Putin, A Typical Imperialist

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded the neighbouring country of Ukraine. As the Russian military is far stronger than that of Ukraine, it was thought that the war would be over very quickly, with Ukraine under Russian rule. Such is hardly the case, as the Ukrainians have put up a heroic resistance. The whole world is watching closely, especially as the threat of nuclear war is paramount.

It is very likely that a great many people are confused, as they tend to identify Russia with the Soviet Union, the country which was able to absorb the assault of the Nazi invasion of 1941, the same Nazis which had conquered western Europe. The Soviet Union was then able to go on the offensive and defeat the Nazis. Of course, in the process, the sacrifices of the Soviet people were appalling.

So in the interests of providing a little clarification, a brief lesson in history is required.

We can start by facing the fact that on November 7, 1917, (new style calendar) the Russian revolution, led by Lenin, succeeded in establishing the first successful socialist republic in the world. The Russian empire was dissolved, so that the countries which had been ruled by Czarist Russia, were able to achieve independence. The country of Russia was declared to be a republic, which is to say that it no longer recognized any monarch, and the official name of the country became Soviet Russia.

As an aside, the word Soviet, in Russian, means Council, in English. I mention this as it is so important. The Russian revolutionary motion spontaneously gave rise to Soviets, or Councils, just as is happening now in North America. Just as these Councils formed the basis of a new proletarian state power, after the revolution, we can expect the same thing here in North America. But to proceed.

After the socialist revolution, it was not ”smooth sailing”. The country was still at war with Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria, referred to as the Quadruple Alliance. Russia was able to secure peace with those countries, but at a very high price. Each and every one of them wanted a ”piece of Mother Russia”, and they got it, in the Treaty of Brest Litovsk, signed in March of 1918.

At that time, the country of Russia, in which three quarters of the people were peasants, was in ruins. There followed a brief interlude of relative peace, in which Lenin and the Bolsheviks, as the Marxists of the day were then called, were able to make a start at rebuilding the country.

On November 11, 1918, the First World War was over. An Armistice was signed, and the imperialists of the various countries ”came to their senses”, so to speak. They realized that socialist Soviet Russia was a common enemy, and determined to destroy that country and Bolshevism, along with it. With that in mind, the countries of Britain, France and America, were able to arm and equip numerous rebel armies, in countries adjacent to Russia. These troops were referred to as ”Whites”, as opposed to the Russian ”Red” army. Their goal was to crush the upstart Soviet republic. They very nearly succeeded. At one point, three quarter of the country was occupied by the invading armies, and the Russian Soviets, the Red Army, were fighting the war on five fronts. Against all the odds, they succeeded in driving out the invaders. After all, they were fighting for their freedom, and were led by Lenin and the Bolsheviks. There are similarities to the situation that currently exists in Ukraine!

It was only in 1921, after three years of civil war, that the invaders were finally driven out. At that point, Russia was able to adopt a policy of modern industrialization, in order to prepare for the anticipated next invasion. After all, the imperialists are not about to allow a socialist state to live in peace.

This brings us to the subject of imperialism, of which so much has been written. No doubt many people are wondering how it differs from capitalism. Lenin explained this very well, in his excellent book, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism. In fact, imperialism is nothing other than capitalism, in its highest stage, that of monopoly. This transition took place at or around the beginning of the twentieth century. Imperialism, or monopoly capitalism, is somewhat different from ”free market capitalism”. In fact, it has five essential features, as Lenin explained:

”1) The concentration of production and capital developed to such a stage that it creates monopolies which play a decisive role in economic life

”2) The merging of bank capital with industrial capital, and the creation, on the basis of ‘finance capital’, of a financial oligarchy

”3) The export of capital, which has become extremely important, as distinguished from the export of commodities

”4) The formation of international capitalist monopolies which share the world among themselves

”5) The territorial division of the whole world among the greatest capitalist powers is completed

”Imperialism is capitalism in that stage of development in which the domination of monopolies and finance capital has established itself; in which the export of capital has acquired pronounced importance; in which the division of the world among the international trusts has begun; in which the partition of all the territories of the globe among the great capitalist powers has been completed”.

