Democratic centralism - Revision history

149.88.25.133: Fixed typo “evey” -> “every”

2026-04-28T19:45:50Z

Fixed typo “evey” -> “every”

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	=== Soviet practice ===		=== Soviet practice ===
	Within the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)\|Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]], ~~evey~~ citizen, regardless of race, gender, or nationality, and of voting age, was eligible to vote for a person, recall somebody, or run for a position themselves. The most fundamental unit of these elections would be the soviet (worker council), in which every person from a local soviet could vote for leaders to govern said soviet or even a larger governmental unit. Furthermore, it would be common for the people in that soviet to hold discussions about the candidate, often to assess the candidate's skill for the administraitive post. The soviets themselves would often include a village, factory, or group of factories.		Within the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)\|Union of Soviet Socialist Republics]], every citizen, regardless of race, gender, or nationality, and of voting age, was eligible to vote for a person, recall somebody, or run for a position themselves. The most fundamental unit of these elections would be the soviet (worker council), in which every person from a local soviet could vote for leaders to govern said soviet or even a larger governmental unit. Furthermore, it would be common for the people in that soviet to hold discussions about the candidate, often to assess the candidate's skill for the administraitive post. The soviets themselves would often include a village, factory, or group of factories.

	The soviets would also be able to elect delegates to represent them in the higher organs of the government. Furthermore, it was common for the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union\|communist party]] to ask the soviets about their thoughts and experiences with particular policies.<ref>{{Citation\|author=Pat Sloan\|year=1937\|title=Soviet Democracy\|title-url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36659963-soviet-democracy\|chapter=Electors and Administraitors\|page=170-173\|pdf=https://mltheory.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/pat-sloan-soviet-democracy-victor-gollancz-1937.pdf\|publisher=Victor Gollancz LTD\|trans-lang=English}}</ref>		The soviets would also be able to elect delegates to represent them in the higher organs of the government. Furthermore, it was common for the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union\|communist party]] to ask the soviets about their thoughts and experiences with particular policies.<ref>{{Citation\|author=Pat Sloan\|year=1937\|title=Soviet Democracy\|title-url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36659963-soviet-democracy\|chapter=Electors and Administraitors\|page=170-173\|pdf=https://mltheory.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/pat-sloan-soviet-democracy-victor-gollancz-1937.pdf\|publisher=Victor Gollancz LTD\|trans-lang=English}}</ref>

Kulušbədəs: fixed the link to Soviet Union's 1936 constitution

2026-02-25T12:13:54Z

fixed the link to Soviet Union's 1936 constitution

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	The soviets would also be able to elect delegates to represent them in the higher organs of the government. Furthermore, it was common for the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union\|communist party]] to ask the soviets about their thoughts and experiences with particular policies.<ref>{{Citation\|author=Pat Sloan\|year=1937\|title=Soviet Democracy\|title-url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36659963-soviet-democracy\|chapter=Electors and Administraitors\|page=170-173\|pdf=https://mltheory.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/pat-sloan-soviet-democracy-victor-gollancz-1937.pdf\|publisher=Victor Gollancz LTD\|trans-lang=English}}</ref>		The soviets would also be able to elect delegates to represent them in the higher organs of the government. Furthermore, it was common for the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union\|communist party]] to ask the soviets about their thoughts and experiences with particular policies.<ref>{{Citation\|author=Pat Sloan\|year=1937\|title=Soviet Democracy\|title-url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36659963-soviet-democracy\|chapter=Electors and Administraitors\|page=170-173\|pdf=https://mltheory.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/pat-sloan-soviet-democracy-victor-gollancz-1937.pdf\|publisher=Victor Gollancz LTD\|trans-lang=English}}</ref>

