Yan Shuhan: A Discussion On the Basic Questions of Leninism

Author: is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (Central School of Administration)

Source: “Marxist Studies” 2024 Issue 4

Leninism is a new stage in the development of Marxism, and its content is extensive and profound. Standing at the historical height of the new era, this article summarizes the basic issues of Leninism into “six theories and one foundation”: the “six theories” are the theory on imperialism, the theory on the possibility that socialism may first triumph in one or several countries, the theory on colonial and national liberation movements, the theory on the dictatorship of the proletariat, the theory on socialist democracy, and the theory on a new type of proletarian party. “One foundation” is the philosophical foundation of Leninism. Leninism has a far-reaching influence because it reveals the truth of the development of human society with its profound theories and proves the scientific nature of this theoretical system with its complete system.

Keywords: Leninism, basic issues, philosophical foundation, truthfulness, scientific nature

The new theory of the basic issues of Leninism refers to the review and sorting out of the basic issues (basic principles) of Leninism 100 years after Lenin’s death, with new summaries and new refinements. It also refers to learning and studying the basic issues of Leninism from the historical height of the new era, and to have a deeper understanding of the great significance of the Chinese Communists, represented mainly by Comrade Xi Jinping, taking Marxism-Leninism as the fundamental guiding ideology for establishing the party and the country and the world. This article analyzes the logical framework and main contents of the basic issues of Leninism as follows.

I. Theory of Imperialism

The theory of imperialism is the hallmark of Leninism. It has been a hotly debated issue and the target of concentrated attacks by some erroneous thoughts and even hostile forces. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly and comprehensively and accurately expound Lenin’s theory of imperialism.

1. Background of Lenin’s Theory of Imperialism
Although the term “imperialism” appeared relatively early in the literature, it became popular only during the process of the transformation of free capitalism into monopoly capitalism. At that time, there were various one-sided and even erroneous interpretations of “imperialism”, among which Kautsky’s “Ultra-imperialism” was the most representative.

Faced with the concept of “imperialism” that was most confused by the opportunists at that time, how to understand the economic characteristics and historical status of imperialism after the emergence of monopoly capitalism, and the root causes of the outbreak of the First World War, it became an urgent issue to clarify the theory of imperialism. In response to the requirements of the times, Lenin wrote the book “Imperialism is the Highest Stage of Capitalism” (hereinafter referred to as “Imperialism”) in 1916 on the basis of long-term observation and in-depth research, thus forming the Marxist theory of imperialism, which is a scientific theoretical system and a major development of Marxism. This once again confirms the famous saying of Marx and Engels: “The real content of all epoch-making systems is formed by the needs of the period in which they are produced.”

2. The Basic Economic Characteristics and Historical Status of Imperialism
Lenin was a faithful successor and defender of Marxism. Lenin always insisted on analyzing and criticizing imperialism with dialectical materialism and historical materialism. Lenin argued that the basic economic characteristics of imperialism were its essential characteristics and determined the characteristics of other aspects of imperialism. Therefore, “imperialism should be defined in such a way that it includes the following five basic characteristics of imperialism: (1) The concentration of production and capital has developed to such a high degree that monopoly organizations have been formed, which play a decisive role in economic life; (2) Bank capital and industrial capital have merged, and financial oligarchs have been formed on the basis of this “financial capital”; (3) Capital export, which is different from commodity export, is of special importance; (4) International monopoly alliances of capitalists who divide the world have been formed; (5) The largest capitalist powers have completed the division of the world’s territory.” Lenin argued that these five basic characteristics are the basic economic characteristics of imperialism, which reflect that the economic essence of imperialism is monopoly, and these basic economic characteristics are also determined by the monopoly essence of imperialism.
The historical position of imperialism refers to its position in the long process of capitalist development (i.e. historical positioning), which is determined by the economic essence of imperialism

Lenin pointed out: “Imperialism, in its economic essence, is monopoly capitalism. This determines the historical position of imperialism, because monopoly, which is based on free competition and grows out of free competition, is the transition from the capitalist social and economic structure to a higher structure.”

Based on this, Lenin summarized the historical position of imperialism as follows: imperialism is parasitic or decadent capitalism, and imperialism is dying capitalism. These two sentences summarize the historical position of imperialism from the combination of characteristics and historical positioning. This is a comprehensive summary, and we must also understand it comprehensively.

In short, dying refers to the state that is in, and it cannot be simply understood as immediate death. Dying capitalism refers to the historical stage in which capitalism actually begins to transition to a new society (socialist society). This is the original meaning of Lenin’s statement that imperialism is dying capitalism, and it is Lenin’s development and development of Engels’ discussion on the emergence of state monopoly capitalism and its development trend.

In The Development of Socialism from Utopia to Science, Engels pointed out: “Neither the transformation to joint-stock companies and trusts nor the transformation to state property has eliminated the capital attribute of productive forces.” Here, “capital relations have not been eliminated, but have been pushed to the top. But changes are to take place at the top. The ownership of productive forces by the state is not a solution to the conflict, but it contains the formal means of resolving the conflict and the clue to resolving the conflict.” Therefore, Lenin called imperialism “dying capitalism” and “capitalism in transition to socialism.” “Because the monopoly that has grown out of capitalism is already the dying state of capitalism and the beginning of its transition to socialism.”

3. The Marxist standpoints, views and methods contained in Imperialism
Although we cannot apply every sentence and every viewpoint in “Imperialism” to the reality of today’s contemporary capitalism, the Marxist standpoints, views and methods contained in “Imperialism” are very helpful for us to deeply understand the theory of imperialism proposed by Lenin and for us to observe contemporary capitalism today.
As mentioned before, Lenin stood on the right side of history. That is, Lenin used the Marxist world outlook and methodology to criticize and clarify the concept of “imperialism” that was most confused by opportunists based on the reality of the times. Lenin followed the requirements of the times and created the Marxist theory of imperialism. This is an important sign that the development of Marxism has entered a new stage of Leninism. The dialectical materialism and historical materialism contained in Lenin’s “Imperialism” are still of practical significance for us today to observe the new changes in contemporary capitalism.

For example, Lenin proposed and demonstrated in Imperialism that monopoly capitalism will inevitably produce parasitic or decadent tendencies, but it does not exclude the rapid development of capitalism.

This is a viewpoint of both dialectical materialism and historical materialism. Lenin pointed out: “If you think that this decadent tendency excludes the rapid development of capitalism, you are wrong. No, in the era of imperialism, certain industrial sectors, certain bourgeois strata, and certain countries have shown this tendency and that tendency to varying degrees. On the whole, the development of capitalism is much faster than before.” For another example, Lenin used the two terms “transition” and “dying” to describe monopoly capitalism in Imperialism. Since “dying” refers to a state of transition, it cannot be simply understood as immediate death. In Lenin’s view, imperialism is dying capitalism, and it is a historical period in which capitalist society transitions to socialist society through this dying state. This is a viewpoint of both dialectical materialism and historical materialism, which is consistent with the situation at the time and has been tested by subsequent historical development.

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