If Lenin was alive today

I thought of going back to 1916 and re-visit Lenin's work. 

In his 1916 work, Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, Vladimir Lenin argues that imperialism is not just a "policy" chosen by leaders, but a necessary economic stage of capitalism.

To analyze today's world through Lenin’s eyes, we first have to look at the five "pillars" he used to define an imperialist power.

1. The Five Pillars of Lenin’s Imperialism

According to Lenin, a nation becomes "imperialist" when its economy reaches these five conditions:

1. Monopoly - Small businesses are swallowed by giant corporations (Monopolies/Trusts).

2. Finance Capital - Banks and industry merge. A "financial oligarchy" (Wall Street, etc.) runs the country.

3. Export of Capital - Nations stop just selling "goods" (cars, toys) and start exporting "money" (loans, investments) to control other countries.

4. Global Cartels - International monopolies (like Big Tech or Big Oil) divide the global market among themselves.

5. Territorial Division - The great powers finish "carving up" the world; from then on, they can only "re-divide" it through war.

2. Analysis of Current Global Events by Lenin at 2026

Donald Trump & Venezuela

The Goal: Control of the world’s largest oil reserves and the removal of "non-hemispheric" actors (China/Russia) from the U.S. "backyard."

Leninist View: Lenin would see this as a classic case of "re-division." The U.S. isn't just attacking a dictator; it is attempting to secure "raw material bases" for its own monopolies. He would argue that the "Monro Doctrine" (as some call it) is the financial oligarchy using the military to protect its exclusive "sphere of influence" against rivals.

Russia & Ukraine

The Goal: Territorial expansion and maintaining a "buffer zone" against NATO.

Leninist View: This is more complex. While some argue Russia is a "weaker" capitalist power, Lenin would likely focus on the "Great Russian Chauvinism" and the attempt to violently re-divide territory. He would view the war as a conflict between two imperialist blocs: Russian capital trying to hold its "near abroad" vs. Western finance capital (NATO/EU) trying to expand its market and investment reach into Ukraine.

China's Expansionism

The Goal: The "Belt and Road Initiative," infrastructure loans, and South China Sea claims.

Leninist View: China is the clearest modern example of Lenin's "Export of Capital." By lending billions to developing nations for infrastructure, China creates a "debt-dependency." Lenin would call this "debt-imperialism"—controlling a country's resources and politics not with a governor, but with a bank loan.

Indian Expansionism

The Goal: Regional dominance in South Asia and competition with China.

Leninist View: Lenin would likely classify India as a "sub-imperialist" power or a "rising monopoly power." While it doesn't yet dominate global finance like the U.S., its domestic monopolies (like Adani or Reliance) are increasingly looking for "spheres of influence" in neighboring countries to export their own capital and secure resources.

3. Comparison: Then vs. Now

While Lenin’s 1916 analysis still feels relevant, two things have changed significantly:

Invisible Borders: In 1916, imperialism meant planting a flag (Colonialism). Today, it is often Neocolonialism—a country remains "independent" on paper, but its economy is owned by foreign banks and corporations.

Multipolarity: In Lenin's time, Britain was the undisputed king. Today, we see a "clash of imperialisms" where the U.S., China, and Russia are all competing to re-divide a world that is already fully occupied.

Lenin believed that because the world is "finished" being divided, these powers will inevitably go to war to take pieces from each other. He saw imperialism as the "eve of the social revolution" because the system becomes too violent and unstable to survive.

But then again Lenin's brainchild Soviet Union was viewd as a not only a global power but also as socialist imperialist country who contrlled eastern bloc. And the 'Social revelusion' would not happen 'soon'.

To analyze the Soviet Union as "social-imperialist" and address why the "social revolution" hasn't arrived, we have to look at how Lenin’s own theories were turned against his successors.

4. The Concept of "Social-Imperialism"

The term "Social-Imperialism"—defined as "Socialist in words, Imperialist in deeds"—was actually popularized by Mao Zedong during the Sino-Soviet split in the 1960s.

If we apply Lenin’s own criteria to this- Stalin's WWII Soviet Union, we can argue:

• The Eastern Bloc as a "Sphere of Influence": Through the Warsaw Pact and COMECON, the USSR treated Eastern Europe as a closed market. They extracted raw materials (like Polish coal) and sold finished goods back to them, mirroring the "metropole-colony" relationship.

• Military Intervention: When Hungary (1956) or Czechoslovakia (1968) tried to leave the Soviet orbit, the USSR used military force to maintain its "territorial division." To a Leninist purist, this looks exactly like a Great Power protecting its "monopoly" over a region.

