Marxism–Leninism

Depiction of the classical theorists of Marxism–Leninism — Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin.

Marxism–Leninism (ML) is a communist ideology which advances the classical Marxism of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to a new stage of development in the era of imperialism and socialist revolution. Marxism–Leninism was developed in the early 20th century by Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and the Bolshevik Party in the context of fierce opportunism from the Second International which split the socialist movement between revolutionary and reformist elements.

Marxism–Leninism is among the most widespread communist ideologies and has served as the basis behind revolutionary movements since the early 20th century, being the line of the Communist International, Communist Party of the Soviet Union, and other ruling communist parties worldwide.

Development

Marxism–Leninism was developed from Bolshevism, a tendency named after the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party which was formulated by Vladimir Lenin. Ideas of the Bolsheviks included the formation of a strong vanguard party, dictatorship of the proletariat, and aggravation of class struggle under socialism. The tactics of Bolshevism were tested during three revolutions in 1905, early 1917, and late 1917. Through this, the world's arguably first socialist state was formed, the Russian Soviet Republic (eventually becoming the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1922).

Leninism as a distinct and higher stage of Marxism was defined by Joseph Stalin in his 1924 work Foundations of Leninism.

Theory

Democratic centralism

Main article: Democratic centralism

A Marxist–Leninist party is organized according to democratic centralism. This means that first the party democratically decides something, and then all members are required to follow that decision and not work against it. If members still disagree with the decision, they are expected to request to discuss the issue again, not to form a faction or another party.

Vanguard party

Main article: Vanguard party

The vanguard party is a concept mostly attributed to Lenin, and synthesized from his different writings. It was effectively used by the Bolsheviks, themselves firstly a wing of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party, during and after the October Revolution. This is a communist party which is functioning as the leadership of a social class or class-based political movement, and implicitly at least, a revolutionary class or political movement. This is usually in specific reference to a proletarian revolutionary party, such as the Bolsheviks in revolutionary Russia and the early Soviet Union.

Intensification of class struggle under socialism

Lenin and Stalin developed the concept that even after the proletarian revolution, bourgeois and other reactionary elements in society will not only continue to resist the construction of socialism, but increase their militancy many times over, aggravating class struggle.

Socialist commodity production

Marxist–Leninist theory holds that the nature of commodity production is not strictly or ultimately a capitalist one, and that commodity production may still exist in the lower stage of socialism. In Economic Problems of Socialism in the USSR, Stalin stated that commodity production still existed in the Soviet Union but was distinct from commodity production under capitalism insofar as the other fundamental features of capitalist relations which would influence it were abolished, and commodity production itself long predated the capitalist mode of production.

Analysis of imperialism

Stalin maintained that Marxism–Leninism was the next stage in the development of Marxism, expanding theory for the era of imperialism and proletarian revolution. The Marxist–Leninist understanding of imperialism is based on Lenin's analysis of the imperialist system as articulated in works such as Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism. The Leninist conception of imperialism identifies several major features of imperialism, including the exportation of capital as opposed to the mere export of commodities and the merging of banking and industrial capital.

National question

The distinct definition for a nationality was developed by Stalin. He defined a nationality as a historically constituted, stable community of people, formed on the basis of a common language, territory, economic life, psychological makeup, and culture. Marxism–Leninism also established the concept of national self-determination and liberation.

Socialism in one country

Main article: Socialism in one country

Socialism in one country was codified by the Soviet government under Joseph Stalin. This theory holds the socialism is able to be built in a single country or limited expanse of countries even if they are underdeveloped economically. After constructing socialism, the revolutionary country would be able to contend with the imperialist and capitalist states and assist revolutionary movements abroad. This theory is in direct conflict with the conception adopted by Trotskyists and left communists, who hold that a socialist revolution must take place simultaneously in multiple industrialized countries.

Lower and higher phases of socialism

Marxism–Leninism separates socialism into two distinct phases or stages of development. The first being the lower stage of socialism, which emerges immediately after the socialist revolution and still bears certain features of the capitalist mode of production, such as commodity production, albeit in a different form. The second stage being the higher stage of socialism, also known as communism.

Criticism

Main article: Criticism of Marxism–Leninism

Marxism–Leninism has been criticized by many on the left, with one of the most common criticisms (especially among libertarian socialists) being that the Soviet Union and other Marxist–Leninist states failed to create a communist society and instead created a hierarchical, bureaucratic dictatorship. Trotskyists in particular call the Soviet Union, and what they term "Stalinism", a "degenerated workers' state".

See also

• Bolshevism

Further reading

• Foundations of Leninism (1924), by Joseph Stalin
• Concerning Questions of Leninism (1926), by Joseph Stalin