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After reading this article you will learn about the transition from socialism to communism.
Stalin said in order to pave the way for a real transition to communism, at least three main preliminary conditions have to be satisfied.
Briefly stated, these conditions are:
(a) To raise production to the level where the needs of all can be fully satisfied,
(b) Concentrate the whole of production and the whole product in the hands of a vast association of the whole people, and
(c) Create the necessary conditions for making labour life’s prime want-and eliminating all sub-ordination of people to the division of labour.
The socialist society through scientific management and proper utilisation of science and technology will ensure the abundance of commodities. When this has been achieved communism will be at the doorstep. Communism thinks that fulfillment of requirement means end of misery and poverty. Both Lenin and Stalin emphasized the abundance of goods.
For the transition from socialism to communism, it is necessary that a central authority or socio-economic centre will control the production of commodities as well as the distribution.
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By doing this the authority will safeguard the interests of the society as a whole. The state control over production and distribution is to be achieved step by step and not by forcible measures.
This is particularly relevant for agricultural and small manufacturing sector. The way between socialism and communism is long and complex. It cannot be negotiated by any shortcut formula or pre-planned technique.
Prevailing situation will determine what procedure is to be adopted. Confiscation of small property by coercive measures and adoption of drastic measures may delay the attainment of supreme goal. It may also jeopardize.
Stalin said the third condition to be fulfilled for the transition from socialism to communism is “to ensure such a cultural advancement of society as will secure for all members of society may be in a position to receive an education sufficient to enable them to be active agents of social development, and in a position freely to choose their occupations and not be tied all their lives, owing to the existing division of labour, to someone occupation”.
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Some other conditions are to be fulfilled for the transition from socialism to communism. One such condition is the elimination of distinction between town and country. Socialism tries to eliminate the distinction. But since the roots of distinction are very deep, socialism cannot uproot them in a single attempt or venture.
It is a long process and several stages have to be overcome. Full elimination of the social and economic distinctions between town and country is a task which is due to be accomplished in the period of transition from socialism to communism.
The capitalist system concentrated on the urbanisation and industrialization and application of higher technology in agriculture was neglected. Peasants economic progress lagged far behind that of industrial labourer.
Development of the mechanization of agriculture is one of the chief aims of socialism. Both industry and agriculture are the two sides or aspects of the same economy. In a capitalist economy it is normally found that peasants and other poor people migrate to the urban area in search of job and create congestion.
The capitalists take its full advantage. Socialism by affecting a balanced and continuous progress of all sections and parts of society will stop it.
Another task is to be performed during the transition from socialism to communism and it is the abolition of differences between mental and physical labour. In every capitalist system of economy there are differences between brain workers and manual workers and this antithesis between work by hand and work by brain is to be eliminated so as to advance communism.
This antithesis arose as an inevitable result of the division of society into oppressors and oppressed, when all the forms of mental labour were turned into a monopoly of the ruling classes.
The members of this class advanced the argument that by nature they are possessors of higher calibre and intellectual capacity and also managerial ability. By dint of this self-made superiority of ruling class came to be a hereditary owner of all property.
Socialism wants to put an end to this situation. In this system the brain workers and physical workers have common interests. The purpose of both is the general progress and welfare of the society. There may be qualitative and quantitative differences between works or contribution.
It is quite natural that some men will have more intelligence and ability and will form a group. Socialism cannot stop the culture of intellect and ability. In that case what would be the correct step of socialist society which will facilitate its transition to communism?
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The first task the socialist authority will take is to change the very nature of labour which demands constant intellectual development, a broad outlook, great knowledge and creative approach.
“Socialist society proceeds from the premise that the all-round development of people takes place first of all through labour. It is labour such as it becomes in the process of transition from socialism to communism that affords favourable, conditions for intellectual development”.
The educational system will be modelled in such a manner as to enable the workers to develop their intellectual capacity. In this way socialism will eliminate the distinctions between brain worker and manual worker. Transition from socialism to communism will achieve this progress.
As a society draws nearer to communism, differences in the payment for worker and consequently in the living conditions of all classes and strata of population will gradually be smoothed out.
Similarly, with the progress of socialism towards communism, the inequalities from which the women suffer will gradually be ironed out. These inequalities relate to the status and privileges of women. The socialist promises to free the women .from the monotony of day-to-day household chores.