V. For a Socialist/Communist Society
(15) In the next stage of Japan's social development, the task is to overcome capitalism and carry out socialist transformation and advance to a socialist/communist society. In the hitherto seen world, there has been no real socialist transformation taking place on the basis of the advanced economic and social achievements of the capitalist era. Working in a developed capitalist country to advance toward socialism/communism is a new historic task in the 21st century.
The key element of socialist transformation is socialization of the means of production, which transfers possession, control and management of the main means of production to society. Socialization only concerns the means of production; as far as the means of living is concerned, the right to private property will be protected throughout all stages of social development.
Socialization of the means of production will pave the way for the abolition of exploitation of man by man, improvement of living conditions for all people, eradication of poverty from society, and realization of shorter working hours, thus securing the human development of all members of society.
Socialization of the means of production will take the driving force for production and the economy away from capitalists' quest for profits and redirect it into the development of society and of the material and spiritual life of members of society, thus making it possible to use planned management of the economy to stave off the repeated economic recession and effectively regulatefurther environmental destruction, the widening social gap, and other problems.
Socialization of the means of production will release the economy from the narrow framework of profit-first approaches and create conditions for a new rapid development of material productive power that supports human society.
A socialist/communist Japan will inherit and further develop all valuable gains of the capitalist era, including those of democracy and freedom. The "freedom of exploitation" will be restricted, and its abolition will be sought in the course of reforms to be carried out. Abolition of exploitation will pave the way for a society in which humankind becomes the key players of society in the true sense of the word. The idea that "the people are sovereign" will become a social reality in all fields, politics, the economy, culture, and society.
The freedom of various ideologies and beliefs as well as political activities, including those by opposition parties, will be rigorously protected. Giving muh privileges to a particular political party as the "leadership" party in the name of "socialism" or defining a particular outlook on the world as "state-designated philosophy" is an act that has nothing in common with socialism and therefore must be categorically rejected.
When a socialist/communist society achieves a higher degree of development and when the majority of its population is made up of generations who are alien to exploitation and oppression, real prospects will be developed for advancing to a society in principle free of all forms of coercion in which state power is unnecessary and an association of equal and free human relationships without exploitation of man by man and free of oppression and war.
This is how humanity will achieve conditions for humane existence and living conditions in the true sense of the word, and take steps toward a new stage of development of human history.
