Problems of Leninism

Problems of Leninism is a work by Joseph Stalin that codifies the ideology of Marxism-Leninism, which became the official doctrine of Soviet and Eastern European communist parties. Stalin's work simplifies and adapts Marxism-Leninism, resting on Hegelian dialectic and a materialism similar to Feuerbach's.1

The ideology emphasizes a dialectical development of history through successive phases, with evolution occurring in leaps and contradictions being essential to development. The law of this development is economic, with all other contradictions rooted in production relations. Stalin's approach is characterized by a focus on immediate goals and practical results, leading to a "revolution from above" through industrialization and collectivization, often enforced by repression and centralization of power. This contrasts with Marx's emphasis on the intellectual development of the proletariat through common action and discussion. Lenin himself expressed disillusionment with the growing bureaucratization of the Soviet state and party, and the concentration of power, particularly in the hands of Stalin.12