That is a rather complete definition of imperialism, rather technical, but very accurate. Yet the question remains, whether it is possible to reform imperialism? The answer is that, as Lenin stated: ”the political features of imperialism are reaction all along the line, and increased national oppression, resulting from the oppression of the financial oligarchy and the elimination of free competition”. In other words, most emphatically, no!

For the benefit of those readers who are something other than ”Philadelphia lawyers”, I will mention that the internet gives a rather fine definition of a reactionary: ”In political science, an ultra conservative, a person who holds political views that favour a return to the status quo, the previous state of society, which that person believes possessed positive characteristics, absent from contemporary society”.

As all imperialists are completely reactionary, it stands to reason that we can expect nothing progressive from them. Nor is there any point in trying to ”turn back the hands of time”, to the time of competitive capitalism, as it simply cannot be done. Now it is simply a matter of destroying the imperialists.

To return to Russia of 1921, which was in a state of complete ruin, after seven years of war, Lenin determined that the only way to industrialize the country, was to invite in the foreign capitalists. This gave birth to the New Economic Policy, in which the capitalists, of various countries, were able to invest their capital, make a huge profit, while converting Russia into a highly industrialized country. In fact, within twenty years, the country went from being ”one hundred years behind America”, to being almost on the same level.

Also, in 1922, the country of Russia united with several other socialist republics, which had formerly been crushed by the Czarist Russian Empire. These included the republics of Ukraine and of Belorussia, among others. This in turn gave birth to the socialist Soviet Union. At about the same time, the Bolsheviks, Marxists, adopted the name Communists.

Sadly, Lenin died in 1924, so that Stalin was forced to ”carry the torch”. The economic development that Lenin had started was carried forward, so that the country became highly industrialized. The Soviets managed to accomplish, in twenty years, that which it has taken the capitalists, one hundred years to manage! This did not happen any too soon, as of course, the Nazis first conquered western Europe, in 1939 and 1940, and then invaded the Soviet Union, in 1941.

It was only because of the leadership of Stalin and the Communists, as well as the fact that the country was highly industrialized, that the Soviets were able to repel the assault of the Nazis. Yet upon the death of Stalin in 1953, the Russian capitalists were able to return to power.

For the next few years, the Soviet Union became known as the ”chauvinist” Soviet Union, ”socialists in words, chauvinists in deeds”. Then it collapsed in 1989, so that the various republics were able to declare independence. Yet Belarus continues to have close ties with Russia.

In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine, first captured and then annexed the Crimean Peninsula, in the southern part of the country. This has enabled Russia to attack Ukraine from the south, as well as the east, as Russia borders Ukraine to the east, and from the north, as Belarus borders Ukraine from the north.

Now ten days into the war, the journalists are questioning the ”mental state” of Putin. They maintain that previously, he was ”cold and calculating”, but is now ”erratic, unhinged, delusional, paranoid, terrifying, isolated, not listening to reason”. In fact, he placed his nuclear forces on alert.

The western forces of NATO consider this to be a threat of nuclear war. For that reason, they are reluctant to declare a ”No Fly Zone” over the country of Ukraine. Their fear is that it would almost certainly result in the downing of Russian aircraft, and the beginning of World War Three, a nuclear war. Their fears are well grounded.

This is not to say that Putin is a mad man, a raving lunatic. He is not. He is merely a typical imperialist, a complete reactionary, determined to return to the ”good old days” of the Soviet Empire. He is no different from any other imperialist, of any other imperialist country.

This is to say that the countries of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which includes the countries of North America and western Europe, are also imperialist. The leaders of those countries are every bit as reactionary as Putin!

It is clear that the war is not going the way Putin had planned. Not at all. For several days, a massive convoy of thousands of vehicles has been parked outside the capital city of Kiev, apparently out of fuel, food and spare parts. As well, the Ukranian air force has not been destroyed. The plan to capture Kiev and secure the country within several days, has proven to be wishful thinking. But then, that is typical imperialist logic.

