Rev Left Radio

Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism (Upstream)

16 snips
Jan 2, 2025
Alyson Escalante, co-host of Red Menace, joins Robbie to dive deep into Lenin's insights on imperialism and monopoly capitalism. They discuss the transformation of capitalism into its imperialist phase and challenge the myth of free competition. The conversation reveals how monopolies intertwine with political power, leading to systemic injustices. They also explore contemporary implications of Lenin's theories in a multipolar world and stress the vital need for revolutionary change to address global inequalities.
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INSIGHT

Context of Lenin's Imperialism

  • Lenin's Imperialism was written during World War I, analyzing monopoly capitalism's rise.
  • Lenin saw imperialism as capitalism's final stage, necessitating anti-imperialist struggle for socialism.
INSIGHT

Lenin's Economic Focus

  • Lenin contests the idea of imperialism as a moral failing; it's an economic process.
  • Centralization and the rise of finance capital drive imperialism, dividing the world into spheres of influence.
INSIGHT

The Inevitability of Monopoly

  • Competitive capitalism leads to its own destruction by concentrating production and wealth.
  • "Free market" capitalism inevitably creates monopolies, exemplified by Amazon's dominance.
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