A Study Of Lenin 's Thought Of Early Russian Capitalism Development

From1893to the First World War, Lenin creatively applied Marxist Fundamental Principle to Russia. He effectively investigated the process of the formation and development of Russian capitalism, solving the problem if the capitalism could develop or not in Russia and how to develop, and formed the thought of Russian capitalist development. The thought not only constituted the base of Leninism, but also inherited Marx’s and Engel’s capitalist development theory and started Lenin’s socialist construction theory. Thus, it plays an important part in the history of Marxism.The research approach of this paper is as follows. One is from the point to the surface, that is, combing and expounding Lenin’s early thought of Russian capitalist development from two aspects of the inner and external, not only to outstanding the logic level through the various aspects of the thought, but also to pay attention to examine the relationship between the thought and Lenin’s other theories, which tries to break through the point-to-line research. On the other hand, it proceeds from the surface to what lies behind, that is, examining the characteristics of Lenin’s comment of the problem of Russian capitalist development, analyzing the academic-political feature of Lenin’s thought, which strives to avoid purely regarding the political ideology of the proletarian revolutionaries as academic ideology.The problem of Russian capitalist development can be attributed to three major issues:"what","why" and "how". On the two issues of "what" and "why", Lenin expounded the possibility, inevitability, historical progress and proud social contradictions of Russian capitalism. This was Lenin’s scientific explanation to the question "the fate of Russian capitalism". It denied and criticized Russian populist’s theory of "non-capitalist road", refuted the defense for capitalism and attack to Marxism that came from Russian "legal Marxism". On the issue of "how" about Russian capitalism, Lenin thought that backward was the feature of Russian capitalism, which was due to the old system that was incompatible with capitalist. Based on the development of social productive force and the interest of working masses, Lenin claimed Russian capitalism should take the way of farmer’s or "American" that was revolutionary road. In general, Lenin’s thought about Russian capitalist development has three characteristics. He talked about the necessity of Russian capitalism from social economic reality; commented the progress of Russian capitalist in historic angle; and analyzed the contradiction of Russian capitalism on the standpoint of proletarians. This type of analysis, research and the value were throughout Leninism. We can say that Lenin’s idea of using capitalism to develop socialism during the new economic policy period came from his early research and understanding about Russian capitalism. Specifically, there is a high degree of consistency in logic and a high degree of inheritance in history. Lenin’s affirmation and negation of Russian capitalism reveals an attitude that the countries with backward economy and culture should treat with capitalism. It also offers us an important realistic enlightenment in studying and dealing with the relationship of socialism and capitalism.