, w i t h o u t n e g l e c t i n g f o r e i g n p o l i c y . N a t u r a l l y , f o r
purposes o f d e m a g o g y t h e y speak p u b l i c l y a b o u t f r i e n d ship w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , i n o r d e r t o c o m p l e t e l y u n d e r mine it. T h e i r p r i n c i p a l a i m i s t h e l i q u i d a t i o n o f N o v o t n y
and h i s c l i q u e , w h i c h i s p r o t h e S o v i e t r e v i s i o n i s t l e a d e r ship, a n d t h e r e d u c t i o n o f r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e S o v i e t U n i o n
to mere trade relations. T h e campaign for the liquidation
of Novotny, to expose and compromise him, a n d finally
t o r e m o v e h i m , w a s c a r r i e d out i n a r o u n d - a b o u t w a y . I n
_______________________________
* in disguise.
406
ENVER HOXHA
the forefront of this campaign were the S l o v a k national
ists w i t h t h e i r a n t i - C z e c h feelings, t h e o l d b o u r g e o i s
i n t e l l e c t u a l s a n d t h e n e w r e v i s i o n i s t ones, a s w e l l a s
students a n d h o o l i g a n s w h o c a m e out r e p e a t e d l y i n d e
m o n s t r a t i o n s a n d are s t i l l d o i n g so.
T h e N o v o t n y g r o u p a n d t h e i r K r e m l i n bosses sent i n
t h e p o l i c e against t h e m , b u t t o n o a v a i l . A w a r e t h a t the
noose w a s t i g h t e n i n g a r o u n d h i s neck, N o v o t n y called
the tanks to Prague, copying the method of K h r u s h c h e v
w h o s u r r o u n d e d the K r e m l i n w i t h t a n k s a n d t h u s saved
h i s h e a d . B u t N o v o t n y c o u l d n o t a t t a i n t h i s a i m a n d lost
his j o b . P e r h a p s h e w i l l lose his h e a d , too.
T o c o v e r its game, t h e D u b č e k g r o u p i s u s i n g a l l e g e d l y
l e g a l f o r m s t o c l e a r o u t t h e N o v o t n y c l i q u e . F i r s t o f all,
t h i s g r o u p m a d e s u r e o f t h e a r m y t h r o u g h t r u s t e d cadres,
a r r a n g e d the d e f e c t i o n o f a c e r t a i n a r m y g e n e r a l , d i s c r e
d i t e d N o v o t n y a n d L o m s k y , the d e f e n c e m i n i s t e r , a n d set i n
m o t i o n the p a r t y , « c o n v i n c e d » t h a t N o v o t n y ' s i m m e d i a t e
r e m o v a l or resignation should be demanded through peti
tions, r a l l i e s a n d s t u d e n t d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . T h i s w h o l e
o p e r a t i o n i s b e i n g c a r r i e d out v e r y q u i c k l y , w i t h l i t t l e
o b v i o u s strife, a m i d s t t h e s t o r m y a p p l a u s e o f w o r l d c a p i
t a l i s m to w h o s e f o l d a s c a b b y goat

Enver Hoxha. Selected works.Volume IV.

Transcription

Similar documents