	Such democratic procedures where further reinforced by the constitution of the USSR. For example, in the [[Soviet Constitution of 1936]], it states in chapter 11:<blockquote>Article 134'''.''' Member s of all Soviets of Working People's Deputies - of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics, the Soviets of Working People's Deputies of the Territories and Regions, the Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republics, the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies of Autonomous Regions, area, district, city and rural (stanitsa, village, hamlet, kishlak, aul) Soviets of Working People's Deputies - are chosen by the electors on the basis of universal, direct and equal suffrage by secret ballot.<ref>{{Citation\|year=1936\|title=Constitution (Fundamental law) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics\|title-url=https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1936/12/05.htm\|chapter=11\|city=Moscow}}</ref></blockquote>		Such democratic procedures where further reinforced by the constitution of the USSR. For example, in the [[Library:Constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1936)\|Soviet Constitution of 1936]], it states in chapter 11:<blockquote>Article 134'''.''' Member s of all Soviets of Working People's Deputies - of the Supreme Soviet of the U.S.S.R., the Supreme Soviets of the Union Republics, the Soviets of Working People's Deputies of the Territories and Regions, the Supreme Soviets of the Autonomous Republics, the Soviets of Working People’s Deputies of Autonomous Regions, area, district, city and rural (stanitsa, village, hamlet, kishlak, aul) Soviets of Working People's Deputies - are chosen by the electors on the basis of universal, direct and equal suffrage by secret ballot.<ref>{{Citation\|year=1936\|title=Constitution (Fundamental law) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics\|title-url=https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1936/12/05.htm\|chapter=11\|city=Moscow}}</ref></blockquote>

	=== People's Republic of China ===		=== People's Republic of China ===

75.210.123.80: Altered citation -C:

2025-11-15T19:53:57Z

Altered citation -C:

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	{{Marxism–Leninism sidebar}}		{{Marxism–Leninism sidebar}}
	'''Democratic centralism''' is a practice in which political decisions reached by voting processes are binding upon all members of the [[political party]]. Although mainly associated with [[Marxism-Leninism\|Marxism–Leninism]],<ref name="freedomunity">{{Citation\|author=Lenin, Vladimir\|year=1906\|title=~~The~~ Congress ~~Summed Up~~\|title-url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/index.htm\|~~series~~=~~Report on the Unity~~ Congress ~~of the R~~.S.~~D.L.P~~.\|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/~~viii~~.htm\|volume=~~VIII~~\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref> democratic centralism has also been practiced by [[Social Democracy\|social democratic]] parties.<ref>{{Citation\|author=Lih, Lars\|year=2005\|title=Lenin Rediscovered: What Is to Be Done? in Context\|publisher=Brill Academic Publishers\|isbn=978-90-04-13120-0}}</ref><ref>{{News citation\|author=Sunkara, Bhaskar\|date=2020-01-15\|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2020/01/social-democracy-democratic-socialism-capital-unions-strategy\|title=The Long Shot of Democratic Socialism Is Our Only Shot\|newspaper=Jacobin\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref>		'''Democratic centralism''' is a practice in which political decisions reached by voting processes are binding upon all members of the [[political party]]. Although mainly associated with [[Marxism-Leninism\|Marxism–Leninism]],<ref name="freedomunity">{{Citation\|author=Lenin, Vladimir\|year=1906\|title=Report on the Unity Congress of the R.S.D.L.P.\|title-url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/index.htm\|chapter=The Congress Summed Up\|chapter-url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/viii.htm#v10pp65-376\|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/index.htm\|series=\|volume=\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref> democratic centralism has also been practiced by [[Social Democracy\|social democratic]] parties.<ref>{{Citation\|author=Lih, Lars\|year=2005\|title=Lenin Rediscovered: What Is to Be Done? in Context\|publisher=Brill Academic Publishers\|isbn=978-90-04-13120-0}}</ref><ref>{{News citation\|author=Sunkara, Bhaskar\|date=2020-01-15\|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2020/01/social-democracy-democratic-socialism-capital-unions-strategy\|title=The Long Shot of Democratic Socialism Is Our Only Shot\|newspaper=Jacobin\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref>

	== In practice ==		== In practice ==

Literallywho Ingodsname at 19:12, 29 October 2023

2023-10-29T19:12:39Z

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	In ''On Party Unity'', Lenin argued that democratic centralism prevents factionalism. He argued that factionalism leads to less friendly relations among members and that it can be exploited by enemies of the party.		In ''On Party Unity'', Lenin argued that democratic centralism prevents factionalism. He argued that factionalism leads to less friendly relations among members and that it can be exploited by enemies of the party.

