What is the ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’?

By TJ Combs

Q: What does “dictatorship of the proletariat” mean?

A: The dictatorship of the proletariat, as mentioned by Marx in Chapter 4 of his Critique of the Gotha Program, is socialism. It is the period of transition between capitalism and communism during which workers seize and wield state power.

Q: Isn’t ‘dictatorship’ scary? Why should communists support a dictatorship?

A: ‘Dictatorship’ in this context just means the rule of one class over another. Currently we live under the dictatorship of a bourgeoisie (the rich) ruling through capitalism, imperialism, and several kinds of colonialism (settler-colonialism, neocolonialism, colonialism). The dictatorship of the proletariat is simply the rule of the workers over the bourgeoisie.

Q: Why is a dictatorship of the proletariat necessary?

A: The dictatorship of the proletariat is necessary because the bourgeoisie doesn’t just dissipate during the revolution. It remains, fights back, and attempts to restore the capitalist…