• Export of "Capital" (Ideology/Aid): While they didn't export private bank capital, they exported "State Capital" in the form of massive infrastructure loans and military aid to "client states" in Africa and Asia to ensure they stayed within the Soviet geopolitical bloc.

5. Why hasn't the "Social Revolution" happened?

Lenin predicted that imperialism was the "final stage" and would lead to a global collapse. Why did he get the timing so wrong?

A. The "Labor Aristocracy" Lenin actually had an answer for this. He argued that imperialist countries use "super-profits" from the exploited Global South to bribe their own working class at home. By providing higher wages, healthcare, and better living conditions, the "revolutionary fire" in countries like the U.S. or UK was extinguished. The workers became "partners" in the empire rather than its enemies.

B. The Flexibility of Finance Capitalism proved much more "elastic" than Lenin expected. Through the IMF, World Bank, and digital finance, imperialist powers found ways to manage crises and prevent the total economic collapse Lenin thought was imminent.

C. The Shift to "Informal" Empire

Today, empires don't need to occupy a country to control it. Global powers use debt traps and digital infrastructure. Because there are no visible "occupying soldiers," it is harder to mobilize a traditional "national liberation" revolution. The oppression is systemic and financial rather than just military.

 Modern Reality

Lenin viewed imperialism as a dead end. However, history suggests it might be a cycle.

When one hegemon (like the US) weakens, the world doesn't necessarily move toward a socialist revolution; instead, new "aspiring" imperialists (like China or India) step in to compete for the re-division of the world. This creates the "multipolar" world we see today—one that Lenin would recognize as a very dangerous "pre-war" environment, rather than a peaceful transition to something new.

-05/01/2026

Lenin's book is here: Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism

Thrilled to Announce! - My book Siyama published

I was very excited yesterday! I received the first copies of my book, 'Siyama', from Pegasus. The book officially went on sale today. Their full trade name is Pegasus Elliot Mackenzie Publishers Limited.

This is my first book published in the UK, and it feels incredible!

I have so many people to thank:

• My elder daughter, Shania, a talented artist in our family, created the beautiful front cover. Despite being busy studying, working, dancing, and drawing, she found the time to create this gift for me.

• My younger daughter, Shakyra, helped immensely in editing and correcting the grammar while also being busy with her studies. Thank you to both of you!

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• It was my friend and writer, H.B. Gunarathna, and veterinary surgeon, Dr. Dammaika Chandani, who constantly encouraged me to create the English version of the book.

• My ever-loving wife has the patience of Mount Everest to deal with me, as writing books, blogs, and whatnot takes time away from her. Thank you for your unwavering support.

• I'd also like to thank the friends who wrote reviews about Siyama earlier in Sri Lanka, including writer/journalist Padmini Matarage, award-winning writer Nissaka Wijemanna, and award-winning writer and blogger Dr. Bodini Samarathunga. The Agora Art Circle also discussed the Sinhala version of the book. Thank you to all of you.

The book will be available to buy from Amazon and will also be available in bookshops soon.

A special thank you to the lovely Laura Radcliffe for buying the very first copy!

In amazon: Buy here.

In a world marred by religious extremism and societal prejudices, Siyama shines a light on the power ‎of human connections and resilience. Set against the backdrop of a university campus, Priyan's chance ‎encounter with Siyama sparks a friendship that transcends cultural barriers and societal expectations.‎ As they navigate academic challenges and shared interests, they uncover layers of personal histories ‎marked by trauma, resilience, and the quest for identity. Themes of friendship, cultural complexities, ‎and emotional bonds weave through their journey, revealing the depths of human emotions and the ‎strength found in supportive relationships.‎ Siyama is a poignant narrative that delves into themes of trauma, trust, friendship, and the ‎complexities of human relationships, offering a glimpse into the triumph of the human spirit amidst ‎adversity.‎

Finland Tour 3 - wild life safari

 

Finland Tour 1- Helsinky 

Finland Tour 2 - Suomenlinna 

After we went to Suomenlinna in the morning, my wife had organized a Wildlife Safari for the late afternoon. This trip took place on September 8th.

We stopped near a café half an hour early, in accordance with "German time," which is to say, well ahead of the actual scheduled time.

Two other people joined the three of us for the trip. Since they had booked online, we only met them at that moment. The woman was from Switzerland, and the young man was another German national. Our safari guide introduced herself as a Finnish national; her name was Patricia. The journey in her van began after my daughter and I sat in the front seats, and the other three sat in the back.

