An Analysis of Contemporary Imperialism Based on a Marxist-Leninist Perspective and Method
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Jul 14, 2025
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Abstract
This article pushes for the use of a Marxist-Leninist perspective and method to analyzes contemporary imperialism in order to understand its nature and new manifestations. Firstly, the article examines Cheng Enfu’s analysis of contemporary imperialism. His analysis is, on the one hand, the continuity of Lenin’s theory of imperialism, and on the other hand, a modernization of Lenin’s theory according to today’s world specificities. Secondly, the article looks into the debate between Marxist authors on questions related to contemporary imperialism, notably on methodological issues, refuting the erroneous analysis of “the drain of wealth from the West to the East” and the misleading pseudo-concept of “sub-imperialism”, and proving the importance of adopting a Marxist- Leninist perspective and using the Marxist-Leninist method to analyze contemporary imperialism. Finally, the article takes the CFA franc as a concrete example of French imperialism in Africa, thus illustrating the commonality of the countries of the imperialist camp. It shows how imperialism manifests itself in Africa, in particular within France’s sphere of influence, further demonstrating how Marxism-Leninism is necessary for a deeper analysis and understanding of today’s world.
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References
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Deneault A. 2018. “Total, un gouvernement bis ”, Le Monde Diplomatique, August. Accessed October 11, 2021. https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2018/08/DENEAULT/58987
De Vergès, M. 2019. “La réforme du franc CFA: plus qu’un symbole”. Le Monde, December 23. Accessed October 12, 2021. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/12/23/la-reforme-du-franc-cfa-plus-qu-un-symbole_6023901_3212.html Diawara M. 2019. “Réformé, le franc CFA va glisser vers l’Éco”, Le Point, December 21. Accessed October 18, 2021. https://www.lepoint.fr/afrique/le-franc-cfa-va-glisservers-l-eco-21-12-2019-2354391_3826.php
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Harvey D. 2003. The New Imperialism. New York: Oxford University Press
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Kouagheu J., S. Douce, and M. Maillard. 2019. “« Semi-révolution » ou « arnaque politique », la fin du franc CFA vue par des économistes africains”, Le Monde, December 24. Accessed October 3, 2021. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/12/24/semi-revolution-ou-arnaque-politique-la-fi n-du-franc-cfa-vue-pardes-economistes-africains_6023971_3212.html
Lenin V.I. [1916] 1974. “Imperialism, Highest Stage of Capitalism”. In Collected Works of V.I. Lenin, vol. 22, pp. 185-304. Moscow: Progress Publishers.
Li M. 2021. “China: Imperialism or Semi-Periphery?”. Monthly Review, 73 (3). Accessed October 19, 2021. https://monthlyreview.org/2021/07/01/china-imperialism-or-semi-periphery/
Ministère des Armées. 2021. “Dispositif opérationnel français déployé à travers le monde”, June 15. Accessed October 13, 2021. https://www.defense.gouv.fr/ operations/rubriques_complementaires/dispositif-operationnel-francais-deploye-a-travers-le-monde
Moussaoui R. 2017. “Burkina Faso. Thomas Sankara, la possibilité d’une Afrique émancipée”, L’Humanité, October 12. Accessed October 19, 2021. https://www.humanite. fr/burkina-faso-thomas-sankara-la-possibilite-dune-afrique-emancipee-643588
Patnaik U., and P. Patnaik. 2017. A Theory of Imperialism. New York: Colombia University Press.
Pigeaud F. 2020. “Présence française en Afrique, le ras-le-bol”. Le Monde Diplomatique, March. Accessed October 21, 2021. https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2020/03/ PIGEAUD/61500
Smith J. 2018. “Imperialist Realities vs. the Myths of David Harvey”. Review of African Political Economy, March 19. Accessed October 16, 2021.http://roape. net/2018/03/19/imperialist-realities-vs-the-myths-of-david-harvey/
Smith J. 2016. Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century. New York: Monthly Review Press.
