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The Foundations of Leninism
Based on a series of talks gave to young cadres, Foundations of Leninism describes in chapter after chapter all of Lenin’s contributions to elevating Marxism to a higher stage. A careful study of this document can help us better understand many fundamental questions, including: how did capitalism transform into its higher and final stage of imperialism, how a Party should be constituted and by whom, and the importance of the worker and peasant alliance.
123 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1924
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About the author
Joseph Stalin
537 books422 followersJoseph Stalin, originally Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili, was a Soviet revolutionary, politician and statesman who became the leader of the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1922–1952) and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union (1941–1953).
Initially governing the country as part of a collective leadership, he consolidated power to become an informal dictator by the 1930s. Ideologically adhering to the Leninist interpretation of Marxism, he formalised these ideas as Marxism–Leninism, while his own policies are called Stalinism.
Initially governing the country as part of a collective leadership, he consolidated power to become an informal dictator by the 1930s. Ideologically adhering to the Leninist interpretation of Marxism, he formalised these ideas as Marxism–Leninism, while his own policies are called Stalinism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
November 15, 2019
An astounding, critical, and necessary read for every communist. Stalin does to Lenin what Lenin did to Marx: expanded his thoughts and practice, synthesized them, and put them into historical perspective.
What I mean is this: Stalin notes that Leninism came from Lenin applying Marxism to a time of imperialism in pre-revolutionary Russia. Now while it is true that Lenin lived 5 years after the Bolshevik Revolution, he still died young, perhaps before he could apply Marxism to the gradually-developing USSR. Stalin steps in and does this adequately, going back to the core of Marxism, outlining its dialectical transition into Marxism-Leninism, and applying this to the USSR as it was then.
A superb read. One of the best Communist texts I believe I've ever read. I also appreciated how Stalin condemns what Kwame Nkrumah later deemed "neo-colonialism", though in the time of Stalin, that phrase had not been fully explored and studied.
What I mean is this: Stalin notes that Leninism came from Lenin applying Marxism to a time of imperialism in pre-revolutionary Russia. Now while it is true that Lenin lived 5 years after the Bolshevik Revolution, he still died young, perhaps before he could apply Marxism to the gradually-developing USSR. Stalin steps in and does this adequately, going back to the core of Marxism, outlining its dialectical transition into Marxism-Leninism, and applying this to the USSR as it was then.
A superb read. One of the best Communist texts I believe I've ever read. I also appreciated how Stalin condemns what Kwame Nkrumah later deemed "neo-colonialism", though in the time of Stalin, that phrase had not been fully explored and studied.
August 14, 2009
Joseph Stalin, among other obvious defects, was a really, really shitty writer. Also, this edition was printed in Beijing, and I *strongly* suspect that they translated the Russian into Chinese and then had somebody else translate the Chinese into English, because their wording is just embarrassing. The book begins, "The foundations of Leninism is a big subject." And it just goes downhill from there. Interesting grammar, Stalin.
June 7, 2016
honestly the best intro to m-l i've ever come across. essential reading
February 22, 2015
wherein it is proven apodictically that the foundation of leninism is stalin.
January 13, 2019
Not quite a beginner text, but for the intermediate-level Marxist this is an excellent and concise summary of (precisely as the title indicates) the foundations of Leninism. Or perhaps due to its brevity, it would be more accurate to describe Foundations of Leninism as an intermediate-level introductory text since one easily could and should continue their study of Leninism with further readings under each of the chapter headings (e.g., on the peasant question, the national question, the party, etc.). A similarly excellent and concise follow-up to this (a kind of sequel introductory text) is Stalin’s Concerning Questions of Leninism, sometimes alternately titled Problems of Leninism.
May 25, 2019
Read this in anticipation of the Red Menace podcast; looking forward to that discussion.
One of the interesting things about reading Stalin, is that his main errors as a Marxist leader and thinker, namely being overtly mechanical, also make his work fairly accessible. The virtue of this book is that it's an easy to read explanation of the building blocks of Leninism, of Lenin's works applied to the Russian revolution and his struggles against the opportunistic leaders of the second international.
The problem of Stalin's mechanical thinking jump out here unfortunately- we see Leninism as emerging fully developed from the mind of Lenin like Athena, not being developed through the twists and turns of class struggle, simply a series of fixed definitions. No where is revolutionary science as a process, emerging from the tumult of class struggle, to answer burning questions. No where is there a sense of dialects, a sense of old answers no longer being sufficient, forcing revolutionaries to grasp with new realities and develop new theory. No, in Stalin's presentation, all opponents are bourgeois or opportunist, and the marching orders are clearly laid out.
