Wilson and Lenin - Essay Example

of the of the Wilson and Lenin The end of World War I created the need for global reforms that could guarantee peace and harmony. Woodrow Wilson from US and Vladimir Lenin from Russia had the greatest influence in the post World-War era. Both leaders had certain similarities in their aims but possessed different ideologies to accomplish it. After the world war, the world saw two great leaders trying to develop international peace. Wilson and Lenin however were very different in their ideologies.

As opposed to Wilson who advocated disarmament in his fourteen points, Lenin did not believe “Disarmament’ could help in avoiding wars; he considered it as a means of evading reality (Lenin). Lenin proposed that the way to achieve world peace was through a global revolution and interference in the workings of the capitalistic states which would not only put an end to their governments but also their societies and this could not be achieved if the disarmament policy is followed (Mayer). He believed that if a revolution does not prevent a war, the proletariats should use the defeat of their own governments to create revolutionary reforms.

Lenin believed only in the existence of a proletariat armed force and not the bourgeois army. Hence the most prominent difference between Wilson and Lenin was one of reform against revolution. Lenin wanted to bring about reforms through revolution while Wilson wanted a ‘revolution’ through reforms (Schild). Wilson asserted that disarmament could play a major role in global prosperity as it would aid in preventing future wars. Both the leaders however were firm believers of the right of self-determination.

They believed that people of state should have a say in the political workings of the country and that governance should not take place without the assent of the people (Wilson). Despite having different perspectives, Wilson and Lenin dreamt of a world where global peace and self-determination among the people would be common. The two had provided the world with different ideologies and course of actions to act upon. Works Cited Lenin, Vladimir. State and Revolution. Martino Fine Books, 2009. Print. Mayer, Arno J.

Wilson vs. Lenin: Political Origins of the New Diplomacy 1917-1918. Meridian, 1967. Print. Schild, Georg M. Between Ideology and Realpolitik: Woodrow Wilson and the Russian Revolution, 1917-1921. Praeger, 1995. Print. Wilson, Woodrow. "A league for peace." Address to the Senate. Senate Document No.685, 22 January 1917. Speech.