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Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1874-1924)
Leader of Russia’s Bolshevik party prior to the Russian Revolution of 1917
Difference to Marx’s beliefs
Disputed the idea Revolution could only happen in a society where capitalism and the proletariat are well developed
he deemed this unacceptable as they would have to endure many more decades of oppressive rule, plus all the horrors of a developing capitalist society
Key work
What Is to be Done? (1902)
Early revolution
Revolution in the early stages of capitalism would prevent ‘the masses’ from developing sympathy for capitalist values
Revolutionary Elite’s/Vanguards four tasks
1-plot and plan overthrow of existing regime (the tsar)
2-incite and organise revolution
3-educating the masses into the virtues of socialism
4-once old regime is destroyed the vanguard would form the new and only party the communist party
Democratic centralism
-one party
-only open discussion within that one party
-Lenin argued decisions would embody the will of the people
-any further debate is therefore unnecessary or even disrespectful to the revolution
The USSR
continued down the totalitarian road with 30 years of Joseph Stalin’s brutal rule ‘collectivising’ agriculture
instituting a Five Year Plan for industrial development and murdering/relocating a whole peasant class
Permanent revolution
Stalin rejected the ideas that socialism was a revolution which is ongoing and should encourage similar revolutions in neighbouring countries
Stalin Believed in ‘socialism in one country’ where the SU would isolate itself from the outside world and promote a form of ‘social nationalism’
