Lenin and Marx: Different Approaches in Achieving Communism

Lenin vs. Marx

Lenin – totalitarian dictatorship from the topMarx – from the bottom

Lenin and Marx are two prominent figures associated with the philosophy of communism, which aims to establish a classless society where the means of production are collectively owned and everybody works and benefits equally. While Lenin was a disciple of Marx, he had a different interpretation of the latter’s ideas and had his own unique approach to implementing communism.

Marx believed in the concept of historical materialism, according to which, the economic conditions of a society determined its social and political organization. He believed that capitalism was inherently exploitative and would eventually lead to its downfall, and the subsequent establishment of a socialist society, which would eventually lead to communism. Marx also believed in the concept of revolution, where the working class would overthrow the capitalist class and take control of the state, paving the way for communism.

Lenin, on the other hand, believed in the need for a highly organized and disciplined communist party to lead the revolution. He believed that a successful revolution would require a vanguard of professional revolutionaries to guide the masses towards communism. Lenin also emphasized the need for immediate and active participation in revolutionary activity, rather than relying on historical inevitability.

In summary, both Lenin and Marx believed in the establishment of a communist society, but Lenin’s approach involved the creation of a highly-organized revolutionary party to lead the proletariat in the fight against capitalism, whereas Marx’s focus was more on the development of the necessary economic and social conditions and the inevitability of the revolution.

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