Lenin Essay, Research Paper

Karl Marx’s theories on Communism had a major role in the influence of diplomicy and world politics. He believed and spoke that Communism was the third part of a continuum that started with Feudalism, then onto Capitalism, and finally ended with Communism. The major ideas of Karl Marx’s theories were made up of a Central Government, which owns all, and controls each persons daily life. In a Marxist State there are no peersonal items and his objective of his theory was to help the Proletariat grow in power and minimize the power of, the upper class, Bourgeois. Lenin incorporated some of Karl Marx’s ideas into his daily life, and added to some other of his ideas during his role in 1917, in the heat of the Communist Revolution of Russia.

Lenin then noticed that eventually, the large industries were going to be replaced with larger scale industries and this was eventually going to lead into a Central Production. Throughout his essay, Imperialism, he notes that the transition of Industrialism from small, self-owned industry, to a Centralized Government, where everything is distributed equally. He then said that as a result of this transition, trouble would become of it. The riots which Lenin mentioned, led to the Communist Revolution. This was the last step of the continuum which Marx believed. In the Russian Communist Revolution, these conflicts were the bread riots and the workers’ strike of St. Petersburg in 1917. Lenin believed that the continuum that Marx preached and therefore he believed that Communism formed from Capitalism.

Lenin’s first try to enforse Marx’s beliefs was when he enforced the notion of,’War Communism.’ He attempted to do this by abolishing ownership of land and through nationalizing railways, shipping, and banks. Then, he put restrictions on the money economy. Between 1918-21, this ‘War Communism’ became unpopular and it caused many problems. Many farmers lost their land and their workers were forced to work in the factories, which was not what they wanted to do.

With these changes, major famine was brought to Russia. Twenty million people were starving and about five million people died during one of the most disastorous winters ever, in 1920-21. Along with the problems at home, Lenin began to fight with the neighboring countries, over their control of their borders with Russia. Then, Lenin realized that Russia’s Communistic efforts were not working and then he relized that they needed help. They were they only country in the world using Communism, and they were in dire need of help. Lenin noticed this and he decided that his country should apply old Capitalistic ideas into their Government. This was known as the NEP or the New Economic Policy.

His policy was introduced in early 1921 and it showed Russia to reestablish, both through technology and economics. Lenin’s NEP let persons sell their crops for some of their own profit. The NEP allowed workers in offices to receive a graduated wage scale, and receive their minimum wage. These plans by Lenin’s NEP allowed Russia to regain their stability. Lenin and the government, although still regulated the public utilities, banking, the transportation, and the heavy industry of the entire state.

In conclusion, Lenin views are identical to the beliefs of Karl Marx. He said that Communism would be the third part of a continuum that began with Feudalism, proceeds into Capitalism, and finally ended with Communism.