Problems of Leninism [antikvár]

THE FOUNDATIONS OF LENINISM (LECTURES DELIVERED AT THE SVERDLOV UNIVERSITY IN THE BEGINNING OF APRIL, 1924) Dedicated to the recruits of the Lenin enrolment J. STALIN The foundations of Leninism is a big subject. To exhaust il a whole volume would be required. Indeed, a number of volumes would be required. Naturally, therefore, my lectures cannot pretend to be an exhaustive exposition of Leninism; at best they can ofTer but a concise synopsis of the foundations of Leninism. Nevertheless, 1 consider it useful to give this synopsis, in order to lay down some basic points of departure necessary for the successful study of Leninism. Expounding the foundations of Leninism does not yet mean expounding the basis of Lenin's world outlook. Lenin's world outlook and the foundations of Leninism are not conterminous. Lenin was a Marxist, and Marxism is, of course, the basis of his wprld outlook. But from this it does not at all follow that an exposition of Leninism ought to begin with an exposition of the foundations of Marxism. To expound Leninism means to expound the distinctive and new in the works of Lenin that Lenin contributed to the general treasury of Marxism and that is naturally connected with his name. Only in this sense will I speak in my lectures of the foundations of Leninism. And so, what is Leninism? Some say that Leninism is the application of Marxism to the peculiar conditions of Ihe situation in Russia. This definition contains a particle of truth, but not Ihe whole truth by any means. Lenin, indeed, applied Marxism to Russian conditions, and applied it in a masterly way. But if Leninism were only the application of Marxism to the peculiar situation in Russia it would be a purely national and only a national, a purely Russian and only a Russian, phenomenon. We know, however^ that Leninism is not merely a Russian, but an international phenomenon rooted in the whole of international development. That is why I think this definition suffers from onesidedness. Others say that Leninism is the revival of the revolutionary elements of Marxism of the forties of the nineteenth century, as distinct from the Marxism of subsequent years, when, it is alleged, 13