186
PARTISAN REVIEJf'
But the new assumption is not in the least more justified than
the other. We have in history numerous examples of exploiting or
class societies, and non-democratic societies, where there have not
been private property rights in the instruments of production.
Control over (that is, property rights in) the instruments of pro–
duction has been vested in a corporate body (for example, the
body of priests or ancients), not in individuals as such. Nor are
the examples confined to ancient or primitive history. Present-day
Russia shows plainly, to anyone who wants to see, that there is no
necessary connection between private property rights and exploita–
tion or class division. The Russian events
prove
that the elimina–
tion of private property rights in the instruments of production is
not a guarantee, a sufficient condition, of socialism, since in Russia
these rights are eliminated and there is not socialism-that is, a
society which is economically classless and politically democratic.
With these two question-begging assumptions dropped, the
case for the hypothesis that socialism is coming is extremely weak,
almost non-existent. The fact that many of us would
like
it to
come, think it the best possible form of society, consider it the only
"rational solution" to the major social problems and conflicts, does
not, as we know from historical experience, have any particular
weight as evidence that it
will
come. It is not at all true that social–
ism and socialists have "never ·had a chance." On the contrary,
socialism, and all branches of the movements professing socialist
society as an ideal and aim have had many chances. And all of
these chances have resulted in either betrayal or failure, usually
both. Each branch of the movement will admit this of all other
branches; together their admissions cover the lot.
The Leninist wing has taken state power by revolutionary
means and held it (Russia), but has not built socialism or toward
socialism; and it has taken state power and lost it (Hungary), not
to speak of failing to take it when it might have done so (Germany,
China, Spain). The reformist wing has often been in charge of
the government (Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Austria,
France, England, New Zealand) but socialism has not appeared
or even been approached. The anarchists have had their chances
in Spain.
During the past generation, the working class, which must
be presumed to be the main social force active in any possible
