‘Left-Wing’ Communism: An Infantile Disorder

Editor’s note:

‘Left-Wing’ Communism: An Infantile Disorder was written by Lenin in April, and the appendix was written on 12 May 1920. Lenin gave personal attention to the book’s type-setting and printing schedule so that it should be published before the opening of the Second Congress of the Communist International, each delegate receiving a copy.

The manuscript of the book is subtitled: ‘An Attempt to Conduct a Popular Discussion on Marxist Strategy and Tactics’. It also had the following ironical dedication to British prime minister Lloyd George:

I dedicate this pamphlet to the highly respected Mr. Lloyd George as a token of gratitude for his speech of 18 March 1920, which was almost Marxist, and, in any case, was extremely useful to the Communists and Bolsheviks of the whole world.

Extracts from the speech are quoted by Lenin in this text. Editions of the book published during Lenin’s lifetime did not bear the subtitle and dedication.