Russian Communism is the illegitimate child of Karl Marx and Catherine the Great.

Clement Attlee’s quote critiques the origins of Russian Communism by comparing it to an illegitimate child, born from the ideological ideas of Karl Marx and the autocratic rule of Catherine the Great. Attlee suggests that Russian Communism is an unusual fusion of Marxist theory, which advocates for a classless society and the abolition of private property, and the authoritarian practices of Catherine, a Russian empress who consolidated power and ruled autocratically. This juxtaposition implies that Russian Communism was not a pure application of Marxist ideals, but rather an imperfect and contradictory blend of socialist theory and authoritarian control.

The origin of the quote comes from Clement Attlee, the British Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951, known for his role in establishing the welfare state in the UK. Attlee was a keen observer of global politics, particularly in relation to the rise of Soviet Communism under Joseph Stalin. In this quote, Attlee critiques the contradiction he saw in the Soviet regime, which, while theoretically based on Marxist principles, became an authoritarian state under Stalin, who mirrored the power structures of past monarchs like Catherine.

Attlee’s comment highlights the contradictions within the Soviet regime. Marx envisioned a world of equality and workers' power, but in Russia, the Communist Party became a new ruling elite, and the government exhibited many of the same oppressive qualities of the monarchies it sought to overthrow. By referencing Catherine the Great, Attlee emphasizes how Russian Communism developed in a context where autocratic power remained central, despite the revolution's promises of liberty and equality.

In a broader sense, the quote serves as a critique of the implementation of Marxist ideas in Russia and other authoritarian regimes. It suggests that the practical application of ideology often diverges from its theoretical foundations, especially when the power structures needed to enforce the ideology remain centralized and undemocratic. Attlee’s words reflect the complexities of political change and the dangers of revolutionary ideals becoming compromised in the pursuit of power.