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arnenaess's review
4.0
how enlightening! i knew most of this but it’s nice to have it laid out so plainly.
alanffm's review against another edition
3.0
Lenin's "Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism" is a short text which argues that imperialism is the inevitable outcome of advanced capitalistic enterprises. The main villains in this endeavor are the banks, whose tendrils stretch across the world and whose interests are not tied to nations or peoples. Lenin's citations are generally on point, and the examples he uses to show how a given capitalist enterprise will always be encouraged to strive towards monopoly and eventually imperialism are strong.
Unfortunately, Lenin misses a major point which undermines his text: imperialism is not just the product of capitalism, but a natural problem associated with any endeavor that requires creative production or output. Lenin's Marxism is frustrating and his constant need to use capitalism as a crutch - that is to say as a go-to excuse for the world's problems - blinds him to the real cause of imperialism and monopoly. Capitalism is a catalyst that optimizes the economy. Lenin assumes that optimization naturally favors monopoly, but that is, as far as my reading of the text is concerned, an assumption and not a fact.
Unfortunately, Lenin misses a major point which undermines his text: imperialism is not just the product of capitalism, but a natural problem associated with any endeavor that requires creative production or output. Lenin's Marxism is frustrating and his constant need to use capitalism as a crutch - that is to say as a go-to excuse for the world's problems - blinds him to the real cause of imperialism and monopoly. Capitalism is a catalyst that optimizes the economy. Lenin assumes that optimization naturally favors monopoly, but that is, as far as my reading of the text is concerned, an assumption and not a fact.
tom_muzi's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
rmuthiah's review
4.0
Interesting to follow his critique of capitalism and imperialism written 100 years ago. Much of what he said still holds today. This book provides important analysis, but I assume he makes constructive proposals elsewhere—he doesn’t do that here.
hades9stages's review against another edition
3.0
Published in 1917, this essay provides a Marxist analysis of the economic and political dynamics of imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Lenin's work was written during a period marked by the expansion of European powers into colonial territories and heightened competition among capitalist nations for global dominance. Drawing on the observations of other Marxist thinkers and economists, Lenin aimed to offer a comprehensive analysis of imperialism's economic underpinnings and its relation to capitalism.
In the book, Lenin argues that imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism, marking its monopoly phase. He identifies several key features of this stage: the dominance of monopolies, the export of capital to colonies, the formation of finance capital, and the division of the world among major capitalist powers.
Lenin emphasizes that imperialism is driven by economic interests, with powerful monopolistic entities seeking new markets and resources abroad to maintain their profitability. He contends that the export of capital to colonies enables capitalist countries to exploit the labor and resources of these regions for their economic gain.
Lenin's analysis was influential in shaping Marxist theories of imperialism. His work provided a framework for understanding the economic motivations behind imperialism and its relationship with capitalism. It also contributed to broader discussions on the geopolitical and economic rivalries among major powers, particularly in the lead-up to World War I.
It didn’t take me long to realise and dread the book's limited consideration of gender and its implications for women within the context of imperialism and colonialism. Lenin's work neglects to address how imperialism intersects with gender oppression and the specific ways in which women are affected within colonised societies. Also, there is a stark lack of acknowledgment of racism and the plight of indigenous populations within Lenin's analysis of imperialism, as it overlooks the racial dynamics and the severe impact of colonialism on indigenous rights, culture, and sovereignty.
We need to openly recognise and address the importance of an intersectional approach to understanding imperialism: one that considers the interconnectedness of race, gender, and class within the broader context of imperialism and colonial domination. A more comprehensive analysis that recognises the diverse experiences and vulnerabilities of groups, including women and indigenous populations, within the framework of imperialism, is compulsory.
Despite this, I understand why Lenin's work remains a foundational text in Marxist analyses of imperialism and capitalist expansion, offering insights into the economic mechanisms and power structures underlying the imperialist phase of capitalism.
Lenin's work was written during a period marked by the expansion of European powers into colonial territories and heightened competition among capitalist nations for global dominance. Drawing on the observations of other Marxist thinkers and economists, Lenin aimed to offer a comprehensive analysis of imperialism's economic underpinnings and its relation to capitalism.
In the book, Lenin argues that imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism, marking its monopoly phase. He identifies several key features of this stage: the dominance of monopolies, the export of capital to colonies, the formation of finance capital, and the division of the world among major capitalist powers.
Lenin emphasizes that imperialism is driven by economic interests, with powerful monopolistic entities seeking new markets and resources abroad to maintain their profitability. He contends that the export of capital to colonies enables capitalist countries to exploit the labor and resources of these regions for their economic gain.
Lenin's analysis was influential in shaping Marxist theories of imperialism. His work provided a framework for understanding the economic motivations behind imperialism and its relationship with capitalism. It also contributed to broader discussions on the geopolitical and economic rivalries among major powers, particularly in the lead-up to World War I.
It didn’t take me long to realise and dread the book's limited consideration of gender and its implications for women within the context of imperialism and colonialism. Lenin's work neglects to address how imperialism intersects with gender oppression and the specific ways in which women are affected within colonised societies. Also, there is a stark lack of acknowledgment of racism and the plight of indigenous populations within Lenin's analysis of imperialism, as it overlooks the racial dynamics and the severe impact of colonialism on indigenous rights, culture, and sovereignty.
We need to openly recognise and address the importance of an intersectional approach to understanding imperialism: one that considers the interconnectedness of race, gender, and class within the broader context of imperialism and colonial domination. A more comprehensive analysis that recognises the diverse experiences and vulnerabilities of groups, including women and indigenous populations, within the framework of imperialism, is compulsory.
Despite this, I understand why Lenin's work remains a foundational text in Marxist analyses of imperialism and capitalist expansion, offering insights into the economic mechanisms and power structures underlying the imperialist phase of capitalism.