The Comparison of Marxism and Leninism Written by: Raya Pomelkova Submitted to: Adam Norman Subject: PHL102 Date: April 10, 2007
Communism has a huge impact on the world to this day. Countries like Cuba still live in it, even though it failed on large territories, like Soviet Union. But is it really communism or just a distorted picture of it that is practiced? Although people often say that Marx s idea of communism failed in practice, it is not quite true. Vladimir Lenin accepted and practiced a lot of Marx s ideas, but he also had his own thoughts on political and economical states of European countries, thus a new branch of communism, Leninism, was born. Marxism 1 and Leninism 2 have their similarities, like the aim to destroy capitalism, and the idea of thoughts becoming actions and measures of Communism. But it is the differences between the two theories that might have caused the fall of practical communism in Soviet Union. The main differences between Marxism and Leninism are the role of education, the role of revolution and the very definitions of both. First of all, the very definitions of Marxism and Leninism differ a lot. Man, according to Marx, is the sum of his social connections (emancipated self) (Avineri, 33). Engels adds to this thought stating that Marxism is the doctrine of the conditions for the emancipation of the proletariat that class of society which procures its means of livelihood entirely and solely from the sale of its labor, (Strathern, 32). On the other hand, Stalin describes Leninism as Marxism in the era of imperialism and the proletarian revolution. To be more exact, Leninism is the theory and tactics of the proletarian revolution in general, the theory and tactics of the dictatorship of the proletariat in particular, (Stalin, 10). It is evident from these two quotes that the terms are very different from each other. Where Lenin and Stalin want to declare the dictatorship of the working class, Marx and Engels think that the dictatorship of the proletariat is only the first stage of the revolution and that it will in time be replaced by a classless society (Strathern, 63) (Marx & Engels, 44). Even though the two movements might differ definitionwise, the two have the same revolutionary aim. Their revolutionary aim is to overthrow 1 Marxism and Communism are said to be the same for the purpose of this document 2 Leninism and Stalinism are said to be the same for the purpose of this document 2
Capitalism (Imperialism). Marx believes that Capitalism is going to be destroyed by the monster of a society that it produced a society that has conjured up such gigantic means of production and of exchange, is like a sorcerer, who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells, (Marx & Engels, 41). And of all the classes that exist at that point in time Marx believes proletariat to be the only revolutionary class (Marx & Engels, 47). Furthermore, Marx states that proletariat has nothing to lose, because of their living conditions and their only aim is to destroy all previous securities for and insurances of, individual property (Marx & Engels, 48), which implies overthrowing of Capitalists, because their whole system, like all the systems before them, is based on the existence of private property. He also believes that reforms would not be effective. In the same way, Lenin finds that his party s primary aim is to overthrow Imperialism, which Stalin defines as a Capitalism of their time (Stalin, 28), but it spreads further and further into the undeveloped countries. He believes that it is necessary to crush Imperialism in the same way that Marx wanted to crash Capitalism in his time. Therefore, even though Marxism and Leninism differ by their definition, they have the same revolutionary aim. Moreover, Marxism and Leninism both agree with the idea of thoughts being materialized the question of whether objective truth can be attributed to human thought has nothing to do with theory, it is a purely practical question. The truth is the reality and power of thought, which can only be demonstrated in practice, (Strathern, 25-26). Marx says that philosophers have previously only interpreted the world, but the real task is to change it. But unlike Leninists, Marx also believes that the society has to get the education needed. Marx says that a thoroughgoing intellectual program would have to be worked out in order for revolution to start (Strathern, 23). Also, he states that in the current conditions the bourgeoisie provides the proletariat with its own political and general education, i.e. it furnishes the proletariat with weapons for fighting bourgeoisie. The ruling classes also supply the working class with fresh elements of enlightment and progress (Marx & Engels, 47). Although Leninists strongly believe 3
in the thoughts as actions, they place the revolution before education. They believe that anybody can rule a country as long as a person has an idea. That is why education is not that important in their eyes. This view on education and revolution might explain why Soviet Union failed to be a success. So, although Marx and Lenin both believe in the power of thought, they have different perspective on the matters of education. Lastly, both Marxists and Leninists believe in the term endless revolution. However, for a Marxist this term would mean starting a revolution in a few developed countries until all the measures of Communism will be applicable to these countries 3. These measures are: 1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes. 2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax. 3. Abolition of all right of inheritance. 4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. 5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an exclusive monopoly. 6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state. 7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringing into cultivation of waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan. 8. Equal liability of all to labour. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture. 9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equable distribution of the population over the country. 10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children s factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc. (Marx & Engels, 60) They believe that after all of the above are practiced in the countries where the revolution took place, revolution should come to a logical end. The Soviets managed to apply most of these rules onto their country, but they tried to contain communism in one country only. This can be seen in Stalin s Foundations of Leninism, where in the first edition of the book he agrees with Marx stating that one country is enough to overthrow capitalism, but that the final victory of socialism is in hands of several developed counties. Afterwards, in the third edition of the book this was replaced by the party always took as its starting point the idea that the victory of 3 Measures might differ from country to country, Marx & Engels, 60. 4
socialism... can be accomplished with the forces of a single country. Leninists also believe that the country should constantly be in the revolutionary state. They think that this will strengthen the country from inside. In practice, it ruined their country. Therefore, Marxists and Leninists both believed in the endless revolution, but they believed it to be different things. In the conclusion, Marxism and Leninism have their similarities, as one is just a branch of the other. These similarities are the aim to destroy capitalism, and the idea of thought becoming an action and measures of establishing Communism. But it is their differences like the role of education, the role of revolution and the essence of both that made an impact on the history of Soviet Union. At this point of time it is clear that Communism was not the ruling theory in the Soviet Union, but it was a well misinterpreted part of it, later to be called Leninism. 5
Bibliography: Avineri, Shlomo. The Social & Political Thought of Karl Marx. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1968. Marx, Karl and Engels, Frederick. The Communist Manifesto: A Modern Edition. New York: Verso, 1998. Stalin, Joseph. Foundations of Leninism. New York: International Publishers, 1939. Strathern, Paul. Marx in 90 Minutes. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 2001. Marxists Internet Archive. 2007. Marxists Internet Archive. 1 April 2007 <http://www.marxists.org> 6