Part 3: Leninism and Organization
Revolution does not happen by accident. Lenin showed that to win, the working class needs organization, strategy, and disciplined leadership rooted in everyday struggle.
In Part 3 we explore the framework communists use to build power: the role of a revolutionary party, democratic centralism, and the link between mass movements and socialist strategy. These readings carry lessons from the Bolshevik Revolution into our organizing today.
Study these texts with your club and measure them against real tasks across Missouri and Kansas. How do we recruit, educate, and lead while staying rooted in the working class?
Key Questions to Discuss
- Why did Lenin insist on a disciplined, nationwide party?
- What does democratic centralism mean in practice for today's organizers?
- How do we balance flexible tactics with unity in action?
What Is to Be Done? (V. I. Lenin)
Lenin argues that unplanned protests must be united with revolutionary theory. He outlines the need for a professional, disciplined party that can turn unrest into strategy.
- Study Chapters II and III to understand the fight against narrow economic demands.
- Brainstorm modern versions of the party press and agitation work.
Lenin reminds us that workers need a common plan and a shared message, or the bosses will divide every fight.
Read PDFThe State and Revolution (V. I. Lenin)
Lenin explains why the working class must dismantle the capitalist state and build new organs of people's power. Use it to connect immediate democratic struggles to the fight for socialism.
- Review Lenin's summary of Marx and Engels on the Paris Commune.
- Discuss what a workers' state would prioritize across Missouri and Kansas now.
A workers' state means government run by workers and allies, where the needs of the many come first.
Read PDFLeft-Wing Communism: An Infantile Disorder (V. I. Lenin)
Lenin warns against isolating ourselves from the masses. He explains how communists enter unions, elections, and broad coalitions without losing revolutionary politics.
- Identify the tactics Lenin defends and how they apply to labor, tenant, and anti-racist work today.
- Plan how your club can unite principle and flexibility.
The lesson: stay with the people, meet them where they are, and move the struggle forward together.
Read PDFBasic Principles of Party Organization (CPUSA)
This 1935 CPUSA manual distills democratic centralism into concrete guidelines: member responsibilities, leadership accountability, and how branches function.
- Use the manual to evaluate your club's structure, education, and recruitment plans.
- Outline steps to strengthen collective leadership and discipline.
Democratic centralism means we discuss openly, decide together, and then carry out the decision as one team.
MP3 · approx. 31 MB
Bring these lessons into action. Contact CPUSA to ask about verified political education or organization in your area.