Introduction: Redefining Dictatorship
In popular discourse, ‘dictatorship’ often refers to the oppressive rule of a single leader or a small clique, where power is concentrated in the hands of a few. However, Marxism offers a different interpretation of the term, especially in the context of the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat.’ For Marxists, any state power is essentially a form of dictatorship, and the character of the state depends on the ruling class. The capitalist state is a ‘bourgeois dictatorship,’ dominated by the interests of the bourgeoisie, while the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ refers to a state led by the working class after a revolutionary transformation.
Dictatorship of the Proletariat: A True Democracy
In Marxian thought, the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ is not a contradiction to democracy; it is, in fact, a form of ‘concrete democracy.’ The state, while retaining its apparatus of coercion, exists to ensure the majority (the working class) dominates over the minority (the bourgeoisie). The purpose of this temporary state is to suppress counter-revolutionary forces and dismantle the capitalist system. Thus, Marxist socialism, with its emphasis on collective ownership of production and equal rights to work, health, and education, is seen as more democratic than the capitalist system, which maintains minority rule and exploitation of the majority.
Henri Lefebvre, a Marxist philosopher, elaborates that the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ involves the coercive power of the working class over the capitalist minority. While this does involve domination, it is for a just cause — the liberation of the majority and the establishment of a new social order where exploitation is abolished.
Dictatorship of the Proletariat: A Transitional Stage
It is crucial to understand that the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’ is not meant to last forever. Marx described it as a temporary, transitional phase, drawing a parallel with the Roman office of dictatorship, where a single ruler held power only in times of crisis. The working class, after overthrowing the capitalist system, must initially use state power to suppress old elites and establish a new economic system based on collective ownership. Over time, as society becomes more rational and organized, the state will “wither away,” and true classless harmony will emerge.
Lefebvre emphasizes that during this period, the capitalist state machinery must be dismantled, and new social forces will take over state functions. The state will gradually shift from being an instrument of oppression to serving administrative functions as classes are abolished, and exploitation comes to an end.
The End of Class Division: Achieving a Classless Society
The ultimate goal of the dictatorship of the proletariat is to eliminate class divisions altogether. Marx and Engels believed that the abolition of private property — the root cause of exploitation — would lead to the disappearance of class antagonisms. In this new society, the distinction between ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ would no longer exist. The workers, who were once exploited under capitalism, would now control the means of production and enjoy the fruits of their labor equally.
However, as Lefebvre points out, classes will not disappear overnight. The transformation to a classless society will take time, but the key task of the dictatorship of the proletariat is to gradually bring about this shift and ensure that all individuals are incorporated into the working class, thereby ending exploitation.
Conclusion: The Road to a New Society
In summary, the dictatorship of the proletariat is a critical phase in the Marxist vision of revolution. It is not a permanent state of oppression, but rather a necessary step towards a classless, just society. While the term ‘dictatorship’ may sound undemocratic in popular use, in the Marxist context, it signifies the use of state power by the working class to establish equality, eliminate exploitation, and pave the way for the eventual withering away of the state. This process requires the destruction of the capitalist system and the establishment of a socialist state focused on the collective well-being of all.
By understanding this concept, we can see that the dictatorship of the proletariat is not about authoritarianism but about a concrete form of democracy that seeks to dismantle the old systems of oppression and create a more equitable and rational society.