National-Democratic Tasks in the Era of Imperialism: Lenin’s Theoretical Contributions to Revolutionary Change and Socialist Transition

Abstract

On the centenary of his death, Lenin’s portrayal of modern imperialism remains highly relevant as imperialist interventions and neoliberal policies have dismantled state structures, eroded traditional welfare mechanisms, and fostered fragmented identities. In response, major Eurasian countries like China and Russia, along with Latin American left-wing movements inspired by national figures such as Simón Bolívar and José Martí, confront neo-imperialism and the “Three Evils” associated with Western-supported terrorism, separatism, and religious fundamentalism, which highlights the intertwined nature of national democratic and socialist tasks in today’s context. How did Lenin envision revolutionary strategy in the developing world? What is the contemporary relevance of his revolutionary strategy? How does Lenin’s intellectual legacy contribute to the theorization of national democratic tasks within the socialist revolution? Lenin’s emphasis on integrating socialist and national democratic tasks in revolutionary movements offers a strategic foundation for addressing the complexities of the imperialist era. Importantly, Mao’s notion of New Democracy builds on this Leninist framework by advocating for the centrality of national-democratic tasks to achieve both national independence and socialist transformation. In Lenin’s work, one could discern four basic tenets with respect to the integration of socialist and national-democratic tasks: 1) adopting socialism with national characteristics in order to understand a country’s unique economic and historical conditions; 2) building a broader national-democratic front to collectively overcome feudalism, absolutism, and capitalist-imperialism; 3) persisting in nation building with the aim of promoting rapid economic progress and modernization by consolidating national integrity; and 4) liberating the productive forces under a socialist market economy in order to accelerate socialist transition.