The journey started from a place in Helsinki called Nervanderinkatu. After a drive of about forty-five minutes, we arrived in the Porkkalanniemi (Porkkala) area.

During the journey, Patricia, who was quite chatty, mentioned that she spoke Egyptian, German, Finnish, and other languages. She also said that because they disliked the cold, her mother, father, and sister live in Egypt. Out of curiosity, when I asked her why, she explained that her father had a Finnish passport but also held a Jordanian passport, which allowed him to reside in Egypt.

I immediately asked if he was Palestinian. To her surprise, she said I was the only person who had ever suggested that. She then asked how I knew. I explained that I knew many Palestinians had been forced to live in Jordan due to war, obtaining Jordanian passports, and that they were later allowed to reside in Egypt. After that, she became much more friendly and open with us. She shared her entire family story during the trip. She also mentioned that her Finnish mother preferred Egypt and that Patricia herself might move there later on.

The person in the picture is lovely Patricia. 

The Porkkala area is also historically significant. The region it is located in is called Kirkkonummi.

Czar Peter the Great (Peter I) of Russia established military bases here to protect St. Petersburg. Although this was done because the area was an access point to the Gulf of Finland, the region was returned to the Finns after they gained independence from the Russian Empire. However, at the end of World War II, the Soviet Union leased this area from Finland from 1944 to 1956 to establish a naval base. All residents were evacuated.

After the Soviet troops withdrew, the area became overgrown and wild. Because it remained uninhabited by people, a scenic forest area developed here. It is now home to large animals similar to elk, known as Moose, as well as Reindeer, Fallow Deer, a large variety of rabbits, and various migratory birds. Brown bears and wolves can also be seen sometimes.

Many Finnish nationals and tourists visit here for hiking. There are also many people who pitch tents and spend the night during the spring. Patricia mentioned that during the snowy winter season, a unique and different kind of beauty can be seen in this area.

Patricia invited us to chop wood to prepare the food for our safari.

In Finland, the government has set up barbecue areas in forests and tourist sites meant for hiking. There are also designated wood storage areas. There is plenty of wood available there for lighting fires, and axes and saws are provided for chopping the wood. You can quickly saw the wood into sections and then use a sharp, guillotine-like wedge to split the logs into smaller pieces by hitting them with another wooden club. We helped Patricia chop the wood very quickly.

  

This is a beautiful area for walking. The environment is extremely quiet, broken only by the beauty of the scenery and the occasional sound of a bird or another animal. We only saw one other van with a couple who were setting up a tent to stay for the night.

We also learned another interesting thing: in Finland, anyone—a resident or a tourist—is permitted to stay on any private land for 24 hours (one day). If it's written on the front of a house in some places, you can even stay there. Some people leave their cabins unlocked. Even though you aren't allowed to enter locked cabins, you can stay on the surrounding land. I believe this rule may have been established in case someone gets lost during very cold periods when temperatures can drop to negative forty.

We walked around while Patricia prepared the food. In the meantime, we picked and ate some red berries. Patricia gave us a meat bun to eat and served us juice made from those berries at her home. I must say, in Sri Lanka, you would get a better food spread on a safari like this.

However, I don't like how safaris in countries like Sri Lanka or Kenya involve twenty or thirty jeeps going into the national parks, stopping, and waiting. There is a certain kind of noise associated with that. We much prefer going to isolated places like this.

It got dark very quickly, and then we went to look for animals.  

Here are the photographs of the two Moose we took using the binoculars we were given. Two Fallow Deer (Spotted Deer) were also right there. Other than that, we didn't see any other animals 

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Since night had fallen, we left the area. It was past eight o'clock in the evening when we arrived back in Helsinki.

Here are a couple of videos that were uploaded to the YouTube channel:.

Traveling along the road in the vehicle: 

A large rabbit running across the front of the vehicle.

The moment we spotted the two Moose.

  

Ajith 15/11/2025

Finland's concept of "Everyman's Rights" (Jokamiehenoikeudet)

Access is Free and Open: The core principle is that anyone (resident or tourist) can move around, hike, ski, cycle, and temporarily stay or camp in nature, even on private land, without the landowner's permission or charge.

Temporary Camping: You are generally allowed to set up a tent and camp temporarily (for a short period, like a night or a weekend) on private land as long as you are following the rules.

Silence and Isolation: The environment must remain undisturbed. You must not cause harm, damage, or disturbance to the environment or the landowner.

