[lbo-talk] imperialism theories [was: Better Than China, Saudi Arabia,Etc.!]

Carrol Cox cbcox at ilstu.edu
Sat Aug 13 20:09:04 PDT 2005


Jim Devine wrote:
>
> On 8/13/05, Carrol Cox <cbcox at ilstu.edu> wrote:
> >[In the passage below Wood is referring to the theories of Lenin,
> Luxemberg, and other theorists of imperialism before WW 2.]
>
> *****
> So in these theories of imperialism, capitalism by definition assumes a
> non-capitalist environment.<
>
> Luxemburg's theory assumes a non-capitalist environment, but does Lenin's?

Luxemburg is explicit on this, and puts it at the heart of her analysis, but I think something similar is implicit in Lenin's work in the emphasis he puts on direct exploitation of colonies. He gives some emphasis, if I remember correctly, to the way in which the placement of railroads in the colonies is strictly to aid export of raw materials, not to contribute to the development of the colonies themselves.

Carrol

Incidentally, Lenin had urged that Luxemburg's complete works be published in the USSR; that project of course disappeared with his illness and death.



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