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The Poor Peasants' Committees are necessary to fight the kulaks, the rich, the exploiters, who shackle the working peasants. But between the kulaks, who are a small minority, and the poor or semi-proletarians there is the section of the middle peasants. The Soviet government has never declared or conducted any struggle against them. Any steps or measures to the contrary must be condemned most vigorously and stopped. The socialist government must pursue a policy of agreement with the middle peasants.

Vladimir Lenin#63

PoliticsClassStrategyClass struggleAgricultureAlliance

About this quote

What does it mean?
Lenin says the government should ally with middle peasants rather than fight them, focusing oppression on the kulaks.
In plain terms
Middle peasants should be allies, not enemies.
What can you take from it?
Target only the exploitative minority while keeping broader support.

Where it applies

  • rural policy
  • revolutionary tactics

Putting it to work

  • avoid alienating moderate groups
  • focus repression on elites

Questions to consider

  • How can governments balance repression and coalition‑building?
  • What risks arise from neglecting middle peasants?

Another view

It oversimplifies the diversity within peasant groups.

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  3. Communism is Soviet government plus the electrification of the whole country.

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