21ST CENTURY — THE CENTURY OF SOCIALISM
Welcoming the new millennium and the new century

The second millennium is coming to an end. It was a period of enormous 
discovery and advances in societies throughout the world. Steam power 
played an important part in the industrial revolution. Scientists 
discovered that the earth was round, not flat. Darwin's theory of evolution 
was advanced and dealt a heavy blow at unscientific theories of natural and 
human development. There were many other scientific discoveries. It was the 
period of the renaissance. Feudalism came to an end in European countries 
to be replaced by capitalist class rule and capitalist societies. There 
were many peasant uprisings against feudalism and capitalist exploitation 
and its destruction of the common usage of land.

It was a time of discovery and long and dangerous sea voyages. Marco Polo 
searched for a land route to Asia and Columbus established the first link 
between Europe and the Americas. His discovery was followed by the most 
savage conquest and occupation. The Inca civilisation was brought down and 
many indigenous people were massacred and enslaved. There was the period of 
the African slave trade. 

Scientific advances, discoveries and social developments were taking place 
on continents other than Europe — in the Middle East, China, in the 
Americas, Africa and elsewhere. 

In this period new nations came into existence and the modern working class 
emerged. In 1853, Karl Marx and Frederick Engels wrote the Communist 
Manifesto and put forward a program to bring an end to capitalist 
exploitation of one by another with the objective of building a society in 
which the interests of the working people were given priority. A great 
clash between philosophies raged.

It was in this period too that the first steps towards the widespread 
ecological and environmental destruction commenced.

As industrialisation developed, populations grew, land was cleared for 
agriculture, towns and cities expanded, communications were extended — 
often at the expense of the environment.

The 20th century was a century characterised by its upheavals and 
revolutionary changes.

With the overthrow of feudalism the new capitalist order was established. 
It unleashed tremendous productive forces, at the same time intensifying 
the exploitation of the masses of the people.

The free competition of capitalism's earlier period was replaced by the 
development of monopoly, state monopoly capitalism and now, the domination 
of giant transnational corporations.

Following World War I, which was a conflict between the main imperialist 
powers, a new period in human society was opened by the Russian Revolution 
of 1917.

It was the first successful socialist revolution and put on the agenda the 
possibility and task of building a society with the aim of fulfilling the 
economic and social needs of the working people, rather than those of a 
minority ruling class.

A system of exploitation of the many by the few was brought to an end.

In what was a war-ravaged, largely illiterate and poverty-stricken society, 
socialist ideas rapidly advanced in all spheres of human endeavour — the 
economy, education, health care and cultural pursuits. It replaced 
individualism with a collective concern for all.

Instead of achieving its objectives by war, the socialist government and 
state became the most consistent advocate of peaceful relations between 
nations, the elimination of nuclear weapons and universal disarmament. It 
introduced a new form of democracy — a people's democracy.

The Russian revolution was followed, after the defeat of Nazism in World 
War II, by further socialist revolutions in eastern Europe, China, Korea, 
Cuba and Vietnam. Other countries also began to thread the path of 
socialist construction.

The fact that the socialist society of the Soviet Union has been replaced 
for the time being by a capitalist restoration does not diminish the 
validity and achievements of the socialist revolution of the Soviet Union 
and the countries of eastern Europe.

The century now ending also saw many calamities imposed upon the people by 
capitalist crises and wars instigated by imperialism.

World War I, the Great Depression of the 1930s and other periodical 
economic slumps, the monstrous fascist regimes of Germany, Italy, Japan and 
a number of other countries and now, the attempt to impose a New World 
Order dictated by the big corporations of the western world, all show that 
capitalism cannot fulfill the needs of millions of people who live in 
destitution, homelessness and unemployment.

This century also brought dramatic scientific and technological advances, 
among them the ability to split the atom and computer and communications 
technology.

The scientific and technological achievements have lengthened the life span 
of people overcoming many illnesses and plagues. All the material needs of 
the people for housing, food, health care, etc, can be produced. The means 
to preserve the environment and the ecology have also been provided.

That these benefits are being denied to millions of people and misused is 
not the fault of science but the economic and social system of capitalism 
which diverts every human achievement to enrich a very small number of 
super rich and to increase their power over all others.

Scientific achievements have also been diverted into the manufacture of 
devastating nuclear weapons capable of ending all life on earth.

