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Imperialism and the National Question
Lenin's texts that break with Eurocentrism in the socialist movement
Fired up by the outbreak of the First World War and outraged by the capitulation of most socialist parties in the face of their respective national bourgeoisies, Lenin sought to understand the deeper roots of the crisis of the world movement. The result was a popular outline book, The Highest Stage of Capitalism, which went on to become a core text for the international communist movement.
But Lenin also sought to break with the Eurocentrism of the socialist movement that tended to look down with disdain at or simply reject struggles for self-determination especially by colonised peoples. This volume, introduced by the renowned abolitionist and anti-imperialist theorist Ruth Wilson Gilmore, brings together both the texts on imperialism and those on the national question to provide a window into Lenin's global vision of revolution.
Fired up by the outbreak of the First World War and outraged by the capitulation of most socialist parties in the face of their respective national bourgeoisies, Lenin sought to understand the deeper roots of the crisis of the world movement. The result was a popular outline book, The Highest Stage of Capitalism, which went on to become a core text for the international communist movement.
But Lenin also sought to break with the Eurocentrism of the socialist movement that tended to look down with disdain at or simply reject struggles for self-determination especially by colonised peoples. This volume, introduced by the renowned abolitionist and anti-imperialist theorist Ruth Wilson Gilmore, brings together both the texts on imperialism and those on the national question to provide a window into Lenin's global vision of revolution.
304 pages, Paperback
Published January 16, 2024
About the author
Vladimir Lenin
2,698 books2,037 followersVladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Vladimir Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary, leader of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (Bolsheviks), statesman and political theorist. After the October Revolution he served as the first and founding head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 until his death in 1924 and of the Soviet Union from 1922 until his death in 1924.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 15, 2026
A selection of Lenin’s writings on the self-determination of nations and imperialism, notably including ‘the Right of Nations to Self-Determination’ and ‘Imperialism, the Highest Form of Capitalism.’
He begins with criticising the concept of a ‘national culture’. Because while every national culture contains elements of both democratic/socialist culture, it necessarily is dominated by bourgeois culture.
Basically, class struggle extends to the site of culture.. the bourgeois has a class interest in presenting it as ‘classless’.
Proletariat culture must advocate for worker’s internationalism, while adapting to local and national contexts. This does not mean the forceful application of homogeneity - Lenin writes of the importance of preserving language and tradition of minority groups.
Regarding the idea of ‘self-determination’, he engages in critical discussion with Rosa Luxembourg. Lenin defines self-determination as the political right to form an independent states. Luxembourg believed that nationalist aspirations tended to align with capitalists, dividing the proletariat along national lines. The example of Polish nationalists is used. Meanwhile, Lenin emphasises the need for self-determination in nations composed of multiple ethnic groups, such as Russia. He believes that Luxembourg is failing to apply concrete historical conditions to countries in her analysis, using the example of Marx’s advocation for Irish independence. He believes that national states present the best conditions for the development of capitalism (and therefore, proletarian revolution).
It was great to reread his pamphlet on imperialism. Lenin believed that imperialism was a necessary stage of capitalism, arising from the transition from free markets to monopolies and subsequently the dominance of financial capital. He also introduces his concept of a labour aristocracy, the proletariat in the imperial core who enjoys the benefits reaped by colonialism and therefore falls into opportunism and reformism. He explains the importance of distinguishing between oppressor and oppressed nations, and therefore the duty of the class-conscious proletariat to support the freedom of secession of oppressed countries.
He begins with criticising the concept of a ‘national culture’. Because while every national culture contains elements of both democratic/socialist culture, it necessarily is dominated by bourgeois culture.
Basically, class struggle extends to the site of culture.. the bourgeois has a class interest in presenting it as ‘classless’.
Proletariat culture must advocate for worker’s internationalism, while adapting to local and national contexts. This does not mean the forceful application of homogeneity - Lenin writes of the importance of preserving language and tradition of minority groups.
Regarding the idea of ‘self-determination’, he engages in critical discussion with Rosa Luxembourg. Lenin defines self-determination as the political right to form an independent states. Luxembourg believed that nationalist aspirations tended to align with capitalists, dividing the proletariat along national lines. The example of Polish nationalists is used. Meanwhile, Lenin emphasises the need for self-determination in nations composed of multiple ethnic groups, such as Russia. He believes that Luxembourg is failing to apply concrete historical conditions to countries in her analysis, using the example of Marx’s advocation for Irish independence. He believes that national states present the best conditions for the development of capitalism (and therefore, proletarian revolution).
It was great to reread his pamphlet on imperialism. Lenin believed that imperialism was a necessary stage of capitalism, arising from the transition from free markets to monopolies and subsequently the dominance of financial capital. He also introduces his concept of a labour aristocracy, the proletariat in the imperial core who enjoys the benefits reaped by colonialism and therefore falls into opportunism and reformism. He explains the importance of distinguishing between oppressor and oppressed nations, and therefore the duty of the class-conscious proletariat to support the freedom of secession of oppressed countries.
