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role of ideology in the thinking of the Polish communist leaders.
Consider the case of Gomulka. The communist movement with its doc-
trine was both his school and his profession. His formal education
ended at the age of fourteen, and ever since then, Marxism-Leninism
has provided his only perspective from which to view and eventually
to shape reality. This does not mean that in every instance Gomulka
acts atrictly on the basis of doctrinal precepts. Like Khrushchev,
he has repeatedly shown a keen sense of political realism and elesti-
city. Merxisa-Leninism, however, provided all his conceptual tools
and his sense of commitment. It gave him a broad doctrinal perspec-
tive which dictated the ultimate goal, served as a key to the inter-
pretation of the unfolding course of history, and necessitated as
well as justified certain actions as both inevitable and good. An
ideology which inspires a sense of self-righteousness tied to his-
torical inevitability can exert an enduring attraction, particularly
to the self-educated.
In examining Gomulka's views, one can note several themes
which he has reiterated frequently. and which appear to form the core
of his conceptions. Both in thei1940's (before his fall from power)
and in the second half of the 1950's (after his return to power),
he has asserted that communism can be built only if there is "mono-
lithic unity of the labor class around the Marxist-Leninist movement."
Be has rejected the notion that the working class can build socialism
spontaneously, or that the working class itself can wield power
through such institutions as the workers' councils. He has repeatedly
asserted that in the building of socialism, power must be firmly held
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Library and Museum.
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"ocrText": "36\nrole of ideology in the thinking of the Polish communist leaders.\nConsider the case of Gomulka. The communist movement with its doc-\ntrine was both his school and his profession. His formal education\nended at the age of fourteen, and ever since then, Marxism-Leninism\nhas provided his only perspective from which to view and eventually\nto shape reality. This does not mean that in every instance Gomulka\nacts atrictly on the basis of doctrinal precepts. Like Khrushchev,\nhe has repeatedly shown a keen sense of political realism and elesti-\ncity. Merxisa-Leninism, however, provided all his conceptual tools\nand his sense of commitment. It gave him a broad doctrinal perspec-\ntive which dictated the ultimate goal, served as a key to the inter-\npretation of the unfolding course of history, and necessitated as\nwell as justified certain actions as both inevitable and good. An\nideology which inspires a sense of self-righteousness tied to his-\ntorical inevitability can exert an enduring attraction, particularly\nto the self-educated.\nIn examining Gomulka's views, one can note several themes\nwhich he has reiterated frequently. and which appear to form the core\nof his conceptions. Both in thei1940's (before his fall from power)\nand in the second half of the 1950's (after his return to power),\nhe has asserted that communism can be built only if there is \"mono-\nlithic unity of the labor class around the Marxist-Leninist movement.\"\nBe has rejected the notion that the working class can build socialism\nspontaneously, or that the working class itself can wield power\nthrough such institutions as the workers' councils. He has repeatedly\nasserted that in the building of socialism, power must be firmly held\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Library and Museum."
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