	By the [[~~History~~ of ~~the~~ Soviet ~~Union~~ (~~1964–82~~)\|Brezhnev period]], democratic centralism was described in the [[Constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1977)\|1977 Soviet Constitution]] as a principle for organizing the state: "The Soviet state is organized and functions on the principle of democratic centralism, namely the electiveness of all bodies of state authority from the lowest to the highest, their accountability to the people, and the obligation of lower bodies to observe the decisions of higher ones". Democratic centralism combines central leadership with local initiative and creative activity and with the responsibility of each state body and official for the work entrusted to them.		By the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)#Brezhnev period\|Brezhnev period]], democratic centralism was described in the [[Constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1977)\|1977 Soviet Constitution]] as a principle for organizing the state: "The Soviet state is organized and functions on the principle of democratic centralism, namely the electiveness of all bodies of state authority from the lowest to the highest, their accountability to the people, and the obligation of lower bodies to observe the decisions of higher ones". Democratic centralism combines central leadership with local initiative and creative activity and with the responsibility of each state body and official for the work entrusted to them.

	== See also ==		== See also ==

TDM at 22:36, 3 October 2023

2023-10-03T22:36:45Z

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	{{Marxism–Leninism sidebar}}		{{Marxism–Leninism sidebar}}
	'''Democratic centralism''' is a practice in which political decisions reached by voting processes are binding upon all members of the [[political party]]. Although mainly associated with [[Marxism-Leninism\|~~Marxism-leninism~~]],<ref name="freedomunity">{{Citation\|author=Lenin, Vladimir\|year=1906\|title=The Congress Summed Up\|title-url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/index.htm\|series=Report on the Unity Congress of the R.S.D.L.P.\|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/viii.htm\|volume=VIII\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref> democratic centralism has also been practiced by [[Social Democracy\|social democratic]] parties.<ref>{{Citation\|author=Lih, Lars\|year=2005\|title=Lenin Rediscovered: What Is to Be Done? in Context\|publisher=Brill Academic Publishers\|isbn=978-90-04-13120-0}}</ref><ref>{{News citation\|author=Sunkara, Bhaskar\|date=2020-01-15\|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2020/01/social-democracy-democratic-socialism-capital-unions-strategy\|title=The Long Shot of Democratic Socialism Is Our Only Shot\|newspaper=Jacobin\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref>		'''Democratic centralism''' is a practice in which political decisions reached by voting processes are binding upon all members of the [[political party]]. Although mainly associated with [[Marxism-Leninism\|Marxism–Leninism]],<ref name="freedomunity">{{Citation\|author=Lenin, Vladimir\|year=1906\|title=The Congress Summed Up\|title-url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/index.htm\|series=Report on the Unity Congress of the R.S.D.L.P.\|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/viii.htm\|volume=VIII\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref> democratic centralism has also been practiced by [[Social Democracy\|social democratic]] parties.<ref>{{Citation\|author=Lih, Lars\|year=2005\|title=Lenin Rediscovered: What Is to Be Done? in Context\|publisher=Brill Academic Publishers\|isbn=978-90-04-13120-0}}</ref><ref>{{News citation\|author=Sunkara, Bhaskar\|date=2020-01-15\|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2020/01/social-democracy-democratic-socialism-capital-unions-strategy\|title=The Long Shot of Democratic Socialism Is Our Only Shot\|newspaper=Jacobin\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref>

	== In practice ==		== In practice ==

CriticalResist: clarified in practice section, reordered article a bit

2023-10-03T19:22:21Z

clarified in practice section, reordered article a bit

Show changes

TDM: /* Arguments for */

2023-08-07T19:55:40Z

Arguments for

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	In ''On Party Unity'', Lenin argued that democratic centralism prevents factionalism. He argued that factionalism leads to less friendly relations among members and that it can be exploited by enemies of the party.		In ''On Party Unity'', Lenin argued that democratic centralism prevents factionalism. He argued that factionalism leads to less friendly relations among members and that it can be exploited by enemies of the party.