June 18, 2026
5/5 for Lenin’s writings ofc but I wish the editing side had been stronger — thematic grouping rather than strictly chronological, for instance. Also, I detected some cherry-picked anti-Stalinism in the last few pages that just made me roll my eyes
October 18, 2024
Starts off with some socialist arguing (which lenin is totally right on) on provisions for national self determination buttt without knowledge of the concrete historical context id imagine its easy to get lost in the sauce here, especially before yr hit with the central pamphlet in this book
BUT including Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism this book is TOTALLY worth reading and i found the extra material on national questions after this pamphlet's publication to be really interesting in how he applied those concepts to soviet state-building.
In general i think imperialism is a serious cornerstone of marxist work and is easily one of the most presient and influential pieces of political economy EVER. despite certain specifics changing up, lenins outline of a division between nations still resonantes today and this pamphlet is essential to understanding the birth of the phenomena and its tangible relation to the so revered "free market capitalism" bougie politicians like to wax poetic about. This pamphlet proves that financial domination and monopolies aren't abberations in our "late-stage" capitalism itself... but its Ultimate Tendency: a tendency which has continued uninterrupted for ⏱️over a century. Isnt that funny?
western Socialists and progressives NEED to understand their relation to imperial domination as members of oppressed groups/working class and socialist internationalism that denounces ANY nationalist moves on the part of oppressed nations only works to uphold imperial domination because relations ARENT equal. internationalism must be developed on EQUAL grounds and upholding imperialist internationalist relations in the name of "socialist internationalism" is Dumb As Shit.
BUT including Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism this book is TOTALLY worth reading and i found the extra material on national questions after this pamphlet's publication to be really interesting in how he applied those concepts to soviet state-building.
In general i think imperialism is a serious cornerstone of marxist work and is easily one of the most presient and influential pieces of political economy EVER. despite certain specifics changing up, lenins outline of a division between nations still resonantes today and this pamphlet is essential to understanding the birth of the phenomena and its tangible relation to the so revered "free market capitalism" bougie politicians like to wax poetic about. This pamphlet proves that financial domination and monopolies aren't abberations in our "late-stage" capitalism itself... but its Ultimate Tendency: a tendency which has continued uninterrupted for ⏱️over a century. Isnt that funny?
western Socialists and progressives NEED to understand their relation to imperial domination as members of oppressed groups/working class and socialist internationalism that denounces ANY nationalist moves on the part of oppressed nations only works to uphold imperial domination because relations ARENT equal. internationalism must be developed on EQUAL grounds and upholding imperialist internationalist relations in the name of "socialist internationalism" is Dumb As Shit.
October 19, 2025
Lenin juggles a lot of very difficult topics in such a flawless way that you know what he's saying just HAS to be true. More than anything, he excels at grounding everything in reality and keeping in mind the actual material situation (which, surprise surprise, I know)--a perfect example is towards the end when he laughs at the bourgeois idea of equality, in which oppressor and oppressed are said to have the same rights on paper instead of with regards to "relations in commodity production." Man this thing was so good that I'm itching to go down to Fremont and take a selfie with the dude right now.
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May 31, 2026
Another essential read from Lenin. Issues are dutifully analysed and carefully dissected throughout the entire work in Lenin’s signature style which is makes the work much more readable than other dense theory (which is a plus). The introduction from Gilmore is also a great addition.
Much like my review from State and Revolution, I will state again here that it is incredible how relevant Lenin’s work remains, particularly in attitudes towards imperialism, and the methods of maintaining monopolies. Although we are supposedly out of the age of colonisation (I say loosely) the exploitation of the global south as Lenin describes is still just as prevalent.
I urge everybody to read this.
Much like my review from State and Revolution, I will state again here that it is incredible how relevant Lenin’s work remains, particularly in attitudes towards imperialism, and the methods of maintaining monopolies. Although we are supposedly out of the age of colonisation (I say loosely) the exploitation of the global south as Lenin describes is still just as prevalent.
I urge everybody to read this.
January 18, 2026
Lenin's Imperialism is great for re-reading, or reading for the first time. This printing includes some related essays and letters, centered around the principle of self-determination. The included essays really underline why Lenin spoke to the non-Western world, and why his ideas about imperialism still ring true.
March 2, 2025
Book club pick with emphasis on economic conditions in 1900’s. I’m neither a fan-girl nor dismissive of the foresight in this book. While a lot is ‘inside baseball’ among leading Marxists of the time, the meat of this book is a strong critique of capital, monopoly and colonialism.
July 27, 2024
no notes, only encouragement that you read this and feel the echoes of the closing remarks of 1922 resonating and illuminating by words the dissonance of today.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews