Leninism is a political and economic theory which builds upon Marxism; it is therefore a branch of Marxism. Leninism was developed mainly by the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, and it was also put into practice by him after the October Revolution. The term "Leninism" itself did not exist during most of Lenin's life. It came into widespread use only after Lenin ended his active participation in the Soviet government due to health problems (strokes), shortly before his death. Grigory Zinoviev popularised the term at the fifth congress of the Communist International. …