The American military experts are of the opinion that time, is on the side of Ukraine. Each day they hold out, allows them to evacuate ever more civilians, get their hands on ever more weapons, which are being supplied by various countries, and become proficient with those weapons. As well, a foreign volunteer legion is being created and trained, in Lviv, in the western part of the country. Many of these soldiers are familiar with the latest armaments, and are prepared to train others.

The American military experts are impressed by the ”creative manner in which the Ukrainians are attacking columns”, which is high praise, considering the source. Among other things, they are using drones, which have proven to be quite effective.

The whole country has been mobilized. Civilians are producing camoflage netting, to be used to screen various weapons. As well, so called ”Molotov Cocktails”, or petroleum bombs, glass bottles filled with gasoline and soap, are also being produced, in great volume. The soap allows the gasoline to jell, so that it can be thought of as a ”poor mans napalm bomb”. These are also being referred to as ”Lviv Smoothies”.

As for those who consider these to be primitive and ineffective, bear in mind that at the time of the Americans invasion of Viet Nam, the Vietnamese used dried bamboo as weapons. Primitive, but supremely effective. Countless American service men can testify to the effectiveness of such ”primitive” weapons.

On two occasions, the leaders of both countries have met for talks. It is reported that they agreed to ”safe corridors”, with cease fires, to allow for evacuations of civilians, and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the country. The trains in Ukraine are running supremely well, so that over a million civilians have already left the country. That number is expected to rise dramatically, so that the people who remain in the country, men and women, will be able to focus on the war effort, without having to worry about the civilians. It is clear that a great many modern weapons are reaching the troops on the front line. Of course, the Ukrainians are not disclosing just how these weapons are being delivered.

All American military analysts are agreed that the Russian invaders have made a ”rookie mistake”, in that they have not severed the Ukrainian communications networks. The Americans learned in Viet Nam, that to have journalists broadcasting live, from the war zones, as the troops are fighting, is not a good idea. The people at home should not be made aware of the slaughter that is taking place! It tends to intensify the anti war movement! God forbid that citizens should learn the truth! That is the last thing the military wants to see! For that reason, the American journalists were not allowed to film the next war, in Afghanistan. So the military was able to wage war, in relative secrecy, for another twenty years.

Now the Russian military is going through that same ”learning curve”, to use one of their ridiculous expressions. Even though the Russian media is producing glowing reports, concerning the ”special military operation” in Ukraine, the Russian members of the public are receiving videos, or emails, on their computers and cell phones, concerning the true state of war. Opposition to the war, by the Russian civilians, is becoming ever more intense, as is the government crack downs.

Even without those videos, the members of the Russian public are aware that something is terribly wrong. The value of the ruble is now around one cent, due to inflation. The ruble has dropped dramatically. No doubt all working people are feeling the pinch.

The bourgeois press is reporting that the Russian ”Oligarchs” are also being ”targeted”. They are careful to avoid the use of class terms! In fact, these oligarchs are members of the Russian bourgeoisie, the ”super rich”, the monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires. Various governments are seizing their yachts, private jets and luxury apartments. As it is assumed that they have political connections to Putin, it is thought that they will put pressure on Putin, to end the war. If nothing else, it is a happy thought.

The president of Ukraine, Zalensky, has been calling upon NATO to provide a ”No Fly Zone” over Ukraine. Such a Zone would be to the advantage of Ukraine, as the Russians have a vast air superiority. So of course Putin is dead set against this.

Even the NATO military analysts are agreed that such a Zone could lead to a ”broader war”, even ”World War 3”, a ”nuclear war”, as it would lead to Russian aircraft being shot down, and Russia would consider that an act of war. Imagine that!

Yet there is a ”back door”, as the press refers to it. They are referring to the ”United Nations Articles 27 and 52”. The journalists say that those two articles give the United Nations -UN- the right to establish a No Fly Zone over Ukraine. They can do this with the ”vote of nine members of the fifteen member UN Security Council”. The press also reports that as Russia is ”part of the conflict”, it has to ”abstain from voting”.

This may or may not be true. The point is that the NATO imperialists are determined to take control of Ukraine, and they are quite prepared to risk war, even nuclear war, in the process.