The sharpest chapter is on the national question, and its searing defense of the right of self-determination, and the revolutionary role of anti-colonial struggles, the weakest are the section on the peasantry (a fairly utilitarian view), and party, where once again class struggle can be waged through purges, rather than actual class struggle.
I'm not interested in facile denunciations of Stalin, nor throwing this book out completely, it's both useful for it's explanations of concepts, and for seeing how a certain dogma became orthodox in the international communist movement. I would argue that it's best to read and understand Stalin not through his most ardent defenders, but through the critical revolutionary lens of Mao Zedong and the Chinese revolution, who did the most theoretical and practical work to uphold the revolutionary legacy of Stalin, while rupturing with the mechanical and dogmatic aspects.
One of the interesting things about reading Stalin, is that his main errors as a Marxist leader and thinker, namely being overtly mechanical, also make his work fairly accessible. The virtue of this book is that it's an easy to read explanation of the building blocks of Leninism, of Lenin's works applied to the Russian revolution and his struggles against the opportunistic leaders of the second international.
The problem of Stalin's mechanical thinking jump out here unfortunately- we see Leninism as emerging fully developed from the mind of Lenin like Athena, not being developed through the twists and turns of class struggle, simply a series of fixed definitions. No where is revolutionary science as a process, emerging from the tumult of class struggle, to answer burning questions. No where is there a sense of dialects, a sense of old answers no longer being sufficient, forcing revolutionaries to grasp with new realities and develop new theory. No, in Stalin's presentation, all opponents are bourgeois or opportunist, and the marching orders are clearly laid out.
The sharpest chapter is on the national question, and its searing defense of the right of self-determination, and the revolutionary role of anti-colonial struggles, the weakest are the section on the peasantry (a fairly utilitarian view), and party, where once again class struggle can be waged through purges, rather than actual class struggle.
I'm not interested in facile denunciations of Stalin, nor throwing this book out completely, it's both useful for it's explanations of concepts, and for seeing how a certain dogma became orthodox in the international communist movement. I would argue that it's best to read and understand Stalin not through his most ardent defenders, but through the critical revolutionary lens of Mao Zedong and the Chinese revolution, who did the most theoretical and practical work to uphold the revolutionary legacy of Stalin, while rupturing with the mechanical and dogmatic aspects.
April 26, 2021
A concise articulation of the ideas of Marxism-Leninism. Highly recommended.
October 1, 2017
In pedagogy, Stalin is superior to Lenin, as Engels was superior to Marx. For the introduction of Leninism to new comrades, this book is perfect.
February 19, 2015
Originally presented as a series of lectures in 1924, The Foundations of Leninism is a capitulation of the main theoretical principles of Leninism. Written by Premier of the Soviet Union Iosif Stalin shortly after the death of Lenin, this document possesses the undercurrents of a nascent state after an arduous civil war. Many themes are present here as one would expect, such as fear of losing all progress acquired thus far, hope for a modern, industrialized nation, and sustenance and maturation of a novel socialist state.
In addressing these themes, Marshal Stalin extrapolates from the established theses of Marx and confers with them the primary ideological principles of Lenin. From here, a guiding approach to the Bolshevik direction is addressed. For this, Stalin explains, the employment of socialism in the new state requires an organizational body that importantly does not represent but unites the exploited into a union of the ruling class, a union of local and central power, the soviet. Its power, Stalin elaborates, resides in its ability to destroy oppression, its ability to collaborate between the laborers of the various nationalities of the state, and its ability to unite the masses into a single state union; this soviet power is the expression of the majority of the populace over the minority, the dictatorship of the proletariat over the bourgeoisie.
Since the main thesis of this document is the contributions of Lenin to the body of Marxism, one could view The Foundations of Leninism as one of the first attempts to dictate on Marxist-Leninist ideology. Marshal Stalin's articulation of the subject was integral at the time due to its implementation in governance of the new Soviet state. This would prove crucial as the Soviet Union ascended to superpower status, defeating fascism in Europe and establishing itself as the first and the largest communist world power.
