100 Years of Lenin’s Essay
“Imperialism is the higher stage of capitalism”
Swadesh Kumar Sinha
Lenin wrote his famous essay “Imperialism is the higher stage of
capitalism” from January - June 1916 in Zurich, Switzerland. Lenin had seen the new features emerging with the development of
capitalism much before the First World War broke. Before the eighth decade of
19th century, capitalism was at the stage of free competition. After
this the free competition smoothly transformed into monopoly at a fast pace. In
his essay, Lenin proved that the First World War (1914-18) was actually an imperialist
war from both sides. This war was fought for the division of the world, re-investments,
enlarge the fiscal capital influence areas, capital distribution and
redistribution among the imperialist powers. This war was the result of the
modern monopoly capitalism and it proved that as far as there exists a private
ownership of the means of production, imperialist wars are inevitable. “Capitalism
today has evolved into a new world order of venomous financial grip of colonial
loot and exploitation of vast colonial
population of the world by a handful of ‘developed nations’. The booty of the
loot is being distributed amongst two or three (America, Britain, Japan) most powerful
dacoits backed by large military and lethal weapons.” They are dragging the entire
world into this war of dividing this loot (This part is quoted from Lenin’s
essay “Imperialism is the higher stage of capitalism”)
The rise of
imperialism and its economic, political characteristics
Summing up and compiling this entire
world’s historic development process, some major facts can be underlined in the
form of few distinct characteristics of this period. Firstly, capital governed
the entire world. Secondly, a capitalist world developed through a combination
of western Europe, America and Japan. Thirdly, in these countries Capitalist
National States’ rose. Fourthly, the world was divided into dominions. Nations
of Asia, Africa, Latin America became dominions of some or the other capitalist
nations. Fifth, during this process the capitalist nations completed a whole
journey of colonial loot to capital export generated from business. Capital
entered the dominions and literally broke the thousand years of running natural
economy; a new colonial setup was started whereby capital generation techniques
and processes were developed in such a limited and restrictive manner only to
an extent which were beneficial to the colonialists. These countries
colonialism actually converted into half-feudalism. Both orders continued,
however colonialism ruled supreme. Sixth, during this time three types of
socio-economic structures existed. First, capitalist social economic structure,
which existed in western Europe, America and Japan. Second was a capitalist
socio-economic structure with strong feudal remains. This was prevalent in
eastern Europe, Russia, Spain, Portugal and Greece. In these capitalist
national states were in the process of rising. Third one was the colonial
social structure in which the capitalist framework was very much existing.
Towards the end of this period the stage of Capitalism got converted to
Imperialism. In this period, in February 1917 Burjua populist revolution
started in Russia and in October, the same year under the leadership of
Sarvhaara, world’s first socialist revolution happened. Here it is of prime
importance to know that Russia was not a
developed capitalist country yet. Contrary to the speculation of Karl Marx, the
first socialist revolution took place in Russia instead of France, Britain or
Germany where production powers were backward and a national market was under
the process of formation. Russian revolution left a deep imprint upon the
world. It greatly influenced and strengthened the struggles for national
liberation in colonies against imperialism or feudalism.
With the Second World War, Britain who was competent enough to
maintain its dominating position and influence in the First World War began
losing its power. In the end of Second World War Russia, whose red army had
defeated the fascist powers of Germany, emerged as a super power. On the other
hand, after the war America replaced Britain & Europe from the leading
position in the capitalist world. Germany, Japan and Italy were ruined and most
of Europe was devastated. Britain had suffered great loss and was on the verge
of Bankruptcy. Only America came out safe from the fire of war, except the
bombardment of Pearl Harbor by Japan. Continuous supply of arms and ammunitions
by America to its friendly nations contributed for emerging the world out of
recession of the fourth decade and in forgetting the nightmares and pessimism
of those years. American industries were prospering because they were saved
from the destruction of war, rather getting others for the supply of arms and ammunitions
during the war. After the war devastated Europe, especially Germany and Japan,
were the opportune sites for the American investment capital.
This varied economic reality and power balance was codified in the
“Bretton Woods Agreement of 1944”. The power of dollar gold standard was
applied in the global finance system. Power of dollar was recognized by the
capitalist world. On the other side after the war, a strong socialist block was
established whose power was increasing fast. The victorious Russia, who had
defeated the fascist Germany, was now a great power. People’s democratic states
were formed in the countries of Eastern Europe. In 1949 under the leadership of
Mao Tse Dung, a national democratic revolution took place in China. This was
the first revolution in a backward and underdeveloped country by a party with peasant’s
leadership. Here it is to be noted that all the countries of Asia, China, North
Korea, Cambodia, Laos and Cuba, a Latin American country, wherever revolution
succeeded, were backward, underdeveloped and not developed, capitalist
countries. Russia itself was under the process of capitalist development at the
eve of revolution.
Imperialism
Today:
In the decade of nineties, in Soviet Russia and all the countries
of Eastern Europe, socialist states were declined. In 1976, with the death of
Mao Tse Tung Ki, capitalist restoration occurred in China too. There is no
socialist block in the world today. Of course, state of Cuba and North Korea
are known to be socialist states, but they also cannot be said basically
socialist. Their sovereignty actually depends only on their military power.
