Imperialism in the 21st Century: Updating Lenin's Theory a Century Later

by Party for Socialism and Liberation

Over 1,000 military bases in foreign lands. Armed personnel in 130 countries. A military budget larger than the next 10 governments combined. The U.S. rulers maintain an empire, and one that is constantly at war—so much so that the White House and Pentagon now declare “endless war” to be the country’s standing military doctrine. What is the cause of this massive empire and these constant wars. How can they be stopped? Imperialism in the 21st Century revisits and updates the analysis of Russian revolutionary Vladmir Ilyich Lenin, who showed how the monopoly stage of capitalism had produced imperialist wars, and only social revolution could bring them to an end. Two world wars of unimaginable destruction confirmed Lenin’s basic thesis and also led to a complete reorganization of world politics. The rising tide of anti-colonial national liberation movements and the emergence of a powerful socialist bloc of countries after World War ll re-shaped some of the characteristic features of modern imperialism but not the organically expansionist tendency of monopoly capitalism. The dynamic of inter-imperialist rivalry for control of colonies and spheres of influence which led to World War l and World War II was replaced with a new war drive against their common socialism. The post-Cold War world order delivered unrivaled hegemony to the U.S. ruling class, who became drunk with success, but there are growing contradictions that may explode the world order once again. This publication reflects the views of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Genres: Politics, Economics, Nonfiction, History, Political Science

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 24, 2015

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential original work by Lenin, essential contemporary context and analysis by PSL.

[Leo46 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lenin's theory of imperialism will last until the day imperialism is utterly crushed--just as Marxism will exist for as long as capitalism does. This work of political agitation pairs 70 pages of the PSL's elaboration on Lenin's theory in the 21st century with the other almost 130 pages of Lenin's masterpiece "Imperialism: the Highest Stage of Capitalism." The PSL quite simply attempts to obliterate the myth of a 'world of peace' since the fall of the Soviet Union/the end of Cold War (as it was known), and it is done so effectively by showing the clear ongoing of imperialist violence perpetrated directly by the USA for the 3 decades since then. It methodologically goes through Iraq, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, and Libya as clear examples that have been justified to the American masses by its countless strongly fortified Ideological State Apparatuses; the chapters are all simultaneously so concise and myth-busting on those countries that it pairs extremely well with its succinct summaries of Lenin's theory applied to current events. A very short elaboration but, nevertheless, deserves to be considered amongst all other Socialist attempts to continue applying Lenin's theory to today's conditions.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lenin, whose social project killed a few hundred millions, put military bases in many places, killed political opponents and independence fighters as well, and build a very successful weapon dealership that brings death on all continents even today, now that's the man who teaches the wrongs of Imperialism.

[Angel Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imperialism on its own is full of a lot of information, so the Party providing their own context of Imperialism in the 21st century is appreciated. I like how Lenin tackles the misunderstandings around Imperialism, thereby strengthen the communist position. Sometimes he does so with humor! Also like lenin's insights on how imperialism divides revolutionary movements

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Economics is very difficult for me. It was interesting to read a book from such a different perspective than I've ever read. I think a lot of the last several chapters were way over my head, but it is hard to relate to examples from the beginning of the 2oth century when so much has changed.

[Ivo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 estrelas porque o título e edição faz parecer que é um outro livro que não o de lenin, como se fosse inteiramente um comentário. Mas, na verdade, é uma edição do livro clássico do próprio lenin, só que com uma introdução/prefácio bem longa e importante feita pelo PSL