Leninism
(ˈlɛnɪnɪz(ə)m)
[f. Lenin, the assumed name of Vlad{iacu}mir Il'{iacu}ch Ulyánov (1870–1924), the founder and leader of the Bolsheviks and of the Soviet State + -ism.]
The political and economic doctrines of Marx as interpreted and applied by Lenin to the governing of the Soviet Union, to the theory of the international proletarian revolution, and to the dictatorship of the working class. So Leninism–Stalinism, Lenin's doctrines as interpreted and applied by Stalin.
| 1918 Times 19 Jan. 5/1 (caption) From Tsardom to Leninism. 1928 E. & C. Paul tr. Stalin's Leninism i. vi. 53 This second formulation was directed against some critics of Leninism, against the Trotskyists. Ibid. ii. iii. 94 The endeavour of ‘practical’ persons to have no truck with ‘theories’ runs counter to the whole spirit of Leninism and is a great danger to our cause. 1935 Economist 12 Jan. 73/2 ‘Leninism’ is a series of brilliant footnotes to the Marxist philosophy made by an experimenter. 1948 J. Towster Political Power in U.S.S.R. 3 The teachings of this theory are called Marxism, Leninism,..Marxism–Leninism, or Leninism–Stalinism. 1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 21 Aug. 479/3 The remainder of the book follows more familiar lines, Leninism being opposed to Stalinism. 1964 E. H. Carr Socialism in One Country III. i. xxxv. 500 In Bolshevik doctrine Leninism meant the adaptation of Marxism to the conditions not of a particular country, but of a particular historical period. 1966 P. Heath tr. Wetter's Soviet Ideology Today 328 If history has declined to develop in the manner prescribed by Marx, the endeavour must be made to adapt her to this plan. Hence the explicitly voluntaristic element in Leninism. 1966 L. Lempert tr. Vinogradov's Socialist Nationalisation of Industry 19 Leninism maintains, and historical experience confirms, that the ruling classes do not yield power of their own free will. 1971 Times Lit. Suppl. 21 May 589/1 Scholastic disputes about orthodoxy are no longer a feature of studies of Marxism and Leninism. |