Finland Tour 2 - Suomenlinna

 

Finland Tour 1- Helsinky 

Suomenlinna is an island fortress built in the eighteenth century. Madara, my sister's daughter who lives in Finland, said that we should go see it. "Uncle, it's a beautiful island," she said. Meanwhile, when I called my friend, Dasaya who lives in Finland , he also said, "Brother, Suomenlinna is fantastic, you should go." I asked him what this 'Leena' or 'Linna' meant. Dasaya said that 'Linna' means fortress, and that there is a fortress on the island. After looking into it, I realized that since the name of the area we were staying in also ended with 'linna', there must have been a fortress near here as well. ( The name Suomenlinna literally means "Castle of Finland" in Finnish, and the Finnish word linna means "castle" or "fortress")

The previous day in Helsinki, our tour guide told a wonderful story. Suomenlinna is a sea fortress consisting of eight islands. The King of Sweden built these fortresses in the eighteenth century (1748) to protect against the Russian Empire. At the beginning of the eighteen hundreds, when the Russians invaded Finland, they realized they could not conquer it because of the Suomenlinna fortresses. Therefore, during the First Finnish War in 1808, they surrounded these islands and captured them after a two-month blockade. After that, Helsinki easily fell into the hands of the Russians. Russia annexed Finland in 1809. They named it the Grand Duchy of Finland and established an autonomous government.

This fortress served as the headquarters for the Russian Baltic Navy during the First World War. Russian troops withdrew in 1917 after Lenin recognized Finland's right to self-determination.

In 1991, Suomenlinna was named a UNESCO World Heritage site.

One can travel to the main island of Suomenlinna from Helsinki in half an hour. There is no special charge for this; one can get there by paying the same fare as for a regular bus or tram.

I included pictures in the first slide. However, this picture is being included to show that many of the houses here are of the Russian style. Many houses made of wood in this same style can be seen outside of Moscow in Russia.

The shape of the Russian Orthodox church, built here in the nineteenth century, has been slightly altered and changed to suit the Lutheran faith practiced by the Finns.

Below are the pictures taken by me.  

 

These videos are in my youtube channel

Ajith 31/10/2025

This is from google serach:

The Swedish Era (1748–1808): Building a Defense

• Purpose: The fortress was originally built by the Kingdom of Sweden to protect the region from the expansionist Russian Empire.

• Construction: Work began in 1748 on a cluster of islands off Helsinki. It was an enormous undertaking for the Swedish state in the 18th century.

• Original Name: It was first known by its Swedish name, Sveaborg ("Fortress of Sweden"), or Viapori in Finnish.

• Design: The design was heavily influenced by the French military engineer Vauban and adapted to the rocky islands, resulting in an impressive bastion fortress.

The Russian Era (1808–1918): Conquest and Reinforcement

• Conquest: During the Finnish War (1808–1809), the fortress, despite its formidable reputation, was besieged by Russian forces and surrendered in 1808 after a two-month blockade. This loss quickly led to Russia's annexation of Finland and the establishment of the Grand Duchy of Finland in 1809.

• Military Base: Under Russian rule, the fortress remained a crucial military base, protecting the newly established capital of Helsinki and serving as a base for the Baltic Fleet.

• Damage and Rebuilding: It suffered severe damage from a bombardment by Anglo-French forces during the Crimean War in 1855. The Russians subsequently rebuilt and modernised the defenses, equipping it with more modern artillery.

• World War I: During WWI, it became part of the larger "Peter the Great's Naval Fortress" defensive system, intended to protect the Russian capital, St. Petersburg.

The Finnish Era (1918–Present): Independence and World Heritage

• Independence: After Finland declared independence from Russia in 1917, the newly formed Finnish state took over the fortress in 1918.

• Renaming: It was officially renamed Suomenlinna ("Castle of Finland") to reflect the country's new independent status.

• Changing Role: In the aftermath of the Finnish Civil War, the islands briefly served as a prison camp. It then functioned as a Finnish garrison for decades, playing a role in the defense of Finland during World War II.

• Civilian Transition: The military's presence gradually declined, and in 1973, the fortress was converted for civilian use.

Finland Tour 1- Helsinky

We went to Helsinki on the sixth of September. We explored the city on the sixth and the seventh. This time, we didn't stay in a hotel but in an apartment rented through Airbnb. The building was located inside a gated compound. I mentioned the familiar feeling to Ines and my daughter, but they didn't understand it. However, when we went out to the nearby supermarket, it dawned on me that the buildings and apartment blocks were similar to those in the Russian cities of Moscow or Saint Petersburg, where I had lived. 

