In other words, freedom in the capitalist sense is not freedom for all; rather, it is freedom for the minority, the ruling capitalist class. Overall, it is this Marxian view of capitalist exploitation of the proletariat and the elitist concept of freedom under capitalism that Lenin adopts in his general analysis of freedom.
As for his analysis of the state, Lenin also derives his basic concept of the nature of the state from Marx's Communist Manifesto. Marx asserts that in any state, "political power is merely the organized power of one class for oppressing another" (220). It is therefore the nature of the state to include class divisions, for the state according to Marx is a mere institution for political power. Marx believes, then, that the state (the oppression of classes) must be eliminated in order to destroy the exclusivity of freedom to the wealthy and to destroy the exploitation of the proletariat. In Lenin's analysis of freedom and state, his definition of "state" parallels that of Marx's. Lenin asserts that the state is "a special machine for the suppression of one class by another" (238). It is Lenin's belief, therefore, that the absence of the state is a necessary condition to achieve social harmony and freedom for all. In order to end suppression of the classes, classes themselves must be eliminated. According to Lenin, "when there is no distinction between the members of society as regards their relation to the social means of production, only then "the state ceases to exist," and "it becomes possible to speak of freedom"" (238). Without class divisions, there will be no one class that rules the means of production, the essential tool used to exploit the lower class. With the absence of the state comes the absence of the classes, thereby allowing all people to be free from exploitation and alienation.
Though the absence of the state is a necessary condition, there are certain economic conditions that must be present in order for freedom (that is, freedom from exploitation) to truly exist.
From the year 1830 to 1848, different areas of Europe were undergoing an important revolution. ... Other successful revolutions included Belgium. In 1830, Belgium defeated the Dutch and became an independent state with its own liberal constitution. ... Another area where revolution was victorious was in the Austrian Empire during 1848. ... Some of significant revolutions were not as successful, however. ...
Revolutions are and will always be a turning point in history, whether it was the French Revolution, a political overthrow, or the Industrial Revolution, a new way of living. ... Factories were a main effect of the Industrial Revolution and were extremely important to the Revolution. ... Capitalism is an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit rather than by the state. ... However, as grand as communism sounds, no state truly ever achieves it because before communism you need socialism which is when resources are di...
A very important revolution accredited within Latin American history is the Mexican Revolution of 1910. ... The Mexican Revolution of 1910 was a revolution led by simple citizens of Mexico rising up and declaring their fundamental rights. ... The Mexican Revolution was brought on several factors. ... (The Mexican Revolution, 1). ... For example, peasant farmers in the state of Chiapas have always fought hard for their land and their survival. ...
The measures of two important revolutions held major contributions to their nation; these two revolutions are the French Revolution and the Philippines Revolution. ... Of all the revolutions studied in global history, the French Revolution and the Philippine Revolution has had the greatest social, economical and political impact. ... He signed an agreement to establish a relationship between the church and the state without misbalancing the power. ... He stabilized currency, established a national bank, gave state loans to businesses and instituted an equal tax system. ... The French Revolu...
The Mexican Revolution demonstrates a clear form of a revolutionary movement caused by multiple factors. Throughout the years from 1910 to 1920, the revolution took place in order to bring awareness of the state's dissatisfactory. ... The goal for the citizens was to overthrow the government and the state of Mexico; however, the people did not attempt to work within their system in order to fight for their beliefs. ... The factors contributed to the revolution while Diaz was in power of the citizens of Mexico. ... Villa was a famous Mexican military leader of the phase in the Mexican Revo...
Serving as the population's voice, Liang Heng's "Son of the Revolution" gives readers an inside look at the impact the Revolution had on China. One of the most interesting impacts, as well the major contributor fueling the Revolution, was the mindless and brainwashed state the Chinese were placed under. ... The Cultural Revolution also depicted intellectuals and scholars as evil and needed to be reformed. ... It was not until his death in 1976 that China was released from the Cultural Revolution. The result of which was a release from the brainwashed state the Chinese had been under...
The Scientific Revolution changed the way people thought about the physical world around them. ... The scientific revolution changed the way people thought about the physical world around them. ... The Scientific Revolution possibly would not be called the Scientific Revolution without the contributions of Galileo. ... Galileo created the Law of Inertia that stated an object is at rest until an external force moves it. ... Traditional authority was challenged during the Scientific Revolution. ...
How did this revolution change European society from a social, economic and political standpoint? ... This quote stated by Benjamin Disraeli in his book Sybil, describes the hard working conditions in factory towns. ... Another Precursor to the Industrial Revolution was capital. ... In order for any revolution to happens that nation needs money. ... One can now see that the Industrial Revolution was not just all, great happiness. ...
Revolutions begin as a protest against tyranny, but end by creating a state far more powerful than the one that they replace. ... In France, the revolution began as a protest against tyranny and ended by creating an immensely powerful state. ... After the terror, an immensely strong state emerged. ... Initially, the French revolution transformed the dynastic state of the ancien regime into the modern state. The state belonged to the people. ...