СТАВОВИ ОСНИВАЧА МАРКСИЗМА-ЛЕЊИНИЗМА О ФЕДЕРАЦИЈИ КАО ОБЛИКУ ДРЖАВНОГ УРЕЂЕЊА
THE VIEWS OF THE FOUNDERS OF MARXISM-LENINISM ON THE FEDERATION AS A FORM OF STATE ORDER

Summary/Abstract: In the legal and political literature, there are diverse assessments of the attitude of the founders of Marxism-Leninism toward the federative form of state order. For a long period of time, there prevailed the view that Marx, Engels and Lenin were in principle adverse to federalism. It had been contended that the turning point in this respеct was marked by the October Revolution, and that the first step was made by Lenin in his work „The State and the Revolution”, during the year of 1917. In recent years, however, the situation in this theoretical field has considerably changed. Namely, a number of scientists, especially Soviet, has not only made a critical re-examination of the assertion of the absolutely negative views of Marx and Engels in regard to the federation, but also of the up to that time almost „indisputable” assertion that Lenin rejected any purpose of the establishment of a federation in Russia, until 1917. Bearing in mind the fact that this problem has not only theoretical, but also a much deeper and more versatile significance, the attempt has been made in this essay, to provide answers to the question of how the views of the founders of Marxism-Leninism on the federation should be interpreted, on the basis of their own works — and the question of when and with what purpose Lenin began the resolution of the problems of the establishment of the Russian (Soviet) federation. The analysis of the works of Marx and Engels points to the fact that erroneous and biased had been the assertions that they were adverse to the federation always and in all conditions. Basing their views on the interests of the proleteriat revolution, they were in principle in fаvour of a united, large and centralized state, but in certain historical conditions, they allowed the possibility of formation of federations as well. The views of Lenin in regard to the federation merits a profound analysis. Like Marx and Engels, he had been of the opinion that the form of order or system must be suited to the concrete historical conditions. When conditions in Russia has warranted it. he come out in favour of the federacreating its concept, which has its historical value.

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