The ICOR seminar “Lenin’s Teachings Are Alive” took place in Germany from 13 to 15 September and was very successful and forward-looking. 701 participants from 45 countries and 40 organizations came together for it. Member organizations of ICOR, organizations outside ICOR, seasoned revolutionaries and fighters contributed their experiences, ideas and proposals to the seminar. Young people, men and women workers, as from the car and steel industries, academics and artists, students, migrants, women of the militant women’s movement, activists of the peace and environmental movements had gathered for the event.

The seminar was led by the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of ICOR and a collective presidium in a supremely confident, purposeful and democratic way. It was conducted in accordance with the agreed rules with a great readiness for a proletarian culture of debate full of seriousness and respect for each other, with a culture of discussion in solidarity. The international cultural contributions and a rousing international cultural event till the early morning hours brought everybody closer together – joint struggle and celebration belong together!

In the run-up to the seminar, many initiatives already had been taken worldwide to make this seminar the highlight of the Lenin year which ICOR had called for on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Lenin’s death. To kick off the eight thematic blocks, 25 opening statements1 were prepared and delivered. They all bespoke high competence and proletarian spirit. Around 200 oral contributions made for a very lively discussion:

The topic “Lenin and Imperialism” gave rise to an equally controversial and creative discussion about how imperialism has changed 100 years after Lenin’s death. Its essence, however, as dying capitalism and immediate preliminary stage to socialism, has not changed. The struggle against imperialism and fascism, against the global environmental catastrophe, and against the aggravated exploitation of humanity and nature has to be intensified, and it is necessary to fight for the leading role of the working class in these struggles.

“Lenin’s worldview and dialectical materialism” promoted an in-depth debate in criticism of bourgeois ideology, of opportunism, reformism and revisionism, of postmodernist ideas, in contrast to a sometimes prevalent disregard for the ideological debate in the communist movement. Mastering and further developing Lenin’s dialectical method is the way to creatively understand and alter the changing reality.

“Lenin, the question of war and peace and proletarian internationalism” was an exciting forum. What answers do revolutionaries, Marxist-Leninists, all peace-loving people have to the barbarous imperialist wars being waged? “Workers do not shoot at workers” is the proletarian answer to the war in Ukraine! This slogan follows Lenin’s theory and practice: instead of social-chauvinism and “defense of the fatherland”, the only answer is class struggle, the revolutionary overcoming of capitalism and imperialism.

The discussion on “Lenin and the struggle for national liberation” was inspired by the great solidarity with the Palestinian and Kurdish liberation struggles as well as the resistance against the occupation of Cyprus. The participants strove to understand how, in the spirit of Lenin, the national liberation struggle today can be inseparably linked with class struggle across national frontiers and oriented toward socialism.

“Lenin and the youth” was the discussion on how the youth, as the practical vanguard, learn everything that the class struggle requires of them as future fighters for socialism. The lively experiences of the revolutionary young people from the whole world show that the consciousness of the international youth movement is growing. The work in this movement must realize the unity of spontaneity and consciousness. International organizational forms should be created for this movement as for all others. The inspiring revue on Lenin’s life spotlighted this in a cultural way.

“Lenin, pioneer of the liberation of women”: Since its founding, ICOR has committed itself to supporting the worldwide militant women’s movement. In view of the decisive role of women in the struggle for national and social liberation and for socialist construction, the task of winning the masses of women came to the fore in the discussion. The seminar sent brotherly and sisterly greetings to the women workers of the world as well as to the women fighters in the liberation movements.

“Lenin and revolutionary party building”: Lenin’s principles of Marxist-Leninist party building and its bolshevization were confirmed, as was the necessity to draw conclusions from the revisionist betrayal. Many newly founded organizations or organizations in the process of development acknowledged the role of ICOR and confirmed the incentives growing out of the work in ICOR for work in their own country. Numerous mass uprisings and processes of revolutionary ferment are breaking through around the globe. However, they have not yet led to revolutions and to socialism. This shows: building and strengthening Marxist-Leninist parties has become the key issue.

“Lenin and the socialist revolution”: We need another go at socialism. This is only possible with convincing conclusions from the restoration of capitalism in all formerly socialist countries, from the great achievements and successes as well as the shortcomings, failures and mistakes in building up socialism. This requires a readiness for critical and self-critical examination and willingness to learn from one another. The open debate has to be strengthened so that we close ranks more and more within ICOR and with all revolutionary forces in the world.

The seminar was a virtuoso orchestra combining the experience from five continents in the struggle for liberation from capitalist and imperialist exploitation and oppression. The certainty of victory for socialism was the overture and final chord! But our orchestra must be significantly strengthened in revolutionary party building in every country – we want to become stronger than imperialism. ICOR will continue to hold creative debates about the future of humanity and create enthusiasm for socialism.

With 201 brigadists from 12 countries and the active participation of all attendees, the seminar was made a real school of self-organization in the spirit of socialist subbotniks! These were days of socialism, its mode of thinking, working and living – entirely in Lenin’s spirit.

Forward with the international revolutionary and working-class movement!

Forward with ICOR!

Forward to socialism!

15 September 2024

Unanimously adopted with no abstentions in the final full session with some 650 participants