Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism

Summary

The book by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, "Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism," analyzes the economic and political changes occurring in capitalist countries at the beginning of the 20th century. Lenin argues that capitalism has entered a new stage of development—imperialism, characterized by the concentration of production and capital, the formation of monopolies, the merging of banking and industrial capital, the export of capital abroad, and the struggle for the division of the world among the largest powers. According to Lenin, imperialism is the final stage of capitalism, preceding the socialist revolution. He views imperialism as an inevitable result of capitalist development, leading to increased economic inequality and intensified international conflicts.