Examine the differences between Marx and Lenin. Did Lenin and the Bolsheviks destroy Marxism? What is the relationship between orthodox Marxism and democratic socialism?
Marxism and Leninism, are both two kinds of political thoughts. Karl Marx framed Marxism methodology which Vladimir Lenin implemented it practically as he developed the first Marxist state in the form of Russia.
Marxism implied that the values of proletariats are far more important than nationality, religion, and ethnicity. Karl Marx believed that eventually there would come a time when the working class would rule every country in the world. Therefore, according to him, all the social and human economic development will finally conclude to communism. But his theory stated that this kind of revolution was only possible in well-established countries where the difference between rich and poor classes is significant, and the developing societies possess enough ideological and philosophical maturity.
Marxist theory was not able to explain what happened in World War 1 when Capitalist owners of Germany bought their workers and got them into fighting French proletariats. Thus, what Lenin did was only altering the Marx theory such that it can fit into a developing country like Russia. Leninism states that the revolution will come in developing countries because the fight is now between the poor and the rich countries rather than the proletariat and the capitalist class.
Lenin or the Bolsheviks did not destroy Marxism. They are just an updated and practical version of the Marx philosophical theory. Lenin led the Bolshevik faction to establish Russia as the first country ever to possess the dictatorship of the proletariats.
Democratic socialism is very much different to Marxism as it favors the corporate ownership of companies and businesses. It does not eliminate the capitalist structure which is the main aspect of Marxism. Democratic socialism supports the governmental or democratic processes contrary to Marxism that involves the violent revolution.
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