The Soviet Socialist Leader

Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov, more popularly known as Lenin, is arguably the greatest
leader in Russian and Soviet Union History. Lenin inspired and led the Bolshevik
(Communist) Revolution of 1917, and was the architect and first head of the recently
dismantled United Soviet Socialist Republic. I would also argue that the Bolshevik
Revolution is the most significant political event of the 20th century, and Lenin must for
good or ill be regarded as the century’s most significant political leader. Not only in the
scholarly circles of the former Soviet Union but even among many non-Communist
scholars, he has been regarded as both the greatest revolutionary leader and
revolutionary statesman in history, as well as the greatest revolutionary thinker since
Marx.

Lenin’s considerable leadership power stemmed primarily from his visions and the
passionate manners in which he conveyed them. This was never more evident than
during the Communist Revolution. Lenin did not have a great military mind, nor his
generals and advisors, and thus he created some of the more serious military blunders
of the century. However, Lenin was able to continually inspire the Bolshevik army
despite their many defeats. Outnumbered, outgunned, starving, freezing, and
exhausted, Lenin’s motivated army defeated the Mensheviks in 1918 and seized
control of the Russian government.

Adding to the amazement of his leadership ability, Lenin controlled the Bolshevik
revolution from another country. Lenin fled to Switzerland for the greater portion of the
1917 Revolution to escape possible capture and execution. While in Switzerland, he
authored many idealist works, including Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism
(1916). In this book, Lenin argued that the world war was an inevitable outcome of
Western capitalism and imperialism, whereby the capitalist states of Europe had come
to rely upon aggressive foreign expansion in order to maintain economic profits.

Lenin was able to use that notion and similar ideas to gain support from the civilian
sector, as well. Not only did Lenin believe in Socialism, but he knew he would also be
able to sell the idea to others. While the Western world views Communism, Marxism,
and Leninism as deprave, the Russian peasants at the time were searching for
something or anything that promised prosperity. In Lenin’s public addresses and
interviews, he emphasized the Socialist ideals of unity, equality, and, of course,
prosperity.

It is easy in the Western world, where the good of the one is often allowed to
outweigh the good of the many, to see the flaws of Socialism and Communism.
However, Lenin’s beliefs and methods have nothing to do with his great leadership
power. We do not have to agree with him to recognize his abilities. Whether wittingly
or not, I believe Lenin deceived the Russian population. Regardless, though, he was
able to influence an entire country to follow his lead.

Governmental Issues