The Foundations of Leninism

The book describes the theory and the tactics of Leninism. Not the basis of Marxism on which it relies, but the new developments of Leninism. Stalin denies that Leninism is a purely Russian phenomenon or just the application of Marxism to Russian conditions, instead explains how Leninism is the response of the proletarian movement to imperialism, which hadn't yet developed in Marx's and Engels's time. While he notes Lenin's fight against the revisionists of the II. International, he also denies that Lenin only revived revolutionary Marxism. He emphasizes Leninism as a step forward, an advancement of Marxism. In the first chapter — "Historical Roots of Leninism" — he summarizes the contradictions of imperialism and explains how the Leninist movement could form in Russia despite it not being a classical imperialist country. This is because Russia was the centre of all kinds of oppression: the Russian people were exploited both by capitalism and by their tsar, while Russia itself, allied with the western imperialists, conquered and oppressed other regions. The western imperialists also had a great interest in Russian ressources, so they would intervene in any fight against these conditions. This is why the Russian Revolution could only be an anti-imperialist revolution. In the second chapter, Stalin explains the methods of Leninism and how they are different from those of the II. International. These methods are: unity of theory and practice, as opposed to only theoretical dogmas of the II. International; winning the trust of the proletariat with actions, not with slogans; preparing the masses and the party for a proletarian revolution; self-criticism inside the party. He continues with Marx's and Lenin's refutal of some dogmas of the II. International, adding some practical examples from the experience of the Russian Revolution. Also, he provides some examples to the statement that the II. International and Kautsky were treacherous and opportunist. The author proce