Today, America has emerged as the only Super power of the unipolar
globe, but it is to be kept in mind that within one or rather say half century,
the world has changed completely. After the independence of ‘South Africa’ and
‘Namibia’, the age of direct colonialism has ended completely. Today it is impossible
to make an old type colony and neither is it needed. In some exceptional
countries like Iraq and Afghanistan too, colonialist America could not maintain
its direct power for long. In today’s world, the colonialism is totally obsolete
and the new world structures are born based on the ‘Independent Sovereign
State’. In these independent nation states, feudal structures are broken and
capitalist structures are formed. Capital is running smoothly throughout the
globe, having no obstacles in the way. It is for the first time that capitalism
has spread its roots in every nook and corner of the world. In these countries,
feudal values are present deep in the superstructures of course, but those are
not an obstacle for the capital flow. On looking at the main features of
today’s imperialism we see the below mentioned tendencies to be prominent.
The birth of
Sovereign nation states:
Nation states are politically independent today. Situation of
twisting hands, imposing sanctions, threats by imperialist countries occur
occasionally, but this is not the main aspect. Dominance of America over the
world as a military power is a reality, but it is also a fact that it is the
biggest debtor country in the world. Countries like China, India, Mexico and
Brazil have emerged as big economies. They also are partners in the loot of
Asia, Africa and Lain America. Many companies and corporations of China and
India are becoming vast multinational corporations rapidly. In 2015 itself
Indian multinational companies have invested 15 Arab dollars in America,
creating 91,000 jobs there. Several Indian corporate companies are
participating in the loot of Africa. The people of Africa are fighting against
the loot of some of these companies. The all powerful America has faced
humiliation by such small countries as Iran, Cuba and North Korea. Inspite of
sanctions imposed by United Nations backed by America, North Korea is still going
ahead with its ‘atomic and missile programs.’ America is compelled to lift the
sanctions from the ‘long range missile programs’ of Iran according to their
terms and conditions. Thus we see that the nations are neither the comprador nor
the commission agents of imperialism, as many leftist thinkers and political
parties say.
Globalization
of Capital:
By the 90s, most of the
independent nations of third world have opened their door for flowing in the
foreign capital smoothly, removing all the border restrictions. This opening
was named as globalization. We can understand it much easily in reference to
India. After the liberation from the colonial enslavement, the capitalist of
most of the newly independent countries needed savings of their people for
initial capital formation. For this, the mixed economy, blending public and
private capitalism, was established. According to this, huge Public Enterprises
were incorporated with people’s money (public finance). By the 90s, people’s
private capitalists were now full of confidence and mixed economy was no more
needed, rather it was now an obstacle. So in the decade of 90s, policies of
quota and permit of Nehru – ages was abandoned and, in the name of structural
adjustments all the hurdles from the way of multinational capital were removed.
Special economic zones (SEZ) were established in countries like India and China.
No normal laws, inducing labor laws are binding here. Infact, middle class has
grown in these countries, which is bigger than the total population of Europe.
The investment opportunities in the western world are vanishing fast, but in
the third world countries there is a wide scope for capital investments. Twenty
five years of liberalization have passed away and a majority population of
farmers, shopkeepers and other members of the lower middle class are dispossessed
and have got ruined. But all the national and regional parties promote these
policies, leaving some minor disputes aside. A big chunk of middle class also
supports their policies, as they have been actual beneficiaries of this
liberalization.
Expansion of
the capitalist democracy:
No system is better than the democracy for the uninterrupted
expansion of capital and keeping the people unrest under control. In 2011 and
2012, the Jasmine revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and other Arabian
territories were aimed at establishing there, the capitalist democrats. Its
wind is blowing in whole of the world today. Ruling class of many military
ruled states and other repressionary regimes are compelled to give their people
democracy rights.
Rise of
protectionism, religious fundamentalism and fascism:
All these three tendencies are visible simultaneously in the
contemporary world. It is an expression of expanding economic and social crisis
of imperialism. In Europe and America, rise of extreme rightist parties of its
own kind is visible. In about a dozen countries, blind nationalist parties and
leaders have become strong. Not considering the real reason behind the
pessimism cloud and doubt, these party leaders are declaring some pseudo enemy,
the actual culprit. They are making noise about the flood of immigrants, the
weakening of free competition in trade, the danger to the national boundary and
national culture from these immigrants and other intruders. Donald Trump in
America, National Party front and its leader Marine Leapen in France, Girt
Bildars of Nederland, Vlams Block of Belgium, freedom party of Austria, Sweden democrats
and Denis party of Denmark are among these parties and leaders. Popularity of
such type of parties is increasing rapidly in Poland, Hungary and Turkey also.
