Heterodox Economists: Vladimir Lenin

In this episode of "Ones and Tooze," Cameron Abadi and Adam Tooze begin a miniseries on the economic thinkers of the Soviet Union, starting with Vladimir Lenin. They discuss Lenin's biography and how it shaped his thinking, particularly his engagement with Russian revolutionary traditions and his departure from orthodox Marxism. They explore Lenin's analysis of capitalism in Russia, his theory of imperialism, and the central role of the Communist Party in leading a revolution. The conversation touches on Lenin's flexibility in economic policymaking as leader of the Soviet state and the tragic outcomes of the Leninist revolution, setting the stage for future episodes on Rosa Luxemburg, Leon Trotsky, and Joseph Stalin.