In addressing these themes, Marshal Stalin extrapolates from the established theses of Marx and confers with them the primary ideological principles of Lenin. From here, a guiding approach to the Bolshevik direction is addressed. For this, Stalin explains, the employment of socialism in the new state requires an organizational body that importantly does not represent but unites the exploited into a union of the ruling class, a union of local and central power, the soviet. Its power, Stalin elaborates, resides in its ability to destroy oppression, its ability to collaborate between the laborers of the various nationalities of the state, and its ability to unite the masses into a single state union; this soviet power is the expression of the majority of the populace over the minority, the dictatorship of the proletariat over the bourgeoisie.
Since the main thesis of this document is the contributions of Lenin to the body of Marxism, one could view The Foundations of Leninism as one of the first attempts to dictate on Marxist-Leninist ideology. Marshal Stalin's articulation of the subject was integral at the time due to its implementation in governance of the new Soviet state. This would prove crucial as the Soviet Union ascended to superpower status, defeating fascism in Europe and establishing itself as the first and the largest communist world power.
May 12, 2014
I feel the rating system is almost inappropriate for this title. It is more an interesting historical document and a physical record of hypocrisy than it is a "book" in any traditional sense. Essentially, this is a basic explanation of an ideology that would be used to suit the purposes of the author, one of history's greatest monsters. Being that it is a farce by Stalin, he does a very good job of explaning the basics of Leninism and how they build upon aspects of Marxism or adapt it to the way life was in Russia during that time frame. However, even if you have only a rudimentary knowledge of Russia under Stalin, you will see that a lot of the basic points and tentpoles of this ideology were nothing but lipservice and propaganda to indoctrinate others to stay in line. As he got into the more revolutionary connected principles and talk of the "dictatorship of the proletariat" you begin to see the murky waters that could easily cover up horrors in the name of the greater good.
One should read this if you are interested in the personalities of the Cold War or Soviet Russia, if you wonder how so many people could follow such a monststrous man as was Stalin or if you have a particular interest in great hypocrisy.
One should read this if you are interested in the personalities of the Cold War or Soviet Russia, if you wonder how so many people could follow such a monststrous man as was Stalin or if you have a particular interest in great hypocrisy.
October 21, 2022
Stalin gives a summation the tactics and roles of the communist party. Each chapter details in a plain way, what made a party a Leninist party and how these features (namely tactics, strategy, and political positions) differed from the second international. Knowledge of the global communist movement of this time period is helpful, but not essential in understanding Stalin’s arguments. His formulations on the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, the labor aristocracy, the national question and the communist party should be grappled with by anyone organizing for social change. There are some chapters, particularly those dealing with the particular class contradictions within Russia in the early 1900s, which are not directly applicable to today. However, the strengths and pitfalls of this analysis can be used as an example of how to analyze contradictions. I am critical of the deterministic aspects of Stalin’s understanding of class, revolution and the party. Despite this, The Foundations Of Leninism is extraordinary helpful for those wishing to exact social and political change.
February 22, 2024
A really very bad little book. Stalin condenses Lenin down into singular phrases, pulled out of context, and manipulated to fit whatever rubbish he was peddling at the time. The verbal acrobatics required to attack the theory of permanent revolution, while posing a 'theory' of uninterrupted revolution, is mind-bogglingly stupid and completely unconvincing. Stalin's approach to 'socialism in one country' is at least less clumsy: he simply removed what he had written in the first (1924) edition, and replaced it with a barefaced lie.
September 28, 2017
a clear exposition of the foundations of Leninism. a must read!
May 15, 2024
It was enlightening to actually read about the ideas of Communism without the meme-lens given to it by society. The level of commitment, the theories, the requirements for success are admirable and unique. It’s also a fun and valuable mental exercise to read this in the distant future from its writing, to see how specific ideas flourished into potential, while others were warped into horror.
Stalin, as a writer, sucks. I enjoyed and understood all of the excerpts from Lenin, which made me think… I should’ve just read Lenin.
Stalin, as a writer, sucks. I enjoyed and understood all of the excerpts from Lenin, which made me think… I should’ve just read Lenin.
June 5, 2021
"Democracy under capitalism is capitalist democracy, the democracy of the exploiting minority, based on the restriction of the rights of exploited majority and directed against this majority. Only under the proletarian dictatorship are real liberties for the exploited and real participation of the proletarians and peasants in governing the country possible. Under the dictatorship of the proletariat, democracy is proletarian democracy, the democracy of the exploited majority, based on the restriction of the rights of the exploiting minority and directed against this minority".