Pictures of it are in the slide below. The picture that looks like a yellow bun is a dish made from potatoes. It can be eaten for breakfast or lunch. When we walked out in the area we were staying, we saw the first island we'd come across in Finland, located very close to the shore. Finland is the Land of a Thousand Lakes. It has 187,888 lakes larger than 500 square meters. Almost all of them have an island as well. After walking a short distance, we were also able to see a vintage car exhibition. I took a few pictures amidst my wife's fussing. I found it strange that Lipton tea packets are sold here as Russian Earl Grey.

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      The next day, we joined a tour guide who was introducing us to the city of Helsinki. He said his mother was Spanish and his father was Finnish. Apparently He goes to Spain and lives there during the winter.

According to him, for nearly 300 years under Swedish rule, Helsinki was just a small village. They established a village in Helsinki to levy taxes on the ships, boats, and other vessels passing nearby. Since it wasn't very successful, they had abandoned Helsinki.

However, everything changed in the 19th century after the Russians took control. Tsar Alexander II instructed Carl Ludvig Engel, the German architect who had built the buildings in Saint Petersburg, to plan and design the city of Helsinki. This is how Helsinki, which was previously a village, became a major city like Saint Petersburg.

A statue of Tsar Romanov has been erected in the city center by the residents of Helsinki to show their gratitude. I thought he might be the only Russian they respect these days.

However, our guide surprised us by also mentioning Lenin. The other Russian whom the Finns respect is Lenin, who signed the agreement granting Finland independence after the October Revolution in 1917. Whenever Lenin fled the Tsarist regime, Finland was the first to give him refuge.

The house where Lenin stayed is on a street called Sörnäisten Rantatie. He and Trotsky also hid in the Oulunkylä district, and Lenin used the alias Doctor Müller.

It's truly amazing to see how the direct connection and a century of history between these two cities are reflected in these buildings. Our guide is standing near this statue. The inscription on the statue is written in Swedish. Although only about 3% of the population speaks it, it is a national or second official language. Therefore, you can see that almost every sign is translated into Swedish.

There is a statue of a mermaid in Helsinki, located near the market square. It is named Havis Amanda. It is a creation by the artist Ville Vallgren, and it was unveiled in 1908. Since the statue depicts her rising from the sea, the Finns believe it symbolizes the new birth of the city of Helsinki.

There were mostly small restaurants selling fried fish in the Market Square. There were also stalls selling various trinkets and souvenirs. A Russian person at one of the stalls asked us where we were from.

In many places, after we say we are from London, they ask again, 'But where are you really from?' In England, asking such a question might be considered racist or xenophobic. However, I usually just answer easily by saying I was born in Sri Lanka.

At this location, the Russian pointed to a nearby stall and said that someone fromSri Lanka was also there. The owner of that stall, which sells wooden children's toys and educational items imported from Sri Lanka, had arrived from Sri Lanka about forty years ago. Unfortunately, I have forgotten his name.

 We also visited the large library and the rock concert hall there, and then stopped for a coffee. We took two very delicious types of cake and paid for them, but they didn't charge us for the coffee and tea. We found out that they were free of charge. Pictures of the library and its surroundings are in the second slide.

Although the library did not have any Sinhala books, it did have books in Russian and other languages. I specifically mentioned the Russian books because recently, a large number of Russian literature books were burned in Ukraine. We also observed that many Finns here speak English well.

 Near some of the buildings and apartment blocks, a picture of an animal is engraved. Many Finnish residents were unable to read at the time. Therefore, during the period of Swedish rule, they identified addresses or their location by using the names of animals.

For example, a common way to give an address back then would be, 'We are staying in the Pig's building, which is right next to the Elephant's building, after turning by the Bear's building.

 

At the end of the day, we went to a restaurant for dinner. Many of the people working there were not Finnish but were of other nationalities. We also met a young Sri Lankan student who was studying at a university there.

Finns have a great interest in their farmlands and vehicles like tractors that they use on them. This 'farmer's restaurant' had a few tractors displayed inside. We ordered a dish of cooked fish, blinis, and reindeer soup. The taste of these was very similar to many Russian and German foods. The soup my wife's mother makes with venison during the winter in Germany is just like it.

The gray house in the last picture is about 250 years old.  A few more articles about Finland will be written.

some you tube videos of tram and trains.

Ajith 10/10/2025