What Is To Be Done? Burning Questions of Our Movement — V. I. Lenin (1902)

In this influential work, Lenin argues that a successful socialist revolution requires disciplined organization, professional revolutionaries, political education, and a nationwide party capable of leading the working class beyond economic struggles toward revolutionary political action against the existing state.

1. Socialist consciousness must be developed through revolutionary leadership.

2. The movement must fight the entire political system, not just employers.

3. Trade-union struggles alone cannot achieve socialism.

4. A disciplined revolutionary party is essential for success.

5. Political education is necessary to build class consciousness.

6. A nationwide newspaper can unite and organize the movement.

7. Revolutionary socialism requires clear theory and opposition to opportunism.

8. Only a centralized party can successfully lead a revolution.

🧠 Conclusion:

Lenin challenges the assumption that socialism will emerge naturally from workers’ economic struggles. Instead, he argues that a successful revolution requires revolutionary theory, disciplined leadership, political education, and a centralized party to guide the working class. According to Lenin, only an organized revolutionary movement not spontaneous activism alone can overthrow the existing political system and establish socialism.