Publication

Building on and modifying the theories of Karl Marx, Lenin states that imperialism is the highest and final stage of capitalism. Lenin identifies the merging of banks and industrial cartels as giving rise to 'Finance Capital'. According to Lenin, in the last stage of capitalism, in order to generate greater profits than the home market can offer, such capital is exported and invested abroad. This leads to the division of the world between international monopolist firms, and to the great powers colonizing and coming into conflict over large parts of the world in support of their businesses.