Lenin's Imperialism nearly 100 years on: an outdated paradigm?

Marshall, A. (2014) Lenin's Imperialism nearly 100 years on: an outdated paradigm? Critique: Journal of Socialist Theory, 42(3), pp. 317-333. (doi: 10.1080/03017605.2014.972615)

Abstract

Lenin's <i>Imperialism. The Highest Stage of Capitalism</i> formed part of the canon of mainstream Marxist writing for much of the 20th century, and also represented a critical reference point for Marxist attempts to interpret international relations for much of the same period. At one and the same time both a stinging condemnation of the betrayal of the European working class by their political leaders in 1914, and a synthesis, with some original elements, of existing contemporary Marxist theory on imperialism, Lenin's ‘popular outline’ subsequently (from around the time of the ‘New Left’ onwards) came under increasing fire for being incoherent, irrelevant and overrated. This article revisits both the contemporary genesis of the text, and the question of its longer term pertinence and relevance in the light of capitalism's current crisis.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Marshall, Dr Alexander
• Authors: Marshall, A.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > History
• Journal Name: Critique: Journal of Socialist Theory
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 0301-7605
• ISSN (Online): 1748-8605
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 Taylor and Francis
• First Published: First published in Critique: A Journal of Socialist Theory 42(3):317-333
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.