LENIN: The Heritage We (Don’t) Renounce

On the 100th anniversary of his death, Lenin seems to have fallen in oblivion — and however, when one takes a look at the present situation of the world, his ideas are more needed and more actual than ever. Almost nothing about what he wrote — on politics, on philosophy, on imperialism, on the right of the nations to self-determination — has become obsolete. On the contrary, many questions have become, if possible, more acute than during his lifetime. This book gives an excellent cross-section of what Lenin thought and wrote, and explains his actuality. — Vesa Oittinen, Professor emeritus, Aleksanteri Institute, University of Helsinki, Finland

The book, edited by Hjalmar Jorge Joffre-Eichorn and Patrick Anderson, has an unsettling title “Lenin: The Heritage We (Don’t) Renounce,” which basically boils down to an affirmation of Lenin against all those who would want to denounce him, whether that is outright reactionaries who have never actually read him to former revolutionaries who now conveniently disown him. Over a hundred authors from (nearly) every corner of the world pit themselves against mis-readings and misunderstandings of Lenin in short essays, most of which are bite-sized and some of which are more difficult to digest. … This is an unashamedly partisan book, on the side of the exploited and oppressed and showing that Lenin, for all his faults, was too. The editors tell us that “The shamelessly immodest purpose of this book is to be an active part of this process of communisting; in our case, an unapologetically Leninist one”. It is a brave project, time-consuming, and now it takes time to read it – this is a big book – but worth it if we are to take Lenin to heart and liberate ourselves. — Ian Parker, Two, three, many Lenins https://anticapitalistresistance.org/two-three-many-lenins/

… a wealth of strong pieces came from the Global South contributors talking about Lenin’s unique contribution to the socialist analysis of imperialism and how this relates to the struggle against neo-colonialism today, particularly in African countries. Kevin Crane https://www.counterfire.org/article/lenin-the-heritage-we-dont-renounce-book-review/

Comrades,
Whether you’re nostalgic, or retired with too much time on your hands, or actually
struggling to get a handle on the world in this violently contested age of imperialism,take a look at this book — Tovarich Vladimir reconsidered from all corners of the world, especially the Global South. Even the artwork is great.

“Renaissance in a hundred texts. In Lenin: the Heritage we (Don’t) Renounce, 100 authors from over 50 countries write about Lenin and what he or Leninism has meant to them, to historical figures, political movements or academic fields. […] What runs through the book is a consistently positive perspective on Lenin: a perspective that is not an expression of dogmatic and uncritical Leninism, but rather one intended to act as a counterweight to anti-Leninism on the left.” — Bafto Sarbo, analyse & kritik, Zeitung für linke Debatte & Praxis

… we have been reading a critical commemoration of the legacy of Vladimir Lenin. They make for some really inspiring reading! … Through 104 contributions, the book is a vast and exciting revisiting of Lenin’s legacy and the relevance of his thinking for understanding contemporary times. The topics that the chapters touch on are vast, the contributors are diverse, and the form of writing varies from poetry, skits, fictional writing, to academic and journalistic contributions. D-Econ Seasonal Alternative Reading List 2024- Part I

In an era when the people who dominate the world seem more inclined to bring about the end of humanity rather than to end capitalism’s inherent brutality, Lenin’s theoretical mind, practical organizing talents, and commitment to working-class leadership are needed more than ever. While this book does not try to give a political biography of Lenin or deliver a definitive perspective on his thought, it does open many imaginative doors to understanding Lenin’s global legacy.

The diverse contributions in Lenin: The Heritage We (Don’t) Renounce illuminate Lenin’s enduring influence on Marxist thought and its application to various global contexts. The humanizing perspectives and historical overviews offer valuable insights into Lenin’s principles and their relevance in contemporary struggles against fascism, neoliberalism, and imperialism.- Joel Wendland-Liu