The authors make an attempt to explain the current processes from he point of view of formation theory. Examining the possibilities of a post-capitalist society (and in this regard with optimism) they try to explain at least in connection with certain issues why was it necessary – and in contrast to the general public notion how and why did it come organically from East Europe's social conditions – that the foundations of a society denying capitalism were laid down.

The article wishes to contribute to the rehabilitation of Marxism from the charges that it is the ideology of state domination through the presentation of the history of Lassalle's state socialism ideas (and some of his followers') and through the sharp criticism of that notion by Marxism.

The study provides a historical reconstruction of statements and views of Martov, Dan and the official social democratic menshevik party between 1917 and 1922 on the basis of documents found in the archives of the Hoover Institute (Stanford). As it turns out – in theoretical questions – the differences between the bolsheviks and mensheviks are significantly smaller than what has been presented until now by history writing.