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Marxism-Leninism 1 Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov Lenin (1870 1924)was a Russian revolutionary exiled to Switzerland in 1900, where he became leader of a Russian Marxist faction, the Bolsheviks , who held that a socialist revolution was possible in Tsarist Russia but thought a revolution would not happen on its own as Marx had expected. It would have to be imposed by a small, highly disciplined party.
Marxism-Leninism 2
Theories of Revolution and Revolutionaries
Marx and Lenin: Differences Marx thought socialism might come peacefully Lenin thought socialism must come violently Marx thought the vanguard of the proletariat would just teach class-consciousness to workers Lenin thought the vanguard must be a small, disciplined group dedicated to overthrowing the government.
Marxism-Leninism 3
Theories of Revolution and Revolutionaries 2 Marx believed the revolution would occur when a class-conscious proletariat would rise up against capitalism, so the dictatorship of the proletariat would be short Lenin thought the vanguard would trigger a revolution before most of the proletariat was class-conscious, so the dictatorship of the proletariat would last a longer time and be less democratic than in Marxs version.
Marxism-Leninism 5 Imperialism 1
After Marxs time, industrial capitalists came to rely on money from banks for financing investment. Lenin called this finance capitalism. The finance capitalists not wanting to provoke the proletariat at home and needing cheap labor and resources -- exported their exploitation by colonialism. Lenin called this imperialist capitalism.
Marxism-Leninism 6 Imperialism 2
The finance capitalists shared some of the profits of colonialism with workers in their home country, buying them off with gains from exploiting colonial peoples. However, Lenin believed in the end competition for colonies would bring a war between the great capitalist nations in which the capitalists would destroy each other, so imperialism was the final stage of capitalism.
The Soviet Union and Russia Lenins and Stalins Policies: Lenin
Lenin seized power in 1917 and took Russia out of World War I in 1918. In the Russian Civil War (1918 -1921) the White armies backed by the US and European allies were defeated by Lenins Red Army. Lenin tried to control the economy but it collapsed. He adopted the New Economic Policy (NEP) that re-privatized much of the economy. However, he tightened political control, suppressing opposition parties etc.
The Soviet Union and Russia Lenins and Stalins Policies: Stalin
Power Struggle after Lenins Death: Josef Stalin wins, arguing for building socialism in one country -- strengthen Russias economy Leon Trotsky loses, arguing for permanent revolution to spread worldwide revolution. Stalin subjected international Marxism-Leninism to Russian national goals.
The Soviet Union and Russia Lenins and Stalins Policies: Stalin 2
Five Year Plans: Stalin ends the NEP and starts a series of Five Year Plans to industrialize Russia. All industries are nationalized and agriculture is collectivized. Everything is sacrificed to building heavy industry and the military. Millions of people suffer and die, but Russia becomes a major industrial power. Stalin creates a totalitarian state using terror as a governing tool. A cult of personality declares him the all-wise leader.
The Soviet Union and Russia Lenins and Stalins Policies: Stalin 3
Germany invaded Russia in World War II but was driven out after years of terrible fighting. 27 Million Russians died and 25% of the national wealth was destroyed In return, Russia overran much of Germany and seized control of Eastern Europe. Stalin ruthlessly suppressed Eastern Europe after the war
Soviet Atrophy
Nikita Khrushchev (1894 -1971) ended Stalins worst excesses after Stalins death (1953), but suppressed uprisings in Eastern Europe. His attempts to create peaceful coexistence with the US and reform the Soviet system failed. Leonid Brezhnev (1906 -1982) removed Khrushchev (1964) but let the Soviet Union fall into stagnation and corruption
China
China had an ancient Confucian culture but suffered from European pressure after 1837. Sun Yi Xian (Sun Yat-sen ) proclaimed a republic (1911) but could not really establish it. Sun allied with the Chinese Communist Party in the 1920s After Suns death his successor Jiang Jieshi (Chiang Kai-shek) attacked the Communists, driving them from the cities to the countryside. However, Japan invaded China, distracting him. After World War II, the Communists drove Jiang's government to Taiwan and created the Peoples Republic of China (1949) l
Cuba 5: Fidelismo
1. Castro is strongly anti-imperialist and anti-US. 2. Early attempts to sponsor revolutions in Latin America failed (Che Guevara in Bolivia) 3. Cuban Missile Crisis discredited him briefly 4. Castro supported revolutions in Africa 5. Castro has strong personal governing style 6. Castros policies are now more pragmatic but remain committed to independence from US