Lenin versus Stalin: The National Question

Abstract

This article revisits Lenin's vision of a socialist federation of autonomous republics in light of contemporary global tensions, such as ethnic conflicts and financial rivalries. Lenin’s stance on the national question—supporting the right to self-determination for nations within the Tsarist empire—led to the recognition of independence for Finland, Poland, and the Baltic states after the Bolshevik revolution. The piece contrasts Lenin's approach with Stalin's centralizing and bureaucratic policies, highlighting the ideological rift between the two figures, particularly in relation to the autonomy of Soviet republics like Georgia and Ukraine. The author reflects on how Lenin's fight against Russian chauvinism and imperialism remains relevant today for internationalist perspectives, especially concerning stateless peoples like the Palestinians and Kurds. Lenin’s proposal of a confederation of nations stands as an alternative to state separation, a vision echoed in contemporary movements like the Kurdish struggle for democratic confederalism. Though Lenin’s dream was short-lived under Stalin's dictatorship, it remains a potential model for revolutionary socialist cooperation between peoples.