this post was submitted on 05 May 2025
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Theory Discussion Group

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[–] Comrade_Improving@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 3 days ago (2 children)

What is contained in Lenin's method was in the main already contained in the teachings of Marx, which, according to Marx himself, were "in essence critical and revolutionary."(...) As a matter of fact, Lenin's method is not only the restoration of, but also the concretisation and further development of the critical and revolutionary method of Marx, of his materialist dialectics.

Some think that Leninism is the precedence of practice over theory in the sense that its main point is the translation of the Marxist theses into deeds, their "execution"; as for theory; it is alleged that Leninism is rather unconcerned about it.

I must declare that this more than odd opinion about Lenin and Leninism is quite wrong and bears no relation whatever to the truth; that the attempt of practical workers to brush theory aside runs counter to the whole spirit of Leninism and is fraught with serious dangers to the work.

Theory is the experience of the working-class movement in all countries taken in its general aspect. Of course, theory becomes purposeless if it is not connected with revolutionary practice, just as practice gropes in the dark if its path is not illumined by revolutionary theory. But theory can become a tremendous force in the working-class movement if it is built up in indissoluble connection with revolutionary practice;

I must add to this that saying that Marx only cared about theory is such an absurd lie that only revisionists could come up with it, the man was exiled from multiple countries and persecuted until his last days because of his definitely practical participation in proletarian movements.

[–] Commiejones@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 2 days ago

Marx understood the actions required by the material conditions of his place and time were primarily agitation and propaganda. Too many people think praxis means reading a chapter of theory for every bomb you plant. Material conditions are the fulcrum on which the balance of theory and action plays out. We don't all get to be Che Guevara.

[–] cfgaussian@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 2 days ago

Of course, theory becomes purposeless if it is not connected with revolutionary practice, just as practice gropes in the dark if its path is not illumined by revolutionary theory.

Lenin and Mao agree with Stalin:

"Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement, " —Lenin

"No political party can possibly lead a great revolutionary movement to victory unless it possesses revolutionary theory and a knowledge of history and has a profound grasp of the practical movement." —Mao

And:

"If we have a correct theory but merely prate about it, pigeonhole it and do not put it into practice, then that theory, however good, is of no significance." —Mao

[–] bennieandthez@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 5 days ago

Lol my reactionary dad worldview is starting to fall apart, its pretty funny to watch. Thanks comrade JDPON don for this.

[–] Commiejones@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 5 days ago

imperialism cannot exist without exploiting colonies and forcibly retaining them within the framework of the "integral whole"; because imperialism can bring nations together only by means of annexations and colonial conquest, without which imperialism is, generally speaking, inconceivable.
For communism, on the contrary, these tendencies are but two sides of a single cause-the cause of the emancipation of the oppressed people from the yoke of imperialism; because communism knows that the union of peoples in a single world economic system is possible only in the basis of mutual confidence and voluntary agreement, and that road to the formation of a voluntary union of peoples lies through the separation of the colonies from the "integral" imperialist "whole," through the transformation of the colonies into independent states.
Hence the necessity for a stubborn, continuous and determined struggle against the dominant-nation chauvinism of the "Socialist" of the ruling nations (Britain, France, America, Italy, Japan, etc.), who do not want to fight their imperialist governments, who do not want to support the struggle of the oppressed peoples in "their" colonies for emancipation from oppression, for secession.

Even Stalin knew the western left was useless in 1924.

[–] Commiejones@lemmygrad.ml 13 points 1 week ago

Leninism is Marxism of the era of imperialism and the proletarian revolution.

Not sure why but this line hit really hard. Like he spent the first 2 paragraphs setting up just to say this line.

Lenin called imperialism "moribund capitalism". Why? Because imperialism carries the contradictions of capitalism to their last bounds, to the extreme limit, beyond which revolution begins.

Of these contradictions, there are three which must be regarded as the most important.