	By the [[History of the Soviet Union (1964–82)\|Brezhnev period]], democratic centralism was described in the [[Constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1977)\|1977 ~~soviet constitution~~]] as a principle for organizing the state: "The Soviet state is organized and functions on the principle of democratic centralism, namely the electiveness of all bodies of state authority from the lowest to the highest, their accountability to the people, and the obligation of lower bodies to observe the decisions of higher ones". Democratic centralism combines central leadership with local initiative and creative activity and with the responsibility of each state body and official for the work entrusted to them.		By the [[History of the Soviet Union (1964–82)\|Brezhnev period]], democratic centralism was described in the [[Constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1977)\|1977 Soviet Constitution]] as a principle for organizing the state: "The Soviet state is organized and functions on the principle of democratic centralism, namely the electiveness of all bodies of state authority from the lowest to the highest, their accountability to the people, and the obligation of lower bodies to observe the decisions of higher ones". Democratic centralism combines central leadership with local initiative and creative activity and with the responsibility of each state body and official for the work entrusted to them.

	== Soviet practice ==		== Soviet practice ==

TDM: /* Vladimir Lenin's conception and practice */ fixed

2023-08-07T19:55:21Z

Vladimir Lenin's conception and practice: fixed

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	# That all decisions of higher bodies shall be absolutely binding on lower bodies and on all Party members.<ref>{{Citation\|title=History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks)\|year=1939\|city=New York City\|publisher=International Publishers\|page=198}}</ref>		# That all decisions of higher bodies shall be absolutely binding on lower bodies and on all Party members.<ref>{{Citation\|title=History of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (Bolsheviks)\|year=1939\|city=New York City\|publisher=International Publishers\|page=198}}</ref>

	After the successful consolidation of power by the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union\|Communist Party]]~~<nowiki/>~~following the [[October Revolution]] and the [[Russian Civil War]], the Bolshevik leadership, including Lenin, instituted a [[Ban on factions in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union\|ban on factions in the party]] as Resolution No. 12 of the [[10th Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)\|10th Party Congress]] in 1921. It was passed in the morning session on 16 March 1921.<ref>{{Citation\|title=Protokoly\|year=1933}} ed. 585–7; 1963 ed. 571–573.</ref> Trotskyists sometimes claim that this ban was intended to be temporary, but there is no language in the discussion at the 10th Party Congress suggesting such.<ref>{{Citation\|title=Protokoly\|year=1933}} ed. 523–548.</ref>		After the successful consolidation of power by the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union\|Communist Party]] following the [[October Revolution]] and the [[Russian Civil War]], the Bolshevik leadership, including Lenin, instituted a [[Ban on factions in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union\|ban on factions in the party]] as Resolution No. 12 of the [[10th Congress of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks)\|10th Party Congress]] in 1921. It was passed in the morning session on 16 March 1921.<ref>{{Citation\|title=Protokoly\|year=1933}} ed. 585–7; 1963 ed. 571–573.</ref> Trotskyists sometimes claim that this ban was intended to be temporary, but there is no language in the discussion at the 10th Party Congress suggesting such.<ref>{{Citation\|title=Protokoly\|year=1933}} ed. 523–548.</ref>

	The [[Group of Democratic Centralism]] was a group in the Soviet Communist Party who advocated different concepts of party democracy.		The [[Group of Democratic Centralism]] was a group in the Soviet Communist Party who advocated different concepts of party democracy.

Rangerjs1: /* Vladimir Lenin's conception and practice */ typo and phrasing

2023-07-19T17:18:47Z

Vladimir Lenin's conception and practice: typo and phrasing

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	== Vladimir Lenin's conception and practice ==		== Vladimir Lenin's conception and practice ==
	The text ''[[Library:What is to be done?\|What Is to Be Done?]]'' from 1902 is popularly seen as the founding ~~text~~ of democratic centralism. At this time, democratic centralism was generally viewed as a set of principles for the organizing of a revolutionary workers' party. However, [[Vladimir Lenin]]'s model for such a party, which he repeatedly discussed as being "democratic centralist", was the German [[Social Democratic Party of Germany\|Social Democratic Party]], inspired by remarks made by the social democrat [[Jean Baptista von Schweitzer]]. Lenin described democratic centralism as consisting of "freedom of discussion, unity of action".<ref name="freedomunity" />		The text ''[[Library:What is to be done?\|What Is to Be Done?]]'' from 1902 is popularly seen as the founding work of democratic centralism. At this time, democratic centralism was generally viewed as a set of principles for the organizing of a revolutionary workers' party. However, [[Vladimir Lenin]]'s model for such a party, which he repeatedly discussed as being "democratic centralist", was the German [[Social Democratic Party of Germany\|Social Democratic Party]], inspired by remarks made by the social democrat [[Jean Baptista von Schweitzer]]. Lenin described democratic centralism as consisting of "freedom of discussion, unity of action".<ref name="freedomunity" />