The century saw the spread of Marxism throughout the world and as a result 
of this, those who wish to hold back human progress and freedom have waged 
a ferocious campaign to combat, distort, revise and lie about Marxism. 
Belief in a supernatural is spread in many forms. The basest of human 
characteristics are legitimised.

Instead of accepting the processes of change, the ruling classes attempt to 
stop changes which threaten even in the slightest, their rule over others.

Despite their efforts, however, the truths of the Marxist understanding of 
nature and human society are steadily spreading as the difference between 
what the ruling class says and what it does becomes ever more apparent.

Another main feature of the 20th century was the overthrow of the colonial 
system which had imposed foreign domination over many countries and whole 
continents.

The inspiration of the Russian revolution and the defeat of fascism in WW2, 
stimulated the national liberation struggles of the people of former 
colonial territories who were able to win their political liberation.

As the century ends, the dismemberment of the Soviet Union and the victory 
of a capitalist counter-revolution has set back the forward march of 
history for a time. The gains made by the Soviet people and the former 
socialist states of eastern Europe are being destroyed. 

The imposition of economic rationalist policies in all the capitalist 
countries by both conservative and social democratic governments is also 
taking back the gains made by the working people and their organisations in 
this century.

Democratic rights, working conditions, publicly owned enterprises and 
institutions are experiencing a great offensive of take-back by the 
transnational corporations and the governments which represent them.

The people, particularly those in developing countries, are experiencing 
mass poverty, unemployment and social degradation.

Environmental destruction is spreading as the blind grab for profits 
endangers the climates of the world.

Natural resources are being plundered and soils devastated. Water courses 
are polluted and forests cut down. Floods, drought, fires, cyclones and 
melting snows are the consequence. 

While socialism has suffered a grievous setback in a number of countries, 
the capitalist and imperialist offensive failed to destroy socialism 
everywhere.

The communist parties, which are the banner-bearers of Marxist-Leninist 
ideas have survived the assault against them. Marxism continues to extend 
its influence despite the ideological offensive of the ruling class and 
those who either deliberately or through ignorance, obscure the truth and 
attempt to re-write history.  

As the new century opens, the working class which has grown enormously in 
all countries in the past century is strengthening its fight-back against 
the capitalist assault. Working class internationalism is opposing 
transnational globalisation.

Disillusionment with the political parties of capital — whether the 
outright parties of capital or those who promote social democratic 
illusions — is considerable. Many are looking for an alternative which 
speaks for and in their interests.

The concepts of the united front, of alliances and of internationalism are 
being taken up as necessary forms through which to rally all the 
progressive forces in society to oppose the mean and destructive policies 
of the big corporations.

Countries threatened with a new colonialism, are struggling to maintain 
their independence and freedom. This means adopting economic and social 
policies which oppose the domination of the International Monetary Fund, 
the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation.

These are the international organisations by which imperialism attempts to 
re-impose its control and domination.

The new century will see the continuation of struggle, — the overthrow of 
capitalism and the construction of new socialist societies. 

The achievement of this objective demands that the social forces opposed to 
capitalism be continuously strengthened. Together with the working class, 
professionally trained people, small farmers and small business men and 
women have a common interest in opposing the control and domination of the 
big corporations.

It is vital that the Communist Party be also strengthened by better 
organisation, by putting forward practical policies, by applying Marxism 
and by combatting the ideology and misleading arguments of the ruling 
class.

Some of the main policies around which many can be organised into struggle 
include the maintenance and expansion of democratic rights, the expansion 
of public ownership and the independence and sovereignty of Australia and 
other countries, protection of the environment and solidarity. Economic 
policies which improve the living standards of the people must be advanced.

Another main task is to advance the ideas of the internationalism of the 
working class, showing that in all countries the working people have a 
common enemy in the transnational corporations and the conservative 
political parties which represent them.

The Communist Party has an indispensable role to play in all these 
struggles leading to a successful revolutionary transition which commences 
the task of building a socialist society in Australia.

Socialist society calls for the establishment of working class political 
power together with that of the social allies of the working class. It 
means the implementation of policies which give priority to fulfilling the 
needs of the ordinary people rather than the profit interests of today's 
capitalist ruling class.

As well as helping to organise the struggles of the working people, the 
Party has the main responsibility to spread far and wide, knowledge of 
Marxism-Leninism and its enlightening and liberating ideas. At every step, 
the false ideology and arguments of the ruling class have to be combatted 
and exposed.

We confidently look forward to the future convinced that many more 
countries will take the socialist path in the 21st century.