Imperialism, Paris Peace & Lenin's April Theses

Imperialism: Theories and Causes

The great powers established vast empires across Oceania, Asia, and Africa. Commercial factors were significant, as they involved negotiating exports with native populations.

Theories on Imperialism

• National Interest: Colonies were considered important for military, strategic, and economic reasons, deemed necessary for national development.
• The White Man's Civilizing Mission: The perceived duty to extend the benefits of the Western world, converting and subjecting populations to white Christianity.
• Private Benefit: Certain social groups benefited from the exploitation of colonies, leading to the theory that imperialism was an instrument of oligarchy.
• Needs of Financial Capitalism: Essential for companies seeking capitalist monopolies.

Causes of Imperialism

• European Economic Expansion: Facilitated the export of capital, overseas trade, and emigration.
• Individual Expeditions: Personal or group expeditions led by adventurers, missionaries, or explorers.
• Military-Technological Superiority: Scientific progress and advanced weaponry were crucial in defeating older empires.
• Rivalry Between World Powers: Territories were often occupied to protect other colonies from rival powers.

The Peace of Paris

The Paris Peace Conference resulted in a set of five treaties signed after World War I (1919-1920) aimed at maintaining peace.

Goals of the Paris Peace Treaties

• Addressing the threat of the Russian Revolution.
• Controlling Germany.
• Territorial restoration.
• Addressing the interests of the victorious powers.

The League of Nations

Established in 1920, the League of Nations aimed to ensure world peace. It was intended to include all independent states and resolve international problems peacefully.

Lenin's April Theses

Key Points

• Rejection of the interim government and its decision to continue the war.
• Control of production and distribution by the Soviets.
• Transformation of the bourgeois republic into a republic of workers', soldiers', and peasants' Soviets.

First Bolshevik Decisions

• On Land: A revolutionary social system was adopted. Lands were confiscated and distributed by local Soviets among peasants. Private property was abolished, and wage employment was prohibited.
• On Work: Councils were established in factories, placing production under the control of workers, coordinated by Soviets and later by the Bolshevik Party.
• On the War: An end to the war was sought by signing a peace treaty with Germany, resulting in the loss of territories that later became independent.
• On the Organization of the State: A workers' and peasants' government was established, with Lenin as president, Trotsky as foreign affairs commissioner, and Stalin as commissioner for nationalities. The goal was to extend the revolution and draft a declaration of the rights of working people.