Ever more NATO troops are being sent to western Europe. The French have just sent an aircraft carrier to the region. The Americans have sent huge B52 bombers to the area, within ”one hundred kilometres” of the border.

It is clear that the western imperialists are squabbling with the Russian imperialists, over the ”juicy little morsel” of Ukraine. It is the current ”bone of contention”. It is also clear that the people or Ukraine are putting up a heroic resistance, against the Russian invaders. Those people certainly deserve our complete support.

This is not to say that we should support the imperialists of the west, in the form of NATO, against the Russian imperialists. It is up to all working people of the world to unite, to oppose all imperialists, starting with the imperialists of our own countries.

It is also up to conscious people, those who are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, Communists, to raise the level of awareness of working people. Of necessity, most of those people are current or former members of the middle class, the petty bourgeois. As best I can gather, that is not happening. At least, if it is happening, it is a well kept secret, and that defeats the purpose!

As I explained in a previous article, it is only in university that people are exposed to the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, and then only with a view to distorting those theories. It is also a fact that such a university education is limited mainly to the bourgeois, the children of capitalists. The children of very few working class people are able to go to university.

Yet the ”cultural level” of the working class, the proletariat, has increased dramatically, within the last few years. Countless working people now own computers, or various ”digital devices”, which include cell phones, smart phones and whatever else. These are now being used to take pictures and videos, and can be posted instantly onto the internet. They can also download from the internet. Precisely what we need!

As stated previously, the middle class intellectuals are not performing their duty, that of raising the level of awareness of the working class, the proletariat. So now it is up to the working class to educate itself. Yet now we have to go one step further, to literally unite with the workers of all other countries, through the internet. That includes the working class of Russia, as well as of Ukraine. The working classes of all the NATO countries must come together with the working classes of all the eastern countries. We must take to heart the slogan, suggested by Marx himself, that of: Workers of the World, Unite!

It is the combination of a high cultural level of the working classes, of so many countries of the world, along with the existence of the internet, which makes this possible. As well, the fact is that a great many working people are multi lingual, so that workers in one country can now communicate with workers of different countries, in their own languages. All can be encouraged to download the ”Essential Works of Lenin”, including State and Revolution, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, and What Is To Be Done? An understanding of those revolutionary works will provide a solid grounding in the theories of Marx and Lenin.

In addition, the workers of various countries can discuss, on the internet, the anti war, anti capitalist movements, in their own countries. They can even coordinate their revolutionary activities. This will have the effect of strengthening the international working class revolutionary movement. Every capitalists worst nightmare!

In particular, the working class of Russia must be assured that they are our Comrades. We have the same class enemy. The old time Russian Czar, the Romanovs, have managed to return to power, in the form of Putin and the Oligarchs. The names and faces are different, but the method of rule is similar. They amount to the new Russian monarchy, the new Czars. Just as the Romanov’s were overthrown, so too Putin and the Oligarchs must be overthrown.

Even though Lenin is no longer with us, his works are readily available. As a fellow Russian, he outlined precisely the manner in which the Czar had to be fought and then overthrown. His advice is as valid then, as it is now. Legal work must be combined with illegal work. The level of awareness of the working class must be raised. Use the internet to download works of Lenin and Marx. Send emails to as many working people as possible. Trust on one. No doubt Putin has agents working within the working class, informers who are more than happy to ”rat out” a fellow worker.

Bear in mind that it was Lenin who first organized the League of Struggle For the Emancipation of the Working Class. He was also promptly thrown into prison. Try to avoid prison, as people who are locked up, are of limited usefulness.

With that in mind, those who are more familiar with the internet can put their training to good use. There must be a way to communicate with each other, without the government authorities becoming aware. The pedophiles and ”human traffickers” do this on a regular basis. If they can do this, then we can do this.

The Russian people are supremely proud, with good reason. It is the country of Lenin, with a history of revolutions. It was Russia that demonstrated to the world the manner in which a most reactionary monarchy could be overthrown, and then the capitalists in their turn, and how to establish Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Now the Russian working people will show the world how to restore the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

We will know we are achieving our goal when protesters from Kiev to Moscow, from Washington to Beijing, carry banners which proclaim:

Workers of the World, Unite!