q q q i i TRIBUNE FEATURE SUPPLEMENT Democratization of society By GENNADY PISAREVSKY APN Political Observer The Communist Party’s course for reform is a full restoration of the Len- inist concept of socialism. The main thing, I feel, is to abolish dogmatism, to do away with false shrines and idols, and to dismantle the Stalinist model of socialism in which the individual was merely a cog in the State machine -- to be lubricated, so to speak, by. a bit of social grease. Stalin even drank a toast to the ‘‘Cog-man’’. The historical sin of Stalin’s succes- sors was that they adhered to this highly primitive view of the individ- ual. My conclusion is that the Stalinist model of socialism should have been dismantled not with emotion but with cost accounting, the market, democ- racy, and a dynamic growth in the people’s well-being. All our failures derive from dogma- tism. The dogmatists have caricatur- ized Marxism and -- saluting its es- sence, dialectics,-- have succeeded in putting the principle higher than the fact, and the scheme higher than real life. - The report is calm, objective and profound. For the first time in 50-odd years Nikolai Bukharin, the revolu- tionary, Marxist theorist and political figure, is spoken well of, but with ob- jective criticism. The Stalin crimes are sternly condemned. But this major figure in Soviet and world history is given credit for routing Trotskyism and organizing the victory over fas- cism. The time will come, and soon, when $4 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JUNE 3, 1987 historians will study the common ele- ments in two personal enemies -- Stalin and Trotsky. This is a paradox so well -- loved by dialectics. While denying the theory of “‘permanent world revo- lution’’ Stalin, in his domestic policies, chiefly employed Trotskyite methods of terror, hatred for the peasantry, brazen administrative regimentation and the vivisection of democracy. The historical method of Gorbachev’s report lies in its objective, unbiased assessment both of our un- questionable achievements and our mistakes and miscalculations. The point is made that cruelty is alien to socialism, that it has no justification, nor can it ever have any. Our history has seen it all -- the banner raised over the Reichstag by Zhukov’s soldiers, the tragedy of the peasants, Gagarin’s flight into space, the utopianism of Khrushchev, the at- tainment of military parity with the U.S., the Brezhnev preoccupation with awards. There is one conclusion to be drawn This Special Supplement to the Canadian Tribune was produced and inserted by the the USSR Embassy Press Office, Ottawa, Ontario. is the soul of restructuring -- neither the individual nor society can live without democracy, openness, and a sense of conscience. The democratization of society is the soul of the restructuring campaign. The success of reform and the whole future of socialism for that matter hinge on how the effort for a broader democ- Mikhal] GORBACHEV On the Tasks of the Party in the Radical Restructuring | of Economic Management Available at no charge! St., Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6L2. Foremost Know Itself Name New from the USSR Check the title you want. Fill in your name and address, and send this whole coupon to the Soviet Embassy Press Office, Suite 1108,400 Stewart 0 Mikhail Gorbachev -- The Speech in Murmansk O) Mikhail Gorbachev -- On the Tasks of the Party in the Radical Restructuring of Economic Management © Nikolai Vasetsky -- Misinterpretations of the Historical Experience of the October Socialist Revolution (© Mikhail Nenashev -- Books Promote an Understanding of the Restructuring Process O Alexander Yakovlev -- Modern Socialism Must First and racy progresses. This is the most solid guarantee of transformation in politics and the economy, and of preventing backtracking. The changes taking place in our country today are definitely the biggest step toward developing socialist democracy since the October Revolution. Address City Province Postal Code bs | I fl ! | f [ l l i ! [ j ! j [ ! ! i f f ; [ ' ; [ L a