1. contradiction between labour and capitalImperialism is the omnipotence of the monopolist trusts and syndicates, of the banks and the financial oligarchy, in the industrial countries. In the fight against this omnipotence, the customary methods of the working class-trade unions and cooperatives, parliamentary parties and the parliamentary struggle-have proved to be totally inadequate. Either place yourself at the mercy of capital, eke out a wretched existence as of old and sink lower and lower, or adopt a new weapon-this is the alternative imperialism puts before the vast masses of the proletariat. Imperialism brings the working class to revolution.

2. contradiction among the various financial groups and imperialist Powers in their struggle for sources of raw materials, for foreign territory.

Imperialism is the export of capital to the sources of raw materials, the frenzied struggle for monopolist possession of these sources, the struggle for a re-division of the already divided world, a struggle waged with particular fury by new financial groups and Powers seeking a "place in the sun" against the old groups and Powers, which cling tenaciously to what they have seized. This frenzied struggle among the various groups of capitalists is notable in that it includes as an inevitable element imperialist wars, wars for the annexation of foreign territory. This circumstance, in its turn, is notable in that it leads to the mutual weakening of the imperialists, to the weakening of the position of capitalism in general, to the acceleration of the advent of the proletarian revolution and to the practical necessity of this revolution.

3. contradiction between the handful of ruling, "civilised" nations and the hundreds of millions of the colonial and dependent peoples of the world.

Imperialism is the most barefaced exploitation and the most inhumane oppression of hundreds of millions of people inhabiting vast colonies and dependent countries. The purpose of this exploitation and of this oppression is to squeeze out super-profits. But in exploiting these countries imperialism is compelled to build these railways, factories and mills, industrial and commercial centers. The appearance of a class of proletarians, the emergence of a native intelligentsia, the awakening of national consciousness, the growth of the liberation movement-such are the inevitable results of this "policy." The growth of the revolutionary movement in all colonies and dependent countries without exception clearly testifies to this fact. This circumstance is of importance for the proletariat inasmuch as it saps radically the position of capitalism by converting the colonies and dependent countries from reserves of imperialism into reserves of the proletarian revolution.

[–] sithlorddahlia@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Comrade Socialism For All put up an audiobook

YouTube

Soundcloud

[–] r2castro 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Another option here: Youtube Playlist

Also RevLeft Radio did a commentary.

[–] TankieReplyBot@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 6 days ago

I found YouTube links in your comment. Here are links to the same videos on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:

Link 1:

Link 2:

[–] GrainEater@lemmygrad.ml 14 points 1 week ago (2 children)

He's a typical anti-China Western "communist". The audiobooks are fine if you can ignore the commentary, but I'd stay away from all of his recent work

[–] Malkhodr@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 1 week ago

I'm endlessly gracious for his extensive library and making revolutionary texts accessible (it's how read this book before), but his opinions as a Marxist are definitely... unrefined I guess I would say. He has read mountains of text compare to me, yet some of his mistakes signal to me a lack of actual engagement with practice. It's not the absolute worst I've seen, my university has an Ultra/trot (it's hard to tell) group that I think does this much worse while providing less praxis.

I also find him unnecessarily petty. His evaluation that American Marxists should support the greens over PSL comes off as an egotistical position based off of the PSLs support of "dengism" (in his words). His arguments aren't even entirely bad, and he makes points worth contending with in regards to the necessity of a Mass party vs a Vanguard atm, but it's obvious that his opinion of the China question is taking precedent on that conversation, which devalues the rest I'd his argument.

Again his audiobooks are genuinely an amazing resource for comrades and I'd argue it has done much more in spreading class consciousness then a bunch of others, but it's sad to see the amount if caveats that exist within nearly every western leftist.

[–] sithlorddahlia@lemmygrad.ml 6 points 1 week ago

I am aware. I hope that he kicks that mentality as his work with getting theory widely available cant be understated.

[–] TankieReplyBot@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 1 week ago

I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy: