“Reactionaries often describe both Marx and Lenin as theorists, without taking into consideration that their utopias inspired Russia and China – the two countries called upon to lead a new world which will allow for human survival if imperialism does not first unleash a criminal, exterminating war.”
- August 13, 1926 – November 25, 2016
- Cuban
- Revolutionary, Prime Minister and President of Cuba, Communist Leader
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Quote
“Reactionaries often describe both Marx and Lenin as theorists, without taking into consideration that their utopias inspired Russia and China – the two countries called upon to lead a new world which will allow for human survival if imperialism does not first unleash a criminal, exterminating war.”
Explanation
This quote challenges the dismissal of Marx and Lenin as mere theorists, insisting instead on the practical and global consequences of their ideas. Fidel Castro argues that their so-called “utopias” were not abstract fantasies but blueprints that inspired real revolutions in Russia and China. By referencing these two nations, he positions them as historical proof of Marxist relevance, transforming theoretical ideology into world-shaping events. His use of the word “reactionaries” signals a clear opposition to those who seek to undermine or trivialize leftist movements.
Castro also uses the quote to make a geopolitical point: that Russia (the Soviet Union) and China were central to an emerging alternative world order, one rooted in socialism rather than Western imperialism. He presents them as leaders in a struggle for global survival, countering the destructive tendencies of imperialist powers. The phrase “criminal, exterminating war” reflects the Cold War fear of nuclear annihilation, with Castro warning that imperialist aggression could destroy humanity before this new order takes shape.
In a modern context, this quote remains provocative in its critique of Western hegemony and defense of revolutionary socialism. It encourages a reconsideration of how ideology drives historical change and how alternative systems of governance arise not from fantasy but from the material conditions of oppression and hope. It also serves as a stark reminder of how close the world has come to destruction—and how the battle between global ideologies continues to influence international politics and the quest for human survival.
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