SYLLA N.S. 2020. “The Franc Zone, a Tool of French Neocolonialism in Africa”. Jacobin, June 1. Accessed October 17, 2021. https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/01/ franc-zone-french-neocolonialism-africa
Banque de France. 2021. “Coopérations monétaires Afrique-France: Rapport économique et fi nancier 2020 sur la CEMAC, l’UEMOA et l’Union des Comores”, October 27. Accessed October 30, 2021. https://publications.banque-france.fr/rapport-annuel-des-cooperations-monetaires-afrique-france-2020
Banque de France. 2016. The CFA franc zone, December 9. Accessed October 8, 2021. https://abc-economie.banque-france.fr/node/20399
Carlier R. 2017. “Le franc CFA est un outil de la servitude volontaire”. France 24, August 10. Accessed October 31, 2021. https://www.france24.com/fr/20170810- franc-cfa-outil-servitude-volontaire-nubukpo-monnaie-afrique-uemoa-cemac-deby-ouattara
Cheng E., and Lu B. 2021. “The Five Characteristics of Neo-imperialism: Building on Lenin’s Theory of Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century”. Monthly Review, 73 (1), 22-58. Accessed July 15, 2021. https://monthlyreview.org/2021/05/01/fi ve-characteristics-of-neoimperialism
De Miramon, M. 2021. “Assassinat de Thomas Sankara : la France complice”. L’Humanité, April 9. Accessed October 19, 2021. https://www.humanite.fr/assassinat-de-thomas-sankara-la-france-complice-702961
Deneault A. 2018. “Total, un gouvernement bis ”, Le Monde Diplomatique, August. Accessed October 11, 2021. https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2018/08/DENEAULT/58987
De Vergès, M. 2019. “La réforme du franc CFA: plus qu’un symbole”. Le Monde, December 23. Accessed October 12, 2021. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/12/23/la-reforme-du-franc-cfa-plus-qu-un-symbole_6023901_3212.html Diawara M. 2019. “Réformé, le franc CFA va glisser vers l’Éco”, Le Point, December 21. Accessed October 18, 2021. https://www.lepoint.fr/afrique/le-franc-cfa-va-glisservers-l-eco-21-12-2019-2354391_3826.php
Economic Community of West African States. 2019. “ECOWAS Parliamentarians engage in the Single Currency Creation Programme”, March 7. Accessed October 13, 2021. https://www.ecowas.int/ecowas-parliamentarians-engage-in-the-single-currency-creation-programme/
France 24-Reuters. 2017. “Supprimer ou renommer le franc CFA: Emmanuel Macron ne dit pas «non»”, France 24, November 29. Accessed October 17, 2021. https:// www.france24.com/fr/20171129-afrique-franc-cfa-emmanuel-macron-changement-perimetre-nom
Global Financial Integrity. 2015. Financial flows and tax havens: combining to limit the lives of billions of people, December. Accessed October 27, 2021. http://www.gfi ntegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Financial_Flows-final.pdf
Harvey D. 2017. “A Commentary on A Theory of Imperialism”. In A Theory of Imperialism, edited by Utsa Patnaik and Prabhat Patnaik. New York: Colombia University Press.
Harvey D. 2003. The New Imperialism. New York: Oxford University Press
Institut Montaigne, 2017. “Ready Today’s Africa”, September. Accessed October 18, 2021. http://www.institutmontaigne.org/en/publications/ready-todays-africa
Jacquemot P. 2019. “CEDEAO, la voie diffi cile vers l’Eco, la monnaie unique”, Policy Center for the New South, December. Accessed October 5, 2021. https://media.africaportal.org/documents/CEDEAO_la_voie_difficile.pdf
Kouagheu J., S. Douce, and M. Maillard. 2019. “« Semi-révolution » ou « arnaque politique », la fin du franc CFA vue par des économistes africains”, Le Monde, December 24. Accessed October 3, 2021. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/12/24/semi-revolution-ou-arnaque-politique-la-fi n-du-franc-cfa-vue-pardes-economistes-africains_6023971_3212.html
Lenin V.I. [1916] 1974. “Imperialism, Highest Stage of Capitalism”. In Collected Works of V.I. Lenin, vol. 22, pp. 185-304. Moscow: Progress Publishers.
Li M. 2021. “China: Imperialism or Semi-Periphery?”. Monthly Review, 73 (3). Accessed October 19, 2021. https://monthlyreview.org/2021/07/01/china-imperialism-or-semi-periphery/
Ministère des Armées. 2021. “Dispositif opérationnel français déployé à travers le monde”, June 15. Accessed October 13, 2021. https://www.defense.gouv.fr/ operations/rubriques_complementaires/dispositif-operationnel-francais-deploye-a-travers-le-monde
Moussaoui R. 2017. “Burkina Faso. Thomas Sankara, la possibilité d’une Afrique émancipée”, L’Humanité, October 12. Accessed October 19, 2021. https://www.humanite. fr/burkina-faso-thomas-sankara-la-possibilite-dune-afrique-emancipee-643588
Patnaik U., and P. Patnaik. 2017. A Theory of Imperialism. New York: Colombia University Press.
Pigeaud F. 2020. “Présence française en Afrique, le ras-le-bol”. Le Monde Diplomatique, March. Accessed October 21, 2021. https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2020/03/ PIGEAUD/61500
Smith J. 2018. “Imperialist Realities vs. the Myths of David Harvey”. Review of African Political Economy, March 19. Accessed October 16, 2021.http://roape. net/2018/03/19/imperialist-realities-vs-the-myths-of-david-harvey/
Smith J. 2016. Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century. New York: Monthly Review Press.
SYLLA N.S. 2020. “The Franc Zone, a Tool of French Neocolonialism in Africa”. Jacobin, June 1. Accessed October 17, 2021. https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/01/ franc-zone-french-neocolonialism-africa
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Research of Innovative Marxist School
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An Analysis of Contemporary Imperialism Based on a Marxist-Leninist Perspective and Method. (2025). World Marxist Review , 2(2), 123−146. https://doi.org/10.62834/8gmfvf42