Marxism-Leninism (orthodox communism)

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’