	The doctrine of democratic centralism served as one of the sources of the split between the [[Bolsheviks]] and the [[Mensheviks]]. The Mensheviks supported a looser party discipline within the [[Russian Social Democratic Labour Party]] in 1903 as did [[Leon Trotsky]], in ''[[Our Political Tasks]]'',<ref>{{Citation\|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1904/tasks/index.htm\|title=Our Political Tasks\|author=Leon Trotsky\|year=1904}}</ref> although Trotsky joined ranks with the Bolsheviks in 1917.		The doctrine of democratic centralism served as one of the sources of the split between the [[Bolsheviks]] and the [[Mensheviks]]. The Mensheviks supported a looser party discipline within the [[Russian Social Democratic Labour Party]] in 1903 as did [[Leon Trotsky]], in ''[[Our Political Tasks]]'',<ref>{{Citation\|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1904/tasks/index.htm\|title=Our Political Tasks\|author=Leon Trotsky\|year=1904}}</ref> although Trotsky joined ranks with the Bolsheviks in 1917.

CriticalResist at 10:31, 28 September 2022

2022-09-28T10:31:27Z

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	{{Marxism–Leninism sidebar}}		{{Marxism–Leninism sidebar}}
	'''Democratic centralism''' is a practice in which political decisions reached by voting processes are binding upon all members of the [[political party]]. Although mainly associated with [[Leninism]], wherein the party's [[political vanguard]] composed of professional revolutionaries practiced democratic centralism to elect leaders and officers as well as to determine policy through free discussion, then decisively realized through united action,<ref name="freedomunity">{{Citation\|author=Lenin, Vladimir\|year=1906\|title=The Congress Summed Up\|title-url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/index.htm\|series=Report on the Unity Congress of the R.S.D.L.P.\|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/viii.htm\|volume=VIII\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref> democratic centralism has also been practiced by [[Social Democracy\|social democratic]] parties.<ref>{{Citation\|author=Lih, Lars\|year=2005\|title=Lenin Rediscovered: What Is to Be Done? in Context\|publisher=Brill Academic Publishers\|isbn=978-90-04-13120-0}}</ref><ref>{{News citation\|author=Sunkara, Bhaskar\|date=2020-01-15\|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2020/01/social-democracy-democratic-socialism-capital-unions-strategy\|title=The Long Shot of Democratic Socialism Is Our Only Shot\|newspaper=Jacobin\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref>		'''Democratic centralism''' is a practice in which political decisions reached by voting processes are binding upon all members of the [[political party]]. Although mainly associated with [[Leninism]], wherein the party's [[Vanguard party\|political vanguard]] composed of professional revolutionaries practiced democratic centralism to elect leaders and officers as well as to determine policy through free discussion, then decisively realized through united action,<ref name="freedomunity">{{Citation\|author=Lenin, Vladimir\|year=1906\|title=The Congress Summed Up\|title-url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/index.htm\|series=Report on the Unity Congress of the R.S.D.L.P.\|mia=https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/rucong/viii.htm\|volume=VIII\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref> democratic centralism has also been practiced by [[Social Democracy\|social democratic]] parties.<ref>{{Citation\|author=Lih, Lars\|year=2005\|title=Lenin Rediscovered: What Is to Be Done? in Context\|publisher=Brill Academic Publishers\|isbn=978-90-04-13120-0}}</ref><ref>{{News citation\|author=Sunkara, Bhaskar\|date=2020-01-15\|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2020/01/social-democracy-democratic-socialism-capital-unions-strategy\|title=The Long Shot of Democratic Socialism Is Our Only Shot\|newspaper=Jacobin\|retrieved=2020-02-14}}</ref>

	== In practice ==		== In practice ==