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.

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