The Development of Capitalism in Russia

Methodology and Conclusions

In «The Development of Capitalism in Russia», Vladimir Ilyich Lenin employs a historical-materialist approach to analyze the economic and social changes in late 19th-century Russia. Lenin's methodology includes a detailed examination of statistical data, economic reports, and other empirical sources to illustrate how capitalist relations penetrate Russia's agriculture and industry. Lenin analyzes the class structure of society, with particular attention to the peasantry and its stratification, as well as the formation of the proletariat. Lenin concludes that capitalism inevitably develops in Russia, despite its agrarian nature, and this development leads to intensified class struggle, which in turn creates the prerequisites for a socialist revolution. Lenin asserts that capitalism in Russia not only disrupts traditional agrarian relations but also fosters economic progress, albeit accompanied by significant social contradictions.