ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the logical pushes and ideological pulls, and the resultant tensions of theory and the strains of practice, that have been operative in Soviet philosophy, and specifically in the Marxist-Leninist doctrine of historical materialism, during the past decade. Marxist-Leninist philosophy and ideology are closely interwoven in the Soviet Union. As an ideology Marxism-Leninism contains a set of beliefs and values, derived from the Marxist-Leninist classics and interpreted by Party leaders and ideologists. Marxism-Leninism is a guide to action insofar as it presents the basic values and ends- the chief of which is the building of communism- that are to be fostered. Marxism-Leninism as a body of doctrine has within limits changed over the years and continues to change. In the hands of Stalin the superstructure in some instances took the form of a "motive force" in society- a term reserved in classical Marxism for the economic conditions of society.
