CONTRADICTIONS IN THEORY AND APPLICATION OF MARXISM (PART 2)

                                                    MARXISM VS LENINISM

When Marx was developing his theory, he introduced the concept of the "dictatorship of the proletariat," which was meant to occur during the transitional socialist phase from capitalism to communism. However, Marx was vague about what this dictatorship would specifically look like. Some Marxists interpreted it as a democratic structure where workers would actively participate in the functioning of the government. On the other hand, Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik Party, interpreted it as the need for a vanguard party that would impose a one-party dictatorship during this socialist phase.

Lenin’s interpretation stemmed from his belief that capitalism would prevent the proletariat from developing class consciousness and revolutionary awareness on its own. Therefore, he argued that a top-down approach was necessary to awaken the workers to their revolutionary potential. A vanguard party of dedicated Marxists would take power and lead the workers through the socialist transition, guiding them to revolutionize society.

Additionally, Marx predicted that the first proletarian revolution would occur in highly industrialized countries. However, Russia at the time was an agrarian, semi-feudal country ruled by a brutal tsar. Lenin argued that imperialism, through colonial exploitation, was extracting labor and raw materials from colonized and  underdeveloped countries at low wages. The profits from these colonies allowed capitalist countries to offer higher wages to their own workers, thereby suppressing revolutionary movements in those nations. This was a key modification Lenin made to Marxist theory, explaining why the first successful socialist revolution occurred in Russia, a country far removed from Marx's predictions.

When the October Revolution happened, Lenin’s strategy became the blueprint for communist movements around the world. This is how Marxism-Leninism emerged and spread globally. Lenin's successful revolution in a mostly non industrialized country was used by other communists to launch revolution in their own respective countries . After establishing the first socialist or Marxist state of the world , Lenin became an almost divine figure for other communist countries.

Naturally, many orthodox Marxists (those who adhered strictly to Marx's writings without any adaptations and changes in it)—disagreed with Lenin’s interpretation, especially regarding the establishment of the USSR and the role of the vanguard party. Marx, however, did not present his theory as rigid or unchangeable; he envisioned it as open to debate and interpretation. Marxism is a dynamic and living theory, but this has led to ongoing debates among Marxists about which elements should remain fundamental and unchanged.

This is how Marxism became associated with one party rule thanks to Lenin and his successful revolution in 1917 in Russia