Two Stage Theory
Encyclopedia
The two stage theory is the Stalinist political theory which argues that underdeveloped countries, such as Tsarist Russia, must first pass through a stage of bourgeois democracy before moving to a socialist stage. The two stage theory was applied to countries worldwide which had not passed through the capitalist stage.
The discussion on stagism focuses on the Russian Revolution. However, Maoist theories, such as New Democracy
, tend to apply a two-stage theory to struggles elsewhere. In the Soviet Union the two stage theory was opposed by the Trotskyist theory of permanent revolution
.
and Democratic Socialist Perspective
have re-elaborated the two stage theory, although the DSP differentiates their position from the Stalinist one.
There is no dispute that Marx and Engels argue that Western capitalism provides the technological advances necessary for socialism and the "grave diggers" of the capitalist class in the form of the working class. But critics of the two stage theory, including most trends of Trotskyism
, argue that Marx and Engels denied that they had laid down a formula to be applied to all countries in all circumstances. McLellan and others cite Marx's Reply to Mikhailovsky. Mikhailovsky, Marx says,
In the Preface to the Russian edition of the Communist Manifesto of 1882, Marx and Engels specifically outline an alternative path to socialism for Russia.
In Russia, the Menshevik
s believed the two stage theory applied to Tsarist Russia. They were criticised by Trotsky in what became the theory of Permanent Revolution
in 1905. Later when the two stage theory re-appeared after the death of Lenin in the Soviet Union, the theory of Permanent Revolution
was supported by the Left Opposition
. The Permanent Revolution argues that the tasks allotted in the two stage theory to the capitalist class can only be carried out by the working class with the support of the poor peasantry, and that the working class will then pass on to the socialist tasks and expropriate the capitalist class. The revolution cannot pause here, however but remains 'permanent', in the sense that it must seek worldwide revolution to avoid isolation and thus move towards international socialism.
The discussion on stagism focuses on the Russian Revolution. However, Maoist theories, such as New Democracy
New Democracy
New Democracy or the New Democratic Revolution is a Maoist concept based on Mao Zedong's "Bloc of Four Social Classes" theory during post-revolutionary China which argues that democracy in China will take a decisively distinct path from either the liberal capitalist and/or parliamentary democratic...
, tend to apply a two-stage theory to struggles elsewhere. In the Soviet Union the two stage theory was opposed by the Trotskyist theory of permanent revolution
Permanent Revolution
Permanent revolution is a term within Marxist theory, established in usage by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels by at least 1850 but which has since become most closely associated with Leon Trotsky. The use of the term by different theorists is not identical...
.
Theory
In Marxist-Leninist theory under Stalin the theory of two stages gained a revival. More recently, the South African Communist PartySouth African Communist Party
South African Communist Party is a political party in South Africa. It was founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa by the joining together of the International Socialist League and others under the leadership of Willam H...
and Democratic Socialist Perspective
Democratic Socialist Perspective
The Democratic Socialist Perspective was an Australian Marxist political group, which operated as the largest component of a broad-left socialist formation, the Socialist Alliance...
have re-elaborated the two stage theory, although the DSP differentiates their position from the Stalinist one.
Criticism
Although the two stage theory is often attributed to Marx and Engels, critics such as David McLellan and others dispute that Marx and Engels envisaged the strict application of this theory outside of the actually existing Western development of capitalism.There is no dispute that Marx and Engels argue that Western capitalism provides the technological advances necessary for socialism and the "grave diggers" of the capitalist class in the form of the working class. But critics of the two stage theory, including most trends of Trotskyism
Trotskyism
Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, arguing for the establishment of a vanguard party of the working-class...
, argue that Marx and Engels denied that they had laid down a formula to be applied to all countries in all circumstances. McLellan and others cite Marx's Reply to Mikhailovsky. Mikhailovsky, Marx says,
In the Preface to the Russian edition of the Communist Manifesto of 1882, Marx and Engels specifically outline an alternative path to socialism for Russia.
In Russia, the Menshevik
Menshevik
The Mensheviks were a faction of the Russian revolutionary movement that emerged in 1904 after a dispute between Vladimir Lenin and Julius Martov, both members of the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party. The dispute originated at the Second Congress of that party, ostensibly over minor issues...
s believed the two stage theory applied to Tsarist Russia. They were criticised by Trotsky in what became the theory of Permanent Revolution
Permanent Revolution
Permanent revolution is a term within Marxist theory, established in usage by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels by at least 1850 but which has since become most closely associated with Leon Trotsky. The use of the term by different theorists is not identical...
in 1905. Later when the two stage theory re-appeared after the death of Lenin in the Soviet Union, the theory of Permanent Revolution
Permanent Revolution
Permanent revolution is a term within Marxist theory, established in usage by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels by at least 1850 but which has since become most closely associated with Leon Trotsky. The use of the term by different theorists is not identical...
was supported by the Left Opposition
Left Opposition
The Left Opposition was a faction within the Bolshevik Party from 1923 to 1927, headed de facto by Leon Trotsky. The Left Opposition formed as part of the power struggle within the party leadership that began with the Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin's illness and intensified with his death in January...
. The Permanent Revolution argues that the tasks allotted in the two stage theory to the capitalist class can only be carried out by the working class with the support of the poor peasantry, and that the working class will then pass on to the socialist tasks and expropriate the capitalist class. The revolution cannot pause here, however but remains 'permanent', in the sense that it must seek worldwide revolution to avoid isolation and thus move towards international socialism.