Marx vs Lenin
The philosophies of Marx and Lenin differ in their views on society, social conflicts, and their causes. These two thinkers made significant contributions to sociology through their unique approaches and their philosophies, known as Marxism and Leninism.
Who is Lenin?
Born in 1870, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, known as Lenin, was a communist revolutionary. He served as the head of the Russian government from 1917 to 1922. Lenin taught people about capitalism and called for the highest stage of capitalism. His perception ranged from imperialism to capitalism, with the transition taking place according to Lenin’s philosophy. He also explained how activists in a country like Russia could carry out the final act in a revolution and emphasized the importance of a dedicated revolutionary party.
Who is Marx?
Karl Marx was born in 1818 in Germany and is considered one of the most prominent figures in sociology. In addition to being a sociologist, he was also a philosopher and economist. Marx’s perception of society focused on the conflict between two classes: the haves and the have-nots (working class). He believed that production played a significant role in an economy and that the working class consisted of peasants and laborers. Marx identified differentiation between agricultural landowners and peasants, as well as between factory owners and workers, which he believed often led to struggles between these groups.
Key Takeaways
- Lenin was heavily influenced by the ideas of Marx, but deviated from Marx’s original ideas in implementation.
- Marx believed that the revolution of the working class was inevitable, while Lenin argued that imperialism needed to be addressed for a revolution to occur.
- Marx believed that communist revolutions would take place in highly developed countries, while Lenin’s communist revolution occurred in economically stagnant Russia.