In America, “Donald Trump” who is far ahead in the process of the selection of
the republican candidate for president ship, is demanding the ban upon Muslim
immigrants naming them as dangerous for the civil security and American cultural
identity. Today, in western Asia, Middle east and Africa, Islamic orthodox
extremist movement ‘Boko-haram’, ‘Al-Qaida’, ‘Islamic State (IS)’ have created instability
from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan to Syria, Iraq, Libya, Turkey, Tanzania,
Egypt. These organizations and their terrorist activities have created in whole
of these areas, a frightening crisis. In Myanmar (Burma), Buddhist extremists
are rising fast. The Buddhist extremist leader ‘Viratu’ is called the ‘Osama
bin Laden’ of Myanmar. His followers are killing Muslims on a large scale.
Fascism and extremism are easily cultivated in capitalist
democracies. In history, we have seen this in both Italy and Germany. Today
India is a notorious example of this phenomenon. Here, the fascist party BJP of
RSS family has become victorious and is in power today. It is sowing deep, the
seeds of hatred against the leftist, rationalists and minorities in full speed.
Many a leftist organization and thinkers believe that America and Western
Europe are the only responsible countries for the spread of Muslim
fundamentalism in west Asia and whole of the world. Though, this thought is one
sided, however it is true that, in the 90s, America was supplying arms and
ammunition to Taliban and Al-Qaida in Afghanistan against the Soviet military
and helping them to fight out the soviet army. But we must not forget the
Shia-Sunni tussle in Islamic world of 14th Century as a source of
Islamic States and Al-Qaida. Today terrorists of Islamic State are the killing Kurds
and Shia Muslims on a large scale. If these terrorists are dreaming of a Sunni
Khalifat, one must see that behind the curtain, Iran and Saudi Arabia are
playing their Shia-sunni Cards. Many a leftist organizations take them as the
enemy of imperialism and asked to support them. They must not forget the lesson
of 1979, when in Iran, communists had supported the orthodox Khumaini for the
Islamic revolution against Shah, who just after coming to power suppressed and
assassinated the communists. Today collaboration of America, Britain and other
western powers together with Russia are bombarding heavily the power zones of Islamic
State, using ultra-modern fighter plane and drones, in Syria, Libya, Iraq and
thus pushing the world towards a grave crisis.
Rise of
information and Cultural Imperialism:
in last 2 decades, in the developed capitalist countries,
especially in America, Computer, Tele-communication, Internet and mobile phones
have revolutionized the face of the world. The world has become a ‘global
village’ due to ‘Information Technology’. The use of this technology in war
especially that of man less drone, has changed the whole scenario of the war. Many
sociologists are naming this phenomenon as the ‘Information Imperialism” or
“Cultural Hegemony’. The western world is imposing a culture, language and
thoughts of its own kind on whole of the world. Round the clock running television
channels are promoting consumerism globally. But if the imperialists are
getting advantage of this information technology, the agents of social change
are also using it. In the recent years, the movements for democracy in Arabian
world too were benefited with the same information technology.
The
probabilities of the struggle against imperialism today:
By thoroughly analyzing the state of the world today, it is quite
clear that Lenin’s explanation of imperialism given in 1916 is still valid
today in its economical aspect. Monopoly of Capital has been expanded manifold.
All imperialism is not a monolith, even today. It is infected with serious
contradictions. Deepening contradictions
and quick repetitions of recession continuously are worsening the crisis.
Feudalism and colonialism are being rubbed off from the canvas and capitalism
has actually engulfed the world. All the previous revolutions, whether in
Russia, China or other countries of Asia and Latin America, succeeded during
the periods of worst crisis of the capitalism. But today the situation has been
changed. Wherever the next great revolution will succeed, it will be the first
revolution, directly against capitalism and against a democratic state of this
or that kind. Lenin wrote that ‘Imperialism means war.’ Today too, this is a true
saying. Today regional wars and civil wars are a norm in the entire world,
which are nothing less than a world war destruction and pain. The grave problem
of refugees from the war torn areas of Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Yemen,
Tanzania, Sudan etc. is reflecting this reality well. The imperialist system of
hyper exploitation under the American leadership (which is engaged in armed
intervention and drone war in more than a dozen countries simultaneously and
which is planning to invest about 200 Arab Dollars in the next decade for
modernizing it’s nuclear war heads) is creating a dangerous volatile situation
at the global stage endangering probability of various kind of wars. Even
change in climate and environment deterioration is enhancing the probability of
wars. Though only the climate change may cause the total devastation of our
planet and human civilization. In the words of Lenin, in this situation, it is
the duty of left that, they “face not only the economical but the political,
national and all other contradictions, struggles, anger too,” which are continuously
becoming the norms of our time. It means to create and expand such bold and
militant global movement from ground level, whose main challenge will be to
save the human society from the total destruction viz. imperialism which is
understood as the foundation stone of capitalism of our times.
In the ‘communist manifesto’ written by Marx and Engels in 1848,
Marx had called the proletariat to wage a war, against the regimes of capitalism
in their countries, aiming at the building of a horizontal, equalitarian peaceful
and stable social system, controlled by the united producers of the world
themselves.
(This essay is based upon the writer’s own study and deliberations
with other scholars. Readers are invited to participate in the discourse on the
topics and matters raised in the essay)
For the Hindi version click HERE
