Vladimir Lenin
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Moreover, Lenin came up with one of the first strong critiques of [[imperialism]]. | Moreover, Lenin came up with one of the first strong critiques of [[imperialism]]. | ||
| − | [[Conservative]]s in the [[United States]] are extremely fond of quoting Lenin, either to tie his words to the tactics of their opponents or to gloat how smart their own tactics are (by saying they come from Lenin). Many non-conservatives find this <s>extremely puzzling</s> | + | [[Conservative]]s in the [[United States]] are extremely fond of quoting Lenin, either to tie his words to the tactics of their opponents or to gloat how smart their own tactics are (by saying they come from Lenin). Many non-conservatives find this <s>extremely puzzling</s> completely understandable. |
| − | He was not the Walrus | + | He was not the Walrus. |
[[Category:Dictators]][[category:communism]] | [[Category:Dictators]][[category:communism]] | ||
Revision as of 14:53, 12 July 2012
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Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (22 April 1870 – 21 January 1924) aka Vladimir Lenin, was a Russian Communist and dictator. He was instrumental in overthrowing the monarchy (and it was on his orders that the tsar and his family were put to death). Afterwards, he led the Bolsheviks during the brief democratic government and the uprising that followed. For all that he did, he was punished by having his funeral requests denied and instead put on eternal display in Moscow.
Lenin, as the first person to put Karl Marx's ideas into practice on a large scale, is especially revered among leftists. In his final days, he realized he had made a grave error in selecting Joseph Stalin to succeed him as the next head of the USSR. While the creation of the Cheka (secret police), the militarization of labor, the Red Terror, and brutal crushing of anarchist uprisings were all perpetrated under Lenin, Stalin oversaw arguably the most murderous regime in history.
Further departing from Marx, Lenin dropped the ideal of direct democracy. He also nationalized companies, instead of letting the workers run them (as they'd started to do before he took over). This led to the total control of the economy and government by one person, who could not be accused of corruption (due to fear of execution or imprisonment). The differences between Marxism and Leninism are massive indeed. Stalin later cranked these up to 11, especially with the cult of personality Stalin constructed around Lenin. Lenin was adamant that a personality cult should not be constructed around him due to Marxist doctrine which dictates that classes, not "Great Men", led history.
While Leninism usually refers to Lenin's Bolshevik revolutionary model, Marxist-Leninism is the ideological/political platform developed by Stalin during his ascendency and rule. Marxism-Leninism (also known as Stalinism) became the most influential form of Marxism, spread to the Communist parties of the world through the Third International.
Moreover, Lenin came up with one of the first strong critiques of imperialism.
Conservatives in the United States are extremely fond of quoting Lenin, either to tie his words to the tactics of their opponents or to gloat how smart their own tactics are (by saying they come from Lenin). Many non-conservatives find this extremely puzzling completely understandable.
He was not the Walrus.