This translation of V.I. Lenin's essay is taken from the text of the Collected Works of V.I. Lenin....

Pocas figuras de las luchas revolucionarias de principios del siglo XX siguen siendo más polarizantes que Vladimir Lenin. Caricaturizado tanto por los defensores del mercado como por los restantes apologistas políticos del socialismo de estado como un insurreccional inflexible e impaciente, en este panfleto Lenin presenta un argumento claro de que para los radicales, luchar a través de los canales democráticos existentes no es una opción, sino un paso esencial en el camino hacia la revolución.

Lenin es crítico particularmente con algunos izquierdistas alemanes por considerar inútiles a los partidos políticos. Según Lenin, negar la necesidad y la disciplina del partido comunista equivale a desarmar por completo al proletariado en beneficio de la burguesía capitalista. ( )

Con L'Estremismo Lenin ha dato al movimento comunista una compiuta concezione della tattica del partito e del suo metodo di lavoro. Questa lettura fu il punto di partenza dei dibattiti e delle crisi attraverso le quali il partito comunista prese coscienza dei suoi compiti e si pose al lavoro per attuarli. ( )

If you've ever wondered why the left is in such disarray, one need go any further than honestly studying Lenin.

This is one of those books that Lenin reveals himself as all tactic and no democratic. By all means read everything you can about Lenin and understand how he prepped us for Stalin. All the important characteristics later called Stalinist (repression, labour camps, the suppression of dissent, the destruction of unions and the peasantry, and an official dogma enforced by the state were created from 1917 onwards (when Lenin and Trotsky held power).

Perhaps the most important thing to remember about Lenin is that he was all for a highly centralized party and rejected the 'absurdity' of a 'primitive' conception of democracy as participatory (Lenin's own words).

If you believe in participatory democracy, be sure to read Lenin and KNOW THY ENEMY.

*When you're done reading the book, be sure to read Herman Gorter, Open Letter to Comrade Lenin (free online) where he proceeds to demolish Lenin's hypocrisy. ( )