Abstract

The Leninist theory of imperialism leaves us a problematic legacy. On the one hand, the theory's emphasis on the evolving forms of capital accumulation remains centrally important. On the other hand, the Leninist theory attempts to explain a political process at the wrong level of abstraction. Political domination cannot be reduced to economic tendencies. Historical contingency is crucially important, and the Leninist theory has consequently become less and less useful since the conclusion of World War II. A materialist theory of imperial domination in the capitalist era needs to include an analysis of evolving state structures and the motivations of key personnel within the state apparatus. Such a methodology cannot yield a simple prediction concerning the future of imperial conflict. This approach can, however, identify those political responses which can limit or even defeat the imperial pretensions of a capitalist society's ruling classes.