I have trouble grasping theory so I really appreciated how accessible the language was. It made me grasp a lot of concepts and I definitely think this is a must-read. especially Chapter 3 clarified so much regarding imperialism and its scope. It amazes and scares me that a book written (ik it's actually a collection of lectures given by Stalin but you get my point) so long ago is still so extremely relevant and seems to be written just yesterday in some parts.
Thanks to ComradeReads on youtube and spotify there is an audiobook version of this book which makes it even more accessible!
I have trouble grasping theory so I really appreciated how accessible the language was. It made me grasp a lot of concepts and I definitely think this is a must-read. especially Chapter 3 clarified so much regarding imperialism and its scope. It amazes and scares me that a book written (ik it's actually a collection of lectures given by Stalin but you get my point) so long ago is still so extremely relevant and seems to be written just yesterday in some parts.
Thanks to ComradeReads on youtube and spotify there is an audiobook version of this book which makes it even more accessible!
October 18, 2020
I read this mostly as a review of concepts I was introduced to by other means. In a backwards way I wanted to read first hand the synthesis of Marxism-Leninism. New to me however was the last chapter, which as an American I found it particularly interesting. And I don't mean to downplay the rest of the book. Stalin is clear and concise as usual and demonstrates himself to be a strong teacher. If you have any questions regarding Marxism-Leninism or are new to studying it, I can't recommend going straight to the source with this book enough. Not to mention it's a short read.
July 7, 2022
very based stuff. many ideas that are clear and concretely put and are seen throughout ml texts; a fundamental text. good, practical examples and insights into history (as one would hope / imagine). chapter on ‘the party’ absolutely slaps. can be slightly repetitive in places.
December 23, 2023
incredibly concise & thorough. stalin has a grasp of lenin's principles and methods and lays them out in a way that anyone can understand and apply to the society in which they live
April 19, 2021
4.5. One of the clearest breakdowns of Marxism-Leninism although done in a somewhat fixed or inflexible way that can be prone to abuse or dogmatic interpretations if one is not careful. Nevertheless the most fundamental elements are broken down in short, easy-to-read chapters (I like that they're more or less the same length and follow a similar structure) almost like (rigorous) notes from a great course/teacher
January 20, 2023
I think I heard someone describe this text as a wooden table —in the sense that it is somewhat static and unable to encompass the constantly shifting and growing tides of the world, or it’s definition of dialectical materialism is simplified to its bare bones and therefore lacks nuance. But I think sometimes one needs a simple wooden table to eat off of — extravagant or complex meals will come eventually.
June 11, 2022
Leninism grew up and took shape under the conditions of imperialism, when the contradictions of capitalism had reached to an extreme point, when the proletarian revolution had become an immediate practical question, when the old period of preparation of the working class for revolution had arrived at and passed into a new period, that of a direct assault on capitalism.
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
March 7, 2023
“In this way the question of the oppressed nations become one of supporting the oppressed nations, of rendering real and continuous assistance to them in their struggle against imperialism for real equality of nations, for their independent existence as states.”
September 19, 2017
Herkesin anlayabileceği bir dille, sade anlatma çabasını seviyorum Stalin'in.
May 14, 2022
fantastic and also underrated intro text, plus is making me want to read collected works of lenin back-to-back because oh my god is there anything lenin hasn't said and been right about
January 13, 2023
beetje raar geschreven maar was slay
July 29, 2024
Learning About Leninism with Uncle Joe
February 10, 2025
Great overview of Lenin's and Stalin's methods based on the Writings of Marx, Engels and Lenin and how they contrast the views of the second international.
April 4, 2025
I love Stalin. He was a good man :)
May 7, 2022
Goodreads just put this book in my recommended even tho I just finished it… lol
December 6, 2024
stalin writes in a style that manages to be extremely straightforward while still using some really fun vocabulary
he's dickriding lenin so hard but tbh thats real
i appreciate how all of it is very practical theory interleaved with very practical philosophy
it's my intro to lenin and it def makes me wanna read his actual works. i think i can see why lenin's leadership and method are so important to revolutionary struggle
he's dickriding lenin so hard but tbh thats real
i appreciate how all of it is very practical theory interleaved with very practical philosophy
it's my intro to lenin and it def makes me wanna read his actual works. i think i can see why lenin's leadership and method are so important to revolutionary struggle
Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews